Chapter 58 : I’m really screwed, Lenee…

[Lene]

[Long time no see]

[New Dimension | 681 viewers online | 00:57:21]

[I have a suggestion… Would you consider becoming a professional gamer in our team?]

• Wow, haha, this is it.

─Ga-eun is personally offering the pro gamer proposal, lol.

• What are you doing, Lene? Hurry up and accept.

─It’s an honor for the family, haha.

“Oh, I’m not doing that…?”

[…What?]

That surprised me.

What are you talking about, this person…

Current NewD PVP and AOS ranking #1.

PVP Korean and World Tournament winner.

AOS Korean and World Tournament winner.

Final MVP and Total Season MVP in both AOS and PVP Korean and World Tournaments.

There was no need to explain further—Ga-eun was the pinnacle of NewD’s pro gaming.

But does that mean Ga-eun is ignoring NewD as an RPG?

Not at all.

Ga-eun was part of the first clear party for the Tygirion raid, showing how dedicated they were to NewD, and they’re still trying to clear the Albion Hunt.

Because of this, Ga-eun’s fame and position were absolute within NewD.

Even players who dislike the PVP and AOS modes, enjoying NewD purely as an open-world RPG, still acknowledged Ga-eun.

And Ga-eun was someone who could objectively evaluate themselves.

‘Well… they’ll obviously accept, right?’

With no one doubting the person at the top, making an offer to join their team on their stream?

Ga-eun was already convinced in their mind that no one would turn it down.

‘Of course, there’s an additional condition, but… this person won’t care, I guess.’

Anyway, Ga-eun believed that Lene’s acceptance was certain, and in most cases, that judgment would be correct.

This time, the opponent was wrong.

The opponent was Lene, a player who was anything but ordinary in NewD.

…What?

Ga-eun’s voice sounded hollow.

[Lene]

[Long time no see]

[New Dimension | 691 viewers online | 00:58:16]

─The host is crazy, seriously???

─At least saying they’d take an entrance test should be the normal response, right?

─And it’s not just anyone, it’s Ga-eun personally offering, lol.

“No. Everyone… What that person, Ga-eun, is good at, and me accepting that suggestion, are, like, completely different issues, right…?”

• Why is this not logical…?
• Don’t bring up proper reasoning like this, Tenreyon

─ Please, if you have a mind capable of making such judgments, stop doing weird things!!!

Something, something is happening…

I said I refuse because I don’t like it, but why are the Lebung fans causing such a commotion…?

[Umm… could you tell me why you’re rejecting it? I watched Lene’s stream and heard that you really need money. If you join our team, you could earn a lot… Oh, and should I boast about it? Our team has great benefits! You’d probably be really satisfied if you join…]

“Still, I absolutely won’t do it…”

ᅳᄉᄇ Seriously, you’re such a straightforward person…

─??? : You can’t be satisfied with that little money?

─I really don’t get why you’re rejecting it.

ᅳᄅᄋ Was the whole needing money thing a lie?

Is it because breaking your concept would be embarrassing?

[Could you share the reason with us? Maybe you have a prior commitment with another team…?]

─Huh?

ᅳᄅᄋ? Is that the reason???

─Is that really it, Lene?

“Uh, well… that’s not it…”

[Then why…? There’s no team that would offer better conditions than ours…]

“Well, it’s… it’s because of something…”

There isn’t really any other reason.

It’s not because I’m a girl, or anything like that.

“Being a pro gamer means you have to be in front of people a lot, right…?”

[Right? There are fan meetings, and when you participate in tournaments, you play in front of the fans.]

• Ah.
• Oh, crap.

─That’s not the real reason, is it, Lene…?

The veteran Lebung fans seemed to understand what I was about to say.

“Sorry, but I’m a hikikomori… It’s just… being in front of others is a bit…”

[Ah….]

• It’s not that you don’t want to, it’s that you can’t. ᄏᄏ

—If that’s the case, then you should’ve said so from the beginning.

─I’m really embarrassed for you, Lene…

─What kind of excuse is this ᄉᄇ ᄏᄏᄏᄏ

The mood in the chat seems to grow solemn.

Why, though?

What’s wrong with being a hikikomori?

You all know this, right? I’ve mentioned it several times on stream.

It’s not a matter of making eye contact or whatever.

So even if that gets fixed, I still won’t do it.

Because I’m a hikikomori!

[No, well… I can understand what you’re saying since I’m shy too… But based on my experience, even with such a personality, it’s still…]

“Umm, should I call you… Ga-eun, or… is there another name you’d prefer?”

