I looked around, confusion painted on my face. Where exactly am I?
The inky sky marred in the color red, and the ground beneath me was orange and dry; surely, I couldn't be in the Sahara Desert.
'F*ck.'
I knew I shouldn't have drunk so much last night; I mean, who would know I would sleepwalk all the way out here?
'Nice one, Jam.'
Last night, I had decided to go out with a couple of friends, really live up to my name, Ryu Jam, and be a fun and outgoing person for once in my life.
But even that had somehow backfired.
I mean, why else would I end up in the middle of nowhere, fighting for my life against weirdly big mosquitoes?
I quickly got up. I need to find some way to get out of here and fast. I mean, would anyone really look for me?
You know how I said I was hanging out with my friends?
what I really meant was that I was by myself drowning in self-pity pretending that I had friends.
Being 20 with neither a social life or future job prospects really seems to hit you right in the face. I mean, having a midlife crisis at 20 was not on his bucket list.
I brushed off the orange dust from my suit. I had gotten it from a second-hand shop; the nifty thing really cost me a fortune.
(He bought it secondhand for $24.)
Despite everything, my mind unusually felt clear, no headaches
Which should be there.
Nor any muscle pain.
I've always been a good drinker who could hold my own, so I decided not to sweat over the small details.
Looking back now, I really wish I had.
I blinked up at the sky, trying to gauge the time. I lifted my left hand to try and block the scorching heat of the sun. I really didn't want to go blind at this age.
When suddenly, a white-gray panel appeared right in front of him, like a cheap p*rn popup he'd occasionally get on his illegal movie sites.
'What the f*ck is that?'
I almost choked on my own breath in surprise.
Subconsciously, I took a few steps back.
My eyes didn't waver once from the panel. Call it instincts, but I really didn't like the idea of taking my eyes off the panel for a second.
I mean, looking closely, what even is it?
No way, is that a system? The infamous system that could turn a hobo into a domineering CEO in seconds??
I mean, this had to be a prank, right?
I glanced around. There was no one in sight, no hidden crew, just me by myself in the ridiculously hot heat of the desert.
I slowly got closer to inspect the writing on the system panel.
Would you like to start your Broadcast ↓
[YES] [NO]
I rubbed my eyes once, blinked rapidly.
He had expected the system to introduce itself and tell me how I was going to get unbelievably rich and famous and get a little beauty of a wife?
I mean that's how it usually goes doesn't it,
Instead, it was telling me to livestream?
Yeah sorry, but I'm not in the mood for this.
I quickly went to click [NO]
Before I could, another panel popped up.
*Warning /!*
Selecting [NO] will end in immediate termination of the player.
'...?'
???????
Why would this stupid system give me a yes or no option if I couldn't even refuse!?
Suddenly, I thought of an idea to outsmart the system.
'What if I don't click either option?'
As if the system read my mind, it immediately spawned another notification, this time telling me if I didn't click [YES], I would be terminated.
A sour taste was left on my tongue.
I really didn't want to find out what being terminated exactly meant.
And I didn't want to follow the instructions of this... bratty system.
Between doing what the system wants or denying it, I'd rather take my chances following the system's words.
I decided just to get it over with and clicked on the [YES] button.
All at once, a dozen panels appeared in front of me.
'Again?'
All these jump scares are really starting to take a toll on my mind!
They should at least give me a warning before they do that.
I started to inspect the system panels laid out in front of me.
One contained a chat box devoid of life, with not a single message, and the other system panel congratulating me on my first-ever livestream.
Brace yourself, Player! Destiny awaits, and you are the chosen one to seize it! Rise above the rest, conquer every trial… Click to read more.
F*ck
I think that had to be the cringiest thing I've seen in a long time.
I couldn't help but grimace at the over-the-top speech.
Quickly closing the panel, I didn't want to laugh and somehow upset the system. I didn't want another death threat, yeah no thanks.
I took my attention back to the chatbox. I mean, how was I meant to get viewers in the first place?
And why should I even be trying to get viewers in the first place?
There didn't seem to be an advantage.
While I was monologuing to myself, a message was sent in the chat.
I eagerly went to check it, excited for what it would say.
Yi's_Hubby_21: Min Yiqun is NOW LIVE! Don't miss a single moment— Every viewer that joins will be gifted 100 coins, so don't miss out on this incredible opportunity!
'...?'
'Isn't that just a bot comment?'
I've been shocked four times in one day.
Like seriously, wasn't this meant to be some mystical system where constellations and higher beings try to become my sponsor?
So why is there a bot comment in my chat?
At this point, I might need to start considering taking medicine to ease the burden on my heart.
I mean, sure, none of this is really normal, but a bot comment in this situation was just the icing on top.
Objectively looking at the comment, maybe this really is just a livestream, not some harem-building fantasy manga?
And I'm meant to become the number one streamer in the world?
Seems a little anticlimactic. I mean, I'd much rather do anything else than become a livestreamer.
Sucking up to an audience was not my forte.
Then again, looking around, maybe if I could get out of here I'd be willing to do just a bit of boot licking
I decided to pay less attention to the system and its mysteries, and more on a way to get out of here.
I mean, I was in the middle of nowhere, literally and figuratively. All I could see for miles was rock, sand, and the occasional hill.
Really, couldn't this system at least be more considerate and put me in a lush penthouse?