Chapter 56
As the Taegeukgi Waves (2)
4.
“Bokusei Jun is dodging or countering every single attack from the Korean players. He’s practically untouchable.”
“That bastard knows every single one of their attack patterns.”
“Director Cheon Liya, that spear Bokusei Jun’s using looks kind of unusual, doesn’t it?”
“That’s the Seolwol Spear. It’s a unique drop from the 7th floor, and it only appears under rare conditions. I remember it’s only dropped three times so far. I heard Japan gave it to him as a naturalization gift, but damn—he sure knows how to use it.”
“Is it expensive?”
“Hard to say. It’s never been officially traded on the auction market.”
“…Then?”
“He probably got it off the dark market. Maybe a few billion won.”
Whenever we lose to Japan or China, the media calls it a “disaster.” But when we win, they call it a “great victory.”
Judging by that standard, this situation was leaning hard toward disaster.
Swoooosh—!
“Guhh—!”
Every time the infamous traitor thrust his spear, the Korean representative staggered back, trembling.
Bokusei Jun had already knocked out three players and was now driving Mirage Guild’s Yoo Jaesung—the fourth contender—to the brink.
Even after taking down three opponents, Bokusei Jun looked completely relaxed.
If even I felt like punching something while watching this, imagine the viewers.
[Chat exploding]
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This is what I waited all week to see?
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We’re actually doomed lol
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We haven’t even reached the 7th floor yet and our “promising talents” are getting wrecked? Time to emigrate, I guess.
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Can we just surrender already?
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Why the hell is this broadcast showing us getting destroyed live? You clowns.
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As expected, Korean players are nothing compared to Japanese ones. History already proved this, didn’t it? (auto-translated)
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Of course it’s expected (auto-translated)
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In the end, Bokusei Jun came to us only to get Japan’s support. You should be grateful, Korean friends! (auto-translated)
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CleanBot detected inappropriate language!
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Damn it, Park Seyoon should’ve recruited that bastard no matter the cost. What the hell is our useless government even doing?
It was chaos.
Insults everywhere. Foreign trolls flooding the chat. Viewers dropping like flies.
Honestly, I thought the match would be close. Maybe a bit one-sided, sure—but not this bad.
“Losing to someone strong isn’t shameful, Jaesung. But you still haven’t fixed what I pointed out last time.”
“S-Sehyun hyung…”
“If you fix that, you could really reach the top someday.”
That part right there—that smug tone—was what pissed me off the most.
That filthy traitor acting like some kind of mentor to a Korean player.
He stabbed his country in the back, and now he’s giving advice?
I swear, only the thickest-skinned bastards could ever defect like that.
“Player Yoo Seongwoo, how are you seeing the match so far?”
Director Cheon Liya asked, her face slightly flushed. I sighed deeply and shook my head.
“Not quite what I expected.”
“…Unfortunately, this is our reality. Bokusei Jun used to be one of Korea’s proudest talents.”
“What guild was he from?”
“Surprisingly, he was a direct agent under the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs.”
“That bastard. Unreal.”
“Exactly.”
I had no idea where to even start fixing this mess.
But one of these days, I’d have to sit down and properly train our so-called “rising stars.”
Because what I’d seen so far? Clumsy. Uncoordinated. Sloppy skill usage.
And these are our future? Please.
Maybe I should make a whole series out of training them—“Fixing Korean Players: Episode 1.”
Because if things keep going like this, we’re doomed.
Thud—!
Before I knew it, the fourth player had fallen, and Inseob, barely holding back his frustration, announced:
“The fourth match ends with Bokusei Jun’s victory!”
Waaaah—!
Waaa—!
The Japanese side erupted into cheers, while the Korean players carried away the unconscious Yoo Jaesung, heads hanging low.
That made it 4–0.
Bokusei Jun hadn’t even broken a sweat.
And then, he looked directly at me.
