Chapter 31

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Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 31

Chapter Title: Kujiraya-Style Ramen

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The enemy team's stronghold blazed fiercely before crumbling to the ground. A pristine white flag rose atop the central tower.

"They only surrender right before the game's over. If that's the case, why bother surrendering at all...?"

The match was already decided during that teamfight around the 15-minute mark. But seriously, what was that about?

Back in the lobby, the promotion message popped up. I smiled at it.

"Up we go."

"Still, making it this close to Master in just one day is a success."

It hadn't even been a full day since I started the challenger climb stream. Yet here I was, already at the top of Diamond.

"Starting from high MMR and overlapping with the soft placement phase means the LP gains are ridiculous."

The period right after placements where LP swings are huge over a few games is called the "soft placement" phase.

During this time, you get more LP than usual per win—enough to skip straight two, or even three tiers at once sometimes.

That's the benefit I'm riding right now.

I closed the game and checked the stats site. My record was dazzling.

"Played 24 games today. If they'd surrendered faster, I might've hit Master...?"

Viewers had grown by about 500 since ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I started. I couldn't quite grasp why so many were tuning in.

"Not really a streamer thing to ask, but... is my stream fun?"

"No, I mean... I barely talk during games. Just wondering if it's still entertaining."

Once I'm in the game, I get fully immersed. Talking doesn't come naturally. I know I should do it consciously, but it hasn't clicked yet.

Skimming the chat, it seemed I wasn't unusually quiet compared to others.

While chatting with viewers in my room, a warning popped up in front of me.

"Warning's here too. Climbed way more than expected, so time to call it."

I got up from the bed and bowed my head.

"Thanks for watching today. That's all from me. Bye."

I ended the stream and logged out of VR. My vision flickered, then I was back in reality.

Pressing the button to exit the capsule, a slight dizziness hit me. No wonder after 12+ hours of intense gaming and streaming.

Leaning on the wall to catch my breath, the vertigo faded. I staggered to the living room. Sis wasn't there.

Takeout containers on the table. Guess she ordered in since I didn't make dinner.

Feel kinda bad.

Next time I go long streams, I'll take breaks in between.

I peeked into her room. She was sleeping soundly on the bed, so I headed to the kitchen, relieved.

Hungry.

Checking the fridge and pantry for anything quick, ingredients were scarce after days of cooking. Just ramen left.

Thought about delivery but decided to just boil some ramen and crash—too tired.

I summoned water with magic and poured it into a frying pan. Set it on the gas stove, lit the flame, and grabbed a pack of ramen.

How to eat it...

Cheese in the fridge, perfect for Kujiraya-style.

I added about half the seasoning packet. As the broth bubbled, I tossed in the noodles, boiled briefly, flipped once.

Prodded with chopsticks—noodles softened just right. Then cracked an egg dead center, covered, and lowered to simmer.

After a minute, roughly snipped some green onions on top, dusted chili powder and cheese, finished with sesame seeds.

Red-sauced noodles cradling a sunny-side-up egg with fluffy whites. Chopped scallions and sesame seeds garnished it all.

Spicy aroma mingled with nutty scents—mouthwatering just looking at it.

"Dig in."

I poked the egg with chopsticks. Golden yolk burst, coating the noodles. Mixed it up and shoveled a big bite.

Slurrrp—

"Mm."

Creamy, nutty egg and cheese wrapped in spicy kick—perfect harmony in my mouth.

I devoured it in a trance. When it got a bit rich, grabbed kimchi.

Slurrrp—

Kimchi atop ramen for another huge bite. Crisp chill reset my palate.

Hunger's the best side dish. Nailed the whole bowl without thinking.

"All done..."

Scraped clean, leaned back. Full belly brought instant drowsiness. Rinsed the pan, tossed it in the sink, headed to bed.

Magic-freshened my mouth, crashed into bed. Eyes shut, sleep took me.

Slept at dawn but woke early to make beef radish soup.

Slurrrp—

Clear, deep savory flavor brought a smile. Light enough for breakfast. Seemed perfect, so left on low.

"Mm."

Rice cooker beeped. Done cooking—I popped the lid. Steam billowed white.

