Season 3: Chapter 41: Demian Association (2)
It was probably before Ji-Ah uploaded the first video.
[yukino07: Save me! Save m—]
[(Blocked viewer)]
Sang-Hyeon was executing a crafty liar.
— LOL
— Goodbye
— I will remember you!
— Big events are for Aniphsa!
— Yukino! Just die nicely! I'll remember you!
Yukino07 was the first in the chat to mention ten million won. Seeing that, everyone started deceiving Sang-Hyeon through donations and chats. Well, it garnered a lot of attention.
However, Sang-Hyeon didn't quite understand the situation outside. He rose from his seat with a refreshed mind after executing the traitor.
"Anyway, thank you for all the donations today. It was fun playing along."
— ???
— Playing along LOL
— Still LOL
— Your method acting is excessive haha
— Agent!? This is part of the plan too, right?!
Ignoring the chats that still teased him, he wanted to try some new content now.
"I'll try some shopping now."
This could be considered the second part of G-Star.
The game demonstration events were momentarily tidied up and the booths began to prominently display merchandise provided by the game companies.
For Sang-Hyeon, who had practically unlimited points, it was like heaven where he could buy anything. It was also the best way to utilize his overwhelming capital.
"It's not just shopping. I want to try the auction."
Ju-Hyeok had recommended the auction.
"Since I've played LIL the most, I'll go check out the biggest booth among them. It’s Legend Tale’s booth."
He headed to the booth of Legend Tale, the largest LIL RPG, for a limited edition merchandise auction.
***
The Legend Tale booth was grandly decorated, befitting the main sponsor of this G-Star.
"Wow, it's really big."
He couldn’t play any games since the challenges had ended, but he could still watch some videos. To be precise, it was almost impossible not to watch the videos. The entire wall was a screen, continuously streaming videos of Legend Tale.
"Wow..."
It naturally featured the champions that appeared in the LIL universe.
The country Taran mentioned in that universe and other settings that had only been speculated about by users were visually implemented.
"Can you switch contracted champions while fighting?"
In Legend Tale, the player could contract with various champions. This allowed for stylish combat by switching between champions in real time.
— Wow... that's awesome
— Wow
— This seems like it's going to be buggy LOL
— It's really something
— I wonder if they'll release a gacha system :(
Although it probably wasn't possible to keep contracting with champions, this combat style seemed quite fun.
While wandering and watching the videos, someone caught Sang-Hyeon's eye.
'Huh?'
She was sitting in a wheelchair, quietly watching a video.
— Isn't that the person who was bowing?
— Bowing sister, wow
— What are you doing here?
The viewers still didn't know that she was an acquaintance of Almond.
Sa-Rang felt someone's presence and turned around.
Strangely, Sang-Hyeon recalled the first time he had encountered her.
"Hello," she greeted him first. "I see you won. You've come for the auction?"
"Oh, yes. Just looking around for now."
Sang-Hyeon approached and also greeted her.
"It seems like you're looking at something..."
Sa-Rang pointed to the screen she was watching.
"Oh, this."
It looked like a reference video placed on a tablet in a museum, but it was an explanation video displayed on a much larger screen.
[Wavelength Change Graphic Implementation]
It was an explanation of how Legend Tale implemented full-dive technology. The gaming industry had to display it by medical law for all gamers to see.
"This method is new in such a large-scale online game."
Her tone sounded oddly excited. Apart from that, she looked really happy today and not like her usual self.
"I have a pretty good hypothesis about this..." Sa-Rang started to say and glanced at Almond's goggles. "Are you streaming right now?"
The camera and her eyes met.
"Oh, yes."
— Wow, she's gorgeous
— Oops, is she embarrassed?
— Wow, she's beautiful
Sa-Rang quickly averted her gaze.
"Oh, I didn't know. Keep on streaming. I'll just keep looking—"
Click.
Then, Sang-Hyeon pushed his goggles up.
— Huh?
— What's happening?
— ??
The viewers could only see the ceiling.
"They won't see this."
"…?"
Sa-Rang looked at his goggles and eyes before pointing to her mouth. She was signaling him to turn off the microphone as well, so he turned off the microphone too.
— ???
— What are they doing?
— What's going on!?
— Hey! Mr. President! Open the door!
— Is, is this what insiders do?!
"What were you saying earlier?" Sang-Hyeon asked Sa-Rang with the microphone off.
"I have a good hypothesis."
Sa-Rang was talking about brainwaves. This was also a sensitive topic for Sang-Hyeon.
'She’s suffered longer than me with this. She seems to know more.'
Regarding the problems Sang-Hyeon was facing, Sa-Rang had much more knowledge. She also had a much deeper relationship with Doctor Song Ha-Na.
