Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Why Only Knox?
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'Good thing it doesn't hurt too much.'
Victory Jeon Woo-seung thought as he watched his friend, who had now set up her own company, scheduled her streams, and gone full-time as a streamer.
Jeon Jeonseol's promised streaming schedule was from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.
Someone in a lot of pain couldn't commit to something this regular.
'But isn't it a bit short?'
Four hours a day, five days a week—twenty hours total.
Not even comparing it to his own schedule of over ten hours a day, six days a week, plus extra practice on top.
It was only half of what people who worked eight hours a day, five days a week—forty hours—put in.
Compared to many full-time streamers who went six to eight hours a day, five or six days a week, it was quite short.
'Maybe she's not healthy.'
She'd never mentioned her health, but people's actions spoke volumes.
There had to be some reason for her nickname "Sickly Pitiful Delicate," shortened to "SickPitDel."
"Sickly" came from her getting carted off to the hospital mid-Challenger solo queue.
"Pitiful" from her tiny, delicate hands when she showed them on stream.
"Delicate" from her crisp pronunciation and clear, pleasant voice.
The abbreviation sounded a bit off, but it was a perfect fit—no better nickname out there.
"Watching your girlfriend's stream again?"
"Don't say stuff that'll cause misunderstandings, hyung."
"She's a girl and a friend? Girlfriend."
"No. Cut the wordplay."
Selen Choi Joo-an, a teammate, chimed in.
Pro gamers' schedules were pretty much the same.
Wake up around noon for lunch, scrims from 1 to 4 p.m.
Free time from 4 to 7, including meals.
Scrims again from 7 to 11.
Then meals and solo streams or practice until 4 a.m.
With only one day off a week, it was a killer schedule that only fit young guys in their late teens or early twenties—the healthiest age group.
People often said pro gamers' careers were weirdly short because of it.
But that wasn't the point right now.
Jeon Jeonseol's stream time perfectly overlapped with pro gamers' free slots.
Her 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. slot matched their 4 to 7 p.m. break.
Victory used that time to watch her streams.
His teammate had come to tease him about it.
'If only she were a guy.'
This was tricky. So tricky.
Why was the world so sensitive about guys and girls being close?
Calling them close was funny, though.
They'd really been close over three years ago.
Back when they shared so much time in-game.
Now, things were super awkward.
The whole world wouldn't let a guy and girl get close.
Especially not for a superstar like Victory, whose every move was watched.
Jeon Jeonseol had drawn the line first, even more so.
If she were a guy, they'd have swapped numbers, grabbed food, talked games, and stayed friends.
But because she's a girl, no numbers, no meets—such a shame.
'At least we can meet in-game now.'
Jeon Jeonseol had finally stepped onto that stage.
The true arena where Teamfight Arena's top players clashed.
Challenger territory.
Now they could meet in-game again.
Their first reunion match ended in Victory's loss, but that didn't matter.
They'd always traded wins and losses, clashing endlessly.
It was just a pleasant reunion.
'As long as she doesn't vanish again.'
The old legend, Jeon Jeonseol, had disappeared one day.
The loss Victory felt back then was huge.
Finding her again after three years made him so happy.
That he could face her once more.
Even as he realized his superstar status, he'd tried to clear her of the "friend" suspicions for her sake—because she was that precious.
His one true rival.
But the world's eyes and her walls kept him at bay, all because she's a girl.
It was frustrating enough to go mad.
He just wanted to game together.
Things were okay now.
But if she vanished again?
He wouldn't be able to stand it.
Disappearing without a word would really piss him off.
'Legender.'
His urge to know the real her stemmed from the anxiety of her vanishing again.
But he couldn't get closer, fearing it might make her bolt for real.
His chest felt so tight, and he had no one to vent to.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A major event had occurred.
The Magical Girls Chronicle movie had hit theaters.
Magical Girls Chronicle isn't some dead otaku con!
It's still active enough for a theatrical release!
'The whole country wept. Touching. Sobbing.'
I rarely left the house, but this was no ordinary case.
