Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: V
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Smiling proudly, viewers began trickling in, little by little.
From 9 to 14, and soon to 17.
They said the total viewers for this community's tournament were around 40, so nearly half had flocked to my stream.
However, for some reason, the chat window had gone completely quiet right away.
"Why is the chat so deathly silent?"
I tilted my head. It was far too quiet.
I even wondered if the viewer count I was seeing was just a glitch and there were actually no viewers at all, so I cautiously spoke up.
"Are you all still here...? If so, say something."
-Damn, she's so cute
- Fr real lol
- Honestly thought she was some old hag
As I urged them, the chats started flowing again, and I let out a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness it wasn't a glitch—these were real viewers.
That said, the moment I told them to speak up, the first things they threw out were compliments on my looks. It reaffirmed that this appearance truly deserved praise.
And so, I demanded more.
"...That sounds pleasant enough. Praise me more."
-Look at her speech
- She's really committing to this concept
- But can she even win? Gotta pay back that money
I'd been gazing happily at the chat, expecting more praise, but unlike before, a skeptical message popped up this time.
Were they daring to doubt me?
I furrowed my brow.
The supreme ruler who first unified the Demon Realm would never lose to mere humans.
"Doubt me not, for I shall not be defeated."
-But is that nickname your real name?
"Indeed. 'Tis the name of this body."
This streaming nickname was the name of this body—its original owner.
I was born in the Abyss, thus Abyss is my identity and my name.
I cherished that name which revealed my true self, and I had no intention of hiding it.
But I wasn't using "Abyss"—I borrowed this body's name not to conceal my own, but because I was using this body and wished to honor its identity.
Without this body, I could not have avoided oblivion.
Without this body, I could not have made this choice.
My survival and this opportunity were all thanks to this body, so I gladly showed my respect to its original owner by using her name.
"Ida Yeon—this body's name. Remember it well."
Since the ruler of the Demon Realm was borrowing this body and name, neither the body nor the name could be treated lightly.
I stared straight into the camera and spoke as clearly as possible, and the chat began flowing once more.
-Dropping her real name on the community
- Isn't that her way of saying "watch your mouths"?
- Whoa!
As they chattered idly, the viewer count steadily climbed to 21 before I knew it.
Nearly half the tournament participants had come to watch me.
This was clear proof that my appearance worked on them.
"This body's looks must truly be exceptional."
-What kinda nonsense is that?
- She is cute tho
- But not something you say yourself
"What problem is there in calling exceptional beauty exceptional?"
'Twas simple fact—why feel shame?
"My Sister... said humans are generally ugly, yet this appearance of mine is peerlessly outstanding, so is this not plain truth?"
-The sister's a nutcase too, huh
- This is wild lol
- Kinda pisses me off that I can't even argue
"Hmph, if you cannot accept it, then 'tis for me to understand—envy and jealousy naturally follow those in high places."
Ding! A notification drew my gaze down. The host had posted in the Discord chat declaring that tournament prep was complete.
"It finally begins."
The first game was exceedingly simple.
Starting from the basement, be the first to conquer the tower's summit.
I was confident.
"Verily, I shall triumph."
-Curious what gives her that confidence.
"Exceptional dynamic vision, superb reflexes, and the effort of practicing all night—these are the roots of my confidence."
I'd practiced three hours daily and reviewed for one more.
To build fame, I needed not just striking looks but skill as well, so I'd truly poured in the work.
This frail body tired easily just from using the computer, making it no easy road.
As I reflected smugly on my past efforts, the chat questioned them.
-You practiced?
- This counts as practice?
"What about it couldn't be practice?"
That puzzled me instead. I tilted my head, and the chat continued.
-It's a dead game with no players, so no matches
- Did you call friends?
"I have no friends."
-Sorry
"No need for apologies—'tis simple fact."
-Then how'd you practice?
"Alone. What issue is there?"
No players meant no matches, so I'd run the game solo to practice. What problem was that?
-Way different from playing with people lol
- Solo practice in a competitive game? That's not practice
"...Even if my efforts be deemed futile, how could I lose to humans? Doubt me not—watch."
It irked me that they denied my efforts, so I tore my eyes from chat, joined the lobby the host had created, and hit ready.
-Is she chuuni or playing chuuni?
-Either way, kinda fun
-Above all she's cute af. If my lil sis acted like that I'd wanna smack her
"I cannot lose here. I shall triumph, prove myself, and repay the borrowed coin."
After declaring that, I glanced at chat—still lukewarm reactions.
-Cheering for ya
"No sincerity there...."
That said—
At first, viewers poured in and I thought it was all my looks, but the reactions weren't as wildly enthusiastic as hoped. Disappointing.
I'd expected easy money like that last post.
Apparently not quite.
The prior situation must've been a fluke.
With a sigh, the game started. I focused.
Moments later.
"...What nonsense is this!"
-LMAOOOOOOOO
- Said you practiced but can't even dodge?
- Told ya it's not a game you get good at by practicing lol
"Play fair, you humans!"
Solo, I just needed to climb fast. But with others, absurd interference kept coming.
I'd pull ahead, only to swap places with the guy at the bottom.
The floor gets slippery, messing up my jump. Or they just body-slam me off!
Get hit by something and freeze for 5+ seconds!!
Direction keys suddenly reverse!!!
"You damned wretches!"
-Mad and all she says is damn, wretched, etc. LMAO
- She's so pure lololololololol
- Fr lol
"Do humans know naught of fair combat?!"
-Did you think we'd play nice?
- This is humanity's power. Your Majesty
"Humans are truly vile beyond measure! Indeed, I saw it long ago! How Sister endured all manner of insults at work yet received no proper pay—the vileness of humans!"
-???
- Uh, that's...
- Wait, you should report that...?
I bit my lip and glared at the monitor.
At this rate, last place would be lucky—not first.
Must I suffer this powerless defeat?
All those days of poured effort felt utterly wasted.
Rage boiled within, and soon tears began to well up.
I climbed one step—only to get shoved off from above again.
Repeating sit-stand-sit-stand, something surged from deep inside.
My pride crushed utterly.
Had I lost in fair frontal combat, I'd have admitted my lack.
But this humiliation was unprecedented.
"Th-this...."
Tears brimmed, then fell in drops. The keyboard grew damp.
"Y-you... you wicked wretches...."
Even being pierced through the heart by a legendary hero from ancient tales wouldn't have felt this heartbreakingly unjust.
-Uh, uh....
- Don't cry why
- Our bad fr
"I-I don't want to see any of you...."
I wiped tears with my sleeve, but they kept flowing, my voice soon trembling finely.
Mic was on in the Discord, so when I broke down crying, every player froze instantly. Meanwhile, I slowly climbed, step by step.
No one interfered. Their silence screamed panic.
Someone turned on mic: "S-sorry...." But I ignored it.
How could humans be so vile?
Even talking to them made me feel tainted.
One step, another, at last the summit. Victory decided.
Mine.
Tears stopped as if never there. Trembling voice steadied.
Lips curved into a smile.
Right—win however you must.
"My victory, vile humans."
With puffy eyes, I beamed triumphantly at the camera and struck a victory pose.
V.