Chapter 5

Chapter 5: [Knight Soul] Could It Be… A Hidden Route…? (1)

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

Eyes that had regained life. 

A gaze filled with expectation. 

Ju Seo-jin spoke like that, slightly excited in a way unlike himself.

1.12 million won. 

Since the donation profits during the broadcast would be split 50%, on the premise that he cleared the mission… he would receive approximately 560,000 won as an additional payment.

If he assumed that he would receive donations by clearing the mission on top of his 1.2 million won guest fee, he could get his hands on a little over 1.7 million won.

Before money, even emotions that had faded after suffering the bitter taste of society would revive.

-Wow.. His guts are seriously insane haha. He is going to beat that Trinex.. in Nightmare Mode haha?

-Has there even been anyone who one-try killed Trinex in Nightmare Mode in [Knight Soul] yet haha? Hmm haha

-Ah haha, even an all-time talent monster has no choice but to taste bitterness here haha. Let us inject some humility into him haha

Of course, in the viewers’ eyes, this was reckless courage and bravado.

From the start, Trinex was an enemy designed so that gamers could not defeat it. 

It could only look that way.

-Wow haha, Trinex must look very easy to you, huh???????????? Should we show you the newbie cutter???

-Info) [Knight Soul]’s tutorial boss, ‘Trinex,’ has never been defeated in one attempt in ‘Nightmare’ Mode haha

-Even when not playing [Knight Soul] in Nightmare Mode, Trinex is a boss mob that only top-tier veterans can barely beat haha. And you are going to beat it without getting hit even once?? haha.

The streaming window. 

In the chat window appearing small in his vision, opinions that it would be impossible poured out one after another. 

And… the big-spending sponsors who had set the mission also laughed with snickers.

[ donated ‘1,000 won’.]

━Hmm haha. Sir, even though Trinex is the tutorial boss, it is not there to be beaten haha. Even veterans barely beat that thing after rolling around until they are at a sliver of HP haha. You are being way too arrogant.

[ donated ‘1,000 won’.]

━Since you are a newbie, you probably do not know.. haha; The thing called ‘Trinex’ is not a boss mob that exists to be beaten.. haha. That is just a boss mob blatantly placed there so you die once, haha;

[ donated ‘1,000 won’.]

━For real haha. Trinex is on a different level from the skeletons you just fought haha. Everyone is setting the mission this high because beating it is impossible haha

It was only natural. 

From the beginning, the viewers who had set the mission also did not think Ju Seo-jin would actually succeed in defeating Trinex. 

Rather, it was closer to the opposite.

Even in [Knight Soul]’s easiest difficulty, ‘Daydream’ Mode, defeating Trinex was something only an extremely small number of gamers had accomplished.

Furthermore… defeating Trinex in ‘Nightmare’ Mode, known as the most difficult difficulty in [Knight Soul]? 

And without dying even once? 

It was impossible.

However- before all of that, Ju Seo-jin once again made an offer without changing his expression.

“So… Trinex. Assuming I defeat it without being hit even once, is there no one who will give more mission funds?”

-Excuse me.. Did you even hear what we just said?? No, I am telling you, that is not a mob meant to be beaten!!

-Ah haha, anyway, he says he is going to beat it haha. Confidence worthy of a genius newbie hahahahahahahaha

-Wow.. His confidence alone is incredible, right? I am really curious what will happen when he cannot beat it hahahaha

“Then… let us do it this way. Even if I happen to defeat Trinex, if I get hit even once, I will not accept the remaining mission funds.”

-?

-Is he serious? Wow.. His confidence is seriously manly?? This is it, this is it haha

-Well, I mean.. But he cannot beat Trinex anyway, so does it mean anything? Still, that is bold haha

“Mm… even though [Knight Soul] is not a difficult game, I thought it would not be easy if we went this far… but it seems that is not the case.”

-No..

-Sir, I told you this is not an easy game..

-You fucking talent monster bastard, you are deceiving people again!!!

“Well. I do not want to burden the viewers for no reason… so I suppose I should only accept missions up to this point.”

That became the catalyst. 

Because that meant… of course, he could clear the existing mission. 

Hearing that, the viewers laughed, “Hahaha-,” then transformed into demons.