Not seeing the Magical Girls Chronicle movie in theaters would be a crime.
I love you, Venus!
I came at dawn for the first showing.
Ate breakfast, then the second.
Went home, napped, came back for the third.
Am I crazy?
No, this is love.
"Gyaak!"
No, these bastards.
They didn't shuffle the photocards, did they!?
Sure, watching the movie three times in one day was pure fandom.
But the theater-exclusive photocard promo—one random out of seven—was another goal.
'Three Knox cards—what the hell!'
Did they really not shuffle them!?
They couldn't be boxing identical cards and just handing out Knox, right?
Odds of Knox are 1/7, so three in a row is 1/343.
Better to assume the theater wasn't shuffling than me hitting 1/343.
I can't take this!
I marched to the ticket counter to complain.
Random giveaway means random shuffling!
Only Knox is a crime!
Don't ignore otaku priorities!
"Excuse me, I saw the first showing at dawn, second in the morning, and now third, but I got only Knox cards every time? Didn't you shuffle? Random means you have to shuffle!"
"Thank you for your patronage. We confirm the theater-exclusive promo is distributed with uniform probability."
"So you shuffled properly?"
"Yes, we did."
"But I got three Knox?"
1/343.
Unlikely, but not impossible.
An ambiguous number.
"Um, wanna trade your Knox for my Venus?"
Then, an audience member watching my spat with the staff offered a trade.
'Venus!'
The Venus I wanted was right here.
"Yes!"
I looked at them.
Huh?
A familiar face?
They wore a mask too, but those eyes, that voice—familiar.
'Victory!?'
Why's this guy here? Oh right, Magical Girls Chronicle movie!
I figured you'd come to theaters!
No, that's not it!
He's gonna figure out it's me!?
'They say mic output differs from real voice.'
But my expensive mic captures my real voice almost perfectly.
Shouldn't have splurged.
'Voice modulator on.'
Internal modulator activated.
"Please trade."
"?"
I'm screwed!
Sudden voice change made me look even more suspicious!
Thank goodness for the mask and sunglasses!
Would've been worse if he saw my stunning beauty.
Thanks, habitual disguise!
"Thank you."
Luckily, I swapped cards without Victory spotting me.
I love you, Venus!
Can't resist Venus!!!
I bolted into the theater after the trade.
Sitting in my seat, no chance of seeing his face again.
…
'Why the same row!?'
It's Monday. No holiday.
Around 3 p.m. on a day like that—awkward timing.
Most seats were empty.
Not because Magical Girls Chronicle is dead otaku bait!
Blame the date and time!
So I picked a good seat, and apparently so did Victory.
Just two empty seats between us.
We ended up watching the movie side by side in the same row.
So uncomfortable I could die!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'Lucky.'
Victory felt great.
He'd gotten Venus from the random theater card—not what he wanted.
He craved Knox.
The girl arguing with staff next to him seemed pissed at her three Knox cards.
On a whim, he offered Venus for Knox, and she agreed right away.
'Three viewings? Hardcore fan.'
Sunglasses indoors, masked girl.
Super suspicious, but maybe a celeb—no big deal.
Victory only cared about the Knox card.
After the swap, he entered the theater and saw her in the same row.
Two seats apart, but empty, so faces clearly visible.
Still, he didn't stare.
Rude, and she was hiding her identity too—probably famous.
Then, mid-movie.
"Sniff."
A sob from the side made him reflexively turn.
There she was—sunglasses off for the screen.
'Must be the mask.'
The teary-eyed girl was prettier than any character on the theater screen.
He forgot to breathe just from that glimpse.
Why was someone who belonged on-screen sitting right next to him?
'Wonder what's under the mask.'
Masked, she was the prettiest woman he'd ever seen.
Human nature—gotta wonder.
Victory snapped out of it over a minute later.
Luckily, she was so immersed in her third viewing she didn't notice his gaze.
Makes sense—three times means she's hooked.
If just for cards, she'd buy used online.
Who watches three times otherwise?
She really loves this anime.
A strange sense of camaraderie bloomed.
Probably won't meet again anyway.