It’s not that kind of malicious broadcast

Chapter 70 – When Hands Clap Together

Maybe it was the angry chat about her playing a knight off-broadcast that caught her eye.

“It’s a misunderstanding. Just a moment.”

Her voice carried the seriousness of explaining a significant issue, and the allies list she displayed indeed showed a rogue with a record of 0 kills and 4 deaths—no, now 0 kills and 5 deaths.

“I yielded because there was already a rogue. See?”

While it was a matter of no importance to the viewers—

She repeatedly emphasized the allied rogue’s portrait with her mouse, nodding as if she believed she had given a satisfactory explanation.

It was fortunate in many ways that her satisfied smile wasn’t broadcasted.

『Is that the issue?』

『Oh, my blood pressure, seriously』

『Explain』

『Explain』

『Ex』

『Plain』

『Ex』

『Plain』

『Explanation』

-ㅇㅇ has donated 1,000 won!-

【Is she crazy because she plays rogue, or does she play rogue because she’s crazy?】

Without additional fuel, the fire in the chatbox was already large enough.

-ㅇㅇ has donated 1,000 won!-

【So why were you aiming for Challenger off-broadcast, you crazy woman!!!!】

Nonetheless, as usual, Lee Yena’s broadcast showed a slightly detached world from the chat. Barely dodging and parrying the warrior’s axe aimed at her weak points several times.

The sinister energy felt through the screen and the heavy, sharp sounds of metal clashing were enough to gradually draw the viewers’ minds into the game.

The screen shook with rapid movements, and at the moment the viewers, engrossed in the fierce battle, let out sighs, the sword was swung mightily, severing the warrior’s right thigh as if tearing it.

A hefty price paid for carelessly closing the distance without considering a counterattack. Though it seemed like a mistake on the warrior’s part, falling for the knight’s feint of retreating to the rear—

For those who realized the countless preparatory moves made prior had steeled the warrior’s stamina to a precarious level, the moment the knight stepped back, it was clear that they had been lured into a meticulously designed trap.

The warrior, dropping the axe and rolling on the ground, couldn’t grasp how the seemingly exhausted knight managed such a counterattack at that precise moment.

Just as the fallen warrior had no chance to ask the knight for an explanation.

The knight, who ended the long battle by plunging the sword held in reverse into the neck of the pitifully sprawled enemy, drew a cross with his bloodied hand and looked up at the enemy’s fortress.

It was a rather majestic—and somehow, even holy—scene.

『GP Minsik (Warrior) has been killed!』

『GetDevoured (Holy Knight) is rampaging!』

『GetDevoured (Holy Knight) → GP Minsik (Warrior)』

“… My hands just didn’t warm up. I wonder why….”

Her low response explained that she didn’t understand, though it didn’t really match with the scene. And it matched even less with the score of 8 kills, 0 deaths, and 4 assists in the top right corner.

『Oh, really』

『Why warm up your hands with your main…』

『Warming up with your main is no different from just playing the game (really doesn’t know)』

『Wow, that was insane LOLOLOL』

『Can’t broadcast because hands aren’t warmed up (8 kills, 0 deaths, 4 assists)』

『Damn, this is KoK』

『Typical bronze-warrior charge LOLOLOL』

『GP clan names are just science』

『Master, diamond, Plat, Gold, silver, doesn’t matter』

『How much more do you need to warm up?』

『Disabling with one counter and execution… this is why we use a longsword for real』

『Romantic as it gets』

『KoK is all about the Holy Knight』

Nevertheless, the voices criticizing Lee Yena had reduced by more than 30%. After all, she had just displayed the kind of play that every Holy Knight player dreams of.

While everyone watched in high anticipation, focusing intently on the knight’s movement, the sound of clattering plate armor echoed as the knight quickly ran towards the next target, gradually fading into the distance.

Next, the screen zoomed in on the red flag fluttering on the fortress the knight had earlier looked at. The flag started to burn from the edge, quickly falling apart—

With sighs from the viewers, the scene of the fortress collapsing filled the screen.

=Victory!=

The moment the game ended,

Lee Yena achieved 741 Master points.

『Ahhhhh why a surrender』

『You’re playing knight again next game, right?』

『Masters have no grit, damn it』

『The higher the tier, the more quick surrenders, seriously』

『Learn from Bronze, silver, and Gold where 40-minute games are normal』

Now considering Challenger’s 500th place was 784 points, the distance to the goal was just three wins away.

The Challenger spot, which most doubted, was indeed right in front of her.

* * * *

“Hmm… my hands feel completely loosened now.”

-ㅇㅇ has donated 1,000 won!-

【Is that really a concept? Are you sure?】

…A “concept”, you say.

In a game like KoK, where you must rigorously use both wrists and fingers, the sensation in your hands is critically important.

The higher the tier, the more often games are decided by split-second reactions.

Now, we’ll be competing against former and current Challengers in 10 out of 12 games. If I’m to continue climbing while streaming, I need to be in flawless condition.

