I am Smart

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―――

Satori’s Broadcast

―――

“Cactus, there are kids here right now. Okay?”

[That’s right, Cactus. I was really shocked to hear that. … sniff]

[… I’m sorry.]

As soon as Moon Si-hyun left, Satori changed her expression and started lecturing Cactus on various things.

Of course, it wasn’t a heavy atmosphere at all. Half serious, half playful. Just a situational act.

However, it was also a consideration from Satori, who had the most broadcasting experience.

Sex, Cactus’s accidental… remarks.

If only adults were present, it wouldn’t have mattered, but Harris and Squirrel were minors in reality. While they kept it somewhat secret on the broadcast, many viewers knew about it discreetly.

So, since it could potentially become a problem if they just laughed it off, it was better to address it naturally like this.

“I won’t make such remarks recklessly anymore.”

‘… But they really took it well. I guess even on a deserted island, they’re a big company.’

However, seeing Cactus acting as if he was truly making a public apology was interesting in its own way.

It was starkly different from the Cactus who once found it hard to talk to them.

―――

Personal Opinion) Cactus is so envious

Sisterㅠ

Lolololol

I want to be scolded like that too

Harris is just laughing beside me ㅋㅋㅋ

What is this, damn ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Sister’s voice is so nice

―――

Moreover, her viewers were reacting in the direction that Satori wanted.

“Yeah. -”

So, Satori continued with an even more excited voice.

[What’s that?]

“Whoa!”

Satori suddenly jumped at a voice that came from behind and turned around.

She saw the avatars of Moon Si-hyun and San-deng.

“Oh, uh? Si-hyun, you’re back already?”

[Just now. But what are you doing? Why is Cactus like that…]

Moon Si-hyun asked, alternating her gaze between herself and Cactus.

A pure voice.

“… Uh, um… well, that.”

Satori paused, choosing her words.

… It was half a situational act where she, as the elder, was lecturing Cactus after he shouted ‘sex’ out of excitement.

Explaining the situation itself was easy. After all, Satori with the mature concept didn’t shy away from such topics on-air.

“… Uh, um…”

But for some reason, such words were hard to come by in front of Moon Si-hyun.

For some reason… she didn’t want to bring up such topics with Moon Si-hyun.

“…”

Satori looked at Cactus and Moon Si-hyun.

“… Ah.”

Then she spoke.

“Cactus was just saying something mean about Si-hyun getting on the bus to San-deng.”

[……]

[Huh, what!? What does that mean!]

―――

??

???

WTF ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

What does that mean?

Sudden fabrication ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Satori-san?

―――

“I’m, I’m going to the bathroom for a bit.”

– Clatter

[Satori-san, where are you going!!]

[… Huh? Cactus?]

Moon Si-hyun’s rare cold voice was heard.

Soon, Moon Si-hyun.

– Swish

Sat down cross-legged next to Cactus, and although it was the same sitting position, there was a strange difference in their postures.

[… Cactus, winning. We should be happy together and not fight.]

[No! That’s not it! … This is really a fabrication by Satori-san!!]

[Fabrication?]

[Yes!! I never said that. Didn’t you hear? When Si-hyun caught Hu-ji at the end?]

[…… I don’t really remember the conversation from then. My head was a bit heated… I’m sorry.]

[I didn’t say something mean about San-deng. What I said was…]

[- ……]

[Yes.]

[Did you say it, though…?]

[…… Yes.]

[……]

…… Trapped in a dilemma.

[…… Hah!!]

… Cactus finally…

[…… I’m sorry… I did say something mean about San-deng…]

Decided to take a lighter punishment.

[Sniff, sob… really…!]

―――

Lololololol

Lolololololololol

Harris is really annoying ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

How do I say this? ㅋㅋ Ah

Harris is about to cry ㅋㅋㅋ

What are those guys doing? ㅋㅋㅋ

―――

[Lying now… Cactus-san.]

[……]

In the end, Cactus…

Was lectured calmly by Moon Si-hyun, who was four years younger than him, in the same cross-legged position.

That lecture only finished when Satori returned.

After the finals, time passed, and it had now become late at night.

