Chapter 4

Chapter 4: [Knight Soul] Was This Game Always This Easy? (4)

A virtual reality game.

Full dive content fundamentally placed great importance on realism, so it was on an entirely different track from existing games.

Even if one was not bringing one’s real body into the virtual reality game as it was, it could not help but be influenced to some extent.

In particular, a virtual reality game was full dive content that used a capsule device─── and as much as it interacted by being connected to the brain · nervous system, it was sensitive in that regard.

That was because it checked the gamer’s mental activity level according to the activity of the brain and nervous system, the secretion of neurotransmitters or hormones, and so on, then reflected it in-game.

If one’s brain · nervous system and such were also outstanding in reality, one could gain great advantages when playing a virtual reality game.

Athletes or pro gamers born with neurological elements were the same. 

However, athletes or pro gamers did not hold an absolute advantage.

After all, a virtual reality game was an artificial world, not actual reality.

Even if it was affected by the activity of the brain and nervous system, as well as the secretion of neurotransmitters and hormones, what reflected that was the artificial body that existed inside the virtual reality game.

Even top-level athletes or pro gamers, most of them could not endure the sense of disparity between the real world and the virtual world, and had no choice but to make mistakes and learn as they went. 

That was full dive.

‘……M-mm. No, I think I even heard that athletes and pro gamers, the deeper they go into it, actually have a harder time adapting to full dive because of their existing habits and tendencies…’

That was no different for Ju Seo-yoon. 

Even as a professional streamer, she had needed to devote more than a year to adapting to virtual reality games.

Furthermore, even after spending more than a year like that, Ju Seo-yoon still could not show skilled play inside a virtual reality game.

Not only her. 

Anyone who was human would have difficulty adapting to virtual reality games.

‘Yes. That should be the general case… right? I was like that too…. But… Oppa was not. Just what happened…?’

And yet… Ju Seo-jin was different. 

Not even ten minutes after connecting to the virtual reality game, he had already made an outstanding performance.

Overwhelming. 

In the sudden combat event of ‘Nightmare,’ which corresponded to [Knight Soul]’s highest difficulty mode, Ju Seo-jin had run forward without a single trace of hesitation and swept away the skeletons.

Each time one or two sword strikes continued, the skeletons’ bodies shattered like crackers with a CRUNCH- and as if he perceived the world from an omniscient observer’s point of view, he read and countered the monsters’ attacks as smoothly as flowing water.

━Was this game always this easy?

Moreover, as if even that had not been particularly difficult for him, Ju Seo-jin had said so with a slightly puzzled, or perhaps dissatisfied, air.

Even the sudden combat event of [Knight Soul]’s highest difficulty mode, ‘Nightmare,’ had merely felt far too easy to him. 

That was what he meant.

Innate talent. 

The Eyes That Saw Fate- that Power of Foresight. 

It was an unprecedented genius that no one had ever displayed before.

It was only natural that the chat window went berserk and the viewers cheered.

-That was insane..

-Wow hahahahahahahahahaha his physical skill is insane hahahahahahahahaha

-Fuck;; this is seriously an all-time legendary play, is it not? Wow.. I actually got chills, for real;; Am I the only one who feels that way??;

-Is this not some all-time legendary talent monster..? Even pro gamers or top-class athletes cannot play this well if it is their first full dive, fuck haha.

The moment Ju Seo-jin calmly spoke, the chat window became a battlefield. 

Everyone was in admiration, and everyone was shocked.

-Did he not say this was his first time doing full dive... his first virtual reality game..? How is this possible?

-Was he not even suffering from Full Dive Confusion? He looked really dizzy earlier??;;

-Is this not a lie? There is no way a true newbie can be this good..

-This might really be newbie cosplay.......

-For real; is he not a veteran?? This is a newbie concept, right?

However- the atmosphere of doubting that Ju Seo-jin was a newbie trying a virtual reality game for the first time did not grow. 

That fact had already been verified.

-No, no; this person.. really is a newbie trying a virtual reality game for the first time;; He revealed his game history..

-Right. To begin with, when the broadcast first started, he even revealed his game history together with Myangbangwool; It was definitely the game history of a true newbie;;

-Is it possible to manipulate game history now..? That should not be possible, fuck??

