[Author: ViewerCatcher]
[Title: The Viewer Banned from Yura’s Stream Today]
[A famous backseat gamer, huh? Something felt off, so I analyzed their chat from the past few days and other streams. Turns out, they were just relentlessly backseat gaming the entire time.]
– Huh?
– Wait, you actually analyzed that?
– Is this guy insane?
– Living up to their name, seriously.
– (Author)ViewerCatcher: Yep, I’m a time Bill Gates (TL Note: A humorous Korean slang term implying someone has an excessive amount of free time, like Bill Gates has an excessive amount of money.)
– LOL, that’s crazy.
[Author: TimeBillGates]
[Title: This Guy’s Insane, Isn’t He?]
[Curious about what kind of backseat gaming they did after seeing the gallery post, I dug through their history.]
(Image)
(Image)
(Image)
[Why is it that they never chatted anything but backseat comments? Even more, it seems they realized Yura wasn’t reading chat advice, so at some point, they switched to donation-based advice.]
What the heck? Who is this guy? LOL.
– Whoa.
– What is all that?
– Why am I more scared of these guys who caught them than the backseat gamer themselves?
– But seriously, some of their advice was actually good, wasn’t it? Couldn’t that actually work?
– What are you talking about, no way. Yura wasn’t at her best today, but considering the cooldowns, fire was the right choice then. If she had used ice first, she would’ve been hit by the approaching Orc’s club and died faster due to the duration and activation time.
└ Yeah, you’re all Bronze.
└ I’m Master, though? What’s your rank?
A few posts about Yura’s stream from earlier today had quietly appeared on the broadcast community forum.
I had stumbled upon them by chance.
The browser window I’d opened earlier to write a post was still open.
“Haa…”
A sigh escaped my lips.
Seeing posts on the internet that trashed my invaluable advice made me feel a little disheartened.
Yet, there was something even more shocking.
More than my advice being ignored,
the fact that I had been banned was far more startling.
A 24-hour ban.
To think I wouldn’t be able to get my small dose of dopamine for a whole 24 hours.
I had never anticipated such a scenario.
I should have created or bought a sub-account beforehand, just in case something like this happened.
While I could watch any other stream, my enthusiasm had waned.
Picking up the scattered potato chips from the floor and tossing them into the trash, I finally rose from the chair where I had been sitting for far too long.
“Ugh!”
Forcing a stretch into my stiff, aching back, I turned my head from side to side.
Then, a sudden thought struck me.
“What should I do now?”
Perhaps I should eat the meal I’d put off.
What was in the fridge, anyway?
It had been a while since I’d gone grocery shopping, so I probably wouldn’t find anything to eat.
Still, holding onto a sliver of hope, I opened the refrigerator door.
Click.
Just as expected.
It didn’t deviate an inch from my prediction.
An utterly empty refrigerator.
All that remained was a faint wisp of cold air.
Grrr.
I’m hungry.
I suppose I’ll have to go to the supermarket.
While going hungry for a few days wouldn’t matter much,
eating well helps you grow tall and strong.
This 8-year-old body still had a long way to go before its growth spurt ended.
It was an age where I needed to sleep well and eat well.
In this life, let’s aim to grow to 180 cm.
“Let’s go to the supermarket.”
Grabbing the card from the dining table, I shuffled out the door, dragging my loosely worn slippers.
One of the advantages of this house was…
that the supermarket was only a 15-minute walk away.
Here’s another surprising fact.
Even after watching the stream, I could still go to the supermarket now.
This was one of the reasons I made sure to watch Yura’s streams.
Yura usually streamed on weekend mornings.
Thanks to that, I could come to a proper supermarket, not just a convenience store.
“Fresh vegetables for sale! Buy now and get a 10% discount!”
“We’re starting a special sale on Korean Han-don pork bulgogi right now!”
Passing by the staff members engaged in various sales pitches, I selected some simple grilling meat and vegetables.
Oh, right, I also needed to buy some fruit and tomato juice for dessert.
It was, quite frankly, an unbelievably healthy meal for an 8-year-old to prepare for themselves.
Any frail magician (TL Note: A common trope in Korean webnovels for a weak, often sickly, mage character) who saw this diet would be utterly horrified.
