Chapter 288
Chapter 288
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 288
Chapter Title: The Stream Resumes
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The next day, in front of the trial grounds.
Lee Soo-hyuk and Unhyang waited for Clementine. The broadcast was set to kick off by introducing her and running the ad.
Unhyang kept glancing around in front of the trial grounds, as if searching for someone.
"What's up?"
"Where's Hyomin?"
She must have noticed Hyomin had been missing lately.
"She didn't already head into the trial, did she?"
"Spot on. She went in ages ago. Said she couldn't waste a single day."
Was it thanks to Je-un-hak's help? Hyomin had recovered her strength faster than expected.
Without even a moment to savor their reunion, she'd charged straight into the trial. She'd been stuck on the 8th floor, sleeping off her exhaustion after taking down the Hydra.
Lee Soo-hyuk wasn't worried about her. He trusted her skills and her resolve.
Besides, even lingering on the 8th floor, she was no ordinary player—she'd fought alongside the Guardians.
"We'll meet up inside. She'll probably lap me and reach the top first."
Unhyang could tell he meant every word.
And right on cue, the carriage carrying Clementine pulled up.
"Ah, there you are."
"Time for us to get ready too."
It had been a while since their last stream. Maybe that's why everything felt awkwardly nerve-wracking.
Clementine hopped down from the carriage and waved her arms.
"Soo-hyuk! Manager!"
She was still as bright as ever. The only change was in the way Lee Soo-hyuk now looked at her.
His gaze flicked briefly to the Black Soul Ring on her finger.
"Soo-hyuk."
"Yeah?"
"Sweetness is practically dripping from your eyes."
Unhyang's words snapped his expression back to stern resolve.
The three, reuniting after days apart, exchanged brief greetings. Once the stream prep was complete, Unhyang asked one final time.
"You sure you're okay with this?"
Clementine smiled knowingly at the loaded question.
"Doesn't bother me at all."
"Alright then..."
Unhyang nodded.
"Stream starting now."
The familiar notification rang out after so long.
Instantly, countless viewers who'd been waiting flooded the room.
Viewership shot past 100,000 the moment the stream went live.
An unprecedented number. In terms of sheer hype, it dwarfed even the time High Els appeared—by several multiples.
It meant the recent events had drawn massive interest to streamer Lee Soo-hyuk.
As viewers climbed from 100k to 200k, then 300k...
The blacked-out screen finally lit up.
"Suha. Long time no see."
Lee Soo-hyuk chuckled sheepishly at the rapid-fire chat.
"No worries. I'm not ghosting. Streams will keep coming."
Lee Soo-hyuk nodded.
"Yeah. That was me."
He had no intention of denying it from the start.
Even with the mask, he wasn't planning to lurk in the shadows. If anyone had to, it was the sinners like Kim Il-su—not them.
Lee Soo-hyuk, Si-woo, Ye-ryeong, and Hyomin.
They would live in the light, not darkness. Blind revenge against the world was a fool's errand they wanted no part in.
It would destroy them and tarnish the honor of their fallen comrades.
"I can't spill all the details right now. But one thing I can say for sure."
To lend weight to his words, he gave a firm timeline.
"By the end of next year's Inter-World Clash, you'll all understand. Everything you've gotten wrong."
As expected, the chat exploded.
All sorts of wild speculations poured in—including absurd fanfic like Lee Soo-hyuk faking his death.
The spark had caught, but thankfully, the overall reaction wasn't as hostile as feared.
'Good on this front.'
There was some antagonism, sure.
But it wasn't the inferno he'd braced for.
Seeing Si-woo and Ye-ryeong with him helped big time. Their presence alone lent legitimacy.
Between their actions and his words, viewers started suspecting there was more to the story they didn't know.
And the streamer gig played into it too.
In the streaming world, "justice" boiled down to "entertainment." Unless it was pure evil like the Heavenly Demon, viewers chased the fun.
And drama like this? Peak viewer catnip.
'No slacking off.'
This wasn't forgiveness. Viewers weren't judges or juries.
