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It was a coincidence that I heard that story.

Well, maybe not entirely a coincidence.

Just a little while ago, Ryu Jin-hyuk had a lot of interest in Outlaw, but he had tried to cut that interest off for some reason.

He didn’t want any weird rumors circulating within the team.

Of course, the team members were also aware of this situation, so GuineaPig Yoo Sang-hyun casually mentioned some news to Ryu Jin-hyuk.

“Hey, hyung. Did you hear about it?”

“What news?”

“Outlaw lost, apparently.”

“…Lost what?”

“Something about running into a troll.”

At that news, Ryu Jin-hyuk couldn’t hold back any longer and started searching for Outlaw’s broadcast.

The content was shocking.

“……”

Brutal and malicious trolling.

It was completely different from just having a bad experience in a previous game, or throwing a game when things weren’t going well.

This trolling had a deliberate purpose of achieving defeat.

What could they possibly gain from this?

…Wait, now that I think about it, there was one thing they could gain.

“I heard it’s from the betting site guys in China.”

Ryu Jin-hyuk knew about betting sites.

He was also a person who had suffered quite a bit because of them.

“Wait, could it be?”

Ryu Jin-hyuk looked into when Outlaw began to experience trolling.

And immediately realized that this period coincided closely with when Outlaw was exposed on his own broadcast.

Was it a coincidence?

Or…

“There’s no way it’s just a coincidence.”

Thinking this way was self-serving and biased.

Ryu Jin-hyuk remembered from that day’s broadcast how many viewers were curious and excited about Outlaw.

Naturally, the betting site companies monitoring Ryu Jin-hyuk’s broadcast would also have an interest in Outlaw.

“Ultimately, this is my fault again.”

Ryu Jin-hyuk had regretted many things up to that point.

He forced his longtime friend Prisoner out into the world, causing him a lot of pain,

and now he had caused great trouble to Outlaw, a complete stranger.

“Let’s apologize.”

I’m sorry, I was wrong.

Even if it was unintentional.

Ryu Jin-hyuk didn’t put it off any longer.

There would be no more regret like before.

*

[Friend Request]

[SY Rainbow] [Accept / Decline]

-???

-What?

-Whoa

-Is that for real?

-Is there someone getting a friend request from Rainbow?

-Oh my god, I’m dying!

-It’s actually happening?

…What is going on?

Right after the game ended, a friend request from Rainbow popped up.

Should I accept it?

‘Hmm.’

I didn’t ponder for too long.

-You’re not going to decline, right?

-No way!

-It’s Rainbow, after all!

From the chat atmosphere, I couldn’t dare to imagine what would happen if I didn’t accept.

[1]

[SY Rainbow: I’m really sorry.]

And then… a sudden apology popped up right after the friend request came in.

-??

-What’s up?

-Did something happen?

-Are we familiar?

Yes, we are familiar, but maybe a bit one-sided?

‘But what is going on, really?’

Does this guy have something to be sorry for towards me?

‘Surely, not completely….’

The problem is that the mistake seems to be towards Prisoner, not Outlaw.

‘…No way?’

Did he realize I’m Prisoner?

How? I hid it perfectly!

‘That can’t be….’

Even as I thought that, I couldn’t hide my inner anxiety.

[Me: Huh? What’s up?]

I spoke innocently as if I knew nothing, repeatedly telling myself that I knew nothing.

[SY Rainbow: Well, it’s…]

Rainbow’s next words were basically this.

It seems that the random appearance of my ID on the betting site last time was likely tied to me being exposed on his broadcast.

That sounded plausible.

Rainbow’s broadcast had a significant viewership both domestically and internationally.

‘Phew…’

I let out a sigh of relief.

I thought maybe Rainbow had caught onto me, but it turned out that wasn’t the case.

‘But I didn’t expect him to apologize…’

Technically, Rainbow hadn’t done anything wrong.

He just ran into me while playing ranked solo, and the betting guys exploited that.

Besides, isn’t that damn betting site gone now?

