I Have Reasons to Hate Streamers

After one person was assigned to each group, the order came around again and I got the chance to designate.

Kelberos and Traveler were top seeds, so they couldn’t be selected.

Luche hadn’t been assigned to a group yet.

This meant that if I wanted, I could put Luche in my group and face off against him.

But when the opportunity actually came, I didn’t feel like it.

Many people wanted a “Korean” to achieve a high rank in this arena.

I had no reason to care about them, but Luche probably would.

If he ended up in our group, he’d feel a lot of pressure.

So, I’m letting him go just this once.

Because I can win no matter what.

In a group of four, only two survivors remain. If you exclude my spot, only one person from this group will pass.

We’ll meet at the top anyway, so why put pressure on him now?

“Now, it’s E group number 1. Gawol’s turn. She’s a player with such a unique personality, I’m really curious about her reaction. I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long.”

Ho-eun, who had approached without me noticing, handed me the microphone.

Ho-eun had an expression that hinted at a strange expectation.

What is it? Why are you expecting so much?

I felt uncomfortable as the camera seemed to focus on me more frequently.

“Now, Gawol. You’re likely to face off against Acid Gaming’s Reaper. He’s a player many assassin users look up to as a role model. How do you feel?”

“Well. I don’t feel much. I’m not included in those many assassins.”

“Does this mean you don’t care who your opponent is?”

“Yes. I have to beat them anyway. But there is something I appreciate about Reaper.”

Ho-eun’s mouth corners lifted as if intrigued.

“I’m curious about that! What aspect is it?”

“The part where he accurately assesses his own and his opponent’s skills. From what I saw earlier, Kelberos doesn’t seem to be good at that.”

As soon as I finished speaking, several gazes turned towards me.

Surprisingly, Reaper didn’t seem to care, but Kelberos’s gaze was mixed in.

A sneer, as if it was ridiculous. My eyes didn’t miss his rising lip corner.

I didn’t bother to point it out.

After all, I have to prove it with my skills.

Objectively, Kelberos is the recognized strong player, not me.

If my skills can back up my confidence, it becomes determination; if not, it will be judged as recklessness.

In any sport, there have always been players who raised their recognition through provocative words.

It’s not even surprising anymore. The era when you could get attention just by spewing strong statements has long passed.

I’ll have to show in the match that I’m not just all talk.

“It was an interview that showed a rookie’s spirit. We’re curious about Kelberos’s reaction too, but… there are still many turns left. Let’s see Gawol’s choice!”

Central stage. I could see the nameplates of the remaining players on the platform.

Many amateurs without affiliations like me had been sold off, and most of the remaining were well-known pro gamers.

As I was choosing the nameplate, I briefly saw Luche’s name.

A moment of temptation. I barely resisted the urge to reach for it.

My choice was a little further to the side.

LB Rime. Known as Rime in our country.

He was a North American lance knight player famous for solid gameplay like Luche.

Generally, it’s a difficult matchup for assassins, but… I was particularly good at taking down lance knights.

As I showed my choice to the camera lens, Ho-eun let out a joyful scream.

“Goodness! Rime enters as E group number 2! You chose an opponent that an assassin would surely avoid, is there a reason?”

“I’m confident in battles against lance knights. It might be manageable for me, but I’m not sure about Reaper.”

This much is a rational choice.

Reaper may have gained my favor, but the world of competition should be cold.

No matter who Rime calls, they won’t be too difficult an opponent for me.

As I said, I’m confident I can survive no matter who comes.

If I were to falter at this level of adversity, I wouldn’t have provoked Kelberos in the first place.

Rime, the last in our group, made a safe choice.

An opponent who can give him an advantageous position while not being at a disadvantage against us in terms of compatibility.

Japan’s sword user – Fury filled the last spot, ending the group designation ceremony.

The members of each group were randomly shuffled to determine the match opponents.

Despite my efforts, my first opponent turned out to be Rime.

* * *

“Wait! You there! Gawol!”

[Do you want to exit the Arena Special Stage? Y/N]

[Cancelled.]

There was nothing more to see on the stage where the event had ended.

Players who knew each other seemed to be chatting casually, but that didn’t apply to me.

Just as I was about to leave, a voice stopped me.

