Streamer Crazy About Slaughter - Chapter 91

Crispy.

As I bit into the fried shrimp, I could feel the crispy batter.

Crispy crisp.

After the crispy batter, as I chewed the plump shrimp meat, I felt another sense of satisfaction.

It seemed just right as a side dish.

When I felt thirsty, I drank from the beer glass nearby and frowned as I set the nearly empty glass with its cool foam down.

After drinking after a long time, I felt like I was looking for a reason to worry unnecessarily, almost as if I should feel depressed.

I had no thoughts at all.

It was astonishing how I had no thoughts at all.

A woman with pure white silver hair tied up high, crossing her legs and sipping beer while watching a broadcast on the screen.

Serin gazed blankly at the screen.

‘Why is she drinking soju of all things?’

Then a laugh escaped as I found it ridiculous.

On the screen was a woman whose face was completely red, having already drunk several glasses of soju.

Editor Kim Ha-yoon.

She looked so happy for some reason, smiling widely.

Then she held up a soju glass close to the cam, as if to zoom in.

—Cheers!

Seeing her thrust the soju glass toward the cam and yell “cheers!” somehow…

It really looked pitiful to me.

Just plain soju.

As I watched the 27-year-old woman drinking alcohol without any side dish, I felt really strange.

It was an entirely different feeling from the impression I first had just a little while ago.

I felt like people can be really careless, or maybe it was a sense of foolishness that even crossed my mind.

And seeing her laugh while chatting with a few viewers who were consistently typing in the chat without any side dish, just drinking soju, felt oddly peculiar.

“Is this what ‘small but certain happiness’ is about?”

To me, the editor just seemed to be enjoying herself for no particular reason.

I wondered if she had something nice happen recently, as she was giggling at trivial chats or raising her soju glass and enjoying herself alone, thinking maybe that was happiness too.

Then since I was also a streamer now, I checked the chat window out of habit.

Looking at the sporadic chats that came up, my heart felt heavier inexplicably.

Seeing only three or four chats coming in a minute, I felt strange, not knowing whether the editor was aware or just feeling odd myself.

I thought she wouldn’t have the heart to broadcast anymore, responding to each of those few chats one by one.

The editor, older than me, seemed cuter than her age, but it made me feel oddly sentimental.

‘This is the life of a small-time streamer.’

There are broadcasts with even fewer viewers, but now with just over 20 viewers, the editor also looked pitiful.

I thought maybe I should chat to her, but then I stopped, worried I would say something strange.

[Jambel: Editing work… I enjoyed watching your New Tube, Ha-yoon.]

[Staric: That’s right. The video quality is really high, so I find myself watching without realizing it.]

More chats came in like that.

Now even the nicknames of the chatting viewers naturally caught my eye.

Since it was only those chatting, I couldn’t help but notice them.

This made me think that maybe I should call out each viewer’s nickname.

If even one viewer who was chatting disappeared, it would be quite a blow.

[Freshly Cooked Rice: Where do you live in Yeoksam-dong?]

Then, one chat caught my eye.

‘Why are they asking where she lives?’

I thought the few chats were all warmly exchanging talk with the editor, so I let it go, but this one felt a bit off.

And I saw the editor pause, her red face immediately showing she noticed the chat.

—To those supporting me on New Tube, I’m always grateful. And… I’m sorry, but I can’t disclose personal information.

As she responded, she seemed to wander aimlessly, unsure of where to direct her gaze, acting unnatural compared to when she had been tipsy and swaying.

Perhaps because a few viewers, who had been engaging with her, suddenly asked such a question, she seemed flustered about how to respond.

[Jambel: Why are you suddenly asking where she lives?]

[Staric: That person seems a bit odd.]

And it wasn’t just me who found it strange; other viewers were asking too.

[Freshly Cooked Rice: Well, it could just be curiosity. I might feel disappointed since it’s the last broadcast. What if we happen to run into each other?]

But they were typing back as if they had done no wrong.

“…Really.”

Seeing that made me laugh in disbelief.

In the broadcast, I could see the editor’s hand, trembling slightly as she held the soju glass.

“Kim Ha-yoon, you’re 27 years old.”

Even though it was obvious what her true feelings were, she didn’t know how to react looking at that chat.

Then, I noticed that only four people were chatting. Thinking that one of them was such a person, it seemed like it would be hard for a small streamer to deal with.

“…Sigh.”

With a resigned sigh, I set down the chopsticks I had been fiddling with over the shrimp tempura and instead took the mouse.

Being a small-time streamer seemed to be riskier than I had thought.

For streamers with small viewer counts, even a single such viewer was too precious. They probably couldn’t make easy decisions.

Understanding that situation made me feel sorry for her.

If one viewer were a nasty troll, she’d likely get hurt even more.

How many trashy people are there in the world?

Thinking everyone would be good and kind was a thought like that of a flower in a greenhouse.

Once you get your head slammed a couple of times, you develop a distrust of humanity.

Whether by choice or not, I already knew that since I had experienced all kinds of trashiness in the world of Black Ark.

Seeing the editor hesitating in front of a nasty viewer frustrated me.

Tap tap.

I typed out my support amount.

Support amount 100,000 won.

Then I entered a supporting message and clicked the support button without hesitation.

