It’s truly an unfamiliar sensation.
Even though I’ve experienced it a few times, I still can’t get used to it.
The ability to move my body as I imagine, as I desire, brings an unimaginable sense of omnipotence.
Somehow, I’ve come to not mind moving my body at all. No, rather, I’ve started to enjoy it.
Maybe “addicted” would be a better term. It turns out there was a reason why I, who couldn’t even get up properly in the morning, started going jogging every day.
If I didn’t pour out the heat from my body like this, I could hardly sleep at night because of the overflowing energy.
So this moment was far too special for me.
Taking action together according to the commentator’s words, sweating like pearls while exercising, this time of training together with others was incredibly enjoyable.
“Heh.”
I let out a small laugh.
*
“Gaaah!”
“Eek!”
“Wahhh!”
– Ah, it seems like the participants are giving their final spurt!
– The battle cries are… quite fierce.
– Their stamina is incredible! I thought we’d barely make it another 2-3 minutes if we got this far in the program.
– What’s this? Is the Kayak player seriously smiling?
– Have they lost their mind from exhaustion?
– Everyone else is trying to throw up while they’re the only one laughing!
– What kind of person is Kayak?
“Crazy…”
The Taker, who had been watching the competition in real-time, spoke with a voice that seemed to express disbelief.
It wasn’t that he had unconsciously lost his energy due to the participants’ struggles. His gaze had been fixated on Kayak since the commentary began.
[Why is Kayak smiling?]
[She looks even prettier when she smiles ㅇㅇ….]
[Kayak is just enjoying herself.]
[Isn’t she tired…?]
[Just Camilla.]
[Kayak said she would win.]
[But everyone else is struggling, why is she the only one smiling?]
[It’s scary ㅠㅠ.]
[Her expression does look a bit insane.]
[It has been said that those who work hard cannot defeat those who enjoy. Kayak has already won.]
[A surprising delight for Camilla as the common folks struggle.]
[Last groans ㅗㅜㅑ.]
Having watched Kayak for quite some time, Taker had enough insight to distinguish whether her smile was genuine or just for the broadcast.
In Taker’s judgment, Kayak’s recent smile was real.
It wasn’t the fake smile often shown on broadcasts but instead a heartfelt smile seen during rare moments behind the scenes and sometimes on air.
Given the situation, Kayak’s demeanor appeared somewhat terrifying.
And rightly so. The sight of someone smiling in sheer joy while everyone else struggled was indeed quite chilling, even to Taker.
The sight of someone happily laughing alone in that situation felt quite eerie even to the Taker.
“Was it really this much?”
Still, the Taker was secretly impressed.
He already knew that Kayak had great stamina, was athletic, and was abnormally strong. After all, he had achieved three losses to her in arm wrestling.
But he hadn’t expected it to be this intense. To the point of crushing streamers who primarily broadcast fitness and health-related content.
Wasn’t it said that she had the speed of a cheetah, the ferocity of a chimpanzee, the strength of an elephant, and the endurance of a wild horse? Remembering the commentator’s remarks, the Taker nodded.
“Definitely.”
Seeing her laugh alone even in a competition pushing the body to its limits, she seemed to have easily surpassed human limits.
Just by that spectacle, it already seemed like the winner was decided. Unless Kayak suddenly complained of a stomachache from the food she ate the day before, her stamina wouldn’t dry up.
*
“Congratulations, Kayak!”
“As the healthiest champion of Twishy, we present you with a health set along with your prize. Wishing you continued health!”
“Kayak! Kayak! Kayak! Kayak!”
In the end, victory was mine.
I expected this outcome, but actually winning made my heart sting a bit.
“I swear, I won’t lose next time…!”
“Wow, Kayak, you must really work hard on your fitness. I thought I didn’t lag behind anyone in stamina, but I never expected to be this overshadowed.”
“Please share your body management secrets….”
When the participants approached me with such words after the event, my conscience pricked, and I couldn’t respond properly.
It felt like I’d won unfairly, using underhanded tricks. Even though I thought, ‘Better safe than sorry’ beforehand, seeing the other participants sweating it out made me feel uneasy.
‘What even is this?’
Earlier I had been laughing to myself out of amusement, and now I was suffering from guilt like I had gone completely crazy. I couldn’t even understand my own feelings.
It was just an extension of the worries I had been having lately.
Is Kayak really me? Am I allowed to enjoy what I’ve gained from becoming Camilla?
Just after transforming into Kayak, I had been excitedly gaming and streaming, and now I was having these kinds of doubts. They say when a person’s stomach is full, their mind wanders, and that was exactly what was happening.
While I was wrapped up in those thoughts, a hand suddenly reached out to me.
“…What is it, Taker?”
“Congratulations on your victory.”
