NSE-Chapter 17

Chapter 17

By morning, the heat had grown even hotter than it had been at dawn.

Naturally.

Because even those who had slept and woken up had learned of this news.

If at dawn they had been wild only about the record being broken, now was different.

―Wow lol isn’t that the Black Heart Set? The equipment the Skeletons are wearing is better than my full setup, damn lol

―How much is it, then?

―At least 30 million per set piece. A full setup costs 200 million lol. And that’s without the weapon lolol

―Crazy;; Then 300 of them is at least 60 billion?

―Yeah; I wondered if he really would, but he actually puts that on Skeletons lol

―(Info) So far, Kim Min-woo has spent over 300 billion at the Auction House.

―……Not even 30 billion, but 300 billion?

―O_O. 30 billion is just the fee lol. Count the equipment, consumables, Elixirs, and Skill Books that sold out in one go, and it’s at least that much lol

―Do you have to go that far to be a super rookie? lolol

―Even a country wouldn’t support you that much, damn lolol

Now, how much he had spent had instead risen to an even hotter topic.

People commonly think Awakened must be rolling in money, but the reality was a bit different.

They spend as much as they earn.

To be more precise, there were many cases of spending more than they earned.

Skill Books, equipment, Elixirs, Potions, and so on.

There were quite literally places to spend money everywhere.

That was why even famous Awakened were often, in truth, flat broke. Because the structure required continuing to spend money to become stronger.

A suffocating consumption system.

Even so, there was no lunatic who spent 300 billion won at Level 1.

Except for Kim Min-woo, who had appeared like a comet today.

[(Breaking news!) Famous Overseas Scouts Storm into Korea! Is a Recruitment War About to Begin? Kim Min-woo’s Market Value Estimated at 1 Trillion Won or More!]

―Hey, damn it lol. Reporter, isn’t 1 trillion going too far?

―Didn’t you see the Skeleton Soldiers Kim Min-woo pulled out? 300 of them lol. The potential is insane lolol. Worth asking 1 trillion lol

―For real. He cut down Isabella at Level 1, so it should be at least that much lolol. The investment alone is 300 billion lol

―Yeah, he wouldn’t go even if you gave him 1 trillion anyway lolol

―For real lol. Abandon Korea, where Ilseong is, and become a black-haired foreigner? They’d have to offer 10 trillion before I’d even think about it lol

―Even so, 10 trillion seems too far lolol. But even if I were Kim Min-woo, I don’t think I’d go for 1 trillion lol. My dad’s the Chairman lol

Unlike the usual nervous watching whenever such recruitment-related articles popped up, this time they could read the articles with a relaxed smile.

They had said 10 trillion as a joke, but wouldn’t they really need to offer that much to even attempt recruiting him?

And no wonder, since Kim Min-woo’s status was so extraordinary.

―(Breaking news) Kim Min-woo opens a NewTube channel lolol

―Really?

―Yeah. Channel name is Brat lolol

―Wow, crazy. Over 400,000 subscribers within 20 minutes of opening;;

―Huh? A live broadcast notice is up. It says it’ll start once subscribers pass 2 million?

―Look at him rowing while the tide’s coming in lolol

―I’m off to subscribe too lol

500,000, 600,000, 700,000……

The subscriber count began to climb like crazy.

* * *

Row while the tide is coming in.

The saying fit perfectly.

Now, with attention at its peak.

It was the best time to open a NewTube channel.

In a mere 2 hours, he had reached 2 million subscribers.

He turned on the broadcast using his smartphone.

[Live Viewers: 512,321]

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Min-woo.”

―Wow lol is this a house? But why’s it so huge lolol

―It’s even more than the conglomerate family’s house in dramas lolol. Isn’t this the first time the house has been shown?

―Ilseong really is Ilseong…….

―So what’s today’s broadcast topic?

700,000.

900,000.

The viewer count soared frighteningly in a short time.

Soon the camera turned.

A kitchen filled with furnishings.

“Cool, right? These are kitchen furnishings put out by Ilseong. They run on Mana Stones, and the efficiency is really good.”

