I Have a Reason to Hate Streamers

The recording time itself didn’t seem to last more than a few minutes.

Yet, for some reason, it felt like an eternity.

As soon as it ended, Ryeohee started going wild.

“I’m freaking out, I’m freaking out, I’m freaking out! Is this talent?”

She grabbed my hand out of nowhere, her eyes sparkling.

She looked just like a little kid, but the height difference meant she was looking up at me.

It was a bit unfair.

I wished I had grown a little taller.

It didn’t feel great when everyone I met was taller than me.

“Da-eun, would you like to do a proper one with me next time? I’ll bring a really compatible scenario for you…”

“No, thanks. I’m already super embarrassed right now.”

“You end up doing great once you get in there. Anyway, I’ll take care of this one for you. Could you give me your email address? And your phone number too?”

“Sure, just a moment.”

I exchanged contacts with Ryeohee and parted ways.

It seemed she wanted to build a connection with me.

After the recording ended, I was offered tea.

Of course, it wasn’t a bad suggestion for me either.

Having connections like this is always helpful down the line.

However, the reason I declined was that I had another schedule to attend to.

It was a pity, but I could only promise to meet Ryeohee again later.

Anyway, I had achieved the purpose of coming to the store.

I ended up buying the same model of microphone that Elderin uses.

I tried out various things, but it was definitely more comfortable to choose something familiar.

“Are you going to look for clothes now?”

“Yes, I already contacted them to say I’m coming today.”

“Good. Since you’ve put in that much effort, you have to see it on-site. It must have turned out beautifully.”

The final schedule of the day was… checking out the cosplay outfit I ordered.

I could have just received it at home, but this time I genuinely wanted to put in a lot of effort.

Even if it meant spending some time and money, I planned to check everything thoroughly.

That was also why I had helped from Elderin.

I knew almost nothing about clothes.

I relied heavily on her throughout the process, starting from choosing the fabric until the very end.

But there was a price to pay for that.

Now that I was starting to establish myself as a streamer, I could no longer take things for free.

I asked for payment in something other than money, but why did that feel more unsettling?

“When will you reveal the outfit after you receive it today?”

“Hmm, it could take three days maximum? Or maybe… tomorrow if I’m lucky?”

“That fast?”

“They’re rushing me. Phew, I’m a bit upset though. If I had more time, I could have ranked first before revealing it.”

Fortunately, the outfit turned out flawless.

Two days later, I stood in front of the camera in cosplay.

*

[Author: Korea is 7th Division]

[Title: This damn league is just not working, you know?]

[Author: ㅇㅇ(256.141)]

[Title: Getting deceived quietly can only happen once or twice.]

[Author: ㅇㅇ(352.253)]

[Title: At this point, it seems like they have no intention of winning.

[Recommendation: 1,086]

It’s been years since they’ve been ranting about how bad Korean assassins are.

These guys haven’t changed a bit.

They’re just stubborn and refuse to bend.

So, what exactly have you all done?

Did you build a youth system to find promising players well?

Did you spend lavishly so when SSS-ranked players are released, you can at least compete?

Do you fight well enough to make it look like ‘Ah, I’m really sorry…’ even when losing?

You guys just got wrecked;

And this year, are you seriously considering bringing in foreign mercenaries?

While we’re losing Phantom, Hero, and even Polaris, what exactly did QPrime do the moment the regulations were relaxed?

(Attached photo: A grandpa being fed soup.)

Releasing the ace and bringing in an old man, haha.

What the hell, you bastards.

It’ll be quicker for me to age and enter the coffin than for you to win.

I’m not expecting anything anymore.

No need to buy mercenaries; give that money to the kids for pocket money and disband the team.

Actually, you guys don’t even deserve that, just get lost.

I’m considering grabbing a European team now.

*

[Author: ㅇㅇ(291.911)]

[Title: At least cling to Gawol’s pant leg and beg.]

You guys’ assassins are pathetic.

No promising players are being released, and you can’t even compete with money.

