Chapter 58
Chapter 58
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: After Winning, When I Turn on the Stream, Viewers Flood In
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I put on an awkward expression.
This made it hard to win. No matter how much of a genius I was, I'd only been training in swordsmanship for two weeks. There was no way I could match someone who'd been at it for a full year.
'Should I just pull out Fist King Fist?'
I debated it seriously. But in the end, I shook my head. Fist King Fist wasn't perfected yet. Using Ironclad Swordsmanship here would actually be better.
I refused to give up, sticking to Ironclad Swordsmanship to fend off my opponent's attacks.
Clang-!
Clang-!
Anyone watching would think I was done for. Still, I poured everything into defense.
How long did I manage to block Kim Shin-hyeok's onslaught?
It felt like quite a while had passed. My whole body was drenched in sweat.
But my expression wasn't grim. If anything, it grew brighter by the second.
Then another of Kim Shin-hyeok's strikes came flying at me.
"Haat! Spear-Sword Frenzy!"
This time, he unleashed the ultimate technique he'd learned at Hanyang School.
It felt like a swarm of spears was hurtling toward me. There had to be more than ten incoming thrusts. Any novice would've panicked for sure.
But I stepped forward.
I didn't even bother with Iron Wall Defense. I just shifted my body diagonally.
A spear grazed past my side by a hair's breadth. I immediately clamped down on it with my elbow, squeezing my ribs tight.
Squeeze.
The spear's momentum slowed. I'd pinched it right against my side.
Kim Shin-hyeok strained to yank it free.
And that's when I released my grip. He staggered instantly.
I didn't let the opening slip.
My body shot forward at blinding speed.
Thud-!
The movement was brutally direct. And incredibly fast.
[Ah! This is...!] The referee's shocked voice rang out.
And it was understandable.
The footwork I'd just used was identical to the one Kim Shin-hyeok had been showing off nonstop.
Posture, speed—everything matched perfectly.
The outcome was the same, too.
I closed the distance to Kim Shin-hyeok's face in a flash. He was too busy steadying his wobbling body to defend properly.
My sword lashed out.
'Ironclad Flash!'
Incredibly, I'd blended Hanyang School footwork with Dugo Hwayeon's Ironclad Swordsmanship. It just... happened naturally.
The blade rocketed straight for Kim Shin-hyeok's throat.
Whoosh-!
He couldn't react. At this rate, my sword would've pierced clean through his neck.
But the elders didn't intervene. Unlike with Ma-sam.
There was a good reason for that.
Clack-!
My sword halted precisely at his throat.
I'd deliberately stopped it right there. Even I was impressed by my own control.
[I-Incredible!! Park Jae-ho has pulled off a dramatic reversal victory!] The referee's stunned voice boomed. He'd seen me turn an impossible fight around.
And he wasn't the only one shocked.
Waaaaah-!!
Kyaaaa-!!
Park Jae-ho-!! Park Jae-ho-!! Park Jae-ho-!!
The roar filled the arena. Every spectator chanted my name in ecstasy.
It was that thrilling a match.
Instead of celebrating, though, I steadied my breathing.
I still had to face Kim Shin-hyeok one more time. The fun wasn't over yet.
Plus, I was pretty exhausted. Probably more than him.
That said, my confidence was sky-high.
I couldn't imagine losing.
'If we clash again, I'll win for sure.'
And my hunch was right.
I proved it immediately.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In the end, I faced off against Kim Shin-hyeok one more time. With the score tied 2-2, it was time for the ace decider.
The first ace decider of this content.
Everyone was buzzing with anticipation, wondering what kind of show we'd put on next.
But our second clash ended anticlimactically.
[Aah! What's this? Kim Shin-hyeok is getting pushed back nonstop!] I wielded both Iron Wall Defense and Kim Shin-hyeok's footwork, toying with him completely.
He crumbled helplessly before me.
Our first bout had let me evolve in real time. I'd grown right there in the fight.