– What, you punk?
“I’m hearing things.”
Digging an ear with my finger, I headed toward the checkout.
“Mom! Buy me this!”
I heard a child whining.
Normally, I would have just passed by.
But then…
Crackle!
Suddenly, sparks began to fly in the air.
And then, an announcement blared.
[Unidentified Gate detected within the supermarket!]
[Customers, please evacuate promptly according to the emergency procedures!]
****
At a higher level, he served public authority.
More specifically, Lee Hyung-cheol, who belonged to the police’s Special Division, was getting a headache.
Even within the Special Division, tasks were subdivided by specialty.
Among these, Lee Hyung-cheol was in charge of Gate-related affairs.
“Brother, here are the analysis results for the random Gate generations from last year and early this year, as you requested.”
“Ah, thank you. You worked hard.”
“It was nothing. I just went to the statistics team and brought back a document. By the way, shouldn’t you head home soon, hyung-nim? Your wife must be missing you.”
“You’re right. I wish I could go home and rest a bit.”
Lee Hyung-cheol let out a short sigh.
He opened the file folder his junior had brought.
The Gate generation statistics were concisely summarized within.
Among them, a summary highlighted in striking red caught his eye.
It was precisely the statistics Lee Hyung-cheol needed.
Over the past year, and then a few months.
Numerous indiscriminate Gates had been appearing.
Twelve Gates had emerged unexpectedly, deviating from previous statistics.
While not a large number, the problem was that they had completely defied ‘statistics’ and ‘prediction’.
Moreover, eleven of these were dungeon-type, meaning Hunters could simply enter them.
However, one was an invasion-type Gate.
A Gate from which monsters could emerge into the outside world.
In short, there had been an incident where monsters from within a Gate had caused damage in an urban area.
Thanks to this, Lee Hyung-cheol and others in the Special Division had been working day and night without rest.
They had to monitor the status of all Gates across the nation, preparing for any unforeseen circumstances.
Since this issue directly concerned the safety of the citizens, returning home was, naturally, impossible until all tasks were completed.
He couldn’t even see his beloved daughter.
How many days had it been since he’d left his underwear and clothes at work? Seriously.
Lee Hyung-cheol swallowed his frustration inwardly and spoke to his junior.
“Are there fewer villains these days?”
Lee Hyung-cheol’s junior worked in a different department.
Lee Hyung-cheol handled monster and Gate-related tasks, while his junior dealt with villains and heroes.
“Senior, what kind of question is that? Last time, some lunatics were experimenting on human bodies, and the International Hero Federation and Hunters barely caught them. Now, apparently, crazy people are appearing on the streets committing acts of terror.”
“Terror?”
“Yes. And it’s a very strange kind of terror, but it’s happening.”
His junior vaguely mumbled his words.
“What is it? Is it hard to explain in detail?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just that things haven’t been fully organized yet.”
Then, his junior looked around.
Since it was lunchtime, most people had gone for coffee or a meal, leaving only a few individuals present at headquarters.
“This is something only you, Senior, should know…”
“What is it? You know I can keep a secret.”
“Recently, these terrorists have been strangely clearing Gates however they please.”
“Huh? Why would they do that?”
“We don’t know. Maybe they’re trying to get some byproducts. Anyway, that’s what they’re doing. They keep performing actions with unknown intentions, and it’s giving us a huge headache.”
Generally, those who clear Gates arbitrarily always have some kind of objective.
While their exact purpose remained unknown, it was clear that it would be extremely dangerous.
A look of compassion entered Lee Hyung-cheol’s eyes.
It was as if he were looking at a fellow comrade.
“You guys are in for a tough time for a while, too.”
“Yeah, well. It’s easier to just assume we won’t be going home until we catch these guys.”
Just as his conversation with his junior was about to conclude,
Beeeeeeeeeeep-!!!!!!!!!
A powerful siren blared.
[Code Red!]
[Code Red!]
[Unidentified Gate manifestation detected!]
[Location: Residential complex 7km from current area!]
The dreaded Gate of unknown origin had suddenly erupted.
Thud!
“Senior!”
“I know!”
