Former Hero Streamer – Chapter 29

Originally, the device and internet connection were fine.

Definitely fine, I mean.

Number of viewers: 1,823.

Has it really been only 10 minutes since the first rank after starting the broadcast?

Caught up in the flood of viewer reactions coming in so quickly, I lost focus.

It’s funny that I’m dazed by such things, but now even the reactions seem to be buffering.

Change always comes suddenly.

Like a blocked hole bursting open, spilling its contents everywhere.

Isn’t it said that the first step is the hardest, but once you get the hang of it, everything else goes smoothly?

This was exactly that moment.

[Wow, it’s Friede, the real one!]

[Friede’s broadcast… this is rare!]

[Hey, she changed her character model again.]

[Is that a plate armor chest or a plate bra? Wow!]

[Not a Light Hero, but more like Beach Hero.]

[She changed her nickname too.]

[Her defense is crazy high, Sensei!]

[Isn’t this fake Friede?]

[If it’s the one with the broken greatsword, then that’s definitely my sister!]

Even though I was in the middle of the enemy camp, I thought I must not forget the fan service in times like this.

Switching the voice mode from game to chat, I delivered my long-awaited first greeting to the viewers.

“Welcome.”

It was a simple first line for my first broadcast.

Before starting the stream, I had thought of some cool lines.

Now, all that seems wasted.

[That’s her voice! That’s definitely her! T_T]

[It’s really my sister!]

[Friede! Godride! Queenride!]

[Her voice is so damn sexy!]

[My erectile dysfunction has been cured. Thank you, Mama!]

I worried that the atmosphere might become awkward all of a sudden, but that turned out to be a mere unnecessary fear, giving me a slight relief.

Ah, I’m grinning like an idiot.

My lips hidden behind the visor of my helmet.

Even while stuffing my hand into the gap to cover my mouth, the sensation of my facial muscles struggling feels fresh.

If I die laughing here, it’d be such a disgrace.

Moreover, as the influx increased, the chat was slowly screaming chaos and destruction.

The festival of spam and dirty jokes. At this rate, the broadcast might crash before I do in this round.

“I forgot to properly greet you all. I’ll finish this round quickly.”

[Shock! The declaration of Friede, making America gasp, China tremble, and Japan envious!]

[Stop it, you mindless nationalism!]

[Sis… for our sake… wipe out!]

[What’s up with her voice? It’s so sweet! T_T]

[I came from the Sovens… uh, actually, I’ll just leave.]

[Fuck you!]

[Sis, take off your helmet!]

That’s when it happened.

While enjoying the barrage of comments in the chat, I picked up on a discreet sound in my ear.

–Crunch! Crunch!

Footsteps? No, it’s the unique metal sound of armor joints crying out in agony.

From the sound, I could guess there was only one opponent.

After all, in a game where you fight with limited people, mindless reinforcements are unlikely.

Like a game of hide and seek, we secretly approach each other with predatory intent.

With pure motives to show our teeth from our optimal ambush and waiting spots.

–Clang!

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue absentmindedly.

Was that sound the puddle gathering from rain leaking through the cracks in the building?

The sound of the armor from far away was cut off when I accidentally stepped into a puddle.

I briefly considered retreating, but I wiped the option from my mind.

This isn’t a game for just me. With viewers watching, I needed to present myself like a performer on stage.

Leaning against the wall, I slowly moved forward.

I paused for a moment at the corner, gauging my timing, then dashed out, swinging my broken greatsword.

–Clank!

A classic sound disturbance that happens when you swing a weapon hard in a narrow path.

What splattered from my rusty broken blade wasn’t red droplets of blood, but sparks as the metal clashed.

The noise of my steel blade scraping against the shield spread through the area, effectively blocking my strike.

“—!”

And there it was, a splash of crimson resembling falling autumn leaves in the air.

Noticing the arrow had grazed my left arm, my eyebrows furrowed involuntarily.

Out there beyond the open door, I could see the archer rapidly reloading.

[Gathering? Is something going on?]

[Wow, they’re sending an archer through the detour?]

[If that archer had aimed well, wouldn’t Friede have gone down in one shot?]

[No way, the sis has her position covered, right?]

The fun of games lies not only in playing but also in watching, and it’s all the more special.

With the tense situation changing, the viewers began to chat excitedly.

If that archer’s attack had succeeded, it would have been a significant blow.

But since it only grazed my arm, now he’s reloading, making it an opportunity.

‘An axe and a shield, huh?’

An ambiguous combination that is neither tough nor cautious.

Above all, the opponent’s attitude of not aggressively attacking made me chuckle subtly.

It’s obvious that they’re just on defense, waiting to parry for a counter, making them an easy prey.

Twisting my blade, I shifted the stance of my broken sword’s edge, preparing a weak horizontal slash at their thigh.

–Swish!

As I cut through the right leg and their balance faltered, I seized the moment to stab into the left shoulder that was still holding the shield.

And now, they should be coming.

–Whoosh!

With a slicing air sound, an arrow flew toward my neck.

The opponent, bending one knee, was swinging their axe as a last-ditch effort simultaneously.

Was that a play I was waiting for?

Twisting my neck to dodge the arrow, I pulled myself back like a coiled spring.

The blood vessels were screaming to clear a path in the tightened veins.

That outcry was shown by my face flushing hot and red.

