Chapter 5

Translator: True Detective

Chapter 5: Character Customization

Life Server.

A large-scale server built based on the GAT Life Mode.

A massive scale WWE where everyone takes a new name, personality role, and RP to act out another life.

It was a festival of streamers where 400 participants would proceed for 3 weeks.

"Life Server? I'll probably do it?"

"Life Server? I already put in the application, so wait-desu."

"I decline all questions regarding the Life Server."

"I said I'm doing it! Ugh, I should just write it above or something."

Since it was a super large-scale server using the platform as a stage rather than a simple collaboration, attention was already focused on it.

Even the previous server had already been a huge hit.

The number of participants increased compared to before, and the understanding of the content called Life Server was also higher.

In short, it was impossible not to look forward to it.

The community, the forefront of issues, was boiling with relevant bait.

As most of the broadcasters existing at the top of the platform were participating, the entire platform was expecting and waiting for this.

Is it different for broadcasters located at the bottom?

Fans of broadcasters with small broadcasting scales, commonly called "Hakkos" (small fries), were even more eager, not less.

Because it was a golden opportunity to fill the broadcasting scale.

First of all, since it was content the entire platform was paying attention to, the scale of floating viewers itself was different.

If by any chance they got stuck in the main stream and shared even a little bit of that attention, that alone was a jackpot.

And it was easy to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠meet various connections.

The core of the Life Server is the narrative.

Although there are various systems, since stories between people are the main thing, everyone is more open than usual, and there was less hesitation in forming ties.

It means it's a golden chance to escape the isolated island.

Of course, there were cases where they got too entangled and were trapped in an isolated island of just the two of them, but the majority had an atmosphere of lightly enjoying it and ending it, so expectation preceded anxiety.

First of all, it was a chance to create contact points with big corporations [major streamers] with whom interaction was impossible usually.

They didn't particularly hope for something great.

Friendship? Didn't even hope for it.

This is an RP server.

Except for a few who were really friendly, after the server ends, they are strangers.

Usually, there was no external interaction afterwards.

That was more true the bigger the corporation.

If there was something desired, it was a fleeting gaze.

To be caught on the screen of a big corporation just once, to be included in the main stream and catch the eyes of viewers.

The so-called trickle-down effect was that goal.

Most Hakkos were aware of this principle now that the non-humble Hakkos were all ground to dust in the previous server.

"I descend."

Ah, of course, Eating Bear, with 2 months of broadcasting experience, didn't know such things.

Rewinding time briefly to 10 hours before the descent.

I can't focus.

It feels like I'm floating somewhat.

I wonder if there was ever a time I wasn't like that after starting broadcasting, but these days it's especially so.

"Hey!"

"... Huh."

"Not eating lunch?"

"Eating."

Should I say activities at school are beyond boring to the point of being tedious?

Even while eating right now, other thoughts come first.

What to do for RP, what job to do once inside...

I roughly shoved rice in while thinking other thoughts.

"Yu-ri was like that too, you're a bit weird today as well."

It was the words of Lee Ju-yeong who was watching me closely.

A remark as if he realized something.

"...Hmm?"

I know my condition isn't great.

But why Shin Yu-ri?

I looked at Lee Ju-yeong with eyes demanding an explanation.

"No, my honey, no sorry!!! I won't do it!! Kwehm, I saw her briefly when I went to see Ye-rin, and she looked more distracted than usual. So Ye-rin seemed worried too."

Obviously, since Han Ye-rin's gaze was directed elsewhere, he must have looked.

And at the end of that gaze, there must have been Shin Yu-ri looking somewhat tired.

He must have been relieved too.

Since he's that kind of guy.

Does it make sense to fall in love easily yet be single-hearted?

Ah, this isn't what's important.

Shin Yu-ri looks a bit tired?

Hmm...

"Really? Must be something going on."

Well, she's not a superhuman, there must be tiring days.

Thinking that, I lightly passed over Lee Ju-yeong's words and paused for a moment at the counter that returned soon.

"Something is going on with you, right?"

"What?"

"I said the condition is same as you, and you say 'Must be something going on'? Then doesn't that mean something is going on with you?"

Anyway, he's sharp in useless areas.

I looked at that stupid face that looked unfamiliar today for a moment before lifting my spoon.

"Nothing going on. If I had to pick, just thinking about games."

"What, it was that? Worried for nothing."

As expected, he trusts people uselessly well.

At the same time Lee Ju-yeong sat down, Choi Jae-rim's head turned to the sky.

"Ah fuck."

"Figures. Hey Choi Jae-rim, hand over 5000 won."

"No no, don't lie. It wasn't girl trouble?"

"What girl. Would he meet a girl? Hurry up and hand it over."

"Wow, the world is just fucking shitty."

Those guys bet on me every time.

From next time, I should at least charge a commission fee.

Thinking that, I continued my meal.

... But what is going on.

Was there an event around this time where Yu-ri would darken her expression?

Ah, there is an event.

Since Lee Ju-yeong and Han Ye-rin started dating after 3 years.

But just because of that?

My memory of the original work is blurry but... it wasn't that.

Even if it's not the original work, the Shin Yu-ri I know isn't that kind of person.

She would have nodded as if she knew it would happen and smiled her characteristic fox smile.

In the first place, if it were her, she would have known the atmosphere between the two was strange these days.

Since even I noticed right away.

Then... what is it?

I thought about asking but soon folded the thought.

It felt like, who am I to ask that.

There's no reason to, and we aren't close enough for that.

"How many minutes on earth is this bastard eating for."

"Eh, for a moment I thought I spoke without knowing. Hey Mr. Ahn, why so spiteful today. Didn't I lose the bet?"

"Come to think of it, Woo-jin's condition wasn't good today either. Is yours a game too?"

"Ay what's not good, it's just because he's eating for fucking ever..."

His isn't a game.

I watched Ahn Woo-jin chattering as if flustered for a moment before getting up.

"Sorry. Done eating. Let's go."

"Oh? Yeah this is the Kim Jae-hyun I knew. This face where not even a needle would enter."

"Let's go, let's go."

"..."

My head cleared up a bit, perhaps because someone who would be several times more troubled than me was in front.

Feeling gratitude and sympathy, I patted Ahn Woo-jin's shoulder.

"What. What is it."

"Let's go quickly."

"Ah, okay."

Cheer up.

"Then I will decide the RP like this."

I closed the notepad and turned on GAT.

"The game was super expensive, this one."

Is it to that extent...

Oh?

"This... if you squint, it's just a person?"

I touched the settings and raised the quality to the maximum.

"Wow."

If I do this well, I could see even pores.

Originally, I planned to do ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠customization roughly, but if the quality is this good, I get greedy.

"Customization... I'll try doing it a bit seriously."

"First, I'll use my face as the base... and should I reduce the height a bit?"

That way I can immerse while also separating myself.

"Increase or decrease, you say?"

Then let's just increase it.

I increased the height and started touching the face.

I rotated my wrist lightly and brought the mouse to the customization window.

Current time is... 5 o'clock?

Let's finish before 8.

Thinking that, I focused.

"Ah, done."

It took longer than I thought.

"Wow, it's already 10 o'clock."

The controls were clunkier than expected so it took a while.

"Well, shall we slowly try entering?"

"Hmm. Let's go right in?"

"Ah right."