After one member was assigned to each team, the turn order came back around to me, granting me the opportunity to make a selection.
Cerberus and Traveler are top seeds, so they’re not available for selection.
Luche still hadn’t been assigned to a team.
This meant that, if I wanted, I could add Luche to my team and compete against her.
However, even with the opportunity right in front of me, I wasn’t inclined to do so.
Many people were hoping that the “Korean” competitor would achieve a high ranking in this arena.
While I don’t have any reason to care about those people, Luche might see things differently.
If she were to join my team, she would feel a significant burden.
So, this one time, I’ll let it slide.
Because I’m going to win no matter what.
There will only be two survivors out of the four in the group; with my spot taken, that leaves just one passing grade for the rest.
Since we’re bound to meet in the upper rounds, there’s no need to pile on the pressure now.
“Alright, next is E group number 1. It’s Gawol’s turn. She’s known for being full of character, so I’m really curious to see what she’ll do. I can’t tell you how long I’ve waited for this moment.”
Before I knew it, Ho-eun handed me the microphone.
Ho-eun wore an expression that betrayed a curious anticipation.
I wonder. Why is she looking forward to this so much?
I also noticed the camera focusing on me more than usual, which made me feel uneasy.
“Alright, Gawol. You’re likely to face off against Rime, the Reaper from Acid Gaming. He’s a player often cited by many assassin users as a role model. What are your thoughts?”
“Hmm, I don’t really feel anything in particular. I don’t count myself among those many assassins.”
“Does that mean you don’t care who your opponent is?”
“Yes, ultimately, they’re all people I need to defeat. That said, I do value the way Reaper evaluates himself and his opponents accurately.”
Ho-eun raised an intrigued eyebrow.
“That’s interesting! What exactly do you find commendable?”
“It’s his ability to accurately assess the strengths of himself and his opponents. Unlike someone else I saw earlier today who seemed to struggle with that.”
As soon as I finished speaking, several looks were directed my way.
Surprisingly, Reaper seemed unfazed, but Cerberus’ gaze was clearly noticeable.
He sneered, an upward tug of the lips that didn’t escape my sight. I didn’t bother pointing it out.
Ultimately, it’s something I’ll have to prove through my skills.
Objectively, the strongest player isn’t me but Cerberus.
If my confidence matches my abilities, it becomes determination; if not, it’s perceived as mere bravado.
In any sport, there have always been players who increased their visibility through provocative statements.
This is nothing new, and the days when fiery words alone could draw attention are long past.
I can only show them that I’m not all talk through the matches.
“Quite an interview—there’s a rookie’s determination! While we’re curious about Cerberus’ reaction, there’s still much to go. Let’s see Gawol’s selection!”
On the central stage, atop the podium, the name tags of the remaining players were visible.
Like me, many independent amateurs had already been selected, and now the remaining choices were mostly well-known professional gamers.
As I was examining the tags, Luche’s name briefly caught my eye.
There was a fleeting temptation, an instinctive hand movement I barely managed to resist.
My choice was located slightly further down.
LB Rime, or Rime in our country, is a prominent lance knight player from North America, renowned for her sturdy playstyle similar to Luche’s.
Ordinarily, such a player would be tough for an assassin, but I’ve been particularly effective against lance knights.
I held my choice up to the camera, and Ho-eun let out an excited squeal.
“Wow! Rime joins E group as number 2! Did you pick this player assassin-types typically avoid for a specific reason?”
“I’m confident in my ability to confront lance knights. It’ll probably work out fine for me, though I’m not so sure about Reaper.”
That’s a reasonable choice.
Though Reaper impressed me, the world of competition is harsh, and you can’t let emotions sway your decisions.
Whoever Rime chooses, they won’t pose much difficulty for me.
As I’ve already stated, I am certain I’ll survive no matter who comes my way.
Had I intended to bow to adversity, I wouldn’t have taunted Cerberus, would I?
Rime made a fair final choice for our group.
She secured a favorable position for herself while also ensuring that the matchups weren’t too imbalanced for us.
The lineup was finalized when Japanese swordsman user Fury took the last spot.
The group members were randomly shuffled, and the matchups were set.
