—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Streamer ‘Rococo’.
He was a broadcaster famous enough in the fighting game scene that even I had heard his name.
He was also famous on the net wiki for having numerous controversies.
And it seemed his fame wasn’t a lie.
No matter how much I scrolled, there was no end in sight.
Wow, how has a guy like this been active until now?
He doesn’t seem to miss a single incident.
This, in a way, was also amazing.
“…Excuse me.”
It was while I was browsing the net wiki, learning about the scoundrel in front of me.
“Isn’t it a bit rude to be using your visual interface when someone is standing in front of you?”
“……”
That was not something I wanted to hear from a person who had brazenly walked in while streaming without even getting our permission.
Since this was a cyberpunk world with no portrait rights.
I decided to let it go.
I closed my visual interface and looked at Rococo (the bastard) with my arms crossed, as if to say, ‘go on, say your piece.’
At my reaction, Rococo cleared his throat a few times and then explained his reason for being here.
“I didn’t come for any particular reason. I just checked and saw that. You’ll be having the next match with me?”
He offered me the handshake I had refused again.
“So I was curious and came to see you.”
That’s what Rococo said, but.
Considering his smirking face and the presence of the drone camera, it was clear that he had actually come to create some kind of ‘buzz.’
“It’s true that I made a small mistake on the net, but fundamentally, fighting games are all about fair play, aren’t they?”
I couldn’t tell if this was a proper sentence or just bullshit.
“Let’s compete according to sportsmanship, without any feelings for each other.”
“……”
Just a moment ago.
I had been relieved by the fact that Julia didn’t have a folding katana in her hand.
But now, before Julia’s anger could even explode.
I felt like I was going to die of rage first.
Who the hell is this bastard, to be so brazen.
This was a crisis where I might end up on NCB24 News.
“If you want, I can even apologize—.”
“No need for an apology.”
Ha, I let out a hollow laugh and replied.
On Julia’s behalf, I said what I wanted to say, which felt refreshing.
“You’re going to be embarrassed enough in the match anyway.”
I raised my index finger and pressed it into the center of Rococo’s chest.
“You should get ready to be comforted by your viewers.”
“…I look forward to seeing if you can be so smug in the match as well.”
I expected some kind of strong reaction, but.
Perhaps because he felt his disadvantage in public opinion.
Or perhaps because the drone camera was still rolling, Rococo gave an awkward smile and tried to leave the booth.
“Looks like you brought your girlfriend, let’s see what you’ve got.”
Perhaps mistaking me for White Rabbit. He said, looking at Julia before leaving the booth.
“……!”
But the strange thing was.
Julia, who had been standing still without any reaction, was flustered by those words and squirmed as if she couldn’t move an inch.
“?”
Feeling something was off, I looked at Julia.
Julia muttered as she watched Rococo’s departing back.
“…Girlfriend, he might be a better person than I thought.”
What in the world does that mean, Julia.
Well, whatever.
It was a relief that no bloodshed occurred.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
《This next participant is ‘that person’ you all know well!!》
The ‘caster,’ who had unintentionally taken on the role of commentator as well, shouted through the microphone.
Julia and I, standing at the back of the stage, waited for the match, listening to the caster’s words.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t our turn just yet.
《A famous streamer! An influencer who boasts hundreds of thousands of followers! The super-soldier-in-a-tank of fighting games who silences controversy with skill!》
He must be really famous.
His introduction was much longer than the others.
《A strong contender for the championship! Team ‘Rococo and Editor’ comes up to the stage!》
His fame was certain.
The loud cheers of the audience echoed throughout the stadium.
As the caster continued, a red-haired man, Rococo, came up from the opposite side of the stage.
A person with an awkward expression and no presence followed behind him, and it seemed that person was the ‘editor’ in ‘Rococo and Editor.’
The caster, who saw the editor’s expression just as I did, continued with a brief explanation.
《The revealed rank tier of the editor is ‘Gold,’ which is the lowest among all the participants in the main tournament! In other words, this is basically Rococo’s one-man team!》
Oh, Gold.
A skilled player comparable to me, a ‘Silver.’
《But Rococo, who made it to the main tournament even so, must be considered amazing! However!!》
The color of the stage lighting changed.
《His opponent is no pushover either! I was surprised myself when I saw the main tournament bracket!》
Is it our turn this time?
The staff in charge of the proceedings gave us a signal. I checked that the mask on my face was on properly, then gave Julia a look.
“Shall we go?”
“…Yes.”
We stepped up onto the stage.
Just as when Rococo had appeared.
The commentator’s exaggerated commentary followed behind us.
《The skilled player who has caused numerous controversies on the net! Is it skill, or is it manipulation! The time to reveal the truth has finally come!》
Hmm.
Do we have the villain vibe?
《The team that the protagonist of the controversy, ‘White Rabbit,’ has joined! ‘WarriorsAreTheBest’!!》
The sight of the caster roaring that the warrior is the best felt quite funny.
As expected, the audience’s reaction was similar to that on the net.
The sound of boos was louder than the cheers.
It could have been a burdensome situation, but Julia didn’t seem to mind at all.
I was the same.
In any case, the fact that Julia hadn’t used a hack was a ‘truth’ that would soon be revealed.
The preliminaries weren’t broadcast, so.
We could let that slide.
But now that we were in the main tournament, the result would be a little different.
I turned my head to check the opposite booth.
Rococo was looking at us and smirking.
《Players, please connect to your devices!》
So you’re still full of confidence.
Julia and I.
Rococo and Editor.
Everyone put their virtual reality headsets on their heads.
The program automatically ran through the machine made for the tournament.
