Chapter 296
Chapter 296
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 296
Chapter Title: Safe Asset's Wager
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Unhyang kept an eye on the chat scrolling by in real time.
It was to shut down any messages disrupting the mood, but overall, the vibe was pretty good.
'Everyone's locked in and watching.'
There were some baffling ones like "Where's He-something?" or "Daegu Baldy's the best He-whatever," but that was fine. If anything, it showed how immersed the viewers were in the stream.
Still, there was one thing bothering her.
'The difficulty... it's ramping up way too high, isn't it?'
Even telling him to take down the Hydra had seemed insanely tough.
Luckily, it had one fewer head, and Soo-hyuk's skills were top-tier, so he'd pulled it off.
'But this? This is straight-up impossible.'
At first, it seemed manageable. Zeus was dead, and it was a fight to claim the lightning's next master. No need to clash with Olympus outright to steal it.
But now, conflict with Olympus was inevitable. If Heracles was telling the truth, they had zero intention of handing lightning to a human.
To them, Soo-hyuk was just an enemy gunning for Olympus's throne.
"Ugh. This won't be easy. Maybe even..."
"......"
"Clementine."
"......"
"Clementine?"
"Hic-."
Hic?
A weird sound came from Clementine, who had her head bowed low.
And moments later, she lifted her face—makeup smeared—and burst into tears.
"Hic, waaah-."
"C-Clémentine! What's wrong?"
"It's just... hic... so sad! Waaah! Heracles... huuung."
The viewers weren't the only ones glued to the broadcast. Clementine here was more invested than anyone.
Tap, tap-tap-.
And thanks to that.
Her priceless fingers started flying across the keyboard.
"Sniff. What were you saying earlier?"
"Huh? Oh, right. This trial might be a bit tough."
"Right? I think so too."
Clementine, who'd been pondering, pouted and asked, "Wanna see something magical?"
"Magical?"
"Yeah. The surefire spell to get streamer Lee Soo-hyuk through the trial."
Unhyang looked puzzled. Before entering, maybe lending a divine item. But now? Even with one, passing seemed impossible. Plus, Soo-hyuk had already started. No way for outsiders to interfere.
"Watch closely."
Clementine rummaged in her pocket with a pouty face. Unlike regular players, she carried an extra kit. Tap, tap, tap-tap-.
She hammered away at it, and...
A mission from a familiar viewer popped up.
Safe Asset.
He was the biggest whale in Soo-hyuk's streams—and the most popular viewer.
Unhyang glanced at Clementine's profile. Tears gone, she was grinning mischievously.
"Gonna snag a win this time, huh."
Safe Asset's popularity was as strong as ever.
Riding the Heavenly Horse back to Olympus, Soo-hyuk spun the mic around and asked,
"Wallet not busted yet?"
"Me?"
Safe Asset's missions were nothing new. He always dangled them on impossible-looking challenges.
But this one felt different somehow.
'A bit late to the party.'
Normally, he'd show up before the Hydra fight. Today, he timed it later, almost like he was aware of his win rate.
And most glaring: the payout.
'One million points.'
Enough to make most streamers' eyes pop. No matter the difficulty, dropping that much on a mission was unheard of.
Soo-hyuk had always wondered about this viewer's identity.
Today, though, he had a hunch.
'Is Safe Asset... Clementine?'
It made sense. She'd watched forever without donating? Nah.
If she was Safe Asset, the huge tips and insane missions clicked perfectly.
Maybe she'd been testing him all along with those impossible challenges under that name.
But then...
Clementine doubled Safe Asset's bounty.
'Guess not.'
If it was her, was she playing both sides solo?
He'd have to finish the trial and ask. For now, though, it was welcome news.
"Thanks in advance for the mission pot, Chairmen."
To viewers unaware of the leaking points, Soo-hyuk looked like an instant billionaire.
Misunderstanding aside, he couldn't deny this stream was a golden opportunity.
'Might rack it up faster than I thought.'
Next Selfish Sacrifice level needed over 25 million points. He'd wondered how long it'd take, but this stream alone could net at least 5 million.
Plus extra income and Clementine's commission.
Soo-hyuk was glad he'd gone streamer.
As he chatted happily with viewers over Safe Asset and Clementine's missions...
"...That startled me."
Thor, silent since mounting the Heavenly Horse, finally spoke after a long pause.
His voice trembled slightly—not sudden, but hard-won words.
"What?"
"Honestly? Didn't think you'd win. Was ready to jump in anytime."
Even if it botched Hera's mission, Thor wasn't about to let Soo-hyuk die.
But the outcome defied expectations. Soo-hyuk solo'd the Hydra for real.
"Guess I misjudged you. When'd you get that strong? Or... were you always?"
Thor hesitated, then averted his eyes before continuing.
"...I think I get why gods fear humans so much now."
That's why he'd hesitated.
Saying that must've been tough.
"Think I'll be an enemy?"
"Not worried about you."
Thor shook his head.
"Worried about what's inside you."
"The thunder?"
"That included. Everything."
Thor had been devoured by thunder once before. The rationality-lost monster it made didn't distinguish friend from foe.
Thor wasn't fretting Soo-hyuk's growth. He feared him becoming an uncontrollable monster like his past self.
"I think I know why Zeus died. He didn't wanna end up like me."
The time some unknown force possessed him, stripping his mind, turning him into an untamable beast.
Thor's biggest regret recalling that wasn't failing to master thunder.
"I had a chance before becoming that monster. To end it myself."
His pained expression screamed it: Why hadn't he mustered the courage sooner? He could've stopped before that fate.
Unnecessary self-blame. But Soo-hyuk neither comforted nor condemned him.
Thor had something else to say.
"Don't worry."
Soo-hyuk didn't promise he wouldn't become a monster like Thor.
That was beyond promises. He didn't fully grasp lightning's depths yet.
So the only promise now was one.
"I won't make regrets like yours."
Meaning, before thunder consumed him into a monster, he'd make Zeus's choice.
Soo-hyuk recalled the dream after the showdown.
Countless corpses underfoot, including Si-woo, Ye-ryeong, Unhyang, and his friends.
Maybe a glimpse of the future. Before it happened, he was resolved to decide.
"That so?"
Thor gave a bitter smile, bowing his head.
"Sorry. For pushing my failure onto you."
"Pushing? It's my choice."
Kihihihiing-!
Then, the Heavenly Horse charging to Olympus reared up with a whinny.
Hermes was flying back.
"Back again~!"
Hermes, zipping on his sandals, was overly cheeky.
Thor glared furiously, but a jab to his side snapped his head around.
Soo-hyuk's elbow met Thor's eyes.
"What's up?"
"They don't know we met Heracles."
At Soo-hyuk's cue, Thor relaxed his glare.
Right. No need to look hostile. They were still deceiving that side.
"Mind a tough favor?"
"Favor?"
Thor, puzzled, nodded.
"Anything. If I can, I'll do it."
"Not a mouth-only kind..."
Soo-hyuk pulled out the golden plaque from his bosom.
Asgard's mark. Given once a millennium to Odin's approved, a priceless treasure.
Its bearer could make one request to Asgard.
"Gonna use this now."