Chapter 12 : The Saint Plays Games (7)

“Damn it…”

-Lol, he lost.
-Master vs. trainee vibes?
-Seriously lol

One hit. Just one hit, and it would be over.

“If I end it too quickly, the viewers will be bored, right?”

With those words, the atmosphere shifted.

Her white hair shimmered in the sunlight, fluttering in the wind. As she lifted her slightly bowed head, her blood-red eyes gleamed menacingly.

“Ugh.”

A throwing knife embedded itself in his ankle, right at the joint.

‘When did she…?’

Clang.

A heavy blow landed on his back.

Thud.

His side.

Thump.

His solar plexus.

She was moving at an incredible speed, pummeling him relentlessly, ignoring his armor.

Armor increased defense, but it wasn’t absolute. It should at least block punches, though.

‘…How?!’

His HP was plummeting.

“Gah!”

His vision blurred, and his head spun.

How could she move like this in the desert? Was she really hacking?

“Damn it!”

He swung his greatsword wildly, and the attacks stopped momentarily.

His head throbbed, as if he had a concussion.

He shook his head and looked at his opponent.

High up?

Yes, high up. Almost as tall as his 2m-tall custom character.

His vision slowly cleared.

She was standing on something, like a ninja.

The rock formation?

Tap, tap, tap.

With the light sound of her feet against the rocks, she disappeared again.

“Shall we finish this?”

It was more fun than I expected.

Like…

Hitting a punching bag.

No, that wasn’t it.

More like… beating up a sparring partner relentlessly.

It was more satisfying than mindlessly hitting a scarecrow, like in some novels.

What was the best way to relieve stress?

Beating up the source of your stress.

A barbaric, but simple solution.

I was also taking out my frustration from the forum, but… that’s just how life was.

Like in games, the one who landed the final blow took all.

Thanks to this, my rage meter was completely empty.

‘Still…’

One more hit, just for good measure?

Every time I hit his head, there was a clear ringing sound. It seemed to be a good helmet.

Just then…

Ring, ring.

A cheerful sound, and an external window popped up.

‘Ah.’

One hour left until check-out.

Good timing.

“Shall we finish this?”

As if snapping out of a daze, he raised his greatsword. A straightforward attack, no feints or tricks.

I dodged easily and slashed at the back of his neck.

–Slice!

That was it.

Blood splattered.

His body collapsed without a scream. The kneeling warrior’s head fell to the ground, and his greatsword plunged into the sand.

Then, his body shattered into countless fragments.

A digital effect that contrasted with the realistic graphics.

The only trace of his existence was the blood-soaked crimson sand… and…

Along with the message, all his items, including his armor, flooded my inventory.

“What do I do with these…?”

It seemed I didn’t get to scatter the items like with bosses.

-Wow lol
-This is amazing.
-Did you see how she moved?
-How can she move like that in the desert?
-Theoretically, it’s possible.
-So that’s what those rock formations were for.
-No way lol, it’s hard enough to keep your balance up there.
-Oh! Here she comes!

Where Night King had disappeared, a blurry screen rose to Hayun’s eye level.

“Is that the chat?”

A deer leaves its hide when it dies, and it seemed the streamer Night King left his chat.

She swiped her finger, and the chat window zoomed in.

“Hello?”

The viewers, realizing Hayun had taken over the chat, erupted.

-Wow, your voice is so pretty!
-You’re so pretty, noona!
-But your makeup skills…

“Um, I just slapped it on.”

Even with the changed character customization, her beauty remained.

Her tanned skin accentuated her silver hair, and her crimson eyes looked like a flower blooming in the black desert.

And her figure… seeing her properly on screen, not in first-person view, she was truly beautiful.

The viewers, internally cursing out the overpowered player they just witnessed, responded politely.

-Noona, please stream!

The rowdy viewers had turned into docile lambs.

“…Stream?”

-More importantly, that guy transferred all his items to the shared storage.

The viewers immediately started snitching.

My inventory was already full. They were all high-grade items, so I couldn’t just discard them.

‘He must be a hardcore player.’

-How about a revenge PK?
-Right, you accepted his duel, now it’s your turn to challenge him. He still has other characters.

“Aren’t you guys his viewers?”

I was dumbfounded by their reaction.

-Nope.
-We just came here for the drama.
-Seriously lol

[Viewers: 8,542]

Having more viewers than followers was definitely strange.

Streaming, huh?

Hmm.

I was hungry.

