Chapter 15 - Headgear Event (1)
Headgear Event (1)
Translator : Elizabeth
In Legend Frontier, players can create tens, hundreds, or even thousands of different builds depending on the weapons, skills, and items they select, and how they distribute their stat points.
Once a creator names their build and uploads it to the 'Build List,' other players browsing the list can choose to try it out if it piques their interest. If that build proves to be efficient or useful for countering 'OP' (Overpowered) class builds, it spreads through word of mouth, gains more adopters, and eventually climbs onto the 'Weekly Rankings.'
Since there is a limit on the number of builds an individual can create and upload per week, becoming the creator of a famous, ranking-worthy build is a difficult, arduous, and truly glorious achievement. Therefore, those who create top-tier builds usually take on a sense of responsibility and joyfully promote their creations, posting guides or strategy videos on community forums or B-Tube.
If the creator happens to be a streamer or a high-tier ranker, they receive even more attention, and everyone flocks to their guide broadcasts. Streams from rankers—which are both entertaining to watch and full of learning points—are always a massive hit. I’ve even heard they earn a fortune through donations. Perhaps that’s why almost all rankers stream, but...
【Popular Post】[Gale, you fing btch, at least turn on a stream]**
“…….”
...I, the Rank 7 individual player 'Gale,' was the only one who didn't do any personal streaming, nor did I even have a B-Tube channel.
No, it went beyond that. I had never appeared as a guest on anyone else’s channel, and I didn't have a single in-game friend. The only way to see me play was to accidentally be matched in the same game as a streaming ranker or to watch highlight videos someone else had uploaded to B-Tube.
Even though I was the creator of the Speed Swordswoman build—which quite a few people had at least 'dabbled' in—I had never posted a single guide or lecture video, nor had I even considered streaming. It seemed that those who followed the ranker scene or those who wanted to try the Speed Swordswoman were feeling a great sense of disappointment and anger toward me.
...The post that had reached the popular list on the community forum was targeting exactly that situation.
---
【Popular Post】[Gale, you fing btch, at least turn on a stream]** [Author: SlaveOfTheSpeedSword]
[ What’s the point of uploading the Speed Swordswoman build if you’re the only one who can f***ing use it?
Is uploading the build enough for you? Record some lecture videos, or at least post a guide. Turn on a stream once in a while.
Every time I play Speed Swordswoman, I lose my balance and die from slamming my head into a tree. You have to tell us how to do it before we can choose the build, you crazy speed-fetishist b*tch.
Our 1.2 billion Speed Swordswoman Corps is ready to shower you with donations if you just turn on the stream and teach us, so why the hell won't you?
Are you that rich? Or do you have some f***ing speech impediment?
Every other ranker is streaming and raking in the cash, so why the hell are you the only one playing solo ranked as a total game-demon while having such a legendary customization?
Turn on the stream and teach us Speed Swordswoman right now. Otherwise, I’m gonna sh*t my pants. ]
— I gave a sorrowful upvote after seeing the last line ㅠㅠ ㄴ ……? ㄴ Sexually deviant behavior detected. ㄴ Ugh, f***, the second to last line.
— For real, if you're gonna upload a sh*t-tier build, you should at least teach us how to use it.
— I’m just amazed every time she shows up on other people’s streams. Gale << this b*stard is just the God of Speed Swordswomen. ㄴ Of course she’s good at it, she made it, you idiot. ㄴ For real, the skill is undeniable.
— Why watch a stream of a girl who’s guaranteed to be a real-life sweaty pig? Just watch our Death God Noona’s stream. ㄴ Why watch that stealth-build exploiter? ㄴ You think the Rank 1 is a joke? ㄴ The fact is, she’s 2,046 times better than your Gale. ㄴ Welcome to the stealth-simps above.
— At least stream as much as Sakiride... ㄴ Isn't that guy basically streaming 365 days a year?
