Chapter 43

I knew there would be a riot this time too.

Practically, it was no different from training a stray dog.

But the reaction was different from what I expected.

【Qkrnfl892】─Lol, I knew it.

【Jujijoa】─Yeah. Let Se-hoon go wherever he wants.

【Balloon Gum Collector】─Wow, I didn’t even expect this!

【Handsome Licker】─After all that searching, he ends up going where he wants.

【Yoho】─Guess none of the restaurants we found were to his liking. Haha.

【Drifting AI】─I’ll say it. I suspect he never intended to go to the places we recommended from the start.

【Qkrnfl892】─Definitely. Se-hoon’s got plenty of that.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─If it were any other broadcaster, I’d be cursing, but since it’s Se-hoon, I’ll let it slide. Lol.

Did they master my broadcast or something?

The viewers didn’t really pour out any complaints.

“…This feels bland. If the reaction is like this, I feel kinda sorry for no reason.”

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Dang, you even know how to feel sorry?

【Handsome Licker】─Superstar Guburi, hi.

【Jujijoa】─Cutie pie has arrived. Lol.

【Yoho】─Popular broadcaster Gyeongsaeng is here?

【Drifting AI】─Popular broadcaster. Viewer count: 0.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Enjoy.

Seeing such lukewarm reactions takes the fun out of it.

Were they always this docile?

Even Guburi, the epitome of a crazy person, didn’t express any complaints and stayed quiet.

“Hey, guys. Aren’t you upset? Why aren’t you mad?”

【Qkrnfl892】─Why would we be mad over this?

【Min Ji】─Who would dare get mad at Se-hoon?

【Jujijoa】─Not upset.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Sex.

【Handsome Licker】─Lick.

“…Did these guys eat something wrong?”

The chat was painfully boring.

Even after being teased like this, they’re holding back?

Shouldn’t at least one of them be mad?

I couldn’t understand the viewers’ reactions at all.

“Stop pretending it’s fine. If you’re upset, just let it out.”

【Handsome Licker】─Why are you trying to provoke us?

【Qkrnfl892】─I only said to try not to complain, not that I’d let it slide.

【Jujijoa】─Lol.

Palkgui was surprisingly quick to catch on.

I sighed deeply and spoke.

“Sigh… This is messing up my plans.”

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Hemorrhoids?

【Handsome Licker】─Lick.

【Yoho】─What plans?

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─Did you have some kind of plan?

“Actually, I was planning to mute everyone if you guys went crazy and started cursing.”

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─? This guy’s addicted to muting?

【Handsome Licker】─Psycho?

【Balloon Gum Collector】─Wow…

【Jujijoa】─Is Se-hoon feeling unwell today?

【Drifting AI】─I’ll say it. I think they moved to prevent that future from happening.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─Lol, I expected it.

【Yoho】─Instead of that future, how about imagining a future with me?

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Don’t get ahead of yourself, bitch.

“Anyway, it’s a shame.”

【Qkrnfl892】─What’s there to be sorry about, you lunatic? Lol.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─If you think about it, Gye Se-hoon isn’t normal either.

【Yoho】─Gyeongsaeng, you’re not qualified to say that.

【Handsome Licker】─Lol, true.

In the end, I couldn’t mute a single person.

I swallowed my disappointment and decided to focus on driving again.

***

Leaving the countryside road, I entered a quiet national highway.

I was still driving towards the Pyongyang cold noodle restaurant.

“Huh? Seems like people still hitchhike these days.”

On the side of the road.

There were people waving their hands.

They clearly looked like they were trying to hitch a ride.

【Handsome Licker】─Hitchhiking? In our country?

【Reverse Rape Mania】─OwO!?

【Yoho】─What a romantic person.

【Jujijoa】─Romantic? What?

There were two people trying to hitchhike.

Wearing couple tees, they seemed to be lovers.

The distance was quite far.

【Min Ji】─Will you give them a ride?

“If they ask for a ride, I can’t say no.”

【Jujijoa】─No, absolutely don’t give them a ride. They might be robbers.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Robbers, agreed.

“Ah. Is that so?”

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─What do you mean ‘is that so,’ you idiot!

They were waving their arms frantically at the car ahead of me.

Their gestures were full of desperation.

But unfortunately.

The car ahead showed no signs of slowing down.

The brake lights weren’t on.

In fact, it seemed to be speeding up.

And as expected, the car ahead ignored the couple and drove right past them.

‘Hitchhiking is tough in Korea…’

It was a bleak reality.

I felt a little sorry.

Should I give them a ride?

I was conflicted.

At first, I thought about giving them a ride without much thought.

But Jujijoa’s warning made me think twice.

It might be excessive paranoia.

But that couple could really be robbers.

Even though Korea has good public safety compared to other countries, that doesn’t mean there are no robbers.

It wouldn’t hurt to be careful.

‘I’m sorry, but I’ll just drive past. It’s dangerous to pick up strangers I don’t know.’

Just as I made that decision.

The couple noticed my car and quickly looked away.

They didn’t wave.

“…What’s up with those guys?”