“Too much effort…”

-Can’t argue with that.
-Seriously lol
-Night King was just a nuisance to Seolhwa.
-Noona only speaks with results lol
-Noona, can I ask one question?

“What?”

-How did you move like that, using the rocks?

“Haven’t you all done that before?”

-What do you mean?
-??
-????

The chat was filled with question marks.

“You know, when you were kids, walking only on the white lines on the road or the railing…”

Hayun raised a finger and began to explain calmly, like a teacher instructing a student.

-Uh…
-Is that even possible?

“It is.”

-?????
-???

The chat filled with question marks again.

“Since the ground is sand… look, like stepping stones.”

Hayun jumped from rock to rock, demonstrating. As she gradually increased her speed…

She moved like lightning.

-????
-What is this?
-So that’s how she did it lol

“Easy, right?”

-It actually works lol
-Is that humanly possible?
-Like Pikachu’s Quick Attac… mmmph.
-Only type “Seriously lol,” dude.
-Easy… cough… (vomiting blood emoticon) Easy peasy.

They were exaggerating. Just like the forum, the chat was the same.

But it was more fun than I thought.

Was this what human interaction was like?

It seemed my explanation was well-received, as the viewers were all agreeing.

“Now, do you believe I’m not a hacker?”

-Yes, sensei.
-You’d have to be an idiot not to.
-Seriously lol

In short, that was it. When your opponent was too weak, you set your own limitations.

Only stepping on white lines.

Only walking on sunlit patches on the way home.

That sort of thing.

-More importantly, please stream!
-I want to donate, but it would go to that Night King bastard.
-Seriously lol
-It’s not a collab, so…

Hmm.

“But I’m logging out now.”

-What?!
-Whyyyyy?!
-No, no, don’t go, don’t go.
-We’re doomed without you. Doomed.

“I’ve been in the Capsule Room for 24 hours. The check-out alarm went off, and I need to eat.”

-Ah.
-That’s…
-Can’t argue with that.
-Please stream sometime, even later!

“I’ll think about it.”

-Are you really going to let Night King get away with this?

I had a feeling that the streamer Night King was watching this conversation anxiously.

Having his long-played character deleted was probably karma enough.

And the viewers seemed to be turning against him.

Well, it was a bit unfair that he stashed his items before the duel.

“Then I’ll leave it to you guys to investigate and confiscate, like investigators… or police.”

-Confiscate?

“Whether you destroy them or keep them, I won’t interfere.”

-Oooooh!
-Golden bell!
-Kiyoooot!

The chat exploded.

“Huuuh…”

Hayun stepped out of the capsule, stretched, and looked around.

[Current Time]
-3:29 PM

“What should I do…”

It seemed I still had some time left.

‘Well, I don’t need to stay until the very last minute.’

Hayun twirled her hair, adjusted her clothes, and left the room.

‘Isn’t she working today?’

Behind the counter was not Seoyeon, but a dozing man.

“Checking out.”

Hayun held out the key card, and Hocheol, as if just realizing she was there, looked up.

“Ah…”

Hocheol’s jaw dropped.

A small, delicate face, snow-white skin, and ruby-red eyes, like a rose blooming in a snowfield. No, any comparison would be an insult to her beauty. Her brow furrowed slightly, but even that was so captivating that Hocheol was speechless.

“I’ll leave this here.”

Hayun tilted her head, placed the key card on the counter, and turned around.

Even her back was a breathtaking sight. Her long silver hair flowed down her back, just covering her bottom. With every step, her blue hot pants and thighs peeked out, mesmerizing him.

Her long legs and shapely hips made her waist look especially slender. A perfect, balanced, ideal figure.

‘She’s leaving.’

Hocheol, frantically checking the key card, spoke.

“Thirty, thirty minutes left.”
“It’s okay.”

Without turning around, she waved and left the Capsule Room.

He just wanted to see her face one more time…

After a while…

Ding-a-ling.

“Part-timer bro, a booth for twelve hours.”

A young man who looked like a customer entered.

Hocheol seemed lost in thought.

“Bro, spacing out again.”

Hocheol finally turned and spoke.

“Do you believe in love?”
“…Huh?”
“Angels… they exist in this world.”

Hocheol said dreamily.

‘Here he goes again…’

The young man, Taehwa, shook his head.

“…The world is truly beautiful.”
“Come on! Just ring me up already!”

Hocheol’s rambling continued until Taehwa finally snapped.