Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Invited to a Stream
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Anyway, the Deputy Director decided to handle the disposal of the dwarf crafts himself.
He said he knew someone among his acquaintances who was an expert on such items.
...Just what doesn't that man do, and what can't he do?
And how on earth does he have such wide connections?
The fact that the Mutant Management Bureau had managed to operate smoothly so far, even with a figurehead director like me, was all thanks to the Deputy Director.
Still, it pricked at my conscience a bit.
The money from selling the dwarf crafts should be used for the public good later.
I could donate it separately.
Or I could just report it and have it returned to the national treasury...
Honestly, though, I didn't want to report it.
And rightly so—our country wasn't the type where innocent money leaked out to strange places.
If the goal was donation, it would be better to give it to a transparent foundation.
There wouldn't be anyone to make a fuss about it anyway.
...Truth be told, even if I pocketed the dwarf crafts outright, how many people would actually complain?
Knowing that, I had no intention of using this money for my own selfish desires.
I should ask the National Intelligence Service Director or the Deputy Director about it later.
I wasn't planning to donate it right away. It might be better to sell them first and then use the funds for disaster recovery if some calamity struck later.
Come to think of it, the National Intelligence Service Director mentioned wanting to meet soon.
He said the clinical trials for the drug made from my blood were just about wrapping up...
Even though it's heavily diluted, I had no idea how effective it would be.
I couldn't expect the same level of results that Ha-yoon saw, but it could still offer hope to many people.
* * *
[Yoo Hee-jin: Ha-rin-ahhhh~]
[Yoo Ha-rin: What?]
[Yoo Hee-jin: Are you busy these days by any chance?]
[Yoo Ha-rin: Not really? Why?]
[Yoo Hee-jin: Then, could you maybe come on my stream?]
[Yoo Ha-rin: ...What's with the sudden stream? Are you going on some variety show?]
[Yoo Hee-jin: Not variety, internet streaming.]
[Yoo Ha-rin: ???]
What could this be about? Ha-rin couldn't help but feel baffled by Hee-jin's sudden message.
Internet streaming?
It felt like just yesterday that Hee-jin was bragging about getting into Korea University, and now suddenly internet streaming?
Her recent texts proudly mentioning how she'd gotten close to her senior Seo-hyun during the academic field trip were still fresh, so why would a perfectly fine college student suddenly start streaming?
As she thought that, Hee-jin messaged her.
[Yoo Hee-jin: Nah~, during break I got bored and wondered what streaming was like, so I just turned it on and messed around. Then some big corporate streamer came in, sponsored me, and left. After that, viewers started trickling in bit by bit... I even got a few regulars? So now I'm streaming properly.]
[Yoo Ha-rin: How do you even get regular viewers from streaming?]
That was what Ha-rin was curious about.
Sure, say a big corporate streamer popped in out of boredom.
It wasn't uncommon for established streamers to visit newbies, sponsor them, and mine content.
But even so, that was just a one-time thing.
If the streamer themselves didn't have any charm, those viewers would drop off quickly.
That was the most intriguing part.
What kind of stream was it that people kept watching Hee-jin's regularly?
[Yoo Ha-rin: You're not... doing anything weird on stream, right?]
[Yoo Hee-jin: Crazy? I'd get my hair ripped out if I did! Besides, I don't even have the face for that...]
[Yoo Ha-rin: True...]
[Yoo Hee-jin: ...That kinda stings right now?]
[Yoo Ha-rin: Your imagination. So how did you even get any viewers sticking around?]
Ha-rin nodded to herself.
Hee-jin was pretty cute, sure, but that alone wasn't enough to carry a stream.
In response to Ha-rin's question, Hee-jin replied.
[Yoo Hee-jin: Well... You know how I'm absolute trash at games? People teased me about it, and I got defensive saying I'm not that bad, and they actually liked that... Something about how they'd never seen someone fail at games so creatively?]
Having figured out how Hee-jin's streams worked, Ha-rin couldn't help but be surprised by the unexpected truth.
Hee-jin actually had a talent for streaming.
She played games super hard, but was utterly terrible at them.
You might ask what kind of talent that was... but the impact from there was no joke.
She'd get mad when beaten for sucking, and even when teased for getting mad, she'd take it so well that it was satisfying to poke at her—like, prime teasing material.
And on top of that, her plays were so unimaginable that they creatively rotted viewers' eyes, unwittingly building a cult following.
