Chapter 23

Chapter 23: [Knight Soul] I Just... Did It Because I Could? (3)

“I just... did it because I could?”

?

Huh?

Bullshit..?

fr??;

???????????????

Fuck.. 

What did he say?? 

What???????

He just confirmed that he saw the Larkranz Style and learned it on the spot, fuck lololololololololololol

Lol..? 

Is that real?? 

This is really real?? 

Wow lololol It’s fucking over!! 

Talent fucking ruined this game!!

Pure innocence.

At that one innocent remark, the viewers began boiling over, and the chat window started scrolling down rapidly.

...It was chaos.

No... fuck; So how the hell can you see the Larkranz Style once and just copy it like that!!!! 

Explain yourself!!

Ex plain! Ex plain! Ex plain! Ex plain! Ex plain!

Expected answer) Hmm, that’s strange. 

Why doesn’t this work??

Teacher Seo-jin.. It’s only virtual reality games that you’re new to, right?? 

Were you in special forces? 

PMC?? 

Or were you some martial artist before this?? 

Otherwise, it makes no sense!!!!!!!!

Wow.... I was already stunned when I heard it in the Hot Clip.. but now that he confirmed it, I’m dizzy as fuck; This is real.. seriously..?

Is this for real...???;

Ding-a-ling—

[<Let’sGoHardcore> donated ‘200,000 won.’]

{ Video }

Hey. 

I’m asking just in case, but is this similar to the answer you gave when people asked how you caught Trinex..??; You just saw it, understood how it worked, copied it, and that was it????

And, at the perfect timing, one viewer sponsored a video donation. 

Then, a portion of the Q&A from yesterday’s [Knight Soul] gameplay began playing.

《 <Let’sGoHardcore> donated ‘100,000 won.’ 》

How did you catch Trinex without taking a single hit? 

How did you break Trinex’s Instant-Death Pattern at the start? 

Did you maybe watch a strategy video?;

《 I just did it by instinct. If I had to be specific, I did rely a lot on sight, hearing, and things like that. 》

Fuck lolol

Wow.. That’s seriously ridiculous even when I watch it again, fuck lololololololol

Of course you rely heavily on sight and hearing, you fuuuuuck, obviously!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

《 After widening your field of view, you listen in advance through sound to figure out where and how the attack is coming from... then feel factors such as the attack’s trajectory, direction, and strength, and either deflect it or dodge it. Then it’s doable. 》

Lolololololololololololololololololololololol

???: You should also look, listen, then respond. 

It’s doable.

For real, this was a fucking absurd answer too;;

Teacher Seo-jin, the thing is, even if people see and hear it, not everyone can respond to it.. you deceitful fucking bastard!!

Could it be.. that learning Gaming Martial Arts.. works on the same principle as that?; No way, right???????

“Mm- ‘Let’sGoHardcore,’ thank you for your donation. ...Ah, that’s a good point. Yes, that’s right.”

?

Wow..

This is insane..

Seriously? 

That’s really the answer he meant to give?? 

He just watches with his eyes, listens with his ears, understands it, and copies it??

I had no idea Gaming Martial Arts was that easy to learn. 

Wow. 

What useful information. 

I guess becoming a pro-gamer isn’t very hard either??????

“It isn’t particularly different. You look with your eyes, understand the movement, infer the final motion that will be produced as a result, then calculate the motion backward and perform it according to the principle.”

It was the truth.

‘Well- through the Power of Foresight, I could break down his behavioral method in more detail and observe more motion patterns according to the possible branches... so I did learn the movements in the shortest time possible.’

The Power of Foresight.

With the Eyes That Saw Fate, he had activated his Divine Energy to the maximum, so he had been able to “see” the shadows of possibility and collect a more varied set of motion patterns.

However, other than that, there was nothing else he was hiding.

Far from learning Gaming Martial Arts, he had often suffered fevers because of his Divine Energy ever since he was young, so he had grown up somewhat sickly.

After he had grown older, he did make time every day to exercise little by little for his health, but he had never once learned systematic techniques.

He had simply... quite literally absorbed the entire technical system of the Larkranz Style the moment he “saw” it.

