Chapter 3 - First Broadcast
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I opened my eyes to the sound of birds coming from outside the window.
Harsh sunlight was seeping through the thick blackout curtains.
As I turned my head blankly, the clock hanging on the wall caught my eye.
11 AM.
“Ughhhh…”
It’s fucking annoying to get up.
Now that I’m back in Korea, I should enjoy some leisure time.
At least here, enemies won’t track my location and fire missiles just because I slept in a bit longer.
By the way, that’s from personal experience.
When I overslept for about an hour at the campsite, suddenly cruise missiles started falling from the sky.
Since then, I’ve never overslept even once until now.
But here, it’s a different story.
There’s no chance of bombings, getting sniped, or dying from accidentally getting caught in an IED explosion while walking down the street.
Instead, there’s a soft bed, heating, and internet connection.
This is heaven.
“Mmm…”
As my back started to ache from lying in the same position, I rolled to the edge of the bed.
I let my arm dangle over the side of the bed and yawned.
“Yaaawn…”
I wiped the moisture from my eyes and zoned out for a while.
Gradually, I started remembering what happened last night.
Yesterday, I went to the convenience store to buy beer and had a panic attack when the part-timer lowered her hand under the counter.
This is all because of those fucking rebel bastards.
People I thought were civilians acting friendly, then suddenly pulling out guns and shooting at me when I let my guard down.
I experienced it so many times that I’m thoroughly sick of it.
On the battlefield, guns were everywhere.
Under ordinary household tables, in refrigerators, under beds, even in flowerpots.
They would approach pretending to offer food, then shoot you in the face with a pistol, or act like an injured civilian and when our medic approached, blow their torso away with a shotgun.
When everyone you meet is trying to kill you and your comrades, there’s something wrong if you don’t develop paranoia.
That doesn’t mean what I did was right, though.
Grabbing a stranger’s wrist and acting recklessly was clearly wrong.
In the end, I gave my number to the convenience store part-timer as an apology.
Fortunately, it seemed she wasn’t trying to sue me, as her face had a happy smile when she took the phone from my hand.
Getting so excited just because she got a guy’s number.
I felt embarrassed seeing her not knowing what to do with herself out of joy.
Anyway, yesterday’s incident was wrapped up somewhat well.
The part-timer accepted my apology, and I got my precious beer.
Now what I need to do is…
“…turn on the broadcast.”
The reason I thought of internet broadcasting wasn’t for any particular reason.
It was just a choice for livelihood because it would be ambiguous how to make a living after being discharged.
It’s not like I particularly wanted to become a broadcaster.
Anyway, before returning to Korea from Solomon, I had already researched broadcasting platforms.
A famous platform that existed in the previous world too.
I created an account with the help of Jennifer, who said she did internet broadcasting before joining the Solomon International Legion.
I briefly raised my head to look around my room.
The computer, microphone, and webcam on the desk were all set up yesterday.
“What should I do for broadcast content?”
Sitting up abruptly on the bed, I pondered quietly.
It seems most appropriate to go for a broadcast for military enthusiasts who like military stuff, but it also seems too common.
A former soldier reviewing games, sharing military stories, etc.
I needed something unique that would distinguish me from others.
Something that Korean people can’t easily experience and that would strongly attract viewers.
Such a topic…
“I’ve got it?”
I can just tell my own story, can’t I?
A war veteran’s story of returning alive from the battlefield in the distant Middle East.
It’s an interesting broadcast topic just thinking about it.
I’m such an idiot for not thinking of this simple thing and worrying all day.
Did sand get into my brain from rolling around in the desert?
Somehow my brain’s functioning state is quite fuzzy.
“Alright, let’s turn on the broadcast.”
Clap-
I got up from the bed, clapping my hands lightly.
They say strike while the iron is hot, so I can’t just sit still.
It’s Saturday, so even if I turn on the broadcast at this hour, there should be at least a few people watching.
Whirr-
I turned on the computer and monitor and sat in the chair.
As soon as the familiar desktop appeared on the monitor, I turned on the broadcasting program and finished the basic settings.
I’ll keep the title simple.
[5th Middle East War Veteran Sharing Stories]
Alright, let’s go.
.
.
.
.
.
“Fuck.”
This is a nightmare.
It’s been 2 hours since I started broadcasting.
There’s no viewer influx at all.
People occasionally come in, but they leave again without any chat, repeatedly.
Did I do something wrong?
After thinking for a while, I looked at my broadcast screen.
The webcam view showing the keyboard on the desk.
Should I change the cam angle a bit?
Maybe people aren’t gathering much because my face isn’t showing.
It’s a bit awkward to say it myself, but my appearance is at a very outstanding level in this world.
