Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Artistic Timing
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1.
There was no practice more efficient than actual combat, or so the old saying in the martial world went.
Hae Eung-eung felt it anew.
She had been stuck at the 7-star realm.
Her stagnant training.
Progress blasted open in one go, reaching 10-star great success within a week.
'I really should have used internal energy.'
She had held back so far, worried about bothering those around her.
But playing sound arts with internal energy.
It contributed immensely to raising proficiency. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [You've done well so far.] "You're leaving already? You still have a few more days on your rental..." ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [I've reached the realm I aimed for.] The boss wore an expression full of regret and apology, then bowed his head in apology.
"I'm sorry about last time. I knew it was unjust, but I couldn't help..." ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [It's fine. It wasn't a situation for civilians to get involved in.] "Still, it weighs on my mind. I can't offer much help, but if you ever need anything in this industry, give me a call." ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [I will.] "No empty words. Yoon-joo and Hyun-jung, who debuted under Midas Entertainment? I scouted them myself. It'll definitely help with an entertainment debut."
The boss promised assistance to ease his guilt over not helping.
As she stepped out of the practice room entrance under his send-off, another person grabbed her.
"Uh, you don't need to worry too much about Myeongho Guild."
"?"
Park Ji-o, the shy guy she often ran into in the smoking room.
He said something unexpected.
"The entertainment industry isn't tied to just one neighborhood, and the business scale is much larger. If they apply pressure, they won't dare mess around recklessly." ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Thank you.] "N-no, no problem. This is, uh, just pure goodwill. Anyway, no bad intentions." ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [I'll gratefully accept that goodwill.] "A-anyway! If those Myeongho Guild bastards show up again, just give me, Park Ji-o, a call. I'll come running for you anytime, Hae Eung-eung!"
They had barely exchanged greetings while smoking.
Did he really need to go that far?
But no need to embarrass someone offering help.
Hae Eung-eung nodded readily,
and Park Ji-o grinned happily and returned to the practice room.
"Impressive."
On the sunlit ground.
A shadow suddenly fell over the blinding scene.
Jang Geon-young, holding out a parasol.
The person she'd spent the most private time with in the instrument practice room.
"To completely captivate that nasty-tempered Park Ji-o like this. Hehe." ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [I didn't do anything special.] "I know. That's what makes it impressive. The talent to shake hearts without even trying. In this industry, it might be the most standout skill?"
Hae Eung-eung agreed.
Exceptional beauty was a talent in itself for sound arts.
The Shadow Gate Lord had once said it early on.
Your face.
With your beauty.
You could aim for the highest realms in sound arts.
If she hadn't left Shadow Gate.
If she'd continued learning martial arts under the Shadow Gate Lord.
Maybe that future would have come to her.
'Sound arts end here.'
Hae Eung-eung resisted the temptation.
In the martial world, she wanted power to quickly kill enemies for revenge.
In the modern world, it was hard to use power affecting unspecified masses recklessly.
Last time was possible because Myeongho Guild chose a time with no crowds and controlled the street.
In other times or places, sound arts with many restrictions were hard to deploy.
'Not just sound arts—martial arts training will be on hold for a while too.' ⚔ REALM WINDOW ⚔ Realm: Third-Rate (Lv.100) Promotion Conditions:
—Defeat third-rate foes (48/100)
—Defeat second-rate foes (1/1)
—Reach realm level 50 (100/50)
—Acquire second-rate martial art (1/1)
—Fulfill 2+ of the above to promote anytime.
—However, realm auto-promotes if second-rate+ arts reach 5-star. She had learned all the targeted third-rate martial arts.
Since she'd come this far.
Hunting third-rate half-demons in Half-Demon Gorge would fulfill all promotion conditions.
And ascend to second-rate.
Second-rate introduced many useful martial arts.
Combat power would rise sharply compared to now.
And fewer occasions to need realm promotion.
"What the boss or Park Ji-o said they could do."
"?"
"I can do all that too."
A voice snapped her from her thoughts.
Jang Geon-young placed the parasol in Hae Eung-eung's hand.
"I'm a pretty skilled guitarist and composer myself. In terms of connections, I won't lose to anyone in a small practice room like this."
Hae Eung-eung nodded with indifferent eyes.
That unchanging face.
Jang Geon-young suppressed a bitter smile threatening to form.
"It's a shame, though."
"?"
