Chapter 372
The T-Stars vote can only be cast once per registered user during the period.
The unique part is that the voting rate and the results are announced daily at 9 PM.
Voting is, in essence, a competition.
And nothing is as effective at intensifying that competition as a live broadcast.
Why else would they keep conducting opinion polls?
Maybe some genuinely want to predict, but mostly it’s because it’s the best way to enjoy the competition.
Jae had expectations that he could beat Seo-jun in this vote.
The very purpose of the vote is to select the best-run booth at T-Stars, the one that provided the best experience for the fans.
So if you’re in your right mind, no, under normal circumstances, Seo-jun’s booth must never come in first.
“He may be popular so it could rank somewhat high, but not first.”
At least, that’s what should happen if democracy is alive.
This isn’t a contest to pick the streamer who held the best fan meeting, is it?
It was time to trust the collective wisdom of the fans.
Holding his phone, Jae’s hand trembled as he kept refreshing the Travel site.
Meanwhile, Seo-jun was having similar thoughts.
“Maybe an overwhelming first place is impossible today? Or second?”
If only he had at least announced in advance what he did after the event was over, but that was strictly a personal action.
And quite a bothersome one at that.
Of course, Seo-jun wandered around without bumping into anyone, so he didn’t cause trouble, but the people walking down hallways or waiting in line suddenly shouting “Bangjang” was a big nuisance, wasn’t it?
The people who knew the inside story or were involved might have found it fun.
Even if most of those who came to T-Stars were involved or knew the inside story.
Anyway, it was a personal action.
So no matter how popular, first place is bound to be difficult.
‘Did they say there were a hundred thousand attendees today?’
That’s a ridiculous number.
Fortunately, it’s within the capacity limit, but considering previous T-Stars had a maximum of 55,000 attendees in a day, it’s safe to say an enormous crowd came on the first day.
‘No wonder all the merchandise sold out and my arm hurts.’
Seo-jun watched from the highest seat in the audience area as the staff tidied up the booth for tomorrow, rubbing his arm.
The fatigue felt unfamiliar, as he hadn’t experienced it in a while.
In any case, many don’t vote at all, and people who came today only need to vote within the period, so the voting rate is low.
‘How many tens of thousands of votes did I get?’
The expected voting rate is 40%.
Then out of 40,000 votes, at least Seo-jun’s fans would be…
‘Hmm.’
Seo-jun let out a chuckle at his own involuntary snickering.
Why was that?
“Wouldn’t I be getting all 40,000 votes?”
Because thinking about it, it seemed like at least about 40,000 people were crazy about him.
Seo-jun didn’t suddenly realize it and give fan service he never did without reason.
The passion was that hot, and all those people would surely have voted for Seo-jun.
Wouldn’t it be enough to fill 40,000 with just those people?
“You’ve gone mad. What? 40,000 votes?”
Beside him, Tae-woo, who was also waiting for the tally, clicked his tongue.
Tae-woo had also had a hard day.
And it was because of Seo-jun.
Where would Seo-jun’s viewers go when he disappeared?
Even during broadcasts, when the stream ended, they’d say they were bored or demand Seo-jun to start streaming again, and they’d go to Tae-woo’s stream and cause a wave of rioting—those were Seo-jun’s viewers.
This habit started from when Seo-jun used to host Tae-woo’s room and pass viewers over, and as they say, a leaking bucket at home leaks outside too.
The fans did offline exactly what they did online.
That’s right.
They kept going to Tae-woo’s booth.
Even if only one in ten fans believed Seo-jun would appear if they went there, four thousand people would flock to Tae-woo’s booth.
And those four thousand were ready to riot.
“Seo-jun, 40,000 votes.”
“Yeah.”
“That’s not a number that came out in a day in past T-Stars.”
“I know.”
“At most, it was ten to twenty thousand. And now you, a newbie, get 40,000 votes on the first day? Have you lost your mind?”
Tae-woo was scolding Seo-jun like this, but his true feelings were a bit different.
He was worried.
‘What if really 40,000 votes come out? I feel like another incident will erupt.’
It was Seo-jun who had planted in Tae-woo the realization that even walking on air might be possible in this world.
Yes.
If walking on air is possible, how hard can it be to get a mere 40,000 votes?
“Indeed, since it was the best booth, 40,000 votes might be too much.”
“Right, right. For goodness’ sake.”
“Hmm?”
“No, Seo-jun. You just do your thing.”
Tae-woo turned his head and yelled.
“Please!”
“…….”
Seo-jun looked at Tae-woo pitifully, then turned his gaze to his phone.
The tally results would be out in a minute.
On T-Stars-related posts, each fandom was busily promoting.
There was a great evil, but they hadn’t extinguished the spark of hope, showing that the great evil faltered in booth operation.
“Let’s see now.”
“Ten seconds left, Seo-jun. Don’t wish for something like 40,000 votes.”
“I said I know.”
“Let’s go! Please!”
“What’s with the ‘please’ since earlier.”
When ten seconds remained, Tae-woo let out another shout.
When five seconds remained, Jae’s refresh frequency was like a sixteenth-note beat, showing his anxiety had peaked.
