Seria's Horror Game

I sat in my chair with a huge, silly grin plastered across my face. Next to me, Yog—the former Demon King and current housekeeper and all-around errand runner—was busy editing the clips I had pulled. After I gave her a rough outline of the vibe I wanted and the kind of moments my subscribers craved, she followed my instructions perfectly. It turned out she had tinkered with computers quite a bit during her shut-in days, and her editing was genuinely dazzling, her hands flying across the keyboard with flashy expertise.

"By the way, you're amazing, Miss Elf. You're not just watching one or two internet streams—you're watching several at once and spotting clip-worthy moments in all of them."

"Well, I suppose. Still, it's gotten a lot easier lately thanks to you, Yog."

"Hehe, now that I know how hard you usually push yourself, I can't exactly back down. I want to work here for a long time, after all."

"Then I'll be relying on you a lot, so brace yourself."

"Yeees~" she replied, and I turned my full attention to Seria's stream.

"H-hello, everyone..."

Seria didn't look happy at all today. A shadow hung over her forehead, her head drooped glumly, and the usual light had vanished from her eyes.

Just yesterday, I had sent Seria a massive donation to get her to play a horror game. Of course she couldn't refuse an amount that huge. Her eyes went wide, she let out a deep sigh, and reluctantly agreed. She said she couldn't manage it that same day, so she'd finish preparing and do it tomorrow instead.

Still, I was a little worried after she suddenly announced she'd be streaming seven days a week. Taking breaks ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from streaming isn't great for momentum, but managing your own condition is important too.

Everyone's concern made Seria's soft, moved voice slip out quietly. "Everyone..." She gave a small, gentle smile, then shouted with renewed energy.

"Thanks to all your encouragement, I feel like playing the game now! All right! Shall we get started?"

"Ah, um, that's..."

"N-no, that's not it! I just... I've never played a horror game before! How could I possibly feel scared of some data lump like this!"

"Pfft, yes, Mr. DdalSyong believer is right. I am a nun, after all. Ghosts and the like! They don't scare me one bit!"

Ten minutes later.

"Kyaaaaaaaak!! I can't exorcise monsters at aaaaaall!!"

The moment Seria started the horror game I'd sent her, she let out a scream just ten minutes in.

"I don't like this! No! Why can't the protagonist use any weapons?! What am I supposed to do with just this stupid camera?!"

Darkness Amnesia. It was a recently popular horror game. The protagonist, trapped in a mental hospital, had to escape after uncovering the facility's secrets while fighting off mutant monsters created through experiments. The game's main feature was that the protagonist couldn't use any weapons at all and had no physical means to interfere with the pursuing monsters. In other words, the protagonist could only run away.

While she was frantically fleeing, a rough breathing sound suddenly poured from the speakers and the screen began to shake violently.

"What is that?! What is it?! This, this!! What is this?! Why won't it run?! Why why whyyy!!"

At that moment, a mutant monster leaped from behind, pounced on the protagonist, and its grotesquely wide mouth opened with disgusting saliva dripping as it swallowed her head whole.

At least when the character died, the cold black screen with the red GAME OVER text faintly reminded everyone that this was just a game, not reality.

In the meantime, Seria was sniffling with tears in her eyes, wiping at her runny nose.

"Hic... ugh... this is too much, Mr. DdalSyong believer. Too much! How could you send me such an insane game! I can't do it! I really can't! I might actually die!"

"Huuuueeeeng...! I really, I, I can't do this! It's scary! The monsters are super scaryyyy...! I'm seriously going to get eaten next time!"

Look at how immersed she was. It had been a while since my inner sadistic side woke up like this. You know that childish feeling where you want to tease the girl you like and make her tear up?

"Hic... just this once... please go easy on me, everyone. My hands are shaking so much..."

The water had just gotten nice and warm. If she actually quit this content here, I wouldn't be able to get any good clips! That was the one thing I had to prevent.

The moment she saw the mission amount, her moist, teary eyes shook with a different emotion than fear. Then, like a whimpering puppy trying to hold back its cries, she whined.

"Huuueeeeng... You're so mean, Mr. DdalSyong believer. You know I can't refuse something like this. Huuueeeeng..."

As expected, she grumbled and complained but still pressed the accept button. From that point on, the five-hour countdown until the scheduled stream end began ticking.

"Everyone, please give me strength."

"N-no! That's not what I meant! Believers! Hic... I just wanted your heartfelt support, hic...!"

"Huuueeeeng, everyone. You're right. Hic...! Then I'll start again."

Seria-chan pressed the restart button. Monsters kept popping out from everywhere, and she continued letting out adorable tearful screams.

"Huaaaaaaaaang!! Go away! Go awaaaaay!! I hate this!!"

"Hueeeeeeeng! It's so gross! I really want to kill it noooow!!"

"Save me! I don't taste good at aaaaall!!"

"Why are you betraying meeeeeee!!"

And five hours later.

"Haa... haa... haa..."

She had made quite a bit of progress through the scenario and saved the game. She paused it with ESC, checked the time, and asked in a tired voice.

"The mission... is complete, right? I'll press it."

"Hehe, thank you everyone. I was only able to get this far because of you. Whew, I'll stop this game here for today. Starting tomorrow, I'll come back with different content. If I keep going any longer I might actually lose my mind."

"Huuueeeeeeeeeeng!!"

Seria stayed silent for a long moment, taking deep breaths, then spoke in a trembling voice.

"F-fine. Thank you... for the donation, Mr. DdalSyong believer...!"

There was a strange murderous intent mixed into her voice as she expressed her gratitude. But to me, that killing intent felt like...

Aaaang~~♡ This is the stuff~♡

"Seria-chaaan is so super kawaii~♡"

Goosebumps of pure pleasure spread across my entire body. Great, I could make even more clips now!

When I glanced at Yog sitting beside me, she was sweating bullets.

"More overtime work?"

"Heh, hehehe... Of course. You saw it, right? This stream is absolutely packed with clip material."

"Sigh, I understand. Looks like I'll be sleeping over again tonight."

"I'll order something delicious for breakfast."

"Got it. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Haha... hahaha..."

With that, Yog let out a deep sigh, turned back to the monitor, and began typing away at the keyboard.