I Have Reasons to Hate Streamers

《 What… what on earth is happening here! 》

《 How can this match unfold like this? It’s difficult for an assassin to beat a lance knight. This is true even at the pro-gamer level, which could be considered the peak. It’s not impossible to overcome, but usually, it results in a hard-fought victory! This has been the common understanding. 》

《 But this… this is brutal! It was just one misjudgment. No, it can’t even be called a mistake. Yet he’s paying such a harsh price! 》

Voices filled with astonishment burst out incessantly.

It was the same regardless of which culture’s broadcasters you looked at.

Their tones might differ, but they were all shouting similar meanings.

The pro gamers watching the tournament were the opposite.

An uncomfortable silence settled heavily and showed no signs of leaving.

Especially the pro gamers from LB, the same team as Rime, were furrowing their brows deeply.

《 Rime’s shield strike. It misses narrowly. 》

《 The same picture has been repeating since earlier. Damage is accumulating one-sidedly! 》

The match on the screen didn’t end easily.

When the lance, which had lost its bombardment function, moved roughly, the assassin dodged with ease.

The dagger that counter-attacked as if it were natural left wounds on the firm muscles before retreating.

At a glance, it looked like she couldn’t penetrate the lance knight’s defense.

However, there was a reason why the broadcasters described it as ‘brutal’.

Gawol was intentionally not using big techniques.

Although assassin-class skills are known for quick activation, at that distance, you never know.

She was hunting the lance knight very slowly, like clothes getting wet in a drizzle.

That appearance looked exactly like – she was toying with her opponent.

Eventually, complaints arose in the chat.

– Isn’t this going too far?

– Is she deliberately not ending it?

– It seems like she could win right away if she used a few assassination skills, why isn’t she using them?

– It’s painful to watch, let’s stop

– As expected of an amateur, she has no professional consciousness

That atmosphere quickly spread to other pro gamers as well.

In the player viewing area set up on the outskirts of the stage.

A certain anger swirled like a ghost among the players waiting for their turn.

Not many players were untouched by this ghost.

The boy with dark circles under his eyes, Reaper, was one of them.

Throughout watching the game, a pure smile was on his face.

‘Lacking professional consciousness? What nonsense!’

Reaper wasn’t swept up in their emotions.

On the contrary, he believed that those two were showing the most professional game out of anyone here right now.

It’s not that Gawol isn’t ending the game. She can’t.

Because there’s a very slim chance that if she gets caught by the lance knight, the match could be reversed.

If he were in the lance knight’s position, he could do it!

Even if it means taking a longer route, she chooses the path that ensures victory.

She pursues victory even if it means facing criticism from the world.

No matter how bleak the situation looks, she doesn’t give up until the very end.

This was what Reaper thought of as a ‘pro’.

A fanatical obsession with victory. A monster created by the desire for honor and competition.

A psychopath who acts as if they’ll die if they don’t win is the ideal pro gamer.

And they’re saying to take risks because the opponent might feel bad?

To Reaper, it wasn’t even worth listening to. A pro gamer should please their fans, not their opponents.

If Gawol has any fans, they must be feeling immense satisfaction right now.

He could be certain.

Because Reaper was very pleased with her game.

《 Ah, it’s difficult. It’s so hard. With bombardment blocked, the lance knight can’t keep up with the assassin’s speed! No exchanges can be established. 》

《 It’s a sensitive thing to say, but it seems hard to find hope even in close combat capabilities. In fact, Rime isn’t a player who fights with high physical abilities. 》

《 That’s right. On the contrary, if you look at Gawol’s preliminary records, her physical capabilities stand out remarkably. This was especially evident in her preliminary match with Camellia. She’s not at a level to be underestimated just because she’s an amateur. 》

It was by chance that Reaper came to look up Gawol’s matches.

During the first preliminary round. He was eating while having Sylphy’s broadcast on.

The mysterious assassin who took down Europe’s representative witch. At that time, it was just a name he glanced over.

But the moment he confirmed the main tournament participants, a small interest arose.

He became fascinated with the user named Gawol while watching her battle video with Haruka.

Among them, the first match was – extremely beautiful.

Her right hand trembling as if writhing in pain.

The smile of joy at victory while sitting down.

It couldn’t have been more impressive.

– Won’t this affect the next match too?

