DCRBG 116

Chapter 116

World Class? (1)

1

Archmage073—also known as Tyrone Maxwell—was even crazier than I had expected.

First of all, he talked an insane amount.

According to him, he was a genius and could speak seven languages.

“Hey, bro. Can I take a look at your mana core? It’s been my lifelong dream.”

“You really came all the way here just for that?”

“Of course. Obviously. For a mage, a mana core is like a dream come true. Even unstable ones are amazing, but a complete mana core? Oh shit. Just imagining it…”

His Korean was ridiculously good.

No, seriously—why is every foreigner I meet fluent in Korean?

Chen Yu was like that, and now this guy Tyrone too.

…Don’t tell me the worldline changed to one where K-superconductors and incomplete meteor mana cores rule the world?

Otherwise, there’s no way Korean would be this popular.

Tyrone continued speaking in fluent Korean.

“Korea. Fun country. I come once or twice a year to hang out. Hey, bro. You like pork soup and rice? How many bowls can you eat at once? Thick broth, a little spicy paste, tons of chives. You know what I’m saying?”

Wait.

Pork soup and rice?

“You pass.”

“Oh, you like it?”

“I can easily eat ten bowls in one meal.”

“Wow. You really love it. You’re basically pork soup itself.”

…Is he just insane?

But maybe because we bonded over pork soup, Tyrone gulped down the coffee in front of him and let out a light sigh.

“I’m hungry. Flew straight from the U.S. Bro, any good restaurants nearby?”

“If you’d made an appointment, I would’ve prepared something.”

“Nope. Then it’d be too late. If I’d made an appointment, I wouldn’t even be meeting you right now. This is fate. Destiny. Right?”

He even knew fancy words.

He could probably pass the naturalization exam.

“…Hmm.”

“Deputy Director Choi, you look a bit uncomfortable.”

“…That’s how we usually look when top-ranked foreign players enter the country. Please don’t mind it.”

We were still at the Seoul branch of the Ability Management Bureau.

Of course, not the meeting room from earlier, but the reception room.

Deputy Director Choi said he handed over full authority for the <Unstable Mana Core Consortium> negotiations to someone else and came here.

Apparently Minister Hwang Beomseok was at the Seoul branch today.

No wonder he’d messaged me earlier asking if I was free—wanted to grab a drink tonight.

“Mr. Choi, thank you for meeting me on such short notice.”

“Tyrone Maxwell, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Haha! I’m just a weirdo, a clown. Please, treat me comfortably.”

I hadn’t realized it before, but Tyrone was a much bigger deal than I’d thought.

I figured he was just another MeTuber, but his title was pretty grand.

“We haven’t forgotten your help during the 5th-floor transfer phenomenon at the American Mages Association.”

“Oh, yeah. That was a fascinating case for our association too—distortion and fragmentation of the Abyss. We’d like to cooperate more often in the future. Especially since my bro, Meteor, is here.”

“Oh, you two are already sworn brothers?”

President of the American Mages Association.

The spiritual pillar of magic-type players in the U.S.

No wonder he used the nickname Archmage.

Tyrone grinned at me, showing his white teeth, then slowly brought up the real topic.

“Mr. Choi, I have one request.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“Temporary naturalization. Is it possible? Just for one month. Haha.”

Temporary naturalization?

What the hell is that?

“…T-temporary naturalization?”

Deputy Director Choi was getting shocked a lot today.

He glanced at me, then spoke in as calm a voice as possible.

“May I ask… the reason?”

“Oh! Nothing to worry about. I already discussed it with the U.S. government. You know that city my brother discovered—Aethernell? I want to visit and meet that archmage there. And while I’m at it, take a look at a complete mana core too.”

Mages are the same everywhere, apparently.

Tyrone looked like he could wrestle a bear bare-handed, but his eyes were burning with curiosity.

Still… temporary naturalization? That’s a thing?

“Do you have documents approved by the U.S. government?”

“Of course.”

Tyrone smoothly pulled out a sheet of paper from his inventory and handed it over.

Deputy Director Choi read it, sighed in amazement, and nodded.

“It’s real… Approval like this for someone like Tyrone Maxwell isn’t easy to get.”

“Haha. I threatened them that every player in the Mages Association would go on strike if they refused.”

“…I see.”

“All that’s left is for the Korean government representative to sign.”

“Wait, so just signing that changes your system nationality immediately?”

“Oh, bro. You didn’t know? I heard rumors you were gone from Earth for seven years. Is that true?”

Tyrone smirked and explained briefly.

“Players can naturalize.”

“I know that.”

Bokusei Jun did it too—became a Japanese player.

I just didn’t know the exact system mechanics.

“So advanced Abyss countries sometimes take money or benefits from weaker ones and lend out players like mercenaries.”

“So signing alone really changes it instantly?”

“Of course. Oh, but both governments have to agree.”

“Then could you change nationality ten times in one day?”

