Click!
Rat-a-tat-tat!
The muzzle spat fire immediately after a swift reload.
Sori Hwa didn’t even use her skills.
This was partly due to her unfamiliarity with them, but also because she could eliminate any enemy, save for a tank, by emptying an entire magazine into them.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Thwip! Thwip!
Sori Hwa, with her incredible movement, was barely getting hit by enemy attacks.
While it was true that two of the enemy’s damage dealers had picked projectile-based characters, it was frankly absurd for a beginner to dodge all of them.
[Wadeulwadeul K binibig]
[Wadeulwadeul K Banyacle]
“No, damn it. Get out of the way.”
Jo Cheol-gon cursed at the tank obstructing his view.
The kill feed was scrolling up rapidly, and the constant obstruction of his vision was infuriating.
– What the hell?
– ?
– Their aim is insane!
– This is their aiming and movement with zero aim assist? That’s ridiculous, lol.
The viewers had confirmed that Sori Hwa had zero aim assist and hadn’t touched any settings.
Bewildered, the audience began to divide in opinion.
– Doesn’t seem like a hack? Their movements are fluid.
– It *has* to be a hack, damn it! How else could they do that with zero aim assist?
– There are over ten thousand people watching right now; if it were a hack, wouldn’t Royal Commando ban them in real-time?
– Whoa, they already charged their ultimate! Crazy, lololol.
Typically, it took regular players about 1 minute and 30 seconds to charge their ultimate ability after a game started.
Yet, Sori Hwa had charged hers in a mere 40 seconds.
Given the game’s mechanic where dealing more damage filled the ultimate gauge faster, this implied an exceptionally high damage output from her.
“I’m watching the screen too, but what is this? Is this even possible with zero aim assist?”
Because of the tank’s obstruction, Jo Cheol-gon was simply observing Sori Hwa’s screen.
Despite being a seasoned player (TL Note: ‘Goinmul’ refers to a highly experienced, often veteran, player in a game) who had been with Royal Commando since its beta, he found himself utterly unable to make a judgment.
Her gameplay was too insane to not be a hack, yet her movements were too natural, and she wasn’t getting banned, which contradicted the idea of hacking.
– If this is a hack, it’s a terrifyingly natural new-generation one.
– Zero aim assist and this? It’s genuinely unbelievable. If this is pure skill, they’re pro-level.
– Even pros can’t do that with zero aim assist, lol.
[Bombing Run!]
As viewers debated furiously, Sori Hwa’s Trooper character raised a radio and shouted.
It was the Trooper’s ultimate ability, Bombing Run.
Bombing Run had the characteristic of bombing a specific area and leaving behind lingering flames.
With three out of the five enemy players already eliminated, the remaining two had no choice but to retreat.
Even if Sori Hwa was new to the game, it was a natural move to deploy the Bombing Run along their escape route.
Boom! Crack! Bang!
[Wadeulwadeul UK Super Rapper]
[Wadeulwadeul UK Eagle Eagle Volcanic Faction]
An Ultimate Kill (UK) log appeared, indicating kills made with an ultimate ability, followed by a full team wipe.
The tank and Jo Cheol-gon had barely participated, while two damage dealers and one healer had utterly decimated the five enemies.
Judging by combat contribution and damage dealt, it was practically Sori Hwa alone who had carried the entire fight.
– Are they a super veteran (TL Note: ‘Sip-goinmul’ is an intensified form of ‘goinmul,’ meaning an extremely seasoned and skilled player)?
– At this level, aren’t they a ranked player we should know?
– They must have a main account.
– If they have a main account, that means they own two capsules (TL Note: ‘Capsule’ refers to the VR gaming device).
– Are they born with a golden spoon (TL Note: ‘Geumsujeo’ refers to someone born into a wealthy family)?
– Aren’t all the female Royal Commando ranked players streamers anyway?
– So they’re a streamer?
– It’s a prank.
The situation escalated to the point where some viewers even suggested Jo Cheol-gon was pulling a prank.
The viewers put forth various theories, echoing each other in a frenzy and throwing the chat into utter chaos.
– There are Royal Commando pros here right now.
– Shouldn’t we at least hear their opinion?
The viewers, persistent as ever, managed to drag out a Royal Commando pro who had been quietly watching Jo Cheol-gon’s stream.
This was possible because viewers could also see the list of other viewers.
