Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Nice Squad? What the Hell is That?
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Huh? I can't quite hear what you're saying?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 📰 Ias Gallery [Title: Nice Squad <[What the Hell is That?]>
[Author: Anonymous]
💬 Comments — Anonymous Gallery folks keep going on about Nice Squad every now and then—what the hell does it mean?? — Anonymous Those morons who raise a bunch of alts that look exactly like their main and gear swap between them are called the Nice Squad. — Anonymous (OP) So why call them Nice Squad of all things? — Anonymous It's from the origin: Saintess Nice << that's her. — Anonymous Just another way of calling out gold farmers lol. — Anonymous Whatever you do, never search for Saintess Nice... — Anonymous (OP) ?? Why not?? — Anonymous I said don't, so fucking don't! — Anonymous (OP) Ah, fuuuuuuck — Anonymous You fucking idiot lmao, I said don't and you go do it anyway — Anonymous (OP) You should've warned me more strongly not to do it ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Nice Squad...? Doesn't that feel a bit weird to use as a team name?"
"Why? I think it's pretty fun, and using a meme tied to Ias would generate even more buzz, right?"
A team name is just like a gallery post title.
Without the right amount of aggro, no one pays attention.
Deep down, I wanted something provocative like [MFF 3P] or [Married Man's Naughty Escapade], but...
Since this was an official tournament with Suha and Eder around, I decided to tone it down a notch.
"If both of you are okay with it... then yeah, I'll submit the application with this team name?"
"Yep!"
"Sure."
And so, the team name was decided: Nice Squad.
Next up, we had to pick a leader, who would also be the team rep...
"Anyone wanna be team leader?"
"..."
"..."
"...This feels just like my college days somehow. Must be my imagination."
This kind of thing should go to the oldest member, right?
Huh, so Eder went to college.
Back then, college students usually came from pretty well-off families, didn't they?
"I didn't go to college, so I have no idea what you mean."
"...Yeah."
I'm just a high school grad, so yeah, no clue.
Eh, probably something good.
"Anyway, do we really have to keep using formal speech like this?"
"Huh? Eder and I already dropped it."
"No, I mean, now that we're teammates, switching to casual speech might help with team synergy."
"Hmm..."
It was exactly the flow I'd expected.
Even in raids, people often drop formalities to sync better, and in PvP against real players—not AI—it's even more crucial.
The difference between casual and formal during briefings or feedback sessions was bigger than you'd think.
"Besides, Suha, you're still using formal speech with me."
"Well, it's harder than I thought to drop it with someone ten years older."
"...Suha? I thought we were less than ten years apart to begin with..."
"Just kidding~ You wouldn't get mad over something like this, right?"
"Ooh..."
I hadn't noticed before, but Suha had a real warrior's spirit.
That hit-and-run kiting tactic of saying her piece and dodging with a cutesy "just kidding"—it was straight out of a warrior's playbook.
Seeing my disciple flawlessly pull off a move I'd never taught her... this must be the joy a master feels watching their student grow.
"I'm fine with it, by the way. Oh, right—what about Saintess Nice?"
"Works for me."
"Alright then... I'm dropping formalities, kids?"
Starting with Eder, the undisputed eldest in the team—no one could object.
"So... S-Saintess Nice? Can I drop mine too?"
"Yeah, sure."
"R-Right, Saintess Nice!"
With Suha switching too, the stiff team vibe softened right up.
Though... why does Suha look so hyped?
"Okay, now let's prep our comp and strategy for the tourney..."
"Hold up, Eder-oppa. There's something more important first."
"...Huh?"
"Saintess Nice!"
Suha, who's oddly hyper today more than usual...
"How old are you?!"
"...Huh?"
Totally out of left field.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ No matter how much Suha had helped with Saintess Nice's streams or supported her growth without holding back,
it didn't mean Suha saw her in purely positive light.
If anything, Suha's feelings toward Saintess Nice were closer to love-hate than pure affection.
She wasn't immune to that unpredictable bubbly charm and had wanted to get closer at times, but...
"Oh, I think I explained that pattern about 1 minute 10 seconds ago—already forgotten?" "Nothing worse than a supporter overextending and dying—you just pulled it off." "Party's response was lacking this time... Ah, of course, if Suha had spotted the tell and put up a shield, no one would've died." Separately from that, she'd occasionally cough up blood from the poison that bubbliness produced.
Of course, choosing Saintess Nice as her master was Suha's decision.
Wanting to get better at Ias, she'd even asked not to tone down the feedback harshness—that was Suha's call too.
'But isn't this a bit too much?!'
...Sure, it was all spot-on, and she'd asked for unfiltered feedback, but...!
'She does what she says—my skills improved, and she praises me sometimes...!'
Still,
'I really just wanna smack her once.'