Heaven-sent talent.

An acquisition ability that went beyond understanding systems and techniques, allowing him to use them immediately without training or practice. 

Even excluding Divine Energy, Ju Seo-jin was the very incarnation of talent itself.

It was only that his life up until now had never provided the chance to make that Innate Talent bloom. 

To Ju Seo-jin, all of this was perfectly natural.

“.......”

That was why.

Swoosh—

Ju Seo-jin watched the chat window rise at high speed for a moment as if it had gone berserk, then quietly moved a step back and voiced a question as if whispering into Ju Seo-yoon’s ear.

“...I have one thing to ask. Are you normally not supposed to do this?”

“?”

“The Larkranz Style...? I was wondering if seeing and learning unique movements like that is sort of implicitly forbidden. Was I not supposed to copy it?”

“.......”

“Is that how it is?”

“Waa-ow......”

Then Ju Seo-yoon, uncharacteristically, gave off the look of a dead fish with all vitality drained from her eyes... and covered her face with both hands, as if embarrassed.

“Oppa... there’s no way that’s true... Also, whispering here is meaningless...? Everyone can hear you......”

..Looks like he really is on day 2 of virtual reality games.. 

Hey, if the streaming window is on, people can hear everything, whether it’s a whisper or whatever.. sir..

Fuuuck..? 

He thought we wouldn’t be able to hear that???????? For real?? 

This wasn’t intentional humblebragging???

Wow.. Highly advanced innocence is no different from extreme humblebragging.. I’m getting fucking tilted, fuuuuuuuuck???

???: Why doesn’t this work? Wait, are you not supposed to do this? Is that why people don’t do it? There’s no way you “can’t” do this, right..?

I’m going insane;

While the streaming window was on, no matter how quietly one spoke, the volume was merely adjusted. 

There was no such thing as audio failing to reach the viewers.

Ju Seo-jin realized that belatedly, blinked and blinked again, and let out a dazed “Ah─” before moving his lips as if relieved.

“Well... if that’s the case, then I’m glad, but- to put it another way, I don’t think this should be something worth talking about this much.”

The next moment.

“Hmm. I feel like there should be plenty of people besides me who can just see something and copy it...... Is it really that impressive?”

Lololololololololololololololololololololol

Huh? 

Huhh?? 

Huh??????????????????

(faints)

Ah, fuck, seriously, this talent-ruined game and this deception are fucking bullshit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Teacher Seo-jin, you’re doing this on purpose, right?? 

You’re intentionally trying to tilt us, right?? 

That’s it, right?? 

Right??? 

Say yes!!!!!!!!

Wow.. I’m seriously speechless.. “Is it really that impressive?” and shit;;;;; This guy really is insane.. fuck;;;;;

...Faced with unprecedented talent, the viewers, who had unexpectedly been humblebragged(?) to, howled in the chat window.

***

Time passed quickly.

After the legendary(?) line, “I just... did it because I could?” came the humblebragging that he did not understand why this was receiving so much attention. 

Because of that, the explanation that was not really an explanation ended quickly.

Talent.

Everything was explained by that one thing he had simply been born with. 

Even though it was only his second day after starting virtual reality games, he was a mass of pure talent strong enough to defeat a pro-gamer.

He had already publicly revealed the Game History on his account earlier to prove that this was truly his first time playing virtual reality games.

Since capsule devices forced each person to register only one account based on biometric information, the possibility that he was a veteran pretending to be a newbie was quite literally 0%.

An incomprehensible existence whose path differed even among those called geniuses. 

Opinions saying that he should debut as a pro-gamer also appeared frequently in the chat window.

Well- Ju Seo-jin had already received an offer asking whether he had any intention of becoming a pro-gamer.

〈 Whisper 〉

[Crack(skdlemfrltlfgek3717) : I’ll have to bring this up with the director and coach later, but...... in my opinion, Ju Seo-jin, you are at a level where you could play as a pro-gamer without any problem.]

[Crack(skdlemfrltlfgek3717) : If you have any intention of becoming a pro-gamer on the [Eternal Saga] side, I’ll try to arrange an entry test for my team, ‘VEN.’ Please think about it positively.]

