A Swordsman's Stream

Chapter 111

In co-op games, progressing typically required the collaboration of two or more users.

It was different from general team games, where even if one person did poorly or left, others could cover up the gaps, albeit with some difficulty.

But co-op games?

Filling in gaps was systematically challenging.

There were exceptions, of course, but that was not the case here since the tutorial intended to teach about future cooperation.

How could a tutorial teach basic collaboration if it allowed solo play?

“Why is the tutorial so difficult?”

Sojun remarked as he watched the compacting robot strike the base of the trash pile.

BOOM!

BOOM!

“Isn’t it that they added the ‘nightmare’ level difficulty for a reason? Can you carry us?”

“Possible.”

“Wow, that’s reassuring!”

“Be careful ahead. If you die, it’s over.”

Mission funds had nearly reached a million won. Even after splitting it with Kim Taewoo, 500 thousand won was a significant amount.

Although it seemed small compared to the massive winnings from his recent battle victory, which earned him a huge sum in a day, the Battlefield reward was equivalent to three weeks’ wage for 21 days, whereas this earning was hourly.

The amount was rising in real-time as well.

“I’ll go down first to check the pattern and how to break it. You wait here.”

“Got it!”

– Taewoo, let’s just play as usual, haha.
– Honestly, if we play as usual, the mission will fail right away, haha.
– I believe in the Streamer-nim. We’ll do really well. But I also trust the other team. Please troll!
– To be honest, it’s not at a beginner level, but I’m not some genius who beats Soul-type games instantly, right?

Swish.

Sojun slid down like Taewoo was skiing. He then prepared to jump while measuring the rope’s length he had seen earlier.

As expected, the compact robot quickly raised its arm and tried to trap Sojun inside.

With the impact, the ground beneath him shook, nearly causing the person standing above to lose balance.

Sojun leaped into the air first.

BOOM!

Though the compact robot slammed its arm down and began sweeping up the trash, Sojun had already evaded into the air.

However, he couldn’t remain airborne indefinitely. As he was about to clash with the inward-drawing scraper and the ground, Sojun sent the rope flying around the robot’s right shoulder while kicking in midair.

Slipping through the air, Sojun avoided the scraper and landed safely, dragging against the ground. In his hand was the tightly wound rope.

The hook latched on.

“The game adjustment is nice,” he mused.

Though he threw it roughly, the hook gripped the target smoothly. It would have landed even without adjustments, but the boost helped.

“Phew.”

Abruptly, strength surged into his arms, as the robot began pulling, aiming to dislodge the hook from its shoulder.

Thus began the tug-of-war between Sojun and the robot.

“You’re as strong as heavy machinery. That’s impressive raw strength,” he commented.

A tense equilibrium of force was established.

– It really is raw power, haha.
– It’s half the size of this trash hill, and he’s going head to head with it.
– He must be the GOAT at arm wrestling on Earth.

In reality, nobody would find it conceivable, but in the game, it was all part of the fun. Time trickled by as his feet burrowed into the floor of trash.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

『On my own, holding on is the limit!』

Then the narration echoed, and the robot abruptly released the tensioned line, which had been like a taut cable, and charged at Sojun.

Was three seconds the limit? If it had been someone else, they might have toppled due to the sudden shift in balance.

However, Sojun, not letting his guard down during battle, also let go of his grip as the robot relaxed its pull, thus avoiding any crisis.

The robot attempted to encompass and sweep Sojun with its scraper, but he gracefully leaped, flinging the hook again.

CLANK.

– Ah.
– Seeing it once, it’s much easier now.
– The first time, they didn’t get caught, so would the same attack work?
– Right, haha.

He waited again.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

BANG!

‘I see, it seems we might need another one for this time.’

He resorted to repeating the process several times, deciding it was time to move onto the next phase, expecting Taewoo’s involvement.

“Seems like it’s safe to come down?”

With the pattern having just one type, he should have mastered it by now, right?

“Trust me. I’ve mastered it.”

“Alright.”

As Taewoo confidently descended, Sojun again dodged the incoming attack.

