Chapter 32: Not Cosmo, but sapce.

Thanks to the editor, there was a brief commotion, but fortunately, we were able to settle down quickly and sit back down.

I was quite flustered, but I was somewhat satisfied to know that he had a strong desire to work. After all, I would be

this person’s employer moving forward.

“So, did you create all the effects yourself?”

“Yes, I can handle just about anything.”

“By the way, when can you start working?”

“I can start today, if that’s fine with you, sir.”

The editor was already calling me “sir,” responding eagerly to every question I asked, almost to the level of a yes-man.

What a diligent person.

Of course, it’s said that you can only truly know a person after spending time with them, but at least his first

impression was a passing grade. For now, he seemed trustworthy enough to entrust some work to.

“Here’s the contract. Please take a look, and if you’re satisfied with the terms…”

I pulled out a contract that I had brought in my bag and laid it on the table.

Since it was my first time hiring an editor, I had researched the industry-standard wages and set the conditions to be

satisfactory. However, I figured there might be aspects he wanted to negotiate, so I brought it up casually.

Without hesitation, the editor put his thumb on a bright red seal that had popped out of nowhere, ready to stamp the contract without even reading it.

“Should I stamp it here?”

“Oh, no. At least read it first…”

He needed to know how much he would be paid and what specific workload he would have.

I was taken aback by his eagerness to stamp without reading, but as I urged him to reconsider, he seemed to

understand and began to carefully read the contract.

“The terms are very generous, Cosmo.”

“Is that so? I tried to make sure they weren’t lacking…”

Meanwhile, Seoha, who had been watching, subtly checked the contract with my permission and gave a contented smile.

Her expression felt like it was saying, “I knew you would do this,” making me slightly embarrassed as I scratched my cheek.

“Yes, at least in this industry, it’s top-tier treatment.”

Following that, the editor nodded with satisfaction, seemingly pleased with the conditions I had proposed, and he

stamped the contract without hesitation.

“I might hire one more person in the future, but for now, I plan to run the YouTube channel with just the two of us.”

“Do you have a specific direction for the channel?”

“Hmm, for now, I want to cut down my usual counseling sessions into short clips and focus on shorts.”

“That’s the trend, indeed. Then I’ll aim to produce at least two shorts and one edited video per week.”

That sounded quite satisfactory. I didn’t expect to upload a lot of work right away, as I didn’t feel my previous

broadcasts had enough visual content.

“Well then, I look forward to working with you, sir.”

“I should be the one looking forward to it.”

Clap, clap, clap.

After shaking hands, satisfied with the agreement, Seoha, who had been watching, sent us a little applause.

It felt almost like a summit meeting.

“I’m glad to hear it, Seongmin. It seems your new boss is really pleased with you.”

“Y-yeah, I guess so. Director… Huh!?”

The editor, who had been responding awkwardly to Seoha’s congratulations, seemed about to say something, but he

gulped, glancing at me as if he had seen a ghost.

Sweat was pouring down his forehead like a waterfall.

What’s going on? Is he feeling hot? The heating is indeed a bit strong, but this is excessive.

“Are you okay, editor? You’re sweating a lot…”

“I-I’m sorry. Actually, I have a bit of a cold…”

“Oh, I should have noticed. I shouldn’t have bothered you.”

“No, it’s fine! I’ll feel better after resting at home.”

Right, resting is the best medicine when you’re sick.

Since the contract was done and we could postpone work discussions for later, I needed to quickly send the editor

home. He was our channel’s first editor; he can’t afford to get sick.

“Then how about heading home for today? We can discuss the details later when you’re feeling better.”

“Is that… really okay?”

“Of course.”

“Oh…!”

At my suggestion, the editor looked as if he had found light, his face filled with gratitude as he quickly gathered his

tablet and stood up. The hesitant demeanor from earlier had vanished, replaced by a brisk movement.

Was he just nervous earlier? No matter how much I would be his employer, I’m just a small-time streamer.

It reminded me of the time when Seoha had trembled upon meeting me for the first time, and I couldn’t help but smile wryly.

“Then I’ll be leaving, sir. And…”

“Yes, congratulations, Seongmin. I’ll contact you separately.”

“Y-yes! Then…!”

