NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 41 - Common Day
Chapter 41 – Common Day
* * *
Although it was a sudden change, my schedule had significantly altered since returning to the place I originally lived. This was natural since all the facilities that made me who I was had disappeared.
The training ground and shooting range that transformed me from an ordinary person with great strength into a top-tier killing machine, along with the kill house and hood box, and numerous other training facilities.
All those things could now only be found in virtual reality.
If I had truly missed those things, I wouldn’t have chosen the Dark Zone. Specifically, I might have joined a PMC or a deployment unit, assuming that was even possible.
Anyway, to get back to the point, this was why my schedule had changed.
Originally, I would have woken up, done a simple morning workout, and then gone straight to shoot after breakfast, but now I couldn’t shoot.
I’ve talked for too long.
───Beeeeeep!
“…Ugh, I’m sleepy.”
My morning was ordinary, or quick, depending on how you looked at it.
6:55 AM was my normal wake-up time. After getting up and walking around the house a bit, I would naturally wake up.
Around 7 AM, I’d have a simple breakfast. Of course, what was simple to me – a 2000 kcal shake blended with a whole piece of chocolate cake – was quite different from what was simple to most people….
Anyway, I would start my day by sipping that shake. I had to consume that much because my daily caloric expenditure was at least 4000, and it could soar to 7000 with just a little exercise.
While sipping that, I checked my computer, which was still struggling to retrieve my overdue money.
A transfer request has been made based on the payment certificate (1).
Applicant: Yoo Jin Lee
Total: $600,000
Currently accessible amount: $41,495
At this point, I no longer had financial difficulties. I had already returned my parents’ previous help.
I briefly surfed the web, considering renting more servers or buying additional computing devices, then closed the screen and began my specialty study.
Today was sniping.
Using memorized tables and shooting data, I created a simulation and verified it through the ICARUS gear to check what went wrong.
The gear could break down at any time, so I couldn’t rely on it completely.
As I spent time working hard, it was nearly 11 AM, and I stretched my stiff body.
It was time to get ready to go to the fitness club.
───Click!
“The weather’s nice.”
When I opened the door and stepped outside, the sun was shining brightly.
Unlike the Dark Zone, where blizzards raged, it was summer in reality. Due to the 1:3 time ratio, the seasons in the game changed every month.
Since it was midday, there were still quite a few people outside. Seoul couldn’t help it. I shrugged off the stares trailing behind me, entered the building, and got on the elevator.
As soon as the door opened, the counter came into view.
It was a familiar sight by now.
“Oh, Yoo Jin.”
“Hello. There aren’t many people today.”
“Well, it’s quiet during meal times. Don’t you prefer it that way?”
“Actually, yes.”
With that, I entered the locker room and changed only my top. Although they provided pants here, they didn’t fit my body because of my tail.
As I walked out lightly, everyone was waiting to help with my workout like the Avengers. Today there were two. I was grateful for their help, but I also felt sorry.
Every time I reacted like this, they always said it was fine….
Anyway, today I ignited my muscles.
Starting with simple bodyweight exercises, the intensity of my workout quickly escalated, as always, making me sweat profusely and burn body fat.
I wasn’t sure if there was any fat left to burn, but anyway.
In between exercises, I checked for messages. It was a given that messages had piled up, and I was closer to catching up on delayed replies.
These days, I mainly talked with Harmony.
[Harmony: Teacher~!!! The edited videos, parts 2 and 3, are finally out! I posted part 2 last night and part 3 will go up around noon today!]
[Harmony: I also uploaded the videos in the Engram room, so please check them out when you have time!]
[Harmony: And please give me your account numberㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
[Yoo Jin: Ah, right. I’ll give it to you soon]
Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t given her my account number yet.
I had put it off because it was a hassle, but since parts 2 and 3 were out, it didn’t seem right to delay it any longer, so I quickly moved my fingers.
The number 1 next to the message disappeared instantly. Streamers seemed busy, but maybe not so much, or perhaps she was particularly interested in me.
After chatting and working out for about two hours, I left the gym drenched in sweat and headed home.
I didn’t bother showering because I hadn’t brought a spare set of clothes, so I had to wear the sweaty ones again.
Throwing the sweaty clothes into the washing machine, I took my first shower of the day while thinking about what to have for lunch. Even just doing this felt like a productive day.
After drying off and changing into fresh clothes, I turned on the washing machine since there was a decent amount of laundry, then heated a pizza in the air fryer and checked the video.
[Harmony] The teacher is angry! One at a time! I will never drop the magazine again! [Dark Zone Day 1 - Part 2]
“…The title is spot on.”
But there was something more important.
Even the primordial scent of the melting pizza cheese couldn’t divert my attention because of a simple reason.
View count.
Despite being a Friday, the video posted late at 11 PM last night had surpassed 500,000 views in just twelve hours. Compared to other videos, the difference was stark.
