Chapter 5: The Billiard Hall Encounter

The hot clip titled Parrying Master Horse Mask spread like wildfire, becoming more than just a momentary sensation.

It evolved into a full-blown phenomenon.

The parrying feat itself was remarkable,

but what truly captivated viewers was the victim’s reactions, the situation, the angles,

and the cinematic feel of it all as if it were perfectly scripted.

Inevitably, the clip’s impact went beyond Handjud’s stream and spread across Ebae communities,

turning into a hot topic everywhere.

[“No matter how many times I watch this, it makes no sense.”]

“Let’s admit it: parrying rifle bullets is near impossible, even for pros. “

“Ex-pro player Rosies outright said during an interview when this patch launched that it wasn’t designed to be practical. “

“But somehow, this guy blocked not one, but seven shots? That’s not skill; it defies human reaction speeds.”

[Comments]
“So, you’re saying it’s a cheat?”
“That’s the logical conclusion, tbh.”
“If it were cheats, wouldn’t they block all eight shots? Why miss one?”
“That’s probably intentional blocking 90% makes it seem less suspicious.”
“Now you’re just reaching.”
“So you think it’s pure skill? That’s even more ridiculous, lol.”

The debates didn’t end there, especially about why seven out of eight bullets were parried.

If all eight were deflected, people would have easily accepted it as a cheat.

But the single hit made room for doubt and endless arguments.

Had they known it was merely a performance hiccup caused by Suah’s laggy PC,

the community might have been dumbfounded.

However, oblivious to the truth, they kept going in circles, fueling pointless battles.

[“Definitive Proof It’s a Cheat”]

“Frame-by-frame analysis shows the character jittered slightly when hit by the missed bullet. “

“This proves it’s an auto-parry cheat with an intentional miss coded to look natural.”
FYI: The player is Solo Diamond II. Case closed. No arguments accepted.

[Comments]
“LOL, this is conclusive.”
“Anyone denying this doesn’t play Ebae, smh.”
“Too many idiots talking without even playing the game.”
“Maybe it’s just lag?”
“Welcome, Horse Mask!”
“Pathetic, Horse Mask… just give it up.”
“Where’d you get your cheats? They’re top-notch. XD”

The detailed breakdown of the short 10-second clip,

meticulously analyzed frame by frame, went viral, garnering thousands of likes.

Yet, defenders of the Horse Mask player were not entirely absent.

[“To Everyone Saying It’s Theoretically Impossible”]

“I agree it’s probably cheats, but calling it humanly impossible is an exaggeration.”

” Even pro player Rosies said parrying is feasible in certain conditions, though impractical. “

“The distance between Handjud and Horse Mask wasn’t extreme, and there was no wind to affect bullet trajectory. “

“Plus, all eight bullets were shot at the same speed due to continuous fire. “

“If someone had practiced parrying obsessively, it’s not entirely unrealistic.”

[Comments]
“Trying too hard, bro.”
“Cringe defense.”
“Then why’d they miss one bullet? Explain that, genius.”
“I dunno, man…”
“Just admit it’s cheats and stop embarrassing yourself.”

Despite hours of heated discussion, the consensus leaned heavily toward it being a cheat.

The tipping point came when professional players and popular Ebae streamers chimed in,

almost unanimously agreeing the feat was nearly impossible.

Anyway, this incident attracted massive attention,

even making its way into internet news on game-specialized channels.

[Hack? Or skill? The mysterious ‘Malgame’]

There has been a recent heated debate within the community and among users of the globally popular “Eternal Battle” game,

sparked by a mysterious user named Malgame,

who managed to consecutively land seven perfect parries in the game an action known for its complexity and difficulty.

This scene was broadcast live during a popular streamer’s show,

and every viewer who watched it was left in awe of the incredible feat.

As the clip spread across the internet,

discussions broke out about whether Malgame’s parries were the result of hacks or genuine skill.

At this point, the general consensus leans toward the belief that it’s more likely a hack.

Particularly when several professional gamers and streamers,

who are among the best in the game,

have stated that they wouldn’t have been able to replicate that reaction speed,

the writer of this article is inclined to agree with the majority opinion.

Meanwhile, there was significant interest in what “Ibaei,”

often hailed as the best player in the eSports history of Eternal Battle,

would have done in that situation.

Given his versatile playstyle,

it’s not unthinkable that Ibaei could have achieved such consecutive parries with high skill.

