I Became a Malicious Streamer

Half-Cam.

A broadcast where the webcam is turned on, but the broadcaster’s face isn’t shown.

Originally, there was a strong perception that cam broadcasts had to show the face without exception, but over time, many variations of such broadcasts emerged.

In the early days, shows that only showed the upper body were mockingly compared to the headless knight, Dullahan.

Broadcasts that didn’t turn on the cam were associated with otaku and other stereotypes.

Now, that perception has faded significantly.

The reason why I wasn’t turning on my cam was partly due to this.

If the broadcast had to proceed with the cam on, I wouldn’t have started it in the first place.

Cam broadcasts that identify individuals carry a heavy burden, especially with a face like mine.

Yeah, it’s not like I’m showing my face; the upper body is more than enough.

I could easily do a half-cam if that’s the requirement.

I thought I could be Dullahan if that was the condition, but—

“Let’s go half-cam~”

“Let’s go, go, go, go~”

“I can’t stand this upper body of Mollru’s.”

“I was really bummed about you not turning on the hand cam lately, haha.”

“Time to prove the size of the heart, whoa.”

“What’s so captivating about this?”

“Calm down, everyone.”

Seeing the viewers getting so flustered over my upper body somehow made me feel a sense of rejection.

A rather rebellious mindset, I guess.

I momentarily leaned back in my chair and spun around.

Ah, should I just give up?

The lethargy that made everything feel bothersome overtook me.

[Sua has donated 100,000 won!]

“Are you okay, Sensei…?”

Sua, who had splurged a fortune, cautiously asked.

Her anxiousness about me possibly not showing up to the tournament came through.

But is this person always in my room?

“Aren’t you broadcasting?”

[Sua has donated 1,000 won!]

“I’ll do it later.”

4 PM.

It seems to be later than Sua usually turns on her broadcast.

Well, whatever.

She probably just wants my reassurance.

“I’m participating, so don’t worry.”

“Really?”

I skim through the necessary parts of the chaotic chat room.

I guess she realized my words were sincere when she sent a cute emoticon.

Right, what’s the big deal about half-cam?

It’s not like I’m depleting my worth by showing it.

In the future, I might accidentally reveal my face during the broadcast.

Hmm, maybe that’s too far.

No matter how I think about it, I can’t envision that future, and I shook my head.

*

“Hello, viewers. Ladies and gentlemen, we introduce the game, Agent of War, which remains timeless! This broadcasting is supervised by the developers, Watch Saga. The battle of the century begins. We will first explain the overall rules and introduce the participants for the 1st Annual EOW Streamer Tournament in 2030. I’m your caster, Bang Hyeongjae.”

Three men sit at the desk.

The man in the middle starts the conversation in a tone that commands everyone’s attention.

“On my side is the only Switch EOW specialist analyst, streamer Maple-nim, and our commentator, Kang Seonghun-nim, who will observe the overall flow of the tournament.”

“Hello, I’m streamer Maple.”

“I’m Kang Seonghun.”

“Wow, I never imagined a tournament of this scale would happen. There are as many as 24 participants! We’ll get to meet various streamer personalities.”

“Yes, there will be 4 teams made up of 6 members including the director, with draft selections via auction.”

“Ah, yes. This was mentioned in the teaser, right?”

“It’s a system where points are allocated to select players, a new approach not seen in tournaments so far. What do you think, commentator Kang Seonghun?”

“Well, since it’s a streamer tournament that everyone enjoys, it can be seen as an eventful occasion. However, carelessness can lead to a major mishap.”

“Yes. The auction is collectively participatory. There’s no set sequence or breaks!”

“It’s vital to make use of the desired players with minimum points.”

“Each of the four directors has a different style, so I’m expecting an entertaining display just through the auction.”

“Well, I think that’s enough explanation for now!”

“Further details on the rules can be checked on the Switch website.”

“Directors, are you ready?”

“Yes, everyone seems prepared.”

“Then let’s move on to the highly anticipated player introductions and auction.”

Bang Hyeongjae, sitting in the middle, rummages through a box filled with papers containing names of streamers.

With his eyes tightly shut, he pulls out a paper.

He unfolds it towards the camera for everyone to see.

“Okay, the first player is… Ah~~~~”

“‘Dead Song’ has appeared as the first batter.”

“The tier is Gold. The main agents used are Iron Man, Barbarian, and Mechanized Soldier.”

“He’s a reassuring player right from the agent he handles. Looks like a solid tank user.”

“They say a play video of Dead Song is ready. It’s the time for the player to appeal to the directors.”

