SWNOVELXO Chapter 160
The Honey Badger Kariri, who ruled the Sabana World for 3,000 years, sought refuge in the human realm due to an ongoing drought and planned to immerse herself in all aspects of human subculture to better understand the lives of her subjects!
– Introduction to Kariri –
This whole thing is called RP (Role-Playing) when it comes to unique settings of a VTuber character.
The biggest difference between a streamer who broadcasts using a typical avatar and a VTuber is that the latter acts out a specific character.
There hasn’t been a unified opinion on how strict one must adhere to RP to be considered a VTuber; often, the boundaries blur as the broadcast progresses.
However, Kariri was the very unique case of being so faithful to her RP that she could be recognized as a VTuber by anyone, even after it was revealed that she accidentally leaked her real age as a middle schooler and had been a trainee for a famous entertainment agency called ‘Entis’ in the past.
“Kariri, did you sing with NoName before the scrim?”
In the waiting room, streamer Dal-tori popped her head in.
“Eh? Who said that?!”
“Our viewers donated to say the two of you met to practice Wagal but ended up just playing around.”
“Hehe, getting closer like this is all part of the strategy for victory! Kings must always think of the big picture!”
In such situations, there are typically two ways to handle it.
Either abandon the RP and continue as the “person inside,” or deny or suppress that fact and stick to the RP.
But Kariri took a different approach.
“Did you used to be an idol trainee, Kariri?”
“Yes! I even danced in front of lions a few times!”
“Lions…?”
– Dancing in front of lions vs. pushing a forced concept on first meeting.
– Both are too difficult! Haha!
– I’m gonna die! Haha!
– If you pick the first, you’re automatically dead!
– The lions would probably be confused and run away! Haha!
“Apparently, she was just casually dabbling in idol work in the Sabana Kingdom.”
As I explained to Dal-tori, she nodded her head in surprise.
“Wow… amazing…!”
Dal-tori’s palms clapped together in the air.
– I’m cringing just listening to this!
– It’s still early for this kind of setting with normal people.
– NoName is surprisingly a good match for Kariri, right? Am I the only one feeling this? Haha!
– Haha, I told you she was a troublemaker, NoName too.
– Why are you blushing, Kariri! Is it because you’re an idol?
“I’m not blushing…! I don’t care at all!”
It was her way of maintaining her identity as a VTuber while acknowledging her past.
“Ah, theoretically, it’s okay, but… NoName’s role seems really crucial; are you sure it’s fine?”
The coach of Team ‘The Blory’ frowned and asked.
After explaining the outline of the operation for this scrim to the coach, he and his staff finalized the details of the plan.
“I’m confident in running!”
“Same here for Kariri!”
Kariri, who had come right next to me, crossed her arms and raised her hand high.
How could anyone spit on that smiling face?
Kariri’s innocence moved the hearts of the coaching staff.
“Alright, let’s do just this one match, and if it doesn’t work out, we’ll scrap it. Okay?”
“Sounds good!”
“Finally, the scrim is starting!”
“I wish you good luck! Team… Blory fighting! Ah, I really need to be careful with my pronunciation; who came up with this team name anyway!”
“Coach, I’ll come back victorious, count on me!”
Kariri was declaring her intent with confidence rather than excuses.
[The Blory vs. Third-Person Mage Perspective]
*
The eyes of ‘HoyaMooYaHo,’ Na-me’s oldest viewer, sparkled with anticipation.
Ding-ding-ding!
He locked the entrance door and carelessly tossed his shoes aside as he jumped straight onto the sofa.
Realizing he was still wearing his bag, the young boy hurriedly tossed it to the floor.
He had been trapped in a math academy for three hours.
After hours of sitting, his sore back could finally relax.
He took off his school uniform label that read ‘Seol Taeyang’ and changed into pajamas as the signal to connect the TV and phone popped up, showing the live broadcast provided by Twish.
The scrim featuring NoName.
It was incredible to think he was assigned to the same team as Kariri.
Did his past self ever consider such a turn of events?
