Chapter 31

In a dimly lit, narrow room with flickering lights.

A bespectacled woman was busily tapping on her keyboard.

Her name was Meng Yao.

She was a Chinese national who had illegally entered South Korea.

And currently, she was a hacker living with Jujijoa.

—

“Meng Yao. Are you done yet?”

Jujijoa asked Meng Yao.

“You said 10 minutes would be enough?”

“Hmm… I can’t seem to find any information on this.”

“What? I even paid for your computer repairs, and you can’t even do this one thing properly?”

Meng Yao scratched her head, frowned, and replied.

“No. It’s not just me—no hacker can track this.”

“Ugh. The so-called genius hacker Meng Yao is making excuses now. Guess your skills have declined with age, huh?”

“It’s not about skill! There’s no member information to track. No IP address, nothing.”

“No member info or IP? How does that even make sense?”

“It doesn’t make sense, which is why I’m stuck. What the hell is this ‘Drifting AI’ anyway?”

Meng Yao was trying to gather information on a viewer named “Drifting AI.”

At Jujijoa’s request.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t make progress.

Finally giving up, Meng Yao removed her hands from the keyboard.

“…Come to think of it, I’ve heard of something like this before.”

Meng Yao muttered softly, staring blankly at the monitor.

“Cyber Ghosts…”

“Cyber Ghosts? What’s that?”

“It’s a legend and urban myth among hackers. They’re said to be lifeforms born in the digital world, called Cyber Ghosts.”

“…What?”

“I’ve heard that Cyber Ghosts roam freely across networks without any restrictions. And they’re impossible to track because they’re not humans existing in the real world.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“……”

“Isn’t that just some nonsense made up by incompetent hackers who can’t admit their own shortcomings? To cope?”

“Maybe, maybe not… I don’t know for sure, but anyway…”

Meng Yao stood up, stretched, and continued.

“I can’t track this. Sorry.”

“Sigh…”

“…Do you really need to track her? Should I contact other hackers?”

“No, forget it. She was just causing trouble in the chat, so I wanted to send a virus as a warning. If it’s not possible, then whatever.”

And so, Jujijoa failed to track Drifting AI.

—

***

【Drifting AI】─I’m so excited. Finally free from prison, I’m celebrating.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Shut the hell up. I’ll beat the crap out of you.

【Handsome Licker】─Lol, Guburi, don’t curse. Before I spank your butt. *Lick*.

【Big Girl】─Spank! Lol.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─?? Big Girl, this chick is usually quiet but sometimes goes off the rails.

【Big Girl】─You’re the one who went off the rails. Spank!

【Drifting AI】─I’ll join in. I’ll spank Gyeongsaeng Guburi as discipline.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─Lol, Guburi, spank!

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─You idiots. ㅗㅗ

—

It’s been 5 minutes since Yoho started the video call.

The viewers, finding Yoho’s story boring, were chatting among themselves and having fun.

I wasn’t paying much attention either.

Honestly, it wasn’t interesting.

I couldn’t relate at all.

—

[Ah! By the way, the middle school I went to was co-ed! Class 1 was all boys, and the rest were all girls!]

“Yeah.”

[Anyway, on Valentine’s Day, I went to Class 1 to give chocolate to a boy I liked, but…]

“Uh-huh.”

[He hid in the bathroom…]

“Ah.”

—

I’m getting tired of responding.

Her story was even less interesting than Min Ji’s.

But the reason I didn’t end the call was simple.

‘…Yoho is next-level.’

It was because of Yoho’s face.

She had the most stunning looks among all the viewers I’ve seen so far.

Of course, she wasn’t exactly my type.

I don’t have a clear ideal type, but if I had to pick, I prefer tomboyish girls.

And I like lean, muscular bodies.

Anyway.

Yoho wasn’t exactly my type.

But she was captivating enough to grab my attention.

Enough to make me reconsider my preferences.

‘I didn’t know puppy-like faces could be this mesmerizing.’

I silently revised my viewer attractiveness rankings.