They were just viewers. Their judgment on him was on hold—for now.
His future actions could sway them any which way.
Perfect timing—a sponsorship that fit right in.
Time to pivot from the heavy talk.
Lee Soo-hyuk's eyes shifted to Clementine. He introduced her.
"Oh right, you saw the title and wondered. Meet today's guest."
"Ta-da!"
Clementine bounded forward at his cue.
She appeared in a blink. Even Lee Soo-hyuk was caught off guard—not just the viewers.
Predictably, tons recognized Clementine. Known for hoarding the most points in the Tower, she was arguably more famous to the masses.
"When'd you get here?"
"This? Surprised ya, huh?"
She grinned mischievously and tapped the ring next to her Black Soul Ring.
"Blink Ring. Heard of it?"
"Blink Ring?"
"Yep. Lets you use Blink twice a day. Not divine tier, but it's Legendary."
Players went nuts for good gear. Legendary items? Even top rankers rarely laid eyes on them.
Yet Clementine had them stacked on every finger.
"How much for that one?"
"Uh... price is a secret..."
"Tell me later."
He teased the curiosity before smoothly shifting gears.
"You agreed to guest and run an ad for me, right?"
"Yep. My company's dropping new kits. Time to promo and give away some prizes to viewers."
With that, she launched into the prepped pitch.
The new kit's controls and features debuted here first.
Her appearing on his stream carried huge positive weight.
Lee Soo-hyuk was at odds with Blue Zone and Murim right now.
Her presence signaled she didn't see him as the villain.
Sure enough, post-Clementine, the chat lightened up big time.
"Alright everyone, show some love for the Clemo 13 series!"
Ad done, she waved to the viewers. Lee Soo-hyuk checked in.
"All set?"
"Yep, that's it."
"Then..."
"..."
"..."
Awkward silence hit. No script meant clunky flow.
He glanced at Unhyang.
Her eyes said: What's next?
"What're you doing? Time for the trial, Soo-hyuk."
The sudden twist threw him.
"Already?"
"Already? You should've gone in ages ago."
"But with a guest here..."
"Oh, didn't mention?"
Unhyang, who'd scripted the content with Clementine, beamed.
"Today's theme is 'Money Solves Everything'."
"Money Solves Everything?"
"Yep. Clementine will keep dropping missions from here. Until the stream ends."
His visible eyes sparkled behind the mask.
No one forgot his money-printing rep. A guest like Clementine fit his gimmick perfectly—ironically perfect.
"C'mon, get in there. Gotta make that cash."
Unhyang practically shoved him—actually shoved his back.
Stumbling in, Lee Soo-hyuk entered the trial grounds. Brilliant light enveloped him, then he vanished completely.
Whoooosh—.
A refreshing breeze hit first as he opened his eyes.
He recalled the last trial: learning thundercloud creation from Tor, mastering it—that was where it ended.
"Awake?"
Tor's voice came before he'd even sat up.
He'd been watching closely.
Tor's back filled his view. They were riding in a carriage together.
Surveying the spacious carriage led by a Heavenly Horse, he asked.
"What's this?"
"Carriage. Made it quick since you were out cold."
The chat was way more chaotic than usual.
Mix of loyal fans and drama newbies.
Stream was key, but trial first.
"How long was I out?"
"Five days. Had me worried. Thought it'd drag on forever."
Five days wasn't bad—time here flowed slower.
They were en route to Olympus anyway. No real setback.
"Farther than I thought. Even on a Heavenly Horse, this long?"
The Heavenly Horse's speed was insane. This one? Several times faster than average.
Yet still not there.
He knew Olympus was distant, but this felt off.
Then.
"We're already there."
Tor's words made him realize—the Heavenly Horse wasn't moving.
Neither was the carriage. Just hovering in the sky.
Tor grinned and stepped aside.
"Look."
The vast landscape ahead came into view, previously blocked by his bulk.
A colossal mountain piercing the clouds, soaring to the heavens.
Home to the final piece of lightning.
"Olympus."
