Chapter 19: Will you come with me

Memory, as they say, tends to fade or become romanticized with time.

But the beginning, strangely enough, remains vivid.

Like the saying “well begun is half done,” the start of anything carries about half the weight of the whole.

No matter how much you try to forget, that vivid presence that makes up half the whole is not something you can easily erase.

In that sense — my first stream.

My first viewers.

The first interaction — a trio of “firsts” I encountered, needed to be imprinted more clearly than anything else.

Because everything happening in this moment would hold about half the significance of my entire streaming experience.

So, first things first… I should introduce myself.

I’ve introduced myself before as Maru’s older sister, but this is our first meeting as a streamer.

“Ah, ah. Can you hear me?”

While adjusting the stream’s audio settings, I pulled the VR headset’s microphone a bit closer.

I could immediately see chat messages reacting to my voice.

More, and faster, than I expected.

“Hello. I’m ‘ForgivenessIsFasterThanPermission.’ This is my first stream… but quite a lot of you showed up.”

— Are you not doing more Battle of Legends?

— How old are you?

— I passed out looking at your stats, ma’am…

— Accept my friend request: SamDoRyu#A2K

— What archer talents did you pick? Tell me please, 11th try

— Your voice is really nice

— Do you have a boyfriend?

“No… I don’t. I haven’t dated anyone before.”

— Damn

— Approved

— Wait, you’re a virgin?

— Oh

[User “Unicorn” donated ₩10,000!]

— Ah, so nice…

— Just followed ^^7

— Wait, you’re a total beginner?

(Emoji of lightsticks waving) ×8

Why is that?

All I said was I didn’t have a boyfriend, and the chat just exploded.

Looking closely, someone even donated ten thousand won.

Huh?

“ㅎㅅㅎ”?

What does that mean… student council?

Hermeneutics?

Anyway, it seems like being a streamer without a boyfriend is a big plus in this world.

Once I revealed that I was single, the frequency of chats noticeably increased.

Viewer count… is…

(LIVE) Loving Archers

Currently: 794 viewers

Hashtag: #BattleOfLegends

It had already reached nearly 800.

What’s going on?

Just a few minutes ago, it was in the low 700s… does it normally increase this fast?

“Did a few more come over from Seoyeon’s stream?”

I tilted my head at the sudden surge in viewers.

A mysterious spike.

Still, right now interaction is the priority, so I set my curiosity aside.

From there, I kept reading the colorful messages on my 32-inch monitor, communicating with viewers.

I avoided the political, gender, and religious messages — Seoyeon told me earlier not to read those.

Jeong Yoohyeok once said, “The key is to make it feel like a conversation,” so I decided to focus on two-way interaction, not one-way.

Ding.

[User “oo” donated ₩1,000!]

“Why did you start streaming?”

“The reason I started? Like I said earlier, it looked fun watching Maru stream.”

“My main content is Battle of Legends. My goal tier is Grandmaster.

You think I’m joking?

No, I’m serious.

Why play archer when it sucks?

Because I like archers.

You’ve seen me carry as an archer all this time.

Let me say it again — archer is a perfectly viable class.”

“As for other games… I’ll consider it.

Only playing Battle of Legends might get dull.

Oh, and the stream schedule is every evening at 8.”

Reading each question in the chat was more time-consuming than I expected.

…So Seoyeon went through all this, huh.

Kind of admirable.

Streaming definitely has its own hardships.

About ten minutes passed.

Talking nonstop left my throat dry.

Come to think of it, they said throat care is the most important thing for streamers, right?

“Um, guys. Just a sec… I’m going to drink some water.”

Remembering the advice from Jeong Yoohyeok and Seoyeon, I grabbed a bottle of water on my desk.

Gulp, gulp.

I could feel the lukewarm barley tea going down my throat.

It definitely helped.

But then…

— Oohya

— Whoa, what the f—

— Heuuung..

— Oh

— Hah..hah..ddd

— I’m up

— Sis, I can’t take this

— That sound is insane lol

— ASMR god-tier

Why did the chat speed up?

They say demand arises from scarcity — has no streamer ever drunk water on stream before?

Fascinating… sight.

[User “oo” donated ₩20,000!]

“Please drink water one more time ㅠㅠ”

“‘Please drink water one more time’… Oh, uh, thank you for the 20,000 won donation. I’ll drink now.”

Apparently, water-drinking sounds are rare on this platform.

A ₩20,000 donation?

This must be a blue ocean.

I’ll definitely tip Seoyeon off about this later.

Gulp gulp

Gulp gulp

“Ugh, haa… did you enjoy that?”

— DË TË TË TË TË TË TË TE TE TE LTE7

— Whoa holy crap

— Gasp.. hah lol

— Bro she’s Maru’s real sister

— Sis!!!!!!

