---

That evening, right after returning from the broadcasting station.

“Alright, everyone.”

I cautiously brought it up during the broadcast.

– ???

– ?

– Why?

Honestly, since I passed the test, I have to admit I want to give it a try.

When else would I get to play the villain who slaps the heroine in a drama starring Moon Chang-sik?

This isn’t something a nameless actress without connections, aside from Moon Chang-sik, can easily do.

“If I were to….”

– N

– Nn

– Dammit

– No way;;

The moment I hinted at it, an overwhelming wave of opposition flooded the chat.

As if they knew exactly what I was about to say.

“I haven’t even brought it up yet?”

– Don’t go you piece of sh*t

– What do you mean you’re taking a break already

– You haven’t fulfilled your quota yet, you idiot

“No one is taking a break. That’s not what I mean.”

They seemed to be overly dramatic about the possibility of me ending the stream.

…It’s definitely a bit bigger than an unexpected stream end.

– ?? Wasn’t it?

– If not, then whatever~

– So what is it?

Geez, am I really gonna drop this fearsome bit of info?

I glanced at the chat nervously before muttering a line.

“Uh… What if I were to take a long break from streaming?”

– ???

– That sucks, sh*t

– What did you just say?

– Say that again

“Hahaha… just kidding.”

The reactions were downright fierce.

Are they gonna come to blows, or what?

– Oh, I see

– Don’t joke like that, haha

– You scared me there~

“Not really a break, but maybe the broadcast schedule might become a bit unstable? Like it could get harder.”

– ??

– Why the hell

– Don’t say that!!!

“Uh, um.”

This part is crucial.

I felt like a teenager asking strict parents for a night out, trying to muster some courage.

“There’s something I want to do, you see?”

– What about your broadcast???

– Are you abandoning us?

– I’m gonna die

“NO, no, that’s not it! When have I ever said I’d abandon you?”

– You’re talking like that though

– Mom, I was wrong! Please don’t leave me behind…

– So what is it??? Just spit it out!

“Uh… um… well.”

Man, it’s tricky to explain this reasoning.

I got cast! I might be filming for a drama~!

Can’t exactly brag about it, huh?

Honestly, I’d love to just blurt it out, but there’s such a thing as confidentiality in this world.

If I don’t keep it, the adults would say, “This punk! Let’s show him some discipline!” and take money from me for bad behavior.

“Egh, whatever! It’s not confirmed yet, so just keep that in mind!”

It’s not like I have to decide right now, so I shifted the topic.

Who’s to say I won’t do it, right?

Honestly, am I even the kind of person with the luxury to shoot a scene outside of streaming?

No need to rouse the viewers unnecessarily.

– Damn!!

– Just say it, please!!

– I don’t know, I don’t know!

“I don’t know, I don’t know. I’ll just play some games.”

Ignoring the chat, I launched the game I had planned to play earlier.

The game of choice today is Royal Ground, which I played with Tenshi last time.

Simply put, I’m looking to practice alone to regain my lost edge.

– What’s happening??

– Are you really doing this today?

– Not a bait, right?

It’s been a while since I fired up a solo FPS game, and the viewers seem pretty shocked.

To the degree that the earlier break comment got lost in the noise.

“I’m just doing it for practice.”

Every time I played with Tenshi, I was targeted, and I couldn’t even secure a first place once.

I’m determined to practice hard alone so I can shine during our collab later.

– Not gonna avoid matchmaking?

– Let’s come at her with a full-on ambush, haha

– Is today the fan meeting day?

“Just bring everything. I’ll smash them.”

Since my goal is to prepare for the ambushes, I matched without hesitation.

– Hahaha

– You confident? haha

– So arrogant, huh? haha

After the game was queued, I took a plane and dropped at the most popular farming site.

A small city located near the map’s center.

It’s rumored that items spawn like crazy here, and as I parachuted down, a swarm of people landed around.

– Wow, haha

– So many!

– Can we even farm here?

“Don’t be scared right from the get-go. Those people are just level one.”

The folks landing alongside me are either noobs or ambushers.

The real danger will drop nearby to farm items first, then hunt me down while I’m off guard.

After being caught a few times, I’m familiar with ambushing methods.

As I floated down onto the roof, I spotted a person dropping down next to me.

“Guess I’ll have to throw down with you.”

– Let’s go!

– Show me what you got!

The person who landed in front of me glanced around, realizing neither of us had decent weapons, and we instantly rushed at each other.

Even without modern firearms, people can fight with their bare fists.

“Bring it on!”

I activated my public microphone and swung my fists.

The opponent activated their mic in response.

[Good evening, Miro-san!!]

“Huh?”

They’re Japanese.

– ??

– Hahaha

– It’s a Japan-Korea match, haha

Whoosh!

Initially startled, I quickly regained my composure and dodged their punches.

Considering they just called my name, they must be a Japanese viewer.

While their numbers have indeed increased recently, how crazy is it to encounter someone like this among ambushers?

They probably saw me through Tenshi.

“Take my punch that took down Tenshi!”

[Nani! Uso!]

– ???

– Hahaha

– When did you take her down, haha

– How does he understand?

Whoa! Bam!

