Chapter 18: Streamers’ Competition – 2

Around the time Black Sea was struggling hard to break through the 0th Named phase.

Streamers who were relatively quick-witted had already passed the 0th Named and arrived at the 1st Named.

“Black Sea-nim still hasn’t made it here?”

• Yeah, that guy only knows how to fight.

• He didn’t even know the basic mechanics lolllll

• He was also the first one to die in this raid lolllll

• The man who wants to be the first in everything lolllll

News of Black Sea spread like this.

It reached the ears of other streamers progressing through the raid.

Through clips shared in real-time, it quickly circulated among the famous streamers.

“Sigh, really.
I knew this oppa would be like this.”

Mage Sua, a top-ranking frost mage from the same alliance.

She chuckled softly at the continuous news updates from other streamers.

She, who had figured out the mechanics faster than anyone and arrived before the 1st Named.

• Noona, please be the first to clear it!

• Please!

• Show them the power of a mage!

• Give those ignorant cowards who only push with force a bitter taste!

• Unni, if you clear it first, I’ll give you 10,000!

Leaving behind the cheers of the viewers who consistently watched her stream.

Now it was time to repay their support.

Gripping her staff tightly, she entered the 1st Named area.

“Shall we start lightly for now?”

[ 1st Named : True Duel ]

The concept of the 1st Named appeared in Mage Sua’s vision.

The group of three adventurers she had seen in Streamer High School Girl-chan’s clips awaited her.

[ You have come. ]

A knight training ground, half-ruined.

Unlike the somewhat clumsy, fresh adventurer atmosphere, serious adventurer nightmares emanated an intense glow from their eyes.

• ???

• They’re not boss mobs but they have egos ㄷㄷ

• Wow, is this atmosphere for real?

• But if the difficulty is equal, how are we supposed to win 1 vs 3?

• Maybe we’re supposed to win through physical skill?

Amidst the viewers’ chat, half worried, half expectant.

[ Objective: Defeat all enemies. Time Remaining: 04:59 ]

An extremely difficult physical skill-based Named boss demanding a time attack!

Without a moment to think, Mage Sua chanted the spell she was most confident in.

‘The class limit is 2nd Class.
That means knights and mages, all jobs are on equal footing.
Then the limit of magic I can use is 2nd Circle!’

The most powerful ice magic among the 2nd Circle spells manifested from her hand.

「… Freeze.
Ice Bolt!」

The tanker, charging forward with clanging heavy armor, took her magic head-on.

However.

< Immune (1 Damage!) >

“Imm…une!?”

Before she could even be shocked, the tanker’s sword slashed through her.

A black screen greeted Mage Sua.

“… Isn’t immunity cheating?”

• Sob sobㅠ Stay strong, Unni.

• I don’t think I’ve ever seen an immunity mechanic before.

• We need to figure out why it showed immune first.

She realized this wasn’t a Named boss that could be beaten by recklessly charging in.

She too walked the path of a mage.

With a spirit of inquiry and observation, she challenged the 1st Named once more.

[ You have died. ]

Once again, she was kicked back to the entrance of the 1st Named by the tanker’s sword.

Still, there was a gain.

“I confirmed that not just the tanker, but all of them show immunity.
And the rogue and mage in the back don’t even flinch.”

She attacked the watching rogue and mage nightmares with simple magic.

But they were also immune, making no difference.

The fact that they didn’t initiate combat even after being attacked meant.

“Does it mean, true to the name ‘True Duel’, we’re supposed to fight 1-on-1?”

• That seems the most likely.

• It’s probably a mechanic-based Named, not a combat one.

• Thinking about Black Sea getting stuck here is hilarious lolllll

• He’ll obviously just charge in without thinking, for real lol.

It was stated that the maximum team size was three.

It wasn’t a raid that absolutely required three people.

That’s why Mage Sua, wanting to experience the same challenge as the mage called High School Girl-chan, had entered alone.

That decision turned out to be fortunate for her.

Because Contest Mode was a mode where mechanics and difficulty changed based on the number of participants.

“The difficulty changes depending on the number of people?”

It wasn’t that Mage Sua hadn’t considered this.

She had only formed a hypothesis in her head, unable to be certain.

Considering the shadow nightmares that died so easily before the 1st Named, it was a possibility.

< 1000 Won Donation from Aegibeopbeopjyang! >
Unni, look at this.

A clip arrived with the donation.

The content was simple.

It showed another streamer party that had reached the 1st Named.

Unlike her situation, it was a short video where the three shadow adventurers moved simultaneously.

“My hypothesis was correct.
If that’s the case….”

Mage Sua, smarter than most, had a gleam in her eyes.

“Figuring out the mechanic first is the priority.”

Mage Sua took out a torch from her inventory.

She had noticed a hint in the video clips of other streamers she had watched.

“I’ll show you how to clear it, guys.”

As soon as she entered the 1st Named area, she cast the protective magic, Shield, around her body.

A barrier that could block at least one attack.

