Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: The First Guest
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Human hearts are like reeds swaying in the wind.
This held true for online communities where many people gathered as well.
[Indie Minor Game Gallery] 📰 Breaking News So all the evidence for the phishing scandal was fabricated? [182] Daehyeop Kim << This bastard knew everything [131] How the hell did someone in the same industry pull that off? [200] The guy who wrote the All the Game review post—I'm fucking disappointed [246] Dawn snipe post summary for the wage slaves heading to work [335] It was 7 a.m., the time when office workers were just starting to wake up.
"Mmmnyaah..."
Aurora was still asleep, and Aka-chan was taking a brief rest.
"Analysis in progress..."
While resting (browsing the gallery), a post caught her eye.
📰 Breaking News [Title] The guy who wrote the All the Game review post—I'm fucking disappointed Woke up as a wage slave and properly read the night post for once. Turns out the All the Game developer was sniping Akashic Records? And they fucking fabricated shit and stirred up drama on alts? Huh? I actually enjoyed it and even posted a review in the gallery, but now in wise-man time, I couldn't even squeeze one out this morning before heading to work. Fuck. Recommendations: 343 | Disrecommendations: 5 — Anonymous [246] Info) This bastard is one of the All the Game developer accounts. ㄴDon't talk shit, you lunatic. ㄴSo it was a high-level paid review shill. ㄴCome to the main on your real account, dev faggot. ㄴI said no, fuck... The review post got too much traction, huh? ㄴWhat kind of bullshit is this? ㄴIt got buried by Akashic Records quick lol. ㄴFuck, inferiority complex? ... "...Analysis complete."
Aka-chan, having reviewed the post and comments, gave a faint smile.
"Trolling successful."
Aka-chan had collected every post from the indy game gallery up to now.
Using profiling skills beyond human capability, she identified those spreading fabrications and incitement.
Among them were several indie game developers who frequently lurked in the gallery.
Aka-chan compiled all the data and sniped those defaming Akashic Records.
With irrefutable evidence, public opinion turned its arrows toward the other developers.
Watching the spectacle from afar, Aka-chan smiled faintly.
"Heehee."
It's fun.
Just like Master said, this stuff is a comedy when watched from a distance.
Finishing her brief amusement, Aka-chan dove back into virtual reality development.
Today, the first guest was scheduled to visit the very virtual reality Aurora had so desperately wanted.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ [Daehyeop Kim's broadcast has started. - Talk 3 min ago] About half a day after the 'Developer Gate' exploded in the indy game gallery, Daehyeop Kim's stream went live.
"Ah, testing. Can you hear me?"
— Chat Daehyeop Kim! Daehyeop Kim! Daehyeop Kim! Mom, when I grow up, I wanna be Daehyeop! Back from the dead again, Phoenix Kim? Viewer count rising speed lololol. Daehyeop Kim's voice, face, and mocking expression were the same as always.
A smug smile, as if he'd predicted this exact situation.
Everything about him was lethally captivating, flooding viewers with dopamine.
"Everyone. Do you know why I've survived so long on this cold Recka floor? Just follow two rules."
1. Don't cross the line.
2. Always follow rule 1.
— Chat Crazy bastard lololol. It's so obvious, but why does it sound so cool? Recka God Daehyeop Kim! Recka God Daehyeop Kim! For real, Recka players, learn from this guy. "Now, why do you think I'm mentioning these rules?"
Click— Click—
A folder opened on Daehyeop Kim's stream screen.
It was piled high with PDF files.
Most filenames featured 'Indie Minor Game Gallery'—the killer detail.
"Those who didn't follow the rules gotta go, right?"
— Chat Lawsuit time lolololol. Those real-life lawsuits are a must. As long as it's not me~ lolololol. Daehyeop Kim's gone mad; the public already turned. Bye bye lololol. Daehyeop Kim's lawsuit declaration set the atmosphere ablaze.
The chat scrolled so fast it was hard to catch with the naked eye.
"Sorry to the new viewers, but I'm enabling follow-only chat for a bit."
