Chapter 40
Suhyuk entered the spacious virtual testing arena and surveyed the room. A roughly 40-pyeong empty space. All around were glowing spheres that served as lighting, enhancing the screen effect.
In front was a large monitor connected to the kit. Falcon Eye checked the viewers’ chat through the monitor.
‘So, this is where they do the stream.’
His gaze then shifted to Falcon Eye. A man with brown hair and thick eyebrows. With curious eyes, Falcon Eye extended his hand to Suhyuk.
“Hello! I’m streamer Falcon Eye!”
“Streamer Lee Suhyuk. Nice to meet you.”
After a brief handshake and exchange of greetings, Falcon Eye smiled and complimented him.
“It’s an honor to meet such a famous person. Wow, honestly, I was blown away by that time you took down the Giant Chief.”
“Half of that fame is thanks to you, Falcon Eye.”
“Oh, come on. I just expedited the fame you were destined to have.”
Though said jokingly, this was Falcon Eye’s genuine thought. His role as a review streamer was simply to hasten Lee Suhyuk’s success. They briefly engaged in light banter, mostly centered on Falcon Eye’s praises.
A moment later.
“Alright, we should save getting to know each other for the stream. Streamers usually bond over their streams.”
The atmosphere naturally shifted towards starting the stream. Streamers bond through streaming. Suhyuk nodded at that statement.
“Yes, let’s do that.”
Suhyuk stepped slightly out of the camera’s view.
『‘Falcon Eye’ has started streaming.』
An alert sounded on the kit. Simultaneously, the viewer count at the bottom of the kit began to rise.
-Fal-hi!
-Fal-hi~
-Fal-hi
-A rare collab?
-Fal-hi
The screen was still black.
Watching the speed of the rising viewer count, Suhyuk’s eyes lit up.
‘Already 2,000, no, soon 3,000.’
『Viewers: 2810』
『Viewers: 3104』
『Viewers: 3754』
『…….』
The numbers were increasing in real-time. Glancing at Falcon Eye’s expression, Suhyuk noticed his surprise as well. Falcon Eye watched the growing viewer count with his mouth agape.
‘This is beyond expectations.’
The viewer count had already surpassed 5,000. Falcon Eye’s average viewer count was around 8,000. On good days, it sometimes exceeded 10,000.
At this pace, they would surpass 10,000 even before the actual stream began.
‘I heard it became a topic in the community…’
Maybe today. They might hit the highest viewer count since starting the stream.
『Viewers: 12004』
When the accumulated viewers surpassed 12,000.
“Let’s start.”
John Dale signaled. Falcon Eye took a deep breath. Broadcasting in front of over 10,000 viewers was a rare event for him as well.
Beep-.
The screen on Suhyuk’s kit lit up.
The stream started.
“Fal-hi~ Hello, everyone! This is Falcon Eye!”
-Fal-hi
-Fal-hi
-Fal-hi~
-Where’s Lee Suhyuk?
-Fake Suhyuk, come out!
“Hey folks, can’t you see me? As soon as the stream starts, I’m treated like leftover rice.”
-You’re the one who stirred the hype, lol
-Exactly lol, why blame us now
-Our Fal-hyung is doing collabs with other streamers now… he’s grown up…
-Lee Suhyuk… please take care of our Falcon Eye ㅠㅠ
“Hey folks? I’ve been streaming for six years, you know? I’m a veteran, even if a small-timer. Lee Suhyuk…”
In the bustling chat, Falcon Eye began interacting with his viewers. Suhyuk watched curiously.
‘So, this is how it’s done.’
Falcon Eye was an experienced streamer. Unlike himself, who merely took trials, there was a discernible flow to Falcon Eye’s stream.
“Those who’ve watched my stream for a while know today’s stream won’t be long. Sorry if any of you expected a long collab.”
『‘FalconEyeFootFan’ has donated 100 points.』
『Rushing again? Learning all the bad habits ㅡㅡ』
“Hey, it’s not running away. You know my style, right? No dragging things out. Do what needs to be done cleanly. Respect your valuable time, you know?”
Interacting with the viewers, managing the flow, and addressing donations. While engaging playfully with the viewers, Falcon Eye’s gaze shifted to Suhyuk.
“Anyway, as you all anticipated, we’ve got someone special here today.”
Swoosh-.
The signal came. Suhyuk stepped forward.
“The next-generation master of lightning, streamer Lee Suhyuk!”
-Wowwww! (applause)
-ㄷㄷㄷㅈ
-Has the fake Suhyuk arrived?
-Has he come to fight Falcon Eye?
— What fighting? lol He’s been working so hard
— Someone hasn’t watched the stream in a while lol
Suhyuk stood beside Falcon Eye, slightly to the side.
“Hello everyone, I’m Lee Suhy-.”
『‘ILoveLeeSuhyuk’ has donated 3000 points.』
『I love you, Suhyuk oppa!!! (bounce bounce)』
A donation immediately popped up. Caught off guard, Suhyuk altered his greeting.
“Thank you, IloveLeeSuhyuk, for the donation here too.”
After a brief thought, Suhyuk added.
“But if you really love me, it would be better to send donations on my stream…”
-lolololol
-The money-grubber lol He’s still the same here lol
Viewers familiar with Suhyuk burst into laughter. Though intensely serious during his trials, viewers from his stream knew him as a “money-grubber.”
『‘OyaJi’ has donated 100 points.』
『You won’t share this either? So cheap! Falcon! Eye! So petty!』
Falcon Eye widened his eyes and waved his hands.
“No, no, wait! Of course, I’ll share! Half of the donations today are going to Suhyuk!”
