Chapter 14: I got it wrong

In the world, there are two types of people who should not be treated recklessly.

The terrifying ones, who, if treated recklessly, could harm you.

And the ones who only speak the truth.

“I would like you to send the Espresso Crew and MCN contracts as soon as possible. Seoyeon also needs legal safeguards.”

For some time now, Jeong Yuhyeok, who had been quietly clasping his hands, clearly considered Yoo Seoa to be the latter type of person.

He couldn’t think of anything to say in rebuttal.

It wasn’t just the overwhelming calm atmosphere that naturally put him at a disadvantage.

Could she be working in the legal field…?

She makes it feel like I’m being interrogated while handcuffed…’

Yoo Seoa, an adult and older sister, taking an interest in legal matters like Seoyeon’s MCN contract was understandable.

As an adult who had already entered society, she might naturally be concerned about her younger, less-experienced sister.

However, the persistence and sharpness in her attitude far surpassed the average person’s level.

It was professional.

“Then, have you talked to your parents about it…?”

“Yes.”

A slightly nervous voice asked the question.

The positive response came immediately.

Thus, Jeong Yuhyeok promised to document all aspects related to Seoyeon’s Espresso Crew and MCN contract with Yoo Seoa.

After all, Maru, whom he had personally cast, was already involved.

Since the parents had already given their permission, there was no need to delay Maru’s contract any further.

However, it seemed that, to Yoo Seoa, Jeong Yuhyeok appeared to be someone who was trying to exploit Seoyeon.

Jeong Yuhyeok started his explanation.

“Well… it might sound like an excuse, but I wasn’t trying to use Seoyeon.”

Jeong Yuhyeok paused for a moment, as if taking a breath, and then continued carefully.

“Whether it was my own broadcast or the crew’s collective session… I was thinking of helping Maru grow. I wasn’t trying to use Seoyeon.”

Throughout Jeong Yuhyeok’s explanation, Yoo Seoa remained silent.

Seoyeon kept glancing at her older sister.

Yoo Seoa’s gaze remained fixed on Jeong Yuhyeok, but her expression didn’t change.

“The parents were very adamant, so I kept putting off the contract, and I think I didn’t pay enough attention to it…”

Jeong Yuhyeok tried his best to explain honestly and sincerely.

With someone like Yoo Seoa, it was better to explain things straightforwardly rather than sugarcoat them.

It didn’t seem like she would be swayed by any packaging.

Anyway, Jeong Yuhyeok was trying to clear up Yoo Seoa’s misunderstanding by saying that he had no intention of financially exploiting Seoyeon.

Thankfully, it ended well.

“Thank you for helping Seoyeon. I didn’t even know she was broadcasting, so I haven’t been paying attention until now.”

“Oh, no. I’m the one who’s been receiving help. Thanks to Maru, the crew atmosphere has been lively… The viewers’ reactions, the YouTube subscribers’ reactions—everything is great.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Please continue to take good care of Seoyeon.”

In a short, soft, yet clear voice, Jeong Yuhyeok slightly nodded and showed a relieved expression.

The interrogation was over.

His pent-up breath seemed to finally ease.

Then, he changed the subject of the conversation with Yoo Seoa.

“Well, now let’s move on to your broadcast plans, Seo-A. What direction are you considering?”

“I’m aiming to increase my ranking while streaming. My goal is to reach Grandmaster tier.”

“Really? G-Grandmaster? While streaming?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

Her expression was serious.

Upon closer inspection, there was a hint of confusion on her face.

“Oh, no. There’s no problem, but is there a particular reason you have to reach Grandmaster?”

“I need to teach Seo-Yeon. I think reaching Grandmaster is necessary to do that.”

“So, you’re saying… you’re going to teach Seo-Yeon Baolre… while streaming Baolre?”

“Yes.”

Her face showed no hint of joking.

Among all the broadcasters I’ve met, Seo-A was the first woman to want to stream her Baolre skills.

And the reason was not to earn money on the side, but to help Seo-Yeon improve her Baolre skills.

She was a very unique person.

“Hmm… well, it’s good that you have a clear goal. So, your main game will be Baolre. What time do you plan to stream?”

