Clan Leader
Soso was cute. Charming, even. But that was it.
To Shin Jaewoo, ten million won was now just pocket change for a bit of fun. Handing over 100,000 Star Balloons to Soso didn't mean much at all.
Right now...
There was another woman who caught his eye far more than Soso.
Shin Jaewoo recalled a recent memory.
Excel.
Shin Jaewoo hadn't likened it to a game of chicken for nothing. It all stemmed from what Nyanbyeol had told him.
"It's not as bad now since a bunch of our crew's big spenders have dipped out... But when I first joined, the competition in our crew was way fiercer."
"...Really?"
"Yeah. Back then, there were always three or four whales who'd drop a full charge every single day."
Nyanbyeol spoke in a soft, reminiscent tone.
"...Full charge?"
"Yep. It was a total madhouse era. Especially Panta God and Jang God... These god-tier whales who hit every Excel event."
Panta and Toy2231. They were big shots from Heaven Beyond Heaven alongside the guy still called a god today, Kim Daemul.
Toy2231 stood out especially.
"Jang God was like this bottomless pit of cash. He'd drop 10 full charges in a weekend Excel, then another 10 on Monday's event."
10 full charges.
Shin Jaewoo had learned what a full charge meant by now. One account could send up to 300,000 Star Balloons per stream per day.
That's one full charge.
So 10 full charges? Three million balloons.
When he'd asked how that was even possible, Nyanbyeol had explained you just used multiple accounts.
"It was insane. Then Seri—this super popular main streamer at the time—quit broadcasting, and that took Jang God down too."
"What about Panta?"
"I think he's still around, but... his interest has kinda faded."
That's when Kim Daemul rose to fame. He'd kicked off a new era.
With him and other whales constantly pouring in, AsiaTV's Excel scene stayed alive.
Anyway, back to that golden age of Panta and Toy2231.
"That's when I started Excel too."
It sounded ancient, but it had only been a few months. Last year, to be precise—about seven or eight months ago, from what Nyanbyeol said.
"Back then, everyone was so stacked that without a clan leader, even a huge squad couldn't compete."
"Clan leader? What's that?"
"Just... the top donor in the squad."
"Ah."
Shin Jaewoo nodded along as she explained.
In simple terms, the main whale. The supporter. The sponsor.
The primary backer who enabled streamers to play as squad members in Excel. Clan leader meant the top dog sponsor.
Not the creepy kind of sponsor, of course.
"Clan leaders would drop full charges back then... Without one, no matter how many squadmates you had, it was brutal."
Climbing the ranks was nearly impossible. You needed at least two or three mid-tier whales dropping tens of thousands each.
Only then could you scrap for a shot.
Shin Jaewoo asked, "Those clan leaders still around?"
"...Nah. The whale pool's turned over big time. Honestly, oppa, who do you think spends the most on Excel these days?"
Shin Jaewoo shrugged.
"Dunno..."
At his vague response, she pressed.
"Most of 'em aren't crypto bros?"
Nyanbyeol nodded. "Spot on. Mostly crypto folks. But... you'd be surprised how many big spenders in Excel or solo streams aren't real whales."
"Hm?"
"Like... people spending way beyond their means."
All sorts flooded in.
Some could actually afford it. But among loyal fans of girl streamers, plenty were regular salarymen.
"That's possible?"
"Loyal fan tier for most girl cams—unless it's a huge name—isn't crazy high. A few tens of thousands gets you in..."
Famous ones were exceptions. Established girl cams had insane thresholds for loyal status.
But otherwise? Tens of thousands. Doable for any office drone if they saved up.
"Especially around payday, or when they've squirreled away a bit—they dump it all in the heat of the moment."
Like gambling addicts at the tables.
Shin Jaewoo looked baffled. "...Are they nuts?"
"Who knows. Anyway, they get treated like big shots on stream, and to keep that status, they gotta keep pouring in balloons like maintenance fees."
That was the tame end.
"Sometimes they even take out loans to recharge... More common than you'd think."
"Whoa."
Nyanbyeol gave a wry smile.
"Excel's the worst for it. Solo streams have funding wars too, but the hype makes you follow the crowd."
Foolish stuff.
And how did it end for them?
"What happens?"
"Usually... they demand refunds."
Her face soured.
Seeing it, Shin Jaewoo got the picture.
She's dealt with it too.
Girl streamers had their own headaches. They never forced balloons. Sure, they nudged, but no knives involved.
But these guys dump big, then come crawling back.
It didn't start that way, though.
"Often... they make crazy demands too."
"Like what?"
"Sleep with them. 'I spent this much, motel once won't kill you,' that kinda thing."
"...People actually say that?"
Shin Jaewoo's face hardened.
Kim Minseo streamed too. He worried weirdos like that might swarm her.
Though he doubted any guy would get hot and bothered over a girl like her.
"Of course. Oppa, there's all kinds in the world."
Made sense, thinking about it.
"Plus... even if they don't say it to our faces, communities are full of people calling us whores anyway."
They faced insane requests but got no sympathy. Society lumped streamers with bar girls.
Nyanbyeol hated that.
We stream. What more do they think we do?
Usually, it ended badly. Sometimes worse.
"Or... they scam girl cams."
"What?"
"Streamers know who's dropped big. So these guys borrow cash from multiple cams, promising to repay later."
The cams lend it, figuring a few million—or tens of—is chump change to such whales.
"...Then ghost?"
"Yep."
Her curt reply left him stunned.
"That's why real whales on AsiaTV are rarer than you think. Even if not outright scams..."
Nyanbyeol trailed off.
"...Money runs out eventually."
Cash is finite. Few could drop tens of millions straight in Excel without drying up.
How loaded do you gotta be for that?
Those who could? Clan leaders.
"You ever have one?"
"Never. Well... there was one once, but it was too much."
A fan got labeled clan leader. He had some funds.
But amid the cutthroat rivalry, he'd overextended.
"Lasted three months... Burned out and left."
At least it ended clean.
Still, it left Nyanbyeol blue.
If only I had a clan leader...
She'd felt that wish keenly. Part of why she'd followed Kim Minseo here.
"Honestly, Excel makes bank... I wanna aim for top-tier at least once. But it never pans out."
She'd always been mid-pack—deputy or squad lead.
She had a solid squad now too. But no clan leader.
"Fans hype each other up like 'let's go!' But sometimes I wonder if this is worth it..."
Every gig has its pains.
"What do you wanna do?"
"Honestly? Since I started, I wanna see it through."
That's how Nyanbyeol put it.
The talk didn't drag on. Kim Minseo had shown up.
Anyway, their chat had kicked off back in Daejeon.
Life runs on blood ties, then school and hometown connections.
For the record, Nyanbyeol was a Daejeon Baekje High alum.
So was Shin Jaewoo.
That's how the world worked.
"Shall we get started?"
He ignored the types who didn't get it.
Nyanbyeol's downcast face from earlier—he wanted to change that.
Even if it was a sucker move, it didn't matter.
Clan leader woes? Not his problem.
I can do it.
Daily full charges? No sweat.
Jaewoos has gifted 200,000 Star Balloons!
He'd stepped out briefly and returned.
"Whoa!"
"Huh?"
"Kyaaah!"
Soso, thinking the burst was for her, yelped in shock then joy.
But spotting her belated chat, she flushed embarrassed.
And that was the start.