It seemed that Eunhye didn’t particularly dislike the worldwide attention on her son, as she carefully read through all the articles Wooram showed her.
“C-could it really be this much…?”
Yet, the suspicion didn’t vanish entirely.
“The entire world is watching our son right now. He’s not just some college student playing a game; he’s someone the whole world is focusing on. Who knows? Maybe other big corporations are interested in Jaeho too?”
Even if nothing else, that last remark was enough to pique Eunhye’s curiosity.
“Big corporations? They care about gaming students too?”
“Yeah… isn’t that obvious? Don’t you think so?”
Suddenly, the question was passed to Jaeho.
“W-well, yeah, I guess?”
What would Jaeho know?
He was already busy learning the ins and outs of the New World.
“Well, it seems like nowadays there’s no one who isn’t into New World. Even company presidents are playing a lot.”
“That’s right, that’s right. You never know, maybe Jaeho could be like that too. These days, it’s not like when we were young where things just flare up for a season and end.”
An unexpectedly earnest defense from someone who hadn’t really believed much to begin with.
“Ah… Father…”
But Eunhye wasn’t moved by his earnestness.
“Was that just to make me fight harder?”
Jaeho could clearly see the underlying intention behind his words.
Still, Wooram’s argument finally swayed Eunhye to nod up and down.
“Well… fine. From the start, I didn’t exactly oppose you playing games, Jaeho. But as I’ve said before, there are priorities to work.”
“Yes.”
“Right now, I’m not sure if gaming should take priority for you. If you convince me of that… then I’ll do my best to support you. But if not… you know how it goes.”
She spoke with a warm smile, but Jaeho felt a sharp sense of misunderstanding.
“Of course!”
“I will always believe in my son.”
“Thank you…”
After that suffocating conversation ended and Eunhye left the room…
“What are we going to do, letting things get this big?!”
“Hey? I was just giving the kid a break since he was drowning!”
“Ah, I was preparing some excuses for him, you know!”
A fight broke out.
“Hey, none of it’s wrong, is it? Your face was already broadcast worldwide. Don’t you feel dizzy from that? If you were a fighter, everyone who knows you would be scared stiff.”
“Well, that’s not my fault. It’s Dad’s responsibility. Definitely.”
Jaeho’s appearance and atmosphere were one hundred percent inherited from Wooram.
“Humph… Anyway! I asked around the gym guys and everyone’s making a big fuss. They say it’s an amazing opportunity.”
“An opportunity?”
Wooram twirled his thumb and index finger in a circle.
“Obviously money! Why else would your mom act like that? She’s worried you can’t earn a living, so she’s pushing this. If you make money gaming and give Mom some allowance, wouldn’t that solve the problem?”
Contrary to his appearance, Wooram had the ears of a mouse and was deeply engrossed in what the gym members were saying.
But Jaeho already confirmed from selling potions and snacks that it wasn’t particularly lucrative.
“Still, talking about this might backfire…”
Tip —
Wooram put his hand on Jaeho’s shoulder.
“I’m proud of you.”
“…What nonsense is that? Do you think I don’t know your real motive? It’s for broadcasting, right? You’re excited to brag everywhere that your son is brawling around the neighborhood.”
“Humph… well, something proud is still something proud, right? Ah, now that we’re talking about it, can you stop using that creepy-looking tentacle?”
“Ah, enough already.”
He shrugged off the hand and got up, but the worry lingered.
“I have to make him understand that gaming can truly take priority…!”
***
“You mean you want to make money? The flower garden might or might not be profitable… and it’s not even fully operational yet, right?”
“Hey, aren’t you supposed to sell it for some money?”
This was Samantha and Wansik’s response after hearing Jaeho’s concerns.
Wansik’s voice was straightforwardly dismissive.
“Broadcasting… how about that?”
At that moment, Mei quietly offered her opinion.
“Broadcasting?”
“Yes. Alicia’s face is already known worldwide. Naturally, attention is focused on her. Just one interview could bring in a huge amount of money, don’t you think?”
