NOVEL NEXT
Chapter 13
[Translator – Pr?ks]
[Proofreader – Pr?ks]
Chapter 13: World Record or Reckless Ruin?
A NewTube channel with 6 million subscribers, ‘Today’s Awakened Ones.’
This channel, which introduces the most trending awakened individuals every day, was one of the most popular NewTube channels in Korea.
The peculiar thing was that the NewTuber himself was an ordinary person.
Instead, he possessed thorough research skills and proficient hosting abilities.
Seo Yerim, who was invited here, looked at the NewTuber in silence.
They nodded at each other, and soon the live broadcast began.
“Then let’s start today’s broadcast of ‘Kkamuk’! We have a very special guest this time! Introducing! She’s an A-rank awakened and is called the Sword of Justice! Ms. Seo Yerim!”
“Hello. I’m Seo Yerim.”
– Wow, she’s stunning.
– She’s amazing.
– Wow, the channel has really grown lol. They even invited the Sword of Justice lol.
Kkamuk smiled at the sponsorship that started pouring in from the beginning, but only for a moment.
He asked.
“It’s nice to meet you. As far as I know, the last time you appeared in the media was about a year ago, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“I was surprised when you accepted the invitation so readily. I thought you might not be interested.”
Yerim’s hand twitched slightly. As expected, she didn’t like appearing in the media.
She would rather spend that time swinging her sword.
But she agreed to appear because of her grandfather’s words.
Kim Minwoo’s declaration of clearing the Gate.
When she saw that, Seo Jinchul, who was laughing at it, looked at her with a meaningful gaze.
– “Yerim, how about making an appearance on a broadcast this time?”
– “Me? Why me?”
– “Yes. It seems like this guy is trying to raise the stakes a bit, so there’s no harm in helping out.”
– “I don’t know if I can do it well…….”
– “It won’t be difficult. Just go out there and show your face, and people will be interested.”
Being a faithful granddaughter, she couldn’t refuse his words.
That was the reason why she appeared on this channel, which had been continuously sending her casting emails.
“Well, shall we talk about today’s topic then? Kim Minwoo, he’s really hot these days! I heard he’s going to conquer the Gate this time.”
“Yes, I heard about it too.”
“F-rank Gate, Osiris’ Tomb! I heard it’s quite difficult. You’ve been there before, right, Yerim?”
Yerim nodded.
“Yes. I remember forming a party and attempting to conquer it when I was around level 40.”
“How difficult was it?”
“It was tough. If other Gates of the same rank are rated between 60 and 80, this one seems to be around 95.”
“Wow! As expected of the Sword of Justice. The difficulty score released by the World Gate Association is also the same. Osiris’ Tomb, 95 out of 100 points. It seems to be exceptionally outstanding among F-rank Gates, right?”
“Yes.”
“Why is the clear score so high?”
She recalled and said, “This Gate is very straightforward.”
“Straightforward. Could you explain what that means a bit more?”
“There are hardly any puzzle-like gimmicks. The path is simple. But, there’s just a lot of monsters. And the monsters’ patterns are tricky. They inflict all sorts of abnormal conditions, unlike typical F-rank Gates.”
– “The Sword of Justice is right. It’s insanely tough even with a party of five. The monsters keep popping out lol.”
– “We barely survived while clearing it. We almost died too lol.”
“Ah. That might actually make it feel more difficult. Since there’s no detour.”
Yerim nodded.
“Yes. All you need for clearing the Gate is pure strength.”
“Strength! You need strength. Well said. But did Kim Minwoo say he’s going to conquer it alone? And he’s only at level 1.”
Yerim nodded.
“What did you think when you heard the news, Yerim?”
“Is he insane?”
“…Excuse me?”
“Didn’t you hear me? I pronounced it clearly.”
Yerim said nonchalantly.
Her grandfather’s request was to attract attention, not to praise Kim Minwoo.
So, it should be okay to say this.
Besides, it was her sincere opinion.
Clearing the Osiris’ Tomb at level 1?
And doing it alone, without a party?
That’s truly suicidal.
– “Kkamuk is completely flustered lol.”
– “Did anyone else see his eyes rolling? lol.”
