Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Hardworking Pay-to-Win Knight
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Strictly speaking, movies weren't mainstream culture on the 34th Earth.
'Mainstream is gaming.'
Wasn't that obvious? The 34th Earth was ruled by Game Masters—the Game Gods.
In a world where most people naturally gravitated toward games and E-sports was the top spectator sport.
And in that environment.
[Aspiring Professor Hits 50 Million Viewers in 2090 Premiere!]
[This Summer's Ultimate Blockbuster!]
[Rookie Actors' Terrifying Debut! Who Are Scarlett and the Emperor?]
[Shocking Reveal! The Emperor Is Elder-Level Powerhouse!?]
The box office success of Aspiring Professor exceeded all expectations.
⤷MovieFan: Allen's directorial masterpiece. His dialogue is always sharp, but action was his weak spot—until now. It's flawless.
⤷JungMooMoon: A real feast for the eyes.
⤷Hero18: Wow, to put Seongjae in a love triangle with someone else? That's impressive.
⤷CheongAh: With such a looks gap (not saying the Emperor's ugly ㅠㅠ), maintaining tension till the end is genius. What do you call it? Primal charm? Charisma?
⤷Geralt: Sexy... but where's he an immigrant from? He seems like actual royalty.
It was the perfect example of "waking up to find yourself a star." Walking down the street got you recognized, and messages poured in from all sides.
[Waiter Chang-sik] Bro! Shooting a movie without a heads-up? I hooked you up with broadcasting gigs, and now I'm hurt!
[Stargate Owner Big Man] Hey! Quit the prayers and did something big, huh? Swing by when you're free. I'll buy you a nice drink.
[Ungnyeo Steel Crew Foreman Jun-hwan] Han! You're in a movie? I was shocked...
[Unknown Sender]: Hey oppa, remember me? It's Urani. Even on screen, it's been ages—nice to see your face...
"Ugh, what a mess."
I'd muted the endlessly buzzing Cheda while focusing on training. A movie I'd already shot was better off succeeding than flopping, but all this attention was worrying.
"Ah, this'll mess with job hunting."
I needed to enter fighting tournaments.
Mixed martial arts was often called a poor man's sport, but like all sports, reaching the top changed everything.
Plus, it was rare to find work that paid well with matches just once a week at most—or every three days for an hour.
Of course, I couldn't jump straight into pro leagues.
"...Well, noisy is noisy."
It worried me a bit, but worry wouldn't pay the bills.
I registered for amateur MMA tournaments online.
"Ah, might as well go all in."
I also signed up for gladiator tournaments with swords and no-holds-barred martial arts bouts.
Moments later.
[Can you talk for a minute?]
A call from city hall.
"What's up?"
[Oh, yes. You've registered for the MMA tournament... gladiator event, and no-limits martial arts.]
Something clicked at the staffer's words.
"Ah, is it a weight class issue?"
Fair enough—I wasn't amateur level. There'd be office workers and students competing; it'd be overkill.
[Yes, exactly.]
"But no pro experience means I can't enter professional events."
[No, it's not denied—we're calling for guidance. Amateurs have ability-restricting barriers. Stats cap at under 400 points, and supernatural prowess below mastery level. Still okay?]
No problem at all. I'd cracked knights' skulls with beginner-level internal energy.
'Of course, even amateurs here aren't comparable to medieval land knights versus Earth cultivators.'
Ardenia's top swordsmen or knight commanders were just schoolyard bullies on Earth. Entering from peaceful 34th Earth meant business.
"Of course."
[Alright, we'll process it. Good luck.]
"Thanks."
I hung up and scoured the net for other gigs.
"Cops and military are out."
Decent options, but long hours and too many restrictions. Not viable while grinding Revenge daily.
"Construction site... hmm, pays well."
Mass civil works on the moon right now. Requirements: [Titan-level strength. Vitality to survive brief exposure to space naked.] Suited me. No gear meant relying on life force, but swapping guardians made it doable.
"Apply for that too..."
And side hustles in between.
"Time to stream."
Famous now—waste not to capitalize.
But no content.
"Singing's awkward, no stories to tell..."
Easiest route it was.
"The sunlight was like lightning. Lightning that seared flesh and scorched souls."
I read [Shine Light Hero Chronicles]. Channels like this existed. Copyright issues abounded, but reading my own novel? Fine.
Time passed amid the grind.
[Hot hit Aspiring Professor surpasses 60 million viewers! A godsend for the slumping film industry! Mina, did you know Bram's death as the villain wasn't staged—it was real?]
[No way! What happened?]
A month flew by in a blur.
I streamed readings while competing in amateurs. Fights were cakewalks. These part-timers prepping for cop or military gigs couldn't match me.
[Whoa! Insane strength for a human! Petite build too—love it!]
[That's the vitality thing, right?]
I took the moon construction job. Tasks: assemble massive structures post-landing. Simple, but specs were brutal and risky—paid big. Human-sized among titans? Edge.
