Chapter 43: Suspicion

Victory.

Winning the first game, which had been utterly derailed by my mistake, was satisfying enough.

But the second game, executed flawlessly, ended in another easy victory.

The result? A clean 2-0, making the “best of three” format seem almost unnecessary.

It seemed the organizers had hoped for a close battle—something like a 1-1 tie leading into a nail-biting final match—but we failed to meet their expectations. Still, considering how close the first game was, perhaps that was enough to keep things interesting.

During the post-match winner’s interview, most of the conversation revolved around the tightly contested first round.

I was named MVP—or as people like to say nowadays, “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time)—and found myself the focus of many questions.

“The Barbarian pick surprised a lot of people, including our commentators. Was it part of your strategy?”

“Not at all. The Barbarian wasn’t planned—I accidentally failed to lock my pick, and the system randomly selected it for me.”

【Legendary moment;】

[“She spilled water? LMAO”]

[“Her chest probably knocked over the bottle.”]

[“This is clearly the water bottle’s fault.”]

[“With a chest that big, she needs special equipment!”]

[“She caused the problem and fixed it herself, lmao.”]

[“She wasn’t even prepared for it and still played like THAT? Monster-level.”]

[“Respect, GOAT.”]

“So it was all improvised?”

“Yes, due to tournament rules, restarting the match would have put us at a disadvantage, so I had no choice but to roll with the Barbarian pick. Plus, I joined the game late due to the issue.”

“Even the synergy with the Iron Guard—was that unplanned as well?”

“Correct. I remembered the Iron Guard and Barbarian combo from Season 1 and decided to give it a shot on the spot. It worked better than expected.”

[“She says that like it’s nothing.”]

[“Her improvisation and execution are on another level.”]

[“No wonder they won—it would’ve been weird if they didn’t.”]

[“Mollru is OP; she needs to be banned from future tournaments.”]

[“Coping? Maybe your team should’ve picked her instead, losers.”]

[“Is this really the same team that used to struggle in drafts? Jackie’s team has ascended.”]

“The chat is going wild right now. The unplanned Barbarian pick turned out to be phenomenal, with gameplay straight out of a highlight reel. Do you have any tips for playing a Barbarian so well?”

The commentator’s rapid-fire question made me think.

The truth? I had played a lot of Barbarian in the past, and luck was on my side this time. My teammates also performed better than I’d hoped.

But those answers felt… bland. Too boring for the vibe of this event.

So, I decided to say something completely out of left field.

“Actually, I’m a Barbarian in real life. I think that’s why I connect with the character so well.”

“Excuse me?”

[“And that explains her, uh, build…”]

[“So barbaric, noona.”]

[“Mollru’s horseback riding moment.”]

[“She’s too pale to be a barbarian.”]

[“Why can’t barbarians have pale skin? Must they always have a bronzed, sun-kissed look? Are you being racist?”]

[“Ahem.”]

[“Let’s keep it civil, folks.”]

“Thank you for your witty response! You’ve not only answered our questions but also created a perfect broadcast moment. Truly an interview that doesn’t disappoint.”

With that, my interview ended, and the team members each shared their thoughts on our victory as the tournament wrapped up.

“Good job, everyone!”

“Ah, you all worked so hard!”

“We actually won… I still can’t believe it.”

“I feel like I just hitched a ride on the carry bus. Thanks, everyone.”

The atmosphere was lively and cheerful following our victory. Everyone, including our coach Jackie, was chatting excitedly.

And, as is tradition after a successful event or a cheerful mood, someone inevitably brought up that topic.

“Shall we go for a team dinner?”

“Ooh, a dinner sounds great.”

“Is Coach Jackie treating us?”

“Of course, the person who suggests it pays! Naturally, I’ll cover it.”

“Coach, you’re the best!”

The team erupted into cheers, chanting Jackie’s name as he boldly declared he’d foot the bill.

With a sheepish cough, he told us to decide on the menu, sparking a flurry of suggestions.

Classic choices like fried chicken and pizza. Or pork belly with soju. Sushi, sashimi, or maybe even beef.

