The Nightmare of the First Live Stream
Lying in bed, the kind and gentle beauty camping expert fell deep into thought. "Hmm... a live broadcast, huh..."
I pondered for quite a while, but couldn't come up with any solid answers and eventually drifted off to sleep. Was it the stress? That night, I had a horrific nightmare.
I was in my room, sitting in front of my computer. The screen glowed with the [Broadcast Start] button.
...I have to do it. I have to.
With trembling hands, I moved the mouse and clicked the button.
[Broadcast has started.]
The moment that message popped up, the chat window on the right side of the screen exploded upward like crazy.
The screen was completely filled with the word "Camperji." The letters from the chat seemed to leap out and wrap around me like ropes. I tried to speak up and refute them, but something blocked my throat—no sound came out.
Wh-what the hell... I have to say something...
In the end, like a fish gasping, I could only watch helplessly as the chat scrolled endlessly.
"Gahhh!"
I bolted awake with a scream. My whole body was drenched in cold sweat. Panting heavily, I stared blankly at the ceiling for a while. Those "Camperji" letters from the dream still lingered in my vision.
...It was just a dream.
To shake off the sticky feeling, I got out of bed and downed a cup of instant mix coffee. Then I grabbed my smartphone and checked YouTube Studio.
And confronted a reality even scarier than the nightmare.
Overnight, subscribers had surged past 30,000. The comments were plastered—just like in the dream—with pleas for a live stream.
No escaping it now, for real.
On one side, Im Nana was being so considerate. On the other, hordes of people were clamoring for me. Backing out here would just look pathetic.
Fine, screw it. Let's just do it.
No choice but to face it head-on. If I screw up and tank, I can just delete the channel and get a job again. Whatever.
I splashed my face and opened my laptop. Then, on my YouTube channel's community tab, I posted a short, blunt announcement.
My finger trembled as I hit "post." No turning back now.
I ate my jajangmyeon—breakfast and lunch in one—while seriously pondering the impending disaster.
Okay, first... what's the problem?
One: My speech. No way it passes for an early-20s woman.
Two: Camping questions. Can't just explain solo like before—gotta make sure they get it.
And the biggest: Ditch the Camperji image and reinvent as the kind and gentle beauty healing camping expert Han Areum.
But if I went live like this, it'd just cement the damn Camperji vibe—no cute camper girl in sight.
No way. Can't let that happen.
After some thinking, I grabbed an A4 sheet and pen. Tonight, I had to become a completely different person.
First, jot down the most likely questions.
Q1. What gear do you use?
Q2. Why'd you start camping?
Q3. When did you start playing guitar?
Now, craft model answers. Concept: kind and gentle healing camping YouTuber.
A1. Ah~ my gear? This is a Snow Peak product, super good even for beginners~ ^^ (Flash a smile!)
...Fuck.
Trembling with self-loathing, I prepped the most crucial response: Defense sim against Camperji attacks.
Standing in front of the mirror, I forced the sweetest, most lovable smile. My mouth twitched like it was spasming.
"Oh my~ 'Camperji,' huh~? Hohoho. What a fun nickname~? But I'm a pretty girl like this~? From now on, call me 'Areum-nim'—that'd be so much nicer~♡"
Ending with a finger heart—peak femininity.
Then I bolted to the bathroom.
"Urk... bleghhh...!"
Almost inspected that jajangmyeon up close.
...I can do this. I can. Just for tonight, I'm not a guy...
Clinging to the toilet, teary-eyed, I vowed.
"??? Fuck. But I'm not a guy now either?"
Promised time: 9 PM.
Yeah, Nana said her manager would handle chat moderation, so no need to stress.
With that positive spin, I hit the broadcast start button.
Viewers skyrocketed right away.
> [Current Viewers: 521]
> [Current Viewers: 1,389]
> [Current Viewers: 3,744]
In minutes, it neared 4,000.
...Insane.
