Reincarnator’s Stream

“Do you really think we can persuade him?”

Within the crowd watching the Counter-Fight.

Yerang and Shiwoo were having a conversation, blocking out the surrounding noise.

“It might be difficult… but it’s not entirely impossible.”

The two had come all the way here to persuade the Heavenly Demon. If they could get his help, achieving their goal would become much easier.

And this Counter-Fight was the perfect stage to persuade the Heavenly Demon.

“We’ve already been rejected once, haven’t we?”

“No. This time might be different.”

“Why?”

“Because Kim Ilsoo attacked the Heavenly Demon first. His mind might have changed.”

The Heavenly Demon was the only person who knew of their survival.

“Most importantly… he is the one who saved us.”

“That’s the extent of the relationship between him and us.”

“I know. But it’s still worth a shot, isn’t it?”

At least give it a try, and if it doesn’t work, move on.

If they managed to pull him in, it would be a huge win, making the long journey worthwhile.

Contrary to Shiwoo’s excitement, Yerang was somewhat dissatisfied.

She wasn’t particularly interested in the Counter-Fight, one of the tower’s biggest festivals, nor in the Heavenly Demon.

In fact, her focus was entirely on something else.

“Huh? Look….”

In the distance, a person was quickly climbing between the buildings.

Even from afar, it wasn’t difficult to recognize the face.

Moreover, she was one of the few people Yerang had recently spoken to.

“Un Hyang?”

“Un Hyang? The manager you met at the tournament?”

“Yeah. She’s in a hurry.”

Given that the Counter-Fight was an event, Lee Suhyuk would also be here. It wasn’t unusual for his manager, Un Hyang, to be with him.

But something else bothered Yerang.

‘D… Did she cry?’

It strangely weighed on her mind.

It wasn’t just because she was Lee Suhyuk’s manager.

“She’s the successor of the Divine Dragon Group.”

After meeting Un Hyang, Yerang and Shiwoo had investigated her background.

There was nothing special about their method.

They had just paid an enormous amount to the dark map, asking for information on Un Hyang and her status as Lee Suhyuk’s manager.

That’s how they found out that Un Hyang was the daughter of the Divine Dragon Group.

“It’s not good to be deeply involved. If someone like her is just working as a manager, it means she has a lot of baggage.”

“Really? That sounds interesting.”

“…I guess you’ll go regardless of what I say?”

“Of course.”

Yerang nodded and started moving her feet.

Shiwoo didn’t try to stop her, trusting that her identity wouldn’t be discovered.

Thus, Yerang and Un Hyang met for the second time.

* * *

“I see… I get it now.”

After listening to Un Hyang’s words, Yerang nodded.

“Your friend talked harshly, but if it’s not something bad, he should support what you like.”

“Right? Don’t you think so too, unnie?”

“Absolutely. Where is your friend now? Should I smack some sense into him?”

“I already took care of that earlier.”

“Good job.”

Yerang and Un Hyang hit it off. After spilling everything out, Un Hyang felt somewhat relieved, lightened from the burden she carried.

‘Is this girl really the daughter of the Divine Dragon Group’s leader?’

Un Cheon-guk, the leader of the Divine Dragon Group.

She had seen him a few times, both at the Counter-Fight and in other venues.

It was hard to believe they were father and daughter, given how different they were.

‘She seems like a good person, but….’

Meanwhile, Un Hyang was observing Yerang as well.

A woman who approached her under the name Yejeong.

It was hard to grasp what kind of person she was.

‘She’s not an ordinary person.’

She was a player far more skilled than Un Hyang. Though she hadn’t realized it during their first meeting, it was clear to see now.

Most of all, what concerned Un Hyang was the relationship between Yerang and Suhyuk.

“It’s nothing. I just mistook someone for someone I know.”

Suhyuk had earnestly searched for her.

Though he tried to cover it up by saying it was a mistake, his feelings seemed different.

Moreover, if it wasn’t really her, Un Hyang was curious about whom he mistook her for.

