Samurai Hearts – Chapter 1: For Vengeance (7)
Even when it's a two-player run, events normally progress simultaneously—but this time, they seemed to be making a special exception.
Newly presented were the event-progress choices.
Naturally, the viewers went wild again the moment they appeared.
- ?- You're a streamer, right? Then you gotta do it.- She's really squeezing into this?- They're giving her a free shot LOL
'She's-Coming' has donated ₩10,000!
[Hey, trash! I'll show you the real spicy side of a VR streamer! Spicy-Specialist Victoria is coming!]
With donations flying in, the atmosphere made it absolutely impossible to choose option 2.
Seung-yeon made a miserable face.
"Guys, come on. You just saw it. They're Sword Masters, okay? Sword Masters—right under Sword Saint. Kratos beat them only because he just brute-forced it with no swordsmanship. There's no way I can win."
Anyone who'd watched the fight with Kratos could easily tell how skilled the sword masters were.
Even at a glance, they were opponents someone as physically frail as Seung-yeon could never beat.
Of course, it wasn't like the viewers didn't know that.
- And so? Kekekek- King-tier content- LET'S GOOOO CHALLENGE SPIRITTT
They just didn't care—at all.
Especially the ones typing most excitedly: viewers who had watched Seung-yeon for a long time, a.k.a. the notorious "Victory-and-Defeat Gang," who loved bullying her more than anyone.
Other viewers had no real reason to stop them, so they just played along.
"Hmmm… well, Kratos already beat them, so do I really need to do the event again? Playing the same event twice is a little…"
'God-toria' has donated ₩1,000!
[Option 1]
"Thank you for the 1,000 won, God-toria. But guys, you know me. I'm Victoria, the spicy-content specialist. There's no need to re-test my physical skills—"
'God-toria' has donated ₩5,000!
[Option 1]
"Ah… thank you very much for the 5,000 won. Anyway, why don't we reconsider? It's better to progress quickly and find out what the Sword God Style actually—"
'God-toria' has donated ₩10,000!
[Option 1]
"…Fine. I'll do it. I'll do it, okay? Just stop donating…"
'God-toria' has donated ₩50,000!
[Sat—isfied]
- LOOOOOOOOL- Pea—ce- Neutral Country Support went hard LOL- That's way too much money to refuse- Beating her with money I can't breathe hahaha
With viewers going insane over the newly gained chance, Seung-yeon had no strength to resist.
Technically, she could've refused—but then she couldn't call herself a streamer.
Defeated by the viewers' will, Seung-yeon made a crying face and chose the first option.
But inside, she felt differently.
She actually welcomed the situation—since it meant she could participate in the event.
I didn't think they'd give me another chance… thank goodness.
She'd been instantly one-shot by the Sword Saint before—so fast that "fight" wasn't even the right word.
She hadn't even gotten a single proper swing in, so she assumed she wouldn't be allowed to do the event at all.
Of course, she wasn't thinking she could beat the sword masters.
She had no intention of even trying to match them.
But the reason she was happy was simple: this was a chance to create good stream content.
The playful back-and-forth just now, the comedic contrast she'd get when she inevitably lost compared to Dohyun's performance…
She was a streamer before she was a gamer.
"Why do you hate it so much? If you need help, I can just help you."
Dohyun quietly asked, stepping in.
The way he rested his hand on his sword made it seem like he'd slice the three sword masters apart the instant she asked—but Seung-yeon only sighed and shook her head.
"If the event triggered separately, that means it's a personal event. You probably can't intervene."
"Oh, really? Well, good luck then~"
His overly relaxed tone made Seung-yeon's eye twitch, but she held back.
She didn't want to waste mental energy before even starting a fight she had absolutely no chance of winning.
I can't win, but I still can't throw the match on purpose.
Viewers with sharp eyes would notice immediately.
Even in defeat, she had to give it her all.
Srrrng—
Taking a deep breath, Seung-yeon drew her sword.
The moment she selected the acceptance option, Kanbei drew his blade as well, eyes flaring.
"To see once more the sword that defeated the Sword Saint! Yatsugyu Kanbei, I come!"
