Chapter 50

Chapter 50

In the major game magazine site of South Korea, 『Adventure』, there existed numerous game communities.

Although each community’s characteristics, culture, and incidents differed greatly, users generally agreed that there was no better place than Adventure to obtain game information.

『Elder Baek of the Demonic Cult has evaluated his Martial Techniques skills as transcendent. What do you think?』

Among them, one of the communities was ‘For Justice’, but those who frequented the community typically referred to it by another name—No Justice.

The reason for this naming was simple. Contrary to the game’s name, which means ‘For Justice’, it signified English ‘no’ for the lack of justice among its players.

There is also a term, “무틀딱” (Mu-Ttuldak), which combines “무협(muhyup)” (wuxia or Martial Techniques) and “틀딱(Ttuldak)” (an internet slang term for old-fashioned or stuck in the past). It refers to people who stubbornly cling to outdated, traditional Martial Techniques stories, often obsessing over old-school wuxia novels.

However, the actual average age of the site’s users was surprisingly young.

(Test Video)

Living as a warrior of the Namgung family for 40 years. It seems it hasn’t been a wasted life.

“Achieving transcendence is a challenging feat, isn’t it? Quite the accomplishment to be inspired by our school. Why don’t you join the Demonic Cult sometime?”
└ No, you devil…

“This game hasn’t been around for even 40 years, has it? How did Namgung hyung manage it?”

“So, why does the Demonic Cult take exams? Even though they’re trash? Why do they take exams?”
└ You can take the exam without joining, you rascal.

“Hawawa! That’s amazing!”
└ Oh! Super cool!
└ Why do these Japanese-style talking guys keep appearing no matter how much you block them?
└ Forget about heroes. You chose No Justice. Endure it with grit and toughness.

The concept roleplay here was intense. It felt as though tasks too embarrassing to carry out within the game were being vented here.

Of course, this did not mean there were no concept-absorbed individuals within the game itself, nor that all comments in No Justice were of this nature. In fact, about 70% were ordinary posts, diligently analyzing and sharing information.

“After watching the video, Namgung’s Martial Techniques are well blended and demonstrated. If you do it the same way, the Elder Baek would catch on, hence the excellent shifts in Martial Techniques’ stances. Was it Gosun?”
└ Is it a master?
└ It should at least be a top ranker. Among the Namgung family, who else could pull that off? Hiding it by wearing a mask, haha.
└ You might hurt if you learn the old one’s identity. (Post author)
└ Jealous of the transcendence title! I’m stuck at just one sect in the Demonic Cult.

Despite this, from an internet site standard, it was considered ordinary.

“I haven’t even chosen a faction, but isn’t transcendence difficult?”
└ Yes.
└ There are standard stances for the Demonic Cult exam, and if you practice for about a month and perfectly match the movements, you can receive a pinnacle title.
└ But transcendence is not achievable. To get transcendence, you need to be incredibly perfect. That’s why the author brought from their faction’s Martial Techniques because they would have realized something after using those moves the most. For reference, less than 50 people have received transcendence.
└ Wow… If it’s that difficult, what do we do?
└ Still, it just changes the title next to your nickname. If you receive it well, you get a good treatment if you join the Demonic Cult, that’s all. Are you going to join the Demonic Cult?
└ No!
└ Then it doesn’t matter.
└ Hahaha.

To the question about joining the Demonic Cult, there was a firm and obvious answer that it wasn’t even worth considering, accompanied by mocking responses. As one looked upward, numerous occurrences of people disregarding the Demonic Cult became evident!

The ranker of the Demonic Cult, the Third Elder, was truly displeased with the current atmosphere of No Justice.

“Damn it.”
└ What’s funnier is that none of the Demonic Cult people have achieved transcendence, hahaha.
└ Really?
└ Yes.
└ How could they during the Demonic Cult exam, hahaha.
└ Elder Baek did wrong, haha.

“Then why don’t they explain it properly when they’re at it! It just makes it seem like the Demonic Cult users are inferior,” he murmured.

The hallmark of the Demonic Cult’s Martial Techniques was that there were no fixed stances. Compared to the Mount Hua Sect, which boasted an overwhelming twenty-four stances for a single martial art, it seemed pitifully meager. In truth, calling it pitiful was still an understatement, as they simply didn’t exist.

