East Sea. Train Hive.
– No matter how many times I see it, I can’t get used to that size.
– Didn’t you only see it once? What are you talking about?
– You still haven’t reviewed Yu Parang?
– Of course, I need to replay each part 999 times on YouTube, right?
“Today, before we explore the last car, we’re going to check out cars 3 and 2. I’ve brought Dr. Monster Fish along, so we’ll take a leisurely tour while explaining things.”
– There’s… nothing…
– No Monster Fish chain slaughter…?
“…I’ll do it if I have time.”
Parang’s face turned bright red.
To be asked to sell out to the viewers in front of a years-long friend was mortifying.
No matter how much she was in the water, this was a different issue.
Vertea, knowing that, enthusiastically poked fun at her.
“Do you sell out to the viewers too?”
In fact, she had asked Parang to sell out before. Listening to that had her rolling on the floor laughing.
– Just looking at it, the host’s gonna have a hard time all day, lol.
“Shut up.”
Parang replied tersely.
– ‘If I don’t get food, I’ll feel gloomy’ donated 1000 won! –
[Voice Recording]
“AAAH!!”
Parang, not even listening, skipped the donation and quickly entered the third car through the window.
While waiting for Vertea, the same donation kept coming in.
Parang shot a slight glare at Vertea, who was deliberately swimming slowly.
Vertea stopped teasing Parang. Something more urgent was at hand.
‘What should I start explaining?’
Scholars around the world can be divided into four types.
Those who have the will to explain but lack talent, those who neither have will nor talent, those who have both will and talent, and finally those who lack the will to explain but are full of talent.
Fortunately for the viewers, Vertea belonged to the third type.
She took Parang towards the entrance of car 3, which connects to the one teeming with Sakis.
From here, she thought she could just explain roughly what they could see as they moved forward.
And Vertea thought that this part of the train was very important and wanted to explain it clearly.
– Oh…
– The atmosphere is becoming chaotic.
The connection between car 3 and car 2. What was there was a gigantic vortex. Twisting water completely blocked the passage between the two spaces.
“One of the large currents in the East Sea passes through this train. The connection twists the water flow delicately, creating this vortex.”
As Vertea said, upon closer inspection, it was evident that the vortex was part of a large flow that curved from a distance and then exited on the opposite side.
The viewers were reminded of something by that sight.
– It looks just like a gate.
– Seriously, I wasn’t the only one thinking that.
It was a gate.
A passage connecting to another dimension, taking the form of swirling water.
It resembled that vortex astonishingly.
“Now that you mention it.”
Parang chimed in. She had seen quite a few gates herself. Most were opened on the seafloor, however.
Vertea, of course, had as well.
So she expected a casual commentary in return for her leading question, but it seemed Vertea hadn’t heard it.
“This vortex significantly impacts the ecology of the train hive. Without it, cars 1, 2, 3, and 4 would probably be swarming with Sakis.”
“Eh? Why?”
Of course, Parang knew the reason. It was her workplace, after all. It was just commentary for the show.
“It’s simple. Look over there.”
Vertea pointed to where a fascinating phenomenon was occurring.
Corpses of fish consumed by Sakis were being pushed toward the spinning vortex, then swept away outside the train.
“The existence of this vortex creates two flows. Firstly, the current itself. It brings in water from outside the train and takes water from inside the train out.”
Parang nodded. The viewers enjoyed Vertea’s voice as if it were a radio broadcast while going about their daily lives.
“Secondly, it pulls water from car 4 and sends it to car 3. This is a secondary current created by the vortex. Therefore, it’s much weaker than the primary vortex.”
Vertea continued her explanation without a break.
“In the end, the Sakis and corpses of fish, having no swimming ability, are slowly pulled into the vortex from car 4 and are swept out of the train by the much stronger current.”
“Got it…”
Until this point, even Parang didn’t know that fact. All she knew was that ‘thanks to the current, the train stays healthy.’
What’s a healthy train without Sakis, after all?
It seemed the viewers also gained some enlightenment from Vertea’s words.
– Now that you mention it.
– Without this, it wouldn’t be weird if that parasite feasted on the train.
– Thinking about it, it’s terrifying. Bring out Umoo!!
Parang quietly gazed at Vertea.
“You’re right? This part is incredibly important, and I really wanted to explain it.”
She seemed about ready to burst with joy.
The viewers were in a good mood since the parts they were curious about were clearly explained.
Satisfied, Vertea now moved to the side of the train.
She believed this part of the train was very important and wanted to explain it as well.
A bit of time passed.
“…Up to here, that was the theory on why objects are indestructible.”
– Oh…
– Hmm…
– I see.
The reactions weren’t as enthusiastic as before.
They were tired.
Vertea grabbed one of the Monster Fish beside her.
She believed this part of the train was very important and still wanted to explain it.
More time passed.
Grabbing a red mass stuck to the wall, Vertea pulled hard.
An awful sound accompanied the chaotic mix of flesh and teeth from inside.
■■■■■■■■■-!!!
“Now, everyone. Look closely at this mouth. There’s a red spot inside, right?”