Lee Hyung-cheol, who had hastily risen from his seat, checked the Gate’s location.
And then.
Lee Hyung-cheol’s eyes widened as he saw the detailed location displayed on the monitor.
“Damn it…”
The location was none other than his own neighborhood.
The one where his family resided.
****
People near the Gate couldn’t hide their bewilderment, their faces turning ghost-white.
“W-what?!”
“Wh-what is that?!”
“Kyaaaah!”
They precisely understood what phenomenon this was.
“It’s a Gate!”
Normally, Gates appear with ample warning.
They absorb mana from their surroundings until they’ve gathered enough, then open a portal to another dimension, but…
An invasion-type Gate, one that spewed out monsters, not a dungeon-type,
had suddenly appeared in the middle of the supermarket, almost feeling artificial in its abruptness.
Monsters slowly emerged from the Gate.
Long tusks.
Green skin.
Their bodies were adorned with long tattoos.
Their faces were covered by large animal hides.
Barbarian warriors.
They were Orcs.
[The supermarket security team is currently doing their utmost to suppress the Gate that has opened on the first floor.]
[If there are any Hunters or Heroes among our customers, please lend your assistance to minimize casualties.]
“Seo-a, it’s okay. It’s okay.”
The child who had just been whining for her favorite drink.
Seo-a, who had just turned 8, saw a real monster for the first time in her life.
The monster was truly enormous.
It was taller than her dad, and its bulk was equally impressive.
From ancient times, when people disciplined young children,
they would use the most fearsome beings as cautionary tales.
They would say things like the Samshin Halmae (TL Note: A Korean goddess of childbirth and fate, often depicted as a grandmotherly figure who might ‘take’ naughty children) would take them, or a tiger would snatch them if they kept misbehaving.
Naturally, whenever Seo-a misbehaved, the stories she heard most often were about monsters.
So, for an ordinary child, it would have been normal to cower in place and burst into tears at the sudden appearance of an Orc.
However, something far more important occupied Seo-a’s mind at that moment.
The monster felt so unreal that, paradoxically, it wasn’t as terrifying.
On the other hand,
“Mom…?”
her mother, who was clutching her and trembling, was a greater concern.
She unconsciously called out to her mother.
Her mother kept repeating the same words: ‘It’s okay. It’s okay.’
Just then, the Orcs let out a roar.
“Grwoooooooohhhhhh!!!!!!!”
A bloodthirsty cry that echoed in her ears.
That mighty roar possessed an aura capable of making even a sturdy adult man tremble in fear.
Seo-a was exposed to such killing intent for the first time in her life.
Naturally, her mind went blank, and nothing came to her.
Sway.
Her senses grew dim, and she was about to faint.
However, the trembling of her own body brought her back to her senses.
But upon closer inspection, it wasn’t Seo-a’s body that was trembling.
It was the being completely enveloping and protecting Seo-a with a body larger than her own.
It was her mother.
She was currently in a state of panic.
Overwhelmed by extreme fear, she instinctively shielded her daughter, yet remained utterly paralyzed.
Seeing her mother, the child’s survival instinct kicked in, bringing her back to her senses for a moment.
While her mind struggled to fully process the current situation,
she recognized what was necessary.
“H-help me!”
Seo-a cried out.
To the people around her.
It was a primal scream.
But the people did not react.
“Anyone! Please help!”
As soon as the warning broadcast echoed through the supermarket,
most of the quick-footed individuals had already moved swiftly away from the Orcs.
There was no one willing to risk their lives, charging at the Orcs to save the mother and daughter.
The supermarket’s security guards were all concentrated on the first floor.
Just then, an Orc, which had been standing still and merely observing, slowly raised its club.
The wary look it had held for its suddenly appearing prey vanished.
It was now convinced that it could unilaterally hunt the prey before it.
As Seo-a, terrified by the intimidating, massive weapon, squeezed her eyes shut,
“Hey, perfect timing.”
A child’s voice resonated.
“You guys are exactly three.”
Seo-a cautiously opened her eyes.
A young boy was approaching.
“I need to verify if the advice I gave today works properly here, too. Could you help me out?”
He said, uttering incomprehensible words.
