Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: A Birthday Angel
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Lee Hyunwoo was the kind of ordinary man you could find just about anywhere.
His life itself had no real twists or turns, nothing out of the ordinary.
He'd gotten into college with scores around the top 45 percent.
Graduated with average marks and snagged a job at a so-so small-to-medium enterprise.
As for strengths or special talents... well...
Ah, there was one thing he couldn't really brag about to others.
His dick was big.
And he was pretty damn good at sex, too.
But that wasn't much of a boast he could throw around.
Out of shame? Nah.
It was because women willing to go out with a guy like Lee Hyunwoo—slightly below-average looks and a dead-end job—were few and far between.
Great at sex, but hardly any chances to use it.
So, fair to say he had no real talents.
A life that wasn't especially better or worse than anyone else's.
Lee Hyunwoo had vaguely figured he'd live out that same ordinary existence right up until he died.
That is, until the being calling himself an angel appeared right before his eyes.
"Well then, I'll head out first."
It was nine in the evening.
He'd finally wrapped up the overtime and stood from his desk.
At least it hadn't turned into a full-blown all-nighter. Small mercies.
Working at a dumpsite like this was brutal.
The low pay? He could live with that.
But there was no dividing line between your work and mine.
The asshole bosses dumped their tasks on you while preaching about ownership and hustling hard.
And if shit hit the fan with some work mishap?
The poor sap who'd taken it on got all the blame.
Then there were the benefits. Or lack thereof.
He wasn't asking for big-corp perks.
But come on, at least let people clock out on time three days a week.
Hell, even just once.
They piled on the work like crazy but gave you hell if you tried to take a monthly vacation day or a half-day.
And another shitty thing...
"Oh, yeah. Heading out early today, huh? Lucky bastard."
They had a way of subtly guilting their underlings like that.
'This psycho. Does he seriously think nine PM is "early"?'
Lee Hyunwoo unleashed a torrent of inner curses at Manager Ma.
But he couldn't let it show on his face.
That's just how office life worked.
"Yes. Haha... Have a good night."
"Take care. See you tomorrow. You know you gotta come in early on Mondays, right?"
"Yes..."
Manager Ma had a knack for weighing you down with dread even as you left.
Still, clocking out was always a joy.
Doubly so when tomorrow was a day off.
The second he stepped out of the office, he undid the top button of his shirt.
Slid into his car and kicked off the stuffy dress shoes for sneakers.
Nothing fancy.
But it was enough to feel that fresh rush of freedom.
'It's my birthday, after all. Maybe grab a bottle of Baekseju?'
Lee Hyunwoo's one hobby, his sole indulgence, was kicking back after work with internet broadcasts.
Normally, Baekseju—way pricier than soju—was a pipe dream.
But tomorrow was special.
His birthday.
A little splurge like this had to be okay, right?
With that thought, Lee Hyunwoo swung by the convenience store for a bottle of Baekseju and some simple snacks.
Back to his studio apartment.
Obviously, the dark, empty room offered no signs of life.
The lonely vibe of a one-room hit him like always.
A familiar solitude.
Bag in one hand, he stepped inside casually and flicked on the light.
Fired up the PC while he was at it.
All that was left was setting up his drinking station at the desk.
Pulled out two bottles of Baekseju, set down a glass and the snacks.
Setup complete.
"Let's see..."
With practiced ease, he scrolled down the mouse wheel.
The monitor displayed the Koreatv homepage.
Wonder what broadcasts were worth watching tonight.
Lee Hyunwoo enjoyed plenty of streamers, but he wasn't a die-hard fan of any.
In broadcast lingo, a floating viewer.
He liked fun content or talk shows, sure.
But his main goal was drinking mukbangs.
So he'd tune into big streamers doing booze cams, or hunt for others if not.
"All doing content tonight."
Saturday night.
The major broadcasters were running content to pull in viewers.
They might switch to drinking shows later, but he'd probably be asleep by then.
No choice—Lee Hyunwoo browsed for alternatives.
He was picky about his drinking broadcasts.
For guy streamers, wit and humor came first.
No interest in some sad solo drinker.
Obviously, he wanted someone who could make him laugh.
Girl streamers? Slightly different criteria.
Pretty face hot enough to stand in for snacks.
Chat that made you feel like you were drinking together.
Those two were key.
"You it is today."
After scrolling forever, one female cam broadcaster caught his eye.
[Day 3 Newbie Female Cam) Saturday Night Booze Cam, Oppa Let's Drink Together~]
Mokran♡ · Viewers: 13
A day-3 low-tier female cam.
No clue if it was really day three.
But her refined looks and modest viewer count appealed.
Click the thumbnail, and he entered the stream instantly.
Quickview ad-skip item meant no commercials.
"WantToBeUnemployed oppa, welcome~"
'WantToBeUnemployed' was Lee Hyunwoo's ID.
True to low-tier form, Mokran greeted the quickview regular who'd never even joined her fan club with a smile.
