Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Viewer Count Breaks 20,000!
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The method I was about to use from now on was one that could boost my viewers in a single stroke.
But it came with side effects.
'The issue is getting too entangled with Dokgo Huayeon...'
I might even end up bound to Dokgo Huayeon. That was a bit worrying.
I planned to surpass her someday. But if I got tied to her, it'd be tough. I'd end up on her team.
In simple terms, it'd be like becoming dependent on her.
But I pushed the worry aside.
There was no reward without risk. This much danger was acceptable for gaining viewers.
I casually checked the viewer nicknames in my room.
Current Top Viewers:
[Etchyu Squad No.1] [Huayeon is Mine] [Dokgo Huayeon ♥] [Etchyu Etchyu] As expected, just like before, there were tons of Dokgo Huayeon fans. And even more now.
'Well, I did carry so hard in her stream...'
On top of that, I was the teammate she picked. The very first one, no less. Her fans were bound to flock here.
Seeing that, I made my decision. And I spoke up.
"I've been curious about something since earlier. Why is Dokgo Huayeon's fandom called Etchyu? I've seen it pop up nonstop, so I had to ask."
I already knew everything. But I played dumb. There was a reason for it.
Soon, Dokgo Huayeon's fans started flooding the chat.
💬 Live Chat — Viewer - ??? — Viewer - What? - Don't know Etchyu's origin? - You don't know that? - Well, it's only been a month since she started streaming. - Hold on! Sending the video now. And sure enough, they sent the video donation right away.
⚙ VIDEO DONATION ⚙ Ding. [Dokgo Huayeon Sneeze Video] Soon, a video started playing.
[No! What are you doing right now? Don't you understand wha... Eh, Etchyu!]
It was Dokgo Huayeon sneezing adorably in the middle of getting mad.
Dokgo Huayeon normally had this intimidating aura that made her hard to approach. You could call it nobility. She just seemed like a cut above everyone else.
But surprisingly, she had plenty of cute sides too. That sneeze video was one of them.
"This might be rude to say about Dokgo Huayeon... Ahem, that's cute. So that's where 'Etchyu Squad' comes from?"
💬 Live Chat — Viewer - Cute, right? lololol — Viewer - Never gets old - Etchyu! - First time seeing someone sneeze this cute. - Wanna see more? - Hold on, sending now. ⚙ VIDEO DONATION ⚙ Ding. [Dokgo Huayeon First Sweet Black Bean Noodles Mukbang] Another video donation came in. This one showed Dokgo Huayeon dipping sweet black bean noodles into the sauce.
[Mm, delicious. So this is what jjajangmyeon tastes like... Huh? Why are you all spamming question marks? Isn't this how you eat it?]
It was pretty cute in its own way.
Ah, I'd seen this one a ton too. I used to be in the Etchyu Squad back in the day. Of course I knew it.
But I reacted like it was my first time.
"Whoa! She has this charm too... She's seriously cute."
💬 Live Chat — Viewer - Fr real lol - Cute, huh? - Jae-ho, join Etchyu Squad! - Jae-ho would be totally welcome! Everyone seemed thrilled by my comments. Especially Dokgo Huayeon's fans—they were going wild.
'This is it.'
That's right.
This was my method.
It was kinda like the principle behind national pride hype, in a way?
Of course, not just anyone could pull it off.
It was a killing move possible only because I'd temporarily built a deep connection with Dokgo Huayeon.
Anyway, her fans seemed to love seeing me like this. They kept donating her cute videos nonstop.
And I kept watching them with exaggerated awe.
"Whoa! This one's super cute too? Wow... Insane."
'Killing two birds with one stone.'
I was raking in cash from the video donations. Pretty lucrative. And my viewer count was climbing fast too.
[Live Viewer Count: 19,213] I was just reacting to Dokgo Huayeon's videos right now. No big content or anything.
Yet viewers were surging. All thanks to her fans.
'Is this the power of a top 5 conglomerate?'
I could really feel it today. Backed by one of the big five companies, viewers piled up effortlessly.
'At this rate, we might actually hit 20k.'
The summit was close. Just hold on a bit longer, and I'd set the 20,000-viewer record.
That's when it happened.
⚙ SUBSCRIPTION GIFT ⚙ Ding. [Etchyu-kyung gifted Dokgo Huayeon 1 subscription.] Someone gifted a subscription to one of my viewers.
Whoever receives a gifted sub automatically subs to my channel. Super grateful move. It increased my subs by one using their own money.
But I didn't react much. Just one sub. Reacting to video dons was more important right now.
But suddenly the chat exploded.
💬 Live Chat — Viewer - lmaoooo for real?? — Viewer - It's legit lololol - Real deal lololol - kekekekeke - Boss lololol - Dokgo Huayeon 1-month sub lololol Yeah.
