It’s not that kind of malicious broadcast

GP Hustler’s practice room.

“Oh, a rogue? That hyung is playing a rogue as well?”

“He’s been diligently at it since the other day. When I asked why he suddenly chose the rogue class, he said something about ‘Know thy enemy and you’ll never lose,’ so I just let him be. Do you think he’ll use it in the tournament? I have no idea.”

Even during the off-season, a fair number of people still showed up. However, that didn’t necessarily mean they were practicing hard.

They found a great excuse in supporting the new coach at the tournament. It made perfect sense to gather and avoid the tough training sessions.

“Guys, I appreciate the support, but shouldn’t you at least be playing solo ranked? You need to get used to the new season.”

“Hey, this is the new season patch version of ‘Clash’ too. We can learn a lot from spectating, so consider it a part of training, coach!”

“But hyung, if you can make it to the round of 16, shouldn’t you just continue playing next season? It’s too soon for you to be a coach. You should grab another championship and fend off those punks again.”

Orthodox prepared to dismiss yet another complaint, but stopped short at the serious look on Bio’s face. It was tiring to keep giving the same rejection. So, he just gave a wry smile and shook his head slowly.

Ever since he declared his retirement right after winning the World Series, Orthodox was offered a coaching position by a team in desperate need.

The opportunity allowed him to naturally settle into the new role. He was grateful for it, since he didn’t want to take any time off due to his personality.

As a result, Orthodox’s daily life hadn’t really changed despite his retirement. He still went to the same practice room, trained with his familiar teammates, and studied strategies just like before.

This routine makes him nearly forget he had retired. To break away, he decided to enter a tournament once more.

Unexpectedly, he made it to the round of 16.

Even though other players who joined the tournament with him had been eliminated.

It really felt as if his prime had arrived late, just like the memes circulating in the forum suggested. No, it was just the preliminary… pure luck. Orthodox shook his head again with a wry smile.

“At this rate, coach, you’ll win the championship and announce your comeback during the interview. Coach, I don’t need to pack my bags, do I?”

“Actually, I packed up your stuff ages ago. On your way home, make sure to clean my coaching uniform thoroughly and organize it in your locker.”

“I will seriously kill you.”

“Do you even know how to kill someone? Gosh, if so, you should’ve taken care of that player you faced in the prelims. You should be thankful to the upvotes on Pada for the blind match system. If they found out you got knocked out in round 2, oh man. I can’t even imagine the drama on the news.”

“Oh, that player was definitely a pro too! You wouldn’t even enter the competition, just all talk—”

Perhaps because they were his former teammates until recently, the players respected him as a coach but also felt relaxed enough to joke around with him.

Standing right in front of the coach and trying to fight each other seemed a bit problematic, but…

“Wait a minute. Let’s watch this match. Seems like it’s going to be interesting.”

“Is there anything to watch? Pagol is hot-tempered and ill-mannered, which is a bit of a problem, but his physicality is top-notch. Honestly, he wouldn’t lose to an amateur in a one-on-one competition—oh, ahem.”

“It’s a greatsword knight versus a rogue, so you never know. I’ve played against a rogue with a greatsword, and it’s super tough to catch them.”

“Bio, even you—oh, he’s watching a girl broadcaster again. Fans should know his true nature.”

“Not a girl broadcaster, it’s GetDevoured. Don’t say such things; it’s bad luck. It’s nerve-wracking wondering when she might turn off the broadcast.”

“Coach, shouldn’t it be banned to watch girl broadcasters in such a sacred training room?”

“Shh—it’s starting.”

A brief moment of silence fell over the noisy and chaotic training room. Fourteen eyes fixed on the screen. The playful expressions vanished as if they never existed. Despite all the teasing, everyone in KoK had risked their lives and youth on this.

One person was watching his phone instead of the large screen that had been painstakingly set up—but it was fine. It was probably GetDevoured’s broadcast.

‘Maybe turning on GetDevoured’s broadcast might actually be better… But if the director sees it here, all hell would break loose.’

Lee Yeri was someone who could seamlessly bring such extraordinary game insights, as if she was always three steps ahead.

‘I’ll just catch up on the replay later.’

“They’re building Leather and Accelerated Movement? One hit from the greatsword, and he’s dead, right?”

“In any case, whatever the rogue does, if they get hit squarely by a greatsword, the game is over.”

“Oh, here they come.”

On the screen, the rogue, who had been stealthily approaching, stopped at a distance. It was within the precarious reach of the greatsword. If swung, it would barely connect.

Yet, extending the greatsword first was difficult.

Although leveraging its range to seize the initiative was possible, the loss incurred if the slow swing of the greatsword missed was unimaginable.

