Season 4: Chapter 204. Civil War (2)

On a black background, white letters appeared.

[I’m Sorry.]

That was the title of the new video on Almond’s channel. The view count rose at an exponential rate.

— Scared the hell out of me lol

— I clicked thinking “finally, this damn nutjob is done for” then got jump-scared and backed out. Respect to fellow nut-haters

└ Ah... lol

└ Thought the Lord was the one getting canceled

└ If you watched Cheese Craft: “Birth of the Lord,” it makes sense you’d think that lol

— What is this/ lol

— The thumbnail... it’s not clickbait but it still pisses me off somehow

└ Legendary that neither the thumbnail nor the shareholder meeting content has a single lie in it lol

“I, I just uploaded it.” Ji-Ah stared at the screen with her jaw hanging. “Three hundred thousand?”

Not even an hour had passed, and the video had reached 300k views already. The firepower was insane.

Part of her couldn’t help thinking.

‘What the... Were there really that many people rooting for Almond to crash and burn?’

She was sure a decent chunk of those views came from less-than-pure motives.

‘Still... It’s helping him anyway, right?’

All that spite was being converted into pure benefits for Almond.

[#1 Trending Live Topic]

Thanks to those numbers, the video shot straight to the top. People clicked on the trending video, which pushed it even higher. It drew in even more viewers in a perfect feedback loop. If even a tiny fraction of them hopped over to the live stream...?

[Current Viewers: 431,000]

It would result in this.

“Crazy...” Ji-Ah covered her mouth after taking a deep breath.

She had been a ghost in the streaming world for a long time, but had never seen a live game stream hit numbers like this.

Usually, such a stream needed a surprise celebrity appearance, a nationwide controversy apology, or some massive corporate stunt. A solo game stream couldn’t possibly reach such numbers, yet Almond had done it.

Bzzzt.

[Ju-Hyeok: Ji-Ah, you nailed it lol insane lol we smashed the peak]

It wasn’t something Almond had done alone.

‘Me too?’

Ji-Ah had helped make this happen along with Ju-Hyeok.

[Ju-Hyeok: At this point, it’s probably a record the industry will remember (thumbs up)]

“A record... for the entire industry...”

It didn’t feel real that she had played a part in it.

***

Meanwhile, PD Jang watched the showdown between the Knights and the rebel faction.

“Wow.” He couldn’t help but exclaim. “What is this? What kind of firepower is this?”

Chrrrrrrrr...!

On a monitor tracking streamer donations, numbers began to fill the screen. He thought the clash between the Knights and the rebel faction had already reached its peak.

“This is insane. I didn’t think this was even possible!” Park Oh-Hoon’s eyes went wide. “Is this a bug? Can this really happen?”

PD Jang scrolled his phone a few times, then smirked. “Ji-Ah uploaded a video.”

“Wow... So all of this is from YouTube viewers!”

YouTube focused on edited content as the largest video site in existence. Saying the entire country watched YouTube every day wouldn’t be an exaggeration. It operated on an entirely different level than streaming platforms like Treevy, Paprika, or Cheese.

“This video’s editing is... quite clean. Almost bizarrely so.”

“What do you mean?”

“The video is half the length of the actual live, but every piece of the narrative gets across. It’s easier to understand than the live itself.”

“So, it’s shorter but even more persuasive?”

“Exactly.”

All the fluff had been stripped away. Anything that needed explaining used visual effects or supplementary captions.

“Wow. How does Ji-Ah do that?”

Anyone who worked in editing knew that this wasn’t just good editing. The techniques were simple, but one needed an incredibly deep understanding of the content. They had to know it as if it happened to them personally.

“That’s probably...” PD Jang looked at the monitor.

The five knights were holding off all the Paprika and Cheese rebels. How was that possible?

“The team.”

“The team?”

“Yeah.”

It all came down to the team consisting of Sang-Hyeon, Ju-Hyeok, and Ji-Ah. Their bonds, affection, and shared history had already been built since the beginning.

“That’s where this power comes from.”

No matter how much money someone threw at an outsourcing studio, they would never be able to edit Almond’s videos the way Ji-Ah did.

PD Jang smiled. “It’s literally because they’re a perfect team moving as one body.”

“Ah...!” At that, Park Oh-Hoon finally understood. “They know exactly what the other wants to say, so they don’t have to agonize over decisions?”

“Right. No back-and-forth approvals are necessary either.”

“Incredible...”

