Former Hero Streamer – Chapter 126

Cloud Pohl was neither a streamer nor a gaming expert, so there was no feeling of serious competition like in Soul Warfare.

It seemed that all 14 of us, including myself, decided to go all-out as free-spirited trolls at this moment, as if to relieve the stress built up from previous games.

Winning or losing didn’t really matter, but somehow, Warden finished me off, marking STK’s victory.

“Wow, when Lotus first came out, I really thought we were going to lose, but when Friede got Warden’s kill mark, I cheered right away!”

“You led the team well, and thanks to you, I think I’ve just had the best game of my life. Thank you, Friede.”

“Do you have any plans for collabs?”

“Can I add you as a friend?”

“Can I call you ‘teacher’?”

As the pre-event buzz began, questions poured in like a storm, asking about possible collabs and ranked duo games, among other things.

It was quite a struggle to handle all the thankful messages from the streamer team members.

At least it was a relief that nobody was asking about my privacy.

The friends who seemed so awkward in the waiting room at first looked so enthusiastic now; it really felt like one game could wash away any lingering awkwardness.

At this point, it’s like I’ve had a drink or two, right?

After chatting for a while, I finally managed to slip away into the personal waiting room and found a moment of peace.

The calm I regained after the game schedule wrapped up was unbelievably sweet.

Well, to be honest, there wasn’t that same satisfaction as during the brawl tournament.

Maybe it’s just because it was a single-event game. It felt tiring instead, almost like a poor value proposition.

I’ll need to remember this for next time.

“Uhh, okay!”

After finishing my match with Cloud Pohl, I stretched and collapsed into the sofa’s embrace.

Ah, I should have just been here from the beginning. The belated regret stung me a bit.

“Hey, you were really amazing, sis! The hero leading the charge!”

“Hey, don’t exaggerate, just sit still. Sis is tired. Here…”

“Thank you.”

“Tired? You don’t look too good.”

“Ah, well… kinda, yeah.”

I gulped my drink down not to savor the taste but hoping it would wash away the fatigue.

Feeling the refreshing sensation of my thirst and annoyance fading down my throat, I smiled cautiously at Dayoung, who was looking at me carefully.

“You made me reminisce a bit, you did great against Warden.”

“Wow… you’re saying you’re that impressed by a player?”

Regardless of the game, it was true that we had played hard before the event.

If we hadn’t gone all out, Warden could’ve easily wiped our team out in the main battle, and if luck had gone against me, I could’ve been the one getting taken out.

In fact, the combat skill I prepared early on was quite powerful.

If it weren’t for me, I doubt any gamer could have handled that attack.

Maybe that’s why.

It’s kind of funny, you know, to get emotionally invested in a virtual reality game, but it felt like I approached it with a serious mindset.

You could say, “Why are you going all in for just a game?” but when I dodged that attack, I was really pumped, too.

I nodded in agreement with Dayoung’s observation.

“Yeah, within the game, but…”

It was an opponent that made me feel the tension I used to experience during my hero days.

I fought with the determination of a hero slaying demons, not the mindset of a gamer defeating their opponent.

Even the best professional gamers can’t surpass the limitations held by an average person.

Let’s just admit it. Even if I get scolded for getting overly immersed in the game, it was beyond reasonable.

“I saw some reactions that seemed unexpected. People were saying Warden went down way too easily. Well, since STK overall was defeated by you, it doesn’t seem like there were harsh criticisms.”

That does make sense.

There are discussions about a “water rocket,” but maybe because it was an unofficial event…

Moreover, STK’s authority seen in Soul Warfare is, well, a cut above the level of previous gaming giants like Stella Craft and Legendary Battle, so there wasn’t too much fuss.

After all, they were the only team that monopolized the Soul Cup, the top international league, so it’s understandable.

Claiming that they fell off post-season seems tricky since, right now, Warden takes first place in solo rank, with most team members within the top 30, showing peak performance.

It was just a short while ago that they were praised as a mad movie factory.

If one were to criticize STK, all the other pro teams that had let victories slip to them would look like even bigger scrubs by comparison.

So, while one’s able to throw insults, getting any sympathy to push forward a narrative seems tough.