“How about we go with something simple, like chicken and pizza?”

“We eat that all the time. Isn’t pork belly with soju the true classic?”

“I’d like sushi or sashimi!”

“Beef… is that a bit much?”

“Won’t that break Coach’s wallet?”

Laughter filled the air. It was clear that everyone intended to join the dinner.

I hadn’t said a word yet, but Papi Joa seemed to notice and brought me into the discussion.

“Mollru, what would you like to eat?”

“Uh, I’m fine with anything.”

“That’s the hardest answer!”

“It just means you all can pick whatever you like~”

“Alright, I’ll choose something good then.”

The debate carried on enthusiastically. It didn’t feel right to decline amidst such energy.

Maybe Papi Joa deliberately asked to block my escape, knowing I might opt out. She may seem innocent and naive, but she’s sharp when it counts.

But, honestly, there wasn’t any reason for me not to go.

Sharing a meal with people I’d spent so much time with wasn’t exactly a big deal. Sure, they were connections I’d only ever interacted with online or through work-related broadcasts.

“How about grilled intestines?”

“Isn’t that too limited in what you can eat?”

“Grilled intestines are delicious, though…”

Still, after spending so much time together and working as a team, I had a sense of who these people were.

And I knew—they were good people.

I found myself willing to spend time with them outside of formal settings.

“I’ll head out now.”

“Oh, okay! Good work today.”

“See you later.”

I excused myself from the group deciding on the menu and left the Discord channel first.

I was feeling tired and needed to check if the computer I accidentally spilled water on was still functioning properly.

It was possible that some components had reached the end of their lifespan.

Hopefully, they wouldn’t pick something strange as the dinner menu without me.

But I wasn’t too concerned since I usually eat almost anything—just not something odd like pineapple pizza.

Come to think of it, didn’t everyone but me say they liked pineapple pizza? A sudden memory resurfaced, filling me with unease.

It’ll probably be fine, right?

“Oh, it’s broken? I see. How long will it take?”

To cut to the chase, I decided to send the computer in for repairs.

After consulting with my editor and other experts, they advised it was better to address the issue if I felt uneasy about it.

I was referred to a reputable repair service, known for being affordable and reliable.

Shortly after receiving confirmation that the PC had been delivered, the shop contacted me.

Thankfully, there wasn’t major damage, but some parts had taken hits, leading to reduced performance.

They sent a detailed estimate via text, and their thoroughness gave me confidence.

I decided to not only repair it but also upgrade its performance while I was at it.

Since I stream high-performance games while broadcasting, better specs seemed like a good investment to avoid technical issues.

After all, I had resolved to continue streaming seriously, and the prize money of 10 million won from the tournament made it financially feasible.

Thinking about it reminded me of when I first started streaming and had to dip into Ji-eun’s bank account.

I still remember trembling over spending just a few hundred thousand won—a nostalgic memory of humble beginnings.

Perhaps success really is the key to everything.

So now, with my PC temporarily out of commission, I had no choice but to pause streaming.

With no plans lined up, I found myself reverting to the lifestyle of a couch-dwelling recluse.

Normally, I’d play games or watch other streamers’ broadcasts, but without my computer, those options weren’t available.

Unable to break old habits, I lazed around under the blankets until I ended up on a familiar online community.

It was a treasure trove of information where I could catch up on the latest issues just by reading a few trending posts.

And there, I stumbled upon an unexpected post:

“8 Reasons Why Mollru is a Booster Account Player (eu).” +17

“Mollru Made the Tournament Boring, Let’s Be Honest LOL.” +11

• “No need to beat around the bush. She hasn’t even revealed her main account. Her rank is low, but her skills are weirdly Challenger-level. And her sniping is too precise.”
• “Isn’t she a boosting service player? LOL.”
• “It’s kinda suspicious, not gonna lie.”

The gallery that claimed to idolize me as their “gallery star” was buzzing with these comments.

It was the kind of chatter that made me want to start streaming again immediately—because it was hilarious.