Chapter 4: War training

As soon as Seo-jun stepped out of his house, he was greeted by dazzlingly bright electronic billboards and high-rise buildings soaring into the sky.

Seo-jun looked around with curious eyes, then slowly began to walk towards where many people were moving about.

Looking at it this way, it seemed there was a good reason his rent was so expensive.

He had wondered why a cramped studio apartment in Container Mountain cost two million credits a month, but if it was due to the house’s location, it was quite understandable.

‘Since my home is in the middle of the city, I won’t have to worry about getting caught up in unnecessary accidents! The high rent is a flaw, but at least it’s not in the outskirts, right?’

Seo-jun nodded with a satisfied expression.

The city he was staying in was ‘Megacity,’ where the main story of 『Stadt 2082』 unfolded.

Megacity, like other cities, was safer towards the central sector and extremely dangerous towards the outer sectors.

This meant that Seo-jun was currently in a relatively very safe location.

‘Of course, in the late stages of the game, both the central and outer areas become a complete mess…! Well, I don’t need to worry about that yet.’

Seo-jun shrugged his shoulders, then began to observe the passing citizens again.

As expected of a cyberpunk world, the citizens’ appearances were incredibly unique.

There were modified humans with gold-plated arms, enhanced humans with springs attached to their legs, and even prostitutes in tight, fluorescent clothes soliciting passersby…!

Looking at it this way, ‘pure humans’ like Seo-jun didn’t seem to be very common.

Perhaps in this world, ‘pure humans’ like Seo-jun were the most unique people of all.

“…Oh my! Handsome oppa! Just a moment!”

It was then, as Seo-jun was walking and looking around.

Suddenly, one of the women in fluorescent tights spotted Seo-jun and approached him closely, making Seo-jun feel a surge of tension.

Though his body had changed, his ‘loner instinct’ remained.

If a curvy woman suddenly approached him so familiarly, it was natural for him to feel intimidated.

“Wow! You’re truly handsome! Are you a celebrity?”

“Hmm…”

“No, wait, are you a model? Your walk was exactly like a model’s! Ah! Can I take a picture with you?”

The woman asked Seo-jun with sparkling eyes.

Seo-jun pondered for a moment, then raised his hand as if to chop.

“Photo. Difficult.”

After saying that, Seo-jun walked past the woman again.

He was a man too.

The attention of a beautiful woman was naturally pleasing.

However, now was not the time to dally with a woman.

He hadn’t fully adapted to this world yet.

Things like forming relationships with women would be best done when he was in a more stable position.

“…You’re so mean!”

As Seo-jun walked past her, the woman pouted and shouted after him.

“…See you later!”

However, she soon shouted out energetically.

Could it be that even anger doesn’t properly form towards a handsome man?

Despite Seo-jun’s cold attitude, the woman didn’t seem particularly angry.

Seo-jun thought that was fortunate and quickened his pace.

It seemed best to just buy some food and go straight home.

His game addict instinct was refusing to let him wander outside any longer.

“…Artificial Chicken Specialty Restaurant?”

Some time later, Seo-jun finally found a shop.

The word ‘artificial’ was a bit off-putting, but the smell of chicken broth wafting into his nose felt quite good.

Seo-jun entered the shop without delay.

“Welcome!”

“Hmm… one bowl of chicken gomtang, special size.”

“Yes! Customer!”

The burly owner brightly replied to Seo-jun’s brief order.

The chest hair peeking out from between his shirt was quite eye-catching, but Seo-jun tried to ignore it and sat down.

‘The interior is cleaner than I thought.

If the taste is good here, I might become a regular?’

Seo-jun rubbed his hands together in anticipation of the gomtang.

Fortunately or unfortunately, he seemed to be the only customer inside the shop.

Then, suddenly, Seo-jun’s gaze fell upon a holographic display in a corner of the shop.

‘Ten million credits a day, you too can become a NetTuber…?’

Seo-jun felt interested and began to examine the holographic display in detail.

A NetTuber, in modern terms, could be considered a streamer or a YouTuber.

They were people who earned money from viewers through internet broadcasts.

‘Ten million credits a day…! If I could earn that much, it certainly wouldn’t be a bad profession…!’

Seo-jun slowly stroked his chin.

In truth, selling information through the Deepnet was not something he could do for long.

The information he possessed was limited.

Thus, Seo-jun currently needed a way to earn long-term income.

Without a long-term, stable source of income, he would soon be unable to pay rent and be kicked out of his home.

‘Of course, if it really doesn’t work out, I could just become a bounty hunter.

But that’s only for one or two times; how could I make that kind of work my profession?’

Even though Seo-jun possessed a body superior to anyone else, he had no intention of making bounty hunting his primary occupation.

Not only was it difficult, but becoming a bounty hunter meant living a life of making countless enemies.

Seo-jun didn’t particularly want to live such a tiring life.

“…Gomtang is here, customer!”

A moment later, when the owner brought the gomtang, Seo-jun picked up his spoon and tasted the broth.

Fortunately, the taste of the food was similar to the gomtang commonly found in modern times.

After tasting the food a few times, Seo-jun soon felt his stomach full.

It seemed his stomach was already full due to his ‘Small Eater’ trait…!

‘This damn…! I ordered the special for nothing!’

Seo-jun burst out in frustration.

Who knew the ‘Small Eater’ trait would trick me like this!

He irritably put down his spoon, then continued the thoughts he had been having just moments before.

Could he really earn a lot of money by becoming a NetTuber?

Even if not ten million a day, it would be great if he could earn about one million credits…!

‘Hmm… my face would definitely work on broadcast.

Otherwise, why would that prostitute in fluorescent clothes have approached me just now?’

His face, at least, could be considered passing grade.

But this alone wasn’t enough.

To become a NetTuber and earn a lot of money, he needed more outstanding content.

‘Outstanding content…! Wait a minute?

Why didn’t I think of this?’

But it was after he had been pondering for quite some time.

Suddenly, he remembered something.

The most popular game in the world of 『Stadt 2082』 was none other than 『War Training』.

This game synchronized the player’s five senses and body, giving the player the sensation of fighting in a real situation.

There were 100 stages, and the difficulty of each one was absolutely extreme…!

Because of this, many people played 『War Training』, but at this point, not many people broadcasted it.

Making people laugh by dying to enemies was fun for one or two times, but if it continued for a long time, who would like that broadcast?

However, if Seo-jun were to broadcast himself playing this game, he would surely gain great popularity.

That was because Seo-jun was currently a munchkin himself, possessing seven traits.

‘The traits I possess are Super Strength (SS) and Perfect Aim (S), Iron Skin (A) and Fast Recovery (A), Small Eater (C) and Grace (D), and Crappy Fishing Enthusiast (E).

If I use these traits to show off a dazzling and unique playstyle, I’ll definitely be able to earn an enormous amount of money!’

Seo-jun felt his heart pound and immediately stood up from his seat.

Strike while the iron is hot, he thought.

He planned to go straight home and thoroughly research 『War Training』 and how to become a NetTuber.

The sooner he started such a thing, the better.

‘Normally, I’ll broadcast games as a NetTuber, and occasionally sell information on the Deepnet! Then I’ll get rich quickly! Hehehe!’

Seo-jun chuckled to himself.

He felt the owner glance at him with a strange expression, but Seo-jun didn’t care.

Afterward, Seo-jun, with his resolve fully hardened, headed straight home.

Needless to say, he had the remaining gomtang packed up.

That amount would be enough to last him at least three days.