Chapter 16 - Chapter 16

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 16

Chapter Title: Genius Instinct

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"Alright, let's get back to the game talk. Seo-jun, how exactly did you do it?"

Alpaca turned toward Seo-jun with a serious expression.

"I have to know. What did you see and how? Honestly, viewers, you all agree, right?"

Seo-jun shook his head at the chat, denying it.

"Guys, I'm not an alien. And no hacks either. To be honest, I don't actually see the grain."

"Then what is it?"

Alpaca asked with genuine curiosity.

Seo-jun put on a comically serious face.

"I just know it. 'Cause I'm a genius."

Alpaca, in stark contrast, couldn't hold back his expression and stared in disbelief.

Alpaca's lips twitched before he let out a hollow laugh and flashed a playful smile.

"If you're not a genius, it'd be an insult. Come on, tell us properly. Otherwise, I'll think it's hacks too?"

The first thing to vanish after VR went mainstream? Hacks.

The reason was the sheer tech gap.

Surface, the mega-corp that monopolized the VR market, had unveiled and popularized VR with tech no one could touch.

That gap was so wide even other giants struggled to hack the capsules themselves.

Plus, any VR glitch could risk lives.

So external programs were under Surface's iron grip.

Thus, Alpaca calling it "hacks" was pure nonsense.

Seo-jun knew Surface inside out.

"But making hacks sounds harder than spotting grains? Surface would scoop you up."

Seo-jun puffed out his chest proudly.

"Huh? Yeah, true. How'd I not think of that?"

Alpaca nodded, convinced, and burst out laughing.

"That was a joke, by the way."

"Which part? Surface? Or genius?"

"Just knowing. But it's half-joke, half-truth."

"What does that mean?"

"There's no better way to explain it than 'I just know.'"

Hooks and scams flooded the chat.

Seo-jun waved it off.

"Haha, calm down, everyone. It's not some special power. I just thought, 'Where would the devs hide it?'"

It was special, sure.

A gut instinct only past-life Seo-jun could have.

But no need to explain that.

'No one would believe reincarnation anyway.'

So he could reveal it, if spiced up right.

'Gonna need some flair...'

Then Alpaca shouted like he'd cracked it.

"Whoa! So you read the devs' intentions? From just two examples?"

Seo-jun nodded.

Spot on.

"Man, you're a freakish genius! Though it sounds even more suspicious now. Hmm."

Alpaca stroked his chin suspiciously.

"Exactly. Lives in another world. So other stuff should be easy too?"

"Yeah. But..."

"What?"

"Parrying's a system to make trash mobs easier, right?"

"Yep. Devs added it for musou runs."

"But this grain system's harder than parrying, and success just breaks the weapon—no damage boosts."

Alpaca clapped.

"Oh? Yeah! The man who pioneered Drake's true route has game sense too."

"Thanks. Anyway, grain feels boss-fight exclusive."

"Could be. Bosses are brutal. Especially Drake... Oh, right."

Alpaca's face clouded over. He pinched his nose and sighed.

Seo-jun patted Alpaca's shoulder.

"I think grain's for bosses. So I'll try the Ruler's gear for the last two."

"Hey now. It's obviously for the Ruler. Trust me."

Seo-jun thumped his chest.

Seo-jun eyed the chat eagerly.

"Hmm. You all say you don't trust me, huh? Time to prove it. Alpaca?"

"Yeah?"

"One more point prediction?"

Bets don't lie.

Alpaca got it instantly and opened the prediction system.

Alpaca and Seo-jun waited for bets.

Time up, results in.

"Whoa! Favorites and underdogs flipped. Chat says you can't, but look at this!"

Alpaca teased the viewers excitedly.

"Knew it."

Alpaca nodded beside him.

Dongne donation pops.

Seo-jun and Alpaca silently prayed that viewer skips stocks.

Anyway.

'Collab's a hit.'

Skill etched in viewers' minds.

"Alright, Seo-jun. Ready to take down the Ruler?"

Richard Neville.

The noble faction leader and Ruler of the Northeast End meditated in heavy plate armor at the center of the vast ashen training ground, like an arena.

Alias: Knight King.

Wielded a massive greatsword, his frame towering at 2 meters.

To kill Drake, you'd dodge dozens of goons to reach him.

Richard? Opposite. He just sat there meditating.

Ways to fell him: Special weapon sniper shot, or kill son Louis Neville, catch the moment his senses shatter on news, strike the gap.

Both tough.

First: Item rarity.

Second: Miss timing, get counter-smashed.

Musou? His seamless heavy armor blocks all, greatsword bisects you.

But not for the man fighting before Alpaca now.

'Uh, know anything about Richard Neville?'

'Nope?'

Alpaca recalled their trip here.

'Figured. When fighting Richard, watch the greatsword. Slower attack speed, but combos—better see once...'

'Nah, fine.'

'Pardon?'

'I'll dodge. Easy.'

Tsk.

Who was worrying who?

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Richard's greatsword swept left-to-right, then right-to-left, stirring winds.

But Seo-jun matched trajectories leisurely, brushing his sword like painting, hunting grains.

That nonchalance screamed no hit.

"Can't find it?"

Alpaca yelled at Seo-jun's string of misses. From a distance.

"Nope."

"Viewer said Richard's weapon's special alloy. Maybe not 'can't find'—maybe none."

"Oh, really?"

Look at him.

Twists body, slips greatsword effortlessly.

Seo-jun chatted while eyeing him.

No eyes on back, yet ducks swings casually.

Even checks floating chat.

"Oh no. Ruler's got no grain."

Seo-jun grinned.

Carefree.

Viewers burned.

Especially early reverse bettors.

Others partied.

Second prediction had way less points than first.

Most wanted no 100x for others over tiny wins.

Stomachs hurt too much.

But.

Seo-jun's sword danced.

Stabbed Richard's wrist, slashed along found grain. Torso next, then legs as sword descended.

Shrrk!

Shrrk!

Richard's prized heavy armor split everywhere.

Only weapon special.

Seo-jun knew from clashes—texture difference.

"Oops. My bad. Sword has no grain, but rest does."

Armor unraveled like thread.

... (continuing)

Left: 2m middle-aged man in stockings, garter belt, clutching greatsword.

Hiss.

Seo-jun emerged from the capsule.

"Hyungnim, you're incredible."

Alpaca's editor, Lee Soo-han, greeted him.

Feels burdensome.

"Thanks for the capsule."

"No, thank you for using mine. It learned a ton this time."

What kinda nonsense.

And why're you here?

Seo-jun glanced aside.

Kim Tae-woo beside Soo-han.

"No stream?"

"Nah, took a day off. Can't miss collab."

Got it.

"Announced you'd show, so he came?"

Tae-woo scratched his head. Seo-jun shrugged, entered living room, pulled up Alpaca's stream on phone.

Rest of stream: Afterparty.

While setting table, Alpaca asked Seo-jun for intro and stall.

Seo-jun heard, opened Alpaca's door.

Click.

"Hello. First time IRL. Travel streamer Jin Seo-jun."

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