I slowly stood up and whispered to Inseob,
“Wait, is this really our level?”
“I didn’t think the gap was this wide.”
“You said Kurogane Tatsuya was stronger than Bokusei Jun, right?”
“Definitely.”
“So that means we can’t even beat a traitor?”
“…Definitely.”
[Chat]
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F** this, come fight me you traitorous piece of s***!*
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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
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We will never defy Japan again x3
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Just let the Japanese handle the raid content lol. With skills like this, what’s the point?
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Not even joking, outsourcing raids might be smarter.
The mood was at rock bottom.
The crowd’s morale—gone.
My dream broadcast—the Korea vs Japan match—was collapsing into a nightmare.
And the cherry on top?
“Subscribers are dropping.”
People who had subscribed just for this big event were now unsubscribing.
Crisis mode.
The donations had stopped the moment Korea lost the second match.
And the cause of it all? Standing right there, smirking at me, pointing that damn spear my way.
“Next.”
“Next? Next? Wow, this bastard’s serious.”
“You’re the only one left, Yoo Seongwoo. I’ll teach you an important lesson. Accept it humbly.”
“Wow.”
Not only was that piece of trash annoying—now he was trying to ruin my income stream too.
I laughed out of disbelief and turned to Director Cheon Liya.
“Can I kill him?”
She smiled awkwardly and shrugged.
“Why ask me? I’m just here to commentate.”
“I dunno. Just wanted someone to take responsibility afterward.”
“I’ve been wondering, do you have a girlfriend?”
“Nope.”
“You’re actually driving me insane.”
“So will you take responsibility, then?”
“Why are you even asking me that!?”
Hmm. A strong opponent indeed.
Guess I’d have to handle this myself.
If things had come this far, might as well go all in.
‘Can’t actually kill him though…’
But maybe breaking a limb or two wouldn’t hurt.
As I was mentally setting the level of “acceptable violence,” the medics rushed in.
“Player Gil Seongmin’s condition is severe! We may have to amputate his right arm. Neither thawing nor healing potions are working—it seems to be due to the Seolwol Spear’s unique effect!”
“Even the healers can’t fix it?”
“No, sir. It’s beyond their reach.”
The shocking news hit us all.
Our young prodigy might lose his arm—in a friendly match.
Ridiculous.
I flexed my hand and walked toward the stage.
“They crossed the line first.”
Judgment time.
“It’s not over till it’s over.”
You know that phrase, ‘It ain’t over till it’s over’?
Well—baseball starts at two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
And in the Abyss Friendly, victory begins after four straight losses.
It’s time for Gaksital.
“Mansei for Korean independence!”
[Chat implodes]
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??????
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This guy’s insane.
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LOLOLOL
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He’s shouting independence now?
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Dude, it’s not even March 1st yet.
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I don’t really know this Meteor guy—can he actually take all five?
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Wasn’t he overhyped?
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I believe. METEOR IS DIFFERENT.
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Meteor is different x3!
[<DeepExplorer> has donated a mission!]
Mission: Win all 5 matches.
Reward: ₩1,000,000
Please, I’m begging you ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
One million won?
Alright then. Just wait.
5.
Several camera drones zoomed in on me and Bokusei Jun.
We stood about fifty meters apart.
His voice carried clearly across the field.
“I’ve heard a lot about you lately. A ‘MeTuber,’ right? Someone with incredible power who wastes it on silly videos. Pathetic. Do you really think you represent Korea like that?”
So he started with trash talk.
Typical.
“The emptiest barrels make the loudest noise. Since you’re the final challenger, I’ll give you a special gift.”
“Mind if I ask one thing first?”
“Ask.”
“Any chance you’re related to Yi Wan-yong? Oh wait, your surname’s Park… maybe your mother’s side?”
“…What?”
“Just curious. Go ask your mom when you get home, yeah?”
[Chat]
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Starting with a family insult LMAO
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LOL savage
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Honestly deserved though.
