Chapter 14: Backgame(1)

The afternoons at the café are busy.

After lunch, I kick out the customers who rush in and clean up, and before I know it, it’s time to leave work.

Since I usually have to work on the weekends to do school and part-time work at the same time, my part-time job was during the middle of the weekend.

I change clothes in the locker room and come out to say hello to my coworkers.

The female part-timer who was sitting on her chair looking at her cell phone looks up at me.

“Then I’ll be going now.”

“Oh, yes. Thank you for your hard work.”

“That’s right. There’s nothing wrong with the time. Thank you for your hard work.”

Was her name Inayeon?

Her hair was dyed a beautiful milk brown, which was impressive.

She had a pretty face.

Did I say she was a college student?

She looked like she had received many confessions from men around her.

As I finished my greetings and tried to leave the counter, I heard a small voice behind me.

“… Uh… Uh….Ji-bin?”

I wondered if she had something in her pocket.

She fiddled with it hesitantly, then got up from her chair and approached me.

“Yes. Do you have something to say?”

I stared at her, wondering what it was.

Nayeon briefly avoided my gaze and took something rustling out of her pocket and held it out.

“…Would you like this? I, you said you liked cookies last time.”

Cookies wrapped in a transparent bag.

They looked delicious with chocolate chips here and there.

As expected of a bird, I like snacks.

They’re smaller than rice and easy to eat quickly.

“Oh. Thank you. Did you buy these?”

“No…I have a hobby of baking at home…I just made some and I brought some leftover.”

“Wow. Really? You’re a good cook.”

“Oh, no! Not that much! Anyway, enjoy!”

“Yes. Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

I took the cookie bag from Nayeon’s hand, who lowered her head as if embarrassed.

Honestly, I didn’t want to accept it, but since we work together, it would be embarrassing to refuse.

“Uh, bye then!”

I put the cookies in my pocket, waved, and walked out.

“…Again.”

I sighed without realizing it.

I was grateful, but I didn’t want to get closer to her.

…I could see that she was doing that because she wanted to do something with me.

No matter how insensitive I was, I could feel something when I worked together.

Especially since I had this kind of experience often.

As I walked out of the first floor lounge, I heard the sound of a chair being dragged behind me.

I opened the café door and went out with the sound of the bell ringing.

Then, I heard the bell ring again from behind me, and the sound of footsteps gradually got closer.

Soon, they were right behind me and the footsteps stopped.

“…..Excuse me.”

A hand touched my shoulder.

I heard a timid yet young voice.

When I turned around without realizing it at the young-looking voice, two girls in school uniforms were staring at me.

…They were probably high school students.

They looked too mature to be middle school students.

Among them, a girl who looked strong tapped the shoulder of the girl next to her.

As if telling her to hurry up and do something.

At that urging, the cute girl next to me started talking to me.

“That… Oppa, could you give me your number? I’m a regular here at this café… Every time I come here, I see you… Hehe…”

She must be so nervous that she can’t finish her sentence and her breath catches her breath.

Her trembling voice just makes me feel sorry.

Was it really true what the boss said?

She said that sales double during the weekends when I’m there.

She said that there are a lot of female customers in the first-floor lounge who come to see me, not to drink coffee.

I thought she was just joking to make me feel better…

But I try not to hurt her too much and refuse in a gentle voice.

“Sorry. I’m not really into guys. I’m really sorry.”

As I said that and turned my head again, I heard a voice behind me saying, “…ah.”

I couldn’t help it.

It’s a crime for an adult to touch a high school student.

My ideal type isn’t even a real woman to begin with.

“…haa.”

I sighed as I unconsciously walked away.

It didn’t feel good to reject someone.

Especially when they were women who liked me just for my face.

My face reflected on the black LCD of my phone caught my eye.

It didn’t look that good to me because I was used to it.

“… What is this…everyone…”

Whenever I saw women approaching me because they were attracted to my looks, Lee Chung-ha came to mind first.

And my terrible dating experience in middle school.

I can’t deny that looks are a big factor in creating favorability, but I was uncomfortable with women approaching me because of my looks anymore.

…I don’t want to go through that again.