DING-

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

━Hahahahahaha hahahahahaha, this is seriously pissing me off??? You are that confident????? Then let us go all the way.................!!!!!!!!!!

<Mission: Defeat [Knight Soul]’s tutorial boss, ‘Trinex,’ without being hit even once>

*Time Limit: 4 Hours

DING-

[ set ‘50,000 won’ as mission funds.]

━Do you know this? Since ancient times, the answer for insane humblebragging newbies has always been extreme treatment, yep. Do it the way you want hahahahaha

<Mission: Defeat [Knight Soul]’s tutorial boss, ‘Trinex,’ without being hit even once>

*Time Limit: 4 Hours

DING-

[ set ‘50,000 won’ as mission funds.]

━Fine... You are going to one-try kill Trinex with no damage, haha? There is nothing stopping you, yep.. Today, I will show you hell. Newbie.

<Mission: Defeat [Knight Soul]’s tutorial boss, ‘Trinex,’ without being hit even once>

*Time Limit: 4 Hours

DING- DING- DING-

Mission. 

And… the mission funds quickly piled up once again, becoming a considerable sum. 

An amount that made Ju Seo-jin’s eyes shine faintly and made Ju Seo-yoon horrified.

[Mission]

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

━Additional Goal: Defeat [Knight Soul]’s tutorial boss, ‘Trinex,’ without being hit even once

*Mission Funds: ‘1,125,000 won’

*Additional Mission Funds: ‘762,500 won’

“………….”

“Thank you.”

Calmness. 

His appearance, consistently without emotional change, now looked almost shameless. 

Ju Seo-yoon opened and closed her mouth, then spoke in a hollow voice.

“Uaaah… Oppa, are you serious? You… do not really believe you can clear this mission, do you? Right?”

“Well… I do not know what you mean. A mission is something given to be cleared, is it not? Since this much mission money has been put up, I should clear it.”

“…….”

“Mm… are you bothered because only I accepted a mission? Then, do you want to accept a mission too? The viewers give a lot of money.”

“What are you even saying… You must really be crazy…….”

At Ju Seo-jin’s words, which he said with a tilt of his head and a pure heart, Ju Seo-yoon muttered that with dazed eyes without thinking it through.

-Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

-???: You should try it too. Money comes out.

-This is seriously fucking funny haha

-He is insane, damn haha

“Well… if you do not want to, forget it. Do as you like.”

Ju Seo-jin stopped tilting his head and calmly accepted it.

It was a relief.

If, by any chance, she accepted the same mission, he would have to play while protecting Ju Seo-yoon too… and he was not confident about that.

Well. 

Even aside from that, he also wanted to try facing a boss monster alone. 

It was because of the Power of Foresight.

‘Using this ability while activating it to its maximum… is an experience I cannot have in reality. I want to learn about it through this opportunity.’

The Power of Foresight. 

Seeing and changing fate always came with a price. 

Even if it was something trivial.

Because of that, he had always only suppressed the ability he had been born with to an excessive degree, and had never properly used it. 

That was why.

He wanted to test it.

‘What it feels like… not to suppress this ability, but to use it with all my strength.’

Whether it was possible to be freed from the binding spell of the Power of Foresight- the ‘Eyes That Saw Fate.’

***

A chapel.

Leaving the starting point of [Knight Soul], Ju Seo-jin followed behind Ju Seo-yoon and farmed basic items.

Outside the chapel. 

From all sorts of broken debris to a corridor filled with dust, bones were scattered everywhere… and those were the farming points.

[Token of Prayer]

*In the past. Proof that a prayer was offered to the Sun God. Though faintly, the warmth of sunlight remains in the old token. It is the warmth of a god who will no longer return to this world.

━On Use: Life Force +100 / Soul Power +10

━Cooldown: 60 Seconds

“You roughly understand, right? The ‘Token of Prayer’ is like a recovery potion. During battle, you can use it by reciting the activation word.”

“Ah-”

In front of the bones. 

Those were the words Ju Seo-yoon said after crouching in the chapel corridor and rummaging through the clothes of the remains. Watching that silently, Ju Seo-jin answered.

“I do not need it.”

“…Huh? Why?”

