Chapter 5: Suspicious talent

Veterans are always thirsty. In any game, this is an immutable truth.

Whether they started the game from its earliest days, poured in so much time that others worried about their real lives, or invested so much money that they could practically buy an ice cream cone by just asking.

For their own reasons, they harbored a thirst for new content.

Weapon Survival, which boasted the largest fandom in the world, was no different.

Although new maps, weapons, and cosmetic items were constantly being added, the fact that the game’s winning formula was already somewhat standardized remained unchanged.

And in the Special People Gallery, where such individuals gathered.

There, news that would make their eyes light up reached their ears.

[F***, a new class is out!]

Author: UniversalStrongestSuA

Long time no see, you old farts.

The new talent you’ve all been longing for has appeared.

This time, it’s not a combat or crafting support talent, but an entirely new class.

(SuA’s replay video of a neck being severed without any footsteps.)

See? We’re guessing SuA’s talent is sound-related.

Since this class is new, I can’t say for sure, but it seems you could die if you lose the information war during a standoff.

If this class is fully released, you might have to constantly watch your back?

Likes 684 Dislikes 124

–That’s insane. But it’s a streamer, so it’s a Pandoral.

└Who cares about that? A new talent just dropped?!

└Don’t you know only Rankers and above are allowed to stream? It’s better than muddying the waters, lol.

└SuA’s a Ranker, you idiot. What if the post gets deleted because of you?

–That’s a huge headache, isn’t it? Not hearing sound but having to watch your back is just a huge risk…

└In the late-game restricted zones, we already have to constantly check for flanks, and now we have to watch out for silent approaches too? F***, lololol.

–Finally, it’s here.

–But it might not be as good as we think? Even if we don’t consider information, it reduces one card we can use in a frontal assault?

└We don’t know yet.

└Remember how ‘Iron Body’ was mocked as a high HP turtle, but then it dominated in duo squads?

└There’s nothing dumber than jumping to conclusions in this game, lolol.

Always thirsty for novelty, they used it as fuel to ignite a lively discussion.

It was a different sight from usual, where repetitive information posts, snipes, and raw reactions towards newbies dominated.

While those who frequented this place usually acted flippantly, their essence was that of a true gamer.

Everyone who received a talent saw it clearly.

[Talents are the foundation for Weapon Survival, currently in service, and all future services to be provided.]

Talents, usable even in new games that would eventually appear, were that crucial.

After much chatter, the user who first brought up the topic posted another thread.

[I also got SuA’s replay viewing, lol.]

Author: UniversalStrongestSuA

You bastards, I’m sorry it’s a streamer, but it’s about a new talent and SuA is a Ranker, so it fits the rules, right?

You guys curse me out, but then you talk amongst yourselves just fine, lolol.

The sub-mod said they’d ban me if I didn’t upload more footage, so I just uploaded it.

But it’s pissing me off, f***?

(SuspiciousPersonA’s appearance as seen from a third-person perspective.)

(Fast-paced camera work as it dashes forward.)

(A large axe blade narrowly missing a cheek in the final fight.)

Likes 435 Dislikes 46

–Sub-mod?

└They finally broke, lolol.

–That’s insane, how did they dodge that?

–But is that a dagger? No way?

–A dagger can sever a neck.

–You should censor the name;;

└Oh, right…

–Were daggers always that fast?

–Why does the dagger look so good?

└Bro, don’t cross that river…

–The talent is one thing, but their skill is insane, isn’t it?

└A sub-account is impossible. So they must be a skilled player who appeared out of nowhere…

└Wouldn’t it be similar if a real-life martial artist played with assists off?

└That ended with too few comparable cases to confirm it.

In a calmer atmosphere than before, they expressed pure admiration for the skill.

There is no such thing as perfect balance.

A certain computer game, which maintained its lineage even after Weapon Survival became mainstream and even as its user base dwindled, clearly showed this example.

Therefore, they had decided to be reasonably satisfied with the current balance.

While there were weapons too strong, like the hammer, there were none that were completely unusable.

It was the dagger that first shattered their perception.

When its skill set was first revealed, it was well-received. All its skills were specialized for approach.

Explosive movement speed and approach abilities, plus bonus damage when striking vital points. Some even analyzed whether it would become a nightmare for ranged weapons, which had reduced health and defense.

And it didn’t even take a day from its release for its evaluation to be overturned.

It was short. The weapon’s range was too short, showing how much its skills’ value had been overestimated.

At first, they thought it was a statistical error.

They approached with movement speed and approach abilities, but couldn’t hit anything.

The vital point damage, touted as an advantage, could only be an advantage if you could actually hit.

Please, just let me hit once. No words expressed the dagger’s plight more clearly.

–If the dagger doesn’t get buffed, it’s because of this guy. Peace out.

└Lmao.

SuspiciousPersonA’s skill was so exceptional that comments like these resonated with everyone.

