Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Episode 60. Super Park Dahye (4)
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I'd bounced around a few departments in my time, but marketing was one area I'd never really connected with.
Ever since meeting Dahye, though, I'd been getting called in more often than I'd like.
And now the big day had finally arrived.
The day Dahye would transform into Rosanne for the second time.
So today, I'd be heading to the company with her in the company car.
Now we'd head to the studio, she'd change into Rosanne, do the stream with Dongbaekyang, and as long as we powered through the two-hour schedule, we'd be done.
My job today was basically just shuttling Dahye around.
Come in together, make sure she eats, swing by the office after, then drop her off at home.
Thinking about it, doesn't that make me her manager?
Well, with so little actual work, it was pretty relaxing, but whenever I looked at Dahye, it didn't feel that way.
On the way to the studio.
Dahye's face was overflowing with tension, and her clenched fists were slick with sweat.
It was making it hard for me to breathe, too.
"Park Dahye, your face looks hilarious. Try smiling."
"Ugh... Seonghyeon... I'm shaking... My face isn't swollen, right? Nothing weird?"
"You look beautiful. It'd be weirder if it swelled up after skipping meals all day."
I couldn't wrap my head around fasting an entire day just for a two-hour stream...
But Dahye was going all out.
Behind her anxious expression, I could see a steely resolve.
In truth, it was the same routine as always.
Today's stream content was an art broadcast.
Dahye always sketched during game loading screens or grinding sessions whenever she had a spare moment.
Lately, she'd been dedicating even more pure time to drawing, and when inspiration struck, she'd keep at it in bed right up until she passed out.
I'd seen plenty of original artists at work...
And I could say without hesitation that Dahye was top-tier.
Her hand movements and workflow screamed beginner, but in terms of drawing speed and line quality, she held her own against pros.
So today should just be business as usual.
But the more time passed, the more tense she seemed.
"Ugh... What if I screw up? What if I start stuttering?"
"So what? It's not like it's on TV. Go ahead and stutter up a storm."
"Still... Tens of thousands of people will be watching... And it's Dongbaekyang's stream—what if I mess it up for her... Haah..."
Fair enough. It'd actually be weirder if she wasn't nervous.
Our co-host today, streamer Dongbaekyang, had 2.3 million YouTube subscribers.
It was a sponsored ad stream, so they'd rented out a pro studio.
And Dalnyangnyang herself was coming to help with the cosplay.
Their reputations were legendary, no explanation needed.
It was way too big a stage for a broadcasting newbie to handle.
Honestly, a slight shift in mindset would make it less scary.
Having hustled through all sorts of odd jobs since my early twenties, I knew exactly how to shake off nerves in situations like this.
Glad I could help.
Time to ease Dahye's tension, at least verbally.
"Dahye."
"Yeah...?"
"Dongbaekyang and Dalnyangnyang—they're all amazing people, right?"
"Yeah... That's why I'm more nervous..."
"Exactly why you don't need to stress. Dongbaekyang's hosted hundreds of guests, and Dalnyangnyang's done hundreds of events."
"Yeah... But I'm a total newbie."
"Even if you mess up, they'll cover for you. So don't try to be perfect—just do what you can. You've done it once before, right?"
At my words, Dahye tilted her head, stroking her chin thoughtfully.
Yeah, remind herself of that first time.
In terms of difficulty, the outdoor cosplay event she'd done was way harder than sitting at a computer for an indoor stream.
But she'd pulled it off.
The first day, she'd gone overboard with method acting and forced expressions to do well...
And collapsed from exhaustion.
Day two, she could barely sit still, but the event wrapped up successfully.
The staff handled everything, and people loved it anyway.
She'd just done what she could.
That was the point I was making.
Seeing her face brighten, she must've remembered.
Yeah, just like back then.
"You're right... Others helped make it a success last time... I'll trust and go for it this time too! Just what I can do!"
"Exactly. Leave the cosplay to Dalnyangnyang and the stream to Dongbaekyang."
"Got it! I'll just respond and draw, right?"
"That's the one. Let's head up."
Her brightened expression put my mind at ease.
Dahye might not realize it, but her strengths weren't meticulous prep or delivering flawless results.
It was her reckless action—charging headfirst without overthinking.
So right now, blindly diving in was the way to play to her strengths.
On the stairs up to the studio.
Dahye, following behind, grabbed my pants leg.
I turned, and...
Her expression had changed again.
She looked like a retriever waiting for walkies.
What did she want?
"What?"
"You'll be there with me, right?"
"Of course."
"Then... you'll help too? Like Dalnyangnyang and Dongbaekyang?"
