Magic Theory and Donation Frenzy
“Why are you looking at me like that? You're hurting my feelings.”
Juyeonu pulled a sad face at the genuine reaction. He'd put real effort into magic early on, after all.
“Hurt? What hurt? This isn't even on the level of proper magic.”
“This is normal. I haven't built up proficiency yet, but it's just a Common-rank spell anyway. But a Unique-rank one like that right from the start... isn't that way too broken? And without even using the staff I got?”
-Total scam.
-So unfair I can't sleep.
-Heading out to tear Julio apart.
Juyeonu and the viewers were genuinely salty about it. But the effort and time Kang Hanbit had poured into magic was downright monstrous. The title had merely carried all that experience into this game.
'Even so, this gap is insane...'
The spell Juyeonu used was flawed from the basic structure. It could be Julio's fault, but this pointed to a more fundamental issue. Even if rank differences were absolute, his whole approach to magic needed an overhaul.
“Isn't your method just wrong? Magic doesn't just go snap.”
“Hyung, did you forget we made your character yesterday?”
“You need knowledge for that. Magic is math. You don't touch the magic circle, but chanting and mana flow? You calculate every single detail.”
“Uh...”
-?
-Theory game's wild lol
-Magic written exam is real.
-Magic expert whoa
-Chuuni strikes again...
-Hey, just agree.
Even with the sincere explanation, viewers teased away like it was a riot. Kang Hanbit sighed, shaking his head.
“Let's just say Unique-rank is good and move on. And no staff for a while.”
“Why? Main skills need gear, even basic ones.”
“It's not my main anyway. For magic, convenience matters more.”
Magic weapons like staffs hugely boosted power. But for Hanbit, whose body was honed for combat, bare hands felt better.
“...You're not using a Unique-rank skill as your main?”
Juyeonu latched onto that. Making a baffled face, he pressed on like he was convincing him.
“Hyung, I'm not even recommending magic normally? But Unique-rank changes everything. You gotta main that.”
-Agreed.
-Still clueless lol
-Noob alert.
-Where's the magic expert? lol
[LittleMage donated 1,000 won.]
[Shut up if you're a magic noob and just use it.]
Viewers scratched nerves via chat. Seeing Hanbit's expression shift, Juyeonu jumped in desperately.
“C'mon, everyone. This is all for stream vibes. Right, hyung?”
“Not stream vibes—they're just treating us like chuuni kids who don't know magic.”
He meant it. Deep down, he wanted to grab Juyeonu and lecture theory all day. But viewers burned hotter.
-Classic magic expert lololol
-Official: Viewers are magic noobs.
-Sorry but the arrogance tho.
-Otaku are different huh. Webnovels?
-No one said Unique was bad? Ding.
Hanbit, who'd been watching quietly, just killed the stream feed.
“You turn off your camera too.”
-Oh.
-Sorrysorry
-We're sorry;
-Butthurt? lol
-Blame that guy. He's wrong.
-Yeah he's wrong.
Teasing viewers flipped attitudes in a flash.
[LowSpender donated 77,777 won.]
[Sorry.]
The big donation followed. Pausing dramatically, Hanbit let out an exaggerated sigh.
“Fine, mercy this once.”
-lololololol
-7-jackpot is justice.
-Info: Money therapy is traditional.
Turning the feed back on, Hanbit was quietly impressed. 'It worked out this well?' A justified rebellion, but the payoff was huge. Who knew this format pulled donations?
Ding-
Another alarm and donation popped up.
[Cuckoo donated 1,000 won.]
[Breaking: Field spot wars over bomb slimes.]
“...Spot wars?”
-Tons of people, no spots left in the forest.
-30+ grinding hunt spots lol
-This is straight-up dogshit.
-Died 3x falling off cliff trying.
-BlackDragon, how to fix?
-Any tips?
Bomb slime mentions sparked a flood of questions. No issue spilling now—the quest was done.
“Hyung, hold up.”
Right before he spoke, Juyeonu grabbed his arm and faced the camera.
