Streaming Life After Paying Off Debt - Chapter 105
– Just spend your whole life on roulette~
– How about charging an entrance fee for the broadcast, heh heh
– Hey, incoming brats, are you finally awake?
– “This is just how they are.”
As I looked at the rapidly scrolling chat room, I implored the viewers to show restraint.
“Please don’t bother the innocent newcomers~”
– Aren’t you the one bothering them, huh?
– Are there any newcomers left to bother? They must have all run away by now…
– Seriously, which viewer would want to watch a broadcast asking for money outright, hahaha
I tilted my head. Then, I raised my finger and pointed in one direction.
“You guys are watching, aren’t you?”
– Right, we’re the idiots here.
– Is this how a beaten wife feels?
– No, they’re just guys who sold their souls for nothing.
– Is that a c*ck? A tit? (Deleted message)
Always cursing like this, yet there were precious viewers watching me. Suddenly, I realized I had forgotten their gratitude for quite some time.
“To all the viewers who always watch my broadcast…”
Toward them, I cautiously conveyed a sentiment I had never shared before, but had always held within.
“It’s a bit cute how you’re nervously fidgeting, even though you’re going to participate anyway~”
With a much lighter heart, I thought.
‘Indeed, people should live honestly.’
Satisfied with my own behavior, I suddenly became curious about the viewers’ reactions.
‘Aren’t they crying out of joy or something?’
With the sudden expression of affection, they might have been shedding tears up and down. I looked at the chat room, anticipating a scene of emotional waves flowing.
– An auction? Me? Why?
– It seems like the Duntang knows how to make Mijoo angry…
– I can hear that whining all the way over here;;
– I’ll just let it go, so come up with your own content.
The viewers, who seemed ready to snap if I got too close. The flowing emotions were not waves, but flames.
“Wow~ This is good.”
For a moment, the time for firefighting passed.
I then banged the auction hammer down vigorously and declared.
“Now, we’ll truly begin!”
However, the viewers’ reactions were cold.
– Ah, I want to do something naughty.
– When is Mari’s broadcast starting?
– The Cweb pirate crew is still alive!!!
The viewers now didn’t even show any interest.
Their attitude was consistently neglectful, almost as if to boycott, and I wasn’t overly concerned.
‘Aren’t you all going to participate?’
I thought of the viewers who usually worked themselves to the bone to suggest roulette broadcasts to me. Even if just half of them participated, it would easily exceed a million won.
‘Rather, I’m worried that the amount might get too high…’
Still, surely they wouldn’t spend a thousand on a single day’s content.
I shook off my anxiety and shouted.
“The starting amount is just one hundred thousand won! Is there anyone willing to bid?”
I closed my mouth while waiting for a flood of donations.
However, the donation room remained silent. Only the chat room welcomed me.
– Hahaha, do you think anyone would?
– Does a hundred thousand won look like nothing?
– Yeah~ I’m going to use that money to eat ten bowls of Jajangmyeon~
Looking at the chat room filled with ridicule, I pondered.
‘Should I bring out a backup account now…’
If this continues, it’s guaranteed to fail. The intensity of the mockery from the viewers that would follow was uncertain.
‘No, I have to bring it out now.’
I got up to find my mobile phone, which was shoved in the corner of the bed. At that moment, donations started pouring in.
– O.O is…
– Duntang is…
– Mijoo is…
The sudden influx of donations provoked an even more intense reaction from the viewers than me.
– Look at those traitorous bastards!
– Just look at how desperately they’re trying to participate.
– Mijoo, these crazy guys.
The arrows of blame aimed at me had turned to pierce the sponsors. Those who were suddenly attacked showed rough responses.
– Poor bastards, just get lost~
– Why do you care about how I spend my money?
– Do you think opportunities to mess with Mijoo come often?
– Armpit… hehehe…
Amidst the conflicts, the arguing viewers quickly escalated.
– Poor b*stard
– Butchering b*stard
Divided into two sides, the viewers hurled accusations at each other. Meanwhile, the bidding prices were climbing incessantly.
“Next is two hundred thousand won!”
“Is there five hundred thousand?”
“One million! One million just came in!”
The bid amount flipped into a different digit. Nonetheless, the sum continued to rise, leaving the viewers in shock.
– Are you seriously spending over a million won on this kind of broadcast?
