Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: Asgard Broadcast
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Lee Soo-hyuk left Kindre's workshop and entered a cafe with Unhyang, where he examined his own hands.
From the outside, they didn't look much different from bare hands. Even someone with exceptional dynamic vision would have to stare intently to barely make out a faint blue glow.
'I wonder how she made it.'
There was no doubt that the gloves used the heart of thunder as a material, judging from the power emanating from them and the item's description.
But he couldn't even imagine what method could turn that stone into such thin, soft gloves.
It wasn't for nothing that she was called the greatest creator.
"Looks like you love them."
As he stared intently at the gloves, Unhyang, who was sitting across from him, spoke up.
"Her skills are top-notch, right?"
"Yeah, really."
"I knew you'd be satisfied."
Unhyang smiled contentedly but soon wore an awkward expression.
"Though it seems that friend was even more satisfied this time."
In a way, Kindre lived up to the rumors of being a madwoman.
But unlike the distorted rumors due to her fame as a demon sword maker, she was simply obsessed with handling materials and creating things.
To the point where she almost seemed pure in that regard.
For such a Kindre, working with rare and special materials was more valuable than anything else in the world.
"Then I'm glad."
"Are you going to test them right away like this?"
"Yes."
"Isn't it okay to try them on first? It's a new item you just got."
"No need."
He knew how to use the gloves the moment he put them on.
No, there wasn't even a need to know.
'The method is the same as Lightning.'
It was already an object all too familiar to him.
"Really? Then..."
Slurp-.
Unhyang took a sip of her freshly served coffee and shifted to business talk.
"This broadcast will be a test stream like always, right?"
"That's the plan."
"Content's set. So no need for long talks; you handle it as usual..."
Unhyang trailed off for a moment and gauged Soo-hyuk's reaction.
"When you turn on the broadcast today, it might get a bit noisy."
"About time."
Unhyang was startled by Soo-hyuk's response.
"I haven't even told you why it'll be noisy yet."
"Guild offers, right?"
It had been quite a while since various guilds started making approaches.
There were countless fish hungry for tasty bait, including massive ones like sharks or whales.
Blue Zone was one of them.
But things were different now compared to back then.
"About time they shit their pants. I'm growing faster than those bastards expected."
It was Soo-hyuk's size.
Up until the 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors, most players assumed Soo-hyuk's sprint would halt somewhere.
Run too fast, and you'd trip on a stone; sprint and you'd hit a wall eventually.
But Soo-hyuk's charge showed no signs of stopping.
And moreover.
"They'll be interested in the trial with Asgard as the backdrop too."
After the 5th floor, a player's value varied wildly depending on the trial assigned.
Unlike the 4th floor where everyone got the same trial, from then on, trials and rewards differed by individual traits.
Among them, trials involving divine beings were rare cases.
And Asgard was a place of immense prestige even among the gods.
"The symbolism of Lightning, the growth speed, a trial linked to Asgard. It'd be weirder not to pay attention."
"You... knew already."
"Who else would know my value if not me?"
"I thought you had no interest in this stuff. Your broadcasts too."
"...I just don't know that side well."
Soo-hyuk knew his own value well.
He simply kept his ears closed because he didn't need to, but he was certain there were more than one or two guilds coveting him.
"Actually, this-."
Swish-.
Unhyang showed him the screen of the kit she was looking at.
A packed inbox.
So many emails that one page wasn't enough; they spanned several pages.
"It's the broadcast agency's inbox. All of them are for you, of course."
"Blue Zone's there too."
"That's all you see? Murim Alliance, Panthera, Knights' Order—pretty much all the major guilds sent something."
Soo-hyuk read one of them. It offered an enormous salary and a guild recruitment proposal.
"Good."
Soo-hyuk nodded.
"Keep blocking them like always."
"You'll reject them all, right?"
"Yes."
It was obvious.
Soo-hyuk smiled as he looked at the broadcast agency's crammed inbox.
"That's how they'll keep nagging with sponsorships, right?"
John Tail looked uncomfortably at the guest who had come to see him.
Across the long oval table, Reinhardt was leisurely sipping tea.
He couldn't fathom why he'd come all this way.
"Fine tea."
"Glad you like it."
"Tea from the Murim World, I assume. Indeed, their tea beats Runeterra's."
It was unclear if he was insulting or praising Murim.
But John Tail felt a thorn in his words.
Did he hate Murim? Or was he just in a bad mood?
Feeling uneasy, John Tail asked.
"You're not here just to get tea... What brings you?"
