Chapter 28 : How life does not go as you think

▣ LOL Skkscalpyeong level kekekeke.GIF

[Sno.1 Broadcast Clip]

Sorry, I had to get your attention to show you this.. SeongWon’s NoSurrender fight is this for real? This is really a fight between the strongest beings in the world.. Is that really that idiot Minder? Minder is truly a legend.. I used to play only Minder all the time in the old days, and seeing Minder become a star-like ranker, the strongest in the world, a legendary, broken, overpowered character, it really makes me emotional……

–What kind of boomer template is this? I keep seeing it lately;;
└It was popular about half a century ago.
└How do you know that, Your Excellency?
–But this is for real, though. I watched the live stream and it was insane.
└It really is an unbelievable engagement.
└It feels like watching a dogfight between fighter jets in an old movie.

▣ Hey, am I the weird one here?

[Sno.1 Broadcast Clip, a racer who unfortunately encountered SeongWon during her evasion maneuver is instantly blown up.]

Minder’s damage seems a bit off, doesn’t it?
Does it make sense for a racer to be turned into fried chicken in a 2+1?

–What the heck is 2+1, you nerd?
└Two ‘Psychokinesis Bursts,’ one ‘Singularity.’
└Why are you using terms only you guys understand;;;
└Sno.1 explains it in detail on his live stream~ Please subscribe, like, and turn on notifications~
–The damage does seem a bit weird. I don’t know anything about Minder, so I don’t knowㅋㅋㅋㅋ Maybe it’s possible if you go full damage build?
└If you can handle Minder, you’re a beast.
└Info) The only human who can currently handle Minder is SeongWon, this person.
└Was it actually a hidden gem all along kekekekeke

▣ But seriously, after watching the full video, it’s clear.

NoSurrender’s sudden snipe was actually APK Front’s big picture, ㅇㅇ.
It wasn’t that they were idiots contacting a ‘mere’ small-time streamer, it was that they were politely offering a transfer to a ‘supernova monster with insane physical prowess’ and there was a minor hiccup, that’s the big picture they’re trying to show ㅇㅇ.
SeongWon’s physicals are just different. She’s practically a top-tier pro player.

–No, dammit, they were clinging to the pants of a supernova monster, okay? They weren’t trying to get some small-time streamerㅋㅋㅋ
–What kind of idiot viral markets a small-time streamer like this? Who would compare someone with less than 1000 average viewers to a pro? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└If this looks like viral marketing to you, you’re Skkscalpyeong ㅋㅋ
└‘Average viewers’
└‘That community’s language’
–But at this rate, it seems like other places will try to grab her too? Seosung, GES, ThX, there are plenty of places with deep pockets.
└ThX, you bastards, stop paying attention to sponsoring some crappy game and announce the Mars tourism project already, dammit, my stocks are melting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
└Sir, you seem a little angry. First, to calm down, sit on the floor in a cross-legged position, take a deep breath, and quietly say, ‘I am an idiot.’
└[Deleted comment]

▣ But how did she solve Minder’s cognitive acceleration?

[Diamond top-tier rating certification photo]

I also tried to dig into Minder when it first came out because its specs looked really good, but I gave up after a few tries;;
When I turn on the cognitive acceleration passive, I immediately feel the burden on my stamina, and I can’t calculate the skill coordinates;
Whether it’s ranged or mid-ranged, mage heroes need that to accurately land skills, but she can’t turn it on, so how the hell is she using skills?

–Wait, so she’s using skills without coordinates?
└I don’t know. Only she would know.
–Isn’t it a hack?
└What kind of nonsense is that?
└Virtual reality with hacks? kekekeke
└kekekekeke Want to get your brain fried?

▣ Honestly, it does feel a bit like a hack.

It doesn’t make sense otherwise. How can she do it when everyone else can’t? She must have installed a hack or an external device keke

–So she’s risking her life to stream? ㄷㄷ
└A life-risking live stream ㅗㅜㅑ
–I heard there are people who turned into vegetables after using external devices.
└What are vegetables?
└[Deleted comment]
└;;;;;;;;;Crazy bastard
–It’s ambiguous, though. Well, we’ll have to wait and see. It’s obvious, though keke
└What, did a bunch of people come over from Skkscalpyeong? Why is there so much negativity; This is the Soul Gallery, dammit, go back to your home base.
└That’s right이에오

◈ ◈ ◈

The broadcast ended after that match due to stamina issues.

“Wow…….”

Only after getting out of the machine did I realize that the shorts and t-shirt I was wearing were soaked in sweat.

‘Did I use cognitive acceleration too much…….’

I sweated more than when I first used cognitive acceleration. Isn’t this similar to when I sprinted on a treadmill? It’s not like I went into a swimming pool.

‘Cognitive acceleration, it’s amazing.’

I wonder if this has exercise benefits.

“Ugh, I feel sticky.”

But sticky is sticky.

I flapped my clothes that were clinging to my body and wiped my face with the towel Miley handed me. It felt like I was sitting covered in blood. It really felt melancholic.

‘At this rate, won’t the inside smell like sweat?’

That’s a bit uncomfortable. I should look into how to clean or replace the virtual machine’s internal materials later.

I shuffled into the representative’s office.

I wanted to go home and take a shower with cool water, but I had to listen to Vice President Cha’s report. There’s no shower facility in the office, so I had to endure it.

“Start.”

I told Vice President Cha, who was turned around again this time, to start the report, while I cooled myself with a fan that a flushed female employee had brought from somewhere.

“First, I contacted the viral marketing agency. From now on, we will steer the issue so that people suspect the chairman is using hacks.”

