– “What?!”
– “What did he just say?”
– “?”
As a menacing-looking man, easily 190cm tall, bowed respectfully to Sori Hwa, the chat window erupted in a flurry of suspicious comments.
“Hey, I told you not to greet me like that. People watching will get the wrong idea.”
“Ah, my apologies. But there’s no one watching, is there?”
“What do you mean, no one? I’m broadcasting right now.”
“What? You’re broadcasting, boss?”
As Sori Hwa waved the phone she was holding, the man looked surprised and stared directly into her camera. From the viewers’ perspective, they found themselves staring right into the eyes of the Kkakdugi (TL Note: A Korean slang term, ‘kkakdugi,’ often referring to a thug or gangster, especially one with a tough, blocky appearance, here used as a nickname for the intimidating man.).
– “Please don’t introduce us…”
– “I’m sorry, I don’t have any money right now…”
– “I’m doing errands for my mom.”
– “Anyway, I apologize for everything.”
“Is this an Excel broadcast (TL Note: A type of online broadcast where streamers perform various tasks or challenges, often involving a degree of danger or unconventional content, to earn donations.)? A lot of our guys like those. We’ve actually been planning to try one ourselves, with the ‘Red House’ kids (TL Note: ‘Hongru,’ likely referring to individuals under their management, possibly in a less-than-legal industry.) we manage.”
True to his gangster nature, his thought process was legendary in its absurdity. From his manner of speaking to his overall vibe, from his appearance to the item he held in his hand, he was unmistakably a genuine figure from the underworld; there was no way this could be a setup.
“Wait, no? Now that I think about it, would there even be a demand if you, boss, did an Excel broadcast? Excluding a few niche preferences…”
“…Do you want to die?”
Sori Hwa kicked a nearby pebble, striking the Kkakdugi’s shin. Infused with internal energy, it must have been quite painful.
“Agh!”
The camera shook slightly, and the Kkakdugi clutched his leg, collapsing.
– “Did she just kick him in the joint (TL Note: ‘Jjoint kkada’ is a Korean slang term referring to kicking someone hard in the knee or shin, often as a punishment or warning.)?”
– “Whoa, who is this person?”
Since the lower half of the gangster wasn’t visible on stream, there was no denying the suspicion that he had been ‘joint-kicked.’ Although it was only a pebble, its destructive power effectively surpassed a mere joint-kick, making such an assumption not entirely unfounded.
“You scared the viewers. With that face and carrying a knife, you’d be a wanted criminal for sure. Apologize.”
“Oh, my apologies, esteemed viewers (TL Note: ‘Hyeongnim,’ a respectful term for an older male, often used among friends, gang members, or by a junior to a senior, here used to address the audience.). One of our members embezzled funds and ran off, so we’re currently tracking them down, which is why I’m carrying this knife. Please don’t misunderstand.”
The Kkakdugi looked up at the camera, speaking politely.
“And if anyone leaves a malicious comment for boss, I’ll come find you. We also do ‘people-finding’ as a side job, you see. If you don’t want to see me, then donate generously.”
“Stop talking nonsense. With your face, people will actually believe you.”
“Heh heh, just kidding.”
Though he considered it a joke, the chat window had already become impeccably clean, devoid of any insults.
[ Righteous Viewer has sponsored 10,000 nyang (TL Note: ‘Nyang’ is a traditional Korean unit of currency.)! ]
[ So the streamer’s nickname means ‘making the viewers tremble.’ ]
– “.”
– “Wadeulwadeul descends, viewers submit.”
– “I said nothing at all.”
– “All hail the mighty Wadeulwadeul~”
– “We love you, Queen Wadeulwadeul.”
Sori Hwa sensed that lingering with this man any longer would make the broadcast atmosphere strange. As she began to move, the Kkakdugi stood up and offered a stiff salute. Sori Hwa waved her phone in a gesture of farewell.
“Viewers, say goodbye too. Even though he looks like that, he’s actually a soft-hearted kid. And thank you for the donations.”
– “Bye, Kkakdugi~”
– “I won’t leave any malicious comments, hyeongnim.”
The Kkakdugi even kept his head deeply bowed until Sori Hwa had passed. The chat window dissolved into a maelstrom of confusion, as if everyone had just witnessed a bizarre comedy skit.
“Actually, I’m not even older than him. I disciplined him a few times back in the day, and after that, he just kept calling me ‘boss.'”
Sori Hwa’s cynical response, delivered as if it were nothing remarkable, plunged the chat window into an even deeper state of bewilderment.
– “Excuse me, but what exactly do you do?”
– “Was that house earlier a hideout for a wanted criminal?”
– “Watch your mouths, kids. That ‘hyeongnim’ from earlier will come find you.”
