Chapter 2: I could do better than that with my feet

On the screen Nyua was watching, two people were clashing weapons and fighting fiercely.

The graphics were surprisingly realistic.

Not some kind of pre-programmed, stereotypical movements, but bodies moving freely like real people.

‘Is this… that virtual reality game?’

Technology that didn’t exist in the world I used to live in.

But here, it was deeply embedded in people’s daily lives as if it were a matter of course.

While I watched the screen with fascination, the battle on screen grew more and more intense.

Exploiting each other’s openings, the tips of their swords slicing through the air.

The speed and tension were incredible, making it hard to believe it was all virtual.

The moment one stepped forward, a sword flew in.

However, the opponent retreated half a beat faster, dodging the sword tip by a paper-thin margin.

Then, the small chat window on the screen erupted.

-Wow, he dodged that?

-Kang Daehan is really f***ing insane.

-Kya, this is the finals!

-Kang Daehan Kang Daehan Kang Daehan Kang Daehan Kang Daehan Kang Daehan Kang Daehan

‘The person who just dodged must be Kang Daehan.’

Kang Daehan, maintaining the stance he used to narrowly dodge, rotated his legs and launched a counterattack.

Unlike Kang Daehan, who had just evaded the attack, his opponent was being helplessly overwhelmed.

[Ah, Kang Daehan is currently dominating the field, pushing his opponent back!!!!]

[It’s as if he intends to give no breathing room to his opponent; attacks pour down like a raging storm! Fabri can’t do anything right now!!!]

-Is he going for it?

-Is he really gonna win this?

-Please please please please

-Please, let our country win, please let our country win

“Nyua!!!!”

The chat window, moving as if it were a single living entity, was filled with cheers for Kang Daehan.

Just then, a chat message saying “let our country win” caught my eye.

Wondering what it was, I looked closer at the screen.

In the right corner, the title ‘World Championship’ was displayed.

What Nyua was watching was a world tournament.

Below, the number of real-time viewers was displayed.

The number alone was a staggering 445,200 people.

With such an enormous number, the intensity of the chat was understandable.

I forcibly peeled Nyua, who was stuck to the phone screen like a glutinous rice cake in the heat of the moment, and focused on the match again.

[Kang Daehan!!!! His concentration is at its peak right now!!!!!]

[He just needs to keep this pace!!!!]

–  Let’s goooooooooo!!!!!!!!

–  We can win!!!!!!!!!!!!

A situation where no one doubted Kang Daehan’s victory.

Only I felt something different.

‘He’s lost this one.’

The moment everyone was cheering for Kang Daehan’s one-sided dominance.

I sensed fighting spirit in Fabri’s eyes.

He was clearly being pushed back, but his eyes weren’t dead.

‘I’ve seen eyes like that many times.’

Those were the eyes of someone waiting for a single opportunity.

A chance for a single, game-changing reversal.

If Kang Daehan had been calm, there wouldn’t have even been that chance.

Perhaps sensing his victory, Kang Daehan was too excited.

In the end, my premonition wasn’t wrong.

Just as Kang Daehan’s attacks were pouring down fiercely.

Amidst it, a very brief, almost unnoticeable opening appeared.

Fabri didn’t miss that moment.

The pommel of his sword accurately struck Kang Daehan’s jaw.

Seizing the moment of hesitation, Fabri’s counterattack surged like a violent wave.

[Emergency!!! This is an emergency! Fabri has succeeded in an astonishing counterattack!!]

[Kang Daehan, you need to get out!!! If you don’t get out now, it’s dangerous!!]

-Ah, no…

-Please please please please please please please please

-Please get out

-Counterattack!!

The chat window, which had been full of cheers just a moment ago, was now covered in desperate cries.

Everyone desperately wished for only one thing.

For Kang Daehan to somehow escape Fabri’s fierce onslaught.

But Fabri didn’t allow even a single moment’s opportunity.

As if intending not to give even a moment to breathe, the tip of his sword relentlessly pushed Kang Daehan.

And in the end.

At the end of a dazzling display of swordsmanship, Kang Daehan fell.

[Fabri WIN]

The screen announcing the opponent’s victory appeared.

Even the casters, who had been shouting themselves hoarse, seemed to have their energy drained as their voices grew quiet.

[Ah… Kang Daehan has finally fallen.]

[He fought without giving up until the end, but it wasn’t enough to block Fabri’s counterattack.]

[It was a magnificent match that was hard to take your eyes off until the very end. Truly, it was a great battle where both players did their best.]

[Especially Kang Daehan, his fierce offense in the early stages was truly impressive. Fabri’s composure, aiming for a reversal even under that pressure, was also amazing.]

[The audience too, is now immersed in the afterglow. The fighting spirit Kang Daehan showed… will definitely not disappear with today’s defeat.]

[You worked hard, Kang Daehan.]

The casters’ voices were noticeably drained of energy.

