Chapter 10

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Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 10

Chapter Title: Do You Know Noir?

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1.

"...Y-You're a woman?"

I tilted my head at Elena's question. I hadn't expected something like this right off the bat.

"Yeah. Why? Is that weird or something?"

"Oh, no! Not at all!"

She frantically waved her hands and shook her head. Seeing her silver-haired character do that made her look kinda cute.

'Wonder what the chat's saying.'

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠glanced around slyly before turning on her stream. A quick search for Elena, and there it was at the top.

'Whoa.'

She was a streamer, so she was grinding hard, but she was way more popular than I'd imagined.

I figured there'd be backlash to the sudden duo, but the reaction was better than expected.

"I'm looking at the chat right now. Is this how internet streams always are?"

"Uh, well..."

Elena scratched her cheek awkwardly with a sheepish smile. Anyone could tell it was forced.

"Ah..."

I nodded as I read the incoming chat. Elena averted her gaze, clearly not planning to defend herself.

As I kept scrolling, a very familiar name popped up.

"Hey. Don't mention other VTubers."

"...Do you know Noir?"

The question slipped out of my mouth without thinking.

"Noir? Yeah, I know of her. We were on the same team in a big collab once. You a fan?"

"...Absolutely not a fan."

Me, a fan of my sister? What kind of nightmare is that? I shuddered involuntarily.

"But what's she like?"

"Noir is..."

Elena was about to answer when the match popped. She'd said random queue to dodge snipers, and this must be it.

It was prime time for an interview, so the snipers probably weren't expecting this.

'Too bad.'

I wanted to hear more about my sister, but it wasn't a now-or-never deal.

"Game's on. Let's play this one and chat more after?"

"Sure. Need a ban card? I'm good, nothing too tough for me."

"I'd appreciate it."

I handed Elena the ban card. She grinned, now able to ban two heroes.

"You sure about giving me the ban card? If there's a sniper on the enemy team, you might get countered."

"I don't know the game that well, but I don't think I'll lose lane. This doesn't feel like my tier anyway."

"Fair point."

Elena nodded vigorously in agreement.

"Oh! Sponsor mission incoming. Carrier!"

"I see it. Nice payout. Congrats."

I clapped lightly.

"Wait? You have to do this, Carrier."

"Me?"

"Yeah. How could I get 20 kills? I'm not Silver level, but not that good."

I tilted my head.

"Why me?"

"Pardon?"

"Huh?"

Silence fell between us. Only the faint Legendary Arena BGM filled the air.

"No, I mean, there's literally no benefit for me. Even if we clear it. That's what I meant."

This wasn't selfish; it was logical. First time meeting today—no reason for me to volunteer.

Boosting goodwill by helping was an option, but was it worth it?

"What do you take me for? Of course I'd split the reward! This mission's thanks to you anyway."

"Oh. My bad, misunderstood. I'll do my best."

"Thanks. Counting on you."

We were having a nice, friendly chat when an ominous chain rattle echoed in my ears.

"Huh?"

Enemy bans: Kairon was out.

"Looks like they have a sniper. Kairon isn't ban-worthy in this tier."

"No biggie. Could be they hate him on their team. Confident with other picks anyway."

We picked in order. My turn last—I selected.

Lanak, the knight with a broken spear. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Short range, but insane damage output.

"Lanak too?"

Elena sounded surprised.

"Yep."

"Kairon and Lanak. You like high-risk, high-reward heroes, huh."

"Not a fan of mediocrity. Top lane's like that anyway—someone gets crushed, ego shattered..."

"Yeah, kinda."

That's why I loved top. No excuses possible.

"Ah, they didn't ban Vernon..."

Vernon, the tank from the frozen north with a sturdy shield. Anti-carry tank extraordinaire.

New hero, infamous. Solid damage, tanky body, loaded with CC.

"Think you can break him?"

"Gotta try, but yeah, I'm confident."

"Got faith in you."

"Thanks."

'Dang, forgot to ask about sis.'

Plenty of time left—no rush. Interview barely started.

Time up—game started. Hit the arena, bought items, bolted to top lane.

'Wonder what they'll send.'

Normally, play safe early, call jungle.

But Vernon? Cheat hero with busted skills. Especially since they banned my Kairon.

'Maybe coincidence, but if it's a sniper? They'll crave attention.'

Their pick counters my Lanak hard. Would they pass on early all-in?

'They'll come.'

I gripped my broken spear tight, slipped into the bushes. Focused, ready to strike. Passed first bush, into the second—

'Here!'

Bush rustled. I smirked, thrust my spear.

Pshk!

Spear tip pierced flesh—I felt it in my fingers. Smirked wider.

"Fuck! Jump scare!"

Pulled back spear, activated skill. Arm lashed out on its own, stabbing again.

Pshk!

Classic auto-cancel. Attack speed limits swings, but skill bypasses it.

Twisted spear free, backed off.

Boom!

Thunderous crash right in front. Massive shield smashed where I'd stood. Bushes crushed, twisted face emerged.

"You bitch!"

Pshk—!

As he recovered shield, I speared his leg.

Vernon was OP offense and defense, but flaw: only one at a time.

'Not much of a flaw. All heroes are like that.'

Still, not some invincible dragon. Just arena fodder.

Ridiculous compared to demons and fiends I'd fought in another world. I'd partied with real heroes.

'Not even close to my old crew.'

Counter or not, no way I'd lose to these clowns.

Pshk!

He charged, slamming shield, but I exploited range, poked freely.

"Gahk!"

Spear hit vitals; he spewed blood. No HP bar, but he had to be low.

"Grr... Deal with you later..."

"Later'll be the same."

I chuckled. He spat curses, shielded up, retreated. Cute for a threat.

But I never said he could leave.

Arena heroes get two summons. Mine: short-range Blink, burning Ignite.

Kill opportunity? Go for it. Now was time.

Dashed forward, Blinked. Bushes parted—his back in sight. Didn't expect pursuit?

That complacency decided it.

His body ignited. I speared his back.

Pshk—

"—Fuck!"

Still alive. Eased spear out, skill again.

Spear pierced vitals—body vanished from view. Blinked to escape.

Out of bushes: he was fleeing, scrambling pathetically.

"One."

Ignite burns 5 seconds flat. Time spent: 2.

"Two."

His silhouette faded. About to vanish—

"Three."

The victory fanfare echoed across the arena.