Chapter 40

Two days have passed since the abandoned house exploration.

In the meantime.

A message arrived from the police station chief I had exchanged contact information with last time.

They had located a user with the nickname “Cheosu” and asked me to call when I had time for more details.

By the way, Cheosu was a viewer who had entered my broadcast during a mountain climbing stream.

They had sent a voice message through a sponsorship, suggesting I pick and eat poisonous mushrooms.

I was already curious about what kind of person they were, so upon checking the message, I immediately called the police station chief.

And the news I received was shocking.

Nickname: Cheosu.

Gender: Male. Real name: Cha Min-soo.

When they found the viewer, he had already passed away.

Cause of death: Poisoning.

He had consumed a dish made with poisonous mushrooms.

Specifically, red deerhorn mushrooms.

A single red deerhorn mushroom was placed by the corpse’s bedside, so they quickly identified what poisonous mushroom had been used in the dish.

Hearing this, my mind became a mess.

Did he really think it was an edible mushroom? He had mentioned having eaten it before, though.

Doubts kept arising.

I thought it might have been a mistake due to ignorance rather than malicious intent.

But the truth remains unknown.

The dead cannot speak.

Eventually, I gave up thinking about it.

And decided to pray for the repose of ‘Cheosu,’ whom I had never met.

***

Early morning.

As I yawned and came down to the first floor, I noticed the refrigerator door wide open.

‘What’s this?’

Empty plastic bottles were scattered on the floor.

Checking the labels, they were all cola bottles.

‘……’

I slowly approached the refrigerator.

Then, a small burp sound was heard.

[Burp. Delicious.]

It was a familiar voice.

At first, I thought it was a thief and felt annoyed, but hearing the voice calmed me down a bit.

‘Phew. Beating someone up in the morning would have been a hassle. Glad it’s not that.’

I peeked inside the refrigerator.

Sure enough, there was the teddy bear.

The yokai I had brought from the mansion two days ago.

[Delicious! I’ll drink more!]

The teddy bear was enthusiastically gulping down all the cola.

Then, our eyes met.

[Ah…!]

“Tasty?”

[Ah, I didn’t drink it! I just came in because it’s hot!]

This crazy teddy bear.

Even now, it’s blatantly drinking and lying poorly.

“Do you think I’m blind or something…?”

Speaking in a tone of disbelief, I reached into the refrigerator, and the teddy bear shrank in fear.

The reaction was quite cute.

Did it think I was going to scold it?

I’m not that petty, and I had no intention of scolding over something like this.

My hand passed the teddy bear and grabbed a cola.

I just wanted to drink some cola too.

“I won’t say anything about this, so don’t worry and drink as much as you want. And close the fridge.”

[Okay.]

Saying that, the teddy bear snatched the cola I had grabbed and naturally started drinking.

This was a bit too much.

“Hey, you crazy teddy bear. There are plenty of other colas, why did you take the one I grabbed?”

[You said not to worry, so I drank it.]

I thought about punching it but decided to let it go.

Even though it’s frustrating because it doesn’t understand well.

It does housework amazingly well.

I tried various things yesterday, and it followed well after seeing a demonstration.

So, I could let this slide as a quirk.

‘…I need to buy more cola.’

Looking at the ten empty plastic bottles on the floor, I sighed and took the teddy bear out of the refrigerator, heading back upstairs.

[Ah! I want to drink a bit more!]

“Drink after work.”

There were new tasks to try today.

***

Second-floor sub bedroom.

This room, with only a bed and computer equipment, was handed over to the teddy bear yesterday.

But it didn’t matter.

There are plenty of rooms, and I have the main bedroom.

Getting a new computer is no big deal.

‘I rarely use this room since I mostly do outdoor broadcasts, so it worked out well.’

There were two reasons for giving this room to the teddy bear.

First, it has a bed.

Yokai also sleep like humans.

But I couldn’t give it a room without a bed.

It can’t sleep on the bare floor.

Second, it has a computer.

This was the key.

With a computer, it can always work.

Starting today, it will be the new broadcast manager.

“Teddy. Do you understand now?”

After explaining the broadcast settings in detail, I asked.

[I, I understand a bit. I’m smart.]

The teddy bear, staring intently at the monitor, stammered a reply.

Judging by the reaction, it still didn’t fully understand.

Well, what can you do.

I’ll just have to explain again from the beginning.

It’s natural to find it difficult since it’s the first time using a computer.

***

Finally, the teddy bear seemed to understand.

When I explained verbally, it didn’t get it, but after showing a demonstration, it followed well.

I should have shown a demonstration from the start.

It learns by watching much faster than most people.

[Huhu! I’m smart! I’m good at computers!]

I didn’t deny it.

Objectively, it’s not bad at learning.

I didn’t praise it.

I just didn’t like its arrogant attitude.

“The explanation should be enough… We need to start the broadcast soon, so let’s log in with another ID.”

[ID? It’s already logged in! Hoon World!]

“That’s the ID for broadcasting. This platform allows multiple logins, so I want to log in with your ID separately.”

[I don’t understand why. We can manage with the Hoon World ID.]

“Of course, I can manage with my ID. But to give the feeling that the manager is present in the broadcast, it’s better to have your ID in the broadcast too… Damn it, just go along with it. Don’t argue.”

[Okay!]

By the way, I created an account for the teddy bear under my name.

I can’t create dozens of accounts like Guburi, but I can create up to three accounts per person.

