The Veteran Swordmaster’s Stream (Novel) - Chapter 68
Chapter 68
Midterm Check.
The trends of the factions so far, which rankers had been defeated, and what had occurred.
And what would happen in the future.
It was content where they invited named players, waited until 10 o’clock when the rankings would be revealed, and discussed how the situation would unfold.
Seo-jun turned on Bangju’s stream and fixed it on his screen.
Now, he was proficient with the setup.
Some of the viewers even praised him for it.
He couldn’t help but feel proud for no reason.
[Now, now. Yesterday, the Orthodox Faction and the Unorthodox Faction merely traded light jabs with each other. It will be much more interesting from now on. Since the rankers have probably accumulated a certain amount of reputation score as well. The live ammunition is ready!]
Currently, Bangju was making small talk before starting.
[Of course, those who want to make it into the top 16 will still carefully consider which Battleground they fight on. Hehehe.]
The reason why he had met rankers of a certain level a few times so far but had not met the experts within the top 50 came out of Bangju’s mouth.
Of course, just because every single victory was important to them did not mean they would not join the strategy of each faction.
If so, it would have been boring.
In For Chivalry, there was no culture of trying to win dirty in the first place.
This, too, seemed to play a part, as everyone knew each other through a single degree of separation.
[Well, anyway, you all know that I have a specific reason for turning on the stream today, right? It is because the contribution score rankings are being revealed today! I think many people are very curious about it right now…]
The main point came out immediately, as enough viewers had gathered.
Just as important as which faction would win was the question of who would take first place in contribution score!
The rankings showed the top 200 players.
And after the rankings were released, the regions where the players included in those rankings were playing the game would be revealed to everyone.
Targeting would intensify, and many tectonic shifts would occur.
However, no matter what changes occurred, the one most likely to become the ultimate victor in the end was the current first-place holder.
[So, I have invited two people today. First, it is JustOnePenny-nim, who posted the estimated reputation score table on Nohyeop!]
– Welcome!
– It’s JustOnePenny.
– That beggar guy dresses well in real life, lol ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– Surely he’s not an insider, right?
– With a face like that, how could he not be an insider?
– Why ㅠㅠ The streamer also says he’s an outsider.
– You believe that? lol
[Hello, I am JustOnePenny.]
[Yes, hello. Thank you for coming on.]
[No, thank you for inviting me.]
Currently, they were at Bangju’s studio.
The real-life JustOnePenny revealed his appearance.
“Everyone, what kind of person is he?”
Seo-jun was seeing JustOnePenny for the first time.
– He’s a regular player who is good at analyzing, like Bangju.
– He’s a named player.
– He’s a ranker too, but not to the extent of aiming for the top 16.
– The brain of the Orthodox Faction.
Having learned about JustOnePenny with the help of the collective intelligence, Seo-jun focused on the stream again.
[JustOnePenny-nim received the most upvotes among the estimated reputation score tables posted this morning.]
[Ah, is that so?]
[Yes. I think it is probably because you wrote down all the reasons for your estimates in great detail. As expected, those who are good at the game are also good at analyzing it.]
[Thank you.]
[Now, even so, counterarguments are bound to appear, right? Because everyone’s thoughts cannot be the same.]
[That is true. What is it?]
[Ah, you do not know? By any chance, JustOnePenny-nim, do you tend not to look at the comments on your own posts?]
[Yes.]
[Why is that?]
[Since I am not going to fight in the comments, and there is no need to convince anyone, I found it more comfortable not to look.]
[Ah, so you are saying that you just throw a post out to set a fire and then take a step back from the blaze? This is completely pleasure without responsibility…]
– ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– Hearing the explanation, he’s a really bad guy, lol ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– Oh? Come to think of it, even during our streamer’s Great Grandmaster controversy, the start was JustOnePenny…
– He was the culprit? *shudders*
Bangju was bringing the broadcast to life with his witty banter and skillful hosting.
[What do you mean by pleasure without responsibility? If there is an issue, I will immediately take down the post and write an apology.]
