No-Cam Mukbang Surprise

I'll do a mukbang (no cam). First off, I can't skip talking about the soundproof booth. Of course, I wanted to buy one right away. Who knows how much longer I'll be stuck in this place, but I couldn't plan for the future anyway. Out of guilt toward my upstairs neighbor, I even looked for the highest-performance model.

'2 million… installation extra…'

After checking the price, I opened my mobile banking app.

'After stripping away this and that, I've got 50,000 won left.'

Can't buy it! No way I'm taking out a loan!

So, a question about my current situation: 'What happened to the money you saved in the military?'

Great question. Even though I came to this mysterious world, the compensation for my youth (pay) from that time is still around. But after giving everything a full makeover for my discharge celebration, nothing was left. I got a new phone, a new computer. While replacing appliances, living expenses piled up too, so there was nothing more to do. What can you do?

'Gotta stay quiet so I don't bother the upstairs neighbor.'

Normally, I'd save for my goals. But why? That 50,000 won figure from earlier kept nagging at me.

'Should I just spend a little?'

I deserve a toast for all my hard work. I can afford some chicken!

…Actually, by the time I'm convincing myself like this, I've already crossed the line more than halfway.

When I came to my senses, a delivery app was installed somehow. And chicken was generously piled in my cart. It didn't stop there—I even hit pay!

Store confirmed. Prep started.

I could already picture it in my head. Super crispy!crispy! on the outside, with that chewy~ chewy~ tender meat inside. I swallowed the saliva pooling in my mouth and closed the delivery app.

At the same time, the current time popped up big on screen.

"Huh?"

It was already 9:30 PM. I should turn on the stream right when the chicken arrives.

'Oh, crap. What now.'

I was genuinely flustered, but I quickly regained my composure. I'm a pro streamer. Someone who turns sudden situations into content!

…I turned on the stream.

The chat steadily climbed with that boost of energy.

"Alright, everyone. Can you hear me?"

"Of course! I missed my sisters!"

To be precise, I was looking forward to showing new content to viewers too. Of course, they wouldn't know until I said it. No announcement.

"Oh, really? Perfect timing then!"

Rustle.

The chat exploded even more at the sound of me fiddling with the bag. I glanced at it, pulled out the chicken box and pickled radish, and set them up in front of the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠monitor.

"Alright! Everyone! Part 1 starts now! Mukbang time!"

The chat filled with question marks. Why? Obviously because of the content I announced.

"No choice! I already ordered, and it's right here!"

I pulled out a cola. Can zero cola. A freebie from a review event.

"Hold on a sec. Gotta take a pic for the review event."

One word from me got ten back—it was a riot, fun to watch. But no time to reply now. I was snapping pics of the steaming chicken.

"Alright, quick 5-star review and…"

"It's courtesy between us. Slam that 5-star first and say 'So tasty!' That's the rule."

"Exactly. Why bother explaining? Writing reviews is a hassle anyway."

"Anyway, review posted. Mukbang starting now."

I glanced at the chat with my eyes and shoved chicken in my mouth. Crispy crumbling batter, bursting juices. Chewy meat wrapping my teeth!

"Ahh… this is sex…"

I let out a juicy reaction without thinking. But hey, nothing weird, right? Me and the viewers are like buddies!

Viewers might take it differently. Even as friends, gender walls don't vanish. But this fits my chill image perfectly.

"No need to get all uptight. I don't care about sex jokes honestly."

Positive reactions. Great flow.

I munched ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠some pickled radish, sipped cola. Oiling my mouth tasty, picking at scraps, when questions popped in chat.

"Nah? I'm eating. Doing a mukbang here."

"Ah, can't avoid this topic. My unit took meal etiquette super seriously. Below corporal couldn't even use chopsticks—"

"Ant-plucking?!"

The chat was even more hyped instead. Viewer count at 800. Downtrend, but killer for a no-cam endgame stream.

"Didn't."

"I don't burp anyway. And I'm not a guy cam."

"Huh? But it's tasty."

Question marks surged. Throw away this refreshing tangy goodness? Unthinkable!

Chat split from my 'tasty' comment: 'Gotta drink the broth' vs 'Why drink that?' Watching the chewing experts argue was hilarious.

But can't let it overheat. I opened my mouth to cool things as—

Drumroll! Bam! Pow! An even louder sound and fireworks exploded!

"Aigoo! You scared me!"

I had to act startled even if not. Courtesy to a big donor.

The TTS was chill, not matching the huge fanfare. Chat boiled: 'Oohs' and 'wows' turned to 'Dump the loyalist' after TTS.

I didn't like this messy vibe either.

"Aigoo, UpstairsPerson! Thank you so much! I'll definitely put it toward the soundproof booth later! And the broth is really tasty, that's why!"

It's a habit now, hard to break. But personal taste, they'll get it.

…Mood settled, belly full enough. Time to move on.

"Alright, wrap up and part 2?"

"Radish and cola all gone."

"Huh? Half left…"

Brief silence. Then chat flooded.

Can't even do one chicken per person. Disqualified chubby. So you're slim? Date me? Stuff like that poured in.

Honestly, I was surprised too. Thought I'd finish it.

"But that's good, right? This'll last a couple days?"

"Huh? No air fryer."

Silence again. Jingle! Jingle!

My pitiful words sparked donations. Yay! Happy!

But reacting drags cleanup and part 2.

"Everyone, I'm cleaning up, no dones now. Might miss 'em!"

"Yeah, bathroom too. Mic off this time."

I told you no dirty talk!

Mic off, quick cleanup. Sauce rinsed well, sorting perfect. Back fast, mic on.

"Ahh, back."

"Nah? I sort perfectly. Seniors chewed me out otherwise."

Lies my ass!

Doesn't matter if they believe. "Anyway, part 2 time. Today's part 2 is…"

Game on. Sora game. The one I quit yesterday.

"Man of persistence Lee Tae-min, retrying."

"Kinda iffy… but trying to be quiet."

Oh, mission up.

"I could clear blindfolded. Accepting."

"What?! Why fail… yo…"

Almost raised my voice, killed it quick.

Chat in festival mode before start. Carried rage monkeys, pushed progress.

"Watch snakes, skip apples… okay! Peak form!"

Behind-the-back—this is physical god.

Problem: no clue what's next…

"But it'll work out? Slow and careful."

Clearing yesterday's fail today. Praise as natural streamer.

"Think dones after clear—huh."

Clang! Thud! Boing! Thwack!!

"Oh… pretty far? But sometimes gotta rethink from start."

"This f—bal!"

Shut mouth quick, but sound out. Calmed rage, tried again. Final verdict.

"…This game's punishment game now."

Straight to penalty hell! Desperate measure to avoid daily Sora.

Viewers seemed to get it. Weird for endgame streamer to cling to old game.

Wrap-up line time—jingle! Coin drop.

"Huh? Clip? Lemme see… this?"

My voice on Nutube. Emotional, clicked link.

"Real-time guy cam thick curses oof… this? Title's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠savage."

Clicked.

"What!"

Short clip of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my curse. Sound quality meh. Mic fault? Picked cheap one…!

"You guys been listening to this quality whole time?"

Chats said off lately. Can't stream with this quality forever. Better swap mic soon.