Though the viewers were an enough to end the video without showing the winner, it was surprisingly easy to figure out the results. As soon as the NPC Excel stream turned unexpectedly entertaining, one-minute clips started popping up everywhere.
From what I could tell, Korean whales were having a pride battle when a Western whale obsessed with Japanese animation pushed for the sword instructor, followed by a Middle Eastern viewer who'd recently gotten into K-content backing the retired rcenary neighbor.
The winner ended up being the retired rcenary, backed by an oil baron who threw money around even while using machine translation for Arabic.
"So, how about hiring this retired rcenary? I'm not sure about the other two... but this one has a proven track record."
"Track record... though he's a bit older, he's definitely the most proven candidate."
Though we called it K-content, stories about retired special forces neighbors are universal in both Eastern and Western films. With so variation, you could have the neighbor or grandpa be a retired spy, hero, assassin, or various other roles.
I wasn't sure if Han Se-ah's oil money whale had fallen for the pawnshop uncle next door or the Western guy who kills entire criminal organizations to find his kidnapped daughter.
But the overwhelming amount thrown in, coupled with having the most proven record, not only humbled the viewers but also made Han Se-ah break out in cold sweat, declaring she'd distribute rewards as promised and donate all received funds.
...She probably hadn't known there was a 10 million won limit per donation, nor that soone would hit it multiple tis. Sotis she seed unaware of how big her stream had gotten.
"What do you think, Roland?"
"I t him a few days ago. Don't know much else, but his skills definitely haven't dulled."
While I was looking sowhat pitifully at Han Se-ah, who'd scratched at viewers like before without realizing her stream's weight until 'real' players showed up, attention turned my way.
Since I was the only one who knew the retired rcenary, they seed curious. Elize's docunts detailed his impressive achievents, but our companions were probably more interested in his character.
Though I knew his face, we'd only exchanged greetings in passing, so I couldn't give them the answer they wanted.
"His character should be fine too. He gets along with neighbors and offered to help when he saw lost. Plus he's a warrior willing to co out of retirent to fight for the girl next door, so he should be trustworthy."
"He's a candidate I considered for those reasons too. Since I used valuable items as bait, I couldn't hire soone likely to betray us without honor."
Elize nodded in agreent with my words. Of course she wouldn't want revenge to create more targets for revenge.
As always, most adventurers and rcenaries would switch to murder and robbery if they thought their target was weak. That's why I networked with nobles and threw around tips in silver, gold, and auxiliary equipnt to build my reputation.
It was all advertising that 'Roland has good character and money, so he won't backstab you!'
"If Hanna's fine with it, we don't mind, but what about you, Elize?"
"I trust the hero party's judgnt. I never imagined the hero, who must be busy in the Kingdom, would help with my situation."
Thanks to Elize vouching for the retired rcenary's reliability, our final mber was chosen without much fuss. As Elize left saying she'd handle contacting him, Jacob suddenly stood up. I'd completely forgotten he was there, stuck in a corner playing with his daughter.
...Wait, what kind of quest was this? Both Jacob and our joining NPC companion were estimated 5★s. While strong companions were good in simple terms, gars had to look at it differently.
Strong companions ant even stronger enemies.
Like how suddenly finding lots of ammo and health packs ant a boss monster ahead, or cabinets to hide in during horror gas ant a monster would chase you.
"Well, looks like we're done here, so I'll head out first! Say goodbye!"
"Bye bye, big sisters!"
"Bye bye~"
As I wondered why a side quest would start with two 5★s and whether this would delay the main quest, Jacob lifted his daughter and waved his arms before dashing out the door.
Leaving only the strange echo of "Daddy's gonna get scolded by mommy if he's late agaiiin!"
Seems even a natural 5★ muscular giant couldn't win against his wife.
※
Three days had passed since Elize brought her recruitnt list and Han Se-ah ran her bizarre "uncle Excel broadcast" content.