Cedric, standing in front of the refrigerator, opened the door and gave a thumbs-up.

―?

―??

―???

―????

―What is this? An ad?

―What the hell lolol

―What’s with that Skeleton giving a thumbs-up, damn lolol

“I have some homework to knock out too. Thank you for your understanding.”

―Ah lolol I immediately realized why the channel name is like that lolol

―Ads from the very first broadcast? Crazy, is he kidding?

―Yeah, if it bugs you, get lost, there are plenty of people to watch even without you lolol

―The chat was already stuttering from the lag anyway, so shaking out the ants is nice lolol

―A quarantine broadcast from the very start lolol

“The house is so big that there’s a lot to show you. Shall we go on an adventure together today?”

―(Translation) He’s going to advertise every piece of furniture in the house today.

―Seriously dizzying lolol

―Yeah, I’ll never get shaken out lolol. I’m watching to the end no matter what

―Big bro is so handsome hehe. I became a fan after seeing the news yesterday! His voice is nice to listen to too hehe

“Hey, Cedric. Sit over there for a moment.”

―Understood, Master.

―?

―??

―???

―????

―Did the Skeleton just talk?

―What? A ventriloquist Skeleton?

“How is it, soft?”

―It seems so.

“I told you to say it is, not that it seems so.”

―Master, a knight does not lie.

“Tsk, talking back again?”

―……Ilseong is the best. I luv you.

―What on earth am I watching? lolol

―So what the hell is that Skeleton? So what the hell is that Skeleton? This is my 50th time asking.

―Come to think of it, it looks a bit different from regular Skeletons?

―Was it summoned with the S-grade Skill? The effects aren’t just one or two.

―Seems so. Honestly, just summoning 300 was a bit bland as an effect lol

―Ah lol so S-grade summons rare Skeletons too lol

―But didn’t he just say knight? Was he a knight in a past life or something?

―A foreign-worker Skeleton lolololol

Pshh!

Min-woo opened a drink made by Ilseong, took a sip, and said while looking at the chat.

“This guy’s name is Cedric, and he’s my underling. Say hello.”

―……I am Cedric. Pleased to meet you. Humans.

From that point on, the viewer count began to increase like crazy.

Growing from 1 million to 3 million was quite literally instantaneous.

Apparently something like news had popped up in real time, but.

‘Well, good.’

With this, I’ll cram in all the ads and be done with them. Exercise equipment, the bedroom, the bathroom, the air conditioner, the Mana Stone vehicle, the computer, even Ilseong’s smartphone.

He went on introducing all kinds of products.

Since Ilseong made so many things, even the ads took some time.

“Phew. The homework’s roughly done.”

―Worth watching more than I expected? lol

―Yeah. The banter with the Skeleton makes it easy to just keep watching lolol

―I need to swap my computer soon. Maybe I’ll switch to Ilseong while I’m at it.

―I’m thinking of swapping my fridge. For appliances it’s Dorim, but…… well, Ilseong doesn’t seem bad either.

Though it was an ad, the viewers’ reactions themselves weren’t bad.

Not only was the interior of the house, revealed for the first time through this NewTube channel, so splendid.

But also the presence of Cedric, the talking Skeleton, had firmly captured the viewers’ attention.

“Before ending the broadcast, shall we have a short Q&A time? If there are too many questions, it’s hard to answer…….”

[The minimum donation chat amount has been raised to 10 million won!]

―?

―??

―???

―????

―10 million won?

―Ah lol if you have no money, just lurk lolol

―Someone will do it lolol. By now, how many people are so curious they’re going out of their minds lol

That prediction came true exactly.

[Han A-ri donated 10 million won!]

―Is Cedric one of the effects of the S-grade summoning Skill?

“Yes.”

[Toot Toot Bang Bang donated 20 million won.]

―How strong is his ability?

“This guy? He’s a bit stronger than a regular Skeleton.”

[Shanghai Chicken donated 40 million won.]

―I hear the scouts have come. If they offer 1 trillion, will you accept the offer?

“1 trillion? Why bother?”

[Gemonia donated 10 million won.]

―Do you have any thoughts of joining a Guild?

