Vaccine Knight's Chaotic Defense and Overslept Panic
It's a situation that's fortunate yet feels like a loss, so it's natural to be flustered. But if you think of it as a vaccine, it'll make sense. What's a vaccine? It's something that makes the illness milder. You inject weak germs into the body to make it a little sick and build immunity. That's me. A vaccine.
"So, can we really relax now?"
"No. What the hell is this? Jjang-hyung? I'm suddenly dizzy."
"Vaccine."
"Huh? What's a vaccine?"
"Just in case... you might be curious. If Moteok fans hear the song and think... oh, radar ping. Boing boing. If they go boing boing... it'd be trouble, so I'm explaining it for you..."
I mumbled sheepishly. I was originally planning to play it off as Dark Knight, but since they asked, I told the truth.
"What explanation? Seriously! No... I'm dizzy. So dizzy."
"I'll explain it logically." I said with utmost sincerity. If they can't understand, I have to make them. If it ends like this... I'm not a Dark Knight; I'd just be a brat.
"I'm Moteok-nim's broth."
"No, your premise is wrong. My stream is pure fun—no broth. Right? Yeah?"
"No. Wrong."
Watching a female streamer for pure fun? That doesn't exist. It's just whether the stream shows it or not. That's the only difference. That's how I saw it. Reason watching reason for pure fun? That's nonsense.
"'Pure fun' doesn't exist. It's always broth. Female streamers live off broth! Admit it honestly! I admit it. Our stream is a broth stream!!!!"
"So, just in case of backlash! I protected you! I protected Moteok-nim. I'm the Dark Knight."
"No, ahahahaha."
Moteok-nim just laughed. Not just her—Raming too. Is this... the laugh track?! Did I trigger the laugh track and make them laugh? This situation was super confusing.
No way. Why are they laughing? I analyzed it deeply. They're laughing. Why? Why? Hmm... I thought about it. Flash. Could it be? That was the only possibility. My old little sister... Mom... Dad... when they had nothing to say... it was that. Nothing else.
Sometimes... I'm scary. Flash. Lightning struck in my head. Suddenly, I became an enlightened sage who understood everything.
She's touched a nerve. She doesn't want to swallow the red pill. 100%.
I swallowed the truth with my spit. Truth is always bitter. How many people would like taking the red pill? Yeah... it makes sense. I had a lot to say. I wanted to say I prevented the backlash for her, but hold back. Hold back. Yeah. This is right.
"Man, dawn vibes are wild. Seon-ah. I was sleepy, but now I'm wide awake."
"Oh... really? Good?"
"That was epic just now."
"Really? Do more. Praise me more."
Praise feels good. I want more. Total bliss. Hurry, more. Getting praised by a friend...! This doesn't make sense. Me, who was always chopped kimchi...! Me!!
"More! Praise... no more?"
"Heh heh heh. Yeah. Yeah. Lots. Too many, can't even say."
"W-Wait... do I have to pay? Pay to hear? No freebies?"
Suddenly worried. If it's paywalled... I'd gladly pay. If it costs money, I wanna pay quick and hear. That's how valuable the praise is.
"No, what? Our Seon-ah is the best. Super kind, fun, cute... and good at this game."
"Ah... nooo...!"
I almost teared up. Let's savor Raming's praises one by one. "The best." That's what you say when you got nothing. My parents say it often. Gotta praise, but no words... that's the go-to. Pass.
"Kind." Also when no words. Same as parents. Clean room? Good job, kind... Ate well? Kind... Walked the dog? Kind... Vacuumed? Kind. Heard it tons. Knew from school too. "The kid's kind." "Kind friend." Spotted it instantly. Two fakes so far.
But then... the bombshell. "Fun." Highest praise on stream. Like telling an actor their acting slays. Singer their voice rocks. If sincere, no sleep tonight. Dreamlike. Me, fun? Fun? Top compliment for a streamer. Ehehehe. Good. Hold it together. More coming.
Next: "Cute." I know this. I look in the mirror. Can't pretend not to see. Still good. Next: "Good at games." This game's boosting my self-esteem big time. I'm usually bad at games. Not just bad—terrible. To get good, prep, review, practice, tons of time.
But this game? Felt like talent unlocked. So can't count as praise. It's fact. Facts aren't praise. Bluntly, I became leader 'cause I'm good? Like saying "you're eating well" mid-meal. But praised for game, so on hold.
Overall: 1 praise. 1 hold. 3 fakes. Ehehe. Satisfied.
"Got it. Thanks! My friend. Heehee."
"Hahaha. Wanna talk more, but for tomorrow, end here?" Moteok-nim sounded tired.
"Sure."
"Yeah."
Me and Raming answered. Where's Maru-nim? Went silent suddenly. Tired? Still in Discord.
"Sweet dreams everyone~ Bye. Oh, tomorrow what time?"
"Decide around lunch... Anyway, see ya~ Sleep well~"
Moteok-nim and Raming said bye, but Maru-nim lingered.
"Maru-nim? Where'd you go?"
"I'm ending too. Just checked 'cause Maru-nim vanished. When'd you end?"
What? When did she? Maru-nim... young, right? Super tired? Busy schedule?
"Maru-nim was tired, huh? I missed it? As leader... didn't notice."
"Why this again. Ah... can't even talk. Wanna knuckle-flick ya hard... Punch the monitor? Pretend it hurts...? No, why my monitor... my fist hurts."
Think I'll fall for that? Even I'm not that dumb. I flick the monitor? My hand hurts... Who'd take that? Ridiculous. Even idiots would scoff.
"Think I'd take it?"
"Uh..."
Trouble. Gotta knuckle-flick now...? What to do? Do it. Knock knock.
"You're punished!" Knock knock. "Seriously! Sis mad? Call me sis, punk?" Knock knock.
I smacked the monitor multiple times. No real intent. Pure reaction. No personal feelings.
"Thanks everyone. I'm out."
Chat cleared my gut. They feared me—pure joy. I ended stream happy.
＊＊＊
Aftermath of streaming till dawn—I woke at 3 PM. Ate, washed up by 5. Stream now? Nah. Decided 7. No reason. Just stamina management. Short break.
"Phew..."
Back to floor. Exhausted. Used to early bird, now late riser—mind blank. Relaxed, closed eyes slow.
Not sleeping. Really not... Set alarms just in case. 6:30, 6:35... every 5 min till 6:55. Not sleeping. Precautions.
Blanket only—chilly. Turned on electric blanket for sleep. "No sleeping. Disaster if I do..."
Yeah. Won't. Eyes drifted shut. Not sleeping. Ceiling light. Lights on? Don't worry. Won't sleep. Trust me...
...Crap. Big trouble. Trusted myself—idiot. 6:59 PM. Deep sleep, eyes snapped open. Huh? Checked time—6:59. Bolted up, sweat pouring. Panicked, PC on, Discord first. 7:04. Late. Super late.
Said hoarsely: "S-Sorry. Overslept. Late."
Sincere apology. But only Maru-nim and me.
"Huh? What? Maru-nim? Maru-nim?"
Called hard—no reply. Hidden camera? Checked her stream—not on. Why Discord? Wait, not now. Her cafe: delayed to 8. Me, the main one, uninformed?! What?
"Huh? Here."
Reason in Discord. Moteok-nim delayed to 8. Posted at 5 AM. Right when I ended and laid down.
Damn. Gotta check notices. No panic needed!! Crap!! Feels like a loss. Coulda slept more. Woke up, can't sleep again.