Episode 25
"Ah. It's over."
The screen returned.
The sensation of losing control of my body and then regaining it was quite awkward.
Seojun looked around.
"Why is no one here?"
The entrance of the Demon Tower.
The once bustling main street was completely empty.
The windows of the buildings were shut, curtains drawn.
- After all that ruckus lol who'd be walking around lol
- The thunder was pretty loud lol
"Hmm..."
Seojun glanced around for a moment, then turned around.
The empty Demon Tower.
A sense of déjà vu washed over him.
The viewers seemed to feel the same way.
- Eok lol lol Again?
- No way?
"Well, it seems I've successfully performed another perfect assassination."
Seojun spoke flatly, as if stating a fact.
- So shameless lol lol lol
- No, the devs themselves certified it wasn't an assassination, what are you talking about?
- Uh-uh, if the streamer says it's an assassination, it's an assassination.
- If there are no witnesses, it's an assassination, but doesn't this have like a ton of witnesses?
"Everyone, the devs or witnesses aren't what's important."
- Then what is important?
- The dictionary definition of assassination is killing someone secretly, you know?
"You can't just cheaply bring up the dictionary definition. Consider this a warning."
Seojun's stream rules had no warning system.
In other words, it was just something he said.
- We're sorry! lol lol
- Coward! Viewers!
- You should fight with instigation and fabrication, who brings facts?
- Justice will prevail.
Seojun chuckled and stepped away.
"Well then, now..."
That moment.
A hand shot out from an alley, grabbed Seojun's arm, and pulled him inside.
It was Christina.
[You obtain money.]
[Your reputation increases.]
Immediately, notification sounds rang out.
It was the reward for defeating a dominator.
"I told you, I don't need it."
- Put it away, put it away
- Eok lol lol He's getting his sleeve put back in
- Don't they give anything else?
- But who's that standing next to Christina noona?
Seojun had the same thought.
The hearty-looking middle-aged man next to Christina was an NPC he had never seen before.
Of course, from Seojun's perspective, there weren't many NPCs he *had* seen, but the fact that the viewers were curious signified the appearance of a new character.
"Nameless, thank you. Thanks to you, three dominators have already been eliminated. But..."
The automatic story progression began, and first, Christina expressed her gratitude to Seojun.
Then the man standing next to her cut her off.
He took a step forward and introduced himself.
"I'll explain from here. First, nice to meet you, Nameless. My name is Arthur Haig. I am the branch manager of Alteon."
- Oh? That dude was the branch manager?
- That bastard never even meets me, but he goes to see the streamer.
- But why is he speaking informally?
- Ugh, even the branch manager is handsome. I just hate the world.
Arthur, the branch manager of Alteon.
Within the setting of this game, he was the NPC holding the highest position in the assassins' guild.
And he had also been an NPC shrouded in mystery until now.
"First, on behalf of all assassins, I express my gratitude to you. The streets of Alteon have become much safer thanks to you."
Arthur bowed deeply to thank Seojun.
heh heh The streamer did clean up the market, yeah.
Why is that? Give me a valid reason.]
[--> No. You couldn't have handled it if I wasn't there.]
- lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol
- Why can I see exactly what option the streamer will pick?
- Me too
- 2222
Without a moment's hesitation, Seojun was about to pick the second option, but he paused after seeing the chat.
And the viewers weren't the type to just watch quietly.
- Just pick it lol lol lol lol lol
- Weak man trait) When they're seen through, their pride makes them pick something else forcefully.
- Picking the first option here would be so pathetic, right?
"I have no choice. Since you all seem to want me to pick the latter, I will proceed according to your will."
Chats like 'Since when did you listen to us?' and 'Making excuses like that is a weak man trait too' popped up, but Seojun didn't bat an eye and chose the second option.
"No. You couldn't have handled it if I wasn't there."
Upon hearing that, Arthur's hand visibly flinched.
But Arthur calmly began his explanation.
"Right, that's definitely an undeniable fact. However, problems have arisen since you started killing the dominators..."
Currently.
According to Arthur's explanation, the upper echelons of the conspiracy had heightened their alert level, feeling a sense of crisis after losing three dominators.
The lower-ranking members, having lost their controlling superiors, were running wild.
If the last remaining dominator disappeared, even greater damage could occur.
"As you know, even if we eliminate all the dominators, the conspiracy won't disappear. Rather, they'll rampage even more. At least, I'd like you to wait until we are ready to sort out and handle things in Alteon."
Having said that, Arthur stepped into the shadows.
"Well, then. Thank you."
Christina also gave a refreshing smile, then pulled her hood over her head and melted into the shadows.
- Christina noona is always the best.
- But something seems fishy with the branch manager's back story.
- It does seem a bit odd.
- Guys like that have a trait: sly.
- If we assume that Bora noona from the cutscene we just saw is with the conspiracy, doesn't that not add up?
"Right? I wonder what it is. Well, not that it means I won't catch them..."
- lol lol lol lol lol
- The streamer looks like he absolutely won't listen to what he's told, right?
- Honestly, that's a forced criticism.
- Jealous he's handsome lol lol lol
Seojun casually checked the time.
It was almost time to end the stream.
"Well, anyway, that's about it for today's game."
- Stop
- Aht!
- Please no instant ending T_T
- Bye-bye stream!
Seojun immediately turned off the game and moved to the lobby.
The background changed in an instant.
After that, Seojun fiddled with a window.
- Why aren't you turning it off?
- Shouldn't you be turning it off by now?
- You didn't forget how to turn off the stream, did you?
- Technophobe legend.
"Haah. It's not that I don't know how to turn it off. Well, the reply came back incredibly fast. Here."
[MoviSoft Customer Support Team.]
[Hello, Jin Seojun customer.