[Crack(skdlemfrltlfgek3717) : I’m serious.]

‘I’m not particularly interested. Becoming a pro-gamer at this point... is too late. If I was going to do it, I should’ve done it much earlier.’

Crack.

After that pro-gamer handed him a gift code for UG Corporation’s newest Ultra Capsule in [Limitless War], Ju Seo-jin did not respond to the scouting offer he had received from him.

Whether it was [Eternal Saga] or [Gun Ground], he would only be able to perform as a pro-gamer after adapting perfectly to that game.

Four years.

Even if he became able to play as a pro-gamer in the shortest possible time, he would still have to spend roughly two to three years. 

That would not change even if Crack took the lead in pulling him up to the position of pro-gamer.

Only around the time Ju Seo-jin turned thirty would he barely succeed in taking his first step as a pro-gamer.

‘Pro-gamers... I don’t know much about them, but I’ve heard they place tremendous importance on background. Even if I somehow debuted as a pro-gamer, I probably wouldn’t be treated well.’

Modern pro-gamers had a strong tendency to value blood ties, regional ties, school ties, and the like. 

They were obsessed with “elite” courses, such as being a former pro-team academy trainee or a blood relative of a Pro-Gamer Family.

There were countless cases where people fixated only on prestigious background and, if someone had no particular title, refused to evaluate them by their actual skill. 

Sometimes, they even discriminated against them.

A pro-gamer like Crack was treated well only because he was an elite among elites, a former pro-team academy trainee who had learned the Larkranz Style, recognized as high-level even among Gaming Martial Arts, from the finest disciple of the era.

As for the possibility that Ju Seo-jin, who was older and had no particular background, would live smoothly as a pro-gamer... well, to him, it seemed less realistic than debuting as a streamer.

‘There’s a realistic path right in front of me instead of debuting as a pro-gamer. There’s no reason to let that go.’

On the other hand.

The path to debuting as a streamer and succeeding was already somewhat secured.

Like this.

《 [Knight Soul] : Clearing all bosses on ‘Nightmare’ Mode with No Deaths! (※with Ju Seo-jin) 》

Myangbangwool(wntjdbsdlqslek1231)

Viewer Count : 10,911 (※SUPER HOT!!!)

By partially blocking the voice donations that had kept coming in and concisely answering the facts exactly as they were... the viewer count had been shaved down a little.

However, it was not a small number.

Considering that most major streamers on Space Stream had an average viewer count of twenty or thirty thousand, it was tremendous.

Of course, among the top-ranking streams on Space Stream, there were streams that easily surpassed a hundred thousand viewers, including overseas viewers, but that was an exception.

“Mm. Then, I think I’ve now answered most of what you were curious about... so I’ll start the game.”

Ju Seo-jin turned to Ju Seo-yoon, who was standing behind him, and said that with a look in his eyes that seemed to ask, “This is how I do it, right?” Then Ju Seo-yoon raised her thumb with a thump and agreed.

「[Knight Soul] has been selected and launched. After the countdown, you will connect to the program.」

[3]

[2]

[1]

***

[START]

The next moment.

───.

Before they knew it, the white scenery of the Select Room disappeared... and with the sound of water droplets falling from the ceiling, a vast cavern came into view.

Drip, drip—

Knight Soul hi.

At loooooong last!

Knight Soul stream ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the stream!

He didn’t drag out the [Limitless War] story and just explained everything, then went straight into the crazy-fun Knight Soul Hidden Route on lololololololol

I came running like a dog the moment I saw him entering the Knight Soul Hidden Route, sir!!!!!!!!!

Crack VS Ju Seo-jin <<< After that crazy-fun story, he immediately enters Knight Soul Hidden Route lololololol 

This is broadcasting, kya lololololol

A solemn-looking temple sat inside the vast cavern.

In front of the Temple of Twilight.

It was the moment they had returned to [Knight Soul].

***

“......I see. It seems you have made your decision, Ones Who Reclaim the Light. I have been waiting. Please, enter.”

