Chapter 3 The Challenge
The topic of the bet was simple:
— Could anyone break [Astra Lee Shinhyuk]’s record?
Both parties agreed that it was possible for someone to do it.
However, they disagreed on the details.
Kobong-i said the record would probably stand for several more years.
Meanwhile, Mousesucker believed that challengers could absolutely emerge if they offered a prize and actively recruited participants.
That led to an argument, and eventually, a bet.
What started as a private wager between the two quickly turned into full-blown content.
Several streamer friends chimed in and ended up splitting into Team Kobong-i and Team Mousesucker.
A colossal showdown with nearly 100 million won (approx. $75,000 USD) in personal funds at stake.
In the streaming world, it instantly became the hottest topic.
Of course, viewers were also divided.
But most of them seemed to side with Kobong-i’s opinion.
— LOL, they pooled 100 million won of their own money, not even from donations?
— This is gold. Most streamers don’t care when it’s not their money, but Mousesucker’s pushing this hard AF.
— Astra gave an interview once and said, “I doubt anyone can surpass me,” meaning it’s that hard.
— True. Someone did reach the same stage as Astra once, but even he admitted breaking the record was probably impossible.
— Honestly, Kobong-i basically won from the start.
┗ Isn’t Kobong-i the obvious favorite?
┗┗ Yeah, it’s gonna be a while before we see another Astra.
Of course, there were dissenting opinions:
— Didn’t Astra set that record back in 10th grade? Maybe it’s time someone else came along.
— If you round up all the physically gifted teens and get them to try, it might not be impossible.
┗ That’s why Mousesucker’s been begging kids near high schools to join at capsule game cafés, LOL. But it’s the last day, right?
┗┗ Realized too late. Only started canvassing on Day 4, lmao. You snooze, you lose.
Mousesucker promoted the event aggressively, announcing that anyone who beat the record within a week—on livestream or in a video—would receive 10 million won.
On the first day, capsule game cafés across the country were packed.
Kobong-i was inwardly nervous due to the hype, but as time went on, the pressure shifted entirely to Mousesucker.
“Today’s the last day… If nobody shows up, I won’t be able to look my supporters in the eye!!!”
He felt awful thinking he might let down the fellow streamers who had backed him.
Sure, they gained some revenue along the way.
But Mousesucker didn’t want to lose when he was entrusted with their money.
“And if I lose, Mom’s gonna kill me and I won’t even be able to spend on content next month!!”
More than anything, the fear of losing his own spending money terrified him.
But time passed cruelly.
Viewers only laughed and teased him.
— Give it up, sucker. They’ll give you a discount on the 10 mil. Just bow down already!
— Stubborn till the end. It’s not even all your money—think about the others too.
— Don’t quit now. Whether it’s 100 million or 90 million, it’s still huge. If a buzzer-beater shows up, it’ll go viral!
— Viral? More like viral embarrassment. Cringe compilation incoming, LOL.
┗ FR LOL
┗┗ So real lmao
“Manager! Blacklist all these trash-talking punks!!”
He fumed, but it wasn’t all bad.
It looked like he’d lose money, but the content had attracted more donation money than the amount staked in the bet.
Still, winning would’ve been better. He’d made some profit, but couldn’t cover everyone else’s shares.
“It’s Sunday, so why is this capsule café so empty? Barely any high schoolers here?”
— LOL. The college entrance exam is this week. Think they’re coming out to play games?
— I’m hiding at home just to avoid getting scolded. Going to a café would get me K.O.’d by Mom.
— Kids, go study. Mousesucker already lost.
— Anyone not watching this stream is a winner. I’m not one of them, though. 🙂
┗ Add me to the losers list.
— LOL same.
— Picked the worst possible time. Nobody’s gaming with the college entrance exam days away.
“Oh crap, that’s right—the CSAT is this week!! Why didn’t I think of that, you dumbass!!”
He slapped his bald head in self-scolding as chat burst into laughter.
The bet lasted until 5 p.m.
It was now 4:10.
Everyone fully believed that Mousesucker’s loss was inevitable.
“Mom, I’m heading out now.”
“Okay. Go study, and good luck on the exam, son!”
Dojun nodded and exited the hospital room with his younger sister.
At the lobby, a woman from the hospital administration ran up.
“Dojun, take this.”
She handed him an envelope of documents, which he slipped into his bag.
“Thanks.”
“Take care, okay?”
As she watched him leave, the woman sighed.
“He breaks my heart every time.”
“When did you start caring so much about patients? You just think he’s hot.”
“Okay, yeah—he’s good-looking. It hits different.”
“He’s still a minor, that’s illegal.”
“Oh, shut up~”
The staff laughed it off, but Dojun only felt a heavy weight inside.
The envelope contained hospital bills.
He hadn’t fallen behind on payments yet.
But all the bills were being paid with borrowed money—it was like carving into his own flesh.
He sighed internally but didn’t show it outwardly.
Once they left the hospital, his sister spoke up.
“Oppa, I’ve got plans with a friend. I’ll head there first.”
“Don’t stay out too late. Come home early.”
“Okay okay, stop nagging~”
She stuck out her tongue and ran off toward the station.
She said she had plans, but it was probably another part-time job.
