NOVEL WEB Chapter 1
My name is Kang Woo-joo.
Currently, I’m active as a streamer named Cosmo on an internet broadcasting platform called Twip.
The reason for my nickname is pretty simple. I needed a nickname, couldn’t think of anything, and when I searched my real name “Uju,” the word “Cosmos” popped up, so I just dropped a letter.
To be honest, even now, I think it’s a pretty lame name. People still occasionally ask me in the comments, “Why did you choose such a ridiculous nickname?”
Anyway, the content I primarily handle on my broadcasts is Just Chatting. In fancy terms, it’s Just Chatting, but really, it’s just casual chatting.
I also occasionally do some counseling and song streams.
Originally, I was just an ordinary college student, but I lost interest in school life and was looking for things to do when a friend of mine said, “Your voice is decent, so why don’t you try streaming?”
“Ugh…! It’s done. Today’s counseling session took a bit longer.”
And once again, today’s broadcast finally ended at one in the morning.
Usually, I wrap things up between eleven and midnight by singing a song or chatting about new games, but today there were just too many people wanting counseling.
Truth be told, I could’ve ended it earlier, but I couldn’t just send away those who came to my stream to sincerely share their problems.
【’Cosmos Will Protect You’ donated 1,000,000 won.】
– Koha! You did great counseling until late today. Treat yourself to lunch tomorrow. Fighting!
“Wow, Chairman…! What am I supposed to do with 1 million won for lunch?!”
Stretching and glancing at the chat window, I found myself dumbfounded by the donation amount and reflexively stood up, bowing deeply to the benefactor on the other side of the screen.
The viewers couldn’t see me because I didn’t have a camera, but it was meant to be a gesture of gratitude.
【Lost Frog】 – Whoa, 1 million, what the heck?
【Just Had Dinner and Got Up】 – The Chairman is doing all the work again.
【TWS2425】 – Why is such an important person in a place like this…?
【Seafood Sauce】 – The host’s reaction is priceless; they donated 1 million, and what’s happening?
Lately, the return of the Chairman who has been absent for a while stirred up the chat just as much as my reaction to the huge donation.
In our broadcasts, his nickname “Chairman” has become so ingrained that everyone knows it well.
Even though I’m still a small-time streamer, he’s been supporting me since the days I barely reached an average of five viewers, sometimes throwing in huge donations just like now.
Now, a year later, he’s still supporting a no-name like me, and he’s practically a lifesaver I’ll always be grateful to.
What I appreciate most about him is his grand demeanor.
I’ve heard from other streaming seniors that among those who throw big donations at small-time streamers, some start to exert pressure or start causing trouble, but he’s never once shown any such signs.
I once casually scoped out the chat but was taken aback by how enthusiastically he cheered me on and threw in nothing but kind words, making me feel guilty for poking around.
Anyway, since he just dropped such a big donation today, I couldn’t just sit still. It was reaction time.
“So, is there anything you’d like today, Chairman? As long as it’s not a horror game….”
【Moscos】 – ?
【Arisa Loves It】 – ????????
【Cro-Magnon】 – Just look at this.
【Fallen Flower】 – Can’t you do anything for 1 million? Life is ridiculously easy.
I’m quite weak to surprises and elements like that, so horror games always feel like a death sentence to me, but they’re the most enjoyable content for the viewers, so a bunch of requests came flooding in.
Of course, if you’ve donated 1 million won and want a horror game, I can do it. But then that’s not what you want; that’s what you guys want, you little turds.
There’s a special reaction for a 1 million won donation, so don’t go telling me what to do.
【’Cosmos Will Protect You’ donated 1,000,000 won.】
– Haha, then shall I show some cute charm?
As I pondered what kind of reaction to do in my head, the Chairman dropped another hefty donation, making my heart skip a beat.
Wait, did you just say cute charm?
“Excuse me, Chairman? I apologize if this is inappropriate, but what would you like to do with the cute charm of someone as lowly as me…?”
I was stuck in a daze, like a broken doll, bending and straightening my waist, trying to win the Chairman over to change his mind.
Realizing it was a futile struggle since they couldn’t see me due to the lack of a cam, it took me a while to grasp that.
Of course, having received 1 million, or rather 2 million won, I can do some cute charm! But I’m also worried it might cut into the Chairman’s favor and turn the viewers against me.
Just looking at the chat…
【Seafood Sauce】 – Stop!!!!!!
