Broadcast Day 2 - Q&A Content (3): The Great Nickname Debate
Scores of viewers frantically type away, each trying to coin the perfect nickname for me. All sorts of humans chime in with their ideas, debating, countering, or defending one another's suggestions. I watch the lively back-and-forth in silence for a moment before speaking up.
"Can't you all narrow it down?"
"Hmm... Something that catches my eye..."
I'd hate to say it, but honestly, any nickname works for me. As a dragon, only my true name matters—everything else just blends together.
"Hmm..."
I slowly recall all the suggestions so far. There've been tons, and my viewers want me to pick my favorite. But they all feel pretty much the same to me.
'Something easy to remember would be best.'
A name humans can easily recall would suit them better than me.
"In that case, just call me Ragna."
"...If you really hate it, Rana works too."
The chat floods with "Ragna" or "Rana" the instant I give permission. I watch the humans chant my name for a bit, then pick another questioner. We got sidetracked on nicknames, but I promised to answer questions all day today. Duty calls.
"Yes, child. Do you have a question?"
"Rich..."
I ponder the viewer's question for a moment. Me...? Rich?
"I don't quite grasp the intent behind your question."
"Doesn't 'rich' mean someone who owns more of something than others? So, child, what makes you ask me that?"
My counter-question leaves the asker silent. After about twenty seconds, their message finally pops up.
"I see. So you're asking if I have more wealth and riches than the average human."
I nod.
"In that case... yes, I suppose I am rich."
Envy and jealousy flood the chat. "Seems there's a misunderstanding. I didn't hoard that wealth myself."
I raise my hand, and gold begins to pour from my fingertips. It flows like viscous liquid, pooling and solidifying right in front of the camera.
"What covers my body is called dragon gold. Give it energy, and it produces gold."
To me, gold is just a substance I can make anytime. I can craft other metals too, but since most of the pre-dragon-gold material was gold, it's by far the easiest—overwhelmingly so. Plus, gold symbolizes wealth across dimensions, so I've often used it to trade with other races.
"No need to envy it so much. Think of it like... yeah, as natural as you humans sweating."
And with that, the chat erupts in flames.
...Why?
Lee Gyuin mutters to himself, face flushed red.
"Damn... so jealous."
The stream he's glued to is none other than Grand Ragnar the World-Ender Dragon's broadcast. He's straight-up envious watching her casually flaunt her wealth.
"Whoa! I wanna make gold too. I wanna quit my job. Fuck..."
Unlimited gold on demand? A Midas touch with zero drawbacks?
"Sigh... Envious as hell, but she's who she is—hard to even get mad."
Lee Gyuin sighs, tempering his frustration. To understand why he's watching Ragnar's stream again after that terrifying ordeal yesterday, we need to rewind a bit.
To yesterday morning.
He wakes up, washes up naturally, and heads out. No particular reason—just felt like it.
No memory of his real-life pledge from the night before. Back then, he'd dismissed it as drunken nonsense from a streamer, tossed out half-jokingly with the other viewers.
Wandering aimlessly, he naturally stops at a flower shop and buys a bouquet.
"...Huh?"
That's when the unease creeps in. Stepping out? Fine, whatever. But buying flowers? For no reason? This naturally?
"What's off here?"
The weird feeling hits hard. He turns to head home—but no urge to go back pulls him. It's contradictory: something's wrong, yet home repels him too.
As his feet inexplicably carry him toward Hongdae Street, an emergency alert pings his smartphone.
"Monster outbreak?!"
A dragon-type monster in Hongdae—evacuate the area. "What the...?"
Then it clicks. This is the streamer from last night. And he'd made that real-life pledge to the horrifying monster...
"G-Gotta run!"
His senses snap awake. He whips around to flee home—but
Freeze!
"Huh?"
Thud, thud!
"Wh-What?!"
His body ignores him, marching toward Hongdae Plaza. He screams, strains, flails—but it won't obey. Instead, it dodges crowds with impossible agility, depositing him before the dragon in seconds.
Grrrrrr...
"..."
The dragon's first impression... honestly, it barely registered as one. Not the sleek image of dragons in tales, but like a golden hillock standing there. Without the draconic head, he'd have mistaken it for a gold mound or a turtle.
But the sheer presence? Undeniably draconic.
Most monsters he'd seen were dead ones. Live ones? Just pathetic F- or E-rank trash. He'd scoffed at hunters' tales of "high-rank monsters having a totally different aura..."
...Until now.
'This... is aura?'
The dragon does nothing, yet it feels like an invisible grip crushes his heart.
After reaching its feet, his memory blanks. All he recalls is a voice like the dragon's—and blacking out.
He wakes to a white ceiling.
"...Unknown ceiling."
Hospital ceiling, dude.
Government officials explain: Everyone who'd pledged real-life vows showed up. They fulfilled them. Then the dragon dumped a massive gold ingot on Hongdae Street, distributed chunks to the fainted pledgers, and left.
"...Wait. She gave out gold?"
"Yes."
And that's why he's watching Ragnar's stream again.
"We collected the dragon's gold due to unknown risks... but we'll compensate with equivalent cash."
"...How much?"
"...This much."
"...Kiyaaat-hoo!"
Money bends even devils to your will—that's capitalism for ya.
"Ragna-nim! Loyalty! Loyalty!"
Now Ragnar's #1 fan, Lee Gyuin sips pricey whiskey, grinning at the stream.
> [= Alright! Time to pick the next questioner!]
"Pleasepleaseplease... pick me...!!"
The roulette spins again. Many have gone already, many wait... slim odds, but he prays anyway.
Result...
"Ah!"
No dice this time either.
"Damn it."
Frustrated, he chugs the whiskey. Tens of thousands per bottle, but the dragon's gold haul covers it easy.
Face even redder, he glares at the lucky pick's nickname...
"...Huh?"
The name freezes him solid. Way bigger than expected.