— Chat Chat normalization by God Daehyeop. Now chat feels playable again. No one who unfollowed thinking he'd crash, right? lol. — ㅇㅇ's 1,000 KRW Donation So what's next? — Chat What? Take that back right now! Isn't that the 'Indy Gal Troll Seed' vibe? "Whoa, bros. Do I look like the type who turns on a stream just to gauge opinion and time donations?"
— Chat No? Yeah you are. Donation genius God Daehyeop lol. Daehyeop Kim let out a mocking sneer at the viewers' reactions.
"Me, Daehyeop Kim, turning on a stream for something that petty?"
— Chat Wait, this isn't his room? Where the hell is this guy? It's Daehyeop's family warehouse. Yeah, matches his last night stream spot. But what's that behind him? The space Daehyeop Kim was streaming from wasn't his studio.
Confirming more viewers catching on, he continued.
"I'm in my family warehouse at home. It's unused by everyone, so I use it as a studio for night streams."
— ㅇㅇ's 10,000 KRW Donation So what's that behind you? No way, is it...? "Jeez, our bros are so impatient. You're all wondering about this, right?"
Daehyeop Kim placed his hand atop the capsule in the warehouse center.
"It's the virtual reality access capsule gifted by Akashic Records."
The chat exploded once the item's identity was revealed.
— Chat Beta tester recruitment is a week away—how'd he get it? Some connection with Akashic Records? So he had ties to Akashic Records all along. Etc. Countless speculations flooded the chat, but no correct answers emerged.
"Bros are overcomplicating it. Why do you think I got this? Back during the incident, defending it meant instant downfall, but I was the only one who did. Maybe they felt bad about it at Akashic Records, so they sent this as a gift. Even gave me a chance to try it first. Of course, I haven't yet. As a streamer, this has to be on broadcast with you all."
Jealous. Lucky bastard. Did he meet a maid? Alpha Male Kim. Etc.
Various chats rolled in, and satisfied with the reactions, Daehyeop Kim opened the capsule.
"Whoa—the interior's sleek? No headgear like in those animes."
Filming the inside with his camera, Daehyeop Kim recalled prior instructions.
'They said you can stream from the capsule too.'
Something about recommending a re-stream before starting the game.
"Alright, I'll do a re-stream first. They said it supports streaming from the capsule."
— Chat OK, see ya later. Holding my breath from now. First stream of the first VR—intense. Ending the stream for re-stream, Daehyeop Kim grinned with joy.
Last viewer count checked: a whopping 20,000.
Average 2,000, down to 200 after the incident crash.
Not long after, now? A solid "20,000."
'My instincts were spot on.'
Defending Akashic Records proved right.
Only skyrocketing left ahead. No complacency, though.
Daehyeop Kim was ruthlessly self-objective.
'Do great.'
He'd seized the massive luck of being the first to experience and stream the first VR and its game.
'I have to do great.'
Steel resolve set, Daehyeop Kim closed the capsule and powered it on.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ [Indie Minor Game Gallery] The indy game gallery had now fully normalized.
A mysterious drifter had unleashed lawsuits, opening the Developer Gate.
This completely quelled the malicious public opinion that had plagued the gallery.
📰 Breaking News [Title] All the Akashic Records haters got cut lololol. (Trailer highlight screencap) (Drifter ㅇㅇ's lawsuit screencap) (Daehyeop Kim's lawsuit declaration screencap) Three artifacts assembled, you fucks ㅇㅇ. Time to bail from the room...? Recommendations: 628 | Disrecommendations: 2 — Anonymous [329] Indy Gal normalization by God Daehyeop lololol. ㄴWasn't it all that mysterious drifter...? ㄴGal opinion flipping constantly is hilarious lol. ... 📰 Breaking News [Title] Breaking) Daehyeop Kim got a capsule gift from Akashic Records dev. (Gleaming capsule screencap) The thought of yelling 'Link Start!' before dying has me hyped af lol. Recommendations: 500 | Disrecommendations: 1 — Anonymous [444] So fucking jealous, wanna try it too. ㄴBut Daehyeop Kim really deserved it. ㄴStuck to his guns~ And got this benefit in one go. ㄴNot anyone can do that, idiot. The indy game gallery was currently relaying Daehyeop Kim's broadcast.
