Ch.1818 – Invoice

I couldn’t sleep.

I usually have trouble sleeping in a new place.

In my past life, I lived with insomnia, but I never found it bothersome.

“I wondered where you’d disappeared to. You slept in the capsule instead of using the bed?”

Professor Cheon asked, handing me toast spread with strawberry jam.

“The capsule is more comfortable…”

The mysterious item in that box turned out to be a virtual reality capsule.

Judging by the wear and tear, it was an old one that hadn’t been thrown away yet.

“I’m sorry I can’t be with you this week because of work. I’ll be back before dinner at the latest, so would delivery food be okay for lunch?”

“I like delivery food.”

I never got to try it at the orphanage. I’m curious about the taste.

Professor Cheon kept apologizing about how far his university was from home as he left.

Though he really didn’t need to comment on my bunny ear pajamas on his way out.

After he left, I could savor the toast he made for me, enjoying breakfast for the first time in ages.

‘Now what do I actually do?’

Suddenly I had all this free time.

Winter break isn’t over yet, so I don’t need to go to school.

I don’t need to desperately stream to make money. Or should I at least earn enough for potions so I’m not completely dependent on him?

While floating through these waves of thoughts, I remembered delivery food and decided to search for options.

‘Chicken, pizza, tteokbokki, cold noodles… Kim-pi-tang?’

Some foods were familiar, others had mysterious names.

I wasn’t planning to order yet, just checking how the ordering process worked, so I entered my card information into the AI.

[Sehan Card entered: This card is already registered.]

[Verifying owner: NoName confirmed.]

It recognized me as part of Professor Cheon Kyu-jin’s family, but nothing special happened.

Or so I thought, until:

[Korea Mana Corporation has sent NoName a bill. Please pay by the due date.

Billing purpose: Unauthorized emergency lower circle(3) magic creation

Amount due: 481,738 won

Payment deadline: 2051/01/31

For inquiries about this bill, please contact the billing company. +See more]

A message that sent chills down my spine.

“W-what is this…?”

For a moment I thought it might be a phishing text, but with the official format and certification mark, my doubts quickly faded.

With trembling hands, I checked the details.

[Detailed bill for 3rd circle formation ‘Lithography’ and 3 multi-magic uses]

It was the magic I had demonstrated to Arin before.

I’d heard at school that using 2nd circle mana or higher incurred usage fees, but since I could handle mana without restrictions, I mistakenly thought it only applied to certain spells.

Faced with a bill of nearly 500,000 won, I felt my vision go dark.

‘Today is Monday the 23rd… so I need to pay by next Tuesday?’

Where am I supposed to get that kind of money?

‘Ah…!’

The card Professor Cheon gave me.

Did the government assume I had the ability to pay?

But I couldn’t possibly use a card meant for buying lunch to pay such an enormous amount.

“No, I need to earn this myself somehow.”

Think, Name. What’s the point of having a smart brain if you don’t use it?

Being a minor, I obviously can’t use loan sharks. Besides, I have a terrible history with them and want nothing to do with them.

So streaming is my only option, but the problem is I barely make 50,000 won a day, even on good days.

Even streaming for 8 full days would only get me 400,000 won, still far short.

‘But I don’t have any other choice.’

My eyes drift to the used capsule I spent the night in.

What a strange twist of fate.

Without further deliberation, I climbed into the capsule.

* * *

[Donation Goal: ₩500,000 (0%)]

-hi hi

-hey streamer

-why is this person’s username blank? what do we call them?

-that’s why we just call them “streamer”

“Hello everyone.”

-why didn’t you stream yesterday?

-you suddenly ended the stream without any explanation.

-what’s with the donation goal? lol

-whoa

-500k won goal lmao

-streamer, need money urgently?

“Yes.”

-must be rent due

-maybe they have a disease where they’ll die if they don’t smoke 40 packs of cigarettes

-are cigarettes over 10,000 won a pack these days?

-yeah…

“I need to pay by next week.”

-ah I see

-but we don’t have money

-for real lol

“It’s urgent, yes.”

[‘HobbyDiver’ donated 1,000 won!]

-streamer, will you play games then?

[Donation Goal: ₩1,000 / ₩500,000 (0.2%)]

-streamer’s eyes just darted to the donation bar lol

-how are you gonna reach the goal with these tiny amounts?

“I’ll consider it.”

[‘SaveMeFromGradSchool’ donated 1,000 won!]

-you don’t like games much?

“That’s right.”

-shouldn’t grad students be working right now?

-it’s winter break

-grad students don’t get breaks

-no breaks but still time to watch streams…

-if you’re not playing games on Twissy, what are you even streaming for?

