Chapter 14: Muted Tears, Roaring Crowd

1.

Reunited after a year, we poured out our stories, unraveling the emotions we’d held in.

“The ceiling collapsed on a rainy day?”

“Yeah. It was a record-breaking downpour. Water started dripping, then it just caved in…”

My sister shook her head, still rattled by the memory.

“You didn’t get hurt, right?”

She wasn’t streaming because of some injury from that, was she? I hoped not.

‘Could I heal her with my holy power?’

If only I’d been more devout to the goddess. Maybe I’d have more holy power.

“It’s not like that. Don’t worry too much.”

She smiled, gently stroking the back of my hand—a gesture she always used when I was anxious.

“I started streaming because I needed human connection.”

“…Human connection?”

“Yeah. After you were gone, I couldn’t believe I was alone in the world. Meeting people in real life was too exhausting…”

“Well, you got hurt a lot at the factory.”

I’d heard men in their 40s hit on her or harassed her.

The older women ostracized her just for being young and pretty.

She only told me after downing soju, holding it all in until then.

“Thinking about it still pisses me off. Those bastards…”

“But you got revenge, right? That’s enough. Dwelling on bad people only ruins our mood, no?”

“True.”

I smiled at her. She was different from her stream persona—gentle, mature.

“So where do you live now?”

“I’m in a two-room officetel. One’s a bedroom, the other’s for my streaming setup.”

“Streaming must pay well.”

“Yeah. After the old place collapsed, I lived in a basement for half a year. But it was too cramped with the setup.”

“The money?”

“…Siwoo, I used the death insurance payout from you.”

She said it with a heavy expression.

“Oh.”

Of course, how else could we afford a place like that?

“At first, I couldn’t touch it. It felt like your last trace. Using it felt like eating away at your life. But when my savings ran dry, I had no choice…”

The guilt from that time was indescribable, she recalled.

“You did the right thing…”

I thought she was foolishly sentimental, but I’d have done the same.

How could anyone touch that money?

“Still, you seem talented at streaming. A year in, and you’ve got this many viewers.”

“I got lucky. I mingled with big streamers’ servers and got some trickle-down attention.”

“Keeping it is what’s impressive. Most people get a brief spike and fall back.”

That’s why collabs with big streamers were called a poisoned chalice.

The sweet influx is fleeting, and returning to the gutter kills streaming motivation.

“Enough about me. Tell me about you. What happened to make you… like this?”

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at me. She didn’t seem too sad about me being a girl now.

A bit disappointing, but also a relief.

“Well, what happened was…”

I told her everything. She laughed, rejoiced, and sometimes cried.

We got lost in our stories, oblivious to the fact her stream was still on.

The sound was off, but her avatar’s face was still broadcasting.

2.

While the two reconnected, Noir’s viewers grew restless with confusion.

– Seriously, what are they doing???

– Thought she’d be back quick, but what’s taking so long?

– She didn’t actually abandon the stream, right?

– The breath-holding guy and the ceiling tug-of-war guy are probably dead by now ㅇㅇ

– She didn’t forget the stream’s on, did she?

They expected Noir to return quickly, but she didn’t.

💸 [Nickname: Anonymous] donated

🪙 10,000G!

💬 React already ffs

A viewer donated, but with notifications off, there was no response.

As it became clear she’d abandoned the stream, viewers started leaving.

『Live Viewers: 942』

From nearly 2,000, the count dropped below 1,000 in no time.

– What an idiot; bailing when the hype’s this big lol

– A chance to blow up, and she wastes it??? Legendary lol

– No wonder some streamers stay small forever

The remaining trolls stirred up the chat, but with no reaction, even they left.

『Live Viewers: 652』

As the dopamine-chasers lost interest, the viewer count returned to normal.

– Is something actually wrong?

– Getting worried… What’s she talking about with Carrier?

– What could’ve happened????

– Is Carrier flaming her for the ban?

– No way, right?

By now, only those with some fondness for Noir or sheer persistence remained.

The only info on the stream was Noir’s face on the standby screen.

Viewers began speculating based on that.

– I bet Carrier’s threatening to sue, and Noir’s apologizing like crazy.

– Nah, I think she’s pushing for a collab.

– Like a fan meetup? Carrier seemed like a Noir fan.

As they threw out guesses for fun, something shifted.

– Huh?

– Wtf?

– What’s with her???

– Yo, what’s happening???

Noir’s expression suddenly turned somber, like she’d cry if nudged. The chat erupted in confusion.

– Ffs; did Carrier actually threaten her?

– No way…

– Gotta be something else;

– Neutral gear, engage!!!

Some rashly cursed Carrier, but most stayed neutral. Then the mood shifted again.

Noir’s blank look turned to eyes blazing with anger.

– Whoa, never seen Noir this mad;

– Must’ve heard something outrageous?

– Carrier, you crazy bastard;

To them, it looked like Carrier said something wild, and Noir was pissed.

– Carrier cussed her out???

– Carrier threatened to sue???

– Heard it through the grapevine~

Viewers flooded back as some posted about it on forums.

『Live Viewers: 1,422』

The count surged again, the chat a chaotic mix of comments and trolls.

The chaos seemed eternal, but it wasn’t. Something threw everyone off.

– Huh…?

– Uh…

– Hmm…

– ???

– Oh…?

Noir started crying.

It was just an avatar, but VR tech made her emotions vivid.

– She’s sobbing so hard…

– What kind of talk is this…

– Damn, I’m tearing up…

– What’s going on…

Her tears—a mix of grief, joy, and relief—froze even the trolls. Some empathized, crying too.

『Live Viewers: 3,427』

News of her breakdown spread, and viewers skyrocketed.

『Live Viewers: 5,213』

Over 5,000 flooded her stream.

💸 [Nickname: ILoveNoir] donated

🪙 100,000G!

💬 No idea what’s happening, but stay strong…

💸 [Nickname: DentureClick] donated

🪙 50,000G!

💬 Don’t cry!!!

Some donated to comfort her.

– Why’s she crying lolol???

– No clue, but stay strong!!!

– That acting tho lolol insane

– So what did Carrier do?

– What’s happening???

The chaotic mix of support and trolling shifted again as time passed.

Noir’s face slowly stabilized.

Viewers thought she’d return soon, assuming the emotional talk was over.

They were wrong.

– ????

– What?

– Now she’s smiling?

– Wtf is this situation…

– I’m losing it…

Noir kept moving her lips, showing a range of emotions—smiling, crying, eyes wide with surprise.

She seemed to be enjoying the talk, but viewers grew frustrated.

– This ain’t right???

– Abandoning the stream to do this? Turn it off if you’re gonna act like this ffs

– Ugh, what’s going on…

She didn’t return for over an hour. Normally, viewers would’ve left, but not this time.

– Let’s see who wins, you or me ㅇㅇ

– I’m Time Bill Gates~~~~~~~~

– I’m hearing what happened no matter what ffs

– Alright, you wanna test my patience?

– I’m bored, you’re mine ㅇㅇ

Curiosity and questions kept them glued.

They didn’t know that curiosity can kill the cat.

『Live Viewers: 7,128』

More joined from forum buzz.

– I’m

– Falling

– I’m

– Falling

– Ffs ffs ffs ffs

As everyone waited, it happened.

『Stream has ended.』

The broadcast shut off without warning.

– …………………

Silence filled the chat, as if time froze.

But only for a moment.

– You f*cking bastard!!!!

– Is she actually insane???

– You must respect me, I’ve won 5 Ballon d’Ors, led Portugal to the 2016 Euro victory…

– Muyaho~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

– Kiyaho~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The chat exploded.