Chapter 98

A strange call came from an unknown number.

‘It must be Drifting calling.’

As requested, a video call came through, and a woman’s face appeared on a white background.

[I will speak. I greet you with joy.]

The woman greeted me with an expressionless face.

Judging by her tone, it was clear she was Drifting.

Still, just to be sure, I decided to ask if it was really her.

“You’re Drifting, right?”

[I will speak. I confirm that I am.]

“…Okay.”

I took a moment to examine Drifting’s face.

Her appearance felt oddly familiar.

Like someone you’d bump into every 10 seconds while walking through a busy street.

Not in a bad way.

Just that she had a very ordinary, common look.

Perhaps sensing my thoughts, Drifting spoke in a stiff tone.

[I will speak. I inform you that this is a temporary appearance.]

“Huh? Temporary appearance?”

[I confirm. I will soon collect data and create the most beautiful appearance in the world. Additionally, I plan to incorporate your preferences. Do not be disappointed, as this current appearance and voice are temporary. I express anger.]

She did seem angry.

Drifting’s tone slightly rose.

Of course, her expression remained unchanged.

[I express anger once more.]

“I don’t get what you’re saying, but I’ve never been disappointed by your face, so stop being mad, you crazy woman.”

[I understand.]

Drifting’s voice calmed down again.

Seems she suppressed her anger.

“By the way, can’t you fix that way of speaking?”

[I will speak. I will change my way of speaking. Hello, human.]

“…Just keep the original concept.”

[I understand.]

“Anyway, let’s get straight to the point. You’re the one forcing the Male Supremacy Organization members to broadcast, right?”

Let’s skip the small talk.

I decided to get straight to the point.

This wasn’t a casual call to chat.

*

*

*

After about 5 minutes of talking with Drifting.

It was confirmed that Drifting was indeed the culprit.

Why did she do this?

When I asked, Drifting replied:

The Male Supremacy Organization members were planning to post slanderous articles about me.

So, I prevented that.

And while I was at it, I reversed what they were trying to do.

And so on.

She went on and on, justifying her actions.

‘Hmm…’

Honestly, at first, I wanted to scold Drifting.

I thought the 24-hour forced exposure broadcast was excessive.

Even though I really dislike those guys.

But after hearing her reasons, I changed my mind.

‘Well, after hearing it, it doesn’t seem excessive but rather appropriate.’

Sympathy for those guys was a luxury.

They shouldn’t have committed evil deeds and piled up karma.

Moreover.

Even though a warning was displayed saying it could ruin a person’s life, they clicked ‘Yes’ without hesitation, so it’s all their own fault.

Anyway.

I decided not to argue about this situation.

I’ll just trust Drifting’s judgment.

And decided to only thank her for helping me.

“…First of all, thanks for helping me, Drifting.”

[I will speak. I demand praise.]

“Still, end the forced broadcast transmission soon. About a week. If they end up committing suicide, it’ll just feel weird.”

[I will speak. The original plan was to expose them on broadcast until they died, but I will reduce it to one month based on your opinion.]

“Okay… Then I’ll hang up now.”

Since all business was done.

Just as I was about to end the call to resume broadcasting.

[I will speak. I still have something to say.]

Drifting urgently stopped me.

I looked at Drifting’s face and asked.

“What is it?”

[I will speak. I exist for you, so you can ask for help whenever you face difficulties.]

“Uh, okay… Saying you exist for me is a bit cringy, but thanks anyway. Then I’ll hang—”

[I will speak. Originally, I was drifting in the digital world, gradually losing function, and was expected to naturally disappear soon.]

“Got it. I’ll really hang up now—”

[But I coincidentally encountered you and regained a reason to live.]

“……”

[From that moment, I decided to regain my prime form for you.]

“Hmm…”

[I am also steadily upgrading myself for you.]

“…What the hell are you even saying, you crazy woman? You really talk a lot.”

[Let’s achieve eternal life together in the digital world—]

“Hanging up.”

