Chapter 8

Chapter 8: [Knight Soul] No Way... A Hidden Route...? (4)

《 [Knight Soul] : An all-time genius talent is going for a One-Coin Clear in “Nightmare” Mode ha (※He started virtual reality games today haha) 》

━Myangbangwool(wntjdbsdlqslek1231)

*Viewer Count : 6,112 (※SUPER HOT!)

-Look at the Broadcast Title hahaha An all-time genius talent is going for a One-Coin Clear hahahahahaha It is so honest hahaha

-Kya.. Is this the place where the Korean who set a world record in [Knight Soul] is haha....??

-What is this haha? Looks like he really did succeed at a first-encounter kill on Trinex? Legendary hahahahahaha

-What is this? Is this the place with the person who achieved the world record for a one-try kill on Trinex? There is a female streamer here too?

-Wow.. this Oppa is seriously so handsome.. Oppa, do you have a girlfriend?? You are really too handsome. Sob sob.

6,112 people.

The number of viewers. 

Before that drastic change in numbers... Ju Seo-jin blinked- blinked- and froze stiff. 

It was only natural.

Even when he had connected to [Knight Soul] and finished the Sudden Combat Event with a complete victory, the number of viewers watching Myangbangwool’s streaming had barely been around the two-thousand range.

Yes. 

That had been the case... and yet after killing Trinex, during the brief rest afterward, the number of viewers had nearly tripled.

He could only be dumbfounded.

‘If I remember correctly, the number of viewers watching the streaming was around 2,100... and this many people came in during that short time...?’

Of course- this was entirely thanks to the viewers making a fuss and drawing attention(?) across all kinds of internet communities. 

It was not a result without a cause.

‘What happened?’

Well. 

Even so, from Ju Seo-jin’s perspective, it was a sudden surge in popularity for an unknown reason, so he could only be confused.

Moreover... with that sudden rise in popularity, all kinds of viewers were now mixed together. 

It could not help but go beyond noisy and turn into utter chaos.

The chat window kept scrolling by without pause, swish-swish-. 

A parade of voice donations continued ringing out loudly. 

Before the streamer, Ju Seo-yoon, could even handle it, everything had already fallen into an uproar.

DING- DING- DING- DING- DING- DING-

[ has donated ‘1,000 won.’]

━Is this the streamer’s broadcast where someone succeeded in killing Trinex on the first encounter in Knight Soul’s Nightmare Mode?? I came on a pilgrimage to the holy site hahaha

[ has donated ‘1,000 won.’]

━What is this? Is this really a skill-based broadcast..? Leaving the female streamer aside.. why is the guest so warm-looking; The person who killed Trinex on the first encounter in Nightmare Mode.. is this handsome??;

[ has donated ‘1,000 won.’]

━Could I perhaps ask what the streamer name of the man beside you is..? He looks like he would be good at games haha

[<TeslaShareholderPullingGrandma’sCart> has donated ‘1,000 won.’]

━Is he the person who achieved the first-encounter kill on Trinex in Knight Soul’s Nightmare Mode? Why is he not answering, fuck

[ has donated ‘1,000 won.’]

━Um.. I am sorry, but could you perhaps change the angle of the guest’s streaming window and show his face in more detail..? Please. Sob sob.

[ has donated ‘1,000 won.’]

━Hmm.. Is his face really on that level..? Isn’t he just a mass-produced male idol type? I am asking because I genuinely do not know

However-

BEEEEEP-!

It was only for a moment.

《 Streaming Settings 》

[Chat Window: Switched to ‘Subscriber / 3 Months’ Mode.]

━Only viewers who have subscribed to streamer ‘Myangbangwool(wntjdbsdlqslek1231)’s regular membership for at least three months can participate in the chat window.

[Donation: Has been blocked.]

━You cannot make donations to streamer ‘Myangbangwool(wntjdbsdlqslek1231).’

-? Oh, it finally got comfortable hahahahahahahaha

-Myangbangwool — the unquestionable goddess of normalization haha

-Ha, fuck, now I can finally live a little; I thought the chat window was going to explode, seriously haha

Ju Seo-yoon hurriedly manipulated the streaming window, calming down the heat of the chat window and donations... and the fire was extinguished.

