Chapter 9 : Is it time to start now_

There’s a saying: Man proposes, God disposes.

It’s one of the famous lines from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, an enduring masterpiece of East Asian literature, meaning that while humans may devise plans, their success or failure is determined by the heavens.

It sounds grand and profound, but when you break it down, it essentially means life is a crapshoot determined by dice rolls, so forget everything else and just pray.

Zhuge Liang, who uttered this line, went all-in on prayer, but his spirit extinguished along with the candles, and he died. How pathetic, to rely on something like luck.

Anyway.

Personally, I’m not a big fan of such sayings. However, I did think there was some truth to it.

There are walls that some people cannot overcome, no matter how hard they try.

Even if you dedicate your entire being, even if you strive for a lifetime, there are limits that are simply impossible to breach. Not everyone can stand at the pinnacle.

But, there are people in this world who effortlessly leap over walls that others would struggle to scale even after a lifetime of effort.

The world calls such a person ‘talented’.

And I.

[SeongWon Kill: NAstrasoft01]
[SeongWon Kill: bigmilker]
[SeongWon Kill: JohnRichJ2]
[SeongWon Kill: JohnRichJ2]
[SeongWon Kill: squo0914]

Was clearly, a talented person.

* * *

SeongWon’s kill log climbed endlessly.

The 33 veteran players, who had rushed in drooling at the thought of catching fresh newbies and teabagging them, were soon forced to pause as they were struck in the bridge of the nose by familiar, rotten water movements.

“Damn it!”

“…This is ridiculous, even as I’m getting hit.”

“Damn it, I pulled the trigger!”

“What? Did I launch the wrong game? Since when did my beloved trash game V-BAT become Soulframe?”

It was just a different level of movement.

To be frank, SeongWon wasn’t moving like a typical V-BAT veteran. It was more like she was just good at virtual reality games in general, using a transcendent sense.

[squo0914 Kill: SeongWon]

Thanks to this, one by one, users began to succeed in killing the monstrous newbie by exploiting her.

However, the veterans were already past caring about killing newbies. Their goal was no longer to ‘teabag newbies and post shitposts on Reddit’.

‘I have to catch her. I absolutely have to!’

‘She’s a newbie, a newbie! I have to show her everything quickly!’

‘Please don’t abandon our game please please I beg you don’t delete V-BAT we’ll be good we’ll treat you well please don’t leave’

‘I absolutely… absolutely won’t let her escape…!’

The hype of the first virtual reality game was long forgotten. Pro shooters had spat on it and abandoned it.

New players? None.

The rotten veterans, who believed that the twisted mentality of ‘I’ll cut down any new players who come in and quit anyway’ was normal, finally had something appear before their eyes.

At last.

A ‘newbie worth raising’ had appeared!

–Boom!

“Haha! This cute little thing. Didn’t even think about being able to make things like IEDs (improvised explosive devices)… Kyaaak!”

“Damn, who taught her how to throw rocks already?”

“As expected, everyone learns the good stuff quickly.”

…Of course, to be honest, I don’t know if this is raising a newbie, or just the veterans’ way of griefing.

If anyone remembers how to educate newbies after 10 years of rotting in a cesspool without even a whiff of new players, that would be a victory for human reason.

“Wow, this is fun? Everyone’s so persistent. Even after getting killed so much, they keep coming at me. It’s a masterpiece, a masterpiece. I should write a review.”

Well, at least both sides were satisfied, so maybe it’s a good thing.

That day, SeongWon enjoyed V-BAT for about 4 hours.

[It’s a really fun masterpiece. Highly recommended.]
[Recommended: 2 / Not Recommended: 1872]

And the review SeongWon wrote received 1.8k downvotes.

* * *

I stepped out of the virtual machine and stretched lightly.

“Mmm, ah. Nice, nice. All the fatigue is gone?”

Even though I had been lying down in the machine for 4 hours, there was no strain on my body. Instead, my body felt refreshed?

‘The highest-end model is the best. Is it because it’s so comfortable?’

Or maybe it’s just because I saw blood after a long time.

Since coming here from another world, there hasn’t really been any need to see blood.

‘People need to see blood, you know.’

It’s not for nothing that gladiatorial contests were popular in Roman times.

‘I think there was something like Seokjeon in Joseon too.’

Why do you think things like boxing and MMA exist?

It’s best to vent your violent tendencies directly, but for people who can’t do that, it’s made so they can at least release the violence inherent in their hearts through their eyes, isn’t it?

‘Otherwise, people go crazy.’

I’ve probably killed hundreds of people in the game today, so I can say I’ve sufficiently vented my violent tendencies.

I deserve at least 10 bonus points.

Thinking that, I shuffled into the living room, where Miley was still staring blankly at a children’s TV program.

Hmm, TV really is the answer for dealing with problem children.

“Miley?”

“Hut!”

As I approached and waved my hand, focus returned to Miley’s completely unfocused pupils. She quickly looked at me and hurriedly straightened her clothes and stood up.

“I apologize, Master. I showed you a relaxed appearance.”

“No, it’s okay. It happens.”

Wouldn’t it be better to have her watch 10 hours of Pinkfong on repeat than to have her get into another pointless fight with David Kim? If our problem child stays quiet, the hero will be very happy.

“Last time, Miley said we should think about the starting point of the broadcast after Vice President Cha completes the support department, right?”

“That’s right. Since it’s the first step Master is taking towards the new dream you’ve set, I thought it would be best to prepare thoroughly before starting. However, if you have any other intentions, I will correct it immediately.”