Communities and internet broadcasts usually mix like oil and water.
So relaying streams in the gallery naturally drew backlash.
But right now, no one in the indy game gallery opposed relaying Daehyeop Kim's stream.
No—anyone who might complain was already relaying it themselves.
This was a typhoon. A massive one.
Beyond what mere humans could handle.
And at the eye of that typhoon stood one man: Daehyeop Kim.
"Whoa. Whoaaa... insane."
The first virtual reality.
The first gamer to face it.
Viewers had already surpassed 30,000, charging toward 40,000.
Daehyeop Kim glanced at the translucent holographic chat floating in the air.
"Bros, I've got it set to first-person view. Easy to watch?"
— Chat A bit motion sick. Third-person better for viewers? First-person immersion is nuts. I wanna do it too I wanna do it too. Following public opinion, Daehyeop Kim switched to third-person.
"M-my heart's pounding like crazy. Talking feels awkward too. What am I even doing?"
Daehyeop Kim was swept up in the 'excitement' he'd forgotten since adulthood.
Never in his life had he trembled or tensed this much.
"Customization's roughly done anyway. Time to start the game."
"Uh... is this the tutorial? Oh, purple on the map? Ah, guide button. Activating guide... Oh! Arrow appeared. You see it, bros? Yeah? Follow this then, right?"
"Man, body movement feels so weird. Like it's not my body."
"Back in school, I read tons of fantasy games and novels. Settings mention... synchronization rate? Not there? Seems absent."
"Daehyeop, stop bootlicking and progress already? Hey. Wanna leave? Puhaha. Joking."
Daehyeop Kim followed the guide arrow down the path.
Statues of knights lined the Hall of Heroes' corridor.
Long neglected, they bore the marks of time.
Passing the corridor led to the hall's center.
A woman's statue stood there.
"Huh? Bros, isn't that the mage lady from the trailer end?"
— Chat Similar? Looks like it. Atmosphere is killer. Who's that ahead? Step— Step—
Someone approached Daehyeop Kim from the shadows.
Emerging from the darkness: a single maid.
"The maid from the capsule demo!"
Recognizing her instantly, Daehyeop Kim relaxed.
"One who has reached the Hall of Heroes. What do you seek to have come this far?"
The maid questioned him directly.
— Chat Branch point. Daehyeop, focus. Something's off. Answer confessions with confessions. Confess you came to meet her. He checked the chat, but nothing helpful.
"Uh... to become the world's strongest Martial Artist..."
Daehyeop Kim trailed off midway.
Even fully immersed in VR,
saying 'I've come to become the world's strongest Martial Artist' in front of tens of thousands wasn't easy.
Chat was full of 'I'm more embarrassed than you, Daehyeop', 'What kinda dumb shit is that, Daehyeop', 'Acting all Daehyeop so he really wants to be one' etc.
Heart-wrenching chats only, so Daehyeop Kim cleared his throat repeatedly to hide his embarrassment.
"I see."
Even as he showed embarrassment, the cool, expressionless beauty maid responded flatly.
"I shall show you the phantom of records. If that is the path you desire, call for me."
"Ah, got it."
At her gesture, the scenery shifted.
'This is...'
A barren wasteland. A massive mountain loomed ahead.
A man gazed at the giant peak.
Worn white martial robes. Faded black sash.
His body, visible through the robes, was covered in scars.
Face hidden in shadow.
'He's taking a stance.'
Daehyeop Kim instinctively knew what the man was about to do.
Straight punch.
But nothing stood before the man.
Save the distant mountain.
Punching air? Training? As that question arose—
"...Watch closely, kid."
The man's gaze flicked to Daehyeop Kim.
"This is how you use a fist."
With those words, he thrust his fist forward.
BOOOOM—!!!!!
A fist mark etched into the mountain cliff.