150th Episode
As I headed to the promotional office with Oh Yoori, I spotted Seo Eunbyeol, who was struggling while downing her fourth can of energy drink to prepare for Gyeoul’s broadcast.
“Eunbyeol, are you okay? Are you overdoing it?”
“Ah! Team Leader Seon! I’m not overdoing it at all. I’m totally fine!”
“With all those empty energy drink cans, it doesn’t look that way. You know that high-caffeine stuff isn’t good for you if you drink too much. How about taking a break?”
“…Ah.”
Seo Eunbyeol hurriedly shoved the energy drink can into the trash can and said, “This is… Ah. I’m just going for a concept. I want to look busy like unnie Misoo and unnie Narae.”
…With those dark circles under your eyes, do you really expect me to buy that?
Noticing the same thought, Oh Yoori turned her head away, pretending not to see with a bashful expression.
“Then, do you have any other complaints? If there’s anything making your broadcast uncomfortable, I’ll do my best to fix it.”
She was startled and replied, “I don’t have any complaints. I’m just thankful for this opportunity!”
“Oh unnie, just be honest. You know Team Leader Seon is genuinely concerned about these things, right? Ignoring a problem might lead to bigger issues that would disappoint them even more.”
“…That’s true.”
Seo Eunbyeol sighed softly and said, “I’m really okay with everything else, but it’s tough with those weirdos who send sexual harassment or malicious insults in chats, or leave filthy messages in emails. No matter how many I block, they just keep coming. Especially those who send pictures…”
Oh dear.
“Great job. Please keep emphasizing that the agency will take legal action officially. And actually, do send me those records before deleting them. We need to set an example and take a few of them down to reduce the volume.”
“I’d really appreciate that.”
…Thinking about it, isn’t this kind of urgent?
“Hmm…, shall we check it out right now?”
“Huh? You don’t have to go that far…”
“I think it’s best to handle it as quickly as possible, considering the issues you’ve been dealing with.”
“…Ah, okay! I’ll move aside.”
I sat down in Seo Eunbyeol’s spot and checked the emails.
Then I spotted a title that stood out at the top.
[Invitation to Participate in the Witches Streamers’ Boat Game Tournament]
Huh?
“Witches Streamers’ Boat Game Tournament?”
As I tilted my head in confusion, Seo Eunbyeol, who had been watching from behind, perked up and said.
“This is an incredibly large streamer tournament sponsored by a major corporation. It has never failed to succeed, so most streamers want to participate. Moreover, it’s not some obscure game; it’s the most mainstream league game that Gyeoul plays, so it only invites those with a solid fanbase. The fact that they invited Gyeoul, who doesn’t have much experience as a streamer, is very encouraging. The structure gathers participants based on the lowest and highest scores, using former pros as mentors. While there’s pressure to join practice, if she participates, the benefits will be huge….”
Seeing Seo Eunbyeol bombarding information like a rapid-fire rapper, I calmed her down.
“Eunbyeol, take it easy. It’s okay to speak slowly.”
“I’m sorry….”
Oh Yoori, who was watching with a strange expression, asked, “By the way, I’ve been curious; how do you know so much about streaming?”
“Ah, I didn’t have much time during my trainee life and other hobbies cost a lot, so watching broadcasts was my only hobby. Plus, I really like that tournament… Sorry, I got a bit excited.”
“Loving to watch broadcasts is a good hobby. What’s wrong with that?”
“So, Eunbyeol, you’re thinking positively about participating in that tournament, right?”
“Yes, if it doesn’t interfere with the schedule.”
The album activities had ended, and we were kind of boycotted by the broadcasting station. There shouldn’t be any schedule at all.
“Well, let’s give it a shot.”
*
The method of choosing group members in the tournament was an auction system, where each pro gamer had limited points to spend in order to gather members.
And at that place, Gyeoul was evaluated as an S-tier player worth the highest price.
It was safe to say that she possessed both the top-tier rank and skills to participate in this tournament.
That was all well and good. Gyeoul had a high chance of being in the spotlight. The problem was that the pro gamer ‘First,’ who just acquired Gyeoul in the auction, had nearly spent all his points on her.
As a manager watching the auction, I used the break to approach him.
“First, thank you for valuing Gyeoul so highly, but wasn’t it excessive to buy her at such a high price? You won’t be able to spend points on anyone else now, right?”
“Haha… Logically, it was indeed a mistake, but I’m a fan of Girl Revolution. Though unofficial, I even joined the fan café.”
“I’m in.”
…Our kids being fans is unavoidable.