Another opinion that intrigued me was the suggestion: if Malgame wasn’t a hacker, then what could explain his abilities?

While being good at parrying doesn’t automatically make you a top-tier player,

it does suggest that Malgame might not be an ordinary player.

If Malgame truly displayed this skill through practice,

it could mean he’s far from an average user.

However, since the streamer had hidden all the usernames to prevent issues like doxxing,

it wasn’t easy to reveal Malgame’s true identity.

Nevertheless, the community has continued to gather information about his playstyle and other clues,

working toward uncovering who Malgame might really be.

[Game News – Reporter ]

So, what is the person who sparked this debate doing now?

He was going about his day delivering food.

“It’s a billiard hall.”

Following the provided address, I found myself standing in front of a commercial building rather than a house.

I went up to the third floor, and there it was just a regular billiard hall.

Nothing special, really. It wasn’t unusual to see people ordering food and eating it outside their homes.

Billiard halls and jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) are almost a stereotype, but it’s a common combo.

As soon as I entered, I was immediately hit with the smell of cigarette smoke.

I instinctively plugged my nose and scowled. “Ugh…”

Isn’t there supposed to be a separate smoking area?

I could see a smoking booth, but it was practically useless.

People were smoking inside and opening the door casually, some even leaving it wide open.

If that’s the case, why bother installing a smoking booth in the first place?

In any case, it was tough to endure.

The smoke reminded me of how much I had missed wearing my helmet. I wished I had worn it.

The helmet I had neatly placed on the bike’s saddle now seemed like a lifeline.

The smell of smoke was getting unbearable.

It wasn’t just that I hated it—it was more the fact that it was tempting me to break my long-standing commitment to quit smoking.

It might seem trivial, but quitting smoking wasn’t easy,

especially for someone in my line of work.

It’s not a job for the faint-hearted.

I remember the stress I went through while preparing for my pro debut.

Even now, I shudder thinking about it.

At 20, I was practically forced to learn smoking from my coach.

And, somewhat unwillingly,

I entered the virtual battlefield and fought my way through to quit.

It was an all-or-nothing situation.

Five years later, here I am, having successfully quit.

Now, with nicotine so close, my resolve was beginning to waver.

I couldn’t let it break. I promised myself, I wouldn’t fall back into it.

I didn’t want to fail at quitting smoking so easily after all the effort I put in.

I needed to finish this delivery quickly and get out of here.

By the way, who ordered this?

The people at the billiard hall were all so absorbed in their game that they didn’t even glance at me.

I had no choice but to shout to grab their attention.

“Who ordered the jjajangmyeon!?”

“…What’s this? A woman?”

“Shit, she’s so pretty.”

A woman appeared in a billiard hall, the ultimate male-dominated space.

And not just any woman an incredibly beautiful one.

As expected, once someone catches attention, they can’t just let it go.

“Uh, we ordered the jjajangmyeon…”

At that moment, a young man playing pool in the corner raised his hand shyly and spoke up.

As I walked over with my bag, they quickly started whispering among themselves.

I forced myself to breathe through my mouth and set the food down.

“Two ganjjajang (stir-fried jjajang) and one jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) for 17,000 won.”

“Okay! But are you really the delivery person?”

“Yes.”

Would anyone really pretend to be a delivery person?

If I were fake, I’d have to steal the delivery bag and personally deliver it here.

What benefit would I get from that?

Enough. No time to think weird thoughts. I need to escape quickly.

I hurriedly finished the transaction and tried to leave.

“Please leave the dishes by the entrance when you’re done.”

Just as I was about to turn around, someone grabbed my wrist and held me back.

“Wait a minute.”

“…Could you please let go of my hand, sir?”

“You’re so pretty, I was wondering if you could give me your number?”

The man’s confident request was met with encouragement from his group in the back.

“Oooh, smooth! Nice one!”

“Take it! Take it!”

For a moment, I almost lost my composure, but I managed to hold it together and kept a smile.

“Sorry, I’m busy with work and have to leave now, sir.”

“I’m not a sir right now. I’m just asking as a guy to a girl.”

At his uncalled-for remark, my patience finally snapped.

“Well, if you’re going to ask a guy to a girl, don’t bother. You’re just not my type, so quit being so clingy.”

“…What? Clingy? That’s hurtful.”

“Ha. You’re casually dropping honorifics now. You little jerk.”