To use Frida’s expression, it’s an appearance that puts celebrities to shame.
The rare white hair and red eyes.
A finely chiseled face like a sculpture.
Shouldn’t this be enough to attract viewers’ attention?
After adjusting the cam angle for a moment and adding “cam broadcast” to the title, I leaned back in the chair and entered an indefinite waiting state.
Please, someone come in.
[Viewers – 1]
“!”
Finally, a bite.
I should have adjusted the cam angle earlier.
It seems I really did leave my brain in the desert of Jibro.
Just as I was self-deprecating, the first monumental message appeared in the chat.
-hi
“Hello!”
Ah, this feels like being rescued by allies after wandering in enemy territory for a week.
After a long 2-hour wait, I was so happy to finally communicate with a viewer at this moment.
-Appearance is insane;;
-Is your hair dyed?
“No. It changed to this color from rolling around on the battlefield.”
To be precise, it became like this after drug doping in Solomon.
If I expose anything related to drugs, it’s obvious that Solomon will unleash their hounds to personally come and beat me up, so I made up a vague excuse.
-hi
-hi
While I was briefly chatting with viewers, the number of people slowly started to increase.
Is this the effect of cam broadcasting?
-What kind of broadcast is this?
-I don’t know either
Viewers who didn’t know the content of my broadcast yet were asking questions.
It’s only natural for a true broadcaster to answer sincerely.
“I’ll introduce myself formally. I’m Chris, who participated in the 5th Middle East War that ended this year as part of the Solomon International Legion.”
My original name is Kim Sung-hyun.
Chris is the name my fellow soldiers called me.
-Is he really a war veteran? Not an idol trainee?
-For real, you’re too handsome
-Is this a lie?
“Shall I show you proof?”
-Show proof
-Go go
-Go go
It seems the viewers don’t believe me, so I should bring some definitive evidence.
“Please wait a moment.”
After roughly saying that into the microphone, I started rummaging through the boxes lying around in the corner of the room.
I pushed aside the box containing clothes, and when I opened the box next to it, my photo album revealed itself.
I carefully hugged the precious photo album containing all my memories from the International Legion and rummaged through the bottom of the box.
The cold metal sensation felt at my fingertips.
It was the medal of honor awarded in Solomon.
This should be enough.
I turned towards the viewers who were continuously asking questions.
-What’s that?
-Looks like a medal
“Yes, this is the medal of honor awarded by the Solomon Ministry of Defense. You can see my name engraved here, right? Chris Kim.”
As I sat in the chair and waved the medal in front of the camera, the viewers’ reactions weren’t bad.
-Seems legit
-A white-haired, red-eyed oppa who came back after rolling around on the battlefield for 3 years… Hnnnng…
-They sell medal replicas on the internet these days, isn’t this fake?
-What nonsense are you talking;; His name is engraved
-Could have been custom-made
“I guess this isn’t enough proof?”
I thought that might be the case, so I prepared this.
The photo collection May took of me on the battlefield!
Among them, I pointed at a photo of me wearing combat uniform and holding a rifle, and looked at the camera.
“This is me. It’s probably a photo taken in the summer of 2023.”
-It’s real
-It’s real
-Where’s that bastard who said it was fake lol
-Isn’t it photoshopped?
-This guy is persistent…
“Sigh… What should I do to make you trust me…?”
I cautiously asked the one viewer who was being more tenacious than expected.
Should I show you how close air support is done?
The viewer kept demanding evidence from me.
-Need some definitive proof
-What’s that definitive thing, lesbian lol
-Like military uniform or military service certificate
“Of course I have a military uniform. I have a military service certificate too. Wait a moment.”
I hurriedly took out a desert camouflage combat uniform from the clothes box rolling around in the corner of the room, and a black case from the box where I had taken out the medal and photo album.
I ran back to the chair, sat down, and showed the combat uniform top and the military service certificate inserted in the case to the camera.
It’s a genuine article with the crown emblem of the Solomon Ministry of Defense clearly engraved.
“Is this enough?”
-OK, acknowledged
-Your persistence is really amazing, sir…
-To be honest, there are a lot of such impersonations;;
-That’s true
“Phew…”
As the controversy over the authenticity of my military service, which had suddenly flared up, was finally extinguished, I felt all the energy draining from my body.
Broadcasting is not as easy as I thought.
My head hurt from trying to check how viewers were reacting, reading the room, and coordinating my words and actions all at once.
Honestly, I wasn’t without the desire to take a break, but the viewers who had started to get interested in the new content were still hungry.
-Please share some war stories
-Yeah, I’m curious
-Have you ever been shot?
-Have you ever killed someone?
“Hahaha…”
This is the broadcast you chose…
Endure it with evil, with guts…