---

It’s the day I take my first step as an esteemed game streamer.

Following Dayoung’s advice, after a lengthy break, today feels like a dream, as if I’ve been waiting forever like a rusted hunk of metal.

Thinking about starting today doesn’t feel real, so I spin around in my gaming chair like a lost puppet on display.

‘Game streamer, huh…’

Isn’t being a streamer kind of like being a puppet, too?

Playing games while broadcasting live on the internet.

Getting paid through viewer donations and ad revenue.

In other words, it looks like I can’t be completely free because I need the viewers’ interest.

Sure, thinking that this job could be tainted like water boiling over in a kettle would be an exaggeration.

Even if it’s not just about gaming, this whole professional streamer gig is now almost decades deep in our society.

Now it’s a pretty common job, and the negative perceptions from before have mostly disappeared.

Of course, some still look at it like they would at dried-out food waste.

There are streamers who create content that makes you cringe, akin to spotting a squashed animal on the road.

If things had stayed the same, it would’ve fizzled out like a will-o’-the-wisp, but the desire to carve out better paths is a natural impulse—progress for humanity.

They say ten years can change the landscape; well, after thirty years, a clear transformation has occurred.

‘Compared to the 2020s, it’s like a fairy tale.’

Healthy and diverse content.

Streamers maintaining their dignity.

Improved viewer awareness and etiquette.

High earnings.

Every change of season leaves a fresh mark on the world, much like data piling up on a computer—the change keeps stacking and stacking.

Little by little, such activities are now recognized as a proper profession, even by the older generation.

I stopped the spinning chair abruptly. It felt like the brakes were jerking at my Achilles heel.

Dayoung’s helping with the setup in the MS Room, but sitting here like a pile of trash doesn’t sit right with me…

They say knowing your enemy and yourself leads to guaranteed victory.

So I figured I should gather some preliminary knowledge from the internet.

First, the platform I’m starting on is Sweet Channel.

A top-tier platform that was gaining fame even before I was summoned to this fantasy world.

It might be a bold choice for someone like me dreaming of becoming a rising streamer, but isn’t it crucial to swim in the deep end?

What’s the point of fighting in a shallow pool when I could just end up like a worm buried in mud?

Moreover, it’s renowned for being the most compatible platform for broadcasting from a virtual reality MS Room.

Last time I searched for Soul Warfare, but this time I arranged channels by popular streamers, and the sheer number was staggering.

If you count the streamers, it’s enough to form an army, with all sorts of interests tangled up.

Especially in Soul Warfare, streamer rankings never drop below the top three.

‘Everyone’s doing face reveals.’

Though there were a few, female streamers in Soul Warfare were notably active. The fact that all of them were doing face reveals was quite remarkable.

What’s a face reveal, you ask? It’s when a streamer shows their face.

For female streamers, it can be a sensitive topic.

When their faces are known, their personal info could be as fragmented as a ripped-up cloth, especially if they’re beautiful and popular; stalkers or deranged fans have left many a trail of devastation.

The gross tastes of some people are a constant throughout time.

That’s why I remember there were quite a few streamers who embraced a mystique, opting to keep their faces hidden.

In the ten years since, the rise of virtual reality seems to have changed the game.

Yet, some facets remain as unyielding as a massive mountain.

‘There aren’t many.’

Among female streamers focused on Soul Warfare, finding skilled ones is like searching for a needle in a desert.

Excluding the few flower-like ladies from the women’s league and Dayoung, high-tier users are nearly extinct.

Of course, there are some standouts like ‘Lotus,’ a professional gamer who reached the Challenger tier.

She was signed to the same team as Warden from STK—a titan in the Soul Warfare women’s league.

In fact, even other female pro gamers fail to make Grand Master; her excellence is remarkable.

Though it’s said that the skill gap among female users is extreme, doesn’t it resemble different currents colliding?

In that context, Dayoung is like a casual splash of water at the intersection of those currents.

Before meeting me, her tier was Diamond, right up against Master.

“Should I log in soon?”

The broadcast is scheduled for 6 PM, but I need to log in early to prepare.

As I stepped into the virtual reality device, I sighed with comfort, reminiscent of a caterpillar cozily snuggling into a cocoon.

* * *

The MS Room is hailed as a vital arena for all streamers to showcase their act.

After about 20 minutes of waiting on the plush sofa cushions…

A flashing notification in the corner of my vision buzzed to life like a candle, announcing the connection of Forming.

By the way, Forming…

‘Dropped the Hero badge, did they?’

Maybe they thought ‘Hero Forming’ didn’t sound right.

Naturally, seeing the changed ID makes me want to swap mine as well; the grass is always greener on the other side.

“Hey, sis, hi.”

“Welcome, Forming.”

It wasn’t intended, but we ended up greeting each other like an awkward duo crashing at Uncle Gildong’s house.