Well, thanks to that, my name can’t help but rise even more.

Not a pro team that gets clobbered by amateurs, but rather the vibe of an exiled genius overwhelms the supreme pro team.

This mysterious vibe? I really like it. It suits me.

“I filled my camcorder up with footage. This’ll cover your streaming for three days.”

Oh, right. We were going to shoot a vlog too.

Looking back, I saw Ajin still holding the camcorder, which was still on.

So, it was still recording.

I wondered if it was really necessary to film after a tiring game, but Ajin shook her head and insisted it was even more needed.

Since a vlog is about everyday life, she said we should film everything without discrimination.

In the end, I slumped back onto the sofa and checked what the next schedule was.

The event wasn’t over yet.

“Uhh, what was it again? We had the interview, so what’s left….”

“The fan meeting is left.”

Oh right, that was still happening.

As the grand finale, it was something I was quietly looking forward to.

A fan meeting means a fan chose to come and see me, right?

Of course, considering the mix of professional gamers, I had to think about how many of those could truly be my fans…

‘Well, who cares.’

I rationalized that this level of self-promotion was understandable for anyone.

* * *

The fan meetings were held individually, whether it was with professional gamers or streamers.

In the case of STK, the entire team held their meeting in the lobby.

The streamers each had separate rooms for theirs.

This was a consideration from the organizers to avoid the so-called chaos that ensued when both sides mixed.

Excluding Friede, the participating streamers welcomed this arrangement.

Being crushed by STK or Friede in the same location would surely not sit well with their hearts.

Despite being a small number, who cared?

Interacting with their fans in their own space made them feel at ease.

I thought that’s how it would go…

“……”

“……”

“……”

“……”

The streamers, including Gunder, Bisu, and Haldir, although in separate rooms, shared the same thoughts in their hearts.

10 minutes before, we had moved to the location hosting the fan meeting in the adjacent block.

I could hear the voices of fans near STK and Friede’s room morphing into noise, buzzing like a swarm.

Well, on one side was the best gaming team, and on the other, the best female streamer, so I thought it was understandable… it felt truly impressive.

There was no need to puff up my pride, and it wasn’t like my pride was getting dinged.

It was a natural occurrence, so I figured I’d just go with it, feeling no pressure as I approached the room for our fan meeting.

Yet, when entering the separate room that was meant for our fan meeting, I felt an ominous sense that something was off.

I knew there were lots of people on the other side, but our separate room was empty aside from the editor.

At first, I thought maybe they were just letting fans in staggered due to the time, but as 5 minutes ticked by and then 10, I couldn’t help but feel increasingly anxious.

At this point, acceptance was unavoidable.

It was a completely miserable and uncomfortable reality.

“What the hell is this?”

Gunder broke the heavy silence, finally letting out a lament.

In an astonishing turn of events, the fan meetings for every streamer excluding Friede… well, nobody showed up.

Should I run there to Friede’s fan meeting place now?

Gunder seriously contemplated this.

* * *

As the fan meeting time drew near, I headed to the separate room with Dayoung and Ajin.

Since the vlog filming wasn’t over yet.

I was excited for my first-ever fan meeting, and my heart raced with anticipation.

Of course, I kept telling myself not to have too high expectations.

Well, that’s a given. No matter how popular a streamer is, would it surpass the entire STK team?

As we neared the fan meeting location, a buzz filled the air that vibrated wildly.

Following the staff’s guidance toward our separate room… I paused at the large door.

By the sensation, I could sense countless presences on the other side of the wall.

What’s going on here?

“Why are there so many people?”

Ignoring my question, the staff opened the door.

When the door cracked open and I caught the sight of those gathered inside,

―Wowwwwww

“Friede! Friede!”

“Wow! You’re so pretty in real life!”

“Sis, please sign here!”

“Let’s shake hands!”

“How about a hug!”

“What the hell! You crazy people!”

“Ah, I’m so touched! I could cry!”

“My heart’s racing!”

“Get out of the way! I’m first!”

“Sis! I love you!”

As if proving that my expectations of a decent turnout were a solid miscalculation,

a wave of massive cheers crashed over me like a tidal wave.