Lee Hyunwoo felt a twinge of satisfaction.
When did a plain guy like him ever get a warm welcome from a pretty girl like that?
Anywhere else would've cost a fortune in paid features.
-Hello. First time seeing you. Came by 'cause I wanted to have a drink together.
"Oh, really? I've only been streaming for three days! Come back often, okay? Since we have a new viewer, how about a cheers together? Cheers~!"
Mokran's cutesy act melted him like butter.
Lee Hyunwoo raised his glass to clink with hers across the screen.
Down the hatch with the Baekseju.
Worth every penny—sweet, smooth glide down the throat.
He chatted occasionally, sipping away, and before he knew it, he'd downed a bottle and a half.
Half a bottle left.
Time: 11:55 PM.
Five minutes to birthday o'clock.
No way his phone would buzz at midnight. Not from anyone.
He wanted congratulations.
Ideally from a pretty girl like Mokran.
Lee Hyunwoo hit the coin gift button.
His wallet was light, so he only recharged a bit monthly.
A measly 5,000 won.
100 won per coin—50 coins a month max.
Pathetic compared to whales dropping 10,000 or 100,000 a day.
But for a low-tier, even this got you VIP treatment.
Few whales hit female cam rooms with tiny audiences.
Especially fresh ones.
17 coins left.
Gifting them all might expose his broke ass.
Ten it was...
[WantToBeUnemployed has gifted 10 coins!]
-WantToBeUnemployed is the 32nd Fan Club member!
-Mokran, my birthday's in five minutes. Could you celebrate it?
The electronic girl voice—TTS—read his chat aloud.
Paid chat. Mokran beamed in response.
"Whoa! WantToBe oppa! Birthday? Happy birthday! Congratulations! Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday, dear WantToBe oppa~ Happy birthday! Woo woo woo!"
"Haha..."
He'd just tossed coins for a quick congrats.
Got a full-on generous reaction instead.
Low-tier Mokran poured her heart into the birthday song, even clapping along.
For a measly 10 coins.
1,000 won, and this reaction? A steal.
The kind of treat only low-tiers offered.
And then—midnight.
Lee Hyunwoo's birthday.
"What the? What's going on?"
The fluorescent light flickered, then died.
He'd been chatting with Mokran, draining his last glass, but now he scowled and stood to fiddle with the switch.
No dice. Light stayed off.
"Damn it, PC's fine. Just the bulb?"
Changing it was easy but annoying.
Buzzed as hell, irritation surged.
That's when he spotted it.
Someone standing in the room.
"Gahhh!"
A ghost?
The sudden face made Lee Hyunwoo shriek like a banshee.
If he were some XX-chromosome anything-goes guy, maybe.
But no—Lee Hyunwoo had a perfectly normal fear of the supernatural.
"Wh-wh-what the hell!"
"Fear not. I come to aid thee."
The sudden... ghost?
Nah, the woman was a far cry from ghostly.
Lustrous white hair, skin pale but pure, harmonious features.
And those wings sprouting from her back.
Way more angel than specter.
"You're... pretty."
"I shall make thee strong... Huh? What'd you say?"
The angel, mid-solemn vibe, blushed and fidgeted at the compliment.
Maybe not so scary after all.
"Are you an angel?"
"Ahem. Yes. I am the faithful servant of the glorious Lord, an angel come to aid thee in thy suffering."
"Ooh..."
Pretty drunk, Lee Hyunwoo didn't register how surreal this was.
Instead, a holy awe filled his heart.
If an angel helped, maybe this shitty life could turn around.
"How exactly will you help?"
"Speak one wish, and it shall be granted."
"Then marry me too?"
A half-remembered childhood anime flashed in his boozed brain.
Proposing to a wish-granting angel, ensuing chaos.
Without thinking, the words tumbled out.
"Impossible."
"Huh? Why! You said you'd grant a wish!"
"Thy looks and figure aren't my type. Sorry. No other wishes?"
"Sigh..."
Another stack on the rejection and gold-digger counts today.
Fucking world.
His elation plummeted.
At least the booze haze cleared a bit, sharpening his wits.
"Money then. Enough to live off forever without working."
"That won't do. Great wealth can't be handed out lightly. A little cash, maybe... Uh... In your currency, about 10 million won?"
The angel flipped open a tiny book, calculating allowable sums and exchange rates.
Clearly not versed in the human world.
"This no, that no—what can you do?"
"Wish for something tied to thy happiness. That's the proper use of a wish."
"Fine, make it so I can spend coins without limit."
"Coins? What's that?"
Lee Hyunwoo pointed at the monitor and explained.
"It's virtual currency for gifting to those broadcasters on the screen. Not real money, so you can give infinite, right?"
"Hmm..."
After a moment's thought, the angel nodded.
"If it's to bring joy to others, then yes. Thy wish is granted."
Lee Hyunwoo's wish: infinite coins.
A collab between an angel clueless about the human world and a drunk Lee Hyunwoo.