One Point Short of Grandmaster, But I Made It Anyway
Just one point shy of Grandmaster, I didn't quite make it that round, but I strung together another win and finally climbed up there. The last game was no cakewalk either—right on par with the previous nail-biter.
But in the end, I won.
The chat exploded like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Viewer count had skyrocketed too—still under a thousand, but compared to the double digits from not long ago, it was insane growth.
Of course, with the sudden influx, it wasn't all congrats.
Hmm, fair point. Arang a bus? Nah. I wasn't denying her carry potential when she pops off, but she's not bus-driver smart. Whatever, trolls gonna troll.
Trolls from everywhere, genuine fans congratulating me, and the regulars—it was chaos on chaos in chat. But I was in a great mood. Would've been better if I'd hit it sooner, but the drama made it kinda epic.
"Thanks everyone. Whoa, Grandmaster—I actually made it."
"Quiet down before the manager logs off, Arang."
The stream vibe was electric, new viewers pouring in. A girl hitting Grandmaster? Big news.
With viewers surging like this, maybe now was the time to blow up the channel. It was already bigger than I thought, and nailing this momentum could make it huge.
But,
"Thanks for real, everyone. No, I hit Grandmaster on my skill. Not thanks to you guys—just glad you watched."
"Viewers really blew up. Whoa, haven't seen numbers like this since... that time."
"But I never mentioned it—truth is, I kinda hate big crowds?"
Not really, but I didn't feel like pushing the stream that hard right now. Hadn't decided if this was my career or not. Sure, growth was good anyway, but something unexplained was holding me back.
"Weird movement? Nah, she's good at LoE. Reads it well. Yeah, crowd's big now, but check the time—stream's wrapping up soon? Hit my goal with Grandmaster anyway."
"Heading out to rest. Bye everyone!"
Pudge Dice has ended the broadcast.
Chat went full apocalypse mode, as expected. Whatever. Grandmaster secured, and I'm beat from the tilt. If I wanna rest, I rest.
Not just 'cause I wanted to rest, though.
Truth was, there was something I'd wanted to do earlier but couldn't during stream.
Grabbed my smartphone, went to text—but nah, call's better for this. Might be gaming, so checked her match history... nope, offline.
Dialed right away. Picked up quick.
The other end was, obviously,
[...Hello?]
[Yo, scrub jungler.]
It was Yuseung.
[You end stream just to call me?]
[What, you watch my stream? Voyeur much? Don't.]
Nothing weird on stream anyway, so watching was fine, but.
[Voyeur my ass. How could I not in that spot?]
[Fair. But you joined late? Lame.]
[Lame what? Missed you roasting me?]
[How'd you know I roasted you? Heh.]
[Your lines are already clipped and posted all over LoE Gal. What? No biggie? Practice more?]
Yup, figured. Clips of me pop up there sometimes. Didn't expect him to see it that fast, though.
Probably something like JesusGettingAbusedByMaDtAK.gif?
[That's why you're stuck in 2nd league? I was dead, what steal?]
[Wasn't dead, wouldn't have happened.]
[Showboating after luck-wins?]
[Luck's skill too.]
[Wanna lose?]
[MaDtAK-beaters scare me zero.]
[See ya next time.]
['See ya' guys are never scary.]
[Introducing yourself?]
Heh, couldn't stop chuckling. How long since we bantered like this?
Two years—since Yuseung's wrist injury.
After that, no time for play. Post-recovery, I'd changed, so we weren't equals anymore.
It'd been ages. Facing him eye-to-eye like this.
[Anyway, grind games. Losing to MaDtAK?]
[Sigh.]
[Whoa, discipline's shot. Back in my day...]
[Draft-dodger talking shit.]
[You're one too.]
Of course, this "equality" was just for today's win. I was barely Grandmaster entry-level; he was pro Challenger.
I wasn't pro anymore.
[Calling to rub it in?]
[Yup. And?]
[You're such a creep too.]
Not planning to show that insecurity, though.
[Jealous? Win next time.]
Grinning as I kept poking him, Yuseung switched topics.
[Anyway, how's the game lately? Going well?]
[Sudden? You just lost to me—feels good.]
[I mean, y'know, after the change...]
[Yeah.]
[After changing, you said it was off—sense not clicking. That better now?]
Sense, rhythm... Why ask that? No reason for him to care. Not pros together anymore. Nothing to hide, so I answered straight.
[Dunno. Better than before, but no pre-change control feel.]
[...Yeah. You watch LoE Champs lately?]
LoE Champs outta nowhere?
[Nah.]
[Guess no need then.]
[For what?]
[Finals tickets. Two. Finals teams TBD.]
TBD, but we both knew who we were thinking of. Same team, obviously.
[Where from?]
[Ji-cheol.]
Ah, Starforce Gaming support Lee Ji-cheol. LoE pro networker. Guy who'd chat me up friendly—makes sense.
[You two buds?]
[Kinda happened. No need?]
Obviously no—I wouldn't go.
But outta my mouth came,
[Nah, gimme. Playoffs start this week?]
[This weekend 3rd vs 6th, 4th vs 5th. Next round next week, finals Sunday. But you said no watch.]
[Just in case. No one else for you to give 'em to.]
[Think I'm a loser like you?]
[Cheeky.]
Wasn't friendless 'cause I'm lame—just cut ties for health reasons.
Why'd I flip and take 'em when I had zero plans? Wasn't lying about not going. But I said yes, and mentally scheduled it.
[Anyway, send the two tickets. Uh, go with Dad or something.]
[Crazy? Dad to that? Just go with me. Hassle to send—keep 'em.]
[Idiot, pics together?]
[Cover face.]
[Gotta go that far? Fine, I'll think.]
If he bailed, I'd go solo. But together was easier all around.
About a week passed.
No upsets in the first round of LoE Champs Spring Season Playoffs. 3rd beat 6th, 4th beat 5th.
Tundra Silver Airs, with pick rights as 4th, chose Team VP—the scrim team I'd crushed before. Starforce naturally faced 3rd-place Hansam Esports.
Games Thursday and Friday, finals Sunday after a rest day.
Starforce vs. Hansam? Most predicted Starforce, but Hansam believers existed. Tundra vs. Team VP? Tundra landslide.
Anyway, I was only going to finals—no need to sweat the semis.
Kept grinding games and streaming as usual.
But lately, something weird.
"Uh, dunno... She's not responding much lately. Still gaming though."
The pup who'd cling on login? Radio silent post-Grandmaster. Greets back, but no trolling, no stream manager antics.
No watching my stream, no chats. Something's up for sure.
Asked, got "later." Gaming fine, so not major.
"Ditched? I'd be the ditcher!"
These guys always piss me off. Tsk.
Still, after bonding with Arang, this distance worried me. No IRL overlap—just net friends.
Me prying might cross lines.
Hm, true.
Arang left a mark—viewers like her more than expected.
If I was a real camgirl, haters galore. But pure LoE grind? Not many.
"Anyway, good work everyone—stream over."
Post-stream fiddling around, Discord pinged. The one I'd been debating messaging—Arang.
This kid's no saint either. Speak of the devil.
No contact for days, now sudden IRL meet?
We were tight online, worried too, but IRL? Bit heavy. 99% chance Arang's a guy—can't just agree blindly.
Not a normal girl, but she doesn't know that.
Still, didn't reject outright—didn't want to. Felt she wouldn't harm me.
If trouble, cut ties easy.
Plus, while pondering, she poked my conscience.
...Damn, forgot that. Said it, then blanked. She never brought it up either.
She gave perfect excuse while I waffled, so I caved. Sigh, typed.