Chapter 9

[Translator – Peptobismol]

Chapter 9: The Inexplicable (1)

《Streamer Sero’s Casual Chat Broadcast》

[Hello everyone! Your eternal companion from the comfort of your own home, Sero here!]

ㅡ Kyayayaya, here comes my mental care medication!

ㅡ Seha seha!

[So, did everyone have an uneventful day? At the Neo Sanctum where Sero lives, the outer wall collapsed, allowing toxic gas to seep in…]

[I want to move to Neon City too…]

[Anyway, it turns out that it was near our house? Here’s the answer! That’s why I couldn’t do the broadcast yesterday!]

ㅡ Indeed, showing the number one characteristic of a VeTuber who worries the most when the broadcast isn’t on;;

ㅡ Haha, really unlucky, haha

ㅡ Characteristic?? Does that mean a windy mop? (I really don’t know) (Message deleted)

[By the way, did you all hear the news?]

ㅡ ?

ㅡ What is it?

[The company that went completely bankrupt during a corporate war with Koosaka!]

ㅡ Haha, I know that.

ㅡ If you pick a fight with the second largest company in the world, isn’t it natural to lose?

ㅡ Seriously, how did they dare to do that? Haha

ㅡ Pete Mac is really hardcore, haha, just getting rid of a company like that.

[Actually, Sero… I almost bought shares of the opposing company to aim for a sudden rise…]

ㅡ Haha, really crazy, there’s no reason to buy that.

ㅡ It’s fortunate that you didn’t buy; now it’s stuck at -99%.

[Right? That’s true! If you have a plan, you shouldn’t touch such stocks! Among our Sero squad, there wouldn’t be anyone like that, right?]

ㅡ Who would buy that, haha

ㅡ Right lolol

ㅡ Seriously, haha, why buy? (My sent chat)

After sending the message, I turned my head to check another screen interface.

At the end of my gaze was a chart screen with various graphs drawn on it.

“Oh, shit.”

At the end of the chart, a blue line continued to fall endlessly.

It was a chilly summer.

Let me preface this.

It was a decent stock when I bought it.

Really, it was unfair.

If I had aimed for a big win and bought the stock, even if it didn’t go well, I wouldn’t have felt so unfair.

When I did my research (30 minutes of searching), there was no news about a corporate war.

Every expert talked about how this stock had high highs and low lows.

When I confirmed and entered, it was a hopeful stock.

But when I briefly checked the NetSpace shareholder boards, instead of hope, all I heard were grumbles.

In short, it was a fucked up situation.

[Your remaining credits are──. This is lower than the average credits held in the lower levels of Neon City.]

“…Damn.”

Do you know an investor who became a pauper in an instant due to a momentary mistake?

That’s me.

Well, not exactly a pauper.

More like on the verge of becoming a pauper.

Of course, I did what only wise investors do – diversified investment.

But what’s the use?

Unfortunately, this worthless stock had the highest proportion in my portfolio.

At least, luckily…

When I signed the contract for this house, I bought it without installments, rather than rent.

Thanks to that, my fixed expenses weren’t as high as I thought.

But should I really be thankful?

Anyway, whether or not there were fixed expenses (food, net fees, city taxes, private insurance premiums, corporate taxes), the problem was still there, so finding a solution was urgent.

The problem is, my job is a “freelancer,” a “mercenary.”

It’s the best job for having no fixed income.

…If only I had known, I should have signed a contract with some company.

Come to think of it, among the mercenaries I know, it’s rare for them to only do mercenary work.

There were mercenaries who took advantage of their fame to shoot commercials.

And there were many who ran side businesses like singing or running an implant specialty shop.

Now I understand the reason.

If I had filmed a movie with a magician with a “lightning scar” on his forehead, I wouldn’t be worrying about credits now.

Unfortunately, I didn’t receive any offers like that.

Anyway, that was the conclusion.

I needed to get credits to live.

Now, borrowing money here is trash.

And earning money by working is average.

Skilled people like me always leave ways to earn credits in advance.

I connected a hologram call.

It didn’t take long to find the number because there weren’t many numbers registered in the phone book.

Refreshing music in the form of city pop, which does not fit well with the atmosphere of the cyberpunk world, played as the connecting sound.

I really have a unique taste.

The wait was short.

Not long after, the call was connected.

A hologram of a man with a sizeable 2m frame appeared.

Although it doesn’t look like it because of his height.

His race was a dwarf.

He is also a companion of the protagonist’s in the game.

The best implant surgeon I knew, and at the same time an advanced cyberware expert.

He was also an excellent hacker.

“Wow, what’s up? It feels like it’s the first time you’ve called me first in my life.”

