Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Inciting Incident
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It's the kind of day when that little murderer kid is sure to burn in hell.
Meaning, birds are chirping and flowers are blooming in full splendor—a beautiful day.
On a day like this, nothing beats starting it off with a hot cup of coffee.
We used to have a capsule coffee machine at home, but now there's not even a trace of it left.
Well... it cost 500,000 won just for the machine, so with Yoo Seo-ha's income, she probably couldn't afford to replace it.
"Order 21! Your menu is ready."
"Thank you."
That's why I stopped by the café near the house.
When I had a job, coffee was practically glued to my lips, but now that I'm a total NEET, is that why?
It feels like it's been ages since I last had some.
*Slurp.*
True to form, even in scorching heat averaging over 37 degrees, I insisted on hot Americano,
so today's choice is freshly brewed black coffee.
Mindful not to startle my tongue, which has grown much more sensitive to heat since the body switch, I sipped carefully.
"...Cough."
What the hell? Why does it taste so bad?
Did they change baristas? It wasn't like this the last few times I came??
The faint espresso aroma lingering at the tip of my nose was definitely what I remembered, but my tongue stung sharply.
Not from the heat, but from the bitterness.
*Slurp.* I try again.
Maybe I misjudged it.
But my tongue still fiercely rejected this harsh Americano.
I'd never tried or even understood adding syrup or sugar to coffee before.
But I couldn't just waste this coffee I'd specially bought on a tight budget.
For now, I decided to hastily add some syrup.
I squeezed in a long stream of syrup and stirred it vigorously with the flat red straw.
One more sip.
"......"
Same thing?
The coffee was still overwhelmingly bitter, hard to enjoy the aroma.
No hint it had syrup in it—it was identical to before.
I glanced at the part-timer and added more syrup.
One pump didn't show, so this time generously three.
"Oh..."
Only after a total of four pumps did a sweet taste finally emerge from the coffee.
I smiled in satisfaction.
Surprisingly, adding syrup isn't bad at all.
I've been holding a prejudice all this time.
Feeling eyes on me, I looked around and saw the part-timer who'd served me suppressing a laugh while staring.
My body flinched.
Did I overdo the syrup alone?
It didn't feel unpleasant, but I felt self-conscious and slunk out of the café awkwardly.
"Wonder if I'll get a nice dopamine boost today."
With nicotine and caffeine, my focus jumps 1.2 times higher than usual.
It could give wings to my steadily climbing rank score.
Whenever I wasn't training the boss lady these past few days, I focused on finger rehab.
Meaning, glued to Triachia all day.
Maybe because pressing hotkeys with thumb and pinky has gotten more familiar?
My score started reaching levels I'd never imagined.
2,700 points. 28 wins, 3 losses.
In other games, it'd raise abuse suspicions, but
in Triachia, top-tier players rarely dip below this win rate.
It's a skill game for a reason.
Of course, it's my first time hitting such a high win rate myself.
My late-game focused style means fewer games in under a week,
but Triachia scores swing hugely per match anyway.
After 31 total games, my name proudly sits in the in-100 rankings.
At this score, I've run into active pro gamers once or twice.
The 3 losses were all after hitting rankings.
I went undefeated up to 2,600.
"Definitely empty nest season now."
With pro league in full swing, most pros aren't queuing.
Even if they drop, they're probably on break to shake off practice fatigue.
Good thing I haven't met many pros.
I've gotten used to it these past days, but...
My hands still aren't fully free, so I can't show my peak condition.
Facing a pro is a rare chance.
With these hands, losing would leave endless regrets.
So upon getting home, I logged into Triachia.
Under the guise of rehab, I dove into games,
racked up 3 more wins to hit 2,750 points.
Entered in-30 and hit a massive wall.
Can't climb lightly from here.
Just 80 points shy of #1 at 2,830,
but 27 players densely packed in between.
Each one a famous pro or a climbing ex-pro targeting empty nests.
So I stopped queuing.
Now, one loss needs at least 3 wins to recover,
so I needed breaks to restore focus mid-session.
Plus, top ranks mean long queues anyway.
Now, closer to dinner than lunch.
After a late meal,
while analyzing pro league matches,
my phone started vibrating.
*Bzzz— Bzzz—.*
"The boss lady?"
No need to check.
Only she calls me anyway.
Sure enough, the screen showed 'Boss Lady (Kang Nari ★Friend★)'.
Come to think of it, this might be the monumental first contact with my first friend ever.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, I cleared my throat and answered.
"Yes, boss lady."
- Seo-haaa!!! I'm fucked!!!
"Pardon?"
Our first friend call was a disaster.
"What's wrong? Uh, should I call the cops?"
- No! Not that... ugh! I never thought I'd come out like this...!!
Coming out.
Is it what I'm thinking?
Maybe she doesn't see me as a friend, but a romantic interest...
Couldn't hold back her inner psycho lesbian and dropped a bombshell confession,
- Seo-ha. Actually... I have a secret I haven't told you...?
"I'm ready. Go ahead anytime."
My heart started fluttering at my first-ever confession.
Separate from whether she has those feelings, getting loved by someone stirs the clumsy human heart.
But what a tragedy.
Sad for her, but I plan to refuse.