– “He’s insane lol. As expected of Sword of Justice, hitting the nail on the head lol.”
– “I came here for the spicy broadcast lol.”
“Ah, ah…… I see. But there is that saying, isn’t there! You have to be crazy to succeed.”
Kkamuk, wiping his sweat, said.
“But there’s still a chance of success, isn’t there? From what I’ve heard, Kim Minwoo has purchased various equipment, including 9th-grade skill books…”
“What would be the point of that?”
“Do you think it’s impossible to clear?”
She nodded firmly.
“Yes. If he was a swordsman, I would have thought there was a chance. His talent for swordsmanship was real.”
“Kim Minwoo’s talent in swordsmanship is real. I’m curious about the extent of it.”
“…He’s better than me at using a sword.”
– “Did the Sword of Justice, who’s a stickler for pride, just say that? What level is Kim Minwoo’s swordsmanship really at?”
– “Damn. Did he really challenge the Sword Saint to a duel?”
“Is he really better than you?”
“…Yes, my grandfather acknowledged his true skill.”
“Well… So the rumors were true. Ding ding! Official confirmation, everyone! Kim Minwoo’s swordsmanship talent is real!”
The chat room lit up with excitement.
Then Yerim spoke seriously.
“But it’s different if he’s a necromancer.”
“Aren’t necromancers strong too? Equipping gear to summons, enhancing skills…”
“A skeleton summoned at level 1. How strong do you think it would be?”
“How strong do you think a skeleton summoned at level 1 will be?”
“Um…… I’m not sure? Maybe about as strong as me?”
“If it’s a one-on-one fight, you’ll win as long as you don’t panic. They’re that weak. And they’re stupid.”
“Well, I’ve never heard of undead being smart.”
Yerim expressed her opinion succinctly.
“Level 1. Let’s say he used potions to increase his stats since he has a lot of money. Considering the 9th-grade skill book and equipment options, he’ll probably be able to summon about 150 skeletons. That’s like 150 ordinary people like you entering a gate.”
“That’s right. But his equipment will be better.”
Yerim nodded.
“Considering the nature of the Gate where monsters gather in groups of at least forty, considering the combat power of skeletons… They’d probably annihilate them all with just encountering one group, right?”
“Well, skeletons usually serve as meat shields or distractions.”
Her opinion sounded quite convincing even to herself.
“But, if he had about 150 of them, wouldn’t it be hard to explain why Kim Minwoo bought equipment in bulk? I heard he bought more equipment at the auction house this time too… And the quantity was enormous.”
“He might have bought them in advance because he was too lazy to go to the auction house. That guy used to be quite a spendthrift.”
– Seriously lol. He was the king of luxury. Always in the news lol.
“Damn. So he burns hundreds of billions because he’s too lazy to go to the auction house? What kind of life is Kim Minwoo living…?”
– “The ultimate spendthrift”
– “(Problem) But I’m envious though;;”
“Well, that could be the case. But there might be variables, right? Achievement rank.”
“Of course, with an achievement rank like S, he might have obtained good skills. But Kkamuk, do you know about this?”
“What are you referring to…?”
“Even among S-rank achievement awakeners, no one has ever soloed a gate rated 95 or alone at level 1. Not a single one.”
Kkamuk also knew this fact.
It was because he had researched it in advance.
But his attitude seemed genuinely curious, as if he were asking for more information.
“Not just in Korea, but worldwide?”
“Yes.”
“This is amazing. So, right now, Kim Minwoo is challenging a world record?”
“Yes, as long as he succeeds.”
“Why haven’t other S-rank achievement awakeners attempt such challenges? If they’re S-rank, they would definitely receive a lot of support from their organizations, and it would have been an attractive challenge since it’s a world record…….”
Yerim chuckled coldly.
“It’s simple. Because it’s like digging their own grave.”
“Digging their own grave?”
“Yes. Just because it’s an S-rank skill doesn’t mean you’re invincible, right? Mana is a limited resource. And you can’t endlessly consume potions.”
“Well, if you drink potions too often, you can get overloaded or addicted. It seems very risky to challenge alone at level 1.”
After a moment’s pause, Kkamuk said, slowing down his pace.