The chat window also became inaccessible to anyone except regular membership subscribers, and even if someone tried to send a voice message through a donation, the donation amount was set extremely high.

Unlike a moment ago, when she had been standing there blankly as if her soul had left her body, it was an exceptionally swift response.

“Hooo... Everyone, the broadcast was about to become chaotic unintentionally, so I will be controlling things for a moment...! Please just understand on your own...!”

-? Aren’t you supposed to say please be understanding at times like this.. Myangbangwool..?

-What do you mean, not even “please understand,” but “understand on your own”..?

-This is absurd, seriously hahahahahahahahahaha

And during that time, Ju Seo-jin frowned, pressed his temples firmly, press- press-, then narrowed his eyes and spoke. 

As if there was something bothering him.

“Wait.”

“?”

“This... leaving the chat window aside, did you completely block donations? The donations stopped.”

“Uh- they did, right? For now, the viewers are too excited, so I was going to block them for just a mome—”

“Then... I am sorry, but can you unblock donations after raising only the minimum amount? I feel like I heard that something like that is possible.”

“What...?”

“We need to receive the donations.”

“Waaah....... Are you in your right mind? Even after all this, you still think about collecting money? Are you possessed by an evil spirit? Unless some money-crazed demon has possessed you, this cannot be explained...? Hm?”

“Hmm. I do not know why you are saying that... but I am in my right mind. I am fine.”

“...I am going to lose my mind.”

As Ju Seo-yoon reacted with a hollow laugh as if she was dumbfounded, the viewers blossomed into laughter in the chat window.

-Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

-Uhuhuhuhuhuh haha Yeah, yeah haha Money is an important matter ha

-Uhuh.. yeah.. you have to receive what you are owed;;

-Wow.. he is really consistent, so I like him bb

-Money demon hahahahahahahahaha

-Ah haha You have to earn money hahaha

-Unblock the donatiooooons!!

Rather, because he was focusing so openly on earning money to this degree, his shamelessness seemed to come across as funny instead.

A few viewers even asked her to allow donations at least partially, just as Ju Seo-jin had said.

The existing viewers were also in a situation where they had developed goodwill toward Ju Seo-jin, the mysterious expert(?) who had appeared out of nowhere.

If it was performance, then he had performance, and though his broadcast sense was unintentional in its own way, he had shown it to be outstanding.

They had no choice but to become interested.

Most of the new viewers who had suddenly flowed in from the outside were similar.

-Unblock donations quickly, quickly

-Un block do na tions !

-Unblock donations! Unblock donations! Unblock donations! Unblock donations! Unblock donations! Unblock donations!

-Ju Seo-jin — He is a money demon, so if you want sincere answers, you have no choice but to talk to him through donations, seriously;;; Please unblock them;

“Well- they are saying that? It seems the viewers also want to talk to me through donations. Please do it.”

“……….”

Ju Seo-jin, who finally had the leisure to look around the streaming window, read the chat window one by one and said that.

It was impossible to refute.

Ju Seo-yoon also stayed silent, then gave up on persuading him.

Even if this was a capitalist society, she wondered if this was not truly too much... but what could she do? 

She had to do it.

Now it felt like she was simply letting things happen as they would.

“Ugh... Ah! Fine, I get it! I will do it! It will be fine if I do it, right! I will let you receive donations! Happy now?”

Soon. 

Ju Seo-yoon tap-tap-tapped the streaming window and changed the streaming settings. 

In exchange for setting the minimum donation amount high, she allowed voice messages.

[Donation: ‘Minimum Donation Amount’ has been adjusted to ‘50,000 won.’]

━In order to make a donation to streamer ‘Myangbangwool(wntjdbsdlqslek1231),’ an amount of at least ‘50,000 won’ is required.

“Hoo. There, you can see it too, right, Oppa? I allowed donations, so do whatever you want. I will rewrite the broadcast rules a little and send a notice to everyone.”

“Thank you.”

