Chapter 182
[+Prize money 100,000 won added]
[+Prize money 150,000 won added]
[+Prize money 1,000 won added]
.
.
The prize money kept piling up. Already, there were many eyes watching. It was the largest audience of any broadcast so far.
And to all those countless people, it was clearly shown. That he had no particular talent for multiple summons.
It wasn't intentional, but Seo-jun couldn't help but smile.
- A constitution issue can't be helped!
- The streamer's multi-summon skill can't improve, it was already proven in Erik. His proficiency is maxed. So the limit is 2.
- So what are you saying?
- King. Elec. tronic. Prod. uct.
- Crazy bastards lol I'm not even a viewer here but listening to you guys makes me want to bet on it
They say a synchronization rate of 10 suits this.
And Seo-jun acknowledged it too.
No, perhaps this might even be insufficient.
‘If it were a different capsule, even one might have been tough.’
Because even using a skill was difficult in itself.
Of course, the entry-level capsule from 7 years ago and the one now can't be the same. Naturally, technological advances would make it far better, but anyway.
"Everyone, honestly, I really do think more than 3 would be tough. But can you handle it? No, I mean, you lose all the time, so why do you keep doing this?"
He tries to dissuade them.
From spending money.
In content like this, regular viewers usually spend within their own limits.
It's not that they bet because they think they won't lose. It's money they can afford to lose.
So, this gentle prodding...
"Ah, ah. Just keep putting it in."
...is all for the fun of the broadcast.
It's nice if they get provoked and spend more, but well, it's not a huge deal.
"By the way, what's the trial?"
- lolololol
- Ah lol Newbie, you were confident without even knowing?
- But guys, does this feel like déjà vu? For the streamer, there was never anything he'd never done for the first time...
- Ah damn, why does hearing it's his first time suddenly make me nervous?
- Still, bet! We know the trial content lol It can't be done with 2.
- real talk lol
They're debating fiercely.
Perhaps ordinary people seeing this scene wouldn't understand.
Why regular viewers bet on a mission and then claim they won when the streamer fails.
'Even if he fails, doesn't the streamer get a guaranteed 10% of the mission's bet amount, so he isn't losing anything?' they might think.
Of course, mathematically, that's correct.
But isn't there that question?
Not taking 100 million won vs. taking 100 million won but your worst enemy also gets 1 billion won.
Of course, many would choose the 100 million won.
Then what if it's not 100 million won, but 100,000 won?
Your enemy still gets 1 billion won. What would people choose then?
Mathematically, even taking the 100,000 won is a gain.
But who would choose the former? Unless they desperately need that 100,000 won right away.
It's that kind of issue. Nothing more.
And even if the streamer, for Seo-jun, incurs no real loss, would he feel good about getting only 100,000 won when he could have had 1,000,000 won?
He'll suffer just as the viewers want.
As they say, having something given then taken away is the pettiest and dirtiest thing.
Anyway.
‘Looks like the "safe asset" side argued better.’
Still, this time the amount was quite large.
[Aid's Trial: Rank within top 10 — Mission reward: 9,300,000 won]
"Whoa. Crazy. I don't think it even gathered this much when my sync rate was verified."
Ha Yun-ho exclaimed.
"Is this what a big corporation is like?"
With over 100,000 people, Rumi's words were momentarily correct.
"It's record-breaking."
Alpaca also admired.
"Should I seriously try becoming a streamer?"
Seeing several months' worth of salary, Baramgeom seriously considered going full-time instead of doing it as a side job.
"Seo-jun hyung. If it's not too rude, please buy me just one Melona bar."
Lee Dong-soo was saying stuff like that even though he earned more himself.
- Kya!
- This fundraising amount is record-breaking ㄷㄷ
- There's a lot of people
- Streamer team? Magic Cult team? Do you believe in them? I really bet with trust?
- I came because I heard the bet reached ten million won
And meanwhile, the viewer count kept increasing. Word seemed to have spread that a mission was on.
‘A profit? Well, anyway.’
Seo-jun shrugged his shoulders and gave a satisfied smile.
"Well done. To all the existing viewers who baited them, if you give me your account numbers, I will deposit the money."
- lolololol
- There really were baiters?
- So it was a scheme to suck money from newcomers!
- It's just common nonsense, so ignore it, newcomers~
- If you summon four after saying this, public opinion will really turn sour
Geez.
"Don't worry. No matter what, I'll do it with two. As if I have a choice."
Seo-jun once again summoned an orb on his hand.
Mid-sized.
This is definitely the limit.
The sensation he felt as the orb was created was telling his brain exactly that.
"Hmm, but if I fail the mission, it might hurt my wallet quite a bit."
- Okay, he's decided not to summon more than 2!
- Real talk lol it's gonna hurt so bad hahahahaha
- Getting even 930,000 won is good? No way lol You lost 8 million won hahahaha
"Seo-jun hyung, can you do it?"
"No."
"Then?"
"I'll just try. When was it ever different?"
Seo-jun, with a face devoid of tension, loosened up his body.
For reference, Lee Dong-soo was a viewer of Seo-jun and had seen this scene many times. The chat he used to type at those times naturally flowed from his mouth.
"Kya."
- Kya!
- He is cool though
- Seriously, newbie, if you break through even this, you'll earn my recognition!
* * *
"Aid's Trial is an escape. From here to over there."
They were in an open area.
Lee Dong-soo raised his arm and pointed to one spot with his finger.
As Seo-jun's gaze followed the finger, a path came into view. It was quite wide. Wide enough for a carriage to pass.
At the end of the path, a grey barrier was visible. It didn't seem far.
