The Trial Stream Explodes

~

Only after seeing Lee Seong-gyu's stream chat did I realize what I'd done. What a headache. I let out a small sigh, and then chaos erupted in my own chat too.

"Haa."

I banned that guy first.

Honestly, it wasn't a huge deal. I wasn't planning to hide my voice forever anyway—it was just coming out a bit earlier than expected.

But since it wasn't supposed to happen now, and it came from an unexpected screw-up plus my failure to control my emotions, it was a little annoying.

Proof? Viewer count on my stream was ticking up, and Seong-gyu's chat was flying by. Driving me nuts.

Oh well. What's done is done—can't take it back.

Just play it bold.

"Hey, so why's everyone quiet? Why so silent? Tsukan, say something. Am I making too much sense? Ignoring me while chatting among yourselves, treating me like an idiot..."

"Ah, uh, no, wait. Y-you're Pudge Dice?"

"Yes."

"You're a girl?"

"Figure it out yourself."

Admitting girl felt weird, but denying guy was impossible too.

But no one hearing this voice would think I'm a guy.

"R-right. Uh, don't get the wrong idea. We're not bullying or ignoring you on purpose."

"Then what is it? Be honest, Seong-gyu—you know this is bullshit too. Tsukan really Challenger? Your face changed when he spoke earlier."

"Y-you saw that, haha. Anyway, let's hear Tsukan out first? Myeong-su, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠speak. I'm curious too."

Hm, Tsukan's real name Cha Myeong-su, huh. Whatever, not important. Let's see his excuse.

"Well, uh... I know Pudge Dice is right, of course."

"Huh? Then why the nonsense?"

"No, I don't think everything I said was wrong. Master is like... an unevolved human, right?"

...Huh? What?

"So I don't expect shit from Master. Even if mid called Engineer's ult, calculating the exact timing to dodge and trade perfectly? I assume that's impossible. So I think DoReMiFa getting initiated was just natural."

"That's..."

"Of course!!! I-I might've worded it bad causing misunderstanding!! But I didn't mean mid's fault! Mid's setup affected bot? True. But mid's responsibility? No! That's what I meant. If it was 'did ADC play at Master level?' then DoReMiFa's right, but this is about blame! So DoReMiFa didn't play wrong! Just tier-appropriate. But blame's on ADC!! That's what I meant! For real!!!"

...Desperately shielding himself, Tsukan left me speechless from sheer absurdity. So he said that out of pure Master hate?

Then why act like he ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was defending ADC all this time? Seong-gyu asked for me.

"Hey, then why talk like ADC wins?"

"You said my last trial was boring, to grab better broadcast angles! So I did this for a twist ending to farm clips."

...That's why he spewed bullshit?

"Sorry. No more broadcast angles—just play straight..."

"Ugh! Seriously!"

"...Anyway, I win, right?"

"Uh, yeah. My conclusion: Engineer's global ult isn't super long-range. If Do-sa focused lane and pinned Engineer to tower, could've blocked bot impact, but I think top/jungle would've died too, bot lost anyway—15 GG. Bot lane war's on ADC. 70% ADC, 30% support? But support's not here."

Haha, yeah. That's it. Couldn't lose from the start. If Tsukan wasn't grabbing angles with nonsense, this wouldn't drag. Annoying.

Anyway, bot lane blame settled in my favor, but the loser opened his mouth.

"W-wait! You agreed earlier—why flip? Scam?!"

"D-DoReMiFa. Sorry for confusing you. But I can't lie. I kept asking you to listen, but you interrupted. I've thought this from start. Never said no blame on ADC. Said mid affected, sure."

"This is rigged! Scam! She's a girl so you flip and side with her!"

"No, thought that from beginning. Sorry for the misunderstanding."

"Don't get too heated, DoReMiFa—we can't just sit. Trial's not over, calm down."

Ah, right. One issue left.

Was my last dragon teamfight play correct?

"This one's what me and Seong-gyu agree on."

"I'm not judge— you say. I'm neutral."

"Th-that's straight bullshit play. Could give dragon, but dived in front dying. Even took friend with him."

"Some discussion here, yeah. Too high difficulty."

"Right?!"

"But you do it."

"Huh?"

Heh, knew it. Guy like Tsukan—no, ex-pro—would know. Tournament standards: no try, we'd rot after. Failure, but had to attempt.

"Not 'give 2 drags cuz weak.' Fire Archer matters. Outlaw shorter range than Ranger, but Fire Archer? Enemy double ADC, worse over time. No Ranger comeback. This 2-drag fight last chance—if Outlaw picks and survives, god play. Flash soon anyway."

"B-but failed, so troll? Took Berserker too."

"Result yes, but basis exists—so I side Pudge Dice. Berserker's troll, sure, but Pudge wasn't Berserker?"

Haa, so refreshing. This is right—Tsukan's dumbass bullshit dragged it out.

"Conclusion: Pudge Dice right on all, victory for Pudge Dice."

Bam bam! Gavel sound echoed. Won anyway. Victory's thrill coursed through me. Felt amazing—best in ages.

DoReMiFa speechless post-loss? Priceless. Couldn't feel better.

Not usually my thing, but time to channel Aranggaiger?

"Hey, DoReMiWhatever?"

"...Y-yes?"

"Bug shut."

Could feel his blank stare.

"Loser shut. Spoon shut. You suck at games. Quit. No talent."

Whew, so cathartic. Wanted to stomp more, but held back. At least he admitted loss.

Or my words might rage him? Not my problem.

"Anyway, Pudge wins—so 500k each, total 1M minus 100k fee, 900k to Pudge..."

"W-wait."

DoReMiFa spoke suddenly.

"Uh, h-hey."

Half-expecting bullshit, but unexpected words came.

"S-sis. S-sorry, I messed up—can I get money back?"

Hey, why sis?

"I really, really—no money and I'm fucked. Mom gave it for academy, books, school—gone and I'm dead. Please, I'll kowtow, save me."

...Student? That voice?

"Hey, saying student in that voice? Why sis?"

"I'm really high schooler. Puberty hit early. Can ID verify. Please save me."

Haa, absurd. Expected rage or denial—not sis begging. No way high school voice, but what now?

"I-I'll sub your stream! Donate later lots. Please."

...Feels off taking high schooler's cash.

"Wh-what now, Pudge?"

Haa, no choice.

"...Can verify ID?"

"Y-yes!! Uploading to chat."

"Wait, covering screen."

...Real high schooler. Gorilla pic on ID, seems legit.

Money didn't matter. Fought hard, but kid's cash feels wrong. Already won.

Decided.

"Choose words carefully now."

"Huh?"

"Favorite team, player."

"Be honest."

Expected Tundra/Dice—me. Nick screams it.

Already refunding—show didn't matter.

But gorilla honest.

"St-Starforce and Proud."

Yeah, oh well. Better than lie.

"This once."

"Huh?"

"Next time, no guarantee next guy's me. Refund this, don't repeat."

"R-really? Thanks! Subbing!!"

"Do what you want. Not full 500k—Seong-gyu gets his, take 450k."

"Fine! Thanks! I'll be good!"

"Whoa, even extra for me. Heh."

Chat still mess. But post-stream mood better than expected. Not about money—won, reformed cocky kid. Profitable.

Relieved, stretched with a yawn.

"Huaaang."

...Hm, what even are these guys?