The Voice That Turned the Tide

I whipped the mouse around.

The guy who’d been quietly looting items was now loading his gun.

He cleanly took down the distant enemy with a single shot.

As expected, an insane pro.

“Wow, thank you. IJ.”

Still lying prone, I turned the screen toward him.

I had no healing items on hand.

Hoping he might have a teammate, I hid behind cover and just stared at the back of his head, silently asking for help.

But he didn’t even glance at my pathetic downed state.

He was just intently sniping over the hill.

“Does this guy… maybe not know I’m knocked…?”

[▶ lololol abandoned]

[▶ You’re such dead weight he’s probably hoping you just die]

[▶ Jangma, read the room and suicide]

No way.

As I forced a laugh, finally the kill log popped up and he lowered his sniper.

I thought he’d come revive me now, but he casually walked off into the nearby house.

Chat filled with mockery again.

At this rate, I’d smoothly bleed out.

Half giving up, I let go of the mouse and let out a deep sigh.

Right then, a donation window appeared at the bottom.

“BbakkGame’sFlowerIsBbakkJong nim… 1,000 won, thank you. No, he didn’t abandon me. He just saved me earlier. I’m telling you no. He’ll come back?”

[▶ Nah he’s not coming]

[▶ Jangma ya don’t cry, just say it]

From the mini-map, I could see him moving around.

No matter how I looked, it wasn’t toward reviving me.

Getting anxious, I quietly turned on the in-game mic.

“Um… excuse me…?”

Then continuous gunfire erupted from inside the house.

Startled, I hiccuped and shut my mouth.

After a short standoff, the house door opened.

At his feet—completely unharmed—were two corpse boxes.

How he killed both at once was beyond amazing.

He was diligently looting the boxes, sitting and standing.

Finally, he noticed me.

Me, sprawled on the ground, somehow still alive.

“See, look! I told you he didn’t abandon me.”

I said triumphantly.

His character expression didn’t change, but he somehow seemed quite flustered.

As my health ticked down, after an unexpected staring contest, suddenly mic noise crackled.

–Ah.

It was the man’s voice.

–Sorry. I heard footsteps inside and was focused there.

I blankly stared at the screen.

Forget the apology—I needed to ask for a revive, but I was dumbfounded.

The voice through the headphones rang like a famous voice actor.

Unconsciously, I let out a small gasp and blurted my true feelings.

“…Voice is insanely good.”

I’d watched tons of streamer videos to improve my broadcasts.

Many were famous for great voices.

But this was a first.

Just hearing the voice sparked all sorts of imaginations.

He could star in a noir film, or be a late-night radio DJ reciting poetry.

I wasn’t the only one shocked.

[▶ What the— insane; lowering headphones]

[▶ What is that voice? Huge]

[▶ Jangma this MUST be uploaded]

Chat firepower blazed like it would explode any second.

I immediately checked recording was on.

Then switched back to game.

Unaware of the situation, he revived me and dropped a bunch of healing items around.

Way too many.

I quickly turned on mic.

“Ah… thanks for saving me!”

–What do you need?

“If you have spare guns, please.”

Without a word, he dropped his gun, attachments, even armor.

While he went back to loot boxes and organize inventory, I turned off game mic and calmed my pounding heart.

“Did you hear? You heard the voice? Wow, really good.”

[▶ Yeah;; feels like jackpot]

[▶ Beg him to keep playing ㅠㅠ]

“He gave me level 2 helmet. Insane. I might fall for him.”

[▶ lololol why is hyung excited]

[▶ Jangma hyung had no helmet… hurry farm ㅠ]

[▶ Hilarious Jangma sudden blind date]

[▶ Be more clingy!!!!]

Chatting with viewers while picking items, he walked somewhere.

I grabbed mouse and scurried after.

Somehow, if I just followed this guy well, we’d win this round easy.

He occasionally looked back while moving, checking if I was following.

He’d turned on mic but was super quiet.

Feeling audio empty, I channeled streamer spirit and started random interview.

