Chapter 23 Part 1: I shouldn’t have done that

A quiet afternoon on a certain day when office workers, done with work, would have boarded the subway.

The scenery outside the window, glanced at inadvertently, was glowing red like the sunset, as if foretelling her own future.

“······.”

Ren quietly turned on the computer and started the broadcast.

Her eyes were dead, like those of a frozen pollack.

How long had it passed since the broadcast started? Viewers began to enter with notification sounds.

-Is today the day?

-Are we finally going to see it

-Everyone grab a number and line up

-lolol eyes are dead lol

Unlike usual, the chat window’s reaction was also unified.

“Hoo·····.”

Cheongha let out a long sigh.

The title she had written succinctly explained the current situation.

[Starting Horror Game]

Truly, this was a situation she really wanted to avoid.

‘Why did I accept such a mission······!’

Cheongha quietly screamed internally.

The whole story of this incident began on the day she first played Battle Field.

---

Battle Field, the national game for streamers that anyone can play decently.

That grand first round ended with a roadkill.

“Still, this seems more doable than I thought?”

Although the aim practice failed because she was avoiding people, she still gained something.

‘I wasn’t seriously bad.’

Until now, I thought I was terribly bad, but maybe my skills are surprisingly similar to others.

In the first place, it’s not like I’m cursed to be bad at games, though maybe a curse for life to be ruined. If I just practice properly, my skills should improve.

[League Increased]

[Complete Novice League → Beginner League]

Perhaps thanks to placing 4th out of 100, her player rank increased due to the experience points gained.

From now on, I’ll be able to play games with slightly better players.

A sense of confidence and accomplishment bloomed in her heart.

‘This reminds me of debut day.’

Come to think of it, the audience size back then was similar to the current viewer count.

Like the underground performance hall where she performed then, this place is also still a small stream.

While immersed in the memories of her first debut, a message arrived at the top of the broadcast screen.

Ding-!

[Guardian of Small Streams has set a mission]

“Yes? A mission?”

=========================================

[Mission : Get Chicken Dinner]

[Prize Money : 100,000 Won]

[Time Limit : 2 hours]

=========================================

“100,000 won·····?”

It was a large amount for a small streamer with just over 30 viewers to receive.

Perhaps they surprisingly liked my broadcast.

-Oh, 100k?

-That person spends money well

-Sets missions whenever going to small streams, came here too.

Perhaps a somewhat famous explorer, some viewers recognized him.

-Is there like a penalty or something?

-Yeah 100k is kinda big

-Isn’t 2 hours for that generous?

-Can host even do it lolol

The viewers started freaking out over the suddenly set mission.

“No, if I fail, I just don’t get the money.”

Cheongha spoke nonchalantly in response to the chat window’s reaction.

Usually, failing a mission rarely resulted in a penalty for the streamer.

It just ends with not getting the money.

Not earning money is already disappointing, do I have to receive a penalty too?

At that moment, another message appeared on the screen.

This time, it was a donation message.

[Guardian of Small Streams donated 1,000 Won]

-Adding 100k more, how about horror game penalty on failure, call?

The message flowed out with Live Stream’s default voice.

“·····Yes? Horror game?”

Cheongha’s eyes widened upon reading the message.

My past-life self generally liked most creative works.

Even considerable trash works, unless they crossed the line tremendously, were evaluated reasonably well.

However, even for someone like me, there were two genres I hated the most in the world.

One was gore, and the other was horror.

“Ah, horror games are a bit······.”

My body instinctively flinched.

-Host scared?

-Chickened out lolol

-That cold-looking avatar flinched lol

-Scared queen’s voice? Possible.

-But if she plays like just now, might actually be possible

-Just secure the last kill

“···I’m not scared.”

Just frightened.

Fear and being chicken are distinctly different emotions. At least, that’s what I think.

[Guardian of Small Streams updated the mission]
-Then go

“······Yes?”

[Mission : Get Chicken Dinner → Place within Top 5 (Horror game on failure)]

[Prize Money : 100,000 → 200,000]

[Time Limit : 2 hours]

Clink-clang-

Along with the sound of coins clinking, the mission prize money increased.

200,000 won.

Now, it was a slightly large amount even for me.

Moreover, they even lowered the mission difficulty.

‘·····What do I do now.’

This makes it hard to just refuse outright.

While I was seriously contemplating in my head, my reason kept shouting.

If it were the usual me, I would have immediately thought rationally and refused the mission.

Because in both past and present lives, I was the type of person who absolutely detested horror.