"Not having anyone to play the instrument you worked so hard on with."
Now that she thought about it, yeah.
She'd diligently trained for two weeks to raise her realm.
But after today, she'd never use it again.
"I heard you can play as much as you want in the virtual world. If you want to play while gaming and need someone, call me."
More tempting than promises of debut help or guild influence.
As Hae Eung-eung's expression lightened,
Jang Geon-young finally relaxed.
'Games were the key after all. The keyword to win over this blunt person.'
Feeling she'd buttoned the last one right, Jang Geon-young parted ways reassured.
Leaving short connections from the practice room behind, Hae Eung-eung hastened her steps too.
Intensive training period.
End of four long weeks.
Time to check her achievements. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 2.
"You crazy bastards! Stop climbing already, stop! What the hell, simulating all day!!"
Eom Gil-dong, more serious than anyone about catching the Silent Swordmaster sim, with the most tries.
He miraculously renewed 1st place with godly play, but not even 3 minutes later, I Hye-chan and Lee Da-hye's names swiftly pushed him to 3rd. 💬 Comments — Viewer Lololololol — Viewer Moebius's ranking — Viewer 3-minute reign lolololol — Viewer My chest swells with pride — Viewer Why go this hard lololol He resolved himself.
This wouldn't do.
Because of those two swordmasters mad for rankings, he needed a time limit.
Thus, the update to
Silent Swordmaster Chase ver1.01
A new category, Hall of Fame, was added. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Time remaining until Hall of Fame Season 1 registration] [168:00:00] 168 hours. A week-long time limit.
Cutting unlimited life-grinding competition to one week—a conceptual patch!
Rankings grew even fiercer.
"I'll definitely beat I Hye-chan!"
"You provoked him for no reason. Why's he so persistent?"
The two streamers, unable to stop due to pride.
I Hye-chan and Lee Da-hye entered a final sprint for the remaining week.
Cutting sleep,
Canceling some content,
Ranking war intensifying like grinding souls, not lives!
Streamers who'd long given up top ranks turned it into a betting ring.
"Who'll take first?"
"I Hye-chan for sure. He's got the experience. Often won streamer sword tournaments."
"Da-hye's different this time. Fully awakened, better than usual. That 35-parry combo was legendary."
Playing Silent Swordmaster Chase naturally demanded Silent Swordmaster-level physicals.
I Hye-chan overcame with base skill.
Lee Da-hye with perfect parry tech against attacks.
"What about Eom Gil-dong?"
"Just a pitiful guy." 💬 Comments — Viewer Lololololol — Viewer Pitiful guy lololol — Viewer Don't ignore our Gil-dong! — Viewer Eom Gil-dan assemble lol — Viewer Trash in main stream, defending outside. Classic tsundere? — Viewer Only Eom Gil-dan can trash Gil-dong!! — Viewer Just bullying lol — Viewer Lol I Hye-chan 7, Lee Da-hye 3.
Many predicted I Hye-chan's win,
Few bet on Lee Da-hye.
Big or small difference,
Both top contenders.
Underdog bettors occasionally mentioned Eom Gil-dong, but...
"It was just yesterday! Why'd my body forget in one day!! Aaaah!!!"
Silent Swordmaster Chase, demanding extreme physicals, was too hard for brain-physical one-trick Eom Gil-dong.
Thus the week flew by like an arrow.
Less than an hour left till Hall of Fame.
Unlike Lee Da-hye straining for a last-minute upset, I Hye-chan lounged, watching her stream. ⚙ DONATION ⚙ [National Pride Swordsman I Hye-chan donated 10,000 won!] Looks like even I can't beat my record. Just gonna watch lol "Waiting with bated breath. I'll cut that high nose of yours." 💬 Comments — Viewer Not neck, nose lolol — Viewer ...Hye-chan's record is insane tho — Viewer We're doomed I Hye-chan had reason for confidence. ⚔ OVERALL RANKING ⚔ [RANK 01. K-Swordmaster I Hye-chan] Time: 92 sec / Water Ghosts Remaining: 7 / Boat: Heavy Damage Cause of Death: Sword broke mid-combat If sword durability hadn't run out,
Maybe even a clear—historic record.
Despite his words,
Lee Da-hye felt her skill's limit too.