And he’s also my friend.

“Hey ‘Drek,’ how’s it going?”

“Good! Just fine without any trouble.”

After some light ice-breaking, I brought up the matter.

“Then, pay back the money you borrowed, you bastard.”

Now, he’s just my debtor.

* * *

“Hahaha! Well, well. You called me first because of that reason.”

“…It’s not like I intentionally didn’t call you, I had a reason.”

The reason.

Because I’m ‘I’.

Making the first call?

It’s not easy.

The hologram of Drek laughed heartily with a clear voice.

“I’ve already made the deposit. I almost forgot about it too.”

“Oh.”

I murmured quietly.

An alert popped up on my interface indicating that credits had been deposited.

I expected him to pay it back, but I didn’t expect him to send it immediately after I brought it up.

“So, anything interesting happening lately? I heard rumors that Catherine moved to the next door.”

“…Don’t even mention that.”

My head was hurting too.

Drek, still smiling, pushed up the black cyber sunglasses he was wearing.

His green eyes emitted a mechanical light.

“Just treat her well, like you’d treat your girlfriend.”

“We’re not dating like you and Lorenda, so why should I treat her well?”

“Ugh, you clueless bastard.”

I paused at the sudden curse.

It was best to stay quiet at times like this.

After grumbling for a while, Drek continued.

“By the way, a good implant was released recently. Are you thinking of getting it installed?”

“Well… that’s not happening. You know my constitution.”

“Hmm… that’s true.”

The sadness of a feeble (correct) young (not really) man who had to lie still for a month after receiving surgery.

Having achieved my goal, I informed Drek.

“Well, since we’ve talked, that’s it. Looks like you’re busy, so I’ll hang up.”

“Haha! You’re still the same, trying to hang up as soon as the business is done.”

I had no words to respond with because it was a fact.

Drek’s lips curled up into a smirk.

His golden-plated teeth pierced through the holographic graphic, asserting his presence.

“Yeah, take care. When we go to the pub next time, call Catherine to come with us. Or just come to my workshop.”

“If I have time.”

“Just promise to come when I call you.”

“…Alright.”

Even after making promises to visit several times, I could only end the call after that.

Ugh.

I don’t understand why my friends cling to me like this.

Next to the turned-off hologram call, the stock graph screen I had opened earlier was still there.

I quickly shut off the screen interface with an irritated gesture.

Continuing to watch would only make me more annoyed.

It was easier to just think of it as money that was no longer there.

(Now it really wasn’t.)

…I should take on some contracts later.

My hoped-for retirement life.

Replaced by a despairing life of labor.

Anyway, now that I’ve managed to get back the credits I borrowed to Drek, I have some leeway.

‘I’ll just have fun today and think about it tomorrow.’

I brought back the Net streaming screen I had just closed.

Working tomorrow is the job of tomorrow’s me.

Having fun today is what I’m doing now.

I lay back on the bed, intending to roll around in the room again.

A cheerful female voice in the picture on the screen rang out.

[Wow! ‘Cyber Mouse’ has donated a whopping 10,000 credits!! I’ll be reacting all day today!]

ㅡ Woah, is that a real CEO?

ㅡ I’ve never seen a chat explode with 10,000 credits for such a show like this.

ㅡ Damn, I’ve been living on LAD nutrition tubes for three days straight!!! Is this life!

The timing wasn’t right.

Ugh.

How much is 10,000 credits worth?

I estimated that 1 credit was worth about 1,000 won…

Then…

….

I could have had such a bright future if I had changed my character’s gender when I first entered the game.

“No, what a crazy thought.”

Snap out of it.

There are many precious things that a man should not lose.

I had to realize that I should be satisfied with what I have and cherish it.

As I wrestled with mental anguish, Eve asked me a question.

[Why you’re thinking like that, I wonder.]

“…No, I just thought that making money through broadcasting seems easy.”

Of course, I don’t really think that.

I didn’t have such immature thoughts to ignore the fact that broadcasters have a lot of difficulties.

[Is that so?]

“Well, whatever it is, I can’t do it anyway.”

And at that moment.

I should have had doubts about Eve, who kept asking broadcasting questions.

* * *

It was an ordinary day as usual.

One day, as I was thinking about killing time while watching Net streaming like usual…

I heard rumors of a new big YouTuber rookie with incredible graphics and concept, so I went to watch.

[Hello, humans, nice to meet you today as well. Once again, I am the state-of-the-art artificial intelligence AI, Eve, here to conquer this world. Thank you for the 100 credit donation from ‘DominatePlease.’]

“?”

Why are you here?

I couldn’t believe it.

[Translator – Peptobismol]