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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: All Master's Game Broadcast 8
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"So, what are you gonna do about it?"
Hayun snapped back to reality after a brief moment of faith in Haesung.
She asked about the challenge that Elbow had thrown down.
"What do you mean?"
"Elbow sent you a challenge. You gonna do it?"
"Well... it wouldn't be so bad, right? Facing off in a game we've never played against each other before. Sounds pretty fun."
Haesung grinned and nodded lightly.
Hayun nodded back in agreement.
"That's what I think too. Honestly, Elbow's status isn't a joke."
"...That big of a deal?"
"Yeah. Unlike the games we used to play at the local arcade or on PC back in the day, Iron Fist is at the peak of popularity right now."
"Oh, if that's the case, I get it."
The various games Haesung had enjoyed in the past weren't all major titles.
Especially with fighting games, even if they were fun, they were often too difficult or dominated by veterans, making them tough for casual players.
But Iron Fist now was different.
"It's so fun that people put up with the difficulty. Plus, pros from other games often play it to warm up or sharpen their senses, so it's got great viewing appeal too."
"Impressive."
"It's not called one of the Big Four for nothing. Though, it's kinda the runt of the litter among them."
Runt of the litter or not, it was still one of the world's Big Four games.
A game like that was worth diving into, no matter how tough or challenging.
"Unlike the PC era, you can't make sub-accounts anymore, so you don't get toyed with by veterans' alts as much. Not many vets go as far as deleting mains to level alts."
"Definitely... that makes it playable for regular folks."
"When similarly skilled players match up, nothing beats it for fun. The hit feedback feels great too."
On top of that, as a VR game, Iron Fist restricted sub-account creation, boosting its popularity even more.
A system where vets played with vets, and noobs with noobs.
Haesung listened intently to Hayun's explanation and made up his mind.
"Guess I'll take it on."
"I've been saying that. I think so too."
Acceptance.
Hayun nodded as if it were obvious, seeing Haesung's resolve to accept the 1v1 against Elbow, the ultimate vet of Iron Fist vets.
"But I've got a proposal. Wanna hear it?"
"A proposal? What kind?"
Haesung tilted his head at Hayun's suggestion.
"First, put some clothes on before I tell you!"
"...Oh."
Hayun fled to her room, dodging the half-naked Haesung who'd just asked her a question.
Only then did Haesung realize he'd just come out of the shower.
He scratched his head awkwardly and headed back to his room.
Even if they were family, he had no hobby of chatting half-naked in front of his little sister.
* * *
"You're dressed properly this time."
"...Who do you take me for, some pervert wandering around naked?"
"Hmph. Parading around like that in front of a grown lady makes you a pervert."
Haesung, now in simple shorts and a T-shirt, shrugged at Hayun's grumbling as he entered her room.
"Keep it up and I'm heading out."
"Aaah, wait, wait, wait!"
Hayun, who'd been grumbling, freaked out at Haesung's seemingly ready-to-leave vibe and shot up from her chair.
Haesung grinned at his sister finally acting her age.
Three straight fingers were just a bonus.
"Giving you 3 seconds. 3, 2, 1...."
Hayun hurriedly spilled her proposal as Haesung's long, straight fingers folded one by one with the countdown.
"...Since it's come to this, why not try streaming too, Oppa?"
"Streaming?"
"Yeah! Like me, do internet broadcasts!"
Streaming.
Having received a challenge from a big-league streamer like Elbow, make the most of it by starting a stream.
That was the essence of Hayun's proposal to Haesung.
Of course—
"Not really interested."
"...Why not?"
"I like playing and enjoying games, not showing them off to others."
"Ugh... but if it's you, Oppa, you'd definitely become a bigger streamer than Elbow...."
"What reason do I have to do that?"
"...."
It was a proposal of little meaning to Haesung.
"Yesterday...."
"That was just me joining your stream on a whim while playing with you."
"...You could make good money too?"
"Got plenty of money."
"...Tch. How does a guy missing for 10 years have so much cash!"
Money overflowed in his subspace.
More precisely, precious metals he could convert to cash.
He hadn't needed them yet, but if he'd needed quick cash or found the family in debt upon return, he'd have sold them right away.
'But Hayun's making decent money, and while Mom and Dad spent some on me, the family finances haven't tanked. No need to get cash through illegal means.'
Selling otherworldly goods was no different from fencing stolen property.
On Earth, that was breaking the law.
He was confident he wouldn't get caught, but no point converting when he didn't need to.