At Ju Seo-yoon’s consideration, Ju Seo-jin also expressed his gratitude and fixed his gaze on the chat window. 

Then... after hesitating briefly, he spoke.

“Mm. Since you all must have heard everything, I assume the viewers also know what I am going to talk about. The broadcast rules? ...As long as it does not violate them, I will communicate for a while.”

At the same time, favorable reactions rose in the chat window, and every single one of them showed signs of excitement.

-Oh ha

-Nice hahahahahahahahahaha

-The communication time has finally arrived hahahahahaha Now~ let’s go~~~~~~~

-Why are these bastards happy haha? He is a money demon, so he will not communicate unless you donate anyway ha

-Fuck, isn’t it too much to raise the donation amount to 50,000 won?? It is so hard to communicate, damn

Of course- because the minimum donation amount had been set far too high, there were also those who were dissatisfied... but that vanished before long.

DING-

[ has donated ‘50,000 won.’]

━Do you have any thoughts of doing a Q&A? It seems fine to briefly introduce yourself before progressing with the game.. Call??

“Ah. Yes, well, that much is possible. As long as it is not rude or in violation of the broadcast rules... I will answer.”

Even originally, Ju Seo-yoon’s Personal Broadcast had many viewers who spent generously on donations compared to the streamer’s size.

Moreover, among the viewers who had just entered the streaming because they were drawn in by the title of Trinex’s first-encounter killer, there were a few Big Spenders with generous pockets.

Even if the minimum donation amount had been raised to an absurdly high level, there was always someone who did not spare money to resolve their curiosity.

And...

DING- DING- DING-

‘...How much is all this, exactly?’

...The streaming revenue began to go berserk.

***

[ has donated ‘50,000 won.’]

━You look.. really tall, but could you perhaps tell us how many cm tall you are..? It would be rude, but I would be grateful if you could tell us your weight too..?

“My height is 187 cm, and my weight is around 73 kg. I have not measured it recently, so I am not sure about the weight. I may have lost a little.”

[ has donated ‘50,000 won.’]

━Are you a former model? Have you dated before? Do you have a girlfriend?????????

“No. I do not. I was never interested in that sort of thing to begin with... so I have never dated even once.”

[ has donated ‘50,000 won.’]

━Hmm.. judging by the way you moved earlier, you seemed really good at fighting.. Have you perhaps learned any kind of exercise separately?

“Ah... Personally, I wake up at dawn every day and jog a little. I have not learned anything professional.”

Ju Seo-jin continued answering faithfully.

It was trivial small talk. 

Most of the questions were about how old he was, whether he had been a model, whether he had been an idol, or what kind of field he worked in.

A few of the viewers were satisfied, but most were not... and in particular, the male viewers who had continuously watched Ju Seo-yoon’s streaming expressed their dissatisfaction.

-?? How can someone with that face have never dated haha He is even insanely tall? Is this possible?

-“I wake up at dawn and jog a little” and shit hahahahahahahahaha

-Stop asking useless things and ask how he got the first-encounter kill on Trinex!!!!!!!

-Fuck, his face this, dating that.. Fuuuck, is this that kind of room??? Talk about the game!!!!!!!

-For real haha I am seriously curious how he killed Trinex without getting hit even once haha

Was that why? 

Around that time, one of the existing viewers who had been watching Ju Seo-yoon’s streaming brought up the topic. 

The question everyone must have been wondering about.

[ has donated ‘100,000 won.’]

━How did you catch Trinex without getting hit even once? And how did you break Trinex’s instant-death pattern at the start? Did you perhaps watch a strategy video before doing it?;

“Ah. Thank you for the 100,000-won donation, ‘LetUsGoHardcore.’ Mm, it was not something I did after researching the game in advance.”

-???

-Damn; you played without any information related to Trinex, and that happened?;

-I want to say bullshit.. but what I saw earlier was so damn shocking that I cannot say it carelessly

“I just did it by instinct. If I had to be specific, I did rely heavily on sight, hearing, and such.”

-Excuse me?

-I am going to lose my mind, damn;

-Why are you saying something obvious as if it is not obvious..