When I turned around, Traveler was calling me.

“…?”

“Finally met you. Why don’t you ever accept friend requests?”

“Why are you suddenly speaking informally?”

“You did it first last time. You said if I didn’t like it, I should do it too.”

“Did I… say that?”

I think I might have.

I’ve sought out Traveler a total of three times so far.

Twice during broadcasts, and once when we met by chance.

I was even more vicious back then than I am now.

It was a time when I just hated the world. A time when all sorts of negative emotions would well up just from breathing.

Especially when I saw streamers or pro gamers, the depths of my heart would be so immersed in malice that I couldn’t bear it without burning them.

If you ask if I’ve changed much now… well.

I’m not sure.

I think I might have changed a little.

The malice itself is still there, but it doesn’t burn as fiercely as before.

I’ve learned ways to release it in my own way, and now I’m gradually quenching my thirst in the arena.

Anyway, if you had encountered me back then, it probably wouldn’t have been a pleasant experience.

It might have been fortunate if it ended with just informal speech.

“So what’s the matter?”

“I’m asking why you didn’t accept my friend request. Didn’t I send you a mail too?”

“Mail…? Ah, I probably deleted it. I delete without reading if the title looks strange.”

“What kind of mail do you usually receive?”

What kind of mail, you ask.

Mail asking me to kill other users, of course.

It was obvious that there wouldn’t have been any attached items if this guy sent it.

I had a habit of deleting mails without reading if they didn’t have any items in them.

If I read every single mail, I wouldn’t be able to maintain a healthy mind.

“Never mind that. But I did accept your friend request, didn’t I? Probably around the Final Phase.”

“What? This is real. If you accepted, why didn’t you send even one whisper?”

“You’re the one who had business. Why should I contact you first…?”

“Okay, I get it. Your way of thinking is just different.”

I felt like I was being treated as some kind of weirdo.

Traveler nodded as if feeling relieved.

I frowned, feeling uncomfortable.

“Just tell me what you want now. You didn’t come here just to chat with me, did you?”

“Do you know when I sent you the friend request?”

“Of course not.”

“It was right before last year’s international competition. It was winter, so a few months ago.”

Last year’s international competition… I remembered that too.

It was the competition Luche participated in.

As it was the national team selection, Traveler probably participated too.

I wasn’t really interested in him though.

“The one where you lost to Kelberos?”

“…Yeah.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“It’s a similar matter to back then. There’s an assassin in our group this time too. And coincidentally, there’s a lance knight in your group. Don’t our interests align?”

“Hmm.”

I understand what he’s saying.

Traveler’s main class is lance knight.

Although his style is different from Rime in our group, he could be a decent opponent.

“You want us to practice together?”

“That’s right. It’s not a bad condition for you either.”

“What about the assassin in your team? You have Sparrow, don’t you?”

“He’s on vacation. He won’t be logging into the game at all until it’s over.”

So he sought me out as a practice partner?

I didn’t feel bad about it. After all, he was acknowledging me in one way or another.

Especially if it’s recognition from an enemy, it holds special meaning.

But there was something I needed to make clear.

“How much will you pay?”

“What?”

“Money, I mean. You weren’t thinking of asking for free, were you? If so, I won’t do it.”

“This isn’t something that would be a loss for you either…”

“That’s from a pro gamer’s perspective. I’m a regular person. Wouldn’t it be more profitable for me to go party hunting during that time?”

I need to squeeze out whatever money I can.

My time isn’t free, after all.

It’s true that practicing with Traveler would be beneficial for me too.

But there was no need to be obsessed with it. In the E group I’m in, everyone except me is a pro gamer.

Since there are many match videos, there’s plenty of material to analyze the opponents.

As for honing my senses right before the match… wouldn’t various streamers who are live help with that?

Realizing my firm resolve, Traveler became less talkative.

“…How much do you need?”

“It should be more than what I’d earn if I went hunting during that time.”

“Sigh, alright. I’ll ask the team, so make sure you answer my calls from now on.”

“Of course, dear customer!”

“Wow. How can a person be so unlikable?”

Unlikable, he says. That’s too much.

I’m just being thoroughly professional.

If it bothers you so much, why don’t you make me a pro gamer too?