[SY Rainbow: I’m truly sorry. It seems I inadvertently caused you some trouble.]

[Me: No, it’s alright. That site is gone now anyway.]

[SY Rainbow: Gone?]

[Me: I checked a while ago, and I couldn’t access the site. It seems to have disappeared.]

[SY Rainbow: Oh… I see, that’s good to hear.]

[Me: Right?]

Then silence fell.

There was nothing more to say between us.

-Host… I can’t breathe…

-But if you think about it, the host lacks social skills, the conversations always end.

-That’s because he doesn’t need social skills, he has the looks…

-That makes sense, lol.

-Lol for real.

-Ugh lol why is that clown not entertaining himself?

After the audience’s chat flew by, Rainbow replied.

[SY Rainbow: So… I’m really sorry. If there’s a chance next time, let’s play together.]

[Me: Sure.]

With that, Rainbow logged off.

I don’t know if he had something busy to attend to, or he just wanted to escape the situation, but either way, it allowed me to take a breather.

‘Phew.’

It was probably because Rainbow was someone I needed to keep hidden, but talking to him wasn’t easy.

-Did the Chinese guys know how to bet just because Rainbow became a broadcaster?

-But it might not be it. Honestly, a broadcaster like him would be a big deal.

-Did Rainbow really do anything wrong?

-I think he just felt uneasy and apologized first.

-He’s definitely a good person.

-He even apologizes for stuff like this, wow.

-Pro gamer.

-Rainbow! Rainbow! Rainbow! Rainbow! Rainbow! Rainbow!

…Or maybe it could also be because of them.

“Alright, everyone, calm down.”

-Do you know Rainbow?

-But is there anyone among other BJs who has received a friend request from Rainbow?

-Not really.

-What a class.

-But why so composed?

-What’s with this?

Maybe because Rainbow showed up out of nowhere, the chat was exploding every second.

-Explode.

-Explain.

-What?

-Explain.

-Ignore the explanation guy.

“…Let’s play a game.”

As we started the game, the chat that had been lively about Rainbow gradually filled with game content.

*

You can’t always win.

But I don’t want to lose anymore.

[Victory]

-Wow!

-Hard carry, wow!

-He actually won!

-King Outlaw, you’ve returned!

-I’m dying! I’m dying! I’m dying! I’m dying! I’m dying!

After winning again,

[Victory]

-What the heck!

-Surrendering is too much, report that loser, let’s go!

-They’re surrendering even in the champion ranks?

-Those guys really just give up if they see no hope!

-Lol for real.

And I won again,

[Victory]

-What is happening?

-Outlaw! Outlaw! Outlaw! Outlaw!

-You’ve returned, he’s back, he’s back!

-There’s no trolls now, it seems?

-We still don’t know for sure.

-I heard they got banned, lol for real.

-Why are you actually doing well?

I won again.

[Outlaw]

Rank 6

Solo Rank

– Challenger

– 1324 LP / 105 Wins 1 Loss

– Win Rate 99%

It was exactly as the viewers said.

After the betting site disappeared and the announcement of the penalty for intentional trolling, I hadn’t encountered any trolls.

“Well, I guess this confirms it.”

In that case, there was no need to drag it out any longer.

I didn’t hesitate to queue up again.

-Oh?

-So you’re not hiding the queue anymore?

-Still, it might be better to queue, right?

-Hmm…

-The host makes that call.

-Agreed.

So I began another game.

Again and again.

Until I reach my goal.

[Victory]

[Victory]

[Victory]

-Host, are you not going to sleep?

-You’re relentless… Looks like you really want to top the rankings without a stream.

-You can still win this???

-I need some sleep! I need some sleep! I need some sleep!

The viewers’ worries continued, but I didn’t stop.

And then…

Finally, like a beam of light emerging from the darkness, the end began to come into view.

[Outlaw]

Rank 1

Solo Rank

– Challenger

– 1621 LP / 120 Wins 1 Loss

– Win Rate 99%

With only 2 days left until the promised month,

Today, I reclaimed the rank of number one.

 

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