『Uwaaak! Isn't this too much?!』
A clear, refreshing voice.
It felt like all my pent-up indigestion was vanishing in an instant.
My streamer, who brought a splash of freshness to the dull grind of hunting just like her name 'Apple,' was delivering that satisfying impact as always today.
『What the hell is that 'Let's communicate'? I try talking, but you don't even respond! Don't screw around!』
💬 Stream Chat— ViewerDon't cry, tell us slowly lol— ViewerHow about reflecting deeply on what you did wrong? lol
The corpse lying coldly in front of my character had no words, but in contrast, adorable complaints were bursting from my headset.
『This guy is always online! Please live your real life! You damn shut-in loser hikikomori!』
— ViewerHmm... this might stir up some controversy?— ViewerWatch your friendly fire, dude— ViewerThat 'unemployed' jab feels pretty uncomfortable?— ViewerEden is our reality lol
『Ah, if that hit a nerve, sorry. I know it wasn't aimed at you guys, right? Our farmers all work at big corps and are total social butterflies~』
— ViewerThat's right— ViewerAh, gotta head to work soon lol— ViewerPhew, almost dozed off to Ra-eun's stream~
She was soothing her viewers, who were furious from the indiscriminate slaughter. Watching her, a chuckle escaped me involuntarily.
The monotonous life of repeating raids and hunts.
Back in school, games were a thrilling secret escape from my parents' eyes, but as an adult turning it into my 'job,' the once-exciting adventures had become tedious homework.
Then, by chance, I stumbled upon a small internet broadcast.
Her style clicked with me perfectly, so I became a loyal viewer, and my little streamer—who was just a tail-end nobody back then—had grown to the point where she could proudly call herself mid-tier anywhere.
Since my viewing hours were irregular, she might not even know I exist, but I was certain I'd been her pillar of support.
'Over two years of watching—doesn't that make me a die-hard fan?'
The streamer 'Apple' had been my pillar, helping me endure the dull times, and I firmly believed I was her pillar too, aiding her through tough periods.
We were pillars to each other—or so I think.
Even when she finally entered 'Eden' last year after a massive patch, following another streamer, I saw it as fate.
'What else could it be?!'
How joyful to meet your beloved streamer in-game!
When she boldly stepped out from the beginner village Revina into the fields, I rushed to meet her faster than anyone.
『Everyone else has stopped ganking newbies, so why does this guy keep at it?!』
— ViewerSo pure and devoted— ViewerIs it love?— ViewerThe others have grown too massive for ganking— ViewerActually, she's the one getting ganked now lol
As the viewers said, she exploded in growth with support on all fronts.
Many fans volunteered early on, but now she was one of a kind.
Who? None other than—
『Seriously, selling Matdori's contact. Please sell it to me.』
— ViewerObsessed girl ㄷㄷ— ViewerIs this that yandere thing?— ViewerJust jealous of Mat Dori!
And the fact that my name lingered in her mind, brought up repeatedly, was the ultimate for a fan like me.
[Acquired 52 gold.][Acquired 88 gold.][Acquired 38 gold.]
Thanks to her endorphin rush, today's work was sailing smoothly.
As I continued my farming hunts and occasionally eavesdropped on Apple's reactions for economic activity, a notification pinged, and a small window popped up in the corner of my monitor.
[Rat Mouse (Berserker) / First to Summit Iron Mountain]: Little bro, whatcha doing?
It was Rat Mouse.
Glancing at the clock, it was nearly dawn. What was this working stiff doing up at this hour?
[Tasty Apple (Sage) / First to Summit Iron Mountain]: Harvesting lol[Rat Mouse (Berserker) / First to Summit Iron Mountain]: Ah, busy huh?
Since Apple's fans used 'Farmer' as their nickname, I'd dubbed my routine of affection 'harvesting'—and Rat Mouse caught on brilliantly.
[Tasty Apple (Sage) / First to Summit Iron Mountain]: But bro, no work today?[Rat Mouse (Berserker) / First to Summit Iron Mountain]: Yeah, took time off to level the new job.
Good lord.
I saw this as my job, scraping by just enough to eat, so it made sense for me—but hearing someone else say the same felt downright weird.
[Rat Mouse (Berserker) / First to Summit Iron Mountain]: Gotta grind hard to send the alt to Iron Mountain too lol. Add RabbitvGendyu on friends.
Planning to send his alt to Iron Mountain too—this guy was terminally hooked. And what kind of nickname is RabbitvGendyu anyway?
