Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: The World Where Dreams Stop
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After a day of rest.
Soo-hyuk started his broadcast again, diving back into the trial.
The chat was buzzing right from the start. Even though it was just text scrolling by, Soo-hyuk could already feel his ears ringing.
It had been a bit disorienting at first.
But now he was pretty used to it. Hell, he was even starting to enjoy it.
'Viewers...'
About five minutes after starting the broadcast and going live.
Having escaped the Thunder Cave and returned to the Mercenary Guild, Soo-hyuk checked the viewer trend.
Nearly 7,000 viewers.
The growth was way faster than before. At this rate, breaking 10,000 was basically guaranteed.
'Must've been a hot topic.'
He'd heard the community was pretty noisy about the Thunder Cave clear.
Plus, yesterday's quick shutdown of those bus-riding players had stirred things up too.
"Public opinion should be fine. It all blew over nicely."
"Really? I figured it'd take longer."
"The team leader jumped on it fast. Dug up those guys' shady histories and tipped off the victims."
The conversation he'd had with Unhyang over dinner the day before.
Soo-hyuk was reminded anew that Baehae Entertainment had his back.
'I was braced for some hate for a while.'
Better to shake off those leeches and eat a little shit than keep getting dragged around. Besides, opinion would swing his way eventually.
That's how he'd justified it. But deep down, he'd steeled himself for backlash.
Lucky break.
Now that he was streaming, he didn't want the chat blowing up for the wrong reasons.
'Today's upload includes clips from the last stream too.'
He'd figured a company was optional at best. Now he had to rethink that.
'They're on it.'
PR management. Broadcast advice and intel. Extra revenue streams.
Couldn't say if other agencies did the same, but Baehae was pulling its weight as a partner.
A moment later.
Soo-hyuk flipped on the mic and kicked off the stream proper.
"Suha."
He waved awkwardly.
It was stiff as hell.
-What’s with the energy lol
-Put some hype in it bro...
-Too bland, stream's got no flavor?
To the viewers' reactions, Soo-hyuk awkwardly spread his arms.
"Su... Suha?"
-So awkward...
-First time two words make me cringe that hard
-Just do your usual thing
"Yeah. Got it."
His quick agreement only flooded the chat with more laughs. Then, the viewers spotted his location.
-Streaming from the Merc Guild?
-Gonna settle up right away
-Cash in performance points and bounce
The third-floor trial was about completing Merc Guild requests to rack up performance points.
Normally, you needed 10,000 to advance.
But crushing a high-difficulty request could net you way more.
And the Thunder Cave clear was the guild's toughest gig by far.
"Yeah, exactly. Settle up and head out."
-Ooo!!!
-Love the fast pace
-Shoulda done it two days ago smh
-How much we getting?
The viewers were hyped for how many performance points the Thunder Cave run would yield.
Half the folks who piled in on the alert were probably here just for that.
"Settlement in five. Not everyone's here yet."
He'd set a custom title today: 'Thunder Cave Request Settlement.' Unhyang's idea.
Said it'd pull viewers faster, insisted on it.
"Questions till then."
-How long today?
-What'd you do on break?
-Floor 4 right away?
Among the flood, he picked the last one that caught his eye.
"Floor 4, straight shot. Shortest clear time goal."
-Classic ㄷㄷㄷ
-This guy's dead serious on trials
-Shortest record incoming
Most viewers tuned in to see how he tackled trials.
Floor 2: Snagged Lightning. Floor 3: Cleared Thunder Cave. Once is luck, twice is pattern—had 'em hooked for more.
Soo-hyuk nodded at the donation message.
"Probably. Contribution splits it different, though."
-Nice
-Schneider one-shot to next floor
-10 yrs grinding must suck
-Nah, kept wiping in Cave, resets every time lol
For ten years, Schneider had obsessed over Thunder Cave.
Challenged it every cycle, leveled and honed otherwise.
But endless wipes left him at zero performance.
'Still, full marks for him easy.'
As time ticked, growth slowed.
Deciding he'd waited enough, Soo-hyuk started walking and spoke up.
"Alright, let's settle."
Step.
He headed to the Merc Guild payout counter.
A bearded merc slouched there, propping his chin, bored out of his mind.
"Merc tag and completion cert."
Yawning like it was all a chore.
Soo-hyuk handed over the two items.
Scritch.
"Hmm..."
The merc's eyes widened as he checked the tag and cert like usual.
"Otherworlder, E-rank... Thunder... Cave...?"
Mismatched as hell. As the merc looked up, Soo-hyuk slid over one more paper.
"This."
The recommendation letter.
The merc stared, baffled, for a good while.
"O-one sec, hold on."
Tone shifted. Wide awake, he bolted up and vanished somewhere. Back after five minutes.
"C-confirmed. Thunder Cave's really cleared..."
"Sign here then."
Tap, tap.
Soo-hyuk tapped the cert. The merc snatched a quill pen.
The signature marked payout complete.
Scribble, scribble.
Done.
"Here."
He took back the cert.
-300k??
-Insane lololol
-30x the pass req ㄷㄷㄷ;;
-Fair play tbh
300,000 performance points.
He'd guessed 100k min, 500k max. Smack in the middle.
Not bad, not thrilled.
The real payoff was next.
No plans to linger like Schneider. Soo-hyuk decided instantly.
"Obviously."
Tense, exciting moment.
'Stats are nice, but... hope for big points too.'
Post-mission, he'd banked solid points.
But short of next goal: 160k.
About 14k short.
Hoped this reward covered it.
And then.
+ 29,000 Points Acquired
Soo-hyuk cheered inwardly as the rewards popped.
'Nailed it.'
Six levels, 29k points.
Mana spiking hard, stats thirsting—level gains were the best fix.
Bonus: Selfish Sacrifice level up. Covers Lightning flaws solid.
'Imbalance fixed with Selfish Sacrifice + Lightning Heart. Stamina +4 too...'
Battle test needed, but felt stable.
Right then.
Whoosh!
Vision flickered, then snapped back.
The world flipped around him, air and sounds shifting on his skin. Mystical every time.
Floor 4.
Soo-hyuk scanned the new vista.
Chirp, tweet tweet.
Pleasant birdsong. Blue skies, fluffy clouds drifting pretty.
A towering castle in the distance. Old European-style buildings lined up around it.
Flowers mingling with ornate architecture, faces beaming without a worry.
Paradise vacation spot.
This was Floor 4: Elasshim.
'Where most players stall out.'
Hence, "The World Where Dreams Stop."
Fairy-tale charm lulled countless players into forgetting their drive.
Forget trialing up the Tower to ranker status and riches.
Forget the mission the Tower dropped on entry: Prepare for "the event that will someday begin."
'The event that will someday begin...'
Soo-hyuk pondered his first Tower moments.
"[You have been chosen by the Tower.]
[Climb the Tower. Prepare for 'the event that will someday begin.']"
Not just him. Every climber heard it. That's what kicked off the rush.
But.
'When the hell is that day?'
Unlike day one, Soo-hyuk wasn't climbing for that anymore.
Revenge on Kim Il-su. Find any surviving comrades.
Other players had forgotten too.
The serene scenery soaked in.
'Everyone's forgotten that warning.'
Soo-hyuk took it as a warning.
Don't prepare, and who knows what hits. So climb. No—conquer the Tower.