Finally starting the serious broadcast consultation, Jeong Yu-Hyuk kept a neutral expression.

Yu-Hyuk had always been serious about consulting beginner streamers like Seo-A.

And most importantly, she was the sister of a crew member.

She wasn’t just an acquaintance, but a family member related by blood to Seo-Yeon, which made Jeong Yu-Hyuk pay extra attention to Seo-A.

“The reason I started streaming… I think it would be better to say that I started because Baolre streams seemed fun.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Yes. I want to give the impression that I’ll keep streaming in the future.”

Anyway, after the discussion on Seo-A’s broadcast direction was wrapped up, Seo-Yeon finally spoke up and suggested that Seo-A’s first stream be done in a collaboration format on the Maru channel.

“It might be better for me to give you a little push rather than starting from zero. Right, Oppa?”

“Ah, yeah. Having the title of Maru’s sister while streaming… Ah, Seo-A, what do you think about collaborating with Seo-Yeon?”

“I think it’s fine. I’ve already greeted Seo-Yeon’s viewers before.”

With her calm expression, Seo-A whispered and accepted Seo-Yeon’s proposal.

“Then, Seo-A needs to do a test stream…”

Yu-Hyuk glanced at Seo-Yeon beside him.

Their eyes met for a moment.

In order to teach Seo-A the basics of streaming, Seo-Yeon’s help was necessary.

The location would also need to change.

“It would be better to do the test stream in the VR room.”

“???”

“Because there’s only one treadmill here.”

Having good gaming skills is definitely an advantage when streaming.

However, before that, communication with viewers is essential for a stream to even be considered a broadcast.

Jeong Yu-Hyuk wanted to teach Seo-A how to communicate with viewers first.

Giving tips about the small things a new streamer needs to know would come later.

“Seo-A and Seo-Yeon, you two should do a 1v1 and start the test stream.”

“Yes. It’s better to start with a simple interaction like this.”

“Ah, I see.”

Seo-A thought this made sense.

Indeed, experts are experts.

Experiencing something once is better than hearing about it a hundred times.

And so, they headed to the VR room.

They entered the 4-person room and began putting on the familiar VR equipment, starting with the smallest pieces.

Soon, when Jeong Yu-hyuk started the test broadcast, a broadcast chat window appeared in VR.

[Days: Can you see the chat?]

“Ah, yes. I can see it.”

After that, Yoo Seo-a learned how to adjust the size and opacity of the chat window.

The controls were surprisingly simple.

It didn’t take long for Yoo Seo-a to learn how to set up the chat window.

Now, it was time to practice communicating while playing Baeore.

Boom.

The sound of entering the battlefield with Yoo Seo-yeon, her 1v1 opponent, was heard in her ears.

[Days: Fighting with Seo-yeon]

[Days: You just need to solve the quizzes that come up in the chat.]

[Days: Please give a comment as if you’re actually interacting with viewers.]

“Like it’s real… hmm.”

[Days: Well, let’s start with an easy one to warm up.]

[Days: 5+7=?]

As soon as Jeong Yu-hyuk’s first quiz appeared in the chat, Yoo Seo-yeon’s warrior, showing off her muscular physique, was charging toward her from across the VR screen.

A loud roar echoed.

Thanks to that, Yoo Seo-a realized once again that Baeore was an extremely realistic game.

Even if the graphics are too good, there’s a downside.

It was honestly overwhelming, even though she had seen this scene many times—biceps and triceps bulging every second.

Whoosh!

“5 plus 7 is 12. Please give me the next quiz.”

After answering Jeong Yu-hyuk’s quiz, Yoo Seo-a took a step back.

The archer, a ranged character, keeps a distance, while the warrior, a melee character, closes the gap.

This was the basic setup of Baeore.

Boom-

Yoo Seo-yeon’s warrior raised her huge sword over her shoulder and stomped her foot.

Armor clanged as it pressed down on the ground, and pebbles flew with every step.

A typical and resolute charge.

A force without hesitation.

Just as the great sword was about to strike down again, Yoo Seo-a slid one step to the side.

Then, she immediately jumped backward.

