Chapter 34
“Hello, everyone.”
Seojun turned on his stream in the lobby, as usual.
It was natural and familiar now.
They say humans are creatures of adaptation.
Seojun stretched and opened the chat window.
-Seoha
-sh
-Is the Training Grounds real?
-hae
-myeong
-hae
-Is that really Seojun?
-myeong
That morning, someone had taken back the Training Grounds throne that Shin Hayeon had reclaimed after a week the day before.
Naturally, one person came to mind.
unknown.
The unknown figure who had dethroned Shin Hayeon after she had held the position for years.
Though there was much talk, even suspicions that the company's AI was behind the malicious personality, most did not deny that unknown was the most likely person to retake the throne.
Because there was precedent.
But the name that appeared on the ranking was, against everyone's expectations, not unknown.
Jin Seojun.
Obviously, it wasn't shown as the streamer Seojun.
Only the three letters of the name and part of the capsule number were disclosed.
But.
“Everyone, you're talking about the Training Grounds, right?”
It was hard for the viewers to see it as a coincidence that another Jin Seojun with the same name had taken the level 10 AI.
-Of course
-First of all, is that the host? Not a different person with the same name?
-I got goosebumps reading the community.
-No way it's a different Seojun lol
Other game users didn't know Seojun well.
He'd broaden his reach by playing other games gradually, but his recognition hadn't reached that level yet.
But the users of Dawn of the Assassins were different.
They had heard Seojun's name here and there and remembered his outstanding control.
It was only natural that the Dawn of the Assassins users were in an uproar.
[Shin Hayeon went down again. But why Jin Seojun?]
[Is it just me or does this Training Grounds thing remind you of 'that guy'?]
-Ah lol, 'that guy' who ended the stream without finishing the quest and even took a break the next day?
└Yeah, that guy.
└Why has the nameless one become He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named lol
['That guy', if you're reading this comment, give up the affection quest with Christina noona right now. It's in your best interest to listen while I'm being nice.]
[Possibility that unknown is the nameless one]
-100%. Can't you tell from the way he messes with people?
└Looking at how nasty he is, it's definitely him lol. His personality is showing.
[Then he really beat Shin Hayeon?]
-No lol, do you think Shin Hayeon is a pushover?
└yeah
└The Training Grounds are different, it's not like they faced each other directly. Who knows if Shin Hayeon will retake it soon lol
-Anyway, he did beat it.
-Is this our Dosum's assassin? I'm proud!
[Chilling fact. 'That guy' appeared as unknown a day before his stream started.]
-So since our Dosum is his first game, it means he went to the Training Grounds and won even before playing the game? lol
-At this point, we have to suspect he's a real-life sword master.
-Maybe one of his ancestors is from the Cheok clan?
-He's not a college student, he's a special forces guy lol
[Now that I see, even his silhouette is handsome.]
The Dawn of the Assassins users naturally assumed that Jin Seojun on the ranking was him, and further, that unknown was also him.
“Everyone, for now, this level 10 AI is indeed me.”
Seojun admitted it first.
If he hadn't wanted to reveal it, he could have set the information private instead of denying it.
Indeed, more viewers than usual had come in.
“But unknown is not me.”
Not that they'll believe it.
-The host's AI is so polite this time, it's hilarious lol. I saw someone else fight it, before it would step on you if you blocked a sword, but this time it bowed and gave them time.
-lmao
-That's even worse lol
-No, anyone can see it's the host.
-The height of shamelessness.
Seojun couldn't help it.
It just came out that way while he was greeting and inputting motions with Taewoo, but he had already been branded as someone who messed with people.
So he decided to just flatly deny it.
'I said it's not me, what can I do.'
And it wasn't a huge problem anyway.
Some people who didn't know him might look at his trolling under anonymity with displeasure.
There might be those among his acquaintances as well.
But Seojun knew well that wanting everyone to like you was arrogance.
He had been in a high place in his past life, after all.
“No, if you keep not believing me and misunderstanding that it's me, the real unknown might take the spot back soon.”
Seojun put on a serious expression, but it didn't work.
-He's coming back as unknown?
-Declaration of fabrication ddd
-Trying to manipulate public opinion lol
-As if we'd believe that?
-Streamer Jin Seojun: Declares he'll win against himself!
-lololol
Amid the playful banter, the viewer count filled up.
People wanting to see the conclusion of the hidden scenario 'Choice' and the hidden quest 'Hunt'.
Mixed with those who had simply come to spectate after hearing that Seojun was the new level 10 AI.
“Hmm.”
-Wtf, is that true?
-Are you that bastard who messes with people?
-Get ready to get wrecked by Shin Hayeon soon lol
Some people were disturbing the chat.
Floating viewers.
These are viewers who don't settle in one place and wander through various rooms; most are just ordinary viewers no different from others.
But as a sage once said, when five people gather, one is trash.
When floating viewers suddenly flock because of some incident, inevitably, viewers who ruin the chat atmosphere also come in.
'The solution is surprisingly simple in times like this.'
Just set follower-only chat.
His viewers had such a high follow ratio that the majority were followers.
So even with the restriction, existing viewers could communicate smoothly.
Seojun immediately set it so that only those who had followed for over an hour could chat.
