040. Gyejipsa
040. Gyejipsa
Two days had passed since the abandoned house exploration.
In the meantime.
A text message had arrived from the police chief I had exchanged contact information with last time.
It said they had located the user with the nickname Cheosu, and to call when I had a moment to discuss the details over the phone.
For reference, Cheosu was a viewer who had joined my stream during the hiking broadcast.
The one who, through a voice donation message, had urged me to pick and eat poisonous mushrooms.
Since I was curious about what kind of person he was anyway, the moment I checked the message, I immediately called the police chief.
And what I learned was shocking.
His nickname was Cheosu.
His gender was male, and his real name was Cha Min-su.
By the time they found that viewer, he was already dead.
The cause of death was poisoning.
He had consumed a dish made with toxic mushrooms.
Red deer antler mushrooms, no less.
Since a single red deer antler mushroom had been placed beside the corpse's head, I heard they quickly identified which toxin had been in the food.
Hearing that, my head got complicated.
Had he genuinely believed it was an edible mushroom? But from the way he had talked, it sounded as if he had eaten it before?
Questions kept arising.
The thought crossed my mind that it might have been a mistake born of ignorance, not malicious intent.
But the truth was unknowable.
The dead tell no tales, after all.
In the end, I gave up thinking about it.
And I decided to pray for the repose of 'Cheosu,' whose face I never even knew.
***
Early morning.
When I yawned and came down to the first floor, I saw the refrigerator door standing wide open.
‘...What the hell?’
Empty plastic bottles were scattered across the floor.
Checking the labels, they were all cola bottles.
‘...’
I slowly approached the fridge.
Then a small burp sounded.
［Bwuurp. Tasty.］
It was a familiar voice.
At first I thought it was a petty thief and it soured my mood, but hearing the voice calmed me down a little.
‘Whew. Kicking someone's ass first thing in the morning would've been a pain, so that was a relief.’
I discreetly checked inside the fridge.
Sure enough, Gomdori was in there.
The yokai I had brought back from the mansion two days ago.
［Tasty! Will drink more!］
Gomdori was passionately chugging down every single cola.
Then, in that moment, our eyes met.
［Ah...!］
"Is it good?"
［Di-didn't eat it! Just came in because it's hot!］
A crazy Gomdori bastard.
They were drinking right out in the open, yet telling the clumsiest lies.
"What, does this guy think I'm blind or something..."
I spoke in a tone of sheer disbelief and reached into the fridge. Gomdori cowered in fear.
The reaction was pretty cute.
Did he think I was going to hurt him?
I wasn't some petty asshole. I had absolutely no intention of scolding him over something like this.
My hand passed right by Gomdori and grabbed a cola.
I had just been reaching for a cola myself.
"I'm not gonna give you shit over something like this, so don't be so self-conscious and drink as much as you want. And close the damn fridge."
［...Understood.］
At that, Gomdori snatched the cola I had grabbed and started casually drinking it.
This was a bit too ridiculous.
"No, you crazy Gomdori bastard. There's tons of other colas, why are you stealing the one I grabbed?"
［You said not to be self-conscious. So I drank it.］
I considered smacking him on the head, but decided to let it go.
Even though his inability to understand frustrated me.
The guy was freakishly good at household chores.
I had him try a few things yesterday, and once you showed him a demonstration, he picked it up pretty well.
So I could brush off something like this as just a cute quirk.
‘...More to the point, I should stock up on more cola.’
I let out a sigh at the sight of the ten empty bottles rolling around on the floor, fished Gomdori out of the fridge, and headed back up to the second floor.
［Ah! Want to drink a little more!］
"Drink it after work."
Today, there was another new task I was going to have him try.
***
The second-floor sub-bedroom.
This room, which held only a bed and computer-related equipment, had been handed over to Gomdori yesterday.
I didn't mind, though.
Rooms were something I had in excess, and I had the main bedroom.
Buying one more computer would take care of it.
‘Since I didn't do outdoor streams that often, I almost never used this room. Worked out nicely.’