As if releasing all the tension in a finger letting go of a drawn bowstring, I relaxed my joints, springing up like a coil.

I hit the ground.

With the sound of sand bursting, my accelerated body soared into the air.

Using a brick that slightly jutted out, I slid over like riding a surfboard, gracefully passing behind the opponent.

Thud!

A clean landing.

Simultaneously, I plunged the broken greatsword I held backward into their waist.

–Thunk!

Though they were positioned on my back, it was already visible.

Facing away from each other, the warrior with the axe could only gaze at the blade piercing through their chest as they met their demise.

[That crazy girl, she’s seriously insane.]

[If just moving around takes that level of skill, what’s even going on? Total balance is a mess.]

[I saw that 3D movement, wow.]

[Does she really move like that in real life? Like a military-trained high school girl?]

[Honestly, it makes me suspect she’s hacking.]

[Don’t run your dirty laundry while you’re here, you jerk!]

[Zikgaterbelt has sponsored 10,000 won!

–Wow, your voice is really nice!]

“Ah, thank you for the first sponsorship.”

Since it was my first sponsorship, I just thanked them without much thought.

But it seemed the viewers took it a little differently.

[First? First? First? First? First? First?]

[I-I can’t believe that this jerk took my sister’s first!]

[Adapocalypse bomb?]

[Garterbelt, who the hell are you to take her first?]

[Friede was the woman who could be my mother!]

[I want my first too! I want my first too! I want my first too! I want my first too! I want my first too!]

In the middle of the chat filled with noise, the second sponsorship window popped up.

[NoonaEatingMidir has sponsored 30,000 won!

–Sis, please take off your helmet!]

“Thank you, Midir, for the 30,000 won sponsorship. Sorry, but I’ll keep wearing my helmet.”

Changing targets again, I saw the viewers giggling at my face being hidden and felt a natural smugness.

My nerves were at the perfect temperature, the steel had been quenched, purging impurities, now in a pure heated state.

I think I can… end this round even faster.

*

*

*

The repeated promises of victory are common in movies and comics.

But in a game, especially when battling other players, there’s nothing more thrilling.

When you ask anyone playing a game, you rarely find someone who gets bored winning all 100 rounds.

The sense of omnipotence conquering enemies with my prowess in a virtual space.

It’s needless to say just how exhilarating that feeling of leading the game is.

And… internet streaming led by skilled gamers carries an intense addictive quality like a mix of opium and cocaine.

‘As expected…’

Realizing once again how ideal the profession of a streamer is to satisfy this desire.

Dodging the archer’s sniping, I chase down and slice.

In the maze of the detour, I slice through enemies in an intense confrontation.

Diving straight into the attack route, I manage to take out at least one, sometimes two, gaining the upper hand.

The victory text floats in front of me in virtual reality.

My character is chosen as the MVP of this round, a scene of extinguishing the bonfire plays, while the chat swells with excitement.

[Friede super carry!]

[So this is what it feels like at the top?]

[19 kills, 4 deaths, 13 assists… she completely flipped the game!]

[Tastes of victory remain stable even today!]

[She’s basically a human blender!]

[I want to duo with her!]

[Friede is a baby.. I need to protect her.]

[I’m heading to solo rank with my broken greatsword!]

[Hey, stop the nonsense!]

Cheering as gameplay repeats.

They go wild with every line I say.

[I thought most of the people couldn’t even react like Friede, but there are indeed some who can follow along.]

[The operation is refined even considering this sitch…]

[Once the gap opened, a lot of people were thrown in to stabilize quickly, right?]

[She obliterates 3:1 in low rank, but now 2:1 is quite tough, haha.]

[Even Wardens can’t manage 3:1 against high ranks.]

[Even my sis can’t get caught in a thrashing.]

[On the contrary, it’s insane how well she’s doing against high rank!]

[Does the high rank seem like garbage to you?]

On the flip side, I could see some trying to watch my play critically.

I didn’t care either way.

The dizzying barrage of comments didn’t bother me.

Whether they were ecstatic or coolly observing, the sheer joy of sharing my gameplay with everyone was unmatched.

On the joy of my victory, the enthusiasm of the viewers layered like paint on a canvas.

“Quite a crowd we have today.”

Just finishing one game, looking at the number of viewers nearing 3,000 brought a strange thrill.

[Taeyangmanse has sponsored 200,000 won!

–Sis, strike a sexy pose for me! Sis, strike a sexy pose for me! Sis, strike a sexy pose for me!]

[Man, the wording’s dizzying, you jerk.]

[Those thirsty ones really are a problem, man.]

[Seriously, what are you guys gonna do if Friede gets fed up and quits?]

[Ugh, that content is spine-chilling.]

What kind of sponsorship is this again?

The overtly blunt request makes me frown. Who cares? It’s not like anything will show through my helmet, but still, it’s annoying to manage my expression.

In women streamer broadcasts, you always find folks pushing the envelope like this.

“Thanks for the sponsorship, Taeyangmanse. I’m reaction-poor so… I’ll use the donation to cover my living expenses well.”

[The donation total just hit 77 billion!]

[What a great reaction!]

[Tae-yang is losing money, and Friede is profiting!]

[Making money is super easy, huh?]

The viewers threw jabs at Taeyangmanse in response to my line.

Overenthusiasm is a problem, whether it’s from alcohol or something else, it seems.

The first broadcast was in many ways… a fulfilling first meal.