Chat Chaos and Unexpected Recommendations
It’s actually because of the stream that I’m aiming for it like this…
[Lene][Streaming with Tyuni][Talk | 2639 viewers | 04:11:12]
[Lene, you’re not thinking of doing this again later just to collect all the treasure chests or anything… right?]
“…I don’t think I’ll ever do it again.”
[…Yeah, I feel the same.]
To be honest, I had been thinking that way until the middle of the run. Today’s goal was just to clear it, and later maybe team up with Tyuni to go for the treasure chest achievement…? That had been the plan. But after falling into that final trap, the idea was completely scrapped. What if there weren’t just one or two traps like that? Just imagining it made me feel so gloomy that my whole body sagged.
[Then let’s just chat a bit more and wrap up the stream, the two of us.]
“Yeah…”
I really wanted to end the stream right now and flop onto my bed. But this was a schedule we had already agreed on before starting, so I couldn’t back out.
[…How did Lene and I even end up collabing like this?]
[You know, there are some secrets in this world that you don’t really need to know. Right, Lene?]
“…Y-yeah, that’s right.”
[Anyway, how we ended up connected is a secret…. I was the one who suggested the collab. It was my first time doing one too, so I was pretty nervous, but thankfully nothing major went wrong.]
“…So this was the first time for both of us?”
[Pfft?!]
“Huh?”
The chat was getting rowdy. I checked to see if something had gone wrong with the stream, but nothing seemed off. Then again, my followers often got loud for no reason, so this was probably just one of those times. They really did love to make a fuss.
[No, wait, just a second…. Actually, there was something I was curious about, Lene. You do that on purpose sometimes, right? Like, you’re aiming for those moments because it’s good for the stream?]
“…Aiming for them?”
I didn’t understand what Tyuni meant by asking if I was aiming for something, but from the way she phrased it as “because of the stream,” it was obvious that doing whatever “it” was would be good for the broadcast.
“That’s right…. It really is because of the stream that I’m aiming for it like this….”
[Ah, no… pfft…. Everyone, obviously I know her better than you do…. But I was so shocked just now that my mind went completely blank, so I had to ask. Lene really is that kind of person. But how does she say things like that so casually…?]
“…What do you mean?”
“Hmm. It’s true that my followers often call me an idiot or a fool in chat, but I’m really not that bad. Tyuni explained it perfectly….”
“Even when you all say that in chat, it doesn’t bother me…. After all, Tyuni, who actually played the game with me, already acknowledged it…. Phew….”
Thud thud!
[Kuh…. Ugh…. Hehehe…!]
[Puhahahahaha…! Ah, I can’t. Lene, let’s end the stream here for today. I’m dying…. Hehehe….]
“Ah…. If you’re tired, you should rest…. Good work today…!”
[You too, Lene. Pfft…!]
Ding!
After Tyuni left the voice chat, I ended the call as well. She said she was exhausted, but the fact that she was laughing as she left probably meant today’s stream had been fun. I hoped that was the case.
“Well then, I’ll be heading off too….”
★
“Good work!”
“Good work today!”
The two women who had just finished filming shook hands and bowed their heads politely. The room they were in was quite spacious, filled with various pieces of equipment. Treadmills, stationary bikes, dumbbells, barbells, squat machines, mats—everything was exercise gear.
“So you do all of this every day, Harum?”
“Not all of it every day. I set up a routine. If you’re curious how it works, you’re welcome to drop by anytime.”
“Really?”
At Harum’s words, Saeryu—the day’s guest—blinked with interest.
“So anyone who’s been a guest like you, Saeryu, is free to come back anytime.”
“Aha! Then I’ll come by sometimes to use the treadmill. And of course I’ll do what I learned today too.”
“But! There’s one condition.”
“…It wasn’t free?”
“If we’re only talking money, it is free.”
This wasn’t about money but another condition, Harum continued.
“Saeryu, have you been watching any interesting streams lately?”
The streamer Saeryu immediately understood Harum’s intent. In exchange for always providing the gym for free, she wanted a recommendation for the next guest to appear on her show.
“Of course I have. There’s one stream I’ve been really enjoying lately…. The problem is, I only watch the stream. I don’t actually know the person or anything….”
“That’s not a problem. It’s not like I’m doing anything weird. If anything, I’m doing something good. And just because you recommend someone doesn’t mean I’ll definitely invite them, right?”
It was a logical argument. OnTube creators and streamers often lacked exercise due to the nature of their jobs. Harum simply taught them enough to maintain basic health.
“…I’ve been watching Lene’s stream a lot recently.”
“Lene? …Sorry, I’ve never heard that name before….”
“Ah, that’s fine. She only started gaining traction recently. Anyway, her stream has been really fun lately.”
“She’s a woman, right?”
“Yes, yes.”
“Thank you!”
“…Ah, but I don’t think inviting her will be easy.”
At Saeryu’s awkward smile, Harum tilted her head.
“No?”
“She, um…. I’m not sure if I should say this, but she’s mentioned on stream that she doesn’t really like going outside…. And she posts a lot in the fan community? It really doesn’t seem like a lie.”
“Ah….”
A streamer who disliked going outside wasn’t particularly surprising given the job, but if even other streamers described her that way, the story changed. She was the real deal among recluses. A true hikikomori among hikikomori.
“Mmm…. I’ll have to look into that separately.”
“Then I’ll be heading out. Thank you so much for today!”
“Yes. Take care~!”
After sending Saeryu off, Harum gathered her staff in the meeting room and began the discussion.
“Saeryu recommended a streamer named Lene this time. Seo-hye, could you check out her stream for now?”
“Sure. Where should I start?”
“Since Saeryu said she only started gaining traction recently… figure out roughly when that was and start checking from that point.”
“Ah, boss. I actually know a bit about Lene’s stream. She probably started blowing up around the time she returned after a month-long break, when that pro gamer Gaeun came to find her.”
“Really? Then Seong-hyeon, help Seo-hye out a bit.”
“Got it.”
“As for the rest of you, start preparing interviews with the relevant people for the next project….”
Health Project. An OnTube channel run by Harum and five professional trainers. With expert knowledge, easy-to-follow workout methods, and Harum’s striking appearance, it was loved by 900,000 subscribers. In particular, the content where Harum invited female streamers—“You Can Become Like This Too”—was so popular that it easily racked up at least 600,000 views per episode.
And now, they had set their sights on Lene….
“But boss, I heard Lene’s face isn’t publicly known….”
“…Ah?”
It had begun.