Yorumi (1)

Even though it was morning, there was no issue like failing to find a match. It was a bit concerning that she seemed uncomfortable at first, but Yorumi, who had somehow calmed down and started the ranked game queue, had already transformed into the usual 'Yorumi' I normally saw on her streams.

"First, I'll just watch you play a full game without saying much."

With the countdown signaling a successful match, Yorumi gave a light nod toward the camera. Maybe from a streamer’s perspective, it wasn’t all that different from her usual broadcasts. At any rate, it seemed I didn’t have to worry about her tensing up because someone was watching and failing to perform at her normal level.

...It did feel a little more hyper than the image I vaguely remembered, but it probably wasn’t anything to worry too much about.

The darkened screen displayed a large window with information about the map, battle format, and average tier before it faded out. Considering the goal was to properly evaluate Yorumi’s assassin skills, I thought it was a pretty good map.

I left Yorumi in the waiting area to have her casual chat with the people who recognized her and mentally checked off what I should focus on while recalling the map’s characteristics and her main class.

Fitting the concept of the Spirit King’s Rest, the Green Labyrinth had specific zones where mana regenerated faster. Thanks to that effect, it was a map with a strong reputation for favoring caster classes. However, precisely because of that, assassin-type classes that could effectively counter casters appeared quite frequently to snipe the heavy caster drafts.

The problem was that both sides could predict an assassin would show up. In the end, the assassin on this map had to be played with the premise that it would be countered.

"Since assassin is the class you’re most confident with, shall we start with assassin?"

Whether it came down to mind games or raw mechanics, victory went to the assassin who could break through the opponent’s countermeasures with their own tools. Even though it was clearly a caster-centric map, the fact that the assassin held the key to victory made it the perfect stage to evaluate her abilities as an assassin.

Yorumi gave a silent nod at my voice, then locked in her class. Among the four nicknames on one side of the screen, the dagger icon and the class name Assassin appeared first beside Yorumi’s handle.

A ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠relatively small player count of 4v4. Filling one of those slots with an assassin—which offered zero help in a frontline brawl instead of a damage-dealing caster—meant they had to look for variables through assassination rather than a direct power struggle. Even though it was a high-pressure role, there was no hesitation in Yorumi’s movement as she pressed the ready button.

It might be a little exciting since it reminded me of watching her scrims.

Heavy-armor knight Guardian, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠classic healer Priest, assassin among the melee dealers, and the final spot taken by a Cryomancer—a freezing specialist mage focused on frontline maintenance and crowd control rather than raw firepower.

Looking at the balanced ally composition of one tank, one healer, one melee dealer, and one caster, the corners of Yorumi’s mouth slowly curled upward.

"We’re heading straight for the city, right?"

The combination usually preferred in the Green Labyrinth was a firepower-oriented setup with two casters, one healer, and one tank. In contrast, our team had weaker frontline strength. While our struggling main force fought desperately, the image of the assassin elegantly taking out the enemy backline and flipping the fight naturally formed in Yorumi’s mind.

"Yes. If I circle around and find an opening, I’ll try to create a variable. Please keep the small skirmishes reasonable."

Leaving a reply mixed with laughter to the Guardian’s words, Yorumi’s hand drew her dagger in a practiced motion. She had been a little withdrawn at first from the pressure of being evaluated, but now that the real match had started, her body was loosening up. Maybe she really was built for broadcasting after all.

Yorumi’s eyes quickly scanned the enemy class names that appeared alongside the notification. As expected, it was a two-caster-centered composition. The tank being a Paladin specialized in ally protection and the healer being an Inquisitor with duel-level combat ability were both within expectations.

The Park Woojin’s 13th Shadow she faced every time was a monster whose level didn’t match hers, but against casters in this tier, she would show them just how terrifying her assassin could be. Staring at the shrinking countdown, Yorumi lightly licked her lips.

"Uh… um… We put up a decent fight—"

Saying something like you actually suck right to her face would be morally wrong. Feeling awkward, I scratched my cheek and carefully chose my words.

No matter how much she asked me to be honest, it was hard to be completely honest inside the game. The muscular black avatar she had grown attached to without realizing seemed to have been quietly functioning as a proper persona all along.

"I really did mean the part about fighting well…"

Yorumi’s movements as she boldly charged the enemy casters had been extremely polished. In Arcadia Online, where the same ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠specs and skills could show massive performance gaps depending on individual mechanics, being skilled at using abilities was definitely a clear strength. It was just a shame that was all there was to it.

I let Yorumi’s rambling excuses go in one ear while I began reviewing the last game in my head. To do it properly I would need to watch the replay and analyze it, but for now there was no need to go that far.

…Anyway. I had roughly picked out a few things to say. These were only the parts that stayed within the bounds of politeness.

Hearing the trembling reply, I wondered if my personality was bad for inwardly finding it amusing. It felt like discovering a rare wild animal on the side of the road. Strangely, once I started giving feedback on the game the words flowed out smoothly. It seemed this damn game I was still clinging to wasn’t so bad after all.

What the hell was this cute creature? Listening to the chattering voice, Yorumi kept having to suppress the silly grin that kept trying to spread across her face. She desperately tried to erase the sudden question Wait, am I a lesbian? that had popped into her head. Yorumi focused hard on listening to Han Seol’s continuing voice.

"Ah, yes!"

As if the skill with which she had beaten Yorumi every time they met hadn’t ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠been gained overnight, Han Seol’s feedback was full of genuinely nutritious points. The previous game had been too hasty an engage. She should at least know the main skills of classes she didn’t play herself. She should practice reading the overall flow of the game rather than focusing on the map first, and so on.

"Was that a compliment?!"

Yeah. The content itself was undeniably rich, but the way the other person—who usually gave off a gentle, polite image—suddenly started talking rapidly the moment a topic she liked came up felt more heart-pounding than expected. It was like watching a cat that normally ignored you even when you reached out suddenly lose its mind over a toy.

"...The feedback is so good that I feel like I’m improving in real time."

What could she say? If she thought about all the insulting remarks she had heard while getting beaten by Park Woojin’s 13th Shadow being delivered in this voice, it might actually feel pretty good.

Since she had somehow managed to coax out the original voice this time, next she had to figure out how to meet the real person in the flesh. The gloomy feeling from the defeat had already been forgotten. Yorumi was busy coming up with such a devious plan.