I Couldn’t Afford to Buy Mana, so I Started Streaming

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Today was quite fun. Not bad at all. But when I went to the end of the private room, I found something like a barrier? Can you tell me how to get out of it?

“Ugh, I’m tired. I need to hurry and sleep.”

“Hey! Don’t ignore me!”

After returning from the aquarium to the hotel, I crashed right away.

‘Tomorrow, work… work… I really need to work…’

Janjeol, a company bond issuance of 5 billion dollars (850 billion won) has been confirmed.

Thanks to investment demand, the 5-year yield was pulled down to T+50bp, and the 30-year yield to T+125bp.

This is no different than the market evaluating Janjeol as a AAA-rated listed company.

However, the upcoming workload and meeting deadlines were swirling in my mind.

‘At this rate, even if we launch the ultra-precise general diagnosis, the semi-flux and semiconductor yield will be problems.’

What good is it to invest astronomical amounts of money to complete over technology?

When, in reality, there aren’t enough vessels to contain it.

The manufacturing process of semi-flux is a sort of team play.

The really frustrating part is that the result aligns with the capabilities of the weakest person, not the best.

If there’s even one hole in the nine processes, then the outcome will be disastrous.

‘Especially this vital coding…’

And the troll was situated annoyingly right next to me.

Parilum processes sensory data in virtual reality and transfers it to the nervous system.

It requires a very complex algorithmic design, namely vital coding, to optimize the neural network’s response speed and deliver accurate data.

But for some reason, Janjeol’s clients seemed to have all lost their marbles.

‘One side is having a management rights dispute, another is undergoing massive restructuring, and some are even having large recalls. Are you kidding me?’

The funds meant for R&D continue to be misallocated to strange places.

It’s as if the world is trying to dampen my spirit just when I shouldn’t be coming out.

This feeling of helplessness, that I can’t do anything, just drains me even more.

“Well, somehow it will work out…”

I just pulled the blanket snugly around me and buried myself deeper into the bed.

“Hmm.”

Unbeknownst to me, the hologram projector was on all night.

* * *

Chirp chirp chirp—

“Huh! What time is it?”

“There are two clocks, which one should I look at? It’s 8:05 AM?”

A rushing Erichiton lying down in a ‘why are you whining again?’ posture.

“Huh? Ugh, why are you ruining my mood this early in the morning…”

I reached over to grab my phone sitting on the table, piercing through Erichiton’s chest.

“Though you look cuter when you’re younger, don’t you, Fourth Princess?”

“Please don’t disturb me. I’m busy.”

I grabbed a towel and dashed into the shower.

Swoosh—

“Woah, it’s cold!”

Why on earth is cold water coming out on such a hot day?

I shivered and quickly washed my hair.

After finishing the shower, I realized I only took a towel and didn’t bring any change of underwear.

‘It’s in the carrier…’

I peeked out and glared at Erichiton, who was looking outside the window.

“I’m going out now, so don’t look back.”

“Oh?”

Erichiton was sitting cross-legged, firmly keeping her gaze fixed on me.

‘Man, I really want to hit her in the gut just once.’

In the end, I had no choice but to throw on a shower gown that was too big for me.

With water dripping from my hair, I rummaged through the carrier.

“Fourth Princess, you’ve always been extremely averse to showing skin. If you called yourself a royal, nobody would think it strange, so why are you so concerned?”

“Don’t you care?”

“Of course not. The maids can’t tarnish my body’s purity with their gazes. Or were you embarrassed because you have a demon’s body?”

Erichiton shrugged and asked.

“Figure it out yourself.”

I hopped into the capsule and accessed Dreaming Mode first.

It’s the only time during the day I can rest without any distracting thoughts.

It’s been a while since Hiasen and Niobe, the siblings, popped back into my mind.

Would things have been a lot easier if Hiasen were here with me?

Every choice feels so uncertain that I can’t even tell if the path I’m taking is the right one.

The memories were brief, and reality came crashing back quickly.

[User NoName has connected.]

[Private Room 2/10]

“What the—Fourth Princess, why are you back to your body…?”

Erichiton trembled as if facing a predator while staring up at me.

“Just like before…”

“It’s virtual reality, it’s my choice.”

“Ouch!”

I pressed down gently on her head and opened the portal.

“Uh, where are you going…?”

“To work.”

“Take me with you.”

“Well… sure.”

“Really? Why?”

As I quickly consented, she showed a flustered expression.

I searched my inventory for a decent suit and handed it to her.

“Press each item in the order I handed them to you.”

“Okay… Whoa…!”

A white shirt wrapped around her body, and a dark gray jacket fit her shoulders perfectly.

The waist of the suit was slimmed nicely.

The pants trailed neatly down to her ankles, and the sharp shoes were the final touch.

Erichiton admired herself in the mirror.

Her formerly tacky roll hairstyle was now transformed into elegant waves.

“Just quietly follow me. Lower that stiff neck a bit.”

“Ouch.”

I once again struck her head lightly with the edge of my hand to lower her head.