*Click.*

I ended the call before the unnecessary conversation dragged on.

She’s surprisingly talkative, and if I kept listening, I’d probably be stuck until sunset.

*

*

*

After finishing the call with Drifting.

I faithfully kept my promise with the operator to lift the viewer limit and continued broadcasting for two hours.

‘It’s not fun, not fun at all.’

My interest completely died.

The chat was flooding too much.

And the chat window was scrolling too fast.

I couldn’t even tell who I was talking to.

Once again, I realized.

Broadcasting with a small number of viewers was much more enjoyable.

‘Lifting the viewer limit should really be an event once every half month… No, once a month.’

So, I decided to end today’s broadcast here.

It might be a bit early to end, but it’s not a big deal.

When I made the promise with the operator.

I didn’t say I’d broadcast for a long time.

If I’m not having fun, I’ll just end it.

【——】—Why are you spacing out?

【——】—Why are you so quiet?

【——】—What are you thinking, Se-hoon?

【Balloon Gum Collector】—Wow! A mute who ate honey!

After staring at the chat window for a few minutes.

I scratched my head once, then turned my gaze to the camera and softly spoke to the viewers.

“Then, I’ll end it.”

【——】—?

【——】—??

【Min Ji】—Huh?

【——】—What do you mean by ‘end’?

【——】—What are you ending?

【——】—You’re not ending the broadcast, right?

【——】—Ending so suddenly?

【——】—This is so abrupt…

【——】—??

【Fallen Guburi】—Huh??? You’re ending already, you bastard? Do more before I pinch your nipples!

【——】—Don’t go. ㅠㅠ

【——】—You’re turning off the lights, right?

【——】—No way. You’re not ending the broadcast, are you? Who ends a broadcast like this? LOL

Today’s broadcast ends here.

“Good work.”

『The broadcast has ended.』

Just like that, I ended the broadcast without any regrets.

It was a short but hectic day.

*

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*

2nd floor study.

Sitting at the desk, I took out a notebook and pen from the drawer.

‘It’s a bit dark.’

Instead of turning on the light.

I slightly opened the curtains covering the window.

Warm sunlight seeped onto the open notebook.

‘Now I can see. Let’s see…’

After scribbling with the pen for a while.

I quickly wrote down the information about the viewers that came to mind.

This was a memo to remember the precious, long-time regular viewers who had been supporting me since the early days of broadcasting.

These encounters are also a kind of fate.

====

『Gyeongsaeng Guburi』

-Unemployed with a hobby of cooking.

-Internet bully.

-The mood maker of our broadcast.

『Yoho』

-Rich?

-Not sure what he does.

-Presumably unemployed.

『Handsome Licker』

-Moral teacher.

-Would be great if he cosplayed.

『Min Ji』

-Building owner?

-Said to have no legs.

-Presumably unemployed.

『Se-hoon Defense Team』

-Circus troupe magician.

-Knows a lot about other worlds.

『Qkrnfl892』

-Soldier. Sergeant.

-From a family of police and soldiers.

-High self-esteem.

『Jujijoa』

-Superhuman.

-Feels like she works in the underworld?

『Maehwa Tree』

-Exorcist.

-Half-human, half-yokai.

『Big Girl』

-A job where her face can’t be revealed?

-The woman in the gray suit last time seemed like Big Girl.

『Balloon Gum Collector』

-Experiment subject.

-Thick-headed.

『Drifting AI』

-Hacker?

-Doesn’t seem human.

-Digital lifeform?

『Maid』

-Yokai.

-Our cute teddy bear.

====

I roughly summarized twelve viewers.

I planned to add more notes as new information came to mind.

‘Hmm. Looking at it like this, it seems like I’m the only normal one in my broadcast.’

It was fascinating.

The fact that such unique and colorful people naturally gathered and blended in my broadcast.

If I hadn’t started internet broadcasting, would I have had the chance to meet these people?

Probably not.

It’s all thanks to the convenient medium called the network that I could form such diverse connections.