-?? Then what was that earlier???
-Exactly
“Suhyuk, can you say something…?”
“We’re definitely sharing.”
-Oh… really?
-He really did want to keep it all to himself lol
-Money is nice~
After the playful chat, another question popped up.
-Have you seen his face?
-Is he good-looking?
-Does his face resemble the real Suhyuk?
Half of the incoming questions were about Suhyuk’s face. Apparently, viewers thought Falcon Eye might have seen Suhyuk’s face since they were both streamers.
“No, I haven’t. From what I’ve heard, even his manager hasn’t seen it.”
A quick glance at Suhyuk. This was information Falcon Eye had learned from John Dale, indicating that Suhyuk’s face was kept completely private.
-Why?
-Does he have a secret?
-Is he super ugly or something?
Twitch-
Between the gaps of his mask, Suhyuk’s eyebrows moved slightly.
“No, I’m quite handsome.”
『‘CriticExpert’ has donated 10 points.』
『If you’re so cocky, show us your face~』
『‘HighestSalary’ has donated 50 points.』
『Leave him be, he might really see it that way ㅎㅎㅎ』
『‘LifeOfHandsome’ has donated 100 points.』
『My mom also says I’m the most handsome. Just saying.』
Chat messages and donations surged rapidly. Most donations were made to highlight their chat messages rather than for actual support.
‘More donations here than on my stream, for sure.’
Even though the amounts were small, the frequency of donations was impressive, and there were a few substantial ones mixed in. Falcon Eye was equally astonished.
‘The influence is more significant than I expected.’
Glancing quickly between chatting with viewers, Falcon Eye monitored the swiftly climbing viewer count.
『Viewers: 19099』
The viewers were nearly at 20,000.
It was time to start.
“Alright, folks. Let’s stop teasing our special guest and get into the content, shall we?”
-Let’s go~!!!!!
-Let’s go~
-ㄱㅈㅇ~~
Click-
Whoooo—
As Falcon Eye snapped his fingers, the scenery of the testing arena transformed.
『The trial is starting.』
The programmed trial began. The range of the system-applied arena expanded, revealing a vast arena.
“Today’s trial is this. Destroying Scarecrows!”
Ding ding ding ding-
Along with Falcon Eye’s signal, dozens of scarecrows appeared before Suhyuk and Falcon Eye. Scarecrows wielding a variety of weapons—swords, spears, hammers, bows.
Destroying Scarecrows, known as a “trial” was quite popular among players who had ascended to the third floor.
“So, why did I choose this trial? There are two reasons. First, nothing beats it for assessing control.”
-ㅇㅈ
-ㅆㅇㅈ
-As simple as it gets, lol
-Anyway, isn’t the time limit the key?
The trial’s content couldn’t be simpler. Just destroy as many scarecrows as possible within the given time.
A simple trial. A clear numerical metric.
Additionally, Falcon Eye had another reason for choosing this trial.
“And the second reason. A little while ago, something I said became quite the hot topic.”
Ding-
『1st Place – Lee Suhyuk – 43』
『2nd Place – Hyles – 36』
『3rd Place – Kim Ilsoo – 33』
『4th Place – Kim Shiwoo – 32』
『…….』
In the center of the screen.
A ranking based on the trial results. At the very top, the name everyone had been waiting for was displayed.
『‘CombatPowerAnalyzer’ has donated 50 points.』
『Seven more than Hyles ㄷㄷ That’s insane』
『‘BlueEyesFan’ has donated 30 points.』
『Been a while since I got chills. Guess it’s time for a drink, hostess!!!』
『‘HylesProtector’ has …….』
Just as expected, donations started pouring in. Though no significant amounts stood out, the frequency of donations was exponentially higher. And then, one caught his eye.
『‘Kikikik’ has donated 100 points.』
『Can you beat that?』
The question Suhyuk had been waiting for.
“Thank you for the donation, Kikikik. Suhyuk, we have a question-.”
“I won’t lose.”
Eyes shining, Suhyuk nodded confidently.
“Absolutely not.”
Destroying 43 scarecrows. Who knows how many attempts it took to achieve that insane record.
Back then, it felt like playing a game.
Of course.
-Confidence overload lolol
-One try possible?
-It’s still a maybe
-Kingdom come?
Judging by the viewers’ reactions, they weren’t entirely convinced.
‘If I can’t beat that, I might as well bite my tongue and die.’
Just as Suhyuk adopted that train of thought—
『‘SpicyKkang’ has issued a mission.』
『More than 43, 10,000 points. Fail, show your face. Deal?』
The timely mission made Suhyuk’s eyes widen. Beat the record of top scorer Lee Suhyuk and receive the donation, but fail and reveal his face. It was a high-stakes mission.
Although it was the first time he faced a mission with such personal risk, the reward was staggering.
‘10,000 points?’
Following that:
『‘MaskFetish’ has issued a mission.』
『Oh lol always curious about your face. I’ll throw in 2000 points.』
『‘DoReMiFart’ has issued a mission.』
『3000 points added. Scared? lol』
『‘SoupCoin’ has issued a mission.』
『…』
Missions flowed in one after another.
Was it because of the large audience?
The number and amount of missions far surpassed anything on Suhyuk’s stream.
Moreover.
-But if you fail the mission, only fake Suhyuk will reveal his face. Is this also split 50/50?
“Split 50/50? Oh, that wouldn’t be right.”
Falcon Eye, eyes widened at the influx of missions, nodded at a chat comment.
“Then, for this mission, all proceeds go to Suhyuk.”
With that statement, Suhyuk’s goodwill towards Falcon Eye soared.
TL’s Corner:
Moneygrubber MC.