This is a bit awkward.

The viewers are right that playing games is the standard course for Twissy streamers.

The proportion of Just Chatting streams is overwhelmingly lower than on other platforms.

I can’t switch platforms now either…

So I decided to trust the collective intelligence.

Like when panelists on TV quiz shows use the audience chance.

“What would you pay money for?”

-this person isn’t even trying to hide that they want money lol

-streamer has always been straightforward

-play games

-if you play Resonance, you’ll get at least 50 viewers even if you’re bad

Not very helpful.

So I decided to use my connections.

[IfSunnyFallsThenNightComes – In Game 2:31:54]

[(Sent)IfSunnyFallsThenNightComes: How can I make a lot of money streaming?]

I sent a message to the only person currently online on my friends list.

Maybe she can’t reply because she’s in a game.

But surprisingly, her response was very quick.

She even left her game for it.

[IfSunnyFallsThenNightComes – Lobby 2:32:08]

[IfSunnyFallsThenNightComes: What’s going on? Were you hacked?]

[IfSunnyFallsThenNightComes: No, that can’t be it… wait, you disappear for half a year and now you’re talking about streaming?]

“I need money urgently.”

[IfSunnyFallsThenNightComes: If it’s not a lot, I can lend it to you.]

“I don’t want to take help from others.”

[IfSunnyFallsThenNightComes: What’s that notification sound? Are you streaming right now?]

[IfSunnyFallsThenNightComes: Cover your stream for a moment and invite me to your lobby.]

“I’ll cover the screen for a moment, please bear with me.”

[NoName – Lobby 00:08:17]

A plain, small room of about 3 pyeong.

[IfSunnyFallsThenNightComes has accepted your invitation]

[Moving to NoName’s lobby]

A circular summoning circle appears.

“Hey!”

A woman with a pink ponytail grabbed my shoulders and shook me vigorously.

“Where have you been? Not logging in and just leaving us weird messages!”

Username ‘IfSunnyFallsThenNightComes’.

Real name Yoo Si-a.

A top-tier player who charms male streamers with her alt accounts.

But none of that matters—to me, she’s just a precious clan member.

Someone who stayed by my side even when I couldn’t speak or move. A precious person.

“I’m back. Sorry I couldn’t contact you.”

“Did you decide to drop the concept? Good thinking, our Namei!”

“Not Namei, Sia. It’s Name. NoName.”

“You want me to call you Name?”

“Yes. That’s my name.”

“Alright, whatever.”

Sia doesn’t make a big deal of it. She probably thinks everything I say is a joke.

“I have so many questions for you. First of all, where have you been all this time before logging into VR now?”

She asks while playing with my hair, stroking it and twirling it with her fingers. Her usual habits whenever we meet.

“A lot happened. I’m going to school now, and I found a place to live.”

“So you’re still a student? I thought you seemed young. That Minjun Pyo guy was always desperate to spread rumors that you were some old man!”

“I don’t really care about that.”

“With your personality, I guess not. But what’s this about needing money?”

“I used magic carelessly. They say I need to pay usage fees…”

“How much exactly?”

“About 481,738 won.”

“What on earth did you do?”

Sia seemed intent on continuing our conversation with me sitting on her lap.

My shoulders were lightly lifted, and I floated into her arms.

“Anyway, you need to make money, right? Want to duo with me and climb rank? There’s nothing better than hitting a high tier for making money. You’re still in Bronze, right?”

“Will people pay for that?”

“If we share the stream with my account, we’ll have plenty of viewers. I was planning a comeback anyway. But I want to keep talking with you while we play, is that okay?”

“That’s fine. As long as it’s not too personal.”

“Great! Strike while the iron is hot—starting today? I’ll announce the collab on my stream now, so go tell your viewers too. I’ll send you a share request at 1 PM after lunch. No backing out!”

The pink-haired tomboy said her piece and vanished from the lobby with a poof.

Sia was always like this. She seems especially high-energy today.

Games…

Rather than thinking of it as gaming, I’d feel more at ease approaching the stream as if I were going on a date with her. I need to brainwash myself that way.

“I’m back, everyone.”

-all the viewers already left

-was that your IRL friend? Or just a gaming friend?

-so what are we doing now? (genuinely asking)

“Today I’m doing a League collab. You might know her—’IfSunnyFallsThenNightComes’. We’re planning to climb to Master together.”

-????

-THE IfSunny I know?

-what nonsense is this lol

-this stream is suspiciously baiting us

Public opinion isn’t good. I think I misjudged.

“Then… Grand Master? Challenger?”