“So, one has to mention that no one from the Demonic Cult has achieved transcendence!” he exclaimed.

Everyone worthy of the transcendence title altered their Martial Techniques stances themselves, having played the game for thousands of hours.

Indeed, if one were adept enough to invent genuine Martial Techniques stances, they’d open a dojo instead of gaming.

“Or is it? Gamers might earn much more than Martial Techniques instructors…..” he pondered.

With such idle thoughts crossing his mind, the Third Elder planned to write comments defending the Demonic Cult. Yet then,

└ With transcendence alone, you’re overblown, haha. Heavenly Demon14 of the Great Heavenly Demonic Cult received the title of Grandmaster, laughing over Namgung’s conceit, haha.

An ordinary attention-seeking comment appeared.

The nickname was Fanatic.

The Third Elder felt like thumping his forehead.

“It’s the Demonic Cult….”

The nickname, the actions—everything about him seemed like a part of the Demonic Cult.

Everyone could see it.

Even though in group chatrooms he occasionally used old-fashioned expressions and liked playing with concepts, he never blatantly sought attention in such a manner.

It was a bit embarrassing.

└What’s with calling yourself a Grandmaster, hahaha. Were you dreaming?
└Heavenly Demon14? Haha, doesn’t your Demonic Cult have hundreds of Heavenly Demons?
└The sense of imagination is impressive, haha, Grandmaster, sure.

He felt more than a little embarrassed.

People always said that the most effective way to deal with attention-seekers was to ignore them. But Third Elder in the chat realized there was an even more effective response — ridicule.

“Don’t tarnish the image of the Demonic Cult more, disciple.”

The desire to explain vanished completely. He just wanted to escape from there. So, he clicked the back button.

『Today’s Battlefield Victory.』
『If you’re proud to be a sturdy martial artist of the Orthodox Faction, like it, haha.』
『Elder Baek Wigang of the Demonic Cult assessed his Martial Techniques skills as extreme. What do you think?』
『What is true Martial Techniques and 180 reasons why For Justice is genuine Martial Techniques literature.』

“Seen it all.”

Out of habit, he refreshed the page. It was 10 PM when the battlefield closed, the busiest time for the Grand Elder. When he refreshed, at least one recommended post usually appeared. The new post made the elder chuckle despite his disbelief.

“Haha, what a lunatic? Isn’t this an intelligent hater? Seriously, what’s happening to the image of the Demonic Cult.”

Though he said that, he found it genuinely amusing. The post was authored by the attention-seeking fanatic who had previously been mocked. The title read,

『”The Demonic Cult is Insane”—The Real Reason the Orthodox Faction Quivers in Fear and the Unorthodox Faction are in an Uproar. “What Exactly is the Identity of Heavenly Demon14?”』

“Oh, come on.”

Now, even the fanatics rather, demonic fanatics—image threatened to attach itself further. Sighing deeply yet secretly smiling, the elder gestured with his mouse. Such a title was impossible to ignore.

But then, as he entered, his eyes widened in surprise.

(Clip of Receiving the Grandmaster Title)

“The true Heavenly Demon has arrived. The era of the Great Demonic Cult begins. Advent of the Heavenly Demon! All Demons Rejoice!”

-????
-LOL
-Is this for real? The title alone is hilarious
└Seems edited
└No way suddenly a higher-ranking title just appears out of nowhere
-If you examine closely, it seems like a common move but without showing extreme
-The poster’s nickname is already fanatic…

The post included a clip of a streamer genuinely receiving the title of Grandmaster. It seemed people were unsure whether to believe it. Could such an unprecedented ranking title just appear?

The elder felt the same curiosity.

“What the… Is this for real?”

Was there truly a title like Grandmaster all along? If so, why hadn’t anyone else obtained it before now?

He realized the necessity of acquiring more information. And the best method to gather such info was to try it himself.

“I’m turning on the capsule right away.”

The situation seemed genuine enough. Despite the majority doubting the video’s authenticity, its presence on Travel lent it credibility.

He immediately entered the capsule and started streaming.

『Streaming has started.』

Not many viewers joined. At most, dozens, sometimes just one. It wasn’t a stream for livelihood.

