I Became a Malicious Streamer

Junghun loved games.

The dimly lit PC Bang he followed his cousin to as a child.

Sneaking out while his aunt sighed about her son playing too many games, the PC Bang opened a new world to Junghun.

At 7, with his tiny, fern-like hands grasping the mouse, it was only natural for him to dream of becoming a pro gamer.

Even when he joined the longed-for team and played his favorite game all day, Junghun loved games.

People say you can’t enjoy something once it becomes your job.

Junghun clearly wasn’t included in that group.

If there was one regret, it was that while the gods gave Junghun an unquenchable passion for games, they didn’t grant him talent to match.

He loved games more than anyone, but he didn’t play better than anyone either.

It’s a rare thing to have talent in something you love as much as he did.

Eventually, as a first-generation pro gamer, he paved the way for his juniors, becoming the kind of person fans would occasionally remember.

So, now nearing thirty, Junghun still loved games.

That’s why he couldn’t put the mouse down.

He started his second life as a comprehensive game streamer.

It wasn’t bad; he liked that it was a job related to gaming.

In fact, there were benefits. Unlike his former life where he had to tunnel deep into EOW, he could enjoy various games now.

Thanks to his title as a former pro gamer, people took quite an interest in his streams.

It was a relief, as for Junghun, there was nothing else he could do to earn a living apart from playing games.

No matter how much people insulted him as a washed-up player.

Even if he fell closer to being a streamer than a pro gamer, claiming the clown position.

As long as he could play games, it didn’t matter.

This year marked the fifth year of his streaming career; he had been streaming longer than he had been a pro.

Perhaps that’s why, or perhaps it was because he was getting older. Or maybe it was due to his declining physicality.

He conducted his streams out of habit, but his passion for gaming was cooling down day by day.

He was aware of it himself but tried to comfort himself that it couldn’t be helped.

That was how it was.

Surely, it was.

But then…

[Yesterday, Legend donated 12,000 won! (switch clip)]

– Junghun, did you see this?

A video sent by a viewer.

Junghun gazed at a warrior wielding a white flame sword beyond the monitor.

He even noticed a tiny hand in a corner of the screen.

He never marveled at another person’s play.

Many might think it’s a joke, but even during his pro days, when others touted a rookie as a monstrous newcomer threatening his spot, he expected the gameplay to follow a certain pattern.

Watching their play, he thought if he had been given enough physicality, he could easily perform that play too.

But what made him focus on this video?

The streamer’s gameplay was completely beyond his imagination.

The idea was genius.

Usually, when watching someone else’s gameplay, he could predict what they would do next.

No one ever acted outside of Junghun’s expectations.

With this analytical viewpoint, he sometimes provided commentary content to correct others’ play.

Lost in thought, he forgot he was live streaming and stared intently at the monitor.

How did they think to play like this?

Why make this judgment here?

He was dying to know what the protagonist of the video was thinking while playing and what reasoning led to those plays.

How long had his pure admiration lasted without a word?

“Oh.”

As if waking from a dream, when the sponsored video ended, Junghun returned to reality.

Faced with viewers questioning his silence, he asked, “So who is that person?”

*

What’s the difference between internet broadcasts and public broadcasts?

There are many aspects, but the first thing that comes to mind is a more relaxed atmosphere.

How many public figures have we seen get beaten down for a slip of the tongue on public broadcasting?

In that regard, internet broadcasting can be seen as freer.

Most broadcasts aim for a more comfortable, informal ambiance.

Of course, because it’s so excessive, people often harbor the perception of “You watch that stuff?” when they hear you watch internet broadcasts, but who cares! If the viewer enjoys it, that’s what matters.

Still, what caused these differences?

It’s due to the unique advantage of internet broadcasting: real-time communication with viewers.

Unlike terrestrial broadcasts that provide only recorded content, internet broadcasts allow streamers to read people’s reactions in real-time and answer them, creating interactive communication.

It’s not one-directional but two-directional; despite being apart, it creates a tick-tack dialogue.

This conversational-style broadcast is one of the most significant features of internet broadcasting.

Also, as it’s often referred to as personal broadcasting, anyone can easily and freely become a subject of communication.

You don’t need dozens of cameras, lights, or giant cleaning brushes—just the electronic equipment for broadcasting and the broadcaster.

So why am I rambling on about this all of a sudden?

“Hello…”

[Big Boss Mollru’s chamber]

[Molah]

[ㅎㅇㅎㅇㅎㅇㅎㅇㅎㅇ]

[Didn’t think you would turn it on so quickly after two days~]

[The diligent Mollru…? This can’t be stopped.]

[Why are there so many people?]

[Please post an announcement.]

[You should be grateful just for turning it on.]

[For real lol, you rarely streamed back then, aren’t you being greedy?]

[Back then – two weeks ago]

I was engaging in the real-time communication aspect of personal broadcasting.

[Mollru]

– Good lunch! (Just Chatting)

[What’s this?]

[This chat??]

[Are you not playing games?]

[Random communication.]

[Couldn’t stop Mollru from communicating ㄷㄷ]

The Switch has a multitude of categories.

Most are games, and each game has a corresponding category.

It was classified so viewers could find their desired broadcasts based on categories.

What I selected now, Just Chatting, isn’t a game category; it’s used when streamers chat with viewers or just mess around.

It truly exists for communication purposes.

Normally, I jump straight into games after starting my stream, but given that viewers were unfamiliar with this sudden change, they might be confused.

There was a reason why I made this choice.

The catalyst was a conversation I had with Si-young while resting yesterday.

*

Mollru: What kind of broadcast should I do?

Rain: All of a sudden?

Mollru: I need something new.

So, I had just awoken from a deep slumber and checked YouTube.

My newly sprouted YouTube channel, which had been created just recently, was growing steadily under Si-young’s management.

Having 70,000 subscribers in just a month isn’t too shabby.

Si-young was also giddy about the rapid channel growth.

But perhaps I was being overly greedy.

I wanted my YouTube to grow a bit more.

To an astonishingly large scale.

To achieve that, I needed videos that could attract viewers.

For example, a new route found in Dragon Road during yesterday’s game.

Such content-related concerns extended beyond YouTube and reached my streaming, and eventually, I consulted with Si-young.

What she might have found trivial, she listened earnestly to my concerns.

Her suggestion was simple.

Rain: For that, a communication broadcast would be perfect.

Mollru: Communication?

Rain: How about not just playing games but also making time to talk with viewers before or after the games, even briefly?

Gosh, what Si-young said was such a daunting task for me.

But statistically speaking, her advice was valid.

Ironically, among all the videos posted, my food preference World Cup video, with the largest audio percentage, had skyrocketed in views.

Even though it was the longest video.

Thus back to the present; while awkward, what I needed the most was communication with viewers, as the data showed it was the most favorable response.

I set up the Just Chatting category and prepared to engage with viewers, thinking about my actions.

[Where did the Bangjang go?]

[Is there someone who would turn on the broadcast and go offline?]

[Where are you, Tenryun?]

[Teacher????]

[Is anyone here~~~~]

[Mollru will hold their breath until they come.]

Communication, huh. How do I do that?

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