There’s no guarantee that it won’t happen again.

My mood worsens as bitter memories flash by.

When I’m stressed, I log into the Starlight fan cafe without realizing it.

By now, Rikyuel’s broadcast notice might have been posted.

[Today’s broadcast notice!]

And my data, which had been accumulated for over half a year, was not wrong.

I click on the notice and quickly check the contents.

The unpleasant feeling I had until just now flies away and dopamine fills my head.

[I’ll be here at 7 today too~! Baemons, eat a delicious dinner and wait~!]

The notice posted with an emoticon of a bat holding a heart sign.

A smile naturally forms on my lips.

…I really hate reality.

Happiness was only when I was with Rikyuel.

***

[Open the door! Owner, open the door!]

[Ri-Q-El!]

[Hellohellohellohellohellohellohellohellohellohello]

[7Muwon is here~! Ri-Q-el-Ri-Q-el is here~!]

A small cup of well-cooked cup ramen.

This size was just right for my stomach.

I indulged in the pleasure of after-work to my heart’s content while smelling the fragrant ramen.

Familiar BGM.

Bats flying in the sky and illustrations of pink-haired Rikyuel appear on the standby screen.

Rikyuel set 7 o’clock as the regular broadcast time if there were no problems.

It was the perfect time to roll around after work.

I found peace of mind while looking at the chat window filled with messages of longing for her.

It felt like I was back in my familiar hometown.

Although it’s almost every day.

A spade-shaped tail splits the screen and a heart-shaped bat swoops past.

And then the real Rikyuel appears after leaving the standby screen.

[Hello~! Liha~! Nice to meet you, everyone.]

The chat window cheers at the appearance of the corner knit succubus.

A cute voice that is hard to believe is that of a normal toddler is heard.

… Does this girl have two vocal cords?

To be honest, I wondered if she was really trying to replace her vocal cords.

[Ri-Q-el is here~! Oh my, thank you, Ri-Q-el leader, for all the cheese. Wink~!]

The broadcast started with a cute 10,000 won reaction.

Her 10,000 won reaction was a cute wink.

At first, it was awkward to wink, but now I see her growing well.

[Have you eaten dinner? I didn’t eat, so I’m going to eat after the broadcast.]

Viewers unite at the familiar appearance of a herbivore.

[1]

[1]

[1]

[Ask if she ate dinner]

Since the 7 o’clock broadcast was a given, this was usually her first comment.

That’s why Baemons often teased her, calling her Rikyuel’s number 1 herbivore.

[I didn’t eat~! I ate pork cutlet! Sushi. Ramen. Yeah. You waited to eat with me? Thank you.]

She ignores the comments coming up and picks out only the normal replies.

Now that she has a lot of time on air, she’s become much better at hosting.

[Anyway, I think I’ll keep today’s chat short. About 5 minutes? Then I’ll go straight into the game.]

[Is that chat dog crying? I’m sorry. But I can’t help it. Because of tomorrow’s schedule, today’s broadcast is short…]

Those chat dogs are spamming the emoticon of a crying bat.

It was a Baemonticon that you can use if you subscribe.

[Anyway, we have a big announcement. No. Not a big announcement, but a small announcement?]

The fuss that followed right after she said that.

[Gasp]

[Gasp. Could it be that you’re transferring to the forest?]

[Something big is coming! Something big is coming~! Something big is coming~! Something big is coming! Something big is coming!]

[Cover song? Cover song? Cover song? Cover song? Cover song? Cover song?]

Rikyuel snickers at the familiar fuss of the viewers.

And as usual, she shakes her head slightly and speaks.

[Oh. Look at all the fuss. That’s not the transfer FTA. It’s not a cover song. It’s not that kind of thing!]

[What do you mean…? We’ll reveal that when we air it~! Hehe.]

She says that with a big laugh and makes her angry.

[Wow… This is seriously pissed me off…]

[What kind of abusive behavior is this?]

