The Tide Turns and an Unexpected Stream Raid
The global community, long divided over opinions on Sertina, finally caught a favorable wind. Pro-Sertina sentiment began overwhelming the dissenters.
The mall's sales suddenly shot straight up thanks to this unified positivity, making my on-site inspection pointless. I wasn't even sure what the issue was. Just poor promotion...? The courts are set to reopen soon, so the cases against former President Han Sung-ho, the cabinet members, and that Karen customer Lee Bok-soon can wait till then.
Hmm... Might as well ask Kim Min-seok to make a promo video. He worked in broadcast editing.
With that in mind, I headed downstairs today.
"First house call, huh."
Technically my house too, but whatever. Elevator's empty anyway—better to drop by in person than text. Curious how others live too. If they turned it into a pigsty, they're done for!
Beep—
Card to the reader, doors open. The master key only I have in this building! Whole place is mine anyway.
The apartment wafted a refined, quiet aroma from the entryway.
"Nobody home...?"
I glanced around as I stepped in. Top-tier luxury: sleek interior, but nothing flashy beyond essentials.
My place redecorates itself every morning...
Then, faint voices murmured from a distant room.
What's got them huddled up midday?
I approached the murmuring room, turned the knob, and entered.
What I saw inside was...
"Huh...?"
The Sniper Villain at his computer, chattering excitedly to himself.
"Yes, everyone! Today's content is none other than... Evil Nightmare City! This was once infamous as a horror game, right?"
Glanced around—no one else but him.
Crazy bastard.
Not Kim Min-seok anyway. I started to quietly close the door when endless chats scrolled on the monitor's left side, catching my eye.
> ?
> ???
> ?
> Huh?
> Behind!
> ??
> ?
> Look behind!
> ?
> ?
> Whoa!
> Look behind!
Oh, streaming. Duh. I kinda knew—he's always camera-ready. Misjudged.
"Nah, guys, I've got years of stream experience. Don't fall for that before we even start."
> No look behind!
> Fr;;
> Host backpedal insane
> Kiiiyaaaaah!!!!!!
> Told you
> She's here!!!
> Everyone chat nice!
> Gasp!
> ^^7
> ^^
> SniperVillain looking fine today haha
> Nice weather huh?
> ^^7
> Helping the needy always warms the heart
"Why's everyone freaking? Mass food poisoning?"
Chats flew fast, but my sharpened senses caught every one.
From the reactions... they can see me, huh?
"Her...? Her? Why, someone's actually here? Uh..."
Sniper Villain turned, our eyes locked. Time froze; the room's air stilled.
"...Sertina-nim?"
> Whoa!
> Don't move!
> ^^7
> Gasp!
> Told you she's here!!!
> Why not believe us?
> ^^7
> Abandoning viewers?
"H-Hold on, everyone. Sertina-nim, what brings you here?"
Sniper Villain apologized to viewers and spun his chair. I planned to bail, but the exploding chat piqued my curiosity. Slipped out:
"Hmm... came for Kim Min-seok, but... what're you doing?"
"Oh, mid-stream. I'm a NewTuber usually. Min-seok lives next door."
Right—other units split by floor numbers, except mine. Haven't visited since soundproofing, so easy mix-up.
I silently approached the PC, peering at the monitor.
> ^^7
> ^^7
> ^^7
> ^^7
> ^^7
> ^^7
Great unity.
Mistaking my interest, Sniper Villain blurted:
"Wanna try it, Sertina-nim?"
> Wow
> lmao???
> Villain got multiple lives?
> Collab invite to SerEmpress lmao
> This actually happening?
> Heart pounding!
> Watch him get wrecked lol
Streaming... I pondered, then asked:
"What do I do?"
"Evil Nightmare City—notorious horror game back in the day. Wanna collab when you're free?"
Sniper Villain thumbs-pointed the rear monitor. Sure enough, a grim game window oozed menace: dark cityscape.
I scoffed.
"Me play some kiddie horror game?"
I dove through undead hordes in Pandela. Treated cursed lands like home turf, smashed flesh blobs and demon cultists! Reality, not pixels.
"Not scared, are you?"
Scared? Me?! Outrageous. This fool trash-talks before true horror's apex predator.
> Dude you good?? lmao
> Provoking Sertina whoa
> Can you handle???
> Sertina-nim. I said nothing...
> Host if dying go solo why drag us!
> Sorry our host's dumb but good-hearted
I inhaled deeply, exhaled.
"Think anything scares me?"
Strutted over boldly, plopped in the chair.
"Fine. Fire it up."
> SerEmpress mad whoa
> Baited her lol
> World first WB collab here?
> ???: Easy peasy
> But fr does anything scare Sertina?
Sniper Villain launched the game, dragged over another chair. Loaded screen: brutal wait.
Pfft. Ruined city? Grotesque critters prowling? Pandela had worse—in the flesh. Trading blood and meat with them. Pixels? Laughable.
Before starting, I flicked to the chat header.
Word spread overseas; numbers skyrocketed.
Chats mostly positive. Then, a long one grabbed me.
> But seeing this, height diff hits hard. SniperVillain sitting reaches her waist basically, but Sertina sitting barely pokes her head out lol. She really is tiny
"Hmm..."
Learned from watching streams: mouse over, click the name.
Click.
"Wha—?!"
Sniper Villain no time to react—red button smashed.
'Sortina' has been permanently banned from chat.
The chat exploded.