“How long has IJ played this?”

–Not long.

“But you’re really good. Aim was perfect earlier!”

–…Thank you.

He shut up quick, conversation died.

Unsure what to ask, I glanced at chat for help.

But chat was going completely different direction.

[▶ Seems annoyed lololol]

[▶ lololol pickup failed]

[▶ Jangma single so that’s why ㅎㅎ]

True I’m single, but felt wrongly accused.

Gave up smooth viewer chat and kept farming.

Then in the ruined house top, found the best helmet.

He only had level 2 too—he’d like this.

Like a hamster offering sunflower seeds, I approached carefully.

“I’ll try buying favor with this.”

[▶ Fighting~ escape solo~]

[▶ Not pinging, carrying it yourself~ lololol]

[▶ lololol what is this lololol]

Gun holstered, I slowly walked behind him while he checked window.

Hearing footsteps, he whipped around, aiming gun at me.

Unarmed and standing still, he lowered it.

Heart strangely shaking, I cleared throat and spoke.

“Um, IJ. I got the highest level helmet…”

–Yes, level 3 right.

“Yes yes. So maybe…”

I placed helmet in front and stepped back.

Chat flooded with random consonants.

Tons waiting for his reaction.

But most nervous was me.

Heart pounding over nothing.

Swallowing dryly, low voice came through headphones.

–Giving it to me?

“Yes! You’re good so you gotta get first!”

Good till there, but tension made voice crack at end.

Maybe illusion, but faint laugh through headphones.

Voice good, even laugh soft.

Laugh gone quick, but not as stiff as thought.

He raised gun again, passed helmet, casually dropped.

–You should wear it. Protect yourself.

Unexpected words—covered mouth, rough breath.

Meanwhile he casually descended stairs.

Rapidly alternated chat and game screen.

[▶ What even is this vibe?]

[▶ Someone sponsor BGM lololol]

Soon as that chat, donation came.

YouTube link, unknown title.

Trembling, clicked—familiar melody, male vocal flowed.

My hidden shy feelings all…

“JangmaHyungHowAboutMe nim, 5,000 won thank you. Ah, this BGM really…!”

Song so long for some reason.

Listening, dropped helmet looked bright.

Good no cam—cheeks strangely hot.

Pressed cold cup to cheek, one hand picked helmet and equipped.

Viewers already saying edit potential, kindly making timelines.

All out to tease me.

Hurried after him, shaking head.

“You guys keep doing that, vibe gets weird. I’ll focus only on game now~”

[▶ How many times heard that lololol]

[▶ Jangma from today call him that side ㅠㅠ]

[▶ Get kills show cool side]

Amid chaos, players halved already.

Got all needed parts—only fighting left.

Soon as thought, grenade exploded over hill.

Running me and him hid behind container box together.

Then he suddenly muttered something.

Buried in gunfire, couldn’t hear.

Regret missing that great voice, urgently asked.

“Huh? What’d you say?”

–Something moving behind you, be careful.

“Gasp, yes.”

Looked back once, entered container.

Outside gunfire endless.

Players dropping one by one.

This way I’d just be baggage—put broadcast aside, focused game.

Scoped around with sniper, spotted different color in grass.

Person.

Small inhale, clicked mouse.

Bang—clear sound, clicked again.

No teammate apparently—direct kill alarm, 1 kill.

First sniper success ever.

Unconsciously excited, yelled into mic.

“Wow! IJ you see? My first kill! First kill!”

No more gunfire, stepped out container.

Me super excited, him quiet.

Plus chat all writing same thing.

Too fast to read.

Then urgent male voice.

–Behind, behind.

“Huh?”

Last words—character faceplanted.

Didn’t expect helmet blow right after first kill.

They sprayed for confirm, couldn’t self-revive, died leaving him.

While I sniped, someone approached from rear.

Mouth agape blankly, speechless.

Chat flooded ‘lol’.

[▶ Jang dead again lololol always dies]

[▶ Great duo but self-sabotage true streamer]

Ten mouths couldn’t excuse.