“But isn’t that just a one-time thing? Besides, it doesn’t even feel like making money from gaming.”
“You start by investing in a personal broadcast.”
“Ah, well, considering Alicia’s current situation, the initial viewers for a personal broadcast would be easily secured.”
Samantha agreed with Mei’s opinion.
But Wansik shook his head.
“This guy’s capsule is totally trash, so broadcasting won’t work. And I bet if he tries streaming, it’d be super boring with zero sense—viewers will drop off.”
“I wasn’t thinking about it seriously either.”
Jaeho answered grumbling.
“But I have an idea related to that.”
Wansik’s loud voice drew everyone’s attention.
“Recently, I found out there’s a player streaming in this neighborhood. The video from the last fight with the Brown Bear guild was recorded by that person.”
“Oh, you mean to use that as leverage to sue?”
Mei said, and Samantha shook her head.
“That won’t work. In New World, the concept of portrait rights doesn’t exist. Many misunderstand it because there’s almost no customer damage, but it’s actually in the agreement. Of course, broadcasters have a tacit rule against filming each other without consent.”
“Ah, then it’s extortion?”
“You keep speaking as if it’s all about appearance prejudice.”
Jaeho said with a helpless expression.
Mei’s saying that much was a sign she had grown quite accustomed to Jaeho’s atmosphere, which in itself was an emotional nuance.
“Mei is right.”
This time even Wansik agreed with Mei.
“Ah, it’s not about making money. It’s about making that person your exclusive streamer.”
“Exclusive streamer?”
“You just do what you usually do. Instead, that person films you. Then you split part of the income generated from it.”
“I don’t get it.”
Samantha had already explained that portrait rights didn’t exist in this game.
In other words, even if he filmed Jaeho’s face without permission and broadcast it, Jaeho had no grounds to complain.
“Ah, so that’s why extortion is necessary?!”
Mei finally understood.
“Exactly. Watching that broadcast, the streamer couldn’t film you even once during the last battle. Maybe if you offer an exclusive appearance deal, that person would be happy.”
Jaeho lost words.
“Maybe they were too scared to film secretly. If you’re really desperate, it might just work.”
Samantha agreed.
“It’s like a human drama. I’m not really into that.”
“This guy’s sulking again.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Honestly, right now the only thing that can make money is selling your face. Don’t be greedy.”
The facts hit hard, like money hitting the table.
***
“Hello, this is Huka! The content I’m showing you today is the Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday-Friday grind!”
ㅡ Eldyd: Always the same stuff pretending it’s different lol
ㅡ ham6787: Can’t you do something fresh now?
ㅡ jina: If you pluck an elf’s hair, big sponsor incoming
“Haha… sorry, but that’s impossible.”
ㅡ onestone: Impossible? Is this streamer well cared for?
ㅡ patbbang: Boring—
ㅡ hou: When are you going to catch an elf?
“Elves can’t be caught…”
-tantanbo: Why is this broadcast so dull? Is it always this boring?
ㅡ nojam: Is this natural? What kind of broadcast is this?
ㅡ Eldyd: Seems like there are many newcomers. This is originally 4518 Broadcast.
Huka sighed inwardly.
The viewership had increased drastically during the last fight with the Brown Bear guild because of the system.
But after just two days, it dropped to almost nothing…
What remained were only the regular viewers and a few trolls.
“A fleeting dream.”
Those few days had been nothing more than a sweet dream for a single night.
And now, he was back to his ordinary, daily life.
ㅡ Hello, Huka. I saw you broadcasting from the Luxi Forest recently and wanted to send a message.
“??”
A sudden message arrived on his broadcast account.
“Al- Alicia…? Alicia In Breeze?”
After confirming the nickname of the sender, Huka’s mouth fell open.
ㅡ Ah, a-a-anh, hello?! Ar-are you really the person herself?!!!
ㅡ I’m Samantha, who works with Alicia.
Huka’s hopes were dashed, but then Samantha’s following words made him gape again.
ㅡ Regarding Alicia’s broadcasting rights, we want to discuss it with you. When would you have time?
Flinch—
Huka’s body stiffened.
