Chapter 31: Master-Level Newbie (Part 2)

Master

An English word meaning maestro or expert, it refers to someone who has completely mastered a certain field.

That is to say, reaching the Master tier means that you have completely mastered Arfellium.

It is given only to users who have reached the level of a game master or expert, so it is practically the rank received by the best players of this game.

Then what is Grand Master?

‘Probably someone who is grandly good.’

Anyway.

The important thing is that I was placed in this tier.

Being placed directly in the Master tier after the placement matches means that my rating was already at the top before.

I thought I was playing games in the Platinum section, but it seems I was actually clashing swords with Diamond or Master tier players.

Yeah, up to this point, it’s good.

Being placed in a high tier?

Strictly speaking, it’s a good thing, not something to dislike.

It’s getting to the highest of the heavens, so it’s something to be happy about, not angry about.

The problem is that it’s the Master tier.

Two tiers higher than the Platinum tier, the Master tier.

Of course, Master couldn’t duo with Platinum.

In other words, according to the syllogism, I can’t duo with Kim Ji-eun.

“Whyyyyyy!!”

VRcall virtual conference room.

I smiled awkwardly, looking at Kim Ji-eun, who was lying on the floor in despair.

Kim Ji-eun, who glanced at me, soon lamented with an exaggerated attitude as if the ground would collapse.

“Why are you so good at the game!!”

“I know. It’s a truly unfortunate thing.”

“Why Master….”

I don’t know that either.

Did I know I was this good at the game?

‘Honestly, I thought Diamond was the limit.’

It seems that the skills of real-world users are lower than I expected.

Otherwise, there’s no way I would be placed in the Master tier just by showing that much skill.

“Noooooo… My Diamond….”

I patted Kim Ji-eun’s shoulder, who was sobbing, and comforted her.

After being depressed for a while, Kim Ji-eun shook her head and sighed.

“Sigh. It can’t be helped, I can’t lower your tier.”

“That’s true.”

“Of course, it’s a shame that I can’t go to Diamond… Actually, going to Diamond like this isn’t a very good thing.”

“Huh?”

When I tilted my head, Kim Ji-eun said with a serious face.

“If I go up like this, it’s not really because of my skills. Besides, even if I go up to Diamond, it’s obvious that I’ll fall soon if my skills don’t improve.”

“Well, looking at it objectively, that would be the case.”

It’s impossible to rise to a high tier if there is no improvement in skill.

You might be able to go up for a while by luck, but you will soon find your place.

‘The game that was popular in the past was like that too.’

There were many similar cases in a certain game where boosting was prevalent.

It was common for users who rose to high tiers through boosting to return to their hometown due to a lack of skill.

“So you don’t have to feel too sorry. Actually, it’s not something to be sorry about, is it? Shihyun, you went up to a high tier because you’re good. That’s not a fault.”

“I’m not that sorry.”

At my answer, Kim Ji-eun muttered with a shocked face.

“I, I guess so.”

“Yeah.”

“…….”

“…….”

A moment of silence.

And soon, Kim Ji-eun, unable to stand the silence, cleared her throat.

“W, well. For now… then what will you do in the future?”

“Huh?”

What will I do?

I have to keep playing Arfellium.

“I have to keep playing the game. I haven’t reached first place yet.”

When I answered that, Kim Ji-eun hit her chest as if frustrated.

“No, I mean the stream. The stream.”

“Stream?”

What does that mean?

When I tilted my head, Kim Ji-eun said.

“Aren’t you going to do your own stream?”

“……!!”

At that, I closed my mouth tightly.

‘A personal stream….’

Personal broadcast. Streaming.

It doesn’t matter what you call it.

The important thing is whether I will do it or not.

And my thoughts on that part were ‘on hold for now’.

‘It’s not something to choose without deep consideration.’

Of course, you can stream with a light heart.

There are many cases where streams have grown like that.

But.

‘It’s not something to think about too lightly.’

It felt a little different to me.

After all, I fell into ‘that world’ because of a stream.

I watched a suspicious personal broadcast, and then I entered another world.

After that, I went through hardships that I really can’t talk about without tears.

Pain that is still traumatic to this day.

As such, streaming was a bit uncomfortable for me.

Who knows?