Why was Suhyuk so eager to find her?

“…I spoke about you, unnie.”

Saying that was somewhat impulsive.

“Me? To whom?”

“Who else? Our streamer.”

“To Lee Suhyuk, the streamer?”

Yerang’s pupils trembled slightly.

Seeing her reaction, Un Hyang nodded, thinking, ‘Just as I thought.’

“Yes. When I told him, he anxiously looked for you.”

“Me? How did he know?”

“I’m not sure. He said he thought he’d made a mistake but it sounded like an excuse…”

Un Hyang hesitated for a moment before deciding to get to the point.

“If you get a chance, would you like to meet him? You said you were a fan too.”

“…Lee Suhyuk, the streamer?”

Yerang fell into deep thought.

‘It’s dangerous.’

In fact, just meeting Un Hyang should not have been allowed.

Hyomin’s life was at stake. The moment they showed themselves to the world again, Kim Ilsoo would mercilessly take her life.

So, Yerang and Shiwoo had to remain in hiding.

But…

“…Alright, let’s do it.”

Maybe not immediately.

“It’s not like my face will wear out from meeting someone. Besides, I’d be happy to see him.”

Lee Suhyuk was someone she had always wanted to meet eventually.

If they could stay alive until then.

“Really? You promise?”

“Yes, I got it.”

“I’m sure Suhyuk would be happy too.”

And by that time, they might understand what kind of relationship the two had.

Un Hyang smiled brightly and took out a kit from her pocket.

“Then, would you like to watch the stream together? I need to monitor it anyway.”

“That’s right, your main job is being a manager, right? Were you slacking off just now?”

“One thing led to another, and it just happened.”

Un Hyang replied with a playful smile and accessed Suhyuk’s stream channel again.

Yerang sat beside Un Hyang, focusing on the screen of the kit.

『’You have accessed Lee Suhyuk’s stream’.』

The stream screen they started to watch.

“Eh?”

Seeing the face of Heavenly Demon Jin Hwaryung on the screen, Yerang asked in astonishment.

“What… is this situation?”

Un Hyang didn’t answer.

She seemed frozen in place, her face turning pale.

* * *

『’Selfish Sacrifice Lv.10′ resists ‘thunder’ and ‘lightning’.』

Crackle, crackle-.

Suhyuk felt lightning rampaging within him.

His flesh and muscles screamed as if warning him he might burn out.

Suhyuk raised his output from the start. The opponent in front of him was the Heavenly Demon, and he was not someone who could be fought half-heartedly.

Zap-.

Suhyuk’s figure disappeared from his position.

The next moment, he appeared above Jin Hwaryung’s head.

Boom-!

Like a lightning bolt, Suhyuk’s sword stabbed down on Jin Hwaryung’s head.

Jin Hwaryung’s sword blocked Suhyuk’s, and Suhyuk began his dance.

Boom, boom-!

Flash-.

Thunder roared without pause. He unleashed his best output with each strike.

‘I can control it.’

Although he kept increasing his output, the burden on his body wasn’t as severe as he worried.

Thanks to the level 10 effect of ‘Selfish Sacrifice.’

‘I can push further.’

Sizzle-!

Twinge-.

His body ached due to the surge in output.

Simultaneously, Suhyuk’s eyes flashed.

Boom-!

Suhyuk’s sword sparkled, as if about to cut Jin Hwaryung’s body in half.

For a moment, Suhyuk felt as if Jin Hwaryung’s body was splitting in his vision.

-What?
-He cut him;;
-Can’t be???

It seemed like he connected, but it was a mistake. Seeing it that way only showcased the gap between Suhyuk and Jin Hwaryung.

Contrary to what he saw, there was no sensation in his hand. Instead, Suhyuk felt a chilling sense of danger.

Zap-.

He quickly bounced back to create distance.

The form of the Jin Hwaryung he had just cut disappeared like a mirage, and in its place stood a broken sword.

“Have you shown all there is?”

