Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Star Potential
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John Tail rested his chin on his hand, staring at the screen in front of him.
The trial had just ended, and Soo-hyuk had fainted, losing consciousness. The chat exploded once again at the sight of the collapsed streamer.
This was already the second time.
The first had been when he'd pushed too hard during the trial to obtain Lightning.
Back then, Lee Soo-hyuk had been unconscious for nearly half a day.
Reckless.
John's brow furrowed slightly.
Not good...
There was no doubt he was an exceptional Player.
In terms of raw talent alone, he could even be compared to the real Lee Soo-hyuk.
But John was the team leader of a management agency that scouted streamers.
More Player than streamer.
Pro streamers never pulled stunts like this mid-broadcast.
If they did and ended up fainting like this, they'd ruin the entire stream.
Viewers hated boredom. And there weren't many who'd wait around for a fainted Player.
In cases like this, a streamer's score naturally took a hit.
Ignoring the entertainment value of the broadcast to focus on trial results wasn't the mark of any pro streamer John knew.
"Ugh..."
At that moment, the unconscious Lee Soo-hyuk stirred awake.
Good. John had been worried it might drag on again this time.
"Hmm."
Tap, tap.
John Tail, watching the broadcast, drummed his fingers on the desk out of habit.
This guy definitely isn't cut out for streaming.
His thoughts deepened.
He couldn't quite gauge this streamer's true value.
As a Player: 100 points.
As a streamer: 0 points.
Lee Soo-hyuk wasn't paying the slightest attention to the broadcast, charging headlong into reckless trials.
And yet...
Somehow, I feel like he'll make it.
His instincts as a manager were telling him so.
This kid was the real deal. Even if his streaming skills were a flat zero, he'd succeed in the end.
A brilliant star representing the industry.
One of Baehae Entertainment's rare top-tier streamers.
Bzzz-
His kit vibrated.
[Caller: Hawk's Eye]
It was Hawk's Eye calling.
"Yeah, what's up?"
"Bro, you free to talk?"
"Yeah. I was just watching Soo-hyuk's stream anyway."
Lately, John Tail and Hawk's Eye shared a common interest: Lee Soo-hyuk.
A beginner Player who'd acquired Lightning on his second day of streaming.
How far could he climb as a streamer?
"You saw it too, right? Man, holy shit."
"Saw what? Him passing the trial? Why the overreaction?"
A question mark popped up in John Tail's mind.
He'd watched Soo-hyuk's trial on the broadcast just moments ago.
A hidden stage trial. Legendary. A space filled with lightning. It had looked somewhat plain.
The one saving grace was how real Soo-hyuk's reactions were during the trial.
Biting his lips, blood trickling from under his mask as he staggered forward—it was utterly desperate.
But.
Is that such a big deal?
His impression boiled down to: It must've been tougher than it looked.
Viewers who hadn't taken the trial themselves couldn't grasp any deeper meaning.
"You saw it that way too? Yeah, thought so. Right? Exactly. Most people will think the same."
"Calm down and explain properly."
"Forget it. What's the point talking to a blind old-timer like you?"
Crackle-
A vein bulged on John Tail's forehead.
He'd called first, so why the insult? He was dumbfounded.
"Then why'd you call?"
"To say you were right. This guy's gonna be a star. Whether as a Player or a streamer."
"Yeah? I was actually feeling a bit disappointed."
John shared his thoughts.
And then.
"That's why."
"Huh?"
"Streamer body? Nah, more like the ideal form for Players. Beyond body—pure ideal talent."
At that point, realization dawned, and John Tail's eyes sparkled.
"The real Lee Soo-hyuk we're all imagining. That's the core of this stream, isn't it?"
Crunch-!
The building's roof collapsed. At the same time, the bodies of soldiers fleeing the giant were pulverized into bloody chunks.
"R-Run away!"
"Flee! Farther!"
"Sh...it-!"
Thud, thud.
With every step, the village's terrain warped.
A true Giant. Compared to this thing, all the other giants they'd feared before were mere dwarfs.
"I... I... told you... didn't I?"
A survivor from another village muttered.
"Y-You guys... d-don't know... anything."
He curled up in the middle of the battlefield, awaiting the death approaching.
Pelius gritted his teeth.
No time for backtalk. To survive, they had to fight or flee—one or the other.
Dale.
Crunch.
Pelius gazed at Dale, collapsed on the ground, covered in blood.
It had happened in an instant.
The time from Dale charging the Giant to him slumping lifelessly.
No chance to even swing his sword properly—Dale was smeared by the Giant's descending fist.
