Chapter 52…
Two days later.
Pretzel was still ablaze with excitement over the last side match of the Rivers and Lakes Sword Chronicles newbie streamer tournament—the Righteous vs. Demonic battle.
The “Righteous Faction Martial Artist” streamer, Namgung Hyung.
And the streamer called “Heavenly Demon,” Lee Ji-han.
The clash between these two left such a strong impression that people were still talking about it days later.
[Chat reactions]
[I saw it for the first time;; The sky was literally splitting open]
[The mountain collapsed? I’ve never seen the background map break in an infinite map before LOL]
[ㅇㄱ ㅈㅉㅇㅇ?]
[Stop lying, guys; what the…]
[It’s true; you just didn’t see it.]
Even the online communities were still hot with discussion.
The fact that the “bait” kept circulating for so long was unusual—
especially in the current streaming industry where everything is about quick dopamine hits and attention-grabbing antics.
Anyway, the truth was in the clips.
Those clips spread not just within Pretzel but also across other platforms, putting Lee Ji-han on the radar of other streamers as well.
[Fan reactions]
[Our Ji-han! He really made it, right!?]
[I took tons of screenshots of Ji-han. Currently editing themㅇㅇ]
[Wow, you’re editing them like some idol fansite master]
[But seriously, the edits look amazing]
[?? That’s not even edited yet; I will edit them]
[LOOOOOOL wait, that’s the original??]
[Well, Ji-han is good-lookingㅇㅇ]
[But he’s not just a pretty face, he’s also better at the game, right?]
[LOL the relative deprivation is real]
[I feel inferior, but I can’t bring myself to leave hate comments]
[He’s too pure. Way too pure.]
[His face is already spreading on other platforms; what if haters come?]
[What do you mean “what if”? We’ll protect him no matter what]
[LOL that’s literally the reason the fan café exists]
[Fact-check: Nope. The fan café was just made to make it easier to post notices and let fans chat.]
[The comment above—is that you, Suho? Suho, thanks for all the hard work.]
Thanks to that, Ji-han’s fan café was in a constant festival mood.
But the one who set that festival in motion was currently…
“Oppa, are you really going out dressed like that? Look at Suho oppa, he’s dressed sharp from head to toe.”
“Yeah, Ji-hye’s right. I wasn’t gonna say anything, but you’re a streamer now, you know? Isn’t it a huge waste to neglect your looks like that?”
The two of them were nagging him hard.
And the reason was simple.
“Well, but… tracksuits are comfortable.”
“How long are you gonna keep wearing tracksuits!? Do you know how hot it is outside right now, oppa?”
“You’re famous now. Don’t go around looking shabby. You gotta show some class.”
“Exactly! You’re always buying clothes for Mom and Dad and me, but you never buy your own!”
Tomorrow, he had a very important outing.
But all he had in his wardrobe were tracksuits.
“But that’s because… I feel like I owe them too much already. I want to pay them back somehow—”
“Mom and Dad feel super awkward about it, you know!? Dad literally said yesterday, ‘That brat Ji-han, wearing worn-out tracksuits all the time. Haa, this kid…’”
Ji-hye imitated their father with a solemn expression.
Suho had to fight desperately not to burst out laughing at that.
“Mom and Dad even said they’d refund every gift you gave them. Suho oppa, please take care of him.”
“Haha, if it’s that serious, I guess I really should.”
Suho smiled warmly.
“Then how about this? There’s one content idea people have been asking for.”
“Hm? Content?”
“Suho, that might be a little much…”
“Makeover Ji-han content. The viewers begged for it last time we did an outdoor stream.”
“Puhaha! That’s perfect! So we’ll take him out and style him ourselves?”
Ji-hye burst out laughing.
Ji-han gave a bitter smile at the sight.
It was bitter, sure, but seeing his little sister laugh always made him happy.
“But… is it okay if she shows up on stream?”
At his question, Ji-hye touched her lips in thought.
“Mm… oppa, is it okay if just my voice is heard?”
“Huh? Of course.”
“Then it’s fine. Alright! Today we’re doing an outdoor stream!”
She pushed both men out the door.
And thus began the long-postponed “Makeover Ji-han” content.
[Stream begins]
A glowing red border signaling a live broadcast.
The standby screen.
[What are we doing today?]
[He already finished Sword Chronicles story mode.]
[But the stream started way earlier than usual.]
[Wait, isn’t this normally an evening stream?]
Loyal fans waiting eagerly for Ji-han.
The chat started rolling fast.
[Huh? What’s that background noise?]
[Doesn’t sound like the capsule mic?]
[Is this outdoor streaming??]
Soon, the waiting screen faded out. Bright light filled the screen.
“Hello, today’s an outdoor stream. I went out with Suho and my little sister.”
[Chat reactions]
[LOL still dressed sloppy today]
[It’s always either a T-shirt or a tracksuit with him]
[LOL where’s he planning to go dressed like that? Don’t tell me he’s going to that place?]
[Nah, that’s scheduled for Friday]
[?? So where’s he going then?]
[Ah~ there~?]
[Tell me too! I wanna know!]
[Should’ve been watching every stream]
[Doesn’t he upload full versions on YouTube? Doesn’t he have an editor?]
[Please just tell me where he’s going!]
[No spoilersㅋㅋ wait for Friday]
“Haha, chat’s really fast today. As for the editor, I’m getting the job posting ready. Uh, today’s outing is for Friday’s schedule prep.”
Ji-han walked with a slight limp but kept his gaze on the camera.
Unlike his first outdoor stream, he looked much more at ease now.
Maybe he used to be embarrassed about his limp—
but now that he knew there were so many people who loved him,
he could stand tall.
“…We’re here to buy clothes.”
[Donation alert]
♪ Ddan-dara-dan-ttan-ttan! ♪
[‘Tteunam’ has donated 100,000 won]
– Ah, you’re finally buying clothes.
[LOL ‘finally’ is kinda harshㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[FINALLY]
[He’s actually buying clothes, LOL]
The chat exploded with laughter at the chairman Tteunam’s donation.
“Yes, so for styling, I brought my fashion-savvy little sister.”
“Hello~ I’m Ji-han oppa’s sister! I’m not actually good at dressing up, it’s just that my brother’s so much worse that people get the wrong idea!”
A voice came through the stream.
[Chat reactions]
[W-wait… nuna?]
[It’s a girl! There’s a girl on Ji-han’s stream!]
[But do we count his sister as a girl?]
[She’s not related to us, so it’s fine!]
[Hey hey, no touching family]
[LOL are these guys insane]
[But her voice is cute tho; sounds like a voice actress]
[LOL Ji-han’s face looks worse and worse]
[He looks like he doesn’t get what’s going on]
“Ji-hye, why’s your voice higher than usual?”
Unable to hold back, Ji-han questioned her.
The chat burst into walls of “ㅋㅋㅋ”.
“Ah, oppa! Seriously! Anyway, Suho oppa and I will be taking him around all day, trying on outfits recommended by you guys.”
And so it began.
Endless outfit changes.
Endless chat suggestions.
Endless donations fueling the chaos.
Three hours later, Ji-han could still endure it.
But by the fourth hour…
He let out a deep sigh, and with a firm voice declared:
“…Guys. Suho, Ji-hye.”
The weight in his voice caught attention.
“…Boss.”
The most extreme, desperate measure he could think of.
“…Please give me everything I’ve tried on so far.”
With those words—
The chat exploded like a bomb.