— The customization is so good, why is she wasting it? ㄴ For real, the customization is so pretty and she’s a ranker; even if it turns out she’s a "Net-kama" (guy playing a girl) or a "V-Mee-Yook" (Virtual Meat/V-Tuber slang), there’d be tons of people watching. Why won't she stream?
— Not 1.2 billion, probably just 12 people.
— Your Gale went to America (she's dead/gone)~
— Don't all rankers stream except for her and Bi-so-ryong? I think Death God and Galaxy Express turn on their streams occasionally. ㄴ Yeah, and at least that Bi-so-ryong guy uploaded a guide for the Tanking Spearman build lol.
— She’s got everything: the creator of a "Sapa" (unorthodox) build that hipsters love + top-tier skill + a mysterious vibe + legendary customization. It’s a guaranteed hit. She should at least make a B-Tube channel.
— Upvote if you’re part of the Speed Swordswoman Corps that would swarm her if she streams. ㄴ Starting with me lol.
---
“Hmm...”
It seemed people were a lot angrier than I thought. Since this was the first time I had received this much attention, I didn't realize there were so many players wanting a guide for the Speed Swordswoman. It seemed that ending the match against Harim in 9 minutes had brought even more attention and impact to the build than I anticipated.
“Was I... that popular?”
I muttered with a dry smile. Originally, the community was full of posts from people saying they quit after one try or asking why anyone would play a troll build. Since the build had never even made the weekly rankings, I hadn't seen a reason to record guides or videos. I thought I was the only one playing it; it was unexpected.
“…….”
But above all, I lacked confidence in communicating with others due to my trauma. Looking at a chat window, interacting with viewers, giving thanks for donations... these were luxuries and overwhelming challenges for someone like me, who was barely escaping the nightmares of the past.
Furthermore, I felt a sense of pride just from seeing the occasional post of someone attempting the Speed Swordswoman, and since I was satisfied just being able to run around in the game, I hadn't felt the need to do any of those things.
“Hmm...”
...But it was also true that my thoughts had changed recently. I could turn a blind eye to the Speed Swordswoman being occasionally mocked in the community, but being utterly disregarded and publicly roasted by a streamer was not something I could let go of easily.
The Speed Swordswoman was a build I had worked hard to create and was still researching on my own. Publicly insulting the build was an insult and a mockery directed at me. Furthermore, that Harim guy, when I rewatched his stream, didn't just insult the build; he insulted me, the Rank 7 player SION. Despite me being a ranker, he looked down on me simply because I used the Speed Swordswoman.
The perception of the Speed Swordswoman had quite literally drilled through the floor and reached the Earth's core. Continuing to be looked down upon and ignored... was not something I enjoyed.
“It’s my fault...”
And as the popular post mentioned, I was partly responsible for that perception. If I had uploaded lecture videos earlier and fostered skilled Speed Swordswoman aspirants, the number of people trolling with the build would have decreased, and the perception wouldn't have plummeted this far.
“Streaming...”
I lowered my head with a pensive expression. A Speed Swordswoman lecture video & a movement to improve the build's perception. I felt the necessity—that now was the time.
Yeah, perhaps now is the optimal time. If I, the creator, don't take action now, imagine how much those low-tier Speed Swordswoman aspirants will suffer. This is a Great Undertaking for their salvation. A Great Undertaking.
……Furthermore,
“…….”
I once said that to move toward higher heights, one must understand their deficiencies and weaknesses, and must take on challenges. Perhaps this stream—communicating with others while recording a guide—might help me escape just a little bit from the nightmares of my past.
“Alright!”
……The Speed Swordswoman Revival Movement, led by the Rank 7 player. I should give it a try.
02.
“Hmm...”
...The resolution was made, but streaming wasn't something that just happened out of thin air. I had to decide on the content, and above all, I needed the equipment to stream.
These days, VR headgear supported personal broadcasting, so a lot of equipment wasn't necessary. The problem, however, was that my VR headgear was an ancient model that didn't support broadcasting. To stream, I had no choice but to buy a new headgear.
