An Incredible Opportunity (2)
Quickly opening the inbox, I saw the message Danbi had sent last night sitting there all by itself.
I hurriedly covered the screen before slowly starting to read the note.
Sorry for messaging so late T_T... Anyway, I'm reaching out about the Eternal Loop streamer tournament. The truth is, I'm really struggling to find teammates because of the tier restrictions, and it's hard for me to team up with male streamers separately, so I've been looking for people who play Eternal Loop. Then Huran-i contacted me first! We talked it over, and I think it would be perfect with just the three of us: me, Huran-i, and you...! Hehe... If you're okay with it, Rie, would you join us? If yes, please contact me on Dascode: Danbi_zirong!
The moment I finished reading, I remembered how I'd thought I had to wait until the game crashed, and my face suddenly started burning up.
What was that about 'games' and 'boards'—who do you think I am, some big corporation...?
Huran-i had casually given her number to Danbi without a second thought, but me... A wave of regret hit me hard, and I felt like I was dying of embarrassment. I pressed both hands firmly against my cheeks and bowed my head.
"I-I read the message... I'll contact you after the stream ends...!"
Even her farewell was so polite—big corp streamers really were on another level.
"Huu... Th-thank you!"
I let out a big breath, lowered my hands from my face, and bowed toward the monitor. I wanted to check if Danbi had really left, but Pajijik didn't let you see the viewer list.
"D-did she go? Is Danbi gone?"
After waiting a while with no response, she must've left. Or... she wasn't still lurking, was she...?
"Haa... Yeah. She messaged about the Eternal Loop tournament. I'll announce details after the stream."
I saw viewers teasing about short-reach, but my short-reach was the one that worked even in grimer games—totally different from others. I'd simulated it a thousand times in my head.
"Enough about Eternal Loop now. Keep going and I'll just boot it up for real?"
They said that, but most of my viewers definitely loved Eternal Loop. No doubt.
"Anyway, I think I gotta watch the game ending today and then log off."
"I wanna play more too, but I need to chat with Huran-i unni or Danbi before their streams start."
The chat showed disappointment at my words, but there was no helping it. Honestly, if my condition was bad today, I might've done a short stream anyway.
"But if we join the tourney, won't I stream in the evening for practice too?"
"N-now, everyone calm down. Anyway, finish eating and then game time! Cafe tour next time or after stream off!"
Food done, water fetched. Time to play the game I'd brought.
[Game Start]
"Okay, everyone ready? You got tissues without me, right?"
"Here we go!"
I glanced at the reactions and hit start without hesitation.
[Woof!]
"Agh, too cute!"
The second I hit start, a puppy came running, and a reflexive squeal escaped me. That little waddling butt was just too adorable.
[It's time for the welcome party. If it's okay, can you bring the people?]
[Whine... Woof!]
Following the path by tapping keys, I saw the puppy bark energetically at the old man's words.
"Not sad, just super cute?"
"Then let's keep going!"
I progressed the game per viewer suggestions. Finding people the old man mentioned: a dog with a killer and soldier that looked like from a movie, and a tiny puppy with a baby. It wasn't super sad, but seeing that baby next to the little pup at the end got me a bit choked up.
"But this is cheating, right? A kid obviously in heaven—who wouldn't get emotional?"
"Ahem...! All gathered, heading to welcome party now."
I cleared my throat and sped through. Watching the dogs reunite with owners at heaven felt weird in my chest.
"Sniff...! Th-there's even a schoolkid."
But the puppy's owner never came, so it left heaven, crossing the rainbow bridge to find them.
"No way the owner went to hell, right?"
I ignored the chat lightly and followed the fairy the old man made. Dodging monster-like things with fairies, turning dark fields green, navigating caves, watching the story unfold.
After meeting various people and hearing stories, we arrived at an old bus stop. My nose already tingled, but I casually approached the grandma on the bench.
[Aigoo, stray pup. Hungry? Eat this at least.]
The grandma kindly pulled jerky from her pocket and gave it to the puppy.
[My Poppy too... Mom went first, must've been so scary. Gotta wait here til she comes. Til my baby comes...]
"Ah, seriously..."
She'd passed first but waited endlessly here to greet her pet. Up til now it was dogs waiting for owners, but this twist—anyone could see it was intentional. And those lines were peak tearjerker tactics...
"Hic... Not crying."
I swallowed my sniffles, ignoring the teasing chat, and continued. Even meeting the reaper at the stop and the vet unni, grandma was still waiting in the same spot.
[Someone's coming over there!]
The moment I spotted a small cute chihuahua far off at the stop, I knew instinctively.
"Ah... no way."
[Aigoo!]
Grandma struggled up from the bench, arms wide, and the chihuahua leaped into her embrace, tail wagging wildly. This scene wasn't in the clip I'd seen before...!
"Kkh...! N-not crying, nooo!"
Viewers were total psychopaths. Even for me, who'd never raised a dog, seeing grandma wait so long for her pet stirred emotions this much— and they said it wasn't that bad?
"Hnnng, kkh..."
Crazy psychopath bastards...