It’s not that kind of malicious broadcast

I felt immensely grateful.

Not only did Revan willingly help record the fight from my viewpoint, but he even filmed it from his own perspective without being asked.

Moreover, my skills had significantly improved through our duel—one could say by one level, but it felt like two.

By exchanging blows in a near state of ecstasy, I had gained something that remarkably advanced my skills. Perhaps this could be called ‘enlightenment’ (心得).

… If someone asked what kind of realization one could gain from a game, he would be at a loss for words.

Previously, my reaction speeds had been somewhat unstable, but the duel had made those gains wholly mine. Revan was indeed someone I was thankful for.

Although Revan had no talent for choosing characters, he was enjoyable and seemed kind. The only issue now was figuring out how to repay him—repaying him was something I definitely wanted to do.

Honestly, giving a gift to a man I wasn’t that close to was a very challenging task.

If we were close… even if he saved my life, loading some game cash, paying a bill of about a hundred thousand won at a PC cafe, and serving grilled pork belly might be excessive but appreciated. Otherwise, I’d hear ‘Hey, this is great, but now it’s a bit burdensome.’

The ambitious suggestions of granted disconnection rights, rights to forcibly end the game, free targeted attacks, and offensive duo rights were all vehemently rejected.

As a last resort, I ended up buying a chicken gift certificate and sending it through the Discourse message. It did seem somewhat underwhelming, though…

Among broadcasters, how did they usually reciprocate in such situations? There seemed to be some sort of custom or norm, but it was hard to pinpoint exactly what.

It was between broadcasters, after all. It still didn’t quite resonate with me. Despite everything, I realized that I now needed to define myself as a broadcaster.

Whether I liked it or not, there were people who inherently saw me that way, scattered all around.

-Click.

The post before my eyes was a trace left by one such person.

『Author: ㅇㅇ』

『Title: Vile Streamer GetDevoured Exposed』

『Listen up, the despicable broadcaster GetDevoured who disappeared after posting just one after-party photo:

I can stand the challenge of “No Broadcast”, the sudden disappearance without any post-party, and the hiatus.

I can tolerate not knowing whether you signed up for the tournament after hitting the Challenger rank as you said you would.

I can even bear it if you come back and start playing the ocarina again.』

Even though I had begged, almost pleadingly, for her to at least create a G-tube channel, and she had ignored me, I could bear that.

And even though she had announced the next schedule as a collaboration broadcast without revealing when and with whom it would be, I would let that slide as well.

But at least inform us when you’ll be back…

If she doesn’t even do that, I wouldn’t be able to hold it in anymore.

– ‘Man, you’re tolerating a lot.’

– ‘You’re going to stress yourself out, dude.’

– ‘At this point, you might as well endure everything.’

– ‘Yeah, if even a pig-headed jerk like him can endure it, what can’t you tolerate?’

– ‘Lol, I’m going to think about how I endured this pig-headed jerk whenever something tough happens in my life from now on to gather strength.’

Hmm…

Although the comments were a bit off-putting, the main post made some sense.

-Creak.

-Click.

I scrolled down and clicked the ‘recommend’ button, then returned to the list of posts.

Ever since some time ago, it became a habit to look at the “Rogues’ Revival Meeting” board whenever a swarm of miscellaneous thoughts flooded my mind.

Honestly, it was perfect for clearing my head. Unlike chatting, it was quiet, making it easier to read—and in its own way, it was quite entertaining to read.

Reflections on broadcasts. Criticisms of each other. Expectations for upcoming broadcasts. And, most prominently, various requests regarding me.

…Honestly, the last part was a bit burdensome.

But compared to reading galleries where people mostly vented their assorted desires about me, it was much more comfortable.

Desires and demands. Whether one wants them or not… that’s just how human relationships work.

What I realized after starting the broadcast was that broadcasting was also a form of social and human interaction.

It’s only natural. Even though I couldn’t see the viewers with my own eyes, they were people with their own thoughts.

Among the things they thrust at me… there were desires I really didn’t want to know, but also some requests I wanted to fulfill someday. Someday, for sure.

Anyway, the thing that caught my eye the most, as it always did, was the request for a notice.

A notice.

Yeah. At the very least, I should be able to handle that.

Who am I trying to deceive? Honestly, I’m not much of a planner.

It was already hard enough for me to decide my daily schedule on the spot… and now, I had to announce a broadcasting schedule that would affect thousands of people in advance.

For someone like me who used to just book a plane ticket and go on a trip, this was an overwhelming task.

However…

In social life and human relationships, there were certain rules of decorum to be followed between people. Even if one was hiding in a cozy fortress barely three square meters wide, meeting connections only online.

After briefly pondering the balance between what I could do and what I should do, I clicked on the writing button.

