Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Join Us
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I'm not a genius.
Most so-called geniuses spout that line—half not even believing it themselves—to inflame the insecurities of those lesser talents for some cheap thrill. Or to drape themselves in a facade of false humility and dupe the masses.
When it came to evaluating my past self, though, "not a genius" was plain, unvarnished fact.
A 2,300-point player. Weren't they a dime a dozen?
Just another grain of sand among countless others—no way I could've felt special.
But things have changed now.
My score's hit solid semi-pro territory. And though it was just one game on my main, I pulled off a comeback win against a full-time pro.
It made me pause and reconsider the talent I hold in my hands.
Objectively speaking, I still wasn't anywhere near current pro level...
There's an enormous gap in game count between them—folks with at least ten years in Triachia—and me, with barely over three.
If the world rewarded effort exactly in proportion to input,
even getting close shouldn't have been allowed.
Which makes it reasonable to conclude I possess considerable potential.
Calling myself a genius would be pathetic.
But pretending to lack talent when I clearly have it? That's begging for a stoning.
If forced to pick, the former's better.
The ultimate dilemma laid only before the talented: I'd gladly shoulder it.
"Your opponent played exactly like a standard 2,000-pointer. No crazy blunders like you, Boss—just solidly mediocre."
- That's even harsher! And apologize to me!!
"The twist is that opponent was me—Yoo Seo-ha, the world's greatest hidden genius. Sigh... I should've been the one in STL."
- ...Seo-ha, you low on nicotine or something? Sounds like you're losing it.
Hearing that snapped me back. My nicotine levels had dipped.
I rushed to top them up. Sanity trickled back in.
Hm... yeah, that just sounded weird from me.
"Ahem. Obviously a broadcast bit. Half-joking. Laugh it up."
- Half? So the other half's serious?
"Anyway, when are you typing those remaining chats? Opponent's waiting."
In-game chat was flooding with all sorts of curses in real-time.
Meanwhile, Boss's lone chat line:
Wow, great value.
- Seo-ha? Teabagging's... kinda bad, right?
"Pardon? Even you know teabagging brings mutual benefits and positive vibes, genius or not."
- Skipping your take on me for now, I'm genuinely curious why you think that...
Looked like Boss needed tutoring outside the game too.
The duty of the advanced, I suppose.
With merciful intent, I began expounding on teabagging philosophy.
"I used to think like you—that it was pure toxicity. I realized its virtuous cycle when a vengeful foe showed up again."
- Obviously they'd come gnashing teeth...
"Surprisingly, this guy who'd been meh months ago had skyrocketed in skill. What I'd thought was just souring their mood had ignited real drive."
I know the feeling. After a teabag, I'd pull all-nighters honing my revenge blade.
Even with work looming tomorrow, the fire in my chest wouldn't die.
But dumb past-me never considered it planted the same fire in them.
Not until I got humbled by one I'd previously beaten—who couldn't forget the humiliation.
- So teabagging's actually good?
"Exactly. After it happened a few times, I was convinced. 'Oh, I never realized this perk!'"
- Most people quit after teabags. Backfire!
"Sure, other games maybe. But in Triachia—down to the diehards—who breaks that easily already left."
Thus, teabagging shed its flaws, pure upside left.
Even if it tarnishes my rep...
For elevating Triachia's skill pool, I'd wear the infamy gladly.
"Look at ex-pro Kim Sung-jin. His YouTube's packed with teabag vids, yet challengers outnumber quitters. Tons of footage backing my logic."
- Hey hey hey! Seo-ha, hold up! Folks, ugh, don't badmouth other streamers! Not even as a joke!
"His vids solidified my theory. Bonus: I'm a fan now."
- Kyaaah!! Don't drag another streamer—mega-corp backed one!!
"Proves how credible it is."
I pinged a few more times, but Boss was too busy policing the chat riot. No reply.
Still, my grand vision must've landed.
Good enough.
"Now that you get it, type the chat. Join us, Boss."
- Sounds convincing, but... no way! That's gaslighting!!
"Tch."
Thought her denseness would miss it. Guess not.
I clicked my tongue in regret.
- Ugh. Please, no chats even hinting at bashing other streamers. Ban incoming, joke or not.
"What'd they say?"
- Stuff like... Sung-jin's sins run deep, evil begets evil, copycats get harsher punishment, etc...
"Masses only see surfaces."
- They want you on stream now. Guaranteed smash hit.
3D jobs are iffy.
Unless the cash outweighed it...
Streamers' incomes vary wildly, and prying into Boss's would be rude.