-Peaceful
-It was tough cutting them off.
-Great
The managers typed in the chat.
They had been catching all sorts of trolls.
'There were a few English chats too.'
Because of the Training Grounds?
Even though the Training Grounds only had Korean server players, Shin Hayeon was so famous that some might have come to spectate.
Anyway.
Seojun started the game.
“Now then, let's wrap it up.”
* * *
Seojun looked around.
Unconscious assassins were strewn all over the alley.
“As expected. I don't have to redo it. Who was it? That.”
He interrogated those who had sent chats when he said he would end the stream.
-Not me
-No, who said that? Let's refrain from fake news.
-Raise your hand! I'm not it for now.
“Loyalty only at times like this. Should I autopsy all of you chatting now?”
Seojun could check every chat log viewers had sent in this room.
This was called an autopsy.
“If caught, how about a ban.”
-Sorry
-I did too.
-Run!
-Escape!
-We think we are entirely at fault.
Those who had denied it moments ago started to confess.
And someone even paid bail.
Literally bail money.
['BailMoney' donated 100,000 won!]
[Seojun-nim said you were ending stream so I spread fake news, please accept this and forgive me T.T]
“Ah, thank you BailMoney for the 100,000 won donation. But since you didn't reveal your ID, unfortunately I can't forgive you.”
Seojun left the alley and walked toward the abandoned factory.
-lolol
-Give more money!
-A true monster born of capitalism.
“I'll hold off on the autopsy for now. Since you all confessed honestly and someone paid bail.”
['ScamDie' donated 10,000 won!]
[It was me!]
The identity of the bail payer was revealed.
It was a viewer with the nickname ScamDie.
-Aren't they a big spender? A nasty one lol
-No, even big spenders can't stand the stream ending.
-For real lol
Seojun smiled, recalling what Alpaca had said.
That every viewer carries a sliver of malice in their heart.
Before he knew it, he had arrived at the abandoned factory.
He climbed the stairs to the top.
Perhaps due to the explosion, the interior was damaged and black scorch marks clung to the walls.
When Seojun reached the rooftop, Arthur, who had been waiting for him, clapped.
“Truly impressive. To survive our ambush. It's my complete defeat.”
Then Arthur dropped his dagger and raised his hands.
A sign of surrender.
But Seojun didn't believe it.
Because as he entered the rooftop and scanned his surroundings, he saw shadows flickering.
The viewers hadn't noticed yet, but it was a characteristic of an assassin in disguise.
“As expected.”
His prediction hit the mark.
With his sharpened senses, he felt the presence of someone approaching.
Seojun spun around.
The Arthur in front of him vanished like an illusion, and Arthur closing in from behind grimaced as his ambush plan failed.
Seojun grabbed his charging arm and flipped him over.
“He's easier than that so-called Master Assassin.”
It wasn't particularly surprising.
After all, what the head of an organization needed most wasn't personal martial prowess.
The quest was completed and he disappeared.
“Oh, the quest is over. But if I hadn't noticed the ambush just now and got hit, would it restart from the beginning?”
-Could be lol
-Then that's vicious.
-Good thing the host showed the strategy first.
-Why is he so perceptive.
Seojun looked at the subdued Arthur.
He tried to kill him, but his body wouldn't move.
Auto-progression, perhaps.
Arthur, fallen on the ground, spoke with difficulty.
“How... my disguise was perfect.”
Far from perfect, really.
In his past life, assassins would slow their heartbeat to the point of almost stopping for disguise.
'Well, that's what makes it fun.'
Seojun watched with keen interest how the story would unfold.
“Damn you, you ruined everything! If it's come to this, I'll blow up the whole city and take you down with me!”
Oh?
At that moment, a sword pierced Arthur's arm.
“Kuaaargh!”
Seojun's gaze followed the blade from Arthur's arm to its hilt.
There was a woman in uniform.
“Damn ugly, really. Yeah, I already took care of the magic you set up under the city. Are you insane? This is why I can't stand assassin types. Tsk tsk. Freedom, my ass.”
That was exactly what he wanted to say.
“Hello?”
She smiled brightly at Seojun.
She just seemed cheery.
“My name is Viola.”
She was the purple-haired woman who appeared when he captured the Matapju.
The viewers' reactions exploded.
Because.
-So damn pretty lol
-Noona, do you have a boyfriend? Noona, do you have a boyfriend? Noona, do you have a boyfriend?
-Get away from the host right now!
-How do I join the Death Squad?
Because she's pretty.
Seojun shook his head inwardly.
And Viola continued.
“And I belong to the Death Squad Central. Wait, don't look at me like that.”
What kind of look?
“Everything that happened in this city was outside Central's expectations. Because Central is in chaos, control slipped. They sent me to resolve it, but well, looking at it, it's too late.”
A bitter expression flickered on her face.
“So what do you want me to do?”
A snide remark came out of Seojun's mouth.
Of course, it wasn't him speaking.
And the viewers knew that.
-Noona, sorry. Our host is a bit rude, right?
-Seojun, did this hyung miss your etiquette lesson yesterday? Come out here.
-What's with the attitude! How dare you to our Viola-nim!
-You guys be careful of bans lol You're going crazy lol