When you start slipping just before reaching the summit, the fall can be endless.

“Queue… just a moment. Let me do a final check, and we’ll go again.”

Soothing the still clamoring chat, I created an empty custom game to practice a few combos.

From basic combos to those involving cancels and pre-inputs. Like shadowboxing, I ran through several cycles, visualizing the flow of combat in my head.

Okay.

Now I really feel like my hands are moving smoothly.

I lightheartedly stretched and glanced at the chat for a final check.

“What will I do when I reach Challenger… Let’s see. A get-together… a modest celebration party, perhaps. Green onion pancakes… ah, that’s a good idea.”

Yes.

A celebration party… seems appropriate.

*

Since it was a high tier that discouraged sniping, Lee Yena’s game matching took a considerable amount of time, but no one complained. Her gameplay was captivating enough to hold their attention.

After all, it takes two hands to clap. Even the perfect tennis serve isn’t entertaining if you only see a similar serve counter every time.

Games should have rallies and sweat to make them worth watching. The spectators, who gathered to see duels rather than one-sided executions, naturally expected this.

And unlike the mid-Master players who crumbled against her initial moves, the seasoned Challengers had the skill to fully utilize their capabilities—

Each combat sequence was as spectacular as the highlights of a professional match. She would seem to charge fiercely with a flash of blades, then roll backward to narrowly dodge an opponent’s counterattack by a hair.

When it appeared she was caught by the opponent’s pursuit, she would strike a counterattack from a blind spot.

Watching her movements like an action movie in first-person, I was entranced. Suddenly, a familiar whisper broke the immersion at an unexpected moment.

《Got you.》

Then, within 30 seconds, or at most 60 seconds, the screen would invariably show her dagger plunging into the opponent’s vital spot.

『Wow, damn;;』

『That was sick, for real』

『Wow』

『GetDevoured, stop being so good!』

『Even a pro couldn’t pull off that counter just now』

『Facing Challengers makes her play even better, lOLLOLOL LOL 』

『How many games did she play off-broadcast to get this good? I’m suddenly so mad』

Flawlessly, but aggressively. Sometimes she pierced through the frontlines; other times, she sidestepped, persistently exploiting only the points where the opponent’s morale would break.

=Victory!=

The result was naturally following her actions.

《I like how quick the decision was. You should let go of games you can’t win.》

Following her overwhelming play, she left a possibly arrogant remark and lightly triumphed in two games.

ㅇㅇ has donated 10,000 won!-

【Congratulations on reaching Challenger in advance, teacher!!! I knew you’d make it!!!】

《Ah… ten thousand won, thank you. It’s not yet… in advance, I mean. It’s not over yet. This is ranked, and it’s not unusual to lose 7 games in a row from here. Put that back. Can I refund it?》

GetDevouredKingGetDevouredKing has donated 10,000 won!-

【It feels like watching a movie, I’m so thrilled. Unni, your skill is perfect, your voice is perfect, everything is perfectㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Please marry me】

《Unni… is a term, by definition, that a younger woman uses to address an older woman. Please keep that in mind for future reference.》

For some reason, she seemed to have little immunity to praise.

FirstLoveTamperingCriminal has donated 30,000 won!-

【Sister, I’ll just say a word and go. You’re not human, you’re perfect. From today, I’ll remember you as my first love-】

The growing number of female fans’ donations was particularly problematic.

《FirstLoveTamperingCriminal-nim, thank you for the donation. I’m sorry, but I’ll skip the donation message. It… might not be suitable for the kids’ mental health. Where do you even learn to say such things?》

The initial few flattery donations genuinely reflected the admiration of female fans who had fallen for her voice, her sophisticated yet spectacular play, and her ability to carry games even in high tiers—

《… Thank you for the donation. Uh, rogues are good… sigh.》

After taking note of her reaction, the donations pouring in were nothing more than playful antics from viewers who had finally found the weak spot in the seemingly impregnable fortress.

With each donation praising her with excessive flattery, the wildly shaking and wandering mouse pointer revealed her inner turmoil, much like a dog’s wagging tail.

《… Thank… you. I think you’ve come to the wrong broadcast, but I’ll have to skip this.》

Praising donations, akin to comments on idol shorts videos, rang out and were skipped within a second, repeatedly.

-Crack.

『???』

『Teacher, I think I hear a familiar sound』

『LOLOLOL LOLOLOL LOLOLOL』

『This is the first time I’ve seen a broadcaster meltdown from compliments LOL』

『Is this right for the last game to get to Challenger?』

『Fact: She often drinks on broadcast, so it doesn’t matter』

『It sounds like water though, since it takes longer to pour LOLOLOL』

After a few recognizable sounds to her veteran viewers,

《… Feeling a bit better now. Please pause the donations… I’ll play the rest of the donations after the game. So, let’s get to it?》

With a slightly relieved voice, she began the game that could be her final step to reaching Challenger.

TL’s Corner:

Need to drink to calm the nerves.