No way to win.
The outsider who'd left to find Lightning.
Even if he returned, what sharp solution could he bring?
...No.
Facing the Giant directly, even that hope faded.
Escape route...
He scanned outside the village.
The darkening sky.
Sunset had made escape conditions better.
Indeed, many had already fled. All thinking the same.
But.
They're blocking it all.
Giants encircling the village.
Pelius had thought them brainless brutes until now. Most giants only knew how to smash.
Yet now.
Those same creatures surrounded the village, blocking any escape—like trained soldiers.
"Damn giant bastards..."
The resolve to gather last forces for a final stand had long vanished.
Up close, it was no opponent they could beat.
This was a calamity.
Beyond human power to handle.
Fleeing was best, and even that would take a miracle.
"Paidal..."
Grrr-
Human words spilled from the Giant's mouth.
"Who killed my son?"
Its red eyes gleamed ferociously. Just meeting them choked the breath, but it sparked a faint hope.
It's seeking vengeance for its son.
For some reason, it knew human speech.
Dialogue was possible.
Meaning they could buy time somehow.
"I know!"
Pelius bellowed the loudest shout of his life.
"Who killed your son!"
Grr.
The Giant's gaze turned to Pelius.
Success.
He'd drawn its attention.
As expected, it could understand their words.
The benefactor isn't in the village anyway.
No telling when the departed outsider would return.
Counting on him in this situation was unrealistic.
Too far to round-trip the mountain in this time. Then...
Pelius's eyes flicked toward Millennium Mountain—where Lightning slept—then back.
"You know?"
"Yes!"
"Who? Who killed Paidal."
Paidal.
First time hearing the name, but he knew who.
The leader of the Giant Tribe slain by the outsider.
It referred to that one.
"It was..."
"Me, you damn giant!"
Whoosh-
Someone leaped high, stepping on the Giant's body.
An elderly knight, one arm crushed, body drenched in blood.
Dale targeted the nape of the Giant's neck.
Stab-
A blue-mana-infused sword pierced the Giant's nape.
The final strike of an old knight who'd gripped a sword his whole life.
A one-hit kill born of unyielding will to pierce through.
The moment it seemed the sword pierced the nape.
Crack-!
Like swatting a mosquito, it clutched its nape—along with Dale.
Dale, eyes rolled back, plummeted. Splat. The Giant scratched its nape.
As if itchy.
"No way."
Swish.
The Giant turned, pinching Dale between thumb and forefinger, lifting him.
"No way Paidal fell to a bug like this human."
Muttering with certainty, it turned back to Pelius.
"Speak. Who killed my son."
Dale had interrupted suddenly, but the answer was ready.
"Over there!"
Whoosh.
He pointed his sword tip in a direction.
And the direction Pelius indicated.
Was the exact opposite of the mountain Soo-hyuk had headed toward.
"The human who killed your son went that way! To gain the power to kill you all!"
Fall for it, please. Go that way.
This Giant had appeared suddenly to avenge its son.
Surely this would work. It had to.
This was their last hope.
But.
"A lie."
Heh heh.
The Giant's lips curled up.
Snickering.
It glanced in the pointed direction, then lost interest.
"What's the lie in your words? That the human who killed my son isn't here? Or that pathetic blade's direction?"
It was certain. Pelius was lying.
Pelius, hoping for even a slight waver despite the rejection, stumbled back in confusion.
How...
He needed to buy time.
Hold its attention so others could flee.
Even one escaping to continue resistance elsewhere—it had to happen.
Yet.
Even a lie invoking his benefactor's name failed.
Thud.
The Giant dropped Dale from its hand.
Like discarding a broken toy.
Its eyes turned fiercely to the next toy: Pelius.
"Doesn't matter. You'll talk soon enough..."
Whoosh-
That was then.
The exact opposite of Pelius's pointed direction.
From the upper reaches of Millennium Mountain, a light rose like the sun, illuminating the village trampled by Giants.
Dawn? Already?
Impossible.
Sunset had been moments ago. No matter the chaos, night couldn't turn to day that fast.
Pelius whipped his head around.
The instant he visually confirmed the mountaintop.
"W-What is that?"
His eyes widened at the unbelievable sight, and he staggered back.
Crackle, crackle-!
A massive yellow lightning pillar shooting into the sky.
Its light bathed the village like a rising sun.
And at that same moment.
The Giant's lips curled up at the identical sight.
"It's you."
BOOM-!
Thunder roared across the heavens.
Thud.
The Giant's foot moved.
"Who killed my son."
Reincarnator's Streaming