You didn’t manage to snag any promising assassin.

Then please at least beg Gawol to come over crying.

If that doesn’t work, strip and take photos to blackmail.

[Comment]

– Call Gawol the only hope to save Korea from crisis.

└ For real, such inconsiderate speech.

└ Is Gawol your friend?

– If you take a photo, can you share it?

*

I didn’t plan on this from the start.

It was the day the cosplay landed on the punishment roulette.

I genuinely looked for various characters at first.

I started by choosing a character with a simple outfit and gradually expanded the selection.

This was because I knew almost no characters.

Magical Girl, Maid, Kunoichi, Witch, Uniform, Succubus…

I feel like I checked almost all popular characters at least once.

Although I tried to look up the ones that seemed okay, affection doesn’t just arise in a short time.

I know that not every cosplayer invests affection in their characters.

But the one I got stuck with was definitely a promise to the viewers.

Choosing just any character felt like it lacked sincerity— I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

So, maybe it had been decided from the very beginning.

“Gawol player! We’re about to start shooting!”

The character I know best and can love.

In reality, I have to wear someone else’s clothes, so how could I exclude her?

I’m sorry if someone expected something different… but when I thought of it, my body was already in motion.

The silver hair I had only seen in the game flowed at the edge of my vision.

There wasn’t a shadow flickering at the hem of my clothes, but there was a cape fluttering with my movements.

Looking in the mirror, I was ‘Gawol’ just like in the game.

The dagger… is it a bit lighter than the one I used in the game?

I instinctively twirled it but hesitated. The center of gravity felt oddly different, making me think I might drop it.

Since it felt odd just holding it, I tucked it securely into my waistband.

“Shall I help you to the stage?”

“No, I’m fine. I want to go alone.”

I wanted to walk this path by myself without anyone’s assistance.

It meant something only if I advanced alone.

Compared to the path I had walked so far, this wasn’t too difficult.

I leaned on my walking stick as I walked onto the stage.

Bright lights beamed down between my slow steps.

The walking stick was challenging to use.

Since it can’t support my body like crutches, it placed a heavy burden on my left arm.

Naturally, each step required more physical effort than usual.

But the Gawol I know doesn’t depend on crutches.

Even if it’s just in front of the camera, I must stand on my own two feet.

‘It’s okay. This level of difficulty is nothing.’

Breathing heavily.

Even with the air conditioning on, warmth swirled under the hem of my clothes.

Despite the struggle, I couldn’t think of any complaints.

Rather, my heart raced faster than ever.

Something within my heart, which I thought had died on April 26, was coming back to life.

‘Right now, at this moment, Han Da-eun has caught up to Gawol.’

Still, Gawol was fast, and Han Da-eun was slow.

For Gawol, this was a distance that could be crossed in an instant.

But I was struggling just to stand on the stage, needing to hold onto the display behind me for support.

Yet, I had made it this far.

I, Han Da-eun, had properly reached the starting point.

When I looked back, I could see the cameras peeking through the bright lights.

A staff member followed closely, looking anxious.

“I’ll fix your cape.”

“Yes, thank you.”

This time I had no reason to refuse help.

I adjusted the cape so it could properly hide the walking stick.

Messy clothes were straightened, and my posture was stabilized a bit more.

On the display I leaned against was the Sigma logo.

The distinctive green of the medical field. The symbol of the team I longed for while watching Luce.

And beneath it, there were five words that made me smile.

GAWOL

Belonging to Sigma e-Sports.

Main class Assasin. Sub-class Swordmaster.

Nickname Gawol.

From this day forward, I officially become a pro-gamer.

It’s ironic that it’s thanks to the game company’s awareness of public opinion, but once this video goes up, there’s no turning back.

Not that I wanted to either.

As I gazed into the central camera, I could very well be grinning.

The camera operator capturing me smiled back, clearly pleased.

“Your expression and posture are fantastic! We’ll start shooting right away!”

I can be certain.

Right now, I am shining brighter than anyone else.

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