Chapter 28

There are many reasons why streamers can crash and burn, and among them, the most fatal reasons for female broadcasters falling include these two:

One, being caught with a boyfriend they claimed they didn’t have.

Two, being found out as unattractive.

“But… I just watch because the stream is fun. I don’t carry any kind of romantic feelings. Who would feel romance from a broadcast? Yuck, the smell of broth.”

This was the argument many viewers made. But why do they stop watching once a female streamer’s secret boyfriend is revealed?

Perhaps they are sadly honest animals at heart, mouthing lies while deep down responding truthfully to romantic tension.

Equally fatal an issue is being found out as unattractive.

For this reason, the audience of the former legend’s stream plummeted. Now, even the peak daily viewership barely surpassed 200 people.

Thankfully, as Seol-Ah wanted, there were hardly any viewers bothering her anymore.

She could stream as she pleased, and that was the end of it.

“But, there’s no talent!”

The former legend continued broadcasting lectures on Magical Fight. Because the game shared many similarities with Teamfight Arena, some students managed to quickly absorb the lessons.

However, there was one fatal flaw—there was a lack of true talent.

It’s obvious, upon close inspection:

Being the first in your class, the school, your city, and the nation—does each feel the same?

Of course not. To fish out talents, you simply need a large enough pool of people.

The audience participation game of the failed broadcast saw a maximum attendance of around 30 to 40 people.

It was almost miraculous that Victory, Wild, and Legender, all top-tier players, had once gathered in this game.

In reality, the best Mafa player among the former legend’s audience only reached the equivalent of Teama’s Diamond tier.

How would someone capable of slicing through Masters like basic bots even find someone worthy in this crowd?

Ah, so this is why they say “play in wide waters.”

The fall of her broadcast wasn’t a bother at all.

To be honest, it was even refreshing to see the audience dwindle!

But there’s one issue she simply can’t endure—she can’t enjoy the game! There’s no proper opponent!

“Honestly, I feel like I’m going to die from frustration!”

Everything feels like child’s play—how can she enjoy anything when it’s all so easy?

“Someone please enlighten me! You bastards!”

In the end, she only had one route left: she sent messages to Victory and Wild again.

Please play just one game with me!

*

Legender – [If you want to stay friends, you must make two promises.]

Legender – [One, don’t fall in love with me.]

Legender – [Two, if you do, don’t confess.]

A few days ago, Wild had received the same message that Victory had.

Wild – [Did you get shot in the head?]

Wild – [Why would I fall for you?]

Wild was a successful professional gamer. He was far from the type to blush at the mere presence of a female game friend or someone who had little experience with women.

Legender – [Anyway, promise me.]

Wild – [Fine, whatever.]

Wild smirked at Legender’s firm stance, but he reluctantly agreed anyway.

Legender – [Remember Orpheus.]

Wild – [What’s that supposed to mean?]

Unlike Victory, who had quietly done his own research, Wild bluntly asked.

Legender – [Just make sure to keep the promise till the very end, and never forget to uphold it.]

‘Is that all?’

What gave Legender the confidence to assume he would have romantic feelings for her?

Wild wanted to question further, but it felt like Legender would flee if pushed. After all, this message was the first real communication they’d had in a while.

Avoidance personality disorder.

Perhaps Legender was the type who chose to run away and cover things up rather than confront difficult issues head-on. The sort who would seek help from elders by crying when trouble arose, likely a tiresome character.

‘But she was a good gamer.’

During the fierce clashes between the Legendary Clan and the Winner Clan, Legender had been a formidable player. A few days ago, he also showcased impressive skills in Teamfight Arena.

Recalling the Arena Bread days, Wild remembered how some people criticized him for playing cowardly strategies. Yet, the gaming world is cold and calculating. Even the strategy of “Tin Can Repairman” had been invalidated by Legender, who lived up to his name as a former legend.

‘Could she make it to the pro scene?’

Rationally, it’s hard to believe someone could fall for a stranger based on their voice over the internet. But was Legender planning a pro debut?

Still a rank-newbie who hasn’t even started ranked games? Who cares.

She’s a monster who’s earned recognition from Victory and even outplayed Wild.

‘I am curious about what she looks like.’

Even though he had found out she was female, it was never something that really mattered to him before. However, her attitude made him unavoidably curious.

‘But I won’t do anything about it.’

Wild isn’t the kind of person to randomly ask for photos out of the blue. So, he suppressed his curiosity and moved on.

The next day, the internet was flooded with news about “Sol Red Pill.”

Even Wild initially tried to avoid looking at the picture. He felt it might make things awkward afterward.

But the young junior on his team shoved the photo in front of him, and by the time he heard it was the “Sol Red Pill,” it was already imprinted on his retina.

“Instead of worrying about others’ faces, focus on improving your own skills.”

Wild administered a righteous pressure massage to “treat” the junior’s mind. Yet the image was already stuck in his brain.

‘Let’s try to forgive her odd behavior. She must’ve had a rough time.’

He began to feel sympathy for Sol—never once imagining the photo could be fake.

Isn’t it said that the hardest life is that of an unattractive woman?

Are all of Sol’s quirks due to her struggles with reality?

Wild felt a pang of melancholy for her.

But he didn’t show it outwardly. After all, there was no reason to mention he had seen the photo. He would rather simply forget about it altogether.

Yet, there were always trolls who loved to provoke, intruding on his stream and spewing information about Sol he didn’t need.

“Her viewers are now fewer than a thousand.”

“Still stuck on Mafa?”

“Apparently she’s dropped to 200 Hako these days!”

After banning such troublemakers, further mockery followed:

“Did the legend retire because she was unattractive?”

“Bah.”

Why was the internet teeming with such aggressive people? If someone you would never meet anyway, how important was their appearance?

Thinking about Sol continuing to endure such harassment felt disheartening.

Legender – [Can we play Mafa together?]

Legender – [The world of martial arts without an opponent is so lonely.]

After a long silence, the message arrived.

Here comes another strange metaphor.

Wild – [Why don’t we play Teama instead?]

Wild – [Let’s level it up properly!]

Wild – [I’m free the whole weekend.]

Legender – [Hmm…]

Legender – [Is it okay to play with someone like me?]

Legender – [A huge mess will follow.]

Wild – [I’m a three-year pro.]

Wild – [The second runner-up of the league.]

Wild – [Do you think I’d break mentally for small stuff?]

Wild – [Have I been mobbed more times than you combined?]

At this point, this is the image Wild had formed of Sol:

She was bullied or ignored from a young age due to her looks.

She started exhibiting all sorts of odd behaviors after a shattered self-esteem.

A strange kid.

But fundamentally, she was kind, which was why she was worried about her friends.

She was too precious to be cast aside merely because she was unattractive.

“She’s kind at heart.”

To help this friend, Wild deliberately downplayed his own abilities to build a rapport.

“I’ve been mobbed more times on the internet. I still managed to persevere. So can you.”

Meanwhile, Sol was thinking along similar lines:

“2022 spring runner-up, 2023 summer runner-up, worlds runner-up.”

“Zero championship victories.”

Wild has finally lost his self-esteem!

There’s a difference between others calling him “Second Junior” as mockery and Wild calling himself that in self-deprecation.

You must cherish yourself!

Poor guy!

‘I need to somehow compliment him and boost his confidence.’

Sol thought she should treat Wild a bit better. Thus, both held slight misconceptions about each other as the second joint broadcast day approached.