"Exactly 50 steps. Note that you can't run during the trial, so 50 steps will get you there."
The emphasis on exactly 50 steps likely meant anyone could reach it in 50 steps.
"And you have to enter within 50 seconds. It's designed as one step per second. That means no resting."
Everyone knew except Seo-jun.
So Seo-jun asked.
"Then how is the ranking decided?"
"There are targets that chase us. The ranking is based on how many of those you catch on the way."
I see.
He understood.
Everyone is given the same steps and time, and within that, the challenge is how many orbs you can summon and hit the targets with.
- This is why they said it's impossible
- Shooting four at a time is way more advantageous
- Even if a mid-level orb can hit two targets, four is inevitably faster bb
- Farewell, 8 million won!
- He might do well because of his sync rate
I see.
"Then who wants to go first?"
Lee Dong-soo looked at the other three, excluding Seo-jun.
Naturally, he assumed Seo-jun would go last.
But then, Seo-jun raised his hand.
"I'll go first."
"Huh?"
"But before that, I have something to negotiate with the viewers, so just a moment."
"Okay."
- Ah ah
- Absolutely no compromise, you must be top 10
- We already bet, what are you talking about!
"Haha. Everyone. I'm not making an unreasonable demand. I'll go very first. In exchange."
Not just the viewers, but everyone present listened intently to what Seo-jun was saying.
- In exchange?
- No lol You're going first without even knowing what the targets are haha
"Let's watch a video for a bit. Let me watch a video of other people playing Aid's Trial."
- That's the same then?
- Real talk lol
- A video might be better? You can see pro plays too
- But even without that, the streamer could just make Lee Dong-soo do it and watch a pro play
- Why is he making this offer?
"No, but if you guys don't send a video, then it's over anyway. Plus, the minimum donation right now is 100,000 won. I won't touch that. How about it? Will you accept?"
If provoked like this, viewers will definitely accept.
And if there are over 100,000 of them.
- Hmm
- Deal!
- Let's show some unity, guys!
- Deal
- Let's go!
- Let's make him challenge without knowing anything!
‘Unity is impossible.’
A bite came immediately.
[‘Cheering for you’ donated 100,000 won for a video!]
[I saw earlier lol you bastards had tons of people betting more than 100,000 won hahahaha Cheering for you!]
- Why'd you shoot that!
- Wow lol So was this another chance to collect money?
- Amazing!
- Yeah, so it's like he lost 8 million won but actually lost 7.9 million won!
- Yup, watching a pro video doesn't mean you can do it
It really wasn't about collecting money. The proposal was because he wanted to see a pro's video.
It wasn't really to earn video donation costs.
Really.
Whether he meant it or not, the video played. The owner of the iTube video brought by the viewer seemed to be a pro ranked within the top, judging from the chat reactions.
Seo-jun focused.
They take the first step. That moment.
Wooong.
A noise like a swarm of bees came from the front, and eight spheres with wings on both sides burst out of the bushes on either side.
And as soon as the video's protagonist summoned four orbs, they were fired straight ahead, eliminating the targets.
Then, the instant the orbs vanished after completing their task, four more orbs were summoned at the front.
To handle the remaining targets.
That was 1 second. One step.
As they took another step forward, eight targets appeared.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
At regular intervals, targets appeared and were eliminated by four summoned orbs.
Then another step.
It was as regular as a machine.
"Hmm. Does it just go on perfectly like this, handling 400, and then end?"
The targets weren't stationary. So hitting eight targets within a short 1 second without any delay is a task of considerable difficulty.
But that's all. If you just practice this, and if you're given infinite attempts...
Everyone above a certain level would get a perfect score.
- No no
- If that were the case, all pro records would be the same
- Just watch
So there's more.
Around the 10-second mark, a variable appeared.
The number of targets summoned at the front was six.
‘Two are somewhere else? The sound from the screen changed slightly?’
The video's protagonist didn't panic. Immediately, they dealt with the four at the front with orbs, then checked behind, summoned two orbs to the front and two to the rear, and fired.
It was fast.
‘But there’s a slight delay.’
By the time they turned back around, eight new targets had already taken their positions.
Meaning 1 second had passed to handle the eight.
The steps didn't stop.
But gradually, as more targets were summoned behind, failing to handle them within 1 second caused the targets to start piling up.
"It's like the homework you guys procrastinate on, one page a day. If you can't handle it daily, it piles up."
- Hahahahahaha
- Ah lol I did all my diary homework the day before during elementary school vacation!
- Is that a diary? lol
- Same with Kumon. I thought skipping just one page a day would be fine
- But why is this bastard attacking us? Got scared?
- If you do it with 2 orbs, you won't be able to finish your homework on time from the very start lololol
The video ended.
The protagonist reached the barrier with quite a few targets dangling around them(?).
"What level is that?"
- Barely top 10
- Streamer, fighting!
- It really can't be done with 2 lol
"I see."
Seo-jun watched a few more videos.
Orbs being fired in all directions without pause, drawing straight lines.
He had to watch, since they'd generously donated a precious 100,000 won.
Of course, he had something to confirm.
"The speed of the orb is the same regardless of size, right?"
- Yup
- That's why he lost
- Extreme stability, insane profit rate!
- Why profit rate?
- Because the streamer's winning for the first time lololol
Handling targets with two inevitably takes longer than handling them with four at once.
In other words, from the start, his homework will pile up.
Then he'll have to clear that homework elsewhere.
Still, after checking...
"Everyone, didn't you hear it?"
There was a way.
- What sound?
- Bullshit
- Hahahahahaha
- The sound of you guys going bankrupt.