NOVEL NEXT Chapter 25
Chapter 25
“Ah, it’s over.”
The screen returned.
The sensation of losing control of one’s body and regaining it was quite awkward.
Sojun looked around.
“Why is there no one here?”
At the entrance of the Magic Tower, the bustling street appeared empty.
The windows of the buildings were closed, and curtains were drawn.
– With all that commotion, who would be walking around? LOL
– The thunder was quite loud, lol.
“Hmm…”
Sojun glanced around briefly before turning around.
The empty Magic Tower sparked a sense of déjà vu.
It seemed the viewers felt the same.
– LOL again?
– No way?
“Well, this assassination was perfectly successful as well.”
Sojun stated it matter-of-factly, like someone announcing a simple truth.
– How shameless, LOL.
– The developer said it wasn’t an assassination; what are you talking about?
– If streamer-nim says it’s an assassination, then it is.
– If there are no witnesses, it counts as an assassination, but seems like there are many this time?
“Folks, neither the developer nor the witnesses matter.”
– Then what does matter?
– The definition of assassination is secretly killing someone…
“Don’t bring the dictionary definition into this. Consider yourself warned.”
There was no actual warning in Sojun’s streaming rules.
It was just something he said.
– Sorry! LOL.
– Viewers, so sly!
– Fight with incitement and fabrication, not facts.
– Justice prevails.
Sojun chuckled and started to move.
“Well then, now…”
It was at that moment.
A hand suddenly appeared from an alley, grabbed Sojun’s arm, and dragged him inside the alley.
The person was Christina.
『Money has been acquired.』
『Reputation has increased.』
An alert sound immediately followed.
It was the reward for capturing the Ruler.
“I said I don’t need it.”
– Put it in!
– LOL, he got pocketed.
– Don’t they give more items?
– By the way, who’s that standing next to Christina?
Sojun had the same thought.
The middle-aged man with a hearty appearance beside Christina was an NPC he had never seen before.
Of course, in Sojun’s perspective, all NPCs were new as he saw them, but the viewers also being curious signified a new character appeared.
“Nameless, thank you. Because of you, we’ve eliminated three Rulers already. But…”
The automatic progression started, and Christina first thanked Sojun.
Then, the man standing next to Christina interrupted her.
He stepped forward and introduced himself.
“From here, I’ll explain. Nice to meet you, Nameless. My name is Arthur Hagg. I am the branch manager of Altheon.”
– Oh? He’s the branch manager?
– That jerk never met with me but goes to see streamer-nim, LOL.
– But why is he speaking informally?
– Ugh, the branch manager is handsome too. The world’s unfair.
Arthur, the branch manager of Altheon.
In the game’s setting, he was the highest-ranking NPC within the assassin group.
And he was an NPC shrouded in mystery until now.
“First of all, on behalf of all assassins, I thank you. The streets of Altheon have become much safer thanks to you.”
Arthur deeply bowed to show gratitude to Sojun.
– Haha, streamer-nim did clean up the market.
– 《《〈 The guy who fought gangs to pickpocket.
– Why didn’t he come out when we assassinated Rulers?
– Who knows?
“But.”
Arthur’s upper body slowly rose.
His eyes, now visible, glowed in the darkness.
“I ask you to cease the assassinations of the Rulers for a while.”
After Arthur finished speaking, a dialogue box appeared.
『–〉 Why? Give me a reasonable explanation.』
『–〉 No. You couldn’t have handled it without me.』
-LOLOLOL LOLOLOL LOL
-Why can I already see what streamer-nim will choose?
-Me too.
-2222
Sojun was about to select the second choice without any hesitation, but he stopped when he saw the chat window.
And the viewers were not the type to remain silent.
-Just make the choice already hahaha
-Typical insecure men: act all high and mighty and then pick something else when caught.
-Wouldn’t it be too embarrassing to choose the first option here?
“Well, I guess there’s no helping it. It seems like you all want me to choose the latter, so I’ll proceed as you wish.”
Even though comments like, “Since when have you ever listened to us,” and, “Another excuse from an insecure man,” popped up, Sojun didn’t blink an eye and chose the second option.
“I disagree. You wouldn’t have been able to manage without me.”
Arthur’s hand trembled slightly at those words.
But Arthur began to explain calmly.
“True, that is a fact we can’t deny. However, your actions in capturing the Rulers have caused problems…”
Currently, the upper echelon of the Organization, having lost three Rulers, felt threatened and heightened their security measures. The subordinates, losing their commanding officers, were rampaging.
Arthur explained that if the last remaining Ruler disappeared, even greater damage could occur.
“As you well know, even if we eliminate all the Rulers, the Organization won’t disappear. They will only rampage more. We ask that you wait at least until we have prepared to clean up and manage Altheon.”
With that, Arthur disappeared into the shadows.
“Well, then. Thank you.”
Christina also smiled brightly, then pulled up her hood and sank into the shadows.
-As expected, christina is the best.
-But something seems fishy with the branch manager.
-Something doesn’t feel right.
-Guys like him are usually shady.
-If the woman in the recent scene was part of the Organization, it doesn’t add up.
“I know, right? What could it be? Not that I’ll stop catching them…”
-Hahaha
-He does look like someone who wouldn’t listen to the branch manager, right?
-It’s just jealousy because he’s handsome lol.
Sojun glanced at the time.
It was almost time to end the stream.
“Well, that’s it for today’s game.”
-Stop
-Oh no!
-Please don’t end it so abruptly.
-Tbah!
Sojun immediately closed the game and moved to the lobby.
The background changed in an instant.
Then, he fiddled with the window.
-Why haven’t you ended it?
