Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Guild Master Isn't Enough with Just Games
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There was no way they weren't having a meltdown.
One of the broadcasters, who had been reduced to scattered dust, spotted something and perked up, snapping his back straight.
["Ah! But she's a former artistic gymnastics trainee!"]
["Artistic gymnastics?!"]
["No wonder we lost. Gotta admit it."]
["But isn't Hella mainly a mage?"]
["Shh."]
The adults barely regained some pride from hearing Hella was a gymnastics major, but it didn't last.
They let out heavy sighs again.
["Argh, another all-timer."]
["Dude, this is insane. Pfft hahaha! Never saw it coming! Is this for real?!"]
["This guy's had tons of personality drama on SpaceKing streams too. Wonder what the vibe's like inside SpaceKing now."]
Shiba appeared on screen.
In SpaceKing, he was a renowned physical-class warrior user alongside Nix.
["He's a middle schooler."]
Nix showed up on the footage, mouth agape in a "What?!" of shock.
It was a clip from SpaceKing's Nix freaking out at Kaisha's 10 billion damage one-shot in the Wei Chen match.
The hosts burst out laughing.
["Why is SpaceKing like this?"]
["Turns out it's a cosmic daycare."]
One host cracked up so hard he bent over, crawling on the floor in hysterics, blinking in and out of frame.
Guttural choking laughs echoed out.
["Ha, seriously."]
The hosts, barely back in position, pulled up a photo on the next screen.
An average-height male student.
["This is what he looks like."]
His real-life visuals were decent enough to hold their own—good-looking face.
["Second year middle school. Says he prepped for kickboxing championships since elementary. Real name's Song Woo-jin."]
["Shiba at least matches his face and personality, unlike Hella. Got that fiery look. But the name's too cute. Song Woo-jin? Woo-jinnie?"]
["Totally a modern kid's name."]
A label popped up over Shiba's head on screen: [Real Name: Song Woo-jin / Middle School 2nd Year].
Boom—crash!
Shiba swung a fist loaded with an AoE skill, blasting a building apart. Players who couldn't dodge flew back and crumpled.
["Whoa, Shiba's a middle schooler. So when he started Vipa..."]
["We won't say we've been getting beaten by an elementary kid all this time. Shatters the ego too much."]
They'd already implied it anyway.
["Curious about the real reactions from SpaceKing guildmates. Shiba's got such a nasty temper, I remember tons of internal drama."]
["Makes sense now. Middle schooler."]
["He can just hang with Nix."]
The screen captioned [lololol] with [Nix, Mysterious First Loss].
A few more underage guild members from various guilds got shoutouts, but none hit as hard as Hella and Shiba's reveals.
Vipa Online was geared toward adults, so minors faced heavy play restrictions.
Pure character-building focus made it doable, though.
Hunters were brand new to reality, with zero minor-related laws yet—who knew what'd come next.
The topic shifted.
["Today's highlight! Kaisha and Dart's Nike ad shoot!"]
["Kaisha and Dart filming a Nike ad! Is the set still intact?! Graphics didn't get wrecked, right?!"]
["Surprisingly, it is."]
["Bummer."]
The ad shoot staff looked insanely busy on screen.
Action set.
Kaisha and Dart took turns getting directions.
["You're watching Kaisha and Dart's Nike ad shoot live!"]
["Whoa! What is this?!"]
["Dart's actually listening to staff without flipping the place."]
["Look at his face—he's enjoying it."]
Being action-heavy, the shoot had plenty of high-energy moments.
True to their rep as top Vipa fighters, everyone nailed their parts near-perfectly.
The camera director stuck out his tongue in awe.
It was motion quality that made you want to ditch ads for full action flicks.
Whoa.
Ooh.
The set's camera director and staff kept gasping in admiration, pumping up the hosts' faces with unearned pride.
["Yes! This is it."]
["Get it now, civilians? This is peak Hunter motor skills. Sheik it yo."]
The guy next to him roared with laughter.
One host collapsed in giggles, another grinned ear-to-ear watching the footage.
This ad was gonna slap, no doubt.
["Can't wait to see the final product."]
["Make it badass, please. Hunters nationwide and 2 million subs are watching."]
Sub count flashed on screen.
Not just 2 million—the GodGold channel was rocketing toward 3 million.
["Ugh, for real. Personally wanted to hit the set so bad, but the rep said no crowding, so I stayed away."]
Goldbunker's rep face popped up briefly.
Gilgamesh, Kwon Ho-seong.
Bright yellow hair, celeb-model looks.
Head to toe luxury, but only the hippest, flashiest pieces—like, where'd he even find that?
The host sulked, unable to go 'cause Gilgamesh said no.
["Not that I'm a huge Kaisha stan or anything—my family's begging for her and Dart's autographs..."]
["What? You're in her fan cafe."]
["The rep got these signed himself."]
Side host lost it.
Framing Kaisha's autograph like fine art? Too serious, hilarious.
["A frame? Pff hahaha!"]
["Dude, I was desperate. Got two little sisters—if I didn't bring these back, they'd kill me."]
["Then why not give theirs and keep yours?"]
["Mine."]
Another explosion of laughter.
["He got extras for them!"]