If it was judged that there was an advantage in skill, there was no reason to initiate an attack from the maximum range. Playing it safe, calculating distances, and closing in to the optimal range would suffice.

Driving straight in with the greatsword was something only Lee Yena would do.

The knight’s movements, adjusting his stance multiple times and approaching slowly, were quite intimidating. He minimized high-risk attacks, advancing with only feints through slight shoulder flinches.

As if measured with a ruler, the exact distance the rogue retreated brought them closer to the wall step by step.

And so, within about 20 seconds, they were driven to the point where they would hit the wall.

“…… Huh?”

The rogue began juggling.

“Wow- Pagol is really pissed. His expression is fierce.”

It was a moment that felt like time had stopped. Pagol, gritting his teeth, and Revan, with a relaxed expression. Against the backdrop of an edited screen where their faces alternated, the rogue leisurely played with his daggers.

Was he trying to induce carelessness? Or perhaps to provoke excitement? Whatever the case, it seemed successful, but—was the opponent really someone who could be won over that easily? To Orthodox, who was watching, it only seemed like unnecessary provocation.

The knight quickly took two more steps forward, raising his greatsword high. Although the motions repeated several times and were strikingly similar—

‘No, this time it’s real. Stop messing around and dodge—’

He felt as if he might have shouted had it been an arena. However, since Orthodox’s internal scream couldn’t be heard— the rogue continued juggling leisurely.

Throw, catch.

Throw, catch.

And then again, with one dagger floating in midair, the moment the next dagger was to be thrown and touched his hand—

-Bang!

During his taunting motion, the rogue initiated a rush attack, appearing right in front of the knight in an instant.

《That’s… the canary has evolved into darkness. Is that even allowed?》

With the soft voice flowing from the phone Bio was holding, the rogue took a large step forward, bent his body deeply as if he were about to fall, and twisted his waist.

An attack harnessing the elasticity of his entire body. It was not something to do right in front of the knight. It would be normal for a counter to come flying, whether it was with a pommel, a shield, or at least a fist.

But during that most critical second, the knight, Pagol, didn’t move. His view was blocked by a dagger that had suddenly appeared in midair.

The juggling motion kept the dagger in the sightline, based on where the rogue had relocated.

-Stab!

A single strike. An attack exploiting the blind spot pierced the knight’s thigh, then twisted out. Blood spewed forth like a fountain, soaking the snowy ground.

The sight of the previously pure, white field turning red was quite significant.

“……What was that dagger just now? Is it a spectator bug?”

“I don’t think so. It wasn’t an attack that Pagol couldn’t dodge with his physical skills… It really seemed like his vision was obscured.”

“No way, there was such a skill? Is it even a skill?”

“Well, theoretically… No, if you know it, you can counter it. On the contrary… You have to charge right when the juggling dagger reaches the knight’s eye level, so it’s easy to get countered. It’s a skill that hits you once if you don’t know it. It’s surprising to see something like this in this kind of tournament. They should’ve taught it to us secretly.”

“What are you talking about? It’s obviously a bug. If you throw your weapon and use the charge skill, does the weapon also charge?”

“That’s when you completely throw it, so the weapon is considered separated and doesn’t follow. But if it’s equipped and you charge, it’s natural it follows.”

While the players debated endlessly, the rogue who immobilized the knight with one strike slowly tightened the noose.

*Thud!*

Though a light stab, the cumulative damage was far from light. It was a perfect display of the restraining skill Revan showcased with his dual axes.

Bit by bit. Circling diagonally around the knight, putting feints in—when a small opening appeared, he thrust in light yet relentless attacks.

Normally, such a strategy would have ended with his head split by the hefty greatsword’s retribution. However, the legs that would chase the slipping rogue while swinging the greatsword were dead. Pagol, enraged yet determined, was gritting his teeth and waiting for an opportunity—while everyone watching felt it was meaningless resistance.

He was merely prey that had been sealed off.

“It’s over. Wow, Pagol is going to be embarrassed. Losing a set to an amateur is something he’ll never live down—”

The last one standing in the sticky snowfield was the rogue.

* * * *

It was a familiar skill. Though not as extreme, the techniques derived from the rogue’s juggling motion were still being used in various ways.

Still, that one… Hmm. I had planned to use it someday, but only after getting it vetted by canary.

… Now, who would play the canary?

“Hmm… You see? Look how well he does without the logger. That—hmm. Where did he learn such a skill?”

The screen showed Revan’s concentrated expression. It was a face filled with a determination to win. That… might be my fault, a little bit.

“I shouldn’t have made that bet.”

Somehow, I felt uneasy.