“Hmm. I can’t stand hassles.”

[Boneless Chicken donated 10 million won.]

―Do you have somewhere decided for your next F-rank Gate?

“I’m thinking about it.”

[Cho Il-han donated 20 million won.]

―With an S-grade Skill there are usually 3 effects. Summoning lots of Skeletons, summoning a talking Skeleton, so what’s the remaining one?

“Ain’t telling.”

[Shanghai Chicken donated 20 million won.]

―What do you think of Necromancers?

“Don’t do it if you have no money.”

[Shanghai Chicken donated 30 million won.]

―Does that mean it’s fine if you have money?

“If you’re curious, try it for yourself.”

Soon, Min-woo clapped his hands with a crisp clap.

“I’ll be ending the broadcast soon. The next broadcast, well…… I guess I’ll do one sometime. That’s all, then.”

When he turned off the broadcast like that.

[(Breaking news) A Talking Skeleton Appears! Will It Show the Necromancer’s New Possibilities?]

[(Breaking news) Kim Min-woo’s First Broadcast Pours Out a Bombardment of Ilseong Product Ads!]

[(Breaking news) Kim Min-woo Gives a Sharp Rebuke on Recruitment! 1 Trillion? Nowhere Near Enough!]

[(Breaking news) Kim Min-woo’s Ticket Power Is Properly Proven! Live Viewers Surpass 4 Million Even with Ads!]

.

.

Articles were already pouring out across the world.

* * *

He had said on the broadcast that he was thinking, but his next destination was already decided.

Because he had gotten a hint while smashing things all over Tomb of Osiris.

‘There was a mural painted in the hidden space.’

A painting depicting a ferocious gorilla.

Min-woo knew what it meant.

‘A boss mob.’

The E-rank Gate, the Forest of Ulpaulu.

The gorilla was the boss there.

“I’ve got a really good feeling.”

Just to find a single jewel for the necklace, the difficulty had jumped up a whole tier.

And next?

Naturally, true to a Chain Quest, the difficulty would keep climbing.

With luck, it might continue all the way up to S.

‘As for the Forest of Ulpaulu, I’ll just forge an ID and go.’

Naturally, he had no intention of entering the Gate looking like this.

E-rank Gate monsters’ Levels were roughly between 51 and 100.

The Forest of Ulpaulu’s difficulty was 90 points. With such high difficulty, the average Level was also infinitely close to 100.

Clearing it was no problem, but.

A Level 25 going alone, sweeping it all away, and coming back?

He’d receive hot love calls from assassin organizations around the world.

Because it could be called such a devilish rate of growth.

Naturally, he had thought of a method.

It was Ilseong, the king of Korea’s conglomerates.

S or A would be another matter, but creating an ID for an Awakened at the level of C or D was yawn-inducingly easy.

He just had to disguise himself appropriately to match and enter the Gate.

What would they do if it wasn’t Kim Min-woo, who had just been recognized as a super rookie, but Mr. Park Cheol-ung, a D-rank Awakened, clearing an E-rank Gate?

Solo-clearing a Gate one tier below your own rank was a common thing, so it wouldn’t look strange either.

“There’s a lot to prepare.”

With such a large Level gap, after doing a single tour of the Forest of Ulpaulu, his Level would surpass 51.

Starting with the next-stage Elixirs to consume right away.

‘I should get the next Skill Book to +9 too.’

Summon Skeleton Mage.

It was the next summoning Skill learnable at Level 51, the E-rank Awakened range.

He planned to get this one to +9 in advance before entering the Gate too.

That way, he could learn it right away upon hitting 51 while touring the forest.

It was time to release the pent-up frustration of having had only foot soldiers in tow.

And on top of that, the equipment to provide for the Skeleton Mages.

Since he was moving on to the next range, there were plenty of things to spend money on.

If there was one fortunate thing.

‘I received a lot of money.’

It was that by setting the world record, he had been able to receive Chairman Kim’s full-scale support once again.

That amount alone.

‘1 trillion won.’

In the trillions.

It was the reason he had revealed even Cedric today and gone all out on the ads.

He had to earn the money he’d received, didn’t he?