Chapter 12

Gold Promotion

Returning to the hideout, Nam Dusik clicked his tongue at the sight of the dejected members in their floral shirts.

“What a pathetic bunch.”

“…”

The Extermination Squad members avoided their leader’s gaze, growing even more disheartened.

Nam Dusik’s eyes soon landed on the deputy leader, Paeng Deokjo, who was nervously biting his nails.

“Deokjo.”

“Yes, brother.”

“Is it true? That you got utterly crushed by that HeavenlyMaiden kid? So badly you can’t show your face around town?”

Paeng Deokjo shot up from his seat.

“Who said that?”

The youngest member of the Extermination Squad, Jegal Samdol, who had summoned Nam Dusik, raised his hand.

“I did, brother.”

“You little runt.”

“Don’t take it out on the kid. Is it true or not?”

“It’s true, brother.”

Nam Dusik’s gaze turned cold.

“Tch… Pathetic. I knew you were slacking off instead of training.”

Paeng Deokjo retorted with a wronged expression.

“Slacking? I was out on patrol!”

“Enough. I’ll deal with HeavenlyMaiden myself, so we’ll talk later. Is her stream on?”

“Yes, it’s on, but…”

“That’s all I need.”

“Hold on, brother.”

Paeng Deokjo stopped Nam Dusik, who was about to put on his goggles.

“What?”

“You’re going to challenge HeavenlyMaiden right away?”

“Yeah.”

“She’s probably Silver, so wouldn’t she just ignore a challenge from you? There’s a world of difference between Platinum and Silver.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes, so leave it to me. I got demoted to Silver after getting crushed by her last time.”

“Something to brag about.”

“Why don’t we just make a room and invite her?”

The idea was that she might not accept a direct challenge, so Pang Deokjo would create a room and invite her.

Nam Dusik could then join and face HeavenlyMaiden without much fuss.

In short, it was a trick. A common one, at that.

It was such a well-known tactic that anyone who fell for it was considered a fool, but since HeavenlyMaiden was a newbie who hadn’t been in Rifa long, she might take the bait.

“Hmm…”

It was a trashy idea, fitting for someone like Pang Deokjo.

But it did make some sense.

Nam Dusik nodded.

“Alright, let’s do it.”

“Yes, leave it to me!”

As Pang Deokjo put on his goggles, he called out to the squad members.

“Hey, you guys log into Rifa too.”

“Yes, brother!”

“Why are you dragging the kids into this?”

“Come on, brother. It’d be lame to fight with just the two of us and no audience. It’d hurt our rep.”

Nam Dusik eyed Pang Deokjo suspiciously.

“You’re not planning some kind of trick, are you?”

Pang Deokjo thumped his chest.

“Brother! It’s me, Trash Pang Deokjo! Don’t you trust me?”

“…”

“I’ll set everything up perfectly, so all you have to do is beat that cute little HeavenlyMaiden. You know, ‘aljjalddakkalssen’ style.”

“Brother, it’s ‘aljaldakkalsen.’ And that ‘rep’ you mentioned earlier isn’t a Central Plains term; it’s Japanese slang used by awakeners…”

{TN:- ‘Aljaldakkalsen’- It’s a slang, and roughly translates to, ‘Do it properly, neatly, and with sense (without needing to be told).}

“Shut it, you runt! Get in there quick.”

Nam Dusik sighed.

“Fine, do whatever you want.”

“Yes, brother. Don’t worry, I’ve got this! It’s me, Trash Pang Deokjo, after all!”

“…”

Logging into Rifa, Pang Deokjo created a room while muttering to himself.

‘Something feels off.’

Nam Dusik’s skill, on the verge of absolute mastery, was undeniable, but…

For some reason, Pang Deokjo couldn’t shake a creeping sense of unease.

‘What if that cute little kid takes down even brother?’

Pang Deokjo decided to set a trap before she faced the leader.

‘We have to win for sure!’

————

[HeavenlyMaiden’s Twitch Conquest, Day 5 / Part 1: Major Announcement / Part 2: Thrilling Rifa]

After sternly warning HeavenlyDemonForever, who was performing a sword dance, Chi Yulang briefly explained the previous day’s events.

“Haha, turns out it was an old acquaintance.”

– Huh?

– You know Heavenly Black Feather?

– The Heavenly Strategist of the Demonic Sect?

– メHeavenlyDemonForever: Tch! Not the Demonic Sect, the Heavenly Demon Sect! Say it with me: Heav-en De-mon Sect!

– Demonic Sect!

– (Chat restricted for 60 seconds)

“That’s enough.”

– メHeavenlyDemonForever: Yes, Sect Leader.

– Sect Leader?

– Did she just call her Sect Leader?

– Is that an impersonator?