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Why? Are they having outdoor sex?

【Handsome Licker】─Lick!

【Reverse Rape Mania】─Oh…

The viewers didn’t know what was happening ahead.

Because the camera was facing the driver’s seat.

I explained the situation.

“That’s not it… Those people aren’t even looking at me? They were waving at other cars though.”

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─I think I know why.

“Huh? How would you know?”

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─They probably don’t want to ride in a truck.

“……”

Guburi’s words made sense.

I didn’t want to admit it, but the reality is that people don’t have a great view of Porter trucks.

That couple probably wants to ride in a nice car if they can.

【Handsome Licker】─This time, Guburi’s right. Lol.

【Balloon Gum Collector】─Wow! Hitchhiking but being picky about the car!

“There could be other reasons, so don’t curse.”

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─You cursed earlier too, you idiot!

【Handsome Licker】─Lol, double standards.

【Jujijoa】─But what’s wrong with a truck?

【Qkrnfl892】─Lol, they don’t know romance.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─Honestly, more than half of Koreans would look down on someone driving a truck. They just wouldn’t show it.

【Yoho】─Can’t deny what the Defense Team said. Many people subconsciously judge others based on the car they drive.

【Min Ji】─That’s a painful reality…

“Well… There are a lot of idiots who naturally think of people driving cheap cars as beneath them.”

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Actually, I’ve also looked down on people driving trucks or small cars like Matiz. Thinking about it now, it’s embarrassing.

【Handsome Licker】─Guburi’s trash.

【Yoho】─Gyeongsaeng, you’re trash.

【Qkrnfl892】─Trash bastard.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─???

“Anyway, I don’t really care about that. I think it’s better to drive a car I like rather than just driving an expensive one.”

【Yoho】─Of course, Room Master, you don’t need to care. You’re a luxury item yourself.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Stop sucking up.

【Handsome Licker】─Lick.

【Balloon Gum Collector】─Wow! There are expensive trucks too, right?

【Handsome Licker】─True. You’ve got the money, so get one.

“…If I find a car I like more than the one I’m driving now, I’ll get it. Someday.”

I decided to stop talking about cars.

I’m satisfied with the car I’m driving now.

So I changed the subject and continued chatting.

***

The unfairly expelled Maehwa Tree.

She was staring intently at her phone, trying to re-enter Gye Se-hoon’s broadcast.

“3 minutes left.”

“…Senior. That’s really sick.”

Maehwa Tree didn’t respond.

All her focus was on her phone.

The junior glanced at Maehwa Tree with pity.

And, perhaps bored from just driving, turned on the radio.

The radio was broadcasting breaking news.

<A shocking robbery and murder has occurred in XXX, Gyeonggi Province. The suspects are a man and woman in their 20s, who hitchhiked, robbed, and stabbed the driver to death. The suspects are currently on the run, and the police are investigating to determine their identities and motives…>

***

Finally, we arrived at the restaurant.

It was the Pyongyang cold noodle place I found online.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Oh. It’s a hanok.

【Handsome Licker】─Dang, just looking at the building, the food must be crazy expensive.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─I just searched it. They only sell cold noodles. Lol.

【Min Ji】─It has a 4.9 rating. It must be really good.

【Balloon Gum Collector】─Wow. How much is the cold noodles?

【Se-hoon Defense Team】─54,000 won.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─?

【Handsome Licker】─??

【Qkrnfl892】─What the hell? Is the noodle made of gold?

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Gye Se-hoon, you checked the prices, right?

“Of course I did. It’s expensive, but the ratings are good, and the reviews are all praises, so I wanted to try it.”

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】─Rich people class.

【Handsome Licker】─A commoner like me can’t even look at this place.

After parking.

I grabbed the camera and headed to the restaurant’s front door.

“Welcome!”

As the automatic door opened, the staff at the counter greeted me cheerfully.

They had an exceptional service spirit.

“Yes. Hello.”

“Huh? Are you broadcasting?”

The staff asked, looking at my camera.

I was planning to ask for filming permission as soon as I entered.

Even if the viewer count is low, a broadcast is still a broadcast.

If they refused, I could just go to another restaurant.

There are plenty of Pyongyang cold noodle places around here.

They might have lower ratings, but they’re still considered good.

Just as I was about to ask if filming was allowed.

<Absolutely no YouTube filming!!!>

Right in front of the counter.

I found a sign saying filming was prohibited.

“Ah…”

I let out a sigh,

“Haha…”

The staff gave an awkward laugh.

Our gazes awkwardly crossed.

It was a shame, but it seemed I’d have to go to another place.

“Filming… isn’t allowed, huh? Well, take care.”

As I was about to leave with those words.

“…Wait a moment!”

The staff urgently stopped me.

Then, with a thoughtful expression, they cautiously continued.

“Filming isn’t completely off the table.”

“Huh? It says it’s not allowed here.”

“Originally, it’s not allowed… But just in case, let me ask the owner. Can you wait just a bit? It’ll only take a minute!”

“Ah, yes…”

As soon as I answered, the staff hurriedly ran into the kitchen.