Master Swordsman’s Stream - Chapter 324

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 324

Meetings between ordinary people and gamers take place in virtual reality.
It’s far more dynamic than video conferencing, there are no distance constraints, and if you add the right functions to the map, the system can even handle automatic translation—a wise choice.
There are still those who believe it’s better to meet in person to finalize contracts, but these are people connected to the gaming world, and more than anything else,
the other party is a foreigner. From the production team to the host.
Seo Jun entered the Capsule, entered the invitation code he’d been given, and moved to someone’s Lobby.
No special app was needed. The Lobby itself was the ultimate Metaverse.
“Hello.”
“Hello, Seo Jun.”
It was Oliver, the producer of this special program.
“Hello, PD.”
“Pleasure to meet you. You’ve arrived early.”
“Have I?”
“Yes. Perhaps you’re just familiar with Capsule operation? Hahaha.”
“Hmm…….”
According to Tae-woo, even Seo Jun, supposedly the most hopeless with machines in the world, had grown comfortable with Capsule operation.
After all, he rarely forgot anything he’d done once.
He simply doesn’t read the manual. Truly.
“Just joking! Hahaha! It’s probably just that Seo Jun has a more diligent personality about keeping appointments. Oh, and I should mention—I’m well aware that you’re not particularly skilled with machines.”
“How so?”
How does he know that?
Has word really spread that far?
“We need to know everything about our participants, from A to Z.”
Fair enough.
“It seemed Bear and Lain were quite comfortable with Capsules as well.”
Lain had already disclosed being a Challenger, hadn’t he.
And it’s well-known that the military uses virtual reality.
Two special forces veterans wouldn’t be awkward with Capsules.
“That’s true. Which is why you’ll need to be more careful. Can you be confident you’ll win?”
“Even though I don’t know the rules right now…….”
“Yes.”
“I’ll win.”
“Hahaha!”
But that laughter didn’t come from the PD.
The sound came from behind, not ahead.
“Hello, Seo Jun the streamer.”
“Hello, Bear.”
It was Bear, the host.
“You should be more cautious in games.”
Bear smiled broadly, turning Seo Jun’s own words back on him.
That statement about being stronger in reality.
‘Though I did show my Sync Rate.’
Raw strength and Survival aren’t really in the same category anyway.
“Well, let’s see.”
“Haha! I enjoyed the History Book.”
“Thank you.”
He laughed heartily, then Lain entered, they exchanged greetings, and the producer and the three sat down.
Notably, even in virtual reality, everything gleamed.
Lain was the kind of person who commanded attention like a star.
“And the final participant?”
He meant Lain’s team.
Strangely, people seemed to keep wanting to surprise Seo Jun.
They’d asked if it was okay to keep it secret, and he didn’t particularly mind.
The probability was quite high that his teammate would be someone he didn’t know.
So it didn’t matter who it was.
This producer also needed to make the broadcast a success, so he wouldn’t bring anyone strange.
It would be nice to know in advance, but that was something he’d find out soon enough.
So.
“Oh, here they come.”
“Yes.”
There should be no problem.
But.
Watching the last person enter, Seo Jun swallowed hard.
There was a problem.
Not a major one, necessarily.
But there was definitely something unsettling about it.
“Hello, Seo Jun.”
It was the way that person looked at him—quite burdensome.
That’s right.
A rival.
The gaze of a rival.
It had been the same when dealing with Rios.
Seo Jun had felt all of it, and he’d sensed then that the History Book hadn’t appeared for nothing.
“Hello, Baek Do-yul.”
Why are you here?
And as a teammate, no less.