[Queen of vicious verbal abuse, Rikyuel]

[Fck, I should’ve just not said anything Fck, I should’ve just not said anything F*ck, I should’ve just not said anything]

[If you’re curious, then you should definitely watch until the end of today’s broadcast? If you’re curious, then you should definitely watch until the end of today’s broadcast? If you’re curious, then you should definitely watch until the end of today’s broadcast? If you’re curious, then you should definitely watch until the end of today’s broadcast?]

After laughing for a while at the angry viewers, Rikyuel skillfully taunted the viewers.

[Whoa, whoa. Calm down, everyone. I was joking. I was joking.]

[You know what? Us… Our 3rd generation Starlight students have decided to participate in the PUBG competition as a team squad! Wow~! Applause!]

When she clapped her hands herself, the chat window that agreed with her also uploaded applause emoticons.

A 3rd generation PUBG competition? This is really not going to be easy?

My first thought was worry.

Of course it was.

The 3rd generation was somewhat occupied by game addicts.

[This is fucked up]

[3rd generation PUBG competition? I don’t even need to watch it to get last place, right?]

[Ah~ I’ve already seen it all. It’s going to end with Rikyuel carrying the enemy by the scruff of the neck and crying]

[But isn’t Croa a little better?]

Among the 3rd generation members, Croa is probably the only one who is good at games.

The problem is that Croa is also terrible at FPS games.

[As you all know. All of us 3rd generation members are pretty bad at FPS games, right? Excluding me.]

Not to be self-deprecating, but Rikyuel had a good sense.

No, Yu-ah was good at FPS games from the beginning.

She had natural athleticism and reaction speed, so her physique was good, and her game sense was good, so she had good aim and composure.

[That’s why I think I should learn how to lift logs…I’m going to play a lot of PUBG starting today.]

[It tastes good already? No. I’m really going to kill you all.]

[It’s been a really long time since I’ve played a blog.]

[You must have forgotten the controls, right? That’s why you need rehab.]

These viewers weren’t the type to easily fall for Rikyuel’s build-up.

They were all just people who did the same thing.

[Wow. Don’t act weak.]

[If you go home after eating chicken like this, you’ll be fine.]

[How much~~~~ ~~~~~~~good will you be? I can’t wait. Really.]

[How much~~~~~~~~~good~~~~~~]

The Baemons immediately cast a burden spell on Rikyuel.

Then Rikyuel, who has difficulty handling this kind of pressure, immediately reacts.

[I told you not to be serious? I really can’t. If I shoot SR right now, I won’t be able to hit a single shot. For real.]

[Ah~ Oh no. This is really burdensome. Why am I already like this without even turning on the game? Everyone.]

[I’m telling you I’m not good at this… I’m already bad, but I’m going to get worse… Ugh.]

Rikyuel whines as she turns on the game screen.

A character with the nickname [Rikyuel] appears on the familiar waiting screen.

[An anonymous sponsor donates 1,000 won!]

[Wow. I turned on the game. Awesome.]

The feast of drinking is starting to take effect.

Seeing Rikyuel in pain was what all the viewers wanted.

[Ah~ Seriously, don’t do that. Don’t do that. Jebaal… Anyway, I’ll go into the training grounds first and shoot some guns.]

Rikyuel goes into the training grounds and moves to a place where there are no people.

Even as she does, the drinking chats are thick with drinking messages.

[Teleportation]

[Wow. [Teleportation]

[You’re really good at it. How do you teleport?]

Rikyuel starts to frown while looking at the chat.

I can hear her snickering in disbelief.

[No. Isn’t this a basic function… why are you doing that… seriously…]

There’s no way I wouldn’t get involved in such a fun situation.

I quickly charge up my cheese and send her a donation.

She was just putting on her gun to equip a part.

[Rikyuel-Saranggae donates 10,000 won!]

[Wow. Crazy. She’s holding a gun. So damn good.]

As my donation goes in, Rikyuel’s expression changes to one that says her head’s pounding.

Then she takes a deep breath and her sorrow bursts out.

[Hey. Don’t do that! Rikyuel-Saranggae! Don’t do that! You bad boy!]

“Hehe. Hehehehe.”

A gloomy laugh escapes me without me knowing it.

My name is Rikyuel-Saranggae.

I was a malicious viewer who turned Rikyuel’s pain into pleasure.