The Overnight Alpha Male
The talisman post was titled [The School Bullying Victim Woke Up as an Alpha Male Overnight, LMAOOOO].
I used to be really bad at studying. My face was average, and on top of that, getting beaten up by the school gangsters was my daily routine. It was literal hell. My parents lived abroad for work, so I’d been living alone since I was little. I thought about telling them, but I didn’t want to worry them, so I kept quiet. (Cigarette burn photo) By the time I reached my third year of high school, I was basically a human punching bag, covered in bruises from head to toe. I thought about killing myself every single day.
Then I met the talisman that changed my life. (Photo) The streamer I watch wrote one for me. The handwriting’s pretty bad, right? But you can’t ignore it. This thing completely flipped my life upside down. At first I thought it was just a joke. I mean, it’s supposed to be an Awakener thing, but the ability didn’t seem that great. So when they said they’d write me a talisman, I didn’t have high hopes.
But after I slept with it under my pillow, I woke up the next morning with a sharp jawline and suddenly became insanely good-looking. I used to sleep through every class, but now I don’t feel tired at all. I understand everything after listening just once. I got first-grade scores on all three mock exams. I was terrible at sports before, but my body bulked up, and now I don’t get pushed around by the gangsters. I even play striker in soccer and got a scouting offer from the soccer team.
But the best part? I used to look down whenever I ran into those bullies, but now I’m taller than all of them, so I don’t have to. The most important thing, though, is that a forever-single guy like me got a confession from the girl I’ve always liked. And not just any girl—the prettiest one in our school. She said she fell for me while watching me play soccer. But I turned her down. Why? (Seong-a’s half-cam photo) Because I only have this person! My god! My universe! The savior of my life! From now on, I’m going to live for this person! They’re the one who saved me from my hellish life! If I betray that kindness, I’d be worse than an animal!
Any attacks on Chuwang will be considered attacks on me. Since you might not believe me, I’ll send proof photos. (Before face change) (After face change) (Last year’s mock exam grades) (This year’s mock exam grades) (Soccer club photo) (Confession letter photo)
After today’s stream ended, I checked the remaining viewer count.
“The numbers are especially high today.”
No. My usual streams get between one and two thousand viewers. Did some controversy pop up about me?
TalismanGuy donated 10,000 won! Do you like it, hyung-nim? I worked hard promoting you!
“……?”
Suddenly, a viewer named TalismanGuy dropped a ten-thousand-won donation. Looking at the ID, it was the middle-schooler friend I’d written the talisman for.
“Promotion? First I’m hearing of it…”
TalismanGuy donated 10,000 won! I posted it in the cafe!
“In the cafe?”
The reactions from viewers who’d already read it were weird.
‘What the hell did he post…’
I entered the cafe and clicked on the post with unusually high views.
[Everything I’ve become is thanks to you, hyung-nim!]
The current me has escaped from being an ugly, idiot beta male and is now living the life of an insanely cool alpha male, all thanks to you! From now on I will call you hyung-nim! I dedicate my life to you and will use my entire life for you!
(Stream promotion post) (Stream promotion post) (Stream promotion post) (Stream promotion post) (Stream promotion post) (Stream promotion post) (Stream promotion post)
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No matter how far I scrolled, there was no end. Just how much did he promote? Viewers said he posted my stream on over a thousand different community sites.
Of course I’m grateful for the promotion, but this was way too much. And dedicating his whole life to me…?
“Can’t you just live your own life? Don’t dedicate it to me.”
TalismanGuy donated 10,000 won! That’s impossible! My life exists only for you, hyung-nim!
TalismanGuy wouldn’t back down.
‘I said it’s burdensome…’ How do I get him to understand?
“Haha, I don’t really know either…”
TalismanGuy donated 10,000 won! How dare you doubt hyung-nim’s pow—!
I skipped the donation before the TTS finished.
“Looks like you need some time to calm down. I’m giving you a one-day ban.”
