“So, what should we do, KoK?”
“Hmm… How about we start with a drink while we think about it?”
It was a somewhat impulsive broadcast. Nothing had been decided about what to do.
Still, perhaps thanks to the camera holding Ark, the chatroom was relatively calm compared to the usual chaos of frying pancakes or other such antics. It looked like there were no major complaints.
Beautiful people indeed turned anything into content, even just drinking. It seemed like even if all I did was drink, everyone would be happy.
Though, I wasn’t sure if Ark would agree.
“But it’s your broadcast, and I’m the only one showing up… is this okay?”
“My hand is also in the frame.”
I waved my hand, showing a small “V” sign. It had been a while since I set up the camera this way. It felt a bit awkward.
The chat was moving so fast it was almost lagging. Recently, the viewer count had been strangely high, but it wasn’t the time for so many to rush in. It was likely because of Ark’s presence.
I quickly skimmed through and paused the incoming donations. If it got too overwhelming, it became awkward to end the broadcast.
While I messed with the broadcast settings here and there, Ark took over the communication with the chat. She answered various questions and even shared some stories from our after-party drinking session…
This was really nice. Maybe I should hire a dedicated communication manager.
– 『ㅇㅇ donated 10,000 won!』 –
【How long are you going to wear those tattoo sleeves?】
“Oh. I have tattoos, so they’re to cover them.”
“No, really, I haven’t seen them either. Don’t ask. Seriously, don’t you know by now from watching GetDevoured’s streams? You just have to accept some things to avoid having a mental breakdown.”
“… That’s harsh.”
As Ark kept checking the chat and filling in the audio, I refilled my empty glass. It was incredible how professional she became, considering she was just lying wasted on the floor a moment ago.
I should help out a bit too. It was still my broadcast after all; I couldn’t just completely slack off.
Something that could instantly immerse the viewers… Ah.
I went to a website offering custom roulettes and set up four outcomes.
『After-party Stories』 『KoK』 『Ocarina Performance』 『End Broadcast』
“… Ending the broadcast is a 1 in 4 chance?”
“Yes. Should I increase the odds if you’d like, Ark?”
“No, no, no. That’s not it, but wait-”
Since I wasn’t changing the odds, there was no need to hesitate. I pressed the ‘Spin’ button without delay.
– Whirr –
With a cheerful sound, the four-colored roulette began to spin.
As expected, there was a peculiar allure to the roulette, not knowing what might come up. It’s no wonder that it holds a steadfast presence in every casino.
One could easily see how the engrossed viewers were completely immersed by the countless wishes flooding the chat. The fervor, comparable to a racetrack, was vividly reenacted in the confines of the chat window.
“What will it land on…”
“I hope it’s the ocarina.”
The rapidly spinning roulette began to slow down gradually-
『End of Broadcast』
And it stopped.
“Ah.”
“Ah, not ‘Ah’! It really landed on ‘End of Broadcast’! Are we really ending it? For real?”
“Um… just a moment.”
『Damn it』
『This can’t be, right?』
『Ah』
『We’re not really ending, are we?』
『18,000 people, wow』
『Let’s spin it again quickly』
『Ark, please stay sane, for god’s sake』
When ‘End of Broadcast’ came up on the roulette, the broadcast should have ended right there and then. It would have made a great scene… but the timing was missed.
It was my fault. I hadn’t prepared well. Thanks to the substantial amount of alcohol I had consumed, I had been absentmindedly watching the roulette spin without much thought.
“Some people are asking to spin it again. Sorry. The sacred rules of the roulette must be honored. No exceptions.”
However, taking that brief pause allowed me to come up with another idea, a stroke of luck, perhaps.
“Alright, thank you to everyone who joined us today… we’re going to head off now. But, we’ll introduce you to a more entertaining broadcast in the meantime.”
Yes. Certainly, it must be so.
Although gratitude doesn’t accumulate interest, it would be nice to repay it quickly.
