Netkama Punch!!!

As soon as those words were said, our clan members blocked King Siben’s escape path from behind the shattered castle [N O V E L I G H T] gate. Judging by their movements, it felt like they had been intentionally positioned there to let the gate get breached.
Come to think of it, the ones originally deployed near the outer perimeter seemed to have lower average levels and gear. I briefly wondered if Shin Heejae had planned this in advance to provoke Siben, but I didn’t bother asking.

Still...
W-Sesam: You okay…?
I was slightly worried about Shin Heejae’s mental state.

But just before I could send the whisper, I deleted the message I was typing. It felt too much like asking, ‘Are you crying?’ Why ask that? Of course he’d feel like shit… No need to confirm something that obvious.
W-Sesam: Shin Heejae
W-Heejae: ㅇ_ㅇ?
W-Sesam: Let me borrow your staff for a bit.
W-Heejae: ?
W-Sesam: I swear I’ll give it right back as soon as the siege ends yep
W-Sesam: I mean it!! If I don’t return it... I’ll marry you.
W-Heejae: lol??
Instead of checking in, I asked him for the staff because I really wanted to win.

As soon as Shin Heejae saw my whisper, he made this weird sound like he was laughing from deep in his throat. I frowned and began typing again to persuade him.
W-Sesam: What’s so funny??
W-Sesam: If I have that, I can shut Siben down instantlyㅡㅡ
W-Heejae: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
W-Heejae: Why are you suddenly so mad ㅇ_ㅇ lol
He acted like he didn’t know anything, but I could tell he understood. I didn’t feel like explaining honestly. So after hesitating, I came up with a decent excuse.

W-Sesam: I’ve got too much pride to lose. I fucking hate it.
W-Heejae: But we can win even if you don’t lift a finger ㅇ_ㅇ k
W-Sesam: Stop making excuses and hand it over ㅡㅡ!
W-Heejae: lololololololol
W-Heejae: Hmm ㅇ.ㅇk
He seemed to hesitate briefly, but eventually sent me a trade request. The item I’d been dying to get—[Great Staff of Atlika the Wise +9]—appeared in the trade window.
But instead of finalizing the trade, the bastard said something ridiculous.

W-Heejae: In exchange, send me a photo of you ㅇ_ㅇ
Even though we were five minutes from Siben’s arrival, the bastard was still trying to barter the staff for a photo.
“You dumbass perv.”

I was too exasperated with Shin Heejae’s inability to read the room. I was about to swear, but then looked down at the hands resting on my keyboard.
People often said, “You’ve got such pretty hands for a guy,” which I didn’t particularly like, but if I had to pick a feminine-looking part of my body, my hands were probably the best bet.
W-Sesam: Hand pic okay?
W-Heejae: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
W-Heejae: ok

Shin Heejae took the bait I tossed just in case. Seems he never expected me to actually show my face anyway.
I immediately snapped a picture of my hand flipping the bird and sent it to his phone. As soon as he saw it, he burst out laughing. I couldn’t tell if he was laughing at the insult or at how my hand looked.
“Ugh, hurry up and send it before Siben gets here!”
Just as I was getting agitated—

[Trade complete.]
The notification I’d been waiting for popped up.
But once I had the staff in hand, it struck me how stupid Heejae was. If I logged out now, the revenge I’d been building toward would be complete. The thought crept up—should I just log out now?

“…God, you’re hopeless.”
Still, I muttered a curse to no one in particular and ended up standing behind Shin Heejae.
Then, using this amazing staff, I cast every buff I could onto his character. Heejae stood there obediently receiving them, then immediately whispered me.

W-Heejae: Your hands are pretty ㅇ_ㅇk
“…Knew he’d say that.”
I flexed my fingers awkwardly and replied with a single. It meant: shut up and focus on the siege.

BOOM—!!
Right after my message, the door to the lord’s office exploded open, and Siben—dressed in flashy gear—stormed in with the [Argo] clan members. They’d arrived even faster than expected.
W-Siben: Long time no see, Heejae lol

Siben looked confident, fully aware of how strong his offense was. I frowned and moved Sesam’s character farther from the doorway.
Even with this staff, I’d die before I could swing it if I got hit by a concentrated volley. Heejae seemed to know that too—he stepped in front of Sesam protectively.
Seeing that, Siben sent a sneering whisper our way.

W-Siben: lol I saw that video you posted last time, Heejae
W-Siben: Old as hell and doing online dating lol
W-Siben: Looked good on you lol perfect for your level lolol
I was furious that he lumped me into his crap even though we’d never met, but I stayed silent.
After all, I had a brat on my side with a natural-born talent for pissing people off—Shin Heejae.

W-Heejae: ㅇ_ㅇ?
W-Heejae: I don’t watch your vids though...
W-Heejae: But thanks anyway ㅇ.ㅇlol
“Pfft…”
I tried to stifle my laugh by biting my lip as I watched the exchange.

Back when I was the target, I wanted to beat the life out of those [ㅇ.ㅇ]-type emotes. But now… it felt kinda cute. Maybe now I understood why people actually liked watching Heejae’s streams.
W-Siben: I only heard it from someone else, though? lol
W-Sesam: lol
W-Siben: ?
Siben stuttered for a split second, then gritted his teeth and replied. Seeing him embarrass himself like that was deeply satisfying. He’d just claimed he watched the video, only to backtrack—wasn’t that basically a confession of defeat?

So I laughed coldly and, before Siben could recover from his weak attempt to look cool with that ?, I suddenly fired a [Water Ball] at him.
He clearly hadn’t expected me to attack first. He flinched and jumped back like a bug sprayed with insecticide.
But I had cast the skill faster—Siben lost one full chunk of HP. Of course, I didn’t even have time to celebrate. I immediately rolled to the side.

Boom—!
Just as expected, a burst of black smoke scorched the spot I’d been standing. It was a skill fired by Yuven, who had been backing up Siben. I wasn’t surprised—they wouldn’t just sit back after their leader got hit.
“Seyoung-noona’s good, right?”

And then Shin Heejae, giggling, bragged about me to his stream viewers.
“Shut up, you idiot! Stop fangirling and get in here already!”
I shouted back, my face red with frustration. Of course, my mic was off, so he couldn’t hear me, but I was too anxious about missing this perfect timing.

Thankfully, it was like Heejae read my mind—he immediately used [Swift Step] and charged straight into the cluster of [Argo] clan members.
Maybe it was Heejae’s reputation, or maybe it was just panic, but instead of surrounding him, the [Argo] members scattered like sheep before a wolf.
Dial Seven. Pluto. Osiris Eyes.

Not all [Argo] members were idiots, though. Three ranged DPS started attacking Heejae right away.
A black magic circle appeared above his head, and seven star-like meteors began falling one by one. Even a graze from those would mean death, so Heejae frantically rolled to avoid them.
Then, a blue-flame-breathing spirit appeared and sprayed fire at him. Heejae barely dodged it, but that delay made him brush against one of the falling stars.

As if that weren’t enough, a creepy giant eye materialized behind him. As soon as it appeared, his speed dropped significantly, and his body flashed red—he was debuffed.
So I rushed forward, pressed my staff to his back, and quickly cast buffs on him again.