An Idle Game Character Proposes a Bet

***This chapter contains numerous extreme and hate-inducing expressions. Please proceed with caution...!

At first, no one believed it, but the pissed-off poster uploaded an upscaled, zoomed-in version of the photo, and reactions shifted.

The community exploded.

It was right in the middle of the Bukaksan wyvern incident that nearly turned Korea upside down, and now the streamer blowing up their community had appeared in it.

Once public opinion concluded the figure in the photo was indeed Seiren, the flames spread in multiple directions.

The biggest fire was the residence bait—does Seiren live near Bukaksan?—followed by the top-tier hunter bait that Seiren was the phoenix's owner.

-Gasp.

-No way!

This bait started from the phoenix's flame color being strikingly similar to Seiren's hair, gaining massive support from those captivated by Seiren's beautiful pose leaning perilously against the building railing. After a few dilutions, Seiren had somehow become a top-tier hunter, and mixing in her magical girl concept quickly birthed the "Seiren Archmage Theory."

There was no logic to it, but that didn't matter. Demanding explanations from clueless targets by rolling bait and saying "Hey, there's drama about you. You aware?" was part of their play culture.

Of course, if it veered into weird territory, everyone got screwed, but the "Seiren Archmage Theory" was obviously fake and perfect prank fodder.

They eagerly awaited Seiren's stream with bated breath, then swarmed the chat the moment it went live.

Lee Hyun's reaction upon seeing the chat was straightforward.

"......What the fuck?"

How the hell did they find out?

2

Freaked out, he killed the live stream and dug into the full story, realizing they'd been hit by the community's bait-rolling game.

"These fuckers have nothing better to do."

He felt an urge to line up the bait-rollers on a cliff and shove them off. You guys love rolling that shit so much? Then roll yourselves. He wanted to bless them with some choice words.

Suppressing his anger, he called Seiren.

"Seiren."

"Y-yes...."

"You know what you did wrong, right?"

"Yes...."

He'd already grilled her thoroughly on why she ended up in the photo while investigating the bait.

She hadn't dismantled the dimensional magic circle, wyverns crossed over, and feeling responsible, she'd gone to handle it herself.

"It's not fully closed yet?"

"Yes...."

"How much longer to close it completely?"

"...About three months?"

"...So if you just leave it, it'll vanish in three months?"

"No. If left alone, it'll probably last at least three years...."

"...So even if you dismantle it yourself, it takes three months?"

"Yes...."

Large-scale magic circles took as long to dismantle as to create. Left alone, natural dissipation would take at least three years, and if wyverns crossed again like before, it could extend further.

Lee Hyun felt a pounding headache.

Post-wyvern incident, Bukaksan was under joint investigation by guilds, the Association, and the Magic Tower. He didn't doubt the big three forces' capabilities, but no telling how long full dismantling would take.

Couldn't tell Seiren to sneak in alone past surveillance either—Lee Sun, Korea's archmage and security head, was there.

"Sigh.... Iren."

For some reason, she huffed poutily.

"...That Lee Sun or whatever, I'm way higher level than her."

"That's not the issue right now."

"Th-then what's the problem? I'll definitely fix the magic circle eventually...."

"...."

Seiren grew anxious seeing Lee Hyun's darkening expression. Smart kid, why's she acting up? He couldn't understand.

Honestly, the situation grated a bit. She knew other beings could cross via the dimensional transfer circle but did nothing. Wyverns crossed, she tried cleaning up commendably, but went to face dangerous monsters without telling him.

Above all, she hadn't told him until the bait started rolling. Probably would've kept quiet if not caught on camera by chance.

That realization brought a twinge of betrayal. Maybe that's why he blurted something he'd never normally say.

"If you're gonna be like this, you shouldn't have come."

"Pardon......?"

"Huh? No, I mean."

Ah. Fuck, slip-up.

Lee Hyun, who'd started slipping out the door, rushed to fix it now that Seiren was back to normal.

"H-hey, Iren. What I just said, you know."

Drip.

A single tear from Seiren's eye, drip. No, two streams, drip drip. Three.... Drip drip driiiip.

......Tears poured like a waterfall.

"Hic. Hwaaaang."

"Whoa whoa, Iren. Sorry! I fucked up. Don't cry!"