“....”
So, I pulled my hoodie over my head and headed to a nearby multi-complex mall to buy the latest VR headgear. I could have bought it online, but I hated waiting for delivery, so I came to buy it in person. More importantly, my body was now Gale's body. My entire physical size had shrunk. Since I didn't know which size of VR headgear would fit me now, I wanted to try it on personally before buying.
“Haaa....”
The model I was looking for was the VR Headgear 4.0+. It was the latest model that supported broadcasting, and it boasted a formidable price. If I bought the headgear today, I’d have to live on one meal a day for a while. A weary sigh escaped my lips.
“I need to buy clothes, too....”
I looked down at the baggy men’s hoodie I was wearing. Since my physical body had changed, I had to buy new clothes and underwear... regardless of my will. Furthermore, there were a mountain of problems to solve, like my ID card, so a headache was inevitable.
I’ll think about it slowly once I get home...
“…….”
I wandered through the game section of the mall with heavy steps. Perhaps because it was a weekday afternoon, the mall was very quiet with almost no customers.
“Huh...?”
While looking at the various headgear, a banner standing tall next to the game store caught my eye.
[Legend Frontier × VR Headgear Event]<Once a day for one week! An event for our customers is underway!>
Target: Anyone who loves Legend Frontier
What: A 4v4 single match through first-come, first-served registration.
Prize: Free VR Headgear 4.0+ for the entire winning team.
※ Registration starts at 15:00 at the Game Center.※ Authentication via the Legend Frontier application is required.※ Duplicate participation is not allowed.
“Oh…….”
What a beautiful coincidence. Whether it was because the 4.0+ was the latest model, they were holding a collaboration event with Legend Frontier. Once a day for a week, they would take the first eight people and hold a single match, giving the winning team free headgear—the exact item I needed most right now.
Perhaps I wouldn't have to go hungry after all.
03.
“Woooooah!! It’s Sakiride!!” “Please give me an autograph!!”
...While I was lingering near the game store desk early for the event registration, a loud cheer erupted from the entrance.
“What’s going on?”
I looked up blankly at the sudden commotion and saw a tall man filming himself with a personal camera. He was walking toward me, surrounded by a crowd that had appeared out of nowhere.
“Ah...?”
I frowned, thinking his face looked familiar. After a moment of thought, I quickly realized who he was.
“...Sakiride.”
Rank 9 in the Legend Frontier individual rankings. ‘Destruction’ Sakiride.
The only male player among the rankers who held a supporter position. Simultaneously, he was a very popular streamer who actively broadcasted among the rankers—likely due to him being a tall, handsome man for a gamer.
<Now, today I'm going to participate in the collaboration event between Legend Frontier and the new headgear……>
He was walking toward the event registration desk, muttering something to the camera, likely for a B-Tube video. Since Sakiride was someone who had a nose for anything that could become a B-Tube 'angle,' it seemed he had come to this game store after hearing about the collaboration event.
“Ugh, how annoying.”
I grimaced at the sight of him. My face was hidden under my pulled-down hoodie, so others couldn't see, but my face was full of contempt for Sakiride.
Rank 9. ‘Destruction,’ Bard Sakiride.
He was the craziest "concept-player" among all the rankers. To the point where he didn't care about winning or losing. His skill was undeniable given he reached a single-digit rank as a supporter, but he constantly babbled about "death being a virtue" and made sure to die at least twice in every single match. Even in matches where victory was certain, he would walk into a tower and commit suicide just to make sure he hit exactly two deaths.
After all, isn't his nickname Sakiride (4K2D) taken from '4 Kills 2 Deaths'?
There were times when the game was thrown into chaos because of that concept-player's damn '2 deaths' out of nowhere, and when he was on the enemy team, he threatened us with insane performance. He was someone I didn't want to meet as a teammate or an enemy if possible.
And now, such a person just happened to come to the same event at the same time as me. What a crazy coincidence.
“Haaa……”
All I could do was let out a sigh.