Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: The 500,000 Won Bet
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To be honest, I lost my reason for a moment.
I have to say this incident was largely influenced by the woman Kim Suhyun.
When I was man Kim Suhyun, I never got this angry while gaming.
But the endless cycle of wins and losses, going nowhere.
The teammates fighting every game.
Not owning up to their own mistakes and instead flipping out—that was standard. They nitpicked over nothing, hurling insults and pad-lipping nonstop.
Maybe I just have bad team luck.
No matter how much of a team-dependent game it is, does it have to be this bad?
Anyway, the conclusion is this.
[Oh, you're a woman...]
"Yes."
The guy who ignored his own faults, blamed only me, and mocked me—I bet money with him.
A whopping 500,000 won.
For someone like me with no income besides part-time work, it was a burdensome amount, but after a brief thought, I accepted.
The reason wasn't the money.
A burdensome amount?
On the flip side, if I win, that money goes straight into my account.
The problem was this voice.
I'm an audition participant.
Sure, yesterday's stream had under 100 viewers, but I'm confident it'll grow later.
And if someone catches me appearing on another streamer's broadcast, trading insults with random gamers?
Plenty of room for controversy.
'But...'
Controversy is controversy, but would it really be a minus?
Getting caught right away might be a minus. So I cleared my throat, deliberately lowered my voice, and killed my energy.
On stream, I raise both tone and energy, so the gap should make it hard to recognize.
[Then, shall we hear each side's claims first?]
And well...
Since I've come this far, shouldn't I at least take the 500,000 won?
***
"...This isn't really the AD carry's fault; the support was asking too much."
-Anonymous seems blameless
-Han-nam, sorry ㅜㅜ
-Roll dude, you again?
Gangcheol said that and stopped reviewing the previous game.
To cut to the conclusion, the bet's winner was Suhyun.
It wasn't really anyone's fault leading to the loss; both played well.
But the guy had expected pro-level play from Suhyun beyond her tier, and when she couldn't deliver alone, he nagged her in chat—that was the spark.
"How about it? Do you both acknowledge this?"
[Yes, spot on. As expected from a pro.][...I acknowledge it too.]
At Gangcheol's words, Suhyun—who had requested mediation—sounded pleased, while the guy seemed displeased but agreed anyway.
-Nunna looks thrilled?
-She says she's happy
-Nice voice
[Anonymous-nim, 1,000 won donation—thank you!]
Ask Gangcheol if he's the tit-sucking loser
Gangcheol glanced at the donation message and nodded.
"By the way, miss, do you know who I am?"
[Oh yeah, you're a pro.]
-Cool ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Big-time Gangcheol
Honestly, Gangcheol felt his mood lift too.
As a guy, how could his energy not rise knowing a woman with a nice voice recognized him?
"Oh... Do you watch tournaments?"
[No? I don't watch them. I searched you when the bet started.][Ah...]
-Small-time Gangcheol
-Just... pathetic!
-Why would a sis like that watch Worlds lol
[Sent the money...]
[Thank you~]
At that moment, the guy's low-energy announcement contrasted with Suhyun, who received the money and raised her tone happily.
"You seem pleased?"
[Of course I am?]
-Nunna's energy up lol
[Can I go now?]
"H-Hold on."
Just then, Suhyun—who had gotten hyped from the money—said she was leaving, and Gangcheol instinctively stopped her.
[Why?]
"Uh... well."
-Ah, don't go lol
-Just review the prev game already
-Would be a shame to let her go lol
"Uh... You're our first woman on Kang Moon-cheol TV. I'll send a chicken gift card—want to do a quick interview?"
[Go-Chon brand?]
"Ah, sure, whatever you want. Full set with cola."
[Good.]
-Good, agreed lol
-Chicken's hard to resist...
-Look at her ordering the expensive one
Gangcheol inwardly cheered at Suhyun's ready agreement.
Chicken? At most 30,000 won, but this video would hit at least 200,000 views.
[So, how's the interview work?]
"Oh, the interview? Simple. Just answer questions from viewers."
Gangcheol already had the video title and thumbnail in mind.
'Kang Moon-cheol TV's First Woman Customer? Post-Game Interview!'
[Sure.]
"Okay, got it. Let's take viewer questions."
Gangcheol watched the chat flood in.
'Cut anything crossing the line...'
Stick to basic questions.
She's a regular person. Anything over the line, and it'd add a controversy line to his wiki.
"Hmm... First, when did you start League of Legends?"
[League? Uh... Around season 6, I think?]
"Wow... That's a while."
"Yeah, right? I love games."
"Oh? So besides League, what other games do you play?"
"Just whatever on Steam."
"Oh... Saw you're Diamond in League—must be good?"
[You just saw.]
"Yes? Ah, yeah..."
-Dia4 girl with sky-high ego?
-Just agree if sis says so
-Most here are bronze/silver scrubs lol
-Steam girl buying games ㄷㄷ
[Reactions are lukewarm?]
"Hmm... Well, I'm an ex-pro, right? To me, your tier friends are all meh."
Gangcheol was an ex-pro. A pretty successful one at that.
So amateur high-rankers—even top ones—looked the same to him.
[...Meh?]
But to Kim Suhyun—precisely, woman Kim Suhyun who had poured years into League—those words crushed her pride.
Even man Kim Suhyun, with those memories, didn't feel great.
-She raged lol
-Bold take) Dia4 is meh, facts ㅇㅇ
-Bitter? You know what to do
Gangcheol glanced at chat, knew he'd bruised Suhyun's pride, but didn't care.
