Chapter 42: The Genius’s Clarification Broadcast (Part 1)

The day of reckoning.

The engineers from Arfellium Corporation HQ arrived early in the morning. Fortunately, Shihyun had gone to bed early the night before and didn’t have to be woken up.

‘If I had overslept…’

Ugh, she didn’t even want to imagine it.

Shihyun shuddered and shook her head.

Then, she observed the people who entered her apartment.

It wasn’t just engineers. Two employees from the Korean branch had accompanied them.

She figured they were there to oversee the process. As Shihyun glanced at them, the older-looking male employee spoke to her.

“Ah…”

A fan.

She had a fan.

It was a strange feeling. A tingling sensation in her chest. Shihyun’s awkward expression prompted Assistant Manager Park Sungyong to subtly offer her a pen and his business card.

“Would you mind giving me an autograph?”

“Huh?”

An autograph? She hadn’t even started streaming yet.

As Ji-eun had said, it seemed Shihyun’s popularity, or rather, recognition, was quite significant. Otherwise, no one would be asking for her autograph.

She accepted the pen and business card, feeling bewildered.

After a moment of contemplation, Shihyun scribbled her signature and returned them to Assistant Manager Park. He tilted his head, examining it.

“…Is this a sword?”

“Yes.”

“Haha, that’s a unique autograph. Thank you.”

He looked visibly delighted. The other employee nudged him, as if telling him to calm down. Shihyun felt even more bewildered.

“Ah, right. I should explain.”

Assistant Manager Park, having been nudged, scratched the back of his head and said, “We’ll be taking your VR device for inspection. It won’t take long. A day or two at most.”

“Is that so?”

That was quicker than expected.

Was it because the engineers were sent from overseas? Shihyun glanced at the Caucasian men examining the VR device in the corner of her room.

Assistant Manager Park smiled and said, “We’ve also arranged a car for you outside. It will take you to the Korean branch.”

Arfellium Corporation was more thoughtful than she expected. They even arranged transportation. She had been wondering if she’d need to take a taxi.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. It’s our job.”

Shihyun bowed her head and sent a message to Ji-eun, telling her to come to the Korean branch. Then, leaving the engineers and the branch employees behind, she got into the SUV Arfellium Corporation had provided.

The SUV was quite comfortable. It seemed expensive, more luxurious than she anticipated. Of course, she didn’t know much about cars, so she couldn’t tell what model it was. Was it a Mercedes?

As she settled into the plush seat, the car started moving.

It headed straight for the Arfellium Corporation Korean branch.

And, of course, her trusty kitchen knife was still tucked safely in her pocket.

“Shihyun!”

When Shihyun arrived at the Arfellium Corporation Korean branch, Ji-eun was already there waiting for her. Shihyun greeted her with a slight bow. Ji-eun trotted over with a smile.

“Shihyun, did you see?”

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Shihyun didn’t understand what she meant and tilted her head.

“Huh? See what?”

“The Korean branch building!”

Ji-eun’s eyes shone as she pointed behind her.

Beyond her fingertip stood Arfellium Corporation’s Korean branch. It was a dazzling glass palace of a building. The massive diamond-shaped structure had a striking, futuristic design. Shihyun’s jaw dropped slightly.

“Amazing…”

“Right? Arfellium must be making a lot of money. Building such a huge office in the heart of Gangnam. And this isn’t even their HQ, it’s just the Korean branch.”

“I know.”

It was indeed impressive.

Having such a massive building in Seoul as just their ‘Korean branch’. The rumors about them raking in enormous amounts of money as the world’s number one gaming company seemed to be true.

‘I need to earn money too.’

She still had plenty in her account, but it was time to start thinking about the future. That was one of the reasons she decided to start streaming. If she became a streamer, she could earn money.

‘Of course, money isn’t that important to me.’

As long as she earned enough to live comfortably, that was enough. She wasn’t going to take it with her when she died. Of course, human greed was endless, but Shihyun believed in having enough, not excess.

‘More importantly…’

More important was whether something could bring her happiness.

As long as she was happy, everything else was secondary.

She chose the life of a streamer for her happiness. She enjoyed playing Arfellium Saga, and she believed she would enjoy life as a streamer. That’s why she chose this path. There was no other reason.

Therefore, it was all the more crucial…

‘To resolve this controversy.’

Shihyun shook her head slightly.

The hacking accusations.

Even if it hadn’t dealt a critical blow, failing to resolve this issue would hinder her streaming career.

The controversy would follow her like a shadow, constantly haunting her.

Ji-eun had drilled that into her head.

And…

‘This is the path to happiness I found after barely returning from ‘that world’. I can’t lose it to such absurd accusations.’

She absolutely wouldn’t allow it.

‘Don’t be nervous.’

Shihyun clenched and unclenched her hands.

Of course, she was still uneasy.

