Chapter 30 : Proper Start
Chapter 30: Proper Start
The day of the first ‘Hack Tour’ content broadcast.
Even though there was still some time left before the start, Jeong Nayeon and Cha Seongcheol had already gathered.
Unlike Baek Woohyun who literally just had to play the game, they needed to not only communicate with viewers but also look after various matters.
They had to adjust broadcast settings one last time, and also talk with the broadcast camera operator who existed due to the nature of the broadcast format.
It meant it was somewhat inevitable that the two gathered first.
However, that didn’t mean Baek Woohyun didn’t come. He had also gathered around the same time. He just wasn’t visible because he was in ‘Reverse Planet,’ not here.
“By the way, will it really be okay?”
“Huh? What will?”
In the midst of moving busily, at Cha Seongcheol’s sudden words, Jeong Nayeon asked back.
“Hackphysical said whatever conversation we have here is fine, but we really can’t do that. We should appropriately be careful.”
“Ah, that—”
Jeong Nayeon chuckled.
She understood Cha Seongcheol’s worry. She caught on to what he meant too.
But because she was someone with long friendship with Baek Woohyun, she also knew that worry was ultimately meaningless.
She spoke toward Cha Seongcheol with an expression of needless worry.
“I’m not joking, you really don’t need to worry. To put it bluntly, that guy Woohyun wouldn’t even care what we say here.”
“Is that so?”
“Unless we curse his parents or something… but you’re not going to do that, right?”
“That’s right. There’s no way I would. Haha.”
Cha Seongcheol, who burst into laughter at Jeong Nayeon’s joke, added “He must originally have that kind of personality.”
Hearing those words, Jeong Nayeon’s expression became awkward.
‘Originally that kind of personality…’
Thinking as a friend who had spent quite a long time together, Baek Woohyun wasn’t originally that kind of personality.
Of course, it was true he had a tendency to be somewhat indifferent to other people’s opinions. But he didn’t regard them as worthless to this degree.
He was just at the level of not accepting other people’s opinions on things he’d sincerely resolved to do, not to the extent of not having even a trace of interest in people talking about him like now.
…Until recently, it had certainly been that way.
‘What on earth happened for him to change like that.’
It wasn’t simply talking about personality change.
That he became tremendously good at games enough to be misunderstood as a hacker, and also changed considerably in appearance—actually in the latter case, Jeong Nayeon was secretly satisfied!
What had happened to Baek Woohyun to have such tremendous change was still a mystery. She could only wait, thinking he’d tell her when the time came.
“It’s about time.”
As they prepared while having various conversations like that, before they knew it all the remaining leisure had disappeared, and the start time had approached.
Having finished preparations, Jeong Nayeon and Cha Seongcheol sat in chairs set up inside the studio and properly started the broadcast.
After pressing the broadcast start button, they watched viewers pouring in from the waiting screen.
-Oh, door opened
-Finally… at last…
-Look at how fast viewer count rises ㄷㄷ
-Was just waiting for the notification
-If Hackphysical isn’t here after this it’d really be trouble
Perhaps thanks to announcing the broadcast in advance.
In less than just a few minutes, the viewer count broke through two thousand. It wasn’t even stopping there but kept steadily increasing.
Considering the fact that this ‘Hack Tour’ content was essentially content relying on Hackphysical, Baek Woohyun’s buzz, all of them coming to see him was basically the same.
Indirectly proving he alone had the power to draw thousands of viewers!
Of course, about thirteen hundred of them were viewers who originally watched Jeong Nayeon and Cha Seongcheol, but even excluding that, it was undeniable it was a tremendous number.
However, as time passed, the momentum of viewers entering clearly weakened.
In any case, since the hack controversy was close to a past topic, they couldn’t expect the same power as the clarification broadcast that had gathered tens of thousands with one broadcast.
Moreover, the clarification broadcast was close to a cheat key from the start, so it was natural. Because it was a combination of hack controversy plus an operator.
‘Still, this much is sufficiently beyond expectations.’
Jeong Nayeon, who grinned and looked at Cha Seongcheol, noticed he was also thinking the same.
She’d dare assert the ‘Hack Tour’ content had considerable potential. The kind of potential that could make those two people into major corporations.
Nod.
After looking at each other and bobbing heads, they switched the broadcast screen.
From the waiting screen to the studio where the two people were.
“Jeongha~ Hello everyone! I’m Jeong Nayeon!”
“Nice to meet you, viewers. I’m Cha Seongcheol.”
-What, why two people??
-Where’s Hackphysical
-Fuck I knew it, scammed again
-I caught on it was a lie when Kang Soyul wasn’t there lol there are kids who fell for this lol
At the sight of only Jeong Nayeon and Cha Seongcheol, viewers immediately vomited anger asking if they lied.
Already opinions had been divided over whether Hackphysical would appear or if it was just aggro, and the broadcast started yet there were only two people, so it was understandable.
Several impatient viewers even spewed profanities, but Jeong Nayeon and Cha Seongcheol didn’t care. Because they’d been aiming for this reaction from the start.
How could they not know what viewers would say if shown a studio without Baek Woohyun?
Of course they knew. Also that several quick-tempered ones would spew profanities. Since they too were personal broadcasters who had broadcast for quite a long time, it was natural.
Yet they deliberately showed the studio with only two people first for reversal effect.