Maybe starting a personal stream will be the trigger and I’ll be thrown into ‘that world’ again?

‘And after all, this is also a kind of job.’

Actually, that wasn’t the only reason I hesitated.

After all, in my current situation, if I start streaming, there is a high possibility that I will have to make it my profession, and I didn’t think it was right to decide that too rashly.

“I’m going to think a little more about streaming and then decide.”

“Hmm, yeah. That’s true. You have to decide whether to do this as a job or a hobby. And depending on that, the way you approach streaming will change. It doesn’t seem like a problem to choose easily.”

Kim Ji-eun nodded her head and then asked me with a cautious look.

“Then for the time being, you’ll continue to participate as a guest on my stream, right?”

“Of course. Don’t tell me, you’re going to abandon me?”

“Abandon you, how can you say such sad words! Of course, I’d be happy if Shihyun continued to participate as a guest. But you should know this. We can’t continue to stream together as a guest forever.”

“Huh? Why?”

Why not?

Can’t we just continue together?

To my question, Kim Ji-eun answered with a serious look.

“A fixed guest is a little different from a collaboration.”

Kim Ji-eun sat down on the conference room chair.

And then she said, touching her long brown hair.

“Actually, Shihyun, you’re a civilian. You’re not a member of the same industry, are you? But if the viewers keep seeing us playing games together, they might feel uncomfortable or even jealous. Of course, there’s none of that now… but it could happen someday.”

“…Hmm, I don’t understand exactly, but I understand roughly.”

In short, it means that I can’t continue to show us playing games together on stream because I’m not a streamer.

‘Then I’ll have to choose someday.’

Not participating in Kim Ji-eun’s stream, and just remaining as a friend who occasionally plays games together.

Or I start streaming myself.

“Well, looking at the atmosphere, it seems like there’s still some time. You can think about it slowly.”

“Yeah.”

“Then for the time being, we’ll be playing games together.”

“Ah, I probably won’t have time to play together this week.”

Kim Ji-eun tilted her head at my answer.

“Huh? Why? Don’t you have anything to do?”

No, I’m not unemployed…

I answered with a sullen expression.

“…Don’t you think you’re looking at me as someone who has nothing to do?”

“Ahaha. Sorry, sorry.”

Seeing Kim Ji-eun say that, it seems that my dignity has disappeared because I’ve been playing games all the time lately.

I, you know?

I used to be a hero who caught the Demon King and ground the Demon King’s army to pieces in another world…

“Ahem, ahem.”

I feel like I’ve become a boomer.

It seems that the curse of the dead Demon King has followed me to this modern world and is cursing me.

Otherwise, there’s no way I would think like this.

‘Evil Demon King, tormenting me even after death.’

The dead Demon King teasing the living hero.

This is definitely Gongming’s trap.

It seems that the effectiveness of my beloved kitchen knife has worn off.

The newly ordered dagger needs to arrive early so that I can escape the threat of the Demon King’s curse.

It’s a shame.

“So? What’s the matter?”

Kim Ji-eun asked me, resting her chin on both hands.

I scratched my cheek and answered.

“I’m going to try solo queue.”

“Solo queue?”

At that, Kim Ji-eun’s eyes widened.

Solo queue.

It refers to the 1:1 battle of Arfellium.

It’s a mode where two people compete with each other’s skills without external interference, and due to the nature of a real match, the tier of solo queue is usually considered higher than that of multi-player.

‘In other words, there’s a high probability that the real strong players are in solo queue.’

After all, since multi-player is a team game, the skills of the allies inevitably have a great influence on the outcome.

Because of that slight variable, there is a possibility that you will be placed in a tier higher or lower than your actual skill in multi-player.

‘Of course, if you’re good enough, you’ll get a tier that matches your skills….’

I can’t say that there are no users who want to be carried by the team.

‘That’s why solo queue.’

A real match!

Like a duel on a narrow bridge, there is not even a handful of external variables, and only the skills of the individual determine the outcome.

Users who are not confident enough will not even dare to participate in ranked matches.

As such, there was a high possibility that enemies with a certain level of skill would appear.

I lightly licked my lips.

‘If it’s solo queue, I can clash swords with a proper opponent.’

And honestly.

There’s a tier that’s considered one level higher, so isn’t it strange not to take it?