“C-could it be that not only did she broadcast without permission, but sold it to a broadcasting company?!”
Although it wasn’t something illegal, top users, especially Rangers, were naturally sensitive about this.
At the time, the situation was urgent, and Huka had signed and sold it quickly, but how regrettable it had been after the broadcast ended!
He still hadn’t fully recovered from it even today.
“Huka! Is there a person named Huka here?!”
At that moment, an elf who was directing called out to him.
“Hyuk?!”
ㅡ Eldyd: What the— why is an elf looking for him?
ㅡ jina: Bring the hair!
“Oh, today’s broadcast will end here!”
ㅡ nomind: Huka … was typing but what? Why’s the broadcast ending so soon?
ㅡ ham6787: Called by an elf, probably about to get beheaded.
He didn’t have time to check the chat.
Hastily turning off the broadcast, Huka lowered his head and followed the elf like a criminal.
***
The main activity areas for Jeonluck Association members were the desert regions classified into grassland outskirts and Helzertro.
No one had ever visited the central area of Elysia Garden.
That was where Huka set foot.
Y-… this is the place…
Entering a place he had only seen from afar, Huka was filled with a strange emotion.
At the same time, he wondered what kind of scheme Alicia was plotting by making such a large-scale flower garden.
“Alicia… what on earth is she scheming…”
At that moment, a sharp stench hit Huka’s nose, and he covered it with his hand.
“Is there a compost heap nearby?”
But no matter how he looked around, he saw nothing of the sort.
“Huh?”
Then, a familiar figure brushed past him.
“Ah? Breeze-nim, long time no see.”
“Hey! Huka-nim?”
Huka spoke first, and Breeze brightened and stopped walking.
Everyone in Jeonluck Association knew about Breeze.
He was the member who appeared after Mei.
“What brings you here?”
He smiled and shook hands with Huka.
Sticky—
“?”
A strange stickiness was felt in his hand.
Moreover, the stench that made Huka cover his nose earlier was even stronger now.
There were even some black mud crumbs stuck on Breeze’s hand…
“A-ah… it can’t be.”
Huka deliberately ignored the flies buzzing around Breeze.
But why did he keep thinking of Elysia’s scatman?
“By the way, Huka-nim, why are you here?”
“Ah, … Alicia-nim summoned me…”
“Oh, is that so? Haha, congratulations.”
“Eh? Why congratulations…? Ah! Do you know why Alicia-nim called me, Breeze-nim?”
Huka’s anticipation swelled.
“Sorry, I don’t know either.”
“But so far, none of the people who have met Alicia-nim have had bad luck. Ah, except the Brown Bear guild, of course. Haha!”
He patted Huka on the shoulder.
“There must be good news.”
“Ah… yes…”
“Well then, I’m off. I have some ring work to do.”
“Ring work…?”
But Breeze left hastily, so Huka couldn’t get a detailed explanation.
“… Well, let’s just go. We’ll find out when we get there.”
Thus, Huka arrived at the flower shop.
Creeeak—
The wooden door opened, revealing an interior filled with flowers everywhere.
There was no place without flowers—on the shelves, the tables, and stands—and in the center stood a presence exuding overwhelming charisma, adorned with flowers.
“… Flower Arranger.”
Goosebumps rose all over his body!
He simply could not accept this unreal scene.
It felt like he had become Alice in Wonderland…
“Ah! You’re here?”
A lively female voice brought him back to reality.
“??”
Only now did Huka notice the others hidden by Jaeho’s presence.
“Mei, Mei-yoong!”
He didn’t realize when they were in Luxi Forest together, but meeting here made him feel unconsciously awkward.
And next to her was a woman dressed in such an outrageously abnormal fashion it was dizzying.
“That woman is Alba Amanda!”
Samantha’s nickname derived from teasing a classic game’s character skin design.
Was it just a coincidence that the nickname ‘Samantha’ and the alias ‘Amanda’ were so similar?
“And…”
A man just as muscular as Alicia.
His pungent scent pricked Huka’s nose…
“Scatman!”