Giant of Freedom Review
Before I could even sit down, the System had already opened its window right in front of my eyes.
[Name: Lee Yena (Lee Baek-ho)]
Level: 7
Title: None
Appearance: S
Singing: A-
Game: B
Piano: EX
Dance: B
Editing: D
Chatting: D
Feature: Infinite Potential
Points Remaining: 7
‘Now only one left, huh?’
The System window showed that I had exactly one slot left to add. I didn’t feel the slightest bit of regret. The title read “None,” but I knew exactly what was missing.
‘Next year I’ll get another one anyway. Might as well wait.’
I scrolled through the window, frowning. My eyebrows pulled together on their own.
‘Again D?’
Of course I knew D was still above average human level. But to me, who had started with S-rank appearance and poured every point into EX-rank piano, D felt completely alien.
‘Fine. Just put it in whatever I can.’
Seven points remained. That was enough to raise both skills to C.
‘Nice.’
I clicked C on both. A warm, satisfied smile spread across my face. Amateur editing and chatting levels? I could live with that for now.
‘This is more than enough for now.’
YouTube wasn’t red ocean yet—it was still blue ocean.
‘No big-name CEO chefs or 2002 World Cup starters left. The floodgates are just opening.’
Back in 2020 almost every job imaginable had jumped into YouTube. Presidential chef, World Cup starting goalkeeper, even random uncles who quit their day jobs. But in 2014? Those names had vanished. No one was still doing it. The market was still wide open.
‘That’s why I have to jump in now. Rip the honey while it’s sweet.’
That was exactly why I’d decided to start the channel in the first place.
‘First, let’s study a bit.’
Of course, raising to C wouldn’t make me instantly match every amateur who already had C. I’d spent my entire life living completely unrelated to editing or talking. I had to fill the gap myself.
Fortunately, the gap wasn’t huge. My current skills were already C. I could absorb an entire C-level person in seconds.
[Text content]
Two weeks of studying later, I felt I’d built a solid foundation. Time to create the channel.
‘Logo first—bright yellow so it pops, and put a raccoon inside it.’
I chose a raccoon because my target audience was all ages, and among dogs, cats, or raccoons, the raccoon felt the most neutral and eye-catching.
Editing C Activated
Tap tap tap.
‘Okay. Logo’s done. Now I just need to edit the voice-over video.’
I recorded the review, ran it through the new C-rank editing, and uploaded it to the channel.
‘Now I just have to wait.’
It was already ten o’clock. I was still too short, so I flopped onto the bed and closed my eyes.
‘Just a little more growth, and I’ll be able to ride T-Express. Then I’ll tell the world I’m the tallest in first grade.’
But that was a problem for tomorrow.
Next morning.
[Quest Title]
📍 Location: YouTube Channel Creation
🎁 Reward: Channel Growth + Subscriber Boost
“Yena! Let’s eat tteokbokki!”
“Again?”
“Are you tired of it?”
“No, not tired at all.”
“Then let’s eat!”
“Sure.”
I ate tteokbokki with Ha-jun again. This was already the umpteenth time.
‘Whoa, the fundamentals are solid.’
A cup of tteokbokki was only 500 won, regular 2000 won, and they even had a 2500 won ramen special. Meanwhile the new kimbap place they’d opened in 2025—6000 won? That was insane. Even the 5800 won basic kimbap I’d been forced to buy because I couldn’t leave felt cheap in comparison.
‘No way they were that expensive. Probably just a gimmick.’
“Is it good?”
“Mmm, yeah, it’s good.”
Even Seo A-rin from the same class joined us.
‘Every time I see her I think about how we’d be total opposites if I didn’t already have her as a friend.’
She was still timid, stuttered when nervous, but around Ha-jun she grew confident and sweet. I’d been the same back in my old life—lonely, no friends, even after thirty years. I’d hated myself for it. But now I had friends. That alone made today feel like a miracle.
“Next time I’ll treat!”
“Sure, eat as much as you want.”
“Okay!”
This peaceful daily life was something I never thought I’d experience again.
Two days after I uploaded the first review.
“Ooh?”
Both numbers had shot up fast. The channel name “Neoguri” was already climbing toward ten thousand.
[First review: “Free’s Giant” Episode 1 – A heart-warming anime that makes moms cry]
35,050 views. The first video had already smashed the three-digit mark.
Comments poured in like crazy.
“Wow, 72 comments already.”
That was more than the single comment from the first video. My heart felt lighter than air.
‘Maybe my happiness threshold is really low.’
After living a miserable life for thirty years, I was the type who felt happy even over tiny things. I’d rather feel joy over nothing than feel nothing over everything.
“Okay, time to record Episode 3.”
Tap tap tap.
I’d already decided to keep going. No matter how many people I could never match, I wanted to prove that someone like me could make it here.
“I hope the world comes where I can proudly say I watched Free’s Giant at school without anyone making fun of me.”
That was my only real goal right now. Everything else was just bonus.
Two days later.
+1,200 Subscribers
Another day of growth. I was on fire.
“Yena, let’s go to the amusement park!”
“Yeah!”
“Okay!”
By now three of us had become inseparable. The park was the natural next step.
[Text content]
“What should we ride first?”
“T-Express!”
“You’re too short for that.”
“We have to be over 130 cm!”
“No way!”
“It’s okay, Ha-jun. Let’s try something else.”
“We’re the smallest ones! I’m 130 cm, A-rin 127, Ha-jun 125.”
“It’s still taller than average. Don’t feel bad.”
“That doesn’t help at all!”
“Why? Objectively we’re still taller than most first-grade boys.”
‘Ah… male pride.’
Ha-jun had never been treated as a man before, so he couldn’t see it. I decided to tease him.
“It’s fine. When you were little, girls were always taller. You’ll grow a lot later.”
“For real…?”
“I saw you eat half a hotdog just because you said you’d eat one bite.”
“But you still ate it.”
“Is that how it works?”
“Let’s just move on. Small things.”
The parents watching us were smiling warmly.
“Their bond is really nice.”
“I hope they stay that way.”
We ran straight to T-Express the moment we entered the park.
Chatting C Activated
“Run!”
“Wheee!”
“Wait, we’re coming too!”
We sprinted at full speed. I held hands with the shorter ones and dragged them along. Somehow we made it to the front of the line.
“Hey, why are we running? We can’t even ride!”
“I ran because you guys kept saying you wanted to run…”
Dumbasses. This big brother is riding first, so you can just wait.
“A… I’m too short. Sorry, I guess I can’t ride.”
“What? I’m 130 cm!”
“Even if you say that, if our measurement says otherwise, it’s no good.”
‘Oh no…’
‘First time riding T-Express and I get scammed?’
“Serves you right!”
“You got what you deserved, Yena.”
After all, I was more than tall enough. I was riding the carousel.
“Let’s go on the carousel.”
“It’s boring.”
“No it’s not!”
Back at the house I opened the channel again.
“Whoa?”
Both numbers had jumped even higher. I felt my chest swell with pride.
‘This is the real blue-ocean rush.’
I was still riding the wave. No one could stop me now. Free’s Giant Episode 3 review was already in the works.
Tap tap tap.
‘If only I could make everyone who watches my channel feel even one percent of the happiness I felt when I first clicked “subscribe.”’
That was my dream. And I was already living it.