This hardly occurred in the major-channel scene. They were a perfect team precisely because they were a tiny team in a tough environment.

“Hard to find these days.”

“Yeah...”

Most streamers now handed their editing to big, specialized studios. Management also went to large companies, but these three had done it all themselves. Just like Almond now, standing with only four knights at his back against dozens of enemies.

“So... who will win this fight?”

PD Jang stroked his chin. “Hard to say...”

No one knew yet. How far could a small team’s strength really carry them?

***

In a battlefield wreathed in crimson-black flames, two men faced each other.

“You were part of the Knights?”

Their temperatures couldn’t have been more different. One stood calmly while the other shook with rage.

“LACKEY FOREVERALONE CAN’T HOLD BACK!!”

[Frost Wind]

Fwoooooosh!

ForeverAlone’s sword dissolved into white streaks and sent out a flurry of icy slashes. His attack looked flawless with a fast draw, a clean dash, and a precise strike.

[Wisdom of the Black Turtle]

Puh-ooong...!

However, Almond remained unscathed. The Black Turtle’s wisdom completely repelled ForeverAlone’s blow.

Almond still stood in the same spot.

“

Haa... ha...

” ForeverAlone raised his sword again.

His mind was still a mess.

‘What the hell is this, Lord Almond? Does he really not remember me? This isn’t normal forgetfulness! Why? You’re acting, right? You’re acting... right?’

Why was Almond pretending not to know him? The much younger ForeverAlone couldn’t possibly understand Almond’s intentions.

‘No way...’

Was Almond trying to lighten his guilt? That was too much of a stretch, wasn’t it?

“Why the hell!?” ForeverAlone charged again and swung.

Kaang!

Their blades clashed.

“Why are you pretending not to know me...?! I even s-sent you a letter asking to be on your team!”

“A letter...?” Almond blinked, genuinely puzzled.

He really didn’t know.

— LOOOOOOL

— Oh, this one’s real

— He seriously looks like he has no idea lol

— Help, I’m crying

— Unintentional method acting

‘Oh.’

Realizing he’d messed up, Almond tried to cover it up with awkward acting.

“

Ha... ha...

No idea... who you are.”

Even ForeverAlone, as dense as he was, could tell.

‘He really doesn’t know, does he?’

This bastard genuinely had no idea about the letter. His hands trembled. It felt like being rejected by one’s crush in front of the entire class.

“God. DAAAMN IT!!”

Steel clashed again and again.

Ka-kang!

Ka-ga-gang!

— LOOOOL

— He seriously doesn’t know??

— When did he even send a letter? lol

— Why does this feel like actual unrequited love?

Even this level of embarrassment would’ve been survivable.

Kaang...!

Their blades met once more.

Then, ForeverAlone said, “S... So actually, that letter... My sister is a huge Almond fan, so she pretended to be me and sent it...”

Ding.

[JK has donated 10,000 won.]

[Got rejected? April Fools~]

— AHAHAHAHAHA

— Yeah, that’s exactly what this is LOL

— Bro cannot be actually real

— I can’t breathe lmfao

— Oh my god

‘Damn it. I’m screwed. Why did I say that?!’

ForeverAlone regretted the words that slipped out.

Kaang!

His sword flew up.

‘Damn it.’

— Uuugh...

— I can SMELL the cringe through the screen

— This is why watching Gi-Chan’s stream is art

— Bro, the embarrassment is insane

— New viewers are vomiting blood trying to withstand the cringe lol

Of all times, tons of new viewers were watching ForeverAlone’s POV for the first time. It felt exactly like being teased by the entire class in middle school.

‘Damn it. Damn this PTSD...’

PTSD often appeared in those who had survived war. Indeed, ForeverAlone’s school years were a war. Compared to that war...

“This is NOTHING!!” ForeverAlone’s eyes widened.

He jumped high into the air.

Tak!

He caught the sword that had been knocked loose and swung it downward. Steel fragmented into a pale light as...

[Iceberg]

KWA-AAAAANG!

A massive iceberg erupted from beneath the ground.

Even Almond couldn’t react in time.

[HP: 72%]

Finally, he took a hit.

— Kyaaa

— That’s challenger level for you

— These kids really do have insane mechanics

— Confess -> April Fools -> “This is nothing!” combo is CRAZY

— Wow

— It’s BS that the Guardian class can’t take damage though T_T

— And WHY isn’t the Lord using his bow... please...

Tap.

ForeverAlone landed again. “

Haa... ha...

”

He walked toward the fallen Lord. There was no turning back now.