“Wow, the rear agents in the video look incredibly relaxed. His performance as a sturdy front-liner was impressive.”

“His personality seems gentle as well. As a tank user for teamwork, he doesn’t seem to have trouble syncing with his teammates.”

“Now, we will begin the auction. Directors wishing to bid should shout their name along with their points.”

“Director Panoro bids 50 points. If he gets mentioned three times, he’ll successfully recruit Dead Song at 50 points.”

“Oh, Director Kimgun bids 60 points to pursue.”

“He wouldn’t let that player go for such a low price.”

“Is he suddenly increasing the tempo here? Director Panoro declares 100 points!”

A chilly silence falls.

“That awkward atmosphere is what makes it interesting!”

“With such a large prize on the line, they can’t help but proceed with caution in the auction!”

“Director Kimgun successfully recruits Dead Song for 200 points.”

“Next up is—ah, this player is popular. ‘O Daesik.’”

“Anyone who knows Switch cannot be unaware of this name.”

“Rumor has it he’s been performing exceptionally well lately. Tier: Master. Most used agents: All, it says.”

“That’s the appeal and identity of this player. He consistently handles all agents adeptly.”

“A player who can fit into any position is quite sought after in the tournament. Facing O Daesik will give opposing teams a headache.”

“The auction will now begin. Oh, right from the start, we’re at 200 points.”

“That means he’s a player that must not be missed. The bid is now at 300 points!”

“Ultimately, O Daesik is sold for a total of 400 points!”

“Ooh~ We’re halfway through already. It’s the 11th player. Among the EOW streamers, one of the few high-tier female users.”

“Yes, it’s player ‘Sua.’ As soon as she appears, the chat room goes wild.”

“She has a lot of fans. A unique feature is that her tier has skyrocketed just weeks before the tournament.”

“Current tier is Master. Wow, she’s among the top among the tournament participants.”

“Main agents are Swordsman, Assassin, and Mage. She prefers agents who require substantial control in dealer roles.”

“That makes her a player guaranteed to deliver in mechanics. There’s a strong likelihood she’ll shine in solo rank. Depending on how the director utilizes her, she could be a boon or a bane.”

“The auction begins! Oh, Director Kimgun is jumping in right at the start! He’s putting all his remaining 600 points on the line!”

“Director Kimgun’s team is currently lacking dealer users. His intention to definitely recruit Sua is clearly seen. He plans to fill in the remaining spots with discarded players.”

“It seems it’s tough to overcome the 600 points. Sua, Sua, Sua! No one adds to the bid. Director Kimgun’s bold tactics have succeeded.”

“I’m excited to see which player will fill in the last spot.”

“Is it the 18th player now? We are almost at the end of the auction.”

“Wow, we’ve already come this far.”

“Oh, this player… Recently has been heating up Switch like crazy. Many viewers were suspicious about the tournament tier, but per the results from Watch’s account check, no abnormalities were found.”

“Just by hearing the talk, I feel like I can guess who the player is. A player with skill that breeds suspicion.”

“Yes, rising through Switch as a Sniper and Swordsman. ‘Mollru’ is the last player to enter.”

“The chat room is buzzing. Like Sua, she’s one of the few high-tier female users in EOW.”

“There’s quite a different reaction compared to Sua. It seems this player possesses some rather intense fans.”

“Since this is the official broadcast, be kindly advised that overly aggressive chatting may lead to temporary bans.”

“There are rumors that many directors have had their eyes on Mollru since before the tournament.”

“That’s just how enticing she is. However, now that she’s appearing late, it seems to have derailed the plans of some directors.”

“It looks like caster Bang Hyeongjae is receiving glares of resentment.”

“I just randomly picked the papers as they came!”

“Well, it’s alright! Even if they fail at the auction, there are discarded players! They will eventually form a team!”

“However, whether that formed team will integrate well is uncertain. That’s up to the director’s skill!”

“It’s a tough tournament, truly brutal.”

“Mollru, let’s proceed with the auction. The remaining directors don’t seem to be doing so well financially. Ah, yet they cannot let her go. Starting at 500 points!”

“Looks like they’re ready to risk everything now. This player has the qualities of a key player. The determination of the directors not to miss out shines through.”

“However, the director with the highest points, Jacky, declares 650 points, wrapping up the auction.”

“That’s the highest bid among all the players selected up to now.”

“It’s captivating to see if Mollru can deliver that level of performance.”

*

What’s going on here?

What in the world is happening?

I watched the team selection broadcast while spilling ramen I had in my mouth.

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