— That was too hot

— I don’t think she gets what’s happening??

— Sis I’m aroused

— Wait are you really a beginner

— This is heaven

— That sound was insane, seriously

Watching the exploding chat, I became certain:

From now on, don’t mute the mic when drinking water.

I don’t really understand why the sound was so popular it made people swear, but hey — clearly, it’s pleasing to their ears.

Maybe it has that refreshing quality?

“Pfft… do you all really like the sound of me drinking water that much?”

— Yesyesyesyesyesyes

— That laugh is killing me lol

— She’s totally “noona” material

— That pure laugh is making me feel guilty

— I missed it, please laugh once more ㅠㅠ

— Damn sis seriously ahhh

Just as I was about to resume the two-way interaction, my phone on the streaming desk buzzed.
Another call from Seoyeon.

[Seoyeon]

“Ah, just a sec. I’m getting a call from Maru.”

What’s going on?

I didn’t read any of the controversial chat messages…

And why is she calling my phone instead of on Discord?

“Hello?”

『…Unni. Can you put me on speaker? I want my voice to be heard on your stream.』

Tap tap.

“All right, you’re on speaker now.”

『No more drinking water on stream.

Everyone, please stop with the weird chats too.

I’ll be reviewing the VOD, and anything over the line will get banned.

Let’s keep things respectful.

My sister’s still new to this.』

— Gasp

・”Unnie, be careful 😢😢”

“Yup;;”

・”Please ban all those weird chats, it’s disgusting to look at.”

“Ah.”

“Yeah, that was kinda gross;”

・”Would you want someone talking to your real sister like that? lol”

…Did I miss something?

Thinking back, there were definitely some vulgar words in the chat, but… the tone seemed more like an exclamation.

『Unnie, can you give ‘Nongye’ manager rights in the stream? I forgot to assign them, so I couldn’t moderate the chat.』

“Ah, okay.”

At Seoyeon’s firm voice, I gave the user with the nickname ‘Nongye’ moderator rights.

At that moment, a sword icon appeared next to Nongye’s name, and they moved to the top of the viewer list.

―Nongye: “From now on, anyone crossing the line is gone. No mercy.”

“Yup.”

“^^7”

“Damn, you’re the manager now. Do your job well, this is hot af (User has been banned)”

“Gasp”

・”A person has died lololol”

“Nongye’s doing a good job.”

・”Noona, I’m up now (User has been banned)”

Eventually, Seoyeon ended the call with a suggestion that I should wrap up the stream soon.

It was already 11:20 PM.

Only 40 minutes until midnight.

Come to think of it, I was feeling a bit sleepy.

“Hmm… Yes. Thank you for watching my stream. I plan to go live again tomorrow, so I’d appreciate it if you came back then.”

“That was fun 00”

“Another Bowrair stream tomorrow?”

“You’re really good at playing an archer, will you do a tutorial stream?”

“Your voice is so nice.”

“Followed ^^7”

・”I just got here, can’t you do a bit more??”

“Sorry. I have work tomorrow, so it’s hard to keep streaming.”

I confirmed that I was ending today’s stream and brought up the viewer list on screen.

Total viewers: 857… no, 859.

Every one of them was my first viewer.

In other words, the beginning of my journey as a streamer.

Beginnings usually hold special meaning, so I hoped these viewers would also find something special in me.

The title of being my very first stream viewers… is something only they are allowed to have.

I scrolled through the chat and copied about 100 chat messages at once.

Then I pasted them into Notepad and started reading the viewers’ nicknames one by one.

“Good night, Mr. BackwardsBack. Sleep well, Ms. FourthCousin. Hope to see you again tomorrow, Mr. GetRekt. Sweet dreams, Mr. JustHitMe. Sleep tight and see you tomorrow, Ms. GoldenCatPaws.”

I figured that having their nickname personally read out loud would leave a lasting impression.

You know that poem about how a flower only becomes a flower once it’s called by name?

A name only truly has meaning when it’s called by someone else.

“Mr. TotalUnifierPuppy, have a good sleep and see you tomorrow. Ms. RubAhead, good night. Mr. WhoDoYouThinkYouAre, thanks for the 1,000 won donation. I believe you’ll be back tomorrow. Mr. RepeatSign, sweet dreams and wake up refreshed.”

What made the Little Prince and the rose special to each other wasn’t something grand.

It’s just because they were each other’s only one.

So I imprint this: You’re not just one of many viewers—you’re someone special remembered by me.

“Mr. AceDonut, thank you for coming today. Ms. MosquitoKiller, sleep well and stay strong tomorrow. Mr. MessedUp, it’s cold tonight, so sleep with a blanket. Ms. NyongNyong, I’ll think about the archer tutorial. Mr. Dodong, I plan to duo with Maru now and then. Mr. ThunderRamji, have a great day tomorrow.”

