Chapter 31: Yuamhwamyeong (4)

Part 11

“I don’t have many friends, so what am I supposed to do when I’m out hanging with one~”

• Sob, Nunabbattajo… It’s so hard to watch the stream without you on cam…
• The reverse vibe is real lololol

“I mean, don’t I have pretty decent visuals?”

Sanghyeon, waking up late to an unusually quiet house, checked Yoonseo’s text as he prepared to stream.

Hanging out with a friend, grabbing dinner, might be late. Don’t wait up, I’ll pop into the stream later. Short and to the point, but the thoughtfulness felt very “Sis” to Sanghyeon.

“Anyway, family’s more important than you lot, so I’m not gonna nag her to hurry back. I’ll wait nicely~”

• Sob, Nunabbattajo… Be happy even without us…
• I recorded Nunabbattajo’s voice and play it every time a donation comes in…

“…She’d probably do that if I asked.”

The viewers’ clamor continued, but the stream’s vibe didn’t shift much. Sanghyeon couldn’t quite predict how big an impact Yoonseo’s cam appearances had, but thankfully, her absence didn’t spiral things out of control. He felt a quiet relief. If the stream tanked just because she wasn’t there, knowing his personality, he’d mope around with a guilty, sinner-like expression for days. The chats asking for Yoonseo popped up often, but this was manageable. Taking a break, he thought as much.

“Maybe I’ll ask her to record some stuff when she’s back.”

• Morning call?
• ASMR oohhh…
• Make her do a Genshin voice impression!
• Just play Genshin!!!

“If I ask for weird stuff, she’ll give me that dead-eyed look like when someone asked about her three sizes.”

• Reward!
• We keep saying it’s a reward! lol

Funny people. Chuckling, Sanghyeon leaned back in his chair, then sat up straight. Everyone knew rage games like these drained your soul, but chatting too long would crack his “pro gamer” creed.

“Anyway, Sis said she’ll show up for a bit when she’s back, so let’s clear this garbage game before then.”

• You haven’t even gotten halfway in two hours, how you gonna “clear” it lolol
• Sounds like you’re almost done, huh?

“Shut it! I’ve got the hang of it now, I’ll climb in no time. They say the start’s half the battle, and I’m halfway, so it’s basically done.”

He switched the screen from the chat overlay to the game. That nauseating pogo stick—or whatever it was—popped back into view, along with the infuriatingly punchable character.

• Let’s go!!!!
• Will the host clear the mission today?
• Open the betting pool!!!

“No need for a betting pool when I’m gonna clear it. A 100% sure bet doesn’t make a pool.”

Same old vibe, same old stream. There was a time he thought he kept going out of inertia, but looking back, it was fun—and it’d keep being fun. Still, the empty space left by that girl in a life he thought would stay unchanged forever felt a bit hollow.

Her soft voice asking, “How’d you do that?” when a cool moment happened, despite claiming disinterest. The way she’d subtly shift chat topics to herself, smiling faintly while bantering with viewers. His own shouting, “Look at me!” followed by her laughter and the viewers’ chuckles in a chain reaction.

“Alright! Here we go! Straight to the top!”

• ? When did the mission reward hit 150,000 won?
• Safe asset lololol

Come to think of it, since Sis started appearing, they’d been together every day. Three weeks? Almost a month? Her absence feels weirder now. With that thought, Sanghyeon twisted his fierce grin wider. Showing this weak side would only burden her. For her, streaming was something to do when she felt like it, or not. That’s enough.

Part 12

“Ughhh… Sis… please comfort me… ughhh…”

“…What happened?”

Washing my hands and stepping into Sanghyeon’s room with a bit of a spring in my step, I found him sprawled over his desk like a corpse. The flashing monitor and donation alerts confirmed he was streaming.

“This… this garbage game… I never should’ve played it… I’m done… I hate pogo sticks…”

“Uh… uhm…”

His stiff, creaky turn toward me—eyes pleading—made it hard to tell if this was for the stream or genuine despair. His wail was too real. I nearly stepped back but steadied myself, adjusting my crooked cap. Something about his aura screamed stay away, but…

“What’s wrong with my brother…?”

• Nunabbattajo!!!!!!!
• Omg, Nunabbattajo’s cap is too cute!!!!

“JijonKnight, thanks for the 5,000 won donation… I’m grateful for the warm welcome, but maybe we should deal with my brother first…”

“Yeah… comfort me… comfort me for playing this trash game…”

He looks like he’s gonna cry. Seeing a grown guy like this felt less gross and more pitiful. Judging by the chat and the unfamiliar game on screen, this game was the culprit.

“A guy your age shouldn’t be crying.”

“You don’t get it ‘cause you haven’t played it… This is… the person who made this… they’re not human… something crawled out of hell to screw over humanity…”

“…Do you have to get that worked up over a game you’re supposed to enjoy?”

• Cheungjeokun’s right this time…
• Fr, Nunabbattajo, you’d get it if you tried.
• Nunabbattajo, give it a go????
• Heh… I wanna see angry Nunabbattajo…

The vibe’s getting weird.

Part 13

“The cap? Oh, I forgot I was still wearing it.”

Sanghyeon’s dramatic scene was so intense I only remembered the cap thanks to chat. Watching the character slip and fall while trying to land on a wall, I took it off to deal with later. Wearing it too long left stray hairs sticking out on the cam, so I paused the keyboard to smooth them down.

• Gasp… Nunabbattajo’s nape is too sexy;;;
• Why’d you change your hairstyle?

“The blonde was too eye-catching. Tying it up and hiding it under a cap makes it less noticeable… What’s sexy about a nape? ArcticFox, thanks for the 10,000 won donation…”

Luckily, the character’s fall didn’t reset to the start. Getting this far was a struggle at first. The thought brought a strange sense of pride. Accomplishment, maybe? How does something this simple become a game? Is this why people play it?

• …She’s smiling… even after falling…?
• Nunabbattajo… doesn’t get mad even near the starting village…?

“No, I mean, it’s a bit disappointing, but… isn’t it kinda satisfying? We can easily get back to that spot now. Feeling your own growth so directly, without stats, is kinda cool.”

Climbing again’s no big deal. My goal isn’t the end but just trying it out, so maybe that’s why I feel this way.

• ?????
• Is she some transcendent being?
• No angry Nunabbattajo…?

“…Sis, are you really human? This is fake leather, right? Peel it off and there’s a robot inside?”

Sanghyeon, who’d been snickering every time I fell, piped up after watching me play for about 30 minutes. That’s the best he’s got? I might actually get mad.

“…Ugh. Games are for fun, right? Instead of finding stuff to get mad about, shouldn’t we look for what’s enjoyable?”

• Nunabbattajo, please, just curse once in an angry voice?

What now?

“…I don’t curse, except maybe at friends… and I don’t get mad much… FriendFinder, thanks for the 30,000 won donation.”

“…Uhm.”

How do you do an angry voice? Low and gruff? Growly? Snappy? What kind of curse? Nothing too harsh, right?

“…Idiot. …Sorry.”

I couldn’t think of anything playful to say. Sorry. Seeing the chat flood with laughter, I buried my face in embarrassment. Calling him an “idiot” was kinda childish, I realized too late.