"The Notorious Sniper WBA Finally Caught" - what a grand title, and could it be any more mismatched?
Ark, who had nearly finished putting on her VR equipment at the terrorist's demand, forced a smile with trembling lips and said, "I'll get ready to start the game, so turn on your microphone."
Of course, the response remained unchanged.
[BringWarmAmericano: Q.]
"Neutral country."
"Q"
"4 dollars."
"Q"
"Hey Kim~ Shut your trap and press Q~"
"Oh come on! I'll press Q, so turn on your microphone already!"
Ark exploded, unable to contain her built-up frustration. But even the viewers who should have been on her side only responded with countless "lols" - this situation had long since spiraled beyond her control.
But there was no turning back now.
Having come this far, she needed to get an interview with that jerk somehow. Not only had she already invested so much time, but once she touched on a topic, it would be difficult to use it again later. If she couldn't upload this to Gtube now, next time she'd be flooded with comments like "Oh, there was a reshoot~" or "Hmm... is this... déjà vu?"
Determined to salvage this dying angle, Ark pressed Q and opened her mouth with a voice full of determination.
"There. I pressed Q like you wanted. Now turn on your microphone."
[BringWarmAmericano: Don't have one]
"What do you mean you don't have one? The VR device has a built-in microphone, you son of a..."
"LOLOLOLOLOLOL"
"He says he doesn't have one LOLOL"
"A VR device without a microphone LOLOLOL"
[BringWarmAmericano: Don't have a VR device either]
"This bastard really knows how to lie through his teeth...!"
Obviously, even the oldest VR devices come with built-in microphones and speakers.
And 99% - no, 99.99% of N.O.K. users play the game with VR devices.
So this is like a League of Legends player saying, "I play with a gamepad so I don't have a keyboard to chat with ^w^" - complete nonsense.
"So sad that he doesn't have a VR device ㅠㅠ"
"Doesn't Ark need to buy him a VR device?"
"Our poor WBA ㅠㅠ"
Of course, the viewers were having too much fun watching Ark's mental breakdown to care.
"No, no, seriously, wow... what are you, how old are you? Let's at least know that. Actually, I'll send you a VR device, so tell me your address. Right now."
"???: Disciplinary action incoming."
"???: Sniper caught."
"Terrorist please negotiate with us ㅠㅠ"
"Terrorist: There's no negotiating with terrorists."
Her grand dream of subduing the notorious sniper with brilliant rhetoric, teaching him a lesson, and getting an apology - preferably on stream with just his face covered - had turned into a nightmare.
Nevertheless, her efforts to salvage the dying angle seemed to be working. The stream's atmosphere wasn't bad. Except for the fact that her mental state was being shredded to pieces.
At this point, she couldn't possibly hit the brakes. The chat was moving twice as fast as usual. She couldn't read it properly, but instead of being filled with "rock bottom" or "🔥" emotes, it was dominated by laughing emojis and "lols." Question marks appeared occasionally, but that was normal.
If the viewers' tension was high, she would only accelerate.
So, taking a deep breath and steeling herself to continue with her next line, Ark heard a familiar and dreadful sound.
=Doooong=
The heavy sound indicating that all characters had been selected and the game was about to begin.
"??"
"?"
"LOLOLOL finally..!"
"LOLOLOL"
"Ark, aren't you going to pick? 3rd try"
The slightly delayed chat was still clamoring for her to make a selection.
Of course, Ark, who had no mental capacity to see such messages, failed to select a character in time-
"Rogue has entered the forum LOLOLOL"
"R-LOLOL-ogue-LOLOL"
"Is this a tribute game for WBA? I might... be jealous? Is this a tribute game for WBA? I might... be jealous? Is this a tribute game for WBA? I might... be jealous? Is this a tribute game for WBA? I might... be jealous?"
"???: Picking Rogue itself is trolling"
On Ark's screen, a sharp-featured man in a black cloak was swishing his dagger around.
It was a random pick due to time expiration.
"Aaaaaaah wait! Dodge! Dodge!"
Ark hurriedly moved her gaze to the game exit option, only to realize she was in a promotion match.
And dodging in a promotion match counts as a loss.
As Ark sank into despair, she slowly saw the Discos chat coming in.
[BringWarmAmericano: Oh Rogue]
[BringWarmAmericano: I'll go watch the game]
[BringWarmAmericano has left the chat.]
* * * *
It was delicious.
The chicken was delicious, the beer was delicious, but the game was the most delicious.
