Chapter 18
The 5v5 Capture Battle map lobby, which looked as if it had just been created, held only one person besides me.
"Hello."
A soft, yet quite low and calm male voice.
[White Snow]
Blue hair and silver eyes.
He was a support-type healer wearing a white coat, and his height was about the same as mine.
"Oh, yes. Hello."
He was a male character with a holy, angel-like image, complete with paid effects that sparkled like holograms in his eyes.
I had entered feeling a bit tense, but my heart involuntarily relaxed.
With his pale face, blue hair, and beautifully sparkling silver eyes, his smiling expression exuded an aura that was both cool and benevolent.
'So this is my sponsor. He looks like a total pushover—no, I mean, a kind person.'
Even though I knew the person in front of me was just a game character, his pretty first impression was firmly etched into my mind.
As my wariness melted away, a sense of affection poked its head out.
The customization is quite excellent.
【Hmm.】
Ggol-Ggap circled around White Snow with a suspicious look before glancing somewhere else.
It seems he’s looking at the opposing Constellation.
White Snow, who had come up to me, tugged at the corners of his lips and smiled as he spoke.
"Is this kind of meeting okay?"
"Absolutely."
"Did you turn on your stream?"
"Not yet."
"Please carry me a bit. As you can see, my rank isn't exactly that high."
It was a welcome request.
Thinking that he might have sponsored me just to use me as a bus, the suspicions I’d held toward my sponsor eased slightly.
"Hey. A Gold Constellation rank isn't really that low."
Honestly, I think anything below Diamond is trash, but I was just grateful that my sponsor—whom I had to carry regardless—wasn't a Dung Star.
I’m impatient by nature, so I’m not usually that kind.
I grinned at White Snow.
"Let's play together sometimes."
Playing games with my sponsor while earning money.
It’s killing two birds with one stone.
Upon hearing my suggestion, White Snow stared at me blankly instead of answering.
I was smiling, but then I stiffened slightly.
"Are you perhaps against it?"
"Oh. It’s not that—"
Just as White Snow seemed to snap back to reality and was about to say something, a new player entered the room.
[<Notice>
Dark K-Choco has entered.]
I glanced at the notification message without much thought, but upon seeing the familiar nickname, I doubted my eyes and whipped my head around.
"……?"
Black hair, black eyes, and that familiar katana.
For reference, that katana is a paid weapon costume item, so no matter what sword you buy in the game, it will appear as that image.
'Did that bastard stalk me?'
【Isn't he following you? I really don't like that guy. Especially the one behind him. Damn it. What are you looking at?】
Ggol-Ggap growled at the opposing Constellation, which was invisible to my eyes.
However, Dark K-Choco seemed completely caught off guard by our encounter, looking taken aback when he saw me.
He alternated his gaze between me and White Snow, freezing up as if he were broken.
[<Notice>
TodayIsHardCarry12 has entered.]
Following Dark K-Choco's entry, TodayIsHardCarry, who had entered a beat late, widened his eyes upon seeing me.
"Oh? Oh?!"
I glanced at both of their stats and did some quick mental math.
Both are Diamond rank.
'With two rankers specializing in melee damage, a Diamond ranged dealer, and a Gold support, isn't that almost a perfect combination?'
I’m not very familiar with multi-player battles, but that’s what I know roughly.
Anyone can come for the next spot.
TodayIsHardCarry approached me with a welcoming expression.
"Wow! Hello, Chicken! I really enjoyed watching the duel from a few days ago! It’s a small world. I was an enemy with this guy back then, but now we’re meeting as allies."
"Yeah, well……."
Judging by the way he talks, it seems he’s a friend Dark K-Choco brought along.
Allies, huh.
Just as I thought it wouldn't be bad as long as they didn't leave because they don't deal with Golds, TodayIsHardCarry asked me.
"Should we remake the room?"
As expected.
Being a ranker's friend, he suggests moving rooms to get rid of the Gold player whose skills are lacking.
Looking to the side, White Snow was staring at TodayIsHardCarry with an expressionless face.
It was quite cold.
'Hmm? So he’s not without a temper?'
I’ll have to be careful to protect my precious sponsor and the sponsorship money.
Just as I was about to refuse immediately, a visibly flustered Dark K-Choco glared at his friend and said in a sharp voice.
"Are you crazy? No. Let's do it as is."
"What? How am I supposed to carry a Gold? There are tons of Diamonds among the Hunters I know; we could just invite a few."
TodayIsHardCarry complained, then glanced at me.
He gave me a smile.
"And get to know Chicken while we're at it."
Oh, boy.
I’m on the side of the person who pays me.
Dark K-Choco scolded his friend with a firm expression.
"Dragging along a teammate with lacking skills on the same team is also an important ability. So just do it."