Dojun had a tutoring session with Lee Junseong later that evening.
‘Still some time left… Should I walk?’
It was a bit far, but he had enough time to jog there.
And he could save on bus fare.
As he began to stretch lightly, he heard a voice from the distance.
“Beat the [Physical Class] high score and win 10 million won!! We’ll pay for the capsule fee, just come try it!!”
Dojun froze.
‘Ten million won??’
That jaw-dropping sum lured him toward the voice like a trance.
He arrived to find a massive crowd in front of a capsule café.
“If you’ve played before, you can’t enter. Only first-timers!”
Mousesucker was shouting, but no new participants stepped forward.
Most people here had already played [Physical Class].
But Dojun fit the criteria.
‘Should I give it a shot?’
He had never tried a VR game before.
It didn’t cost anything, and he still had time.
Dojun pushed through the crowd and approached Mousesucker.
“Can I try?”
A cheer erupted.
Mousesucker greeted him with open arms.
“Finally!! Of course you can! It’s 4:30 now—practically the last shot.”
“If I break the record, do I really get the 10 million?”
Dojun asked innocently.
“Hell yes! Just break it and I’ll wire it straight to your account.”
As Mousesucker confidently replied, something shifted in Dojun’s gaze.
He didn’t know who this guy was, but the crowd said enough—he was someone big.
‘If this isn’t a joke…’
There was no reason not to try.
Although the final participant had appeared, Mousesucker had already half-given up internally.
Still, he put on a cheerful front for the interview.
“Alright, come this way, student. You are a student, right?”
“Yes, I am.”
“You look like a high schooler. What grade?”
“Senior—12th grade.”
At that, the chat blew up.
— What’s a senior doing here four days before the college entrance exam?!
— Kid, go home and study. You’re wasting time.
— He’s already given up lol.
— But if Mousesucker’s in front of you, how can you not take the chance?
“Wait, you’ve only got four days till the CSAT! You’re gonna get me roasted for this. Go home, kid.”
Mousesucker tried to keep things light-hearted and send him away, but Dojun stood firm.
“It’s fine. Studying four more days won’t change anything. CSAT just reflects your usual performance.”
“Don’t be dumb. One question can change your entire grade. Memorize one more thing. What’s your current score range?”
“All subjects—top percentile.”
“See, I knew you’d be—wait, WHAT? All top percentile!?”
— WTF. Guess he’s right. Four more days won’t change his score.
— Liar. No way.
— That confidence though. “It’s about your usual level”… What’s my usual level, LOL.
— I’m out. Going back to study. I’m wasting my life here.
┗ Didn’t you hear? Four days won’t help anyway, LOL.
Mousesucker laughed, excited that this would make good video content.
“Alright. You’re good to go. Sorry for giving you a hard time.”
“Thanks. Do I enter here?”
He pointed to the capsule, and Mousesucker nodded.
“Yep. But you need to take off your mask first.”
“Ah… Do I have to?”
— “Do I have to?” LOL
— Wait… is this 1st percentile dude really new to VR capsules?
— Seems real. No wonder he’s top-ranked.
— If you want straight-As, don’t touch a capsule… (noted)
“Technically, you can wear it. But it might interfere with the sensors. This your first capsule?”
“Yes.”
“Oh crap…”
— LOLOL
— Last contestant is doomed. Should’ve just taken the discount, lol.
— RIP. King of Regret.
— Time to cough up 100 mil.
— That final lottery ticket was a dud. Boom.
— You never know. Maybe he’s a natural?
— Nah. He’s the only all-top student in the world? Yeah right.
Mousesucker chuckled nervously.
But Dojun remained unfazed and calmly removed his mask.
At that moment, the crowd gasped.
“Whoa…”
Even Mousesucker blinked in shock.
“What the hell? This guy’s freaking handsome!”
– He’s totally freaking handsome…
– When he took off his mask, I legit thought he was a celebrity…
– WTF, he’s an all-first-tier student and looks like that with that height?!
– That bastard has to be 3cm. He just has to be 3cm. He has to be 3cm, no matter what.
– He’s got straight 1st-tier grades, that face, and that height—there’s no way he’s good at games too, right?
– Whoa… that oppa is super famous at our school!!
┗ Which school are you from?
Dojun, not paying much attention to the reactions around him, walked straight into the capsule.
MouseSucker, who had just regained his composure, continued explaining the situation.
“Looks like it’s your first time using a capsule, so I’ll walk you through it. Since it’s your first time, you’ll probably need to create a biometric account. After that, just launch [Physical Class] right away. Also, remember—I’ve set it so your screen will be broadcast the whole time. Got it?”
“Yes.”
Once Dojun responded, MouseSucker entered his own capsule to prepare for the livestream.
As both of their capsules closed, Dojun’s vision instantly went dark, and new screens appeared before his eyes.
He flinched slightly at the sudden voice that followed.
– Biometric code not registered. Would you like to create an account?
“Yes, I’d like to create one.”
Creating the account didn’t take very long.
– Beep. Biometric code E108825 registered. Please select a program.
As MouseSucker had instructed, Dojun selected the icon in front of him that featured a muscular figure, and a notification sound followed.
– Launching [Physical Class].
It was the beginning of Dojun’s first virtual reality game.
