It’s not that kind of malicious broadcast

『Author: ㅇㅇ』

『Title: What’s with ArcDevourRevan’s Chemistry』

『I was giggling, thinking these guys were screwed after watching the first match, but as soon as GetDevoured was let loose in a free role, they fit together perfectly. Their coordination was spot on even without a lot of orders. Arc is also doing well maintaining balance.』

– Title on purpose, you si1ck

– Arc is naturally good at bus rides.

– ㄴ The problem is he panics when he thinks he has to carry.

– ㄴㄴ If that happens during the tournament, they might screw up.

– ㄴㄴ Yeah, when you add three bronze players, it’s highly likely they’ll fail.

– GetDevoured and Revan’s synergy is insane.

– ㄴ That’s common at the challenger level.

『Author: ArcDevourDevoured』

『Title: Did Revan Originally Play as an Archer?』

『He plays as an archer incredibly well.

Sh1t, I hope it’s 3cm』

– He’s over 180cm, that’s impossible.

– ㄴ You never know until you check… My boyfriend is tall but smaller than me.

– ㄴㄴ Gaygay…

– ㄴㄴ Shut up, I’m blocking you.

– He’s played as an archer occasionally, especially to understand how to counter them as a warrior.

– ㄴ He’s so crazy that he plays a rogue just to learn counter-strategies, there’s no way he wouldn’t play as an archer.

– ㄴㄴ But playing as a rogue… he’s truly mad.

– ㄴㄴ What’s wrong with rogues;

– ㄴㄴ -do-

『Author: ㅇㅇ』

『Title: ArkDevourRevan’s Devastating 4 Match Winning Streak』

『These guys are seriously the dark horse of the tournament.

I thought Battlegrounds would easily win, but now I’m not sure. If a rogue gets selected as MVP in an official tournament, will the forum explode?』

– Does it look like the rogue carried? Excuse me, are you visually impaired?

– ㄴ ?? Anyone can see the rogue carried.

– ㄴㄴ The mage and knight who survived by sucking blood were the real carry.

– ㄴ Is 8 kills, 0 deaths, and 4 assists not considered carrying?

– No, all the rogue players should be executed at the crossroads.

– But in the end, isn’t the three Bronze players the most important?

– Yes, we won’t know until all the teams are set.

『Author: ㅇㅇ』

『Title: Do not rank today』

『There’s going to be an explosion of rogues in the silver-gold brackets… All I can do is warn you…』

* * * *

=Victory!=

Numerous times after shouting “one more game”, Arc kept cheering, gazing at the blue text that never ceased to thrill.

“Wow! Our teamwork is incredible! Insane. Are we really going to win?”

『Where’s your conscience』

『You should say, “Are we really going to win, teachers?” Arc』

『You haven’t lost your throne as the King of Rides』

『Arc Arc, are you riding as a priest instead of a mage now…』

『?? Does a priest use “we”?』

『Where’s the mage’s pride』

Despite the chat teasing relentlessly, Arc felt no damage. Her mind was filled with the thought of “This is it.”

The initial unease she felt when she first saw her teammates had long disappeared. After the first match ended, just when her teammates suddenly decided to duel to the death, she had thought it was over.

It was the best.

Skills were skills, and coordination was coordination, but the banter starting from GetDevoured’s nonchalant comments blended perfectly with the atmosphere of ArcTube.

Even with just two hours of a 3-person queue, streaming content for ArcTube came pouring in. She was confident she could get at least two videos. Maybe three if they were lucky. It was as if the editor’s cheers could be heard.

No amount of annoying chat could shake her—

《Potions have something to say, huh. That’s too harsh. This potion is free… Both of you are temporarily muted. Please reflect.》

She couldn’t be shaken.

“…You’re reading the chat, right?”

《Of course. I don’t hate priests.》

《Arc, check the playback later. That person might have been using an alternate account.》

《You must know a lot about alternate accounts. It’s wisdom that comes naturally with age. They say old men are like libraries, and I guess it’s true.》

“…Yes. Ah! But aren’t we close in age? I’m twenty-three, and Revan is twenty-five, right?”

《Yes, that’s correct. And GetDevoured?》

《Thirty-five… Wait, that’s not right. Sorry, twenty-one.》

“Hey, that’s not enough of an age difference to call him old! Why tease our Revan about his age?”

《Ah, it’s not the age—》

《That’s possible. It’s okay. At twenty-one, a four-year gap seems huge. I felt the same. Anyway… Today was great. I’m thinking of ending the broadcast now. Are you two continuing?》

“Is Revan ending the broadcast already…?”

Lee Yena’s urgent and surprised voice echoed through the room, reminiscent of the cat she had seen at her friend’s apartment a while ago.

The same cat that had swiped at them with its paw, telling them to go away, but later begged for more playtime when they started to leave.