Yet, even though the fatigue from almost daily matches over the week and the finals remained.

[At that time! Wow… I really shat myself there. Just straight up resurrect Si-hyun risking her life.]

[Cactus, that’s the eighth time today.]

[But Sansu is a bit quiet, huh? Sansu, what are you doing now? Why are you sitting still? … Huh, what? When did you leave the Discord?]

[…… The viewers are saying Sansu is doing ban-pick retching right now?]

[What’s ban-pick retching again?]

[They’re saying they got their sorceress banned in a set and they’re just replaying that part.]

Still, the atmosphere of the Bear Doll Family showed no signs of fading.

Each praised their own or someone else’s play repeatedly.

I didn’t particularly do that. I had already enjoyed it enough.

Right now, I was just…

I took out the lounge’s tool and tapped the square screen a few times with my finger.

Then I leaned the screen closer to San-deng, who was sitting cross-legged next to me.

Playback.

– … No! This really can’t happen! If this happens, the Sky Realm won’t last! This is a Berserker! This is an entertainment build! Are you kidding me!?

Next.

– No!! If this happens, the Sky Realm really won’t last!?

“… Hmm.”

[……]

“San-deng, I didn’t know you were so adamant about rejecting this.”

[……]

“Don’t turn away.”

– Swish

I fixed the turned head of San-deng and pressed play again.

– Look at what that person is saying. It’s fine if you don’t listen, right? You don’t even know the name of the trait! That means you didn’t even read it!!

Pause for a moment.

“Uh…”

I stared at San-deng.

[……]

Seeing San-deng’s awkward silence, the corners of my mouth slightly lifted.

[……]

“If I hadn’t upheld my beliefs and followed San-deng’s words to give up on the red trait… my chances of winning might have slightly decreased.”

[…… Si-hyun, are you taking revenge on me now?]

“No? Why would I take revenge for something like that?”

It would make no sense to take revenge. Why would I do something like that in the first place?

I was just…

Just letting him know whose intellect led us to victory.

Just that.

I was watching the defeated San-deng, slightly bored from various angles.

[Sister! Let’s watch the replies together!]

I heard Squirrel’s voice from afar.

Over there, Squirrel, Satori, and Harris had gathered.

[Look at this, sister. … Wow, seeing this again, you really… your skills—no, intellect was truly amazing! Hehe…]

[Agreed. Seeing your nameplate pop up… wow…]

[Squirrel cried at this part.]

[Yeah!? … No, I didn’t!?]

“……”

I laughed softly.

…… These days, it seems I’ve had quite a few moments of laughter.

And thus, time passed once more.

Viewer donations kept pouring in, and I had to mute several times to thank them.

And before I knew it…

We all sat together.

The atmosphere of dispersal subtly crept in.

[… When are we going to meet? We should have a meetup once. No one’s skipping out, right?]

At that moment, Sansu suddenly spoke.

“……”

At that remark, I flinched slightly.

[Of course I’m going.]

[Me too.]

[Me too.]

Satori, Squirrel, and Harris replied in succession.

[Cactus and San-deng?]

Satori asked.

[Oh, well, I don’t mind going, but I’d go if invited.]

[Don’t lie. You’re definitely going.]

[Huh!? Sister!?]

[Ha ha!]

[What about you, San-deng?]

[Hmm… I’ll think about it.]

[Oh! Don’t act coy!! I know you’ll come no matter what.]

[……]

[Hah hah hah!]

[Then.]

[…… Um.]

[[……]]

In that moment, an awkward silence hung in the air.

And then.

“……?”

I sensed a strange feeling.

… Strangely, no, the three close women beside me have been making differences.

And, was it just my imagination? … Clearly, the heads of the two men in front aren’t facing this way.

But the gazes from those two seemed oddly directed towards me.

―――

There’s only Sansu who’s normal here, lololol

Why do I feel their gaze?

Harris, Satori, Squirrel, San-deng, Cactus are all maxed out in hormone levels lololol

Take me with you!!!!

Si-hyun’s rice cooker that received a glowing five-star rating must definitely go too

I’m really envious

Honestly, I’m also quite curious about it

Just say you want to see the red pill, you horny bastards

How can I endure this?

