“Then it’s happening that day, everyone?”
“Yes!”
“Yeeees.”
Hearing the lively responses from the women, Taker began typing on the keyboard.
“Don’t forget! It’s in three days, so that’s 8 PM on the 27th. No-shows could face a serious punishment.”
This was something that came up during a previous practice session with the team members. Chaekyung had expressed a desire to play a game together, which is why Taker, as the team leader, took the initiative to set a schedule.
At that moment, he jotted down ‘Kayak Team Game Day’ on the calendar for the 27th.
“But isn’t Kayak not participating?”
It was Anya, the Kayak enthusiast, who asked. Taker slowly replied.
“Kayak? Hmm… I guess she probably won’t.”
Kayak might be juggling an even busier schedule than Taker. After all, the bigger the broadcast, the more tasks piled up.
Still, Taker had sent her a DM on Discord to check, but since there was no reply, he went ahead and organized the remaining members.
The game itself was for six players, so the numbers were just right.
“Since there’s no reply, she seems busy.”
“Ah… it can’t be helped.”
“Right, let’s have fun among ourselves!”
“We can play with the director another time!”
And so, the group game schedule for Kayak Team was set.
It was a session for the Kayak Team, but Kayak was the only one missing.
*
My, and Taker’s, challenge wrapped up like that.
I felt bad for the team members, having to step aside while Team Leader headed out.
Honestly, what had they done wrong? They had done their best. If there was a fault, it was mine for having them all gather together.
I wasn’t a wicked director, whipping a player with a base stat cap of 80 and demanding them to reach 95.
Taker…? Well, I thought he could manage. On the surface, it appeared his cap was about 90, but I believed he could hit 100. It turned out that was just my delusion.
However, I felt wronged too, as I was the only one among the four directors unfamiliar with this auction system.
The other directors had already experienced this system; they’re what you’d call veterans. Considering that in the job market, experienced individuals are favored over fresh graduates, one could argue that competing with them was rather unfair.
When I think about it, competing with them is quite an unreasonable thing to do.
[Aha, lol;]
[You’re just a playoff buddy, yet you’re so cocky.]
[Playoff buddy 4!]
[Kayak is just perfect for the playoffs, huh.]
[??? : Back in my day, there wasn’t even an auction, ugh….]
[Claiming there were no auctions back then is so old-school, like sitting near the neighborhood bench.]
[If it weren’t for the auction, would you have won?]
“Maybe not a win, but I probably would have made it to the finals and had a decent match….”
I answered, as if trying to justify myself to the viewers. Still, they were busy spamming the chat with comments like “Yeah, sure.”
After the tournament ended, my broadcast was stuck in this kind of loop. Viewers would tease me about the tournament, and I’d be left making excuses.
And this situation continued on.
[Did you hear? The teacher players created a separate group chat.]
[Kayak is getting bullied!]
[They’re going for a company dinner without Kayak!]
[Whoa.]
[Director bullying rumors! ㅠㅠ]
“Eh?”
News travels between streamers via viewers, known as “cuckoo.”
Cuckoos from somewhere began to invade the chat. From what I gathered, it was news that the Kayak team was doing just fine without me.
That news handed to me was simply shocking. Because for me….
“I didn’t get any messages… Our group chat has been silent….”
[Whoa.]
[Kayak bullying official.]
[Ugh, you should’ve done better, right?]
[I knew they’d treat the players like that from the start, yeah.]
[So sad….]
[How could they tell the involved person directly?]
[But wait, is this for real?]
Before I knew it, they had even prepared proof and posted it in the café.
Looking through those clips, it became clear that the viewers didn’t just fabricate the story.
-Ah, tomorrow is the Kayak team’s group stream! We’re doing a 6-person winter survival, and if we have time left, a 3v3 Mighty Fighter too.
-Kayak…? But isn’t Kayak busy? I mean, they’re from a big company. It might be inappropriate to call them just like that.
-Taker mentioned it first… It was actually Taker who gathered this group.
“Looks like everyone’s getting along well… Is that too well? Okay…?”
I paused for a moment, smacking my lips, then continued.
“I’m done here. Turns out everyone was still in contact behind my back.”
[Whoa.]
“Whenever Kayak licks her lips, it basically means she’s really mad, and I love this story.”
“Kayak Team, emergency!!!”
“Ah haha, don’t just jump in carelessly while the young ones are playing.”
“Kayak is young, what the heck haha.”
“Even the Taker I trusted betrayed me, oh no!”