Scraping through the broadcast list out of boredom to avoid his summer homework, he stumbled upon a streamer who turned out to be a girl his age, and who grew into a formidable organization that turned the Wagal rankings upside down and even teamed up with Kariri.
Watching her continually grow was a feeling of inexplicable pride for Seol Taeyang himself.
[Now, total attack!]
Even though it was just a simple practice game, the heat felt like a tournament.
The frantic shout of Han Yong-cheol, who Taeyang had heard countless times, echoed.
NoName’s first-person view shook chaotically.
In the narrow canyon, her sword traced a path through the opposing soldiers.
It wasn’t just one-on-one.
It was a battle of six players on each side.
Including soldiers, it became a 50 vs. 50 full-blown war, and NoName showcased her authority.
[Kariri, break through the center!]
That was NoName’s calm and refined order as she monitored the constantly changing formations.
“Okey-doke!”
Kariri, who was now noticeably smaller, gave a thumbs up.
After the 20-minute skirmish, she had only five deaths, making her level distinctly high, but her health dropped to a risky 20,000.
[Just trust me and keep going.]
[Well, if Na-me says it, what can I do!]
Usually fearless, Kariri showed an even greater audacity today.
Amidst the chaotic entanglement of allies and foes, a spearhead jutted out.
An enemy charged toward Ice Mage Dal-tori.
Clang!
Thanks to Kariri’s swift joining, Dal-tori was no longer in danger and repeatedly expressed her gratitude.
[Welcome to hell, you bastards!]
Trusting NoName’s healing, Kariri dashed forward.
Crossed swords stopped her advancement.
The noise of blades clashing filled the space as sparks flew in every direction.
Suddenly surrounded by soldiers, Kariri slowly turned crimson.
Dealing with incoming swords seemed increasingly exhausting.
Her health was being chipped away by the second.
Yet at every critical moment, NoName’s timely heals and support fire from allies were showering down.
[I just need to hold on… a little bit longer…!]
Kariri swallowed her groans and wildly swung her scythe.
Even blind attacks in a cramped spacethe odds for hitting someone were inevitable.
It seemed her struggle bore fruit as a small gap opened in the tightly wound lines of the enemy.
If it were NoName, she would never let that gap go.
Taeyang’s prediction proved accurate.
NoName leaped over allied soldiers and dived into the enemy.
The shabby sword in her hand transformed into an executioner’s blade at that moment.
For her, the sword’s tier didn’t matter.
Crippling Critical hits.
The enemy player would find themselves scoring a hit right over their chest, with the word ‘Critical’ overlayed on top.
With no time for her to lose blood, she resolved to completely eliminate them by severing their limbs. That too was a ‘Critical.’
‘Wow, is she even human?’
Taeyang had seen such scenes on V-tube before.
A highlight reel of challengers and pros.
It was incredibly rare to see even once in a game, yet NoName was doing it left and right like eating rice.
[Wavy Strike: Upon successfully parrying, additional damage proportional to spell power is inflicted.]
Clank!
[What parry?!]
[You should’ve attacked cautiously!]
She swiftly sliced through the side of an enemy knight the moment she succeeded in parrying.
Scarlet flashes exploded forth, and a strong sense of shock was palpable as the enemy realized they were suffering much worse bleeding than usual.
[Ruling the land: Every additional strike stacked adds 3% extra damage.]
[Current: 17 stacks]
Determining that facing NoName any further was too dangerous, the enemies began to withdraw.
Right in front of the battlefield stood the enemy’s Yggdrasil. Almost there!
Taeyang thought this when suddenly—
[No, Kariri!]
Kariri counted her death just as NoName’s heal failed to reach her.
Suddenly stepping back, she lost her balance and turned into a porcupine riddled with spears.
With a heavy heart, Taeyang rose from the sofa to see the situation unfold.
[Ah, too bad; we almost had them!]
[It’s okay; we’re not in a desperate situation yet.]
Kariri, their only tank.
No matter how much health they had, lacking even one tank could lead to disastrous outcomes in their reckless advance.
[We just needed to hold on a little longer!]
Even the teammates felt regret. Taeyang shared the same sentiment.
