Chapter 76 : Pachi -chun year -end awards ceremony (3)

Time flew by quickly.

The five-colored leaves fell, and the weather gradually turned chilly.

People started to bundle up in layers as the Siberian air mass began to push into the Korean Peninsula. Thankfully, it wasn’t too cold thanks to global warming.

Around the time when it was about to snow.

The day of the year-end awards ceremony was just around the corner.

“
…Miley.
”

I asked Miley, my hands shoved into the pockets of my winter coat. Perhaps because of the mask covering my face, my voice came out a bit muffled.

“
No matter how much I think about it, a dress is a bit much, isn’t it?
”

Underneath the coat I was wearing was a red dress Miley had procured. Honestly, it didn’t seem right to wear a dress to something that wasn’t like an acting awards ceremony.

However, Miley firmly shook her head. Her voice was also muffled by the mask and hard to hear.

“
It is necessary, Master.
”

“
I don’t see why it’s necessary.
”

I made a dubious expression.

“
It’s not like you have to wear a dress to an awards ceremony. Isn’t this a bit too much? It won’t be cold since it’s indoors, but…
”

“
But wouldn’t it be better to wear it?
”

Miley said softly. I couldn’t see because of the mask, but she was probably smiling contentedly.

“
…Well, okay.
”

It’s not like I couldn’t do it.

There’s no reason to be shy now.

I strode into the awards hall.

The ceremony was held in a remodeled banquet hall of a large hotel.

Previously, they had used a converted esports arena called Pachichik Station, located in the basement of a large building. But thanks to the generous funding from the company that acquired Pachichik (me), we were able to rent out the entire massive banquet hall.

I went in first and sat in the front row.

Then, for some reason, Miley disappeared, and CEO Cha came and sat next to me. CEO Cha explained how the awards ceremony would proceed.

“
The ceremony will be streamed live. In addition, the streamers who are attending will be broadcasting individually. They did the same last year.
”

“
I understand. Have all the other streamers arrived?
”

“
Just a moment. Hmm, they’re arriving gradually.
”

I glanced back. I saw some people I’d seen on Pachichik broadcasts. More people were participating than I thought. It was probably because the parent company had changed to mine.

‘
Well, it doesn’t matter anyway.’

The star of this event is me.

I closed my eyes and waited leisurely for the event to begin. I occasionally sipped a health drink whenever I got thirsty, and soon Miley reported that preparations were complete.

I slowly raised my head.

Then, my eyes widened.

“
David?
”

* * *

▣ Broadcast started lol

[Pachichik Year-End Awards Ceremony Broadcast]

But it’s not the same place as before?

—Pachichik’s parent company changed, so maybe they spent some money while doing something new and innovative?
└This is the Seoul Drumhill Hotel
└How did you know lol
└I know because I worked there lol It’s a banquet hall, and it looks like the biggest one
—Why are we talking about the company on the day of the awards ceremony lol
└Then where should we do it? lol
└I guess they meant post it on Pachichik’s website
└Idiot lol

▣ Is Seongwon coming today?

[Picture of Pepe the Frog with a cracked head]

Will she do a face reveal today?????? Right?????

—It’s on the published invitation list, but she could no-show and just have someone else accept the award lol
└Then public opinion will go down the drain, but would she really do that?
└It’ll go down the drain even if her face is revealed lol They still believe in a headless streamer with that cracked head lol Idiot lol
└Headless streamer lol Old man, your dentures smell like old people lol
—Is she not visible on the live stream?
└They don’t show her well. Only the crappy CEO shows up.
└It’s the CEO~ Of course they have to show him big and clear
└But what’s he talking about?

▣ Guys, why are they using the awards ceremony like a business presentation????

Why are they talking about entering the US market at an awards ceremony?? Just show Seongwon’s face quickly and end it so she can start her broadcast!!!!!!!!

—Crazy girl…
└Ah lol Who cares about the grand prize, just start the broadcast lol
—But can Pachichik compete if they go to the US?
└I don’t know. They seem to have a lot of money.
└They’ll be beaten by the language barrier lol
└It’s a platform launch, so American streamers will broadcast, what are you talking about lol

▣ I’ll poop at Gwanghwamun if Seongwon doesn’t win the grand prize today

[Picture holding pants]

I’ll poop at Gwanghwamun even if she doesn’t reveal her face
I’ll poop here too

—This guy is the same crazy guy who always posts without using the spacebar with that damn frog meme lol
└If it’s this guy, he’ll really do it… He really will…
—Please Seongwon, win the award so this guy doesn’t poop…
└Lol

* * *

I swallowed hard as I watched David lecture on Pachichik’s future path. At first glance, it was no different from the typical remarks made by a newly appointed executive.