I had no choice. If I didn’t, my real ability might get exposed to the viewers.
‘Looks like I put too much power into the talisman I made for him. I thought high school senior year would be tough, so I loaded it up…’
Thankfully, the six consecutive perfect scores and the viewers who didn’t know about my ability treated it like no big deal. Most of them thought it was a placebo effect.
While the stream continued like that, I spotted a strange chat message.
“Yandere?”
What the hell is that supposed to mean?
I went back to the post TalismanGuy wrote and clicked on another thread.
[What’s the point of living anymore…]
A younger brother hated by hyung-nim deserves to die ten thousand times. I shall die again and return to the earth… (Rooftop photo)
“…….”
I was at a loss for words. The guy in the photo was standing on a rooftop in the middle of a stormy night with pouring rain.
“N-no way, it’s gotta be a joke, right? Obviously it’s just for show…”
“……?”
He turned on a stream? I immediately clicked the link a viewer sent me.
I Loved You So Much, Hyung-nim!
The moment I entered, an unidentified handsome guy was gripping the rooftop railing, screaming into the pouring rain.
Surely he’s not talking about me, right?
“W-what is this…?”
“What?”
He’s really doing all this just because he got banned?
‘My head’s spinning.’
The chat in the kid’s stream was complete chaos. If this continued, a controversy section might get added to my Namu Wiki page. I had to stop him immediately.
Chuwang donated 1,000 won. Kid, what are you doing up there?
Hyung-nim?
When I sent the donation, he turned the camera toward his face.
Did you come to be with me in my final moments?! I’m so happy you came!
The kid smiled brightly, happy that I’d shown up, but I was the complete opposite.
‘Final moments my ass. If you die, a controversy section is definitely getting added to my Namu Wiki!’
…Since I got banned from hyung-nim’s stream, my life is over.
“…….”
I clutched my chest internally. What the hell am I supposed to do with this idiot?
Meanwhile I was dying from the stress, but the viewers were having the time of their lives laughing.
But… I got banned from hyung-nim’s stream…
I could see it. If he actually fell from that rooftop, the things that would happen to me…
[Internet Streamer Crosses the Line, Encourages Suicide…]
“…….”
I had to prevent that at all costs. A streamer who’d only been broadcasting for two months getting caught up in this kind of scandal was ridiculous.
R-really? You’ll unban me?
I had to get him off that rooftop as fast as possible before something happened.
Understood. Let me just move the camera… Whoa!
“……!”
The boy tried to approach the camera, but a strong gust of wind blocked his view. His foot slipped in a puddle and he fell backward.
Aaaaaaaaah!!!!
The boy fell toward the road where cars were speeding by.
“…….”
They say when people face a crisis, they don’t feel surprise or anger—they just go speechless. That was exactly me right now.
‘…What do I do now?’
I closed my eyes for a moment and thought.
[Internet Streamer Crosses the Line, Encourages Suicide…]
[Broadcaster Drives Teen to Death…]
[Death-Driven Internet Broadcast—Is This Okay?]
[Teen’s Warning, Perpetrator Remains Silent…]
Headlines journalists would write flooded my mind. I didn’t even need to look at the probability to know. Once this incident spread online, it would become delicious prey for YouTube reactors and reporters.
I leaned back in my chair and looked up. The ceiling light, in stark contrast to my future, shone brightly down on me.
‘My streaming career is over…’
I closed my eyes. Two months into streaming, and my broadcasting life was ending like this. From now on, my life would be spent anxiously wandering between part-time jobs…
…Hyung-nim, is this normal?
“……!”
A voice that shouldn’t have been heard came from the monitor. I lowered my head again and checked the screen. The boy was floating gently in the air. It looked like he was controlling gravity itself.
Our little kid opened his mouth with a dazed expression.
…Um, what just happened?
Ah, shit. I guess I put even more power into that talisman than I thought.