Chapter 13: Issue Maker
NewTube's 6 million subscriber channel, “Today's Awakener.”
This channel, which introduced the most talked-about Awakener every day, was one of the most popular NewTube channels in Korea.
The unique thing was that the NewTube creator himself was an ordinary person.
Instead, he had thorough research and skilled hosting abilities.
Seo Yerim, who had been invited here, looked at the NewTube creator Kkamuk.
They nodded to each other, and soon the live broadcast began.
“Then, Kkamuk's broadcast for today begins! We've got a very special guest this time! Introducing her! The A-rank Awakener known as the Sword Sage! Seo Yerim!”
“Hello. I'm Seo Yerim.”
―Whoa, she's stunning 😨
―I'm losing it 😨
―Whoa, the channel's blown up lol Even snagged the Sword Sage lol
Kkamuk smiled as the sponsorships poured in right from the start.
Then he asked.
“Nice to meet you. As far as I know, your last media appearance was almost a year ago, right?”
“Yes.”
“I wasn't sure if this would work out when I reached out, so I was really surprised when you accepted so readily.”
Yerim's hand twitched slightly. Just as he said, she didn't particularly like appearing on media.
She'd rather swing her sword one more time during that time.
Even so, the reason she appeared was because of her grandfather's words.
Kim Minwoo's Gate raid declaration.
Seo Jin-cheol had laughed heartily upon seeing it and looked at her with a meaningful gaze.
―Yerim, how about appearing on a broadcast this time?
―Me?
―Yeah. Looks like this guy's trying to stir things up, so it wouldn't hurt to help out.
―I'm not sure if I can do it well…
―It won't be hard. Just show your face, and the attention will flock to you on its own.
As a dutiful granddaughter who always listened to her grandfather, she couldn't refuse.
That was why she appeared on this channel, which had been persistently sending invitation emails.
“So, shall we talk about today's topic? Kim Minwoo— this guy's really hot right now! He's going to raid that Gate.”
“Yes. I heard about it.”
“F-rank Gate, Osiris's Tomb! I hear it's got a really high difficulty. You've been there before, right, Yerim?”
Yerim nodded.
“Yes. I remember forming a party and raiding it around level 40.”
“How tough was it?”
“Very. If other Gates of the same rank are between 60 and 80 points, this one's around 95.”
“Ah! As expected of the Sword Sage. The World Gate Association rates it the same. Osiris’s Tomb: 95 out of 100. It stands out even among F-rank gates?”
“Yes.”
“Why is the raid score so high?”
Recalling the memory, she said.
“This Gate is really straightforward.”
“Straightforward. Could you elaborate a bit?”
“There are hardly any puzzle-like mechanics. The paths are simple too. But there's just a ton of monsters. Their patterns are tricky. Unlike a typical F-rank Gate, they inflict all sorts of status ailments.”
―Sword Sage is right. Even with a 5-man party, it's brutal. Mobs keep spawning lol
―Got pantsed in the mid-zone during a raid. Nearly died for real lol
“Ah. That might actually make it harder in a way. No detours.”
Yerim nodded.
“Yes. All you need to raid this Gate is raw power.”
“Power! Power is what's needed. Great input. But Kim Minwoo says he's raiding it solo? And at level 1, no less.”
Yerim nodded.
“What did you think when you heard the news, Yerim?”
“Is he insane?”
“… Pardon?”
“Didn't hear me? I pronounced it clearly.”
Yerim said flatly.
Her grandfather had asked her to draw attention, not to praise Kim Minwoo.
So this should be fine.
Plus, it was her honest opinion.
Raid Osiris's Tomb at level 1?
Solo, without a party?
That was straight-up suicide.
―Kkamuk totally caught off guard lol
―Did anyone else see his eyes roll? lol
―He’s actually insane, lol. The Sword Sage is savage. What guts, lol.
―Came here cuz they said it's spicy content lol
“Ah, ahem… I see. But you know what they say! You've gotta be a little crazy to succeed.”
Kkamuk said, wiping away cold sweat.
“Still, the odds of success aren't zero, right? I heard Kim Minwoo bought a skillbook at +9 enhancement, plus all sorts of gear…”
“Does that even matter?”
“So you judge the raid as impossible, Yerim?”
She nodded firmly.
“Yes. If he were a swordsman, I might've thought there was a chance. His talent for swordsmanship was real.”
“Kim Minwoo's swordsmanship talent is real. I'm curious just how good it is.”
“… He wields it better than me.”
―Sword Sage who lives and dies by pride says that? Just how good is Kim Minwoo's swordsmanship 😨
―No way. Rumor has it he pushed back the Sword Sage in a spar.
“… Wow. Better than you, Yerim?”
“… Yes. Grandfather acknowledged him as a true prodigy for my generation.”
“Whoa… So the rumors were true. Boom! Official confirmation, folks! Kim Minwoo's sword talent is legit!”
The chat exploded with heat.
Soon, Yerim said seriously.
“But as a Necromancer, it's different.”
“Aren't Necromancers strong? Equip summons, reinforce skills…”
“Skeletons summoned at level 1. How strong do you think they'd be?”
“Uh… I dunno? About as strong as me?”
“In a one-on-one, you'd win as long as you don't panic, Kkamuk. That's how weak they are. And stupid.”
“Well, I've never heard of low-level undead being smart.”
Yerim nodded and unleashed her opinion like a machine gun.
“Level 1. Even if he used elixirs to boost stats since he's rich. Factoring in +9 skillbook and gear options, he'd summon about 150. It's like that. A hundred fifty ordinary people like you entering the Gate.”
