Chapter 256: A Vlog Day in Europe (3)

While everyone was focused on the promotional video, Jinhyuk approached Alice, who was sulking in a corner.

It was unclear what was bothering her, but Alice was constantly muttering to herself.

“Chit… I’m also… here…”

“Alice.”

“What?”

Alice responded with a still sulky expression.

“I have a favor to ask of you.”

“A favor? To me?”

At the mention of a favor, Alice’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Yeah. We’re going to do a live broadcast. We’ll chat, complete missions, and viewers will donate coins to support us. We’re really tight on funds right now, so go earn some coins.”

Chillingly, the atmosphere shifted. Jinhyuk had anticipated such a reaction.

“Are you suggesting that a noble of the night, such as myself, should perform tricks for these trivial humans?”

Alice scoffed with a face full of incredulity.

“Hmm. No choice then. I’ll have to ask Ms. Teresa.”

“What?”

“It seems softer and more approachable to the viewers. Actually, this turned out better.”

A saint with a pure and warm smile.

If she did something like life counseling content, she would monopolize the viewers’ interest.

“Life is so hard these days. I can’t see the future, and every day feels overwhelming.”

“Tell me everything. I can only listen, but I will hear you out to the end.”

Ugh.

It felt as if my cold heart was beating again.

As if angels were trumpeting above my head, scattering pollen.

No wonder the saint who saved Amsterdam was popular with everyone.

“Eeek! I’ll do it. Just get it over with! I can’t lose to that blonde idiot.”

Alice stood in front of the broadcast system.

“I only see a blue screen, how does this work?”

“Just wait a moment. I’ve posted a notice, so people will start joining soon.”

[Kang Jinhyuk’s Outdoor Broadcast #Healing #Counseling #Deepwater_Corporation #Whatever_You_Ask!]

The notice had been posted a few minutes earlier.

It was quite unsettling since it was his first notice since quitting as a BJ.

Back then, he was lucky if twenty people saw it…

But what about now?

-Conan: The advance party departs.

As soon as he finished speaking, the first viewer joined.

Immediately after, hundreds of viewers swarmed in to watch Jinhyuk’s live broadcast.

[Conan has left the broadcast.]

-Moon: Conan again?

-US: He always enters first then leaves the broadcast. I didn’t expect it even here.

-als: I came because Jinhyuk said he was doing a live broadcast, but why is it still loading? This isn’t a clickbait, right? The screen is dark, and I can only see the chat, it’s frustrating.

-AZXCY: Checked the broadcast station account and it’s the same person. Wow. But really, when was the last live broadcast? What’s the occasion?

-Jung Geunwon: Just thinking about seeing Jinhyuk’s face makes my heart grand.

The viewers, accustomed only to edited videos, could hardly believe the live broadcast.

The chat sped up with anticipation.

What kind of amazing raid would be shown?

How many splendid treasures and artifacts would be revealed?

Or perhaps, were they about to explore an unseen labyrinth or ruins?

That was insanely curious.

After a few minutes:

[Number of viewers connected: 175,880]

A sufficient number of viewers had gathered.

Finally, the darkened screen lit up.

It revealed a haughty vampire with snow-white hair down to her waist.

It was Alice.

Her crimson pupils were full of discontent, but even that expression was shocking to the viewers.

The mysterious ranker they had only seen in edited videos.

Though she had shown many exploits, only her name, Alice, was known; her true identity had remained a mystery until now.

The disappointment of not seeing Jinhyuk quickly vanished.

Viewers began spamming the chat as soon as they saw Alice.

-YeopddukCraving: Where did Jinhyuk go, and who is this… huh? Wait a minute, I’ve seen this face somewhere?

-GiantDumpling: Gasp! It’s Alice! It’s really Alice.

-tmd: Wow MC. What’s happening? It’s shocking enough that Jinhyuk started a live broadcast, but the guest he invited is insane.

-hi: Elha Elha. It means hello Alice.

-rub: Sister! I’m dying!

-Today’sWendy: At this rate, I might as well throw all my coins at her. Should I give her all the coins I saved from goblin hunting?

-(dark): Alice is my future wife!

-CatOwnerDreams: I admit it this time.

The chat was exploding at an incredible rate.

“This, this… human? Why is everyone so glad to see me?”

“Don’t look at me. Look at the viewers. Don’t look this way, you fool!”

“Uh? Okay, I get it. Forward. Forward is where the eyes are directed. I am looking forward now.”

“Read the chat as much as you can and accept any missions they set.”

“Ah, got it. Just wait a moment.”

Alice opened her eyes wide as she read the chat.

“Ugh…”

She couldn’t read all the comments due to their speed, but she could identify a few of the coin-laden missions.

moo: It’s so cute when you’re flustered. I’ll shoot 2,000 coins if you wear cat ears.

lmg: And I’ll add 1,000 coins.

Doldduni: Yep, make it double.

Kim Kibeom: Play an idol song and dance for 3 minutes. 1,000 coins per minute, deal?

thelode1: I’d really like a cringy morning call. I’ll record it and listen every morning. Willingly investing 4,000 coins.

(isio): You look like you’d like mint chocolate. Eat a family-sized pack alone, and I’ll shoot 5,000 coins.

antimony51: Coins are up for grabs, open wide!

“Don’t be ridiculous! How dare you suggest that I, a noble of the night and the absolute ruler of the tower, would sell my dignity for a few measly coins? I swear on the name of Ataraxia. Not even over my dead body!”

Alice backed away with a pale face, as if she would rather have a knife at her throat than comply.

Of course.