“Lord... I’ll begin a new era now. It’s time for you to step down.”

“A new era?” Almond rose as well. “You think you can bear the weight of the Lord, Lackey ForeverAlone?”

“... I have to.”

“Then...”

Swish.

Almond adjusted his grip on the sword. “Prove it.”

— Krr

— Kyaaa

— \o/

— \o/\o/\o/

— ??? Player ForeverAlone... show us.

— He said Lackey ForeverAlone... he DOES remember T_T

— \o/

— \o/\o/\o/

Kwaaaaaa...!

Almond’s blade ignited with light. This time, he was serious.

‘Wait... he called me Lackey ForeverAlone.’

ForeverAlone froze for an instant.

‘

Lackey ForeverAlone.’

Did that mean the Lord remembered him after all? His heart wavered.

“

Aaaargh!

”

“

Gah!

”

“D-Damn it!”

His allies were falling. The four knights were crushing the rebels.

“Just a bit longer!” Zelu shouted.

He fought two knights by himself.

“Just hold the Lord down a little longer! Then victory is ours!!”

“

Haaa...

” ForeverAlone steadied his breath. “

HRAAAAAAH!

” He screamed and charged.

Almond’s eyes flashed. He kicked off the ground as well.

Kiiing!

[Movement Speed +30%]

[Attack Speed +50%]

[Attack Power +120%]

...

Even without his Guardian skills, countless buffs covered Almond. His swings looked different from before.

‘He’s fast.’

ForeverAlone felt shocked at the murderous aura pouring from Almond’s chibi body.

‘So this is the weight of the Lord...! But I...!’

ForeverAlone carried his own weight too, the expectations of his chakra.

Shiiik!

His slash aimed for Almond’s neck. Both of them aimed for each other’s throats. Their blades collided.

Kiiiiiiing!

Steel crossed, and so did fate.

‘Ah.’

ForeverAlone instantly knew.

‘I lost.’

Shraaaak!

Almond’s blade reached his neck first.

[HP: 100%]

However, ForeverAlone remained completely unharmed.

— Huh?

— ??

— What?

— No damage??

Ding.

[INFOman has donated 10,000 won!]

[A Guardian cannot kill a Cheese Village resident.]

— ?

— Oh my god LOOOOL

— It wasn’t just skills???

— Eh??

— Even basic attacks don’t work???

— The Lord was doing WWE while Servant Forever Alone was doing UFC alone lololol

ForeverAlone’s eyes shook.

‘Then, the Lord...?’

Shraaaaak!

Almond’s neck was sliced in return.

Thud.

He collapsed after taking massive damage.

If Almond hadn’t been the Guardian, ForeverAlone’s attack would have killed him first and rendered his earlier strike meaningless.

“So... for real...”

ForeverAlone had no idea because this had never been revealed on

Cheese Craft

. Only Almond’s closest circle knew.

“A Guardian... could never kill me in the first place?”

Even Almond hadn’t known that his basic attacks wouldn’t deal damage.

‘Even normal hits don’t work? I had no idea.’

Almond couldn’t speak in his near-death state.

ForeverAlone was left in shambles. “What... what is this even... What are you...?”

Ding.

[No... has donated 10,000 won.]

[I loved you, you bastard...]

— Our Lord...

— It was all for him lmfao

— I can’t watch this...

— Same words... completely different vibe

— Lord!!

All... all of this was the Lord’s will?

Thud.

“What ARE you, Lord!!!” ForeverAlone was nearly sobbing.

— LOOOOOOL

— Legendary

— T-This is acting... right? Haha...

— AHAHAHA

— My Lord...

— The Lord’s grace... always tragic

“Finish it!! ForeverAlone! He’s near death! Kill him now!!” Zelu screamed from behind.

However, ForeverAlone couldn’t deliver the final blow.

‘Damn it. I don’t understand anything anymore!’

Then, from the collapsed roof of the Governor’s building, black wings widely spread out.

Fwooooosh...!

— Oh no

— Holy crap

— Black Pepper is here!!

— What?!

“

Fufufufufu!

”

[Dark Knight]

Black Pepper, the Dark Knight, finally arrived with an upgraded Avenger class created specifically to fight the Guardian.

ForeverAlone raised his head.

‘Oh...?’

If she joined the fight, the Lord would have no hope left.

Fwoooooosh!!

The black wings swooped down.

ForeverAlone clenched his eyes shut and thrust his sword up.

[Iceberg]