“You changed your ID, huh?”

“Yeah, Paypay kept suggesting names that were terrible. I just came back as Forming because it was too much.”

What did she say to provoke such a reaction? When I asked, she hesitated for a moment before an avalanche of complaints tumbled out.

“They said to change it to something weird like Yuri Forming or Bobim Forming! It was disgusting, so I just ditched it and went with Forming.”

“Ah…”

I took a moment to mourn for Paypay, whose skull was probably left with a V-shaped dent from that incident.

Calming down, Dayoung interrogated me like a cop grilling a suspect.

“What’s up with your outfit? Where’s the character model you showed before?”

“Oh, this? I changed it up for content since I’m going live now.”

What I was wearing was Hero’s Equipment, just with some tweaks here and there.

It was a scaled-back version of the original equipment, aiming to lighten the load.

To put it simply.

“What’s this outfit, ditching that cool armor? And what’s that under it?”

The stylish Hero’s Equipment had vanished, replaced by gear that looked like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, showcasing its top-notch defensive stats.

Introducing Bikini Armor and Dolphin Pants.

If it didn’t match, I wouldn’t speak a word, but when I looked at it, I somehow felt it suited me, so I set it up.

“Feels a bit disrespectful, doesn’t it?”

As I lightly rubbed my neck, feeling her piercing gaze.

Normally, a medium armor look should exude a certain weightiness, so I understand Dayoung’s grievances at accepting this new change.

But isn’t it unrealistic for winter and summer outfits to be the same?

If the Radiant Hero Friede was embodying a medium armor aesthetic, now she’s seeking to break away from that image as a user named Friede.

“Sis, it’s not because I didn’t call you ‘brother’ or anything, is it?”

Seeing her expression go blank like a blackout city made me hurry up with my defense.

“Everything that needs covering is covered anyway. This outfit isn’t too big of a deal, right?”

“No, but you’re still in a game room. Why change the genre?”

“Don’t worry. This is the line I won’t cross. I’m just here to game.”

“Umm….”

Her eyes narrowed like a hawk hunting prey.

She scrutinized me for a while, then finally let out a sigh before making a semi-pleading but serious reminder.

“How you stream is up to you, sis, so I won’t nag. Just don’t lose your humanity. These days, it’s not trendy to strip down just because you’re a female streamer.”

“I’ll heed your words, Dayoung.”

See, when I gave her a compliment, she got bashful for no reason. Pretending it was nothing at all.

The truth is Dayoung frets way too much.

“Shall we get to prepping for the broadcast?”

“Wait, before that, this first.”

I operated the settings console to immediately kick off the ID change process.

「ID Change: Radiant Hero Friede → Friede」

The ID was too lengthy, cluttered to read or recognize.

As a streamer, not only should the title be straightforward, but names should also be simple and memorable like tofu.

Since Dayoung changed her ID to Forming, I decided to go for a simpler one as well.

I shared some of my MS Room permissions with Dayoung, and she deftly adjusted the setups, impressing me with her skills.

“Here’s where you can set up the streaming options. You can also check the camera settings that will be shown to viewers. We can tweak lighting and corrections, so let’s adjust them one by one until we find what suits you.”

“But I’m wearing a helmet. Do I have to take it off and reveal my face to set this up?”

“You can change your appearance through character customization in virtual reality. Nowadays, female streamers are getting into face reveals. But I don’t think you need to do that.”

Dayoung, with her arms crossed, pondered seriously before voicing her opinion.

“A mystique concept might be good. For any ordinary female streamer, it wouldn’t matter, but you’ve already made a mark through my stream, right? You had success captivating people with just your voice. Prematurely revealing your face would be a waste of content.”

“Sounds like it’s something I need to do eventually.”

“Well, it probably would be wise to do it sooner rather than later. If you wait too long, it might turn bland. But if your hobby is digging for ants, then I can’t say anything….”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

No matter how nice your voice is, face reveals in a female streamer’s broadcast are an essential part of the game.

As more people jump into virtual reality broadcasting, the mystique concept seems to fade into obscurity.

Dayoung’s belief that I’d be able to maintain that mystique until the mid-point is quite logical.

“Thanks to Dayoung, I’m kicking things off smoothly from the get-go. It feels good.”

“What are you saying? You’d be fine without me, anyway.”

“I beg to differ. I’m grateful you’re here.”

At my not-so-subtle praise, Dayoung turned her head and cleared her throat.

“Well, I’m a hero too.”

“Yeah, that’s right. I trust you.”

“…….”

Does she think turning her head means I can’t see her?

Or is she aware and still doing it?

Either way, it’s a deep-seated wish not to be honest, and it feels remarkably strong.

As expected of a veteran streamer—so reassuring.

Now, let’s learn from Dayoung’s K-Korean stew-style education and prepare for the broadcast, one step at a time.

 

---