“I accept them all.”

Jinhyuk wasn’t one to refuse a job with coins at stake.

“Hey. I’m the one doing this. Why are you accepting on your own?”

“Do it.”

“But…”

“Do it.”

In the end, Alice had to forcibly complete all the missions given by the viewers.

Hmm.

Cat ears and dancing were one thing, but a morning call and mint chocolate seemed a bit harsh.

However, those cosplays did suit her quite well, and the viewers’ reactions were historically good.

“You did well. I might not know about others, but I really think it suited you. I only thought you had a haughty side, but you have a cute side too.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Alice’s eyes sparkled brightly.

It seemed like her earlier gloominess was a lie.

That’s when it happened.

“Hmm.”

With a strange sound, a new figure approached Jinhyuk.

It was Teresa.

But.

Teresa looked different than usual.

Her makeup was heavy, and her clothes were quite revealing.

Above all, the atmosphere she exuded was quite unusual.

‘This feeling… could it be?’

Jinhyuk’s eyes narrowed.

Definitely.

It was Teresa when she used corruption to change her personality.

“The naive guy was too timid, so I stepped in, but the real party is focused elsewhere?”

A seductive voice invaded his ears.

“Te-Teresa?”

Gulping.

Jinhyuk swallowed dryly.

-kkogio: Wow. This lady is fiery.

-Simyeonui Heukyeomryong: Haha. I never took my eyes off her.

-CookieTaste: Going all-in on saint coins.

-Yul: 22222.

-Ganada: 33333

-MischiefMischief: JinhyukS2Teresa

“What, were you broadcasting?”

Teresa’s gaze shifted between the status window and the chat.

“Hmm. 100,000 coins. Not bad. But it’s a pity. If you had asked me, I could have earned ten times more.”

Teresa caressed Jinhyuk’s cheek with her fingertips.

“Kid? Did you say kid?”

“Oh dear. Was that too impolite? But isn’t it obvious to anyone?”

“I’m… I’m torn apart. I’ll tear you to pieces!”

Suddenly, with Teresa’s intrusion, the live broadcast turned into a battlefield.

-Simyeonui Heukyeomryong: LOL. This place is a hit.

-Anz: Ah, peace as usual at Deepwater Corporation.

-Sla: Betting 6,000 coins on Alice’s victory.

-Jung Yunhee: 7,000 on Teresa’s victory!

-Seo Seunghee: Meanwhile, Jinhyuk isn’t even trying to stop them. Look at him, writing down the betting amounts separately?

Boom!

With a burst of red rain and explosions, Alice, with her unique holy chant, and Teresa, clad in black armor, looked like the ultimate demon lord and a cursed hero.

The carefully prepared food turned to ash, which was rather regrettable…

However.

‘…It’s rather exciting.’

Jinhyuk was smiling.

Because the coins earned from this live broadcast were over 400,000.

And the promotional video produced by Deepwater Corporation was bound to earn even more.

He couldn’t help but smile.

＊＊＊

A week of eventful vacation had ended.

Despite various incidents, it was not a bad vacation in retrospect.

Everyone had a chance to bond closely while laughing and chatting.

That had deepened their relationships.

The most challenging part was probably refusing Dustin, Teresa’s father, who was trying to push for an engagement ceremony.

Afterward, the group dispersed.

Chun Yoosung headed to the labyrinth on the 15th floor’s outskirts to acquire skills available only to dedicated practitioners, and Teresa also went to assist him.

Andria returned to the floor he managed, having left the mental ward unattended for too long.

Goguma and the spirits also needed a few days of rest, having overused their mana.

And now.

Jinhyuk had arrived at one of the most notorious places on the 15th floor.

The ruins where the Witch of Lamentation resided.

Situated about 1km from the entrance of the ruins, Jinhyuk slowly surveyed his surroundings.

‘It’s really been a long time since I’ve been here.’

The sentiment felt quite fresh.

It seemed like only yesterday he was wandering a labyrinth with a minotaur when the Tower of Trials first became a reality.

Now he had reached the 15th floor.

Of course, there was still a long way to go, but the fact that he was steadily conquering the floors was very encouraging.

That’s when it happened.

“Brother. I’ve bought everything you asked for.”

“Food, sleeping bags… even the basic weapons and scraps from the forge. I’ve bought everything.”

Lee Taemin and Yoo Yeonhwa approached.

The place inhabited by the Witch of Lamentation was so vast that there was a lot to prepare.

“You’ve worked hard. If everything’s ready, let’s head in.”

“Ah. But brother…”

Lee Taemin seemed hesitant to speak.

“What is it? What’s the matter?”

Jinhyuk prompted, and this time Yoo Yeonhwa added,

“It seems the competition inside the ruins will be quite fierce.”

“Fierce? What do you mean?”

“The other guild guys have already set up camp there. And it’s not just one, but it seems like more than three have joined forces. I saw a few familiar faces.”

That was unexpected.

The rest of the players weren’t supposed to have the specs to climb up to the 15th floor yet?

Before coming here, Jinhyuk had checked the Tower of Trials community and the top-ranked videos on VTube, but nothing special had caught his eye.

Even the major guilds were only tackling B-grade dungeons on the 13th and 14th floors.

That meant…

‘They’re either recklessly challenging it.’

Or.

‘They’ve got a [reason] that makes them think they can take on this place with their current power.’

It was one or the other.

Either way, an interesting variable had emerged.

There was going to be a competition for the Witch of Lamentation.

Of course, how to use this variable depended entirely on one thing.

“So which guilds are these?”

Jinhyuk opened the conversation.