Chapter 11 - New) This is Barcode (3)
I should have downed a bottle of soju before starting the broadcast.
My earlobes are burning hot. When my eyes met with myself in the cam, I felt embarrassed as if I had exposed my intimate self.
Thinking that at least 327,000 people were watching me made me dizzy.
It’s enough people to fill the Michigan Stadium, the largest in the US, three times over and still have some left. If you add the viewers from other streamers rebroadcasting my room… it’s incalculable.
I turned on the broadcast right away to strike while the iron is hot, even trying to add a motor.
Can I handle this?
Get a grip. The water has already been spilled.
Just endure it thinking about our baby birds chirping for me to bring home money.
[Viewers’ reactions and chat messages]
Fortunately, the reaction isn’t bad. At least for now.
“That’s for later. First, let me put on my earphones. It might get noisy since I have a lot of family members at home.”
The wired earphones are tangled in knots. I tried to untangle them but got lazy and just plugged them into my ears.
[More viewer reactions about the tangled earphones]
“A manly… I mean, a womanly person doesn’t care about such things.”
I was organizing my thoughts on where to start the story, when
‘HaYooru’ donated 1,000 won!
-Can you make the cam a bit bigger?
“Ah, yes.”
I clumsily dragged the mouse. The cam screen became a bit larger.
[This interaction continues with the viewer asking for larger cam size and the streamer eventually making it very small as a joke]
“Because of HaYooru-nim, we’ll proceed in this state. Now, it’s a long story, so listen carefully.”
Just then, I heard a fanfare sound urgently trying to stop me.
‘HaYooru’ donated 50,000 won!
-I’m sorry, please make it bigger again ㅠㅠ
It was according to plan.
“Wow, HaYooru-nim made a precious donation…! Please know that this was absolutely not induced or planned.”
I changed the cam screen size to full size.
[More viewer reactions]
Amidst the quickly passing text, I caught one chat message that stood out clearly to my eyes.
Nighttime Nose Surgery: Fcking btch blinded by money
“Nighttime Nose Surgery-nim gave us the precious advice of ‘Fcking btch blinded by money’. Let me check the chat history.”
[The streamer then reads out the user’s previous chat messages, revealing they’re upset about losing games due to the streamer’s build]
“Ah, sh*t. Now I feel bad about banning you. You’re innocent!”
[More viewer reactions]
“Alright, let’s really start the story.”
I started talking about my first meeting with Hyun Junho.
“I threw out a fishing line and reeled it in, not knowing in my wildest dreams that it would be player Hyun Junho. Even the three consecutive all-ins I did then were because I had to wake up at 5 AM.”
[Viewer reactions]
“Because of newspaper delivery. I work three part-time jobs. With 9 children, I have no choice.”
The chat window froze for a moment. I thought everyone was speechless, but it seems they all typed at once causing lag.
Chat messages came up at bullet speed.
[Viewers react with shock and confusion about the streamer having children]
I tried to hold back my laughter but couldn’t and burst out.
“I’m kidding. I’m twenty, how could I have children? They’re not my children, but my siblings. I’m the eldest of 10 siblings.”
[More viewer reactions]
“That’s why I did the 10 million won bet with player Joo Sehun. It’s also why I’m being a bit obvious about collecting donations. Cooking for 9 people, picking up the kids, three part-time jobs… only people who’ve done all this simultaneously can criticize me. If you acknowledge it, like.”
Countless likes came up like arrows along with sympathetic donations.
“So, the big announcement is this. I’m challenging the rank 1 player Jung Suhyuk to a one-on-one 10 million won bet…”
[Shocked viewer reactions]
“…is a joke.”
I stuck out my tongue mischievously.
Then countless curses flew in. If this were reality, soju bottles or grills might have been thrown, such was the fierce reaction.
“Anyway…”
It was still an awkward smile, but I raised my lips fully and said,
“Please watch my broadcasts a lot. It’s going to be very spectacular.”
[The scene shifts to a man named Kim Hwachang, who works as a PD at KBN. He logs into Galaxy War and chats with someone using the name CheonMa]
[They discuss recent events, including the Barcode vs Joo Sehun match]
Kim Hwachang checks the match video and is surprised by Barcode’s playstyle, which reminds him of a guild member named Jenis.
He then watches Barcode’s first broadcast and is surprised to learn Barcode is a woman.
As he’s about to close the video, he remembers something:
ㅡHaYoo is taken from my name.
The woman’s words suddenly came to mind.
‘Jenis’s real name was Han Yujin. Han Yujin…’
A small, faint clue. From that clue, suspicion arose, took root, and expanded.
‘HaYoo, HanYu, Han Yujin!’
“Haha. I’ve been editing so much that I’m going crazy now. My life is really, f*cking something else.”
Even though he berated himself like that, he couldn’t shake off the suspicion in the end. Once he started doubting, a stick began to look like a snake.
Kim Hwachang finished the remaining beer and typed in chat.
<[R]HwaChang★: Mr. CheonMa>
<[R]HwaChang★: I’m going to see Han Yujin tomorrow>