A voice came from right behind him.

It was only then that Lee Suhyuk sensed the presence.

At that moment, Suhyuk was certain that if Jin Hwaryung had wanted to, he would have killed him.

‘He had me in the palm of his hand.’

Suhyuk turned slowly and looked at Jin Hwaryung.

The latter was expecting something.

It wasn’t hard to guess what he was anticipating.

‘You’re just the same.’

At that moment, he realized that Jin Hwaryung was no different from the numerous viewers watching his stream.

Jin Hwaryung wanted to see Lee Suhyuk through Suhyuk. In this regard, Jin Hwaryung might be the closest viewer to himself.

‘I’ve lost my mind too.’

He let out a slight laugh.

He was thinking about viewers and whatnot while standing before the Heavenly Demon.

He felt like he had really become a streamer.

However, thinking about it that way made him feel a little more at ease.

“I still have a long way to go before I’m done showing you everything.”

“I should hope so.”

A murderous intent flashed in Jin Hwaryung’s eyes.

“If this is all there is, I’ll rip off that mask of yours and tear your face apart today.”

These words weren’t about the trial at hand.

If Jin Hwaryung wanted, he would come after the real Suhyuk and tear his face off.

“Don’t worry. Fortunately, I haven’t even started yet.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Jin Hwaryung’s hand moved.

Floating softly—The sword he had strapped to his waist lifted into the air.

It was just one sword, but it wasn’t just one.

Humm, humm—The sword split into identical swords of the same shape and size.

Two, three… The number of swords increased and soon filled the surroundings of Jin Hwaryung.

“How many swords do you have?”

Dozens of swords.

Suhyuk knew.

He knew that the number of swords Jin Hwaryung could handle wasn’t limited to this.

Flash—.

Clang—!

Jin Hwaryung’s sword clashed with Suhyuk’s sword.

The impact was so strong that Suhyuk almost dropped his sword, and his wrist tingled.

‘It’s starting.’

The fact that Jin Hwaryung brought out his ‘swords’ signified he was officially starting the battle.

Many players said that the Heavenly Demon didn’t wield just one sword, and when he brought out multiple swords, the battle began.

If drawing the hidden swords of the Heavenly Demon marked the beginning, then his beginning started now.

Tzz-Tzz-Tzz—.

『‘Lightning Lord’ is activating.』

The black electric current coursed through him. It permeated the ground where he stood and began to dominate the surroundings.

“…Hard…breath….”

He felt power surging to a point where it seemed overwhelming. He ignored the voice echoing in his mind once again.

He knew what it wanted to say. But he had already made up his mind.

Slash—!

Jin Hwaryung’s swords came flying. It was not just one sword. The swords aimed at Suhyuk’s vital spots from all directions.

Clink—.

Suhyuk’s sword went back into its scabbard.

In the next moment.

『Blade Draw, Single Flash』

Flash—!

Light engulfed the surroundings, and Jin Hwaryung’s swords flew away, deflected.

Clang—.

As if signaling the true beginning, more swords came flying.

There were still hundreds, thousands of swords around Jin Hwaryung, and they seemed to stage the attacks in phases to test Suhyuk.

“Whoo—.”

Hot breath emerged from Suhyuk’s lungs after completing his sword-drawn attack.

As Jin Hwaryung escalated the phases, he had to escalate his own phases as well.

‘It’s been a while since I fought using techniques.’

Techniques were not skills but rather applications utilizing the skills.

This was the first time he blatantly used these on stream. No matter how one looked at it, perfectly mimicking Lee Suhyuk’s techniques right after obtaining lightning would seem suspicious.

But none of that mattered now.

Suhyuk seamlessly performed his technique.

『Twin Dragon Flash』

Flash—!

With two bright flashes, lightning resembling dragons deflected the swords. Seeing him fight with lightning coiled around his sword like dragons, Jin Hwaryung showed a faint smile at the corners of his lips.

“So it was you, after all.”

TL’s Corner:
What did he mean?