Chapter 5- Viewer 2

Choi Kang-sik became the center of media attention as soon as he arrived in Seoul. An ordinary person who defeated a monster! People were even more astonished because he hadn’t even used psychic powers, let alone firearms. The cameraman who hunted Any-One with only tent equipment produced numerous legendary scenes, which spread rapidly across borders and languages. While he was briefly surrounded by reporters for an interview:

“My goodness! Do these people never sleep?”

It might not be a wrong observation, given it’s midday on the other side of the globe. The emergence of monsters had severed sea and air routes, making travel between countries and cities difficult, but ironically, it also spurred the development of information and communication technology. Choi Kang-sik knew this well, even more so because he worked in the broadcasting industry.

‘No matter what, they should at least let me go to a hospital!’

He had been poisoned by the Underdog’s venom. People treated him like Superman just because he defeated a monster, but there was no way he was fine. Choi Kang-sik shook off the endless questions from reporters and practically fled into a nearby hospital. The doctor, who had drawn blood, gave him the diagnosis a few minutes later.

“You’re perfectly fine.”

“Ah, yes… Yes?”

“Mr. Choi Kang-sik, you are very healthy. I also thought you’d be poisoned after watching the video, but it seems you don’t need to worry.”

“…Is that so. That’s a relief.”

‘Is this also the power of the Gods?’

When the Underdog fled, all the poison that had infiltrated his body was completely withdrawn. However, the aftereffects of poisoning usually remained. Didn’t they say the pretty girl and her mother, whom he rescued, would need at least three years of hospitalization? But he was perfectly fine.

“Well, there’s nothing bad about it.” Choi Kang-sik muttered as he trudged out of the hospital.

Having poured all the money he earned over the past five years into rent and his camera, his wallet and bank account weren’t in good shape. His body was his only asset! There was no way he’d dislike it being healthy.

[A certain God is bored]

[A hasty certain God desires violence]

[Viewer: 4]

‘…Should I have gone to a mental hospital instead?’

God’s words were visible to him. Choi Kang-sik constantly operated his smartphone even as he headed home by public transportation. First, he applied for a personal broadcast channel. It was opened quickly.

“Hehehe… Yu Il-am. I’ll give you cancer.” Choi Kang-sik chuckled ominously like a devil, then immediately posted his personal broadcast link in Yu Il-am’s chat room.

Like a breached dam, a mass migration of viewers began.

• Oh~ made it in a flash.
• Cameraman re-hi. (p>ω<)尸
• lol Is this MS for real?
• Subscribed for now. ^^

Yu Il-am would surely throw a fit when he found out that viewers were being siphoned off to his broadcast, but Choi Kang-sik didn’t care at all.

‘That bastard must be in a frenzy right about now.’

The evidence captured live was too clear for him to escape. He’d even earned the humiliating nickname of “a psychic worse than a civilian.” “Flame Sniper”? That had devolved into a boastful old tale.

“…What is this?”

Choi Kang-sik stopped walking towards his home. It wasn’t that someone was blocking his way. It was more like he had lost his destination. His house was gone. The humble rooftop room in a three-story commercial building. His only place of rest, where he had barely managed to get by, partly paying rent by cleaning the communal bathroom, was gone. Not just his house, but the entire area was utterly devastated! Because of this, the surroundings were noisy.

“Check for survivors!”

“Damn it! Do monsters not take holidays?!”

“Move instead of complaining!”

Rescue workers bustled around, cleaning up. They moved bodies and searched for survivors.

‘Monster’s doing, I guess.’

He hadn’t heard news of some psychics, who firmly believed they were the strongest in the world, turning into terrorists recently, so it was almost certainly a monster. Choi Kang-sik plopped down on a nearby pile of rubble. The street, which had been vibrant until he received Yu Il-am’s annoying phone call and had to go to work on the weekend, was now utter chaos. It wasn’t particularly surprising.

“Bad luck. Well, six years was a long run.”

His house destroyed and the street steeped in fear, it felt as normal to Choi Kang-sik as his daily routine. The only people who couldn’t accept this as normal and declared it “hell” were the older ones. The Earth of the past, which they often spoke of with nostalgia, was a very kind paradise for humanity.

[A certain God is tired of cold popcorn]

[A certain God yawns widely]

[A hasty certain God leaves abruptly]

[Viewer: 3]

Choi Kang-sik’s eyes narrowed as he saw the message.

‘They really are just like viewers.’

They left without hesitation as soon as the broadcast atmosphere became a bit dull! The time they stayed was indeed very short for him to grow attached.

Whoosh…

He felt the strength drain from his body as the number of watching Gods decreased from four to three. This wasn’t good.

Viewership = Combat Power.

If this formula held, it was a clear crisis! He could clearly see what would happen if the ‘Viewer’ count became ‘0’. The Gods’ live broadcast seemed to have no concept of ‘rest.’

“They look like they’re going to watch all day long…?”

His father’s words were right. God was always watching them. It was enough to make his teeth clench in indignation! Choi Kang-sik, who used to be an MS manager, thought and thought. How to hook viewers before the ratings dropped further. In fact, the solution was very simple.

‘I have to broadcast right now.’

The interests of these mysterious Gods were easy to discern: monster hunting. It wasn’t baseless speculation. The Gods in myths and legends watched the battles between monsters and humans. And they blessed the humans who defeated monsters. For example,

Siegfried. He killed an evil dragon and gained an immortal body.

