The Newsmaker

“Today's Awakener,” a NewTube channel with six million subscribers, was one of Korea's most popular channels, introducing the awakeners making the biggest headlines each day.

The unusual thing was that the NewTuber himself was an ordinary person. He made up for it with exhaustive research and polished hosting skills.

Seo Yerim, who had been invited onto the show, looked at the NewTuber, Kkammuk. They nodded at each other, and the livestream began.

“All right, let's kick off today's show with Kkammuk! We have a very special guest joining us today! Allow me to introduce an A-rank awakener, the woman known as the Sword Phoenix! Seo Yerim!”

“Hello. I'm Seo Yerim.”

—Whoa, gorgeous! Holy crap.

—I'm losing it, holy shit.

—Wow, this channel's really made it lol. Even landed the Sword Phoenix lmao.

Kkammuk smiled at the flood of donations pouring in right from the start, but only briefly before asking his next question.

“It's a pleasure to have you. If I remember correctly, wasn't your last media appearance almost a year ago?”

“Yes.”

“Even when I sent the invitation, I wondered whether we'd actually get you. I was genuinely surprised when you readily accepted.”

Yerim's hand twitched slightly. As he said, she wasn't particularly fond of media appearances. She would rather spend that time swinging her sword one more time.

The reason she had come anyway was something her grandfather had said.

Kim Minwoo's announcement that he would tackle a gate.

After seeing it, Seo Jincheol had laughed heartily and given her a meaningful look.

[“Yerim, why don't you go on a show this time?”]

[“What? Me?”]

[“Yes. It looks like the boy wants to make a bigger splash. It wouldn't hurt to lend him a hand.”]

[“I'm not sure I'd do very well...”]

[“There's nothing difficult about it. Simply showing your face will draw attention all on its own.”]

Utterly devoted to her grandfather, she hadn't been able to refuse. That was why she had agreed to appear on this channel, which had been sending her invitations by email for some time.

“Now, shall we get to today's topic? Kim Minwoo is certainly a hot topic lately! Apparently, he's about to tackle a gate.”

“Yes. I heard.”

“The F-rank gate, Tomb of Osiris! I've heard it's incredibly difficult. You've been there yourself, haven't you?”

Yerim nodded.

“Yes. I remember clearing it with a party when I was around level 40.”

“How difficult was it?”

“It's hard. If other gates of the same rank score between sixty and eighty, I'd give this one about ninety-five.”

“Ah! Just what we'd expect from the Sword Phoenix. That's exactly the difficulty rating published by the World Gate Association here. Tomb of Osiris: ninety-five out of a hundred. It really stands out among F-rank gates, doesn't it?”

“Yes.”

“Why is its difficulty rating so high?”

Recalling her experience, she said, “This gate is very straightforward.”

“Straightforward. Could you explain what you mean by that?”

“There are hardly any gimmicks like puzzles, and the route is simple. But there are just so many monsters. Their attack patterns are tricky, too. They inflict all kinds of status ailments, which you wouldn't expect in an F-rank gate.”

—Sword Phoenix is right. Hard as fuck even with a five-person party. Mobs just keep coming lol.

—Ran like hell from the midway zone. Seriously almost died lmao.

“Ah. That might actually make it feel even harder. There's no way around it.”

Yerim nodded.

“Yes. All you need to clear that gate is strength.”

“Strength! You need strength. Thank you for that insight. And Kim Minwoo said he's going to clear this solo? At just level one, no less.”

Yerim nodded.

“What went through your mind when you heard the news?”

“Is this bastard insane?”

“... Excuse me?”

“Didn't you hear me? I enunciated clearly,” Yerim said evenly.

Her grandfather had asked her to attract attention, not sing Kim Minwoo's praises. So saying this should be fine. Besides, it was how she really felt.

Clear the Tomb of Osiris at level one? And alone, without a party? That was nothing short of suicide.

—Kkammuk's freaking out lmaooo.

—Am I the only one who saw his eyes dart around just now? lol.