“Still, don’t worry too much. There are quite a few undervalued options right now. By focusing on Gyeoul’s top and buying cost-effective options for the jungle mid, we can play a solid upper-body game. We can still come up with a good strategy with the points we have left.”
“What about the bottom?”
“We’ll have to shed some tears and let it go.”
….
I felt a bit uneasy, but since First, a professional gamer, seemed to have some kind of vision, it felt right to trust him.
“Yes, the main character this time is our supporter, Sarang.”
“Oh, but all the directors seem to hesitate and watch cautiously when it comes to recruitment.”
“After all, Sarang is evaluated to have the weakest skills in this competition…”
“First! I bid!”
Everyone turned to look at the suddenly enthusiastic First.
Even under such scrutiny, First nodded as if he had all the answers.
“Huneng is actively working as a VTuber. They also have what’s called a honey voice, which has been used for ASMR production.”
“Caster, it’s still a game tournament, shouldn’t you be explaining as a gamer?”
“They are a gamer with strong will and perseverance.”
“First! I bid!”
….
“Pokapo is known among our witches streamers as one of the trio of beauty…”
“First! I bid!”
….
“Oh Harim is a famous cosplayer…”
“First! I bid!”
…Is this for real?
As doubt crept in, I approached to ask a question, and he looked at the completed list in awe and said.
“…I’ve completed it.”
“Oh, did you achieve the picture you were thinking of?”
Were these the undervalued options he mentioned earlier? I thought he was just picking based on looks, but it seems pro gamers see things very differently from us normal folks.
“Yes, it’s complete!”
The professional gamer First said, clenching his fists.
“The ultimate fantasy! A pretty girl game team!”
Yo, this crazy guy.
*
“…We’re screwed.”
“Sarang, we’re live!”
“It’s true we’re screwed.”
“…Sorry, Gyeoul.”
The so-called pretty girl game team got utterly wrecked.
The outcome was, in fact, anticipated.
Except for Gyeoul, everyone showed such pathetic skills during practice that it made you wonder if they were even qualified to compete. The cost-effective options First mentioned didn’t exist.
…Well, they did exist but just not on this team.
However, there was still one last chance. If we could beat the opposing team set for the final round for entry into the lower league, we would advance. We had to calculate our options, but as long as we could win, we could still hold some hope.
However, there was one last chance left. If they could defeat the opposing team determined in the final round for the promotion to the league, they would have a shot. They had to calculate the probabilities, but as long as they won, there was enough hope to cling to.
If it weren’t for the fact that the opponent was the most powerful team, consisting of the ace players of this tournament.
In such a dire situation, First steadied the mood and began to emphasize one feedback at a time like a true pro gamer.
“Huneng, don’t just use your ult to protect yourself; try using it to bind the opponent too.”
“…But I’ll die then.”
“It’s okay if you die, Huneng.”
“….”
“Pokapo, don’t change the movement we planned together.”
“Still, shouldn’t we consider the opponent’s movement and psychology for flexible changes?”
“That’s true, but Pokapo, don’t think about mixing in mind games and just stick to the basics. If you go into that territory, you’ll never beat their diamond jungle. Accept the gap.”
“…Okay.”
“Ohahrim and Sarang, focus on holding out. And Gyeoul….”
As First was about to give the final feedback to Gyeoul, he hesitated slightly and spoke seriously.
“I understand that the pressure is heavy, but you need to show us. Otherwise, we have no variables in this team. Can you do it?”
Feeling the weight of his gaze, Gyeoul averted her eyes and looked at me in the corner.
Thinking she couldn’t hear, I mouthed ‘Do your best.’
Seeing me, Gyeoul smiled softly and replied with shining eyes.
“I can do it.”
*
Finally, the game began.
I Love Winter – The genius vocalist of Girl Revolution, number one in Girl 100, Jeonnam’s ultimate woodcutter, let’s go Winter!!
MingmingSsu – Go
Male Mosquito – Let’s go
MIX Pluto – Ding
Let’s raise the game – Wow, look at the number of viewers in real-time. This is historic.
Three Meals a Day Mardang – This is the current form of the Jeonnam’s top woodcutter. ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
sese001010 – Every time I see it, I wonder if that’s really okay as a nickname for a current girl group?
Zero Point Breakthrough – I don’t know either?
Room Challenger – Winter, overcome the haters! That’s how you get to the top!
In the blink of an eye, the viewers surged, and the jungle player Pokapo spoke to Winter.
“Winter, I think they’re below in the enemy jungle. It might be okay to push aggressively?”
“Confirmed.”
As soon as those words were out, six seconds later, the enemy jungler ambushed from the bush.
One of Winter’s spells vanished into thin air.
“…It was above.”
“Confirmed….”
…Did we already mess up?
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