Chapter 25 - Broadcasting Makes Money (2)

Lee Kyung-bok examined the table filled with numbers. Seeing his friend's surprised expression, Choi Byung-hoon chuckled.

"From Try, we got about 9 million won."

The revenue from the live streaming was nearly 9 million won. For a streamer who had just started broadcasting, it was an unimaginable sum of money.

"You were lucky."

"Yeah, I was. The reward from the quest posted by Agent Q was almost half of it."

During the broadcast, the reward from the quest proposed by a viewer called 'Agent Q' was substantial.

"Still, if you hadn't completed the quest, you wouldn't have gotten that money."

"Hmm, it wasn't really a difficult condition."

"......Anyway, there was also a quest funded by other streamers when you fought Logan. But even without the quests, I got over 200 just from pure donations."

Hearing Choi Byung-hoon's explanation, Lee Kyung-bok couldn't hide his smile.

Quests felt more like 'work,' but pure donations were different.

'Just from pure support, this much...'

The expression of gratitude from the streamer 'Purple' who liked him.

While it's hard to put a price on someone's feelings, in the personal broadcasting industry, it's applied a bit differently.

You can see the amount very intuitively, can't you?

'I need to work harder.'

While Lee Kyung-bok reaffirmed his resolve, Choi Byung-hoon continued.

"Still, the QTube revenue from this Bark broadcast was even bigger."

"Huh?"

"Check the next page."

Only then did Lee Kyung-bok open his eyes wider. The holographic document in front of him wasn't just one page.

"......Wow?"

This time, it was the QTube revenue page. And the amount was even more than the Try revenue.

"The views vary a bit per video, but on average, it's about 600,000, so each video brought in about 1.6 million won. There were five story videos and two short mad movie videos. So the total revenue is......"

"Over 10 million won......?"

Lee Kyung-bok looked at his friend in disbelief. Choi Byung-hoon chuckled and nodded.

"Yeah, kid. And the amazing thing is, this is just for one week. Of course, everyone who wanted to watch has probably already seen it, so it won't skyrocket, but it will still steadily increase."

"You mean there's more to come?"

"Yeah! Money can be duplicated!"

Choi Byung-hoon laughed playfully.

"Are you finally starting to understand why people are going crazy to become QTubers?"

"Ten million won a week...... Is this for real......?"

"Hey, not everyone can earn this much. It's only possible because it's you."

"I should have started broadcasting earlier."

"That's what I'm saying."

The two friends looked at each other and laughed.

"Add the 3 million won from the ad revenue, and it's a clean sum."

"Oh, right. The ad revenue."

Lee Kyung-bok remembered the remaining revenue and laughed.

'Broadcasting is fun, but I never thought it could make this much money...'

How long had it been since he felt this happy? He turned to his friend with a smile.

"Wow, if we split this, it's over 10 million won."

"......Split?"

But Choi Byung-hoon frowned at those words.

"What nonsense is this?"

"Nonsense?"

"Why would you split it?"

"......Why not?"

"Ah, you idiot. I'm an editor, an editor. I get paid to work as an editor."

"But we're different, right? We should split it by ratio."

"Still, it's important to clearly separate work and personal matters. And when your broadcast grows, one editor won't be enough to handle it."

Choi Byung-hoon spoke seriously.

"Even major companies have entire editing teams. If you take half the revenue now, how will you cover the other operating costs?"

"But this is like a founding member."

"If the company goes under, what good is a founding member? And while the amount seems large now, it will decrease after taxes and fees are deducted."

"Hmm, still, it feels a bit off to just pay a salary......"

Lee Kyung-bok wrinkled his nose.

No matter what, a friend is still a friend, especially one of the few he could trust.

"Then let's do a base salary plus incentives. We'll take a cut from the revenue generated by the edited videos."

"Yeah, that's better. When other editors come, it will boost their motivation, and it will also help my reputation."

"Wait, was it about your reputation?"

Choi Byung-hoon chuckled, and Lee Kyung-bok responded with a playful answer.

"Of course, man. Anyway, showing this level of revenue should make Joo and Geuma feel it's worth joining, right?"

"Right."

Lee Kyung-bok was now more confident than before.

"It's better if everyone succeeds together."

"Exactly. Let's set a date."

"Let's do it."

With this result, he could convince Park Joo-ho.

* * *

Park Joo-ho lived in a studio apartment.

As he swiped his card key, the door opened with a beep.

The neatly arranged shoes and the sparsely furnished interior beyond them made the place look quite desolate.

With so few pieces of furniture, it was hard to tell if anyone had moved in. His place didn't even have a TV or a capsule.

It was a perfect example of a minimalist lifestyle, having only the essentials.

"Hmm......"