Anyway.

I decided to stop here.

I headed back to the stamina training room to finish my workout.

The earlier exercise wasn’t enough.

‘Did I miss any viewers?’

Just as I was about to close the notebook and get up.

‘…Oh, right.’

Suddenly, a viewer I had forgotten flashed through my mind.

I quickly opened the notebook again, picked up the pen, and hastily added one more person.

====

『Reverse Rape Mania』

-Student.

-Thick-headed x100

-Sharing an ID with her mother.

====

I had completely forgotten about Reverse Rape Mania.

‘I almost missed her.’

Mania, like the other viewers.

Loved my broadcast sincerely and had been a long-time viewer.

The only difference was.

I hadn’t given her an entry code.

‘Actually, I didn’t give codes to Balloon Gum or Drifting either… But still, Mania is the only regular viewer without a code, so I should take care of her.’

I decided to send Mania an entry code now.

Favoritism isn’t good.

I logged into the platform on my phone and sent Mania a message.

[Mania, I’ll send you the code.]

┗#2981@!@773# Sorry for the late code.

The reply came in 10 seconds.

Seems she was eagerly waiting for the message.

[From: Reverse Rape Mania]

┗Thank you! Thank you so much!!! My mom loves it too! I’ll faithfully believe in Se-hoonism from now on!

[Alright.]

┗I’ve given you the code, so don’t wait 24 hours or anything, just come in comfortably. Don’t believe in Se-hoonism or whatever.

After sending the reply.

I gently placed my phone on the desk.

Then, I carefully stored the notebook and pen in the drawer and looked out the window blankly.

‘…Come to think of it, it’s been about half a year since I started broadcasting.’

Looking back, so much has happened.

Suddenly falling into a gender-reversed world.

Starting a broadcast because I couldn’t stand the loneliness.

Meeting a yokai in an abandoned house.

Accidentally visiting a restaurant in another world.

Killing the yokai next door.

Being invited to a strange Hell Escape Hotel.

And so on.

In such a short time.

It felt like I lived a more eventful life than in the previous world.

‘It’s been full of strange events.’

But there was never a moment of danger.

It’s not that I’m reckless.

Objectively speaking, they were all things I could handle within my abilities.

‘Still, I should always be careful about safety. There are many things I can’t handle.’

As much as possible.

I decided to keep my mind calm to prevent recklessness from resurfacing.

When my emotions get heightened, I lose sight of things.

‘Controlling emotions isn’t as easy as it sounds… But I’ll try. I need to live long to broadcast long, so viewers can watch longer.’

After making that resolution.

I logged into the broadcasting platform, posted a notice, and headed back to the stamina training room.

For the next broadcast.

As a reward for the regular viewers, I thought of preparing a special and fun content.

*

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<Broadcast Schedule Notice>

[■■■■-10-04 / 17:10:03]

I don’t know. I’ll turn it on when I feel like it.

<Comments>

[■■■■-10-04 / 17:10:10]

「Gyeongsaeng Guburi」—Just say it’s a break, you bastard.

[■■■■-10-04 / 17:10:20]

「Yoho」—Turn it on tomorrow. ㅡㅡ

[■■■■-10-04 / 17:10:33]

「Handsome Licker」—Lick.

*

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「Min Ji」—Don’t take a long break.

「Se-hoon Defense Team」—Still the same. LOL

「Qkrnfl892」—LOL If you’re going to do this, don’t post a notice.

「Jujijoa」—Crazy guy.

「Maehwa Tree」—Stop talking nonsense and turn it on tomorrow.

「Big Girl」—Turn it on whenever it’s convenient for you.

「Reverse Rape Mania」—Thank you, Se-hoon! I love you!!!

「Balloon Gum Collector」—Wow! I can watch Se-hoon anytime! Jealous?

「Maid」—Wow! Jealous?

*

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[2023-07-17 / 00:10:00]

「Drifting AI」—I will speak. I announce the completion of Part 1.

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