* * * *
『CravingWarmAmericano has hosted 18,467 viewers!』
It was a peaceful dawn broadcast. Playing some KoK solo queue, analyzing notable builds emerging from the ongoing World Series…
『Take care of the refugees, damn it』
『Wow, your place must’ve collapsed miserably』
『Where on earth is this place』
『 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥』
– “Hold your breath until the broadcast is back on. Hup! Hold your breath until the broadcast is back on. Hup! Hold your breath until the broadcast is back on. Hup! Hold your breath until the broadcast is back on. Hup! Hold your breath until the broadcast is back on. Hup!”
『 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥』
– “Is this a refugee camp or an eviction zone?”
– “The sorrow of forced eviction… The sorrow of forced eviction… The sorrow of forced eviction… The sorrow of forced eviction… The sorrow of forced eviction… The sorrow of forced eviction…”
– “Even Stalin would have cried, damn it.”
Such was a peaceful broadcast. It didn’t even take 30 seconds for the previously quiet chat window to turn into chaos.
Recently, with the viewers’ patience growing thinner because of Lee Yena’s actions, complaints about the chaos were few and far between. Most of the audience had joined in on the spamming frenzy.
It was only natural for Revan to immediately call the perpetrator responsible for the incident.
《Hello. It’s already 3 AM… Is it urgent?》
Before the phone rang twice, a calm voice answered. Revan, holding his pounding head, put the call on speaker.
“No, it’s not fine, and the urgent matter is something you just created. By the way, you’re on speaker, and it’s airing live.”
《Oh dear.》
“Turn the broadcast back on right away… You were streaming with Ark in real life? Ark? Is Ark there with you?”
《No.》
“What do you mean no… There are over ten thousand viewers ratting you out right now. Ark? Can you answer, please?”
《Don’t bother our Ark. Her face looks really bad right now. She’s gone pale.》
“… The fact that you can tell means you’re right next to each other. Anyway, both of you need to do something about this protest immediately.”
《Yes… Hold on. I’ll try to handle it.》
《Oh? That doesn’t sound-》
Finally, Ark’s voice was heard, but there was no time to savor the satisfaction of confirming they were together.
-CravingWarmAmericano has donated 10,000 won!-
【Everyone, please sit down like gentlemen and watch quietly. Revan’s broadcasts are very interesting. I watch them often, too.】
“Damn, seriously.”
『 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥』
– “Gentlemen? Gentlemen? Gentlemen? Gentlemen? Gentlemen? Gentlemen?”
『 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥』
『 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥』
– “You watch often? You watch often? You watch often? You watch often?”
『 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥』
『 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥』
『Unicorn down! Unicorn down! Unicorn down! Unicorn down! Unicorn down!』
『 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥』
『 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥』
《Hmm… it’s not quite working out.》
– “…… Ark?”
《…… Would you believe me if I said I did my best……?》
A slightly sad voice came from the other end of the line.
《They are actually good friends once you get to know them. Everyone will calm down soon…… For broadcasters, the number of viewers equals strength. Hang in there.》
For some reason, it felt like a cheerful voice tagged along at the end.
* * * *
– Wooooong
– Wooooong
Late morning.
The vibrating sound of the phone woke me up, but my mind remained foggy. Had I gone to bed too late yesterday? I should have slept right after Ark left.
It was because Revan’s broadcast was quite entertaining to watch that I had overdone it a bit.
At this rate, my life of having dinner at 7 a.m. and sleeping at 1 p.m. might return. How long had it been since my day and night aligned with societal norms? I really needed to control myself.
Gathering my hazy thoughts, I focused on my phone.
『Lee Yeri: Are you free this evening?』
『Lee Yeri: Want to come near my office? I’ll make a reservation at a good restaurant.』
Oh, right.
We had planned to meet today.
Although exhaustion still clung to every corner of my body, my mind suddenly sharpened.
Yes.
Today, I need to talk to her.
It was fortunate that we decided to meet outside. My room felt particularly messy today… If I had to tidy up everything, the entire day would be gone.
So, since I have time until evening… maybe I should rest a bit more.
With a deep sigh, I wrapped my legs in the blanket and lightly closed my eyes.
It seemed difficult to fall back asleep though. I needed to prepare myself.
I also had to think about where to start and how to explain everything.