The chat was beyond my control—impossible to read, a waterfall of text.
First 5 minutes are wait time, right...?
Those 5 minutes felt eternal. I glanced in the mirror, practiced my face.
...Mommy.
Deep breath... No, I turned woman—can't react like this forever. Steeled myself again.
Finally, after the 5 minutes, I launched into my mirror-rehearsed lines.
"Y-yes... h-hello, everyone~! Camping is... steadfastly, Han Areum... here~."
After the awkward greeting and some chit-chat, expected questions rolled in. I sneaked peeks at my A4 cheat sheet and rattled off prepped answers.
Good, Q1.
"Ah~ my gear? This is... a Snow Peak product, super good even for beginners~. ...Hohoho."
Damn, busted. Sharp-eyed... No, focus! Focus!
Fuck, not on the cheat sheet.
"Ah, thanks for the Super Chat~. Nana-nim and I... met by ch~ance? camping and got close. Hope to see her more~. ...Hohohoho."
Sweating bullets, I barely kept up the shaky act. If it stayed like this, I might scrape by.
Until that question hit.
Reading that donation, my forced smile twitched.
...Indian tent with Rakgurakgu?
Speechless for a sec. My brain rejected the unholy combo. What nightmare hybrid was this?
Calm down. Beginner's ignorance. Just distorted newbie knowledge. Explain kindly, gently.
Recalling my "gentle Areum-nim" notes, I opened with the softest voice.
"Ah... yes, RakgurakguManiac-nim. Thanks for the question. Hmm... Aesthetic camping? Great choice. Really great...."
The more I spoke, the more something bubbled inside.
"Indian tents are pretty, but a hassle for solo newbie setup. Smaller than you think—more rest tent than sleepover. And Rakgurakgu bed... how the hell you loading that in your car and hauling to site? That's not camping, that's moving!"
Unnoticed, my voice rose, tone roughened.
"Newbies should start practical and simple, find your style! Think flashy leads to suffering and quitting—happens all the time?!"
Something snapped inside.
"Die!!!!!! How dare you start camping with that heretical combo!!! Where'd you even see that bullshit pairing...!!! Just sleep at home! Switch to pop-up tent and goose down bag now!!!!!"
The roar escaped unbidden.
...Fuck?
Too late—I clapped hands over my mouth.
"Gasp."
...I'm done.
Shame, self-hate, "it's over"—I buried my face in my hands.
The kind and gentle beauty healing camping YouTuber Han Areum concept shattered in under 30 minutes, off on an irreversible trip.
Chat must be rioting: "What's her problem?", "Pretty face ain't enough?", "Otaku trash overreacting." Or just nonstop curses.
Nearly in tears, I squinted at the chat.
And doubted my eyes.
...Huh?
...What? Why do they like it?
Couldn't comprehend. But chat blazed on, ignoring my confusion.
I gave up understanding.
...Whatever.
Gentle concept? Total failure. Only Camperji left.
Enlightened, I scanned questions.
"Hotman South Star? Lanterns are taste—got money, buy it."
"National rule... Honestly, camp pork rule is neck, not belly. Griddles? Heresy to me. Oil splatter hard clean—why outdoors? Solo cast iron pan max."
"Shin? Tasty sure. Ah... but 'boil' it? So diligent. Mine's set: Yukgaejang bowl ramen. Easy boil, no dishes, guaranteed taste. Remember: next morning = Yukgaejang bowl. Big cup? No."
Strangely, the wilder I got, the more viewers hyped. Chat turned fan club, weeping/laughing at my every word.
Self-abandoned, I dragged the stream along.
"Ah, that's it for today. Getting late."
"Next live... dunno, probably not before next vid. Bye~"
Click—ended broadcast, double-checked closure.
...Fuck, finally over.
Drained dry, I sprawled starfish on bed. Mentals shredded.
...What now?
Pondering my identity crisis, my phone buzzed. Caller: [Nana Channel Manager Kim Manho].