A Swordsman’s Stream

Chapter 104

In an instant, Park Hyuksoo found himself startled, his complexion turning pale.

Having just entered, Taewoo, unaware of the situation, mentioned he would order some drinks first.

“Uh, uh…”

Watching Park Hyuksoo stammer repeatedly, Sojun chuckled.

He was merely joking about not signing the contract. He had hidden the surprise so well that Sojun decided to play a little prank in return.

“Sojun-nim, please reconsider just once! We only have 3 days left!”

Who told them to contact so late?

Perhaps they had waited until his viewers dwindled, leading to such a tight schedule. Besides, it was a small revenge for trying to surprise everyone by hiding the other party.

His judgment was correct.

There was no particular reason to refuse if the collaboration partner was Taewoo.

He had never collaborated before, anyway.

It’s not like he hadn’t revealed their friendship to many people during the after-party with Alpaca.

“Please, reconsider just once! Did something happen? Did you fight?”

A sentence that read ‘This isn’t right’ crossed Sojun’s mind.

“It’s a joke. Nothing happened.”

Only then did Park Hyuksoo let out a deep sigh.

He mumbled in a small voice, which Sojun’s excellent hearing caught.

“I thought we’d miss the bull market…”

Bull market?

What was he suddenly talking about?

“Hello. I’m streamer Kim Taewoo. Sorry for being late.”

“That’s alright.”

Taewoo received the drinks and sat down.

Unlike Sojun, who felt a bit strange meeting for work, Taewoo didn’t seem very flustered.

And then…

Taewoo whispered into his ear.

“What are you doing here?”

“Because I’m also invited?”

“Aha. But why did they schedule a meeting with you and me together?”

Hmmm.

This guy must have forgotten that it was a two-player cooperative game.

At first, he was joking about not doing it, but now he was starting to feel it really shouldn’t be done together…

Then Taewoo, as if recalling something he had forgotten, widened his eyes and spoke in an embarrassed tone.

“Ha ha… just kidding.”

Who would believe that?

Taewoo was a streamer affiliated with an MCN.

So, he didn’t have to worry much about advertisements.

The agency negotiated all the terms and summarized the advertisement content for him.

The convenience of just listening, deciding, and doing what they said, that was precisely why Taewoo joined an MCN.

Even so, forgetting whether the game was for one player or two was a bit…

Always curious about how he had managed to stream for seven years.

Perhaps being a streamer was an easy job?

“So, what’s the game storyline?”

For Taewoo, who had arrived late, Park Hyuksoo began the basic explanation again.

And then…

“So, they’re asking us to play a two-player cooperative game?”

“Yes. Also, there will be another team of streamers playing on the same day.”

“Hmm. There’s no competition with that team?”

“No? Why would we compete?”

“Wouldn’t it be fun to bet on who clears it first?”

“Haha…”

“So, who’s the other team? If I know them, maybe…”

Park Hyuksoo quickly spoke.

“Well, if it results in promotional success through competition, that would be great for us, but I doubt the impact would be significant.”

Right, their goal was promotion. It shouldn’t be forgotten.

If they focused too much on competing to finish it quickly, they wouldn’t effectively showcase the game’s appeal.

Park Hyuksoo definitely needed to prevent that.

“Depending on who it is, but generally, that’s true.”

“Then why…?”

“Because it’s a guaranteed win. Hehe. You know his skills.”

Taewoo trusted Sojun.

“Sigh.”

The sigh resurfaced on Park Hyuksoo’s face.

He looked tired.

“Haha…”

“Just kidding. Anyway, it sounds fun.”

“That’s a relief.”

Seeing him already look drained, Sojun felt a twinge of remorse for the prank earlier.

“Anyway, to return to the point. Our game’s first chapter theme is horror. Fortunately, Sojun-nim, you mentioned you are quite timid?”

“What?”

“What?”

* * *

It’s like one mountain after another.

A headache began to throb.

Suddenly, Park Hyuksoo missed the company CEO.

CEO.

It seems like we’re doomed.

Really.

“It’s our mistake.”

“…”

“Messing up the email, failing to check on odd parts, scheduling too tight, all our fault…”

“Hey. You’ve never done this kind of work before.”

With Taewoo’s consolation, Park Hyuksoo sighed even more deeply.

“For the first time, this is quite well done.”

Really?

“You picked me and him. That alone is a great choice.”

Park Hyuksoo let out a big sigh once more.

Not feeling horror at all. Not feeling it to such a degree!

With others, they’d shrug it off as boasting, but this streamer never boasted.

Looking back at his previous streams, everything he said seemed absurd but turned out to be the truth.

Unlikely he would boast about something like this.

Above all, the error in the email he sent was clear.

He should have emphasized ‘as a streamer’ or asked differently.

Huuuu.

Letting out another enormous sigh, Park Hyuksoo clapped his cheeks with his palms.

Anyway, they could retract now, but finding another alternative was difficult.

There were other candidates, but would they accept?