Reinhardt was a famous ranker. Though he streamed, it was merely entertainment.
What could he possibly gain from Baehae Entertainment to make this long trip?
"I want to meet someone."
"Who..."
"Streamer Lee Soo-hyuk."
Chill-.
For a moment, John Tail sensed an odd threat from him.
"Where is he now?"
The opponent was Reinhardt.
Leader of Golden Castle. The great ranker who overcame the long mockery of "One-Sword Left" to earn the moniker Lion King.
The pressure he subtly exuded was hard to bear.
But John Tail had recently met an even greater giant.
'Reinhardt's ranking is much lower than Lee Won-jae's.'
Yet why?
The pressure facing him felt heavier from Reinhardt.
There was only one possible reason.
'...He has dangerous intentions.'
It was just intuition, but he was certain.
He hadn't come here for any soft reason or purpose.
Gulp-.
John Tail swallowed hard and opened his mouth.
"First, I have something to tell you."
"Go ahead."
"We sign contracts with streamers, take a commission, and generate profits. In return, Baehae Entertainment provides various conveniences and services to the streamers."
A question arose on Reinhardt's face. John Tail's answer didn't match the query.
"And?"
"Our role includes protecting the streamers."
Whoosh-.
The air changed.
Reinhardt closed his eyes tightly. Without hiding his killing intent, the room filled with his mana.
"For what... reason..."
John Tail continued, overcoming the stifling breath.
"Do you want to meet him?"
"My son is dead."
John Tail's eyes widened at the calm yet shocking statement.
The death of kin.
It was an explanation that instantly made sense of Reinhardt's attitude, which had felt like crossing a line.
"And I suspect he might be the culprit."
"Streamer Lee Soo-hyuk..."
"I hope it's a misunderstanding. But."
Crash-.
Reinhardt, eyes blazing like a beast's, crushed the teacup in his grip.
"If he is, I can't just let it go."
Once his rage erupted, Reinhardt didn't stop.
After shattering the cup, he stood, asking in a polite yet murderous tone.
"So tell me. Where is streamer Lee Soo-hyuk right now?"
John Tail's mind went blank.
He understood the situation. But he knew nothing about this matter.
Maybe Lee Soo-hyuk really was the culprit. But if so, there must have been a good reason.
But.
'Even if there was a reason, would he understand?'
No.
There was no reason in the world that could make one accept and move past the death of blood kin.
Reinhardt was set on revenge. There were only two ways to stop him.
Put a period on the revenge.
"For now..."
Or.
"Would you like to meet streamer Lee Soo-hyuk's manager?"
Stop him by force.
The first broadcast since the collab with Pak Soo-hyuk.
Standing before the trial portal, Soo-hyuk waited for viewers to gather.
'Wonder how many will show.'
This broadcast was perfect not just in hype, but even the title.
Asgard had only been name-dropped so far, a land of gods never revealed.
Trials featuring divine races happened, but players openly heading to the gods' land was extremely rare.
It would be harder not to draw attention.
For viewers.
And for guilds too.
In just seconds, viewers flooded in noisily.
Chats scrolled up so fast it was hard to read them all with the eyes.
Most were greetings, but some stood out, along with sponsorships.
'Knights' Order' has sponsored 10,000 points.
[Hello, streamer Lee Soo-hyuk. This is guild Knights' Order. Have you read the email we sent...?]
'World Tree' has sponsored 20,000 points.
[Guild World Tree here. Heard of us? If you're interested...]
'Heavenly Kingdom' has sponsored 10,000 points...
[...]
Sponsorships and messages from various guilds.
Amounts varied: from a minimum 10k points to 20k, 30k, and up to 50k.
Waiting for the sponsorships to die down, Soo-hyuk turned on his screen and began his intro.
"Lots of people to thank today. Seems like all guilds."
Soo-hyuk read out the names of the guilds that sponsored points one by one.
"Knights' Order, World Tree, Heavenly Kingdom... Yes, thanks for the sponsorships."
Most messages were similar. Long or short, the point was one.
Why haven't you read the email.
"You all sent a ton of emails."
Unhyang had shown him the emails right before coming here.
Guild recruitment offers from so many places it was hard to count.
But he had no intention of reading them all.
He never planned to join any guild to begin with.
"Too many to read them all. And it's still too early..."
But he couldn't just waste this opportunity.
"Can't help it though. You sponsored and all."
Grinning behind his mask.
Soo-hyuk recalled the emails filling the screen.
"So, I'll read all the emails from today's sponsors before the next broadcast."
In other words.
To get him to read your email, sponsor first.