As they say, even a dog at a Confucian school can recite poetry after three years. Ark, who had played many games with Rogue, managed a decent performance contributing about 0.7 of a full player's worth-
But losing by narrow margins in each teamfight, she ultimately fell short in firepower during the final moment, ending the 40-minute bloodbath with a defeat. Even from the most biased perspective as Ark's fan... this had to be Ark's fault.
That's not how you play Rogue.
Ah. I should tell her this... yes, I should.
She might play Rogue again in the next game.
-OO has donated 1,000 won!-
[That's not how you play Rogue.]
After putting the last piece of chicken in my mouth and washing it down with beer- the stream had already ended. The stream ended right after I made the donation. I'm a bit worried whether my message got through... but it seems I just barely made it in time.
I decided to think positively. Come to think of it, she broke her promise to play two games... but that one game was packed with enough entertainment for two.
With a satisfied smile, I shut down my computer, lay in bed hugging my blanket, and checked my phone- 3 AM.
It was still a bit early to sleep, but today had been fulfilling enough.
I might as well start my end-of-day routine.
Humming lightly while lying in bed, I accessed the N.O.K. Forum on my smartphone and clicked the "Write" button.
[Author: Anonymous] [Title: Rogue seems good?]
[Watching Ark today, doesn't Rogue seem pretty decent? Those who slander Rogue should reflect on themselves.]
-
??
-
???
-
Are you talking about that game where she rage quit as soon as it ended?
-
Did we watch the same game?
-
If it weren't for Rogue, that game would have been a 10-minute surrender.
Hmm.
Rogue-hatred is still rampant throughout the world.
* * * * *
Convenience stores at night are either boring or painful.
Given the choice, anyone would choose the boring option, but such choices are extremely rare.
Kim Tae-ho, a three-month night shift worker, was unfortunately suffering through a parade of drunks and troublemakers at one of the few convenience stores near a busy residential area, repeatedly thinking he wanted to die.
After an old man who demanded eight exchanges because he didn't like the picture on the cigarette pack finally left the store, it was already 4 AM.
For the first time during his shift that day, peace descended upon the convenience store.
Kim Tae-ho collapsed onto the counter chair, feeling completely drained.
It had been four months since he decided to work night shifts to save money for a VR device, tired of scraping together his tight allowance to play N.O.K. at VR cafes.
He closed his eyes tightly, thinking he couldn't take it anymore.
He felt like he might actually hit the next drunk who came in to lecture him about life with a soju bottle.
"I'd like to pay."
Just then, a whispering, soft yet seductive voice reached his ears.
His foggy mind instantly cleared as he jumped up from his seat. He hadn't even heard the customer come in. He might have actually fallen asleep.
"Damn, I hope the manager didn't see me on the CCTV..."
Unconsciously frowning, Kim Tae-ho instinctively grabbed the items placed before him and scanned the barcodes.
Three bottles of soju and one Choco Pie.
"I'm sorry, but could I see your ID..."
As he recited the familiar line and halfheartedly looked up to verify the customer was an adult, he experienced firsthand what it meant to be speechless.
Even when he had accidentally seen an idol filming a variety show on the street, it wasn't this intense.
Skin so white and transparent it seemed unreal.
Large, shining eyes, even though they were half-closed.
Glossy hair that fell just past the shoulders, as if painted in a picture.
Beautiful features that seemed to belong to a different race, filling her tiny face.
And above all else, a size that was rarely seen even in visual media...
"Ah. S-sorry."
Realizing he had been rudely staring at her face(s), Kim Tae-ho quickly lowered his head.
Fortunately, the woman in front of him was just expressionlessly holding out her ID.
"N-nine thousand won. I've taken your card."
With his head bowed low, he received the card, completed the payment, and hurriedly stuffed the soju bottles into a bag.
He was certain that if he raised his head even slightly, he wouldn't be able to control his eyes.
"Have a good night."
Once again, the whispering voice reached his ears, followed by the sound of the convenience store door opening and closing.
Only then did Tae-ho relax, unconsciously exhaling the breath he'd been holding. A lingering scent remained, something like body wash or perhaps the natural scent of skin.
"Wow... Wow. Is she a celebrity? An idol? Maybe a trainee?"
Thinking about it later, her outfit - sweatpants and a hoodie - was too casual for someone out in the entertainment district.
She probably just stopped by the convenience store from somewhere nearby. Which means there's a high chance she'll come back.
"Maybe I'll work... just one more month."