[Inn Arsonist Jo Cheol-gon gifted a 1-month subscription to God Jae-hyun!]
“Are they really dragging out someone who was just quietly watching again?”
Jo Cheol-gon sighed.
They were his fanbase, yet they consistently did the very things he asked them not to.
“Still, since you’re here, could you please offer your opinion just once? I genuinely have no idea what’s going on.”
Jo Cheol-gon granted manager privileges to Go Jae-hyun, then froze all chat except for managers.
From that point on, only Go Jae-hyun could type in the chat.
“We met during the last event broadcast, didn’t we?”
– We did, lol. Good to see you.
“So, what do you think? Does Wadeulwadeul seem like a hacker to you?”
– Uhm… lololol.
Go Jae-hyun’s discomfort was palpable.
Everyone’s attention was fixed on the frozen chat window.
Even amidst this tension, the viewer count continued to climb, nearing 20,000.
As Royal Commando was such a renowned game, users from all communities had flocked to the stream.
– Honestly, I’m not sure myself, but I don’t know of any hacks that are that natural.
“…Ah, okay. Thank you.
I’ll unfreeze the chat now.
My apologies for putting you on the spot.”
The moment the chat was unfrozen, it erupted.
It was only natural for the chaos to intensify, given that even a professional player couldn’t be certain.
Furthermore, despite the ambiguity, Go Jae-hyun’s answer leaning towards Wadeulwadeul *not* being a hacker only fueled the chat’s frenzy.
“Alright, this isn’t going to work.
The chat’s going to explode again.
I know the number for a Blue Storm (TL Note: The game development company) official.
I’ll call them.”
Jo Cheol-gon resorted to an extreme measure.
Blue Storm was the game developer behind Royal Commando.
Jo Cheol-gon had appeared in Royal Commando’s event broadcasts a few times, so he had a connection.
– Calling on a weekend evening, what a total alpha male (TL Note: ‘Sipsangnamja’ refers to an extremely manly or bold man)! Lol.
– You’re killing all the office workers, you bastard! T_T
Of course, Jo Cheol-gon felt a pang of guilt summoning an office worker on a weekend evening.
But he only needed a quick confirmation.
He figured he could compensate them with a gifticon.
The capsule was a cutting-edge device, so phone calls were integrated into it.
Without hesitation, Jo Cheol-gon called the Blue Storm official.
“Oh, yes.
Jo Cheol-gon?”
Fortunately, the call connected.
Jo Cheol-gon immediately launched into the main topic like a storm.
“Ah, I’m truly sorry, but there’s a suspected hacker, and I was wondering if you could just check for me?”
“Ah, yes.
No problem.
I’m on duty anyway.”
Thankfully, the official was on duty.
Game companies kept staff on weekend duty because they never knew what might happen in real-time, and by a stroke of luck, Jo Cheol-gon’s acquaintance was on shift.
“Please tell me the nickname.”
“Wadeulwadeul.
And the BattleTag is, just a moment…”
Jo Cheol-gon began to rattle off Wadeulwadeul’s BattleTag from his friends list.
The Blue Storm official confirmed, saying they would check immediately.
Through Jo Cheol-gon’s phone, the clicking of a mouse and the clatter of a keyboard could be heard.
In that moment, Jo Cheol-gon and all his viewers held their breath.
“This is the person who created a Royal Commando account today, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“And they’re currently in a normal game with you, Jo Cheol-gon?”
“Yes.”
“There are no traces of unauthorized program usage.”
Jo Cheol-gon was speechless.
The viewers were equally dumbfounded (TL Note: ‘Menbung’ is a Korean slang term referring to a mental breakdown or state of panic/confusion).
After all, Blue Storm was a developer notoriously strict about cracking down on hackers.
If a Blue Storm official had personally checked and found nothing, it meant she truly wasn’t a hacker.
– Seriously?!
– No way, honestly.
– Isn’t it a new-gen hack?
– If that’s pure skill, it’s absolutely insane, lololol.
– Stop the baseless accusations (TL Note: ‘Eokkka’ is slang for making unfair or forced criticisms/attacks), the official said no, so why are you still making up theories (TL Note: ‘Noepisyul’ is a Korean slang term referring to a personal, unsubstantiated theory or conjecture, often presented as fact)? lolololol.
“Jo Cheol-gon?”
When Jo Cheol-gon remained frozen and silent, the official spoke again.
“Ah, yes.