I was a Taker. In my outstretched hand, there was a bouquet of pretty flowers all gathered together.
[Romance is truly chaotic, haha.]
[When the Taker does it, it just turns into a comedy, huh?]
[Look at Kayak’s cold reaction!]
[I told you not to do that, right?]
[Who gives flower bouquets these days… that was overboard.]
“Ahem…”
“I didn’t expect you to suddenly bring a bouquet.”
This is slightly touching. I thought they disappeared halfway through the match, but it looks like they went to prepare the bouquet.
Surprisingly delicate on the inside, unlike their looks. If I were a complete girl instead of a half-hearted one, I might have actually fallen for them.
“I like those flowers. Thank you.”
[?? Is this really going to work?]
[Romance is truly chaotic, haha.]
[Yeah, yeah, the Taker has done public relationships three times while streaming.]
[The chat is full of clueless folks trying to give advice, haha.]
[How strange… I clearly said giving flowers is old-fashioned.]
“Cough… but your expression doesn’t look good. Is something wrong?”
“Yes?”
The Taker, whose ears had turned red and was clearing their throat, asked.
“I mean, you seemed so… excited during the match, but you don’t look particularly happy for a winner now.”
“Ah….”
[?? Is Kayak feeling down?]
[Why are they feeling down after just doing Ring Fit with all that enthusiasm?]
[Is this a sudden reality check?]
[Maybe they overdid it and aren’t feeling well.]
[They just seem tired, not a big deal.]
They said they wouldn’t show it, but it seems like it showed anyway. Or maybe it’s just the Taker being perceptive. In this case, it seemed to be the latter.
“What is it? Just tell me. Did someone insult the teacher? Just tell me.”
The Taker is someone I respect and, without knowing, I’ve received quite a bit of help from them.
I’ve gotten advice about broadcasting multiple times, and as an older, senior figure, they would give me pretty decent guidance.
“Umm….”
Maybe that’s why, but I felt an inexplicable urge to confide my psychological issues to them.
I can’t say everything, but I thought it might be okay to hint at least part of it.
“…Could you put your phone away for a second? I don’t want to talk about it on stream….”
“Sure. Alright, folks, I’ll put the stream on standby for a moment. Just stay with each other for a bit.”
[No way.]
[Don’t go, don’t go, don’t go, don’t go, don’t go!]
[The world just went dark.]
[What are they going to talk about when the stream is off?]
[Hey, Kayak, don’t steal my Gunhee!]
[Looks like the bouquet was more effective than expected. Kayak is sending signals that they want to talk privately….]
“Looks like it was more effective than I thought. Kayak even sent a signal first saying she wants to talk to both of us in private…”
“Seriously, it’s so real that I can’t even curse. Damn, lol.”
“What the hell are these guys doing openly on the broadcast?”
“Excuse me?”
Taker asked with a dazed expression.
Kayak repeated what she had mumbled before.
“No, I just feel uncomfortable winning like this. My physical abilities are just too insane…”
Taker had come with a determined mindset. He wondered what kind of dilemma worth discussing would lead them to turn off the broadcast.
But honestly, upon reflection, there were really no grand dilemmas to discuss.
“…Are you serious about this?”
“Yes, I’m completely serious…”
“…”
Unlike previous counseling sessions, this time there was no need to ponder for an answer.
“What’s wrong with using natural abilities?”
“No, it’s just that this situation is ridiculous—”
“Other participants are in the same boat as Kayak. Among those who made it to the finals, some were naturally athletic from birth, while others were just clumsy.”
Taker’s passionate speech continued. It was mostly about effort and talent.
“So there’s no need for you to apologize or feel guilty. It’s just a Ring Fit competition, after all. If you feel this way, you’re being disrespectful to the other participants who made it to the finals and gave their all.”
“Ugh…”
Kayak seemed to be struck by that last comment and couldn’t refute it anymore. Her anxious expression lingered, though.
“If you’re still uneasy, you could donate the prize money to a good cause. Don’t use it for your own selfish desires. Then it’s settled, right?”
Of course, if it were Taker himself, he probably wouldn’t have done that, but since Kayak said she felt uncomfortable, well…
With that, Taker’s advice came to an end.
“Good deed…”
Kayak briefly fell into thought, then lowered her head.
“Thank you, you’ve really cleared my mind a bit.”
“No, I didn’t really say much…”
That day’s conversation ended just like that. And shortly after,
“I heard Kayak donated all her prize money, Gunhee.”
“Of course, doing good is Camilla for you, haha.”
“The host probably used it all up for his own desires,”
“True, it really is a contrast.”
“Such a shame for Kayak.”
“Shame? What’s there to be ashamed of? They’re not even close!”
“Full donation of prize money?”
News spread that Kayak had donated her winnings.
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