She’s more formal than usual, maybe because she was caught spacing out earlier. It’s making me uncomfortable.

“You don’t have to be so stiff… I respect Miley’s judgment too. I also think it’s right to start after preparing as best as we can.”

But, I think it’s necessary to check how the plans are being made.

Miley, who has the subtly creepy ability to figure out what I’m thinking just by reading my gaze, immediately replied with a faint smile.

“I will call Vice President Cha immediately.”

* * *

PD Cha Eun-ho.

No, now TS Media’s Production Manager Cha Eun-ho.

Manager Cha was feeling a sense of ennui in his life these days.

‘My salary increased… but I want to quit…!’

Everything was great until he bit the bait, blinded by the enormous salary.

When he mentioned considering a job change, his wife had been furious, but as soon as she heard his salary, she smiled brightly and made him beef short ribs.

He no longer had to worry about his daughter’s college tuition, and if he just endured at the company for a while, it seemed like he could prepare for retirement!

But, he wants to quit. He doesn’t want to come to the company!

The reason was simple.

‘What the hell am I supposed to do?’

No one knew.

This damn company, for some reason, had a shiny office in a large building in the middle of Seoul, but there were less than 10 employees.

And no one in the company had any idea what they were supposed to be doing.

They were supposed to assist the chairman, but how were they supposed to assist him, and what was this internet broadcast about?

There has to be some kind of source material to get the ball rolling, but there’s no information given!

Does this make any sense?

Then, a call came from above.

“Brother, the chairman is calling for you…”

The poor assistant director, who had vowed to stay with him until the end and formed a brotherhood ‘under the sashimi restaurant’, reported to him with a resentful look in his eyes.

Manager Cha avoided his gaze and thought.

‘Chairman… Yes, I need to see him. I need to see to know.’

Anyway, his job was to support the chairman’s internet broadcast. If he saw the ‘chairman’, he would get some idea.

Manager Cha left the company and headed to the location the assistant director had told him. When he arrived, another company appeared.

“Top Star Korea Branch…?”

The words Top Star Inc. were clearly displayed.

First of all, I understand that the TS in TS Media is an abbreviation for Top Star. However, no matter how much I think about it, it’s a company I’ve never heard of.

‘Besides, this is Yeouido?’

Putting aside his doubts, Manager Cha entered the building and was soon surprised to learn that it was an investment company.

And unlike TS Media, which was on the verge of the apocalypse, it was a company that was actually functioning properly!

‘This, shit.’

A curse word almost escaped his lips, but the thought of 270 million won flashed before his eyes again, and Manager Cha shut his mouth. He followed the secretary’s guidance and headed to the CEO’s office.

And finally, as he entered the CEO’s office, which was made of translucent glass, he saw three people.

One was the blonde, Caucasian beauty he had met before. Another was a middle-aged man who looked a little older than himself.

And.

A girl sitting in a large executive chair.

‘Huh? A girl?’

At the moment of cognitive dissonance, Manager Cha stared blankly at the girl, and the middle-aged man clapped his hands lightly.

“He’s finally here. Chairman, this is Manager Cha Eun-ho. He’s a talented PD who produced two hit variety shows that once took Korea by storm.”

“Really? I didn’t know because I’ve never seen a variety show.”

“Haha, that’s possible. Actually, I don’t know about his work either, since the headhunter told me about him, but according to the data, it seems to have been a hit of considerable quality.”

“I think your information gathering is insufficient. Shouldn’t CEO Kim be thoroughly familiar with the person who will be planning the broadcast that Master will be conducting in the future?”

“Ha, ha. Well… we’ll know when we see his abilities directly.”

With those words, the middle-aged man smiled and glanced at him. Cha Eun-ho immediately noticed that although he was smiling, his eyes were cold as ice.

Manager Cha was a man who prided himself on having reached the pinnacle of reading people, having worked as a PD on terrestrial television for years.

It was easy to grasp the meaning with just a glance.

That look meant, ‘Are you crazy? Lower your eyes and prostrate yourself.’

“Cha! Eun! Ho! Manager! I will work hard!”

Putting strength into his stomach and bowing his head, Manager Cha immediately grasped the information about the other party.

First, the middle-aged man and the blonde woman seemed to be in conflict but almost equal. The aura emanating from both of them was overwhelming. A commoner like himself would be crushed by their presence…!

And….

‘A, a monster….’

Both of them were visibly watching the girl’s mood, to the extent that Manager Cha could sense it. Who was this girl that even those with such spirit were watching her mood?!

Manager Cha trembled in fear. He wanted to run away from this place immediately, but the weight of being the head of the household held him back. The weight of a head of household is so heavy!

The girl, who had been staring intently at Manager Cha, soon muttered, ‘Well, is this good enough?’, then took a tablet out of her briefcase and handed it to the blonde woman.

“Miley.”

“Yes, Master.”

Then, the blonde woman called Miley took the tablet and handed it to Manager Cha. Manager Cha unconsciously took the tablet and asked with a bewildered face.

“Th, this is?”

“It’s an edited video of the chairman’s gameplay. Please watch this first, and then we’ll start the meeting in the conference room.”

At those words, Manager Cha lowered his gaze to the tablet.

The tablet displayed a video paused on [A Collection of My Awesome Plays from Back in the Day].

Even in this serious situation, the title was so ridiculous that he almost let out a chuckle. What was this title that was trying to use memes in such a half-assed way?

“I, I’m sorry. Why is the title like th….”

“I made it.”

The girl said with a sullen expression.

Manager Cha felt like killing himself.