In the schedule with 3 days, or rather, 2 days and 8 hours left?

‘Think positively. It might actually be better.’

Yes.

The other team did consist of streamers who appreciated horror.

Perhaps different reactions would make for better visuals?

Revitalized by his own rationalization, Park Hyuksoo’s eyes gleamed with determination.

And he announced.

“Excuse me for a moment to make a call.”

“Sure.”

Realizing he didn’t necessarily have to make the decision was the source of his renewed energy.

About 30 minutes later, Park Hyuksoo finished his call and sat back in his seat.

“Good to go.”

“Proceeding as planned?”

Sojun asked.

“Yes. It should be okay.”

For now, unable to change, they decided to move forward.

It was the team’s decision.

Park Hyuksoo handed over the contracts with conditions he had mentioned earlier to Sojun and Taewoo.

“The requirements include streaming the game for over 4 hours on the launch day and uploading 2 videos to iTube within the week.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“I confirm it.”

The meeting ended fortunately on a good note.

Or maybe not. Only time would tell.

Whether they were caught in the bull market, facing delisting, or breaking back to an all-time high.

“Lastly, it’s good to decide beforehand; usually, in cooperative games, roles of supporting and executing gimmicks are divided.”

Especially with two-player cooperative games.

“So, deciding who takes the support role might be good.”

As the chapter progresses, roles are exchanged evenly but within a chapter, they remain the same.

Yet, it didn’t hold much significance.

Despite role differentiation, cooperation games typically don’t demand one player to handle more or more difficult tasks.

“Oh? I want to do the gimmicks. Sojun-ah, you handle support.”

“Why? I’m better at it.”

Listening to their conversation, Park Hyuksoo nodded in agreement.

No one’s better than that streamer.

“Right… though that’s true. You might be better. But better support makes the game easier.”

“Doesn’t matter if it gets difficult.”

“I care.”

Sensing an emerging conflict, Park Hyuksoo stepped in to clarify the misunderstanding.

“Even in support, there’s no difference in prominence or difficulty. Truly.”

Sojun said.

“Did you hear that? So just take the support role.”

“No way.”

Hmmm.

Were they mistaken about something?

He asked them a question.

“But why are neither of you willing to take the support role?”

“Just because?”

“Because he said he wants to.”

Taewoo answered first, followed by Sojun.

Ah.

So that’s it.

Park Hyuksoo smiled brightly.

‘Will this advertisement succeed?’

Their company’s delisting loomed in front of his eyes.

Please, let it succeed.

* * *

The next day.

『Summoning 10th level AI.』

In the sparring ground.

A woman in a virtual world summoned the 10th level AI.

Only those who had defeated the 9th level AI had the right to challenge the 10th level AI.

Thus, the woman’s skill was evident.

However, once her identity was revealed, simply calling her skilled would seem insufficient.

Shin Hayun.

She had won three consecutive world championships, reclaimed her throne last year, and though she took second place this year, was a pioneering pro gamer.

Early pro gamers were those who existed since the tournaments started six years ago.

And those who endured from the start to now were treated as legends.

Six years might not be long.

It could seem odd to call them legends merely for that duration.

But initially, there were significantly fewer participants.

This implies that over the past six years, the virtual reality market grew explosively from minimal numbers to a societal phenomenon.

An overwhelming growth.

An exponentially increasing pool of talent and prospects every year.

How many pro gamers couldn’t endure and retired in this new wave?

That’s why those who’ve lasted from the start are called legends.

Among them, Shin Hayun was an icon, conquering four out of the last six tournaments.

Now, she stood before the 10th level AI.

『Jin Sojun』

The one who had seized the 10th level AI spot recently was a streamer who hadn’t been around long.

Shin Hayun knew the true identity of that streamer.

“Almost done? Or maybe not?”

Scratching her head, she gripped her sword firmly.

“Perhaps engaging again can jog my memory.”

Shin Hayun leaned forward and suddenly charged.

The duel began.

Swords entangled.

She attempted every possible attack.

Revisiting how the AI countered every time, she slowly began draining the AI’s health from 20 down by one.

Meanwhile, Shin Hayun’s health remained untouched.

Her capability had surpassed the AI long ago.

The reason for not reclaiming the 10th level AI spot.

Shin Hayun’s sword halted just before the AI’s neck.

『Remaining health 1』

“Ultimately, this isn’t real.”

Winning held no meaning.

Shaking her head, she paused without concluding the game.

“Suppose all observable patterns have surfaced. Just one more trial?”

Lost in thought, a message notification popped up in a corner of her vision.

『Baek Doyul: Hey.』

Baek Doyul.

One of those who claimed victory this year.

Instinctively, Shin Hayun frowned.

『Shin Hayun: ?』
『Baek Doyul: A certain streamer took a title I alone possessed?』
『Baek Doyul: Just thought you might be interested in knowing.』

Alternating between the stationary AI and the message, Shin Hayun finally replied.

『Shin Hayun: Not interested.』