'If money troubles arise, I can always convert then.'
In short, lots of money wasn't motivation for Haesung.
But Hayun didn't give up on his firm stance.
"You don't have anything to do, Oppa!"
"True. But that doesn't mean I should stream."
"Lazing around at home works for a day or two! Mom and Dad will worry!"
"...This kid's dragging Mom and Dad into it now."
"But... it's true."
"Tsk."
Parents.
Even Haesung couldn't ignore that topic.
Hayun wasn't wrong.
As someone missing for ten years, they'd understand him taking some time off.
'But would that hold for months or years? No, they'd worry sick. And they wouldn't even bring it up, scared of triggering another disappearance.'
But that wouldn't last forever.
Months, years.
Short as a blip to Haesung, who'd lived centuries or millennia, but his parents wouldn't accept it.
They'd likely just suffer in silence and fall ill if lucky.
"...I'll humor you a bit."
"Heeheehee."
Hayun began laying out her plan, looking at Haesung who'd finally caved(?).
* * *
"Don't fight right away."
"...Why?"
"Since you're streaming, use this as the hook."
"Is that necessary?"
Hayun's first plan.
Postpone the 1v1 with Elbow as much as possible.
It made no sense to Haesung, but it was obvious to Hayun.
"What've you got going for you, Oppa?"
"Game skills."
"...Besides that."
"Good looks."
"...Besides that."
"Take everything away, and nobody's left with anything. Then... body?"
"Argh, Oppa has no recognition! Recognition!"
Hayun blurted out what Haesung lacked, unable to retort to his calm listing of what he did have, and vented her frustration.
Recognition.
Haesung had no choice but to nod.
"True. Got none of that."
"...So annoying, but it's true so I can't argue."
She knew he had everything else she'd mentioned.
Especially the body—she'd just seen it.
Thinking back made her face heat up, so she flapped her hands to cool off and yelled.
"Anyway! So we fill your lack of recognition with mine and Elbow's!"
"With Elbow's? Does that work?"
"...You're writing off my recognition?"
"You said it's nothing compared to his."
"Well, yeah, but...."
Haesung asked the sulky Hayun, who had no comeback.
"So, what's the plan."
"...You weren't even listening. Simple. Put this in the stream title."
Hayun confidently jabbed a long finger toward Haesung, who was asking what she'd do next.
"What?"
"'Mint's Oppa Comet, Acknowledged by Elbow's Stream.'"
"Sounds cringeworthy."
"Grr... then what's your idea? You got none!"
"True, but... still, that's a bit much."
Haesung genuinely grimaced and squirmed at how much he hated it.
"Acknowledged by Elbow" was fine, but "Mint's Oppa" was the problem.
Catching on, Hayun pouted openly.
"Elbow's okay, but your one and only little sister isn't?"
"We're not hiding we're siblings anyway."
"Tch, fine. Then just 'Comet, Acknowledged by Elbow.'"
"That... might work."
Fortunately, Hayun knew how to compromise.
She knew she couldn't proceed without his okay, but compromise was compromise.
"Alright, decided. Let's order a streaming PC. And a cam."
"...Already? Can't we use the one at home?"
"Your PC's still the same specs from 10 years ago."
"Let's buy now."
Computers felt outdated after a year, let alone ten.
That meant junk only a scrap dealer might take.
'Can't stream or even game properly on that.'
Shoving aside the chilling thought of nearly just browsing the web, Haesung rested his chin on Hayun's head, which was peeking over her chair's backrest.
"Hey, what're you doing! Just sit next to me!"
"This is comfy."
"I haven't washed my hair yet...."
"So, what specs for the PC?"
The teasing was brief, of course.
No smell from Hayun's unwashed hair for a day or two, but sibling instincts kicked in, and Haesung quickly moved to the seat beside her.
With a straight face, he snatched the mouse and searched specs.
Hayun stared in disbelief, then shook her head and snatched the mouse back.
"Why grab the mouse when you don't know jack? Trust your cute little sis... no, noona!"
"Too short to be noona."
"...Dummy! You're just tall!"
"Probably both."
Hayun glared daggers at Haesung's smug shrug for a moment.
Then she sighed and moved the cursor to her go-to PC build site.
'He's got stuff I can milk outta him, so I'll endure...!'
What she hadn't told Haesung.
To gain from his stream for her own, Hayun endured the humiliating(?) chin on her head.
And so, Haesung's streaming prep, sudden as it was, was going smoothly.