– No way that’s an impersonator.

– How did they even convince Heavenly Black Feather?

– Is she, like, the Heavenly Demon’s hidden daughter or something?

– Ooh, that’s the most plausible theory.

– Hoeeng, HeavenlyMaiden, am I not enough for you?

“I shall bestow upon you the True Blade as well.”

– メHakkoDigger13: Whoa!

– メHakkoDigger13: I got a sword too! Isn’t it pretty?

– メHeavenlyDemonForever: So you’re HakkoDigger13, who served the Sect Leader in my absence.

– メHeavenlyDemonForever: Let’s work well together.

– メHeavenlyDemonForever: Let’s make the Moonlight Divine Sect great again!

– メHakkoDigger13: Hoeeng, HeavenlyMaiden, this one’s scary!

– What a mess.

Chi Yulang checked the viewer count.

[Viewers: 323]

Even though the stream had just started, the count had already surpassed 300.

Slightly more than the day after returning from the demon realm.

Perhaps the fight with the assassination squad from the previous day had been clipped and spread around.

Or maybe people were drawn by Heavenly Black Feather’s appearance.

– No demon realm stream today?

– I came for that.

– I’m here for Rifa.

– What’s the major announcement?

The chat was chaotic.

Smiling contentedly at the viewer count, Chi Yulang slammed the desk to draw attention.

“Attention!”

– Whoa, startled me.

– Attention! (Slamming the desk with tiny hands)

– メHeavenlyDemonForever: The Sect Leader speaks!

“Listen well. I will announce today’s major matters.”

– Oh?

– Something big coming?

– Excited! Excited! Excited!

Chiyurang held up three fingers.

“I present my three grand goals.”

– A streaming plan?

– A roadmap, huh?

– Roadmap, lol.

– Taking a seat.

– Seat-taken.

– メHeavenlyDemonForever: We are listening, O Heavens!

“First, I will conquer Kwitch.”

– Explosive statement!

– Breaking News: Kwitch, caught off guard while picking its nose.

– So cute.

– Isn’t she in the demon realm? How’s she gonna conquer Kwitch?

“There seems to be a misunderstanding. I don’t mean attacking Kwitch; I mean becoming number one on Kwitch through streaming.”

– Phew, I was wondering.

– So, just aiming to beat Eun Taeyang, who has nearly 100 million followers, to become Kwitch’s top streamer?

– Haha, you had me there.

– Breaking News: Kwitch, startled, goes back to picking its nose.

– メHeavenlyDemonForever: The beginning may be humble, but the end will be grand! I believe!

“Second, I will conquer Rifa as well.”

– Huh?

– What’s that supposed to mean?

– No way she means hitting rank one there too.

“You’re exactly right. I will ascend to the heavens beyond heavens, crush all opposition, and stand supreme.”

– Lololololol.

– Hahaha, so cute.

– Sure, sure, HeavenlyMaiden, do whatever you want.

– Having goals is great.

– Breaking News: Eun Taeyang, eating potato chips, is startled.

– Why hasn’t Eun Taeyang been streaming lately?

– Dunno, he’s always been a loose cannon.

– Probably the Vatican begging him to stream again, lol.

Most dismissed it as childish ambition, but Chi Yulang didn’t care.

They’d realize she was serious in time.

“I don’t make empty promises.”

It had been the same before.

Everyone mocked him, but in the end, Chi Yulang claimed the sect leader’s seat.

Those who laughed at him never laughed again.

– So cute.

– Serious HeavenlyMaiden is cute too.

– She’s wearing a cute outfit, haha.

– Ururu peekaboo!

– So pretty.

– HeavenlyMaiden, wanna be my daughter? Though it’s just two dads and no mom…

– Dude.

“…”

‘They’re not mocking me… but it’s oddly irritating.’

No matter. Actions would speak louder than words.

As always, actions were more important than words.

In time, they’d believe her sincerity.

Lowering two fingers, only the middle one remained.

“Lastly, third, I will make the Heavenly Demon Sect great again.”

– ?

– What’s that now?

– Also, can you put away the middle finger?

“It was once the Sun and Moon Divine Sect, but I’ve reestablished it with a new name: the Moonlight Divine Sect. Rest assured, it’s still the Heavenly Demon Sect with me as its leader. The doors are always open, so apply in droves.”

– メHeavenlyDemonForever: (Moonlight Divine Sect signup link)

– メHeavenlyDemonForever: Send membership inquiries here.

– Lol, they’re super serious about this.

– No idea what’s going on, but since HeavenlyMaiden’s the leader, I kinda wanna join.

– Lmao, is this how cults start?

– Do you accept Iron-tier?

– メHeavenlyDemonForever: Iron-tier, uh, maybe not…

– Cries

– Alright, please stop with the middle finger.