Swish.

An arrow for harassment cut through the air.

The arrowhead hit the armor, making a dull thud.

[Days: What is the capital of the United States?]

“The capital of the United States is Washington, D.C.”

[Days: Oh ᄏᄏ Faster than I thought.]

While explaining the capital of the United States, the arrow barrage continued toward the warrior.

The damage was minimal, but it interrupted the flow of the attack.

Just as Yoo Seo-yeon was trying to regain balance, an arrow lodged deep into her thigh, near the joint.

[Days: Hey, warrior.]

[Days: Don’t go easy on her, try properly.]

“I’m trying properly…!”

Hearing the familiar voice in the test broadcast, Yoo Seo-yeon started chasing again.

She pulled the great sword low and, using a short dash skill, approached in a zigzag pattern.

But, as always, the archer, with a calm expression, maintained a ten-step distance with a single arrow.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

Head, shoulder, top of the foot.

Every time she was hit, the warrior’s steps would falter.

[Days: What is the second-largest island in South Korea?]

“The second-largest island is Geoje Island. The first is Jeju Island, and the third is Jindo, I think….”

[Days: You’re like a walking encyclopedia.]

After about 10 seconds passed,

Yoo Seo-yeon’s warrior, who had been charging toward Yoo Seo-a’s archer, now looked like a porcupine.

And then, finally. Wobble, wobble. …Thud.

[허락보단용서가빠르다 (Archer) “Maruru (Warrior)]

“AAARGH!! Why is the archer’s range so long! Nerf it!”

Yoo Seo-yeon’s voice, full of frustration, filled the VR headset.

She was clearly getting heated from the constant kiting.

Unfortunately, compared to a typical archer, the damage was weak, and her HP was slowly draining.

It was torturous.

“From now on, you fight with my sister, not me. I’ll be giving the quizzes.”

“Eh?”

“You’re the highest tier, Grand Master, right? Please kill my sister. Just destroy her—”

“Hey, isn’t that a bit much for your sister?”

In the end, Jeong Yu-hyuk, unable to withstand Yoo Seo-yeon’s whining, eventually put on the VR equipment.

His class was knight.

“Ah, yes.”

As soon as Jeong Yu-hyuk’s knight logged into the battlefield of Baeore, the first thing he encountered was a silver-haired thief.

The dual daggers hanging from the thief’s waist were soon grasped in Yoo Seo-a’s hands with a sharp “clack.”

‘Grand Master…. That’s what they mean by Grand Master.’

According to what Yoo Seo-yeon had just said, Jeong Yu-hyuk’s highest tier in Baeore was Grand Master.

In other words, it meant that he had already reached the tier that Yoo Seo-a was aiming for.

Yoo Seo-a became a bit more serious.

“Alright then, let’s start now—

Whoosh!

The incident happened in an instant.

Just as Jeong Yu-hyuk’s knight was stepping forward with his shield raised, Yoo Seo-a’s thief, having suddenly lowered her body, slid across the ground and pounced.

The speed was so fast it was hard to follow with the eyes.

“Huh?”

Before Jeong Yu-hyuk’s dynamic vision could react, the silver hair had already reached his blind spot.

The sharp edge of the dagger was approaching his side.

An unexpected close-range attack.

Jeong Yu-hyuk reflexively swung his sword to knock the thief away, but the thief had already passed under his arm and circled around behind him.

A cold sensation ran up his back.

Clang!

With a sharp metallic sound, the thief’s dagger precisely struck the weakest joint in the armor. His HP dropped to the left.

It wasn’t a fatal blow, but it was enough to damage Jeong Yu-hyuk’s mental state.

Thud!

“What the…!”

Had it been about 0.5 seconds?

Jeong Yu-hyuk’s eyes widened at the sight of the thief constantly drilling into his blind spot.

[Maruru: Capital of Canada, Cuba, Chile]

“Ottawa, Havana, Santiago.”

[Maruru: No.]

[Maruru: How do you even know that?]

“There were hotel guests who knew. It’s good to study foreign capitals in advance.”

[Maruru: That won’t come up on the SAT!!!]

“It might come up in World History… or maybe not?”