Viral Buzz and the Irresistible TV Offer

The call from the broadcasting station was inevitable, really. A legendary stream like that was bound to draw massive reactions. The gallery forums were in absolute chaos.

As the attention poured in, more and more people started questioning Seorin's true identity.

In short, Mirinae's streams—or more precisely, Seorin's existence—had become a scorching hot topic in that industry.

And with all the focus on one person, it was only natural that professionals who thrived on attention would take notice too.

SBC Variety Department Headquarters. In one meeting room, a middle-aged man was tearing his hair out.

"Haa... This is driving me insane."

He wasn't the only one. The atmosphere in the room was grim for everyone seated there.

The man at the center, Hwang Mincheol—the new main PD for the variety show Exorcism Wars 13—let out a deep sigh.

"What am I supposed to do...?"

About two months ago, Exorcism Wars 13 had been a smash hit in the exorcism variety genre. It took reports from people facing spiritual issues, had 13 exorcists discuss and propose solutions— and it was hugely popular for satisfying the public's prurient curiosity about mysteries science couldn't explain.

But as some great man once said: "Gather five humans, and one is bound to be trash."

By that logic, in a group of 13 exorcists, 2 or 3 had to be trash.

And shockingly, they actually showed up. Two of them.

BAM!

"Those damn bastards...!"

The more Hwang Mincheol thought about it, the angrier he got, slamming his fist on the table in frustration.

Those lunatics—whether they'd lost their minds or caught celebrity fever from the show's fame—had ruined a mission where a husband reported his deceased wife's spirit haunting his dreams. One psycho claimed the accident was all the husband's doing. Then another psycho pretended to be possessed by the wife's soul and accused the husband too.

The previous PD must've lost it, airing the sensational footage as-is.

Ratings skyrocketed for a while.

But then the police investigation cleared the husband: solid alibi, no motive, pure tragic accident.

Public backlash hit Exorcism Wars 13 hard. The sensationalism backfired spectacularly, forcing the previous PD to step down. The two offending cast members were booted immediately. SBC issued a formal apology, and only then did the outrage die down.

A normal variety show would've been canceled or shelved indefinitely.

But Exorcism Wars 13 was SBC's aggressively promoted flagship, with killer ratings. So they dumped the mess on Hwang Mincheol, making him ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠PD with orders to revive it.

"Still no luck finding anyone?"

"...Haa, it's not easy."

Lee Jiyoon, the main writer for Exorcism Wars 13, gave a wry smile and shook her head.

"After Season 1's mess, shamans are all hesitant to join. Worried it'll tank their image..."

"There have to be some, right?"

"The ones willing are all frauds ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠or high-risk like those 'two'—likely to stir up drama midway."

"Most Season 1 participants agreed to return, didn't they? Can't we ask for their help?"

"Of course I did already. But they're in the same boat as us."

"...Tough."

"...Yeah."

Main PD and main writer exchanged sighs again.

That's when it happened.

"Um, excuse me."

A sub-writer who'd been deathly quiet in the corner raised her hand timidly.

"Yeah? Got a good idea?"

"...How about these people?"

"Who?"

The sub-writer pulled out her phone, opened NewTube, and clicked a video. It was Mirinae's exorcism stream.

"Hoo?"

"Hmm..."

They started watching without much hope, but gradually got hooked.

"This..."

"Pretty good, right?"

As industry pros, they saw it: the potential in this footage.

Production quality was meh, sure.

But the stars—Mirinae and Seorin—screamed mainstream appeal.

"That eerie vibe works well. Streamers, right?"

"Yes. Let's shortlist them. Sound out their interest, just in case."

"Alright... Kim Writer? You handle recruiting these two."

"Yes!"

Kim Yujin, the sub-writer who'd recommended Mirinae and Seorin, nodded brightly.

※ After wrapping up at the Goshiwon Apartment, Ha-eun's uncle arrived right on time with his car as we prepared to leave.

"Kids, how'd it go? Nothing major, right?"

"......"

"......"

"Huh? What's wrong?"

His expression was so casually serene—as if he had no clue about the horrors in that goshiwon—that we deflated instantly.

"'Nothing major'...? That's what you're asking?"

"H-Ha-eun?"

"Do you have any idea what we went through in there...!"

"Ha-eun, calm down."

Ha-eun was about to yell at her uncle, but I stopped her first.

"Yelling won't help. Let's just go home."

"...Haa."

"...Kids? What the hell happened...?"

Ha-eun's uncle looked utterly baffled.

Was that genuine emotion on his face? Or a lie?

Lee ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Seola.

Yes!

Follow him discreetly for a while. Report back if anything happens.

Got it!

I sent a soul flame to Lee Seola with instructions, then we headed home.

Time passed.

Ha-eun edited the goshiwon footage with her editor and uploaded it to my personal channel.

And—thanks to Mirinae, or maybe my gallery buzz—subs skyrocketed.

40,000 subscribers. In just a week since uploading.

Comments flooded in with every video. Each time, I felt my power recovering vividly.

"Truly astonishing."

I regretted not doing this sooner.

"Need more analysis on the exact mechanism, but..."

My owned 'channel' acts as a conduit. Viewers' awe or fear toward me flows in as energy.

That explained the sudden power surge during the evil spirit fight.

"Just as gathered faith births gods..."

Necromancers, conversely, become demon lords from collective fear.

"Even works on Earth."

This planet felt oddly different from my old world—yet the same.

I hadn't noticed before because we streamed on Mirinae's channel.

Seems it only works on my owned account. Probably turned into some ritual conduit...

"Anyway, not the point right now."

Forget mechanisms. One simple word sums it up:

"Opportunity."

No more wandering Earth sucking vengeful spirits dry.

The more popular I get, the stronger I recover.

Higher channel fame means faster gains.

Next issue: How to grow the channel.

Need power to crush the Jin-hon Gu-won Association cult scum who dared touch me and Ha-eun.

"Something to boom! my recognition overnight?"

I was deep in thought when my phone rang.

"Hello?"

My brow furrowed instantly.