Chapter 7: The beginning is always difficult

A bird breaks free from its egg. The egg is the bird’s world.

Those who wish to be born must destroy one world.

I am now trying to step into a new world.

Like ripples on a calm surface, this is a small step, but it will bring about a tremendous change in my world.

The white, flickering monitor casts a glow on my face.

The mouse cursor moves hesitantly over the “Start Live Broadcast” button at the bottom right of the screen.

Yes, I have finished all the preparations.

I had put considerable effort into setting up everything needed for the broadcast.

Ji-eun’s computer specifications were not bad. In fact, they were quite good.

With software like Photoshop and 3D modeling installed, the computer performed significantly better than a typical household machine, likely due to its professional use.

As I prepared for the broadcast, I began to feel, if only a little, the struggles of broadcasters I had previously thought lived an easy life.

Broadcasting required more effort than I had anticipated.

Unlike public broadcasting, which has specialized personnel, everything from start to finish must be prepared by one person.

Of course, the scale is smaller for individual streamers, and anyone can start, but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy task.

Even just the basic preparation for broadcasting was daunting.

A high-spec main computer that streams the screen without interruption.

A monitor with graphics that won’t alienate the viewers. A camera to show the streamer and a microphone to transmit their voice.

To separate broadcasting from gaming, I decided to invest in an additional monitor.

Using just one monitor for broadcasting could interfere with a proper gaming experience, according to opinions I found online.

Given that this was a skill demonstration broadcast suspected of cheating, I needed to minimize any potential distractions.

Even excluding the somewhat special case of the monitor, this level of equipment was necessary for broadcasting.

Moreover, serious streamers often set up soundproof booths, but that was irrelevant to me for now.

The reason I lingered after finishing all the preparations was due to an indescribable tension.

I was preparing for an impromptu broadcast and conducting an unexpected live stream.

By nature, I do not like to stand in front of others.

I had watched broadcasts, but I never imagined I would actually do it myself.

What can one do in a job that doesn’t suit them?

There seemed to be no other way.

One cannot live only by doing what they want.

Then, suddenly, I saw the face of a woman reflected on the screen.

The woman, who was basically expressionless, wore an ambiguous look.

Next came her small hand gripping the mouse, a delicate wrist.

Her slender body contrasted with a chest that seemed to assert itself.

Now, everyone was in “my” body.

I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

Having already experienced a monumental change in my life, it was amusing to see myself getting scared over just this broadcast.

“Mollru Cheating Clarification Broadcast.”

The title didn’t really matter. It was the content that was important.

During the live broadcast, I quickly checked to see if the stream was going well and immediately jumped into the game.

Can you believe there are people who live their entire day online, eyes wide open?

Some might dismiss it with a “Come on, who does that?” as a joke.

But surprisingly, this is not a joke; it’s the truth.

Internet phantoms who lead trends and spread news faster than anyone else.

Among them, the realm of internet broadcasting.

Among the countless streams, there’s the streaming platform called Twitch.

Twitch is home to high-level individuals who keep a 24-hour watch on the activities of streamers.

These are the so-called “Twitch unemployed,” shortened to “Tsu.”

Nickname: “Sua’s Brigade Captain No. 1.”

He was the representative of the toxic fandom surrounding the streamer Sua and a Tsu.

He had noticed the unusual activity on Twitch.

“Mollru Cheating Clarification Broadcast.”

“Hmm?”

With nothing to do, he was always on Twitch, and he saw a new small stream appear on his recommended list.

Three viewers. The category was EOWA.

Was it the algorithm?

He was about to brush it off, but paused for a moment.

For some reason, the nickname felt familiar.

– Mollru is currently streaming.

As he examined the nickname, he shot up from his seat.

It was him. He really turned on the stream.

Sua’s Brigade Captain No. 1.

He was a regular viewer who enjoyed Sua’s streams and was a devoted fan of EOWA.

Having watched Sua’s broadcasts, which often featured EOWA, he naturally became a part of her audience.

After confirming the streamer’s nickname once more, he quickly turned on his phone.

Group chat “Investigation Team.”

