Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: The Purpose of Streaming
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"......"
Unhyang's question brought Lee Soo-hyuk's words to a halt.
The purpose of becoming a streamer.
On a surface level, it was money. After all, he needed to earn points to level up Selfish Sacrifice and overcome Lightning's drawbacks.
Of course.
'That's not what she's asking.'
Soo-hyuk stared straight into Unhyang's eyes as she posed the question.
She was a player who had reached a considerable realm.
Perhaps she had even pierced through the Twelve Principal Meridians and achieved penetration of the Conception and Governor Vessels.
So she would know.
Just how grueling, painful, and difficult what he had accomplished was.
But.
"It's because of the money."
He couldn't answer her honestly as she intended.
How could he say it? That he was the real Lee Soo-hyuk reincarnated.
Even if she believed him, it was something he couldn't reveal.
This past had to stay hidden. That way, he could keep sharpening his blade for longer.
"There's no other reason."
"Ah......"
Unhyang let out a small sigh at his response and nodded.
"Thanks for answering. I shouldn't have asked something so pointless."
Her expression wasn't entirely satisfied.
But fortunately, Unhyang didn't press further. As she had said herself, it wasn't something a manager should ask a streamer.
The topic shifted back to business.
"The streamer Hawk's Eye is with our Baehae Entertainment. He's been contracted for over five years—a real veteran."
With that, Unhyang handed over a tablet.
"He's got a solid fanbase as a review content streamer."
"His eyes are sharp, for sure."
Rustle-.
The documents on the tablet contained personal details and broadcast info on Hawk's Eye.
His main content was reviews and feedback.
He had already reviewed Soo-hyuk twice.
"The revenue from this broadcast will be split evenly."
"Revenue?"
"Yes. Ads, donations, videos—all of it included."
"For real?"
Soo-hyuk's eyes sparkled.
Sharing points? No reason to refuse. He was tight on points lately anyway.
'After leveling Selfish Sacrifice, I'll have barely 120 left.'
Free money.
He needed points now, even if it meant going bald.
"Ooh......"
"I-Is it that good?"
Unhyang looked stunned at Soo-hyuk nodding without a second thought.
His enthusiasm exceeded expectations—it was almost overwhelming.
'Is it really just about the money?'
She hadn't thought so at first, but his reaction was making her doubt.
The Soo-hyuk before her was the picture of money madness.
Nothing less than a money-crazed bastard.
"Remember when I called it a gift earlier?"
"Yes."
"This broadcast isn't the actual gift. It's more like a preview......"
Unhyang relayed the proposal from John Tail.
"How about a collab with him?"
Finishing the talk, Unhyang returned to her dorm.
Trudge, trudge.
She dragged her exhausted body to bed and flopped down.
Thud-.
She buried her face in the pillow.
Soo-hyuk's words echoed in her mind.
"It's because of the money."
Money.
Soo-hyuk hadn't sugarcoated his reason for streaming.
Behind the mask covering his face.
Only his eyes were visible.
But seeing those eyes only strengthened Unhyang's conviction.
Contrary to his words.
His reason for streaming wasn't just money.
"He's so damn cool......"
Pow, pow pow-.
Bang-!
Punching the pillow, she lost control of her strength, and the stuffing burst out.
Feathers floated in the air. But her mind was too full of Lee Soo-hyuk to care.
'No way it's just that.'
She knew better than anyone how agonizing piercing the Twelve Principal Meridians was.
And doing it in the heart of scorching lightning, hot enough to melt rocks? While channeling that mana through the meridians?
She was certain she couldn't last even a minute.
Yet.
'He endured it. With sheer willpower.'
No matter how good money was, still.
The eyes behind the mask on stream weren't those of someone chasing cash.
And yet.
"There's no other reason."
He had gone out of his way to shut down the truth.
'He doesn't want to talk about it.'
Like the mask hiding his face, she sensed he had countless secrets.
But secrets arise from things one doesn't want to share.
So.
"I won't pry."
Burying her face in the exploded pillow, she grinned.
"I'm his manager."
They were manager and streamer.
A manager's role included protecting the streamer's privacy.
What was the point of invading it now?
Unless one day.
If Soo-hyuk ever opened up to her.
Unhyang snapped back to reality and sat up.
Then jolted.
"Aaaah! What the hell!"
Looking around, she screamed.
The room was a mess of pillow fluff everywhere.
Click-.
Like Unhyang, Soo-hyuk returned to his dorm and removed his mask.
His reflection in the bedside mirror showed black hair, but a completely different face.
