Chapter 3: Are there any harder difficulties?

15 years since awakening.

And 1 year since defeating the Demon King and coming to this world.

For a total of 16 years, I spent 15 of them in combat and slaughter, and the remaining year, I lazed around, calling it a sabbatical.

So, it wouldn’t be too strange to say I’d forgotten the fact that ‘you can earn money through broadcasting.’

However, while watching various broadcasts with Nyua, several dormant memories began to surface in my mind.

Before awakening, the days I spent diligently watching broadcasts every night.

The scenes from that time came back vividly.

Back then, virtual reality games didn’t exist yet, but the profession of a streamer already did.

People who communicated with viewers through the screen, conducting their broadcasts in their own way.

Some through chatting.

Some through gaming.

They laughed and talked with people in various ways and earned money.

And now.

This world was continuing that culture in a much more advanced form.

In this era where capsules had become common.

Most streamers were conducting their broadcasts through full-dive capsules.

Some share their daily lives with viewers in private rooms.

Some captivate viewers with spectacular battles and adventures in a virtual world indistinguishable from reality.

People began to get even more enthusiastic about the more realistic appearances of streamers implemented in virtual reality.

And that popularity was far hotter than in the world I knew.

An era where truly famous people receive treatment comparable to celebrities.

It could indeed be called the world of grand streamers.

That’s how many people are jumping into this world, so it could be called a red ocean.

But I was confident.

Confident that I would rise.

Skill-based broadcasts always draw people in.

Unbelievable physicality, reactions, judgment, senses – when all these come together, people can’t leave the broadcast.

And they become enthusiastic about and engrossed in the streamer who shows them that.

If it were a game played on a computer, I wouldn’t have been this confident.

‘This is a virtual reality game, after all.’

A world where physicality is skill.

S-class Hunter.

The world’s best hunter and the last remaining hunter.

There was no way I, who held all those titles, would be outmatched physically in this world.

Even Kang Daehan, said to have the best physique in Korea, looked like a child in my eyes.

People were enthusiastic even about such a childlike appearance.

What about me?

And even if physical specs are standardized for a fair environment.

15 years of honed combat experience.

Sense, judgment, physicality.

---

Dum-chit, dum-chit.

(TL Note: Onomatopoeia for a rhythmic beat, indicating excitement.)

When I pressed the power button next to it, the capsule opened with a ‘pssshh’ sound.

Oh, sh*t.

This is really f*cking insane.

As I entered the capsule with an excited heart, Nyua followed me in.

“Nyua!!”

“You want to come in too?”

“Nyuaat!!”

“Alright, I don’t know if it’ll work, but let’s try.”

Normally, it shouldn’t be possible.

But Nyua is a surprisingly versatile creature.

It too is a Spirit King who survived until the very end.

‘It probably has some way.’

If left alone, it manages fine on its own.

A manual was placed on the chair inside the capsule.

The installation technician had told me to read the manual before starting.

“I don’t need it.”

I threw the manual straight out and closed the capsule door.

“If you’re a man, you just go.”

Of course, my body is female.

Anyway.

Reading a manual when I can use the capsule right now?

That’s just a luxury.

The inside of the closed capsule soon sank into darkness.

Wheeeing.

With the sound of machinery whirring, my consciousness also began to slowly drift away.

A moment later.

Feeling my consciousness resurface, I opened my eyes again.

“Oh… quite something.”

Looking around, a pure white room greeted me.

My senses were still dull, but that meant the scan of my physical information wasn’t finished yet.

Fingerprints, irises, skeletal structure, etc. – scanning all physical structures to use as personal information took some time.

And after some time had passed.

A woman resembling me appeared in the center of the room.

‘No, it’s not just resembling, is it me?’

Hair that looked as soft as black silk.

Red eyes that seemed to have camellia flowers embedded in them.

Lips that looked moist for some reason, even without anything applied.

My now-familiar appearance as a woman.

When I touched it lightly, I felt a texture like real skin.

‘This is fascinating.’

I had a slight doubt, but to think it could be implemented to this extent.

It felt slightly strange, but the level of realism was remarkably high.

If the Gates hadn’t existed, would our world have had something like this?

A world where virtual reality games are popular, and everyone enjoys broadcasting.

Lost in idle thoughts for a moment, I soon shook my head.

It was just an assumption that could never be.

Thinking about it further was meaningless.

[Do you want to confirm the current customization settings?]
Yes / No

‘Hmm. What should I do?’

Normally, I would have adjusted the customization to some extent.

But right now, my body was itching.

I felt like quickly going in and enjoying various things.