But you could feel them trying their best to somehow lift the somber mood.

However, the chat window was filled with a funereal gloom.

-Afterglow, my a**. It’s just f***ing devastating.

-Sigh… I knew this would happen. South Korea winning? Yeah, right.

-Still, he did well. Besides Kang Daehan, no one else even made it to the semifinals.

-F***…

-Still, it was fun to watch.

-Honestly, his physical skill alone is world-class, isn’t it?

So what? He didn’t win.

Everyone couldn’t hide their disappointment, but within it, there was a sense of heavy acknowledgment.

Consolations in the vein of ‘lost but fought well.’

That kind of atmosphere was spreading through the chat.

Losing was certainly disappointing.

But his beyond-human physical skill was real.

Watching that flow, I slowly stroked my chin.

‘Hmm… Was he only that good?’

I could do better than that even if I played with my feet.

---

After watching the broadcast, I looked into various things and found a lot of information.

Fire Fist.

A fighting game that once blazed with popularity like fire.

Nowadays, it doesn’t receive as much attention as in its heyday, but it still has a solid fanbase.

In that game, Kang Daehan was a player representing Korea.

To the extent that he was called ‘the best.’

He was especially famous for his overwhelmingly superior physical abilities.

Reaction speed and senses that couldn’t even be compared to other pro players.

Thanks to that, it’s said that no one could threaten his position for many years.

Although he didn’t win the world championship, all pro players unanimously acknowledged his physical skills.

After the match ended, Nyua even found and started watching Kang Daehan’s after-stream.

I wondered why it went to such lengths to watch, but that creature, like me, was a veteran who had been through all sorts of battles.

Perhaps, in this peaceful world, it was somehow searching for the dopamine it had forgotten.

‘Hmm… Looking at the graphics, they seemed incredibly realistic.’

After a quick search.

Full-dive virtual reality games were said to offer an immersive experience close to reality.

Thanks to that experience, they quickly gained popularity.

Now, it has become an era where most people enjoy virtual reality games.

‘But… why didn’t I know about this until now?’

Even though I’d been lazing around for a whole year, I felt like I should have heard about it at least once, but it felt completely new to me.

Well, it’s not like I lived with my face glued to my phone all day like Nyua.

‘Still.’

When I turned my head, Nyua was already switching to other streams, its eyes sparkling.

“Nyua!”

Judging by the tone of its voice, it seemed very excited.

Hmm.

If that creature can enjoy it, I probably can too?

---

Since I’d already thought of it, there was no reason to hesitate.

Having bought a capsule with my remaining money, I was eating cup ramen while waiting for the capsule to arrive.

‘By the way, it’s too expensive. I can’t believe the price was over 40 million won…’

I did hesitate because of the price, but what I needed now was dopamine.

I pressed the payment button without a moment’s hesitation, and thanks to that, my saved money was almost gone.

At this rate, I’d have to live on cup ramen for a while.

‘This means I’ll have to get a job soon…’

Hearing that we’d ‘have to live on cup ramen for a while,’ an enraged Nyua climbed onto my head and started pulling at my hair.

“Nyuaaaaat!!”

My long hair was caught in Nyua’s mouth and flailing about, but not a single strand fell from my steel-strong scalp.

Still, just in case, I wished it would be gentle.

“Nyuuuu.”

Leaving Nyua, who was diligently gnawing, I fell back into thought.

‘By the way, how should I earn money?’

I didn’t particularly want to work.

If possible, I wanted to relax comfortably in this peaceful world.

Of course, I did need dopamine.

“Nyua…”

When I showed no reaction, Nyua went to a corner and started watching a broadcast on its phone.

On the phone, a streamer was visible, playing a virtual reality game and broadcasting.

[Byuriburi has donated 1000 won.]

[Please do it properly!!]

“Thank you for the 1000 won donation, Byuriburi!! But aren’t I doing it properly?”

-Aoo!!

-Doing well, you say?

---

[Byuriburi has donated 1000 won.]
[Can’t you hear everyone grinding their teeth right now?]

“But this is all your fault for coming to a ‘spicy’ stream!! If you don’t like it, you should have gone to a skill-based stream.”

-But he’s kinda right lolㅋㅋㅋ

-Ah, I’m craving the spicy flavor.

-You get tired of eating only sweet thingsㅋㅋㅋ

---

[Byuriburi has donated 1000 won.]
[The streamer was the troll. F***.]

“It’s a shame you only realize that now. But you know swearing is grounds for a ban, right? I’ll ban you for just 10 minutes!!”

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Farewell.

---

[Byuriburi has donated 1000 won.]
[Kuaaaaargh!!]

“Byuriburi, are you on a donation spree today?”

-Getting played lolㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Just getting played.

He was chatting like a commentator while playing a virtual reality game, and he was even earning money from it.

Seeing that, my eyes lit up.

‘Found it, a way to make money.’