Ranker's Return

Supplementary Story 40

[Day by day, it doesn’t come every day.]

Hyeonu’s live stream was turned on without any notice. The sudden notification drew a large number of viewers who had been wandering through A-World.

-What is going on?

-Has our Alley Leader finally found a taste for streaming?

-I think he won’t be streaming today.

-That’s true. For the past year, he has kept the number of streaming times he promised.

-It is a pity. Streaming five times a week is really a dream.

-Even so, he turns it on four times a week. It is only in the imperial palace.

The chat window rose in an instant. It was so fast that it was impossible to read the chat.

-By the way, I don’t think this is Arena?

-The background isn’t the imperial palace?

-Where is it? Is there any other palace that hasn’t been revealed so far?

-I don’t think so...? There is no way that a person crazy about stamping can do that.

The viewers cocked their heads when they saw the unfamiliar space filling the screen. It was old-fashioned, but it didn’t look like the imperial palace. It just looked pretty good.

“That’s right, this isn’t Arena. Naturally, it isn’t the imperial palace.”

Just then, Hyeonu’s face suddenly filled the screen. He was so close that the entire screen was filled with Hyeonu’s face.

-Ah, what a surprise.

-Turn on the signal when coming in.

-He is just saying that he has a good face.

-It is a good face, though.

-So where is this place? Arena or perhaps reality...

-Why turn on the streaming today? Did something happen?

“Yes, it is an outdoor live stream today. I also have a guest.”

The moment Hyeonu’s words finished, Reina was caught on the camera.

“Hello, everyone. I am Reina.”

Reina smiled and naturally waved her hand. It was a very familiar appearance.

-Reina is coming out here?

-I heard she moved out of the New York Warriors’ accommodations... was she in South Korea?

-Didn’t she stay in South Korea during the winter?

-That’s right, she was in South Korea. I’m certain there is something going on between the two of them...

The chat window exploded again. Reina had been pausing her live streams for over a week due to her move. She suddenly appeared on the live stream with Hyeonu, so it was natural for the viewers’ reactions to be hot.

“The reason I turned on the live stream today is none other than... I was told it was boring every time I was interviewed in the same place, so I changed the background.”

-Yes, it is a really fast response to feedback.

-I was tired of it being done in the imperial palace every time.

-So what questions are prepared for today?

-It seems that only 0.0001% of the questions posted on A-World have been answered.

-So are you dating Reina?

Most of the questions that came up were related to Reina.

‘There are many such questions today.’

Hyeonu gulped. He felt the need to be more proactive in using the attention that was pouring in.

“Please stop asking questions related to Reina. Why do you ask me this every time...?”

-So you aren’t dating?

-Really? Did Reina find a home in South Korea?

-It isn’t official yet. Maybe they just went out to play.

-What? So doesn’t that mean they aren’t dating?

-Let’s see how long this shield will last.

“Yes, we’re not dating yet.”

Hyeonu turned around and looked at Reina.

-Not yet?

-What’s not yet?

-You’re not dating yet? Does this mean there is a possibility?

-Let’s wait a bit longer. I’m sure it will be good news.

The ripple caused by Hyeonu’s words were surprising. The viewers who lectured him quickly transformed into supporters of Hyeonu in an instant. That wasn’t all.

Reina, who was sitting in front of Hyeonu—it shocked her as well.

‘Not yet?’

For Reina, these words came to her more joyfully than anything else. It felt like she had broken down a wall.

‘It is said that the beginning is half the battle.’

Confidence soared. This change immediately appeared on Reina’s face.

-Look at Reina’s smile.

-Even if the honey is already dripping, this is dripping too much.

-I admit it. He is at least a beekeeper.

-Just say that you are in a relationship. We will believe it.

The viewers clicked their tongues at the sight of Reina struggling to suppress the curved up corners of her lips while blushing. It was obvious that she really liked it, no matter how much she tried to hide it.

“Um... I have drawn a question today as well. It is something that viewers might be curious about.”

Reina coughed and held out her smartphone toward the camera.

-Yes, so when are you announcing it?

-Please tell me that you are dating.

-Read the question.

-We are expecting those questions, right?

The viewers only posted a series of mischievous chats about Reina, but Reina wasn’t swayed by these messages.

“Hyeonu, you were meleegod before you became Alley Leader, right?” She read the question written on her smartphone like she didn’t see the chat messages at all.

“Yes. I think we talked about it the other day. For those of you who don’t remember, go to A-World for the full version and the edited version. There are two options so you can choose for yourself.” Hyeonu smiled at Reina and gave a long answer.

“By the way, some of you are curious about this question.”

“Curious?”

“What game did Hyeonu play before Arena? There were many other virtual reality games before Arena became mainstream.”

“Are you wondering about that?” Hyeonu asked with wide eyes.

It wasn’t just for Reina. He turned his head and showed the same expression to the viewers.

-I’m honestly curious.

-This guy, what was he like in other games?

-Even without looking, he must’ve been named. Do you think a skill like this can be formed in a short period of time?

-That’s true. So let’s get to know the old characters.

The viewers actively agreed with Reina’s question. Alley Leader’s past was still one of the burning questions in the community.

“They are curious. There are also many people. There is a lot of speculation about you that others have guessed.”

“Really? By the way, Reina, don’t you already know? I think I’ve told you a few...”

Hyeonu scratched his head. He remembered telling Reina a bit about this a few months ago.