Perseus. He killed Medusa and obtained Pegasus.

The phenomenon Choi Kang-sik was experiencing now was similar. Although he hadn’t gained any groundbreaking abilities or equipment from the Gods.

‘Oh, Gods. What do you think? My speculation.’

[A certain God is unimpressed]

[A certain God snorts]

The reaction was utterly underwhelming. Choi Kang-sik scratched his head in embarrassment and carefully looked around. The monster was nowhere to be seen, perhaps already subjugated. He was dumbfounded.

‘They say you never find what you’re looking for.’

Indeed, if monsters were that common in the middle of the city, Seoul would have been devastated and turned into a barren wasteland long ago.

“Hey.”

A young man’s voice came from behind him. He subtly turned his head and saw a handsome hunter, seemingly in his early thirties, standing there prominently. Choi Kang-sik pointed to himself with his index finger, confirming.

“Me?”

“Yeah, you. The guy with the camera, looking spaced out. Run away right now. A monster might still be near… Hmm?”

Their gazes met squarely. And a few seconds later, they almost simultaneously questioned each other.

“A monster here?”

“You’re that cameraman?”

They were clearly strangers, but the handsome hunter recognized him at once. The same went for Choi Kang-sik.

‘It’s Han Jo-seop?’

MS Han Jo-seop. He was a monster streamer with considerable skill and good looks, possessing many female fans. Such a celebrity had recognized him.

‘Heh~ So I really did get famous.’

It was a fresh feeling. Just this morning, he was just a common cameraman… MS Han Jo-seop, harboring similar sentiments, wore an expression that showed his displeasure. To him, Choi Kang-sik looked like nothing more than a lucky parvenu. But he quickly changed his expression. Into a broadcast smile.

“Oh! My! I’ve encountered the protagonist who swept the real-time search rankings today. Mr. Choi Kang-sik, nice to meet you. And to our viewers, before we bless this serendipitous meeting, let’s watch a short commercial.”

Han Jo-seop winked a signal to his cameraman. An unauthorized break! The spirit of a somewhat famous MS was clearly felt. It was also true that he cut at the perfect timing to show a commercial. Choi Kang-sik let out a wry smile and thought.

‘Now he’ll show his true colors.’

“Hey, parachute. Did you come to catch monsters too?”

As he expected, Han Jo-seop’s tone changed 180 degrees from gentleman to thug.

“No.”

“What? No? My word! A mere porter who couldn’t even show his face on broadcast until yesterday is speaking informally. The business ethics of Korea are dead! Well, a parachute wouldn’t know the concept of senior-junior relations!”

Choi Kang-sik crossed his arms and simply said.

“What’s your viewership rating?”

“What?”

“I said, what’s your viewership rating?”

“……”

“Don’t chirp. What’s this ‘senior-junior’ nonsense in this business? Viewership is king. If yours is lower than mine, shut up and learn something.”

“Huh…”

Han Jo-seop’s mouth hung open, his lips flapping like a goldfish. He wanted to retort immediately but couldn’t. Because it was true. For an MS, viewership rating was the ranking.

‘No, what kind of bastard is this?’

Even if it was true, he didn’t expect him to come out so strongly. The only way to overturn this? Han Jo-seop shouted back.

“How dare a guy who can’t even use psychic powers act so high and mighty! Parachute! Your viewership is all foam! How many days do you think it’ll last? Huh? The moment you abandon citizens and turn your back on monsters, you’re finished! Got it?!”

Pure skill. This alone would forgive a rigid and arrogant broadcast style. With influential sponsors instead of a large viewership, there’s no financial disadvantage either. Such hunters were few and far between, even if you searched the entire Earth.

Choi Kang-sik scoffed.

“That’s my problem to worry about. Mr. Han Jo-seop. I don’t think you’re in a position to worry about others right now.”

“What?”

“Isn’t your break a bit too long?”

“Gah!”

Han Jo-seop, jolted by the young man’s casual remark, the young man with five years of experience as a cameraman and manager, spun around to his own cameraman and yelled.

“You incompetent fool! Are you in on this too?!”

“Yes…?”

“You were taking his side because you’re a fellow cameraman! You should have told me right away if the break went over three minutes! Did you do this on purpose because you wanted to see me fail?! Huh?”

“S-sorry.”

“Don’t just babble, hurry up and start!”

“Don’t worry. The viewers aren’t particularly bored.” Choi Kang-sik interjected abruptly.

“What?”

“My broadcast had no breaks.”

The camera rested on his shoulder without the slightest awkwardness. Even the perfect integration of blade and body by a master swordsman couldn’t be so natural. Choi Kang-sik was an MS and a cameraman. A splendid collaboration, a hybrid. Han Jo-seop’s eyes widened like full moons.

“No way…?”

• The junior's got a harsh tongue. -.-
• Sorry for being incompetent, Mr. Psychic Bastard.
• Should I push you to #2 on trending searches? ^^

The handsome man’s face turned pale as he quickly checked the comments. The viewer mood was not good. And very seriously so. Choi Kang-sik smiled brightly and said.

“Hello. This is MS Cameraman, whose broadcasts are full of accidents. Welcome to all new viewers.”

[A hasty certain God is welcomed]

…Everyone but you. He wouldn’t accept disloyal viewers.

[A hasty certain God is welcomed anyway]

[Viewer: 4]