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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: All Master's Game Stream
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"Heh heh, this is fun. Your streaming sense is impressive. To take something I casually suggested as a light 1v1 and spin it like this..."
Huh Changsu.
He looked like your average middle-aged guy in his forties, but unlike his ordinary appearance, he was quite famous.
"Using my name to grow your stream and then come eat me up... That's pretty bold. Or maybe it's just par for the course with that guy."
Elbow.
He was also known as the absolute number one in Iron Fist. Recalling the message from Mint—Park Hayun—that had come not long ago, he chuckled again.
-Elbow, I've heard what you said. After talking it over with Oppa, we decided we're not quite there yet. So we'll aim for a 1v1 once we've reached True: Purple rank, enough to stand toe-to-toe with you. We'll probably borrow your name and reputation a bit in the process, so I'm asking for your understanding in advance.
A message that calmly and neatly packed in exactly what she wanted.
If it hadn't been from Mint, someone he'd sparred with a few times and crossed paths with on stream, he would've ignored it outright.
But knowing her face already, and seeing that the message's main point wasn't Mint herself but Haesung, Elbow had gladly accepted.
"Two months... Is that really possible?"
That said, he did have slight doubts about whether Haesung could actually reach True: Purple in the short two months Mint had mentioned.
Blue, Purple, Gold.
Even for Elbow—Huh Changsu—the three major hurdles to True: Purple were tough to clear in just two months.
Of course—
"...If the skills that guy showed hold up even in the higher tiers, it might just work."
Considering the insane game sense and abilities Haesung had displayed in his 1v1 with Mint, it didn't feel entirely impossible.
And right then.
"...Comet's Placement 10 Consecutive Wins challenge?"
Seeing the title of the newbie streamer's broadcast pop up in the New Broadcaster category, Changsu's eyes went wide before curving into crescents.
"Can't miss this."
Huh Changsu.
Streamer name: Elbow.
Once his own stream ended, he was just another Trica viewer, a Trsu.
"...Guess I'll watch logged out for now."
Of course, mindful of his own reputation, Changsu tuned into Comet's stream without logging in.
* * *
A black screen.
For Haesung, who had no broadcast waiting screen or intro video, it was par for the course.
Seeing his own face reflected on that black screen, he let out a small chuckle at the slight tension he felt.
'Me, who wouldn't flinch in front of a million-strong army, getting nervous before an internet stream? Ridiculous.'
Recalling his past eased the tension away, and Jinhyuk checked the bottom of the screen.
[Current Viewers: 12]
"Twelve, huh. About time to start."
Thanks to Trica's New Broadcaster category for newbie streamers, even on his very first stream, Haesung had over ten viewers.
Sure, they were the type who might wander in, watch for a bit, and leave like migrating birds, but it didn't matter.
*Click*
He turned on the muted mic, switched the black screen to cam view with his mouse, and greeted them with a faint smile.
"Thha. Nice to meet you all. I'm Comet."
-Ew!
-Whoa!
-...What? Turned on cam and it's glowing?
-Self-luminous streamer lol scary
Seeing the baffled viewers—who'd walked into the black screen—react with surprise, Haesung smiled faintly.
"You guys are a fun bunch."
-Don't smile. Gonna fall for you.
-Kieeeek! Feels purifyingggg
-But what's Placement 10 Consecutive Wins? Iron Fist?
-Legendary League no-fun game! Fighting your team more than the enemy...
Watching the viewers glow up again at his slight smile, and amid questions about what game he'd play, Haesung answered lightly.
"Bapajwoheukheuk-nim, the game for today is Iron Fist."
-Lolol how's a name Bapajwoheukheuk
-Arghhh!
-No but streamer reading that deadpan is funnier lolol
As everyone burst out laughing at the questioner's name.
-Wait, Comet? That guy who burned down the AF gallery?
'And here they are.'
Confirming a viewer had recognized him, Comet acknowledged it.
"You know me. Same person."
-Wow! So you really are Mint's real oppa?
-Do you know what Mint's up to now?
"Yep. Probably scratching her belly in her room watching NewTube right now?"
-Lol 100% realistic siblings.
-Handsome pretty siblings gotta act like real siblings!
As if she'd heard her own diss, the wall in Comet's room thumped.
Thud thud thud!
"Sorry about that. My room's not well soundproofed. Guess the neighbor's complaining."
-Who's next door?
-Oh lol got it.
"Mint."
-Lol real-time complaint hits
-Real-life gang incoming soon. Lock the door streamer!
-Wild Mint appeared! You feel refreshed!
While viewers laughed imagining Mint complaining right after hearing her own roast, more newcomers pushed Comet's viewers past twenty.
'Not bad for the start of my first stream.'
Of course, it didn't climb higher.
Confirming no more viewer fluctuations, Comet jumped straight into the main content.
"Chat time's over. Logging into Iron Fist now. See you in-game."
-Coba~
-Lol just yeets them.
-Fr though heading to game so straight send-off~
Leaving the playful goodbyes behind, Comet lay back in the capsule Hayun had set up in one corner of her room and logged into Iron Fist in an instant.
Meanwhile, next door, the stream was going live in real time too.
* * *
"Sheesh... You idiot oppa. I'm working too, and you say I'm just scratching my belly watching NewTube!"
-Oh lol got the usual Mint vibe.
-Belly rub lol overlaps with my sis.
-This is real siblings lol
Hayun, now Mint, huffed as she returned to her seat and checked her stream screen.