"It's correct to say that I had a hypothesis."
Sa-Rang began speaking.
"A hypothesis that my neural degeneration could improve."
"…?"
At his surprised expression, Sa-Rang shook her head.
"Well, it's like alchemy."
It meant she had failed. Well, Sang-Hyeon could have guessed that from Sa-Rang's current condition.
"But I haven’t tested it in such a massive game before… just… maybe… and I was watching."
Her voice grew weaker as she spoke.
"This is the first time I'm hearing about this."
"Doctors don't usually talk about things that are too hopeful, do they?"
"Ah…"
"Well… our Ms. Ha-Na is a bit loose-lipped though."
At this point, she chuckled.
"It might be too long ago for her to remember."
As soon as Sang-Hyeon heard this, he realized why doctors did not talk about hopeful things.
Thump!
His heart suddenly started beating faster. Even though he knew he could be disappointed again.
"Hey!? Is that Almond?" someone called out to Almond.
He didn’t notice, but the area behind had become noisy.
When he turned around, a blonde woman screamed.
'Raina?'
She was dressed as Raina.
Apparently, she was a cosplay model. He thought she was a model because there were lots of men following her to take pictures. A normal person would run away frightened if approached like that by strangers.
"Is that Almond! Wow! Everyone! It's Almond!"
"Ah… just a moment…"
Sang-Hyeon looked back to where Sa-Rang had been and stepped back.
'She's gone.'
She had already disappeared.
"Wow! Almond!"
"It’s Almond!"
Instead, some men began to surround him.
Sang-Hyeon put on his goggles again and turned on the microphone.
— ??? What, why did it suddenly go quiet?
— Where did the beautiful lady go? WTF LOL
— Who are these guys LOL
— Is this an emergency? LOL
— Who exactly are they?
He was curious about them too and looked at the flags they were carrying.
[Demian Association]
The Demian Association was abbreviated as DA.
'Demian!?'
Sang-Hyeon honestly felt surprised. He thought they only existed as a meme, but they were a real group.
'These are scary guys…'
The Demian Association, as they referred to themselves, was an association made up of madmen who claimed that they were Demian, Raina's bow.
Notably, these Demians had never viewed Almond favorably.
"Guys, those people look like Demian…" he whispered enough for only the stream to hear.
— LOL, Demian???
— ??? Why did that insider come? Sneer…
— LOL, it really says Demian, crazy LOL
— Haha, aren't they getting beaten up? LOL
The viewers also worried about the Demian Association, which officially disliked Almond. This was because Raina’s reactions to Almond were too different from the typical Demian reactions.
Moreover, those Demians could never clear three stars while Almond cleared it on his first attempt. Simply put, they were jealous of him.
Meanwhile, a Raina cosplay model was asking to take a photo with him.
"Almond, Raina is your main champion, right? Could we take a commemorative photo?"
— This person is Raina herself, damn LOL why so clingy? LOL
— Can someone confirm if she is possessed by Raina?
— Raina, log in~?
— Face ID, wow
— Face ID works in real life too
Almond looked a bit uncomfortable. Many people wanted to take a photo with this model. Those people were even Demians. Something about the situation felt odd.
Unexpectedly, a different response came from them.
'Huh?'
Male fans began to line up toward him.
"Oh. What? Almond is taking photos too?"
"Is it a photo session with Almond?"
"Oh. Photos with Almond, sweet~"
Even the person who was at the front asked Almond, "Um… could I also take a photo with you?"
"How about the three of us then?"
The model suggested excitedly.
Sang-Hyeon nodded for now.
"Ah… alright then."
Although the situation was sudden, it was something a celebrity had to handle. Sang-Hyeon felt pleased since the Demians reacted better than he expected.
'Reality is quite different.'
He thought that Demians would always reject him, but meeting them in real life proved otherwise.
— LOL, everyone likes Almond
— Demians… are actually nice?
— A vicious Demian might stab you from behind, bro. Be careful!
— Why do you guys like Almond? Huh?
— These guys were just playing a role LOL
— Were they the Dark Horse Society…?
"Can I have an autograph?"
"Me too!"
Suddenly, Almond was signing autographs. During this, he received some information.
"Oh. Almond, you came for the Demian auction, right?"
Demian auction? What was that?
"Today, various champion weapons are being auctioned as limited editions. Demian has the highest quality. It’s an actual size real bow."
Demian was being made into merchandise and sold? He didn't know there was such a thing.
'A bow?'
Almond was intrigued by the mention of Raina's bow.
From a distance, a faction watched him with disapproval from behind a pillar. They were also Demians. Not all Demians were hostile toward him, but that didn’t mean all of them were friendly either. Especially not in this situation when the auction item was Raina’s bow.