Suha could see why "gut punch" was one of the hottest keywords in Saintess Nice's fan community.
Not that she actually wanted to hit her.
Her patience hadn't bottomed out to the point of violence, nor was she the sadistic type who got off on hurting others.
Yet, deep down, there was a spark.
A small, petty, but vivid desire for payback against the one-sided barrage Saintess Nice unleashed on her, in any form.
"I mean, now that we're teammates, switching to casual might help with team synergy." And now, finally, the opportunity had arrived.
'My gut says... Saintess Nice is definitely younger than me!'
Her voice, speech patterns, and that somehow missing-a-few-marbles behavior made it hard to imagine Saintess Nice being older.
Suha was mid-20s, young for a streamer, but still likely older.
She pictured it in her head:
Saintess Nice—the uncontrollable force—calling her "sis." Just imagining it made Suha feel like she could shake off all that resentment.
'...Like a damn hedgehog...!'
Of course, even that was pathetically weak revenge compared to what Saintess Nice had put her through—hell, was it even revenge?
'Come on, call me sis like a good girl!'
Suha's common sense had long been thoroughly wrecked by Saintess Nice.
Ah, and that little revenge of Suha's...
"...Twenty-six."
"Eek?!"
...was inevitably crushed by Saintess Nice's lie.
"N-No way..."
"...Huh?"
"O-One year older than me...?"
Why?
This wasn't supposed to happen!
A person spamming game communities all day, getting banned, VPN-ing back to spam more.
Hopping streams everywhere to backseat game, getting kicked daily.
Older than me?
"Th-This doesn't make any sense?!"
It really... didn't.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Even if I'm the type to blurt things out on impulse,
"...Twenty-six."
I don't usually lie about stuff that could get busted any second.
"Lying is a sin God hates most." Just days ago, I'd preached to viewers that lying was the greatest original sin.
And now here I was, spouting fresh lies.
'...Why did I do that?'
Truth is, I knew why.
I could picture Suha smugly demanding to be called "sis" upon hearing my age.
Just the thought of her gleefully imagining that future—
Pure pettiness. Felt good.
'Oh man...'
What now...
My eyes caught the ID on the vanity.
Starting with 04... that number stung.
Normally I'd fret more over the last digit bumping from 3 to 4, but right now, that 04 hurt worse.
I'd inflated four whole years.
'Ugh, I'm insane.'
Couldn't hold back that petty urge and dug my own grave...
-Thud thud
I bashed my head against the pillow, thinking slowly.
In this mess, what's my best move?
Yeah...
'Come clean.'
There's a reason they say confessing brings light.
Lies grow the more you hide them, making fixes harder later.
Best is not lying at all, but second best is fessing up now and begging forgiveness.
"A-Actually, Suha—"
Yeah, I really meant to confess.
"Whoa, Saintess Nice is older? Pfft... Suha, what're you waiting for? Call her sis!"
This was all Eder's fault.
"Sh-Shut up."
"Damn, Suha... Don't tell me you're contradicting yourself? You said you'd drop formalities."
"No, really... This can't be... Older...? For real...?"
Ah.
Screw it.
One more time: my life's goal and direction has always been one thing.
"Suha, you gotta call me sis?"
'Fun.'
Yeah, if it gets out, whatever—I'll just die!
"...Si."
"Huh? Can't hear you?"
"Siiiis!"
"Uh... uh-huh."
The moment I saw Suha bristle up, any hesitation evaporated.
Her reaction was delicious; the mood was refreshing.
Sure, someday I'd regret this choice, but for future me,
I decided to leave a letter.
[To: Future Lee Min-ji]
Hello, Min-ji. Suha's reaction was pure gold. Hope you remember this day vividly. And... please handle the fallout well. I can't imagine how bloated this lie will get by then, but you'll figure it out. You're the ultimate warrior, after all. Fighting! Here's hoping that day's me is still living her fun, upbeat life. From: Current Lee Min-ji PS: I'll try to save money, but don't hate me too much if there's none! ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ [Eder LIVE ON: Found a PvP Team! #SuhaYam #SaintessNice] [Suha Yam LIVE ON: Got a PvP Team! Strategy Meeting Tonight! #Eder #SaintessNice] [Saintess Nice LIVE ON: Became a Married Man's Second #Eder #SuhaYam] 💬 Stream Chat — Viewer Saintess Nice wtf is that title?? — Viewer Room title...? — Viewer Uh? — Viewer This crazy bitch why's the title like this today — Viewer Second... what?? — Eder No, Saintess Nice — Eder Room title — Eder What the hell is the room title? — Eder My stream chat's blowing up right now? — Eder Saintess Nice? — Eder Saintess Nice???? ⭐ Top Message — Eder No, you crazy bitch!