In front of the Temple of Twilight.

Grandis, the Saintess of the Moon, who had stood motionless before the giant stone gate, nodded and gestured inward.

Rumble───

At the same time as the giant stone gate leading into the Temple of Twilight opened wide, the chat window became lively and noisy.

Oh lol Now they’re going to meet the bishop bastards on the Order side lolololololol I’m looking forward to this lol?

It’s similar to when you go to the Order of the Sun, but compared to the Normal Route, this feels like an old ruin.. The Order of the Sun is basically a whole city that’s temple-level, fuck lolol

Fuck.. The PTSD is coming back.. When I went to the Order of the Sun and met the bishops, I almost rage-quit the game because it was so fucking annoying; Ha..

You have to acknowledge that the cleric bastards have fucking trash personalities, yeah; I’m curious what kind of shitheads the Order of the Star will be lol

From a rough glance, unlike the Hidden Route, [Knight Soul]’s Normal Route seemed to invite the player to the Order of the Sun, where they would face those bishops.

It was not enough to act as a major spoiler for the gameplay in particular, but it did make him curious. 

Just what sort of beings were the bishops who appeared in [Knight Soul]?

That was... also because of Ju Seo-yoon, who was stuck closely behind Ju Seo-jin and pouring out words full of anxiety through “Player Chat.”

She had been trying nonstop to reassure(?) Ju Seo-jin by telling him to refrain from any sudden actions.

= Um... Oppa, from here on, it might feel a liiittle unpleasant, okay? 

But if you force a fight here, both of us get a game over, so you need to endure it...? 

Got it?

= Ab-so-lute-ly───! Do. Not. 

Fight! 

Got it?

If we die here, the Mission Sword Empress put up and everything else will all be gone, nothing! 

Okay? 

So let’s endure it, okay? 

Hm?

= Oppa, we haven’t finished the tutorial yet. We need to stay here a little longer. Try to endure it until then. Okay? ...Um, why aren’t you answering? Hello?

“.......”

At this point, he was beginning to feel that there had to be some reason she was warning him this much.

While thinking about what that might be, he considered using Divine Energy to see what would happen next, but restrained himself.

‘The right decision is to conserve as much Divine Energy as possible. You never know, so I should hold back.’

Seeing the most likely branch among the events that would happen next consumed no small amount of Divine Energy.

Considering that he might need to activate Divine Energy to the maximum in a possible combat situation, it was right to reduce the waste of power unless he truly needed it at any given moment.

Well- even putting that aside, he had only just reached the point of leaving [Knight Soul]’s tutorial section at most, so there was no way he would act rashly.

Ju Seo-jin let out a small sigh and continued walking forward.

‘...Seo-yoon. Just what does she think I am? There’s no way I’d fight randomly like that.’

And then.

Swoosh—

When he opened a wooden door at the end of a long corridor inside the Temple of Twilight and entered, a new scene unfolded.

A long, round, gloomy blue table.

On the stone seats arranged in a circle around it, four bishops were seated.

A young man wearing a wide-brimmed felt hat that looked like something a hunter would use sat in the seat of honor on the left, and a grotesque woman whose skin was stitched with all kinds of colored thread sat in the seat of honor on the right.

On the red stone seat that seemed to be reserved for the person with the highest status sat a handsome middle-aged man with disheveled brown hair, his fierce eyes gleaming.

As for the last one—

‘...Well. He isn’t even sitting at the round table at all. Is he allowed to do whatever he wants?’

An old man.

A white-haired old man with countless wrinkles, wearing a shattered black breastplate, could be seen crouching on the ground and gulping down alcohol.

?

Is this for real???????

Seriously.. Is that Halkenburg?? 

I’m losing it lolololololololol

No.. Why is Grandpa Halkenburg showing up there..??

?? lolololololololololol Wow, that crazy old man is there too??; I’m scared just looking at him, fuck;

Do not ever provoke “that” old man...!

Legendary horror game on.. Fuck;; PTSD is kicking in;;;;;;;;;;;

But then......

= Hiiiek!

= ......?

It was strange.

