Episode 8
The next day.
Before his broadcast, Seo-jun checked out the Assassin's Dawn community.
Scrolling through the 30-upvote posts, most were about big streamers and game info. The Joseon Assassin's post from yesterday...
"Found it."
Going back two pages revealed numerous related 30-up posts:
[Why Unknown's 30-up video is fake]
[Why Unknown's video is legendary]
[Pros avoid parry-clashes by choice, not inability]
[Why overanalyze Musou mode?]
The posts had high views and heated comment sections. Flame wars brewed everywhere.
-But why does staff slash deal damage?
└ Never tried Do-soom, huh?
└ Yeah
└ Let me explain: staffs are iron-based.
└ So?
└ Tetanus damage lol
└ Quit the bullshit. There's a hidden blade inside. Meant for when you can't draw the sword, but dude never fully unsheathed it.
Comments like these existed too.
But that was all.
"Buried fast, huh?"
Scrolling up slightly revealed new heated debates. This community thrived on fresh drama—staying relevant without constant updates was nearly impossible.
Seo-jun kept browsing.
Soon, a post caught his eye:
[Repost) Why the new Level 10 AI is so damn toxic]
"This is the Assassin's Dawn community. Since when do they discuss Training Grounds?"
He hadn't known, but major events often transcended community themes. Common knowledge meant easy upvotes.
The Training Grounds—a VR beginner's gateway and warm-up hub. Shin Ha-yeon's AI had dominated Level 10 for five years, crushing pros into despair. An impregnable fortress.
Someone defeating it anonymously? At this point, the whole community not discussing it would've been stranger.
Seo-jun clicked. The post was copied from another forum:
Y'all know Level 10 AI changed, right?
Few days ago, ex-pro Gamjeon's stream (you know his pre-game Training Grounds ritual) summoned some dude named Unknown instead of Ha-yeon. Chaos.
Private account. Everyone's obsessing over his identity, but I'm here for his personality.
Buddy sent me his fight footage (upload approved):
(Level 10 AI battle video)
Skill's insane, but this bastard's malicious.
Sometimes blocks while deliberately turning his head.
Peak toxicity.
My buddy rage-quit when Unknown kept flexing "blind blocks" mid-fight.
What'd the AI do to deserve this?
Obvious why he uploaded this data.
Pure trolling.
Drop your sword? Ha-yeon waited for you. Unknown? Game over. Steps on it, pokes you mockingly, or yeets it into oblivion.
Hence the private profile lol
Creepiest part? Registering Level 10 AI requires fighting the previous AI for hours to mimic you—that's the data process.
Meaning Unknown input all this (head-turns, parries) while battling 5-year champ Ha-yeon. LMAOOOO
PS: My buddy swears Unknown isn't human—some project team's AlphaGo 2.0. OMG
(Original link)
-Ha-yeon skipped League ranked yesterday lol
└ 100% grinding Training Grounds. Dude updates his data religiously to keep his throne.
-What a toxic legend LMAO
└ Fr tho—other masters respected the position's honor. This guy privatizes and goes full troll mode lol
Seo-jun felt oddly accused.
"Just messing around with Tae-woo led to this..."
Updating data was tedious—just endless battle repeats. No wonder he'd unconsciously become "that guy."
-Just watched vid—is this Unknown?
└ Stop mentioning Hako bastards!
└ Touch grass!
Again, the Joseon Assassin commented.
"Sharp eyes. Hmm."
Seo-jun checked each comment one by one and felt slightly disappointed. He hadn't expected this much attention.
But.
'Nothing good comes from sudden gains.'
Didn't he know that from his past life experience?
That unprepared power becomes poison.
And.
'Just gotta grow day by day.'
Seo-jun stretched before entering his streaming capsule.
[Followers: 432]
More people had followed than expected. But only 6 viewers had watched his live stream.
Just how many would actually show up?
[Starting stream]
Seo-jun pressed the pulse of Assassin's Dawn City.
The background darkened as buildings from the distant horizon rushed toward him, looming overhead.
"Tsk!"
The moment Seo-jun went live, chat and viewer counts began rising.
-Seoha!
-Is this the famous No-Name stream?
-I was waiting
-Live!
-Whoa, not the Joseon Assassin's stream??
"Nope, this isn't The Joseon Assassin's stream. For the record, I'm not being paid to say that either."
-lololol
-Shutting down drama with facts lol
-Chat: This dude's got game for a Day 2 streamer???
As interactions began, a fanfare sound effect played.
['HowDoIDoThis' donated 10,000 won (~$7)!]
[Saw your vid but can't beat Etor. How? Been waiting just to ask!]
