[IKL Regular League – Match 102]
[Sigma eSports vs Q Prime]
[Score – 1:0]
[Battlefield: Bamboo Forest]
[Rules: Annihilation Match]
“Exactly what is happening here, Sigma eSports!”
“The domestic league has for a very long time had two fierce predators: Sigma and Q Prime. With this two-power system solidifying, there were continuous critiques questioning if the domestic league had fallen into monotony.”
“But today, I can clearly say it: this two-power system has broken in some way. Sigma’s domination has begun, and Q Prime has taken a step back.”
“Traveler is fighting their hardest… Ah, this is not going to be easy.”
Luche and Traveler clashed.
A gunlance belched fire from point-blank range, and a brilliant radiance wiped away the explosion of flames.
The heavy weapons and shields collided several times, exchanging the deep, resonant sounds of metal against metal.
Knight versus Lance Knight.
A matchup where the Lance Knight tends to hold an advantage in one-on-one situations.
In reality, the head-to-head record between the two players leaned in favor of Traveler.
However, Invul (INBL) Pro League is a game centered around team battles.
If we look at the overall team win-rates rather than individual player matchups, Luche’s side has the upper hand.
The tendencies of the two teams were evident from the class choices of their respective leaders, the two knights.
Knight classes allow relatively flexible changes.
Even so, Luche chose Paladin, a class to support her teammates, while Traveler selected Lance Knight, which maximizes his own combat power.
“Who would have thought this matchup would be so one-sided?”
“Suddenly, Sigma’s skills have skyrocketed! Camellia, Camellia is tearing through the enemy ranks!”
“To make such a statement is rather delicate… The Camellia we’ve seen before was heavily reliant on her physical abilities. That was the criticism often directed her way: she lacked meticulous detail in her gameplay.”
“But now, it’s different. Camellia’s playstyle has become robust and unwavering. If her fans understand this, they will know just how terrifying this stability truly is.”
Sigma’s Luche is a leader who supports her teammates.
Based on her own strong foundation, she elevates the skills of her teammates as a supportive-type tank.
She is a shield protecting her team on the frontlines.
By contrast, Traveler is a leader who leads his team from the front.
The brute combat power characteristic of a Lance Knight, and his excellent judgment in assessing the combat situation, makes him a spear leading by force of his own skill.
“Can’t even handle the Warrior? Swallow, you fall back! Are you just going to let the enemy’s marksman have free rein?”
“Then what about our marksman…?”
“I’m not asking for him to deal great damage; just please, stop dying! Fall back!”
Traveler screamed, fighting desperately.
The situation was already tilting heavily against them.
Nevertheless, Traveler’s lance did not stop. It continued its relentless assault.
Recently, the balance between the two teams has been shattered.
It is true that Sigma’s players have greatly increased in strength.
It’s as if they’ve been struck by some unknown force, greatly enhancing their combat ability during engagements.
It feels like they’re growing according to the standards of some monstrous figure.
It wasn’t hard to guess whose influence this might be.
Are there many people in this country who could suddenly stir up changes like this?
An amateur who has yet to even show their face in the Pro League.
But there is one woman who, simply by appearing, can create a tremendous upheaval.
It can’t be a coincidence that Sigma’s growth coincided perfectly with her rest period.
It seems everyone is keeping it a secret for now, but sooner or later, the truth will come out.
But that wasn’t the important part.
“It’s frustrating. I really wanted to win this season.”
“I understand your efforts.”
“No, our team hasn’t worked as hard as Sigma has.”
Traveler clenched his teeth, barely suppressing the urge to grind them.
The opponent is Luche, a rival worthy of respect.
Showing all his emotion in such a situation wasn’t something a professional should do.
Sigma grew, but Q Prime didn’t.
Or rather, is “didn’t” the right word?
Traveler wondered whether this team even harbored ambitions of improvement.
They’re not an inept team.
If they truly lacked the ability, they wouldn’t have been able to challenge Sigma as equals for so long.
However, the fact that ‘they’re satisfied’ with their current standing—this is something Traveler detests immensely.
Coming in second is doing well, isn’t it? Yes, it’s a valid statement.
Being the runner-up is by no means a failed career.
There are many professional gamers who never even stepped onto the finals threshold before retiring.
Then why does anyone not know this frustration?
Because we could have won. That’s why it’s so infuriating.
“We’ll meet again in the playoffs. By then, we’ll come back better-prepared.”
“Understood.”
Camellia’s spear tore through the body of an allied Priest.
Our Assassin failed to kill the opposing marksman, and even Traveler could not overcome Luche and Camellia simultaneously.