[I see. Then please continue to enjoy that pleasure in the future as well.]
[…….]
[So, the point on which JustOnePenny-nim faced the most counterarguments is this.]
[Yes.]
[It is precisely about Heavenly Demon 14-nim.]
[Ah, is that so?]
Seo-jun was flustered when talk of him was suddenly brought up.
It had caught him completely off guard.
– Wow! Being mentioned while 80,000 people are watching live!
– Our streamer is world-class! Our streamer is world-class! Our streamer is world-class! Our streamer is world-class! Our streamer is world-class!
– JustOnePenny ranked our streamer as number one.
[Yes. It is fine that you put Heavenly Demon 14-nim in first place, but the main criticism was that the gap between him and second place was pointed out as being too large.]
[I see.]
[In fact, if someone is good enough to make it onto the rankings, it is obvious that they would have not lost even once and would have also taken the bonuses.]
[Hmm. But do I really have to counter this? Let’s just say I was wrong…]
– ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ He is the epitome of “if you disagree, you are right.”
– Look at how easily he lives his life.
– Wise.
– Is that why he chose the beggar? Fiercely competing in the secular world might all be in vain.
Seo-jun’s face, which was positioned small in the bottom left of the screen filled with Bangju’s stream, also nodded up and down.
He was nodding, thinking that the analyst was indeed smart as expected of one.
[Ah, the comments are saying it’s simply finding contentment in poverty. Is this the dignity of the Beggars’ Sect?]
[Hehe. Thank you.]
[Still, please do share your thoughts. Otherwise, there would be no reason for me to have brought you here.]
[Hmm.]
[What is the reason you set such a high gap in the reputation score, excluding second place and the consecutive win bonus!]
[Well, first, I would like to lightly point out that the way Heavenly Demon, no, Seo-jun-nim plays the occupation battles is unique.]
[Yes.]
[It is a playstyle that other rankers—who have to recover their health, internal energy, and stamina—cannot easily perform. I mean, blocking them at the entrance.]
[Ah! Then, does that mean the Demonic Sect is good?]
[Hmm…]
[Yes! I understand.]
– God of hosting, lol ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– The guest was almost put in a difficult spot.
– Phew.
– JustOnePenny doesn’t say the Demonic Sect is good. It seems he really only speaks the truth, lol.
– He’s the exact opposite of a certain someone who sells snake oil elsewhere.
[Now, let’s call the next guest! This person is a prime example of someone who said JustOnePenny-nim was wrong. It is none other than Heavenly Killing Star-nim!]
It was a nickname he had heard somewhere before.
The Heavenly Killing Star was a star that governed death, and although it was not something he, who had chosen the nickname Heavenly Demon, should say, it was extremely chuunibyou-esque.
Only after looking at the chat was Seo-jun able to drag his identity out of his memory.
– Oh, a super expert is coming out.
– He’s not an analyst, but he was number one in the last Battleground.
– *shudders* Bangju’s casting ability.
– This is crazy.
[Yes. As some of you may know, Heavenly Killing Star-nim is none other than the former World’s Best!]
People called the person who ranked first in Battleground contribution score the “Number One Under Heaven” until the next Battleground opened.
[In the last Battleground, he secured that spot with truly outstanding skills and amazing stream sniping.]
Amazing sniping, indeed.
For reference, after the rankings were revealed, sniping ability was one of the important qualities because of a system that actively encouraged sniping.
Although sniping that involved bribing the enemy’s team members was condemned.
Of course, it was said that this was not non-existent either.
[Heavenly Killing Star-nim, who do you expect to be the highest?]
[Naturally…]
Seo-jun listened to the following words with interest.
The words of the previous Battleground’s first-place winner were worth doing so.
Since he would know about countless competitors that Seo-jun did not know of, as well as the approximate figures, and he would have the experience accumulated over several years.
Above all, unlike Seo-jun, he would probably know his own reputation score at least.
[The highest-ranked person will be me. Not that streamer who took on a wrong concept.]
Hmm.
Did he raise his expectations for nothing?
– ???
– He’s provoking him.
