Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Confident Declaration
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The confident declaration flowing from the broadcast.
Unhyang's eyes sparkled as she watched the screen.
"As expected!"
Even though he hadn't done anything yet, she was already satisfied.
That confident posture. And the ability to always turn that confidence into reality.
This was the greatest pleasure in watching Lee Soo-hyuk's streams.
'Good response too.'
Unhyang didn't just enjoy the broadcast.
As a manager, she never forgot her role, constantly checking the stream's trends.
The chat sentiment. The ever-changing viewer fluctuations.
Already over 9,000 viewers gathered.
At this rate, surpassing 10,000 was only a matter of time. If the content held up, even 15,000 seemed entirely possible.
10,000 no longer felt out of reach.
It meant that more and more viewers were seeking out this streamer named Lee Soo-hyuk.
'Now, just one thing left.'
Crunch-.
Having noted the viewer trends, it was time to munch on snacks and enjoy the show.
'Perfectly nailing this challenge.'
The success or failure of the challenge meant a lot.
Failing here would cost a prime video angle. One failed content piece meant the streamer's lifespan shortened by that much.
And that wasn't all.
"Truth be told, Lee Soo-hyuk is a dangerous streamer."
These were the words of John Tail, a veteran of this industry.
"Why?"
"Because he's too damn good."
"And that's a problem?"
It didn't make sense.
Being exceptional was an advantage. For Players, no advantage was better than superior skill.
And Lee Soo-hyuk was a gem of a streamer born with the ultimate advantage.
But.
"People who have to show off how exceptional they are... have to keep doing it forever."
Unhyang couldn't find a word to argue against John Tail's point.
"Streamers like that end up broadcasting on one absolute faith. And their viewers think like this: 'This streamer never fails. He'll show something amazing today too.'"
Faith.
A pretty, wonderful word. But once shattered, faith becomes doubt.
"One failure. That'll be the turning point."
That's why John Tail called Lee Soo-hyuk a dangerous streamer.
"The moment he fails once, his broadcast loses everything."
Every word rang true.
From then on, Lee Soo-hyuk might succeed as a Player, but never as a top-tier streamer.
He'd just become one of the many mediocre ones.
But.
"No need to worry."
Far from worrying at John Tail's words, Unhyang felt her expectations grow even higher.
"Someone I know actually pulled off exactly what you're describing, Team Leader."
"You mean true-blue Soo-hyuk?"
"Yes."
John Tail's face turned ambiguous at Unhyang's reply.
And then he asked.
Whether he could really become like Lee Soo-hyuk.
"Watch for yourself, Team Leader."
This content was made for John Tail and his doubts.
And for the countless viewers sharing those thoughts.
"This guy's going even higher."
-Seriously doing it without Sky Step?
To one chat, Soo-hyuk nodded.
"Yeah. Wanna see?"
He then extended his bare foot, wearing nothing.
"See? Nothing there, right?"
Step-.
Slowly stepping toward the scarecrow.
Soo-hyuk started the engine for the Lee Soo-hyuk Challenge.
-Oh, it's starting
-O really possible without it?
-"It works."
Unlike before, he had the leisure to check the chat.
A natural difference.
His condition was better than back then, and most importantly, the opponent was a scarecrow, not Pelius.
Acceleration kicked in on his toes, which had been speeding up slowly.
The scenery on screen changed in an instant. In the blink of an eye, he reached the scarecrow and continued his commentary.
"Run forward and..."
Whoosh-.
Zzzzt-.
Lightning-clad foot stretched high into the sky for a leap.
Slash-.
Cleanly severing the scarecrow's head.
"Like this—."
Thud-.
Followed by a smooth landing.
"Then come back down."
-????????
-??????????
-????
-What???
-Is this... right?
-Others were dying trying this
-Didn't cheat?
-It looks right but... is it?
-To the bewildered viewers' reactions, Soo-hyuk asked.
Yeah
Replay go go
"Wanna see it once more?"
-Yeah
-Replay ㄱㄱ
Soo-hyuk summoned another scarecrow. And then.
"This time, a bit slower than before."
-Wow...
-He makes it look too easy, it's ridiculous
-Item carry item carry item carry item carry item carry
-Is this for real lololol
He thought the issue was succeeding on the first try or not.
But Soo-hyuk went beyond first-try success, freely controlling the speed while demonstrating.
Proving he could succeed no matter how many attempts.
-How'd you do that?
To one viewer's question, Soo-hyuk furrowed his brows behind the mask.
"How?"
Hard to explain, so he made another scarecrow.
"Just... like this..."
Whoosh-.
This time without Lightning, he dashed fast and leaped high.
"Jump up and..."
Slash-.
