It’s not that kind of malicious broadcast

When faced with a challenge, I believed it wasn’t wise to rush in recklessly. It wasn’t about avoiding things altogether… really.

Some things in this world genuinely required absolute time. Like farming or fishing, no matter how enthusiastic or skilled you were, you had to wait to see the results…

In my experience, fishing especially exemplified this.

Once you baited the hook and cast the line, it was a battle against impatience. You had to wait for the bait to naturally dissolve and for the confused fish to bite the hook.

Instead of hounding for results, you had to wait for the passage of time to organically solve the problem.

Shouting for them to bite faster only scare the fish away. My personal preference leaned towards zapping everything with a battery… but I decided against it.

Anyway.

The fishing lines were set. Two exceedingly professional individuals were involved. It felt almost too excessive, to the point of being burdensome. I didn’t even know how to repay them.

Honestly, my mind was still cluttered with various complex thoughts, leaving nothing clear or organized…

But it was clear that it was a time to wait. However, it didn’t mean I should just sit idle.

“So then, as promised… the timer’s up. Let’s move on to setting the rules for Season 2 broadcasts.”

Even for the sake of future stability, boundaries needed to be established.

The chat window, which had been celebrating the news of someone being sued until a while ago, quickly overflowed with all sorts of ideas about rules. From common demands like banning mentions of Taz, to more specific requests for banning derogatory remarks, cursing restrictions, and even prohibiting certain emojis…

This wasn’t something that could be decided solely by viewers.

If I accepted all those suggestions, no one would be able to chat. Even I would get banned immediately.

In the end, this was a domain where expert help was needed.

Broadcast rules…

Someone to ask…

Ah.

The timing was perfect.

* * * *

『CravingWarmAmericano: Lumberjack』

The message needed no sender verification.

Revan, Shihoon was conveniently sitting in front of his computer preparing for a broadcast. Not long ago, he’d have immediately bristled at seeing that alert and responded instantly.

But humans adapted even to natural disasters.

『CravingWarmAmericano: 322』

First, he checked whether she was broadcasting – offline, confirmed.

『CravingWarmAmericano: Canary』

Even as the titles continued to evolve… albeit still causing slight emotional stirring.

‘Still, by now, even that was familiar—’

『CravingWarmAmericano: 🪓! 🪓🪓 🪓, 🪓?』

(Revan was typing a message…….)

『CravingWarmAmericano: Ah, you’re here』

『CravingWarmAmericano: Seems like your translator works well』

『Revan: If you have a translator that lets you talk to yourself, please share it』

『Revan: And call people by their names』

『CravingWarmAmericano: 🙁』

『CravingWarmAmericano: But you don’t call me by my name either, Revan』

(Revan was typing a message…….)

『Revan: I mean, that’s just a saying』

『Revan: You can at least call me by my username』

『Revan: That’s not a complicated thing, right?』

『Revan: You agree, don’t you?』

『CravingWarmAmericano: 😶』

Where on earth did she get those emojis? Shihoon felt his hard-won calmness tip drastically to one side and then swing to the other.

In moments like these, giving up quickly and just agreeing seemed like the best choice.

『Revan: Anyway』

『Revan: Why did you call?』

『CravingWarmAmericano: I have a question』

『CravingWarmAmericano: Are you busy right now?』

『Revan: I’m about to get busy』

『CravingWarmAmericano: Hmm』

『CravingWarmAmericano: Got it』

『CravingWarmAmericano: Thanks for helping with the protest……』

『CravingWarmAmericano: If you can spare some time, I’ll let you decide what to call you』

『CravingWarmAmericano: This is a rare opportunity』

『CravingWarmAmericano: What would you like me to call you?』

(Revan was typing a message…….)

‘Why is she acting like she’s granting a special privilege?’

Shihoon let out a deep sigh from the bottom of his heart. She might have a greater talent for nonsense than KoK. She could even drag those who tried their best to respond seriously into her pace.

Shihoon’s lips twisted slightly in self-doubt. He thought, ‘I’m such an idiot for worrying if something might be wrong with her.’

However, the subtle pangs of self-reproach that welled up in his chest likely stemmed from a myriad of fleeting imaginations during those brief moments.

That Lee Yena would call him by such a title, or perhaps whisper another title—

What would her reaction be if he threw out that imagined title, even as a joke? He certainly didn’t expect to be called by something really special, but he was curious about Lee Yena’s reaction.

Indeed, despite swaggering around as if she had achieved invincibility, when poked, she would get flustered and run far away, then nervously keep an eye out for a while.

In that sense, it might be worth poking at her once. Not too harshly, of course. Just a little, just enough to tease… Wouldn’t it be necessary, for the sake of other victims as well?

