**[Hero, how the hell were we supposed to know!]**
**[This freaking concept has finally swallowed the trend!]**
**[Sister… stop reading novels and face reality ㅠㅠ]**
**[Is our daughter working hard? Mom will do her best too. I believe in our daughter.]**
**[Damn it, screw the higher ups. Don’t post crap like that.]**
**[You scared?]**
**[For real, LOL, looks like you’re scared. Just a big ol’ pig making noise in the corner.]**
**[This guy keeps whining about being a hero since his old ID, guess he’s really got some late-blooming middle school syndrome or something ㅉㅉㅉ]**
I still don’t believe it.
I guess this is the karma coming back for all those times I cosplayed as a hero saying I was the Hero of Light back in the Soul Warfare days.
Honestly, this reaction is now kind of comforting.
It’s funny to think that from my perspective as someone who confessed, if viewers took it seriously and started demanding proof, that would be a hilarious situation.
Because, let’s be real, I had no intention of showing off the so-called Hero’s Power unless I had to deal with galactic issues.
The reason I ended up coming out about it now… well, it’s partly because I picked up on the big bait that was circulating in the community.
Doesn’t everyone kind of feel that way?
Imagine if I won the lottery and earned a huge fortune, I would be bursting to tell everyone.
I could shout out loud that I’m living the sweet life now while you guys can just go and grind somewhere.
Or maybe I’d storm into the boss’s office and doodle on the bald head of a balding boss with my permanent marker.
I could write up 100 resignation letters, fold them into paper airplanes, and throw them around the company like confetti.
Yeah, I’m pretty much in the same position even now.
If I just transformed right here and flew off over Gangseo, wouldn’t they figure it out?
Of course, that’s not really going to happen.
“Yeah, yeah. I was saying I was a hero all along, so it’s not like it’s shocking. So what? Aside from that, is there any big issue coming up that I need to deal with in the next year?”
**[Hey, hey. Look at that, trying to dodge again.]**
**[Please let it be Friede and let’s join STK.]**
**[Let’s conquer the world with the Warden-Lotus-Friede combo, let’s go~!]**
**[Didn’t we already do that?]**
**[If Friede joins, we’ll be unstoppable for real.]**
**[It’d truly become the greatest team ever.]**
STK Pro Gamer debut still dragging on and on. This is honestly an odd obsession though.
But, even if I did reveal that I’m the hero, I wonder if I’d be able to keep saying that.
“Let’s wrap that up now. I feel like I’ve shared enough. What’s more important is what we’re doing today.”
**[Wait, we haven’t even decided what game to play?]**
**[So you really are streaming without any plan, huh?]**
**[But hey, at least Friede won’t have to deal with a dumpster fire of a stream. So jealous, damn it.]**
What was the last game I played?
Putting aside that Go I did with Kundera, the only notable game I can point out is the Zombie Root I played with the heroes.
Maybe the Stellar Craft I played ages ago?
Thinking about it, as a streamer, my gaming input has been really narrow.
I didn’t even play casual games like Minesweeper, meaning there’s such a vast number of games I should’ve tried that it’s hard to decide right away.
Of course, when moments arise where I can’t make a choice because I’m indecisive, using external input to make a decision is also one way to go.
For example…
**[Sweetanham donates 500,000 won! Let’s play some Soul Warfare.]**
Just like this case.
Unexpected donations and amounts are enough to get a streamer moving. This is a capitalist society after all.
I quietly turned off my cam and crawled into the virtual reality capsule.
The gel bed of the capsule felt quite comfy after a long time.
** * * * **
Soul Warfare was bustling with people, getting crowded from the start of the new season.
Usually, we’d start in the vast plaza of the shrine, but sometimes if the capacity exceeds, we might start in a different lobby.
This case was no different.
In this world of doom, where only darkness prevailed, the faint starlight from the night sky was the only light illuminating the place to reveal a grand castle erected on the wasteland.
At that moment, one of the countless stars sprinkled across the sky shone golden and fell down like a shooting star.
There was no earth-shattering noise or vibration, but the intense light showcased a mythical majesty bringing a new spark to the destroyed world.
As that light faded, there appeared the player, Friede, clad in a golden mantle and white armor, someone who anyone watching Soul Warfare would know.