Palkgui, who was first, was demoted to second.

Yoho took the top spot.

Third was Guburi, who has a cat-like face.

Fourth was Min Ji, with her baby-like face.

Fifth was Handsome Licker.

‘Handsome John is pretty too, but the others are just too good-looking…’

I cut off my thoughts.

Even though it was just in my head.

I felt a bit guilty ranking them by looks.

‘…Let’s just say they’re all pretty.’

Anyway, they were all at a level where they could easily be celebrities.

This isn’t just my subjective opinion.

Objectively speaking, they’re all stunning.

My standards aren’t that low.

‘The more I think about it, the more I wonder why these people are watching a male streamer.’

Is it the alpha female thing?

Even with the skewed gender ratio.

They could easily be dating multiple guys.

‘Well… maybe they have some personality flaws…? Judging by their chats, almost none of them are normal.’

Thinking that, I glanced down.

Yoho’s voluptuous chest came into view.

[Room Master. Are you listening to me?]

“Huh? Oh… yeah, I’m listening. Go on.”

[So, anyway. I managed to deliver the chocolate, but the next day, I found it in the trash…]

—

My gaze remained fixed on her chest.

I couldn’t help it.

It was a man’s instinct.

—

***

Yoho’s story came to an end.

At the same time, I erased her story from my memory.

No point wasting brain space.

—

【Min Ji】─Yoho, aren’t you getting a chat ban?

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Seriously, are you playing favorites? That was so boring, why let it slide? Punish her already!

【Big Girl】─It’d be fair to give Yoho a chat ban too.

【Yoho】─Why?

【Handsome Licker】─Why? Lol.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─Judgment time!

“It’s not ban-worthy. Her story was at least better than the others.”

【Yoho】─Hehe.

—

Honestly, it was the most boring.

But I decided to let it slide.

The story wasn’t interesting, but her face was.

—

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Damn it! Stop playing favorites!

【Drifting AI】─I’ll analyze this. Yoho’s story was judged to be an exciting one.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─? Did you even listen? Can you summarize?

【Drifting AI】─I’ll explain. Yoho’s story was exciting, but I deemed it unworthy of storage and deleted the data.

—

Drifting took my side.

I thought she was a troll, but she seems like a decent viewer.

She’s become much more tame compared to before.

—

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─Lol, this chick is consistent.

【Jujijoa】─Drifting, are you a Cyber Ghost?

【Drifting AI】─I’ll remain silent.

【Handsome Licker】─But the more I look at Drifting, the cuter she seems. *Lick*.

【Yoho】─Her concept is cute.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Did you all take crazy pills? Cute my ass. She’s just a pathetic loser.

—

“Anyway, that’s it for today’s stream. I drank too much makgeolli, so I’m tired. I’m ending it here.”

—

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Huh? So sudden?

【Handsome Licker】─What? Isn’t this when it usually starts?

【Drifting AI】─I object. I earnestly request more streaming.

—

“Oh, right. And next week, I’m thinking of exploring an abandoned house. Of course, until then, it’ll just be hiking streams.”

—

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Are you ignoring our chats? What abandoned house? Just stream more today, damn it!

【Jujijoa】─Just a bit longer. I’m bored.

【Yoho】─Can’t you stream for just one more hour?

【Min Ji】─Even 30 minutes. ㅜㅜ

—

“Then it’s decided. Next week, we’ll explore an abandoned house.”

—

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─Who’s Se-hoon talking to?

【Handsome Licker】─Definitely not us.

【Big Girl】─Don’t go…

【Balloon Gum Collector】─Woo! Just got back from the convenience store with more drinks! Guess Yoho’s story is over! Perfect timing!

【Maehwa Tree】─Oh. The stream’s still on? I just got back from work. Lol. Hi.

—

“See you next time. Good work.”

『The stream has ended.』

—

I ended the stream.

Another fulfilling day.

—

***

A week passed.

During that time, I didn’t stream.

No, I couldn’t.

There were two reasons I had to take a break.