The host frantically defended, but it just got funnier.
How many did this guy snag? They laughed and bantered forever before cutting away.
["Yep, that was the Nike ad shoot."]
["Invite us next time."]
The host's eyes got [T_T] slashes—desperate to go.
["We had an Abyss interview scheduled, but shockingly, the camera crew got so caught up watching they forgot to film."]
["Abyss and Kaisha forgot too, apparently. How fun was that set for everyone to blank?"]
["Sigh. Jealous of Shiba."]
Again, [T_T] slashes over the host's eyes—dying to go, no invite.
["Next up: Our Hunter world's golden geese! Time to peek at each guild's 'moneybags'."]
["Can't skip our Goldbunker guild master when it's money talk."]
["Exactly."]
["Looks like Fullminak hit a human goldmine jackpot too."]
Side host mouthed a clear "Jeal-ous!" pout.
["Surprisingly, their guild master wants us to spill since she won't dig in."]
["Tragic. If I'd known, I'd have done it!"]
["We'll leak just a tiny bit—for next episode's sake, that's it for today."]
Big text: [Look forward to next stream!] Hosts waved.
["Bye!"]
Comments exploded.
Hot Abyss news, Hella and Shiba bombshells, guild master ad set, heir hunting—packed fun, viewers flooded chat.
Next stream's views? Guaranteed smash.
* * *
Shot two ads, bumped Gate raid a day early.
Umbrella one's posters, way simpler than Nike—quick edit, up everywhere soon.
Yerin's next vid after Gate run.
"Ga-hyun-ah."
Hotel restaurant.
I looked up from my phone amid the pianist's melody drifting from downstairs.
"Come on in."
"Wonder if I kept the busy one waiting too long."
You're the busy one.
People snuck polite glances as Kim Do-won sat.
Famous ace chaebol exec, sure.
But damn, handsome.
The Kim clan's standout trait: killer looks.
My mom's the same.
Anyway.
"Didn't wait long."
Not politeness—lost track of time buried in work thoughts.
"You're swamped too. Grandpa's stuff going smooth?"
"That's why I wanted to meet."
Kim Do-won spoke, eyed me, hesitated.
Then smiled, asked.
"Mind if I ask how far you've thought about your current business?"
"Why?"
"Better to play it safe."
"...Yeah, sure."
But I swore off investments from relatives.
Kim Do-won said.
"Grandpa thought the same, but I never planned to leave you at a startup long-term."
"..."
"Just took longer than expected."
I lifted my glass quietly.
Why drag out what they should've said ages ago?
"Glad I held off saying it early—you went and launched anyway. Suits you, though."
From his view, yeah.
Promised to scoop up cousin sis quick, almost hope-tortured her long-term.
Now it clicks: Grandpa and Do-won teamed up behind the scenes, rah-rah pity-rescue for poor Ga-hyun, some drama plot.
"..."
Shouldn't feel this way.
Gut twisting.
Hate this massive gap where I gotta desperately await your rescues and favors.
I smiled faintly.
Only reason I held it in? Kim Do-won too damn hot.
"What'd Grandpa say?"
"Always worried about you. Knows how much he cherishes you. Figured you'd slide under me post-project, naturally."
Worried?
Chest sank.
"...I see."
No surprise—my biz won't earn Grandpa's nod.
Like a cold shower.
Reality bites.
To him, my venture's just cute kid play.
Hence the "safe" pull into his orbit.
Right.
My biz ain't shit.
Dumb to expect more—self-loathing disappointment.
Even Kim Je-hyun's bro flailed for that 'real nod' and crashed. How could trash me snag it?
No matter what I do, can I ever measure up in their eyes? Mom's eyes?
"Ga-hyun-ah?"
"Huh?"
Snapped my head up, startled.
He stared wide-eyed too, then smiled softly.
"Tough with the business?"
"..."
Felt pathetic suddenly.
Ad shoots, guild work, Gate prep workouts—exhausting, but is this "tough"?
Kim Do-won said.
"Getting hotter—take care of your health. Want your biz to thrive."
Honestly? Hate him.
Born with everything I kill for.
Seething envy.
But if there's one soul-side ally in this world? Probably Kim Do-won.
"Thanks."
'Passing 'cause of your face.'
Nursed my bruised pride with that, slyly.
He smiled.
Too perfect, kinda annoying—but sweet and kind. Why does Je-hyun freak like he's dying whenever near his bro?
Scared of Kim Do-won, clan heir and Grandpa's #2 powerhouse?
"Oh, right—Auntie."
Flinch.
No aunties on my side—his aunt's one: Mom.
"Y-Yeah, what about Mom?"
"I've blocked her best I could all this time."
Yup, Kim Do-won.
Thank heavens for allying him against Mom—should bow to the skies.
Though reality's final boss still terrifies.
"She heard you're hitting Gates—super worried. I was too, but relaxed since it's not crazy dangerous."
"I'll never meet Mom. No calls, ever. Never."
"Ga-hyun-ah. Still, a call before Gate? Hate to say it, but what if...?"
"..."
Damn.
His non-pushy, thoughtful gaze sold me.
"...Text at least."
He nodded, satisfied smile at my words.