Chapter 40


[Please roll back the character customization!!!!!!!!!]

[Hey you crazy b*tch, are you gonna roll back the character customization or not?]

[You need to light the fire on the logs, why are you putting it out?]

[If you don’t roll back the character customization, I’m gonna jump out the window right now. By the way, this is a semi-basement.]

[Isn’t it supposed to go up from a semi-basement?]

[Does this look like a sh*t hole to you?]

[It really does.]

[For real, lol.]

[Deus Vult! Deus Vult!]

[After seeing this, I’ve decided to devote myself to Christianity.]

[Hero, how did you become a Taliban?]

[Ziggatabelt has donated 5,000 won!

—Sis, please come back as the Light Hero!]

Despite the overwhelming support, Friede remained silent.

She merely typed messages like these in the chat.

[If you can’t calm down, I’ll do a no-mic stream here.]

That declaration was the very dynamite needed to break through a tunnel.

It was like pouring oil on logs that were already on fire, stacking on more logs, and blowing wind on it.

Wearing some unidentifiable attire, whether it was a burqa or hijab— it didn’t even matter since I couldn’t see Friede’s high-quality character model anyway— and to think I wouldn’t even get to hear her voice, celebrated as one of the highlights of Friede’s broadcast? I couldn’t tolerate that.

What I got in return was an overwhelming flood of emoticons and texts that plastered the chat, as if they aimed to drag Friede’s broadcast back into the Stone Age.

The chat density was on par with that of any major corporate streamer’s massive issues, so a new streamer unfamiliar with this vibe would likely be intimidated.

[Sis, I’m holding my breath until you roll it back! Huuh!]

[That guy is already dead.]

[No, seriously, shut up already.]

[Sis, we were wrong; please.]

[Don’t say you were wrong! This is a battle of wills! We have to win!]

But Friede was not your average newbie streamer.

‘Ah, this feels good.’

As she inhaled the sweet air, her entire body resonated like a pleasant melody.

It was quite a sight to behold, her struggling with her actions.

Just a moment, just a little longer like this…

A thick tongue licked between her alluring red lips.

Ignoring the clamor in the chat, she boldly began a ranked game.

In less than 5 seconds, she was matched.

As she chose her weapon, she spotted one that caught her eye and picked it immediately.

Boasting a curvy blade shaped like a crescent moon, this weapon was called the Waning Moon Scimitar.

On the other hand, the left-hand weapon she chose was a plain-looking Assassination Dagger.

It was a typical dual-wield setup.

‘It fits perfectly in my hands.’

As she swung both weapons in the air to familiarize herself, Friede’s eyes slightly widened.

Certainly… this felt stable, unlike the Broken Greatsword.

In reality, the Waning Moon Scimitar she chose was a widely used weapon, favored across the curved sword tier without regard to quality.

The Assassination Dagger had additional damage modifiers on parrying or critical hits, making it suitable for one-hit kill plays.

Neither weapon was overpowered, so they were rarely banned, and on the flip side, they were picked often due to their reliable performance— really well-loved weapons in many aspects.

No, aside from the performance, I thought this weapon’s design matched the character skin perfectly.

Isn’t this the kind of weapon you expect with an Islamic theme?

[Lol, somehow you picked a normal weapon. How about swinging the Broken Club this time?]

[If you brought a Broken Greatsword with an Islamic theme… it would be the very embodiment of a hodgepodge of religions.]

[Did both your body and mind get violated by Islam? That weapon is way too normal.]

[Aren’t you going for a typical agile build one-shot concept?]

[Ugh, one-shots are the worst.]

[It’s not completely one-shot, but it’s a bit extreme.]

I was almost bursting out laughing at the bizarre reactions, not knowing whether they were fond of it or not.

Would I turn bitter like Kim Cheomji scolding his wife?

Would I return as Kim Cheomji, who complains about the Seolleongtang he bought?

I was curious how my attitude would change if I carried.

There was no need to pick the Broken Greatsword, so the pick-and-ban phase didn’t have any weird tension.

In the desolate castle’s maze, both teams were ready, waiting for the game to start.

As the loading finished and the players of each team were summoned to their bases, an unusual event unfolded on the battlefield.

—Boom!

A shining golden star fell from the sky and collided with the ground, creating a brilliant light that made one instinctively shield their eyes.

In a brief moment, the light that filled the battlefield disappeared…

And from within, a user wielding a curved sword, that seemed made by detaching a crescent moon, emerged—Friede.

[Lol, the production is fantastic, but that character is a Taliban, lololol.]

[A top 1% cutscene met with a bottom 1% character model.]

[It’s un-touchable in a different sense.]

That was true.

What emerged from a production designed to get the adrenaline rushing was something wrapped in a cloth, hard to tell if it was a male or female.

That simply proved how outstanding Friede’s previous character skin was.

As the game began, she dashed towards the flank, weapon equipped as usual.

[Looks like Friede’s line is starting to get fixed.]

[Of course… with that physique, if they’re in line, it’s like putting a pearl necklace on a pig.]

[Who dies easily in Grand Master tier?]

[If there were two users as good as Friede, it might be possible?]

[What the heck, two users at Friede’s level, lolol.]

You might ask if she was taking another flank, but…

The main line was overwhelmed with charging NPCs, while the tank and archer were in a standoff, making it tough for the damage dealer, Friede, to make a move.

‘It was manageable while I was a Master.’

Since leveling up to Grand Master, especially nearing Challenger, the reckless plays from back then were gradually becoming infeasible.

To fully utilize Friede’s physique, it was best to lead her to a one-on-one battle in the maze rather than engaging in awkward line fights.