“Oh, and there’s one more thing. I’ll also look into ways to escape this cursed island.”

Having announced four major goals, Chi Yulang called out to Dam Wolrin.

“Chilbok, did you hear that?”

– メHeavenlyDemonForever: Of course!

– Her name’s Chilbok?

– Lol, how’s someone named Chilbok? Hahaha.

– (Chat restricted for 60 seconds)

“Research methods to achieve these goals by tomorrow’s stream.”

– メHeavenlyDemonForever: Yes, sir! I’ll prepare a killer PPT!

– メHeavenlyDemonForever: Dongpo Meat Squad, if you have any good ideas, speak up. I’m all ears.

– Nice.

– That’s communication.

– Something big coming?

– Play other games besides Rifa.

– Do some co-op games.

– Dig up some elixirs in the backyard and sell them.

– Raise a pet beast.

– Do a weird food mukbang.

– No YouTube?

– メHeavenlyDemonForever: Not here; post on the Moonlight Divine Sect board.

– メHeavenlyDemonForever: (Moonlight Divine Sect signup link)

– Feels a bit sketchy to join…

– It’s like a fan café, right?

– メHeavenlyDemonForever: Yup, like a fan café. Don’t worry and sign up.

– メHakkoDigger13: Uung, HeavenlyMaiden, do I need to prepare for the announcement too?

“HakkoDigger13, just keep managing the chat well like you’re doing.”

– メHakkoDigger13: Hehe, roger!

“Now, let’s move on to Part 2: Rifa.”

– Hell yeah!

– Been waiting!

– Go go go!

Ding!

Just as she was about to put on her goggles, a message popped up on the screen.

It began with “From Kwitch Corporation.”

“Hmm?”

– What’s up, HeavenlyMaiden?

“Kwitch sent me a message.”

– Huh?

– kwitch messaged her?

– They don’t usually contact people so directly.

“They’re asking me to contact them immediately.”

Without hesitation, Chi Yulang closed the window.

“I’m streaming, so they can wait until I’m done.”

– Lololol.

– “Kwitch, wait.”

– That’s some Heavenly Demon-level boldness, haha.

‘Is this about the combat power error I asked about?’

She had previously inquired about her combat power displaying as a question mark instead of a number below 100.

This was probably the response.

‘It’s not urgent.’

Ding! Ding! Ding!

More messages arrived, as if they were watching the stream, but Chi Yulang had already put on her goggles.

———-

Logging into Rifa, a welcoming message appeared.

[Point calculation for match results has been completed.]

“Oh.”

After the fight with Chilbok the previous day, instead of immediate point allocation, a message had read [Calculating adjustments…].

It seemed the calculation was finally done.

According to Chilbok, when there’s a large tier gap, especially when a lower-tier player beats a higher-tier one, this sometimes happens.

[No issues found with match content.]

[Points will be allocated considering the tier difference with the opponent.]

Whoosh!

Points started pouring in at a terrifying rate.

– Whoa.

– Points are flooding in!!

– メHakkoDigger13: Wow!

Chi Yulang’s score, previously at Silver 0P, skyrocketed.

Boom!

With a trumpet sound, fireworks exploded.

[Congratulations on your promotion!]

Previous: Silver -> Current: Gold

[Maximum promotion is one tier.]

– ???

– What just happened?

– A streamer went from Silver to Gold in one match???

– From beating Heavenly Black Feather after cutting the stream yesterday?

– Obviously, they threw the match. Why else would they cut the stream?

– Reported.

– Are you guys blind or what?

– Didn’t you see the message saying there were no issues with the match?

– Kwitch is super strict about throwing matches; they’d suspend immediately if that happened.

– So HeavenlyMaiden actually beat Heavenly Black Feather?

– That doesn’t make sense either?

The chat erupted in confusion.

Chi Yulang, unbothered, smiled contentedly at her record.

[Record]

11 Wins, 0 Losses

[Solo Rank]

Gold 0P

[Free Rank]

Unranked

Looking at her stats, she asked with a sudden thought,

“Oh, Chilbok, what happened to you?”

– メHeavenlyDemonForever: I got demoted two tiers to Diamond, Sect Leader ㅠㅠ

“Oh no, two tiers down?”

– メHeavenlyDemonForever: Yes. Promotions max out at one tier, but demotions can go up to two ㅠㅠ

“Sorry about that.”

– メHeavenlyDemonForever: It’s fine! I’ll recover quickly!

“Good to hear.”

At that moment, a challenge arrived.

Ding!

[ChewedGumDestroyer (Silver) has invited you to a room!]

[Accept?]

[Y/N]

The corner of Chi Yulang’s mouth curled up.

“As if a mere Silver could.”

She ruthlessly pressed decline.