Chapter 72
Chapter 72
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 72
>Chapter Title: Explosive Popularity
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 72
>72.
The next morning.
“Ugh... haa.”
Do-hyun stretched as he woke up in the morning sunlight.
He glanced at the time: 8:10 AM.
It hadn’t been long since he’d been discharged from the military, so even without an alarm, his eyes popped open like clockwork every morning.
‘Well, regularity’s a good thing.’
A consistent routine was key to a more efficient gaming life.
This wasn’t just talk—it was proven fact.
There were scientific reasons for it, and even the top rankers among the God of Savior pros all lived regimented lives.
“Time for another fulfilling day.”
With that self-pep talk done, Do-hyun headed to the living room.
His mom had made breakfast before leaving—there was stew on the table.
This time, it was spicy canned tuna stew.
Next to it, on a plate wrapped in plastic, sat Vienna sausages and a fried egg.
“She even prepared all this before heading out... She didn’t have to.”
Before his discharge, she hadn’t paid much attention to breakfast, but now that he was an adult, she seemed to be fussing over him even more.
It was still warm, so she must’ve just left. Do-hyun scooped some rice and sat down.
He polished off two light bowls as usual, did the dishes, then scanned the living room.
No sign of anyone around.
‘Where’d she say she was going? Out?’
It felt off, but checking his phone, he realized it was Monday and nodded.
Of course his college-student sister wouldn’t be home at this hour.
He’d only seen her sticking around since his discharge on Friday, so it hadn’t sunk in yet.
“Guess I should head to work too.”
Everyone else was diligently starting their weekdays—he couldn’t lag behind. Do-hyun quickly ducked back into his room.
He wanted to dive straight into the capsule, but he held back.
There was something to check first.
“Wonder if the views went up any.”
None other than the performance of the NewTube video he’d uploaded yesterday.
It hadn’t even been a full day yet, so he should wait longer, but curiosity was killing him.
No wonder NewTubers obsessively hit refresh.
‘Now that I’m in their shoes, it’s nerve-wracking.’
Being in someone else’s interview clip felt totally different from having your own channel.
Gulp. Swallowing hard, Do-hyun opened NewTube and went to his channel, greeted by its plain, unadorned look.
Bare-bones, almost shabby.
“...??”
Do-hyun’s face went blank as he stared at the channel.
Blinking in disbelief, he rubbed his eyes a few times before speaking.
“...What the hell is this? Why are the views like that?”
A whopping 3.4 million views.
Considering it had only been half a day, it was absurd.
And with every refresh, new comments poured in, pushing the count even higher.
- Ahh, on my 12th watch already. Can’t get enough no matter how many times I see it.
>- Dying to stan but no more videos... Please upload more often. I beg you.
>- Lost souls... come to the Kasin Church.
>- Holding my breath until the next video. Inhale!
>- Here! Someone died over here!
>- Holy shit... peak play. Is this Korean? I’m shook.
>- Kaiser, what’s he doing instead of uploading more?
>- Lol, subscriber growth is insaneㅋㅋㅋ Gonna hit a million soon?
Spotting foreign languages mixed in, Do-hyun paused.
‘A million?’
Still dazed as he scrolled comments, he jolted and checked the subscriber count.
There it was.
[Subscribers: 794K]
“Crazy.”
Truly barreling toward one million.
Just nine hours ago, he’d thought hitting 100K would be a dream come true.
Had this really happened overnight?
He’d figured good timing would bring traffic, but this was beyond excessive.
It was so out of left field that the joy felt muted—more surreal than anything.
“...Maybe a million subs isn’t so hard?”
He was even thinking that.
Of course, it was nonsense.
The market had grown, sure, but one million subscribers still meant big-league status.
Sure, mega-corps above that had popped up, but a million-sub NewTuber could brag anywhere.
“Feels unreal. What’s Kasin Church? A fan cafe?”
Spotting the odd name in comments, he searched it: sure enough, a fan cafe.
One with over 40K members, no small potatoes.
Knowing it was full of his fans felt weirdly thrilling.
He’d had plenty back when he was big in Delrock, but they’d vanished after it tanked.
A fan cafe after all this time? Strange vibe.
‘They say it’s been around forever? How’d I never hear of it? Hm. Must’ve been tiny.’
Brushing it off, Do-hyun pocketed his phone.
It had started as a fluke, but things were falling into place smoothly now.
NewTube, his biggest hurdle, was sorted.
Now everyone would zero in on his moves.
Even the bold ones would feel the pressure, but Do-hyun was used to it.
Meeting expectations was everyday life for him.
“Log in.”
Shaking off stray thoughts, he lay in the capsule and closed his eyes.
Time to focus on the main gig.
[Logging into God of Savior.]
>[Have a fun adventure.]
When his eyes opened, the familiar otherworld scenery unfolded.
* * *
[Welcome to Paradise of Adventure.]