He was a student. He was only allowed access to the capsule if he did well on exams. He thought he wasn’t capable of streaming properly nor did he have the talent for it.

-Why turn on the stream all of a sudden?
-Seriously
-Kid, just grow up, you’ve got to get taller
-Is it vacation?
-Virtuoso on

In the group chat, “NamgungClanStoreOwner” and the character “JustOneCoin” were mentioned. Aside from them, there were other rankers and people notoriously active in the community.

As everyone was taking a break after the battle ended, they joined in when his stream started.

“I don’t know what kind of vacation they meant.”

Wasn’t the ultimate content of some RPG games said to be just running around in the village? The actions of veterans were mostly similar. Even when there was nothing left to do in the game, they didn’t quit. Thus, they chose streaming for entertainment.

The Third Elder was the streamer, while others were the viewers.

– What do you mean not excited for vacation; you were the happiest one about it.
– This is why you shouldn’t reveal your status!
– Third Elder Avatar is a dignified old man, but in reality, it’s just puffed-up cheeks.
– You’re not even an adult, so you got censored for blood color lol.”

“Ha! I only changed the age mode because I didn’t want to see the sacred red color of the Heavenly Demonic Cult emerging from cheap creatures. Don’t spread baseless rumors that this elder is a middle schooler.”

– Haha
– What a showoff.
– Which place are the righteous ranker hyungs attacking tomorrow?
– Don’t try to steal information.
– It’s mutually beneficial to avoid each other anyway.
– You’re just going to defend no matter what, so what’s the point haha.

This place was more of a community extension rather than a typical streaming platform. Third Elder, while climbing the steps of Demonic Cult, opened the window and repeatedly watched the video where he received the title of Grandmaster. Gradually, his audience started showing interest.

– What are you watching?
– And why climbing the mountain of the Demonic Cult?
– Huh? Why are people gathered there?

The place Third Elder arrived at was the sparring ring with Baek Wigang. Normally, it was rare to even see an ant there, but now it was crowded. Everyone, including the Third Elder, was staring at the air.

– He’s sulking since he’s not responding.
– Hey, are you sulking?
– He is sulking haha.
– So cute.
– Is that a Demonic Cult test video?

“Hmm.”

After watching the entire video, Third Elder sighed. He then turned his eyes to the chat window.

“Oh, I’m not sulking. It seems a Grandmaster of an unprecedented level appeared in the Demonic Cult test. Brothers.”

Moreover, it was done using a basic technique pattern. That was even more astonishing. Up until now, the limit for the basic move pattern was subtleties, but to receive a title higher than an unprecedented level with a slight variation was extraordinary.

– ?? What’s a Grandmaster?
– Haha nonsense.
– You all need to join No Justice Rank and check right now. I just saw it, and it looks legit.
– But isn’t that Sojun-nim? The one I mentioned before?”

Ah, that streamer.

“I think I have a rough idea of what was altered in the basic technique, so I should give it a try. There’s no limit to attempts.”

He climbed onto the sparring ring. It seemed the others around were still checking the video.

“Hmph.”

This was where rankers and regular users differed in their talents. Confidently, he drew his sword and demonstrated the basic move on the sparring ring.

By narrowing his step and adjusting the sword’s angle, he increased its sharpness. As the sword moved, he felt a sense of unity as if all lines were converging into one. He was confident. He expected to receive at least the title of Sublime, as he did once before.

And the result was!

“Ahem, tsk tsk. You don’t even have the basics or the craft to create basic moves. Third-rate! Get lost!”

As the stern voice struck, the eyes of Third Elder, whose title “Sublime” was affixed beside his nickname, began to tremble violently.

“Pffft.”

Those watching him couldn’t hold back their laughter, even as they tried to cover their mouths.

“Aw, man.”

With cheeks burning, he felt an urge to immediately turn off the stream and run away.

– Haha what was that?
– No way even a third-rate would come from that haha.
– Should hand over the Sublime title.
– Should I also try for a Grandmaster?
– Let’s head to the Demonic Cult for a test.
– Not to take the test × To tease our cute middle schooler

And then, notable rankers in possession of the “Transcendent” title began to move to verify its authenticity.