Chapter 28: Unmasking Trouble: When Trash Talk Backfires

Bell’s nickname was exposed.

Her stream was exposed.

In this tiny Grandmaster-Challenger tier village, where you meet the same people two or three times out of every ten matches, that fact carries a lot of weight.

So, when I chat in Bell now, the dynamics often shift to something completely different from before.

I’ve been hit by the enemy.

“Ah, fuc*k…”

Even swearing, which didn’t come naturally to me, is slowly becoming familiar.

I sighed and leaned back in my chair.

No, is it really right for the jungler to go top from there?

We need to snowball with a well-fed mid, but if they show up top, both mid and bot will get screwed.

They’re playing pretty badly.

Is this… a smurf (someone abusing the alternate account system)?

“No way…”

I clicked my tongue, hit alt-tab, and looked up the jungler’s record.

And, as expected, my smurf radar didn’t let me down.

“Ah, fuc*k. It’s a smurf… Why do I always get these people on my team? And they’re supposed to be Grandmaster?”

Frustrated, I pressed the Enter key a few times for no reason.

Then I closed the window again.

Even when I’m angry, I always hold it in at least once.

I mean, I’ve got to win the game first.

I only start typing in chat when I feel like we’re halfway to losing, and I don’t care anymore.

But then, I noticed the jungler’s chat in the bottom left.

[MID]

[You should’ve just abandoned your lane and come.]

“… What?”

I let out a baffled laugh. “Mid” refers to me.

Is this asshole really in the same queue as me?

I moved my character back and placed both hands on the keyboard.

[No, you went to top and got wrecked like a ragdoll, which made both mid and bot fall apart.]

[What the hell are you talking about?]

Then came an immediate rebuttal from someone who didn’t even know what was going on.

[No, you should’ve moved with me. If you’re just sitting there farming gold, when are we going to fight?]

“Huh, what the fuc*k…”

[Listen]

[I won’t report you]

[But I really don’t think you know anything about Bell, so just go to bed.]

[You fuc*king smurf bit*ch.]

[? That’s a bit harsh.]

[What, you idiot?]

[If you’re so pissed off, let’s fight IRL.]

[I’m someone with blonde hair and tattoos, come find me.]

That last line is almost a signature phrase of mine.

A kind of power move, I guess.

As I typed this, the chat in my stream started heating up.

– Damn, savage… lolol

– LOL, she looks cute but chats like a toxic Bell demon from ten years ago.

– Honestly, you can curse out smurfs like that.

– But why lie though? Lol, she’s just a skinny girl.

Oh, right. I forgot again.

I’ve managed to fix most of the habits that don’t suit the current me, but the habit of trash-talking in chats is still hard to shake.

Maybe it’s because it’s not in my head but in my fingers.

But it’s probably fine…

Even if I did leak my real address, no one’s actually going to come to my house.

It’s just a fake address I throw out there anyway.

But then, another nickname, not mine or the jungler’s, appeared in the chat.

[??]

[You’re a girl, aren’t you?]

[Lol]

[I’m a fan.]

“Hey.”

Top lane suddenly poked in with a sneak attack.

Goddamn it.

No wonder I kept seeing him in my queue after lunch. He was stream-sniping, wasn’t he?

– LOL, stream snipe confirmed

– lololol Busted instantly

He’s probably listening anyway, so I just said it aloud.

“Hey, why would you say that?”

My face flushed red.

I feel so fucking embarrassed.

It’s like trying to act tough and then tripping over yourself.

Let’s deny it first.

[?? Nope]

[What kind of bullshit is that?]

[Lol]

[Lolol]

[Wait, is mid streaming?]

Suddenly, bot lane chimed in.

Ah, please, no.

Top, getting excited, started bragging.

[Search for “High School Dropout Loser Virgin Girl on Bell”]

[She’s live right now.]

“Argh!!! You fuc*king bastard!!”

I jumped up, screaming.

It seemed like they actually searched me because the bot lane’s chat appeared again.

[What? Lol, it’s real.]

[No way. She’s a girl? That doesn’t make sense.]

[Why is she raging so hard?]

[Her face is so red lolol.]

A chat bubble appeared at the bottom.

Looking at my webcam, there I was—my ears and cheeks bright red.

“Sigh…”

I hated my past self.

I should’ve just created an alt account to stream from the start.

I never expected the stream to grow this big…

The enemy’s Nexus exploded on-screen.

We won.

“Carried.”

We somehow managed to win the game.

I personally think it’s thanks to me.

No, objectively too.

I glanced at the lobby screen.

It’s the place where everyone can chat after a match ends.

Since we won, my mood lifted a bit, but…

Still, this was unforgivable.

They pissed me off.

I put my hands back on the keyboard.

[Jungler, you smurfing bastard.]

[You play like absolute shit.]

[Quit playing Bell.]

[The fact that someone like you is in the same tier as me is proof that Bell is a fuc*ked-up game.]

With my 800-characters-per-minute, forged through countless chat wars, I pummeled him with insults and hit the exit button.

“Hehe! Run away!”

I said as I logged out.

This usually makes me super excited.

Thinking about how angry my opponent must be while queuing up for their next game—it’s like the perfect side dish with a meal.

– Cute brat, LOL.

– LOL, she’s no different from my little cousin.