『Revan: Why are you talking as if you’re doing someone a favor?』

『Revan: Using other people’s names』

While his mind was consumed with such thoughts, Shihoon’s hands automatically moved.

『CravingWarmAmericano: Hmm』

『CravingWarmAmericano: Really a losing trade』

『CravingWarmAmericano: Take your pick』

『CravingWarmAmericano: Personally, I think 322 symbolizes a lot and is quite good』

『Revan: You’re making me want to say something really nasty』

What title would make her the most flustered?

(Revan is typing a message…)

He wrote down various titles, then erased them thinking they were too much, then erased them again thinking they weren’t fun, then considering if they were drawing too clear a line, and erasing them once more. The self-reproach he had felt a moment ago had long disappeared. With a small smile, he pondered—

『CravingWarmAmericano: Honestly, wouldn’t it have been better not to rank 322 if you’re so indignant about it』

A chilling message popped up on the screen, making his spine tingle.

“What the… freaking…”

His whispered comment wasn’t just a habit from his personal broadcasts.

‘Broadcast? Broadcasting now?’

He had checked the broadcast status as soon as the message arrived… It had been offline. But nothing was certain. Who knew what kind of trick he might have pulled. Isn’t he the type who might suddenly start broadcasting on a secondary account?

Although he didn’t intend to, if he had made even a hint of a loving title demand while broadcasting and teasing that guy’s shocked reaction…

Brushing off the dreadful imagination, Shihoon frantically typed on the keyboard.

『CravingWarmAmericano: Seems like it might come up』

『Revan: ???? On air?』

Simultaneously, with one hand, he accessed Tw*tch on his phone and searched for ‘CravingWarm’. As Lee Yena’s follow-up messages and Shihoon’s bewildered question appeared sequentially on the screen.

『CravingWarmAmericano: No』

『CravingWarmAmericano: But based on my instincts… if the broadcast had been on, such a message would have definitely come up.』

『CravingWarmAmericano: It’s a sense developed from reducing the chat box while broadcasting』

『CravingWarmAmericano: Seems like you’ve never experienced it, unnamed one』

『Revan: You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you』

Without even a single sound effect, laughter could be heard echoing.

Shihoon somehow could vividly picture Yena’s face, her eyes dull and indifferent while her lips twitched slightly.

『CravingWarmAmericano: 😧』

『CravingWarmAmericano: This is unfair.』

In such a situation, the sight of someone deliberately toeing the line and pushing it further was evident. Up until now, he might not have noticed it, but this time, it was clear. He could tell it was intentional.

They called it human compatibility.

Even from the start, when they first met and dueled, he had sensed it. This opposing and strangely unsettling relationship wasn’t limited to KoK alone.

– Haah.

Shihoon let out a light sigh, releasing his complex emotions. There would be another chance to tease… and see her reaction.

『Revan: Just call my name or say Revan, please.』

『Revan: When you give strange nicknames, those obsessed with fictional couples push it around as a pet name.』

『CravingWarmAmericano: 😔』

『CravingWarmAmericano: Exactly, if you’d done a virtual marriage with Jinhee from the beginning, this wouldn’t be a problem.』

『CravingWarmAmericano: An amateur logger.』

『CravingWarmAmericano: Gave up without even making one good cut.』

『CravingWarmAmericano: You would’ve been expelled from the logger association.』

『Revan: I’m copying this verbatim and sending it to Ark.』

『CravingWarmAmericano: 😠』

Well, a bit of teasing couldn’t hurt. Having such a person around in the world might not be too bad, Shihoon thought with a small smile. Two would definitely be too many, though.

* * * *

A temporary rented shared office.

Compared to the high-end office with a city view where the two lawyers originally worked, this place was much shabbier. However, the fervor emanating from those typing away on their laptops was incomparable.

“Are you really okay? How many vacation days can you take in a year to justify this… Attorney Cho’s face already looked grim.”

So, while what Lee Yeri said stemmed from sincere concern, she also knew well that it was a formal remark, aware the other party wouldn’t even consider listening.

“Yes! Absolutely! This is something I’ve genuinely been planning for a long time! Not to mention the grand prize… please, don’t kick me out. First, I’ll macro through all the data I’ve collected.”

With her junior’s eyes gleaming so intensely, there was no chance of her stepping away from this work.

“Oh! Also, I thought more about it last night. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a ranking board? Something to see in real-time. Up to about… 50th place. Updating three times a day, so you can vaguely tell if it’s safe or not. What do you think?”

“Did Yena mention it on her broadcast?”

“Huh? No? Oh, I missed some of the live broadcast, but… probably not?”

“Alright, if it can be implemented, it would be good.”

“Yes!”

TL’s Corner:

She definitely saw Yena’s broadcast.
Also, I ship Yena and Revan.