On Mint's stream screen was Comet, just vanishing into the capsule.
Why was Comet on Mint's stream?
Simple.
"...Brother observation diary is too much work."
Today's Mint stream concept: 'Brother Observation Diary'.
In other words, piggybacking off Comet's stream.
-Mint's wall thumps all caught on Comet's stream lol
-Power diff! General vibes! Kim Mint!
-But why's Mint's real oppa streaming?
-Dunno? Route?
Of course, some viewers questioned Comet's sudden stream, but most were just enjoying the Mint-Comet synergy.
-Oh lol just dipped straight to Comet's stream!
-Mint... stay strong, I'm off to Comet's...
-Comet coin mooning! No blacks left unboarded?!
Watching her Trsus flood chat with teases about heading to Comet's stream, Mint snapped.
"You jerks! How could you!"
-Mint... don't cling. It's ugly...
-Lolololol
-???: Sleepy?
-???: He's asleep...
-Ex keeping tabs on ex vibes.
Making a sad face to hold back her departing Trsus, Mint smiled inwardly.
'Right on plan.'
People always want what they're told not to have.
She'd naturally promoted Comet's stream, pretended to desperately cling to those leaving for it.
Making her own Trsus migrate to Comet's room.
With her plan succeeding, Mint didn't let it show outwardly and pouted her lips.
"Hmph, go watch Oppa's stream if you want. I'll just spectate his games and commentary. Manager~ Ban everyone who just teased me~
-Scaryyyyy tyrant Kim Mint
-Judge I said nothing. Cat did it.
Joking like she'd dance with a sword, Mint quickly hopped into the game messenger and sent Comet a message.
-Oppa, I'll spec your placements. Oh, and I'm streaming.
She fired it off fast, didn't wait for a reply, closed the window, and clicked spectate on Comet's screen in her friends list.
"Alright, time to see the skills of the man Elbow acknowledged! Comet's prowess!"
-Scaryyyy sucking bro's blood day 1.
-Buildup for this...!
-This why you made oppa stream? Kim Mint?!
-Scary...!
Realizing her intent from the seamless switch, viewers slapped their foreheads, but Mint didn't care one bit.
"Opposite~ It's the other way! Oppa's the one sucking my blood. Look at the viewer gap. How dare he streamer!"
-This might stir drama
-Breaking: Kim Mint says sucking streamer ain't human
-Gonna hit Kingmu Wiki lol
"No fair! Stop the haters! Hater stop!"
-Yup~ no stop~
-Lol sanity check?
Bickering playfully as viewers latched onto her words, Mint soon shifted to Comet's screen, now in ranked queue.
"Oh, queue popped."
-Already ranked?
-Game that lives eat-or-be-eaten fr.
-Fr what game starts with ranked
-Scared? Do normals then.
-Lions push cubs off cliffs...
On screen, Comet dove straight into ranked like normals were beneath him.
"Character... same as last time."
-Mint mains basic too, placement scrubs no prob~
-Lol fr
"...Oppa's the skilled one, okay?!"
-Nyenyenye gotcha~
-Yepper cheerio~
"Ughhh...!"
Comet's pick: the basic character.
Seeing him grab it without a second thought, same as his first time, viewers teased the Mint who'd lost to that basic char.
But a loss was a loss.
Especially an overwhelming one—Mint had no comeback.
Of course, she didn't stew long.
Mint didn't forget her core duty.
"Opponent... Demon fighter, huh. Ugh, that braindead char!"
Commentary.
Not forgetting to commentate Comet's stream, she griped at the enemy's picked character.
And for once, viewers nodded in unison.
-Fr fr
-That braindead needs a patch
-Too broken.
Demons.
One of Iron Fist's three races, built around easy and strong.
Easy and strong meant simple, so its edge dulled in high tiers, but in low tiers, nothing was as vicious.
"For the uninitiated, Demons have high physical stats but low energy (demonic qi). Can't spam skills much, but it's a poke-to-death concept. Best strat is targeting their weak point horns for part destruction... but it's tough."
Lacing in light explanation for non-players, she twirled her finger on her head, and viewers couldn't help but agree.
-Different annoyance from heaven bugs.
-Heaven bugs drag time, demon brains just steal wins.
-Fr fr
-Horns made to look breakable but never do fr.
Iron Fist mirrored reality closely but was still a game.
Big or small.
Man or woman.
Damage followed set system values, and Demons topped systemic damage.
Plus high physicals for slightly faster moves—which ballooned huge in fighting games—making them the braindead char.
Just swing fists and kicks fast, enemy drops. How good is that.
"Hmm, Oppa'll handle it... but honestly, hope he doesn't lose."
-Calling him oppa and still biased.
-Placement 10 wins goal, lose first? Mint's straw shatters~
-Lol fr
Facing such a broken braindead char, Mint fretted but desperately rooted for Comet to win.
Though not quite the sweet little sis vibe viewers imagined.
"If he loses to that guy, what does that make me, who got crushed by Oppa? No way he loses."
-Oh lol it was for your own face
-As expected of Mint! Never loses the ugly!
-Turning my fantasies real! Shivers! Admiration!
-UglyMint! MintUgly!
Viewers pointing fingers at Mint upon hearing her reason—no容许 her overwhelming conqueror losing placement first round to a scrub—
"Here we go!"
-Comet! Comet! Comet!
-Show us?
-Basic char eats braindead like cake
Countdown ended, game started.
In an instant, all eyes—from Mint to viewers—locked on Haesung.
"...Huh?"
-Huh?