Chapter 391
Chapter 391
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 391
Chapter Title: The Mask Comes Off
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In response to Kim Il-su's words, Si-woo and Ye-ryeong exchanged remarks in disinterested tones.
"That bastard's acting is top-notch."
"He's spent his whole life acting. It's probably more his style than swinging a sword."
"Damn, we should've slashed his face before Soo-hyuk got here."
"Even if we did, this is a trial ground. No scars would stick."
"Right. Ugh, so unfair."
Ye-ryeong stuck out her lower lip in disdain, making Kim Il-su's face twitch.
Even in this moment, they were messing around?
He must find their lack of tension the most uncomfortable. It made him look less confident by comparison.
"What are you doing? I told you to take off the mask."
"Taking it off or not, what's the difference?"
"Why? Not confident?"
"No. It just doesn't matter. Who's here that knows my face anyway?"
Kim Il-su's lips curled up at Soo-hyuk's response.
"Well. To my ears, that sounds like a lack of confidence..."
That was when it happened.
Click-.
The clasp holding the mask in place came undone. The mask, firmly attached to Soo-hyuk's face, slid smoothly downward.
Soo-hyuk's face was revealed. Si-woo and Ye-ryeong were visibly startled, not expecting him to remove it so easily.
The viewers' reactions to Soo-hyuk's revealed face were all over the place.
Some judged his looks, others were just surprised by the unfamiliar face.
But one common thread: no one expected to see Lee Soo-hyuk's face here.
Kim Il-su's eyes darkened at Soo-hyuk's casual mask removal, a sneer forming on his lips.
"As expected. No way it would be that easy."
He already knew Soo-hyuk's face. It held no mystery for him anymore.
This was just the first time on stream.
"It's fake after all."
Kim Il-su declared confidently.
"Would the real Soo-hyuk take off his mask so easily? Ridiculous. Removing it is proof you're the fake."
It sounded plausible.
Indeed, Lee Soo-hyuk had never removed his mask in public before.
Of course, he was ready with counterarguments either way.
If no removal, he'd call it proof of being fake for hiding the face. If removed, this claim.
He'd probably prepared both from the start.
"You're not Soo-hyuk."
"Because I removed the mask?"
While the two conversed, the Blue Zone rankers held back, doing nothing.
They were curious too.
Whose words were true? What was the reality?
Si-woo, Ye-ryeong, even Hyeo-min. Why were past legends siding with streamer Lee Soo-hyuk?
This was the stage to discern truth from lies.
"If I were real, I wouldn't have removed the mask?"
Kim Il-su laughed, and Soo-hyuk smiled back.
"We were friends once, but you don't know me at all. Or are you pretending?"
"Don't act like we're friends. You're not."
"Fine, let's say that. But was the Soo-hyuk you knew so obsessed with a mere mask? Some flimsy image?"
"Then why does no one know Lee Soo-hyuk's face?"
"I never removed it because there was no need. Why ditch a useful item? Walking around bare-faced would just bring headaches."
Thud. The mask dropped from Soo-hyuk's hand to the ground.
"If needed, I'd remove this damn thing anytime. Just never came up. Think I'd cling to a mask if I were real?"
Soo-hyuk's question wasn't just for Kim Il-su.
It was for everyone watching his stream. All who admired and missed Lee Soo-hyuk.
Was the man they knew so fixated on a mask?
"If you really think that, don't ever call yourself my friend again."
"Sophistry."
"You're the one sophizing. Over this mask?"
"The Soo-hyuk I knew would never remove it on stream. Hell, he wouldn't even stream."
On the streaming part, at least, Kim Il-su was sincere. He still didn't get why Soo-hyuk streamed.
"Two reasons for streaming. First, I needed points."
Long-time viewers knew Soo-hyuk was serious about points.
And that hadn't changed. The sum was huge, but he kept streaming to level up skills even a bit.
"Second reason: moments like this. A sure way to show everyone who I am—and who you are. The surest way to topple everything you've built."
The viewers split down the middle.
Those believing Soo-hyuk, those siding with Kim Il-su.
Both sides had plenty of circumstantial evidence.
