Chapter 17

It’s really sudden, but I have parents.

And I turned into a woman.

Which naturally raises a question.

What happened to my relationships when the world and my gender changed?

Friends? Well, I only had online friends, so it didn’t matter. But family? I lived with them my whole life. It was only natural that something would change.

I didn’t think about it right after becoming a woman, though. It hit me while working part-time at a movie theater. Probably because I was chatting with Kim In-ho about parallel worlds.

People can endure hunger, but curiosity? That’s a different story.

So, I immediately went back home and found out.

Not much had changed.

I was still close with my mom and less so with my dad.

I solved the “Do you like mom or dad more?” question. For such a historically tough problem, it was surprisingly easy.

The difference in closeness was because I only saw my dad two or three times a year.

It wasn’t because my parents were divorced. My dad just had to live elsewhere for work until I became an adult.

It wasn’t a typical family setup, but I liked it.

My parents got along well, and I was pretty close with my dad too.

But I thought the bond between me and my dad was built on those manly, sticky conversations. Turns out, not really. Even after becoming a woman, the closeness remained.

Guess that’s what you call agape love.

Anyway.

Why did I bring this up all of a sudden?

I wanted to say that even when the world changes, some things stay the same.

Like my relationship with my parents.

Like the existence of computers.

Even though VR games took over the market, computers still existed. VR devices were versatile, but their standout feature was gaming.

For watching videos or gaming, sure. But for general tasks, computers were still better.

So, every home still had a computer.

But it felt more like the old TV days.

Even with a 55-inch TV in the living room, people still watched movies on a 27-inch monitor. Nowadays, kids just use VR devices.

It was similar to when smartphones came out. The PC generation loved PCs, and the smartphone generation loved smartphones.

The VR generation prefers VR.

Of course, VR devices still needed a computer’s help for high-spec games, but that was temporary.

Looking at the speed of VR device improvements, PCs were clearly losing their place.

In that era, the glow of monitors at dawn was forgotten, mice were buried in the trash, and no one cared about PC games anymore—they became a cheap joke.

Then, a woman made a PC game.

[Are we really doing this?]

“It supports up to 4 players, but 2 is fine too.”

[Ugh.]

I hear a hesitant voice.

You said you’d grant any wish, and now you’re backing out?

You can’t escape.

“You said you’ve played PC games before.”

[That was when I was a kid, it’s too long ago.]

“So, you have played.”

That’s enough. I don’t need to explain what a click is.

[Unnie. Will the viewers like this? They don’t really like old games.]

“…It’s a recent game.”

[There are only 9 reviews, is it really fun?]

“…It’s fun.”

Bunny Run kept doubting the gameplay of <Fantasy Life>. People these days only care about scores. It’s so unfair.

[Where is this even made? Are there still places making PC games?]

“There were, but they’re gone now.”

[The game company acts like they’re top-tier. No game with such abstract descriptions is any good.]

“They’re going to be top-tier.”

[Who’s the developer? Han…]

Han Yoorim.

[……]

“……”

[Unnie made it?]

“That’s disappointing. I know everything about you, from calling idols scammers to getting into 1v1 arguments with viewers.”

[Unnie, you’re not even on the wiki!]

When will someone make a wiki entry for me? I wish my game was listed there.

I sneakily checked the broadcast’s follower count and asked Bunny Run.

“Don’t you want to play PC games?”

[I don’t mind playing, but… how many players is this recommended for?]

“Up to 4.”

<Fantasy Life> was different from <Excel Busters>, which was a story-driven game.

It was hard to design the game for 1, 2, 3, or 4 players to have different experiences, so I had to assume a specific number of players.

I assumed 4. That was the sweet spot for difficulty.

[Then it would be good for promotion if four people played, right?]

“Promotion?”

[You asked us to play to promote it, right?]

“I asked you to play because it’s fun.”

I just recommended it because I felt bad that less than 50 people had played it. No special reason.

If you want to turn off the broadcast and play, that’s fine too.

[Ugh.]

After hearing me out, Bunny Run thought for a moment and said.

[Since we’re doing it, let’s promote it too. The viewers will probably like it. If it’s a game unnie made.]

“Excellent choice.”

[We’re short by 2 people. Do you know any broadcasters, unnie?]

“One. But they’re at work, so I can’t call them now. What about you, Bunny Run?”

[…I know a few, but not close enough to call for something like this.]