– This is getting so much fun, lol ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– Trash talking starts.
– I’m curious how the streamer will react.
– But his expression is calm?
Seo-jun watched without saying much.
[Heavens! What do you mean by a wrong concept? I would appreciate it if you refrained from provocations.]
[Haha. I am sorry. Still, Heavenly Demon is bound to be a wrong concept.]
[Yes? Why is that?]
[Originally, when you think of the Heavenly Demon, he is someone like a boss who is at the highest place and is the strongest, right?]
[Yes, that is true.]
[But today, when he will virtually start by losing to me from the very beginning of the proper competition, how can he use the name Heavenly Demon? Don’t you agree?]
[Ah…]
It was true.
If the Heavenly Demon lost, he would not be the Heavenly Demon.
Seo-jun chuckled as he recalled the Heavenly Demon from his past life.
However, when he laughed, the viewers seemed to think differently.
– Gasp, the streamer seems angry.
– This is crazy.
– His laugh is not a real laugh.
– Is he going to request a martial duel right away????
– I’m scared…
– Chilling.
Apart from the fact that the people in his room were misunderstanding, perhaps because this level of provocation was always present, Bangju’s chat room was laughing.
[Hahaha! Is that so?]
[Yes.]
[You seem confident.]
[If I were not, I would not have come to this place.]
[I would like to state once again that Heavenly Killing Star-nim’s remarks have nothing to do with me.]
Bangju laughed, and JustOnePenny, who was on the left, shook his head.
The two of them seemed to be close.
[Well then, before we hear Heavenly Killing Star-nim’s reasoning, let me first briefly explain the reputation score to the viewers.]
The reputation score played the role of a system that matched games between people with similar high values.
However, because that tier was neither thick nor uniform, it was impossible to match only with people of similar skills who had accumulated a lot of reputation score.
Therefore, stream sniping would be somewhat easier, but in any case, in the Battleground, at least this point was not the important one.
[The reason why the reputation score is truly important would be that you can obtain attack points and contribution score equivalent to that value. Isn’t that right, JustOnePenny-nim?]
[That is correct.]
It was said that the number of Korean users who participated in the Battleground even once was close to three hundred thousand.
However, the number of users who participated regularly every day was about ten thousand for each faction. Roughly ten percent of the total number.
This could be perceived as a small number.
However, these thirty thousand people were users who entered their capsules every single day without fail for twenty-one days and played four matches of the game.
Virtual reality games came to have a much larger user base than in the PC era, and the number of concurrent users did increase.
However, it did not grow proportionally to the increased number of users.
The reason was that the fatigue of the game itself was much higher than during the PC era.
And accessibility was also lower.
‘Thanks to that, the streaming market for vicarious satisfaction had grown tremendously.’
In this context, the thirty thousand core users were a sufficiently high number.
However, more than half of them could not even obtain the reputation score that rankers acquired in a single day.
The reputation score obtained by doing one’s part in a single match was thirty.
Assuming the win rate was fifty percent.
The reputation score obtained from winning eighteen out of thirty-six matches over the past nine days was 540.
Of course, if they were lucky enough to go on consecutive wins occasionally, it would accumulate more.
[The consecutive win system is calculated and reset every day, and it increases by four times based on a two-win streak. For example, if you just get a two-win streak, you obtain fifty reputation score before starting the next day, and if you get a four-win streak, you add two hundred to obtain two hundred and fifty reputation score the next day.]
[Since everyone will obtain this, there will be no difference.]
[Yes. It will change because tomorrow is another day where farming reputation score through consecutive wins is possible, but that is how it is so far.]
[Therefore, the most important thing that makes the difference is that reputation score calculated and settled when the game ends.]
The conversation between JustOnePenny and Bangju flowed smoothly.
It seemed as if they had prepared in advance.
– The explanation is neat, lol ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– So that was the mechanism. I didn’t know.
– You can live perfectly well without knowing it. Look at the streamer.
– A representative case of a strong body making the mind easy, lol ㅋㅋㅋ
– True, lol ㅋㅋㅋ