“Ah. And is typing in chat still difficult?”

[Yes. The keyboard is too small. It’s hard.]

“Then I’ll set up some chat macros for you.”

I quickly set up some chat macros.

The macros were as follows:

1. Nice to meet you!

2. I’m the manager of this room.

3. Please check the rules in the top right corner.

4. This is fun!

5. Hahaha!

6. Gyeongsaeng Guburi, shut up.

7. How rude.

“If you need more chat options, let me know. I’ll add them.”

[Not yet! I’ll tell you if I need more later!]

“Alright? Then before we start the broadcast, let’s quickly check if you remember what we talked about earlier.”

[Ask away! I remember everything!]

“If I call out a viewer’s nickname and say ‘ban,’ what should you do?”

[Do a regular ban!]

“If I say ‘black’?”

[Do a blacklist ban!]

“If I say ‘chat restriction’?”

[Restrict their chat! I’ll decide the duration!]

“Good. You’re smart, our teddy.”

[This is basic!]

Preparation is complete.

It’s time to start the broadcast.

***

Coming down to the first floor, the broadcast started.

It seems the teddy bear pressed the start button.

Simultaneously, viewers entered the room at an insane speed.

It’s something I see every time, but it’s still an amazing sight.

At this point, I suspect there might be surveillance cameras installed near me.

“Hello.”

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Can’t say hello, you bastard. This guy really takes breaks like eating meals. Why did you take a break yesterday?

【Yoho】─Hello!

【Handsome Licker】─Announce it! Announce it! Announce it!

“Taking a day off and announcing it is a bit much.”

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─??? You bastard, is that what you call talking?

【Yoho】─It would be nice if you could at least announce a day off.

“I never said I’d broadcast every day, so why announce it?”

【Handsome Licker】─Not wrong, but it’s so annoying I want to suck your lips.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─For real, I want to headbutt your lips.

【Yoho】─Room Master, you’ll get germs on your lips. ㅡㅡ

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─You bastard.

Gyeongsaeng Guburi. Yoho. Handsome Licker.

These three enter first.

Then, other viewers start coming in.

Just a few seconds difference.

【Qkrnfl892】─Phew. Entry successful! Morning roll call should be here.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─Hi!

【Maehwa Tree】─ㅎㅇㅎㅇ

【Drifting AI】─I speak. I say hello.

【Jujijoa】─Hello.

【Reverse Rape Mania】─Hello~ ^^! My daughter asked me to enter for her when the broadcast notification pops up~ \^^/ As I heard, you’re really handsome~ w(°o°)w

【Balloon Gum Collector】─Wow! Barely made it on the last train! Why are you guys with entry codes so intense!

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Reverse Rape, is that guy on a new concept?

“You guys enter so fast… But why are there no new viewers? Is it because you guys are too quick?”

【Handsome Licker】─For real lol. Crazy girls.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─There are quite a few waiting in the community. How come none of them got in. ㅋㅋㅋ

【Jujijoa】─It’s the difference in desperation. Those who’ve tasted it once are always more desperate.

【Handsome Licker】─What kind of drug is this? ㅋㅋ

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─But it’s true though.

【Balloon Gum Collector】─Wow… You guys have entry codes, you crazy girls. Your monopoly is insane…

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Agreed. Gyesekkihoon is damn tasty.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Handsome, typo.

【Yoho】─Oh my.

Current viewers: ten.

Only Big Girl and Min Ji haven’t entered yet.

Of course, they can enter anytime with the entry code.

“But why isn’t this guy coming in?”

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Huh? Who? I’m already in.

“Not you.”

Just as I said that.

The one I was waiting for finally entered the room.

『‘Maid’ has entered the room.』

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─?? What’s that guy?

【Handsome Licker】─What? Is he a hacker too? Why is the broadcast so easily breached?

【Yoho】─Did someone else change their nickname? Looking at the viewer list, Min Ji and Big Girl haven’t entered yet.

Under that chat.

Many questions about the maid’s identity were raised.

I quickly introduced the maid.

“Guys, say hello. He’s the manager I hired.”

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Huh? Manager?

【Yoho】─Are we fired?

【Handsome Licker】─Are we being discarded?

【Qkrnfl892】─You guys weren’t even useful to be discarded. ㅋㅋㅋ

“Teddy… No, Maid, you say hello too.”

【Maid】─Nice to meet you!

【Maid】─I’m the manager of this room.

【Maid】─Gyeongsaeng Guburi, shut up.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─???

【Handsome Licker】─Lol Guburi got owned.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Why is that guy picking a fight out of nowhere? Wanna die? Wanna fight?

【Jujijoa】─Se-hoon. Did you hire a manager separately? Paid?

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─No, we could have just chosen from among us…

【Drifting AI】─I speak. I say I’m more suitable for the manager role.

【Balloon Gum Collector】─Wow! So you gave him an entry code too?

【Yoho】─Where did you find him?

【Qkrnfl892】─Did you interview properly? Managers should be chosen carefully. There are so many weirdos these days.

【Maid】─How rude.

【Maid】─I’m the manager of this room.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Just by the chat, he seems like an idiot. Gyesekkihoon, just fire that guy.

“Ah. He’s not a weirdo, so don’t worry. I forgot to mention, Maid is an acquaintance of mine. He’s been living at my house since the day before yesterday, doing housework and broadcast manager work voluntarily.”

As I finished speaking.

An unprecedented number of question marks flooded the chat.

It was a sea of question marks.

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