Plus, monetizing this cute face? Off-putting.
Identity crisis from an unformed self, maybe.
- Huh? Seo-ha, Triachia ID 'Ttalpi Reader,' right?
"You've seen it in practice. Yep."
- Uh... folks, that's real? YouTube vid too?
Screen share let me peek at her screen.
YouTube. Kim Sung-jin's channel, clicking yesterday's upload.
Thumbnail felt eerily familiar.
- Title... 'Custom Room Mystery Master? 3-0 Sweep'?
Huh.
Don't tell me.
- Nick hidden in edit... but check the end? Skipping ahead.
Endgame: Kim Sung-jin's defeat sealed.
Familiar chat spam rising.
I broke cold sweat watching.
- Speech pattern's... way too similar.
"Hm."
- SOFT channel replay shows the nick?
"Boss."
- Huh? Oh, Seo-ha. Recent customs lately?
Silence, no answer.
Apparently enough.
Boss's voice quivered.
- You beat an ex-pro...?
"Luck. Super close call... one read and I'd have folded."
- So that opponent was really you?
"Viewers snitched?"
- Spotted your chat style... hold on.
Boss GG'd out of her near-win.
No focus left.
Does she know?
Victory tossed like charity inflicts deeper humiliation.
Boss might have killer teabag potential beyond my guess.
"Yeah, it was me. No issue, right?"
- No issue, but chat's exploding. Who'd guess same person?
Now I was curious too.
What'd folks think of my play?
Snuck phone, SOFT search 'Kang Nari.'
Top hit, click.
And...
Triachia world's tiny.
Especially for big streamers like Kim Sung-jin—nobody in the scene's clueless.
Most viewers at least skim YouTube.
Even non-subs chase the hype live.
"Hm. No rematch. No confidence I'd win again. Smart play: win and bail when behind."
Boss's screen showed her baffled face.
My accidental stream hijack?
But random ranked runs aside, no reason to seek him out.
No personal ties, no appearance fee.
"Bit early, but class ends here. I'm off."
- Huh?? Already?
"Yeah. You keeping at it?"
- STL finals co-stream later. It's today.
"Ah, yeah. Heading out early to watch too."
- Gotta tune in.
- Spill some lore pls
- Nari, let her go if you wanna see stream blow up
- 감다뒤 repeated
- Seo-ha's a normie, not a streamer... no pressure.
"Thanks for the hard work, Boss. Don't be too bummed, folks—maybe drop by like today again sometime."
- Me
- Part 2: co-cast finals ㄱㄱ
- LFG
- If she won't stream who will?
- LFG
- Old Smoker Auntie donates 500,000 won!
That donation line halted my messenger exit.
A whopping 500k.
Purpose crystal clear.
- Woah ㄷㄷ
- Prepaid the cast fee x3
- 대——협
- Knew you'd deliver, Chairman!!
- O lololol
- Thanks for 500k! 3-day nick shoutout! My casts tasty, right? Good enough solo!
- Nari you struck first ㅇㅇ
- Macro spam bot ON
- Gonna wreck chat today heh
- Turning feral quick lolololololol
- Hold up everyone! Stop! Freeze!
"Mm..."
- Seo-ha, you go! I'll handle cleanup. No worries.
Ignoring it outright? No direct hit to me.
But her rep takes a beating.
She'd eat a lifetime's hate today?
Yet she won't rope me in for the cast.
I'm just a normie. Too much exposure burdens; she's drawing lines.
Even if painted as clueless...
She prioritized me over her stream.
A warm smile crept up.
Her care shone through.
It moved me.
"Swing by your place again today? Co-cast the finals."
- Huh? For real?
- Pure genius streamer light light light 감다살
- 이궈궈던!!!!!!
- Enlightenment
"I'll text on arrival. Face cam optional?"
- Duh!
"Voice-only off-cam then."
Today's stint taught me: streaming ain't all that daunting.
The newbie jitters faded into comfort with the setup.
And honestly...
That 500k. Boss ain't the type to swallow it solo.
Money: more the merrier.
.
.
"Today's content: condom hunt in Boss's room. Find = hell, no-find = break-even. Let's begin."
"Yoo Seo-haaa! Stop the weird crap!!"
"Huh?"
"'Huh?' what—nothing found and you clickbait?!"
"C'mon, crisis-climax-resolution? Gotta hook imagination first. Normie stims don't drop dopamine anymore."
"You the streamer?! That's me!!"
Anyway, dopamine festival joint room.
Start.