Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: How is the Scream 'Euhiyak?'
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The scheduled two hours had passed.
During that time, she hadn't shown up in the chat window, so I started worrying if maybe she'd ghosted us, but that worry melted away like snow under the cheerful donation sound.
The interpreter, who confirmed the sweet mission success reward, jumped around in joy like it was her own achievement.
I thought about grabbing a meal with her since she'd been the MVP who helped make the mission a success, but she had to head home— a perfectly student-like reason—so we parted ways with some regret.
"I've already gone home, guys."
She looked ready to chat all day, so I cut in at the right moment.
"Looks like I've gotta eat on my own now."
"What, tteokbokki like some girl? Real men eat gukbap. I spotted a decent gukbap joint on the way here earlier. One last bowl of meat gukbap there..."
"...I was gonna, but now I'm craving tteokbokki."
Right on cue, a street food stall came into view.
Wasn't this fate?
Fate with the 50,000 Won god.
For some reason, the shabby sign's character looked like Teacher Sinsaimdang's benevolent smile.
The shop was empty.
The hollow interior without a single customer was steeped in the bitter struggles of a small business owner.
"Boss! Mind if I broadcast while eating here, just showing me?"
"Sure thing~"
I asked for permission to stream before ordering.
I'd seen other streamers do it.
Since the mission was to eat tteokbokki, I ordered just that.
3,000 Won for a single serving.
The reasonable price had me nodding involuntarily.
"But what're you streaming on? Nutube?"
"No, boss. It's Lemon TV, a site for weirdos like these folks."
"Not dissing Lemon TV, just you guys."
While bickering with the viewers, my tteokbokki arrived.
And as a bonus, a serving of fish cake broth came free.
"Whoa, thank you! I'll dig in."
Tough guy special: polite to elders.
But there was an extra dish.
"Huh? I didn't order the kim-mari."
"It's on the house 'cause you're pretty~"
"Oh, then how about fried squid instead of kim-mari..."
*Zing.*
"Heh heh. Just kidding. Thanks, boss."
Yeah, fried squid would've been pushing it.
I wasn't so shameless as to demand something twice the price.
Definitely not intimidated by the boss's glare.
The tteokbokki was perfectly spicy and sweet, with a devilish charm that kept my chopsticks going back for more.
"No, this place is seriously good. Did they put drugs in it? Tteokbokki can't taste this amazing."
They were thrilled to catch me slipping up.
Ignoring the piranhas swarming at the scent of blood, I chugged the fish cake broth straight from the bowl.
*Slurp.*
"Kuh, the broth is insane too."
"Oh, the kim-mari's nice and crispy too."
"Michelin inspectors have no idea. They should star places like this. What, saving stars for sticker fights?"
I was chowing down and chatting away when suddenly—thunk—a plate landed in front of me.
It was fried squid rings.
"No drugs, so relax~"
The boss chuckled heartily and vanished into the kitchen.
I stared blankly at the steaming, freshly fried squid, then whispered softly into my phone.
"Was I talking that loud?"
The terrifying truth that my mutterings had reached the boss's ears all along.
I didn't really want to know that.
The boss was generosity incarnate.
Business might suck, but her hospitality rivaled any hotspot eatery.
Everyone was deeply moved by this big mama's embrace, determined to send even one more customer away stuffed.
Then some snowflake ruined the mood.
Thankfully, unlike the viewers' fears, no surprise bill came.
The boss insisted on just the tteokbokki price with incorruptible honesty. My conscience made me try to pay full, but she refused vehemently.
After a brief tussle, we settled on me promoting the shop on stream.
"Sell a ton, boss!"
Out on the street.
The traitor who spread that ridiculous slander.
To root out the culprit, I glared and shouted.
"Who slandered our kind boss? Everyone, attention!"
"Good, do that."
"Yeah, I'm a vet~"
Thanks to the generous boss, I ate more than expected.
As dusk fell, I was wrapping up the stream, but the sharp-eyed viewers caught on and grabbed my pant leg.
"Night? It's barely early evening, guys."
I was rolling my eyes at the absurd threats when—
"Kyaa! Mongchi!!"
Suddenly a woman's scream rang out, followed by thudding footsteps.
What the—? I turned to see a massive wolf charging at me!
"Euhiyak!!"
Startled, I stumbled back, and it landed right in front of me.
Up close, it wasn't a wolf—it was a huge dog.
I stared dumbly at it as the chat exploded.
"No, I thought it was a wolf for a sec. Look at the size? Camera doesn't capture it well, but it's almost human-sized."
*Pant pant pant.*
The dog's tail wagged innocently like it was begging for affection, sending the chat into another frenzy.
"Aaah! I'm so sorry!"
The late-arriving owner rushed over, grabbed the muzzle, and shook it.
"Hey! I told you not to bolt out like that! Keep this up and noona's in trouble!"
I subtly adjusted the camera so her face was out of frame.
She bowed deeply again.
"Really, really sorry! You got scared bad, huh?"
Then her eyes landed on my phone.
"Oh! Are you streaming right now?"
"Yeah? Uh, yes."
"Whoa, for real? I stream too!"
A fellow streamer?
First one I'd met besides my sister.
That sparked it—viewers started outing the streamer's identity.
Turns out she was a work senior.
Streaming on Lemon TV for three whole years.
Started with games, now doing daily vlogs with a solid channel.
She was thrilled at the unexpected encounter.
Our shared Lemon TV streamer bond created a vibe like old classmates reuniting.
Streamers' woes, bumping into fans on the street— chit-chat flowed.
Then she realized I was live, made an oops face, wished me luck, and left.
"This is fate, let's collab sometime!"
Before going.
Forbes' top Korean white lie 'Sure, let's grab food sometime' pairs perfectly with streamers' 'Sure, let's stream together sometime.'
Thus ended the meeting.
Woof!
Mongchi barked big as if understanding, bidding farewell.
I stared blankly as they walked away.
"What was that... like a storm passed."
"Damn you guys, been bullshit since earlier. Wolf or big dog, anyone wouldn't flinch if that huge thing lunges suddenly."
"Ugh, that's annoying too. Speak properly. When did I say 'euhiyak'? It was 'euheok!' Anyway, I get you wanna frame me somehow, but no fabrications, okay? Fair play. You know?"
"Whoa, whoa... cornering me like this?"
No good.
Outnumbered, nothing I said would land.
Three mouths make a tiger—they'd conjure one from thin air.
Amid the pressure, someone offered a compromise.
Lemon TV's replay feature.
Agreed to check the footage to prove my innocence.
The live autopsy began.
From the duct tape scene to meeting the interpreter.
Skipping to disciplining the boss-slanderer...
Finally, the moment.
Mongchi lunged on screen.
I clearly said "euheok" short...
"Huh."
No.
Not "euheok."
Horrified face, quivering voice.
Even the hand shake nearly dropping the phone, all in HD.
I quietly shut my mouth.
A heavy silence fell over the street.
In the heavy silence, a donation sound echoed softly.
Awkward silence again.
After a long while, I threw out a wrap-up like nothing happened.
"Alright, that's the stream for today. See you tomorrow~"