[LIVE STATUS: ACTIVE][Viewers: 1]
I stared at the glowing panel. One viewer. Just one. And honestly? I didn't care.
One was better than zero. One meant I wasn't going to vanish into the void—at least, not yet.
"Uh… hi there," I said, forcing my lips into a smile Pixel demanded earlier. The orb hovered beside me, its lens aimed perfectly at my face like an overenthusiastic cameraman. "Welcome to… uh… my stream."
The single comment floated across the screen.
[???]: What… is this?
My grin widened. Classic viewer reaction. Confusion. Curiosity. The sweet spot for retention.
"This…" I spread my arms dramatically, only to hit the wooden bedpost with a loud thunk. "Ow! Uh… this, my mysterious viewer, is history in the making. You are officially watching the very first stream in this world."
[???]: Stream?]
"Yeah! You know… live show, real-time, no filters. Just raw content."
Pixel zipped around me like an excited drone. "Explain better, Host. This world doesn't even have indoor plumbing in most towns. They don't know what Wi-Fi is."
"Right," I muttered under my breath. Then louder: "Okay, think of it like this—you're… watching me through magic. Entertainment magic! I talk, you comment, and we have fun. Simple, right?"
A pause. Then another message blinked on the screen.
[???]: …Strange magic. I will watch.]
Pixel made a chirping noise that almost sounded like applause. "Congrats, Host! You kept the viewer. Retention achieved!"
"Thanks, little camera buddy," I said with a sigh of relief. "But… we need more than one viewer."
Pixel's lens shimmered. "System Tip: Do something interesting, Host. The more exciting, dramatic, or unique your content, the higher your chances of appearing on Realm Recommendations."
I groaned. "So it's basically fantasy Twitch algorithm hell."
Pixel beeped innocently. "Adapt or vanish!"
I looked around the tiny wooden room. Four walls. A bed of straw. A small table with a cracked jug. No posters, no RGB lights, no cat to accidentally walk across my keyboard for clout.
"Yeah… this isn't exactly content gold."
Then, like fate itself wanted to kick me into gear, a ding sound rang in my head.
[New Side Quest: Go Outside and Explore.]Reward: +10 Viewer Interest, Random Loot Box.]
I blinked. "Did… did I just get a quest for touching grass?"
"Yes!" Pixel twirled in the air, its wings buzzing. "Great engagement idea! Outdoor IRL streams always perform better."
"…Fine." I pushed myself up and adjusted the loose shirt. "But if I get eaten by a dragon on Day 1, I'm haunting the System."
Pixel giggled. "Dragons would boost views!"
I stepped out of the creaky door and squinted as sunlight smacked me in the face. For a moment, I just stood there, staring. The air was fresh—so fresh it almost hurt my lungs after years of breathing city smog. A dirt path stretched out ahead, flanked by patches of wildflowers. Birds chirped in the distance, and beyond the rolling hills, I could see a dark line of forest.
The kind of scenery you only saw in MMORPG loading screens.
"Wow," I whispered, and for a second, I forgot about the System, the stream, everything. This was… beautiful.
Pixel zoomed around me. "Great reaction shot! Keep talking. Be descriptive. Viewers love immersion."
"Right," I said, straightening up. "Okay, chat—well, chat, singular—I'm outside now. This is… uh… the countryside. No skyscrapers. No cars. Just… endless nature. Rate the vibes, one out of ten."
Another comment blinked in.
[???]: …Nine.]
I grinned. "Nice! Solid rating."
Then another ding.
[Viewers: 3]
Pixel squealed. "We tripled!"
"Woohoo," I deadpanned, but inside, my chest fluttered with excitement. People—no, beings—were watching. Real-time. From who-knows-where.
A second comment appeared.
[ForestWatcher]: What strange clothes you wear.]
And another:
[BladeAndBread]: Where is this?]
Pixel zipped in front of me. "Host, Host! Engage! Build community! Answer questions!"
"Yeah, yeah." I flashed a grin at the floating screen. "Strange clothes? Ha! These are called… uh… casual Earth style. Super rare. And where is this? Well… you tell me! Because I have no freaking clue!"
A ripple of laughter emojis filled the screen. Wait—emojis existed here? They looked like glowing runes forming laughing faces.
Pixel beamed. "Nice! You triggered Laugh Reaction. Engagement +5."
"Engagement points? Are we seriously gamifying this?"
