Greatest Swordsmaster’s Game Streaming - GSGS Chapter 1: The Genius with His Head Bowed

The World Kendo Championships

“The protagonist who claims the glorious spot once again is this player!”

The commentator’s voice echoed through the stadium.

“This player’s nationality is South Korea!”

The roar of the crowd filled the arena.

“The person standing in the center is named—!”

Kim Geom-seong.

His grandfather, a renowned kendo master, had named him with the hope that he would become a ‘star’ with ‘sword’—a name that symbolized becoming a star through the sword.

Was it the influence of this name? Geom-seong had never lost in any of the World Championships he had participated in.

Whenever news of his participation in a tournament surfaced, his victory was considered a foregone conclusion.

To prove this, his home was filled with gleaming trophies.

People said he was walking the ‘Golden Road.’

However, the era was the problem.

“Medieval Action Fighting: Feel the brutal battle!”

“Altimate Online awaits you! Enter the fantasy world of life.”

“Virtual Reality Soccer! You can also play as a player! Feeling frustrated? You should try it yourself…”

“Hey, you could become Michael Jordan too! Virtual Reality Basketball…”

“It’s bitter.”

As science advanced, its growth accelerated, and suddenly, virtual reality emerged.

So, Geom-seong was confined to his room.

Once, when the sword was everything in his life, he had lost both his profession and the reputation he had built in an instant.

Now, no one cared to watch traditional sports anymore.

People flocked to virtual reality, drawn by its more stimulating and dazzling appeal.

The name Kim Geom-seong had become a forgotten relic.

It was understandable.

We live in a world full of superstars who emerge only once in an era.

It was only natural that virtual reality was more captivating than reality.

“I should eat something.”

He sighed bitterly, went to the kitchen, and opened the cupboard. The only thing available was instant noodles.

“Another day of ramen.”

He boiled water in a kettle. With nothing to do while waiting, he turned on his old smartphone.

The news was, as expected, all about virtual reality.

“…Hmm?”

As he scrolled rapidly with his thumb, a particular post caught his eye.

<Interview with the three-time consecutive champion of the Man-Baek-Ji-Wang UFC.>

“Three-time consecutive champion…?”

The content described how a single fighter had won three consecutive championships in an octagon where all weapons were allowed.

The interview footage was incredibly arrogant.

[“I was making a living with a sword even before virtual reality came out. Here, if it’s easy, it’s even easier; there’s nothing difficult about it.”]

His name was Jang Do-geom. It was a name he remembered vividly.

He was the player who had met him in every tournament he participated in, only to be eliminated and left in tears.

“You’re doing well.”

In the era of scientific singularity,

sports had deteriorated terribly.

Current sports all took place within virtual reality.

Naturally, existing athletes also adapted to the changes of the times by entering virtual reality.

However, this was impossible for Geom-seong.

“‘We are very sorry. Your senses and nerves are too sensitive, so the current synchronization function cannot connect with the capsule. It can be forced to connect, but it is extremely dangerous…’”

The virtual reality capsule couldn’t recognize Geom-seong.

This was a situation affecting less than 0.01% of users, and it was something he couldn’t accept.

“Your senses and nerves are too sensitive for the synchronization function to keep up. What does that even mean?”

Despite his denial, even the new capsules released every year were no different.

“I don’t expect anything anymore.”

Feeling powerless, Geom-seong, who found even the sight of virtual reality painful, naturally distanced himself from it.

Even if there was a sensational topic, he paid no attention if it was about virtual reality.

He knew it would only cause him more suffering.

Beeeeep—

“Oops.”

He turned off the heat as the kettle boiled and poured the water into the instant noodles.

As the powder dissolved, the smell of pho spread throughout the kitchen.

He frowned slightly, perhaps because he was already tired of the smell.

“I wish I could eat something different.”

Unfortunately, having a proper meal was a luxury.

The prize money and corporate sponsorship he had collected were all exhausted due to various circumstances.

He needed to earn money, even through part-time work, but in an era where most tasks were handled by AI, no one wanted to hire someone with just age and no real social experience.

“All my connections were severed because I couldn’t see any opportunities back then.”

It was possible to find something if he searched desperately, like the still-existent 3D job sectors.

But he lacked the will. He felt powerless. It was a clear sign of depression.

“Done.”

