Chapter 14

Han Yoorim can’t carry every game.

<Eternal World> is a capitalist game. Unlike games that love a single era, there was a growth gap.

If the growth gap is extreme, even a Challenger will lose to a Bronze. The game was designed that way from the start.

Your carry duo dies 10 times in 10 minutes to the enemy scout? Even Han Yoorim couldn’t do anything about it.

This game felt like that.

[0/11/4]

It was a questionable KDA, but it was undeniably Han Yoorim’s KDA.

At a glance, it even seemed like Han Yoorim was trolling.

But there’s a reason it turned out this way. It’s not like Han Yoorim mindlessly fed 11 deaths.

Let me give an example to explain.

Suppose a team of 5 world-class pros and 1 Bronze faces off against 6 Challengers. What would happen?

At first glance, the former seems advantageous. The difference between one Bronze and one Challenger is smaller than the difference between 5 world-class pros and 5 Challengers. It’s a natural expectation.

But in reality, the latter wins.

Because the Bronze keeps dying to the enemy?

No, that’s not the reason.

A more complex mechanism was at play.

It hurts the most when you’re betrayed by expectations.

In <Eternal World> terms, it’s like, “It hurts the most when your team doesn’t do what they’re supposed to do.”

Even if you set up a situation where you can win by just auto-attacking, if your Bronze teammate doesn’t attack, even the world’s best pro would go crazy.

And Han Yoorim experienced similar things from the main carry, scout, and support.

The support just stood there even though using a skill would win the team fight. Han Yoorim clearly delivered the enemy, but the scout missed the skill, and Han Yoorim died instead. Han Yoorim perfectly engaged, but the main carry died even faster.

In this situation, Han Yoorim had no other choice.

If Han Yoorim had realized from the start and decided to play solo, it might have been different. But once trust was given, it had to be given until the end.

So Han Yoorim kept trying whenever an opportunity arose.

But it shouldn’t have been done.

There’s a rule in team games like <Eternal World>.

Once trash, always trash until the game ends.

Seeing the trio creatively ruin the angles Han Yoorim twisted their body to create, even Gandhi would have given up on non-violence.

It was a scene you couldn’t watch without tears.

If you’re the only one with the right angle, you’re the only one who dies.

The amazing KDA of [0/11/4] contains Han Yoorim’s determination to carry the game…!

Of course, that’s something the outer solo can’t understand.

You had to see it to know. Bunny Run was roaming the outer area alone for 20 minutes, how would she know what happened in the city?

All she saw was the scoreboard.

The enemy city core’s KDA of [17/2/7] and the ally city core’s KDA of [0/11/4].

“If you got on the bus, you should stay on it. Why get off and play solo? Are you even a girl? Have you even played the game for a day or two? Clearly, you’re just picking Thierry because she’s pretty, even though you can’t play her. All these girls picking characters they can’t play—.”

Bunny Run’s showtime began.

Six months ago, she made unfiltered comments on a socially hot issue (looking back, Bunny Run was right) and had just returned. She was honest about her feelings.

―――

Huh

Huff

Hmm

Right, right

―――

Not satisfied with just talking, Bunny Run started typing.

Bunny Run (Outer Solo): Did you get boosted?

Han Yoorim (City Core): I was wondering the same. Is boosting possible in VR games?

What is this girl even saying?

Pretending not to know made Bunny Run even angrier, and she typed more aggressively.

Bunny Run (Outer Solo): Where did you leave your brother? You like causing trouble?

Han Yoorim (City Core): I’m an only child.

Bunny Run (Outer Solo): Don’t change the subject, why did you die 11 times?

Han Yoorim (City Core): The world is truly diverse.

“Is this bitch doing this on purpose? If you messed up, just apologize. Why are you acting like this? Are you trying to kill me with high blood pressure?”

―――

The rant show begins lolololol

Let it all out and take a break. How about a trip to Guam this time? (Deleted)

―――

When people get angry, they lose control. Adrenaline isn’t a brain-friendly substance.

After a long time experiencing the spicy taste of <Eternal World>, Bunny Run’s body easily secreted adrenaline, and her excited brain made her pull out the virtual keyboard, forgetting she was live.

Typing furiously, Bunny Run saw the chat just before the base was destroyed.

―――

Breaking) Bunny Run says, “You’re shameless and have no conscience. If we’re losing because of you, just apologize.”

Breaking) Bunny Run vents, “You fucking bitch, we’re losing because of your bullshit.”

Breaking) Bunny Run says, “This is why girls shouldn’t play games.”

Thinking about it, Guam might be too short. How about a long trip to Europe?

―――

Surprised by the unexpected chat, Bunny Run checked her stream settings. She thought she might have forgotten to hide the screen, but the screen cover was still working.

How do they know what I typed?

Hacking? That was the first thought that came to mind.

The chat provided the answer.

―――

Han Yoorim is streaming lol

―――

About to ask why they didn’t tell her sooner, Bunny Run calmly asked.

“What’s the streamer’s name?”

―――

It’s just Han Yoorim.

―――

Flustered, Bunny Run rolled her eyes.

She didn’t expect the person she just cursed out to be streaming.

Bunny Run’s brain malfunctioned. It happens to everyone in sudden situations.

While her mind was tangled, Bunny Run habitually spoke up.

“Just because she’s a streamer? Can streamers play like shit? Han Yoorim? Never heard of her. Is she even a streamer?”

Machines that malfunction tend to do weird things.

*

<Bunny Run's destruction entry lol>

Fighting with Han Yoorim after adding her as a friend.

-Why are you going this far for Eternal World?

-I get it though, talking to Han Yoorim is really disorienting. It’s not Taekwondo. It’s like a black hole sucking in words and not letting them out lol.