“Because the mission clear condition is that I must not be hit even once. Even if I have that, I cannot use it right now, can I?”

“…Ah. Is that so? Hmmm. I see, I see. Later, when we stand in front of Trinex, you cannot say anything different, all right? You understand?”

“I understand.”

Despite Ju Seo-yoon’s teasing, which did not sound like polite speech at all, Ju Seo-jin merely let it pass without paying it much mind. 

He remained consistently expressionless, without revealing any emotion.

…Ever since he was young, he had always remained expressionless like that, making it hard to mix jokes in, and it seemed he still had not changed. 

Ju Seo-yoon narrowed her eyes and pouted her lips.

Then, suddenly thinking of the big event that would happen soon, Ju Seo-yoon grinned and continued teasing him.

In an even more playful tone than before.

“Hmmm- when we get in front of Trinex, even if you hurriedly tell me to hand over the Token of Prayer, or desperately beg me to help, I will not help you- do you understaaand?”

“Mm. Since I have to clear the mission, that is only natural… but likewise, I might not be able to protect you either.”

That was all. 

Ju Seo-jin merely accepted his younger sister’s words purely as they were. 

He treated them as nothing special.

“What…? Good grief. Who is worrying about whom? Even if I look like this, I am a game streamer. Asking you for help, Oppa? There is no chance of that! Ever since I was young, I handled things well on my own…”

“What are you talking about? When you were young, every time you played a Wintendo game, you asked me to clear the mini puzzles or boss battles for you instead. Do you not remember?”

“…….”

Rather, Ju Seo-yoon, who had been excited at the thought of teasing Ju Seo-jin, was countered and became quiet.

-Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

-Myangbangwool.. You even had someone else play Wintendo for you when you were little? hahahahahaha

-Wow hahahahahahaha This is seriously the first time I have heard of proxy gaming on Wintendo, fuck hahahahahahaha

While farming items from the remains sprawled in the large corridor outside the chapel, Ju Seo-jin continued speaking.

“Mm. When was it? Was it when you were in fourth grade? Back then, you brought your Wintendo and begged me to clear a mini puzzle for you instead, crying and making a huge fuss───”

“Um… I am sorry. I… was wrong. Let us stop.”

“?”

“Please stop. Please. I know, so stop.”

“Fine, then.”

Ju Seo-yoon stopped farming items from the remains and covered her face with both hands. 

Well, from Ju Seo-jin’s perspective, it was merely the past of the younger sister he had raised like his own child, so he did not think much of it.

-Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

-???: Shall we call this a draw…? (after starting the fight first)

-One stack of dark history acquired haha. Ah, old stories are fun hahahaha

-Wintendo game trait) While progressing through the story, you absolutely have to solve a mini puzzle at some point haha

Instead, the viewers merely enjoyed hearing a small piece of the siblings’ past.

Like that, they circled the corridor outside the chapel and gathered all the items.

[Worn-Out Wooden Staff]

*A worn-out wooden staff. Made from poor-quality wood, it was not of good quality even long ago. By now, it no longer looks usable. An unknown pattern is engraved on it.

━Durability: 61/150

━On Equip: Additional Spell Power +3 / Total Spell Power +0.2%

[Thief’s Boots]

The boots of a nameless thief who died long ago. 

They may make slightly less noise. 

That is all.

━Durability: 127/200

━On Equip: Movement Speed +3%

[Apprentice Knight’s Wrist Guards]

*An apprentice knight’s wrist guards. A pattern serving the Sun God is engraved on them. In small letters, ‘A knight’s pride stems from the nobility of their soul.’ …is written.

━Durability: 211/300

━On Equip: Additional Defense +4 / Total Defense +0.7%

‘Token of Prayer.’ Aside from recovery items, this was all. And… after finishing the item farming, Ju Seo-jin equipped the ‘Thief’s Boots’ and ‘Apprentice Knight’s Wrist Guards.’

‘Worn-Out Wooden Staff’? 

To begin with, it was not an item Ju Seo-jin could use. 

He was a ‘Knight’s Descendant,’ after all.

It was right for Ju Seo-yoon, whose player character origin was ‘Wandering Mage,’ to take that. 

