Chapter 76

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on February 25, 2025

Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Pinterest Telegram

“Phew.”

Stepping out of the office door, I let out a sigh.

I pulled out my phone to check the time; I’d only been inside the office for exactly three minutes.

I just went in, exchanged pleasantries, gave Brownie, and came out, literally.

How many words did we exchange in there?

About five, maybe?

Thanks to running multiple simulations in my head beforehand, I was able to say everything that needed to be said and leave.

This isn’t the real me who stammered during my first meeting with the manager.

Back then, it was due to the excessive worry that my disguise might be revealed and the guilt of deceiving others.

Due to these two reasons, I was more hesitant than usual.

Generally, I’m the type of person who can even file a complaint against a movie theater employee, I’ve got that much courage.

I’m a verbal skills expert, easily capable of greeting store clerks, asking convenience store part-timers for envelopes confidently, and the like.

Though, for situations requiring complex conversations like today, I do need a few mental simulations beforehand.

Nevertheless, this time, I didn’t have much to worry about being found out.

Last time at the after-work drinking gathering, my disguise wasn’t discovered, after all.

This disguise is of quite high quality.

And since it’s my second go-around, I’m much more comfortable now compared to before.

It wasn’t a one-on-one meeting with the editor either.

Last time, since it was meeting someone new, I had help from Seol Yun.

This time, since it was meeting the familiar manager, I was able to handle it alone!

‘Big mishaps didn’t occur. So, okay.’

There was a moment of slight fluster in the middle.

When the editor suddenly called me “Mister.”

It seemed they were going to call me “Employer,” but it got slightly tangled for a moment.

Since the manager is the boss, there was ambiguity in how to refer to me…

But it’s fine. It was within my expectations.

It fell under ‘Simulation 3: In case the editor suddenly makes a strange statement.’

1. Calm them verbally without showing hostility or enmity.

2. Warn them not to develop feelings for me.

3. Explain American Valentine’s Day culture, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

4. Relay not to spread any rumors about my appearance.

5. Excuse myself with the justification that it was a quick drop-by due to my busy schedule.

And with that, one mission cleared.

‘I’ve shown my face once, now let’s see how they act next.’

If they continue to do a good job like before, their status in my heart might rise among colleagues.

If there’s a change in attitude, though, then bye-bye.

Especially, if they start rumors about how pretty I am, I can’t collaborate with someone who talks too much.

For the next three months, I’ll need to keep an observation period.

If there are no major issues during this period, I might even be able to participate in staff gatherings.

Still, getting too close is dangerous.

All men who get close to me inevitably fall for me because of this cursed face!

‘To be honest, I never initially planned on including the editor in my Valentine’s plans.’

But it’s all the drinking party’s fault.

Partly due to the manager too.

The promise to exchange homemade chocolates was my drunken self talking.

Switching to brownies and adding baking was me, in full consciousness.

But the suggestion to turn it into a cooking show and invite viewers for an event as well as the idea to also bring something for the editor, those were all from the manager.

Not that it was a bad thing.

The cooking show was somewhat entertaining, interacting with viewers was good.

Getting to know the editor was also one of the missions I eventually needed to complete.

It’s just that doing all these big events at once drained me.

Tonight, I think I’ll raise a small toast by myself.

I’ll use cheese on crackers as a snack, and drink Whiskey straight.

I need to stop by and buy the ingredients and alcohol on the way home.

‘How in the world did someone’s name end up being “Yeosang”?’

Yeosang, who excels in video editing.

Doesn’t it sound like some cartoon title?

-[Yo, Yiyeong, you low-life.]

There’s a culture of internet broadcasting where memorable clips from streams are cut and uploaded to video sites.

And the clip that so incensed me, of course, is the one where I groan while making a dagger roll.

It seems to have spread to various places because Victory made a cameo appearance there.

Profanity is nothing but spreading negativity in the real world, so instead of hitting the Enter key with cursing, I tried to convert it into a more polite tone.

-[This is Seol herself. I do not wish such videos to circulate; please delete them as soon as possible.]

If they don’t listen, copyright reports might be necessary, but it’s better if they just comply through polite conversation.

“Haa…”

Why does a woman’s groan always have to be seen as salacious anyway?

Isn’t it the perception of people that’s wrong?

The reason I made that sound was because I got too immersed in the game fight and felt like I had been directly hit by a dagger.

To be honest, it’s almost impossible for someone living their life not to let out such sounds occasionally.

Like during a workout when your body is really fatigued and you’re exhausting yourself in the gym, based on that gruesome notion that “real results come when your body hurts.”