‘So, what should I do?’

What they commonly call Soul Warfare is essentially a man’s game where melee weapons clash head-on.

However, equipped with this scimitar and dagger, Friede wanted to explore a different playstyle.

Satisfying herself with merely a cosplay wasn’t going to cut it.

While running, Friede opened the chat panel and quickly tapped on the keypad hologram.

Careening through a complex maze, her swift movements which showed she could easily slip through without being hit were undeniably remarkable.

But…

[What’s this guy doing?]

[Indeed.]

That Islamic attire was so billowy that it flapped everywhere with her fast movements.

Thanks to that, the keypad she was furiously typing on was obscured.

Only after entering the opposing team’s maze did her pale fingers, slipping between the burqa, finally click the enter key to finish.

At the same time, a combination of letters filled the screen.

[Until now, my play as the Light Hero has been a beloved menu for all viewers.

The issue is that viewer engagement in the Light Hero play was too excessive.

So I’ve decided to introduce a new menu that features a corrupt playstyle as the Islamic Warrior rather than a variation of existing play.]

[Those who were thrilled by the splendid duels of the Light Hero may find themselves needing a more challenging ‘choice’ now.]

[????]

[…..]

[Lol, I’m going crazy.]

[What choice? Are you out of your mind?]

[This is like the brutality of Yeonsan-gun.]

[Did you grow up getting hit by your mom or what? Why are you so interested?]

Naturally, no one was about to react positively to those comments.

This was Friede’s second stream, a newbie of newbies.

What could possibly be enjoyable about such humiliation that one had to endure while watching Friede’s broadcast? That was the question hovering in everyone’s mind.

Honestly, I wished she’d at least show the rotten core, even if just like her first broadcast.

But Friede was a person whose thinking diverged significantly from that of a typical streamer.

The voice she had blessed us with until now felt like a drug-induced melody, rendering the viewers’ routines mindless…

[Hah… did she pick today?]

[Sensei, I was wrong. Please forgive these foolish viewers.]

[I just want to watch someone play the game.]

[I too.. if it quiets down, will she return as the Beach Hero?]

The absurd announcement, which had the atmosphere boiling like a hot spring, began to transition into an atmosphere of “let’s just watch.”

All anyone wanted was to fidget in their hearts, groaning like a starving stray dog.

As she beamed with a satisfied smile while watching reactions, one particular phrase caught Friede’s eye among countless messages.

[Let me see what this vile Islamic concept is about, you little b*stard.]

Ah, that…

‘I will show you.’

The play of a true Islamic Warrior, different from that of the Light Hero.

What Friede displayed upon entering the maze was not a bold rush.

—Thump!

She began to climb, wedged her weapons into her waist, stepping on the wall gaps.

[Huh? What’s that?]

[Can that even be done?]

Amid the cries that couldn’t possibly spill out, filled with astonishment…

Friede brought her finger to her lips.

“Shh!”

Assassination isn’t solely the monopoly of ninjas.

Today, I… am an assassin.

* * *

Just attaining Challenger, Damduck navigated the maze, not letting go of the tension.

It was a smooth progress, hunting down small objects to earn points.

However, something felt oddly quiet about this space.

‘What is it? Why is it so quiet?’

There was a user named Friede on the opposing team, whose name he was thoroughly tired of hearing.

When it comes to Soul Warfare at this tier, relationships tend to narrow, and through hearsay, you eventually come to know everyone—it was practically the same as a well.

The opponent usually employed overwhelming physicality, hiding in the enemy’s maze, causing mayhem to shatter the tempo and rhythm of their allies.

Perhaps that’s why the familiar maze felt oddly unfamiliar today.

‘In any case, I can’t let my guard down.’

A person capable of pulling off such feats with a Broken Greatsword. One wrong move, and his head would likely roll.

I had to hurry to the next object base.

After hastily stepping, I reached a ladder that led downward.

I stowed my weapon and promptly positioned myself on the ladder, sliding down.

It’s probably the cramped space that made it feel safe from attacks. While smoothly sliding down, other thoughts inescapably crossed my mind.

This was my first time facing Friede directly, so it was only natural to feel a little thrill at the prospect of confronting her.

It had been long since I achieved Grand Master, but already I was matched with a Challenger.

‘How many consecutive wins have I ridden?’

—Whoosh!

“Uh?”

The crescent moon sliced through the night.

At the tip of the crescent, white light traced a trajectory, followed by a splatter of red blood.

With both wrists severed, as stamina rapidly drained, Damduck found himself in a state of panic.

This wasn’t even flatland, and he wasn’t in a space where players could battle each other.

He was still sliding down the ladder, in a place barely wide enough to be called a chimney.

‘This is bad!’

As the strength in his hands faded due to wrist injuries, he felt increasingly incapable of holding himself up on the ladder.

‘This is dangerous.’

An overwhelming urge to escape this peril surged within him.

If he lost grip, he would plummet…

‘Plummet?’

Wait, who just got banned?

—Chills!

Even in a virtual reality, the goosebumps prickling his skin added to the realism as Damduck turned his head back.

What he saw was…

A mysterious figure, indistinguishable between male and female, swapping their Crescent Moon Scimitar and white Dagger, piercing at his jugular.

“Insane!”

Is this even real!?

Following the loss of strength in his grip, his body fell down into the abyss below.

Only after falling to a depth far beyond sight, the game scoreboard quietly added a new kill mark.

Friede🗡Damduck

Hanging in the gaps of a wall in an empty corridor, Friede smiled proudly and sent condolences to the fallen Damduck.

“YOU DIED.”