---

* * *

[“So can I leave first?”]

[“Yes, since it’s just the qualifiers, there won’t be any separate interviews, so you can go ahead. Great job! See you in the finals ^^”]

Leaving first while saying I could go first? What’s up with that.

Once the formalities were over, I left the area behind and let out a small sigh.

But at least the results were good.

6 matches, 6 wins.

That was the final record confirming my advancement to the top 16 in the qualifiers.

It was surprising how quickly the march through to the top 32 was over.

I felt a bit deflated, but I decided to think positively—anything that ends quickly is a win.

I exited the waiting room for the qualifiers and returned to my familiar MS Room. Without hesitation, I immediately logged out.

Feeling an urge to breathe real air again, I was anxious to exhale a genuine breath.

[Would you like to log out?]

“Confirm.”

Is this how it feels to surface after a long dive underwater, gasping for air?

With a strange sense of liberation washing over me, I felt energized despite the late hour.

It’s kind of funny to feel like this just from virtual reality.

What could I do? I couldn’t log out carelessly during the tournament, forced to wait in the waiting room for hours on end.

I mean, there are limits to how much I can surf the internet, and just waiting there alone was mentally pretty stressful.

“Ah—!”

I stepped out of the capsule and stretched my body out.

Virtual reality is great and all, but I definitely feel stiff after spending too much time in it. Can’t somebody fix that?

Even with ergonomic cushions for comfort and relaxation, there’s always a limit.

I shuddered to think about how uncomfortable it must be for those using the basic model that’s just a headgear.

I opened the window to ventilate the stale air in the room.

In the meantime, I powered on my computer, hesitating before the mouse cursor that jumped to the Soul Warfare community, quickly redirecting it to YouTube instead.

I didn’t bother checking the forums, meaning the Soul Warfare gallery or my panel post, either.

After just tasting a hint of the fake madness that unfolded after my first match victory, it was too spicy for me.

Yes, I needed a moment of pause right now.

Not the kind of break grabbed during a 5-minute timeout in the game, but more like the relaxation of someone who has finished the qualifiers and is off work.

I grabbed a beer from the fridge to quench my thirst and started surfing through links, following the trends of the YouTube algorithm.

Before I realized it, I was watching a famous YouTuber’s review of a meat restaurant near Seoul.

The topic of food, especially meat-related, seemed to resonate with my weary mind distracted by the tournament.

Then suddenly I noticed the time—it was already getting late for dinner.

“It must be chaos by now?”

Now that the qualifiers were wrapping up, all the results would be out soon.

The matchups would probably be finalized and announced shortly thereafter.

I had successfully climbed the Challenger tier and moved on to the main event of this well-known amateur tournament.

Not bad for a streamer who’s less than a month into her debut.

While having the physical ability to crank out MAD movies is important, in the end, having impressive career achievements that can be displayed to others matters too.

Well, I didn’t feel bad about it.

Just then—

—Ding!

An alert chimed from my smartphone.

A chat room linked with my MS Room ID.

The room was called Hero Broadcasting.

The members, naturally, were Friede and Forming, along with the skinny one and Ah-Chini making up the party.

[Forming: Good job, sis.]

[Ah-Chini: You were amazing! Keep winning like this! >_<]

Seeing this member reach out most likely meant that the qualifiers were indeed over.

Now the main event's matchups should be coming out. I wondered who my next opponent would be in the top 16.

I could check the forums for myself, but for some reason, I didn’t want to stick my head out today.

In the end, I had to outsource the information.

Of course, I had a reliable helper.

‘I should ask Dayoung to tell me.’

It felt awkward to step directly into the community filled with chaos and madness, especially needing to use a connection with a friend.

If I peek into the community, I might just become one of them, and yet—

Wait, I already pulled out, right?

...Huh?

* * *

"Ugh~. It’s over for today. Good job, everyone."

After the qualifiers completely wrapped up, Dayoung stretched out her body to relax her muscles.

Of course, since it was virtual reality, her real body wasn’t loosening up.

But moving around like this helps keep her mind sharp, and it had become a habit she kept every day.

[Forming got lucky and made the main event]

[Friede rode the bus up to the GM and I thought she’d get demoted right away… It’s amazing how she’s holding on this far]

[She’s doing well, though. It is a pity how she fell at the end. Go Forming!]

[If it were me, I’d have probably made it to the main event, haha]

[Oh, people are harsh on Forming who is doing just fine at GM level. Let’s not critique anyone below GM.]

Looking at the lively chat in the MS Room, I shrugged.

Well, it was only at the level of barely hanging onto GM.

But it was a blessing to have made it to the tournament before being demoted.

‘Even though I was eliminated…’

It was a quick exit in the qualifiers, but I had no regrets.

Now it's time to focus on the broadcasts.

The fact that I could broadcast during the qualifiers was content that any streamer wouldn’t want to miss.

Unlike the regular channels, the individuality of a streamer shines through with new perspectives.

For instance—

‘Should I do a vlog in the waiting room?’

A customized broadcast for Friede that absolutely couldn’t be done on the regular channel.