Holding the torch, she dashed forward and lit one of the nearby lanterns.

Fwoosh!

Not an ordinary red flame, but a pure white flame flared up.

“This is it.”

There were four lanterns on each pillar along the walls of the knight training ground.

Upon activating it.

The tanker let out a pained scream.

Timing it perfectly, Mage Sua launched a 2nd Circle ice spell.

The tanker, struck by the ice magic, entered a groggy state and collapsed to the floor.

“It works!”

Thanks to the 1st Named mechanic strategy discovered by Mage Sua.

The stalled progress in other streamers’ broadcasts began to show slight advancements.

While the streamer who found the hidden mechanic was impressive.

A strange phenomenon occurred where Edelin’s reputation, who had managed a 1 vs 3 without such mechanics, rose even higher.

18-2

(Chatter) Streamer Raid Progress Ranking

[ Author – AnalysisIsGoodYongHongHong ] [ Views – 59624 ] [ Likes – 520 ] [ Comments 255 ]

This ranking is full of personal bias.

1st – Mage Sua: Perhaps because she discovered the 1st Named mechanic strategy, she’s rapidly performing the final mechanic.
2nd – Sky Penguin: Figured out the 1st Named mechanic and is progressing.
3rd – HitnRun: A foreign streamer, similarly finished figuring out the mechanic and is progressing.
.
.
.
10th – Black Sea: Seems hopeless since he keeps pushing with physical strength even though it’s not working.

While everyone was absorbed in the Contest Raid.

Yeeun and Edelin were heading to the branch of what was said to be the largest Mage Association in Korea.

Why did she feel a sense of satisfaction while looking at the chaotic forums and broadcasts?

Thinking that all of this happened thanks to her little brother.

A pleased smile naturally leaked out.

‘My lucky charm brother.
Hehehe.’

Yeeun’s gaze, accompanied by a wide grin, fixed on Edelin.

From Edelin’s perspective, it was a reaction that couldn’t help but cause a cold sweat.

That aside.

“Is the place we are going now a decent branch?”
“Hmm.
I’ve never been to a Mage Association branch, so I don’t know….”

Having lived her entire life as an ordinary person, there was no way Yeeun would have visited a place overflowing with Awakened beings.

The siblings were heading blindly to a location found on the internet.

‘I hope they have what I need….’

To suppress the nightmare energy boiling within her.

Even if it wasn’t as pure as the energy of Spirit Grass.

A certain amount of mana was needed.

Fitting for a district where mages gathered, the interior and design were neat.

It resembled a fantasy job placement center where adventurers gathered, with a medieval atmosphere.

The interior harmoniously blended this with modern design.

“It seems they modeled it after a Magic Tower.”

Unlike Edelin, who had adapted to the interior, Yeeun looked around here and there with curiosity.

A guide from the Mage Association branch approached the two.

‘Gasp.’

Visitors to the Mage Association branch were usually.

Mostly Awakened Mages.

So the number of visitors per day wasn’t very high.

Therefore, Kim Hyunah, the receptionist cum guide who approached thinking some unusual guests had arrived.

Couldn’t help but widen her eyes.

‘Is she a doll made of magic?
She’s so pretty….’

A black-haired beautiful girl, enough to make any model or idol pale in comparison, stood there.

Smooth white skin without a single blemish.

Doll-like round eyes weren’t enough; her body proportions had curves that felt like the golden ratio.

Kim Hyunah barely managed to stop herself.

From unconsciously reaching out her hand.

“Uh, for what purpose have you come to our branch?”
“Hmm…
Is there perhaps a Mana Training Room here as well?”

How could even her voice be so beautiful?

Look at those cherry-like lips producing such a sweet voice.

She’s so cute I want to hug her tigh….

“Gasp!
There is a training room, but it is a space permitted only to the mages of the branch….”

Ordinary people cannot enter.

Kim Hyunah trailed off, phrasing it indirectly, worried about disappointing the girl.

Because it was a potentially dangerous place even just for viewing.

Even for her, it was impossible.

“Hmm….
Then what must one do to become a mage?”
“You need to pass the test conducted by the branch…?”
“Then let us do that test right now.”
“Yes…?”

Startled by the bold girl’s words, Kim Hyunah turned her gaze to the adult who seemed to be her guardian.

Yeeun nodded and said.

“Please proceed without worrying about the cost.”
“Ah.
Yes.
Please wait a moment.”

Although the cost for the test was high.

The branch of the Korean Mage Association was open to anyone.

Watching Kim Hyunah quickly walk towards the reception desk, Yeeun let out a small sigh.

“Oppa.
You haven’t forgotten your promise not to become a Hunter, right?”
“I keep my promises, sister.
This body needs the training room, not a mage license, so do not worry.”
“You promised?”
“I promise.”

Edelin, not wanting to cause her family any more worry.

Cherished the present time even more.

Yeeun also had no choice but to trust her brother.

“Well then, let us begin.”

It was the moment she took the first step towards becoming a legitimate mage.