Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: The Viral Apple Sighting
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I knelt down.
It wasn't because Haon Park, who'd shown up out of the blue in broad daylight, had told me to.
No, this was purely my own voluntary decision.
The mood had been just fine up until he'd asked if my body was feeling okay.
Right up until he'd suddenly shoved his smartphone in my face, anyway. Definitely.
Staring at the community posts, three things dawned on me.
First, the guy who'd taken me home yesterday was none other than Haon Park.
"This is quite the pickle."
"……."
Second, my alcohol tolerance was way higher than I'd thought.
"What should we do about this?"
"……."
And third, the internet's reach was far more explosive than I'd imagined.
A smile still lingered on his lips, but it felt oddly chilling somehow. So I bowed my head lower and raised my hands higher.
The voices shrieking from the smartphone were shockingly familiar, and even without watching the video, I could practically smell the booze from here.
"Came out great, didn't it?"
"……."
Haon Park kept replaying the video as he asked me, and I was struck dumb like a mute who'd eaten honey.
I'll never drink again—I'd vowed that, but the water was already spilled.
I wanted to go back in time and grab myself by the collar, demanding why the hell I'd done that. This damn mouth of mine had run loose.
"Lower your arms first."
"...They're comfy like this."
"It's fine. Lower them."
"...No, I'm……."
"Down."
"Yes, sir……."
At his calm, steady voice, I quickly placed my hands neatly on my knees.
He's scary.
"What should we do about this?"
"……."
"Hm? Miss Noeul?"
The calm tone came from above my head.
I fidgeted with my innocent fingers for a good while before cautiously broaching the subject.
"How about... just denying it?"
"Hm……."
Haon Park let out a thoughtful hum.
In truth, it was something that could be settled with a simple denial from the person involved, but the community users were fired up regardless of truth—they just loved fresh bait.
"Will denying it really fix things?"
"……."
Haon knew that too, so I shut my trap again, honey-mute style.
'I was just throwing it out there on the off chance...'
I gave an awkward heh-heh laugh to convey that. Of course, it didn't last long.
"Maybe time will sort it out...?"
"Hmmm……."
Bait like this usually fizzled out quick anyway.
As I spoke, I sneaked a peek, catching his downcast gaze.
This time, I didn't awkward-laugh.
Then...
"You promised to turn on cam at 100k YouTube subs, so doing it early...?"
"...Still 30k to go."
"……."
Damn this loose mouth of mine.
My blabbering was about to cost me the friend I'd just made.
With guilt and sorry mixing in my chest, I gently tugged at the hem of his pants.
And begged.
"S-Sorry...! I'll do anything helpful!"
"...Like what?"
"……."
I'd said it, but when he pressed, nothing came to mind. What help could I even offer...?
"Ah! How about we plan some content while we're at it?"
His eyes flashed like something had clicked, and I nodded furiously.
"A-Anything!"
"Good attitude."
I did my makeup.
Or rather, I got my makeup done.
Watching unfamiliar cosmetics turn my face into something fancy, I couldn't muster any resistance.
And morally, I shouldn't have.
"How's it look? Pretty, right?"
"……."
"...Pretty, right?"
"Y-Yes! Y-Yeah! So pretty. Wow, you're gorgeous……."
When Haon Park—fingers loaded with strange brush-like tools—asked, I shouted agreement on reflex.
His expression from behind screamed disagree and you're done for.
"Right? Even I think... it's super pretty."
"...I agree!"
A powdered face complimenting itself felt off, and a massive sense of loss washed over me. Too late to turn back now, though.
"Alright, time to prep the stream?"
Haon didn't seem too bothered, at least.
Small comfort: the landlady he called 'Landlady' was out.
If she'd seen this, I'd have died of shame!
"……."
I stared at Haon whistling away as he set up the stream, then glanced around.
No soundproof booth or flashy gear—just a simple room, the kind you wouldn't picture for a streamer.
Green plastic boxes piled in the corner caught my eye—who knew what was in them.
"Ah, haven't unpacked much. Those are from my girl days."
"Ah. Got it...!"
I jumped at his sudden voice, turning to see him still fiddling with stream prep.
Eyes in the back of his head or what?
Fussing with my hair to shake off the awkwardness, I started chatting to fill the air.
"You stream from here?"
"Used to have a one-room studio elsewhere, but moved after Awakening. For a change of pace."
"Ah... right."
I recalled him mentioning it briefly on stream once. Not that I'd expected this.
"Gonna move again anyway."
Tap, tap. Keyboard clacks echoed rhythmically. Peeking over, he was probably drafting the stream notice.
"Move?"
"Yeah. Living with Mom's awkward for streaming."
"I see……."
"Why? Gonna miss it?"
"……."
I didn't answer the voice over the steady typing.
He didn't wait for one anyway.
"Just next door, though. Room's empty—gonna make it my studio."
"Ahh……."
"Come to the housewarming?"
From 501 to 502.
Next door—why housewarming? Still, him inviting me warmed me up, so I nodded.
Dunno if he saw, but with back-of-head eyes, probably.
After forever setting up, Haon finally looked up.
"Done. Ready? Starts in 30."
"You'd do it anyway... even if I said no."
To my grumble, he flashed a subtle, unknowable smile.
To make up for yesterday's screw-up—where I'd offered to do anything helpful—Haon had picked a collab stream.
I was, after all, Eden's top raiding party's one-and-only clear record holder.
His idea: 'Artisan Invite' content, sharing DPS cycles and class know-how.
'Artisan Invite my ass—it's just Inviting the Malicious Viewer, right?'
'Malicious is a bit harsh...'
Bonus YouTube angles. Good intent.
'But with cam on...'
Might as well go all-in and cam up. Except...
'Ever heard of guilt by association, Miss Noeul?'
That was his claim.
'Is makeup part of guilt by association too...?'
My question got breezily ignored. Kinda sad.
"Mic and cam coming on soon—stay out of sight."
My flashback cut off at his words.
Snapping to, viewers biting the bait flooded the chat—visible even from here.
I moved to a cam-blind spot as instructed.
This good?
"Ah, can hear you fine?"
Haon checked my spot, then flipped on the mic.
I watched, crouching in the corner, phone in hand as I joined his familiar stream.
[(Apple) Cam Stream^^]
Couldn't get more straightforward.
Aggro pulled hard—viewers triple the usual.
Chats flew as I joined.
New realization: I'd been one of these folks, and now watching live felt surreal.
"Everyone see the notice?"
"Got it. Hang on."
Mouse clicks, then the familiar room layout popped up on my phone, Haon's face appearing.
Chats exploded at awkwardly smiling Haon.
Okay, honestly? Even I had to admit he was handsome. Enough to spark envy.