Horror Games: Someone Cries, Someone Laughs (1)
“Ugh… I should’ve started at 200,000 won.”
I always come up with better ideas after everything’s over. More precisely, I use them while replaying the situation in my head, lamenting what I should’ve done.
I should’ve gone in with a negotiator’s mindset—start at 200,000 won and slowly haggle down to an agreement. Ha, I got hasty and bid high right from the start. That was my fatal mistake. Idiot, idiot, idiot. Why does it only hit me after it’s all done?
“200,000 won. What do you think?”
“Hmm… 200? Feels a bit low, maybe 300…”
“Sounds good!”
I’d originally been thinking up to 500,000 won, but I saved 200,000 through negotiation? Argh! So freaking wasteful. No, no, you shouldn’t skimp. Spend when you need to. Still… massive regret. Back and forth in my head. Fine… let’s earn it. Earn it like a prime minister. I barely reached a conclusion. But…
“No. Nope.”
It almost hit me again.
To forget, I shifted my focus elsewhere. First, check Discord. No important updates or guidelines. Alright… nothing means it’s time to do what I gotta do.
An hour into the stream. Lots of back-and-forth with the viewers.
Are they just that smart? They picked up on my lack of content right away.
I got a little scared when they caught on. No content? We’re out~ I figured that’s what they’d say. But instead, they flooded the chat with even more enthusiasm, sharing their opinions.
They’re freaking out over the word “horror game.” I get the feeling honestly. I monitor streams sometimes too… Even Maru and Moteok’s horror games weren’t that fun. It’s luck. Fun ones are really fun, but boring ones are just dull. It’s only worth watching if you like the streamer—nothing more, nothing less.
Honestly, I’ve played a ton of horror games, and the boring ones are so hard to sit through… That’s why I stick to proven hits. But by then, the trend’s already over. And jumping into tough untested ones just to suck up the hype? I’d probably spend all day grinding and get flamed anyway.
“I’ll… think about horror games!”
Meaning no. I can’t talk like the chat. They’re all my fans. I can’t tell my fans to buzz off like horror game trash, right? Gotta say it nicely.
“How about an RPG then?”
Something brainless, no gimmicks or anything… Just a real pay-to-win RPG anyone can blast through with cash.
“Whoa… thank you! RP we can think about slowly later! But I don’t feel fear at all. Never felt real horror in my life. Hehe.”
“I seriously don’t feel it. For real. What’s the scariest horror game out there?”
I really don’t feel it. That’s why I don’t do horror games—no reactions, total snoozefest. Swear. These people have no idea. I’m not scared of that stuff at all.
“Recommend some. Quick. Come on. Oh wait… maybe with missions too… For those who see it as a safe bet… missions as well.”
I’m a money-crazed maniac… I don’t usually beg on stream. But today’s losses were big, so I threw caution to the wind.
And boom—the chairwoman led the charge, viewers pooling cash. Missions were super easy too. Don’t cry. Clear. Why can’t they do this?
“I won’t jump in right away… I’ll wait till night. Lights off right now? Not scary at all.”
“I told you, I’m not scared at all, right? If you’d believed me, no loss. Why not trust people? I’m really fearless. I don’t feel fear!”
My energy spiked without thinking. That’s how it goes. You wanna brag when you’re good at something, yeah? Humans are animals that love showing off, I heard. I’m human too. Couldn’t help it.
“You idiots. For real. Hope dinner time comes quick. Hehe.”
“Don’t worry. Want me to hug you so you don’t feel a thing? Or blow raspberries? Ah, when it starts, everyone hide behind me! Not scary at all.”
Whoa. My chat’s firing up. Even the lurkers who were quietly watching. Suddenly crying. These guys are such scaredy-cats. Is public horror that scary? Tears streaming? I’m not scared at all. Agh, world full of softies. Fine, fearless me will comfort them.
“No crying, everyone. Pat pat…”
All the horror game setup’s done. It’s a no-controls-needed horror game called Ghost Mansion. Supports up to 2 players. Protagonist choice: doctor or nurse.
“Does doctor or nurse make a difference? Which is scarier?”
So I picked the higher social status: doctor.
Story: Psychiatrist Sena and a female patient. The woman had been treated for persecutory delusions, depression, and bipolar for a year, showing improvement. Sena was happy seeing her progress. But suddenly, the patient stopped coming.
Sena started worrying about the no-shows, felt uneasy for a while, then got a letter.
Doctor. By the time you get this letter, I won’t be around anymore. If you’re worried about me… [excerpt]… please come to this address.
Why go? If you’re a private practice doc, gotta make money. Closing your NYC clinic outta unease to check it out? That’s creepier. Aren’t doctors scared of rent? Never been to the US, but NYC building costs must be insane, right?
Damn, already pissed. Was the protagonist loaded? Backstory? Makes it more believable then. Sena’s a true doctor who cares about patients, huh?
Anyway, protagonist heads to the dark, dingy abandoned mansion. That’s the tutorial.
BGM echoes chillingly, wind howls coldly, and if you listen close, high-pitched female screams.
“Let’s start now. Hihihihit.”
Finish quick, grab the mission cash. Today’s a jackpot. I’m fearless on horror, so free stream and free mission money. Hope every day’s like this.
Can’t watch chat while focusing, so glancing hard. Then… a VIP arrives.
“Welcome, Maru! You in Korea now?”
“Ah, yep, horror game! They say it’s the scariest. New release too. Came out while you were in Japan, Maru! Probably haven’t played. Recommend avoiding to dodge spoilers!”
Maru’ll play new games too—can’t let her get spoiled.
“I don’t feel fear, so not scary at all right now. Gonna speed through.”
“Maru, you can’t do horror? Why? People are scarier. Ghosts? Think that and they’re not scary at all. Pro tip.”
She seems super scared. Why fear ghosts? Anyway, time to start.
“Alright, I’m starting. Scaredy-cats, they say it’s scary so go take a walk! See scary stuff and you won’t sleep tonight. Bye-bye!”
About to start.
“Wha?! Huh!? M-, Maru!” Too many interrupters. But cash interruptions? Love it!
Grateful for the donation. But this was a one-sided mission without permission. I’ll do it, but Maru might not. Could go either way, so prepay’s tricky!
“What now… prepay… I’m in. But you didn’t ask Maru!”
Can’t paint the donor as the bad guy.
“Everyone stop… maybe Maru…”
Big money. Gotta at least pretend to ask out of courtesy… Normally no, but I’m tight with Maru. Played around a bit and she climbs up? Not hating. Met IRL once before. She drops in when free—we’re buds, right?
Waited like 2 minutes, no reply from Maru. Checked—she’s in my stream. So maybe politely declining?
“If scary, no biggie. You don’t have to! Everyone chill. I’ll solo!”
Really unavoidable. 500k’s huge waste. Gotta refund.
“I’ll… refund separately later! Leave it on the cafe! Promise is promise…”
“It’s fine! Really, Maru!”
Replied sincerely, no pressure. Fresh off the plane—must be tired. Yeah. Tired. Right.
But then.