Or when you’re sick and your body’s in pain.

Or bumping your pinky toe on the edge of the desk.

Or when you get startled.

When men groan, people think, “Ah, that person must be really struggling,” and leave it at that.

But when women groan, what happens? People start thinking, “Are they doing something sexual?” or “Are they trying to tempt me?” and start with comments like “kickkekkek.” Why! Why do they think that?

Undoubtedly, everyone’s brain has been steeped in porn culture.

Ah, this world is clearly wrong.

‘Too much kickkekkek, why are groans made to sound so cute?’

Because they’re mine, I can listen to them.

But the recurring sense of shame from encountering one’s own sultriness is hard.

Namu Amitabha Gwansaeum Bosal.

Mahabara Prajna Milda Simgyeong.

Away with vexations!

‘This won’t work. Let’s bury minor issues with bigger ones.’

Frankly, once something’s leaked, you can’t fully contain it again.

I would like to take a long vacation saying, “I feel sad, I will pause the stream,” but—

In situations like this, you just have to break through straightforwardly.

Don’t let them have time to spread that trivial issue—create new issues.

That is,

[Writer: Seol]

[Title: Going for a Double Broadcast Event]

[Moon phases are rising….

The rage begins….

Time is running out….

(Teama will extend broadcast hours from 4 PM to 12 AM until we reach No. 1 in the ranking.)]

-[Wow!]

-[Isn’t the lunar festival already over?]

-Reply[Spotting the signs]

-Reply[Our full moon begins now.]

-[And the declaration of No. 1 ranking.]

-Reply[Time is the issue, right? You’re bound to reach No. 1 anyway, right? lol]

-Reply[Can you beat Victory who is already leading?]

-Reply[Nah, Victory was overtaken yesterday.]

-Reply[That was due to a mind game, though.]

-Reply[Reference to that incident is banned.]

-Reply[Wild has already been forgotten again.]

-Reply[Ya, ya, it’s a world where no one remembers 2nd place.]

-Reply[2-Jun…]

With that, I’m going for the No. 1 ranking.

-[Is the host overdoing it? You’re not well.]

-Reply[It’s too harsh a schedule for the legendary patient.]

-Reply[What if you collapse again? Sob Sob…]

No, the time I collapsed due to drug side effects, excessive doping—no, caffeine shock, hasn’t been mentioned yet.

Oh, it’s embarrassing to admit that I kept drinking caffeinated beverages until I collapsed…

They might think I’m really dumb.

‘Let’s just say I’m weak and prone to illness.’

It’s true that my physical condition isn’t very good because I’m reclusively holed up in a room.

Seol Yun keeps trying to make me exercise whenever she gets a chance, but, no way.

Don’t underestimate my hikikomori power.

But is this something where higher is actually better?

There was no need to separately remove the title ‘only female Challenger.’

Seol’s skills have already been proven.

She’s not just the only female Challenger but also holds the minimum match requirement, has the highest win rate among Challengers, and also ranks within the two-digit Rankers.

But aiming for 1st place? Is that even a realistic goal?

Even ignoring others who might get in the way, there’s this wall named Victory in the ranking skies.

[Writer: Uisungihyungjiukbyeojwo]

[Title: Press Release) Seol Declares Lifetime 8-hour Broadcasting ㄷㄷ]

[She intends to broadcast for 8 hours daily until she hits the top ranking.

But is it possible when there’s Uisung?

She’s set to broadcast 8 hours for life lol.]

-[It’s not about maintaining 1st place but achieving it once. Is that so hard?]

-Reply[It was possible in the early season, but now with Victory’s score sky-high, it’s impossible to catch up.]

-Reply[If Seol maintains her 86% win rate, then she could reach 1st place if she keeps playing?]

-Reply[Her win rate is continuously dropping.]

-Reply[With 8 wins and 1 loss, she shouldn’t drop.]

-Reply[Her latest record is 25 wins and 5 losses.]

-Reply[Her win rate is worsening.]

-Reply[Info) Victory is raising his score even though he’s in a section where he drops after 2 wins and 1 loss.]

-Reply[Another level ㄷㄷ]

-Reply[To reach 1st, a 70% win rate is necessary.]

-Reply[21 wins and 9 losses? Not so easy?]

-Reply[The problem is that doing so increases your score by 5 points every 30 games lol.]

-Reply[If the win rate drops further here, it’ll be hard to claim the top spot.]

-Reply[There’s a gap between Challenger 1st and Challenger 300th, like between Bronze and Master.]

-Reply[That’s true.]

-Reply[Remarkably average Challenger rankers know about this ㄷㄷ]