NoveLight ™
"Welcome!"
"Wow, how many shoe storage cabinets are there... Oh my, hello! It's been a while. Thank you so much for the streamer competition last time, Teacher!"
"Come on in."
Click.
After walking down the hallway for quite some time, the door finally appeared. There was no doorbell button, but the sensor mounted on the ceiling recognized the visitor badges around their necks and automatically opened the door. The distinctive silhouette that briefly appeared through the open door left a deep impression on everyone.
Even those who had known Eugene for quite a while entered the house with expressions that were difficult to describe. The first space to welcome everyone to the housewarming was a shoe storage area, likely containing over 40 compartments.
Of course, that wasn't all. The marble finishes were so pristine that no other word could describe them except "white," and through the large windows, a breathtaking view of the Han River could be seen.
At the same time...
"Wow, it's Logan!"
"Wow, all of Eugene's acquaintances are here too..."
Some familiar faces appeared.
With white hair that resembled milk, and light blue eyes, the sight of a delicate arm waving as it met my gaze was almost comical. How such a fragile frame could handle hundreds of kilograms of weight was beyond belief.
That aside, after taking off their shoes and putting on slippers, the guests were welcomed by a spacious living room. With only a large sofa and table, it felt a bit empty, but considering Eugene’s usual style, there was no real need to decorate further.
However, before anyone had a chance to explore the house, Eugene called everyone to the wardrobe.
"Since you’ll be staying for about 2 nights and 3 days, make sure your luggage is well organized here so it doesn’t get mixed up."
"...This is the closet, right? But why aren’t there any clothes for you, Eugene?"
"I'm not really the type to care about clothes, so I keep them separate. It’s just too big in here."
"Ah."
Come to think of it, that made sense.
Thinking this, everyone began to put down their bags and, like horses with the reins let go, started exploring the house. Normally, a housewarming is centered around food, drinks, and chatting, but the house was just so unusually large.
It was more like a museum tour during a school trip, with Eugene acting as the docent, guiding around twenty people through the house.
"This is the bathroom near the master bedroom. If anyone wants to bathe tonight, this is the one to use."
"Wow, is that the Icarus Korea branch building over there?"
"Wow, Yeouido’s Yeongyanggyeong is insane."
They were truly excited.
Eugene smiled faintly, watching everyone’s reactions. The reactions were almost identical to when he first moved in a few weeks ago.
The bathroom layout was simple, but it had everything. The shower and toilet were separate, and the bathtub was a key feature. The most striking part was that you could enjoy the outside view while soaking in the tub—though Eugene’s attention was elsewhere.
"How’s the wall design?"
"Yeah, it’s really pretty. Very classy."
"Glad to hear it. The default design didn’t quite match my taste, so I completely revamped it."
"Ah."
As they moved on.
They walked diagonally across the house and into a room where three beds were placed. Naturally, this would be where everyone would sleep for the next two nights.
The bedding, pillows, and mattresses were neatly arranged as if freshly laid out. Unusually, two blankets were placed on each bed.
"It would be a bit much to have you all sleep on the floor, so you’ll have to share a bed. Six people can sleep here, and the men will sleep in this room."
"Wow, the Han River view is amazing."
"If we sleep here, we might never want to leave the house..."
The rest of the group headed upstairs.
There were two more bedrooms on the second floor, so there was no concern about accommodating everyone. Those who couldn’t fit in the rooms would be sleeping on the floor of Eugene's bedroom or on the living room couch—Laurentina and Logan volunteered for that.
After about 15 minutes of exploring the house, Eugene clapped his hands and gathered everyone back in the living room, then added:
"That’s the end of the house tour. After this, we’ll be moving to the reception hall for dinner. If anyone wants to stream, feel free to start. But make sure to get permission from our editors and thumbnail artists first if they don’t want their faces shown."
"Of course!"
"So we’re not eating here, but at the banquet hall?"
"Yes. I’ve arranged for a catering service, so feel free to eat as much as you want."