After distributing and equipping the items like that, the two of them approached the end of the corridor.

“Now. This is where it begins. From here… once we go outside the chapel’s Grand Corridor, that is when we will fight Trinex.”

In front of the chapel’s Grand Corridor. 

Ju Seo-yoon spoke like that in a sighing voice. 

Then, she glanced at Ju Seo-jin and spoke with a grin.

“I. Clearly told you earlier, okay? Oppa, even if you beg me for help, I will not help you. You know that?”

“Yeah.”

“You will regret it.”

“I will not.”

A total of 1,887,500 won. 

Even if it were cut in half, it was an amount of about 940,000 won. 

Such a thing did not exist for Ju Seo-jin, who was steeped in capitalist society.

“Wow… look at how firm you are. Are you really planning to win…?”

“I have to win.”

The tutorial. 

Before the full-fledged boss monster’s appearance, the chat window burned hotly. 

Everyone was becoming united in one heart and one will.

-Huh

-Are you losing??????????

-???: I win

-A declaration of victory as soon as the tutorial starts...!

-The defeat flag is slowly seeping in hahahahahaha

For the most part, the majority of them hoped Ju Seo-jin would lose rather than win. 

All of them began praying earnestly for Ju Seo-jin to lose.

-‘Did we get him?’, ‘I win,’ ‘How did Ju Seo-jin come to be called an all-time genius monster?’, ‘Do not be afraid! The opponent is only one Trinex!’

-‘There is no way Ju Seo-jin will fall to Trinex,’ ‘Ju Seo-jin, he will not lose to Trinex,’ ‘Do not worry, Ju Seo-jin will defeat Trinex for us’

-The feast of voodoo curses is ON hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

-These crazy bastards hahahahahahahahaha They are casting so many voodoo curses hahahaha They must seriously be desperate for a newbie lesson, huh?? haha

-Fact) Even without voodoo curses, this is just a setup where the newbie loses haha. 100% hahahaha

Regardless. 

Ju Seo-jin paid it no mind and placed his hand on the door of the chapel’s Grand Corridor. 

Then… activating his ability to its maximum once again, he threw open the stone door.

GRRRR─!

And then.

Tap-

One step. 

He stepped forward, beyond the door… and continued onward.

***

The moment he threw open the stone door of the chapel’s Grand Corridor and went beyond it, the sound of air tearing arose.

WHIP-CRACK─!

From above, below, left, and right, four strands of red flesh stretched out like whips and attacked from bizarre angles.

An ambush of extreme speed. 

Before the fierce assault that tore the air to shreds, things like preparation or concentration had no meaning.

Impossible to evade. 

Ju Seo-jin’s body, standing at the very front, was torn to shreds… and then Ju Seo-yoon died as well. 

His vision was dyed black.

[You have died.]

***

And then…….

***

‘This is doable.’

***

The next moment.

GRRRR─!

At the end of the chapel’s Grand Corridor. 

Just as he threw open the stone door and went outside… Ju Seo-jin swung his longsword in every direction as if cutting each attack apart.

CLAA-ANG─! CL-CLANG-! CRAAACK─! SPLAAAT…!

Scarlet tentacles. 

Whip-like lumps of flesh… fell to the dirt floor with a thud- and at the same time, a bizarre roar rang out.

“───GRROOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!! KRAAAK!!”

A massive clearing. 

A knight’s corpse with scarlet tentacles sprouting from it thrashed wildly with all eight of its eyes wide open. 

What kind of existence it was was obvious.

〈 BOSS 〉

【 Sin of Wrath : Trinex 】

-?

-Huh?

-? What is this? ??? Fuck, what the hell is this???????????

-What.. Did I see that wrong.. fuck..........???

-What is this.. What is this.. How did this happen... Did I see that right??;

Trinex. 

Against the living corpse knight from which scarlet tentacles had sprouted… he had landed a counter. 

Perfectly, beyond any doubt.

“Mm.”

CLANK.

“This…”

Ju Seo-jin lowered his longsword, from which scarlet blood dripped drop- by drop-… and wore a fierce smile.

“Is fun.”

Innate talent. 

The Power of Foresight that looked into the future was the moment its viciousness began to reveal itself in earnest.