The editor, who quickly got up, bowed deeply not to me but to Seoha and swiftly exited the room.

“Phew, that was a bit chaotic.”

Once it was just the two of us, Seoha, with her slightly relaxed demeanor, murmured with her usual graceful smile.

It was a mysterious smile that any man would find enchanting.

“The editor seems to be a very passionate person.”

“Right? If he hadn’t caught my eye, I wouldn’t have introduced him to you, Cosmo.”

“Is that so?”

standard research on wages in the industry to make an offer that wouldn’t be lacking, but just in case, I brought it up

subtly, thinking there might be areas the editor would want to negotiate.

Suddenly, the editor placed their thumb on a bright red seal that had popped up from somewhere and attempted to

stamp the contract without even reading it.

“Is it okay if I stamp here?”

“Ah, no. At least read it first…”

They needed to know how much they would be paid and exactly what kind of work was expected of them.

Surprised by their eagerness to stamp without reading, I hurriedly stopped them, and the editor nodded, beginning to examine the contract carefully.

“The terms are quite generous, Cosmos.”

“Really? I tried to make it as fair as possible…”

In the meantime, Seoha, who had asked for my permission, quietly looked over the contract and gave a smile that

seemed to express her satisfaction.

Her expression felt like it was saying, ‘I knew you would do something like this,’ making me feel a bit embarrassed as

I scratched my cheek.

“Yes, at least in this industry, it’s top-notch treatment.”

Following up, the editor seemed quite pleased with the terms I had presented, nodding in satisfaction and stamping

the contract without hesitation.

“I might hire one more person later, but for now, I plan to run the YouTube channel with just the two of us.”

“Do you have a specific direction for the channel?”

“Well, for now, I’m thinking of posting short clips from my usual counseling sessions mainly as shorts.”

“Right, that’s the trend. Then let’s aim to post at least two shorts and one edited video each week.”

That sounds more than satisfactory. I didn’t think there would be much video content from my past streams anyway,

so I had no immediate plans to upload a lot of work.

“Then I look forward to working with you, boss.”

“I should be the one saying that.”

Clap, clap, clap.

As we ended the agreement with mutual satisfaction and shook hands, Seoha, who had been watching, gave a small

applause.

It felt almost like a summit meeting.

“I’m glad, Seongmin. The new boss seems to really like you.”

“Y-Yeah, I guess so. This director… Huh!?”

The editor, who was responding somewhat unsteadily to Seoha’s congratulations, seemed about to say something but

swallowed hard as if they had seen a ghost, glancing over at me.

Sweat was pouring down their forehead like a waterfall.

What’s going on? Are they hot? The heating does seem a bit strong, but that’s still excessive sweating.

“Are you okay, editor? You’re sweating a lot…”

“I-I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m coming down with a cold…”

“Oh, if I had known, I would have suggested we meet another time. I feel like I’ve made things inconvenient for you.”

“N-No, it’s fine! I’ll probably feel better after getting home and resting.”

Well, resting is the best medicine when you’re sick.

Since the contract is signed and we can discuss work later, I should get the editor home quickly. They are our

channel’s very first editor, so they shouldn’t strain themselves.

“Why don’t you head home first? We can talk more when you’re feeling better.”

“Is that really okay?”

“Of course.”

“Oh…!”

Upon hearing my suggestion, the editor’s expression brightened as if they had found a ray of hope, and they

hurriedly gathered their tablet and stood up.

The hesitance from moments ago was nowhere to be seen; they moved with purpose now.

Was it just nervousness that made them act that way? No matter how I looked at it, I was just an ordinary streamer.

It reminded me of how Seoha had seemed nervous when we first met, causing me to involuntarily smile wryly.

“I’ll take my leave now, boss. And…”

“Yes, congratulations, Seongmin. I’ll contact you separately.”

“Yes! Then…!”

The editor, who had stood up, deeply bowed to Seoha instead of me and quickly left the room.

“Phew, that was quite an eventful meeting.”

Once it was just the two of us, Seoha, looking a bit more relaxed, murmured with her usual graceful smile.

Her smile had a mysterious charm that could make any man lose their mind.

“The editor seems really passionate.”

“Right? If I hadn’t been impressed, I wouldn’t have introduced them to you.”

