First in Line for the Interview – Minecraft Hardcore Run
The Hardcore Run in Minecraft, aka the Merk Hakorun—a challenge with pretty high difficulty. I wondered why it had caught on so much on Dwichi, and why streamers who succeeded were nominating others like the Ice Bucket Challenge. At the heart of it all was the massive Merk streamer server about to open soon.
Merk's base game was made easy enough for kids to play. But as a streamer server, it sometimes demanded real physical skill. Normal healing-focused servers didn't care much about that, but this one centered on combat, hunting, and economy instead. That ramped up the importance of physical prowess. Streamers who only played Merk when these servers opened had created this challenge to build up their Merk muscles before launch. In other words, it was the operators' warning: "If you're not comfortable with the game, you won't enjoy this server."
But the streamers' varied reactions turned the Hardcore Run itself into fun content, launching it like a rocket. It became the broadcast of choice for tons of viewers until the server opened. Naturally, it drew massive attention in the communities too.
What would've been buried bait in normal times started rolling, infecting the community. Even though it wasn't that tasty, they bit hard because of the Merk server opening in two days.
Streamers deep in Hardcore Runs had mostly gone into rest mode after succeeding. Simple reason: Merk streamer servers often ran 8, 12, or even 18 hours straight. Like animals hibernating, streamers recharged their stamina. So the big corps naturally took breaks, clearing the community of other bait. That's how Hyeon-baek's fastest Hardcore record could circulate.
"How'd he do it."
I hadn't thought much after ending yesterday's stream. But waking up, the 2-hour mark felt unreal.
"...For real."
I'd never practiced Hardcore Run beforehand. Sure, I'd watched plenty, but I only knew the standard clear method—no speedrun tricks.
"Maybe...."
Did I gain gaming talent from possessing this body? Back in school, I was always top-tier with friends in any game. But was it from becoming Baek Do-hyun, or did I always have it?
"I'd have to check if my past life self gamed."
My previous life, under a different name, wasn't close to computers. No friends, never even hit a PC bang.
As those questions lingered...
"Wait a sec."
Chaining game thoughts sparked a memory.
"Games... Mom was good at them."
She'd shone since her 20s. The novel described it clearly.
"Inherited it, huh."
Silly question, but curiosity satisfied felt like relieving decade-old heartburn—pure relief.
"Ahhh...!"
I stretched refreshingly and sat at my desk. Fired up Yu Seol-hwa's stream as usual.
"What to eat."
My routine: starting mornings with a girl's fresh voice? Perfect.
"Chicken it is."
Mom warned against too much delivery, but my cooking sucked, so delivery was unavoidable.
"Died again?"
While checking my phone, Yu Seol-hwa screeched like she was about to cry.
Made sense—she was on day 5 of Hardcore attempts.
"She's decent at other games."
From watching her old days, Merk was her weak spot.
"Grabbing broadcast appeal, huh."
Yu Seol-hwa. Female streamer debuting in Neo's VTuber group Estel. That's what everyone knew, but I had another secret.
"Different from her Yu Seol days. Nailing the broadcast vibe."
Knowing her past life as Yu Seol didn't help much. If anything... just a warm fuzziness? Seeing her succeed with 5k average viewers? Natural warmth.
"Her voice has always been killer."
Why she topped Estel? Her voice—peerless clear tone among streamers. Drew crowds from stream one, amazing presence rocketing her to Dwichi VTuber queen.
"Company training or what."
Her total shift from Yu Seol days felt off at first, but now? Normal.
"Time for my stuff."
Closed the browser, checked phone time, hammered the keyboard.
"Stream notice first... Server apps start today, right?"
A bit much.
Days passed in similar routine until server launch. But viewers ticked up.
"Hey everyone."
Viewers stabilized—no dipping below 70 now. With floaters, even hit 100 sometimes.
Didn't notice the surge yesterday, but browsing communities explained it.
Lucky break.
Communities buzzing doesn't easily convert to viewers. Means ditching their daily streamers for a hakko. But with big corps resting or shortening streams for the server in two days, floaters had nowhere to go. They flooded my hyped room.
"Anyone know when Nomad server interviews are?"
"I did apply, but..."
No reply yet. Explained to chat.
"...Huh?"
"......"
Reassuring or rage-inducing? At least not just me.
"Okay, got it. I'll keep streaming. If teaser drops later, we watch together then?"
"Slender today..."
"......"
"Uh... thanks for the 1k."
Island was on my shortlist. But.
"Island's a bit... Wait, islandgeyeon fans still in my chat? After all that purging?"
Chat hates islands—no reason to force it.
"Island... later. Before I die for sure!"
.
.
.
"Whoa."
How much cash did they pour into this server? Teaser alone overflowed with content. Systems that could've felt like a mess were linked symbiotically—big corp quality.
"Oh, Min-bon speaking."
Thought he'd end after teaser.
"......What?"
"No way."
Public interview with zero warning?
"This is big corp tyranny..."