『Meow Meow』

『What was that voice just now?』

『Why is she being so clingy?』

『Is this what they call tsundere or something?』

『Where did the person who was yelling at the annoying woodsman go? LOL』

『Seriously, is something going on between the two of them?』

『Hey Arc, check out that “Meow Meow” as well, please』

The viewers of Arc’s broadcast seemed to have felt a similar vibe. The chat was flooded with comments suggesting a hint of romance, matchmaking, and playful banter.

It was natural. No one had any way of knowing that the people involved had never considered anything like a relationship, only focusing on hosting opportunities.

“Really! Already? Are you abandoning the team?”

Arc, raising the tension hurriedly, clung to Revan with an exaggerated whiny voice. When one person clung, it might create some interest, but when two people clung, it turned into a skit.

It felt like watching an abandoned child. Did she have any awareness of herself as a female broadcaster at all?

‘Just like with Dodat’s situation last time. Seriously, what is this?’

Amidst this, nobody responded to Arc’s fuss, and silence flowed through the broadcast.

‘Ah, this is driving me crazy.’

“Fine, just go! I’ll just play with my GetDevoured.”

“Ah. Actually, I was about to end my broadcast soon too.”

Lee Yena’s blatant declaration to end the broadcast, filled with sadness.

‘Oh, come on, seriously!’

Even if Arc had pushed the emotional buttons deliberately, everyone was nodding in agreement, almost accepting it with an ‘of course’.

Arc suddenly recalled the memory of watching classic games with her dad when she was little. The endless march of Lemmings heading towards suicide. No matter how hard she tried to save them, they steadfastly walked towards the cliff… The frustration from back then leaped across 20 years and hit her now.

No, the Lemmings from that game were better. At least when given a way to live, they took it. But seeing someone blissfully smiling while unknowingly drowning, only to tear apart the life jacket handed to them with scissors, couldn’t compare.

‘If she ends her broadcast now, anyone can see it’s because Revan is ending his broadcast…!’

“You guys are really too much. I’ll just be here alone. I guess I’ll have to watch the team setup broadcast alone tomorrow at 7. I wanted to ask if we could watch it together, but I’m too afraid of being rejected.”

《Tomorrow at 7…? Oh, it’s the team setup broadcast. I’d love a joint broadcast. Arc, would you like to watch it together?》

Finally gripping the fragments of the life jacket, Lee Yena responded with a slightly excited voice.

‘If she had suggested watching with all three of us, I might have had to give up, but…’

In the final stretch, Arc succeeded in diverting the viewers’ focus to a new interest. As they wrapped up their final words and exchanged goodbyes, Arc secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

* * * *

Such a pity.

No, rather than a pity… It was more like a shame.

It was truly sad not to follow through on a decision on the very day I made it. Like ordering fried chicken on the day you decided to diet or failing to work out on your first day at the gym.

How can consistent practice be possible like this? Even the phrase “resolution lasts three days” was generous.

A quick check showed that viewer numbers had neared 10,000.

Finally, it seemed I could repay the favor. To think of sending a host to a broadcast just before ending mine… Was it wrong? Wasn’t it?

After a brief moment of contemplation, I concluded it wasn’t right.

It would be dreadful to have a group of customers suddenly surge in at closing time. As someone who still had a lingering sensitivity from part-time jobs, even the thought of it was excruciating.

I couldn’t possibly do such a thing. I should align with Revan’s streaming time… Yes. Next time, I’ll explain the situation and end the broadcast a bit earlier.

“Well, then, I’ll be going now. See you tomorrow at 7 for a joint broadcast with Arc.”

『Goodbye!』

『Explain before you leave』

『Going to hang out with Revan?』

『Is the reason you’re called a woodcutter related to the fairy tale… Gasp!』

『Aba~』

『ㅇㅂㅇ』

I ended the broadcast, leaving behind the enthusiastic farewells from viewers.

Fatigue wrapped around my entire body. The pleasant tipsiness granted by alcohol belatedly presented its bill. I did not entirely hate it. Embracing the fatigue completely and throwing myself onto the bed was, in its own way, a pleasurable moment.

But… before going to bed, I needed to post a notice for the next broadcast.

Should I?

Since I had already announced it verbally during the broadcast, it seemed sufficient. I promised to make an announcement, not necessarily to write it down.

Hmm. That’s right. I should consider the announcement made.

Convincing myself, I headed toward the bed but stopped just barely.

… Let’s not do this. What needs to be done must be done.

… I promised to fix my bad habit of looking for loopholes the moment I made a promise.

Dragging my body, which felt like it would collapse and sleep at any moment, I sat back down in front of the computer.

What to say.

Just keep it simple.

『Author: CravingWarmAmericano(👑)』

『Title: Hello. Notice for the Next Broadcast.』

『Tomorrow will be a joint broadcast with Arc.

I am not sure if I will turn on the broadcast.

If I don’t, please join Arc’s broadcast.

And make sure to also watch Revan’s broadcast a lot.

Thank you.』