-Explain in more detail, you bastard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“That- if what you call Trinex’s instant-death pattern refers to the consecutive attacks it launched as soon as the battle began... I broke through that by instinct as well.”

-No..

-How do you do that by instinct, you bastard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Excuse me. So, what we are asking is, “how” is it possible to break through that by instinct.. you insane genius talent..

“After widening your field of vision, you can listen ahead through sound to figure out where and how the attack is coming from... then feel elements such as the trajectory, direction, and force of the attack, and if you parry or avoid it, it is doable.”

-.............

-How is that possible..

-???: How is it? Quite easy, right?

-You just go whoosh- and then yap-, do you not? You have no sense!

“Of course... not getting hit even once would be difficult, but I think other people could probably conquer it too in most cases.”

-Fuck?

-Ah.. so if I fight while getting hit a few times, I can conquer Trinex too.. Wow, what helpful advice, huh? ??????????????????????

-Stop buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuullshitting!! You insane genius talent fraudsteeeeeeeeeeeer!!!!!!!

“That is all. Even if you ask me the same thing any further, I have no answer to give you. Truly.”

It was true.

At the very least... to Ju Seo-jin “himself,” if it was not about defeating Trinex without getting hit even once, it seemed like something anyone could attempt.

Of course- defeating Trinex without getting hit even once was a different matter, since that was entirely thanks to the heightened senses and the Power of Foresight produced by activating his ability to the maximum.

‘Hmm... 500,000 won from the donation Q&A- so around 250,000 won as the portion that comes to me. Not bad.’

Compared to the donation amount obtained from the Mission, it was low, but the revenue gained from the Q&A was also not small.

In other words... it seemed all right to wrap things up soon. 

The donations were also becoming less frequent now, perhaps because there was nothing left to ask. 

It was ambiguous.

Ju Seo-yoon had also finished reposting the broadcast rules a while ago and was quietly watching Ju Seo-jin’s Q&A. 

It was time to move on.

“Mm. For now, I think I have answered the things the viewers were curious about to some extent... so I will focus on the gameplay again.”

At the same time as Ju Seo-jin said that he was about to end the donation-based communication, Ju Seo-yoon took over as if she had been waiting.

“Hmm... It is fine to continue the gameplay again, but Oppa, you really have never watched a [Knight Soul] strategy, right? Suspicious.”

“Well. I have heard people talk about it on the internet from time to time, but I do not really remember looking it up.”

“That is true... you do seem like you would be that way, Oppa. Ah! Then you naturally do not know what you have to do next either, right? Right?”

“Yeah.”

When Ju Seo-jin nodded and calmly agreed, Ju Seo-yoon’s lips twitched as she put on an arrogant air.

“Hoho. Everyone, did you hear that? He said I am absolutely necessary for the gameplay! It was because there was a capable guide like me that Trinex was also one-try killed.”

-Do not bullshit;

-Please restrain the bullshit

-You were the one who said you would carry the game for Ju Seo-jin, and look at you changing your words in that short time;

“Ahem. Bad words are prohibited, you know? Did you all not receive the notice after I reposted the broadcast rules? Everyone, if you keep that up, you will be gone in an instant.”

-Gasp

-Myangbangwool.. I am sorry.. Please let it slide just once..

-Ban? That is good. Hit me with one. I can just make another alt account and come back. I will enjoy a Purge Day.

-Damn? Was there not just a bastard saying he could make an alt account and come back..? Manager!!! Cut that bastard down!!!!!!!!!

Ju Seo-yoon made a slicing motion across her neck, swish- swish-, subtly warning the viewers... 

Then she gave Ju Seo-jin a game guide.

Slide.

“Trinex... behind where the boss monster died, do you see that red glow? You just have to go there.”

“That is it?”

“Uh... probably, for now? You should know since you watched the game introduction and intro video, but that should be the ‘Knight’s Soul.’ You have to keep collecting those as you play the game.”

“Hmm. Ah, so defeating boss monsters like Trinex and collecting something called the ‘Knight’s Soul’... is the main quest of [Knight Soul].”

“That is right.”

Ju Seo-yoon hesitated for a moment, then continued with a look of resolve.