Whether it was from mentioning Tenshi or they just got flustered hearing my Korean, I could sense their momentary vulnerability and pressed in with a series of punches.

Once they lost momentum, they were pushed back.

Bam!

[Kraah!]

Ultimately, my final blow landed, and they collapsed like a cold corpse.

“Phew, easy peasy.”

– What a coward…

– So petty…

– Can a public figure act like this?

“Who said I’m a public figure? Now for the gun…”

Having dealt with the pesky distraction, I felt ready to farm, but just then.

Bang!

“Ouch!”

I took a shot to the head, and my character went down.

– ???

– Hahaha

– Wow, you just died right away

Guess I must have fought for too long.

In the meantime, someone else had snagged a gun and ambushed me from another building.

“Just when I was about to start farming…”

– Hahaha

– Is that what you get? haha

– Should’ve picked up a gun sooner

“…Let’s move on to the next game.”

At least I netted one kill with my fists, right?

One kill and one death isn’t bad.

After rationalizing to myself, I quickly moved on to the next match.

Shortly thereafter, I found myself caught in matchmaking again.

This time I dropped straight into another famous farming spot.

“Well, there aren’t many people around here.”

The map was different from earlier, but still a popular farming area, though hardly anyone was around.

– Maybe the ambushers swapped to the next game early?

– That death was way too quick, maybe they came back into the queue?

– Miss D is definitely going for the Milestone, haha

“Still, you’d think there would be more bodies around.”

With my level, there’s no way the ambusher pros could drop off in just one match.

Most likely, those who flopped earlier are itching to target me this time.

As I parachuted down and surveyed the area, I found a total of only five people.

Well, that works for me.

Since it’s a pretty spacious and good farming zone, I figure if I’m careful while farming, I’ll be able to gear up nicely before running into anyone else.

“Let’s grab some guns first.”

After landing, I quickly started farming the nearby items.

With a reputation like this farming spot, I found an abundance of guns and other equipment around.

Noticing that the urban area had other players as well, I picked up a shotgun and a decent assault rifle for mid-range combat, packing a few grenades for good measure.

After finishing up my initial farming, while preparing to scout the area.

I heard footsteps coming from a nearby house.

“Is that a player?”

– Yeah, seems like it

– Let’s use a flashbang first, go go!

– Let’s down at least one, right?

“Let’s do that.”

I creeped closer, trying to deaden my steps.

The footsteps grew louder as I approached.

They must be busy farming.

Just as I was about to throw the flashbang…

[Miro-san?!]

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the neighboring house.

In Japanese, too.

However, it seemed to be a different person; their voice was completely distinct from the earlier one.

Still, since I’d been spotted, I quickly threw the flashbang.

Bang!

[Aah!]

Hearing the scream, I jumped through the window.

With my gun ready, I shouted.

“Ambush this, you little brat!”

[Aah!]

How could they have known I’d show up?

Maybe this ambusher was watching my stream.

– Oh, hell no haha

– Ambushing is a whole new level of low, haha

– Nice ambush commentary, haha

Such audacity! To land in the same city and ambush me like this!

And then….

“Stop pretending to be Japanese! You Chosun brat!”

[How did you know!!]

“I’ve been to Japan multiple times!”

– Hahaha

– Wait, was your Japanese fake?

– Kinda clumsy, haha

Anyway, I unleashed a storm of bullets, cornering the viewer who was pretending to be Japanese.

“Die, ambusher!”

[I just heard the noise!]

“That’s what ambushing is!”

Ratata-tat-tat!

After getting a few rounds in with my assault rifle, I pulled out a smoke grenade to toss.

No time for reloading now!

Once I fired, I was already exposed to the other players nearby.

Boom!

As the smoke grenade exploded, I switched to the shotgun I had picked up earlier.

“Die!”

[You crazy woman!]

Bang! Bang!

Flames erupted from the barrel.

In that round, I proudly claimed the chicken dinner.

**

After the broadcast ended.

I leaned back in my chair, staring at the concluding stream screen.

– Miro really has guts!

– Open the door again…

– Got any broadcast notices for tomorrow?

Even after the stream wrapped up, a few viewers lingered in the chat, reluctant to leave.

I chuckled for a moment at their eagerness before typing that everyone should head off to bed and stepping into the living room.

Manager Kim was away on a business trip, and Mrs. Jang seemed to have already turned in, leaving the living room dim and cold.

I shuffled over and flopped onto the sofa.

While I had no thoughts during the stream, the end made new worries bubble up.

Right away, those worries were about the drama.

What do I do now?

Honestly, if all I had to do was stream, filming wouldn’t have too much of an impact.

I could easily film for an hour or two late at night, and if I couldn’t manage that, I could always turn on a morning or outdoor broadcast instead.

However, the problem was…

Zing!

(Ahn Jung-hwan) – The music video production is going smoothly! I’ll send you the files we’ve made so far for you to review, and let me know if anything needs to be changed!

Right! Just when I needed that!

Like I just got a text, that means I’m not just streaming.

There’s an ongoing project with the Miro Family that has been moving forward for over half a year.

With Rain’s track completed last time, we now have four songs ready.

So isn’t it time to inform the manager ahead and prepare?

About Miro’s solo concert.

 

---