'Not like we'll meet again anyway.'
Better to angle for the video, right?
"Honestly, it's true? My smurf's Diamond too, and watching them just makes me sigh."
[Speak for yourself.]
"From earlier, well... uh... yeah, sure."
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Look at him poking lol
-Just... rude!
Plus, Gangcheol was a named pro. Most League players would nod along.
Not all, though.
[Want to 1v1?]
And Suhyun was one of them.
"With words? Too risky if I lose."
[Risky? You'll get video material.]
Gangcheol was caught off-guard by Suhyun's words. Everyone knows videos get made, but who says it outright?
"Nah, already got plenty."
[Whatever, then.]
"Yes?"
[I'm out?]
"W-Wait."
*Ding-*
Suhyun left the call without hesitation.
"Uh, ah."
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Just accept already
-Wasting this footage?
-Sigh, sending this clip
Gangcheol felt like he'd missed a golden chance now that Suhyun bolted.
Think about it: him losing 1v1 to a normie? No way.
"Wait, she didn't take the chicken."
Gangcheol tried calling her back mentioning the chicken, but Suhyun had already left the Discord server too.
"Argh... Should've just done it..."
***
"Whew, almost made a fool of myself."
I snapped and sassed an ex-pro.
Good thing I snapped out and bailed midway—otherwise, I'd have gotten thrashed 1v1 in front of thousands and immortalized on video. Thinking about it sent chills down my spine.
People might not mock a normie losing to a pro, but it was still about my pride.
Losing a fight I started? Embarrassing.
"Chicken's a waste, though."
I even did a bit of that interview.
"Ah, whatever."
But now, stream time was hours away.
I flopped onto the bed and pulled out my phone.
I stream late afternoon, but many contestants go live earlier.
I scrolled past pre-followed contestants, hopping into high-viewer rooms.
[Anna Day 2!]
Anna.
Ex-musical actress whose face, name, age, and old clips were doxxed right after round 1 auditions.
But her revealed past was pretty and she sings great, putting her top-tier among contestants.
'She'll make it.'
Her standout: best singer among them.
Musical background means powerful vocals—clearly a different league. Honestly, why VTuber? Unclear.
She has reasons, but I didn't dig.
Compared to her... yeah, I have potential.
With vocal lessons and practice, I can reach that level.
'Quit smoking first?'
Saw somewhere: heavy smoking thickens throat mucus, changing voice.
VTubing starts and ends with voice.
Better start voice care now.
I resolved to avoid soda—bad for throat—and headed out.
"Sip... exhale..."
Quitting can start tomorrow.
***
[Prodigy Miro Day 2]
"Nice to see everyone."
-Hi hi
-Miro-nim, nice to see you~
-What'd you do today?
Stream started, and people poured in fast.
Around 40.
Insane for a day 2 audition stream.
'If solo, maybe 1-2 viewers on day 2?'
Streamers' toughest phase is the start.
Solo-talking empty rooms for hours, not knowing when viewers come—many stream weeks/months with single digits.
Me with dozens already? Doing great.
'Thanks to audition hype, though.'
I chatted lightly, then decided on Ideal Type World Cup again.
Easy content: shown two choices, explain and pick.
"Hmm... How about this today?"
As I tossed bait and loaded the non-streamed Ideal Type World Cup site, *ding-* a donation arrived.
[Anonymous-nim, 1,000 won donation—thank you!]
Miro-nim, saw the Taesan controversy yesterday?
"Ah, thanks for the 1,000!"
I paused, recalling who Taesan was.
'Oh, yesterday.'
Round 2 interviewer who got banned on my stream. And the guy flamed in community this morning.
I checked the donor's ID: unfamiliar, new. Instinct said community import, not regular.
One wrong word, clipped and posted there.
Donor probably wants me criticizing Taesan, even lightly.
Since I banned him, maybe thinks I hold grudge?
"Controversy? What happened?"
Played dumb. Woman Kim Suhyun's internet streaming knowledge: admitting you check communities helps no one.
I glanced at chat.
-Just do your content
-Dunno the drama?
-It's about you, how don't you know?
-Why are these guys like this? Ignore, Miro-nim
Among familiar regulars from yesterday's debut, new nicks spammed fast.
Ignore is best, but...
I thought of streamer Taesan. Came to my stream, chat got rowdy briefly—viewers' fault? I wasn't that mad, even if he let it slide.
Plus, he handled my improv in interviews...
"Hold on. Let me check."
'Help him this once.'
Mid-World Cup, I searched the controversy.
Just yesterday, but traces of community blaze remained.
Honestly, is this worth the fire?
I voiced that thought.
"Hmm... Is this really worth flaming over?"
??
?
-You banned him?
My puzzled mutter fired up chat more.
"No, disrupting stream is fact, but controversy? Overkill."
-Disrupt = problem?
-Seemed like you ignored it
-Taesan def wrong here
Seeing the newbie spam, I smirked inwardly.
Waiting for clip-worthy ammo, eyes blazing.
"Honestly, wasn't Taesan himself—just some overstepping viewers going nuts?"
I'd deliver.
"Or not~"
Soon, my words hit community. I switched chat to followers-only.
[Old Man Go Stone Thief Taesan-nim, thanks for following.]
[Grandma Rear Car Flip Master Taesan-nim, thanks for following.]
[...]
[...]
[..]
Followers doubled that day. As chat turned trolly, I ended stream quick.