First, thank you for your inquiry.
We have received your inquiry well.
You left an inquiry saying you seem to have used hacks without your own knowledge.
Regarding unauthorized programs, we have not observed any such activity from you so far.
Therefore, it seems you did not use hacks! Congratulations.
Please continue to enjoy Assassins' Dawn with fun and peace of mind.
If you have additional or other inquiries, please feel free to contact us anytime via our 1:1 inquiry service.
This has been MoviSoft Customer Support Team.
Thank you.]
- What kind of reply is that lol lol lol
- They could just ignore you and it'd be fine
- Such a nuisance lol lol lol
- How is this a nuisance? MoviSoft isn't a fire station or hospital, it's just a game company.
- Serious guy cut
- This is just how you have fun with game companies lol lol lol lol lol
"Yes. With this, I have officially been proven not to be a hacker."
Seojun put on a proud expression.
- Kya!
- Ah lol Isn't this them being in cahoots with the dev? That skill isn't hacks?
- For real lol didn't the dev say they even put a mission on you earlier?
- Heok!
- Heok, what the...
- Seriously, maybe you turned yourself in and they let it slide....
- lol lol lol lol lol lol
"Yes, anyway, that's that. Now..."
- Bye-bye stream
- Seojun bye
- Bye bye
"I have one last thing to say."
- Hey, just go already.
- Can't we just play a bit more?
- So, what is it?
Seojun hesitated for a moment.
He had thought about it a lot.
EyeTube.
If Seojun were going to retire from streaming soon, it would be more efficient to just operate the channel by outsourcing editing work to raise awareness instead of hiring an editor.
But he didn't want that.
'Is this the right thing to do?'
He wanted to continue being a streamer.
Even if he couldn't win the competition and had to buy a capsule for 100 million won.
So.
"I'm looking for an editor, and if any of you viewers want to edit my videos, please take any of my gameplay videos, edit it short, upload it as unlisted on EyeTube, and send me the link via email."
He would also post on editor recruitment sites, but Seojun wanted to hire an editor from among his viewers if possible.
- Oh, he might be starting a Tube channel?
- Re-watching gameplay on EyeTube is fun too.
- You need to pick a good editor.
- It's already insane just watching, and now with editing? Legendary.
- For real lol lol
- I'll subscribe right away.
"Alright then, for real, bye-bye stream!"
T B!
S B!
Why are you cursing?
It's Seojun bye lol lol lol lol lol
Bye-bye stream!
* * *
After coming out of the capsule, Seojun showered and came to the living room.
A savory smell of chicken wafted through the air.
"It's dawn, you know."
Seojun looked at Taewoo sitting at the kitchen table.
"So, are you not going to eat?"
"Of course I will."
Seojun answered immediately.
It was a truly astonishing speed.
"Then sit down quickly."
Taewoo glanced at Seojun as if he had expected that.
"Okay. Thanks for the food."
After sitting at the table, Seojun started on the chicken.
The batter was crispy.
"Kh. Chicken after a stream. This is the taste. By the way, Seojun, are you looking for a Tube editor?"
"Yeah. You saw the stream?"
"Yes. Anyway, if you're looking for an editor, wanna join our MCN?"
Multi-Channel Network (MCN) is a third-party service provider that partners with multiple EyeTube channels.
They usually offer services like audience development, content programming, funding support, partner management, creator collaboration, digital rights management, and revenue generation or sales.
"If you join our MCN, the company manages EyeTube entirely. The advantage is it's comfortable. Professional. That's why I'm leaving it to the company."
The downside is sharing EyeTube revenue with the company.
However, since hiring an editor often involves revenue sharing too, it couldn't strictly be considered a downside.
Still, there was bound to be a difference between an editor hired personally by a streamer and one employed by a company.
Chewing his chicken and swallowing, Taewoo spoke.
"But our boss has a rather unique personality, so if you join, you have to hang out with him quite a bit. Like collaborative streams. He said he has time tomorrow, how about it? He's a bit chatty, but a fun guy."
The head of the MCN Taewoo belonged to was unusually also a streamer.
As the MCN was founded by the head himself for himself and his peers, it was famous for its streamer-friendly policies.
"Well, I don't even have a Tube ID yet, and I can't tomorrow."
"Why?"
Crunch.
The sound of the batter breaking.
And savory juices burst out through the tender meat.
"Mm, this is good."
"So why can't you? What are you doing tomorrow?"
Gulp, gulp.
Seojun took a swig of cool beer.
"Khuu. Well, you see..."
Seojun gave a low cough.
"MoviSoft asked to see me."
"What? What nonsense is that?"
"No, they contacted me and said they want to meet me. I've already made the appointment, but..."
"Let me see."
[Web message]
[Hello, Streamer Jin Seojun.
I am Kim Yoonchan, a team leader at MoviSoft Korea.
I have something to discuss regarding the game you are currently playing, Assassins' Dawn. Would it be possible to meet sometime tomorrow?
Please! I ask of you.
If you tell me the time and place for the appointment, I will come right away.]
"Crazy. Why on earth is the game company contacting you? No, is it voice phishing? Why does the content sound like this?"
"Could they actually scam anything with that?"
"True."
"And it wasn't just this; I got emails and in-game messages too. Travel messages and capsule ones too. At this point, it's probably the game company. Well."
Hearing that, Taewoo made an incredulous face and rubbed his arm.
"Whoa. That's a bit creepy. Did you do something wrong?"
Umm...
Hmm.
"Was it the inquiry I sent as a joke?"
Both burst into laughter at the same time.
"Hey, just don't go. You might get scolded."
Was that it?
Well, maybe not necessarily.
"You never know. They might even give me a present."
"A present, my foot. You'll be lucky not to get banned. Anyone can see you've been flagged."