"Yes! And you're doing great! Keep going!"
I walked down the dirt path, showing the scenery. Fields stretched out, dotted with tiny cottages and smoke rising from chimneys. Farmers worked the land, their clothes rough and simple. Some glanced my way with mild curiosity, probably wondering why a guy was talking to himself.
"This is… actually kind of peaceful," I said softly. "Better than Seoul rush hour, that's for sure."
[ForestWatcher]: What is Seoul?]
I chuckled. "Oh, just… a faraway land of chaos and overpriced coffee."
Pixel chimed. "Keep the mystery vibe, Host. It's intriguing."
Then something moved at the edge of my vision. A dark shape darting between the tall grass. I froze.
"…Pixel?"
"Yes, Host?"
"Tell me that's not something dangerous."
Pixel tilted its lens, scanning. "Hmm… small, four legs, sharp teeth… yep, looks like a Tier-1 Wild Fangbeast."
"…A what now?"
"Low-level predator. Likes to chew ankles. Great for early combat content!"
Before I could process that, the beast lunged out of the grass—a wolf-like creature with glowing yellow eyes and fangs the size of kitchen knives.
"WHAT THE—" I stumbled back, nearly dropping to the dirt.
[Chat explodes with comments:][BladeAndBread]: Fight it!][ForestWatcher]: Do not die.][???]: …Interesting.]
Pixel zoomed overhead, excitement dripping from its voice. "Great drama! Perfect for viewer retention!"
"Retention my ass! It wants to EAT ME!" I yelled, grabbing the first thing I saw—a broken tree branch.
The beast snarled and lunged again. I swung wildly, missing by a mile.
[New Quest: Survive the Encounter.]Reward: +50 Viewer Interest, 1 Beginner Weapon.]
"Oh sure, NOW you give me a weapon!" I screamed, dodging as claws slashed past my leg.
Pixel projected a glowing icon in front of me. "Tap to claim, Host!"
"Tap?! With what? My soul?!"
"Just think it!"
I focused hard on the icon, and with a flash, a rusty iron sword materialized in my hands. Heavy. Clunky. But sharp enough to not be a stick.
"Okay, Fido," I hissed. "Let's dance."
The beast lunged again, and this time, I swung with everything I had. The sword connected with a sickening crack, and the beast yelped, stumbling back.
[Critical Hit!][HP: -50%]
I blinked. "Wait… there's an HP bar now?"
"Of course! Boss fights need health bars!" Pixel cheered.
The wolf snarled, circling me. My arms shook from adrenaline, sweat dripping down my face. The chat spammed messages:
[ForestWatcher]: Strike the neck!][BladeAndBread]: Don't choke now, Earth man!][???]: …Good.]
With a roar that was half terror, half rage, I swung again—and this time, the blade sank deep into its throat. Blood sprayed. The beast collapsed with a pitiful whimper.
I staggered back, chest heaving, eyes wide.
[Quest Complete!][Reward: +50 Viewer Interest, +1 Beginner Weapon, +20 Energy Coins.]
Pixel twirled like a manic drone. "AMAZING! Host, that was chef's kiss content! Viewer count—check this out!"
The panel flashed:
[Viewers: 29]
"…Twenty-nine?" I whispered.
"YEP! You're trending in Lesser Realms!" Pixel squealed. "First kill, first blood, first stream highlight—this is gold!"
I slumped to the ground, sword still dripping red. My hands trembled. My breath came in ragged gasps.
"Holy… crap," I muttered. "I just killed something. On camera."
The chat exploded with glowing messages. Praise. Cheers. A few donation icons shaped like sparkling gems.
Pixel chirped. "Congrats, Host! You just earned your first tips!"
A tiny notification appeared:
[Energy Coins: 20 → 75]
"Money," I whispered, staring at the glowing number. Real or not, it meant survival.
Pixel hovered closer, voice soft but firm. "You see now, Host? This is more than a game. Every kill, every laugh, every risk—it all matters. To them. To you."
I met its lens, my heart still pounding. Then I grinned.
"Fine," I said, voice steady now. "If they want a show…"
I raised the sword high, letting the sunlight gleam off the rusty blade.
"…then I'll give them the greatest damn show this world has ever seen."
[Stream Title Updated: 'Earth's No.1 Creator VS Fantasy World!'][Current Viewers: 53]
And as the chat exploded with hype, I didn't notice the shadow moving in the distant forest. Watching. Waiting.