[Ah, you can call me whatever is comfortable.]

“That’s… I’m sorry… but, honestly, people who are shy and hikikomori can’t do things like stepping in front of people…”

[No, I mean… I think even someone like me, with that personality, could totally do it…]

“From the start, how could a shy person like me approach someone I’ve never met, like Ga-eun… Real shy people can never do that…”

• I support this.
• That’s true…
• I agree too, I’m ‘real’ and I get it ᄋᄋ…
• For some reason, it feels kind of sad… Is that just me?

Even when I went to Tuni, just chatting in the game was enough to make me worry a lot.

Even though I’d already had one conversation with them.

But this person, from the start, suggested talking via Miscord.

How is that being shy? It’s a complete trick…

If I hadn’t gotten used to broadcasting, I’d still be talking through chat only…

• Ga-eun messed up here ᄋᄋ…
• Ga-eun/controversy

You guys are all playing a character, right? Please tell me it’s just a character, seriously…

The chat had already turned into a mood where they were supporting me.

As expected, the Lebung fans.

You guys are just like me.

[So, you’re saying you’ll refuse…?]

“Y-yes…”

[…Well, it’s disappointing, but there’s nothing we can do about it. You can’t force someone who doesn’t want to do it. Hmm. Then… can I ask for one more favor?]

“L-Let me hear it…?”

[Can you play one round of PVP with me?]

• Wow ᄉᄇ ᄏᄏᄏᄏᄏᄏᄏᄏᄏᄏᄏᄏᄏ

─Free event, huh ᄆᄎ

• Me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me

─Honestly, I’m curious who’s gonna win

• No matter what, it’s gotta be Ga-eun

─Rank 1 seems like it’ll be Joss, right?

• If they refuse again while saying something weird, it’ll be war, Lene
• Is this a battle of the gods?
• Rank 1 hasn’t even reached S rank yet, you think Edak can win?
• Edak’s still the host, so calling it a battle of gods is a bit ᄒᄒ;

─These guys always call Edak ‘Edak,’ so do they think A-rank is trash?

Top 0.5% as the host, you bastards

Ga-eun is in the top 0.0001%

—PVP top vs PK top ᄃᄃcccc

In this atmosphere, I wonder what will happen if I refuse.

Honestly, I’m curious.

But I’m not really planning on refusing.

I was already planning to do PVP today.

“Alright…”

[Okay. Then I’ll make the room.]

From the beginning, Ga-eun’s biggest expectation was not something else, but PVP with Lene.

If she had to choose between joining the team or PVP, she would definitely choose the latter.

If anyone heard this, they would probably wonder why.

But for gamers, pride and competitive spirit are emotions that cannot be discarded.

And among those gamers, at the very top, the pride and competitive spirit of professionals—those who call themselves pros—are naturally dozens of times stronger than that of ordinary gamers.

“Haah…”

Ga-eun quietly took a deep breath, staring at the shadowy figure in front of her.

The pressure, slow but overwhelming, felt like it was suffocating her.

Even if I win, there’s nothing to gain.

But if she loses, she would undoubtedly be bombarded by countless skeptical eyes.

That’s the kind of pressure someone at the top must endure.

The weight of the crown, which is heavy enough to crush an ordinary person.

But as a gamer, her competitive spirit made her able to withstand even that.

She didn’t want to lose.

She wanted to win.

No, she would win.

Looking back, it might be a meaningless sense of pride, but that very pride had grown to the point where it was worth betting all her accumulated honor on it.

A gambler taking on an absurd challenge.

That was the true identity of pro gamer “Ga-eun.”

“The rules are 5 games, 3 wins. No weapon changes mid-game. The field is random. How does that sound?”

[I’m fine with whatever. You can set it however you like, Ga-eun.]

Her voice, soft and calm, almost seemed to taunt Ga-eun’s ears.

Was it a sign of confidence that she could definitely win?

Or was it an indication of resignation, as if she didn’t care since she was going to lose anyway?

Ga-eun personally hoped it was the former.

After all, there was nothing more boring than an opponent who didn’t do anything.

But as if to mock Ga-eun’s thoughts, Lene barely did anything and was knocked down twice in a row.

So thoroughly defeated that even the word “loss” felt too kind.

[Hmmm…]

Through the headphones, only emotionless breathing echoed in the air.

Author’s note (afterword)

Thanks to Kim I-Pari for the coin donation!

Mysterious, quiet, socially awkward, introverted girl characters are always cute.

“Are you losing?”

“I will win.”

“Then, see you next time!”

See the next episode