Chapter 48: Indirect democracy

“Oh, let’s play a song before we start.”

I selected a few tracks I used to enjoy and played them.

The soft melodies of classical music added a serene touch to the broadcast atmosphere.

[Classical music?]

[You’re so old-fashioned, sis~]

[No modern songs?]

Of course, I couldn’t play those.

Over the ten-plus years, I’ve realized I lack the will to keep up with trends.

If I find it difficult to follow the current generation’s flow, I might as well retreat to the past.

In that sense, classical music is the most convenient choice.

[Today’s stream is going to be all about picking an editor, huh? Lololol]

[Hey! Do you have complaints about my stream?]

[If you’re mad… you know what to do.]

“Are there still viewers who only want gaming streams like before?”

Not all viewers were entirely supportive of the editor recruitment contest.

Though most viewers who volunteered as firefighters silenced the detractors, it was still slightly bothersome.

Even if I can’t cater to everyone’s preferences, it did make me think.

I’m the type to latch onto one type of content and see it through based on my mood that day.

There were occasional complaints from viewers about my lack of structure, saying I take breaks when I want and obsess over one thing when it comes to gaming.

‘Should I change the stream to have segments, like other streamers do?’

They usually take breaks between parts, but I’m not sure how they time those.

Still, I can’t entirely ignore opposing opinions.

I’ll have to look into it later.

***

“First, I’d like to thank all the editors who applied for the contest.”

Holding a mug I brought from the kitchen, I spoke as hot steam rose from the coffee.

The words of gratitude emerged from my lips, veiled by the steam.

Receiving so much interest in less than a week was naturally something to be thankful for as the host.

[Donation from Kim Ggaeddulrakk: 5,000 KRW!

-How many videos did you get, sis?]

“If we count all the applicants, it’s a little over a hundred. Sorting through them was really tough.”

[Wow, that’s a lot of applicants!]

[There’s no way someone like you wouldn’t get that many lolol]

[Picking the good ones must’ve been exhausting.]

“Oh, right.”

After taking a sip of the coffee from my mug, I adopted a mock-serious tone and spoke as if interrogating someone.

“Why did some of you send such weird things to the email for editor applications? Do you know how shocked I was when I saw them?”

[Hahaha lolololololol]

[??? What kind of emails did you get, Sensei?]

[We can’t tolerate terror emails!]

[Who messed with our sis?]

[Kim Junyoung of Hamheung, Hamgyeong-do is stepping in!]

[Was the person from up north?]

[We’ll protect you, Sensei!]

Through the agony of filtering, I deleted the malicious emails that made my eyes want to bleed.

Initially, I considered just discarding them, but I thought they’d make for an interesting talking point.

I displayed some email titles I filtered, ensuring they were safe for the broadcast.

This was the so-called “highlight reel.”

“Look at this. I mean, I wouldn’t even say anything about some adult content. But Hallcast, gross images, and even strange recruitment offers from shady companies? Why would someone certify their own poop and send it to me?”

[Hallcast? What the heck, these people are nuts lolol]

[Certifying poop… I’m grabbing my instant rice.]

[Oh, poop is just too much.]

[Is it poop that tastes like curry or curry that tastes like poop? Friede will tell us!]

[Sis, you’re just a baby… You need training…]

[Everything else is one thing, but the shady recruitment offers crossed the line lol.]

[You should sue, Sensei.]

[As long as it’s not me~]

[Popcorn… This is popcorn-worthy!]

[Friede’s stream already has controversy five days in lololol.]

“I seriously considered going all out, but that would’ve been overkill. So please, everyone, let’s tone it down. We’re all adults here, aren’t we?”

[Donation from Chokbeopsoyeon: 5,000 KRW!

-“You’re banned.”

-Chokbeopsoyeon has been removed from the chat.]

[Oh no, domangchwa!]

[The host’s blade dance lololol.]

[Sensei spares adults but purges minors lololol.]

“Chokbeop or whatever, everyone gets banned.”

After calming the mood somewhat, I decided to transition into the main event.

“Today, I’ll be showing seven videos that passed the first selection round. We’ll choose one from these.”

[First round… second round… and then interviews? Let’s go!]

[I was curious about how this editor contest works.]

[Why doesn’t the host just pick someone and be done with it?]

[These people don’t get it. Obviously, she’s gauging our opinions, duh. Use some tact ^^.]

Clap clap!

I clapped my hands to settle the buzzing chat and change the atmosphere.