"Victoria, incoming!"
Kanbei and Seung-yeon clashed—
…
And shortly after.
Exactly one minute later—
Seung-yeon sat slumped in a corner of the clearing, muttering pitifully.
"…Yes… You're right… I'm trash… I'm the idiot who gets one-shotted by a sword master… I want to be alone… Don't talk to me…"
- This is Victoria! Despair Arc!- 5252 I always believed in you!- But for real, a 1-second kill? LOL- Spicy-streamer-level physical stats, respect
'Sparkle-Sparkle' has donated ₩1,000!
[Good-bye-Kill Technique!]
"Thank you for the 1,000 won, Sparkle-Sparkle, but please don't do that. I'm going to cry. Ugh… do I need to learn the counter-phrase for 'Good-bye-Kill Technique' now…"
Letting out a deep sigh, Seung-yeon stood up.
The Three Sword Masters' trial event was over.
In exactly one second.
She had been unable to block even a single strike from Yatsugyu Kanbei.
She thought she could at least block one—but learning she couldn't even do that had shaken her more than she expected.
Sword Saint Katoya was infamous, sure, but the Three Sword Masters weren't supposed to be that bad.
And Dohyun had beaten all of them without too much trouble.
I didn't really lose anything, but why does it feel like I did?
Even if it was a bonus chance, a one-second defeat was cruel.
But what angered her most was how the NPCs reacted right after the event ended.
"Like—okay! Maybe I suck! Fine! Maybe I can't win! But why is some NPC insulting me?! That's just mean!!"
- Whoa okay;;- Sudden acceleration;;- Awwww, did our Victoria get sad? you poor thing~
Kanbei's post-fight evaluation had been:
"You claim to have defeated the Sword Saint with such pathetic skill? Even a stray dog would laugh! Hah! Your sword is trash, woman!"
Being mocked by viewers after a 1-second loss was bad enough—but being roasted by an NPC rubbed salt in the wound.
No wonder she collapsed in a corner in despair.
Even a spicy-content streamer doesn't enjoy being insulted by an NPC.
Honestly, I'd love to retry until I succeed…
But the problem was Dohyun and the viewers who came to watch him.
The long-time viewers would enjoy it no matter how many resets she did.
But the viewers who came for Dohyun?
And Dohyun himself, who'd have to just stand there watching?
If Dohyun were the one retrying, sure. But me? No way.
That meant she had to accept the result as is.
It felt unfair and miserable—but what else could she do?
She just didn't have the skill.
Not knowing what was going through Seung-yeon's mind, Dohyun snickered and teased her.
"I heard something from the viewers. Your nickname is Guan Yu, right? Because you pour tea and the tea hasn't even cooled before you get game-overed."
"That's not it. It's Guan Yu because I sweep through enemies like him. That's why."
"…That's not what I heard."
"The viewers lied. They're all mouth-liars. Mouth-liars!"
"Mouth-liar? Oh—meaning the moment they open their mouth, it's a lie?"
- ?- ?- that's slander;;- she's shifting the blame??- nO WAy THE TEA-POURING STORY IS REAL??
"I dunno, sis. The viewers seem to think otherwise."
"Shut up!"
SMAAACK—!
Seung-yeon slapped Dohyun's back with a nice, loud smack.
Of course, with VR pain limits, it didn't hurt at all.
If anything, it only made Dohyun burst into louder laughter.
Dohyun was a good, obedient younger brother—but they were still siblings.
Which meant they tried to bite each other's heads off whenever possible.
"Stop laughing, you jerk! Hurry up and check that Sword God Style you got! And see what Sword Soul even is!"
"Alright, alright."
Since the event had ended, the Three Sword Masters had already returned to their positions.
Ignoring the tengu who stood there silently watching them, Dohyun stepped into the center of the clearing.
Okay, what did she say? Check the sword forms first?
Remembering Seung-yeon's advice, he pulled up the sword-style information in front of him.
In Samurai Hearts, sword styles are divided into two major parts:
Innate Effects and Sword Forms (검식).