-You cannot fake game history, though..

-Then he really is a true newbie.. but is this the kind of play that can come from a newbie??

-Wow.. A true newbie did this? Something even veterans cannot do?? I have nothing to say.. fuck..

Game history revealed. 

When the stream began, Ju Seo-jin had proven that he was a perfect beginner. 

Because of that, there were currently no suspicious looks at all.

Only, in the face of his overwhelming talent, everyone was filled with awe. 

And… amid that awe, Ju Seo-yoon stood still with her mouth hanging open, then suddenly came back to her senses.

‘Wait… This is not the time for me to stand around either… Should I not hurry and change the stream title first? This is an opportunity!’

Although she was still young, Ju Seo-yoon was more than worthy of being called a proper professional streamer.

Ju Seo-yoon realized that this was a signal for a sudden rise in popularity and smiled brightly.

A newbie whose first virtual reality game was [Knight Soul] was challenging a one-coin clear with an unprecedented, all-time level of talent?

Did that not give one a feeling?

This would blow up!

‘Jackpot, jackpot!’

While everyone was unable to gather their senses and remained immersed in admiration, Ju Seo-yoon hurriedly opened the streaming window and changed the broadcast title.

《 [Knight Soul] : ‘Nightmare’ Mode, All-Time Talent Monster Going for a One-Coin Clear lol (※Started Virtual Reality Games Today haha) 》

…It was a broadcast title full of bait.

***

‘Mm… Is this really something worth getting this excited about? I do not think so. How strange.’

Ju Seo-jin caught his breath with a whew- and glanced at the brightly burning chat window. 

Most of the viewers were admiring his play… but it was not something he could relate to.

‘Even if I had fought without my ability, I do not think it would have felt that difficult. …Well, it is not important. Fine.’

To him, it had merely been an easy battle where he had not even needed to activate the Power of Foresight to its maximum.

Well. 

Even so, it did not seem like a bad reaction, so there was no need to refuse it. 

Ju Seo-jin fell silent as he watched the admiration rising not only in the chat window, but also through donations.

He calculated it mentally. 

How much was it? 

Had they not said that 50% of the donation amount Ju Seo-yoon received during the personal broadcast… would go to him?

‘It has only been a few minutes since we started [Knight Soul]… but I have earned more than 70,000 won from donations alone…? That is quite something.’

A guest fee of 1.2 million won. 

And… receiving 50% of the donations and video revenue as his share. 

Combining all of that, Ju Seo-jin’s daily pay rose sharply.

Since he had already received his severance pay and the delayed overtime allowance, money was not that big of an issue, but it was still an amount he could not help but be surprised by.

It made him wonder if personal broadcasts originally earned money this well.

‘If I… appear as a special guest on Seo-yoon’s stream for around two or three weeks, just how much could I earn…?’

Ju Seo-jin stroked his chin with his left hand and sank into thought. ……It seemed, no matter how he looked at it, that he would have to appear a little more as a special guest.

Of course, it was not only a good thing for Ju Seo-jin.

The viewers were also showing a very good response, and from some point on, Ju Seo-yoon was also speaking her broadcast remarks with a face full of laughter.

Very lively, at that.

“Now- ladies and gentlemen, did you see that? My brother’s skill! [Knight Soul], even ‘Nightmare’ Mode is not difficult!”

-For real, she is making me want to flick her forehead.

-Excuse me.. what are you being proud of.. You are not the one who did it..

-Myangbangwool-bangwool.. That was because your brother was good, not because you were good.. Sigh..

“Come on you all seem not to know this, but originally, riding the bus is also part of one’s skill. There are many people who cannot even do this!”

-?

-Myanghada, Chubangwool..

-???: Whew. This will not do! Oppa, give me your longsword and leather clothes! I will carry you! <<< Who on earth was it who said this?? For real?

“Thaaat was said by the past me- so it does not matter? Ladies and gentlemen, the past must end in the past! Yes?”

While Ju Seo-yoon waved her index finger back and forth, acting as if she were lecturing them, new content appeared in the chat window.

-? What is this, do you guys know the broadcast title changed?? This is ridiculous haha

-Huh? It really did.. The broadcast title changed.. But the state of the title is fucking...??

