Chapter 81: [Golden Ring] Praise the sun!!! Golden ring trend, catch the last train!! [Yuki] (1)

“Ah, I’m sorry about earlier, Unni… I got too excited…”

“No, it’s okay. I was teasing you too, so.”

Back home, while preparing for the stream, Rin apologized to me.

But since I had also done something wrong, I felt somewhat sorry receiving her apology.

‘Anyway, I never imagined Rin would have such a lewd personality.’

‘If things went wrong, my virginity would have been in more danger than with Miho-mama.’

‘I needed to be more careful in the future to protect my chastity…’

“Anyway, what are you going to stream today?”

“Ah. I’m thinking of playing a Switch game after a long time.”

“A Switch game?”

“Yeah. You know, Golden Ring was popular a while back.”

Golden Ring.

An open-world RPG game, famous for its decent graphics and difficult gameplay.

The reason I chose this game this time was simple.

It was none other than because I felt it was a waste of the games I had bought on the Switch.

Although it didn’t matter if I didn’t play the other games, Golden Ring was a famous game, so I wanted to try it at least once.

“But hasn’t it been quite a while since Golden Ring’s popularity waned?”

“It’s fine. If it’s past its prime, I can just say something like ‘Hopping on the last train~’ and the viewers will go along with it.”

“You’re being way too casual about it…”

“Well, what are you gonna do? I want to play it.”

‘Actually, besides the reasons of it being past its prime or feeling it was a waste, there was also the simple reason that I was genuinely curious about the game Golden Ring.’

‘Just how good was the gameplay that it received such high praise from so many people?’

‘And how f*cking difficult was it that so many people foamed at the mouth criticizing it?’

This curiosity, the fact that I hadn’t done a game stream for the past few days, and the current situation of lacking broadcast material all fit together perfectly.

So, without any hesitation, I decided on Golden Ring for this stream.

“Ah, then I should watch Unni’s stream from the next room.”

“……”

“Ah, are you feeling shy right now?”

“N-No, I’m not!”

When I blushed at her words about watching the stream from the next room, Rin curved her eyes into crescent moons and started teasing me.

“As expected, Unni is bold with lewd things, but you have a cute side in these strange moments.”

“Sh-Shut up!! I’m starting the stream, so watch it or don’t, do whatever you want!!”

“Fufu… You really are cute.”

“……”

And so, along with Rin’s teasing.

The long-awaited game broadcast began.

---

【GOLDEN RING】Praise the sun!!! Hopping on the last train of the Golden Ring trend!!【Yuki Yuki】

18,000 people watching

The story of Golden Ring is simple.

Basically, the protagonist, chosen as a hero, kills bad guys to save the world.

‘Of course, it wasn’t like there were no connections to the previous work or detailed subplots…’

‘But when would I have time to look all that up?’

‘Not being able to play the game because I’m watching the story is what I hate the most.’

“So, I’ll be skipping the story today too. Got it?”

-Queen of Skips…

-She’s really skipping all the story.

-Skip-an!!

-Sharingan!!

-But honestly, you can’t resist the skip button ㅋㅋㅋ

-True ㅋㅋ

The viewers now just accepted my action of skipping the entire story.

Perhaps thanks to long periods of training, they showed a submissive attitude of not questioning the VTuber’s decisions.

‘I don’t know who did it, but the training was done well.’

-The Golden Ring trend’s last train ended a long time ago, Baka Yuki.

(TL Note: Baka is a Japanese term for idiot/fool.)

“Shut up. I’m just doing it because I want to.”

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Oh no ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Yeah, Yuki-chan, do whatever you want.

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Immediate dictatorial action ㅋㅋ

Anyway, after moderately suppressing the Yukidan like that, I immediately pressed the button and skipped the game’s prologue story.

SKIP >

After skipping the story, what unfolded before my eyes was a large cathedral.

The interior, illuminated by only a few candles on the chandeliers, exuded a dark, fantasy-like atmosphere.

“This probably looks like the tutorial… right?”

-Yep.

-If you go out here, it’s the tutorial.

-Just skip it, go?

“No, still, I need to do the tutorial to play the game.”

-?

-Yuki-chan… is doing the tutorial?

-My Yuki-chan wouldn’t do this!!

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-You’re not Yuki-chan, are you?

-Weren’t you supposed to learn by getting hit?

“…Don’t say weird things.”

I ignored the Yukidan who were pointlessly slandering me and started proceeding with the tutorial.

[Defeat the undead wandering the church. And leave the forest.]

As I exited the church, the tutorial appeared on one side of the screen like a quest.

And its content was simple: defeat the monsters outside the church.

B key… press it…… Right-hand attack…

Moreover, on the black stone slabs scattered on the ground here and there, basic operation methods were concisely explained in glowing blue letters.