Such a visual was rare on Ogogok (TL Note: A fictional streaming platform, likely known for its relatively mild-mannered audience.), which boasted some of the most moderate viewers among streaming platforms, leaving the audience still trembling. Even those who had been acting as “hack-parrots” (TL Note: ‘Haekmusae,’ a portmanteau of ‘hack’ and ‘parrot,’ referring to viewers who repeatedly accuse streamers of hacking, often without solid proof.) until just moments ago seemed to have sealed their chat after the unexpected appearance of the Kkakdugi.
– “If she can beat a hyeongnim with that physique, just how good at fighting is she?”
– “Since the VR capsule reflects physical ability, it really wasn’t a hack after all.”
Her initial intention had been to address the hacking accusations in the capsule room, but strangely, the accusations were already being cleared. The “hack-parrots” were too scared to speak, contributing to a quiet atmosphere. Still, since she was already out, Sori Hwa decided it would be better to demonstrate her skills more definitively in the capsule room, so she headed there.
****
“Oh, so this is a capsule room.”
Sori Hwa looked around the capsule room with a sense of wonder, panning her phone. Perhaps because it was in a rundown neighborhood, the facilities were quite dilapidated, and the walls were stained yellow with what looked like years of cigarette smoke. Yet, to Sori Hwa, it appeared rather stylish.
– “These kinds of capsule rooms still exist?”
– “The specs must be awful.”
– “Are you insulting boss’s neighborhood right now?”
The chat window was surprised by the dilapidated facilities, but the Kkakdugi’s earlier threat still seemed to be effective, as the chat quickly self-regulated.
Soon, the capsule room owner, realizing a customer had entered, ambled out. He was a man with full arm tattoos, wearing a black sleeveless shirt.
– “This person’s appearance, too…”
– “Whoa, those tattoos are intense.”
“One person.”
“Ah, isn’t it Miss So, the Woman Warrior (TL Note: ‘Yeohyeop’ or ‘Nyeohyeop,’ literally ‘woman warrior’ or ‘heroine,’ a respectful term for a skilled or heroic woman.)!”
The capsule room owner immediately recognized Sori Hwa, a wide smile spreading across his face. Indeed, in this neighborhood, Sori Hwa was the only one with long silver hair, a small stature, and a black baseball cap.
“What ‘woman warrior’? Come on.”
“Oh, Miss So, you know we can’t run our business without you. Are you here for a capsule session?”
“Ah, yes. Now that I think about it, I’m broadcasting, so I wonder if it’s okay to film your establishment.”
“Oh, it’s great for us, it’s promotion! Are you doing it with this phone?”
“Yes, yes.”
The capsule room owner waved his hand toward the phone. Still, he didn’t have the intimidating air of a professional Kkakdugi like the man they had just encountered, so the chat window was less terrified than before.
“So, Miss So, you’re broadcasting! Truly, viewers, I’m not just saying this because she’s here, but this person is truly amazing. She’s the one who stopped all the gangsters from collecting protection money here. And she never accepted any rewards, saying it was simply her duty. She’s younger than me, but I respect her deeply.”
“Why are you telling them all that? That was like three years ago.”
“It is amazing, though. Having that much power and still helping others isn’t an easy feat. If there’s a true ‘Great Hero’ (TL Note: ‘Daehyeop,’ a term for a great hero or master, often used in martial arts contexts.) in the 21st century, I believe it’s her. Please show her broadcast lots of love.”
The capsule room owner bowed his head deeply as he made his plea. Sori Hwa, feeling embarrassed, scratched her cheek. It wasn’t that he was fabricating stories, but she felt it wasn’t something that needed to be said in front of her viewers.
“First, let me just use a capsule. How much is it for an hour?”
“Oh, how could I possibly take money from Miss So, the Woman Warrior? Please use it for free.”
“No, I have money.”
“Absolutely not. If it ever gets out that I took money from you, I won’t be able to do business here. The Shinseong-gu Merchant Association will lynch me immediately.”
“…Haa.”
This was precisely why she tried to avoid shops near Shinseong-gu; receiving things for free always made her uncomfortable. However, with the owner insisting so vehemently, she felt it might be acceptable to use it for free for about an hour.
“Then I’ll only use it for exactly one hour.”
“You can use it all day if you like.”
At the owner’s earnest words, Sori Hwa offered a wry smile and entered the capsule room. With one capsule per room, all she had to do was find an empty one and log in.
– “This looks like Shinseong-gu, Xi’an. Isn’t that a hood where even the police don’t patrol? Lol.”
– “Called ‘boss’ by gangsters, and ‘savior’ by business owners… the amazing Wadeulwadeul…”
– “They call her ‘Miss So, the Woman Warrior,’ so her last name must be So.”
– “What in the world is this person’s true identity………”
– “Damn, I’m so confused I can’t stop watching, LOL.”
Befitting the chaotic atmosphere of Shinseong-gu, the chat window also descended into disarray. No one had anticipated the broadcast would unfold this way, not even Sori Hwa, the streamer herself.