Vice President Cha, who was stiff as a stone, said that and sweated a little. It seems Miley threatened to kill him if he looked back again. Seriously, I don’t know why she does that.

“Good.”

Did she notice my voice becoming slightly slurred, Miley quickly turned around and asked me.

“Master, are you feeling alright? Should we go to the hospital…….”

“What hospital for something like this? You know, Miley? This is pretty good compared to before.”

In the other world, honestly, I’ve experienced situations much worse than this several times. This is just, sticky.

“Anyway, Vice President Cha. How is the atmosphere among the people who saw this?”

Then, Vice President Cha swallowed hard and answered.

“It’s really burning up. Not only Soul Frame related communities, but also game related communities, internet broadcasting related communities, and pro team communities. Most of the discussions are about the chairman and NoSurrender.”

Oh. That much?

“The impact is bigger than I thought? It was just a 15-minute battle video and the live viewers were less than 20,000?”

Then, Vice President Cha scratched his cheek.

“It’s probably because it’s the most popular in Korea. Among the top virtual reality games in terms of simultaneous users worldwide, Soul Frame is the game where Koreans have the most influence.”

“Hmm.”

I see.

That could be it. I heard there was a similar case when PC games were the mainstream.

Of course, that company is already ruined.

I opened my smartphone, changed ‘Vice President Cha’ to ‘Representative Cha’ in my contacts, and looked at Miley.

“Miley. Have you received any information about Minder being nerfed?”

Then, Miley answered with a gloomy expression.

“Nothing has been detected yet. Since Soul Frame’s headquarters is a German company, it’s not easy to confirm it in Korea…… I apologize, Master.”

“Hmm. I see.”

Well, since my base is in Korea, it can’t be helped.

“For now, we have to move with this uncertainty. Representative Cha. Is your opinion still the same, to release the voice recording when Minder gets nerfed?”

“Yes. It remains the same.”

“But will they really nerf it? Just because of me?”

Then, Representative Cha nodded seriously.

“Yes. Nobody can use it, but Minder’s current specs are too overpowered. If the chairman keeps messing around with Minder in the top ratings, Soul Frame will have no choice but to hotfix it.”

Ugh. I shrugged.

“The game company is nerfing it just to stop me. Should I be proud of this, or should I be dumbfounded?”

Then, Miley brought something like a blanket and wrapped it around my body. I feel like I’m becoming a cocoon.

“The game company is being dirty, but I still think it’s something to be proud of, Master.”

“Is that so?”

Hmm. My ‘power’ and ‘wisdom’ are so great that the game company has to directly hotfix it.

It’s a shame, but. I’ll have to understand!

As I was thinking that, Representative Cha said carefully.

“And this is just a guess…… but I think APK will contact us.”

“Their franchise star was crushed by me?”

“That’s true, but it’s actually their fault. We created the issue first, but in terms of severity, what NoSurrender did is overwhelmingly heavier.”

Vice President Cha scratched the back of his head and looked at the tablet.

“They probably know it too. That we were deliberately considerate. At least if NoSurrender confesses what he did.”

At that, I recalled NoSurrender’s impression.

Hmm. Certainly.

Based on hero-like psychology, he seemed full of energy, but he didn’t seem like an irresponsible person.

“APK’s contact will probably come through the email or game message posted on the chairman’s Pachikik broadcasting station bulletin board. Please check that periodically.”

“Okay.”

“Even if they contact you, don’t respond directly. Leave it to our people. Since we’re doing what we do, we need to sign a non-disclosure agreement.”

“Alright.”

I lightly snapped my fingers.

“Then let’s combine all three. Keep stirring up the issue with hacks, and when Minder gets nerfed, call APK to prove that it’s not a hack, and release the voice recording in the process.”

“Understood. Then we will proceed that way, Chairman.”

Only then did I stretch lightly.

“Ugh. Ugh. I can only stop using this damn Minder once it’s nerfed. I sweat too much when I use it. I want to try other heroes too.”

At my words, Representative Cha sighed, sweating.

“Ha, haha. Right. I hope the chairman will sweat less.”

Why is he saying something so obvious?

◈ ◈ ◈

After that, I lived a regular life for a few weeks.

When I wake up in the morning, I eat and go straight down to exercise.

After exercising, I take a quick shower and go to work with Miley to check the general report and data.

The current issue is finding a professional virtual editor to edit my videos.

With the transition to virtual reality, virtual video editing skills have become a highly skilled profession, almost equivalent to a professional programmer.

The salary for someone who can properly handle virtual videos, not just old-fashioned editing, starts at at least $100,000.

After listening to the regular report, I open the documents sent by Top Star’s CEO Kim.

After signing some documents and reading reports, I finally start live streaming.

The average broadcast time is between 3 and 4 hours a day. I consistently stream at least 5 times a week.

The broadcast is steadily growing.

It feels like about 1300 people are watching on average.

But.

Even though everything was going well, there was a problem.

A serious problem.

“……Representative Cha.”

“……Yes, Chairman.”

Representative Cha and I looked at each other with serious faces.

I haven’t changed much, but Representative Cha’s eyes were sunken, and his skin was a bit dry. It seems he’s been struggling with that serious problem.

Soon, ‘that problem’ came out of Representative Cha’s mouth.

“……Soul Frame, these guys must be completely insane. The chairman’s rating has risen to near Hundred and people in the higher tiers are cursing, but I don’t understand why they haven’t hotfixed Minder.”

“……I’d rather ask why the rumor that I’m a high-performance AI instead of a hack user has changed.”