"Wow, what a boomer."
While the two were bickering.
[<Notice>
RangedYura has entered.]
Seeing the rank of the newly entered player, TodayIsHardCarry wrinkled his brow.
"Ah."
Another Gold.
Since the room master's rank was Gold, it was naturally a random entry that could be caught.
Unless Dark K-Choco had chosen this room on purpose, that guy probably ended up in a random entry because of my power level.
Ggol-Ggap chattered from the side.
【The team composition is fine. Weak teammates aren't bad. It’s good because the difficulty increases, and I’ll have more opportunities to shine.】
Is that so?
I listened half-heartedly and turned on the broadcasting system I had prepared in advance.
White Snow, who had been silently cold since earlier, started the game as soon as the last player entered.
* * *
Dark K-Choco, Do-jin, recalled what happened before logging into GOF.
*Ping!*
[Hee-an Hyung: Are you busy right now?]
Do-jin, who had been doing evening training in the basement, was startled when he saw his phone at the messenger notification sound.
[Me: No]
[Me: I’m not busy at all]
A reply came immediately.
[Hee-an Hyung: The test tournament is starting in GOF right now]
[Me: I’m going]
Do-jin was excited that the Hyung, who was hard to get close to, had reached out first.
Though he was immediately on edge.
[Hee-an Hyung: I need a favor]
[Me: Yes, Hyung]
[Me: Please tell me]
For Baek Hee-an to ask for a favor—Do-jin focused on the screen, tense and wondering what it could be.
[Hee-an Hyung: I’m raising a sub-account, and no one can know about it]
[Me: I will keep it a secret]
It was perfectly understandable.
Baek Hee-an received immense attention no matter what he did, so he wouldn't want to stand out.
[Hee-an Hyung: The Constellation rank of the sub-account I made is too low, so bring one friend with decent skills and play together]
It was a strange situation.
Since GOF matches based on skill, even if you make a sub-account, Constellations of a similar level to your main account usually end up matched after just a few games.
'Is it an account he paid special attention to because he wants to hide his identity?'
That seems to be the case.
[Hee-an Hyung: Keep it a secret from that friend that it’s my sub-account]
[Me: Yes, I understand]
Honestly, Do-jin was a bit troubled.
Outstanding players usually have excellent skills as Hunters, and a Hunter's skill is often proportional to their foul temper.
'The only decent guy is…….'
After much deliberation, he asked Hee-an.
[Me: Can I bring a healer-type mage support?]
[Hee-an Hyung: I’m the healer mage]
I’m screwed.
[Me: What’s the Constellation rank?]
[Hee-an Hyung: Gold]
I’m truly screwed.
If they don't know the opponent is Hee-an, anyone would absolutely look down on him.
Do-jin clutched his head.
[Hee-an Hyung: Don't worry about my feelings and bring someone who is good]
And so, here we are.
<Team Members (5)>
Dark K-Choco
Chicken Fire Slap
TodayIsHardCarry12
RangedYura
White Snow
Two rankers among the five, and one top ranker pretending to be Gold.
The ranks of the opposing team players, who were automatically matched with a power level similar to our team, were all Diamond.
They have two rankers on their side, too.
Perhaps because it was impossible to match with the power level of Korean users, it was a Japanese team.
Do-jin took his eyes off the player list for both teams and glanced at the scene where the battle was in full swing.
'Just what is Chicken…….'
*Boom-boom-boom!*
Unleashing Chicken-jwa into a multi-player PVP was like unleashing a madman.
Even while facing multiple opponents, dealing damage efficiently and dodging attacks is almost at the level of a monster's instinct.
He seems unaccustomed to simultaneous attacks coming in, as he only does 1v1 duels, but that fact doesn't pose much of a problem.
The support, who blocks enemies from behind, deals damage, and heals allies, is flawless without a single gap.
Just then, the eyes of White Snow, who was using a Constellation skill, flashed.
TodayIsHardCarry, abbreviated as Carry, sent a 1v1 voice chat to Do-jin and said in a shocked voice.
["What is that White Snow-eye? Is he really a Dung Star?"]
For reference, to Hunters, a Dung Star is not Bronze, but Gold.
Hunters who play GOF tend to hide the fact that they play the game until they reach Diamond rank.
That’s how much they look down on Gold stars.
["Is he crazy? Did you see that? White Dung Star passed you and climbed to 2nd place overall!"]
'Of course. That’s Hee-an Hyung.'
Do-jin thought to himself.
'What kind of relationship do those two have?'
He had come to help raise Hee-an's sub-account, but he never imagined that Chicken-jwa, whom he had faced in a 1v1 a few days ago, would be there with him.
'It doesn't look like Chicken knows Hyung's identity.'
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