Whether to feel sorry for not having Eugene’s homemade food, or to admire the fact that the housewarming party had a buffet, the remaining guests were caught in a dilemma.
[ALERT: Streamer 'Hotteok' // ON AIR]
[ALERT: Streamer 'Kimstone' // ON AIR]
[ALERT: Streamer 'Limit' // ON AIR]
[ALERT: Streamer 'Harmony' // ON AIR]
- ????
- Housewarming party! Housewarming party! Housewarming party! Housewarming party! Housewarming party!
- Where are we?
- What is this banquet hall? These people are something else.
- Eugene’s housewarming party, but where is this?
Some of the most popular streamers started their broadcasts earlier in the day, almost as if coordinated. With it being a weekend, the number of viewers quickly skyrocketed, and within just a few minutes, tens of thousands were flooding into the main broadcast.
The sounds of ingredients being prepped, food sizzling, and people talking all mixed together, creating a very lively atmosphere. Then, the camera came on, showing a beautifully decorated banquet hall and the faces of the “Mutsannom Crew.”
As numerous questions poured in, the viewers quickly shifted their curiosity to the sight of six tables, each with three to four people sitting, while servers bustled about placing appetizers on the tables.
Harmony spoke up:
"...Hey, everyone. It’s Harmony. And as you can see, I’m here with the Mutsannom Crew, including Kimstone, Hotteok, and Limit. We’re at Eugene’s housewarming party, like I mentioned before. But I’m not sure if this really qualifies as a housewarming party..."
"This isn’t a housewarming, it’s just a regular party, right?"
"I didn’t expect a housewarming to turn into a party like this."
As Harmony mentioned, the quality of the food on the tables was beyond impressive. Champagne bottles were placed in the center, with four wine glasses positioned just within reach.
The streamers were all stunned by the extravagant spread, and they were even more amazed when they saw how flawless the servers were as they moved quickly, clearing plates and bringing new appetizers.
The food kept coming, and since many hadn’t eaten breakfast, the meal didn’t seem to end anytime soon.
Adding to that, Hotteok, an E2-level streamer, was consuming food at the same pace as a typical EM-level person. As the plates piled up, viewers finally understood why Eugene had chosen a catering service. They all began praising Eugene’s foresight.
How much time had passed?
"Ugh, I’m full."
"Everyone satisfied?"
"Teacher, I came for a housewarming and ended up on a luxury trip... Thank you so much."
Then, the conversation continued.
It was Dice and the other four who had gone to the U.S. with him last time.
"You really did treat pro gamers like a hobby."
"I wouldn’t call it a hobby when my life was on the line."
"Haha, true."
Once dessert was finished, the tables were cleared.
Then everyone moved to the terrace, where they could relax and enjoy the cool breeze, taking a walk. Of course, the terrace was connected directly to Eugene’s apartment, so they could return whenever they liked.
Naturally, the viewers, knowing this, were going wild.
- Where on earth did Eugene move to? 😂 - I see Yeongdong Bridge and Han River... Could this be Cheongdam? - Looks like Eugene really raked in the money 😂 - Eugene... you’ve gotten too big now... - FACT: Eugene hasn’t even been streaming for a year yet.
Eugene couldn’t help but chuckle.
"...Now that I think about it, I haven’t even been streaming for a year yet… what should I even say about this?"
"I could move to the floor below in three more years… ugh!"
"Why do you have to keep following me around?"
As Eugene teased Dice, the expressions of the editor and thumbnail artist became strange.
Almost everyone in the room—especially the streamers—were experts at catching the mood and expressions of others. Kimstone grinned and poked the side of a thumbnail artist, causing the person to jump in surprise, which naturally drew everyone’s attention.
And just like that, the content of the party took an unexpected turn.
"Everyone here works under Eugene. Anyone have any requests?"
"Oh, no. Nothing really... Actually, you’ve been really great to us."
"No real requests? Are you sure?"
"What’s this? Are you all having fun on your own?"
The editors were at a loss, while Eugene watched the scene with a mysterious smile.
And just like that, an impromptu talk show began.