My Glitched Streaming System: I Can Steal Sponsored Gifts

Min-ho turned to Ji-su, whose gaze was intent on the door.

He then turned to Min-ho and said, "It’s just some Z-Streamers... they’re unarmed."

Ji-su frowned after he spoke, wondering if being unarmed even meant anything in this world.

With that, Min-ho took in a deep breath, then proceeded toward the door.

Once he pulled it open, he found several Z-Streamers on the other side.

He narrowed his gaze across their heads. There were four of them.

Min-ho furrowed his brows, anxious about what they wanted.

"Yes?" Min-ho said.

They bowed their heads, then said, "Can we please come in?"

At the forefront was a girl with black hair and blue edges. She lifted her head and met Min-ho’s eyes.

"We have something we wanted to talk to you about," she said.

***

Seated in a circle, Min-ho, his peers, and the new recruits sat on one side, while the four strangers sat on the opposite side.

"I uh... we," she gestured. "Came formally to thank you for saving us from those Spectors."

They wanted to get on their knees and bow, but Min-ho waved a hand.

"No no, please stop. There’s no need for that," Min-ho said.

They returned to their cross-legged position.

"Is that the reason you all came here?" Min-ho asked. The girl exchanged glances with her peers, then she spoke.

"I guess not," she said, twiddling her fingers. "Forgive us, but... we wanted to know if there was some way we could stay in your party without having to fight... or pay tribute."

Min-ho’s brow rose.

Ji-su, Dok-su, and Jang-book exchanged glances.

"You see, none of us here are Nightshaders," her twiddling intensified. "Neither do we wish to be."

Min-ho felt the words rile under his skin.

It wasn’t often he met people who didn’t want to sell their bodies for Coins.

Yet, he couldn’t help but wonder about something.

She lifted her gaze. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"As a result, we unfortunately... cannot offer tribute for protection. Also, because of our Whiplashes, we can’t fight either. So... so there’s..."

"That is a problem," Min-ho said, realizing how these Z-Streamers were in serious trouble.

He looked up at their Z-Eyes, and found their situation more hopeless when he saw a measly 20 to 30 views for each of them.

"If you aren’t Nightshaders, and you can’t fight, how do you intend on growing?" Min-ho wondered, forgetting about tribute for now.

They paused.

"When we discovered our Whiplashes, we had lost all hope. We had thought we’d be left with no options but to Nightshade Stream. Then, when Go Gun-hee said that he would take care of us and even give us payment if our Affinities could be of value to him, we found hope."

She lowered her gaze. Min-ho and the others listened with rapt attention.

"So we were hoping you could do the same." She lifted her gaze. "But if you don’t want to, then it’s okay. We could owe you up until we return to Gun-hee. Then, we’ll earn Coins and pay you back."

Min-ho shook his head.

"There’s no need for that. If you don’t want to pay tribute, then it’s fine. I never asked for it in the first place," Min-ho said, feeling a need to end this conversation and entertain more important matters.

Like what they would do about Sae-wee and Im-hee, or how they’d handle the growing issue that was water, or how he’d face the trio when the time came.

’So much to think about.’ Min-ho bit his lip.

"Do you actually mean that?" the girl asked, her eyes gleaming.

"Huh?" Min-ho asked, his mind wandering. "Oh right, yes. It’s no problem. You can stay with us until you return to Gun. But, as for the Coins..."

Min-ho thought deeply.

He didn’t know if he could give them Coins just like that. He and his team barely had enough for themselves.

"What are your Affinities again?" Ji-su’s voice rang out. Min-ho’s eyes lit up.

"Right, what are your Affinities?" Min-ho asked, genuinely intrigued.

The girl hesitated, the question seemingly too heavy.

"My Affinity allows me to ward off any mental attacks on anyone within a ten-meter radius..." one of the Z-Streamers beside her said. "But at random, my senses become overwhelmed."

Ji-su recoiled upon hearing this.

’Which would be unideal in combat scenarios—just like Ji-su,’ Min-ho thought.

"As for me," the other Z-Streamer beside the girl with black and blue hair spoke up. "I can transfer any injuries from one person to another... but my Whiplash makes my bones frail at all times."

All eyes widened. Min-ho and his peers found their gazes shifting to Sae-wee and Im-hee.

But they didn’t voice their thoughts.

"And as for me, I’m able to boost a person’s luck for up to an hour. Unfortunately, I’m given bad luck at all times," another said, his tone bitter and frightened.

Min-ho’s gaze fell. He felt bad for this Z-Streamer. With such a Whiplash, he could even die just by falling on a rock.

It was unnerving to realize not everyone was so fortunate with their Affinities and Whiplashes as he was.

"And..." the girl representing them finally spoke. "And I... I uh, I can make a clone of anyone."

Min-ho’s heart thumped. Everyone listened in.

"The clone can live up to two hours and act independently. Although I can’t make more than one clone at a time." She paused. "And, and um..." She cleared her throat. "And um, my Whiplash causes me to lose bits of my memory each time."

Everyone froze, astonishment washing over them.

"Right now, I... I no longer know how to fight," she said with an ironic grin.

They all went quiet for a moment, Min-ho more so than anyone else. He tried to digest the news and struggled to figure out how these Z-Streamers would survive up until Heart.

’Perhaps Gun-hee wasn’t so bad a leader after all,’ Min-ho thought, gripping his thigh.

"Right, well..." He looked up. "It would be very difficult for me to just give away Coins."

The Z-Streamers lowered their gazes.

"We all need Coins to grow, else we risk the chance of getting killed out there," Min-ho elaborated. "But..."

The Z-Streamers lifted their gazes.

"But, I can give Coins if you all would be willing to use your Affinities to aid us in combat."

Their eyes lit up.

"Would that be possible?" Min-ho asked.

The Z-Streamers nodded.

"Yes, yes! Thank you. It would be more than possible," they said, once again making Min-ho uncomfortable.

’Why are they acting like I’m doing some noble deed?’ Min-ho pondered with a reserved sigh.