Today's Chicken Mukbang W 1 - Hyacinth in Bloom

Two People Across the Sea

Who would have imagined eating chicken with Korea’s top idol during a mukbang?

Today’s chicken mukbang w/

In a soundproofed room, lighting installed behind the monitor illuminated a man brightly. The brown-haired man wearing earphones moved his mouse busily and began to speak.

“This person built an attack speed item too hastily. Of course, following standard practice, this champion should build this as their first core item, but since they’re far behind me in kills now, it would be better to focus more on defensive items.”

After finishing his explanation, he fired a predictive skill shot and the enemy died instantly without a margin of error. The gray sweatshirt visible on the streaming screen shook slightly with laughter.

“See how easily they die? In cases like this, you should build your character to withstand at least one combo from the opponent before going for offensive items.”

– Hyung, isn’t that too cruel? The criticism is savage

– Today’s public execution is delicious as always lololol

The live stream viewers trembled at the streamer’s gaming skills. Seeing comments like “The opponent is so pitiful ㅜㅜ” and “Watching this stream, the opponent’s mental must be breaking lol” showing sympathy for the enemy, the man awkwardly cleared his throat.

Did I go too far? As he was doing a neck stretch after moving his champion back to base for mid-game maintenance, it happened.

[5,000 won donation! Hello Gangha! I came here through your YouTube tutorial video! lol This is my first time watching your live stream!]

“Hello, that video is still quite popular. I should update it soon.”

The man called Gangha, Hajun, responded to the donation with an awkward smile.

His main content, Legend of Legend, commonly known as LeoLe, was famous for its high entry barrier despite its large user base.

Perhaps because of this, among the various edited videos he uploaded to YouTube, his ‘Beginner’s Guide’ recorded the highest number of views. According to viewers, both his excellent skills and kind, thorough explanations were the charm.

It wasn’t something he particularly aimed for. He never expected his casual rambling video would be loved for so long. But since it consistently brought LeoLe users to his stream and viewers enjoyed it, he figured that was enough.

While reconsidering his broadcasting tone, consecutive kill announcements from the enemy team decorated the monitor. Hajun reflexively checked the scoreboard and frowned.

– Meanwhile, the bot and top lanes are getting destroyed ㅠㅠ

– What’s the point of carrying every time… I’m frustrated just watching

– The dream of Challenger rank is slipping away ㅠㅠㅠ

“I know… winning this match will be difficult. It’s okay. I just need to play better.”

While consoling them as if nothing was wrong, Hajun secretly sighed. Though he didn’t show it, he had been burning up inside for a while.

Due to the team-based nature of the game, there was no solution when one teammate tanked the game. Sure enough, the game outcome was already tilting due to other lanes giving up kills from the beginning.

After losing several team fights completely, he met the defeat screen without even getting a chance to act. This was already the third time today.

“Oh well… we lost again.”

If only I had just one good duo partner.

He dully pushed aside this habitual thought that came whenever he felt disappointed and leaned back against his chair.

During continued losing streaks, it was good to take a short break to cool down. While gulping down a café latte while clutching his growling stomach, a donation came in.

[5,000 won donation! Gangha, show your face just once! lol]

It was a familiar request, not at all surprising. As he tried to laugh it off as usual, similar requests poured in as if coordinated.

‘Will we get a face reveal today~’, ‘It’s been too long since I’ve seen Gangha ㅠㅠ’ After observing the persistent reactions, Hajun nonchalantly snorted.

“So suddenly? Everyone, you came to watch me play games, right? Why do you keep asking to see my face? You can find it everywhere if you search anyway.”

Once, he had gradually revealed his hands, upper body, and finally his face due to viewers’ persistent demands. Of course, since that was just for an event, most of the time including today, he streamed showing only his upper body below the chin.

Why was everyone so desperate for face cam? His appearance would be circulating on the internet even now. While ignoring the endless donations, Hajun was fixing his disheveled hair.

[3,000 won donation! Hyung, you see yourself in the mirror every day, we want to see you too ㅠㅠ]

Startled, he turned his eyes to the camera. Fortunately, the angle remained as he had set it. After reading the donation that felt like someone had peeked into his room several times, he casually moved the mirror out of the camera frame.

