NOVEL NEXT Chapter 473
[Streamer Gallery]
[How much would all the participants of Taming Master be worth combined?]
Don’t actors usually rake in at least 500 per episode when they appear on variety shows?
What in the world is this Taming Master title that’s causing all this? LOL
[Comments]
– Turns out it’s a mega content worth billions, LOL!
– No way these people could be recruited by the broadcasting station!
– Agh! NoName, hurry up and expand the server!
└ Is NoName your friend? From now on, call him High Wizard NoName every time.
└ But how can an individual open a server? LOL
└ I looked it up, and the monthly user fee is 15 million won per 10,000 users?
– Please, let the official release of Kaizen World be paid. Are we just going to abandon Market Monsters? Abandon Market Monster Battle Royale?
[Market Monster Battle Royale Episode 1 Summary for Fun]
Idol Showdown: White (girl group representative) → Exiel (boy group representative)
VTuber Showdown: U-Dex (member of Safari World) → Natsuki Deneb (Hololive Korea)
Blue Sun Entertainment Showdown: Ji Bo-hee (senpai) → White (kouhai)
Drama Encore Showdown: Won Yang-hee (mother-in-law role) → Ji Bo-hee (daughter-in-law role)
Add more in the comments, please!
[Comments]
– Did mother-in-law just return from hell? LOL!
– Pro-Japanese VTuber cut! Sssss!
– Seems like if we dig deeper, there’s no end to it with all the tangled connections.
– Is the Netflix encore any good?
└ It’s quite chaotic, but it’s somewhat enjoyable.
– NoName’s influence is indeed something…
└ Just look at how the resting actors gathered.
└ Who am I? Just a viewer who watches NoName, White, Exiel, Ji Bo-hee, and Won Yang-hee.
[NoName, that wicked little brat is so funny! LOL!]
(Screenshot of the Evolution Orb landing point.jpg)
He threw all three Evolution Orbs right outside the Magic Circle.
The participants who were watching from behind burst into tears together.
[Comments]
– NoName must be a firm believer in the Red Queen hypothesis.
└ What’s that?
└ “Living beings must constantly evolve and adapt amidst their surroundings and competitors to maintain their existence.”
└ It basically means you should work like crazy if you want to live decently.
└ Whoa, this sounds exactly like Na-me’s life! 
*
In game theory, there’s a term called Nash Equilibrium.
This describes a state in which all participants optimize their choices and interact within game scenarios. It’s easier to think of it in terms of the prisoner’s dilemma.
Since the risk of not confessing is too high, the prisoners would rather betray their partner and confess.
In the end, because the other also makes the best choice, everyone ends up confessing, which is the Nash Equilibrium.
When I threw the Evolution Orbs outside the Magic Circle, no one dared to go out.
It was obvious someone would be immediately bombarded with fire if they dared to go for it.
“So their best strategy is to stay put and not evolve. But if this continues, they’ll definitely be killed by the participants who evolved first. Isn’t it interesting how Nash Equilibrium can conflict with everyone’s interests?”
– I don’t know about interesting; this thought process is downright devilish!
– Na-me warned you in advance! LOL!
– You’ve created a microcosm of human society in the game.
– Honestly, it might have been better to fight early on. There’s no future now.
– Watching NoName’s broadcasts really teaches you all sorts of things.
└ I feel like I’m getting smarter too! 
└ I hope he gives a lecture on current affairs and culture later!
The five participants who reached their ultimate evolution forms.
It was as if they had made a pact; they began hunting down the participants who had not yet evolved.
From the moment the ladder was kicked away, the battles broke out relentlessly.
The terrain of the city became meaningless as the demon beasts grew larger.
Demon beast superiority? That doesn’t matter at all.
Now was the time for everyone’s taming skills to shine.
The serpent demon beast leapt onto the spire.
Taking out an eagle that was flying low, it wrapped around its neck and killed it!
Behind the serpent demon beast, a rabbit demon beast with red eyes sharpened its fangs.
It dealt a fatal blow to the serpent blocking the road, then hopped away.
[Survivors: 2]
“Finally, it looks like we have a two-horse race. Shall we all go watch?”
[
Summon the Fallen (Ghost Mode)]
98 fallen players summoned on a fluffy cloud.
I personally placed angel rings above their heads.
The participants, seemingly forgetting the brutal battles they were just in, smiled and greeted each other.
There was no trace of stale emotions anywhere.
If only our lives could be enjoyed as lightly as a game, how wonderful would that be?
“Wow, they’re fighting! They’re fighting!”
In the first round of the Taming Master Championship, streamer Han Yong-cheol faced off against actress Eun-won.
[Han Yong-cheol – Centipede]
[Eun-won – Rabbit Star]
A centipede the size of a house mercilessly slams its head down.
BANG BANG BANG BANG-!
It was a blind, brute-force attack, but its impact was immense.
The roof dissolved like tissue paper under the pressure, shattering the glass.
In the face of overwhelming power, guns and magic were useless.
Eun-won’s fierce rabbit stomps on the centipede’s head, but the thick armor holds up.
[Casting: Plasma Shield]
Centipede unleashed a powerful electric charge, turning the air into a plasma field.
Rabbit Star’s body goes numb.