Geom-seong sighed and moved to the living room with his cup noodles, turning his attention to the old TV. It was still filled with virtual reality news.

[“Is the price too high and burdensome? Virtual reality devices and capsules are currently on a huge discount!”]

[A new capsule has been released! It boasts overwhelming performance compared to the previous models…”]

Seeing the capsule advertisements made Geom-seong’s brow furrow.

“…This won’t work either.”

He still had lingering hopes and checked every time a new capsule was released, but it had always been in vain.

“Done.”

He shook his head before harboring any false hopes. Just as he was about to have a bite of his noodles, the doorbell rang suddenly. Ding-dong. Ding-dong. Ding-dong. It rang continuously.

“I’m coming!”

He hurried to the front door and opened it to find his younger sister, Kim Ha-yeon, standing there.

“What’s this? No prior notice?”

“Just came to see how you’ve been living lately.”

Ha-yeon’s gaze shifted as she entered, and she soon cast a shadow over her face.

“Another cup of noodles?”
“No, it’s pho this time.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

When Geom-seong tilted his head in confusion, his sister let out a deep sigh.

“Get ready to go out.”

“But the cup noodles…”

“Ah, hurry up!”

She was as fierce as ever today. Geom-seong was used to this attitude from his sister, who always came over and took him out to eat in this manner.

“So, why are you here today?”

“I told you. I came to see how you’re doing.”

Kim Ha-yeon, who had also learned kendo with Geom-seong when she was younger, had taken a different path and was now living independently and working in society.

In other words, unlike Geom-seong, she had a stable job and was a well-off working adult.

“Throw away the cup noodles and get ready to go out.”

Faced with his sister’s firm stance, Geom-seong reluctantly sent the cup noodles to the sink, his lips twisting in disappointment.

“Such a waste.”

He put aside his regrets and went to change his clothes. As he entered his room, he noticed the kendo armor displayed there.

“……”

The armor, a companion for half of his life and a symbol of his achievements.

Every time he looked at it, he was lost in nostalgia.

“Brings back memories.”

The kendo dojo, bustling with people of all ages, from children to adults. Some practiced it as a hobby, some for training, and some for fitness.

But now, the only physical exercise he did was the gym to maintain his health.

“Ah, Ha-yeon will be waiting.”

His moment of reflection ended. He quickly changed and headed back to the living room.

“Let’s go.”

* * *

Riding in his sister’s car, Geom-seong arrived at a western-style restaurant. The place where even a single menu item easily exceeded 40,000 won.

“Is it okay to come to such an expensive place?”

“This much is nothing.”

“Oh, a big corporation…”

“Yeah. Avatar designer.”

Ha-yeon, who had graduated from art school and now worked as a highly sought-after virtual reality avatar designer. Her career path was impressive, no matter how you looked at it.

“Does she know the future or something?”

It seemed like she had mapped out a perfect route.

“By the way, have you heard about the new capsule?”

“The capsule?”

Geom-seong gave a bitter smile and shook his head. He could already foresee what was coming.

“It probably won’t work.”

He had no expectations.

“But this time it might actually work. I’ve heard that the capsule itself has advanced ridiculously.”

Kim Ha-yeon continued, trying to persuade him.

“How about just checking it out?”

“No, it’s too much hassle.”

“Come on, don’t be like that. Okay?”

“I said it’s fine.”

The tension in Geom-seong’s brow deepened.

The result seemed unlikely to change this time either.

Despair, powerlessness, feelings of defeat, anger, denial.

He didn’t want to feel these emotions any longer.

“……”

“……”

The atmosphere grew cold in an instant. Geom-seong’s firmness cut off the conversation.

Ha-yeon, trying to find a way to keep persuading him, shifted to an old story that came to mind.

“Do you remember when people used to call you ‘The Greatest Swordmaster’?”

“…When was that?”

The title “Greatest Swordmaster” was given to Geom-seong for dominating the kendo tournaments that Japan once ruled.

At the time, he had only thought it was childish, but now he just missed it.

“You were embarrassed back then but secretly enjoyed it.”

“Enough, that was over five years ago.”

Lost in nostalgia, Ha-yeon chuckled softly.

“

Back then, our whole family was happy. Even Mom and Grandpa, who are no longer with us, were so proud of you.”