I get it. They’re acquaintances, but not friends. Exactly that kind of relationship.

Oh, I see.

But you’ve been broadcasting for 5 years and don’t have any close broadcaster friends?

[Friendship isn’t related to broadcasting experience.]

Huh? I thought I said that in my head. How did you respond?

[Unnie, you’re speaking out loud right now.]

“Ah, I see.”

I pondered for a moment. Should I force a 4-player setup even if it means dragging in viewers?

It didn’t seem necessary.

It’s recommended for 4 players, but 2 players are more than enough.

“Let’s just do it with the two of us.”

[Are you sure?]

“When I make games, I always consider solo play. If multiplayer is forced, it’s too hard for people without friends. I know this from experience.”

[So, unnie, you don’t have friends either?]

Suddenly, Bunny Run got excited.

Why are you so hyped?

[Unnie, I’ve been curious for a while—why do you use formal speech with me? Just speak comfortably.]

“It hasn’t been that long since we met. And I am speaking comfortably.”

[It doesn’t seem comfortable.]

Why did I develop this habit of always using formal speech? To explain that, I’d have to go back to a summer 10 years ago in LA…

[Unnie?]

“I’m comfortable with this. Don’t worry about it, and you can speak however you’re comfortable, Bunny Run-nim.”

[Is that really okay?]

“Yes.”

[But won’t it look weird if you use formal speech and I speak casually?]

“Viewers will love that gap.”

Gaps like that drive people crazy.

Isn’t it the same when the sweetness of chocolate and the freshness of mint combine? People go wild for it.

[Are you going to stream too?]

“It’s better to have different perspectives.”

[Got it.]

Bunny Run left the voice chat. She must be preparing for the stream.

I’m not sure how long it’ll take, but instead of waiting, I started my stream.

I typed the title with my keyboard and clicked the start button with my mouse.

[Surviving in a Fantasy Apocalypse World]

Viewers started pouring in.

100, 200… 1000?

Why are so many people coming?

I checked the community just in case. Did something happen?

But the community was peaceful. Most were streaming a broadcaster who had returned from a long hiatus, and there was hardly any mention of me.

Occasionally, posts like <Han Yoorim’s Stream ON> popped up, but they were quickly swept away by floods of posts like <Pannyki Legend lololol> or <Pape is a born talent>.

It seemed like the current viewers were here purely to watch the broadcaster Han Yoorim, unrelated to the community.

By the way, Pape?

The name sounded familiar, so I tilted my head slightly before turning off my phone and checking the chat.

―――

This song again?

But it’s kinda good lol

―――

Since I was planning to play <Fantasy Life> with Bunny Run, the stream’s opening song was the OST from <Fantasy Life>.

As soon as the song ended, I switched the waiting screen to the broadcast screen.

“Hello.”

―――

What? This isn’t a VR stream?

It’s PC?

―――

“That’s right.”

Streaming with a VR device feels different from streaming on PC.

It’s like the broadcaster’s perspective is what the viewers see. Think of it like a first-person shooter game—it’s easier to understand that way.

So, when you stream on PC, it’s obvious.

The methods are just completely different.

―――

Why don’t you turn on the cam and do a mukbang or something?

―――

Currently, the most popular live-streaming platform is V-TV, operated by the VR device manufacturer.

But not all broadcasters stream on V-TV. Even domestically, there’s a platform called Mirinae that’s still running fine.

This Mirinae platform has a different vibe from V-TV.

Unlike V-TV, which focuses on game streams, Mirinae specializes in talk shows and mukbangs.

Honestly, when I think of old-school streaming, it feels more like Mirinae. Forget those flashy VR devices.

Anyway.

Just like how new media can’t replace everything old media can do, PC streaming is specialized for mukbangs and talk shows.

It’s not impossible to do mukbangs and talk shows on VR devices, but PC is better for streams that involve interacting with people.

That’s why there are still quite a few people streaming on PC.

It’s just that the perception of PC streaming = cam streaming = mukbang or talk show has become ingrained.

It’s all thanks to Mirinae’s influence.

“No, I’m going to play a game.”

And because of that, no one plays games on PC.

Even on Mirinae, if you’re streaming games, you usually do it on a VR device.

―――

You’re playing a game?

―――

“Yes.”

―――

On PC?

You can play games on PC?

―――

The reactions made me feel like I was showing an antique to an old man, and a sense of mission flared up.

Our PC games. We’re not that outdated yet.

Just watch.