Sojun trusted Taewoo. And it had another meaning.

“He must not mess up.”

I believe!

That you will not mess up!

Of course, he didn’t say this out loud. Lest he provoke him into throwing himself suicidally out of spite.

This, too, he believed Taewoo would do.

He trusted Taewoo’s instincts to discard the mission and the million won reward to spite Sojun if given a pretext.

That’s the nature of friendship.

Whoosh.

Landing, Sojun tugged on the rope.

“Throw!”

“Got it!”

Taewoo, who was sliding down, threw the hook to the left shoulder. The hook extended, precisely wrapping around.

“Oh, so this is how it feels. But what now?”

– Does the 3-second rule apply to this too?
– 3-second rule haha, doesn’t that mean picking up food from the floor within 3 seconds makes it safe?
– I meant about basketball, though?
– Mind the 3-second rule for safe driving!
– Everyone’s talking nonsense. Isn’t this about how a senior lets a junior take 3 seconds of glory?

While dumbfounded by the chat’s diverse commentary, Sojun snapped back to attention.

Though it had well surpassed three seconds, the enemy wasn’t reacting.

“Hey. Should we pull?”

Observing the situation, Sojun asked Taewoo, who was ready to dodge if things went south.

“Pull towards where?”

“Into this trash heap?”

It seemed like something they might have mentioned in the game.

– So, you’re suggesting to bury it? Damn.
– Streamer-nim’s true nature is showing!
– To bury it in the hillside, indeed. Fellow streamers, be cautious.

“Let’s just do it.”

“Okay.”

Sojun pulled on the rope with all his might. When he had been alone, it was tense even then. Now, pulling together, it couldn’t possibly remain unmoved.

Instinctively, Sojun and Taewoo spread apart to the sides, yanking on the rope. They didn’t forget to use the powerful force from their jumps either.

By doing so, they could ram the robot into the hill they stood on.

The robot, being dragged towards them,

(＞△＜)

Wore such an expression as it was shoved into the trash hill with a thunderous crash.

Trash soared in all directions, and above the screen appeared three hearts, presumably the robot’s health. One heart lost its red hue and turned empty.

“Bingo. Nice one, Sojun.”

“This seems to be the way.”

– Found the way.
– If they keep doing this, will they lose more hearts?
– It seems like an easy strategy after all.
– I still trust in Taewoo.

『Nice!』
『Wait, it’s not dead yet.』

As narrated, the robot slowly extricated itself after trembling from the impact.

The once white foe seemed flushed red, fiercer than before.

Rattle.

Trash adorned the robot’s head, shoulders, and all surfaces, dribbling off with each movement.

(@ @)

The robot, temporarily dazed, shook its head clear.

(＼ ／)

Then, it swiftly rolled away towards Taewoo, who was stationed at the opposite end from Sojun.

Facing the approaching robot, Taewoo exclaimed.

“Why me again?”

– Haha, did you make it an enemy?
– What’s the criteria here? Did it get irritated because Taewoo greeted it earlier?
– It’s a battle power detector. That’s why it’s avoiding the Streamer-nim, no?

Perhaps it was because Taewoo was simply closer.

Sojun glimpsed at Taewoo’s streaming chat.

– You’re just ugly, hang tough.
– Just dodge well if you’re peeved.
– Show us a thing!
– Let’s go for a challenge.
– Taewoo, stop spoon-feeding and eat up yourself!

They were goading him on.

Everyone thought it was a secured asset, adding to the mission funds, yet they looked edgy.

This was why you shouldn’t make promises unless certain.

Sojun recalled when he had placed bets during his initial Battlefield foray—a gamble that made his heart race.

Even that, he embarked with almost certainty yet still felt the pressure of risk.

“No, it’s not that I can’t do it! I’ll show you.”

Alright.

As Sojun made his way toward Taewoo and the robot, the robot moved closer, raising its arm high. It happened because Taewoo hadn’t jumped up in anticipation.

Yet, Sojun wasn’t overly concerned.