Kim Shin-hyeok hadn't. He was the same as before. And that gap decided everything.
Of course, cases like mine were rare.
Either way, he wasn't my match.
I hounded him relentlessly, then finished it.
More precisely, I dodged his attack and countered instantly. He couldn't block.
Whoosh-!
Clack-!
A razor-sharp blade now hovered at Kim Shin-hyeok's throat. He stared at it blankly.
"N-No way..."
He looked utterly shattered. He'd thrown everything at me, even Hanyang School techniques.
Yet I'd absorbed them and dominated him. No wonder he was reeling.
[A-Amazing!! What is this?! Park Jae-ho takes the win with ease!!] The referee's shocked announcement echoed. As a martial artist himself, he had the eye to see my real-time growth.
Waaaaah-!!
Park Jae-ho-!! Park Jae-ho-!! Park Jae-ho-!!
The cheers erupted again.
I didn't keep a straight face this time. No need.
I thrust my sword high overhead.
Clack-!
The roar swelled even louder.
Waaaaaaaah-!!
I basked in it with a grin. The thrill was unlike anything before.
That's when Dugo Hwayeon and the team members climbed onto the stage.
"Jae-ho!"
"Kyaaa! Park Jae-ho! You're insane!"
"I-I believed in you!"
The team swarmed me with beaming faces. You'd think we'd won the World Cup.
Dugo Hwayeon watched from behind, looking pleased. Surprisingly composed.
But I knew better.
'No way she's that calm.'
Her lips twitched like crazy. She was fighting a full-on battle to stay straight-faced.
'Kinda cute.'
The team piled into a group hug.
Group hug-!!
"We won!!"
"Kyaaaa!! Park Jae-ho is so cool!"
"K-Kim Kang-rok won too! Total victory!"
They clung to me, bouncing in place. Pure joy.
But my mind was elsewhere.
'Phew, glad the team's all girls.'
We'd just fought hard. The sweat stench was real. A guy on the team would've been rough.
Of course, I didn't let it show. I just enjoyed the win with them.
'We did it.'
Kim Kang-rok had won too. Perfect victory. Time to savor it.
Dugo Hwayeon's massive content—which had stirred up so much buzz—came to a close.
A resounding success. Easily the best of the year.
And if you named the biggest beneficiary?
Not quite beneficiary.
The content blew up because of me. Win-win all around.
Naturally, that was me.
And I felt it the moment I fired up my stream.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I didn't stream right after the big content wrapped.
Took a solid two-day break.
Had to.
Fatigue had piled up. Rest was key. Recharge fully to keep streaming strong.
Plus, victory party with the team.
It raged all night. We pounded the drinks.
"Drink up! Drink up! Drink up!"
"Hee hee hee! Truth is, I like you, Jae-ho."
"I don't like you."
"Whiiine..."
"W-What about me, Jae-ho?"
"Just a cute little sis?"
"O-Oh..."
"Pretty popular with the ladies, huh? Trainee Park Jae-ho?"
"Ahem, misunderstanding."
Drank too much—memories fuzzy. Just recall Harin drunkenly dropping her pants and Jajangga stripping off her bra. Nothing else. That hammered.
The hangover kept me offline longer. Streaming after two days was impressive.
Anyway, I prepped with a touch of nerves.
Time: 9 PM.
Prime time on Express.
Survive this slot, and you're big leagues.
'Phew, first time?'
Solo prime-time start? Never before. I'd hit it during content runs, but kicking off here? New territory. Heart raced a bit.
Stream went live.
📺 STREAM TITLE [Back After Winning] Pretty straightforward title.
But the viewers' reaction? Anything but.
- Live? - Jaeho! - JH - Here! - Jaeho! - Finally! - Jaeho! - Kyaaaaaaa! - Park Jae-ho! Park Jae-ho! Park Jae-ho! - Rawr~! The chat exploded with messages in seconds. Viewers poured in at breakneck speed.