Vertea inserted her finger, opening the mouth for everyone to see.
– Kraaak.
– What the hell?!
“Don’t freak out, just take a good look. I won’t turn off the camera until you say you’ve seen it.”
– Today’s really tough, for real.
– The host’s a heavenly maiden, heaven’s host, heaven’s host, heaven’s host.
– Kraaak.
– Parang, save me. I made a mistake!
– On second glance, the host looks like a goddess.
– The host was already a goddess from the start.
The number of viewers was rapidly decreasing. Thank goodness Vertea was pretty and had a beautiful voice, or else the decline would have been steeper than this.
Parang watched quietly.
She was continuously contemplating.
Parang knew a way to keep the broadcast interesting while taking advantage of Vertea’s explanation addiction.
But that method was truly, and I mean it, too focused on entertainment. It was a way that prioritized fun, which was the troubling part.
If she used the method she had in mind, the viewers would surely gather in droves, but it would have minimal effect on preventing drop-offs.
Though unrelated to the main topic, to Parang, her recent broadcasts had a similar vibe.
It felt like it was running too much on a viewer-abuse one-tool strategy. She felt like she wasn’t showing anything genuinely horrific.
Calm yet heavy, soothing yet intense. She had always thought that’s what was needed, but somehow it ended up like this.
Looking at it, it seemed today was also not the right time for a broadcast like that, and she should aim for tomorrow.
Coincidentally, tomorrow’s place to check out was the last car of East Sea Hive.
If luck was on her side, it would yield a pretty good atmosphere.
‘It’d be nice if there was a decent Monster Fish around.’
Well, that was a thought for tomorrow.
Anyways, back to the main point.
Parang didn’t want to force Vertea to suppress her urge to explain while broadcasting.
After all, broadcasting should be something one enjoys. If it’s out of obligation, it’ll break soon enough.
After pondering this issue for a long time, Parang finally reached a conclusion.
‘Let’s do it.’
Still, she should try to make it as fun as possible.
Otherwise, today’s broadcast would fail miserably, and if this stiff educational broadcast image solidified, Vertea’s individual broadcast would face major difficulties.
Ultimately, Vertea’s broadcast should go up for people to watch, and then they could proceed from there.
So if they’re going to do it, let it be fun.
She approached Vertea, who was deeply engrossed in her explanation.
“Hey, Vertea.”
“Yeah?”
The public was thrilled with Parang bursting into the hellish classroom.
– Parang! I love you!
– I didn’t know spring came after the flowers fell…
“I have a question.”
“Oh, sure. Ask anything.”
“Over there, the Monster Fish-”
Parang pointed to a 40-meter long shark Monster Fish swimming leisurely, and,
“That other Monster Fish over there,”
She pointed to a 50-meter long eel Monster Fish occupying a slightly farther spot.
“If those two fought, which one would win?”
“Oh, that would obviously—”
“Instead of explaining, how about you show us directly? I think the viewers would find it fun too.”
Vertea pondered for a moment.
“Hmm, yeah. Showing while explaining would help with understanding, right? Just a moment.”
Then she dashed off somewhere.
Only then could the viewers devote their attention solely to Parang, aware of what she was about to do.
– Wow, this is going to be super fun!
– Am I thinking what I think I’m thinking?
– Great Parang!
– Divine Parang!
– Amazing Parang!
She was about to unleash a Monster Fish battle.
Accompanied by a Monster Fish expert’s commentary.
Soon, Vertea returned.
She was holding something in both hands, and Parang and her initial viewers recognized it instantly.
– Wait, isn’t that a Monster Fish egg?!
Parang’s first broadcast, when she had seen something similar during the Galecus hunt.
– How did she get that so quickly?
“I’m a professional. I know the nesting environment, and with a bit of insight, I can find and grab one right away.”
Vertea explained this part.
– But what does that have to do with a battle?
“Just wait and see. I mentioned during the Galecus hunting broadcast.”
Only then did the viewers recall what Parang had said.
“Most Monster Fish can instinctively sense the state of their eggs. They can feel it even if they’re at a distance if the eggs break or hatch. This method is the best way to lure a specific Monster Fish.”
“And according to recent research, Monster Fish can vaguely understand what destroyed their eggs. They can know if the last thing that broke their eggs was another Monster Fish’s teeth, claws, or even environmental features.”
So, like this—
Vertea forcefully smashed the two eggs she held in her hands together.
Pussss!
In an instant, they shattered, scattering pieces everywhere.
“When they collide and break, they instantly think each other’s eggs were destroyed by the other.”
As she said that, the two Monster Fish, which had been swimming leisurely, abruptly stopped and began glaring at each other fiercely.
– Wow, that’s insane!
– Is this for real? Is this for real? Is this really happening?
– What the hell, I never imagined it!
The viewers exploded with dopamine, gushing like a summertime fountain.
The number of viewers naturally surged sharply.
“I knew this would happen.”
“Everyone.”
Parang beamed confidently.
“Hurry up and grab your popcorn.”
■■■■■■――!!!!!
■■■■■■■――!!!!!
The two Monster Fish began to charge at each other at astonishing speeds.