-It’s about time to end it.
-Don’t tell me you forgot how to end the stream?
-Technically challenged lol.
“Huh. It’s not that I don’t know how to turn it off. I just got a quick reply. Here.”
『MubiSoft Customer Support Team here.』
『Hello, Jin Sojun.
Thank you for your inquiry.
We have received your message.
You mentioned that it seemed like you had used a hack without realizing it.
However, we have not detected any unauthorized programs.
Therefore, it seems you did not use any hacks! Congratulations.
We hope you continue to enjoy Assassin’s Dawn comfortably and with peace of mind.
If you have any additional inquiries or other questions, please feel free to contact us through the 1:1 inquiry channel.
This was MubiSoft Customer Support Team.
Thank you.』
-Why would they even respond to something like that hahaha
-Ignoring it would have been fine.
-What a nuisance lol.
-How is this a nuisance? MubiSoft is not a fire department or hospital; it’s just a game company.
-Logic police lol.
-Banter like this with game companies is standard haha.
“Well then, I’ve officially proven I am not using any hacks.”
Sojun displayed a proud expression.
-Wow!
-Are you in cahoots with the developers? How are you that good without hacks?
-lol, the developer even placed a mission earlier.
-What!
-Seriously wow.
-Maybe he turned himself in and they let it slide…
“Anyway, with that being said…”
-Tbah
-SojunBa
-Bye-bye
“I have one last thing to say.”
-Just go already.
-Can we chill for a bit more?
-So, what is it?
Sojun hesitated briefly. He had given it a lot of thought. iTube. If Sojun were to retire from streaming soon, it would be more efficient to outsource the work and run the channel than to hire an editor just to raise his profile. But he didn’t want that.
‘Is this the right thing to do?’
He wanted to continue being a streamer. Even if he didn’t win the tournament and ended up buying the capsule for 100 million won, he wanted to keep going. So,
“I’m looking for an editor. If any of my viewers want to edit my videos, please edit any part of my gameplay footage and upload it as a private video on iTube, then send me the link via email.”
Although he would post the job on an editor recruitment site, Sojun preferred to select an editor from his viewers.
– Is he starting iTube?
– Reposting gameplay on iTube is fun too.
– Choosing a good editor is crucial.
– Even the raw footage is dope, and he’s going to edit it? Legend.
– ROFL.
– Subscribing immediately.
– So, I’ll see you all later!
– Later!
– Why the swear?
– It’s a farewell, lol.
– Later!
* * *
After coming out of the capsule, Sojun washed up and went to the living room. The savory smell of chicken wafted through the air.
“It’s early in the morning, though.”
Sojun looked at Taewoo, who was sitting at the kitchen table.
“So, are you going to eat or not?”
“Of course I will.”
Sojun answered immediately. His response was astonishingly quick.
“Then sit down quickly.”
Taewoo looked at Sojun as if he expected that reaction.
“Sure, enjoy.”
Sojun sat down at the table and started to eat the chicken. The coating was crispy.
“Ah, chicken after a stream. This is the life. By the way, Sojun, are you looking for an editor for your iTube?”
“Yeah, did you see the stream?”
“Yep. Anyway, if you’re looking for an editor, wanna join our MCN?”
Multi-Channel Network (MCN) is a third-party service provider that partners with several iTube channels. They typically offer services like audience development, content programming, funding, partner management, creator collaborations, digital rights management, and monetization or sales.
“If you join our MCN, the company will handle all your iTube stuff. The advantage is that it’s very convenient and professional. That’s why I rely on the company.”
However, the downside is that the iTube revenue gets split with the company. But since hiring an editor also usually involves revenue sharing, it wasn’t necessarily a disadvantage. Still, there would inevitably be differences between an editor selected by the streamer themselves and one hired by the company.
While chewing on his chicken, Taewoo spoke.
“But our boss is a bit eccentric, and if you join, you’ll have to play along quite a bit. Collaborations and such. He has time tomorrow. He’s talkative but fun.”
Taewoo’s MCN leader was uniquely a streamer himself. Since the MCN was established for his coworkers and him, it was known for its streamer-friendly policies.
“Well, I don’t even have a iTube account yet, and I can’t do it tomorrow.”
“Why not?”
Crunch.
The sound of the crispy coating breaking was heard. Then the juice burst out through the tender meat.
“Mm, delicious.”
“So why can’t you do it? What do you have tomorrow?”
Gulp.
Sojun drank some cold beer.
“Ah. The thing is…”
Sojun cleared his throat lightly.
“MubiSoft wants to meet with me?”
“What? What crap is that?”
“No, they contacted me and said they wanted to meet. I already set up the appointment.”
“Show me.”
『Web Message』
『Hello, streamer Jin Sojun.
I am Kim Yunchan, the team leader of MubiSoft Korea.
There’s something I want to discuss regarding Assassin’s Dawn, the game you’re currently playing. Can we meet tomorrow?
Please! I urge you.
Let me know the time and place, and I’ll be there immediately.』
“What the heck. Why would a game company contact you? Is this a phishing scam? The content seems weird.”
“What could they possibly scam me for with this?”
“True.”
“And besides that, they also reached out via email, in-game message, travel message, and capsule. It must be the game company, right?”
Taewoo rubbed his arms as if the situation gave him the chills.
“Wow, that’s creepy. Did you do something wrong?”
Uh…
“Hmm, maybe as a prank?”
Both burst out laughing at the same time.
“Dude, just don’t go. You’ll get in trouble.”
“Really? Maybe, but you never know. They might give me something.”
“More like you’ll be lucky if you don’t get banned. You’ve definitely been flagged.”