『Author: CravingWarmAmericano(👑)』

『Title: Hello. This is a notice about non-broadcast & G-Tube.』

『Hello,

This is CravingWarmAmericano(Challenger). I thought it might be a good idea to put the tier next to the ID like this in parentheses. Could this help prevent many disputes in advance?

What do you think?

Today, I’m here to give a non-broadcast notice. There won’t be any broadcasts until next Monday.

I will announce again once the broadcasting schedule is decided.

Regarding G-Tube, I have thoroughly checked the opinions of many people.

“I am currently contemplating, and I will inform you once I have decided.

Thank you always.

Warmly, CravingWarmAmericano (Challenger)』

Before pressing the complete button, I carefully read through the written text once more.

Hmm.

It seemed fine, but I wasn’t sure.

It had been six days since I took a break after the Challenger climbing broadcast.

Considering the timing, the content seemed slightly lacking.

Yes. It would be good if at least the collaboration details were confirmed.

With that thought, I turned on Discourse and connected to the chat with Arc. The most recent chat history greeted me.

『Arc: Yena-nim』

『Arc: That… Counter-ban token』

『Arc: You were joking, right?』

『CravingWarmAmericano: Huh?』

『CravingWarmAmericano: Ah…….』

『CravingWarmAmericano: 😢』

『Arc: No, please don’t cry…….』

『CravingWarmAmericano: Was it really not true?』

『Arc: ……I was referring to what I gave to Yena, not what you said you’d give to Revan.』

『CravingWarmAmericano: Ah 😅』

『CravingWarmAmericano: Yes, it’s true…….』

『CravingWarmAmericano: Sometimes, it seems like he watches the streams.』

『CravingWarmAmericano: It feels like he wants to chat freely.』

『Arc: Revan?』

『Arc: That can’t be.』

『Arc: I’m not talking about Yena’s broadcast, but the chat……he’s not that kind of guy.』

『Arc: Anyway, understood…….』

『CravingWarmAmericano: Go ahead and enter.』

『CravingWarmAmericano: 🙂🙃🙂🙃🙂』

… Seeing it again, there seemed to have been some misunderstanding. I had chosen a gift that I thought Revan would genuinely want.

If only I could show the chats left by Anonymous401294. Then surely, even Arc would agree.

The chats clearly showed someone wanting to say a lot but holding back and refraining from doing so. Definitely.

Having held back and restrained myself countless times from writing the chats I wanted while watching various broadcasts, I could recognize those feelings better than anyone else.

… It wasn’t something I could reveal carelessly about someone else’s secondary account, unfortunately.

With a light sigh, I began writing a greeting message.

.

.

.

Writing and deleting the message repeatedly.

At some point, I found myself placing my hands on the keyboard, staring blankly at the screen.

How should I start the conversation?

It would be easy enough to just ask when we can do the collab… the interview.

“‘A’ sounds different from ‘B'”, I thought. Depending on how I posed the question, it might invite misunderstandings again, making my fingers hesitant to move.

Perhaps it was because the relationship had become awkwardly close. When it was just a broadcaster and a viewer… it didn’t bother me at all.

We exchanged texts, had conversations on Discourse, and came to feel like acquaintances, at least. Because of this, a sudden fear seemed to have emerged from somewhere in my heart.

Maybe… it was because I still didn’t know how to send a message that felt like a 21-year-old Yena would send.

A cynical laugh escaped as a line from nowhere saying, “What’s my true self?” popped into my head.

Is this a cliché even here? So many things had changed that I couldn’t be sure of anything without googling them one by one.

I tried to ignore the encroaching emotions, focusing instead on the cursor blinking on the monitor.

Carefully, naturally… no, perhaps with the mindset of sending a business email…? No, that wasn’t right either.

It was somewhat easier when I had the broadcast running.

Why was something like this so difficult?

My brain wasn’t working well. It felt like my mind was filled with fog.

… In times like this, there was indeed a special remedy…

I rose from my seat, guiding my unusually heavy, lethargic body towards the refrigerator.

.

.

.

About an hour and 1.5 bottles later.

In the pleasant haze of tipsiness, a thought crossed my mind.

Is there a need to delay what I have planned?

Why not just call Arc?

* * * *

『CravingWarmAmericano: Hello Arc-nim, are you available to talk for a moment?』

A message popped up at the bottom.

Arc flinched involuntarily and turned her head. Upon seeing the name, the thought that she needed to prepare herself dominated her mind.

‘Please, don’t let it be about Revan… or that kickback countermeasure… oh, not that duo incident either…’

However, the endlessly growing list that her mind conjured up only made it clear that no amount of preparation would make her comfortable.

With a slight sigh, she clicked the voice chat button.

Maybe it won’t be anything serious— she thought.

TL’s Corner:

Arc getting dragged into something that she has nothing to do with. Poor her.