Can't catch this. ⚔ OVERALL RANKING ⚔ [RANK 02. Full-Awakening 6-Star Hero Lee Da-hye] Time: 88 sec / Water Ghosts Remaining: 15 / Boat: Destroyed Cause of Death: Failed to block water ghosts' concentrated boat attack 67 sec, 32 ghosts, boat destroyed.
Huge improvement from day one.
But limits.
Sudden boat shakes.
Missed swings.
Slippery steps.
Controlling countless variables fighting 64 water ghosts on cramped boat.
Demands immense focus.
Effort alone reduces mistakes,
Increases one-shots.
Accidents happen every run,
Accumulate: boat breaks, counterattacked to death, weapon breaks.
Inevitable.
Worst: sync rate limit. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Sync Rate Limit: Max 40%] [Old Standard Capsule] How to squeeze such extreme efficiency at that sync rate?
I Hye-chan grasped the know-how,
Lee Da-hye couldn't even find a clue.
"Lost. Can't win this."
Lee Da-hye surrendered,
I Hye-chan's win became fact.
Cheers flooded the chat deciding winner and loser.
Then. 💬 Comments — Viewer ? — Viewer ? — Viewer Jackpot — Viewer Is this real? — Viewer Human victory denied fml Last-second reversal in the "over" match. ⚔ OVERALL RANKING ⚔ [RANK 01. K-Copy Ninja Eom Gil-dong 2495 tries] (Clear!) Time: 99 sec / Water Ghosts Remaining: 0 / Boat: Heavy Damage First ever Silent Swordmaster Chase clear!
Brain-physical copycat master Eom Gil-dong.
Finally caught the Silent Swordmaster.
"Whoa. Gotta admit this. Properly got one-shotted."
Even cocky I Hye-chan looked hit,
But knowing Eom Gil-dong's effort, admiration over frustration.
Congrats donos flew to
Eom Gil-dong's stream.
The sight viewers of I Hye-chan and Lee Da-hye faced:
Eom Gil-dong roaring at his audience.
"Left arm begone!! Right arm begone!! Rent begone!! I'm the man who conquered lust toooo!!" 💬 Comments — Viewer Lololololol — Viewer Eom Gil-dong's Left Arm (95th) Eom Gil-dong's Right Arm (74th) Eom Gil-dong's Rent (33rd) Eom Gil-dong's Lust (15th) — Viewer When did lust rank that high lololol — Viewer So scary for real lolol — Viewer Lust powering up real-time as Gil-dong got stronger lolol — Viewer Luxury supporting actor approved — Viewer Bro Gil-dong almost died lol Like streamer, like viewers.
Room full of crazies.
The two ranking participants smiled awkwardly,
Thinking it too scary to linger,
Planned dono and dip.
But 5 mins to end, mid-dono.
Another upset. ⚔ OVERALL RANKING ⚔ [RANK 01. Speedmaster] (CLEAR!) Time: 52 sec / Water Ghosts Remaining: 0 / Boat: Moderate Damage Top-tier Korean physical streamer,
Speedmaster of Swiftness.
Claimed 1st in one try.
Overwhelming score over Eom Gil-dong.
"Wtf is this"
"52 sec? Am I seeing wrong?"
"Aaaaaah!!!"
Three streamers and viewers in shock, confusion, extreme mental breakdown.
25k flooded Speedmaster's stream.
Silent Swordmaster Chase challenge.
Overpowered the protagonists in one go.
Ecosystem disruptor appears!
"Had some fun. Felt like whack-a-mole after ages. But too predictable, can't do much."
Even casual shocking line!
Watching that brazen face in half-burnout state, Eom Gil-dong muttered helplessly.
"Then what am I supposed to be?" 💬 Comments — Viewer Most 'predictable' plays lolol — Viewer Talent gap huh — Viewer This hurts so bad — Viewer Adults don't crash kids' games Eom Gil-dong, in life's worst condition—worse than early abusive stream days—lost all hope amid viewer curses.
Maybe drink.
Alcohol he'd abstained a year suddenly craved.
That day. ⚙ V-TUBE ALERT ⚙ [New V-Tube BJ] [Silent Swordmaster started streaming.] [Game – Half-Demon Gorge (Sim)] [Playtime – 00:52:11] [Stream time – 00:00:01] "Huh?"
As if consoling despairing Eom Gil-dong and ranking challengers,
Silent Swordmaster streamed after a month.
Intensive training period
Week 4's end announced. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