I might get criticized for riding on connections, but... what could it matter?

In this industry, connections could be a powerful weapon.

It’s all about using that weapon to provide the viewers with something new to enjoy.

If you want to see a standard tournament broadcast…

‘Go watch a regular channel like those old guys watching pro baseball.’

If you head to the STK official channel, you’ll get what you came for.

The people watching aren’t looking for just the STK tournament broadcasts.

What they want is the commentary from Forming.

‘This much should be fine.’

So I could leisurely continue with the coverage of the main event.

The flow I was able to ride during this tournament was thanks to my prior application.

Luckily, both the qualifiers and main event broadcasts were permitted by the STK organizers.

Whether you get to broadcast is measured by the caliber of famous streamers, so I guess it’s no exaggeration to say I overcame my previous hardships.

Feeling quite pleased with myself, I noticed a chat message that caught Dayoung’s attention.

[Isn’t Friede doing a broadcast?]

If you’re curious, go ask her on her stream.

Or can’t you even ask her if you go?

‘What a strange case.’

I held my tongue and swallowed the words that were about to come out.

If she streams the coverage in advance, Dayoung's stream would be filled with engaging content.

But she declared a break during the tournament. That’s why Friede's channel was such a mess.

Was she that focused on the tournament?

[Wouldn’t Forming contact Friede?]

[It seems other streamers don’t have any connections with Friede, either.]

[There are many duo combinations, but it’s rumored no one reads them.]

Once the stream began flowing, viewers’ questions poured in endlessly.

Lost in her thoughts for a moment, Dayoung suddenly smirked.

It was as if to flaunt a secret she knew that everyone else didn’t.

"Well, I wonder. Should I ask?"

That was a common display of self-amplification, but—

[Wait… Forming talking to Friede?]

[Haha, why would you abandon the sister who rescued you from the depths of despair?]

[The compatibility of those two beauties… how can I resist this?]

[Did you see Friede in real life?]

The effect was overwhelming.

Having been a streamer for quite some time, I learned how to keep viewers entertained and grasp what would spark their interest.

"Ah, well. We’re pretty close. She’s surprisingly a bit reserved. Of course, I’ve seen her in real life."

Not with cold calculations but simply going with instincts…

Unconsciously knowing that this would work…

Naturally, the bait I spun provided plenty of lubrication for this broadcast.

[Why the hell did you wait till now to share such an important detail!]

[Seriously...;;;]

[So what about Friede? Is she cute?]

[Is she a cool beauty who’s tragically noble and pure?]

[Hey! Pick one—either gush over her or be gross about it!]

「Uncle Oppa donated 10,000 won!

— So, can you contact Friede?」

"Ah, thank you, Uncle Oppa. Huh? With sister Friede?"

Hmm~.

Dayoung put on a thoughtful gesture for a moment.

But no viewer believed it was a serious contemplation.

"Alright. Let’s all go check in on sister Friede."

She promptly opened the messaging alert window.

Since the qualifiers were over anyway, she’d be relaxing.

[Forming: Good job, sis.]

[Ah-Chini: You were amazing! Keep winning like this! >_<]

I sent those messages.

And soon after, a notification lit up.

[Friede: Thanks ^^]

As a result, the chatroom erupted like a fire.

[Didn’t they say Friede and the room owner have a sibling-like bond?]

[Haha, why would you abandon the sister who rescued you from the depths of despair?]

[Hey, isn’t the Ah-Chini girl the one that was picked for Friede’s editor contest, that pesky one?]

[They really dug a separate room for the three of them.]

With viewers urging her to quickly say something else, Dayoung switched to direct messaging.

[Forming: I’m live right now.]

[Friede: Oh, okay. How did the qualifiers go?]

[Forming: I got knocked out ^^]

[Friede: @@]

Friede is typing a message.

[Friede: I'll avenge you by winning..]

Was that meant to soothe Dayoung’s disappointment?

With her unusually sweet response, Dayoung felt a burst of joy inside her but suddenly questioned with a hint of anxiety.

[Forming: ???? For real?]

[Friede: Yup. Who's your opponent?]

[Forming: There’s a Challenger ranked streamer called ‘Gunder’ who’s ranked 120. No matter how good you are…]

The opponents I’ve fought so far were on a whole different level.

You can’t just think of it in terms of ranked games.

In this tournament, all participants would be at their peak performance.

[Friede: It’s cool.]

[Forming: ??]

[????]

[Does Friede think Gunder is weak?]

[Gunder is a streamer who even got professional offers, right?]

[Isn’t he one of the best players on the Korean server? Aren’t you worried it could be hard for even Friede?]

Dayoung was flustered as she gathered a ton of question marks from excited viewers.

[Forming: You sure about this? I’m live after all.]

[Friede: Yup.]

Friede is typing a message.

[Friede: Looks like my main event opponent, @@]

[Friede: Dayoung, I’m off to avenge you.]

[Forming: No, calm down!]

[Friede: Yup, I’m calming down.]

Her answer was resolute.

[Friede: If I lose, I’ll pull a stunt.]

This sister is seriously devious.

* * *

 

---