– One day of broadcasting = three switches, is this real?
– Sigh, incoming brats, what are you so surprised about…
– In my day, there were people who would throw away ten million just to see a face!
– There’s still one of those around, right?
As the bid amounts increased, the number of participants dwindled. Now only two people kept bidding.
“Is there five hundred thousand?”
– Mijoo♥Jihun donated ten thousand won.
[Hand]
– O.Shi donated ten thousand won.
[Hehe]
The auction had practically become a one-on-one duel. It was no longer just simple bidding but a battle of pride.
– Mijoo♥Jihun donated ten thousand won.
[Should I slowly give up?]
– O.Shi donated ten thousand won.
[I only have money, hehe]
In the heat of this tense battle, I paused the bidding for a moment. I then cautiously attempted to mediate.
“The auction is quite fierce… Would you perhaps consider a friendly agreement…?”
– Mijoo♥Jihun donated ten thousand won.
[Why should I?]
– O.Shi donated ten thousand won.
[I have a policy of not sharing what’s mine, hehe]
As soon as I posed my question, the two answered immediately with donations. Even though I had given them manager chat options, their responses only through donations showed their pride.
I always said,
“The world is all about give and take.”
Everyone acts to receive something in return, and to be rewarded.
In this belief of mine, some might argue.
“Volunteers or donors don’t look for money, do they?”
That’s not wrong. They don’t take money and even spend their time and resources to help others.
However, if you shift your perspective just a bit, you realize that they too are seeking some form of reward.
‘It’s just that the nature of that reward is slightly different from others.’
It could be the satisfaction of helping others, or perhaps a sense of moral superiority. Maybe they even wanted to buy a ticket to heaven.
For whatever reason, a volunteer represents someone looking for something other than money and has paid for it.
‘Where is there anything free in this world?’
This belief has always been firm in me. It acted the same way in broadcasting.
The money that viewers send to streamers, donations.
This money, sent out of kindness without expecting any return, can seem free at first glance.
However, once you peel back the layers, it becomes clear that it too is a product of give and take.
‘The meaning embedded in donations is largely one of two things.’
It could be a repayment for the joy brought so far…
‘Or, it’s an advance payment asking to provide joy in the future.’
If it’s the former, that’s fortunate. It means I’ve just received the return I was meant to have.
However, if it’s the latter… things become complicated.
‘That’s a kind of debt. A debt without an expiration date that lasts until the other party is satisfied.’
How long do I have to repay it? Will I even be able to repay it? A bond filled with void left me with sufficient anxiety.
‘That’s why I shy away from large donations.’
I sometimes limit the amount of donations, and at other times even drive away big donors, trying to escape the constant tightening grip.
However, now, that too seemed to hit a limit.
– O.O donated ten thousand won.
[Auctioneer sleeping?]
The sound of the donation urged me from my deep thoughts. Regaining my senses, I stammered out.
“Is, is there a bid of twenty million…?”
– O.Shi donated ten thousand won.
[Yes!]
In that moment, a word fitting for my current self came to mind.
‘Capitalism, ho!’
I accept up to five million won with ease.
‘That’s what my worth is!’
However, when it hits ten million, discomfort starts to grow.
‘That’s a bit… too expensive, what should I do?’
And the moment it exceeds twenty million, I began to struggle to breathe.
‘T, twenty million?! What should I do? Should I do a n*ked leg split??’
Of course, if I really asked, I would get banned.
Anyway, the bid amount was shocking to me.
‘No, with that money, just go to a female streamer’s room and enjoy yourself!!! Don’t do this in my room!!’
I let out a voiceless cry under the increasing pressure. However, the two bidders showed no signs of stopping.
– Mijoo♥Jihun donated ten thousand won.
[Three thousand, go!]
“Th-Three thousand…?”
With the urging voice, I stammered out.
Then, maybe taking it as the bid, the viewers sent in donations for the auction.
– Mijoo♥Jihun donated ten thousand won.
[Bid]
– O.Shi donated ten thousand won.
[Should we go for five thousand?]
’Five thousand?!?!’
It had now surpassed the average salary of an employee. A small slip could lead to a jaw-dropping situation.
With my breathing growing faster, I ultimately made the worst choice.
“Everyone, I’m so sorry!!!”
– The broadcast has ended.