Season 5: Chapter 2. Not an End, but a Beginning (2)
One day after Cheese Village ended, a notice appeared on Almond’s channel.
[On break for one week due to health reasons]
==== ====
Hello, this is Almond.
I lived in Cheese Village for a little too long, so the doctor prescribed some... extreme measures.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with me, but I’ll follow the prescription and rest for one week.
Thank you.
==== ====
Sang-Hyeon rarely wrote notices himself. True to form, he kept it extremely brief.
— Extreme measures? lol Isn’t that just extreme DPS?
— Oh no...
— Is your arm okay??
— Extreme DPS prescription
— And “I don’t think there’s anything wrong” lol He sounds like a kid who never listens
└ Listen to the doctor, Nuthead!
└ Doctor in tears
— Take care of your arm!!
— Got it, we’ll wait
— But after one week, isn’t that... the funeral?
The announcement of a full week off drew countless comments. Since most fans already knew about the issues with his arm, very little negativity came up. At worst, people complained that he didn’t listen to his doctor.
Sang-Hyeon held up his phone. “Is this okay now?”
A woman in a white coat looked over. Her silver name tag read Song Ha-Na. Because of her, Sang-Hyeon had written the notice instead of Ju-Hyeok. She had detained him at the hospital and forced him to post it himself.
Song Ha-Na frowned sharply as she read it. “‘I don’t think there’s anything wrong with me...’ At a time like this?”
“That’s... so the viewers don’t worry too much. Haha...”
That was only half the excuse. If viewers worried excessively, Sang-Hyeon wouldn’t be able to focus on his game. Concern about his health would fill up the chat. That would completely ruin his stream.
Song Ha-Na had no choice but to accept that logic. “Fine. We’ll run more tests soon, so wait for now.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Sang-Hyeon answered obediently and quickly slipped out of the examination room into the waiting area.
He glanced around, wondering if he would run into Choi Sa-Rang, but only unfamiliar faces filled the room. Then, he recalled that she often smoked outside.
‘I should take a walk.’
Sang-Hyeon headed out to get some fresh air. Sure enough, he spotted someone smoking while gazing at the distant mountains. She had long black hair and sat in a wheelchair. Some distance away stood intimidating men in black suits.
Under their watchful eyes, Sang-Hyeon approached. “Ahem. Hello!”
She turned around and tilted her head slightly. “Oh, you’re here. Got scolded, didn’t you? For streaming too long.”
“Ah, yes.”
She naturally knew what he’d been up to. Sang-Hyeon didn’t even sense anything strange at her casualness. Simply standing there felt awkward since he didn’t smoke, so he went to a vending machine and bought a cheap canned coffee.
“Would you like one?”
Clatter.
The can dropped with a loud noise.
“Didn’t you already buy it?”
“Uh...” Sang-Hyeon scratched his head. “This one’s mine.”
With a cigarette between her lips, she stretched out her hand. “Give it here.”
Pop.
Sang-Hyeon opened the can and handed it to her. Then, he bought another for himself.
Clatter.
He casually brought up the Platform War. “So... Looks like the teams might already be decided.”
“Teams?”
“The, uh... Platform War. When Cheese Village ended, we saw some kind of mirror...”
Sang-Hyeon explained what had happened. It wasn’t guaranteed to be about the tournament teams, but it hinted at something.
Sa-Rang listened and nodded. “Ah...”
A silence fell over them.
Sang-Hyeon grew flustered.
‘You said you’d coach me.’
He had secretly been looking forward to JeonJaPa joining as a coach. Not that he expected her coaching skills to match her abilities as a player. She didn’t seem like the type to be good at teaching. Even so, she would be several times better than most former-pro streamers, so he couldn’t help but expect something.
‘Why isn’t she saying anything?’
Sang-Hyeon asked, “Well... if it’s the Platform War, don’t you have to be a streamer? It’s a match of pride between platforms...”
Choi Sa-Rang wasn’t a streamer. How would she join as a coach?
“Ah... Yes, of course.”
Even after her short answer, Sang-Hyeon kept staring at her while sipping his coffee.
Sa-Rang, seemingly baffled, asked, “Why are you staring like that?”
Sang-Hyeon didn’t respond.
‘You said you’d coach me!’
Because she still hadn’t mentioned it.
Sa-Rang turned back to the distant mountains instead of engaging, but Sang-Hyeon kept staring.
‘He’s relentless.’
Staring at someone like that was a talent in itself. He kept looking as if aiming at a target.
“Haaah.” In the end, Sa-Rang said, “I am Treeana. Do you really need to hear it from me directly?”
“Cough!” Sang-Hyeon choked on his coffee. “What? T-Treeana?”
Sa-Rang’s pupils shook.
‘That wasn’t why he was staring?’
“You were Treeana?”
He wondered if she was messing with him on purpose. Judging by her reaction, that didn’t seem to be the case.
“Treeana... wow. Seriously,” Sang-Hyeon muttered to himself while staring off into the distance.
At some point, all thoughts of the coaching had vanished.
“No wonder...”
He hadn’t suspected it at all.
Sa-Rang felt dumbfounded.
‘I shouldn’t have said anything.’
From then on, Sang-Hyeon launched into a one-sided monologue.
“So, when you said ‘I am the Saintess~’ that was... And ‘That is the Dragon of Streaming Destruction~’ too... And when you grabbed me by the hair...”
With his poor memory, he dredged up every line Treeana had ever said. Sa-Rang’s face turned bright red. Unable to say a word, she quickly pulled out another cigarette.