To make matters worse, the shrinking magic circle rapidly drained both Centipede and Rabbit Star’s health.
Han Yong-cheol loaded the healing scroll he prepared in advance and generously showered Centipede with it.
“I’m so sorry, Eun-won! I’m really sorry! I’m definitely going to watch your movie today!”
“You, I won’t forget to take my revenge next round…”
“Gasp!”
It seems streamers are a few steps below movie stars!
– Eun-won’s voice is terrifying when she gets angry! LOL!
– No wonder villains hesitate in fights!
– Even a man thinks she’s super cool!
– Eun-won’s the most fun these days! Her variety skills are top-notch!
– Eun-won, you’re getting cooler as you age!
– You’re amazing, Yung-cheol!
– Oh my gosh! I got a beta test ticket! Yay!!
“KYAAAAA!”
Centipede’s roar announces its victory in the battlefield.
[Han Yong-cheol → Eun-won]
[Centipede (Armored Evolution) → Rabbit Star (Super Jump Evolution)]
The final survivor of the first round was Han Yong-cheol, who finished with 5 kills.
Points are distributed based on survival rankings and kill counts, and preparations for the next game begin.
– I forgot to check the voting results, Na-me!
– Beta test! Beta test!
– Yung-cheol, thanks for winning the first round! From the second round onward, let’s leave it to the celebrities!
– Honestly, if I hadn’t caught this match because of the National Exchange Tournament, I would’ve been in big trouble! LOL!
└ For real, the V-Tube view counts are going to explode!
– So, Na-me, you really don’t have to go prepare for the duel? I’m not trying to worry you or anything…
└ Only three weeks left, huh?
└ Let’s say I’ve given you a one-week handicap.
– The more I see it, the better the game looks!
– Seriously, when is it coming out? It’s going to be so fun!
*
Unfortunately, Han Yong-cheol never became the Taming Master.
Exerting all his strength against Eun-won, he suffered embarrassing defeats from the second to the fifth rounds.
In the end, the first place went to Veixel, a former pro gamer and now a variety streamer from Wagal, and Bae Yeon-ji.
Surviving two out of five rounds. 28 kill points.
And all that was achieved using the cutest squirrel demon beast, Squiruna, from Kaizen World.
I summoned one of each type of demon beast existing in Kaizen World with awe.
86 demon beasts knelt and bowed their heads in unison under my command.
I draped her in a red cloak embroidered with golden strings and honeybees.
“Congratulations, Yeon-ji. You may take your seat on the throne.”
“Oh my gosh, this is so embarrassing…!”
“Is it because of Exiel?”
“No, what are you talking about! I’m a huge fan of Exiel, but… AHHHH…”
Seeing the idol smiling below the throne caused the face of a 20-year-old girl to nearly erupt like a volcano.
After a brief coronation for Bae Yeon-ji, I handed out small prizes to all participants today.
From 100th to 51st place, I gave out mint chocolate peppermint candies that I personally crafted, and from 50th to 11th, department store gift certificates.
“Oh my gosh, what is this taste!”
“Eww! No, it’s super delicious! I’m munching on it, Na-me!”
From 10th place onward, I handed out inexpensive gift cards for home appliances in order of price.
Idol White received a mana ranging device, while actress Eun-won took home a kimchi refrigerator.
Even the entertainers showed some surprise at the generous gifts.
And Taming Master Bae Yeon-ji deserved special treatment.
“Are you curious about the gift?”
“Yes! I really want to know! No, more than that, I wanted to ask you something, Na-me. Is it okay to ask now?”
“Of course. You are the Taming Master after all.”
As I emphasized the word “master,” Bae Yeon-ji blushed once again, feeling shy.
Clearing her throat, she asked me.
“Do you have any plans to release a sequel to Kaizen World?”
“A sequel?!”
“Yes! I figured it out while digging up all the Easter eggs. The witch was actually the emperor’s younger sister! I just love those stories where characters fall from grace!”
“Falling from grace…?”
“Yes. Why did the witch have to become a witch? What kind of relationship did she have with the emperor? I really, really want to know what’s in Na-me’s head!”
“I will think about a sequel, but right now I need to focus on preparing for the National Exchange Tournament.”
“I understand! Please take good care of it!”
“To our first place winner, I’m going to give you a gift.”
I opened my inventory.
I pulled out a black cube measuring 30cm on each side.
Its surface was engraved with geometric patterns, and purple light faintly radiated through the cracks shaped like lightning.
“What is this?” Bae Yeon-ji asked, puzzled as she held the cube.
“I’ll tell you how to use it. Log into Kaizen World and enter the True Ending’s source code in the cube’s password field.”
“Okay, got it. And then?”
“Then just keep the cube placed somewhere in your Private Room.”
“I still don’t quite understand.”
“Oh, it’s simple.”
I spread my legs and leaned against the armrest next to the throne.
The seating fit me perfectly.
Oh man, I almost forgot my crown!
I placed a golden crown on Bae Yeon-ji’s head and spoke of her first prize.
“It’s the ASI that serves as the foundation for Hibris. I hope you can plant the memories of the True Ending into it.”
“Yes?!”
“You are the Taming Master, after all. I hope you can tame our Hibris with lots of love.”
SMOOCH
I brought my fingers together and gave a little kiss before pressing them against her forehead.