At first, it was because of a fever.

After that, I was busy dealing with the debt my parents left behind.

By the way, I didn’t know about the debt.

My parents had taken out illegal loans from all over.

Even using their souls as collateral.

Because of that, loan sharks kept calling me.

How they got my number, I don’t know.

Anyway, my phone kept vibrating non-stop, so I went to the loan sharks’ office in person. There, a woman said I could pay with my body, so I beat the crap out of her. Then the others jumped in, but I easily took them all down.

I’m used to fighting.

I’m not weak like the men in this world.

—

‘If they hadn’t gone for my butt with that first hit, I might’ve let it slide. Maybe.’

—

Of course, I made sure they didn’t have any weapons before starting the fight.

Back in high school.

I once stormed a gang’s hideout, and there were a lot of guys with knives, so it was tough.

Getting stabbed hurts a lot.

—

Anyway, after taking them all down.

I paid off my parents’ debt on the spot.

I even gave them extra for hospital bills.

I felt like I went too hard. Gotta pay for damages.

Thanks to that, things were resolved amicably with the loan sharks.

Their attitude changed immediately after the payment.

Money really does heal.

After settling the debt, I asked why my parents took out the loans.

I at least wanted to know the reason.

Even though I sent them a lot of money, they still took out loans, which didn’t make sense.

The reason was absurd.

They just wasted the money on gambling and drugs, then turned to loan sharks.

—

‘What a hopeless life.’

—

But I guess they had some conscience.

Even though they had a rich kid, they didn’t ask for more.

—

‘Well… if they’re human, they can’t ask for more. They already took enough.’

—

Finishing my reminiscence, I stood up.

What’s done is done.

Since things worked out, I decided to forget about it.

—

‘Time to start streaming.’

—

But first, I checked my phone.

It had been buzzing with notifications.

—

『010-6969-7474』

─Why didn’t you stream today?

─Not streaming today either?

─Damn it, you sex maniac! If you’re taking a break, at least give us a notice!

─Why aren’t you streaming today ㅡㅡ

─How many days has it been?

─Stream, you damn bastard!

─Stream.

─Can’t you stream?

─Please stream. I’m begging you.

—

This was probably Guburi’s number.

Yoho, Min Ji, and Palkgui had also sent a lot of messages.

I ignored them all and checked the latest message.

—

『010-xxxx-xxxx』

─Hello, Oppa! My name is Joo Min-hee! I’m texting to apologize for my rudeness at the office the other day! I’m truly sorry!

『010-xxxx-xxxx』

─How have you been, Oppa! I’m Ra Yu-hee, the one whose arm you broke! Please save my number, and if you ever need help getting your money back, I’ll help you for free! Feel free to contact me anytime! It’s free for life!

『010-xxxx-xxxx』

─Hello! I’m Yoon Seong-ah, the one you punched in the stomach! If it’s not too much trouble, could you hit me again sometime? I’ll pay 50,000 won per punch!

—

They all seemed to be loan sharks.

—

‘This “Oppa” nonsense…’

—

I didn’t reply.

After blocking all the numbers.

I picked up the camera to start streaming.

—

***

『‘Gyeongsaeng Guburi’ has entered the room.』

『‘Yoho’ has entered the room.』

『‘Handsome Licker’ has entered the room.』

—

As soon as I started the stream, three viewers entered simultaneously.

These guys are always fast.

—

“Long time no see.”

—

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─You damn bastard! Why haven’t you been streaming? You ignored all my texts. ㅡㅡ

【Yoho】─I don’t expect you to reply, but at least give us a notice…

【Handsome Licker】─Casually saying “long time no see” like nothing happened. You wanna die?

—

After these three entered.

—

『‘Reverse Rape Maniac’ has entered the room.』

『‘Min Ji’ has entered the room.』

『‘Balloon Gum Collector’ has entered the room.』

—

Familiar nicknames started flooding the room.

In just one minute, 10 viewers had joined.

Looks like they were all eagerly waiting for me.

—

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