Even the time spent on customization felt like a waste.

In the end, without much hesitation, I pressed the ‘Yes’ button, and the scenery of the room quickly changed.

To a space with a bit more of a lived-in feel.

It seemed to be the default private room provided.

As I was looking around at various things for a moment.

“Nyuaat!!”

Nyua appeared with a loud cry.

I knew this would happen.

‘Even if you’re versatile, there should be a limit to how versatile you are.’

To think it could even enter a virtual reality world.

‘A Spirit King is a Spirit King, I guess.’

Watching Nyua fly around excitedly, I nodded my head.

It wasn’t the first or second time.

“Nyua, come here.”

“Nyua!!”

Nyua reacted to my voice.

It quickly flew over and attached itself to my neck in the form of a choker.

I don’t know why, but ever since I became a woman, it always clings to me like this.

‘It used to be a necklace or something like that before.’

Such a unique taste.

It’s a surprisingly stubborn creature, so it won’t change even if I tell it to.

Shaking my head, I soon moved my fingers to do what I had first thought of.

Tick.

An interface appeared before my eyes.

It reminded me of the old status window, which felt nostalgic.

Moving my fingers around, checking the items, I soon found what I was looking for.

‘Here it is.’

Training Simulation.

One of the programs provided by default for people using the capsule for the first time.

It was the provider’s consideration to help users get as accustomed to virtual reality as possible using this.

Thanks to this, many people started with this program when they first began using the capsule.

However, there’s a funny thing about it.

‘It’s that there’s a leaderboard.’

Rankings in a training program.

At first, everyone found it absurd, but now it has become an element of fun.

The developer’s opinion was this:

“If you’re going to do it anyway, wouldn’t a competitive structure be more fun?”

Those words became reality, and now the training simulation has established itself as an independent entertainment content.

When I selected the training simulation, a white room greeted me.

The difference from the first time was that there were various fascinating machines and devices lined up everywhere, and a leaderboard was posted on the wall over there.

[K-Server Training Simulation Ranking – TOP 10]

(2030 Q2 / As of Q2)

Rank / Reflexes / Agility / Accuracy / Evasion / Concentration / Total Score

1st Kang Daehan_K 99 /98 /97 /99 /100 /493

2nd Unknown 97 /98 /95 /96 /98 /484

3rd Keisha 96 /98 /94 /96 /97 /481

4th Unknown 95 /95 /94 /95 /95 /474

5th CUN_THEGUN 93 /92 /99 /90 /96 /470

6th Unknown 92 /91 /95 /91 /93 /462

7th MiMi_JjangTv 92 /90 /88 /95 /92 /457

8th Kim Seondu 90 /88 /85 /88 /89 /440

9th Unknown 87 /86 /88 /87 /90 /438

10th Kang Soyeon 79 /82 /85 /86 /87 /419

---

Looking down the leaderboard from 1st place, I slowly loosened my shoulders.

“Alright. Shall we give it a try then?”

If I’m going to do it, there’s no reason to do it half-heartedly.

Those names posted up there right now.

Starting today, they all drop down one rank.

“Nyuaat!!”

Nyua, attached to my neck, also shouted.

---

—- Training Simulation Bulletin Board —-

Title) Isn’t this manipulated?

Sh*t, what is this? Is it a hack? How do you get 500 points?

Image:

K-Server Training Simulation Ranking – TOP 10

(2025 Q2 / As of Q2)

Rank / Reflexes / Agility / Accuracy / Evasion / Concentration / Total Score

1st Haerang 100 /100 /100 /100 /100 /500

2nd Kang Daehan_K 99 /98 /97 /99 /100 /493

3rd Unknown 97 /98 /95 /96 /98 /484

4th Keisha 96 /98 /94 /96 /97 /481

5th Unknown 95 /95 /94 /95 /95 /474

6th CUN_THEGUN 93 /92 /99 /90 /96 /470

7th Unknown 92 /91 /95 /91 /93 /462

8th MiMi_JjangTv 92 /90 /88 /95 /92 /457

9th Kim Seondu 90 /88 /85 /88 /89 /440

10th Unknown 87 /86 /88 /87 /90 /438

---

-?

-What’s that?

-Is it faked?

-Hahahahahaha sht, props for the effort, fcking worked hard to fake it.

-Kang Daehan dropped? Seriously? Hahahaha

-Now there are even hacks in virtual reality games?

-It’s fake anyway, don’t feed the troll. Just ignore.

-ㄴ Just checked, it’s real though?

(TL Note: ㄴ indicates a reply to the previous comment.)