“Is this person really the manager?”
“It’s kind of awkward to contact Tiger Director privately to hang out;;”
“Um, contacting Manager Kayak for a drink after work feels a bit much.”
“Manager Kayak, um, was I really the manager? Is that why you’re isolating me? Hmmm… I really didn’t catch on. I was so clueless.”
In reality, I wasn’t hurt or sulking at all, but I deliberately acted like I was.
Among streamers, the banter is essential. I learned from past experiences that this kind of thing leads to more video exchanges and increases chemistry.
“Yeah, well. It looks odd for the director to butt in while the players are hanging out. Um, um, I’m not hurt or anything. I’m fine.”
“This is really hurtful, though?”
“Look at that quivering voiceㅠㅠ.”
“Hey, are you crying?”
“No matter how incompetent the director may be, they’re still the director, tsk tsk, bad people.”
“Teacher, hang in there! We’re here for you!”
“Incompetent Kayaks don’t offer much consolation…”
“I think this person is acting.”
My acting was so top-notch that most viewers didn’t doubt me. Only a few long-time subscribers left comments showing skepticism toward me.
*
“No, Director! Please believe my loyalty!”
“Kayak, that’s not it… Taker said that!”
“Taker was the one who suggested the group game first…! I thought for sure I had asked the director!”
“Gasp.”
“OMG, it’s game over for Kayak!”
“Nanning, it was fun.”
“There’s a saying that if you get on Kayak’s bad side on Twich, you won’t be seen again one day. I really love this story.”
“Me.”
“SDVIMVFoanVzY1YwSVhjamMzUkt1UjNLd1BKc3dLRmJvaVVBUjFweS9JTVVmbjhXRW05UnB4N09uTGlLQ2V6Qg”
“Anya, are you betraying the grace of Kayak who picked you?”
“Lock.”
“Have you never contacted the director?”
“Ha.”
“You’re heading for a downfall, okay?”
“Fame.”
“Ha.”
My acting received an immediate response. It was likely because the cuckoo clock had come for Anya and the other players who were streaming.
“Hmmm… Taker seduced them…”
[Taker, it’s you again?]
[Just a big shoutout to Gunhee]
[Taker could probably bypass the Broadcast Host, right?]
[Are you sulking because I chose Tank Camilla?]
[Gunhee, did you seduce another woman again?]
[Taker’s harem team, oh my!]
[Kayak feels left out]
[Seeing the drama with Narak and the explanations, I think I’m going insane, ugh]
[How old must you be to get your team members to not even contact you once?]
“Old man… Am I? But I’m the second youngest in the team. Ah, these days, there are young old folks too. I see.”
[Taker’s sins are deep]
[So why didn’t you include the Open Host, huh?]
[Taker, go live and explain yourself]
[Taker Special Investigation, let’s go]
“What the heck is going on here? This reckless act of terrorism is unacceptable, everyone. First of all, let’s calm down and try to resolve this with conversation. Did anyone drop coordinates or something? Why is everyone gathering like this?”
As the situation escalated, the arrows began to point towards Taker.
[Explain, explain, explain, explain]
[Why didn’t you include Kayak in the game? Why didn’t you include Kayak in the game? Why didn’t you include Kayak in the game?]
[Is it true you’re satisfying your own desires through your Player Team?]
[Autopsy Taker]
[Honestly, I just look better lately and it’s bothering me, you know?]
[Kayak told me to go bother Taker, so here I am]
Taker, who was more than just a regular Broadcast, quickly assessed the situation. As he noticed that one name popping up a lot in the chat, he screamed.
“Argh! Kayak, again Kayak! Kayak, please! Stop tormenting me! I’m already getting white hairs and my stamina is plummeting! Please don’t make me age faster!”
[Oh my;;]
[Be careful of hair loss, Gunhee. It’s that time of your life.]
[Suddenly feels sorry for him, lol]
[So why are you playing games without Kayak?]
Taker replied with a tone full of feigned innocence.
“I mean, I did ask Kayak. But she didn’t reply. I thought she was busy.”
[? You asked her?]
[Kayak said nobody asked her though!]
[What?!]
[Did Kayak block Taker?]
[She secretly deleted him, lol]
With Taker’s explanation, the arrows redirected towards Kayak.
< Taker has received a donation of 1000 won! >
– Did you ask if he’s going to send a personal message on Discord, Teacher?
“Eh.”
After finally checking the message, Kayak let out a bewildered sound.
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