There were two reasons I had given this room to Gomdori.
First, it had a bed.
Yokai slept just like humans.
But I couldn't give him a room without a bed.
Couldn't make him sleep on the bare floor.
Second, it had a computer.
This was the key point.
Because with a computer, he could always do his job.
The stream manager job he'd be starting today.
"Gomdol. You got it now?"
I asked after thoroughly explaining the stream settings to Gomdori.
［A, a little, got it. Me smart.］
Gomdori, who had been staring intently at the monitor, answered haltingly.
Based on his reaction, it seemed he still hadn't fully understood.
It couldn't be helped.
I had no choice but to go over it again from the start, step by step.
It was only natural he'd find it difficult, since this was his first time using a computer.
***
It seemed Gomdori had finally grasped it.
They didn't get it when I only explained in words, but once I showed them a demonstration, they picked it right up.
I should've just shown him the demo from the beginning.
When it came to learning by watching, this guy was way faster than most people.
［Huhu! Me smart! Good at compyutar!］
I didn't disagree.
Objectively speaking, he wasn't the stupid type.
I didn't praise him either.
I just didn't like how smug he looked.
"I think that much explaining is enough... I've gotta turn on the stream soon, so let's log in the other account too."
［Account? Already logged in! Hun's World!］
"That's the account for broadcasting the stream. This platform allows not only duplicate logins but multiple logins, so I'm going to log your account in separately too, Gomdori."
［Don't understand why need to. Can manage with Hun's World account.］
"Of course, managing can be done with my account. But to give the sense that a manager is stationed in the stream, it's better to have your account in the stream too, so... just roll with it, you son of a bitch. Don't talk back."
［Got it!］
For reference, I had created Gomdori's account under my name.
Unlike Guburi, who could make dozens of accounts, you could make up to three per person's name.
"Oh. And typing in chat is still hard for you, right?"
［Correct. Keyboard too small. Difficult.］
"Then I'll set up a few chat macros for you."
I roughly set up the chat macros.
The macros were as follows:
1. Greetings!
2. I am the manager of this room.
3. Check the rules in the upper right corner.
4. Fun!
5. Hahaha!
6. Reformed Guburi, shut it.
7. How rude.
"If you need more chat options than this, tell me. I'll add them."
［None for now! Will say when have them!］
"Yeah? Then before I start the stream, let's quickly check if you properly remember what I told you earlier."
［Can ask! Remember all!］
"Tell me what you should do when I call out a viewer's nickname and say 'ban.'"
［Do a normal ban!］
"What if I say 'black'?"
［Do a permanent blacklist ban!］
"What if I say 'chat mute'?"
［Put a chat restriction on! I decide the restriction time on my own!］
"Good. Smart, our Gomdori."
［This much is basic!］
Preparations were done.
Now it was time to start the stream.
***
When I came down to the first floor, the stream had turned on.
It seemed like Gomdori had pressed the broadcast start button.
Simultaneously, viewers flooded into the room at a breakneck pace.
I saw it every time, but it was still a curious sight.
It was to the point where I almost suspected they'd installed surveillance cameras near me.
"Hi."
【Reformed Guburi】─Can't even say hi, fucker. This bastard's taking days off like he's eating meals. Why'd you rest again yesterday?
【Yoho】─Hello!
【Hottie Licker】─You said you'd announce it! Announce it! Announce it!
"Making an announcement just for one day off is kind of much."
【Reformed Guburi】─??? You son of a bitch, do you call that an answer?
【Yoho】─Even if it's just one day, I think it'd be nice if you told us.
"I never said I stream every single day, so why should I go out of my way to announce it?"
【Hottie Licker】─He's not wrong, but it pisses me off so much I want to suck his lips.
【Reformed Guburi】─Fr feels like headbutting his lips.
【Yoho】─Host's lips will catch germs. -_-
【Reformed Guburi】─You bitch.
Reformed Guburi. Yoho. Hottie Licker.
These three were the first to enter.