Sensing something was off, Erichiton raised an objection.

“This makes it feel like I’ve become your maid.”

“Close enough.”

“What did you say?”

“There’s a cooler term. Intern. Come on, intern.”

Today, I had a feeling work wouldn’t be too boring.

I really wanted to try having the eternally annoying Princess Zakario as my maid at least once.

* * *

[Janjeol]

“Hello, NoName.”

“Good morning, Veda.”

“Who’s that behind you? An intern?”

“This is the ASI we’re newly integrating into Wearsoft. I’m sorry for bringing it to the company; I haven’t had time to develop it lately.”

“Oh, I thought it was a person. Don’t worry, NoName, everyone in the company knows you’re busy. Haha, even dressed her up in a suit? Did you match the dress code for the company?”

“Yes, as you can see. Well then, take care.”

“Yes, yes!”

Even though it was quite early in the morning, the company was bustling.

The advantage of a virtual reality office is that it runs continuously for 24 hours.

Since all employees have different residences, each has their preferred commuting times.

Still, the team internally managed to have some unity.

Click clack—

Erichiton quietly followed behind me as I instructed.

“Phuh.”

As soon as we entered the chairman’s office, she seemed to relax and sprawled on the sofa.

“Who was that earlier? The person with dark skin?”

“Chandra Sekaran Veda Shankari, the chief researcher. The doctor who decisively resolved the erosion contamination issues.”

“Oh, I see. Earlier, I saw everyone sitting and mindlessly tapping at the desks.”

“…I should head for the meeting right away. It won’t take long, so wait here.”

I pulled a mop out from my inventory and handed it to her.

“?”

“Heh, if you’re bored, clean the windows or something.”

The princess’s face twisted in rage.

“I’m the daughter of a duke, you really expect me to do cleaning!?”

* * *

“I happened to be in Texas, so I’ll check the factory in the afternoon. Thank you for the meeting.”

For now, I decided to intimidate the clients.

If I don’t stabilize the company soon, I’ll gobble up your businesses too.

[R&D investment rate could be cut to 15%, half of its current level, which isn’t impossible under the present circumstances.]

I had just received such a response from the Strategic Planning Office.

‘Why on earth do I need to worry about other companies’ affairs…?’

In any case, substantial cash inflow was expected soon, and Janjeol was revitalized.

The executives’ expressions were brighter than they had been in a while.

‘This means the schedule until the afternoon will be completely wide open, right?’

I opened the chairman’s office door with a light step.

Creak creak—

“Huh?”

Erichiton was sitting on my chair, cleaning the windows.

“You’re here?”

“You said you weren’t cleaning.”

“Hmph. This is my place. I can’t stand being with dirty things.”

“Hmm?”

I pondered, stroking my chin.

‘What’s going on with her?’

She got down from the office chair.

I hoped it wasn’t what I feared, but sure enough.

“W-Was there a problem?”

Erichiton crossed her arms and replied.

‘She really wore those shoes down to the office chair!’

Holes were drilled into the chair by her heel.

[▶ ‘Office Chair’ has been stored in the inventory.]

[▶ ‘Office Chair’ has been removed from the inventory.]

I settled into a new chair comfortably, leaning back.

“Um? No problem.”

“Ahhh! I didn’t need to clean in the first place!”

“When did I say to clean? I just said if you’re bored, do it.”

“Ugh…!”

She was engulfed in anger as she chewed on her shirt.

With a rip, the top button popped off.

“Oh no. A button came off. Change my clothes too.”

“That shirt is disposable, Erich. If you want to restore it, you’ve got to pay.”

“Are you going to lie again?”

“Not a lie. Do you have money?”

“…”

“If you don’t, wear it as it is, humph.”

Erichiton’s expression changed in real-time, and she covered her mouth, screaming.

“I really hate this! How can such a wicked girl have been reincarnated?!”

“Hehehe. I definitely racked up some good deeds in my past life.”

“Ugh, till the very end…! I can’t even get a word in…!”

“Come here and give me a shoulder rub. I’ll provide some payment for your errand, my esteemed Crown Princess sister?”

That day, I conquered Erichiton.

* * *

“That’s impossible! You’re telling me to do all that in one day? With that body?”

Erichiton was flabbergasted.

Na-me showed only a portion of what was done in the morning.

For three hours, she sat still, processing a mountain of approval documents without moving.

For lunch, she emerged from the capsule, bought a simple sandwich, and attended the VaRia Dream Capsule public event.

Then in the afternoon, she visited a mica mining and refining factory in Texas.

The frontline staff couldn’t conceal their astonishment at her performing every bit of work herself without skipping a beat.

But this wasn’t the end.

Na-me planned to check safety deep in the mine right after finishing the work.

“How can such a person exist?”

Erichiton felt like she was witnessing something beyond the human realm.

Not just a manager who did her job well.

A true perfectionist who directly controlled and inspected everything, producing results with her own hands.

In her demeanor, there was a sense of unrecognized loneliness and heavy burdens dwelling within her small frame.