Taewoo likely refrained from rising since Sojun was there.

He should be able to dodge up to this point.

“Oh.”

Taewoo jumped into the air like Sojun, pushing off the ground with his foot to evade. Simultaneously, he threw the hook.

– ?
– Succeeding on the first try.
– Have we underestimated Taewoo? Haha.
– Damn!

But Sojun didn’t slow his approach towards Taewoo.

“Come quickly and latch it!”

Not because they needed cooperation to shave another health point.

The rope’s tautness abruptly slackened.

Three seconds?

No.

Not even one second, when the balance of power was disrupted.

The problem was the ground supporting Taewoo.

Soft and slippery, succumbing easily from force or double-footed jumping, it was a floor of pure trash.

An unfit land for agriculture or prosperity, just a patchwork of discarded waste.

If not constantly mindful, one could easily slip, like Taewoo now, causing the rope tension to weaken, allowing the robot to exploit the opening and pounce immediately.

Unprepared for the sudden shift, Taewoo missed his timing to leap.

Trapped, he could only watch as the giant scraper passed menacingly above his head.

Whoosh.

At that moment.

Sojun, having reached Taewoo’s rear, seized Taewoo by the nape and yanked him away.

Taewoo fell backward, landing on his buttocks.

BOOM.

The scraper crashed down, missing Taewoo by a mere inch.

– Wow! This is it!
– Whoa…
– Hey, no cheating! Haha.
– That super save was cool.”

A precisely calculated range.

“Wow. I trusted you!”

“Me too.”

“Huh?”

“I trusted you too.”

Upholding his belief unbetrayed, Sojun swept back his hair with a refreshing smile.

As expected, Taewoo had messed up.

Although it had come close to being dicey, it was ultimately salvaged.

He felt faithful.

“Why… do I feel bad about this?”

“Shut up and get ready to hook that rope.”

Moving forward, Sojun left Taewoo behind, swiftly approaching. Evading attacks, he leaped over the robot, hooking a latch over its shoulder in passing.

The robot spun 90 degrees from the force.

Taewoo easily threw the hook at the now unprotected shoulder.

“It’s hit! Nice!”

– Looking so happy.
– Feeling good after getting carried.
– They’re really handing everything over. Haha.
– Damnit, it was a risky asset after all.

They again applied force, jamming the robot into nearby trash piles.

* * *

CRASH!

The red of the third heart faded to gray.

Narration flowed out.

Taewoo’s character, Art, spoke.

『Did we defeat it?』
『Hey, damn.』
『What?』
『Because of you, it’s moving again.』

As per the commentary, the toy embedded in the trash trembled and then slowly reversed out of the hill.

With a tinge of pity, Sojun eyed the sight.

The reversing movement was pitiful, and its appearance could hardly be described as good, even flatteringly.

The toy, visibly broken here and there, was damaged to the point of evoking concern even for an enemy.

Furthermore.

Maybe the toy sensed something, for it moved its arms cautiously.

Yet it seemed more caution was necessary.

Crack.

The long blade protruding in the front snapped in two.

It might just be a figment of his imagination, but did the toy look despondent?

– That’s pathetic, haha.
– Is this the start of phase 2? Haha.
– Oh, the scraper turned into dual blades, haha.

『Agh, it’s so tough.』
『Right. Oh? Look there, what’s that door opening suddenly?』

Following the narrative, Sojun turned his gaze toward the opening door.

Creeeak.

With a resonant sound of something enormous moving, the giant door on the opposite side of the entrance from where the robot arrived opened upward.

Whooosh!

And beyond the door, something special flickered.

Something fiery red and hot even to look at.

Fire.

Sojun shrugged his shoulders, seemingly anticipating why it had opened.

“It’s an incinerator.”

Taewoo remarked.

“That’s a bit.”

『Should we put that guy in there?』
『Let’s do it right now!』

– Oh no…
– Sorry, bad toy. Haha.
– The one who attacked first was it, but why do I feel sorry? Haha.
– This is self-defense!
– Undoubtedly, the humans are the bad guys here, haha.