***
One week after Cheese Village ended, Sang-Hyeon prepared to stream again. Why did he choose this specific day? The notice message he received explained it all.
[Treevy Funeral Event Location Notice]
==== ====
The location is confidential. Please do not share it with fans. It will cause confusion.
Any streamer who broadcasts on Treevy may participate.
Dress code: Black, funeral attire
Do not bring broadcast equipment. It will be provided.
(Map link)
==== ====
Sang-Hyeon dressed in black and stood before the mirror. He checked whether anything violated the dress code or looked out of place.
‘Socks, pants, coat... All good.’
A quick glance confirmed no issues. He looked convincing enough to be attending an actual funeral.
‘Face...’
Last, he touched his freshly shaved face and examined it.
‘Good.’
The higher his gaze traveled, the more satisfied he felt. After completing his check, he set off for the event.
***
A short while later, Sang-Hyeon arrived at the venue. A slight commotion had occurred on the way, but nothing serious happened.
“Oh. You’re Almond, right?”
“Yes.”
The attendant stationed at the entrance was dressed in purple.
“You didn’t bring your own broadcasting equipment, correct?”
“No. They told us not to...”
Come to think of it, he had been curious about that. They said it was a personal broadcast, yet told the streamers not to bring any equipment.
“We’ll guide you once you go inside.” After gesturing him forward, the attendant said into an in-ear device, “Almond is entering now.”
As he walked down the corridor, another attendant who had been waiting for him stepped out.
This one, too, wore a completely purple suit.
“Welcome, Almond! I’ll guide you through the broadcasting equipment!”
Click.
The attendant clipped a small camera onto the lapel of his coat and handed him a flexible screen.
“You just need to pair the camera with your phone and turn on the stream. The chat will appear on this flexible tablet. Wrap it around your arm or wherever you like.”
“Oh...”
He had seen this a few times online, but was using it for the first time.
Whirr.
He wrapped the tablet around his arm and paired the camera. Then, he turned on his stream.
— ??? A stream all of a sudden?
— Whoa
— It’s on
— Nice
— What is this Almond stream!?
— Ooooh
Viewers instantly flooded in ven though he had turned on his stream out of nowhere. Their messages shot up across the tablet.
Ding.
When a donation came in, it even made an audible sound.
[EggPlant has donated 2000 won.]
[Came here after seeing the handsome guy from X University on the community page. Smash upvote~]
— LOL
— For real?
— This guy just walks around and posts pop up on the community page?
— I’m guilty too
Almond stared blankly at the chat. “How do I turn off the sound for 1000 won donations?”
— LMAO
— LOL
— Unbelievable
— First thing he says after going live...
— Sounds start from 10,000 won donations~
After following the attendant’s instructions and turning off the sound for 1000 won donations, Almond entered the venue.
Ba-bam~!
Ba-bam~!
Even as he walked in, 1000 won donations kept pouring in, probably because he was going live for the first time in a while. Unable to respond to each one, Sang-Hyeon simply kept walking.
“Alright, everyone. I’m inside.”
He had expected something loud and club-like instead of black marble and violet lighting.
‘It’s calmer than I thought. Well... it is a funeral.’
It felt more like a high-end banquet hall. Soft music filled the space, and people stood in small groups chatting. Sommeliers poured wine while offering explanations. Just like the black dress code, the drinking code consisted of red wine. Its deep color resembled Treevy’s purple.
Laughter echoed constantly from all directions. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Who would think this was a funeral?
‘There are a lot of unfamiliar faces.’
Most of the people here had participated in Survival Craft, but he didn’t recognize many of them in person.
“Uh... this is kind of awkward.”
— LOL
— So many people you don’t actually know
— You got used to seeing them as chibis, then real life feels weird
— Only his face is an extrovert......
Sang-Hyeon looked around and moved further inside.
“My loooord~!” As expected from a music major, Sweet Potato projected his voice impressively.
— Whoa, Sweet Potato!
— Sweet Potato!!
— King Potato
— Nice
— That voice!
— Sounds nicer than expected
Sang-Hyeon felt glad to see him, but still felt oddly awkward.
‘This is basically the first time I’ve met him in person...’
They had never really faced each other like this before. In real life, Sweet Potato looked like a senior from school who really liked soccer.
Sweet Radish also approached. “My lord! Greetings!”
They hadn’t met offline since the awards ceremony. Sang-Hyeon remembered him because of his distinctive, narrow eyes.
He tried to greet Sweet Potato naturally. “Ah... Hi?”
— LOL
— What was that hi?
— LMAO
— So cute
— It is awkward though~
— Hahahaha
Still, the awkwardness didn’t last long.
“They’re calling him Lord.”
“Wow, my lord~!”
People began to gather one after another to see Lord Almond, the star of Cheese Village.
Miho came running to the very front of the crowd. “Huh? Oppa! You’re here!”
— Why is Miho running?
— Is this a race or what? LOL
— Wow
— Miho’s outfit is so pretty
— Nice
— Miho’s chat is going wild yelling, “That bastard!”
Even though Miho ran over, she couldn’t exactly push past everyone already nearby.
“Can we take a picture together, Almond?”
“M-me too! Me too!”
Streamers lined up to take photos with another streamer, Almond. After Cheese Village, his status hadn’t risen only among viewers. He also became a streamer admired by other streamers.
— Almond’s popularity is insane
— Damn
— Is this really the same Almond who used to rule the kingdom?
— Wow...
— I’m jealous...
— Man, I feel proud just watching this...