She knew her achievements were the result of her own skill, but ultimately, it was Arfellium Corporation, not her, who would put an end to this controversy.

And they were a suspicious company.

So far, they seemed to be helping her, but what were their true intentions? Arfellium Corporation definitely knew about ‘that world’. That meant they knew about her existence, who she was, and what she had done.

‘Indeed.’

Were they her allies?

Or enemies waiting to backstab her?

‘There’s no choice but to move forward.’

With that resolve, Shihyun entered the Arfellium Corporation Korean branch building with Ji-eun.

“Greetings. You must be Shihyun13.”

A neat-looking middle-aged man greeted them inside. He looked like a typical office worker. It was Assistant Manager Kim Junghyun, the man she had spoken to via video call.

“Yes. Hello.”

“Please come this way.”

He led Shihyun and Ji-eun further inside.

Shihyun guided Ji-eun, who was busy filming the interior of the building with her camera, and followed him. They had already received permission to film, so Ji-eun had no reservations.

“Shihyun, Shihyun.”

As they walked down the hallway, Ji-eun tugged at Shihyun’s sleeve and whispered.

“Yes?”

“Look, that’s the 4th generation top-of-the-line VR device! Wow, I heard it costs over 200 million won. They sure have a lot of them, being a company and all.”

“…200 million?”

200 million won. It was an absurd price.

How could a gaming device be so expensive? She had been surprised when she first heard the price of VR devices, and she was still taken aback.

What was even more surprising was that some streamers actually purchased and used these devices. The streaming industry had developed significantly since Shihyun had been in ‘that world’. She had heard that some people earned hundreds of millions of won per month.

‘Well, I guess they can afford it then.’

It was like buying a high-end computer in the past. Although a computer wouldn’t cost 200 million won.

Assistant Manager Kim, who seemed to have overheard their whispers, spoke up.

“Haha, those aren’t even the latest models.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. The 5th generation models are already developed. Though there are no official sales plans yet, mass production has begun.”

“Ah! I think I’ve heard of it. But isn’t this confidential information?”

Ji-eun tilted her head, and Assistant Manager Kim chuckled.

“Our company has a sort of unofficial secrecy policy, so we don’t make many public announcements. This isn’t a secret. The fact that you, Euning, already know about it proves that.”

“Aha.”

Assistant Manager Kim turned to Shihyun and said, “The verification test will be conducted using a 5th generation device.”

“The top-of-the-line model?”

Shihyun asked.

She was currently using the lowest-end model, a 2nd generation one at that. Perhaps because of that, she often felt a strange disconnect while playing. A sensory mismatch, perhaps? But she’d heard that wasn’t the case with the high-end models.

She felt a flicker of anticipation.

Assistant Manager Kim smiled at her question.

“Yes, the top-of-the-line model, the same one professional gamers use. The verification needs to be done with the best equipment, right?”

“Right.”

“We’re also using this test as a performance test for the 5th generation device. It’s an order from HQ. You’ll likely receive compensation for that.”

“Compensation?”

Ji-eun asked, and Assistant Manager Kim shrugged.

“I haven’t received the exact amount, but I heard it’s a substantial testing fee.”

“…Can I do the test too?”

“Haha, unfortunately, HQ only provided one 5th generation device for testing.”

“J-Just kidding.”

Ji-eun said with an awkward laugh. But Shihyun knew from her expression that she was serious.

As they chatted, they arrived at their destination.

“The test will be conducted in this testing room.”

Inside, there was a single VR device.

Next to it were several large machines that looked like measuring equipment, and three blond Caucasian engineers.

“Is that the 5th generation device?”

Shihyun pointed at the gleaming gold VR device. The streamlined capsule looked like a futuristic spaceship.

“Yes, it is.”

Assistant Manager Kim smiled at her.

“We can start the test right away. It’s the basic setting without any personal optimization, so it might be a little uncomfortable, but I can assure you the device itself is in top condition.”

Shihyun nodded.

“Then I’ll start the test right away.”

“Please do.”

“Ah, before that. Do you have any tape? Duct tape.”

Assistant Manager Kim looked at her with a puzzled expression.

“Why do you need tape…?”

“I need it.”

He looked confused but quickly instructed the engineers to bring her some duct tape.

Shihyun took the tape and slowly approached the VR device.

Then, after ripping off a piece of tape…

“…Oh, no!”

“Sh-Shihyun!”

…she pulled out her trusty kitchen knife. Assistant Manager Kim and Ji-eun’s faces paled. They clearly hadn’t expected her to pull a knife out of her pocket. Ignoring them, Shihyun taped the kitchen knife onto the gleaming gold, state-of-the-art 5th generation VR device.

Then, she looked at their shocked faces.

Assistant Manager Kim pointed at the knife with a trembling hand and asked, “…W-What is that?”

“A good luck charm.”

What. So what.

It was true, so what was the problem?