Yes.”
“I’ve confirmed it for you, so may I hang up now?”
“Ah, of course.
And if there’s any particular chicken you’d like to eat, just send me a message.”
“It was just duty, you know.
But I do like Gochon Chicken.”
“Oh, absolutely, I’ll send it right over.
Understood.
Thank you!”
Jo Cheol-gon hung up the phone.
While Jo Cheol-gon had been on the phone, another team fight had broken out, and Sori Hwa had once again massacred the enemies, causing them to lose morale and abandon the game mid-match.
Since it was just a normal game, there wasn’t really any penalty for deserting.
[Victory!]
With all enemy players having deserted, the victory screen appeared even before the game officially ended.
It was a triumphant achievement, accomplished without a tank and one healer.
****
Sori Hwa and Jo Cheol-gon were immediately summoned back to the lobby.
Returning to her default female skin, Sori Hwa strode purposefully toward Jo Cheol-gon.
“You’re done with your call, right?”
“Huh? Oh, yes.”
“I’ll tell you my account number.”
Sori Hwa stated plainly.
The chat window showed signs of erupting once more.
It was a flood of messages that even a six-month follower restriction couldn’t contain.
Jo Cheol-gon quickly changed the chat restriction to one year of followership.
Even with a one-year follower condition, the chat still moved rapidly.
Nonetheless, the strict one-year requirement certainly brought a significant degree of order.
Having temporarily subdued the chat, there was something else he needed to do.
Or perhaps, it was the very first thing he should have done before even quieting the chat.
“Wadeulwadeul.”
“Yes.”
“Please send your account number via private message.”
“Okay.”
“Ah, and I’m truly sorry.
It turns out you really weren’t hacking.
And it wasn’t a setup either.”
“Of course not.
I told you that from the beginning.”
“You did, didn’t you.”
Jo Cheol-gon gave a bitter laugh.
Indeed, Sori Hwa had asserted her innocence from the start.
It was Jo Cheol-gon and the viewers who hadn’t listened.
“Somehow, I feel like I’ve lost a fan.”
“…Perhaps?”
Sori Hwa chuckled faintly as Jo Cheol-gon looked awkward.
“Really?”
“No.
Still, you gave me a capsule and you’re going to give me money, so how could I?
Anyway, I’m very grateful to you, Jo Cheol-gon.”
While it was true that she had initially felt upset by the accusations of hacking and manipulation, she understood that such things were common in internet broadcasts, which tended to flare up quickly like a boiling pot.
Sori Hwa, by nature, strongly disliked anything that made the overall atmosphere awkward because of her.
– Sorry sorry sorry
– Bro, I’m cold, hug me, bro, I’m cold, hug me
– Who dared to doubt the great Wadeulwadeul?
[Shamanic Exorcist sponsored 100,000 Nyaang!]
[Wadeulwadeul, I’m sorry.]
– Bowing my head oㄱoㄱoㄱoㄱoㄱoㄱoㄱ
– Royal Commando’s sole deity, God Wadeulwadeul, lololololol.
Not only Jo Cheol-gon, but the entire viewer chat was collectively performing a ‘bombing run’ (TL Note: ‘Wonsanpokgyeok’ is a military term for bombing a target, here used metaphorically for viewers collectively bowing their heads in apology).
The sight was amusing.
Even large donations expressing apologies to Wadeulwadeul kept pouring in.
“It’s not my place to say this, but why is this sudden change of stance so sickening?”
– <<<<<<<<<<< The most sickening person
– Ah, like streamer, like viewers, lololololol.
Jo Cheol-gon's broadcast returned to its usual atmosphere.
This warm ambiance where the streamer and viewers playfully roasted each other.
"Whew, anyway, Wadeulwadeul, you worked hard today."
"You too, Jo Cheol-gon.
Are you ending the stream now?"
"I should.
I'm incredibly tired too.
Am I getting old?"
Three hours had already passed since the broadcast began.
It had been three hours packed with numerous events.
Even though the stream was ending after just three hours, no one complained about the dense and eventful broadcast.
"Ah, Wadeulwadeul.
Before I end the stream, would you like to say a final word to the viewers?"
"Shall I?"
Sori Hwa seemed to ponder for a moment, then spoke her final words in a soft voice.
"You damn disgusting viewers, you sons of bitches."
It was the birth of a legendary moment that would later be among the top 10 most-watched clips.
