Chapter 76

After parking in the paid parking lot.

I grabbed the camera, got out of the car, and headed towards the subway station.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Gye Sekkihoon, are we taking the subway?

“Yeah. Driving in Seoul is tough.”

When going from Gyeonggi-do to Seoul, traffic congestion is severe, and people tend to drive recklessly. Compared to where I live, that is.

So, I decided to take the subway for peace of mind.

【Min Ji】─But there are really few people on the subway.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─LOL, that’s how the countryside is.

【Qkrnfl892】─It’s Gyeonggi-do. -_-

“It’s like this outside, but once you go inside the station, there are quite a lot of people.”

Embarrassingly, there were only about ten people inside the station.

Feeling awkward, I averted my gaze from the camera and muttered.

“···It must be a less crowded time.”

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Stop talking nonsense. LOL.

【Handsome Licker】─LOL, I guess ten people is a lot by Se-hoon’s standards. *lick*.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─This is definitely the peak number of people right now. LOL.

“Maid. Mute those two.”

【Maid】─Wakya!

『’Gyeongsaeng Guburi’ has been muted. Remaining time: 00:10:00』

『’Handsome Licker’ has been muted. Remaining time: 00:10:00』

I immediately muted those two.

They need to be muted regularly to stay tame.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─LOL, daring to question Se-hoon? Instant mute!

【Big Girl】─It’s been a while since I’ve seen a mute.

【Maehwa Tree】─Guburi hasn’t been chatting much because he’s been busy working.

【Yoho】─Gyeongsaeng is the top mute shareholder, after all.

【Qkrnfl892】─But seriously, Se-hoon is right. That station usually has a lot of people. It’s true, so it’s understandable if you feel bad for not believing it. LOL.

Palgui seemed to know the station well.

Probably because he lives in the same area.

【Yoho】─Still, it’s kind of reassuring. If there were more people, they would have swarmed to see the Room Master.

【Min Ji】─That’s true. It might be better that there are fewer people.

“Huh? What do you mean? Why would people swarm?”

【Reverse Rape Mania】─Exactly. It’s not like they’re a horde of zombies.

【Yoho】─If the Room Master appeared, wouldn’t they swarm?

【Min Ji】─Right. It would be more chaotic than when a celebrity shows up.

I was momentarily speechless looking at the chat.

It was just too absurd.

“Guys···. Aren’t you overestimating me? I’m not a famous broadcaster or anything···.”

【Qkrnfl892】─Aren’t you a famous broadcaster?

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─LOL, people just can’t get into the broadcast, but you’re damn famous.

【Jujijoa】─Hmm. Is that so?

【Maehwa Tree】─You’re pretty famous among the community folks.

【Big Girl】─But ordinary people probably don’t know you.

【Balloon Gum Collector】─Wakya! Se-hoon, you’re so cool!

【Maid】─Wakya! You’re awesome!

【Yoho】─They might even ask for autographs···.

【Min Ji】─They’d probably go crazy asking for photos too.

“Stop making a fuss. As Big Girl said, ordinary people wouldn’t even care about me.”

【Big Girl】─I didn’t say they wouldn’t care.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─LOL, Se-hoon, do you not look in the mirror? How can anyone not care when they see your face?

【Qkrnfl892】─LOL, true.

【Min Ji】─Even if they don’t know who Se-hoon is, they might just run up to you based on your looks. Heh.

“···Min Ji, stop flattering me. Or I’ll kick you out before I mute you.”

【Min Ji】─Okay. Hehe.

【Yoho】─Min Ji, you’ve been acting up a lot lately.

【Min Ji】─ㅗ

【Yoho】─? ㅗ

Just as I was continuing to interact with the viewers in front of the screen door.

<The train is now arriving. Please step back from the safety line.>

Chiiiik-!

<The screen doors are opening.>

The subway I was waiting for arrived, and the screen doors opened.

***

The car I boarded was empty at first.

Of course, only at first. Now it’s a packed subway with no seats left.

【Jujijoa】─Suddenly, a lot of people are getting on.

【Min Ji】─Right. It’s already full after just two stops.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Revival! Sex!

【Handsome Licker】─I’m reviving too! *lick*!

【Maehwa Tree】─But Se-hoon hasn’t said a word since more people got on. LOL.

【Jujijoa】─He even stuck the camera close to his face. Seems shy.

【★Se-hoon World】─You should be polite in public places.

【Qkrnfl892】─LOL, pretending to be polite.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Scaredy-cat?

【Handsome Licker】─Just broadcast confidently. What’s the big deal? *lick*.

【★Se-hoon World】─Shut up if you don’t want to get muted again.

I couldn’t make noise in public under the pretext of broadcasting, so I was chatting with the viewers like this.

“Uh, excuse me···.”

Suddenly, a male student hesitantly approached.

The student shyly held out a notebook he was clutching.

“Can I get your autograph?”

“Autograph?”

When I asked back in a surprised tone, the student blushed and carefully withdrew the notebook.

“Ah, sorry. It’s a bit rude here, right···?”

“No, I can give it to you, but do you know who I am to ask for an autograph?”

“Uh, well···. Aren’t you really famous···?”

It was clear he didn’t know me.

Then why did he ask for an autograph?

The reason was quickly found.

‘Ah···. It must be because of the camera.’

The student’s gaze was fixed on the camera I was holding.

He probably mistook me for a celebrity or famous influencer because of the camera.

I first explained in a low voice.

“I’m not that famous. I do broadcast, but the viewer count is low, so you can think of me as an ordinary person.”

“Huh? But you look really famous···.”

The student muttered to himself.

I judged it as a kind of compliment and didn’t argue.

Still standing in front of me, hesitating, I spoke in the friendliest tone possible.

