Chapter 11

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Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 11

Chapter Title: I Think I'm Going to Snipe Noir

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1.

The enemy's nexus burst into flames and crumbled. Finally, the last placement match was over.

'It took way longer than I thought.'

Maybe because it was ranked? Unlike normal games, players didn't surrender even when defeat was certain, dragging out the playtime.

Even though it took forever, it ended in a win, so no complaints here.

"Carrier! Look at this!"

When I returned to the lobby, Elena was bouncing in place with a golden helmet on her head. It symbolized Gold rank.

She was genuinely excited, grinning ear to ear and flailing her arms. She looked adorable, like a kid.

"Congrats. You hit Gold?"

"Yup! Hehe..."

Her enthusiasm made me curious about the chat reactions, so I turned on the broadcast in standby mode.

As expected, the viewers were losing their minds.

"What do you mean justice is dead? I told you, I'm not Silver material! I was stuck here because of snipers. Without them, Gold? Platinum easy!"

Elena snapped back, but the viewers weren't backing down.

"What're you gonna do if you don't recognize it? I'm already Gold. What can you do besides rage or spam chat, you worthless fucks."

She mocked the viewers freely, a smirk on her face. Must've built up a lot of frustration.

"Oh yeah, Carrier's placements are done now too, right?"

"Yeah."

"Checked your tier yet?"

"Not yet. Thought it'd be better for the stream if we did it together."

"Really!? You got me to Gold and now you're thinking about my stream too!"

She gazed at me with touched eyes.

"Five straight wins, 10+ kills every game. I'm really curious what tier you'll get."

"Me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠too."

"Alright, let's check Carrier's tier!"

I pressed the button in front of me. A letter floated down from the sky. I started to open it but handed it to Elena instead.

"Want to open it yourself? Looks better for the stream."

"For real? Then I won't hold back. Viewers, wait a sec."

She gulped and tore open the envelope. Her eyes scanned the letter slowly, then widened.

"Ooooh?"

"What tier did I get?"

Grinning, she turned the letter around to show me.

"Platinum, huh."

I let out a sigh of relief. Considering my sister's Platinum 1, it was just right.

Unlike my relief, the viewers seemed disappointed. Makes sense after those stomp games.

"Don't be too down. Tier's this, but MMR's probably way higher!"

She must've thought my sigh was disappointment. Fair, from the results alone.

"What's MMR? Heard of it, but not details."

"Matchmaking Rating. The score used for matchmaking."

"High MMR good for what?"

"Normally win gives 20 LP? Higher MMR than tier gets you more. Losses drop less."

"Low MMR? Less LP gain, bigger drops."

Elena nodded vigorously.

"Exactly. Bad MMR makes escaping tier hell."

"Elena too...?"

Her history showed 400+ Silver games. Probably why.

"No! My MMR's fine!?"

She yelled defensively. Made me more curious.

"Then why stuck below Gold?"

"Th-that's... snipers..."

"N-no, not woman radar. Just curious. No intent to insult."

It's been less than a week since ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠becoming a woman. Woman radar? What's that even?

"I know. You're not that type. But watch your words next time. Stones kill frogs unintentionally!"

"Yes. Sorry... Low tier sensitivity lacking."

I bowed sincerely. Elena looked flustered.

"...You're not baiting me, right?"

"Nope?"

"O-okay. Placements done, I'm Gold. Time to part?"

Yeah, about that time.

"No interview?"

"We talked plenty during queues. That's enough."

"Got it."

She clapped and turned to me.

"One last thing. Will you keep playing The Legendary Arena?"

"Yeah, probably."

Started to snipe sis, but now it's fun. More than expected.

"Any goals? Like Challenger? Pro debut? With your skill, possible."

"Platinum too early for that?"

"Oh, true."

Seeing the chat, my eyebrow twitched. Lips downturned, fingers tensed.

"...Ha."

After slaying the Demon King with the Hero party, this evaluation? Laughable.

'Porter looks like trash?'

I said it was premature myself, but hearing it from others? Especially mocking? No.

"Whoa? Laughing at chat? Right?"

"Won't deny. Just funny. Humble earlier, but confident honestly."

"In what?"

"Hitting Challenger."

Elena's jaw dropped. Didn't expect that.

"...For real?"

"Yes. Totally."

"Such confidence."

Her eyes shook. Mindful of public opinion. I looked arrogant as hell.

As expected, chat was hostile.

"Everyone calm down! You're too heated!"

Elena tried mediating, but no dice.

Her stream had over 7,000 viewers now. Double usual—mix of newbies and trolls.

From experience, flames like this don't die easy. Stirring and flooding are scary.

[Elena: You okay? End stream?]

Private message while staring at chat. She nodded at me.

'Ah.'

Worried I'd be hurt.

[Me: No. Fine.]

This? Nothing.

In the Hero party, I was the public punching bag. Couldn't arrow Hero or Saintess.

'Easiest target: me.'

Every city, village: high taxes, monsters—our fault. Arrows always hit the lowest.

Always.

Taking their rage was my job. Shrink from text now? No.

"I said stop! Banning donor. Subscriber-only chat now. Sorry."

Fire spreading, Elena acted decisively.

"Really sorry, Carrier..."

She bowed nearly 90 degrees, face apologetic.

"No. My words started it. Not wrong either. Hey, got an idea."

"What?"

"Challenger climb stream. Proves my words. Thoughts?"

"Stream it?"

"Yes."

"Serious?"

Wasn't planning to. But provocations? Prove 'em wrong.

Other world too: porter overqualified. Useless tagging to Demon King's castle? Mocked.

Learned sword, magic. Proved worth, more than, slew Demon King.

"Yes. I can."

"No more games with me then..."

Her shoulders slumped, lips down. Brief fluster at her sad eyes, then chat.

[Elena: Rooting for you.]

She winked. Stream mood shift. Streamer pro.

"Other games later."

"Promise?"

"Yes. Don't be sad."

"Great! Rooting for your Challenger!"

"Thanks."

Elena clapped.

"Interview end. Last: post-stream plans?"

"Impulsive, but declared stream. Prep time. And..."

Say it?

"And?"

Hesitated, then:

"Think I'll go snipe Noir."

"Snipe? Me?"

"Yeah. Legendary Arena open. Queuing soon. Bye."

"Wait...!"

Bowed quick, left party.

'This should do.'

Promo for sis's stream too. Nice.