Soo-hyuk had Si-woo, Ye-ryeong, and Hyeo-min. Kim Il-su had his built-up reputation and the justification from Gyu-seong's incident.
"Nonsense."
As expected, Kim Il-su rejected Soo-hyuk's claims.
"Just trying to justify your crimes. Betraying the real Soo-hyuk, colluding with demons, and pinning it on us? If you had any conscience..."
He bit his lip, trailing off as if too outraged to continue.
But Soo-hyuk, knowing the perfect act was fake, saw through it.
Beneath those sorrowful eyes lurked a serpent's cold gaze.
For a split second, their eyes locked deep.
If only I'd seen that gaze sooner.
Soo-hyuk could guess the source of Kim Il-su's confidence.
He'd spent years crafting the hero Lee Soo-hyuk. With flawless acting, people believed.
Impossible to convince everyone right now.
Soo-hyuk had no intention of ending it here.
Stakes made doubt inevitable. Viewers couldn't fully trust either side for that reason.
But this was enough.
The goal here wasn't total persuasion. Just shedding the "streamer Lee Soo-hyuk" mask sufficed.
Questions flooded in, some with hefty donations demanding answers.
But today, he ignored all chats and donations.
He wasn't performing now.
Just showing the real him.
"Believe me or not, doesn't matter. But thanks for this much."
Soo-hyuk stomped the fallen mask.
Crunch-.
The mask shattered. As Lee Soo-hyuk's mask broke, Kim Il-su's pupils trembled.
"This thing was stuffy anyway. Unlike my old one, zero effects. Speaking of, you have it, right? I'll pick it up soon."
Crackle-.
Lightning sparked around Soo-hyuk's body.
A small spark, but the air shifted.
In that instant, the rankers saw the real Lee Soo-hyuk in him. Overwhelming presence.
One man dominating the group.
Si-woo rose from his seat. Ye-ryeong melted into the shadows.
Tension peaked.
Rumble-!
Something slashed a line through the battlefield's center.
Boom-!
With an explosion, Kim Il-su's body launched upward.
He flew up a tree trunk, dual blades crossed against Soo-hyuk's sword.
"Guild Master!"
"Wh-, when did he get there?"
Blue Zone rankers moved to assist Kim Il-su.
But they couldn't reach the pair.
Crackle-.
Ice blanketed the path to them. Ye-ryeong perched lightly atop it.
Until now, it was their duel. Now, Soo-hyuk took center stage.
Boom, boom boom-!
Explosions ripped through the sky in succession.
The two streaked like lightning across the heavens.
Towering trees shattered, sliced by sword qi like fog. Melted by poison, ignited by bolts.
So fast, colorful trails painted the sky like a galaxy. Seemed like dozens fighting, not two.
Kim Il-su's arms felt like they'd rip off.
He'd poured leg strength into top speed, muscles screaming.
First time moving this much in so short a time. Even more effort than against guardians.
Slash-.
Hydra's Venom Fangs
Mana-infused blade draws massive dragon silhouette. Devastating poison breath attack.
Hydra's mana-charged fangs cleaved the air.
Like brush strokes, a colossal dragon formed at the blade tip.
Crack-.
The dragon bared its teeth, dripping green venom. A familiar monster, armed with fangs and claws.
Venom Dragon Hydra.
It lunged to swallow Soo-hyuk.
Snap-.
Soo-hyuk entered the viscous venom maw. The Hydra chewed like a living beast sating hunger.
Surrounding trees smoked black, dissolving. So potent, some watching rankers fainted below.
Then.
Groan, grrr-.
Blue light flashed from Hydra's gut.
Crackle, boom. Thunder repeated.
As the inner glow burst outward.
Splatter-!
-Hydra Destroyed!
Lightning overloads venom construct
Hydra exploded, venom raining like a storm. Onlooking rankers screamed and fled.
Soo-hyuk emerged unscathed, drenched in venom.
Immunity to All Poisons.
The skill perfectly countering Kim Il-su's divine-grade item from consuming a Hydra core.
"Relying on toys stunts your growth."
Crackle-.
Soo-hyuk burned off the venom with lightning.
To the despondent Kim Il-su, Soo-hyuk delivered greater despair.
"And divine-grade items aren't exclusive to you, Il-su."