The viewer who got the gifted sub wasn't ordinary. Super famous, in fact.
It was Express ranking #2, Dokgo Huayeon herself.
Lucky break?
I grasped the situation the moment I saw the chat. And I quickly designated Dokgo Huayeon as a guest.
[Dokgo Huayeon designated as guest.] Once designated as guest, their nickname and chat get highlighted. Easy to spot even in fast chat speed.
Like right now.
⭐ GUEST CHAT ⭐ — Dokgo Huayeon - ??? Dokgo Huayeon's chat was now highlighted. She sounded pretty flustered.
I greeted her immediately.
"Ah! Hello! Team leader!"
She was our team leader now. I used the term on purpose to emphasize our bond.
⭐ GUEST CHAT ⭐ — Dokgo Huayeon - Ah! Hi! Jae-ho! Nice to see you! I never imagined chatting with Dokgo Huayeon like this.
Not that I minded. If anything, I kinda liked it.
Back then, she was untouchable. I could only admire her as a fan.
But now we were fellow streamers. Opportunities like this chat popped up. Felt surreal.
Of course, no way was I gonna fanboy out.
Instead, I grinned mischievously and spoke.
"But what brings the noble team leader to my humble stream?"
⭐ GUEST CHAT ⭐ — Dokgo Huayeon - I'm not noble at all! That's just a fantasy your viewers made up! "Pfft, kidding. But watching your videos like this won't cause any trouble, right?"
⭐ GUEST CHAT ⭐ — Dokgo Huayeon - Of course not! We're teammates! Enjoy as much as you want! For some reason, Dokgo Huayeon came off super cute. Maybe 'cause it was just chat text.
'Turns out her typing is cute too.'
I chuckled lightly, then addressed the viewers.
"You saw that chat, right? Etchyu Squad, hit me with more fun videos—much appreciated!"
💬 Live Chat — Viewer - lololol play that one quick - Makgeolli explosion go go - But won't boss hate the makgeolli vid? - lololol idk ⚙ VIDEO DONATION ⚙ Ding. A video came in soon after. Dokgo Huayeon pondering a bottle of makgeolli on her desk.
⭐ GUEST CHAT ⭐ — Dokgo Huayeon - Nooo!!! Jae-ho! Skip it quick! Quick!! Dokgo Huayeon's flustered chat flew up fast. Adorably so.
Of course, I knew this video well.
It was the one where Dokgo Huayeon tried makgeolli for the first time, it exploded, and her clothes got soaked. Her most hated video. Posting it in her stream got you insta-banned.
I hesitated for a sec.
Should I play it or not?
'Hmm, for viewer count, yeah... but...'
To leave a good impression on her, skipping was better.
And I decided.
As a former Etchyu Squad member, I couldn't do something the boss(?) hated.
I skipped the video quick.
"Ah, sorry. My hand slipped."
— Viewer - ??? - What? - Skipped it? - lolol Jae-ho's quick on the uptake ⚙ VIDEO DONATION ⚙ Ding. Then another video donation. Makgeolli again.
Naturally, I skipped that too.
"Ah! Why's my mouse pad so slippery? Sorry about that."
I skipped a total of three times like that.
At least viewers enjoyed it.
— Viewer - lololol has tact - Fr, he'd crush social life lololol - Already siding with boss? lololol They were Etchyu Squad too, after all. Dokgo Huayeon fans. No way they'd hate me skipping her disliked vids.
Plus, that move bought me her goodwill.
⭐ GUEST CHAT ⭐ — Dokgo Huayeon - Thank you! Jae-ho! I'm touched! She even sent a thank-you chat.
I barely held back a laugh. Felt like I might rejoin Etchyu Squad at this rate.
"Haha, no biggie. Everyone, send other videos instead!"
Anyway, I kept enjoying her videos. Thankfully, she didn't mind anything but the makgeolli ones.
She even chatted along while watching.
⭐ GUEST CHAT ⭐ — Dokgo Huayeon - Eek... embarrassing. - That one's... - lololololol - I made that face for the stream! - That's fake! Not me! And that helped me a ton.
My live viewer count was skyrocketing in real time.
[Live Viewer Count: 23,763] Word had spread through the community that Dokgo Huayeon was in my stream.
My heart raced a little.
Participating in the audition with 200k viewers hadn't shaken me this much.
But crossing 20k in my stream? Excitement and jitters hit hard.
'Calm down. Can't blow this chance.'
Sure, tomorrow when I boot up, these viewers might vanish like a mirage.
But if I could convert just 10% to regulars?
'Average viewers jump by 2k.'
Tough, but not impossible.
I streamed even harder.
"Whoa! As expected of the boss!"
⭐ GUEST CHAT ⭐ — Dokgo Huayeon - Eek lolol Jae-ho! Calling me boss is a bit... Would real viewers stick around?
Guess I'll find out tomorrow.
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