At my innocent question, Tyrone nodded in admiration.

“So that’s what they call a traitor to the nation. Got it. Good.”

“I’m just curious!”

“A player can change their system nationality once every 30 days.”

“Then if a 7th-floor player naturalizes to a country whose record is only 5th floor, does that unlock the 7th floor?”

“No. They’d have to start again from the 5th floor.”

It was funny that I only learned this long after returning.

That’s how little interest I’d had in naturalization.

“Thanks for explaining.”

“N-no, please don’t, Player Meteor. Please…”

“Huh?”

“Naturalization… please, not you…”

“Come on, me? I love Korea so much.”

“Phew…”

“But Deputy Director Choi. Someday this country will recognize my love, right? Hahaha.”

Choi froze again.

Teasing him was really fun.

“The minister is here, so we should be able to process it quickly.”

“That’s great to hear, Mr. Choi. I’ll be in your care.”

“The pleasure is ours.”

For Korea, this was obviously good news.

A famous 7th-floor player had walked in on his own.

Choi put the documents into his bag and let out a small breath, then looked at Tyrone and me in turn.

“The procedure should take about an hour. Are you two planning a joint broadcast?”

He was sharp, as always.

I smirked and nodded.

“Of course.”

A 15-million-subscriber MeTuber had come knocking.

No way I’d miss that chance.

I’d originally planned to prepare for a fan meeting, but missing this would disqualify me as a true MeTuber.

I’d already posted a notice on my channel.

Title: Emergency live announcement lol something huge is coming
Content: You guys know Archmage073? I’m doing a collab with him lol. Going live within an hour.

A collaboration with a 15-million-subscriber giant.

Unmissable.

“Tyrone.”

“Wassup.”

“My first collab with an American MeTuber.”

“It’s an honor. Don’t worry, bro. I’ll destroy your stream. Trust me. I specialize in destroying streams.”

So reliable.

Is that the confidence of a 15-million-subscriber creator?

With a feast like this laid out, only an idiot wouldn’t eat.

Alright—let’s make a proper video today too.

2

Tyrone’s naturalization was completed far faster than I expected.

By the time we arrived at the West Seoul Abyss Gate by taxi, his nationality had already changed to the Republic of Korea.

“Korea is insanely fast at paperwork. Impressive.”

Tyrone smiled in satisfaction and looked around.

The usual peaceful West Seoul Abyss Gate.

The gate I used often, and now…

“Hello, brothers! Rookie Abyss streamer Kim Gangpae greets you! Hahaha! Today I’ll be exploring the 2nd floor…”

“Nice to meet you! How about strolling the fiery grills of the 3rd-floor hell with me today?”

“Anyone want to farm achievement points with me? I’m live right now—one viewer is already in the party.”

The holy land of Abyss streamers.

People said it was because of me.

There was even a rumor that starting a stream at the West Seoul Gate gave you Meteor’s blessing…

Was that for real?

“Oh, did you hear what those guys were saying?”

Tyrone said, biting into a chicken skewer he’d bought at the entrance.

“They said they want to become the second Meteor.”

“Just ignore that stuff.”

I guess I really had become that famous.

Thinking about it, I really had been nonstop stirring things up.

My channel had grown explosively, and live viewer counts had skyrocketed.

I never imagined I’d become the “second so-and-so” cliché myself.

Still, this was exactly when I had to stay grounded.

So let’s start today’s stream properly.

“Tyrone.”

“What?”

“Smile.”

“Suddenly?”

“Stream start.”

[Stream title set: Collab with a 15-million MeTuber lol]
[Broadcast starting.]

Bzzzz.

The stream went live before Tyrone could say anything.

Chat instantly exploded.

Meha
Meha
Did this guy eat something weird lately? Why is he streaming so diligently lol
Did Archmage really come?
???????
A collab with a 15M MeTuber what
Is our Megagod world-class now?
Meteor is world-class for real!
Dae-te-o (Big Meteor)

This is why you leave a notice even for surprise streams.

Look at the viewer count climbing.

Tyrone had also posted on his channel, so even more foreigners were showing up.

Is this that guy? (auto-translated)
Is this South Korea? (auto-translated)
Where’s Rocket Man? (auto-translated)
He’s north of here, idiot (auto-translated)
I heard Archmage naturalized as Korean, that’s a lie right???? (auto-translated)
So if he fights Aiden, who wins? (auto-translated)

The numbers were climbing insanely fast.

Now I understood why people collab with big creators.

“Good to see you, guys. It’s me.”

As usual, I greeted them.

“Tyrone. Introduce yourself?”

“Yup.”

Even though the broadcast started suddenly, a veteran MeTuber wasn’t shaken.

Tyrone burned the skewer with magic, waved lightly at the camera drone, and spoke.

“Hi, Korean viewers. I’m Archmage. Nice to meet you like this. Please enjoy today’s stream with my bro, Meteor.”