Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Do It When I Say "Let's Settle"
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What is shame?
It refers to the uncomfortable emotional state one feels upon recognizing violations of one's own actions, thoughts, or ethics.
Unlike distinct emotions like anger or sadness.
Shame is characterized by not originating from external sources.
It arises from self-reflection, contemplating how others might perceive you when viewing yourself through their eyes.
Therefore, is this a situation where I should feel shame?
Not at all.
I was morally upright, and I hadn't done anything to disappoint myself to the point of self-recrimination.
Thus, I was confident.
I.
Was confident.
It should be like that...
So why.
"Not... cu... te."
"Sto...p..."
"This... is... re...venge."
I will have revenge.
Even if it costs my soul, I will avenge today's humiliation.
Anger flushed my face with heat.
It was definitely not shame.
"...Actually, I knew the stream was on, and it was just extending the joke from earlier..."
My hands and feet trembled uncontrollably.
I wanted to bolt from my seat and scream into the void.
No, better yet, burrow under the covers until everyone forgot.
"Do you really want to make an enemy of me...?"
"Who's crying!... "
I admitted it honestly. I couldn't take it anymore.
Staying in this voice chat would just turn me into a zoo panda.
That vile guy who exploited my weakness with dirty tricks wouldn't let me off easily.
"Just you wait..."
Like a defeated villain fleeing, I left one last line and escaped the messenger.
An unprecedented roar of laughter erupted from Im Chan-ho's stream on my phone.
I hurled it onto the bed because I didn't want to hear it.
But carefully, so it wouldn't break.
Finally, silence arrived.
I curled up small in the quiet darkness.
My already petite body shrank even more, fitting easily into the dim space under the desk.
A cramped spot isolated from the world.
I called this place my 'rat hole'.
Holed up in my impromptu burrow, I worked hard to suppress my emotions.
My words kept flashing in my mind, making my fingers and toes curl tightly without realizing...
About an hour like that, and I came back to my senses.
"Revenge... I need it."
The most effective way for people to overcome turmoil is to set a new goal and pursue it relentlessly.
And lately, there's only one person I've got a grudge against.
Im Chan-ho. That immature thirty-something uncle.
I swore to pay him back for today.
Lying in bed to recharge my spent mind, eyes closed, but sleep wouldn't come.
The innocent blanket took my kicks, flying off the bed repeatedly.
Times like this call for my emergency stash.
I opened the fridge and pulled out what I'd bought yesterday to celebrate the hefty performance bonus from the boss.
Saliva pooled in my mouth before even unwrapping it.
Convenience store white chocolate cake (cocoa powder on top).
I'd only gone to buy a new toothbrush because using Yoo Seo-ha's old one felt off, but...
For some reason, my eyes kept drifting to the dessert display, so I snuck one in.
I'd planned to savor it sparingly until the expiration date, but who knew it'd be gone in a day...
One bite first.
"......!"
The sweet chocolate ganache and cake layers softly enveloped my tongue.
At the same time, my gloomy mood melted away.
Sweet things really are the best for bad moods.
After devouring the slice, I finally fell asleep.
"Hello! Good afternoon."
"Ate already."
Current time: 1 PM.
Im Chan-ho streams until 1 AM, so his daily broadcast averages nearly 12 hours.
Naturally, many viewers love his diligence.
"Part 2 and 3 today too. Seo-ha... probably won't show? Tsk, didn't ask, so not sure."
"Right? Seo-ha hits hard, but the impact feels great too. Wow, she doesn't stream? Real talent."
"If she has a main job, can't be helped... But selfishly, I'd love to make her a streamer for fixed collab content."
"No crazy, bros. I haven't even seen her face, why push it that way?! I'm not like that! If I wanted, I could get a girlfriend... Tsk, anyway. Stop spreading rumors."
"Ah shit, chat's exploding again. Time for games."
Like most Triachia streamers, Im Chan-ho focuses on ranked matches.
Even with later content, part 1 is always games.
No different now.
His account was neglected during tournament prep,
so climbing points is main content.
Post-collab recovery put him at 2,670 points.
Target: late 700s at least.
But midday now.
Top players scarce.
Queue waits expected.
"Matching takes time, so chit-chat meanwhile... Huh?"
Contrary to thought, matched in under 10 seconds.
Lucky?
Early afternoon this fast?
That mood flipped to absurdity upon seeing opponent's name.
"Seo-ha? What, coincidence? No way. Hey!! You're watching my stream right now!!"
"Answer me, Yoo Seo-ha!!"
Chat flooded with laughs; no sign of the suspect.
Unable to confirm, game started.
Both Humanity.
Sniped, but honestly, Im Chan-ho didn't feel he'd lose.
STL runner-up, after all.
.
.
.
"Coincidence my ass! You're not watching my stream? I'll Dogeza right now."
.
.
.
"If not watching, how do you reply?! Did I chat you?!"
.
.
.
.
.
.
This girl?
Definitely intentional sniping.
Purpose: yesterday's revenge.
To not go down easy, force stream off first.
"Seo-ha! Morally, no stream sniping! Turn off stream first?"
.
.
.
"Playing like that? Fine.... Seo-ha. Listen. Ahem! If you're~ upset~ I'll apo~logize~ now."
"Cut!"
Operation success.
Now Im Chan-ho feared Yoo Seo-ha no more.
He had a weapon, even if he'd take hits.
Even teasing Im Chan-ho cracked a dad smile.
Where else such great reactions?
Anyway. Fair game now.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Agh! Really! Tell me yours then!!"
.
.
.
"Huh? Stream off, how'd you hear me?"
"Hey!!"
Playing field tilted a bit...
But game on.
Im Chan-ho thought focus now,
but mistaken.
Dizzying chat rush shook his mental.
Of course.
Most included Im Chan-ho's name.
For example...
Billionaire + Im Chan-ho face VS Homeless chauffeur.
IQ 175 + Im Chan-ho face VS Illiterate prosecutor.
Like that.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Eek, eeek...!"
Definitely on purpose.
Im Chan-ho's teeth began to grind.