If Innate Effects describe what happens when you use the style, then Sword Forms describe the actual movements—how the sword is swung.
How to swing the blade.
There aren't many complex motions.
VR gamers playing for fun don't grind complicated swordsmanship.
So sword forms are very basic: downward slash, upward slash, horizontal slash, high guard, and so on.
Every sword style has ten forms, and based on whether those forms are mostly offensive or defensive, the style is categorized.
Which was why Seung-yeon told him to check the sword forms first.
By looking at the forms, you could get a feel for what the style was.
…None?
The problem was that the sword-form list displayed exactly two characters:
"None."
Dohyun tilted his head.
"Sis, this says there are no sword forms?"
"No sword forms? Then how are you supposed to get the bonuses and effects? Anything else written?"
"Yeah. Here, let me see…"
Dohyun read the Sword God Style description word-for-word.
"Sword Soul. When activated, all abilities greatly increase. Can be strengthened using 'Will' obtained from defeating enemies. That's it."
"That's… all it says?"
"Yep. Why? Is that bad?"
"Mmm… I dunno. Try using it. We'll understand once we see it."
Dohyun nodded and drew his sword.
He took a stance, eyes serious—
—but quickly turned to Seung-yeon with an awkward smile.
"So how do I use it?"
"It said 'when activated,' right? So just think something like 'activate Sword Soul.' Or say it out loud."
"Okay."
Dohyun silently muttered in his head:
Activate Sword Soul.
Wooooom—!
Instantly, a formless aura burst from his body.
His cloak fluttered violently.
A fierce gust of wind exploded outward from where he stood.
And that wasn't all.
A heavy, powerful strength surged up from deep within his body, making him blink in surprise.
He could feel the stat increases clearly.
If it's like this…
Swaaash—!
He lightly swung his sword through the air—and his eyes widened.
Even though he had swung with relaxed arms, the speed matched what had previously required full strength.
Then what if he swung at full power?
Curiosity sparked.
Gritting his teeth, he stepped forward—
CRACK!
The clearing floor dented under his foot.
He followed the momentum and delivered a full-force slash!
FWOOOSH—!
The blade cut cleanly through empty air—but the force behind it was monstrous.
A heavy rush of wind exploded outward.
Dohyun himself was startled by how strong the swing had become.
"That's the Sword Soul activated?"
"Yeah. It is."
"So this is the base state, and it grows further by collecting Will, huh."
Seung-yeon stroked her chin.
"I'm not sure if No-Soul or Sword-Soul will be better later. This one puts every point into pure physical enhancement, so that part is definitely strong, but…"
- If it raises physical stats, isn't that even better for Kratos-bro??- yeah probably. Too bad it has no sword forms tho lol- but I don't think creating a custom style = automatically OP. The restrictions look heavy.
Seung-yeon nodded at chat.
When she heard "create your own sword art," she thought maybe you could make something ridiculously overpowered—but that wasn't the case.
Instead, you got unique effects but also limitations not found in regular styles.
It felt like content designed for hardcore veterans.
Well, considering how insane the tutorial route was, I guess this makes sense.
She didn't know how this route would progress—but with her lacking physical stats, she had a bad feeling it would be rough.
So she decided to use the idea she had prepared in advance.
"Hey, little brother."
"What?"
"Let's add a new stream content starting today. You remember what I told you before, right?"
"What you told me…? Oh, that?"
- what's she trying to add holy crap- another content segment??- just do what you already have;;- if she mixes more things, even a mutt would walk away- fr
Dohyun looked at his sister with a "you're really gonna do that?" expression.
He had heard her earlier joking explanation of the idea—but didn't think she'd actually go through with it.
But Seung-yeon's expression was firm.
She had already steeled herself.
Clenching her fist, she spoke each word with dramatic weight.
"Yeah. We're launching the 'Turning Victoria Into A Functional Human Being' project. Little brother—no, Master! Please bestow your teachings upon me!"
- LMAOOOOO SHE'S DOING IT??- SIBLING DOMINANCE REVERSED WORLD OMG- this is not a normal stream anymore- incredible content 10/10 LOL