* * *

“First, since this is a special program, we’ll take even more—much more—precautions with safety than usual.”
The producer went through a lengthy list of safety concerns.
It was all obvious, really.
Safety can never be overdone. In fact, that’s precisely what should be aimed for.
Especially since Baek Do-yul and Seo Jun commanded astronomical appearance fees.
Seo Jun watched Baek Do-yul sitting beside him, listening intently.
‘Should I be grateful it’s not Shin-geom?’
If it had been Shin-geom, he’d have been prepping an assassination before the broadcast even started.
That would be genuinely dangerous.
He wouldn’t necessarily get caught, but wouldn’t it be a nuisance?
If some special report ran about “Who Made Shin-geom This Way”—suggesting he went too far for internet entertainment—Seo Jun would be the one taking the damage.
A hit piece like that could demolish his reputation.
“Yes. Even with all this preparation, there will still be danger. It will be genuinely dangerous, so please focus and pay close attention during the safety training that follows.”
“Understood.”
Listening to the details, it didn’t actually sound that dangerous.
They’d be going to a remote location, but it was a place that had already been thoroughly surveyed.
While it was genuine wilderness with unforeseen complications, it wasn’t the kind of terrain with jungles or crevasses.
“First, you’ll compete in the wild.”
“How will the competition work?”
Baek Do-yul couldn’t contain his eagerness as he asked.
“Survival is the program’s theme.”
“Yes.”
“So the one who survives better wins, right?”
Obviously.
The producer grinned. Then he explained the criteria.
“But since it’s a competition, we want to determine the winner in a somewhat special way. Bear, Lain—listen carefully.”
So he’s telling them for the first time too.
“You’ll be dropped on two separate uninhabited islands, each on your own.”
Uninhabited islands.
A fitting setting for survival. Nothing unusual.
Much safer than a jungle and easier to control.
But that didn’t mean it would be taken lightly.
“The distance between the two islands is quite substantial. Absolutely impossible to cross by swimming alone. No matter how experienced.”
Is that really so?
Seo Jun was curious, while Bear and Lain began to contemplate seriously.
“For reference, you won’t be able to see each other directly. So when you arrive on the island, you won’t know which direction your opponent is.”
“I see.”
“In that situation, you’ll explore the island to find the flag we’ve hidden, build a raft, search the area, and the first to plant the flag on the opponent’s beach wins. The flag must not get wet. If it does, you’ll have to dry it back at your original island before setting out again.”
That figures.
Swimming wouldn’t work then. Though trained people cross the Atlantic.
Well, not without rest, of course.
Anyway, it’s troublesome. They’re not just asking you to survive. They want you to survive and then accomplish something even more difficult.
“What will you provide?”
“The team of ordinary people gets basic clothing plus one item of their choice per person. The gamer team gets two items per person.”
An advantage.
Since they’re not survival experts.
But.
“Haha! Do you think it’s a bit sparse?”
“Perhaps?”
Baek Do-yul answered uncertainly.
Actually, the producer had asked based on Baek Do-yul’s expression.
“Yes. It might feel insufficient. But each single tool on an uninhabited island will be incredibly valuable.”
That’s true.
So I should step in.
“Producer?”
“Yes?”
“We don’t need the advantage.”
Baek Do-yul stared at Seo Jun sharply.
“Pardon? Participant? What do you mean?”
“Our team wants to take one item per person, just like them.”
“Uh……. Well……. No…….”
Oliver’s instincts screamed a warning. Frantically.
This was a critical moment.
He’d seen Seo Jun’s videos. Plenty of them.
If this went wrong, coupled with an absurd provocation, one of the two hosts could face endless suffering.
Forfeiting the advantage wasn’t the issue.
Stay calm. Just stay calm.
‘Thank God Bear and Lain are just laughing it off.’
“Huh, are you absolutely certain?”
“Yes.”
“Bear and Lain?”
“I don’t mind either.”
“Do as you wish.”
Seo Jun was severely underestimating the wilderness.
But that was fine. The wilderness segment wasn’t meant to give the gamer team an actual chance to win anyway.
It was more about providing them with supplies so they wouldn’t suffer too badly.
But now that they’d said it was fine on their own,
“Very well. However, Baek Do-yul must also agree. Come, let’s take a moment to confer. Let’s also discuss what items you’d like.”

* * *

Baek Do-yul harbored displeasure.
He hadn’t come this time to compete against Seo Jun.
Quite the opposite.
While there might be some internal competitive spirit when it came to things like going hunting, he’d come intending genuine cooperation.
Even though there was so little time left to prepare for the league.
There would be a few weeks after all filming ended, but it would be tight.
Others had already begun coordinating.
But that was fine.
He believed that competing with—and cooperating with—his soul rival Seo Jun would result in even greater growth for both.
His coach had agreed.
There was no question that Seo Jun possessed something unusual.
However.
Wasn’t he treating this too lightly?
Survival was genuinely dangerous.
Though only the two of them were in the space, cameras were rolling.
The producer had mentioned during the meeting that content from it could be broadcast if necessary after securing permission.
“Baek Do-yul, you seem to have reservations.”
“Let me greet you first. It’s been a while.”
“Indeed. I regret we didn’t meet during the History Book.”
What was this? Was he playing along?
“Haha.”
Though if we had met back then, that would’ve been a disaster.
He acknowledged Seo Jun. Truly.
Especially how he’d identified the mastermind.
He’d been caught because he lacked information, but even with it, he doubted he could’ve discovered it in that manner.
A rival worthy of the name!
“Then let’s save other matters for later, after the meeting ends. For now, Baek Do-yul—do you have any objections to forfeiting the two items?”
He had objections.
Many objections.
Where did all this confidence come from?
“Rather than objections, it’s that our Survival—”
“Ah, Baek Do-yul.”
“Yes?”
Why cut him off now?
“Is there perhaps something you need besides a sword?”
“…….”
“The world champion of all people?”
“…….”
“Even in the wilderness?”

* * *

“Did your discussions go well?”
The producer smiled brightly at the reassembled participants.
Lain nodded across from him. His smile was satisfied.
“Then let’s hear it. What items does each team want! For the streamer team, if you name two we’ll provide two, and if you name one we’ll provide one.”
“Understood.”
“Who should go first?”
“Let’s start with us.”
Lain slowly raised his hand above his gleaming head.
“Yes.”
“The items our team wants are…….”
Was he about to say none?
“The same items the streamer team wants. We’ll just take those.”
“Ah. I see.”
This was a light pressure to choose only one item per person.
Seo Jun let out a quiet laugh. And answered.
“Then may we share our choices?”
“Yes.”
Two survival tools to bring to the uninhabited island.
What would they choose?
“First is a telescope.”
A telescope?
Was he trying to immediately identify where the opponent’s island was?
A good choice, but surely the opponent would get the same item. He must have considered that scenario.
Then Seo Jun stated the second item.
“……A sword.”
“Pardon?”
Oliver had been lost in thought through the first part and missed it.
But he caught the mention of a sword.
‘A solid choice of the most necessary item.’
“A longsword.”
“Pardon?”
“Longsword, please.”
“…….”
“A longsword. You don’t know what that is?”
“…….”
Bear, Lain, and even Baek Do-yul’s faces seemed to wither in an instant.
Well.
Was he glad this was being recorded? Or should the broadcast be halted this very moment?
Oliver found himself in serious deliberation.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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