[But why is there no mention of the character customization?]

Author: Anonymous

(“It’s the best…”)

Everyone’s only talking about the talent and skill, but no one’s mentioning the character customization?

With a voice like that, wouldn’t their appearance be top-tier too?

Likes 13 Dislikes 105

–The customization is acknowledged. Only the customization is acknowledged.

–Yeah, I wondered when someone like this would appear.

–It’s because of you, you f***.

–Even if there was customization, would you believe it?

–People with good voices and ugly faces are all over Twitch…

–They keep trying to give us the red pill, lolol.

About the talent. Then immediately about the skill.

Their prolonged discussion ended when one tactless person finally crossed the line and ruined the mood for the majority.

In a way, it was truly an ending befitting them.

And the protagonist of the story that ignited them so much was

“Indeed, this is the pleasure of spending money.”

She was indulging in luxury in real-time.

****

“This is it…!”

It was the most refreshing feeling I had ever experienced in my life.

The first thing I did after exiting the capsule was to look in the mirror.

Perhaps because what had accumulated inside me had finally eased, my furrowed brows and pouty lips softened, now forming a gentle smile.

No longer did I feel any killing intent.

Good, I can go out like this.

With this feeling, anything I did seemed like it would be enjoyable.

“Let’s go out.”

With an excited heart, I prepared to go out.

After the last incident, I had been thinking it would be good to go out at least once.

There were many clothes in the closet, but I had no particular difficulty.

The time for struggling with women’s clothes was long past.

‘That woman had taught me a few times.’

After finishing my preparations, I reached out and stepped through the front door.

“So this is what it was like…”

My first outing since returning. Everything around me felt new.

The wide corridor adorned with chandeliers, and even the fleeting sensation of weightlessness the elevator provided.

What felt most new, however, was the city scenery I encountered for the first time.

Mid-December. The snowy evening in Seoul, in the midst of winter, was incredibly beautiful.

I looked up at the sky, then ran towards the snow piled on the street.

“Ahaha! It’s cold…!”

It was the first time I stepped on snow with my regained legs.

The obvious fact that snow was cold felt new.

The crunching sensation that spread through my legs with every step on the snow was incredibly sweet.

I paused my steps for a moment and reached my hand towards the sky.

Unlike the emptiness of yesterday, now it felt as if an indescribable warmth was within my grasp.

The void that had settled in that peaceful life was now gone.

“Oh, right.”

I made a reservation. Let’s go quickly.

I had decided on my destination before going out.

A steakhouse.

As a reaction to the experiment that made it difficult to eat properly, I had been eating only meat for a while, so I wanted to visit a place that specialized in meat.

I had a car, but I deliberately chose to walk to savor this feeling a bit longer, and it happened to be not too far, so I picked it without hesitation.

After leaving the secluded park and arriving at the shopping district, I could hear the sounds of people from afar.

Amicable couples, groups of men, a woman holding a cake and talking on the phone with someone.

They were all chatting about their own topics.

‘For me, who puts up a wall and uses polite language from the start when meeting people, would this be a bit difficult?’

While I was smiling wryly at their appearance, I had already arrived at my destination.

“Uh, welcome! Do you have a reservation?”

As I opened the door and entered, a male staff member greeted me.

“It’s Lee Ro-ah.”

“Lee Ro-ah-nim… Confirmed! I will guide you to your reserved table!”

It was a good table, just like I saw in the pictures, with a clear view of the night scenery outside.

“Here’s the me-menu. Please call us again once you’ve decided.”

The part-timer handed me the menu along with some pre-meal bread.

But why did they seem to be trembling when they spoke just now?

I cautiously observed the part-timer, making sure they didn’t notice my gaze.

Their eyes trembled every time they looked at my face, especially when their gaze swept past my eyes, it trembled particularly hard.

Ah, it’s my appearance again. My eyes are always the problem.

‘Did they think I was beautiful but seemed to harbor poison?’

‘Or perhaps they thought I was someone important.’

“Relax.”

“Y-yes?”

“You’ve been trembling since earlier, haven’t you? Anyone would think I’m going to eat you alive.”

I offered words of encouragement with a warm smile.

Most people would usually drop their guard at this side of me.

“O-oh, understood…”

But instead, their voice kept getting softer…?

“Uh…”

‘Was this not it…?’

Ultimately, another staff member came to take my order.

Not long after, the ordered food arrived.

“Mmm!”

The tender texture, the moderate oiliness, and even the harmony with the accompanying salad.

It was on a completely different level from what I haphazardly made at home.

The more I ate, the more I felt that going out and spending money was a good decision.

Me, disliking luxury? Turns out that was nonsense.

It was simply that a much deeper emotion had been suppressing my desires.

Right. How can a person live without spending money? I must not have known true luxury yet.

Money truly is the best.