Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Off to Have Some Fun
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Today, too.
And tomorrow, as well.
The endless wheel of mockery and conflict rolled on in the YouTube live stream chat.
The chat was a chaotic mess, each person spouting whatever they wanted.
Even with the iconic Silver Scraps song—the one that plays when a best-of-five series goes the full five games—the atmosphere didn't change much.
But the moment True appeared on screen with the song, the vibe shifted in an instant.
While True pulled out her sunglasses and put them on, the chat had no insults for the Milky Way players or random digs at 1st team pros.
With the shades lowered, she looked smug, like she was boasting that her prediction was spot on—or maybe just enjoying the moment. That image spread like wildfire.
Right after the song ended.
I sat back down.
"You're not seriously bringing those shades to our finals, right?"
Plook, who'd refilled the popcorn and drinks, shoved the live chat in my face with a disgusted look.
"These are Silver Scraps exclusive shades."
They're brand new—I'd shelled out a fortune just in case and hadn't used them until today. Bringing them to the arena means the match goes full five.
So no way I'd take them to finals. That'd mean I'm insane.
"Our finals won't go to five games anyway, so why bring 'em."
"...Yeah."
"Anyway, gimme that."
"Oh. Here."
Plook sighed and handed me the drink from his hand.
I slurped the zero cola while checking the live chat reactions he'd shown me again.
"Reactions are better than I thought?"
It was a performance I'd done before, but with this face, the impact was on another level.
"Does that even matter?"
"Players live off fan attention."
One bad frame and even skilled players get flamed unjustly.
So building goodwill with little gestures like this is always good.
"Acts like you don't care about reputation, but nitpick this stuff?"
Bell, who'd watched the whole thing from the side, chimed in suddenly.
"I care a ton about my rep."
"...You?"
I'm diligently streaming, stirring up buzz like this, and working hard on likability with Rock viewers.
"Why that look?"
"......"
Hmm. That glance was a bit disrespectful.
But since she's a support who roams mid well, I'll let it slide today.
"Game's over."
The moment ban/pick ended.
I declared confidently.
"KTT comp looks tricky."
"Milky Way's just ult-click easy mode."
The ban/pick that fed game 1 convenience was for this game 5—skipping that we'd have shut them out 3-0, but whatever—Milky Way finally pulled out their strong, simple comp.
Fans cheering for both teams were hotter than ever for the finale.
"Milky Way fighting!"
"KTT fighting!"
Twisted Canyon appeared on the screen.
"...Tension's insane."
"Why? Scared we'll be like that too?"
A do-or-die final set carries more than just win/loss.
The pressure and burden can't match previous games.
Coach bringing us all here was partly to experience that tension live.
"If you tense up here, how'll you handle LOCK or internationals?"
To my question, Ox grumbled on.
"I know. Tension's worst for players."
"You got all those muscles—use 'em to steady your shakes. Unless you want 'fashion muscles' jokes."
"......"
Nothing scratches muscleheads like "fashion muscles."
Anyway, I poked Plook, unsure if he was focusing or frozen in tension from the full-set hype.
"Not dead yet?"
"...Obviously."
"I'll give you special care."
"What care?"
Thinking of Plook's past days—or future, technically—this guy needs special handling.
6 years to LOC Worlds finals.
10 more without flat-chest jokes and playing his game in finals.
If OG Rock had a couple more years, he'd have made Worlds, but point is, it took 10 years for that mindset.
I need hesitation-free 10-years-later Plook, not the guy throwing finals from nerves.
Special overhaul required.
"You can follow finals orders, right?"
"...Coach? Eun-seol's up to weird shit again."
"Ehe. Not now."
"Why assume I will?"
I zipped it and focused on the game.
Can't hear you.
And calling for Coach all day won't help—he's way over there by Bell.
No point.
The final set went as expected.
Ult. Ult. Ult. Ult.
Bind, fly, explode, shoot.
One solid chaotic link-up, and Milky Way's firepower doubled after.
Sure, side lanes or skirmishes favored KTT's comp, so game dragged, but Rock's about objectives—big monsters—and fastest towers.
And the all-in ten-champ teamfight for those spoils taught KTT reality.
Once items popped and skill damage on KTT spiked, it was set.
First teamfight: two dead.
Second: three.
Baron-prompted final: nothing left where Milky Way ults passed.
Milky Way crushed Braun's line-break attempt mid-push, then demolished towers in seconds.
Match over, POM Envy climbed stage center.
"True, come out!"
A guy whose account level wasn't even 1k, and I couldn't help but laugh.
Perfectly innocently.
I smiled.