【Neighbor Hani】 – Why would the Chairman want to see that…?
【Soju Flavored Hand Cream】 – I’m stepping out for a sec; call me when it’s done.
【Kokkiyaho】 – You’re gonna spend 200 on this guy’s cute charm?
Ah, this is a disaster. The moment I do the cute charm, it feels like 90% of the viewers will leave immediately.
【’Cosmos Will Protect You’】 – You’re not gonna go back on your word, are you? Haha.
While I nervously scanned the chat, the Chairman threw down a request.
If I back out now, I’m just a small-time streamer who ate 2 million won without doing anything.
Alright, Kang Woo-joo. You’ve already ruined your reputation; what’s a little more? If you’ll just do a horror game afterward, you can pacify the viewers then. Now’s the time to win the Chairman’s favor.
“…Guys, please cover your eyes and ears for a sec.”
But I have to keep the viewers entertained. That’s my duty as a streamer.
【Kokkiyaho】 – Oh, I can’t.
【Whirlwind Flower】 – Oh, I can’t.
With the chat filling with “O Bae” emojis, my viewers were there for my finale.
As I said, they may talk tough, but they’re good folks. Not one viewer left. If it were me, I’d’ve bolted to another stream immediately.
“Chairman, you have to come back to my stream tomorrow. Don’t run away just because it’s disgusting.”
I locked down the Chairman’s heart with gratitude for potentially ruining his reputation with my rotten charm.
【’Cosmos Will Protect You’】 – That won’t happen! Hehe, no worries!
Thankfully, he replied as if he would embrace my pathetic side. What a generous man.
“Nunna! What’s for dinner? Uju’s cooking three plates!”
So I transformed some cute lines I found online, swapping “oppa” for “nuna,” and tried to pose adorably while applying all the charm I could muster.
That day, something disappeared from me as a man.
*
– Nuna! What’s for dinner? Uju’s cooking three plates!
When a male voice that sounded more charming than most women recited a cringe-worthy cute line through my headset, the woman listening quietly finally burst out laughing.
Some might wonder if I’ve gone mad witnessing it, but at least to her, it was a rather satisfying reaction to the donation.
“Oh, you really can’t do cute charm. But that’s what makes it cuter. Hehe…”
In a huge room that could rival an apartment’s living room, she chuckled alone, only to realize what she’d just done and sighed longingly.
Originally, she had intended to hold back after donating a considerable amount a few days prior.
After all, big donations aren’t always good for the broadcast; sometimes they spoil the flow of the ongoing content, so she usually enjoys watching the stream like an ordinary viewer by donating a thousand or ten thousand won at most.
She didn’t want to create the impression of being a rude, wealthy viewer either.
But what could she do?
Even when she started earlier than usual, realizing the streamer’s voice sounded exhausted from the late counseling session, her hand was already making its way toward the mouse.
There’s a saying that when things get tough, financial therapy is the best remedy.
‘For now, I’ll hold back.’
With that thought, she steeled herself and placed her hands on the keyboard, typing quickly.
【Cosmos Will Protect You】 – Hahaha, thanks to you, I’ll sleep well tonight.
– Gah! Please erase it from your memory…! Please!
No sooner had she sent that message than a scream grated in her ears. She smiled, turned off her computer, and headed to her bed.
She figured she’d enjoy the follow-up stream on her phone and gently drift off to sleep, but the moment she plugged in her earbuds…
– Anyway, today’s follow-up stream will be short; I’ll just sing a few songs. Does anyone have song requests?
“……!”
The offer was music to her ears, sweet enough that she had welcomed it.
In the end, she shoved away her earlier resolve, and went back to texting on her phone furiously.
【’Cosmos Will Protect You’ donated 10,000 won.】
– Can you do Blue’s ‘Dalcom’?
– Oh, I love that song! Let me grab my guitar real quick.
Thankfully, she was the first to donate, so she was selected as the winner of the requests, which usually operates on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Ding♪
Soon, the gentle strum of the guitar filled the air, accompanying the mesmerizing voice of the male streamer, and she closed her eyes tightly.
As always, he had such a delightful voice. It wasn’t just a matter of being high-pitched; it carried a magic that soothed the heart.
‘Tonight, I’ll sleep well too.’
Thanks to him, she wouldn’t have to wander through the night again, and today too, she smiled inwardly, offering her gratitude to the man beyond the phone.