A scene flashed through Geom-seong’s mind: his family cheering and smiling from the stands, and the crowd fervently calling out his name. Now, those moments were nothing but memories.

“I really miss those times. Now it feels so lonely, and you seem so down…”

Ha-yeon, glancing sideways, cautiously continued.

“So, instead of staying like this, why not give it a try? You know I work in virtual reality, right? I’ve heard some things around. Please?”

Despite Ha-yeon’s persistent persuasion, Geom-seong only fiddled with his chopsticks, avoiding the conversation.

‘…If it doesn’t work this time.’

Fear.

This emotion, which had gradually wrapped around him like chains, bound him.

Expectations and hopes always turned into discouragement and disappointment.

“…”

“…”

Geom-seong chose to evade. Ha-yeon tilted her head and made another suggestion, her lonely eyes looking at him.

“I’ve always visited you whenever you came out of the capsule, but I’ve never asked like this. Can’t you trust me just this once?”

Geom-seong’s eyes widened slightly. Come to think of it, she had only ever made suggestions, not direct requests.

Could this time really be different? He couldn’t help but harbor false hopes.

“Ugh…”

His eyes clenched shut and hot breaths escaped. Overcoming the sense of powerlessness wasn’t easy. The cruel reality had always torn him apart.

“Really, you never know. Let’s just give it a try this time, okay?”

Ha-yeon continued to persuade him, watching her brother with growing determination. She knew well the despair Geom-seong had felt. She hadn’t forgotten his dark expression when he faced the results.

That’s why she had been careful with her suggestions so far, but now she was certain that this time was different.

“Oppa?”

Geom-seong, lost in thought with his eyes closed, did not respond. As Ha-yeon, parched from the tense atmosphere, tilted her glass, he finally spoke.

“…Just this once.”

“Really?!”

“Yes.”

As soon as permission was granted, a bright light appeared on Ha-yeon’s face.

“Let’s eat and go right away!”

She hurried her meal, fearing her brother might change his mind.

* * *

In the self-operated capsule room, Ha-yeon inserted her card into the kiosk.

“Numbers 8 and 9.”

They walked down the corridor side by side. After a short distance, they arrived at the room where the capsules were set up.

The capsules were the size of a single person, white cylindrical with glass doors.

“Are these all the new models?”

“Yes. The capsule rooms always maintain the latest models.”

Though the new models had only been released recently, most capsule rooms had upgraded to the latest models.

With a small additional fee, the company would exchange the old models for the new ones.

“The new models have a different way of entering. I’ll show you, so come here.”

They fitted a neural connection gear on his head and attached an ECG monitor to check his physical condition, along with a breathing sensor. This was the new method for accessing the updated capsules.

“Once this is done, it’s finished.”

“Sure seems like there are more devices than before.”

“You can do it, right?”

“Yes, I got it.”

Geom-seong entered the capsule and closed his eyes. His heart felt cold, and cold sweat dripped down. Even though he tried not to have expectations, he couldn’t hide his true feelings.

“Oppa! If it works, set the game to Altimate and look for the nickname Ha-yeon Queen in the starting village!”

With a wry smile at her naming sense, Geom-seong recalled her words and quietly fell asleep.

[Capsule activation.]

[User registration information is missing.]

[Would you like to create a new one?]

[Accept/Reject]

Geom-seong pressed the accept button, and the scene shifted as if traveling through dimensions, quickly moving through a blue space until a human form appeared.

[Please set your name and appearance!]

[*It is also possible to call up your actual body!]

‘It’s probably not going to work, so why bother?’

Proceeding with a half-hearted acceptance, a blue light spread out and scanned his body. Soon, an avatar identical to Geom-seong appeared before him.

[Name: Kim Geom-seong]

[Avatar has been created.]

[Attempting sensory synchronization.]

His heart tightened and his eyes fluttered. This situation felt like a trauma, as he had always been stuck here before.

[In progress.]

Just like before.

[In progress…….]

No matter how long he waited, it did not proceed.

‘…As expected.’

His tightly clenched fists trembled. He thought he had resigned, but pessimistic feelings surged like a waterfall.

‘…Let’s get out.’

Just as he was about to end the capsule and leave.

[User information is being registered.]

[Name: Kim Geom-seong]

[Sensory synchronization 100%.]

[If the user is in danger, sensory input will be blocked.]

The capsule recognized Geom-seong.