Chapter 58

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Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 58

Chapter Title: I'll Make You Regret It

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1.

"Then, how about you start your stream a little after I begin mine?"

I looked at the black-haired girl across from me and said. She pondered for a moment before nodding.

"Got it! I'll start one hour after Hayul begins!"

"Good. You already posted the announcement, right?"

"I did! I said I'm back after vacation, and people are happy about it!"

"That's a relief. But aren't you a bit disappointed?"

Yura was munching on snacks from the table when she tilted her head.

"Disappointed about what?"

"With inviting Chef Kang Taeyeon this time, tons of attention came my way."

Instead of answering, she popped another snack into her mouth. I chuckled and continued.

"If you started first here, you could've ridden that wave a bit. Isn't that a waste? Opportunities like this don't come often."

"Not disappointing at all! Grandma always said easy come, easy go!"

"Wise words."

"Right? Anyway, people coming from that hype don't really like Yura. So, no need for them!"

Her admirable attitude left me no choice but to pat her head. My smile grew every time my hand brushed her soft rabbit ears.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Alright. Then, you start thirty minutes after I do."

"Got it!"

With the talk done, I stood up right away. Yura glanced around before stuffing snacks into her mouth from the table. Her cheeks puffed out like a hamster's.

"Pfft..."

She covered her eyes with her rabbit ears in embarrassment, her face flushing red.

"Eat slowly. Slowly."

I duplicated the snacks on the table several times over. I didn't forget to infuse them with holy power.

"I'll leave more snacks here. Eat as many as you want before you go. Got it?"

Yura nodded slightly, still chewing with her mouth full. She seemed utterly embarrassed.

"I'll head out first then. Good luck with your stream today."

She swallowed the mouthful of snacks and said, rising from the sofa to approach the portal.

"H-Hayul, good luck with your stream today too!"

"Yeah. You too, Yura. Have a great stream."

I waved and stepped through the portal.

2.

"She's gone..."

Once Hayul vanished through the portal, Yura sat back on the sofa.

Crunch-

She picked up a cookie from the table and popped it in her mouth. The sweet chocolate chips inside, the nutty butter aroma spreading— a smile spread across her face automatically.

"Hee hee hee~"

She kept dipping cookies in milk and eating them. No calorie worries in virtual reality.

Soon, the table full of cookies was gone. Yura smacked her lips in regret.

No one else in the studio, but she furtively glanced around anyway. After thoroughly checking, she sneakily opened the settings window.

"J-Just a few more... It's Hayul's cookies being too good... Yura's not bad..."

Yura duplicated the cookies she'd just eaten and summoned them back to the table. With it full again, she grabbed her cheeks happily.

"Kyaa!"

Grinning ear to ear, she picked up a cookie and bit in, imagining the sweet taste.

"Eueeeck..."

But it wasn't the taste Yura craved. Bland, somehow off chocolate flavor. The butter scent was no longer nutty.

"Ptoo! Ptoo!"

She spat out the cookie pieces, gargling her mouth with milk like mouthwash. Even then, the milk's taste was sharp and clear.

"...Why's it suddenly like this? Is Yura's tongue broken?"

She tilted her head, ears perking with it. Yura picked up another cookie, nibbling just the edge with her front teeth.

"Ptoo!"

Her face scrunched up. No illusion. The taste was really off.

"What's the difference?"

Deep in thought, Yura spotted a crumb on the table. She carefully picked it up and ate it.

"Sweet..."

Swallowing the cookie, Yura pondered with a finger to her lips.

"Hayul's cookies taste perfect. But Yura's copies taste weird. The difference is who touched the cookies."

She looked up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠toward where Hayul had disappeared.

"No way, Hayul..."

Yura's expression turned serious.

3.

"You sure you don't need help?"

Noona's eyebrows twitched faintly. Her lips quivered slightly— her worry was intense.

"I'm fine. You've only appeared on cooking streams anyway. Suddenly showing up would make people suspicious."

"Still..."

"Really, it's fine. Do you think I'd let what others say sway me? You know I'm not that type."

"Knowing that doesn't stop me from worrying."

"Noona."

I grabbed both her shoulders, locking eyes with her.

"Did you finish the editing?"

"Uh, that..."

Suddenly, she avoided my gaze. Her worried face shifted to embarrassment.

"I-I'll go first! Do your best on stream today!"

Noona said that and logged off immediately. I chuckled at her hasty exit.

'Time to start.'

I hit the stream button without hesitation.

Chats flooded in rapidly before even a minute passed.

Thanks to the massive interest from the last stream, even the initial numbers were impressive.

'Today's stream won't be easy.'

I'd considered resting a few more days, but that would've delayed Yura's stream too. And it could've hurt Elena.

'Can't do that.'

Streaming today was the right call. Can't cause trouble for others.

As viewers grew, so did chat variety. Probably some randos mixed in.

"Ah, hello everyone."

With enough viewers gathered, I turned on the mic.

I read through the chats and answered the common question first.

"Sadly, no cooking stream today. If that's what you came for, leave now."

As expected, backlash from viewers. Most came for cooking, after all.

"I planned cooking streams maybe once a month. Too often, and it gets boring."

Perfect timing—a viewer asked just what I wanted.

"That was to clear up the fake controversy. Special circumstances? Wasn't even my idea."

Before it went sideways, I nipped the misunderstanding.

"Not Chef Kang Taeyeon first. PD Jung Inseon emailed me, talks led to connecting with the chef, and it happened."

"Can't say more—embargo. I'll tell when I can."

Avoiding program details to prevent issues.

"Point is, I do cooking when I want. Not today. So cooking fans, please leave."

I checked viewer count. It dipped briefly, then rose again.

"Ah, donation amount—I'll lower it once viewers thin out. What instead of cooking?"

Instead of answering, I launched The Legendary Arena.

"Resuming the challenge climb from last time. Starting now."

Reactions split.

Regulars were pleased.

Newbies recoiled.

"I'm a gamer first, not a cooking streamer. Gaming's natural."

"Yes. Correct."

The donor's name rang a bell. Thinking, I recalled.

'Ah, that whale?'

Baek Hwayeon, biggest donor during the collab with Chef Kang Taeyeon.

'Why still watching?'

Thought she'd dip after the chef. Worlds apart. Why now?

A mission registered right after.

My lips curved up at the sight.

'Who hates money?'

Missions like this? Always welcome.

"Can you handle it?"

Short, but confident reply to my taunt.

"I'll make you regret it."