Chapter 1 : Fans of Hako Broadcasting

My name is Kang Wooju.

Currently, I am a streamer on an online platform called Twip, using the nickname “Cosmo.”

There’s no special reason behind my nickname. I just needed one, but nothing came to mind. So, I searched for “Wooju,” which is part of my real name, and “Cosmos” came up. I just dropped a letter and created my nickname.

Honestly, even now, I think it was a poor choice. Some viewers still ask, “Why did you choose such a lame nickname?”

Aside from streaming games, I also occasionally do advice sessions and singing broadcasts.

I originally attended college like any normal person, but I lost interest in school life. While looking for other things to do, a childhood friend suggested, “You’ve got a decent voice; why not try streaming?”

“Ahhh… Finally done. The advice session went longer than usual today.”

Once again, today’s stream didn’t end until 1 AM.

Normally, I wrap things up around 11 PM or midnight, maybe singing a bit or chatting about new games afterward. But today, I had more people wanting advice, so I couldn’t stop the session earlier.

I could have ended it if I really wanted to, but I couldn’t just turn away people who genuinely came to my stream to share their worries.

【’CosmoForever’ donated 1,000,000 KRW】- “Good job staying up late giving advice today. Use this for tomorrow’s lunch. Keep fighting!”

“Oh my goodness, Chairman! Why would you donate 1 million won for lunch?!”

Stretching my body and glancing at the chat, I was stunned by the donation amount. Instinctively, I jumped up and bowed deeply toward the screen in gratitude.

Even though I don’t use a webcam, the viewers couldn’t see my actions, but it was my way of showing appreciation.

【Username1】 – Wow, 1 million won!
【Username2】 – Chairman is working hard today too.
【Username3】 – Why is such a generous person in such a humble place?
【Username4】 – The streamer’s reaction is too calm. What are you doing after receiving 1 million won?

The person referred to as “Chairman” is well-known in our community.

Although I’m still a small streamer, and I used to be even smaller, this person has been supporting me ever since I only had an average of five viewers.

Even back then, just like now, they would occasionally drop large donations.

Even after a year, they continue to support a small streamer like me, and I can’t help but be grateful. They’re more than just a supporter—they’re like a benefactor to me.

The thing I appreciate most is their magnanimous nature.

Other streamers have warned me that some people who make large donations to small channels do so to control the stream later on, but this person shows no such tendencies.

I once quietly analyzed their chat messages, but I found that they were always passionately supporting me and saying positive things. It made me feel guilty for even checking.

Anyway, after receiving such a large donation today, I can’t just sit idle. It’s reaction time.

“So, Chairman, is there anything you’d like to see today? As long as it’s not a horror game, I’m up for it…”

【Username5】 – ?
【Username6】 – ????????
【Username7】 – Look at that calm reaction.
【Username8】 – Can’t play a horror game for 1 million won? Life must be easy for you.

I’m particularly weak when it comes to jump scares or anything surprising, so horror games feel like a death sentence to me. However, since it’s the content that my viewers enjoy the most, the chat quickly filled with requests for me to play one.

Sure, I could play a horror game for a million won if the Chairman requested it. But let’s be honest, it’s not what the Chairman wants—it’s what you guys want, you pesky viewers!

【’CosmoForever’ donated 1,000,000 KRW】- Haha, if you insist, could you do some aegyo (cute act)?

While I was pondering what kind of reaction to give, the Chairman made another huge donation, making my heart skip a beat.

Wait a minute, Chairman, did you just say “aegyo”?

“Um, Chairman? With all due respect, what would you gain from watching some aegyo from a lowly male character like me…”

Stunned by the unexpected request, I bent and straightened my back repeatedly like a broken doll, trying desperately to change the Chairman’s mind.

Though there’s no webcam, so no one can see it anyway. I realized much later that my efforts were in vain.

Of course, after receiving not just 1 million, but 2 million won, I could definitely do some aegyo! But I was worried that doing so might decrease the Chairman’s affection for me, and turn the audience against me.

Just looking at the chat reactions…

【SeafoodSauce】 – Stop!!!!!!
【NeighborHani】 – Chairman, why ask for something like that…
【SojuHandCream】 – Gonna hop to another stream for a bit, call me when it’s over.