“Normal attack, strong attack, parry, roll… And there are separate main and sub-weapons? Why is it so complicated?”

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Golden Ring is originally complicated.

-You learn by getting hit, Assei!!

(TL Note: Assei (아쎄이) is a Korean Marine Corps slang term for a recruit or newbie, often used with a harsh or hazing connotation.)

-It is a bit difficult.

Not only that, but the controls for basic combat, such as using potions and item shortcuts, were quite complex.

Furthermore, since I had to operate it with a Switch controller instead of a keyboard, it felt even more difficult due to my unfamiliarity.

[WassupPop donated 10,000 won!]

-Yuki-chan is not Rin-sama… She’s a baby… We have to protect her…

“Ah, come to think of it, how long did it take Rin-sama to do this?”

-Hmm… 3 minutes?

-No no, she was good as soon as she saw it.

-Rin-sama is just good.

-I’ve never imagined a VTuber other than Rin-sama being good at games.

-Rin-sama is the VTuber game GOAT, for real.

-I want to make Rin-sama play an AOS.

(TL Note: AOS is an older term for MOBA games like League of Legends or Dota.)

“Don’t make Rin-sama do weird things. Her personality will get ruined…”

‘AOS isn’t a game, it’s a disease.’

‘Your mom is there one moment and gone the next, or you suddenly have an even number of players.’

‘Or you’re doing W-autos and E-autos, and suddenly your house becomes 2 pyeong…’

(TL Note: Pyeong is a Korean unit of area, about 3.3 square meters. The “2 pyeong” joke implies someone lost their house due to gaming addiction or toxicity, shrinking their living space to a mere 2 pyeong.)

‘Anyway, it’s a game that shows the very bottom of human nature far too well.’

‘There was no need to inflict such pain on Rin-sama by making her play such a game.’

Status… raise it… become stronger… faster than them…

Just then, interacting with a stone slab on the ground caused glowing letters to appear.

And since this was the tutorial, its content was also related to the controls.

“Stats? Come to think of it, did this game have stats?”

-Yep yep yep yep.

-It does.

-Ari~ Nashi~

(TL Note: “Ari” and “Nashi” are Japanese for “have” and “don’t have.”)

-It’s an RPG.

-It does.

Hearing the Yukidan’s words, I quickly opened the menu and scanned the list.

And soon enough, I was able to find the ‘STATUS’ menu on the third line.

STATUS

Name: YUKI

Level: 6

Class: Hero

Attributes:

-Strength: 6 -Agility: 9

-Vitality: 7 -Magic: 4

Stat Points: 1

Coins: 4G

“Oooh!! A status window that feels like a proper RPG!”

As soon as I opened the status, information scrolled up the screen.

Somehow, it reminded me of the Tsukuru RPGs I used to play, and I felt a strange sense of nostalgia.

(TL Note: Tsukuru refers to RPG Maker software.)

‘Well, back then, most of the stats were things like ‘Climax Count’ or ‘Corruption Level’…’

“Then, I’ll start by taking down some zombies.”

Saying so, I began to walk into the dark forest surrounding the church.

It was about time to really start the game.

---

Grrrrrr…

A chorus of guttural growls echoed.

Enemies lurked in the darkness of the sunken forest.

The unknown danger, lurking from an unseen direction, was enough to terrify anyone in the heart of the forest.

But now, accustomed to such situations, I calmly swung my sword without panicking.

Clang, Claang!!

The sword, slashing horizontally and diagonally, was aimed at the zombie.

The zombie hastily raised its arms to block the sword, but that was its limit, managing it only about three times.

Shhlick!!

“Got it!!”

On the fourth swing of the sword, the zombie finally broke its guard and was stunned.

Next, I thrust my sword towards the zombie’s chest, and just then, as if certain conditions were met, a special motion was activated.

Crunch, Spuuurt!!

The sword pierced through the zombie’s chest and out the other side.

Then, as I pulled the sword back, a fountain of blood erupted from the zombie.

-Ooh, front-stab.

-She actually pulled off a front-stab;;

-But honestly, it looks like she did it without knowing the conditions.

-True ㅋㅋ

As the chat said, I hadn’t activated it knowing the conditions.

I just happened to succeed with the ‘front-stab’ technique while mindlessly attacking.

But I had no time to explain that to the chat.

A sword swung by a knight zombie, which had appeared out of nowhere, was rushing towards me.

Kaaang!!

“Keuk…!!”

I quickly raise the shield I was holding as a secondary weapon to block the attack.

Then, I randomly swing the sword in my right hand, battering the knight zombie as if beating it down.

“Dieeee!!!”

Shhlick, Shhlick!!

Unable to hold out any longer, the knight zombie finally succumbed to my attacks, and I, not missing the opportunity, increased my pace and swung my sword even faster.