My first love is set for a spring day with cherry blossoms in full bloom.
After days of awkward tension and flushed faces, a clumsy all-nighter love letter and 'I've liked you since before!' pure confession, met with 'Sorry, I can't accept' and 'Because I was planning to confess first' forward-back maneuver to draw emotional tears, then sealing it with a kiss.
Loser's fantasy? Loser yes, fantasy yes, so the criticism misses.
Thus, I had to reject for those reasons.
Sorry, boss lady. I can't see you that way.
- Hearing that eases me. Actually, I'm streaming. A Soft streamer.
"...Aha! Yeah, yeah. I totally expected it. Just now, I figured the secret was about streaming."
- Huh? Really? Was I that obvious...?
"You've got star quality, boss lady. Haha."
I only thought it, didn't say it aloud, so it's as good as nothing.
I'm not embarrassed. I'm not.
Even my resilient recovery bounces back with 'That's a bit...' pulling me to sanity, but
no one observes my thoughts, so it's fine.
- Thanks... no, my stream's about to crash hard?! Viewers suspect you're a guy...!
"Me?"
- Yeah!! No matter how much I say you're a girl, they won't believe...
"Uh, you okay? Streamers are vulnerable to that stuff."
- That's why, can I ask one really, really, REALLY huge favor...? I'll say yes to anything you want later...!
I could guess the favor.
Prove I'm female, probably.
Hardly a huge ask.
Proving biological female is easy—just crank the phone speaker.
"No problem. Use speakerphone."
- Wooow! Thanks so much!! I'll treat you to something yummy later!! Everyone, hold on! She said yes!
A brief rustling sound.
Wait wasn't long.
- Ready! Can you say a few words...?
"Uh... can you hear me now? Ahh. Hello, I'm Yoo Seo-ha, the boss lady's friend."
- Whoa, name okay?
"Isn't it?"
- Your call, but... hmm, no big deal.
Unlikely to ID me from just a name.
I'm such a shut-in.
- No way, not voice modulation! Not a part-timer!!
"Aren't I kinda a part-timer?"
- Hey!! Saying that just fuels misunderstanding!! No, everyone, no!! She's amazing at Triachia, so I personally asked for coaching—that's what I meant!!
"Boss lady, pay extra and I'll make it more convincing."
- Seo-ha pleeease don't joke, I'm dying!!!
Screams erupted over the phone.
I giggled listening to her wails.
Not to trouble her, but to shift the mood from 'controversy clarification' to 'usual WWE'.
I watch pro Triachia streams often, so I know.
Viewers take this lighter.
- I have no boyfriend! None!!
"Makes sense. With that skill, no time for a boyfriend. More practice needed."
- ...I climbed to 1,600 today.
"I'm at 2,750."
- What?! That's semi-pro level??
"Check rankings. Around 27th."
- Insane.
Added credibility as someone skilled enough to coach streamer Kang Nari.
No one seriously suspects part-timer now.
- Ah!! Why's the vibe like this now? Streamers talk, so shut it otherwise?! You guys brutal over tiny audio dips!!
"What else they saying?"
- Telling me to shut up and let Seo-ha talk more... Hey!! I said no calling me Old Smoker Auntie!! Come here. You're banned.
"Oh dear."
- Ugh! No viewer protection?! Her voice is cute, but... no funny business with Seo-ha or instant permaban, got it.
I didn't want to see reactions aimed at me after that.
Male gaze seeing me as opposite sex? Horrifying to imagine...
As long as controversy over her ends, good enough.
"Realized why lessons are always late night—streaming?"
- Yep. Usually end around 10, no choice.
"Aha... that's why you're always tired."
- Got so much flak for that. Ugh!!
"Why not coach during streams? I know you're a streamer now."
- Huh?
Her focus dropping lately made sense—secret like this.
Sleeping at dawn, shop management, streaming, practice.
No wonder she's exhausted.
- Really okay? Worried you'd hate going on stream, so didn't mention.
"No issue."
If just favor, maybe, but this is paid work.
Accommodating employer is fine.
No harm from voice on stream.
And late-night gaming for me isn't easy either.
Risks messing my schedule.
No reason not to offset discomforts.
*Ding*, text came.
From boss lady.
[Really okay? If yes, great for me...]
I tapped to reply but gave up.
Hands not nimble enough for typing during call yet.
"I'm really fine."
- Tell me anytime if you hate it?
"Sure, sure."
*Ding.*
Another text.
[Appearance fee as 1.5x late-night overtime base. Good?]
Oh. Fixed my slight concern instantly.
Now my hourly is 30,000 won firm.
Sweet gig.
"Perfect. When to start?"
- Anytime during stream fine. Tell if you get plans later.
"Since we're at it, now?"
- Uh, yeah. Load the usual Death Code?
"Yep. Lessons as usual."
- Whoa, you guys too into it?! What fangirling! Know Seo-ha's civilian?
"...Hanging up. Enter deco."
Hmm.
So far, as employee, I picked words carefully to point out mistakes,
but as streamer, bit spicier okay?
Might even add stream fun.
If reactions bad, back to normal tomorrow.
Today, swing the stick once.
Excitement lifted my lips automatically.