To grow a stream, securing regular viewers is essential.

If just a short greeting helps them become loyal viewers, then there’s no reason not to.

Also, it’s not enough for me to keep insisting that archers are good— But now with these 871… no, 873 viewers, I can begin proving that archers are a solid class.

“…NotAHuman, good night. Sweet dreams. Alright, I’m logging off now. See you tomorrow, everyone.”

“Wow lolololol”

・”Haven’t seen a streamer like this in a while.”

| “See you tomorrow.”

“I believe you. You’re ‘real’.”

“That was touching.”

“Did she actually read all the nicknames?”

[The stream by “ForgivenessOverPermission” has ended.]

Only after reading the very last nickname did I end the stream.

It was my own way of showing sincerity to those who joined my first broadcast.

The response… seemed positive. So reading out nicknames felt like the right choice.

Gulp gulp.

Gulp gulp.

I finished the rest of my barley tea, moistening my slightly dry throat.

It felt refreshing.

In any case, well begun is half done.

Since I finished my first stream well, that’s already half a success.

“…O.”

I stretched, trying to shake off the stiffness in my body.

The tension was releasing, and my whole body began to relax.

“Mmm mmm.”

“Mmm mmm.”

“…Hello?”

『Unnie, seriously… reading nicknames is something you do when you have like 10 or 20 viewers. How did you even think of reading all 800? Doesn’t your throat hurt?』

“It’s not like I read all 800. I’m fine.”

『So… how was it? Was it worth doing?』

The stream?

“It was easier than the interview at Elryeo Hotel.”

『Ugh… well, good job anyway.』

“But… why is the sound of drinking water banned?”

『…If you’ve made it to 24 without knowing, it’s probably better you keep it that way.』

***

Just as the broadcast ended, a post was uploaded to the “Ppajijik Gallery,” a community dedicated to streamers who mainly broadcast on Ppajijik.

[Title: My brain got cracked today]

[Author: OO 00:11]

허용빠 (Huyeongppa) <<< She’s the older sister of a 100K-subscriber streamer named “Maru.”

Said she was debuting today, so I checked it out.

(Picture of Pepe sweating nervously)

She got a 3-win streak in Emerald rank in Baole as an archer.

Was totally destroying top laners’ mental game with toxic archer play, and calling it “strategy.”

That’s when I realized this was something different.

I decided to keep watching.

(Stream clip from ‘Forgiveness is Faster than Permission’)

「I… don’t have a boyfriend. I’ve never been in a relationship before.」

No dating experience.

Voice?

God-tier.

She doesn’t understand sex jokes or internet memes at all.

Even when chat is spammed with “I’m up,” or “Noona, I can’t take it,” every five seconds, she’s clueless about what it means.

She’s just… a pure, well-raised virgin, through and through.

(Water drinking clip)

「Um, guys… hang on a second. I’m going to drink some water.」
gulp gulp gulp…

「Just one more sip… Oh, thank you for the 20,000 won donation. I’ll drink now.」

「Ugh, haah… Did you hear that well?」

「Wow… do you really like the sound of me drinking water that much?」

She’s pure but can pull off those “feminine moves” flawlessly.

I didn’t know such a combo could exist.

The longer you watch, the more your brain melts.

This is talent.

Seriously.

(End of stream clip)

「Thanks for the 1,000 won donation, Eotdadaego-nim. I believe you’ll come again tomorrow. Dodoripyo-nim, have sweet dreams and wake up refreshed in the morning.」

Even her sign-off is insane…

She whispers my username into the mic and my heart skips a beat, no joke.

(Ppajijik channel link)

Trust me and go check her out.

Her voice is on another level.

Who is this chick?!

She’s insanely pure, for real.

That voice though LOL

Can someone like that really be a virgin?

Doesn’t matter even if she’s not, as long as no one finds out lol

COME TO ME PLEASEEEEE

Just followed her

She’s seriously adorable

This summary post about Yu Seo-ah’s stream quickly reached the featured posts section and attracted tons of attention.

After all, a streamer who manages to hit nearly 900 viewers on their debut is not common.

“Forgiveness is Faster than Permission” <<< Her voice alone ranks in the top 1% of Ppajijik.

A legendary rookie has arrived!

Again with the “legendary” label?

But this time it’s legit.

Last time they said that about Lenya and she turned out to have a boyfriend.

Being a superstar in Ppajijik Gallery on day 1?

That’s no joke…

・Info) Huyeongppa is a top graduate of Korea University and a literal S-tier beauty that would put local celebrities to shame.

How would you even know that?

(Link to Maru’s YouTube: “Story of getting wrecked by my sister playing warrior”)

Her actual younger sister said it herself.