If anyone talked about a ‘hack’ controversy in this situation, they were no different from a chrome psycho who had lost their mind.
An endless horizon made of 0s and 1s spread out.
I moved my hands and feet to check the controls.
No issues.
Of course, it wasn’t likely I would be playing in the match.
It was a check that was close to instinct.
The match began in the predetermined order.
I couldn’t show my embarrassing (Silver) skills to everyone. If that happened, I was confident I would die of shame.
Therefore, naturally, the first turn was Julia’s.
Outside the stage where the match began.
I watched Julia’s match from the perspective of a spectator.
I could watch it directly in a ghost-like form.
When I looked at the opposite side of the stage, I saw the figure of Rococo, who was also translucent like me, waiting.
He was the same as before he connected to the game.
His face was still full of smiles.
Let’s see how long that composure lasts.
Of course.
I wasn’t the one who was going to shatter that composure.
《The first match is between the player ‘Editor’ and…, oh. She’s here from the start. A match with ‘White Rabbit’!》
With a flash of light, characters of different body types appeared in the air.
The editor chose a typical ‘tanker’ character.
It was characterized by having more health and defense than other characters, and I remembered the setting as a chrome psycho whose entire body was made of machinery.
Was its name ‘J12’ or something.
It wasn’t a good pick for the vanguard.
Just by looking at the chosen character, it seemed like Rococo’s shallow thought of using the editor as a sacrificial pawn to figure out patterns was being transmitted as is.
Unlike him, on the other hand, Julia chose a speed-focused character.
She was a character famous for being the only one in the game with a ‘sword,’ and as much as she had strong attack power, her health was the lowest in the game.
What was her setting again… a chrome psycho crazy for blood, or something? This game had too many characters with a ‘crazy’ setting.
She was also a female character, so she was quite popular.
The character Julia chose, ‘Y,’ appeared, boasting a sensual figure.
『Get Ready For─』
With a short notification, the match was about to begin.
[Ah, ah.]
Huh?
[So you weren’t White Rabbit, it seems?]
Goosebumps rose at the sudden man’s voice.
Because I was used to hearing Eve’s voice at all times, I thought I was used to unexpected voices.
It was just that it had been okay because it was ‘Eve’s’ voice.
I looked at the opposite side of the stage.
The translucent face of Rococo was looking at me.
[It’s obvious it’s a hack anyway, so what kind of confidence are you showing up with? This is hilarious.]
It was a different attitude from when he was broadcasting with the drone camera earlier.
Does his voice not get broadcast here?
He was conveying his inner thoughts directly to me.
[You should just forfeit now—.]
[Cut the bullshit and just watch the match.]
So I cut him off with a harsh curse.
His confidence would only be temporary anyway.
There was no need to listen to him.
Rococo, flustered by my words, stared at me with a dazed face.
I took my eyes off him and turned my head up to the stage.
Soon, the match began.
As soon as it started, he hardened his guard.
The editor’s effort to figure out the patterns looked commendable.
But what’s the use?
His opponent was Julia.
I’ve faced her too, a guard won’t work.
Just a few seconds.
That was the time it took for Julia to break that solid guard and reduce his health gauge to 0.
The combo continued as naturally as breathing.
In the end, fighting games are also based on virtual reality.
If you were skilled at moving your body, you could make even impossible combos possible.
[……Huh?]
Looks like you’re finally coming to your senses.
I gave Rococo my sincere advice.
[You’d better start thinking now about how to lose with less embarrassment.]
Leaving the dazed Rococo behind.
I watched Julia, who was naturally twirling her sword and performing a winner’s pose.
The fallen corpse flew joyfully through the air.
‘Desecration of a corpse,’ how vicious of her—.
…Anyway.
She was good when she fought me too.
But now, it felt like a different dimension.
To be honest, if I had met her online without knowing, I think I would have suspected her of hacking and screamed ‘trash game.’
A moment later, the editor’s character, J, reappeared in the air.
Did this game support facial expression changes too?
His face was one of some fear.
It looked like he wanted to forfeit right away.
But the match quickly began again.
Since each person had to win 3 times to move on to the next turn, the editor had to suffer two more times here.
Still, hmm.
It didn’t look like it would take a few minutes.
[Get your apology video ready.]
At my words, Rococo’s complexion darkened.
Rococo’s waist was bent like a folding ruler.
It was after he, like the editor, had been beaten without even being able to resist.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
[…This is an apology video. Regarding ‘White Rabbit,’ whom I recklessly targeted—.]
I watched his apology through my visual interface and typed in the chat in real-time.
ㅡ lolololololololol (chat sent by me)
Oh, my stomach. It is so good.
As expected of a famous streamer.
His change in attitude was perfect.
He must have felt it instinctively.
About how public opinion would change after this tournament ended.
He must have thought he was a sure winner.
That’s probably why he immediately lowered his stance and filmed an apology video.
“……Heh.”
Julia, whom I glanced at, also seemed to be in a better mood than usual.
Her expressionless face was the same.
But a slight blush had appeared on her face.
Well, she must have suffered a lot mentally.
That’s probably why she even came to me and asked for a favor.
…….
For what reason, I didn’t know why she was stuck right next to me.
But it was certain that she seemed happy because her stress had been relieved.
“……Haah.”
But my heart was still full of worry.
To be honest, I didn’t care about ‘someone like’ Rococo at all.
Not just Rococo. The other players were the same.
The reason was obvious.
《This team is truly amazing! The result is the same this time! Team ‘Strongest Machine and Strongest Human’ advances to the finals without taking a single hit!!》
Those guys.
How do we beat Eve and Catherine?
I pondered.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