'What am I even hiding?'
He had grown too used to the mask over the years.
Truth be told, there was no need to hide from Unhyang either.
Even if the world saw streamer Lee Soo-hyuk's face right now, no real problem would arise.
This thin metal wasn't his true mask.
"It's not just about the money, right?"
For some reason, her words lingered in his head.
Money.
On the surface, yes—that was why he streamed.
This world's currency was points, and successful streamers raked them in.
But.
If he answered honestly, what was his ultimate goal?
Revenge? Or finding his surviving friends?
Questions swirled in his mind.
Unable to settle on one, his thoughts drifted.
Then, suddenly.
"Both......"
He realized he didn't have to choose.
Min-jae, Su-hun, Ji-young.
Three friends who died before his eyes.
No telling how many of the other four survived.
He just vaguely hoped Si-woo might still be out there.
He wouldn't let their deaths slide.
He wouldn't pick one or the other.
He had to achieve both.
And for that.
He needed greater Lightning, wielded more perfectly.
"Ugh......"
It hurt his heart.
"My points......"
A huge chunk gone in one go.
Soo-hyuk squeezed his eyes shut at the mere 120 left.
If Baehae Entertainment hadn't provided the dorm, he'd be homeless right now.
Of course, thanks to that.
【 Selfish Sacrifice 】
# Category:Skill
# Rank:C
# LV:4
# Effect:Suppresses backlash from skills and items that directly harm the user's body.
# Upgrade:Skill rank and level can be raised using points.
# Required Points:80,000p
The skill level of Selfish Sacrifice could rise one more time.
'Now C-rank.'
The rank was still low.
But for this skill, rank mattered less.
It was designed to support other skills, hence the lower rating.
Selfish Sacrifice's suppression outdid even holy swords.
'Collab's tomorrow, right?'
The collab venue was on the 3rd floor.
Nothing left on the 2nd but reward settlement.
He could redo the trial and head up anytime.
"Time to prep the stream."
Tonight's broadcast would be short.
The heart of the 4th floor.
The city center, packed with towering buildings.
Inside a structure clad in blue glass walls, a man peered at a large monitor.
"Truth is, I don't have much to say about this part. So I'll keep it short."
Streamer Hawk's Eye.
It was his broadcast.
"So what the hell is this guy?"
"Hawk's Eye. A name meaning 'eyes like a hawk,' with an average of 8,000 viewers."
"Streamers? Those clowns?"
Flick-.
A subordinate corrected the sneering man's words.
"We can't dismiss them as mere clowns. Consider their market influence and potential."
"Still, aren't they just washed-up players?"
"That's true, but lately, rankers like Reinhardt have been doing it for fun."
"That's just for kicks. Fun cooking doesn't make you a chef."
Not wrong.
The man only mocked full-time streamers.
He didn't disdain broadcasting itself.
Rumble-!
Hawk's Eye's stream featured the streamer Lee Soo-hyuk.
The man's eyes changed at the lightning spear he unleashed.
"Oho-."
Screech-.
He straightened up from his half-reclined chair.
"Gotta give credit there. Impressive."
"You think so?"
"Didn't even blink. Know what Blue Eyes' spear knight Choi Su-hun said? 'Not taking your eyes off is the start of javelin throwing.'"
"You remember stuff like that, Mr. Cha Min-woo?"
"Of course."
The man, Cha Min-woo, shrugged proudly.
"Blue Eyes was the best. Not just Lee Soo-hyuk—all the members."
Blue Eyes.
A small guild of eight, but known to all.
Overshadowed by Lee Soo-hyuk, but every member was top-tier.
Of course.
"It's just Lee Soo-hyuk. What more needs saying?"
No denying he was the pinnacle.
"What the fuck? That moron."
Cha Min-woo's brow furrowed.
"Attaching his name to one good throw?"
"Streamers' biggest issue. They'll do anything for buzz."
"Tch."
Clicking his tongue, Cha Min-woo turned off the screen and asked.
"So what? Why show me this?"
"Not me—Guild Master Kim Il-su told me to."
"Il-su hyung?"
Kim Il-su.
Blue Zone's guild master, the player Cha Min-woo respected most.
And once.
A fellow Blue Eyes member with Lee Soo-hyuk.
"Lightning was Blue Eyes' symbol, right? And Blue Eyes is Blue Zone's predecessor."
Cha Min-woo's eyes lit up at the explanation.
"Recruit him?"
"Yes."
The subordinate nodded, offering a bag stuffed with points converted to currency.
"Budget's generous. Bring him in."