-Wait? Does Reina know?

-Isn’t this a bit uncomfortable? Why didn’t you tell us this?

-Really, we are curious as well.

-Don’t drag it out and tell us quickly. I am starting to get dizzy.

Reina saw the chat window and smiled. It was because the reaction from the viewers was beyond imagination.

‘They must’ve been really curious.’

She had chosen the question very well. The viewers had already forgotten about her relationship with Hyeonu.

“Hyeonu saying it directly is different from me saying it.”

“That is true.”

Hyeonu nodded. Reina’s words made sense. What came out of someone else’s mouth and what he said himself.

There was a big difference between the two.

“I used to be...”

It happened as Hyeonu was about to pull up the story of the past... Reina stopped Hyeonu’s words.

“Wait! Do you have any photos of videos related to the games you played before?”

“Photos? Wait a minute. I probably have them. I would’ve taken it to show a friend...” Hyeonu started looking through the photo album on his smartphone.

“I’m not asking this because I don’t trust you, Hyeonu. It is a type of proof. It is proof for some people who will argue about it.”

-That’s right. The uncomfortable ones will come again.

-What are the kids who can’t believe it even if you show this much...?

-They are just those who like to argue.

-Ah, but I’m really curious. Who was he?

The viewers generally agreed with Reina’s words. What mattered was the visible evidence. It wasn’t just invisible words.

“I found it.”

Just then, Hyeonu held out his smartphone to Reina with a bright expression.

“You can look at it by flipping it to the side.”

Reina flipped the screen as Hyeonu instructed and started looking at the photos.

“Wow...” Cries kept bursting out of Reina’s mouth as she looked through the photos.

-Let’s look at it together.

-No, it is frustrating.

-Why are you looking at it and admiring it alone?

The viewers were curious about what type of photos that Reina was looking at to make her react like this.

“I’m sorry. This is my first time seeing this...” Reina woke up and bowed to apologize to the audience. “If Hyeonu says so, I will show you the photos.”

“I understand.”

Hyeonu nodded and Reina walked out in front of the camera.

“Let’s start with the oldest game. You know Xenon World, right? I used to play Xenon World as well.”

-Wow, he played Xenon World? It has been 10 years since it has been released.

-It seems to have been more than that. So how old was he when he was playing it?

The viewers couldn’t easily believe Hyeonu’s words. Hyeonu was in his early to mid teens when Xenon World was popular.

-He has been playing games since then.

-The important thing is the name he used.

-That’s right. So what is our Alley Leader’s ID?

“The name I used in Xenon World was Clough.”

-Clough? Really?

-Don’t lie. How could Clough be a child...

-I was worse at the game than an elementary school student? That is ridiculous...

The viewers couldn’t believe Hyeonu’s words. Clough was a name that everyone infatuated with Xenon World knew. He was a skillful person who never missed the aggro in a raid.

“it is real. Reina, show the photos, please.”

Hyeonu showed evidence for the disbelieving viewers. It was the photo of his account that he had taken to show off to Yeongchan. In the photo, a man in colorful armor stood. A small status window was floating behind him. The status window had the name ‘Clough.’ The status window could only be seen by the player himself. There could not be a more complete evidence.

-The real Clough...

-I think that picture will come out if you search on the Internet.

-He was different from the beginning, really...

It was a shock in itself. They couldn’t believe that Clough was a teenager. However, the shock to the viewers didn’t end here.

“Next up is Muryeong’s War Records. The character's name was Gang Hyeon. The nickname was Monster Sword.”

-Monster Sword?

-Don’t mess around.

-Come on, this can’t be.

-I endured it with Clough. You can’t be Monster Sword.

The viewers reacted the same way this time. They simply didn’t believe Hyeonu’s words.

“Reina?” Hyeonu called out Reina’s name. Reina showed the next photo to the camera. A similar photo to before came out. If there was one difference, it was that the man was in a red military uniform, not armor. Additionally, the words ‘Monster Sword’ were written in the nickname column in the status window.

-Is this correct?

-No... if he is like this for every game...

-He is just full of talent.

“There is one last one.”

Hyeonu was ready to pour oil again on the burning chat window.

-Another one?

-Yes, what is it this time?

-I don’t think I will be surprised by any name.

-Yes, it already didn’t make sense from Clough.

The viewers were now feeling uneasy. They couldn’t anticipate how much more Alley Leader was hiding.

“This is a pretty old game, but... it is Horus Saga, a game that everyone who might know about it knows about it.”

-Did you also play Horus Saga?

-There isn’t a game he hasn’t played, really.

-By the way, was he famous here as well?

“I didn’t play Horus Saga for that long.”

-Really? Then he wouldn’t be famous.

-Let’s pass.

-Yes, Alley Leader must’ve been ordinary.

The viewers sighed with relief, but this was Hyeonu’s trap. It was to make a bigger impact.

“I was Nutt.” Hyeonu threw a bomb at the viewers.

-Nutt?

-The god killer, Nutt?

-Nutt was Alley Leader?

Among the viewers who couldn’t hide their surprise, one viewer asked Hyeonu a question.

-So can you explain that incident?

That incident—it was the reason why the name Nutt was imprinted on the players of Horus Saga and why Hyeonu left Horus Saga. However, now it was just a story for the live stream.

“Of course.”

Hyeonu chuckled and nodded.