Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: 87화
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Day 1 of the Climb
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A post went up on the Players community.
▶ Lee Soo-hyuk's Climb Day 1 ◀
[Started at Bronze 3, now Silver 1 in just one day lmao]
At first, everyone thought it was a lie.
Bronze 3 to Silver 1 was a whopping six ranks apart.
You get about 20 points per game, and it takes 100 points to climb one rank, so you'd need to win at least 30 games in a row.
Skill aside, it seemed physically impossible.
But then...
The physically impossible had happened for real.
Unbelievable things were happening in Lee Soo-hyuk's stream.
And it wasn't just Soo-hyuk.
It just wasn't showing up on stream.
The same was happening to Schneider.
With all these unprecedented events, the community's attention focused on this streamer named Lee Soo-hyuk.
The community's attention usually went to rankers. Unless they were top 100 high rankers, no one cared.
That's why even famous streamers or ranker players rarely got mentioned.
Even so...
The reason Lee Soo-hyuk got mentioned was his name.
A few who caught on to his pace...
...started realizing how fast he was climbing the tower.
In the midst of it, Hawk's Eye's comment got highlighted.
Hawk's Eye was a reviewer who analyzed high rankers and rising stars.
That's why he occasionally got mentions in the community too.
He was famous for being stingy with praise—'Sharp Eye' or 'Spicy Eye.'
Slowly, steadily, the three letters 'Lee Soo-hyuk' were spreading.
15 hours.
In that time, Soo-hyuk had reached Platinum 3.
Bronze to Platinum in just one day.
Even more...
Half of that time was spent going from Gold to Platinum.
'Points are slowing down.'
Last game gave 40 points.
As games piled up and ranks rose, reward points dwindled.
'Matchmaking's getting slower too.'
He'd expected both.
At least points never dropped below 40.
This was plenty.
Platinum 3 in a day was insane.
"That's it for today, folks."
15 hours.
Not short by any means.
Rare for Soo-hyuk, who preferred perfect condition for trials.
Two reasons for the long stream:
First, unlike other trials, every game on floor 4 wasn't high difficulty.
Second...
Missions were the main income for streamers on floor 4.
Varied missions per game—wins, kills, farming, etc. Couldn't ignore the earnings.
Over 40,000 points from these alone today.
'Kinda sad to leave this floor.'
Missions were sweet as points slowed.
Of course,
Couldn't stream sleepless indefinitely.
15 hours straight was tiring even for Soo-hyuk.
To the viewers' questions, Soo-hyuk nodded.
"Yeah. I'll be back. Streaming non-stop for a while."
Spot on comments.
As stream time grew, more viewers knew his patterns.
A short goodbye, and...
The long stream ended.
From morning to dawn.
Streets were empty. Back at the dorm, Soo-hyuk felt hungry.
Hadn't eaten a single meal, just trials.
Time to eat and sleep, he thought, opening the door.
Then.
"You're back?"
Inside the door.
Black hair swayed in the breeze through the open door, Unhyang greeting him warmly.
"Waited up?"
"Of course. I'm your manager. Gotta say good job."
She shrugged like it was obvious, then asked.
"Hungry?"
Perfect timing.
Drinks and food.
Soo-hyuk chose drinks.
Stream tomorrow, but a light one for good sleep wasn't bad.
Plus, hard to find food sans alcohol late night.
Clatter-.
This place: orange tent pocha run by an Earth player, it seemed.
Ordered drinks, noodles, simple sides.
Sipping chicken bone soup, Unhyang nodded.
"Oh, tasty."
"Yeah. All good."
"Even shit's medicine sometimes. They're pros at this."
Thinking of Cheongryang, her expression changed.
Soo-hyuk asked at her face.
"Something wrong?"
"No. Just thought of the stream."
She brushed it off. Soo-hyuk knew she was hiding something but didn't pry. Not his style to force it.
"Hit 13k viewers at the end."
Maybe from dodging, she brought up the stream abruptly.
13k.
Similar to last time.
No big gain or loss.
Soo-hyuk nodded.
"Not many care about floor 4."
This stream felt different from before.
His streams showed tower climbers.
Plus his name, lightning concept, stellar play tying it all.
But this trial cramped that style.
To grow the stream, regain old power ASAP, had to rush up.
Yet.
"You talk like your stream's small."
"Not that, but..."
No words, so he ate stir-fried meat and downed a shot.
Ignoring him, Unhyang continued.
"Tons of streamers vanish nameless. Can't even hit 1k, let alone 10k. Stuck chasing impossible dreams."
What she'd felt long as manager.
Like any job, few survive.
Soo-hyuk was already in that few, crazy fast.
Still.
"Weirdly, you always seem anxious."
Her words halted his chopsticks.
"Chased by something... no, chasing something?"
Hit the nail.
Chasing, yes.
'No choice.'
Head down, bitter smile.
20 years in a blink.
No one knew his masked face. Even unmasked, same.
Is the face under mask even his?
Both masks to him.
Friends who knew the real face mostly dead.
Left: few uncertain if alive or dead.
And revenge target? Past friend.
He chased them.
Haste to catch up showed in his eyes, apparently.
"Always wondered. Something going on with you?"
Funny spot.
Soo-hyuk gave her same answer.
"No. Nothing."
His unspeakable secret.
No good if exposed, and "I'm the reincarnated Lee Soo-hyuk" would just get him called crazy.
She saw through the lie too.
"Okay?"
Bit bitter, she drank.
Thought they'd grown close enough for late drinks.
But that talk created distance.
Each hiding one secret. Not trusting enough to share.
This seat confirmed it.
'My fault too.'
Would this wall ever fall?
Light drinks turned heavy boozing.
Soo-hyuk, Unhyang both.
Till dawn, they drank.
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