The Hunter and the Hunted (2)
That was when it happened. A new notification popped up right away.
Congratulations! Han Do-choe has become a die-hard fan!
A number appeared next to die-hard fan 1 in one corner of the chat window.
The chat exploded in an instant.
The chat filled with endless question marks and exclamation points. Everyone was shocked by what Han Do-choe had done.
"Han Do-choe, you really...!"
Throwing in 30% of your current assets at once made you a die-hard fan. Easier said than done—30% was no small amount. And if they'd tossed in 40 Zen right now, that meant they barely had anything left total.
"40 Zen! Big bro, thank you!"
He couldn't forget to give thanks. Sure, 40 Zen might not seem huge as 30% of current assets, but for a streamer who'd only had 2 Zen left, this was massive support.
"As payment, I'll grant one wish!"
He was driving, so no big reactions possible. But that seemed enough—the chat lit up with excitement.
Go Cheon-su knew Han Do-choe's character well.
Han Do-choe's chat popped up. But there was something different from usual.
"Big bro, that..."
Han's chat had a nameplate attached.
But that wasn't the important part right now.
The key was kicking that guy out first.
"Big bro, we gotta pick a stream manager first, yeah? You gonna help?"
🎵 Die-hard fan Han Do-choe has proposed selecting a stream manager. Accept?
Die-hard fans could use features like this? Go Cheon-su tapped the notification in front of him. Accept and Decline buttons appeared, and he hit Accept right away.
To select a stream manager, a recommendation is required. Who would you like to recommend?
The chat window turned gold instantly.
A stream manager was a big deal. Go Cheon-su wasn't about to pick just anyone.
"Big bro."
He called out to Han Do-choe.
"Could you double as stream manager, by any chance?"
Go Cheon-su furrowed his brow hard. What kinda stupid rule was that?
"Alright. Then I'll trust you and ask."
Among the current viewers, Han Do-choe was the most trustworthy. So it made sense to hand this off to them again.
"Recommend a manager, please."
Go Cheon-su had little info on the other viewers. Han might be the same, but if they could judge from a viewer's perspective, it'd help a ton.
On top of that, Go Cheon-su couldn't even see the nicknames of chatting viewers in this state. Without Han's help, he was stuck.
Right then, Han gave advice. Go Cheon-su long-pressed the chat window as instructed.
"Ah...?"
Info he'd never seen before popped up.
Total Viewers: 1,500
Chatting Viewers: 77
Waiting Viewers: 1,423
"Big bro, what's 'waiting viewers'?"
A question popped up mid-chat, so Go Cheon-su tilted his head.
Whatever, hurry and do what I said.
It felt like they were brushing it off, but if that was all, it wasn't worth stressing now. Go Cheon-su long-pressed "Chatting Viewers."
A list of nicknames burst open.
"Whoa."
He'd never imagined seeing this. All the past sponsors' names were here. One red viewer had a skull icon next to "Inappropriate behavior detected"—that had to be the guy.
Nope. He'd considered Onlywon, but something felt off. They seemed more spectator than helper, unlikely to accept anyway. Pure gut feeling, but he wanted someone else.
"What about your rec?"
Ulbu-jjimneun Jeongsin-byeongja. Totally unexpected.
The reactions suggested some backstory.
He didn't know why, but the vibe was solid.
"Big bro, we can swap managers later, right?"
A weird answer, but good enough for now. If it let him boot the psycho ranting about orphan dictators...
"I'll recommend Ulbu-jjimneun Jeongsin-byeongja as stream manager."
Flash! A notification appeared.
Ulbu-jjimneun Jeongsin-byeongja has been recommended as stream manager. Agree?
An Agree button appeared beside it. Go Cheon-su hit it without hesitation.
Fully agreed. Ulbu-jjimneun Jeongsin-byeongja is now your stream manager.
Han must've agreed instantly too. Ulbu-jjimneun Jeongsin-byeongja was manager now.
BAM! A huge sound effect rang out, and the "orphan" chat wiped white.
Problem solved.
"Uh, um..."
Seemed like a cold, quick-judging manager—not bad.
"Uh, Manager? Thanks. Keep moderating oversteps only, please."
Managers could be swapped anytime anyway. Go Cheon-su was satisfied for now.
"Thanks to you all, that was dynamic. Alright, back to business?"
While distracted, the soldiers had pulled a bit ahead. To stay under their "protection," he couldn't lag too far.
"Here we go."
Go Cheon-su floored the accelerator.
"That thing tailing us back there—it's bugging you too, right?"
Meanwhile, in the truck beside the lead #2 bus (replacing the wrecked #1), 1st Platoon's guys rode along.
"Could be the company commander decided to let it slide..."
"Looks like they're hitching a free ride on our route."
"Shouldn't you radio it in?"
The platoon members eyed the distant minivan with unease.
"Nah."
The platoon leader shook his head.
"Like you said, probably just some civilian freeloading off us."
"But..."
"We'll handle it at Cheongju Airport anyway."
Not a huge threat. Time to focus elsewhere.
"How's the vibe inside #2 bus?"
#1 bus had sped off alone and self-destructed—passengers had to be shaken seeing that.
"Told 'em a monster stuck to #1 bus caused it."
"#2 driver passed it on smooth."
The platoon leader smiled faintly. Going well. Passengers clueless about the real deal.
"Good. No issues now."
All drivers were bought off. Obey, and their families stayed safe. #1's driver's family was on a later bus, in fact. Buses 1-3 were bait for a known danger zone pre-Cheongju anyway—sacrificing one early was fine.
"Keep alert, all. If we play #2 and #3 right later..."
That was when #2 bus suddenly slowed and swerved.
"What the—"
Screeech!
No monsters spotted yet, but #2 lost balance solo and veered toward the guardrail.
Boom!
Straight crash. It smashed through and plummeted off.
"Wha—"
As the platoon leader stared blankly, radio crackled.
『S1! What just hap—』
No time to hear it all. He spotted cat-sized spider monsters crawling up from the drop and freaked.
"Shit."
Boom!
Smoke billowed far ahead.
Even to Go Cheon-su, it looked that way.
They're speeding up.
They'd held steady formation before. Now everyone was gunning it like mad.
Go Cheon-su swallowed dryly at the chat.
No way, again...?
He'd met Detectors before. But those would've shown vines from afar. Whatever made soldiers scramble like this hit without warning.
Vrooom!
He stomped the accelerator. The small car started shaking side to side.
Han cut in suddenly. Go Cheon-su frowned slightly.
"Here? Really?"
Already over 120 kph. Pushing harder might wreck this tiny ride.
"Any faster and we hit something, game over."
"Ah."
Another shitty monster. Go Cheon-su gripped the wheel tight and stomped harder.
"How fast we gotta go?!"
This car's limit was 140 kph tops.
Rat-tat-tat! Rat-tat-tat-tat!
Gunfire echoed distantly. Soldiers shooting Graspers on vehicles, probably.
"Damn it."
No way to peel one off at range if it hit him.
Insane talk. This wasn't built for that.
"Ah."
He remembered the cover over the accelerator pedal.
Chat filled with cheers for him.
Enlightenment hit. In the rattling, wind-battered car, Go Cheon-su took a deep breath and yelled.
"Let's GOOOOOO!"
Woof...
Unfortunately, Heukgu's terrified whimper went unheard by this madman.