The retired rcenary had visited the training ground, laughed heartily saying he looked forward to working together, and disappeared. Jacob had apparently gotten nagged by his wife and beco his daughter's laughingstock. And Katie's magical armor repairs were finally complete.
In a dieval K-fantasy world, deliveries and mail would normally take weeks or months, but would a rich doting father skimp on sending sothing to his daughter?
Thanks to a ducal ssenger who arrived via Magic Tower teleport gate to deliver the armor and would return slowly by carriage, we got delivery that surpassed rocket shipping with teleport shipping.
"This is...!"
"Wow, I don't know much about armor, but... this is really beautiful?"
The armor lying elegantly like a jewel in its luxurious magitech box showed off flowing curves that proudly declared it was a female knight's armor.
But what caught our attention wasn't those curves mimicking a woman's figure, but the beautiful magical light softly illuminating its surface. Even without Katie wearing it, it lit up the box like beautiful lighting with the unique light blue of her ice attribute aura.
It seed to threaten to instantly freeze anyone unworthy who touched it. The won's mouths gaped slightly as if looking at a well-crafted artwork rather than armor.
"Try it on right now, Katie."
"Should we go to that training ground the rcenary showed us?"
Katie seed ready to change armor right there on the inn's first floor, practically forgetting where she was. Her excitent resembled a child who'd received a gift from Santa, naturally bringing smiles to our companions' faces.
Since everyone knew how obsessed Katie was with weapons and armor, no one suggested staying at the inn - they all followed behind .
I led the way to the training ground while Katie wobbled along hugging the huge box without even wearing the armor, as if guarding treasure. Grace and Irene surrounded her worriedly in case she fell.
Seeing their ridiculous yet adorable image captured by Han Se-ah's cara, I strode forward to hide my own erging smile.
"This way."
"Oh, didn't know the archipelago had such a wide open space."
"From what I heard, they left it empty for Sword Guild mbers and rcenaries to warm up."
Fortunately, it wasn't far from the inn, so Katie wouldn't have to struggle long with the box's bulk rather than weight.
Though Grace and Irene offered to help, they were backline fighters, not frontline. Grace had so arm muscle from drawing her bow, but Irene's arms were practically tofu or pudding level. You couldn't ask those soft arms to carry heavy loads.
Though called an empty lot, it was completely deserted in the blazing midday sun - no one wanted to sweat then. Most people probably exercised in the morning.
"Careful putting it down."
"Hehe, of course. I won't let it get scratched."
Our party mbers crowded into the small empty lot. Everyone seed curious about the beautifully glowing magical armor as Katie set down the box with an adorable grunt of effort, and they rushed to steady her though she showed no signs of falling.
Either pleased by their care or just happy to open the box, Katie grinned as she lifted the lid again.
We hadn't noticed in the cool indoor space, but opening the box outside in the bright sun released white mist like opening a freezer. The girls stuck their heads into the box like picking sumr ice cream, enjoying even that cool sensation.
"Wow, there's so kind of strange energy..."
"Um, but it's not bad, right?"
"It doesn't seem evil..."
When they suddenly pulled their heads back tilting them questioningly, I peeked into the box too, wondering if sothing was wrong.
Then an eerie voice suddenly rang in my ears:
Take the oath, child――
The oath of the snowfields――
Holy shit that scared , what the fuck is this ego armor, not even ego weapon but ego armor?
I pulled my head back startled and glanced at Katie, who shook her head saying she'd never heard about this from her family. Still, she seed to like the talking armor - her expression remained bright despite the eerie voice.
[Oath Carved in Eternal Snow]
[Armor left behind by House Wesley's ancestor beyond the Empire]
[Unable to fulfill their oath, the Kingdom's knight beca the Empire's ghost]
Only Han Se-ah's expression twisted strangely as another quest was added.
...Even if Katie was a gear-dependent character, wasn't this too many quests?
Enjoy the chappy!
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