Chapter 41: It’s Just Skill, Is There a Problem? (Part 6)

Sung Shihyun decided to use Ji-eun’s account for the explanatory broadcast.

Ji-eun adjusted the interface for the broadcast.

She turned to Shihyun and said, “Impact is key.”

“Impact?”

Shihyun tilted her head, puzzled.

Impact…

“Listen closely. This is your debut broadcast, Shihyun, and it’s happening at a crucial moment.”

“If what you said is true, then yes?”

“Just look at the huge amount of attention online as soon as I posted the announcement. It’s obvious.”

Ji-eun looked directly at Shihyun, her eyes sparkling.

“In short, you’ve got maximum aggro right now.”

“Aggro…”

The word felt strange. Aggro… Shihyun only associated it with attention-seeking behavior. She frowned at the subtle negative connotation. Ji-eun chuckled.

“What’s wrong with aggro? It’s still attention.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. And when you have this much attention, you need to make an impactful impression on the viewers. That image will follow you throughout your streaming career, Shihyun.”

“I see.”

First impressions are everything, as they say.

And this broadcast was different; it was Shihyun’s first time taking center stage. It was, without a doubt, her debut.

So, naturally, she needed to make a good first impression.

‘Smiling would be best, right?’

While Ji-eun was busy with the interface, Shihyun secretly practiced smiling. The more she tried, the more unnatural it felt. She put her fingers in her mouth and stretched it sideways to force a smile.

“Bleh.”

Ji-eun turned her head and caught her.

“…What are you doing?”

“Practicing smiling.”

“…Why?”

“Shouldn’t I smile to make a good impression?”

“Honestly, Shihyun, you look prettier with a neutral expression. Let’s go for the cold beauty look instead.”

“…Okay.”

Her smile strategy was immediately sunk by Ji-eun!

Shihyun despaired that her strategy was deemed so inadequate. This was different from facing the Demon King’s army. But Ji-eun was the expert, so it was probably best to listen to her.

As Shihyun pondered this, Ji-eun suddenly muttered, “It’s a shame, though.”

Huh? A shame?

Shihyun tilted her head and asked, “What is?”

“Well, that we can’t use all our impact on this explanatory broadcast.”

Huh? What did that mean? Shihyun didn’t understand. Wasn’t the purpose of this broadcast to make the biggest impact? But she couldn’t give it her all?

Her confusion must have shown on her face. Ji-eun scratched her cheek and explained, “See, we’re calling it an explanation, but we’re not actually explaining the hack accusations today.”

“Ah.”

That was right.

Surprisingly, this wasn’t actually the explanatory broadcast!

“This is basically a preview.”

Ji-eun muttered indifferently.

“We’re announcing when, how, and in what way the explanation will happen, and that Arfellium HQ will vouch for it. That’s all we’re doing today.”

“Ah.”

Shihyun finally understood. This broadcast couldn’t have a huge impact. Originally, the explanation was planned in two parts, and adding a separate schedule announcement would only diffuse the focus.

Ji-eun sighed deeply.

“That’s why. We have no choice but to post a separate notice on my channel’s board, which disperses the attention and makes the impact weaker. It would have been perfect if we could have avoided that. Such a shame.”

“But it can’t be helped, right?”

That’s right. It couldn’t be helped.

Arfellium Corporation HQ hadn’t contacted her about when to visit the Korean branch.

Shihyun shook her head, and Ji-eun clicked her tongue.

Then, she waved her arms and exclaimed, “I mean, it’s ridiculous! Arfellium Corporation is a massive multinational company, right?”

“R-Right?”

“And they’ve decided to officially address hacking accusations for the first time ever! Shouldn’t HQ have informed the branch office of the plan beforehand? So they could handle things immediately? It makes no sense! What kind of system do they have?”

“Uh…I don’t know much about companies.”

“Honestly.”

Just as Ji-eun grumbled, a phone icon appeared in front of Shihyun.

Ring ring ring!

“Huh?”

Shihyun was startled by the sudden notification. Ji-eun asked with a puzzled look, “What’s wrong?”

“I think…I just got a call?”

“Huh? Didn’t you link your smartphone to VR? Do you need to step out to answer it?”

“No, it’s not that. It seems like a VR call…”

“So?”

Shihyun said with a strange expression, “I only gave my VR device code to you.”