Because showing it when people think you’re just talking without him would allow starting content more effectively than just showing him blankly.
“Ah. Don’t be too hasty, everyone. You should at least hear the story.”
Jeong Nayeon continued speaking while gently soothing viewers.
“To know why Hackphysical isn’t here now, you first need to know his personality.”
-Hmm…
-Let’s hear it
-What excuse are you making?
-Just shut up and listen
“He originally dislikes bothersome things, and doesn’t like noisy chattering either. He doesn’t particularly want attention from people.”
To be clear, she shrugged saying it wasn’t a personality suited for personal broadcasting.
“Some might say ‘What are you talking about, he appeared on the clarification broadcast’—but I’ll clearly tell you using this opportunity. If I hadn’t persuaded him, he probably wouldn’t have appeared?”
Jeong Nayeon wasn’t making up nonsense. Actually, even after Baek Woohyun learned about the controversy surrounding him, he had thought ‘Do I need to deal with this?’
Later Kang Soyul’s invitation would have come so he wouldn’t have been completely unaware of the controversy, but still, he clearly wouldn’t have thought he needed to appear on a clarification broadcast to clear his false accusation.
The probability was high he would have ignored it reasoning that since he was just playing games alone anyway, whatever anyone said had nothing to do with him.
“In the first place, until I contacted him, he didn’t even know a hack controversy happened because of him. To him it was too natural a thing to think it would become a controversy.”
-???: I think it’s absurd that even something like this becomes a controversy
-Why is it a controversy? To me it’s natural?
-Controversy because physicality is too amazing ㄷㄷ
-Thinking about it now, it is funny lololol
“Then Jeong Nayeon-ssi, you’re essentially one of the two people who revealed Hackphysical to the world.”
“Yes, something like that.”
At Cha Seongcheol’s words chiming in from the side, Jeong Nayeon nodded.
The other person was naturally Kang Soyul.
If he hadn’t been accidentally caught on her broadcast, Baek Woohyun would still be unknown.
Of course, an awl in a pocket is bound to pop out someday, and Baek Woohyun would have too, so him being revealed was a matter of time, but anyway.
‘Leader’ donated ‘1000 won’!
[So where exactly is Hackphysical?]
“As I mentioned earlier, he’s not here. Because he’s quite shy.”
-???
-Then what exactly are you trying to do
-How long will you hide him fuck
-If not here, is he somewhere else?
“That’s right. He’s not here, but somewhere else.”
Jeong Nayeon grinned and clapped her hands.
Then the neatly decorated studio changed, and a forest filled with dense trees appeared.
Along with Baek Woohyun standing alone blankly.
-It’s Hackphysical!
-He was inside RePla
-Kick out all those who said aggro!
-In the midst of that he spins the dagger so well ㄷ
Although Baek Woohyun wore a mask due to personal information mode, since the shape was identical plus his unique atmosphere was added, viewers quickly recognized him.
Several who were uncertain were quickly swept along since many viewers insisted it was Hackphysical.
As Hackphysical, Baek Woohyun, directly revealed himself like that, claims that it was just aggro lost power and died down.
In a situation where Baek Woohyun was right before their eyes, claiming they lied when he wasn’t there would only become stupid talk, so it was natural.
Swish swish.
Baek Woohyun in the forest was spending time spinning a military knife round and round in his hand, and that appearance looked extremely skilled.
No, it was beyond skilled to the point of being amazing. Because the military dagger was wriggling as if alive, trying to escape his grip.
Not only viewers, but even Jeong Nayeon and Cha Seongcheol who should be conducting the broadcast looked at the military knife as if entranced for a moment, which said it all.
‘Oh, this isn’t the time for this.’
Jeong Nayeon came to her senses around when Baek Woohyun properly gripped the military dagger.
She opened her mouth as if nothing happened.
“What do you think people were most curious about after Hackphysical appeared? What do you think, Seongcheol-nim?”
“Um— in my opinion, I think people would be most curious how someone with this monster-like physicality plays ‘Reverse Planet.'”
-Right right
-ㄹㅇ I am curious
-Seems like he’d be playing a different game from me
-Showing impossible difficulty!
“‘Hack Tour’ content is content prepared to answer exactly that question.”
However, just ending there would be no different from other personal broadcasts. Since broadcaster playing games and viewers watching is the same for any personal broadcast.
To differentiate from this, and to comply with Baek Woohyun’s demands, Jeong Nayeon brought the observational variety format.
Actually the latter reason was biggest, but anyway.
“Let’s calmly observe Hackphysical’s ‘Reverse Planet’ with commentary from commentator Cha Seongcheol here.”
“I look forward to working with you, everyone.”
-Ah so that’s why
-I get why they were separate from Hackphysical
-Observational variety on personal broadcast ㄷㄷ
-That’s why they brought in commentary
Cha Seongcheol, who naturally chimed in, bowed his head toward the camera.
Only then did viewers seem to realize ‘Hack Tour’ content followed observational variety format.
Even though it was a format hard to easily see in personal broadcasts, there seemed to be few who felt it unfamiliar.
That made sense, because observational variety reigned so mainstream in Korean variety that the arrangement dividing studio and broadcast content was familiar and easy to accept.
“Alright! Then shall we properly start now?”
Jeong Nayeon, who had been checking chat window public opinion, smiled brightly and said.
It was the proper start of ‘Hack Tour’ content.