Of course, that alone wouldn't secure regulars, but getting picked up by a big corporate streamer early on had let her snag a tiny but dedicated viewer base.
[Yoo Hee-jin: Not many watch, but streaming's pretty fun? When I react, people laugh, and it just keeps going without me realizing.]
[Yoo Ha-rin: Got it. So why me?]
[Yoo Hee-jin: I tried a no-death run this time and failed, so penalty is showing face cam... But I'm kinda scared, so could you join me?]
[Yoo Ha-rin: If I go on your stream... can you handle it?]
Ha-rin had become quite famous from hanging around with Seo-hyun.
Especially after that recent variety shoot, way more people recognized her than she'd thought.
And who was the one she was always seen with?
None other than Seo-hyun, the Mutant Management Bureau Director whom everyone in Korea now knew.
Her very existence was a walking aggro magnet, so Ha-rin worried for Hee-jin.
Her appearance would inevitably draw all sorts of people to Hee-jin's stream.
A sudden influx would mix in weirdos, exposing Hee-jin to malice she might not even notice.
[Yoo Hee-jin: It's fine!]
[Yoo Ha-rin: Why not just skip the cam? Or do half-cam?]
[Yoo Hee-jin: No, no. I promised the viewers, so I can't break it. Even if it's a hobby stream, you gotta keep your word or they won't watch.]
[Yoo Ha-rin: ...Okay, got it. So when is it?]
[Yoo Hee-jin: Next week-ish?]
[Yoo Ha-rin: Then, wanna ask Seo-hyun unnie while we're at it...]
[Yoo Hee-jin: Huh? Seo-hyun unnie?]
[Yoo Ha-rin: Yeah.]
[Yoo Hee-jin: Isn't she busy?]
[Yoo Ha-rin: She's wrapped up most big stuff lately... And last time I went on that show, Seo-hyun unnie said something.]
[Yoo Hee-jin: What?]
[Yoo Ha-rin: If I ever need to go on variety or something, just call her.]
[Yoo Hee-jin: Whoa......]
[Yoo Ha-rin: With her there, no one would spam chat recklessly.]
[Yoo Hee-jin: True, but it feels like things are gonna blow up?]
[Yoo Ha-rin: That was set in stone the moment you dragged me in.]
[Yoo Hee-jin: Ah....... Anyway, thanks!]
[Yoo Ha-rin: What, that's what cousins are for.]
Ha-rin messaged Seo-hyun right away.
[Yoo Ha-rin: Unnie.]
[Yoon Seo-hyun: Yeah?]
[Yoo Ha-rin: Got time next week by any chance?]
[Yoon Seo-hyun: Next week? Why?]
[Yoo Ha-rin: Last time I went on that show, you said you'd come with me for variety or whatever.]
[Yoon Seo-hyun: Yeah, I did. What, you going on some show?]
[Yoo Ha-rin: Well... not variety, Hee-jin's started internet streaming?]
[Yoon Seo-hyun: Whoa, she's doing internet streams?]
[Yoo Ha-rin: Happened by chance, she said. But she has to show face cam as penalty, and she's nervous about showing her face, so she wants me there. Thought maybe you could join too?]
[Yoon Seo-hyun: Hmm... Should be doable. Hang on, checking my schedule.]
[Yoo Ha-rin: Okay.]
[Yoon Seo-hyun: No conflicts, so yeah. Tell me the exact date and I'll clear next week around it. Actually, scratch that. I'll just message Hee-jin myself.]
[Yoo Ha-rin: Got it.]
* * *
I wondered what was up when Ha-rin messaged out of the blue.
Hee-jin started internet streaming when?
Unbelievable.
I'd never imagined her doing something like that.
She's got some guts, that girl.
That ecosystem is scary as hell, and she's casually promising to show her face?
If she's not careful, she'll get a stalker, which is probably why she called Ha-rin.
And Ha-rin knew that, so she asked me for help.
Anyway, first time guesting on an internet stream... No clue what content Hee-jin's prepping.
But I can guess.
Play some games, roast a bit... Me and Ha-rin could show off some magic there too.
No worries about content.
We can do things ordinary people can't.
Maybe invite Hwa unnie too? She might get jealous if it's just me and Ha-rin.
Games, huh... Been forever.
No time since mutating.
It's a penalty for failing a no-death run, so it'd be fun if we played that game.
Streaming might be more fun than I thought.