—Ding ding ding!!!!

‘ㅇㅇ has donated 100,000 won!!’

《Freshly Cooked Rice: How much do I have to pay to ban that person? You said to let you know what you want earlier. I just want to not see that person at all right now.》

The flashy sound effect and once again my donation prominently decorated the broadcast screen.

—Another anonymous viewer has donated 100,000 won…!!

I thought she would be used to it by now, but the editor looked startled at the support and looked again at the donation.

—And I checked the support message… but still, shouldn’t we think carefully about banning it…?

Stumbling over her words, she hesitated.

Now it seemed she had set down her soju glass and looked as if she had come to her senses, yet even with a nudge from me, she seemed to struggle to make a decision.

[Jambel: Hmm… it’s ambiguous.]

[Larire: But isn’t Freshly Cooked Rice crossing the line?]

[Freshly Cooked Rice: No way, does a rich person supporting ban a viewer?]

[Staric: I think banning is the right choice. People like that are really dangerous.]

The chat opinion was already on my side.

One neutral viewer, two supporting my opinion.

And the viewer in question was fiercely typing more chats, seemingly angry at my support.

[Freshly Cooked Rice: Did I really say something that bad?]

[Freshly Cooked Rice: Ha-yoon, you know I’ve been watching your broadcast every day.]

[Freshly Cooked Rice: It’s not that I want to ask about your personal info; it’s just because it’s the last time, and I feel a sense of loss. I feel like if we live nearby, it would be nice to greet each other if we run into each other.]

Feeling something was urgent, they filled the chat with multiple entries, and it was so ridiculous that I support again.

Tap tap.

—Ding ding ding!!!!

‘ㅇㅇ has donated 100,000 won!!’

《I saw on the channel’s guidelines that asking about a streamer’s personal information would get you banned, so it seems I said what I needed to say. And Freshly Cooked Rice, if you’re mad, why not argue back with your donation? Don’t you have any money? It’s a bit much to fill the chat all alone.》

Utilizing the broadcasting regulations.

Questions about personal information were generally valid grounds for a ban across almost any streamer, and even just now, I had seen the editor, so Kim Ha-yoon’s channel rules clearly stated that inquiries about personal information could lead to a ban.

Therefore, I had both legitimacy and public opinion on my side.

Moreover, I even had the confidence to suppress them with capital.

‘In fact, in internet broadcasting, isn’t having a lot of money a big deal?’

Supporters are referred to as big spenders or patrons.

Since I was also a broadcaster, I couldn’t help but pay attention to those who donated a lot.

For instance, Joan of Arc, a wealthy saint, would often donate a million won at once, so I inevitably found myself paying attention.

Though I was conscious not to treat them specially during my broadcasts, there was often an atmosphere of treating big spenders as honored guests in the broadcasts of other streamers.

So this time, I intended to become that big spender and flex my influence.

Why don’t you keep pestering my editor? If you’re mad, argue back with your donation.

—Everyone, I think the viewers are getting too heated. I’m really thankful to the anonymous supporter as well. So, Freshly Cooked Rice will just get a 30-minute chat ban. According to the rules, it would be a ban, but considering the bond we’ve formed through watching my streams, how about we overlook it this time…?

Seeing the editor’s tearful and weak tone, I simply took another drink of beer.

Glug.

“Ugh.”

I could shake them if I wanted to shake them, but I thought if I just did a 30-minute chat ban, the situation would resolve itself.

After all, today was the editor’s final broadcast, so wouldn’t they naturally leave if banned?

But suddenly, a vibrant donation sound erupted.

—Ding ding ding!!!!

‘Freshly Cooked Rice has donated 100,000 won!!’

《How long have I been watching your broadcast to throw money like this? Do you think I’m broke? Ha-yoon, I’ve been watching your streams for over three months. I come every day to chat, and we’ve had long conversations, haven’t we? I’m a true fan. Are you going to listen to anonymous donors all of a sudden? Come on, Ha-yoon, I’m just saying it with pure intentions. There’s nothing malicious about it.》

‘Pure intentions?’

While blatantly revealing their true intentions.

“Seriously…”

Hearing that made my voice sharpen as I looked at the donation notification filling the screen with disgust.

Packed full of messages for 100,000 won.

—100,000 won donation… Thank you so much, Freshly Cooked Rice. I know you’re a fan of my broadcast too. But still, breaking the rules is breaking the rules… Ah, I’m not sure, I’m sorry. I believe a chat ban is the right option here…

Yet the editor seemed confused, hesitating even over the sudden donation.

She seemed lost in confusion, visibly disheveling her hair in a daze, displaying her confusion on the broadcast.

I didn’t like the idea of banishing that trash and was just angry to see her facing doubt over the previous 100,000 won donation.

Then I calmed those thoughts. What good would it do for me to be angry with the editor?

“…She was a person who would react and be grateful even for a 5,000 won donation.”

Just today, she had been grateful and responsive even for a 5,000 won donation.

But that didn’t mean I wanted to let someone like that trash watch her final broadcast.

Tap tap.

—Payment completed.

—Support account balance: 1,700,000 won.

“Let’s see how far you can follow along, Freshly Cooked Rice.”

Serin’s red lips fluttered as the donation amount started to rise to an unprecedented level.