A Swordsman's Stream

Chapter 134

Previously, there had been discussions about Sojun’s Synchronization Rate. Occasionally, such questions had appeared in the chat.

However, Sojun had simply ignored those remarks, finding them insignificant and moving on.

While a higher Synchronization Rate was preferable, it was generally accepted that a low rate did not really stand out, nor could it be an absolute indicator of gaming skill.

That was the ‘general’ consensus.

In any case, most people did not feel the need to reveal their Synchronization Rates, nor did others frequently inquire about them.

It was simply assumed that those exceptionally good at the game likely had a high rate.

Moreover, in Sojun’s case, most of the gameplay shown up to that point involved physical movements.

Did having a high Synchronization Rate enhance swordsmanship skills?

Of course not.

The play came from the inherent skills of the gamer, not from a playstyle that suggested good brain connections.

Even amidst such perceptions, the reason the topic had become quite the buzz was simple.

Eric, as a hero who used skills through reminiscence, and the significant attention Sojun was receiving contributed to this.

『Synchronization Rate Believers tsk tsk』

==

You just need to look at the skill. Why are you curious about the Synchronization Rate of someone good at it?

What’s going to change if you know?

It’s not even your rate. Why bother seeing how high it is?

==

Comments like these started to appear.

『Anyone really curious about the Synchronization Rate?』

==

I get it’s meaningless, but if you’re super curious about how high it is, upvote, lol.

==

Such posts began to surface.

Some people wanted a common criterion to judge skills.

Others sought comparisons.

Eventually, people, being social creatures, found it advantageous for survival to understand the relative positioning of others, leading to interest in such areas.

As a result, inquiries about Synchronization Rates received significant responses.

Naturally, people’s curiosity did not stop at the Synchronization Rate.

Those who had known about it during the Kael phase but had quickly lost interest, as well as newcomers, began trying to learn more about Sojun in earnest.

In doing so, they followed the process that the existing viewers had navigated.

『This guy is nuts? lol Every single path he walked was a standout.』
『18, is that really a top Korean university?』
『18, is that his real face?』
『Punks like this shouldn’t be allowed to be good at games! lol』
『Serious jerk… Makes one feel deprived』
『What’s certain is Eric seems at least challenger-grade now.』

People naturally started associating them with LoS.

『Will that streamer appear in LoS?』
『Existing viewers say it looks like they’re planning for LoS according to how they act.』
『Considering the Battlefield, they’re really skilled at finding shortcuts, lol.』
『If they appear, their rating is probably at least a.』

==

There’s no chance the operations team would drop Sojun.

If it were B, it could be a huge fiasco, lol.

==

-Right lol
-Challenger who talks smack, B? I’D invest all my points in full buy, lol.
-It’s a bit ambiguous.
└Didn’t you see Spoon’s talking smack?

『Why Jin Sojun being a might be an ambiguous asset』

==

If it’s B, going all-in and buying is the right choice. So, there’s no disagreement about A.

But will the auction price be high even at A?

1. First, Spoon is an ADC user. There’s a clear difference between mid and ADC.

2. Spoon got ganked but seeing the current fight, if they had known from the beginning, they would have been more careful.

3. What Eric showed was insane predictive shots. It seems like a skill beyond Challenger. But? If banned, that’s it. It’s normal to use ban cards against a targets, and it seems hard for Eric to appear.

4. Same goes for Kael. I think it will just get nerfed.

5. Genius in gaming physicality. But game knowledge? a users take leadership roles in the game and make orders. B might be able to, but going without Challenger direction and strategy might be a bit ambiguous for the team.

6. Just because they showed it in one game, do you assume everything else is good? Well, that’s a lottery box.

Conclusion.

It’s ambiguous.

Can’t tell if it’ll be high or low.

==

Currently, Spoon was playing very cautiously after the confrontation with Sojun.

Since Sojun wasn’t taking any risks either, only the teammates kept dying in a stalemate.

-Anticipating analysis before even releasing the list, lol.
-Seems like correct observations.
-Well, looking at the current situation, doesn’t seem like they have the ability to overturn the team failing.
└In a league, the enemy is always the team, lol.
-I think it’ll be high. There will definitely be a team manager willing to take a chance on potential.
└That Eric is probably the strongest in 1-on-1. Given that, it’s understandable.

Eventually, a new topic of discussion regarding Riven was settling down.

There were questions about whether Eric was truly exceptional, to which a select few Eric users explained how difficult predictive shots were.

When inquiries arose about who Sojun was, existing viewers provided information dating back to the “For Justice” event, including the narrative of his rise as the second assassin from Joseon.

Additionally, speculation posts about the final LoS situation began to emerge.

All that remained was to enjoy the skirmish live streams.

『Trying to land a normal attack only to be caught by Chain of Destruction, Spoon lol』
『Pride didn’t allow it, got predicted and had to retreat』
『Meanwhile, the teammates died again』
『Way to counter a guy ganking against a Challenger = teammates』
『Ha Yunho team’s repetitive apologies lol』

Ultimately, Sojun’s team lost.

His teammates continued dying while Spoon displayed stable gameplay.

Sojun fought moderately just enough not to die, preventing the game from flipping.

Nonetheless, it could be said Sojun accomplished multiple objectives.

『Viewers – 35,000』

That was Sojun’s current viewer count.

* * *

He pondered.

Why had the number of viewers surged like this?

There were more chatting about the Synchronization Rate.

And why did these people kept apologizing despite being told it was okay?

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

The support and top lane, along with the jungle, lined up, issuing a collective apology.

Amidst this, Ha Yunho was shamelessly laughing from a step back.

This, despite his record of 0/11/0 and 1/13/5.

