Ch.8782 – Hot Potato

“I can’t help but talk about this! I’ve brought a hot topic from the community today, none other than ‘World of Arsheria’!”

“Random content switch? But isn’t World of Arsheria a game?”

“That’s right! It’s a globally famous game that’s secured the number two spot in Korean PC bang usage.”

“Could I finally get some healing through gaming…!”

But even in front of the camera, Da-yeon couldn’t hide her anxiety.

It had been three months since she joined “Higgs Studio” on the recommendation of her Physics and Astronomy Department classmate, Ji Sung-hun.

She worked as a physics content PD for a 1.45 million subscriber VTube channel under “Letterbox,” Korea’s leading MCN, known for its popular science and magic content.

Last month’s topic, “Can humans cross rivers using the principles of stone skipping?” remained a nightmare for Da-yeon.

Unable to ride even a single roller coaster due to fear, she was forced to overcome all related phobias thanks to g-force tolerance training experiences.

“We’re just playing a game, right…?”

“Why don’t you trust me? Wasn’t the stone skipping experiment fun in its own way?”

“I nearly died of fear!”

“Anyway! Since you’ve been working so hard, I prepared something you’ll actually enjoy this time.”

“I’m already feeling anxious about this.”

While contemplating what to do for the next content, Sung-hun suddenly pointed a camera at her, going for a VTube angle.

Though momentarily flustered, Da-yeon naturally played along with his intentions, knowing it would be unprofessional not to.

“Have you played this game before?”

“No, I’ve only seen clips on VTube Shorts.”

“Then shall we first watch the video that’s causing all the buzz?”

All the fluorescent lights in the workroom turned off as the beam projector lit up.

Da-yeon nervously bit her fingernails.

Nothing made her more anxious than when Sung-hun smiled that mischievous smile.

He was undeniably the top student in Korea University’s Physics and Astronomy Department and an absolute superhuman who even double-majored in Theoretical Magic Studies, but he was also an incredible eccentric.

Thanks to the innovative content he brought in, Da-yeon had gained recognition at Higgs Studio, but the process wasn’t always smooth.

She couldn’t count how many times she thought she might drown in the middle of the Han River at the prime of her life.

Eventually, the screen lit up, revealing a woman with brilliant blonde hair.

In a lush forest bathed in moonlight, she seized a sword from a knight charging at her.

Then about a dozen more knights surrounded her.

But she faced the combat stance with confident eyes.

‘Wow… that’s insane…’

She defeated the knights one by one with dazzling movements.

As if that weren’t enough, she freely cast magic throughout the process.

She altered the trajectory of a sword thrusting from a blind spot, and sometimes effortlessly performed triple conjunction magic circle calculations.

The scene quickly shifted to an antique library where the characters had moved.

The battle commenced with an NPC screaming and being slammed into the ceiling.

The woman navigated the tight space with agility that would be nearly impossible to replicate in reality.

Above all, Da-yeon couldn’t help but marvel at the scene where she delivered the final blow to the boss.

‘A quadruple conjunction magic circle? No, is it quintuple…?’

Before the video ended, Da-yeon whispered quietly to Sung-hun.

“Does this game have magic assist functions too?”

“None except for scrolls.”

“This is seriously amazing.”

The video ended with an elegantly dressed gentleman collapsing with a thud.

As the lights came back on, Da-yeon rubbed her dazzled eyes.

After Sung-hun signaled that the camera was rolling, he asked for her thoughts.

“I had no idea World of Arsheria was this kind of game. I really want to try it now!”

What impressed Da-yeon most was the character herself.

Wasn’t this a vulnerable female protagonist straight out of an action movie, turning the tables and unleashing a massacre?

“But you won’t have many chances to try it yourself! This content is more about analysis than experience!”

“Analysis?”

“What you just saw was gameplay footage from a streamer called ‘NoName.'”

“That was actual gameplay? Not some teaser or something?”

No matter how high the freedom or how many assist functions a virtual reality game might have, what she had just seen was unrealistically beyond standard.

Why waste such talent on streaming?

With reflexes like that, she could go straight to the Jincheon Training Center to prepare for the Olympics, and even if her physical body couldn’t keep up, judging by her casting time, she could excel in magical studies.

“That’s why I prepared this! Our content will be analyzing the magic NoName used! This is the video we’ll be watching together repeatedly from today.”

“How much of this are we covering? Can’t you tell just by the length? Besides, I don’t know as much about magic circles as you do…!”

“Actually, there are three episodes, but I only brought the first one considering your situation, so I can’t accept any more complaints. And wouldn’t it be boring if we just did analysis?”

“What are you scheming now…!”

“Let’s calculate how much money it would cost to use the same magic in reality. Fighting!”

Before she could object, Sung-hun quickly pressed the end button on the video.

With the brakes off, Da-yeon pressed him harshly.

“Are we really doing this? Can’t we just delete what we’ve filmed and change to a different topic?”

