Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Even at My Doljanchi, I Grabbed Pride Instead of a Pencil or Book
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'HowDidIScream' donated 1,000 won!
The first thing that greeted me as soon as I turned on the stream was a nerve-grating donation message.
I waved back a friendly gesture to the guy greeting me warmly.
Roughly. With my middle finger.
The new night stream experiment had been pretty successful.
Everyone seemed to have fun with it, chattering excitedly about it, which made me feel proud—like watching Ye-eun blabber on about every little thing from elementary school.
They even said my name popped up occasionally in Lemon Gallery.
I didn't bother checking that far.
Having adapted like this and that, my confidence in streaming was building up.
Not that I lacked it before, but at least the days of being unwittingly tossed around by viewers like a snot-nosed kid were over.
How much so? To the point where I could casually go to the living room mid-stream without saying a word.
"Tangerines. My little sis gave 'em to me to eat."
The viewers had reached the point where they'd just roll with whatever I did.
They'd welcome me back naturally even if I paused the stream briefly to grab tangerines, so training them was basically done.
Was sticking clear tape on that shocking?
Their obedient attitude satisfied me.
"You know that? The white stringy parts on tangerines are packed with nutrients."
'Know-It-All Professor' donated 1,000 won!
Still, their innate aggressiveness hadn't faded—they were even backseat-gaming my tangerine eating now.
"Eating a whole bunch at once is sour."
'ㅇㅇ' donated 1,000 won!
As always, I let their denial of my masculinity flow in one ear and out the other.
While peeling and munching tangerines slowly, glancing at the chat, a sudden question popped into my head.
'Why the hell do they watch this stream?'
No content, nothing—just sitting blankly in the chair, occasionally chatting casually.
Last time was amateur hour, but the usual baseline wasn't much different.
A quick glance showed...
Viewer count: a whopping 500.
I couldn't comprehend the tastes of these 500 people.
So I asked.
"Why the fuck do you guys watch my stream?"
Half said looks, half said the fun of cheap-punching.
Hyo-jeong No.1 Fan donated 5,000 won!
"10k? The world's gone mad."
For me, who was grateful even for 1k, this was unimaginable.
Others said the banter was good, she takes bullshit well, surprisingly nice personality, etc.
A barrage of compliments poured in, making me puff up a bit.
"Ha, why am I so damn awesome."
Week 3 of streaming: 500 viewers.
52 weeks a year, so by this time next year, I'd be a mega-corp with over 8,000 viewers.
10 years: 80k.
100 years: 800k.
Building a city of viewers before I die was my new dream.
"Yeah, yeah. Even at my doljanchi, I grabbed pride instead of a pencil or book."
We were exchanging such trivial banter when...
'LifeIsFreeLunchChance' donated 1,000 won!
"Enlisting next month? Uh... dunno any methods. Just party hard before you go."
'PlsPlanetDestroyedTomorrow' donated 1,000 won!
"Yeah, hang in there too. Huh? Military life's a bitch, but it becomes memories after. So, what's your rank?"
'260108Discharge' donated 1,000 won!
His donation nickname had changed already.
"'26? Wow... 2026 coming?"
At some point, military talk dominated, especially complaints about how shitty soldier treatment was lately.
Soldiers get side-eyed for subway seats. Girls laughing at them in uniform on the street.
In a ceasefire nation, social views of soldiers hitting rock bottom was lamentable.
So I got pissed without thinking.
"Some bitch laughs at guys sacrificing their youth for the country? Soldiers are a joke?!"
"Locked up 2 years in your prime is shit enough, treatment should be better. No, screw that. Better treatment? Don't need it. Material rewards? Nah. Just... eye soldiers warmly on the street. Encourage 'good job!' Can't buy a cold drink? At least don't ignore! That hard?!"
'260108Discharge' donated 1,000 won!
"Take care. Hurt in service, hurts only you. Got it? Ah, no. Gimme your KakaoTalk ID. I'll send chicken giftcon, eat one before heading back."
'21Draft' donated 1,000 won!
"Veteran? Go twice, I'll acknowledge you for real."
'HyoJeongKakaoIrresistible' donated 1,000 won!
"What the hell is this. Entrusting me? Where do you get off. Wanna die."
I knew how shitty military life was.
Just two months ago, I was in the same boat.
Hearing even soldiers on leave get treated like shit made my blood boil.
"Don't do that to soldiers. They're struggling enough."
"Hey! Hand on heart, can you say guilt-free you did nothing wrong?!"
I slammed the desk in a rant, and gray dust puffed from the ancient speaker.
"Keh, kuhk! Ack, nose itches."
Dust got up my nose.
Rubbing with handback didn't help.
Grabbed tissues from monitor side to blow, right when a sneeze welled up.
Uh... uhh. Coming!
"Etching!"
Oh, cleared.
Enjoying the fresh nose and mood, but chat went nuts again.
"Why y'all hating again. When did I etching-sneeze? It was 'Pua-choo!' "
"Pfft, replay what~ Sneezes aren't etching. Boomed a hearty gutsy sneeze from deep within."
Chat boiled over.
But my steadfast principles held firm.
"Lately calling me tough guy poser or whatever, cut it out. That's all your inferiority complex."
"Pussy you started flirting first? Sheeet, kids see that? Virgin special. Girl talks to him = interested, smiles = likes him. You're 3-day banned, punk. Cool off with a walk outside."
Yeah. This is proper stream order.
No climbing the ladder on me.
I tolerate sex jokes and nonsense, but never insubordination.
As the leader finished hierarchy sorting and raised her head proudly...
A cheery alert with a video clip arrived.
'KnewItClippedAlready' donated 5,000 won!
Auto-playing video.
There I was, eyes squeezed shut.
A super wimpy sneeze echoed.
Triple repeat loop.
Content: (TS Hyo-jeong etching sneeze clip)