When his height reached above the head, he sliced the neck with his blade.
"Slice, then..."
Thud-.
Smooth landing.
"Balance and stand."
Disaster. No clue..
Aha! Totally got it!(Didn't get it)
I get it lololol anyway it worked lololol
Fr this guy's op nerf plz ㄷㄷ;
In simple terms, just do it.
And it really was that way.
He wanted to teach the method, but there was no method to teach.
'Not much talent for teaching anyway.'
No special tips; he couldn't explain what his body did instinctively.
Soo-hyuk scratched his head briefly, then spoke.
"Well, anyway, challenge cleared..."
Waving lightly, he dropped the closing line.
"That's it for today's stream. See you tomorrow."
-?????
-Hey wait
-For real like this
The broadcast ended. As usual, Soo-hyuk called Unhyang right after.
Late evening.
Unhyang stepped out of the dorm and answered Soo-hyuk's call.
-Wasn't that a bit abrupt?
"You did great. Plenty of highlight material, and Team Leader said not to drag these contents out."
It was feedback time of sorts.
Confirming if the stream went well. Asking if there were issues or improvements, and hearing the answers.
-Kinda regret not answering properly earlier.
"No, I prefer it that way."
-Prefer it even more...? ...
"Not flattery. Acting like even you don't know how you do it feels more genius-like than some trick."
Soo-hyuk readily agreed with Unhyang.
-True.
Soo-hyuk vaguely sensed it too.
Dodging detailed answers fit the image of Lee Soo-hyuk that viewers wanted more closely.
Still, he thought explaining might make him seem friendlier.
"I've said it over and over: just be yourself, Soo-hyuk. No need to act. No."
Unhyang said with utmost conviction.
"You have to."
-Got it.
Her words renewed Soo-hyuk's confidence.
"Yeah. I'm running late due to a promise. Rest up."
Click-.
Unhyang hung up. She didn't realize yet that this was the first time she'd ended Soo-hyuk's call first.
Slowly entering the alley.
She met the person she'd promised to see.
"You got here fast."
One hand in pocket, the other fiddling with her kit as usual: Cheongryang.
"Why so late?"
"Work. Sorry."
"Sorry my ass. You must really be sorry if you're buying dinner first."
Unhyang had no retort to Cheongryang's words.
She had no choice.
No matter how thick-skinned, sending Cheongryang in her place meant she had nothing to say, even with a hundred mouths.
"Pick whatever you want. Drinks too."
"Going for the expensive stuff."
"Yeah, yeah. Pick expensive. Sis is loaded."
Unhyang played along jokingly. She knew Cheongryang's banter was to ease her guilt.
But soon.
Cheongryang's expression hardened, her tone shifting as she spoke.
"We... might not be able to stay here long."
To say this, Cheongryang had agonized and agonized for a long time.
And finally.
She said it.
"That damn old man's figured it all out. Where you are and what you're doing."
9th Floor.
A world reachable only by the tiniest fraction of Players who had both chosen talents and put in the effort.
If 8th Floor Players were called Rankers, those reaching the 9th were High Rankers—so rare were the feet that trod that land.
And in the heart of that world's most bustling city.
Stood Blue Zone's executive house.
"Rejected again, huh..."
A man with short-cropped hair and a tattoo on one arm muttered, chin propped on hand.
A nameplate sat before his seat.
Blue Zone Vice Guild Master, Lee Won-jae.
Just in case, he rewound the screen in front of him.
"We promise treatment befitting a Quasi-Ranker. This is a message from guild leadership, not me!"
Paul Lemen.
A low-floor Player in Blue Zone.
A total bottom-runger, but he had two key missions.
First: Provoke Omar Schneider into conquering Thunder Cave.
Second: Lure streamer Lee Soo-hyuk into Blue Zone.
But.
"Why reject it?"
"That's a rejection."
He'd stylishly turned down the offer.
On stream, no less.
So the articles spreading was natural.
[Streamer Lee Soo-hyuk Rejects Blue Zone Recruitment.]
[Where to Next for Lee Soo-hyuk? Will He Keep Streaming?]
[The New Master of Lightning. Paths Diverge with Blue Zone.]
Lee Soo-hyuk. Blue Zone.
A combo guaranteed high views. Rejecting a guild recruitment offer on stream? That was drawing a clear line: never joining you.
"Can't do it with words..."
The Schneider investment in Thunder Cave had already failed after all that effort.
After brief thought, Lee Won-jae dialed on his kit.
Recipient: Kim Il-su.
The lord ruling Blue Zone's vast world.
As he picked up.
"Yes, Guild Master."
Lee Won-jae got straight to it.
"Looks like we need a more aggressive approach."