<Bunny Run: Want to bet on who played worse?>

Han Yoorim: I have money.

I don’t have it. So I got a part-time job a few days ago.

– The money-moving situation is insane, lol.

– But if Hako had money, that’d be even weirder.

<Bunny Run: Just start a broadcast or something.>

Hmm. Does that mean you’re planning to start a broadcast too?

– For real, this is why Outer Solo doesn’t work. They only care about their own situation.

– From Han Yoorim’s perspective, it’s kinda sad, lol.

┗What happened?

┗┗You’ll know when you see it, lol.

Thanks to Bunny Run running like a runaway train, the situation progressed in an instant.

The battle to determine the winner by starting each other’s broadcasts was about to reach its climax, like in a movie.

Han Yoorim said she had to work tomorrow, turned off her broadcast, and disappeared.

What burns fast cools down just as quickly.

As soon as her opponent disappeared, Bunny Run came to her senses.

What did I just do?

Her adrenaline-deprived brain processed the situation.

Swearing during a game is allowed. People who are uncomfortable with swearing don’t watch Bunny Run’s broadcasts anyway. Internet broadcasts in general are pretty lax about that stuff.

But the problem was swearing at someone afterward.

Even if it were a regular person, it’d be an issue, but it was a broadcaster. The impact was different.

Bunny Run stayed silent and read the chat. It was flooded with suggestions to take a vacation.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Bunny Run turned on the replay.

If Han Yoorim really threw the game like she thought, there was room for consideration. That’s just how streaming is. Tens of thousands of people would swarm in to either lynch or praise someone for playing poorly.

Bunny Run calmly watched Han Yoorim’s play from start to finish and quietly ended the broadcast.

As a result, the VR broadcast gallery was flooded with posts like <If Bunny Run runs away, it’s Bunny Run Run, lol>, but there was nothing she could do.

It was just that painful to watch the Scout, Main Carry, and Support’s plays.

Bunny Run lay down on her bed with a heavy mind, then opened her eyes.

It was already morning.

Bunny Run marveled at her foresight for not quitting her part-time job and got ready for work.

Looking in the mirror, Bunny Run muttered to herself.

‘How do I mess up right after coming back? Am I even human?’

She ruffled her hair and sighed.

Everything has its weight.

Strictly speaking, what Bunny Run did yesterday wasn’t a huge mistake in the streaming world. And the chat’s reaction to her saying she’d take a six-month break was overblown.

But it was serious enough to warrant an apology and a few days of quiet reflection.

What should I even apologize for?

First, she needed to message the person directly. A public apology would come later.

Bunny Run had been through this a few times, so she knew how to handle it.

Arriving at her part-time job, Bunny Run popped a lollipop into her mouth and muttered.

“Should I just quit?”

Suddenly, she felt a wave of doubt.

What am I even doing at 21?

Maybe it’s because she started streaming at a young age. Bunny Run’s brain was too soaked in the streaming world.

Every word and action was tailored for streaming, which made her somewhat antisocial.

It was fine back then. Streaming used to be the underworld itself.

But now, with the rise of MTube, streaming has become more mainstream. Acting like she used to could easily send her to rock bottom.

‘Should I go back to the university I dropped out of?’ Bunny Run shook her head.

She didn’t think she’d do well in anything else.

Just write the apology and be more careful from now on.

Having made up her mind, Bunny Run changed into her uniform and headed to the staff room.

“Just like you said, I’m focusing on the settings first—”

Hearing the voice from inside the staff room, Bunny Run narrowed her eyes.

A man and a woman were chatting happily.

The man had started around the same time as Bunny Run, but the woman was new. She had joined recently.

She was also the one who had shared some juicy stories on stream.

She was the kind of woman who stuck close to the guy, and her intentions were obvious.

Well, it’s not like the newbie was trying to date him. She was way too stunning for that. No offense to the guy, but they were on completely different levels.

So, the newbie was probably just recruiting a convenient lackey, but that made Bunny Run dislike her even more.

Soon, the guy left, probably to grab something to drink.

With the seat empty, Bunny Run sat next to the newbie and pulled out her smartphone.

“Hello?”

Hearing the clear voice, Bunny Run turned her head. The first thing she noticed was golden hair that looked like it had been spun from pure gold. Blue eyes, reminiscent of the sea near the equator, stared back at her. A foreigner? Given how natural her Korean was, she might be mixed.

“Hello.”

Even though Bunny Run didn’t like the newbie, she wasn’t socially inept enough to show it. Surprisingly.

Hearing Bunny Run’s voice, the newbie tilted her head. What’s this? Just as Bunny Run furrowed her brows in confusion.

“Is the bet still on?”

“……?”

“Guess not. Sorry.”

What… is she talking about?

The sudden comment made Bunny Run’s brain blue-screen for a moment, but it quickly rebooted.

The bet. Yesterday’s events flashed through her mind.

A viewer? Instinctively, Bunny Run checked the newbie’s name tag.

[Han Yoorim]

In that moment, a thousand thoughts raced through her mind. It felt like she was on the Truman Show.

But all that came out of Bunny Run, Min Chaewon’s mouth was a short sentence.

“I’m… sorry.”

“Huh?”

“I’m sorry for swearing yesterday and getting mad over something so trivial…”

“Oh. That’s what you’re talking about. It’s fine. You know, human IQ is variable. Sometimes it drops. When you’re flustered, your IQ can drop to that of a dolphin. Isn’t that fascinating?”

Hearing Han Yoorim’s cheerful words, Min Chaewon’s expression turned strange.

Is she calling me a dolphin in a roundabout way? Or is she forgiving me?

“By the way, Bunny Run, there’s a big gap between your avatar and your real appearance. The vibe is completely different. Is that okay?”

Which one is it, really?