At the moment he fell in the now-empty battlefield,
Traveler gently closed his eyes.
There’s no need to confirm what’s already obvious.
Today, eSports journalists will write that Traveler put up a spirited fight—a polite way of saying he ultimately didn’t win.
Yet nothing will change.
Ah, this is just too hard.
I also want to win…
—
I originally had no plans to appear on broadcasts for a while.
I figured I would be busy practicing with the pros, whether they’re the first or second team at Sigma.
At least, that was the case until Luche came to see me after reviewing my play logs.
“Luce-ssi? I thought I told you not to overdo it?”
“It wasn’t too much. I’ve done this much even during normal times.”
“Do you know why there’s a 4-hour death penalty in Invul?”
“…”
“In the past, it was a safety mechanism to prevent deaths from being too repetitive. It’s a relic of those days.”
I got scolded a lot.
If I kept this up and something really bad happened, what would I do?
When they mentioned that I might be causing counterproductive effects, it gave me chills.
There won’t be another marathon like the first day.
I also received advice to take a day off and rest, coinciding with an offer to appear on Elderyl’s show.
Luche said it was fine as long as the details of the contract remained a secret.
In fact, if possible, it would be better to be more proactive.
The greater my influence, the more the game company would be mindful of my actions.
I’ve even been given the green light to drop a few hints.
So, this can also be considered as a continued fight.
It wasn’t long before we reached Elderyl’s studio in the car.
“Come in! Was it hot outside? Was it hard to come here?”
“It was fine. It was a bit hot, though.”
“Mmhmm. The weather has suddenly gotten warmer, huh? It’s insane. Would you like a glass of water?”
“Yes, please.”
Summer was creeping in.
Soon enough, the playoffs in the Pro League would begin, and the winner of the Spring season would be decided.
This championship will likely be taken by Sigma.
I felt refreshed after drinking some cool water.
Elderyl seemed to be adjusting the setup before the broadcast, while I watched as a staff member combed my hair.
“What are we going to do today?”
“Hmm, originally, I was going to chat and then play a game, but since Da-eun is here, I thought we could do a food broadcast.”
“A food broadcast will ultimately end up as idle chatter, too, right?”
“Mm-hmm. I’ve chosen some topics already—the Pro League and romantic stories…”
“I’ll stick to the Pro League.”
Good. I managed to block the dangerous topic before it came up.
My reflexes haven’t completely dulled, it seems.
Still, idle chatter. I don’t really know what I should do to make people like me.
Last time… I showed my armpits, I think?
Why people like that is still something I don’t understand.
“And just to be clear, I’ll ignore any requests to show anything this time, even if you ask. Even if you, sister, ask.”
“…Didn’t I try to stop you last time? I didn’t ask you to do that.”
“Oh.”
It was an accident caused by drinking.
Back then, I needed something to numb my fear, and alcohol just happened to be within reach.
People’s brains, after all, tend to make irrational judgments when alcohol is involved.
So, it’s not my fault.
It’s the fault of those who encouraged me to do something while I was drunk.
The preparations done by the staff were completed, and I took my seat.
I don’t want the camera to show my left leg.
I adjusted the angle carefully and fanned myself since the air conditioning wasn’t enough.
“Ah, by the way, I’ve kept some ice cream in the freezer. Would you like some?”
“I’d like some.”
“What flavor?”
“Do you have vanilla?”
“I’ll get it for you.”
What I got was a pristine white candy bar.
When I put it in my mouth, it was so cold I couldn’t even bite it; sucking on it felt like a chore as well.
It’ll melt a bit if I wait for a while.
“Should I start the broadcast after you’ve finished eating?”
“Hmm? No, you can start the broadcast while we eat.”
“Okay.”
The number of viewers quickly rose as soon as the broadcast started.
While Elderyl gave her opening remarks with a bright smile, I browsed the chatroom.
Occasionally seeing comments about me added a bit of fun to it.
As time passed, the frozen candy bar I had started to melt a little.
I checked how much it had melted by touching it with my tongue gently.
It seems it’s now at a point where I can start eating it.
Carefully licking it a few times so it wouldn’t drip everywhere.
After tasting the vanilla-flavored ice cream, I brought it to my lips.
Although still a bit too hard to bite, I deemed it soft enough to have in my mouth.
Human body temperature is approximately 36.5 degrees Celsius.
When I swirled my tongue around the ice in my mouth, it started melting quickly.
The moment I bit it, now perfectly sized, Elderyl stared blankly at me.
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
[The text cuts off mid-sentence here due to the coding HTML, but the above is a completed translation of the narrative text. Please ensure the source text is correct or complete if you need further translation.]