Considering that her first edited video of the Dark Zone hit 700,000 views in about three days, the growth was remarkable, especially compared to her other videos averaging 200,000 views.
Impressive.
───Ding!
“Oh, it’s done already.”
Lunch was a whole pizza.
Being at home, even 2K quality loaded quickly, but I found myself checking the comments below the video before watching it.
5000 comments.
It was a lot.
=15:19 Did you really drop the magazine, sis? I sighed the moment I saw it…
ㄴHow did you grab it with your tail next? I didn’t know the Dark Zone was such a game.
ㄴIt must be an official feature of the tail device.
ㄴIs it like an experimental avatar? Interesting.
=At that time, we didn’t know… that this teacher would be such a beacon of light…
ㄴI didn’t expect her to be a guardian, lol
ㄴTrue, we should pray to where Yoo Jin is once a day.
ㄴStop talking about things only you know. Tell us too!
ㄴYou’ll understand if you watch the live stream replay.
ㄴIt’s gone….
ㄴWTF
=Is this where Yoo Jin’s legend begins? Bookmarking.
ㄴ2222222222222222
ㄴYoo Jin, the Guardian of Harmony… She’s the goddess of axes!!!!
ㄴI’m so sad the replay got deleted.
ㄴI hope it gets released after the sniper lawsuit is over.
=Forbes chose Yoo Jin as the sexiest woman when beheading someone, heuh heuh.
ㄴWhat is this nonsense, lololol
ㄴIt sounds unbelievable, right? I didn’t expect it either.
ㄴㅇㅈㄸㅇㅈ
ㄴWhen the sniper was split in two, I was so happy I jumped around and got scolded by my parents, lol
=I came from another site after seeing the clip. Is this where the amazing sniper beater is?
ㄴYes, that’s right.
ㄴIt’s already spreading everywhere, lololol
ㄴYou too?
ㄴIt’s only been a day, and it’s already being exported everywhere, lol
It’s crazy.
For me, it was just one of the many tasks I had to do. She wanted my help, and ICARUS’s motto was to assist those in need.
Anyway, I enjoyed the 40-minute-long video with a perfectly cooked pizza on the table.
The video was entertaining.
The aftermath was going to be much bigger than expected, though.
Hey! What are you… phew, Mina. You should have created a separate room for that. If you filled the appropriate number of people, the rewards would be the same as a regular room… really, ah….
“Ah, it’s okay. It’s already done. I even consulted a lawyer today, so don’t worry too much about every little thing. And Yoo Jin caught him, didn’t she?”
Ha… yeah. That’s a relief. I’m glad.
The phone wouldn’t stop ringing.
Since last night, I had received dozens of calls, all starting with “Are you okay?” No matter how you slice it, that was bound to give anyone a complex.
Still, it was better than revisiting those events. It wasn’t bad to reconnect with friends and colleagues after a while.
My fellow streamer, Dol, who I was talking to now… she could be like a mother-in-law, but on the flip side, it showed she cared.
Still, I’m glad you seem okay. Do the others worry
like I do?
“Well, yeah… some offered to introduce me to a lawyer. I told them it was okay. I want to handle it myself. I plan to be as firm as possible, so don’t worry.”
Good, good. I saw that fool. Does he not know how severe virtual violence punishment can be?
“Maybe… I don’t know. I don’t want to think about it. I’ll leave most of it to the legal representative.”
Ahem.
Harmony coughed briefly to reset her throat and waited calmly for a reply.
Alright. Let’s have a meal sometime.
“You too? Everyone who called asked to have a meal. Was I that much of a loner?”
Think about what karma you’ve accumulated with people around you.
“What did I do?”
All I did was recommend simple and cute games where a primitive man fights through all kinds of brats and jungles, games where you climb with golf balls, pogo sticks, and hammers, and games where you levitate.
People just don’t understand the true beauty of games.
“Would Yoo Jin like the games I recommend?”
You always choose the wrong things to do.
A brief silence.
Then the conversation continued.
Anyway… all I hear about these days is you. I’m not one to check Yourspace often, but I looked at the views for parts 2 and 3.
“Really? No, I haven’t checked.”
That’s so like you. Check it out. It’s crazy. And don’t rely too much on Yoo Jin for content; it’ll be better for you.
“I know. I’m thinking about what to do in-game, so don’t worry.”
Well, you usually manage things well on your own.
Her voice, though relaxed, conveyed concern and interest.
Anyway, I logged into Yourspace as she suggested. It was a familiar screen. Ignoring the countless notifications that never fell below +99, I went to my personal channel.
There was no need to sort by latest, but I checked the top two videos to confirm with my own eyes.
…But.
“…Wait a minute.”
What? What’s wrong?
“Why are the views….”
Why do both videos have seven-digit views?
Through her barely parted lips, Harmony’s words echoed.