[20,000 won donation! It’s been a month since I’ve seen Gangha’s face, I’m dying…]

– This time I won’t clip it, I’ll just quietly enjoy your face ㅠㅠㅠ

– Why won’t you show that face? ㅠㅠ This is a national loss ㅠㅠㅠ Let’s reveal it to the whole world!!

[10,000 won donation! Teacher, I think I could focus better on the game if you show your face (serious)]

Has it been a month already? Judging by how fuzzy his memory of showing his face was, quite some time had definitely passed.

The viewers seemed to be speaking in unison as if they had coordinated. Since they always put their heart and soul into teasing him, he couldn’t even guess what they would do if he showed his face.

“Haha, did everyone have a good day today? The weather has become quite cool now, hasn’t it?”

He exaggeratedly shivered while bringing up a topic that should appeal to everyone, but they were persistent.

‘That’s so awkward!’, ‘It’s so obvious you’re changing the subject lol’ He sheepishly closed his mouth after being seen through immediately. Fortunately, as if pretending to fall for his intention while knowing it, they began to share their own stories one by one.

Is this enough for today? As he was adjusting his posture to resume gaming, he heard faint footsteps. An unexpected complication.

“Junnie, eat before you play!”

“I’ll eat after the stream ends!”

‘Woohoo!! Grandmother appears!!! lol’, ‘Reinforcements have arrived!!! lol’ The chat was instantly filled with welcoming messages. These people, really. Stifling an escaping sigh, he hurriedly stood up from his chair.

While Hajun was arguing with his grandmother, one viewer uploaded a real-time translation of their conversation. “I’m fine with coffee, the one mixed with milk-.” “How is coffee a meal! I’ve prepared everything, just take it and eat.” After the tense exchange continued, Hajun eventually disappeared from the screen.

– Whoa? Is Gangha Japanese?? Why is his Japanese so good?

– Gangha is Korean but his grandmother might be Japanese

– Yeah, he previously showed his passport and as far as I know, he lives in Japan with his maternal grandmother for certain reasons lol

Despite the owner’s absence, the viewer count showed no signs of dropping. While various questions were exchanged as viewers recounted the fascinating conversation between Hajun and his grandmother, Hajun trudged back into the room holding a bowl of rice.

“Sorry. I’m a bit late.” No sooner had he slumped down in his chair than the chat instantly became a sea of laughter. It was somewhat expected. Ignoring the mischievous viewers, he glared at the food in front of him as if it were his enemy.

It was a rice bowl that could be quickly finished with just a spoon as his grandmother said, but eating while gaming didn’t seem easy.

– Eat before streaming!!! lol No one wants your sacrifice ^^

– That’s right, Koreans run on rice power lololol

As he faced off with the food for a while with his arms crossed, the viewers’ scolding intensified. At a glance, they seemed concerned for him, but their true intentions were obvious.

It ends up like this after all. This time it seemed unavoidable. He reached for the camera to widen the viewing angle and adjust it, and his facial features were revealed on the streaming screen.

“You guys win. But I’ll only show my face while I’m eating.”

– Waah hyung take me ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

– Gangha, eat slowly and chew thoroughly, you’ll get indigestion if you eat too quickly lol Take your time, very slooowly!!

– The brightness almost made me turn off my monitor;;

It was already awkward to show his face, and now he had to eat in front of tens of thousands of viewers. He needed to urgently escape this desperate situation somehow.

Let’s get this over with quickly. He moved his spoon frantically, barely aware if the food was going into his nose or mouth. After forcefully swallowing the last bite, ignoring the increasingly desperate donation sounds, Hajun showed his empty bowl.

“Done! Now that I’ve finished eating, let’s quickly start the next match.”

Once he placed his hands on the mouse and keyboard, a familiar comfort finally enveloped his body. Gaming streams are definitely the best. As he relaxed his stiffened expression and waited for the game matching, he suddenly noticed his smiling image in the monitor.

“Everyone, why didn’t you tell me? I almost wouldn’t have noticed during the entire game.”

He playfully smiled at the lens and thoroughly lowered the camera angle. The chat, which had been full of distractions, was instantly flooded with screams as expected.

I knew this would happen. Nothing could make him happier than getting a small revenge on his viewers. Hajun turned up the speaker volume a little more and continued his gaming broadcast.