Even Sojun could only laugh at the spectacle before him.

“It’s okay. You worked hard today.”

Even if Sojun had played seriously, he couldn’t be certain of victory, but today, Sojun clearly hadn’t intended to win aggressively.

It was part of concealing his strength.

“Haha. I’ll see you next time!”

“It was enjoyable.”

“Okay, let’s move on.”

The ones who disappeared were not what Sojun expected.

Spoon was the one who approached Sojun for a handshake. Sojun extended his hand as well.

“Spoon-ssi. I enjoyed the match today.”

“Haha… It was a bit tough for me.”

Looking now, Spoon seemed to be an honest person.

-???: Sojun-nim, I’ll do my best. Do you think you can win?
-No wonder it was hard, lol.
-Completely wrecked

“You did well starting the second round.”

“To me, it seemed like you were conserving strength, right? Anyway, I’m relieved now that the game is over. Thankfully I didn’t make any mistakes in the second round.”

“You were indeed challenger-worthy.”

“Me? Rather, you were out of this world, Sojun-nim.”

Spoon hadn’t banned Eric in the second round.

Instead, brought a hero not typically used in the mid with the longest range, showing play at extreme safety.

As if saying he wouldn’t go through such humiliation again.

Spoon shook his head, seemingly exhausted.

“Then, see you next time. Even though I lost today, I have to get proper revenge.”

By ‘next time’, he likely meant LoS.

Although he omitted the subject, both Sojun and Spoon, as well as their viewers, understood.

-Wow
-Is Spoon-ssi also leaving? lol
– The two won’t be on the same team and will meet in a different line next time
-The preview for LoS within the skirmish was given like this lol
-What if both fail to make the list? lol

ADC is weak early on but becomes stronger the longer the game goes.

When Sojun and Spoon meet in the next game, they would clash during the mid to late game.

It’s not for nothing that he’s letting Eric go through.

-Spoon’s team mid, on alert!
-To avenge Spoon, they have to deal with Eric from Streamer-nim’s team lol
-Insane lol
-After watching today’s video, they’D probably suggest just banning Eric lol

Spoon departed.

After exchanging final farewells with other team members, Ha Yunho approached Sojun.

Currently, they were in Ha Yunho’s lobby.

It was Sojun’s turn to leave after wrapping up the conversation.

The two silently exchanged glances.

‘I’ll definitely secure you!’

‘Would joining that team really be good? Wouldn’t Taewoo be better?’

Their respective thoughts intersected.

Ha Yunho chuckled softly and tapped his ear.

He meant to block out the viewer’s sounds.

Sojun moved his hand through the air to adjust the settings.

Though the viewers voiced complaints, they stopped at Sojun’s simple statement.

“Shall I end the stream, then?”

-No
-It’s better to talk now and end the stream a bit later.
-What kind of secret conversation are you planning on having!
-Training viewers to obey, superb lol

Ending the stream.

It was like a magic word.

“Done on my side.”

“Me too!”

“Was it to discuss the auction?”

“Right on. It was a delight to watch today. From the moment I saw the ganking you were a must-buy regardless of the cost.”

“Haha, is that so?”

Why did he suddenly feel like stopping this?

“And then I realized another thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Ah, if you win the game too, the value will rise uncontrollably.”

“You didn’t die on purpose, did you?”

Sojun’s eyes narrowed.

“Of course not. I genuinely couldn’t win.”

Was that so?

Sojun pondered once more.

Was the old way the best way?

“Haha. Making it so opponents perform better was intentional, right?”

“Excuse me?”

“Truthfully, I intended to create a stage where you could show something via developed opponents even if you couldn’t shine in a 1-on-1. As a result, it became the cause of our team losing.”

No wonder.

“The tiers of matchups seemed similar?”

“Well, there are skills not visible in the tier. There’s mutual compatibility too. Did you throw the game on purpose, Sojun-nim? Or rather, you were deliberately laid-back more than when play was casual, weren’t you?”

Sojun found himself surprised.

He was unexpectedly sharp.

Not putting their all into a situation like a competition was something everyone might do, but Ha Yunho pointed out how Sojun went even further.

“You caught and fled from two opponents during the first game’s large-scale battle. Wasn’t that fight winnable?”

He had an eye for the game and was quick-witted.

The adage “old ways are the best” was false in this case.

“Anything could have happened.”

“I didn’t think so. Anyway, it was a very good decision.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Whether or not we become a team, it’s best if everything is cheap.”

“Ah, that’s why, I’m planning to reveal today.”

Seeing as many were asking.

“Reveal what?”

“My Synchronization Rate.”

“What?”

“I mentioned it was 10, right? By revealing this, people might criticize more.”

There wasn’t a particular reason to hide nor reveal, but that was changing now.

Not keeping it a secret was more helpful, really.

“Uh… was that for real?”

Ha Yunho’s eyes widened in disbelief.

* * *

『(Announcement) There are many who don’t believe my Synchronization Rate revealed during the stream, so I’m attaching a proof photo. Here’s a capture from the VR management app measuring my Synchronization Rate.』

==

(Photo)

It really averages 10, right? Haha

==

-Was it real?
-No, how has Streamer-nim been playing games?
-Is this a Photoshop job? Say it’s fake.
└Right lol Looks like they erased the one from 110 lol. How could someone have a Synchronization Rate of 10? Usually, even the lowest is at least 40.
-Was this guy really a monster?
-Wow, seriously.
-His Synchronization Rate was a joke; it was super low lol.
└Doesn’t that mean if you challenge Streamer-nim to a real-life fight, you’D be hit in ways more bizarre than in VR?
-What kind of battles have you been through?