His first donation.
"Oh! Thanks for the donation. Hmm, how to beat Etor? Just hit one spot. Works every time."
-Damn! Didn't know that.
-As yesterday's viewer: don't ask him stuff lolol
-Only the streamer can answer questions.
-There goes my wasted 10 bucks lol
Seeing this, Seo-jun snapped to attention: "Pro tip? Aim for weak points—NPCs panic more when you hit those. Damage is similar though."
He kept chatting casually while waiting for more viewers.
['Finally' donated 1,000 won!]
[I... can... breathe... now...]
"Uh... congrats?"
Seo-jun looked puzzled. Was this some new meme?
-Grats wtf lol
-Is this the guy who got 30 subs yesterday?
After brief interactions, Seo-jun checked viewer count:
[Viewers: 327]
He'd expected maybe 100—this far exceeded expectations.
'Guess everyone who's coming is here now.'
Time to end small talk—this was a gaming stream after all. But Seo-jun didn't know much yet.
Other games had clear paths, but Assassin's Dawn was open-world. Regular players would explore naturally, but as a streamer he needed immediate content.
"Alright. What should I do now?"
Chat flooded in:
-Show us some OP gameplay
-Finally proving yourself?
-What's there to prove??
Community newcomers wanted action.
-Just explore! Get assassination contracts for money, pickpocket, or sightsee—that's open-world!
-For story progress, take assassination contracts on key figures around districts.
One chatter gave detailed advice—the same helpful viewer from his first stream.
"Hmm. For story, use this beacon stone?"
Its description read:
"[A magical tool to contact the Assassins.]"
-Yeah or just hit the tavern.
-Fun fact) Christina noona appears in every district.
Seo-jun recalled yesterday's research:
The city was Altheon—blending old European architecture with crowded modern streets into a perfect fantasy city. Divided into four districts:
Central Royal District (palace), Northwest (mage tower), Northeast Noble Quarter, and Commoners' Area elsewhere. Security and assassination difficulty followed this hierarchy too. Players could get district-appropriate contracts from Assassins—or kill randomly without taking missions.
Even the Assassins Were No Exception.
"Let's start with some pickpocketing as a warm-up."
He'd never attempted pickpocketing in his past or current life. This made him genuinely curious.
[Chat]
Avoiding fights in case your skills get exposed? LOLOL
Yea try it. Get caught and guards'll swarm immediately
To the market! GO GO
Seo-jun opened the map.
"Wow, the city's massive."
The market lay at the heart of District 4, where commoners resided—a short walk from his current location.
As he gaped at the streets, viewers adored his awestruck reactions.
Upon reaching the market, Seo-jun blended into the crowd like a shadow. He intentionally bumped into people while covertly maneuvering his hands.
"Oops!"
Swish.
"Watch where you're going, punk!"
Swish.
"You alright, young man?"
Swish.
Three wallets now filled his pockets.
"Applied the Golden Hand's tricks. Easier than I expected."
[Chat]
Streamer's sus-level pickpocketing skills tho LOL
Wait, those reflexes are IRL-trained? Back alley upbringing?
Confirmed Murim heritage
Is this a theft stream now? DEAD
Getting chased by guards is the real fun tbh
Seo-jun smirked at the chat.
"At least I won't starve with these skills, right?"
[Chat]
Bro could build a Gangnam high-rise with that loot LMAO
Then—
"Hey. You. Come here."
Seo-jun turned toward the voice’s source: a shadow-drenched market alley.
Two men slinked out from the darkness.
"Nice moves. But to 'operate' here, you gotta pay us first."
Seo-jun stared at them incredulously.
"Seriously? I get extorted by thugs instead of guards? What kind of game is this?"
The absurdity left him speechless.
[Chat]
FR the game's freedom is insane
Gangnam high-rise? CUTSCENE SKIP!
RAMAPGE TIME! WIPE 'EM OUT
"Unacceptable. Can we eliminate their faction in-game?" Ideas bloomed—perfect streaming material.
[Chat]
YES
Kill their boss = clean market
Disassemblers? GOAT game feature
Seo-jun beamed.
"Then today's stream goal is erasing their organization!"
[Chat]
Noir movie vibes?
You're fighting DISASSEMBLERS? LOLOL
Using them as a skill check? I'M IN
The thugs bore mask insignias on their shoulders—Disassembler grunts. Their boss ruled District 4 as the game’s mid-level antagonist.
[Chat]
Streamer def doesn't know who they are KEKW
CHARGE!
Snack time?
Madman: taking down gangs to steal better
First-time viewer—this is COMEDY GOLD