Talking about differentiation, innovation, and other things that wouldn’t be kept, while setting unnecessarily lofty goals.

Entering the US market, launching huge projects under the company name, and so on. Isn’t that how you would interpret such talk?

Even if you make such investments, if you can’t generate sufficient profit, it’s all for nothing. Naturally, in most companies, such talk is nothing more than lip service.

However, Pachichik is my company now.

And I have no intention of skimping on the broadcast.

I realized that David was looking specifically at me as he spoke. In other words, this talk was meant for me. And I understood the underlying meaning.

‘
There’s still a lot to do.’

We’re only halfway there. We’ve barely conquered Korea. There’s no reason to worry about the end goal yet.

“
But…
”

The moment I was about to mutter without thinking, CEO Cha, who was sitting next to me, quietly murmured.

“
Chairman, have you ever heard the saying that it’s easier to defend than to attack?
”

“
…I think I’ve heard it somewhere.
”

Something about needing three times the defending force to attack. I don’t remember where I heard it, but I definitely remember hearing it.

CEO Cha nodded and said,

“
If your goal is simply to be number one in the world, it will be easier than you think. The attack was successful, and all you have to do is defend.
”

That’s right. That’s why my heart felt empty.

But, CEO Cha said something strange.

“
But if you look beyond that, it won’t be easy.
”

“
…Beyond that?
”

“
That’s right. For example, something like 300 million subscribers.
”

CEO Cha turned to look at me.

“
Are you going to stop at 300 million?
”

“
…!
”

“
You can go much higher, can’t you?
”

At that moment, it felt like lightning had struck my spine.

I thought the goal was the peak that ends once you reach it.

Defeat the Demon King, kill the Evil God.

And then return home.

My goals in another world were always things that ended the moment they were completed. I thought that the moment they were achieved, there was no room to go further unless a new goal emerged.

‘
That’s why I was really happy when I luckily found something to set as my life goal in the modern world.’

Of course, some would say, ‘You can achieve 300 million subscribers and become the best internet broadcaster, and then find another life goal.’

But would that be easy?

After killing the Evil God, would punishing an evil lord feel like a worthwhile goal? Anything less would feel insignificant. Not to mention, I already have a fortune close to a cheat key.

But.

CEO Cha looked at me and said with a serious face,

“
You can keep stacking and rising. If it’s 300 million, you just need to add one more person to the 300 million, right? And there are other things too. If you become the best internet broadcaster, you just keep going up until there’s no one to compare you to.
”

“
…
”

I blinked for a moment, then grinned.

“
You’re right, CEO Cha.
”

Meanwhile, the awards ceremony had begun.

I watched as several streamers went up to the podium one by one to receive minor awards.

And finally, my name was called.

Miley, who had approached at some point, called me.

“
Master.
”

“
Alright, let’s go.
”

I am the star of this show.

I slowly rose from my seat and took off my coat, handing it to Miley. As the bright red dress was revealed, all eyes were on me.

CEO Cha muttered in surprise.

“
Th-That dress… Why are you wearing that?
”

“
Miley told me to wear it. Why?
”

“
Oh my god.
”

CEO Cha covered his face in despair.

I didn’t know why he was acting like that, but the ceremony had to proceed. I walked click-clacking up to the podium. The host stared blankly at me for a moment before quickly regaining his composure and delivering his lines.

“
…N-Now! The most powerful typhoon to hit Pachichik this year! The record-breaking broadcaster who achieved the number one ranking in the shortest time, a soul genius, and a gaming genius! No.1 Seongwon! Congratulations on winning the grand prize!
”

“
…Yes! The suspicion that Seongwon is actually an AI will now be put to rest. I can see with my own eyes that Seongwon is definitely human! Congratulations!
”

I received the trophy from the host and looked down. However, unlike the others, there wasn’t as much applause as I expected. The audience seemed to be staring up at me blankly, and the chat window displayed on the side panel kept flickering as if there was a bug.

I was about to take out the acceptance speech I had put in my pocket, but then I remembered that pocket was on my coat.

“
Um…
”

As I stood still, the host quickly filled in.

He seemed worried that I might freeze up and cause a broadcasting accident. Who do they think I am? I would never cause such an accident. I was just thinking for a moment.

And my contemplation quickly ended.

I grinned and opened my mouth.

“
No.1, Seongwon. Live streaming on Pachichik. Please subscribe and like.
”

“
…Y-Yes! That was Seongwon’s grand prize acceptance speech!
”