"Hwaaa...."

Seiren sobbed for a full hour, and Lee Hyun sweated buckets consoling her.

3

"I'm really, really sorry. I didn't mean it."

"......"

"My bad, Iren. I'm so grateful you came to me."

"...Okay."

After groveling enough, she finally responded.

"But I have a request."

"What? Anything."

"Arm pillow when sleeping from now on."

"Uh, wouldn't that be uncomfortable for both of us?"

"Don't like it? Then no."

"No, no! I'll do it. Let me."

Finally, he could restart the killed stream.

Viewers vented complaints the moment they piled in.

"Sniff. Sorry, everyone. Sniff. There was a little incident."

He couldn't hide her red-rimmed, teary eyes despite consoling her. Maybe should've streamed tomorrow? Regret hit late, but rationally, today was right. Viewer count was still at 1k (hacco), and even if the wild bait (truth) was ignored, who knew how it'd roll—better shut it down clean.

......Problem was, aggro pulled too hard this way.

Makes sense—streamer suddenly kills stream, comes back crying.... I'd be curious too.

They'd prepped a story on this. He signaled Seiren, and she continued.

"Why I killed the stream suddenly.... Camera memory suddenly broke... b-broke...... Hic."

"Wait, why...."

But Seiren burst into tears again.

...Was "don't come" that heartbreaking....

Chat naturally went nuts.

Chat mood turned ugly. Sensing it was time, he spoke up without showing his face on cam.

"Yes, everyone. Iren's not feeling great today. I chewed her out a bit."

Dona exploded, but with an omitted "you fucking asshole" vibe? Probably imagination. Chat flowed negatively: Who the fuck are you? Shit editor prick.

Say something harsh made her cry, and he'd be done for. Luckily, solid excuse ready.

"She went out without telling me and headed to Bukaksan, so I got mad. I just saw the photo myself."

Hard-to-grab excuse framing it as worry for Seiren.

Relief as viewers sympathized, but dona exploded again.

Expected flow, question bound to come eventually—answer prepped.

"Her real big bro. Huge age gap."

Raised her half like a kid, so real big bro fits.

"Kinda iffy giving exact, so up/down game."

"Up."

"Up."

"Age gap's so big she really feels like a daughter. Haha."

Actual age gap with Seiren was only 4 years. But that's apparent age.... In his eyes, she was still the 5-year-old from first meeting, so effective gap was 25. Spot on.

Whew. Passed smooth. Was my improv always this good? Proud of himself.

Grinning smugly at Seiren.

"Huh? Did I do something wrong?"

"...No?"

Then why that face.

4

Post-explanation, stream went smoothly.

"Dunno. Don't talk to me."

Seiren turned almost fully away, showing just her head's back, broadcasting her sulk body and soul. Seemed mad at him, but why? No clue. Still, pretty cute. Yellow frilly dress doubled the cuteness?

"Don't talk to me."

"Talk to me please."

Not really mad, so she turned perfectly on cue.

Time to kick off proper. Delays from drama, but opening pending. Signaled Seiren.

"Okay, everyone~ As announced, today we're studying magic together."

"Listen to my lecture, and you can use magic like a magical girl too."

Heheung. While consoling during the stream kill, they'd also discussed Bukaksan dimensional circle cleanup—this magic circle lecture was it. Hoping some official sees, leave lecture to aid dismantling. Super passive, but her way of taking minimal responsibility. Really hoping Bukaksan folks see it, super passive responsibility.

Seiren agreed.

Mixed reactions of "fireball level prob, let's watch" as Seiren spoke.

"Today, short-range teleport magic circles!"

Mage viewers spammed hooks, non-mages questioned.

Seiren began lecturing right as planned.

Viewers raged, dona continued in a new nasty tone.

No idea the grudge, but he moved to ban fast. Seiren stopped him.

Her eyes, round and cute during stream, had returned to normal.

Seiren said, "You seem confident in magic. Wanna bet with me on magic?"

Ignoring viewers, Seiren pressed. "You pick the field. Practical casting, theory duel, I'm confident in all."

"Oh good. Me too. No chickening out, kay?"

Seiren grinned. "Fair trade: mutual face reveal?"

And the bet was on.