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Bokusei Jun’s interview before defecting: “I will dedicate my life to Korea’s future.”
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What a lying piece of s** in hindsight.*
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CleanBot detected inappropriate language!
Great exchange.
I didn’t even swear—that’s progress.
If the cameras weren’t on, I’d have gone full nuclear on him.
Bokusei Jun’s face twisted in rage as he gripped his spear tighter.
“Typical of a low-class streamer—your mouth is as filthy as your profession. And you call yourself a representative of—”
“At least I never switched countries like someone else. Did you just call my viewers—the citizens of Korea—low-class too?”
“I didn’t—”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. You’re one of the top three traitors in Korean history. You didn’t just stab the nation in the back—you spit on it. Do us a favor and die, turncoat.”
“You bastard!”
“Getting mad ‘cause I hit you with facts? Pathetic.”
Perfect.
Flawless verbal trade.
Mind games are everything in combat.
If you can wreck your opponent’s composure before the first blow, that’s a huge advantage.
And look at him—composure completely gone.
Bzzzz—!
Magic started surging from his body—intense, cold, and violent.
He was a 3rd-floor player, right?
Still, the amount of energy was closer to a 5th-floor one.
That spear must have an amplification effect.
Maybe I should’ve asked Liya more about it earlier.
“I was the one betrayed!”
“What?”
“All I ever wanted was this spear! My unique trait resonates with it—it’s made for me! Korea said they couldn’t afford it, but Japan promised it if I naturalized! That’s all!”
Crackle!
The spear’s white glow spread out, the temperature around us dropping sharply.
Seolwol Spear.
A fine name—‘Snow and Moon.’
It’s a 7th-floor weapon being wielded by a low-tier player… meaning it must have special restrictions or effects.
“My future depended on it! Korea failed me! You’d have done the same!”
[Chat]
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??????
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FYI: Bokusei Jun bankrupted the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs with his constant item demands.
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Didn’t he also run off with rare gear when he defected?
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This dude’s a clown.
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No shame at all.
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CleanBot detected inappropriate language!
Humans always think they’re the victims.
That’s called self-justification.
“So I’ll show you…”
Vrrrrrrr—!
He aimed the fully charged spear at me.
He was preparing a throw.
This time, it wasn’t just spearplay—it was an ultimate move.
A one-hit-kill kind of move, strong enough that even he was sweating while channeling it.
Inseob’s voice screamed through my earpiece.
“This is a friendly match! If that hits, you could die!”
“Let him.”
So that’s his logic?
He defected because Korea didn’t buy him a toy?
That’s basically like saying—
“If Mom and Dad don’t buy me the toy I want, I’ll get new parents.”
Same thing.
He milked the government for everything he could, then left when they didn’t indulge him one more time.
“Have some damn shame, will you?”
BZZZZZZZT—!
The pure-white spear tore through the air toward me.
Its aura froze the air itself, its glow dazzling my vision.
That spear again, huh.
Well—I finally figured out how to deal with it.
It’s actually simple.
Tap.
Oh, I just grab it. With my hand.
“!!!”
The entire arena fell silent.
Too shocked to even make noise.
I swung the spear around a few times.
Not bad balance—grip feels nice.
Bokusei Jun’s face went pale as he realized I had caught his spear barehanded.
“Want this back?”
“Wh… wha…”
“Say please.”
“P-please—”
“Too bad. Hey, Peanut!”
『Yeah, Master!』
“Snack time. Special frozen edition.”
『Yay!』
I tossed the spear to Peanut.
Crunch—! Crunch—!
“No! Stop!”
“Yes.”
And just like that, a weapon worth billions—his ultimate trump card—became Peanut’s tasty snack.
As I watched contentedly, I raised my fist, magic flaring around it, and grinned.
“Time for the Ahn Jung-geun Punch.”
Ah, can you see this, sir?