[Can you respawn from your spot, Kariri?]
[I… I don’t think I can make it!]
It was an aggressive strategy of letting the enemy Yggdrasil spawn while bravely plunging in.
Even if Kariri rushed back, they could turn the tides of battle depending on how things unfolded.
What would NoName do here? Plunging in at this point felt a bit…
Just as Taeyang was racking his brain, Kariri’s urgent voice echoed.
[Wait… I think someone came to see me at home!]
[Right now?]
[Hah… What is it… Is it a delivery? What should I do… I feel like I need to go pick it up… but the doorbell… Can we not end it here right away?]
[No! It’s not an option; it’ll take over a minute for Kariri to join, so let’s just push on and finish it. NoName, are you okay with that?]
[… I’ll give it a try.]
[S-Sorry…!]
[Kariri has left the game unexpectedly.]
Kariri abruptly bailed out of the game.
Simultaneously, fierce flames erupted in the chat among the viewers watching the tournament.
– What the hell, she left during a scrim?
– There’s a limit to being inconsiderate.
– It’s fine, I think we can finish well.
– We just had to hold back and avoid dying; why did she mess it up?
– Kariri, this might cause some controversies…
– Seriously, did she really go to pick up a package? Haha!
└ She’s just going to leave it in front of the door, why bother?
└ Probably a registered mail, right?
– She bailed on a scrim because it’s too much hassle to pick up registered mail??? That’s too dumb.
– It might be a neighbor who came up to visit.
└ While playing a game in the capsule, who comes knocking? Haha!
– Still, it’s true it’s Kariri’s fault.
– Oh no, could it be a stalker?
└ That’s terrifying if true!
└ Zzzz
It was all about delivery issues, neighbors visiting, stalkers chasing her.
Various theories were swirling chaotically in the chat, but there was no time to spare.
The boy jumped up and checked the entrance door. It was quiet.
Even though the TV was loud, it shouldn’t have drowned out the doorbell.
“Darn it! Noona! Noona! Seol Yoon-seul!”
Crash!
He stumbled over a small table, knocking everything over.
Feeling no pain from his ankle, Taeyang rushed to the master bedroom and grabbed the pill bottle.
[Alprazolam 0.5mg]
“I seriously can’t live like this!”
He ran into another room far from his master bedroom and threw the door open.
In the disorganized corner of the room filled with post-its and bromides, a pink capsule lay there.
He slammed his fist down on the red button in the center.
Chiiik!
With a restless noise, the capsule opened.
“Ha… Ha…”
The girl was scowling while pouting her lips.
She had been doing breathing exercises until the glass fogged up.
“Who told you to keep going until just before a forced shutdown! Are you insane? Hurry up and give me the meds!”
“Hah… I can’t breathe… Huh…”
“I told you to come out if you felt symptoms! Why are you being so stubborn?!”
Taeyang could not hide his mixed feelings for the girl, who looked as if she could die any second.
He forcibly placed the anti-anxiety medication in her mouth and brought her a glass of water to sip it down.
“Hah… Hah… I don’t want to die…”
“You won’t die.”
“It’s scary. Why is everyone acting like this… Hah… I really feel like I’m going to die… this time for real…”
“Hurry and breathe, just breathe. Come on.”
“Hah…!”
Tears streamed down her pale cheeks like broken faucets.
The girl, clutching her chest tightly, trembled uncontrollably.
Taeyang, sighing heavily, stayed by his sister’s side until she calmed down from her panic attack.
After what felt like several rounds of the second hand ticking around the clock, Yoon-seul’s breathing finally settled.
Feeling strength suddenly grip his joined hands, Taeyang looked back at the girl.
“Did we… win the game?”
At those words, Taeyang’s jaw dropped as he checked his phone and showed it to his sister, who lay in the capsule.
[Victory]
[Kariri (Assassin) – 4/6/12]
“Hah, is that what you’re worried about…? Oh! Thanks to that!”
“Glad to hear it…”
Kariri, or rather Seol Yoon-seul. She definitely wasn’t in a normal state.