—He IS insane lmao. That's our Sword Phoenix! Love how she doesn't pull punches lol.

—Heard this stream was spicy, so here I am lol.

“Ah, ahem... I see. But isn't there a saying? You have to be crazy to succeed!” Kkammuk said, wiping away cold sweat.

“Still, surely his chances aren't zero? I heard Kim Minwoo bought all kinds of equipment, along with a +9 skill book...”

“Will that really make a difference?”

“So you believe he has no chance of clearing it?”

She nodded firmly.

“Yes. If he were a swordsman, I'd have thought he had a chance. His talent with a sword was real.”

“Kim Minwoo's swordsmanship talent is real. I'm curious just how talented we're talking.”

“... He's better with a sword than I am.”

—The Sword Phoenix is nothing without her pride, and SHE'S saying that? Just how good is Kim Minwoo? Holy shit.

—WTF. Guess it's true he pushed the Sword Immortal in their spar.

“... Wow. He's even better than you?”

“... Yes. He's a genuine prodigy my grandfather acknowledged, and he's in my age group.”

“Whoa... So the rumors were true. Bang, bang! It's official, everyone! Kim Minwoo's talent with a sword is the real deal!”

The chat went wild.

Then Yerim said seriously, “But it's different if he's a necromancer.”

“Aren't necromancers strong, too? If you equip your summons and enhance your skills...”

“How strong do you think a skeleton summoned at level one is?”

“Uh... I'm not sure. About as strong as me?”

“One-on-one, you'd win as long as you didn't panic, Kkammuk. That's how weak they are. And they're stupid.”

“True, I've never heard anyone call undead at that level intelligent.”

Yerim nodded and rattled off her opinion.

“Level one. He's rich, so let's assume he boosted his stats with elixirs. Factor in a +9 skill book and equipment bonuses, and he could probably summon about 150. It's essentially the same as sending 150 ordinary people like you into the gate.”

“Right. With some equipment on top of that.”

Seo Yerim nodded.

“The monsters in that gate come at you in packs of at least forty. Considering the skeletons' combat strength... they'd probably all get smashed to pieces after encountering just one pack.”

“True. Skeletons are usually just summons you use as meat shields.”

Even to him, her argument sounded quite convincing.

“But if it's only around 150, doesn't that fail to explain why Kim Minwoo bought equipment in such enormous quantities? I heard he cleaned out the auction house again, just like last time... and that the volume was staggering.”

“Maybe he stocked up because he couldn't be bothered to visit the auction house again. You know how extravagant he's always been.”

—For real lol. King of extravagance. Always on the news lmao.

—Fuck. He burns tens of billions in advance because he can't be bothered to go to the auction house? What kind of life does Kim Minwoo even lead...?

—The final boss of blowing money. Holy crap.

—(Problem) I'm jealous, though.

“Ah, that is possible. But isn't there another variable? His achievement grade.”

“Of course, his achievement could be something like S-grade, and he might have received a good skill. But Kkammuk, did you know something?”

“What would that be...?”

“Even among awakeners with S-grade achievements, no one has ever solo-cleared a gate rated ninety-five or higher at level one. Not a single person to date.”

Kkammuk already knew that. He had done his research. Yet he asked as if he were genuinely curious.

“Not just in Korea, but anywhere in the world?”

“Yes.”

“That's astonishing. So you're saying Kim Minwoo is attempting to set a world record?”

“That's right. If he succeeds.”

“Why haven't other awakeners with S-grade achievements tried it? They'd surely receive considerable backing from their organizations, and a world record would be a tempting challenge...”

Yerim gave a cold smile.

“Simple. They'd be digging their own graves.”

“Digging their own graves?”

“Yes. An S-grade skill doesn't make you invincible, does it? Besides, mana is a finite resource. You can't keep chugging potions forever, either.”

“True. Drinking potions too often can cause overload or addiction. Attempting it solo at level one does sound extremely dangerous.”

After a brief pause, Kkammuk continued.