―――

Leaving the messages that I didn’t quite understand behind, I adjusted to the mood and awaited a response.

“……”

I swallowed a slightly heavier gulp.

“…… I’ll think about it.”

[Hey!! What’s this, Si-hyun? Are you coming or not? Like San-deng.]

[Wow, is this the time to reject it? Heh…]

Not long after, everyone finished their farewells and dispersed.

I took off my headgear, washed my body and dried it, and then.

– Plop

I collapsed onto my bed.

“……”

Suddenly, I saw Bear Doll’s paw beside me and pulled it close with one hand.

As I lay there, a sudden ringing in my ears began.

The loudness of the broadcast, honestly sometimes even dizzying.

Yet, the void I feel when it ends is something I never seem to get used to.

However, the feelings I experienced today were not limited to that.

The strongest feeling was, of course, the joy of victory.

The purpose of participating in the Demons Competition.

To relieve the burden that had seemed heavy for Lee Da-ram, and to bring joy to the viewers who had awaited it.

Along with Lee Da-ram, I had achieved the best result possible—victory. Just remembering it brought a smile to my face.

… But the lingering final emotion was.

“……”

I briefly logged into Discord on my phone.

―――

Bear Doll Family

―――

Satori: Then I’ll reserve the party room

Squirrel: No way

Squirrel: A party room?? Isn’t that expensive???

Satori: If we all pitch in, it’s not as expensive as you think

Satori: But anyway, this time I’ll pay for all the venue fees

Satori: I’m the eldest.

Cactus: Wow

Cactus: Is that true?

Cactus: I mean, are you really okay with that?

Satori: No, I’ll pay.

Harris: Wow… truly our boss…

San-deng: 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

―――

“…… Huh.”

I had a strange feeling that was almost chaotic.

But I struggled to articulate the cause of that feeling precisely.

A gathering of seven people. It was something I anticipated and had been hinted at several times.

But now, why did it feel so strange?

Ambiguity? No. It wasn’t so much that I was awkward with everyone.

I had talked quite a bit with Sansu, and even San-deng, with whom I hadn’t interacted much, had shared a few moments of camaraderie.

I read through the lively chats they were sending and moved the window aside.

In that space was the message I shared with Hu-ji from yesterday.

With this connection, Hu-ji had messaged me.

He had asked about the lunch appointment I had mentioned earlier, which I had replied to in the chat.

… Imagining meeting Hu-ji again didn’t feel like that. In other words, picturing the Bear Doll Family meeting didn’t evoke that strange feeling at all. Instead, I felt delighted.

But why.

When thinking about the Bear Doll Family.

… Especially when meeting the three men.

I felt slightly resistant.

For a moment, I brushed Bear Doll’s paw…

– Swish

I stood up and walked around.

Now, my sense of balance, the elevation of my vision, and the body’s lightness were all much more adapted than before.

I stopped at a full-length mirror.

I stared at myself.

In the dim light, I could only see my silhouette.

… Even so, I was molded very aesthetically. Even I, who had never cared much about these things, could feel that.

… However, such sensations were fleeting.

Then the emotions that followed.

In the darkness, I found myself.

“……”

Still feeling a little awkward.

Like a college senior who had cried while looking at a mirror after getting a buzz cut for military enlistment.

I felt a similar emotion.

“……”

Hu-ji’s Discord, the natural gathering of women, and the feelings I currently experienced.

At that moment, I realized.

Virtual reality.

In other words, the men who had never seen me directly.

To those who were once of my former gender.

Compared to those of my current gender.

… I wasn’t particularly being Moon Si-hyun.

But where do I end, and where does Moon Si-hyun begin?

Does it even make sense to separate such things?

“……”

Gradually, my head started to hurt.

It was a familiar phenomenon.

Midnight anguish.

That weight was sufficient to make me think seriously.

Thus, the next day I arose.

– Creak

“……”

“Oh, sister, you’re here?”

Clutching the thickened balance card with both hands against my chest, coming here…

– Thump thump

Was so rational.

“…… Hmm- … Yes. Experiment.”

It was a profound decision.