“Why? It looks fun! Didn’t you see that gameplay video? That single video already has a million views! If we just do the analysis, we’ll easily get at least 2 million views.”

“Then why isn’t anyone else doing it?”

Why would others leave content with guaranteed views untouched?

“Good question. First, the magic NoName used is way too difficult for 1st circle magic.”

“1st circle magic? All of that was 1st circle magic?”

Da-yeon already had a strange feeling about this.

Isn’t 1st circle magic extremely simple stuff that everyone masters by high school at the latest?

Those complex magic circles that gave her a headache just by looking at them were all 1st circle?

Solving the KGSAT math section using only the four basic operations seemed more credible.

Magic expansion was the domain of experts. Even for Sung-hun, this was clearly crossing a line.

“And there’s too much for an individual to analyze alone.”

“Definitely. There are over 100 different spells used.”

“Right. And almost no duplicates. That’s why this isn’t just a ‘hot issue’ but a ‘hot potato.’ Everyone knows they should do something but can’t figure out how. It’s a jackpot if you can crack it, but it’s too hot to handle!”

Da-yeon turned her attention back to the VTube video Sung-hun had shown.

The view count was still rising steeply in real-time.

Since World of Arsheria was an American game, there were quite a few foreign comments as well.

In other words, this was a good opportunity for Higgs Studio to attract foreign subscribers if they played their cards right.

“But do you have a plan? I’m feeling overwhelmed. Do you have any ideas?”

“Not at all…?”

“Then what are we going to do!”

“If your brain doesn’t work, at least your legs can. We have good connections and academic credentials, don’t we?”

In short, his strategy was to analyze the magic circles shown by grabbing idle graduate students and professors from Korea University’s Magic Department.

Saying that food tastes best when someone else makes it, Sung-hun had already started contacting people he knew.

Da-yeon had a strong feeling that this content wouldn’t go smoothly either.

* * *

[Stream starting: 0:00:01 – NoName]

[Just Chatting – Please set a title.]

[Stream time – 0:00:02]

[Viewers – 4]

-??

-Is this a dream or reality

-Where have you been all this time!!!

-Being able to chat as soon as the stream starts is major progress, NoName!

[Stream time – 0:01:24]

[Viewers – 439]

-wtf is this viewer growth speed?

-You were my personal insomnia cure!!! I loved you first!!!

-World-class with just one stream lol

-Why didn’t this person strike while the iron was hot?

-ㄴShe didn’t just miss the boat, she destroyed it

-ㄴlmaooooo

[Stream time – 0:03:08]

[Viewers – 1092]

-Say something, streamer

-Is it okay to disappear for two weeks without any notice?

-It is if you’re NoName

-She was always a troublemaker, nothing new hahaha

-Want a taste of League toxicity?

-Fact) The streamer is immune because she’s a female League player

-NoName, have you seen your VTube?

-We want to see our Adella, start World of Arsheria already!!!!!

The chat was absolute chaos.

NoName’s recent activities had started to gain traction in the World of Arsheria community, but were quickly buried by the ACK pro gamer match-fixing confession scandal.

However, those destined for fame will eventually rise.

As clips of her gameplay were uploaded primarily on VTube, NoName’s reputation gradually grew beneath the surface.

Then two days ago, “Higgs Studio” and “Dobby Science,” Korea’s most famous science content channels, almost simultaneously uploaded videos featuring NoName, which became the catalyst.

As if coordinated, they provided information that made NoName’s achievements easily understandable to the general public, which helped spread awareness even to non-gamers.

Some broadcasting companies had even discreetly posted comments on her personal community expressing interest in interviewing her.

-Where the hell did this person go?

-WhyJustChatting?WhyNotWorldOfArsheria?WhyJustChatting?WhyNotWorldOfArsheria?

-Just noticed there’s no stream title either lmao

Due to NoName’s irregular streaming schedule, most of her subscribers joined the stream fuming with anger.

It had become something of a tradition to calm down while listening to NoName’s sweet voice.

However, the most recently joined viewers were confused by her silence for the first few minutes after starting the stream.

Comments from existing viewers reassuring that this was normal for her stream were swept away in the wave of harsh text.

[‘MagicTeacherBob’ donated 10,000 won!]

-Like if you’re NoName who wants to freeload off streaming hahaha

Soon, the first donation of her stream came through.

It was sent in hopes that the streamer would quickly guide her viewers who were like refugees with nowhere to go.

Anything would be fine.

Some wanted her to retry World of Arsheria’s highest difficulty that no one else had conquered, while others hoped she would reach Challenger in Legacy of Legend, which she hadn’t played for quite some time.

Representing those who wanted to mock NoName’s arbitrary streaming style, the chat was flooded with another wave of spam.

-Like

-Crying while liking hahaha

-Forget likes, just show up already!!!

-Like

-Like

-?

-?

-???

-What was that above?

-??????????

-Don’t just chat, start streaming!

-This is so NoName hahaha

-This is ridiculous hahaha

The viewers had ghostlike abilities to find NoName trying to quietly blend into the rushing current.