Another month gone.
"Gangnam District Mayor's MMA! Winner: Han Jaeyeon!"
Prize money and trophy: 3 million won—not huge, but pro qualification mattered.
"Ilseong Warrior No-Limits Martial Arts! Winner: Han Jaeyeon!"
Earned cash.
Wages from site work, royalties again, plus prizes: 30 million won.
Bought 20 shares at 1.4 million won each.
Time ticked. No schemes—just repeat daily.
Work. Earn. Buy stocks.
Work. Earn. Buy stocks.
Then.
Money from the film company.
[J.M.T Entertainment deposited 680,312,000 won.]
As Allen said—huge. Overseas release pending.
"Of course... no guarantees abroad."
Optimism: sell to greater universe planets, civilizations. Pure fantasy.
34th Earth's minimal-CG films bombed offworld. Popular with awakened psychics sensing CG fakeness, but rare elsewhere unlike here.
Conversely, alien films struggled here.
"Damn, when's this bottom?"
All-in again on stocks. Nemesis hit 1.22 million won.
Stock app.
Nemesis (570 shares): 667,584,000 won. [-723,216,000 won (-52%)]
"..."
Halved. Stock trading for profit? Jump in the river.
I felt it too.
"Ah, headache..."
Daily grind, yet 700 million loss? Reality? Unrealized unless sold, but could've had 1,000+ shares by waiting!
"No choice... 15 million to 3.4 million—how not buy?"
Yeah, unavoidable. Who foresaw 1.22 million?
"Ah."
Migraine hit. But no stopping.
Bottom this time—bought 559 shares at 1.22 million. Film cash vanished.
Earned more. Bought stocks.
Repeated.
Variety show offer? Nah—300k fee couldn't buy squat Nemesis.
Time passed. Fall to winter, thicker clothes.
Year-end neared.
"Nemesis Soft issued an invitation."
"...Huh?"
Snapped from daze at Cheda's words.
"Ah, right. That time again."
User meet-and-greet.
Where I got monthly legend guardians/pets deleted, met Nemesis rep Bae Sarang.
"Good. Wonder what they'll give... Huh?"
Grinning, then Cheda spoke.
"Sky Soft issued an invitation."
"Sky... Soft?"
Familiar. Clicked.
"Isn't that Real Stage's maker?"
God-game devs. Nemesis's cash-rich bad-rep opposite—storied legends.
Heard of Revenge but never played; Sky Soft games? Plenty. Story gems, open-world freedom, balanced MMORPGs.
"But... why invite me?"
Searched web.
Tons of results.
[Next-Gen MMORPG Lost World! Closed Beta Reviews?]
[Lost World Opens New Realm on 34th Earth!]
"What? Sky Soft dropping a new one."
Muttered, checked streamers' beta vids, comments.
[Ultimate freedom, stunning visuals, charming chars, epic story...]
[Shed tears breaking southern main quest ㅠㅠ]
[No P2W. CEO! Need more profits?]
Rave reviews.
Expected—Sky Soft's hitmakers. Beta flawless; hype inevitable.
Still, why me? Checked invite—spotted interview.
Unmissable title.
[Sky Soft Acquiring Nemesis Soft?]
"What the?"
Shocked, played vid. Host faces blond hunk.
[Nemesis stock buyup rumors. Special goal?]
[Yes. Found last piece for perfect Lost World.]
[O! Inspired by Revenge's massive wars?]
Blond brow twitches at host's words.
[Error in your statement first.]
[Yes?]
Sky Soft's CEO Shining stated firmly to puzzled host.
[Revenge isn't a game. Just cyber gambling fleecing impulse buyers.]
[.......]
"Whoa, ballsy."
True, but publicly trashing rivals? Stunned or not, Shining pressed on.
[I need one tech. Bought aggressively—nearly there. Our Lost World: perfect, beautiful, great for all.]
"Talking Second Life project."
Legion partnered, yet no full VR in other games. Thought time issue; maybe missing piece.
[M&A then?]
[Means to end. We want Revenge—specifically its Machine Star.]
"What... Sky Soft stealing Revenge?"
Muttered mid-view.
Thought:
"Good... right?"
Sky Soft: 50 years top games, Real Stage timeless classic.
Game Master Gwandaeha devotees—game-dev zealots.
Deadly serious perfectionists.
If they ran Revenge?
"P2W rationalized. Pure gameplay unlocks all."
Dungeons drop legends, raids myths maybe.
Skills via level-up points/tree, not cash!
'Sky Soft's trust running Revenge?'
Stock skyrockets.
"O, oo, ooo...?"
Hope surged.
[So Revenge's fate?]
[No reason to keep a gambling den.]
Shining declared coldly.
[Refund user assets gradually, then shut down.]
"...What?"
Froze. Stared at screen, dumbfounded.
"No, what bullshit is this!?"
Yelled.
But the blond transcendence gamer wore resolute face.