“I’ll be back in the capsule.”
– “Seems like there’s no need for an explanation anymore.”
– “She hasn’t even played a single game, but everyone’s convinced, LOL.”
– “This is truly a legendary hack-clearing broadcast.”
– “An explanation broadcast without explanations, LOL.”
– “If she’s such a prodigy, movements like that could even happen with zero correction…”
The chat window had become truly clean. While the number of viewers had decreased as trolls and malicious “hack-parrots” departed, it still remained above 1,500. Everyone was captivated by this fresh and unusual slum content, a rarity on Ogogok.
Soon, Sori Hwa entered the broadcast via the capsule. She had worried that a dilapidated capsule might lack streaming options, but thankfully, it was equipped with the basics.
“Shall we start the game, then?”
Sori Hwa said in a cheerful voice. With no trolls around, it felt much easier to speak.
“For now, Trooper (TL Note: Likely a character or class in the game.) is the only thing I know how to play. So I’ll start with that.”
As the chat window settled, Sori Hwa slowly began to regain her composure.
Sori Hwa’s account wasn’t yet at a high enough level to play ranked games, so she was limited to normal matches. The MMR (matchmaking rating) of the games she was placed in consisted of players who had truly just created their accounts—complete newbies.
The MMR was so low that hardly any of her numerous viewers could “snipe” her (TL Note: ‘Snipe’ in gaming refers to queueing at the same time as a streamer to get into their game, either to help or to grief them.). The capsule game strictly enforced a one-person, one-account policy, and the risk was too great, as all accounts would be banned the moment multiple IDs were detected.
“Oh, I got a match.”
From that point on, it was a one-sided massacre broadcast. Even when she had duo-queued with Jo Meo-hyeop, it had been a slaughter, so it was only natural that newbies couldn’t even put up a fight. Immediately, the new players, seemingly with very high movement correction, stumbled awkwardly before being hit by ten shots to the head each and collapsing.
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat!
[ Wadeulwadeul K BrightHammer ]
[ Wadeulwadeul K imchiman ]
…
The kill log scrolled relentlessly upward. Her movements and shooting accuracy had actually improved even further. Back then, it had been her very first time playing, but now, having gained a bit of experience, she had even developed some unique tactics.
– “That’s insane.”
– “How did she get that kill just now?”
– “Wow!”
– “???? Did she actually see that?”
– “She’s just taking everyone down with basic attacks, not even using skills, LOL.”
Forgetting the shock from the previous characters, viewers began to immerse themselves in Sori Hwa’s gameplay. Facing even more novice opponents, Sori Hwa’s performance shone even brighter.
“Oh, um. The opponents seem a bit worse than yesterday?”
Sori Hwa, aware she was on broadcast, continued to offer commentary, though her remarks weren’t particularly insightful. It didn’t matter, however. What was truly enhancing the broadcast’s immersion was not Sori Hwa’s commentary, but her actual gameplay.
Rat-a-tat-tat!
[ Victory! ]
The merciless slaughter ended, and the MVP screen began to appear. This was a screen she hadn’t seen last time, as Jo Meo-hyeop had immediately clicked to exit after the game.
Normally, Royal Commando would select an MVP based on statistics at the end of a game. And, naturally, the MVP for this match was Sori Hwa.
[ Wadeulwadeul K 48 A 13 D 0 ]
[ Damage Dealt: 30,249 ]
[ Healing Done: 0 ]
– “Those stats are insane.”
– “Three thousand damage in a normal game? Is that even possible?”
– “Forty-eight kills is even more unbelievable, LOL.”
Even considering that her opponents were newbies, her stats were transcendently high. It was understandable, given that she had essentially wiped out an entire five-person team by herself repeatedly.
In the next match, and the one after that, Sori Hwa continued to earn MVP. As she racked up consecutive wins with overwhelming stats, her MMR seemed to rise somewhat, and the opposing teams’ skill levels improved, but they still couldn’t keep up with Sori Hwa’s movement and shooting accuracy.
[ Lululalazoro: ? ]
[ DDD: What the f***? ]
Whenever Sori Hwa scored the first blood, the chat’s reaction was always similar: an aim so unfair it felt like an absurdity to her opponents.
Among them were users who hurled insults at Sori Hwa.
– “Now that guy’s in big trouble.”
– “Hyeongnim is tracking his IP.”
– “R.I.P.”
After about three matches, approximately one hour had passed. Sori Hwa confirmed the time, then looked at the chat window and said,
“So, the hack accusations have been cleared, right?”
– “?”
– “Who was talking about hacks?”
– “Anyone can see it’s natural, LOL.”
The viewers acted as if they had completely forgotten there had ever been a hacking controversy. Just like that, the hacking controversy that had briefly plagued Sori Hwa quietly faded away.