-[Knight Soul], ‘Nightmare’ Mode.. Going for a one-coin clear..? Started virtual reality games today.. haha..? Myangbangwool.. That is tacky..

-??? Wow.. The broadcast title is legendary........... Myangbangwool.. Have you finally fallen so low that you are leeching off your brother? It is so irritating I could die??;

At some point, the broadcast title in the streaming window that had changed entered his eyes… and the light flowing from Ju Seo-jin’s lifeless eyes cooled coldly.

《 [Knight Soul] : ‘Nightmare’ Mode, All-Time Talent Monster Going for a One-Coin Clear lol (※Started Virtual Reality Games Today haha) 》

━Myangbangwool(wntjdbsdlqslek1231)

*Viewer Count : 2,172

“…….”

He had no words. 

Ju Seo-jin let out a short hollow laugh and fell silent, and at that, Ju Seo-yoon flinched and cautiously watched his reaction. 

Then, she smiled awkwardly.

“Ehehe. Well, it is not wrong, is it? Even if it is about you, Oppa, and not me, it is not a lie! Right?”

“Seo-yoon.”

“…Y-yes?”

“Let us keep our conscience.”

“…….”

-Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

-Great Seo-jin!

-Refreshing.

“This… does not seem like that difficult of a game. I think acting too cocky about it might be a bit too obnoxious.”

-?

-Wow..

-Um.. you are more obnoxious.. you insane, crazy talent monster ;;

-Ah, fuck, this insane talent monster bastard is deceiving people as naturally as breathing;;;;;

-How is [Knight Soul] easy when you are playing it on Nightmare Mode, you crazy bastaaard!

“Is it not? To be honest, [Knight Soul]… is not that difficult. Let us keep it moderate.”

The moment Ju Seo-jin said that without having managed to look at the streaming window, the chat window went berserk again… and then, along with a donation, a mission was set.

[ set ‘200,000 won’ as mission funds.]

━lol Is a one-coin clear really possible? Then go beat the tutorial boss in one try.

<Mission: Defeat [Knight Soul]’s tutorial boss, ‘Trinex,’ without dying>

*Time Limit: 4 Hours

That was the beginning. 

Because of Ju Seo-jin’s obnoxious natural-concept(?) remark, everyone was starting to feel stubborn. 

The big spenders among the viewers began to set mission funds one after another.

DING-

[ set ‘100,000 won’ as mission funds.]

━If you are going for a one-coin clear, you have to beat the tutorial boss in one try at least, for real haha

<Mission: Defeat [Knight Soul]’s tutorial boss, ‘Trinex,’ without dying>

*Time Limit: 4 Hours

DING-

[ set ‘100,000 won’ as mission funds.]

━A one-coin clear??????? Then why not go for a one-try clear on the tutorial boss too???????

<Mission: Defeat [Knight Soul]’s tutorial boss, ‘Trinex,’ without dying>

*Time Limit: 4 Hours

DING-

[ set ‘50,000 won’ as mission funds.]

━lol People are malicious haha. Not being able to beat the tutorial boss is practically the rule haha. I will also put money into a safe asset and go haha.

<Mission: Defeat [Knight Soul]’s tutorial boss, ‘Trinex,’ without dying>

*Time Limit: 4 Hours

DING- DING- DING-

Mission.

The donation money grew like a snowball, piling up… and at last, the donation amount accumulated on one mission reached a level that surpassed common sense.

[Mission]

━Goal: Defeat [Knight Soul]’s tutorial boss, ‘Trinex,’ without dying

*Mission Funds: ‘1,125,000 won’

“Wow, wooow. The, the mission funds are… 1.12 million won…?”

“…….”

“Um… no matter what, in [Knight Soul], and on ‘Nightmare’ Mode at that… beating the tutorial boss is a liiittle- absurd, I think…?”

“───I. Have one thing I would like to ask the viewers.”

At that moment. Ju Seo-jin cut off Ju Seo-yoon’s words in a voice more serious than usual. 

And then… with life revived in his eyes for the first time in a very, very long while, he spoke.

“That thing called Trinex… if I defeat it without being hit even once, how much more can you give me? In mission funds.”

…Once again, it was capitalism.