Shall We Go to Karaoke?
The sound of the mouse wheel scrolling up and down filled the room. “Hmm….”
I’d been searching for a song for hours, but still hadn’t found the right one. Going with a favorite felt too niche. Finding something both popular and genuinely liked was proving harder than expected.
“Ah, whatever. I’ll look tomorrow.”
“…Still one stream left.”
I pushed the song hunt onto tomorrow’s me and joined Soyun’s stream.
Soyun was running Bless Raider once more.
“…If she keeps this up, she’ll run out of content later.”
Take it slow.
“Hmm….”
I should play something too. I booted up the game and logged into a mage I’d been neglecting. The class wasn’t really my thing, which was why I’d put it off. Might as well level it now. Its specs were close to Soyun’s current level, so it wouldn’t be an issue.
I immediately whispered her.
I chuckled at Soyun still using formal speech even while streaming. I sent the friend request and waited for her to finish the boss. Her HP was low anyway, so it wouldn’t take long.
“Hwaaam….”
Ten minutes later, a party invite popped up.
In real life I spoke formally to Soyun while she used casual speech. In-game, the roles reversed.
“Pfft.”
Even I found it ridiculous. While I was lost in the thought, the match was found instantly.
What the hell. I let out a dry laugh at Sukmin crashing in out of nowhere. Newbie? Who’s the newbie here?
“Ahaha!”
The moment I greeted him, Sukmin answered even more politely. I burst out laughing. That’s exactly why I can’t stop watching his stream.
I snickered and handed the lead to Sukmin. This character still lacked proper gear, so my damage was trash. That was the mage problem. Even with a promised rework, killing a single boss without equipment took forever. Ridiculous.
…Though I’d never been a fan of ranged classes anyway.
Still, with Soyun and Sukmin on the team, it would end quickly. The game started and the cutscene rolled.
The Sea God has come to meet you in person, so bow your heads.
A colossal Kraken loomed over us. Its gaze swept the area as if searching, then locked onto one spot.
Ha, hiding over there and just watching, are you!
Leaving my followers to die while you hide and spectate yourself!
The Kraken muttered to itself, then moved.
Then, I’ll kill you all and crush every last corpse right before its eyes.
“Hehe….”
The Kraken was actually addressing the god the priests served. Why it stared at that distant mountain instead of the sky, I had no idea. The cutscene ended and combat began.
Mages were ranged. No reason to close in. While I stayed back chanting, Kits and Sukmin charged. Sukmin’s pistol ranger thrived up close, but Kits? The answer appeared when I saw her weapon: a shortbow instead of her usual longbow.
“Uh, I’m alone here.”
Dodging slamming water pillars, I cast. A pillar of fire erupted beneath the Kraken, scorching one tentacle. Elemental disadvantage cut the damage.
“Tsk.”
I readied ice magic next. After a quick chant, cold burst from my feet and spread. One entire tentacle froze solid. Then—
Crack— Bang—!!
The frozen limb splintered and exploded outward in a shower of ice spikes.
“Whoa.”
I hadn’t expected that much damage. While mana recovered, I glanced at Kits. She was steadily chipping away with the shortbow, green wind swirling around it on skill casts. Sukmin, meanwhile—
Bang—! Ratatat—!
—was going full berserk, tanking hits without dodging.
“Would be funny if he dies like that.”
Watching the boss HP melt thanks to Sukmin, I queued my ultimate.
Infernal Blaze. Blizzard.
Dark clouds gathered. A massive magic circle formed overhead, radiating icy blue light. Rain turned to snow, then hail. A blizzard swallowed the world. The Kraken grew distant as grotesque mermaids—fish-headed, human-bodied—crawled from the ground.
“Ew, gross.”
I skewered their heads with ice spikes without hesitation. Mana recovery finished just as the Kraken roared.
Krk, daring to challenge me, the Sea God!
Fine, I’ll use all my power to kill you!
Phase two. Water rose to our waists. Mermaids kept spawning. Movement slowed.
“Oh…”
This looked rough for the two in front.
Kraaaah! Die already!!
Heavenly Bow, Falling Flowers!
Sukmin and Kits unleashed their ultimates. Bullets shredded everything while falling petals riddled the Kraken. Its HP plummeted.
“Almost done.”
Ice that carves into the heart, answer me: Does my world need a harsh winter?
The sea froze. I walked across the ice toward the Kraken.
I see. It is no longer needed for me.
That was the answer.
Cold gathered into a bullet. Three red magic circles flared and fired. The projectile punched through the Kraken’s head, freezing and exploding from inside. Green blood spilled with the ice shards.
“Done.”
The game ended with the Kraken’s silent death.
Sukmin grabbed a few materials and left. Kits and I traded what we needed before logging out. I closed the game entirely and hopped into her stream. Her excited voice rang out.
Kits beamed, thrilled with the longbow. Viewers marveled at her growth.
“Pfft, yeah! Everyone, stop underestimating me now!”
[…Huh? It’s already this late?]
[Guys, that’s it for today’s stream!]
“Ah, it’s over.”
Viewers begged her to continue, but Kits gave her firm closing line and ended the stream. I stood and left my room just as Soyun emerged, yawning.
“Hwaaam…. Ah, Eunseo!”
“Good job.”
“Huh? What is?”
“The game today. Your skills improved a lot, right?”
“Ah, right? Hehe.”
By the way… I still needed to pick a song. I watched Soyun drink water after her yawn. She must’ve struggled choosing one too. Maybe we could listen together?
While I hesitated, Soyun tilted her head right in front of me.
“Huh? Why? Something on your mind?”
“Ah, yeah…. It’s about choosing the song.”
“Ah, that.”
“I struggled a lot at first too….”
“Usually for your first debut, it’s better to go with a famous song.”
“Hmm….”
“If you’re really unsure, try singing it yourself!”
…Sing it myself? Even if the apartment was soundproofed…
While seriously considering it, a good idea struck.
“…Then, wanna go to karaoke together tomorrow?”
“Huh? Karaoke?”
“Yeah, I thought it might be good to try singing a bit there.”
“Sounds good to me! Let’s go!”
“…Okay, see you tomorrow then.”
“Yeah! You sleep well too!”
I didn’t really feel like sleeping yet, but I said goodnight and returned to my room.