>[Guardian ‘Jihad Black’s loyalty has increased.]
>....
>[Guardian ‘Jihad Black’s loyalty has increased.]
“Up again this time.”
Do-hyun skimmed the system windows greeting his login.
Nothing major—just Jihad’s loyalty rising. But the jump was noticeable.
[Loyalty: 40 / 100]
‘Ten points up?’
A full ten.
Sure, it ticked up after Guardian Room visits, but after that beating, it had only hit 18. This was abnormal.
As if acknowledging it, the note below had changed.
[Loyalty is high. Maintaining a smooth relationship with the guardian.]
“Ha.”
Just days ago, the guy was eyeing chances to backstab him.
Now they were “smooth.”
Such massive progress in mere days left him feeling oddly proud... and baffled.
Scratching his head, Jihad and Eliza appeared, speaking up.
-Back, master?
>-Riza riza!
Turning, he was immediately crushed in Eliza’s hug, her face rubbing against him like she was over the moon.
Patting her appropriately, he felt something odd around her neck.
Grabbing it lightly: a simple design with a long chain and a small gem embedded...
“Hm? A necklace?”
-Riza! Rizariza!
>-Oh, that’s Eliza’s favorite necklace.
>-Riza!
Eliza beamed innocently, as if to say yes.
Do-hyun nodded instinctively, then froze.
‘Was that always there? What’s up?’
He couldn’t recall, but wouldn’t he remember if it’d been there from the start?
And that wasn’t all.
Yesterday she’d parted so reluctantly, yet now she was bursting with energy, like she’d just come back from fun.
“What’s this? You were moping yesterday, now all sunshine?”
-Hehe, something came up. The promenade was killer, right, Eliza?
>-Riza!
“What happened?”
Do-hyun frowned at their huddled whispering and laughing, so Eliza kindly explained.
-Rizariza! Riza... riza!
“...Translate.”
-Ah. So, like...
Do-hyun was lost.
-Riza...
Jihad ended up explaining, leaving Eliza deflated. But as he spoke, her energy bounced back, nodding along.
Nodding after hearing them out, Do-hyun summarized.
“So, your Guardian Rooms merged? That’s her leash... er, cherished necklace, and it came along with the merge?”
-Yep.
>-Riza!
Jihad clapped, looking utterly at ease.
Made sense—they’d gotten to catch up to their hearts’ content. Good for loyalty, good for Do-hyun.
Still, it was puzzling.
‘Hm. Normal? Her joining his chain of command...’
He’d never heard of Guardian Rooms merging.
Weird situation, but whatever—harmless.
Could be the subordination, or whatever. End result was positive.
He’d look into it later.
“Anyway, let’s g—”
“There! There he is!”
“Robe, short guy with the group, black outfit... Confirmed Kaiser suspect. Everyone, back me up...”
Before he could finish, the area grew rowdy. Do-hyun irritably turned.
Users. Pointing at him from all sides.
“What do we do? Stall HIM FIRST!”
“We got dibs! Come out!”
“Grab first, ask later! Move!”
The snippets sounded vicious.
He panicked briefly but knew the game already—no rookie was he.
‘Already started. They were camping the spawn.’
Minutes after login, the noose tightening? Obvious.
They’d stall, negotiate, or crush him—whatever, he was their golden ticket.
With him at the hype’s center right now.
Land him in a guild? Win.
Smash the “divine return” hype? Instant fame.
Not just guilds, either.
‘Ambitious small fries looking to blow up off this... Ugh, gonna be a swarm.’
Fame-hungry PKers and users? Truckloads.
This was why he’d avoided spotlight at low levels. Nothing more poisonous than excess attention when weak.
Four days into God of Savior, and this mess.
Guess some people are just magnets for trouble.
Recalling his Delrock days of endless similar crap, Do-hyun drew Thousand Changes.
-W-What, master? They’re surrounding us?
“I know. Get ready.”
-Do what?
“Bust through. Follow close.”
-Riza?
Do-hyun took stance, exhaled sharply—hup!—and charged.
Not away, but straight at them.
The scouts flinched at his unexpected move.
“Wh-What? Why’s he coming here?”
“Block him! Gang up and he can’t do shit!”
“Together!”
Veterans, though.
They formed ranks in seconds.
Step. Step. Step.
Wide formation: shieldbearers up front, layers of users behind.
No massive level gap? Impenetrable wall. Turning now? They’d catch up fast. No escape.
“Ha, bust through if you can.”
Scouts from Brion, months in—decent levels there.
But Do-hyun was no slouch.
[Thousand Changes transforms into ‘Silver Iron Shield.’]
Whoosh—!
“Eek!?”
He hurled the now-shield like a boomerang.
Never expecting a weapon toss, the front-line shieldbearer ducked and raised his guard.
Quick reaction—should block fine.
The shields clashed.
Boom!
“Huh!?”