When one second remained, Seo-jun refreshed at the exact timing and saw the results first.
And after seeing the result, Seo-jun opened his mouth.
“Oh.”
Exactly one second later.
“Where did democracy go!”
A voice at a high decibel, one that even Seo-jun marveled at, echoed through the venue that could easily accommodate a hundred thousand people.
* * *
[???????]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[No?????]
[That’s it hahaha]
The temporary T-Stars community on Adventure.
Right after the tally results were announced, two opposite reactions appeared.
One of those reactions was questioning.
Mostly posts spamming enormous hooks, that is, question marks.
That’s what happens when you witness a dumbfounding result.
Usually people like extraordinarily skilled magicians, or people like Tae-woo whose every sentence exceeds common sense, collect these question marks well and are called hook collectors.
Seo-jun had also long since earned the title of hook collector with outstanding skill.
Typically, when Seo-jun collects hooks like casting a net into a sea rich with them, a big wave is bound to occur.
And right now, he was collecting them like that.
The other was the laughing reaction.
Just one modifier needs to be added in front of it.
Triumphantly.
Many fans were laughing triumphantly like soldiers who had won a war.
Naturally, the reason was the result of the vote.
[Crazy lol 47,000 votes, does that make sense? lol Kya!]
[Out of 80,000 total votes, 47,000 went to one booth lol That’s the leader lol]
[No, does that make sense, you guys? Right???????????]
[This isn’t right. Really isn’t.]
The number of people who voted that Seo-jun’s booth was the best is 47,000.
And on the first day at that, this was naturally an all-time record.
The voting rate was similar.
Out of 100,000, 80,000 voted.
Was there ever a day with so many people voting?
Naturally, this was the result of adding a tightly-knit group, and it was obvious without looking who that group was.
They knew it too, so they couldn’t help but be triumphant.
[The Sword God Squad haha they’re just powerful lol]
[In my opinion, those 40,000 who voted for the leader wouldn’t have shown up to T-Stars if the leader wasn’t there]
-I think this is right
-A man who drags around 40,000 fanatics offline too lol
└Remember this is the first day
└It’s terror
-But really, the fans had reason to rally
-Today’s event was legendary
-He was a man who occasionally gave fans shame and deep frustration, but today he gave them pride
└Topping it off with the final vote
When someone began denying democracy, Seo-jun’s fans were savoring victory.
But naturally, this world didn’t only have 47,000 people.
The other 33,000?
They were unorganized fans, but a common enemy appeared.
Thanks to that, they united.
They also had justification.
[Guys. But isn’t this wrong? Jin Seo-jun’s booth didn’t even run properly?]
The prize for first place at T-Stars can’t be that big, but if the event’s value and sustainability are undermined, the problem grows.
And this incident was something that could spread like that.
-Won’t this just become a popularity vote?
-We need to be fair, what are they doing
-So if a large streamer holds a fan meeting, they can just take first? That’s dirty
-Wonder if this is okay
-Let’s all vote properly
└lol
The justification was clear.
Seo-jun’s winning incident could turn the T-Stars vote into a simple pride battle among fandoms and harm sustainability.
However, the opposing public opinion was also formidable.
[Why are reactions like this?]
==
Did antis appear?
==
-Honestly, the leader’s fan service or trolling just demolishes other booths, fandom power ftw
└For real lol
└If they sold out of goods and went around making more goods, isn’t that the best content
-Guys. Does Dark Shadow Step look like a joke to you?
└Honestly, it kinda is
└So does Dark Shadow Step look like a joke?
└lol
-Honestly, Yamada Rise came too, does this look like a joke?
In any case, it can’t be denied that Seo-jun greatly influenced the most viewers.
But the opinion that this vote might go wrong gradually grew.
No matter what, the rallying was so severe it made competition impossible, so it was inevitable that such opinion became mainstream.
[They should probably do something.]
==
It’s too overwhelming
Committee, work
==
The operating committee also recognized the seriousness of this issue.
The most unfortunate part was that not a single person who passed through Seo-jun’s booth came forward.
If it had run even a little, the opinion wouldn’t have become this serious.
Of course.
“Why not just let him take first? The committee is asking, so is that all you wanted by recruiting the streamer Jin Seo-jun, who’s guaranteed first in voting, to T-Stars? Isn’t that it?”
“…….”
“Honestly, considering this many people participated, it might not be bad.”
“Still, it’s true that it could harm the event.”
“Anyway, someone like that won’t appear again. No, can’t appear.”
“You’re saying to make an exception just this once?”
“Yes, if you change the rules here, what’s the difference from a targeted patch? Game companies do targeted patches as naturally as breathing……”
“That’s a bit.”
“I’m sorry.”
It’s a problem with no answer.
Whatever choice you make can be right, and whatever choice you make can be wrong.
They had to find the best direction, but fortunately, before they could make contact, the person involved sent a message first.
“Oh? He turned on his stream. But the title is……”
“Why?”
“It says ‘Target Patch Please’……”
“Uh……”
“Hmm……. Were they wiretapping our meeting over there?”
“Let’s see for now.”