“I can give you an autograph. But since I’m really just an ordinary person, it won’t be of much use.”

I was proud of my handling.

I realized that my social skills have really improved compared to my student days.

Back in middle school.

If a stranger had talked to me, I would have rudely responded, “Get lost, you idiot.”

But now, I don’t swear and even smile kindly while talking to people.

This is what it means to be a proper adult···. No, a grown-up.

‘I didn’t feel it much compared to before the military, but compared to my most idiotic middle school days, I can really feel the difference.’

As I became a high school student.

An adult.

And after the military.

Seeing myself grow step by step made me feel proud.

‘My response just now was more perfect than when I dealt with that yokai lady during the hike. At this rate, I might stop swearing by next year.’

As I was feeling pleased with myself, the student timidly held out the notebook again.

And politely requested.

“Then, please. I think you’ll become really famous soon···!”

“Well···. If you say so.”

Receiving the notebook and pen.

I slowly engraved my name ‘Gye Se-hoon’ on the white page.

Reluctantly, but managing my expression so the other person wouldn’t feel awkward.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you!”

I returned the notebook to the student.

The student smiled brightly and expressed his gratitude.

A bit loudly.

“What? Is he a celebrity?”

“Seems like it.”

Because of the student, some people’s attention turned this way.

At first, it was just a few glances, but gradually, more and more eyes started to focus here.

“A celebrity?”

“No. I heard he’s a famous male cam streamer.”

“Who?”

“Don’t know.”

“Hey, he’s an influencer.”

“Really? What’s his name?”

“Who is that guy? Do you know him?”

“I think I’ve seen him somewhere···.”

People whispering with their acquaintances.

“I think I’ve seen him on YouTube···.”

“Or was it Instagram?”

“Looking at his face, maybe he’s an actor.”

“Oh. Gye Se-hoon···!”

People muttering to themselves while observing me closely.

Their murmurs filled the subway, and soon, everyone’s attention was focused on me.

Fuck.

***

Worry took over.

I had a feeling everyone would mistake me for a celebrity and swarm to ask for autographs or photos.

While I was pondering how to handle this.

A young woman appeared through the crowd like a savior and shouted.

“Everyone!”

The woman raised her voice to gather everyone’s attention.

“If you keep staring and whispering, it might make this person uncomfortable, so please pretend not to recognize him if possible!”

Taking a deep breath, the woman looked around and continued.

“Even if he’s a celebrity, he needs to rest! How tiring must it be to get this much attention while taking public transportation? Especially these days when celebrities are committing suicide because of hate comments, let’s try to be considerate! It’s not like this is the first time you’ve seen a celebrity or influencer in person, right?”

I wondered if her speech would have any effect.

But surprisingly.

“Celebrities are just like us! They’re not zoo animals! Now, let’s all stop paying attention to this man!”

As soon as the woman finished speaking.

The people in the subway started nodding in agreement.

“Uh···. She’s not wrong.”

“Yeah, what’s the big deal about a celebrity?”

“This is my first time seeing a celebrity···. But whatever···.”

“So who is that guy?”

“He’s a celebrity. Just ignore him.”

As if obeying a command.

People gradually started to lose interest in me.

And the young woman who had been watching winked at me and disappeared into the crowd.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─LOL, what’s this? The situation is hilarious.

【Handsome Licker】─It’s like watching a drama. *lick*.

【Balloon Gum Collector】─Wakya! People are so nice!

【Maid】─So nice!

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─Wait, why is that bitch here? LOL, I can tell who it is just by her voice. She’s going around using her agitation skills on the subway. Crazy bitch. LOL.

【★Se-hoon World】─?

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─Se-hoon, was the girl who just helped you wearing blue hair and blue horn-rimmed glasses?

【★Se-hoon World】─Yeah, how do you know?

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─She’s my military buddy. She’s currently working as a manager for our circus troupe. LOL, her voice is so unique, I can recognize her even without seeing her face.

【★Se-hoon World】─Circus troupe?

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─Oh, didn’t I tell you? I’m the famous Red Clown.

【★Se-hoon World】─What the hell are you talking about, idiot? I don’t care about that. If that person is really your friend, tell her I’m grateful for helping me.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─Okay···.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Defense Team, you bastard. Stop pretending to be the Red Clown. I’ll kill you.

【Handsome Licker】─LOL, if Defense Team is the Red Clown, I’ll conduct next week’s class naked. *lick*.

I’m not sure exactly what’s going on.

But thanks to the woman who’s supposedly Defense Team’s friend, I avoided a troublesome situation.

***

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─But that guy earlier, I thought he was trying to pick a fight with Gye Sekkihoon, but it wasn’t that. LOL.

【Handsome Licker】─LOL, does Guburi think every guy is a member of the Male Supremacy Organization? Do you hate men? *lick*.

【Big Girl】─There are plenty of decent men out there.

【★Se-hoon World】─Guburi is just socially maladjusted.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Shut up, you’re just like me, you bastard.

【★Se-hoon World】─LOL.

Chatting with the viewers.

After a few transfers, I arrived at Apgujeong Station.

“Whew. I feel alive now.”

Only after coming above ground did I speak out loud.

I felt suffocated from only chatting.

After that.

Walking through a quiet alley between buildings.

I saw a woman who couldn’t stand properly, swaying her waist and leaning against a wall.

She looked completely out of it.

“Ugh.”

The woman was even sticking her fingers deep into her throat, gagging.

She seemed like a total lunatic.

‘Let’s not make eye contact with that.’

It’s best to avoid idiots.

I didn’t want to get into trouble, so I tried to ignore her and walk past.

But unfortunately.

“···Hey, you!”

I was caught in the lunatic’s radar.

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