**[Damn, it’s always a treat to see that cutscene no matter when.]**
**[That’s some stylish customization, wow!]**
**[The best Friede entrance after ages, tears!]**
**[Sensei… I’ve missed you ㅠㅠ]**
“I’m coming, I’m coming!”
As she stretched as soon as she appeared, Friede looked around with renewed emotions.
Ah, how long has it been since I was in the labyrinth lobby?
This was the scenery of the first game I connected to after returning to Earth.
On the ground, and even on the defense and gravestones, all sorts of sights danced in a chaotic show while warriors of weird outfits and crazy appearances roamed like they owned the place.
It was like being in the middle of a bustling market, appealing to the eyes and ears.
Recalling that day, a gentle smile crept up on Friede’s face.
“I’ll be quick.”
She changed the settings in ranked mode without further ado.
She removed the current shrine map where many users were, choosing only the labyrinth with her own hands.
**[Wow, the classic map feels nostalgic, right?]**
**[The labyrinth suits Friede best, not the shrine.]**
**[Is mom gonna go for some ninja or whatever concept, isn’t she taking the beach hero route?]**
The labyrinth is a place that holds countless memories I’ve made while playing Soul Warfare.
Unlike more recent plays where I just rampaged with skill, I fought purely with my physical skills.
Of course, there were advantages from being awakened as a hero, but it felt real battling for life and death.
Is that why?
Her hand halted on one side while setting the rank matching criteria.
It was none other than the check for skill builds.
If she were to disable the skill build option, she could proceed with classic brawling just like in Soul Warfare before the shrine map was added.
After contemplating briefly, Friede decisively touched the check to disable it.
Today was a classic Soul Warfare stream featuring Friede.
** * * * **
Setting various conditions meant it took quite a while to match.
Thankfully, it didn’t take too long to the point where the stream would be jeopardized.
**[Last season’s challenger number one is now in placement test, LOL.]**
**[Welcome to the hell of Soul Warfare with just a little taste!]**
**[But if it’s Friede, winning ten games should be a piece of cake.]**
**[If she wins all her matches, maybe she can start in Diamond?]**
**[Nah, that’s not it. Warden also started in Platinum.]**
**[They’re all pros, so no matter what tier they get assigned, it’s fine, you gamers.]**
What an unexpected placement game….
Somehow, it reminded me of when I first started this game, sending a strange thrill all over my body.
Yeah, it’s more about being excited. It’s been a while since I’ve sought the classic, and there’s a strange charm to it.
As it was Friede’s turn to pick a weapon, she considered what to choose.
**[Holy Sword Holy Sword Holy Sword Holy Sword!]**
**[If not, the Self Sword of later’s might work too.]**
**[Or maybe it’d be even better?]**
**[How about the classic Broken Greatsword? What do you think, lord?]**
**[Hey, don’t recommend that trash weapon.]**
Good weapons and bad weapons—sure, there might be meaningful differences in a game.
But just because a weapon is considered bad doesn’t mean I have to lose.
I’ve proven that countless times in the past. Maybe when it gets down to a battle without skills like now, there might not be a weapon more symbolic than that.
The facts expressed merely as weapon stats carried little significance since in the end, both of us would hit once, and if we got hit, it’d be game over.
Thus, Friede reached for the weapon called by the soul, the one she held dear.
**[Oh come on, she’s back with that weapon again.]**
**[The Broken Greatsword… it’s been a messy journey, but it’s not like I miss it or anything. ㅡㅡ]**
There was no need to worry about those having breakdowns over weapons,
Friede confidently looked at the weapon in her grip.
The worn-out, shabby weapon that was always by her side from the very beginning… the Broken Greatsword.
That which was broken at an angle in the middle still contained a sharper blade despite its condition.
It may be faded compared to well-kept weapons, but… it didn’t really matter.
– Woosh, woosh!
As she waved it lightly, the air cut by the blade seemed to scream.
Hmm, it’s nostalgic yet familiar… this feeling brought a smile to my lips again.
Today…
“I’ll give it a go with the Broken Greatsword after a long time.”
Pursuing the romanticism filled with tradition and longing.
** * * * **