– Please just forfeit instead..

– I feel like I’m going crazy

That’s exactly it.

That’s why this match is even more meaningful.

The weapon break effect applies only until this round.

Even if she gives up this one, Rime still has one more chance.

In the next match, they’ll have to continue the precarious edge-of-the-cliff battle again.

So now. At this point where she has the advantage, she needs to drain his stamina and concentration.

Unlike characters, a player’s concentration doesn’t recover.

This amateur assassin was boldly engaging in an endurance battle against a pro gamer.

Generally speaking, it’s a crazy act.

But successful pros are all broken somewhere.

《 Just now, a tendon cut was properly applied. 》

《 If you look at Rime’s debuff window, it’s impossible to check everything individually. He’s continuing the fight in a really difficult environment. 》

《 The fact that he can use his shield to that extent in this state speaks to Rime’s fighting spirit. 》

Tendons are cut, muscles are torn.

Desperate attacks are read as if they’re laughable, and counterattacks come back.

The decreasing health bar or pain wasn’t the problem.

The most terrifying thing was the experience of failure that seemed within reach but wasn’t.

Actions that were always one beat faster, as if predicting all his judgments.

The feeling of facing an insurmountable wall wouldn’t let go of his heart.

When the lance knight, whose stamina was completely exhausted, finally fell to his knees.

Many people let out sighs.

《 Ah… Rime has finally collapsed. 

 《 The steel lance knight who was responsible for the front line of LB, North America’s traditional powerhouse, falls to his knees – and the first match of Group E ends! 》

* * *

[Author: LabPaperThief]

[Title: Hey, what happened in the Group E match?]

I just came out of the lab so I couldn’t watch

Is Gawol’s match over?

Did she lose?

[Comments]

– The first match just ended
└ ??? At this time? Why?
└ Sit down, you lab rat
└ I’m about to tell you a very sad story

[Author: SoolBbang]

[Title: Why am I getting PTSD just from watching the match?]

Huh

This is strange

Why am I tearing up…?

[Comments]

– Original prey….

– Were you like that when you fought too?
└ I couldn’t fight that long

[Author: LanceKnightOneTimer]

[Title: Rime f**k I feel so miserable]

If this happened to me in ranked instead of a tournament, I probably wouldn’t be able to sleep at night

To have this done to you while being broadcasted live to the whole world?

Not to an amateur like me, but to a pro gamer?

How can you even play the game after being so angry

Would it have been different if it wasn’t a lance knight?

Sigh..

* * *

The opponent’s movements were clearly not as good as the previous round.

It meant the influence of the last round remained. It was inevitable for a human.

There are things you can’t do no matter how much you try to pull yourself together.

Once it settles in, the feeling of ‘helplessness’ hits even harder.

The failure from the previous round. The basic difference in reaction speed and the inherent mobility difference between characters.

Even considering all of this, the helplessness of attacks not landing tends to seep into the heart like poison.

Because that’s how I was.

When I first started kendo. I had talent.

My peers were no match from the start, and I quickly caught up to seniors who had picked up the shinai before me.

Until I met that guy, I thought I was an unparalleled genius.

So, I know the pain of failure too.

Sometimes I know how to use it as well.

“Hah…”

A short sigh is heard.

As a player. No, as someone who was a player, it was an emotion I could fully sympathize with.

But I didn’t show consideration.

Crack- Slash!

The dagger pierced through the broken armor and into the neck.

As the flame-imbued lance fell to the ground, the match ended.

Perhaps because the match ended, I could hear the broadcast that I couldn’t hear before.

《 The match ends with a complete counter to Rime’s attack! 》

《 In the end, it turned out to be a match with a huge upset. Who could have imagined? A player who has never made a name in the pro scene defeating North America’s Rime like this! 》

《 The fact that she won against a lance knight, which has a type advantage, has significant implications. It must have been a satisfying blow for viewers who play assassins. 》

《 On the other hand, we can see people expressing their pain. As my main class was also warrior-type, I can relate. 》

As soon as the match ended, I went back on stage.

From the opposite side, the lance knight, looking less energetic than before, appeared again.

We shook hands and greeted each other.

I headed towards the viewing room where other players would be, while Rime left the stage immediately.

That day. Rime ran battle mode for over ten hours without even sleeping.