I wanted to say it was obvious, but...
I could see her sneaky plan to use me to calm her nerves, so as her day-one manager, I'd give her what she wanted.
I took her hand and moved it to my sleeve.
Just like that day in Busan, grabbing my sleeve whenever she felt uneasy during the cosplay.
I might be a nobody office drone, but lean on me all you want if it helps.
"Grab it anytime you're anxious. I'll be waiting."
"Time to make that money!!"
Even a spirited battle cry.
She got what she wanted, and Dahye seemed revived.
Off to a brave start today.
Time to make that money!! ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The studio inside was quieter than I'd expected.
I figured it'd be bustling with ongoing streams, but it seemed like it was just us today.
"Use this waiting room. The studio you rented is right here. Everything was set up yesterday, but call if you need anything else."
Following the owner's guidance, we got our waiting room and arrived at today's streaming studio.
A small 10-pyeong room with a chroma key setup and four monitors hooked up to a computer rig.
One wall was packed with lighting gear.
We gawked around like country bumpkins visiting the city for the first time...
When someone tapped my shoulder from behind.
"You made it?"
Turning, there was the world-class streamer.
Dongbaekyang.
The supreme queen of comprehensive gaming, tackling every new game on PC and console alike.
She'd once topped global female streamers, boasting an enormous fanbase.
But her look right now? Well...
She looked like she'd keel over dead if I snatched her coffee.
Exhausted beyond belief.
Her long straight hair was still damp from a recent wash, makeup half-done with no eyebrows.
Baggy hoodie and knee-bagged sweatpants.
Thick glasses obliterated her usual cute image.
Even top streamers are human like me.
"Hello... Park Dahye and Assistant Manager Kwon Seonghyeon, right?"
"Hello. Narrative Games Assistant Manager Kwon Seonghyeon. Looking forward to a great stream today."
"Hi! I'm Park Dahye! Please take care of me!"
"Yeees~ It's just a casual personal stream, so no need to be nervous—make yourselves at home. I'll finish prepping and be back~."
Her stream energy was sky-high.
But off-camera, this was her vibe.
She could barely keep her eyes open from fatigue, voice two octaves lower than broadcast mode.
Once she left, I glanced at Dahye...
She was thinking the same as me.
"Don't laugh."
"I'm not."
We burst out anyway, covering our mouths and snickering.
Dahye's freakout last night came to mind.
Skipping meals to de-puff, masks, every trick in the book.
Yet the pro looked fresh out of bed.
Good—Dahye's tension was completely gone. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In the waiting room, Dahye and I chatted games for a while when Dalnyangnyang arrived.
"Dahye! Hi, Manager! You guys are early! Wow... Dahye no-makeup? Just like the photos! You're so pretty..."
She had the high energy this time.
Dalnyangnyang, leader of Korea's top cosplay team.
We hadn't even scouted her—she reached out before promotions were planned.
Offered to handle the new avatar costume and Dahye's makeup entirely.
Probably felt bad about missing the last event.
Flu or not, bailing the day before contract must've stung.
And she'd been blown away by Dahye's photos?
Raved over the phone about how perfectly Dahye embodied her costume.
My guess: trying to recruit Dahye to her cosplay team.
Nothing bad about it for Dahye.
Daily calls from Dalnyangnyang smoothed out stream prep, and a job offer wouldn't hurt.
Whether Dahye saw cosplay as a career, who knew.
Streaming or cosplay, she'd crush it either way.
"Sis! I took care of everything like you said. Did a mask last night too!"
"Good girl. Skin's perfect... No tweaks needed on the costume!"
One hour to stream time.
Everyone got busy.
Dahye and Dalnyangnyang headed for costume fitting, Dongbaekyang prepped the stream.
Just me with nothing to do.
Manager life.
I sipped coffee and leisurely earned my paycheck like Lupin.
Strange how sentimental it felt.
Just a month ago, I'd vowed to help Dahye until she went independent.
Now here I was, watching her work.
Not even flinching in front of strangers anymore.
Her dazzling growth was something to be proud of.
"Manager Kwon! I'm changed!"
And soon after.
Dahye returned.
We'd agreed on formal speech in the studio, so her tone felt off...
But it wasn't just the speech.
Seeing her, an exclamation escaped me.
No wonder Dalnyangnyang was drooling.
Any exec would want to book her on sight.
Too soon for that talk, but...
Cosplayer or streamer,
Dahye would rake in the cash.
After today's schedule, I'd ask.
What she wanted to do going forward.
"Starting in 30 minutes!" ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