“Alright, let me explain further. There are many videos, so we’ll go through them quickly.”

The reason I made the contest public wasn’t anything special.

The viewers who watch Friede’s stream.

It’s only right to gather their opinions as much as possible on which editor they prefer.

So, what came to mind was…

“We’ll proceed with a viewer vote. However, it won’t be an ordinary vote.”

[Democracy overload, Sensei.]

[The host is really stirring my snake heart…]

[Snake heart incoming, snake heart incoming, snake heart incoming!]

[You killed the editor candidates!]

A vote. What a beautiful word.

But a simple viewer vote would be too boring.

‘Since I already declared this as a contest, why not make it a little unique?’

“This vote will…”

As the chat filled with countless hooks, I sipped my coffee and continued.

“…Be conducted through mission voting.”

If you don’t have money, you can’t vote.

***

Under the username “A-jin,” she lay under a blanket, her face poking out, nibbling on a piece of yokan.

She saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime challenge as an editor, so she had been sitting reverently in front of her computer since morning, waiting for the stream to start.

Yesterday, on Sunday, she had received an email from Friede notifying her that her video had made it to the finals.

Ah, how ecstatic she had been upon receiving that email—not jumping around, but rather kicking her feet in the air under the covers with joy.

There were seven finalists in total.

Out of them, only one would earn the glorious position.

As she began watching Friede’s stream with such high expectations, Friede’s sweet voice reached her ears.

“This vote will… be conducted through mission voting.”

“…Ack!”

Unfortunately, a large chunk of yokan got stuck in her throat, and she instinctively clenched her fist.

A white glow enveloped her hand, turning it semi-transparent as if it could reflect everything.

She moved the hand to her throat, and it slipped into her neck like an illusion.

After fumbling around inside, she pulled out the piece of yokan that had been stuck.

It was now covered in saliva and had turned into an unpleasant sight, unfit for consumption.

But…

‘It’s a waste to throw it away…’

As she stared at the piece of yokan that had been lodged in her throat, she agonized for a moment before resolutely putting it back in her mouth.

‘It’s not dirty if I put it back. I just need to chew thoroughly to make sure it doesn’t get stuck again.’

But missions…

Conducting votes through missions…

“A… A mission…”

She couldn’t afford it.

Her monthly living expenses were already tight.

As she stomped her feet in frustration, the calm Friede on her monitor explained the rules.

“The vote will be conducted through missions. After watching all the videos, please set a mission for the video you like best. If the editor wins, those who voted for them will receive a gift coupon.”

[Donation from “Midir Eating My Sis”: 5,000 KRW!]

-Why didn’t you tell us in advance? What’s the spending limit?]

“I didn’t mention it earlier to avoid people calling in their acquaintances, which could compromise fairness. The spending limit is set at 10,000 KRW. Any amount above or below that won’t count as a vote. Don’t come whining to me later.”

[You’re so unreasonable.]

[So, viewers without money don’t even have the right to vote?]

[This is tyranny! Give me voting rights too!]

[Even here, people without money aren’t treated as humans.]

[Hey! What’s with all this fuss? Voting has always been for those with money—it’s the law of the land.]

[Are you clueless or just ignorant?]

[The gift coupons from Friede are super precious, okay?]

The viewers were in an uproar.

Of course, with the mission voting system, viewers excluded from participating felt a strong sense of deprivation.

‘Ah, I shouldn’t have spent money on gacha. Then I could’ve used 10,000 KRW for the mission.’

‘No, there’s still hope.’

Shaking her head and rekindling her determination, she thought, ‘Even if I don’t have bullets, I can get them from somewhere else.’

She found her smartphone hidden under her pillow and opened her contact list.

[-Dad

-Mom

-Younger Sibling]

Her dismal social circle of just three people greeted her, so pathetic that anyone would mock her with a song like, ‘An empty, hollow tune.’

Still, she didn’t lose her courage and tapped her younger sibling’s name to call.

Although her sibling was still a high schooler, school would’ve ended by now.

“Hello?”

“Hey, it’s me…”

She stammered slightly, but being family, the words came out easier.

Feeling relieved, she resolved to push forward.

“Uh, so… could you transfer me 10,000 won…”

-Beep beep.

“…Ugh!”

She wasn’t even finished talking!

Suppressing her despairing scream, she buried her face in her pillow and pounded her fists on the bed.

The contest was still ongoing.