As they say, greatness shows from the seed.

Yu Seo-ah’s unique archer playstyle, elegant voice, and cluelessness about memes made her incredibly intriguing to viewers.

Even if she had some help being the sister of a mid-tier streamer, she wouldn’t have stood out if she didn’t meet audience expectations.

Thanks to all the buzz, her “Forgiveness is Faster than Permission” channel quickly surpassed 2,000 followers.

In short, interest in Huyeongppa wasn’t limited to the Ppajijik gallery.

[Title: Breaking News) Huyeongppa debuts on Ppajijik]

[Author: OO 00:35]

(Link to Navel’s YouTube video featuring “Forgiveness is Faster than Permission”)

「You’ve been acknowledged. Huyeongppa, you’re worthy of forgiveness. Round of applause! You’ve shown and proved!」

(Clip of her in Baole as an archer): “Everyone, push the lanes and come to the central shrine.”

“Have to take position in advance when two are missing.”

Navel (warrior): “Nice shotcalling lol”

Yup, that’s the same Huyeongppa who carried and got a shoutout in Navel’s ranked match.

And yes, she’s a girl (with an insanely nice voice).

(Water drinking clip again)

「Ugh, haah… Did you hear that well?」

「Wow… do you really like the sound of me drinking water that much?」

(Pepe thinking deeply meme)

(The “realization” Pepe meme)

Has the moment come?

(Wedding photo of bride and groom holding hands)

(Navel’s smiling profile pic)

“Guys, what are you doing? Your sister-in-law just arrived. LET’S GOOOOO!”

I’m speechless at her voice

Great, now all the Navel fanboys are gonna swarm and ruin it

Wait, she’s the same crazy archer who did that cherry blossom ultimate move?!

Watch the Baole duo clip — yup, it’s her

Don’t call her “that chick,” you jerk, she’s our sister-in-law now

Her username felt familiar, and it really was her! lol

Her voice is killer

Fans of Baole’s top-tier streamer Navel realized that “Forgiveness is Faster than Permission” was the same archer who appeared in Navel’s video days prior.

Not only did she earn Navel’s recognition, but she was already a one-trick archer featured on YouTube.

With her bizarrely effective gameplay and mesmerizing voice, she captivated viewers on her very first day.

Naturally, “Narusal-ees” (a nickname for Navel’s fans) flooded into Yu Seo-ah’s channel.

That’s why the follower count on her Ppajijik channel spiked so dramatically.

***

“Hello.”

“Hey, Seo-ah~”

“Oh, you’re here?”

A morning like any other.

Typical greetings from her colleagues.

Everything was as usual — except for the faint fatigue in Yu Seo-ah’s eyes.

The rhythm of typing, the aroma of coffee, the chirping of the printer.

Everything had become second nature.

‘My throat… feels a little stiff. I should pick up some meds later.’

Maybe because of the late-night stream, her throat was a bit sore, but not unbearably so.

She continued working, dealing with matters related to VIP guests.

Knock knock.

Knock knock.

Whispers…

“Ms. Seo-ah, Ms. Seo-ah.”

“Yes?”

“Executive Director Jung is asking for you.”

A request from one of the secretarial staff — not an everyday occurrence.

Seo-ah tilted her head, puzzled.

She hadn’t submitted any recent reports to Jung Hwa-yoon, so she couldn’t guess why he’d call her in.

Nevertheless, she stood, lightly adjusted her bangs in a compact mirror, and sipped water from a 500ml bottle as she made her way to his office.

“…Ms. Seo-ah.”

“Yes, sir?”

“You said before… that it was okay if I leaned on you a little.”

He seemed uneasy — was he nervous, or burdened by something?

Then came a strange mix of business and personal request.

“There’s a meeting with the head of Dae-young Bank regarding our hotel loan…”

“Yes?”

“But… I have a bit of a personal issue with him. I might need your help, Ms. Seo-ah.”

From Seo-ah’s perspective, being asked for help by Jung wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Up until that moment, she had no reason to decline his request.

“I dumped him. That bastard. He said some weird things on our blind date…”

“Ah… I see…”

After hearing about Jung’s history with the bank executive — and the real reason she’d been summoned — Seo-ah hesitated.

“That guy… he turns into a total yes-man whenever he sees a pretty woman.”

“A yes-man…?”

“Yeah. I think meeting him with you would have the best odds. I honestly can’t think of anyone around me prettier than you, Ms. Seo-ah.”

“Hmm…”

“If he tries anything shady, I’ll shut it down immediately. Just… come with me. If we can’t extend the loan, the hotel’s finances will be in serious trouble.”

Please, just this once.

That last voice from Jung Hwa-yoon… somehow resembled the innocent tone of 24 years ago.

That’s why Yu Seo-ah nodded in the end.