[Tasty Apple (Sage) / First to Summit Iron Mountain]: Horrifying
But there was this odd sense of kinship.
[Tasty Apple (Sage) / First to Summit Iron Mountain]: Want a bus ride?[Rat Mouse (Berserker) / First to Summit Iron Mountain]: Was gonna ask for exactly that lol
I decided to extend some goodwill.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Flames roared along the path of the great mage, leaving only slimy wreckage in the once-peaceful slime cave.
[RabbitvGendyu (Gunner) / Mushroom Slayer]: Teacher is too good! ^-^
A rabbit toting a cannon as big as its own body bounced around excitedly.
The customer seemed plenty satisfied.
[Tasty Apple (Sage) / First to Summit Iron Mountain]: 1000 gold per party dungeon run.[RabbitvGendyu (Gunner) / Mushroom Slayer]: My lil bro has no mercy! ^-^[Tasty Apple (Sage) / First to Summit Iron Mountain]: lol
Seeing him so thrilled made me proud as his big bro.
1000 gold per party dungeon run.
A fair price I'd set compared to normal hunting profits. Plus, with the friends-and-family discount slashing the back row fee,
[RabbitvGendyu (Gunner) / Mushroom Slayer]: My lil bro is such a cheapskate! ^-^
He was over the moon.
[Tasty Apple (Sage) / First to Summit Iron Mountain]: Bro, what's your level now?[RabbitvGendyu (Gunner) / Mushroom Slayer]: Wait a sec ^-^[RabbitvGendyu (Gunner) / Mushroom Slayer]: 17 ^-^
I couldn't fathom why he tacked on that '^-^' everywhere, but I decided to ignore the nauseating concept.
Two hours had flown by already. Running the bus at double his level drained a ton of fatigue.
I charged the merciless 1000 gold each time, as Rat Mouse said, but it was undeniably a huge win for the passenger.
Just pure kindness from goodwill? Not quite—
『Gale! It's better than any archer. You guys try rapid fire—you'd ditch gunner too.』
On the sub-monitor, Apple's stream played. Like Rat Mouse, she was messing around with the new job.
'That's... Naga's Cave, right?'
The little rabbit like Rat Mouse's alt slowly but diligently firing its cannon.
Decision made. This was enough.
[Tasty Apple (Sage) / First to Summit Iron Mountain]: Bro, let's head to Naga's Cave now lol[RabbitvGendyu (Gunner) / Mushroom Slayer]: Ooh I like! ^-^
I hurried off with Rat Mouse in tow. Even if viewers whined about same-class fatigue, her main was a rock-solid mainstay—this was a rare alt grind.
In other words, an event!
『Ah, seriously you sniper freaks! Everyone swarms when I level an alt!』
— ViewerEndless cruelty to the weak...— ViewerJust embarrassed!— ViewerLook at these clowns camping the dungeon entrance to kill her once lol
『I memorized all your IDs. Coming on my main?』
— ViewerGasp...— ViewerWe're fans too, not just Matdori fans ffs— ViewerSince when did ganking become the fan standard lol
Just like in the stream glimpse, the dungeon entrance was swarming with people.
Popular spots spread like wildfire, after all.
『Ha, seriously, I'll remember every one of you... Huh? What? Oh shit, he's at the dungeon too?!』
— ViewerWord's out lol— ViewerYeah, come on your main like we said~— ViewerMatdori stan came running lol— ViewerAsymmetric warfare on lol
It was like the Red Sea.
As I approached the dungeon, the crowd parted left and right. Standing firm before them, unmoving,
[RabbitvGendyu (Gunner) / Mushroom Slayer]: Lil bro? Not going? ^-^
Rat Mouse urged the bus onward, but I stayed silent.
Sorry, Rat Mouse, but the alt bus ends here. Duty calls.
『Seriously, can't someone clear this guy? I need to level up!』
— ViewerLet's hope nicely? lol— ViewerBeg and he might let you pass?— ViewerNo one can clear him lol
Her voice, thick with desperation, came through the headset, but worn out from endless grinding, I needed some healing too.
『Just a sec, gonna step out... Aaaak!!』
『Teacher Kim Yong-seok, please feed this guy a portrait!』
『Ah, don't follow me!』
『Please, just stop harassing me. I beg you...』
『Fuck!』
By the time I'd lost count of the kills, her stream ended abruptly amid intense outbursts.
Ah. My toy... no, my streamer broke.