“Right. Plus their gear on top.”
Yerim nodded.
“But the Gate's monsters come in packs of at least forty. Considering skeleton combat power… One pack would shatter them all?”
“Yeah. Skeletons are usually just meat shields.”
Even to her own ears, it sounded quite plausible.
“But doesn't 150 explain why Kim Minwoo bought gear in bulk? I heard he swept the auction house again after last time… The quantity was insane.”
“Maybe he bought extras cuz he's too lazy to go to the auction house. You know how he's always been a big spender.”
―Lmao for real lol Emperor of extravagance. Always on the news lol
―Wtf. Pre-burns hundreds of billions cuz auction house is a hassle? What kinda life does Kim Minwoo live…?
―Ultimate Spendthrift 😨
―(Problem) But I'm jealous;;
“Ah, that could be. But there's a variable. Achievement rank.”
“Sure, if it's S-rank achievement, he might've gotten a good skill. But do you know this, Kkamuk?”
“What…?”
“Even among S-rank achievement Awakeners, no one's solo-cleared a 95+ Gate at level 1. Not a single one yet.”
It was a fact Kkamuk knew too.
He'd researched it beforehand.
But his demeanor was genuinely curious as he asked back.
“Not just in Korea, but worldwide?”
“Yes.”
“That's surprising. So Kim Minwoo is challenging the world record right now?”
“Yes. If he succeeds.”
“Why haven't other S-rank achievement Awakeners tried? With S-rank, they'd get massive backing from their groups, and a world record would be tempting…”
Yerim smiled coldly.
“Simple. It's digging your own grave.”
“Digging your own grave?”
“Yes. S-rank skills aren't invincible. Mana's a limited resource. Potions aren't infinite either.”
“True. Chug too many potions and you get overload or addiction. Solo at level 1 seems extremely risky.”
Kkamuk paused for a beat before saying.
“Still, if he progresses really slowly, couldn't he reach the mid-zone? He could escape from there at least…”
“… We can only hope so.”
She replied quietly.
Her impression of Kim Minwoo leaned more negative than positive, but that didn't mean she wanted him dead.
She just wanted to gouge out those perverted eyeballs of his.
“Great input from Yerim! The broadcast is killing it today. Viewer count just hit 1 million for the first time! Ah, is this the Sword Sage's star power?”
“… It's just cuz you're good at broadcasting, Kkamuk.”
They took a break, politely flattering each other.
A moment later.
“Ah, while we were talking, Kim Minwoo's Gate entry time is approaching? Three broadcasters are doing live coverage, and we'll watch too. Hope he comes back alive.”
“I hope so too.”
“But, uh.”
“Yes.”
“What if—and I mean what if—Kim Minwoo not only succeeds but clears it in record time as promised?”
“… If that happens?”
“Yeah. Just imagine it. What would happen?”
“Hmm…”
It wouldn't happen.
But if, by some one-in-a-thousand—no, one-in-ten-thousand chance it did…
Seo Yerim chuckled and answered.
“Japan would be jealous, China envious, and the world shocked.”
“… Pardon?”
“Patriotism channels would eat this up.”
―Sword Sage browses the net lol
―Spit out my beer wtf lol Hilarious lol
―But if he pulls it off, it'd be legit lol Ah lol World record looks like a joke lol
―Kia, jumo! Gimme a shot of national pride!
At that moment…
The TV beside them turned on, and a broadcast flowed out.
―SKS News, reporter Seo Jin-young. I'm here at the F-rank Gate 'Osiris's Tomb.' And there's Kim Minwoo…
* * *
Gate checkpoint manned by soldiers and Awakeners.
Reporters swarmed the place.
“Kim Minwoo! It's Kim Minwoo!”
“Kim Minwoo! One word before entering the Gate, please!”
“Kim Minwoo! Last time you only shared your level and class via status window! Any plans to reveal achievement rank, titles, or stats?”
Would you?
He had no intention of answering each one. He entered the checkpoint and got clearance from the soldiers.
He gazed at the Gate in the distance.
[Gate: Osiris's Tomb]
[Rank: F]
Finally, looking at the reporters, he opened his mouth.
“I made a promise. I'd set a world record.”
“I know French S-rank Awakener Isabella holds the top record: solo raid of a similar Gate at level 49! Even with full national support, it took her two full days! You're confident you can do better?!”
Two days to clear this level of Gate?
Predictable.
Probably sipping a potion every few hours, inching along.
Kim Minwoo pointed at the reporters' cameras and said.
“Yeah? I'll be back before your cameras cool off.”
He turned from the reporters to head to the Gate.
“Kim Minwoo! Sword Sage Seo Yerim just declared on broadcast that raiding the Gate is absolutely impossible!”
He stopped dead.
The reporter's eyes gleamed as he shot out lightning-fast.
“She said your swordsmanship is decent at best, and you'd be lucky to survive the mid-zone! Any comment?”
“Seo Yerim? Oh, that swordsmanship hack?”
“… Pardon? She's still called the Sword Sage…”
“Sword Sage? Hmm… Is she, though?”
Soon, his body was sucked into the Gate.
[(Breaking!) Kim Minwoo: Seo Yerim's swordsmanship is hack?]
[(Breaking!) Kim Minwoo debates Sword Sage! Hmm… Is she, though?]
[(Breaking!) Sword Sage, mid-live broadcast: This fucking XX! Erupts in profanity, live stream suspended…]