The Group Draw (3)
Not long ago. Back when I was deep in the misery of menstrual cramps.
Unable to find any prey out in the field, I changed course and headed for the Arena. There, I pursued my own brand of entertainment against foreign players.
Those records had circled the globe and come back around like a boomerang, aimed squarely at me.
The Guardian I'd tormented with the undead. The archer I'd pickled in seawater. The Berserker whose attacks were so straightforward I'd challenged myself to a zero-hit run.
The faces of everyone I'd messed with flickered past, one after another.
Some of the players smirked as if they'd already known. Luche, sitting up front, couldn't hold it in and covered her mouth. The other players kept sneaking glances while pretending not to look — which was somehow far more embarrassing than being stared at outright.
From the middle of the video onward, there were actually some decent moments. The things I'd shown in my match against Camellia — riding up a weapon, the Chain-Sickle plays. Of course, the exchange with Haruka made the cut as well.
The problem was the ending.
My face, looking up at Haruka, filled the frame in close-up.
"Bunny?"
— and it closed on the sound of my laughter.
"Well then, in a certain sense, that was the highlight we've all been waiting for, wasn't it? Shall we hear a few words?"
Before I knew it, the host was gliding toward me with light, unhurried steps. That deliberately slow pace was probably meant to give me time to think.
Which meant I needed to figure out what to say before Hoeun reached me.
I'm screwed. How do I even explain this?
I couldn't exactly say I'd needed somewhere to take out my period rage. Should I claim I hadn't meant it that way? Even I wouldn't buy that.
…But the more I thought about it, the more unfair it felt.
Why am I the one who has to make excuses?
You should've just played better. You got wrecked because you were bad at the game. Why is the loser acting so entitled?
"Alright, Ga-wol. As far as I know, this is your first interview, isn't it? Your voice has made the rounds by now, but you've remained quite the mystery. How about a greeting for the viewers watching right now?"
"Uh… hello. I'm Ga-wol, an Assassin on the Korean server."
"Wow. What a lovely voice. That calm tone paired with such aggressive play! Where does that contrast come from?"
"I just… did it because I could, I guess. You could call it a process of finding my own fun. Playing it straight gets boring."
I decided to stick to the truth, within reason. I'd done it because it was fun — what else was there to say?
Hoeun's eyes went wide at my answer. A bright smile followed right after.
"Hahaha! The people in those clips are all formidable players in their own right, so Ga-wol's standards seem quite high. Well then — can we expect play befitting that reputation in this Arena as well?"
"I… think so. If I've got energy to spare, I'll dunk as many of you in seawater as you like. And if the ocean isn't your thing, I'm happy to try somewhere else."
"Excellent! The dark horse of this Arena — a player who can turn into a menace at any moment — that was Ga-wol's interview!"
The player introductions and highlight reels continued after mine. Luche's segment focused on her personal story and the rock-solid play of a Paladin; Traveler's spotlighted his trademark relentlessness. Every video was polished enough that I lost track of time watching them.
Mine… well, the video itself had been put together well enough.
Once the highlights wrapped up, the group draw began in earnest.
The key was dodging difficult matchups and packing my group with opponents I could handle. The format this time was a snake draft. The top seeds of the eight groups were assigned in the order they'd advanced to the main bracket, and those top seeds received the first pick. From there, the players who'd been selected would take their turns in sequence.
"Alright, Kelberos — you've secured the first pick. A lot of people are curious about your choice. Is there anyone in particular you're wary of?"
"Hmm. If I had to name someone, it would be Silphy. My class has a difficult time dealing with Witches."
On the surface, a perfectly natural interview answer. But something about the wording rubbed me the wrong way.
"That 'if I had to' is rather telling. Aren't there plenty of formidable opponents — Ripper, Luche, Lime?"
"No. I don't see it that way. I hold the matchup advantage against Ripper, and I'm confident against any other warrior-type class. More importantly, there's no reason to fear an opponent I've already beaten."
So that was it.
From the start, Kelberos hadn't even considered anyone outside the European scene a real rival. That was a serious provocation aimed at Luche. It was enough to sour my mood just listening to it — but Luche herself looked completely unbothered.
Or maybe not entirely. Her breathing had gone a little tight.
"Well said — an interview worthy of Europe's finest. Now then, let's see Kelberos's selection!"
Kelberos strode to center stage and picked a nameplate without the slightest hesitation. And just like that, a Chinese Martial Artist was slotted into Group A, seat one.
Someone whose matchup against him wasn't unfavorable, and who wouldn't turn around and pick Silphy — the one player he was actually watching out for. A clean, rational choice.
The subsequent groups made similarly safe picks. Most players chose opponents they held a matchup edge against. The less famous competitors were the first to be sacrificed, and I received no special treatment either.
"Will Ripper's pick be a mage-type class, as expected? Oh — he's broken the prediction and selected Ga-wol! Ga-wol is assigned to Group E, seat one!"
Well, it wasn't hard to understand. When all was said and done, I was still an amateur. From a pro's perspective, I was bound to look like I was a step below them. And since I was barely known overseas, I must have seemed even easier.
I knew that. I understood it.
But it still stung my pride.
Ripper's character was a boy with a heavy dark circle under his eyes. I'd heard it was a lightly refined version of his real appearance. He had a strangely unpleasant look about him.
Our eyes met. Neither of us said a word.
I'm going to kill you. Guaranteed.
"Ripper, you've chosen a fellow Assassin-type class. Does that mean you refuse to lose against players in the same category?"
"Kindling is too weak, and the muscle pigs are boring to fight."
"So casters don't give him enough tension, and warrior-type classes drag the fight out too long!"
Hoeun pulled off a masterful translation.
See? I knew he was an unpleasant bastard. You ought to show your opponents a little respect.
"Then, turning that around… it sounds like you selected Ga-wol because you expected a good match. Is that correct?"
"Yes. It's been a while since a skilled Assassin came out of Korea. Frankly, the level until now has been subpar."
What?
Turns out he was a decent guy after all.
Looking at him again, Ripper seemed a little different. Yeah. That was enough to put him in the likable category. Anyone with a proper mindset could become a friend — that was just how it worked.