“You might not know, but Black Dragon hyung's a hardcore fantasy nerd. RP? Knows everything outside game systems. Lore, monster ecology, all that.”
-Nerd on that face?
-Show us the real deal?
-Don't heat up over char face lol
-RP fans who love fantasy over gameplay? Plenty.
-Fr, dive deep and it's madness.
-But he read the original webnovel right?
-Reading that is...
Juyeonu's pitch shifted perceptions fast. Grabbing his nape, Hanbit gritted his teeth.
“Trying to pin me as full otaku?”
“Wait, hyung. Gotta seize the moment.”
Whispering and flailing his hand. Slipping free, he faced the camera again.
“Point is, can't spill for free. This guy's research grind? Atsbel route was freebie—demanding full guides right away is too much.”
-Fair
-Corpos sell premium info for millions.
-Hero confirmed, price tag incoming?
-1-rank skill, not that much.
-Yeah, hidden skills cost big.
-Hero looks like trash now?
Scanning opinions, Hanbit asked Juyeonu.
“How much for hiddens?”
“Depends on type—priceless sometimes. Barely ever public.”
“Yeah?”
Hidden skills from the recommended list. Some made him think 'Why this?', but everyone knew them. 'Tricky to sell.' Could dump now, but order mattered. First rewards existed, so maybe for hiddens too. Better grab his first.
Ding-
[Newbie donated 1,000 won.]
[Plz;]
[NoBroadcast donated 9,900 won.]
[No special sale?]
Juyeonu's nudge landed perfectly. Timed donations poured in.
[FlameCharisma donated 100,000 won.]
[Showing sincerity. Fire magic plz.]
“FlameCharisma! 100k again, thanks!”
“Big spender. Thanks.”
The 100k blast hit hard. Reacting, Juyeonu sidled to Hanbit.
“Hyung, gotta reply to messages quick.”
“Messages?”
“Yeah. Other streamers and corpos hitting me up. Total randos, I'll just bridge lightly.”
Whispering, he tapped away busily. Hanbit eyed the chat.
“Y'all donated big. Gotta drop hints now.”
100k was nice, but small ones stacked huge—tens of thousands easy.
-Thanksgod
-Waiting in forest.
-10 peeps next to me;
-Everyone watching this lol
-Dizzy af.
Hanbit scanned chats, then asked the camera.
“You guys still in that forest?”
-?
-Duh?
-You cleared it there;
“Yeah, there. Just checking.”
-Phew.
-Almost said ffs;
-Held back fr.
-Virgin...
Viewers yo-yoed on his words. Amused, Hanbit continued.
“Like before, some don't explode. Super skittish—loud and they hide. Better hunt tomorrow?”
-Tomorrow?
-Yeah no spawns rn.
-Buying rods first.
Ding-
[Anon donated 1,000 won.]
[But if not cleared fast, no Hero reward?]
-?
-Huh?
-Wtf.
The random donation stirred chat. Hanbit, lost, eyed Juyeonu.
“For real?”
“Uh... one sec.”
He searched frantically. Moments later, grinning at chat.
“Better clear quick, hyung.”
-Real?
-Fr?
-Cap
Bad news sparked doubt. Curious, Hanbit asked.
“What? Precedent?”
“Quest that burned out first-come-first-served.”
“First-come?”
“Late = no reward or downgrading quality. Atsbel quest... could drop to Common by end?”
-Shit.
-Fucked.
-Pulling all-nighter.
-Quitting job tomorrow.
-Use vacation plz.
Viewers scrambled like feet on fire. Plausible enough to panic. Anyway, out of Hanbit's hands now.
“Hold up.”
He doffed the headgear—enters standby, apparently.
“Skills... here.”
Grabbing the desk guidebook, he checked skill guides. Edlen basics: four Common skills. Attacks: fire magic, archery, swordsmanship. Support: haste.
“Same but...”
Sword/archery started passive. Actives at 3-rank. Made sense—he valued basics.
“Hm.”
Some matched memory, some new. Skimming front, he headgeared back up.
Feed returned. He faced camera.
“Back. Let's grab other skills now?”