“Even so, if he proceeds very slowly, wouldn’t he be able to reach the middle zone? Once he gets there, he can at least escape…….”
“…We can only hope for that.”
She replied quietly.
While she had a rather unfavorable impression of Kim Minwoo, it didn’t mean she wished for his death.
She just wanted to remove those creepy eyeballs.
“Yerim’s opinion was excellent! The broadcast is really lively today. The real-time viewership has exceeded 1 million for the first time! Oh, is this the ticket power of the Sword of Justice?”
“…It’s just because Kkamuk is doing a good job with the broadcast.”
They took a breather, painting each other’s faces with some praise.
After a while.
“Oh, while we were talking, it seems Kim Minwoo’s gate entry time is approaching? They’re doing a live broadcast from three broadcasting companies, and we’re planning to watch it too. I hope he comes back safely.”
“I hope so too.”
“Um, but I have something to say.”
“Yes?”
“What if, just what if. Kim Minwoo succeeds in clearing the gate and even achieves the shortest clear time promise?”
“…If that happens?”
“Yes. You’re curious too, right? Let’s imagine what would happen.”
“Hmm…….”
It’s unlikely to happen.
But if by some chance, it really does happen…
Yerim chuckled sarcastically.
“Japan would be jealous, China would be envious, and the world would be astonished.”
“…What?”
“The Korean nationalist NewTubers will be in an uproar.”
– “The Sword of Justice seems to browse the internet lol.”
– “I spat out my beer damn lol. Unbelievable hahaha.”
– “But if he really pulls it off, it would be legit lol. Oh Fuck. Does a world record look like a joke?”
– “Kia, bring me a bowl of Korean nationalism here!”
At that moment…….
The TV next to them turned on and the broadcast began.
– SKS News, I’m reporter Seo Jinyoung. I’m currently at the F-rank gate, “Osiris’s Tomb,” where Mr. Kim Minwoo is…
* * *
The checkpoint in front of the gate where soldiers and Awakeneds are stationed.
There were so many reporters gathered there that they were swarming.
“There’s Kim Minwoo! There he is!”
“Mr. Kim Minwoo! Can we have a word before you enter the gate?”
“Mr. Kim Minwoo! Last time, you only disclosed your level and occupation through the status window sharing! Do you have any plans to reveal your achievement rank, titles, or stats?”
Would you do it if it were you?
He didn’t have the intention to answer each question individually. He entered the checkpoint and received clearance from the soldiers.
He looked into the distance at the gate.
[Gate: Osiris’s Tomb]
[Rank: F]
He finally opened his mouth, looking at the reporters.
“I made a promise. I will set a world record.”
“I believe the 1st place record is held by French S-rank Awakened Isabella, who cleared a similar level gate at level 49! Even she took two whole days to clear it, even with full support from the country! Are you saying you are confident that you can finish it in a shorter time?!”
It took two days to conquer a gate of this level?
It was obvious.
She must have taken a bottle of potion every few hours and moved forward slowly.
Kim Minwoo pointed at the reporters’ cameras and said.
“Really? I’ll make sure to come back before your cameras cool down.”
As he was about to turn away from the reporters and head towards the gate…
“Mr. Kim Minwoo! Just a moment ago, Sword of Justice Yerim confidently stated in her broadcast that clearing the gate is absolutely impossible!”
He stopped in his tracks.
A reporter whose eyes gleamed with eagerness asked lightning-fast.
“She evaluated that it would be fortunate if you could come back alive from the middle zone with your swordsmanship! Do you have any comments on this?”
“Yerim? Ohh! That faker?”
“…Um? But she’s known as the Sword of Justice…”
“Sword of Justice? Hm… Is that so?”
Then, his body was sucked into the gate.
[(Breaking News!) “Kim Minwoo called The Sword of Justice a swordswoman who’s all talk?”]
[(Breaking News!) “Kim Minwoo, sneers ‘Sword of Justice! Hm… Is that so?’ “]
[(Breaking News!) “Sword of Justice who was broadcasting live, let out a string of harsh curses and was suspended from live broadcasting…”]
[Translator – Pr?ks]
[Proofreader – Pr?ks]
fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