Not only were the viewers reacting that way in chat, but even Ju Seo-yoon, who was standing behind him, flinched and shrank back.

...Ju Seo-jin tilted his head and was about to show his doubt, but only for a moment.

“...To the great Agents of the Star, the Saintess who serves the will of the Moon offers her greetings. May the Star’s blessing be with yo-”

Grandis.

Just as the Saintess of the Moon bowed politely to the bishops seated before the blue round table... the handsome middle-aged man with disheveled brown hair abruptly cut her off.

“───That is enough. We are not in a situation where we can afford to be uselessly bound by ceremony, are we? Are those standing behind you the ‘Ones Who Reclaim the Light’ that the prophecy-monger’s bastard spoke of?”

“...Yes. That is correct. They are undoubtedly the ‘Ones Who Reclaim the Light’ of whom the Prophet spoke. Their skill has also been verified.”

“Skill verification?”

“In front of the old chapel. They defeated ‘Trinex’ and recovered one Knight’s Soul. It was an achievement they accomplished on their own, without my intervention.”

“Ah, wait a moment.”

Press, press—

The handsome middle-aged man with disheveled brown hair narrowed his brows and pressed them again and again, then asked back with irritation in his voice.

“Tsk- Do not joke with me. Trinex? You are saying they defeated ‘that’ Trinex? Those people? ...‘That’ Knight of Patience, Trinex? Ha!”

“...He had already been cursed and had also turned into a Fallen One. It was also before he became a Demigod. Still, this was only possible because they are talents that might appear once every few hundred years.”

“How absurd. That slender, pretty-boy bastard and the girl hiding behind him do not look like such talented people to me.”

“I am only telling you the truth───”

However, that too lasted only a moment.

Before Grandis could finish speaking... a strange collision sound rang out softly.

Clack───.

It was a small noise.

Yet despite that, it was enough to focus the attention of everyone in the enormous room.

Grip—

Before anyone realized it, the white-haired old man who had seemed no more than a drunkard had moved directly in front of Ju Seo-jin... and for some reason, his foot was placed on Ju Seo-jin’s right knee, which had jutted out, pressing it down.

Gulp, gulp—

Then the white-haired old man put the bottle to his lips and took a swig of the unknown alcohol that gave off a terrible smell. 

Breaking the brief silence, he wiped the alcohol from his mouth and met Ju Seo-jin’s gaze with hollow eyes.

“Ghh- Hmmm......”

“.......”

“Brat... You- what is your name...?”

“Ju Seo-jin.”

At that, Ju Seo-jin answered calmly. 

At the same time, the man seated on the red stone seat snapped back to his senses with a “Hah-” and shouted through gritted teeth.

“Wait! Old Man Halkenburg! Why did you move without orders? What is this? Why did you go to that pretty-boy bastard? Do not touch him! Even if it is not certain yet, he may truly be an ‘One Who Reclaims the Light’───”

“-You fool... Hartan, do you not understand...? Are you saying you cannot see it even after gathering that many Runes...? If this old man had not stopped him, you might have died...?”

“What?”

“If you do not- understand... then shut that mouth of yours for a while. Do not speak carelessly to those two either... Understood? Do not act cheeky, you brat... hic!”

“.......”

Hartan.

The man with disheveled brown hair who had been scolded like that shut his mouth... and Halkenburg stared at Ju Seo-jin once again with hollow eyes.

“Hmmm... Oho- A monster... then....... Is this an ‘One Who Reclaims the Light’...? I am- called Halkenburg, boy.”

The next moment.

“You- seem like you would be worth teaching...... You defeated Trinex, that patient fool of a bastard, did you not...? Good, good... How about it?”

Halkenburg grinned, showing the few teeth he had left, and made a bizarre proposal.

“Do you have any intention... of receiving instruction from me, Halkenburg...? If it is you... I think you may become... this old man’s... finest masterpiece......”

?

???????????

Pardon?

Fuck?? 

You could get a disciple quest from this crazy monster old man??????????

Fuck??? 

Halkenburg?? 

It’s possible to get a disciple quest from that Halkenburg?? 

What is this??????

It was an abnormality.