【ElephantYaaHoo】 – Did you really just throw 2 million won for aegyo from this guy?

Ah, this is a disaster. If I do aegyo, 90% of the viewers will leave right away.

【CosmoForever】 – You’re not the type to go back on your word, are you? Hehe.

As I anxiously watched the chat, the Chairman locked me in with that message.

Backing out now would make me the kind of greedy small streamer who just pocketed 2 million won for nothing.

Alright, Kang Wooju. What do you have to lose? Your reputation is already low. If things go wrong with the audience, you can always fix it later with a horror game or something. For now, focus on keeping the Chairman happy.

“Guys, please close your eyes and ears for a moment.”

But before that, I had to protect my viewers. That’s what a responsible streamer should do.

【ElephantYaaHoo】 – RIP
【BaihuaYoran】 – RIP

The viewers, posting RIP messages and emotes, were sharing my final moments with me.

As expected, even though they joke around, they’re good people. Not a single viewer left the stream. If I were them, I’d have left in disgust to another channel right away.

“Chairman, you must promise to return to the stream tomorrow. You can’t run away just because this is gross.”

I made sure to lock in the Chairman’s affection, just in case my disgusting aegyo would cause them to stop watching.

【CosmoForever】 – That will never happen, hehe. Don’t worry.

Gratefully, the Chairman reassured me that they would embrace even this pitiful side of me. What a generous person they are.

“Big Sis! I want a cheeseburger! Wooju wants three cheeseburgers!”

With that, I searched online for aegyo phrases and changed the word “oppa” to “noona” to make it sound cuter, putting on the most adorable expression I could muster.

That day, a part of me as a man disappeared forever.

***

“Big Sis! I want a cheeseburger! Wooju wants three cheeseburgers!”

As a soft male voice delivered aegyo that even most women wouldn’t attempt, the woman listening from the other side of the headset couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Some might think this scene was crazy, but for the woman, it was a highly satisfying reaction to her donation.

“Aww, you’re really bad at aegyo. But that makes it even cuter. Hehe…”

Sitting alone in a massive room, large enough to rival the living room of a decent-sized apartment, she released her legs from the embrace of her arms and let out a long sigh, realizing what she had just done.

A large donation during a stream isn’t always a good thing. Sometimes, it can ruin the mood of the ongoing content, so she usually preferred to donate small amounts, like 1,000 or 10,000 won, to enjoy the stream as an ordinary viewer.

She didn’t want to be seen as a viewer throwing money around and lording it over others.

But what could she do?

Despite starting the stream earlier than usual, the streamer’s voice was showing signs of exhaustion due to the long session of advice-giving. By the time she realized this, her hand was already on the mouse.

After all, financial relief is often the best remedy for stress.

“I should hold back for a while.”

With that thought, she renewed her resolve, though it was quickly shaken by the streamer’s exhausted voice.

【CosmoForever】

– Hahaha, thanks to you, I’ll sleep soundly tonight!

– Ahhh! Please erase this from my memory..! Please!

No sooner had she donated the streamer’s voice, tinged with a mix of horror and laughter, came through her speakers again. Smiling at the reaction, she shut down her computer and headed toward the bed behind her.

She thought she could now fall asleep peacefully while listening to the after-show on her phone, so she plugged in her earphones.

– Anyway, I’ll keep the after-show short today and just sing a few songs. Any requests?

“…!”

Forgetting her earlier resolution, she eagerly started typing on her phone.

【CosmoForever donated 10,000 KRW】

– Can you sing ‘Dalcom’ by Blue?

– Oh, that’s a good song! Let me grab my guitar real quick.

Luckily, she was the first to donate, so she was chosen as the requester for the song stream, which always followed a first-come, first-served rule.

*Ding*

Soon, the gentle strumming of guitar strings and the soft singing of the streamer filled her ears, and she slowly closed her eyes.

‘Looks like I’ll sleep well tonight, too.’

Thanks to his presence, she no longer wandered sleepless at night. Once again, she silently thanked the man beyond her phone screen with a smile.