This chat room was named after the order of streamer Sua.

He hurriedly logged into the chat and informed his colleagues.

The others in the chat were similar cases.

They had become interested in EOWA, which led them to watch Sua’s streams, a female user and a high-tier player.

For them, Mollru’s movements were a significant point of interest.

He was a skilled player with an agent count never seen before.

Although he was suspected of cheating, it was merely suspicion.

Most EOWA users, including the community, believed that his absurd plays could only be the result of hacking.

But he didn’t think so.

Wasn’t it Watcha that successfully suppressed hacking when it first appeared?

Several days had passed, yet that company had taken no action.

“Maybe he’s really a challenger.”

Captain No. 1 thought this as he entered Mollru’s stream.

[Molla]

[He really started streaming ᄏᄏᄏᄏ]

[That sniper rifle looks familiar]

[In a familiar scene with a familiar weapon… Teacher, why have you just now arrived?]

[His tier has gone up again ᄏᄏᄏ What’s up with this guy?]

[He’s at the top of Diamond, just steamrolling opponents]

Perhaps it was because Sua sent the link in the group chat, but the influx of viewers soon filled Mollru’s chatroom with excitement.

However, whether he knew or not, Mollru silently continued to take down enemies.

It was common for him to use the high-caliber sniper rifle that had become one of his identities.

It’s not unusual for a streamer focused on the game to miss the chat.

This often happened with streamers who had less broadcasting experience.

Those who weren’t accustomed to checking the chat while playing the game would find it more challenging.

In smaller streams, the chat often didn’t update immediately, which made it even harder.

True to their pro-Tsu nature, those who realized this generously continued watching the stream.

[Looks like he’s busy with the game]

[When you first start streaming, you usually can’t read the chat]

[Just watching the screen spin makes me dizzy]

[Our Sua read the chat well from her first stream]

[It’s true that Sua has good multitasking skills]

One shot, and then another.

From the rooftop of a bustling building, the sniper peered through the scope at the enemy, mercilessly exploiting their vulnerabilities with precise aim.

For a moment, the viewers were in awe as enemies fell one by one.

Then, with a sound effect, text appeared on the broadcast screen.

<Soboru Dubbap has donated 1000 won!>

[He’s doing well, but isn’t this a cheating clarification stream? Are you not using a hand cam?]

Perhaps it was frustrating for Mollru not to communicate, prompting a viewer to send a message through a donation.

The stoic sniper, who had not responded to calls, finally seemed to grasp the situation and stopped moving.

Then, a clicking sound from the mouse was heard, and something appeared on the broadcast screen.

It was a pure white hand.

A tiny white hand gripping a black mouse, looking larger than it really was, moved incessantly.

As if to prove that he wasn’t cheating, the hand moved back and forth, making the aim on the screen dance dramatically.

With every left and right click, enemies fell, which was just an added bonus.

The viewers reacted for a moment.

They turned their eyes away from the game screen.

Where their gaze landed was the delicate, small white hand that appeared when the hand cam was turned on.

What was shown through the cam was not what they had imagined.

Instead of a thick, hairy man’s hand, what appeared was a finely manicured hand that looked as if it had never touched a drop of water.

The unexpected sight caused the chat to stir.

[What’s up with that hand? Why is it so white?]

[If you don’t go outside, it can turn out like that.]

[Must be the lighting.]

[Where? There’s no light hitting the desk.]

[The fingers are too thin, though. Is it a guy?]

[Then would it be a girl?]

[Totally a shrimp ᄏᄏ Get some exercise.]

[Isn’t that a girl’s hand?]

[Is it a girl?]

[These guys are writing stories again. What girl?]

Perhaps due to the ruckus in the chat, the sniper once again halted his movements.

Then, there was a rustling sound, and he said, “Oh, I had the mic turned off.”

His voice spoke.

[?]

The chat suddenly fell silent.

With a single question mark appearing, there was no activity in the chat for several seconds.

Then, once again.

“…Can you not hear me? Is something wrong with the mic?”

As streamer Mollru opened his mouth, the chat exploded.