“Still, if he proceeds very slowly, couldn't he make it to the midway zone? Once he's there, he can at least escape...”

“... We can only hope,” she answered quietly.

Her impression of Kim Minwoo leaned more toward dislike than fondness, but that didn't mean she wanted him dead.

She had merely wanted to pluck out those pervy eyes of his.

“Thank you so much for your insights, Yerim! Today's stream is really taking off. For the first time, we've passed a million concurrent viewers! Ah, is this the Sword Phoenix's drawing power?”

“... It's just because you're such a good host.”

They took a breather, exchanging a few flattering remarks.

A little later...

“Ah, apparently Kim Minwoo's gate entry time has drawn near while we've been talking. All three broadcasters will be covering it live, and we'll be watching along. I really hope he comes back alive.”

“So do I.”

“By the way...”

“Yes?”

“What if—and this is a big what-if—Kim Minwoo not only clears it, but also fulfills his promise to set the fastest clear time? What would happen then?”

“... If he did?”

“Yes. Aren't you curious? Let's imagine how it would play out.”

“Hmm...”

It would never happen. But if that one-in-a-thousand—no, one-in-ten-thousand chance really came to pass...

Seo Yerim chuckled and answered, “Japan would be jealous, China would be envious, and the world would be stunned.”

“... Sorry?”

“The nationalist hype channels would have a field day.”

—Our Sword Phoenix does some lurking online lmaoooo.

—Spat out my beer, fuck lmao. That came out of nowhere lol.

—But if he really pulls it off, she's right lol. You think a world record's a joke? lmao.

—Ahh, barkeep! Pour me a big bowl of national pride!

Just then...

The TV beside them switched on, and a broadcast came through.

“This is Seo Jinyeong with SKS News. I'm here at the F-rank gate, Tomb of Osiris. Over there is Kim Minwoo...”

* * *

The checkpoint outside the gate, permanently staffed by soldiers and awakeners, was swarming with reporters.

“Kim Minwoo! There's Kim Minwoo!”

“Mr. Kim! A few words before you enter the gate, please!”

“Mr. Kim! Last time, you shared your status window but only revealed your level and class! Do you have any plans to reveal your achievement grade, titles, or stats?”

Would you, in my shoes?

I had no intention of answering every single question. I entered the checkpoint and received an entry permit from the soldiers, then looked at the gate in the distance.

[Gate: Tomb of Osiris]

[Rank: F]

I turned to the reporters one last time and spoke.

“I made a promise, didn't I? That I'd set a world record.”

“As I understand it, the current record belongs to Isabella, the French S-rank awakener, who solo-cleared a gate of similar difficulty at level 49! Even with her nation's full support, it took her two whole days! Are you saying you're confident you can finish faster?!”

Two days to clear a gate at this level?

It was obvious. She must have drunk one potion every few hours and inched her way forward.

Kim Minwoo pointed at the reporters' cameras.

“Really? I'll be back before those cameras of yours cool down.”

He had turned away from the reporters and was about to head into the gate when someone called out.

“Mr. Kim! Just a moment ago, the Sword Phoenix, Seo Yerim, stated on a broadcast that clearing this gate would be absolutely impossible!”

He stopped dead in his tracks.

The reporter's eyes lit up at the sight, and he immediately fired off another question.

“She said your swordsmanship was decent, but you'd be lucky just to make it back alive from the midway zone! Do you have any comment?”

“Seo Yerim? Oh, that swordsmanship scrub?”

“... Sorry? But she's known as the Sword Phoenix...”

“Sword Phoenix? Hmm... Is she really all that?”

A moment later, his body was sucked straight into the gate.

[(Breaking!) Kim Minwoo Calls Seo Yerim a Swordsmanship Scrub?]

[(Breaking!) Kim Minwoo on the Sword Phoenix: “Hmm... Is She Really All That?”]

[(Breaking!) Sword Phoenix's Livestream Suspended After Foul-Mouthed Outburst: “That Son of a B****!”...]