“…You really had no friends, Shihyun.”

After that gut-wrenching comment, Ji-eun tilted her head and asked, “Doesn’t it say who it’s from?”

“Um, it just shows a code.”

Ji-eun thought for a moment and then suggested, “Why don’t you answer it?”

“Is that okay?”

“How would I know?”

Ji-eun shrugged and chuckled.

“You never know. It might be Arfellium Corporation’s Korean branch.”

At that, Shihyun immediately answered the call. A face appeared before her, a middle-aged man with brown hair.

[Greetings, user Shihyun13. I am Kim Junghyun, Assistant Manager at Arfellium’s Korean branch.]

“…Uh, the Korean branch?”

Ji-eun’s eyes widened at Shihyun’s murmur. She fidgeted, but Shihyun ignored her and focused on the screen.

[Yes, that’s correct. I’m calling to explain the procedures for verifying whether you’ve used unauthorized programs. Is this a good time?]

“Yes, it is.”

[Our engineers from HQ will visit your residence in two days to inspect your VR device. On the same day, please visit the Arfellium Corporation Korean branch in Seoul.]

“If I go to the headquarters, I can prove my innocence?”

[We’ve prepared a test to assess the performance you’ve demonstrated. If you pass this test, it will officially confirm that you haven’t used any unauthorized programs. Of course, we’ll provide the VR device for the test.]

Assistant Manager Kim Junghyun said with a smile.

Shihyun gulped.

Go to Seoul and use a new device?

‘What about my trusty kitchen knife?’

She couldn’t do it without it…

“…Understood.”

All she could do was agree.

[Then, I’ll see you in two days.]

The call ended.

Shihyun stood there blankly before turning to Ji-eun.

“They want me there in two days.”

“R-Really?”

Ji-eun’s eyes widened, then began to sparkle.

“Great! All the pieces are in place. We can start the broadcast now.”

“Are we ready?”

Ji-eun nodded at Shihyun’s question.

“Yes. Come here.”

The broadcast interface appeared in front of Shihyun.

She stood next to Ji-eun. Her face appeared on the screen. Since it was an explanatory broadcast and not a game stream, only their faces were shown.

“We’re live.”

As soon as Ji-eun spoke, a massive number of viewers flooded in. The chat exploded.

[Started]
[Hi]
[Hack explanation how?]
[Oh lol, she says she can explain~~]
[Shihyun hi]

Shihyun glanced at the chat and slowly began to speak.

“Hello, everyone.”

[Hi]
[OMG so pretty]
[For real lol]
[Noona marry me]

“Let me start by saying that I have not used any hacks. The performance you’ve seen is purely my skill, and no unauthorized programs were used.”

[How can you prove that?]
[Oh lol she says she can prove it lol]
[Talk is cheap, show us the proof]

“And I have a way to prove it.”

Shihyun glanced at Ji-eun and said firmly, “Arfellium HQ will verify whether I used any unauthorized programs.”

[?]
[?????]
[HQ will prove it?]

The chat went wild.

“That’s right. In two days, there will be a verification broadcast at the Arfellium Korean branch.”

[?????????]
[For real?]
[HQ will officially address the hacks?]
[Super pretty sword master getting a HQ explanation broadcastㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ]

“So, I’ll see you in two days.”

Shihyun manipulated the interface and ended the broadcast.

Ji-eun gaped at her.

“You, you just ended the stream?”

“Yes.”

“After saying just that?”

Shihyun tilted her head.

“Why?”

Was something wrong?

Ji-eun smacked her forehead.

“Seriously, who ends a stream like that?”

“W-Was I not supposed to?”

Was that wrong?

“Of course not! Who ends without even saying goodbye!”

“I didn’t know.”

“Sigh.”

Ji-eun shook her head.

Then muttered, “I’m a little worried about your streaming career, Shihyun.”

“Haha.”

Shihyun laughed awkwardly.

She really didn’t know.

But her excuses fell on deaf ears.

That day, Shihyun had to endure a two-hour lecture from Ji-eun on how to properly conduct a stream.

The internet exploded at her announcement about the official verification, and Ji-eun’s channel was so overwhelmed that she had to take a two-day break from streaming.

If Shihyun didn’t clear her name quickly, she would be causing Ji-eun a lot of trouble.

And…

Two days flew by.

“Today’s the day.”

The day of reckoning had arrived.