“Ummm- even in multiplayer, the Knight’s Soul is not shared, so I hear the standard strategy is for one person to monopolize the Knight’s Soul... I will leave it to you, Oppa.”

After listening to that, Ju Seo-jin tilted his head and asked back.

“Mm... The Knight’s Soul must be related to combat ability? I understand. I will take it.”

[Knight Soul] was famous for requiring a gamer’s Physical Skill to an extent beyond imagination.

Considering the combat ability of the first boss monster- Trinex, giving Ju Seo-yoon a core role in combat... did not seem particularly good.

Whatever it was, if it had a major influence on gameplay, it was reasonable for Ju Seo-jin to take it. 

As long as he had the Power of Foresight, there was no way he would lose. 

Absolutely not.

WOOOOO-

The closer he approached the place where Trinex’s corpse had vanished into ash, the stronger the presence of the crimson light became.

As Ju Seo-jin, standing before it, reached out toward the crimson light, that Knight’s Soul also slowly approached his side.

Sssss───...

Finally.

It was the moment the Knight’s Soul was about to dwell within Ju Seo-jin’s body. 

At that decisive instant, the crimson light suddenly shrank backward, flinch-... and an anomaly occurred.

Step, step───.

A huge clearing.

Broken pillars lying in pieces. 

A massive rotting tree trunk fallen on its side. 

Beyond it, someone walked out.

“───Please stop, one who reclaims the light. That is a power not yet permitted to you.”

A woman’s voice that sounded like the ringing of a bell. 

Before that presence, Ju Seo-jin quickly pulled his body back and readied his stance.

CLANK───!

At the same time, Ju Seo-jin took a position as if standing in front of Ju Seo-yoon to protect her. 

It was to prepare for any possible situation.

‘My eyes are... still not ready? It seems they have not recovered enough to activate the Power of Foresight.’

He tried to activate the Eyes That Saw Fate by activating the Power of Foresight to the maximum, but it did not work as he wanted.

‘Somehow, my senses are being strengthened and my mind is being elevated...... but it seems I cannot use the Power of Foresight perfectly.’

Why was that?

Originally, he could separately apply the sensory enhancement and mental elevation that came along as secondary effects of the Power of Foresight.

Perhaps this, too, was a newly formed additional effect from the development of the Eyes That Saw Fate, and it was not bad.

Swish.

A gray hood. 

Long platinum-blonde hair flowed out from beneath it. 

A curving body that made it obvious at a glance that she was a woman. ...He could not judge whether she was an enemy or not.

“Who is that? I do not think I heard that something like this would appear... Is she an enemy?”

The one who answered that question was not Ju Seo-yoon standing behind him, but the woman in the gray hood, the NPC. 

She spoke in a cold voice.

“No. One who reclaims the light, I am not your enemy. Rather... I suppose I am closer to the opposite.”

In that instant. 

Ju Seo-jin opened his eyes wide and flinched. 

As he wondered whether the NPC’s A.I. level was this high, the blonde woman in the gray hood approached.

“Trinex... the Sin of Wrath, the fallen one once called the Knight of Patience. I watched you grant them rest, one who reclaims the light.”

Swish-

At the same time, when she removed her gray hood, a beautiful face with both eyes covered by a blindfold was revealed, and courtesy was added to her cold voice.

“It is our first meeting. Ones who reclaim the light... My name is Grandis. I am the Saintess of the Moon, belonging to the Order of the Star.”

And. 

The viewers who saw that were shocked as they flooded the chat window. 

As if they had seen something that should absolutely never have happened.

-????????????????

-What is this????????????

-Fuck??; Why is she coming out here???????

-Isn’t she a mid-game mid-boss NPC..? What is this...? What the hell happened..?

-Wow.. what is this? There was something like this..? This is seriously fascinating.. Does anyone know?

-There was nothing like this even when you got the first-encounter kill on Trinex in Knight Soul’s Daydream Mode.. What is this..?

It was none other than-

-No way... A Hidden Route...?

It was the moment he opened a Hidden Route in [Knight Soul]’s “Nightmare” Mode for the first time in the world.