But, very unfortunately, the me at that time wasn’t in my right mind.

I just got a new computer, plus I just placed 4th.

An inexplicable confidence and sense of accomplishment spread insidiously.

‘Anyway, if I win, it doesn’t matter, right?’

The path to success never opens for those who don’t even try, assuming failure beforehand.

‘And, I spent a lot of money recently.’

Since purchasing broadcasting equipment, including the new computer, cost quite a lot, the balance in my bank account had decreased significantly.

I could still hold out for a few more months, but the fact that every penny was precious remained unchanged.

In the current situation, I couldn’t make a living just by broadcasting, and there were no other potential sources of income for the time being.

“I’ll do it, I just need to win, right?”

[Mission Accepted.]

Saying so, Cheongha pressed the accept button.

⸺Thinking back now, I was really crazy.

Regardless of future or past, it was a sight that any version of me would immediately grab by the collar.

---

The next round started without delay.

Cheongha wore an unprecedentedly serious expression.

‘This time, I have to go properly.’

Three things were needed for this game.

First, quick action.

Second, accurate aim.

Lastly, luck.

‘Honestly, if you just have the last one, you don’t need the others, right?’

Especially this time, luck was historically important.

Good guns, sturdy armor, and many healing items were practically the keys to victory.

‘If I lose this time, it’s really big trouble.’

I absolutely hate ghosts or monsters.

No, it’s not just hate; I’m more afraid of not knowing what might happen.

“The place with many buildings near the bridge, this is it, right?”

-Yeah, that’s it

Cheongha quickly entered the building recommended by the viewer from the previous round.

Since there are many good items, there will be many people, but if I loot quickly, it should be fine.

Surely, people’s skills wouldn’t jump dramatically just because I moved up to the next league?

Since everyone is still a beginner, recording a high rank was sufficiently possible if I just hid well like before.

-But what if experienced players smurf on alt accounts?

-Then the round just gets busted lol

-Anyone else hoping this round just busts open hand up

-Honestly doesn’t everyone want to see host scream?

-Agreed, wanna see her cry her eyes out

-These devilish bastards…

“Hey, I won’t die so easily this time.”

What are these people, do they see me as a sunfish?

Cheongha’s eyes sharpened at the sight of the constantly chattering viewers.

Vrooom-

Perhaps someone else has come to loot now, the engine sound of a car was heard from outside.

“Ugh·····”

Thump thump-

Small footstep sounds were heard from the first floor.

Cheongha crouched down. You couldn’t walk around making that much noise.

-Click clack

As the footsteps grew closer, Cheongha raised the AK-47 she just looted.

Creak-

Along with the sound of the wooden door opening, Cheongha’s rifle spat fire towards the door.

Tatatadang-!

“Target eliminated.”

The poor victim, caught by the desperate survival instinct of a former idol, fell powerlessly to the floor.

[Newbeidlaslek11 was killed by Chungha24]

Fortunately, this time it was a normal person, not an AI.

-Why did that one fall so pitifully lolol

-Ah, too cruel…!

“Well then, let’s see what they were carrying·····.”

Ignoring the viewers’ reactions, she began searching the body bag.

It seemed she had developed some immunity to the chat by now.

“Ah, a fire axe?”

In Battle Field, a person could carry three types of weapons.

Two ranged weapons, and one melee weapon.

Being primarily an FPS game, firearms were naturally the main weapons, but that didn’t mean frying pans or crowbars were useless items.

Perhaps concerned that people wouldn’t use them, some weapons even had unique functions.

Hammers repaired, crowbars dismantled. And frying pans provided some protection against bullets coming from behind.

Among them, the fire axe had the function of breaking wooden objects like fences and drawers.

In that sense, this was a pretty decent weapon for me to carry.

In a pinch, I could even break down house walls and escape.

Other items weren’t particularly special.

“Feels good. Let’s keep going like this.”

Now that I’ve looted enough here, should I slowly move to another area?

After exiting the building, she got into the buggy car parked on the roadside.

It wasn’t there just moments ago; the person from before must have driven it here.

“Alright, got the weapon, so let’s hide now.”

Anyway, in this round, I just need to place within the top 5, so there was no need for me to fight head-on.

-Host, isn’t that a bit cheap…?

-Wow damn despicable lol

-Captain, this isn’t what we wanted to see?

Cheongha lightly ignored the chat window freaking out at her statement.

So what, that condition wasn’t included.

Even doing this, I absolutely cannot deal with ghosts.