Grabbed a ladle, stirred once. Separates grains, evens moisture.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

All set.

Finished prepping, headed to Sis's room. Knocked softly, opened— she slept peacefully, eyes closed.

"Sis. Get up."

I drew the curtains I'd pulled earlier.

"Nngh..."

Shook her shoulders. Eyes cracked open, then she hugged the blanket and rolled away.

"Five more minutes..."

"Five? Up now."

Magic yanked away blanket and pillow. She frowned, flipped, face-planted into bed.

"Up!"

"Just a bit longer..."

Hadn't wanted to resort to this. Time for extreme measures.

Dropped bedding in corner, magicked her body up forcibly.

"Eeeek!"

Sudden levitation freaked her out.

"Stop! Stop! I'll get up! Promise! Put me down!"

Ignored her, carried to living room, plopped on dining chair, released spell.

"You'll wake up on time from now on, right?"

"Yeah..."

"Drink some water first."

Poured barley tea I'd brewed days ago. Ladled beef radish soup into a big bowl, set it down.

"How much rice?"

"Lots!"

Her eyes sparkled now. Heaped a big mound. Added kimchi and radish kimchi. Done.

"Enjoy."

"Yeah. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Dig in."

Sis slurped broth right away.

Slurrrp—

"Whoa... so good, seriously..."

She thumbs-upped me. I smiled, scooped beef and radish.

"Mm."

Tender beef shredded smoothly, rich meaty savoriness. Radish melted with subtle sweetness.

"Delicious."

Mixed rice quick. Big scoop topped with kimchi, one bite.

Crunch crunch—

Salty-spicy zinged my tongue. With rice, broth mellowed the edge.

We focused silently on the soup for a while. No chit-chat, just eating.

Halfway through, we had room to talk.

"How'd the stream go yesterday?"

"Good. More viewers than expected. But Sis..."

"Uh, yeah?"

Our eyes met; she looked away. Dark circles under her eyes. Face screamed exhaustion.

"Sis. You were up late scrolling communities, weren't you?"

She jolted.

"C-Communities? N-No way I'd look at that stuff?"

"Should I use truth-detection magic?"

"...Sorry. Tried not to, but posts about you kept popping up. Couldn't resist..."

I sighed deeply. She flinched. At least some guilt.

"What'd they say?"

Full-blown community addict. Banning it wouldn't help anyway.

"Early on, vibes were bad. You announced no more cooking streams."

"Expected that. Then what?"

"Your stuff got buried after. But you started winning streaks—people got interested again."

Explains the viewer spike—community buzz.

"Mid-stream, folks hyped your skill, debating how high you'd climb. But..."

"But?"

"Then bad takes started."

She set down her spoon. Appetite dipped.

"Bad takes? Specifics?"

"Like you're hacking. Or smurfing, account-sharing... that kinda crap."

I chuckled. All that worry for nothing major.

"Haters gonna hate."

"Totally. Feels like people who hate you stirring drama."

"Probably tied to Virtual YouTubers. I pissed them off."

"Yeah. Hater posts piled up, then group chat rumors, vote bots, rival factions in disguise—wild claims everywhere."

"And you stayed up digging through that."

"...Yeah."

I shook my head.

"Sis, don't sweat it. Most community noise is meaningless."

No more "where there's smoke, there's fire." Now it's smoke everywhere, sky choked with it.

"I know. But you streaming got me worried. Sorry."

"No need to apologize to me. I just don't want you hurt by that trash."

"...Doesn't bug you?"

"Me?"

She nodded. I grabbed kimchi instead, chewed with rice.

"Nah? Dodged rotten fruit, rocks, even assassins from haters. This? Pfft."

I'd been cursed continent-wide before. This was nothing.

"Like I said, ignore it. I'll do my thing. You do yours."

"Yeah."

My confidence eased her.

Mental game's still shaky, huh.

We'd talked it before, yet she worried. Frustrating, but understandable.

I'd react the same in her shoes.

Watch quietly for now.

Stream viewers asked about her return—wait till things settle.

I watched her eat in peace. This was enough. Really, enough.