Park Joo-ho exhaled lightly and entered, leaving his suitcase by the door. He went to the bathroom first to wash his hands.

After shaking off the water, he opened the cabinet. Inside, various toiletries and towels were neatly arranged like in a hotel room.

He took out a towel to dry his hands and then used a dry cloth to wipe the sink clean.

'Hmm?'

As he stepped out, his smart link, which he had taken off, was vibrating. He checked the notification and answered the call.

"Yes, Mother."

<Did you have a good trip, son?>

His mother's warm voice.

Park Joo-ho smiled faintly and replied.

"I just got home."

<Is that so? Have you eaten?>

"I had something."

It was a lie.

He didn't want to worry his mother.

<You've been traveling a lot lately.>

"I can't help it."

<That's true. By the way, are you free tomorrow evening?>

"Tomorrow evening?"

Park Joo-ho lightly operated his smart link to check his schedule. There were no other plans.

In the meantime, his mother continued.

<If you're free, how about we have dinner together?>

"......Together, with 'Uncle' too?"

<If it makes you uncomfortable, you don't have to come.>

Park Joo-ho's eyes trembled slightly. He was still not used to his mother's remarriage.

"......I understand."

<Really? Thank you, my son.>

"Yes. See you tomorrow."

Hearing his mother's voice brighten, Park Joo-ho smiled with mixed feelings.

'I can't keep my distance forever...'

Just as he was about to unpack, his wrist vibrated again.

Thinking it might be his mother, he answered the call, but the voice was different.

<Hey, Park, did you get back safely?>

"......Yes, I just got back."

This time, it was his boss.

<Good, good. You did a great job. But...... Well, this is tough.>

"What's the matter?"

<Well...... We might need you to go on another business trip.>

"......When?"

His boss hesitated for a moment before continuing.

<Sorry, but you'll need to go down early tomorrow.>

His eyes twitched. Something welled up inside him, but he took a deep breath to control his emotions.

"......Do I have to go? I didn't have much to do on the last trip, and there's no real reason for the general affairs team to go on a business trip."

<Park, I'm in a tough spot too. It's an order from above. What can I do?>

His boss didn't get angry at his questioning but sounded awkward.

"Does this mean I have to quit?"

<Ha......>

Park Joo-ho's straightforward question was met with a deep sigh from the other end.

<Park, or Joo-ho. Is it comfortable for me to say this on a weekend? I'm suffering too. This is a tough role to play.>

Park Joo-ho's fists clenched involuntarily. But he didn't cut off the call.

<Everyone knows you didn't do anything wrong. But the situation won't change no matter how long you hold on.>

"Team leader, I......"

<You might get transferred to a regional office soon.>

His tightly clenched fists relaxed.

An uncomfortable silence hung in the air.

<Joo-ho, that's how the corporate world works. Being meticulous and reliable is good. That's why I valued you and trusted you to handle things. But...... This time, it's beyond my ability to help.>

"Team leader."

<The embezzlement you reported involves higher-ups. The way they're trying to push you out......>

A troubled voice came through the call.

<I'm sorry, I'm a coward. It might sound like an excuse, but my family depends on me. I...... can't act as bravely as you.>

Park Joo-ho said nothing. What could he say that would make a difference?

<Ha...... I'm sorry. I'll send you the schedule via text.>

The call ended abruptly.

A dead silence followed.

What should he do now? He needed to call his mother and cancel the dinner. He didn't need to unpack his suitcase. If he was transferred to a regional office, would he need to find a new place to live?

Amidst the swirling thoughts, Park Joo-ho felt a deep sense of fatigue and exhaustion.

'......I just want to rest.'

The only desire that surfaced through the myriad of thoughts was this.

He collapsed onto the bed.

* * *

A beeping sound rang out.

Park Joo-ho slowly opened his eyes.

'What......'

He frowned and adjusted his glasses. The beeping sound came again.

The sound was from the front door, where someone was entering a password.

Park Joo-ho was startled as the door suddenly opened.

"Ah, it's the right one."

"Really, it's so annoying. Do you remember all of this?"

Choi Byung-hoon and Lee Kyung-bok entered. Park Joo-ho looked at the uninvited guests with a bewildered expression.

"Huh? You're here?"

"What's with the sudden visit?"

Park Joo-ho asked, and Choi Byung-hoon answered confidently.

"We didn't hear back from you, so we came to check if you were okay."

"Didn't hear back?"

Park Joo-ho finally checked his smart link. There were several missed calls from his friends.

Below that was the business trip schedule from his boss.

"......I didn't hear it because I was sleeping."

Park Joo-ho tried to hide his bitterness as he answered.

"Well, anyway, it's good. We were going to eat out but decided to eat in."