Despite my efforts, my first opponent turned out to be Rime.
“Wait! Hey! Gawol!”
There was nothing left for me to do in the stage area after the event had concluded.
While other competitors exchanged casual chatter, I didn’t partake in such affairs.
Just as I was about to leave, a voice stopped me.
Behind me stood Traveler, who had called out.
“…?”
“Finally we meet. Why haven’t you accepted my friend request?”
“Why are you speaking so casually to me?”
“Didn’t you start it last time? You even told me to speak casually if I wanted.”
“Did I…?”
It was possible.
So far, I had approached Traveler three times.
Twice were during broadcasts, and the third was a chance encounter.
Back then, I was far more malevolent than I am now.
It was a time when I hated the world. Just breathing was enough to bring up all sorts of negative emotions.
Especially when I saw streamers or professional gamers, their presence would bury me in an ocean of malice, and I couldn’t endure without burning them to ashes.
Now, have I changed much?
Hmm.
I’m not sure.
Maybe somewhat.
The malice still lingers, but it doesn’t flare up as violently as before.
I’ve learned ways to release it and am gradually quenching my thirst through the arena.
Anyway, if I had met my old self back then, it wouldn’t have been a pleasant experience, so being addressed casually would have been the least of it.
“So, what is it?”
“I asked why you didn’t accept my friend request. Didn’t I also send you a mail?”
“Mail…? Oh, I probably deleted it. I usually delete messages without reading them if the title seems suspicious.”
“What kind of mail do you get?”
The sort that asks me to kill other users.
From this person, there would have been no attached items, so I’d have deleted it without a second thought.
If I went through every single mail, I wouldn’t be able to maintain my sanity.
“Never mind, let’s not bother. Actually, I did accept your request. Around the Final Phase.”
“What? Seriously?! You accepted it but never sent me a private message?”
“You’re the one who has something to say. Why should I contact you first?”
“Alright, I get it. Our ways of thinking are just different.”
I felt like I was being treated like an oddity.
Traveler nodded as if it cleared something up.
I frowned, feeling uncomfortable.
“Tell me what you want. You didn’t come here just to chat with me, did you?”
“Do you even know when I sent you the friend request?”
“Obviously not.”
“Right before last year’s international competition. It’s been several months since winter.”
The international event last year… yeah, I remember.
Luche participated in that tournament.
Considering it was a national team selection, Traveler must have been involved, too.
Though I didn’t care about him back then.
“Didn’t you lose to Cerberus?”
“…Yeah.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“It’s a similar matter. This time, there’s an assassin in our group. And, coincidentally, your group has a lance knight. Doesn’t it align with our interests?”
“Hmm.”
I understood what he meant.
Traveler’s main class is the lance knight.
While Rime in our group has a different style, she could still be a good opponent.
“We could practice together?”
“That’s right. It’s not a bad deal for you either.”
“What about your team’s assassin? Isn’t Sparrow on your team?”
“She’s on vacation. She won’t enter the game until after that.”
So, that’s why he came to me for practice?
The feeling wasn’t bad. Even if he said otherwise, it was still a form of acknowledgment, especially from a rival.
But there was something important to clarify.
“How much will you pay?”
“What?”
“Money. Seriously, you didn’t think I’d do it for free, did you? If that’s the case, forget it.”
“This isn’t a loss for you either…”
“That’s from a pro-gamer’s perspective. I’m just a regular person. It’d be more profitable for me to go on a party hunt during that time.”
I need to take what I can.
My time isn’t free.
Practicing with Traveler would indeed help me, but obsessing over it isn’t necessary. After all, everyone else in group E except me is a professional player.
With the abundance of match videos, I have plenty of materials to analyze my opponents.
Polishing my skills right before the match… won’t some live-streaming gamers help me out?
As if realizing my resolution, Traveler started to speak less.
“…How much do you need?”
“More than what I’d earn going on a hunt during that time.”
“Alright. I’ll check with the team, but from now on, at least reply to my messages.”
“Of course, customer!”
“Wow. How can someone be that…cheap?”
Cheap?! That’s unfair.
I simply have a strong professional ethic.
If you’re mad, why don’t you become a professional gamer?
