22. Is This Also a Butterfly Effect?

"Honestly, I didn't see this coming."

"What can I say? You've been open like it was the most natural thing since I moved here."

The shop had been open almost year-round without regular holidays. It always felt like it'd be here forever.

Yeah, fair point. The "domestic" bit was just me grasping at straws anyway.

I started walking away with a bitter taste when suddenly, I spotted lights on inside the shop.

"Huh. Looks like someone's there."

"Makes sense. They were open just a few days ago."

One chat suggestion caught my eye. I was curious myself, but… is it okay to pry like that? I've gotten permission upfront for streams since my riverside setup is on the regular route. But a full interview? That's a whole different level. Especially since I'm already in the spotlight after that mess with Ha-kko.

"Maybe I will." It might just be my assumption about the pressure. Better to ask and decide.

"If business is slow, you might need the appearance fee I'd offer anyway."

"Oh, you knew. Thanks for the 1,000 coins, Anonymous Devotee~"

A bit later than expected. Even with this crowd, no one noticed the sneaky setting change.

……In seconds, superchats and subs flooded the screen—dozens at least. From the 1,000-coin punches I'd secretly enabled to hefty ones they'd probably been saving up for.

"Thanks for the 1,000 coins, Anonymous Devotee after 53 minutes, CuraDoc, KimchiMore, NerMat… And TokyoGaijin, ToughAnt, MeowColor… Your situations aren't great either—how can you spend on this?"

The firepower was too much to react to each one. Guess this is the result of holding it back for a while.

Suddenly, I was raiding my own stream with a cash avalanche right in front of someone else's shop. Aside from Lee Jeong-ah's last time, even 1,000-coin punches were rare for me—so yeah, happy, but worry first. Especially the big ones, mostly from Japan.

This isn't some extension of the issue— they're barely surviving themselves. What're they gonna eat after dumping big bucks on me?

…That's why I'd blocked it. It felt burdensome.

And then, the dragon point flew in.

"Heh."

Burning 400k on that line.

Last time I tested idly, anything bigger than that wasn't even inputtable. Biggest in my streaming history… probably across the whole platform too. The infamous "maxdam."

How to react? No clue.

Didn't need to think anyway. Felt wilder than expected, but this flow was predictable.

Bottom line: Not just fan love or content bait from some rat. This was the government testing waters, pretending to be a viewer.

Clues were already out. Teaching my juniors leaked concepts to other awakeners—they realized isekai knowledge has value. But asking me directly? Too risky. Can't poke the girl even awakeners fear.

So they targeted my main content— isekai tales on stream. Same reason they approached Lee Jeong-ah, then Malreong Kongtteok. Rotted fans having old stories was public.

…Just dig VODs? Nah. After incidents, Lightning dropped my partnership. VODs vanish after 3 weeks. No YouTube backups or anything. Looks like Lightning didn't preserve 'em either.

"Whoa, whoa, Anonymous Devotee. Calm down."

Whatever their angle, no need to reject outright. It's their show of sincerity. Honestly, minus my politics hate, I'm pleased. My memory sack's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠verified content from one failed run. Hesitant to start? This wind's nice.

Viewers bowed to capital pressure, reactions positive. Maxdam cooled the explosion.

Can't let blind money spam continue, though. Draw a line.

"Thanks for the donations first. But I had plans today, so soon-ish. I'll set aside time next—match content then, please."

Arrogant for pocketing big cash, adding conditions. But they took it cool. Not gov? Nah, confirmed.

I calmed other donations before pushing the restaurant interview.

"Alright, boss. Look at the screen and tell us your name and age?"

Interview request? Easy yes. Pumped the fee after the donation rush.

"Hmm…? Name's Jo Cheol-young. Forty-three this year. Nice to meet you, viewers."

Boom, boss agreed. Heard he's been on food shows and mukbangs as a local fave. Handles weird drips fine.

"Ahem. Greetings done. I was shocked coming here—sudden closure."

"Sigh… No choice. No ingredients coming in. Feels so unfair I could keel over."

"Which ingredients specifically?"

"All of 'em."

I blinked blankly, and boss sighed in exhaustion.

"Few big marts aside, no trucks entering locally. Pufferfish, rice, minari—nothing left."

"Locally? Not this neighborhood?"

"Yeah. Downtown's worse. Sobaeksan-crossing cargo goes through here to there."

Chat stirred at the serious talk. Seong-yoon chimed in defensively—watching the stream.

Logistics are the economy's arteries, yeah. Smart cities prioritize urban zones.

"Huh. Viewers aren't local, so maybe not. But you're from here, kid. How don't you know?"

"Eh… Don't go out much."

"Aigoo. Lately, trucks from south detour around Sobaeksan. Safer there. Monsters? Zero."

Aha. That's it.

Sharp viewers. Confused briefly, then got it.

Right. My… drip ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠time. Yeah, I claimed the area for fox safety, cleared it roughly! Barrier's up too. Even my slow response beats response teams who can't scout gates. Plus, they're focused on southwest urban gates. Yeongju investment? Meh compared to cores.

Result: Safer detours via Sobaeksan activate.

"Hmm. Didn't expect this."

Chat questioned while I stroked my chin. True, now Seong-yoon's magic scouts gates—response improving. Security up, not down.

"Sigh. Monster block? Call it a typhoon, move on. Human block? Rage-inducing."

"Humans?"

Some viewers seemed in the know.

"Some Awakener Association blocking roads, freeloading on their security efforts. Show gratitude for their work, they say."

"……."

Yeah. Overcame gates, now awakener group occupies roads. 21st-century madness. World really broke.

"Complain to cops? Worry they'll get hurt. No reporters come here anymore."

"Oh shit."

Setting up tolls in my cleared zone. Butterfly effect?