Tightening Discipline

I got home and fired up the stream.

"Hmm..."

Watching the demon writhe in agony, I brought up the editor screening.

"Oh, the editor screening is underway. Everyone knows applications close tomorrow, right?"

"Not sure exactly... around 300, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I think?"

"We've filtered down to about 10 now, and we'll chat with them one-on-one to pick two finalists."

"Special perks for Nel Restaurant? Hmm... I'll think about it."

"Nice, hit level 70."

"Shall we wrap up today's stream? It's past midnight already."

"Four hours is plenty, isn't it?"

The viewers seemed unable to forget that 10-hour stream from the Travel Kingdom days. Honestly, it had been pretty exhausting.

"Truth be told, I'd love to keep going... but my body's sending signals to stop."

"I was trying not to worry you all, but you're not getting my feelings at all."

"Well, if you really want more, I could swing by Asella's and drag her out."

The chats begging me to stop kept pouring in, but I didn't halt my steps.

If this keeps up, it'll be a problem. Time to tighten discipline now and then.

I had zero intention of letting viewers control the streamer like a puppet.

I entered Asella's room.

"Noel!"

"Yes, Asella. I'm here."

I smiled at Asella, who came running over with a delighted giggle.

"I came for today's lesson... Is there a skill that can deal massive damage in one go...?"

"Hmm, yeah, firepower's been a headache. Perfect! I've got just the skill for that today."

Asella conjured a mana chalk in the air and started writing on an invisible blackboard.

"This skill detonates curses you've placed on an enemy from the inside. The more stacks, the bigger the boom."

"...Yeah, better to show you than tell. Come here."

Asella grabbed my hand, muttered something, and a portal appeared before us.

"Follow me! It's a temporary training ground."

The place Asella led me to was a vast plain with a cool breeze blowing.

"Whoa..."

"I made it with illusion magic. Nice, right?"

"It's amazing..."

Asella giggled and snapped her fingers, summoning a scarecrow in front of us.

"Okay, lay a curse on it first. Note that it only works on curses that deal continuous damage or apply status effects!"

Asella extended her finger toward the scarecrow.

Flames ignited on the scarecrow, growing fiercer by the second.

"Curses can synergize or clash, so mix 'em wisely."

Boom!

The scarecrow's core glowed red-hot before exploding into ashes.

"...Wow."

"At my level, that's the scale you get. You'll need a few more casts. Your turn."

Asella snapped her fingers, restoring the scarecrow.

Boom!

A much smaller explosion ripped through the scarecrow compared to Asella's—like a grenade versus a hundred dynamites?

"...Hmm."

"Ahaha, everyone's like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that at first. Don't get too down."

"Asella, does this explosion get elemental bonuses?"

"Yep, you saw how it took on fire properties with the Flame curse."

"Hold on, lemme test something."

Static sparked across the scarecrow's surface, making it tremble.

A spherical water prison enveloped the scarecrow, intensifying the static.

I grinned and snapped my fingers.

Krzzzzzt!

No flashy blast this time, but lightning crackled wildly, scorching the scarecrow. The water amplified it, creating perfect synergy.

"Nice. This'll be useful."

"Ooh! Already comboing like that? Knew I picked the right successor."

Thrilled to have a solid new main skill.

.

.

.

One change since hitting 90% trust: Asella accepts pretty much anything from me unless I act with real malice.

I could feel it now, with her perched contentedly on my lap, purring under my pets.

Another change: Simple hugs and pets won't boost affinity easily anymore. No more free affinity gains from skinship.

This should satisfy them after two extra hours.

I gently moved Asella off my lap.

"???"

I gave a small smile to her puzzled expression and stepped out briefly to end the stream.

"Alright, stream's really over now. It's almost 2 a.m.—you all should sleep too."

I figured forcing an end might guilt them again, which pricked my conscience a bit, so I shut it down ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠first, returned to Asella's room, told her I'd come back soon, and logged out.

As always, the headache hit when I exited Lost World, and the capsule auto-shutdown popped the lid.

"Ow... Getting used to this after a while..."

I rinsed my mouth with Aqua, cast Clean, flopped into bed, and grabbed my phone.

The internet was buzzing with one topic the moment I opened it.

"Oh, they're really bringing it back."

Lost World dominated the gaming scene worldwide right now.

LWCK (Lost World Champions Korea) was a 5v5 tournament in the colosseum—1v1, 3v3, and 5v5 modes available.

It had been a global phenomenon back when Lost World was peak hype.

"Watched that so much fun back then..."

Lost in nostalgia, I felt Bambi on my stomach kneading my lower chest.

"Eek?! W-why...?"

"Meooow~!"

Apparently mad I'd stopped petting while scrolling my phone.

"...Even though I'm her owner."

I picked up Bambi, set her outside the door, and closed it.

Internet said occasional discipline was key in owner-pet dynamics.

"Meeeooow..."

Her pitiful pleas tickled my ears, but I steeled myself to solidify our bond.

"Waaahhh..."

...With Bambi's sad cries fading, the night deepened.