Then, after them, other viewers started coming in.
It was a difference of only a few seconds.
【Qkrnfl892】─Phew. Entry success! Gotta do morning roll call here, after all.
【Se-hun Defense Force】─Hi!
【Plum Tree】─hihi
【Drift AI】─I speak. I state that it is nice to see you.
【Dick Lover】─Hey.
【Reverse-Rape Maniac】─Hello~ ^^! My daughter asked me to log in for her whenever this stream notification pops up, so I came in~ \^^/ You really are as ridiculously handsome as I heard~ w(°o°)w
【Bubblegum Collector】─Wakyapya! Barely made the last train! What's with you bitches with entry codes fighting so fiercely to get in!
【Reformed Guburi】─Is the reverse-rape bastard running a new gimmick?
"You guys seriously come in so fast... But how come there isn't a single new viewer? Is it because you guys swarm in too quick?"
【Hottie Licker】─Fr lol you crazy bitches.
【Se-hun Defense Force】─I see quite a few people waiting in the community. How'd not a single one get in? Lolol
【Dick Lover】─Difference in desperation. Those who've had a taste are always more desperate anyway.
【Hottie Licker】─What kind of drugs is that? lol
【Se-hun Defense Force】─But it's true though.
【Bubblegum Collector】─Wakyapya... You crazy bitches have entry codes. The possessiveness is fucking insane...
【Reformed Guburi】─Agreed Gye Bastard-hun is fucking delicious.
【Reformed Guburi】─Typo meant cool.
【Yoho】─Good grief.
Current viewer count was ten.
Only BigGirl and Min-ji hadn't made it in.
Of course, they had entry codes so they could come in anytime.
"But why isn't that one coming in?"
【Reformed Guburi】─Huh? Who? I'm already in?
"Not you."
Just when I said that.
Right on cue, the one I'd been waiting for entered the room.
『'Gyejipsa' has entered.』
【Reformed Guburi】─?? Who the hell's that bastard?
【Hottie Licker】─Who's that? Another hacker? How's the stream getting breached this easily?
【Yoho】─Couldn't it be someone who changed their nickname? Looking at the viewer list, Min-ji and BigGirl aren't in yet.
Below that chat too.
A flood of messages came up questioning Gyejipsa's identity.
I quickly introduced Gyejipsa.
"Say hi, guys. This is my hired manager."
【Reformed Guburi】─Huh? Manager?
【Yoho】─Were we fired?
【Hottie Licker】─Did we just get used and dumped?
【Qkrnfl892】─Used and dumped, lol bitches who never did shit in the first place. Lolol
"Gomdol... No, Gyejipsa, you say hi too."
【Gyejipsa】─Greetings!
【Gyejipsa】─I am the manager of this room.
【Gyejipsa】─Reformed Guburi, shut it.
【Reformed Guburi】─???
【Hottie Licker】─Lolol Guburi got wrecked instantly.
【Reformed Guburi】─Why's that bastard picking a fight out of nowhere? Wanna die? Wanna meet up IRL?
【Dick Lover】─Se-hun. You hired a separate manager? Paid?
【Se-hun Defense Force】─No, he could've just picked from among us...
【Drift AI】─I speak. I state that I am more suited for the manager role.
【Bubblegum Collector】─Wakyapya! So you gave that one an entry code too?
【Yoho】─What site did you find them on?
【Qkrnfl892】─Did you even interview them properly? You gotta pick a manager carefully. Too many weirdos these days.
【Gyejipsa】─How rude.
【Gyejipsa】─I am the manager of this room.
【Reformed Guburi】─Just from the chat, looks like a moron. Gye Bastard-hun, just fire that bastard.
“Ah. Don’t worry, they’re not a weirdo. I forgot to mention it, but Gyejipsa is an acquaintance of mine. They’ve been living at my place since the day before yesterday, doing the housework and managing the stream. It was their own choice.”
The moment I finished speaking.
A flood of question marks unlike anything I'd ever seen swamped the chat window.
It was a question-mark heaven.