“Is that so?”

I was momentarily taken aback by the strange sense of pride in her tone, as if she had presented me with a finely

polished gem after thoroughly vetting it.

“By the way, how have you been lately, Cosmos?”

It was only after we were alone that we leisurely sipped our coffee while asking about each other’s recent happenings.

The coffee, which had been steaming hot when we ordered it, had cooled down to a chilly temperature, but it didn’t

feel uncomfortable at all. It was likely due to the unexpectedly warm atmosphere.

“I’ve been doing well, as usual. How about you?”

“I haven’t been well. Haah…”

When I echoed the question, Seoha let out a deep sigh for the first time and pouted her lips.

She seemed just as she usually did, so I had assumed nothing out of the ordinary had happened, but perhaps

something unfortunate had occurred.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“Actually, I was so busy that I couldn’t watch your broadcast for two days.”

“…What?”

With a worried expression, I inquired further, but Seoha responded seriously, resting her cheek on her hand.

However, the content was so ridiculous that I thought I must have misheard.

Is this a joke?

“You’re quite good at joking, aren’t you, nuna?”

When I laughed and tried to brush it off as a jest, Seoha abruptly turned her head and glared at me.

I had never seen her angry like this before, and I froze for a moment like prey before a predator.

“I’m not joking! I really wanted to die on the second day!”

“No way, my broadcast can’t be that bad…”

“It is that bad for me!”

“…Okay.”

Hmm, if she says so, I guess that’s how it is.

The atmosphere felt like I would get hit if I pressed further, so I decided to keep quiet. In this harsh world, one must

have some sense of awareness to survive.

Not that I have any, though.

“Anyway, you tend to underestimate yourself too much. Watching your broadcasts has given me so much vitality…”

“I-I’m really sorry. I made a huge mistake…”

Seated on the sofa, I bowed my head apologetically, and Seoha began to lecture me for quite a while.

At least among all the lectures I’ve heard in my life, this one felt the sweetest, making me smile unconsciously.

Seoha really loves my broadcasts. I can’t help but feel moved.

“By the way, what did you think of the new editor? Do you like them?”

“Of course! If it weren’t for you, I would never have found someone so great.”

After a while, Seoha, with her mood lifted, slyly asked for my first impression of the new editor.

Since I was more than satisfied, I gave her a thumbs up to express my gratitude.

Then, with hands crossed politely on her lap, Seoha glanced at me curiously.

It seemed like she had something to say, so I tilted my head, and finally, she spoke up hesitantly but clearly.

“Um, do you remember the promise we made a while back?”

“A promise? …Oh!”

I had forgotten if we had made any promises, but suddenly remembering our conversation, I gasped.

How could I forget? It was Seoha who first mentioned such a thing.

“Of course, I remember! If I liked the editor you introduced, you wanted to ask me for a favor, right?”

“I’m glad you remembered… I was worried you might have forgotten.”

She sighed with relief, looking at me intently, as if she was genuinely worried I might have forgotten.

“Just tell me. I’ll help you as much as I can.”

The first request was for my number, and the second was for me to sing for her.

What could the third one be? I leaned in to listen, and Seoha hesitated for a moment, but then spoke clearly.

“I want to call you by your name.”

“By my name?”

Caught off guard by the simple request, I instinctively tilted my head.

After all this time, I had been called by my Twitch nickname offline, so it was surprising.

Initially, I thought it was because I was uncomfortable, but it seems she had actually wanted to call me by my name.

“Go ahead, feel free to call me that, nuna.”

“…Okay, Woo-joo.”

As I nodded in agreement, she gazed at me with a fondness that reminded me of a bride looking at her husband, saying my name softly.

It was strange that she still didn’t call me by my name, but just the fact that my name was spoken brought about a

peculiar excitement and nostalgia.

It’s hard to put into words, but the difference in how she addressed me now felt like a promise to treat me as a

human named Kang Woo-joo, rather than just the streamer Cosmos.

“Woo-joo, Woo-joo.”

“I’m listening, so that’s enough…”

“No, I won’t stop, Woo-joo.”

After that, for quite a while, Seoha kept calling my name for no reason, smiling brightly and subjecting me to

unintended mental attacks.

This is harder to endure than I thought.