After about four attacks, its HP bar hit bottom, and the knight zombie collapsed to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut.

LEVEL UP

“Oh, I leveled up again.”

-Stats, go go.

-Quick, raise your stats.

-Strength, gazua.

-No no, magic swordsman is OP. Raise magic.

-Agility, go. Let’s go rogue.

-Rogues should just bandage themselves up ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Dodakbung ㅋㅋ

(TL Note: Dodakbung (도닥붕) is a Korean gaming meme mocking rogues, implying they are weak and only useful for bandaging.)

“Ah, wait a minute. Yuki-chan will take care of it.”

As I leveled up, the chat window began to be flooded with unsolicited advice on stat distribution.

I let the Yukidan’s advice, or rather, non-advice, go in one ear and out the other, and opened the status window to check my current stats.

STATUS

Name: YUKI

Level: 10

Class: Hero

Attributes:

-Strength: 6 -Agility: 9

-Vitality: 7 -Magic: 4

Stat Points: 5

Coins: 31G

My level had risen to 10 by beating up zombies in the forest.

And I had gained one stat point per level, for a total of 5 remaining stat points.

“Hmm… For now, it would be good to invest 4 in Strength and 1 in Agility, right?”

-Why?

-???????

-Teacher, why on earth would you do that…

-No, go all-in on strength!!! Greatswordsman!!!! The dream!!!

-Rogue is the answer!!!

-Dodakbung, get lost.

“Everyone, shut up. I’m going to raise Strength and Agility equally. It’s called the Geuncheop meta.”

(TL Note: “Geuncheop” (근첩) is a portmanteau of Geunryeok (Strength) and Mincheop (Agility). However, “Geuncheop” is also a derogatory Korean internet slang term for users of the Ruliweb forum, often associated with being cringey or otaku-like. The MC is unaware of this slang meaning.)

-?

-????

-Excuse me?

-Geuncheop… you say?

“Why? Strength and Agility. Geuncheop.”

-Strength: 6 → 10

-Agility: 9 → 10

I retorted to the Yukidan like that, and before they could even try to stop me, I raised my Strength and Agility stats.

‘Cover the damage with Strength, and supplement the speed with Agility.’

‘Then, the ratio of acceleration and power will match perfectly, allowing for maximum synergy.’

‘It’s a very simple story.’

‘Numbers don’t lie.’

‘…is bullsht.’

‘I’m just using it because ‘Geuncheop’ somehow sounds good.’

‘It feels kind of cool, like a real man, maybe?’

“Also known as the Geuncheop Warrior. How about it? Doesn’t it sound kind of cool?”

-Geuncheop, sht ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-This one ㅋㅋㅋ is a Geuncheop ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Geunhahahaha

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Hello, Yuki-nim, Ruliweb attendance days: 964.

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-This is the president of the Meso-ochi Association. Yuki-nim, you were broadcasting in a place like this?

(TL Note: “Meso-ochi Association” and “Geukkiyat-hoou” are slang/memes associated with the “Geuncheop” (Ruliweb user) stereotype, implying cringey or otaku behavior. The chat is sarcastically welcoming her to their “club.”)

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Geuncheop, you crazy btch ㅋㅋㅋ

-Geukkiyat-hoou!!

“Wh-What is it…? Why is everyone saying such weird things…”

The chat window flowed rapidly, as if a flood had occurred in an instant.

I, who hadn’t expected the Yukidan to react this way, could only stare with wide, rabbit-like eyes in surprise.

‘What’s the Meso-ochi Association, and what’s Geukkiyat-hoou?’

‘No, I’m not pretending to be innocent, I just genuinely don’t know.’

‘I just said Geuncheop because it’s Strength and Agility, so why is everyone saying such strange things?’

‘Don’t tell me Geuncheop means something weird?’

“Why are you guys playing amongst yourselves? Tell Yuki-chan too!!”

-Ah… She really doesn’t know.

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Um… You don’t need to know.

-True ㅋㅋ

-Geunhahahaha

“No, why are you all doing this? Tell Yuki-chan too, I said??”

-Don’t want to ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Eok ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Don’t wanna.

-Geuncheop Warrior Yuki ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Crazy btch ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Should I call this innocence..

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

“No, so you have to tell me why you’re doing this!!!”

I pleaded, almost screaming, but the Yukidan never told me about ‘Geuncheop.’

‘Really, why are they being like this…’

‘Does Geuncheop Warrior sound that strange?’

“Be quiet. Yuki-chan is going to play the game, so everyone just be quiet.”

-Yes ㅋㅋㅋ

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Geukkiyat-hoou~~

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Anyway, the game continued like that.

And for some reason, the laughter in the chat window never ceased.