As I enjoyed my triumph, glancing at the chat, suddenly…

Suddenly, short messages started popping up in chat.

“What the…”

I looked more closely at the chat.

– Huff Huff

– Mama’s here LOL

– Run away LOL

– You should probably run for real.

– Huff

“What’s this?”

Feeling a bit nervous, I scrolled up the chat.

There it was.

– dlgusdl123: I-hyun

– dlgusdl123: Use nice words.

– dlgusdl123: Where did you learn to talk like that?

“Uh…”

I’m fuc*ked.

“Uh, sis?”

– dlgusdl123: You’re in trouble.

“But she started it first…”

I mumbled, my voice growing quieter.

Then, another message popped up.

– dlgusdl123: From now on, every bad word you say, you’ll have to run an extra 1km.

– dlgusdl123: And I won’t give you hugs anymore.

“What? No…”

…

I guess I need to behave when Song Chae-hyun is around.

A few hours later, in the afternoon, I turned the stream back on.

Nothing special, I just got sleepy and took a nap.

Streaming for long hours really drains my energy.

I checked the user list in the chat, and let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew… I can finally relax.”

Song Chae-hyun wasn’t in my stream right now.

Feeling liberated, I took a deep breath.

– Sis
– Where are you?
– Uh? I’m at university.
– Why?
– No reason.
– You’re not with Yu Ji-eun, are you?
– With Yu Ji-eun?
– Ah, just asking. Don’t mind me.

I had already gotten my confirmation.

No matter how much Song Chae-hyun cares about me, she can’t watch over me all the time.

She’s a university student, after all—she’s not exactly free.

So, what should I do next?

Honestly, I’m getting a little bored with Bell.

Normally, I’d keep playing even if I’m tired, but today my team luck has been terrible, and I just don’t feel like it.

Fuc*king smurfs

…

“Let’s have a quick chat.”

I stretched and lowered my arms as I spoke.

“I’ll do a little chat session now.”

I said that and enlarged the webcam window that had been fixed in the bottom right corner.

-Wow.
-Damn, you are pretty.
-Wow, seriously… Wow.

As I relished the flood of compliments and flattery, I fiddled with my hair.

Gotta look even prettier.

At that moment, a donation came in.

Goguma has donated 1,000 won.
So, when are you taking off the mask? What if you’re a catfish?

“What?”

My expression slightly soured.

What nonsense is this? I’ve already posted selfies before.

“I already posted selfies, you know.”

Goguma has donated 1,000 won.
What if the selfies were photoshopped? LOL. We won’t believe it until we see a video.

“Huh.”

A chuckle escaped me.

Again.

Another transparent provocation.

Are all guys like this?

Besides, videos can be photoshopped too. Idiot.

They’re just itching to see my face, even if it’s for a second.

Pathetic.

“Do you really think I’m going to show my face because of that obvious provocation?”

Goguma has donated 1,000 won.
Yeah, don’t show it LOL. If you’re not showing your chin, everyone knows you’re ugly as sin.

“…”

That comment crossed the line, and I ground my teeth.

It’s such a pathetic provocation.

But…

Today, I’ve been losing too much, and my desire for validation was hitting its peak.

– Actually, they’re right, though.
– LOL, they’re just trying to see your face LOL.
– At this point, just show it. I’m starting to have doubts too.

The chat was full of similar nonsense, so I finally snapped.

“Damn it… I’ll show you just once. But only the chin.”

The chat exploded at my words.

– Wow.
– I love you, lonely virgin girl!
– LOL, you’re so easy!
– Let me have a turn, pretty girl.

“Heh…”

I banned the last user and enjoyed the praises.

Then, I grabbed my mask from the bottom and slowly lifted it upward.

My white skin, sharp jawline, and red lips were revealed as I took off the black mask.

“See? Pretty, right? You might never meet someone at my level in your entire life.”

I added a bit of provocation.

– Wow.
– She’s really pretty.
– No, but something feels off…

As I was savoring the compliments, a playful thought crossed my mind.

“Goguma, I bet you’re shocked because I’m way prettier than you expected, huh?”

I teased, making sure to rub it in. And for the finishing touch:

“Bleh~”

I stuck out my tongue and looked at the chat to enjoy their reactions.

But suddenly, the chat stopped.

“… Huh?”

I tilted my head, waiting for messages to come in.

After a few seconds, chat slowly started trickling in again.

– Huff
– Huff
– Is she doing that on purpose? LOL.
– LOL LOL LOL

…?

Why are they reacting like this?

Did I do something wrong?

The unexpected responses caught me off guard.

I thought about what I’d just done.

I lifted my mask and stuck out my tongue… Why would that be an issue?

And then, in less than three seconds, I realized how men would interpret that.

“…Guys.”

My lips trembled, my ears burning red.

“You guys are perverts, aren’t you?”

My voice sped up.

“I was just sticking out my tongue! It’s something even kindergarteners do. You guys are such perverts!”

I started rambling, feeling genuinely embarrassed.

“That’s why none of you have girlfriends… or boyfriends for that matter. Please, for once in your life, try to think properly.”

I continued to babble in a panic, then finally adjusted my mask and lowered my head slightly.

“…Any more excessive sexual harassment, and you’re all getting banned.”