"We also brought some drinks."

Lee Kyung-bok showed the food bags he had brought, and Choi Byung-hoon chimed in.

Park Joo-ho laughed bitterly.

"Who decided...... Never mind. Come in."

"We were going to anyway?"

"Hey, but nothing changes in your place every time we come."

"Right. How come the password is still the same?"

The two friends found the tableware as if they were at home. Park Joo-ho didn't like people touching his things, but they were exceptions.

They were as close to family as he could get, perhaps even closer.

The food was quickly set up, and the three men started eating before engaging in conversation.

After filling their stomachs, Choi Byung-hoon spoke first.

"By the way, what's with the suitcase in the hallway? Are you going on a trip?"

"I just got back from a business trip."

Lee Kyung-bok glanced at Park Joo-ho's expression and frowned.

"You're not the type to leave things lying around. What's going on?"

"Guess I can't hide anything from you guys."

Park Joo-ho calmly explained the situation. The two friends' faces immediately fell.

"What, so they're just sending you around in circles?"

"Wow, that's really bad."

"If it were me, I'd quit right away."

Choi Byung-hoon made a gesture as if to punch, and food splattered on the table. Park Joo-ho wiped it with a wet wipe as he replied.

"I need to hold on until I get transferred to a regional office and prepare for a job change."

"Job change?"

"You're thinking of quitting?"

The word "job change" made Lee Kyung-bok and Choi Byung-hoon exchange glances.

Eventually, Lee Kyung-bok nodded.

"About the dinner with your mother tomorrow evening, have you canceled it yet?"

"Well, I haven't, but I need to tell her."

"Don't cancel it."

"......What?"

Park Joo-ho looked at his friends with a puzzled expression. Both of them had serious looks on their faces.

"I'll introduce you to a job."

"What are you talking about?"

"We started a broadcast together."

As the two friends continued their explanation, Park Joo-ho's frown deepened.

"So you want to recruit me as a manager?"

"Right."

His friends, who usually liked to joke around, were very serious. Park Joo-ho took it seriously as well.

'Being a streamer manager......'

In name, it was a manager, but in reality, it was no different from a non-regular job. The streaming industry itself was unstable, and working under a streamer was even more so.

Moreover, it was questionable whether it would count as a proper career.

If Park Joo-ho had always wanted to work in the personal broadcasting industry, it might have been different, but if he needed to find a job again, this experience would be of no use.

'I should refuse.'

Park Joo-ho prided himself on being more rational than others. Everyone who had worked with him acknowledged this.

'If it weren't for Kyung-bok.'

However, that didn't mean he was a cold, emotionless robot.

Park Joo-ho had received a lot of help from Kyung-bok during his school days. He had always thought he needed to repay that debt.

'It might be worth it.'

His future and the favor he owed to his friend. The scales in his mind tipped back and forth.

"Hey, this isn't a proposal we make to just anyone."

But Choi Byung-hoon didn't understand his inner turmoil. He showed him the prepared materials.

Park Joo-ho's eyes widened as he looked at them.

"......What is this?"

Pleased with his reaction, Choi Byung-hoon burst out laughing.

"Did you see? The answer is obvious, right? This guy is a genius, a genius."

"We do need help, but after hearing your situation, we really need to bring you on board."

On the other hand, Lee Kyung-bok spoke seriously.

"You know you don't deserve this treatment, and we know it too."

"......It brings back old memories."

Park Joo-ho quickly scanned the revenue table and smiled.

"Back in high school, and now again."

Meeting Kyung-bok had been a turning point in his life, and it was the same now.

"What are you talking about? Just say it. Are you in? Right?"

Choi Byung-hoon urged, but Lee Kyung-bok raised his hand to stop him.

"Or take a week off and try it out."

"Take a week off?"

"Since the company is trying to push you out, they won't reject your leave request, right?"

"......That's true."

"Right. And during the leave, you can experience being a manager firsthand."

Lee Kyung-bok's suggestion was met with a nod from Choi Byung-hoon.

"Ooh, that's a good idea. You really need to see it for yourself."

"Right. And if you decide to quit, it won't be immediate. If you inform them during your leave, the company will have time to prepare."

"It sounds like you're sure I'll quit."

In response to Park Joo-ho's question, Lee Kyung-bok nodded without hesitation.

"You'll see."

"......Okay, that's not bad."

The confident expression tipped the scales in his mind completely.

"Okay, that's it! Come on, let's cheers!"

Choi Byung-hoon cut off the conversation with a laugh and filled the glasses. The other two laughed and raised their glasses.

"Please take care of me."

"It'll be fun."

Hearing Park Joo-ho's words, Lee Kyung-bok smiled brightly.

The three friends' glasses clinked together.