[Title: Oh, I Encountered That Bastard Too.]
[Author: GrappleLover]
[Content]
‘Unnamed’ was playing Kagero when I met them.
To be honest, I’d been a bit intimidated after watching MadHorse Bro’s videos, but when I actually faced them, they turned out to be a complete amateur.
I dominated the first round, toying with them and completely thrashing them. Seriously.
Once I started teaching them a ‘true lesson’ (TL Note: ‘Chamgyoyuk’ (참교육) is a Korean slang term referring to a harsh lesson or decisively beating someone.) with my command grabs, they were utterly helpless.
But from the second round, they suddenly dodged or broke all my command grabs. Does that even make sense?
Then, they started spamming grabs themselves, all while filling the chat with endless gloating and toxic behavior.
Infuriated, I tried to create distance and play strategically, but they unleashed combos and even ultimate moves, absolutely destroying me.
How can they suddenly gain skills in the second round that they clearly lacked in the first?
It must be a new type of hack they’re toggling on and off for each round.
MadHorse Bro, you were right…
[Comments]
[Info: This player’s main character is Asura.]
[Typical Asura player, lol.]
[You got really mad when you got grabbed back, didn’t you? Right?]
[Didn’t we already conclude it wasn’t a hack? This topic never ends.]
[Author: You try fighting them; you’ll say it’s a hack too.]
[Lol, I’m a Master, so I don’t have to deal with ‘bug-tinum’ (TL Note: ‘Beolle-tinum’ (벌레티넘) is a derogatory Korean slang term combining ‘bug’ (벌레) and ‘platinum’ (플래티넘), implying a low-skill Platinum player.) players. lol.]
[Wanna 1v1? Add me.]
[Yeah, wait.]
[Author: Anonymous]
[Title: After 10 Consecutive Wins in Unnamed’s Placement Matches, They Logged Off.]
[Content]
[Attached Photo: Unnamed’s Last Login Record – 10 Minutes Ago]
Unlike GrappleLover, who’s always logged in, this person was clearly living a ‘god-tier life’ (TL Note: ‘Gat-saeng-leo’ (갓생러) is a Korean slang term for someone who lives a perfect, productive, and well-balanced life.).
[Comments]
[GrappleLover: Don’t pick a fight with me.]
[Haha, why? Shall I toy with you again using only basic attacks?]
[GrappleLover: Shut up.]
[Didn’t they get banned and just switch to another ID?]
[No, that’s not it. If you get banned, the ID itself is blocked, and no records are left. Plus, the name and device IP are also blocked, so you can never play D-Battle Fighter on that device again.]
[How do you know so much?]
[Ah, that? Well, you see….]
****
Lee Jihyeon emerged from the VR capsule and stretched languidly.
Before she knew it, the time was approaching 2:50 PM.
It was almost time for her to head to work at the cafe.
“Shall I go?”
*Jingle-jangle—*
As Lee Jihyeon stepped into the cafe, Goo Doyoon, who had been leisurely wiping cups behind the counter, greeted her with a welcoming smile.
“Oh, Jihyeon. Welcome.”
“Hello.”
Lee Jihyeon gave a slight bow.
“You can speak more comfortably with me.”
“Oh? Ah… is that alright?”
Goo Doyoon asked, smiling awkwardly.
“Yes. It’s more comfortable that way.”
At Lee Jihyeon’s firm reply, Goo Doyoon hesitated for a moment before nodding.
“Alright, Jihyeon.”
Lee Jihyeon bowed again and then looked around the empty cafe interior.
“Still no customers, I see.”
“Do you always have to hit where it hurts as soon as you arrive?”
He grumbled, yet his voice held a hint of excitement.
“Still… it seems like changing the menu as you suggested yesterday had an effect. Quite a few students and parents came by this morning. Sales seem to be about three times higher than usual, don’t you think?”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Alright, first things first.”
Goo Doyoon pulled something from beneath the counter and handed it to Lee Jihyeon.
It was a neatly folded white shirt and a brown apron.
“You’re starting work today, so I prepared these in advance. They’re our cafe uniforms.”
“Thank you.”
Lee Jihyeon took the uniform.
[Children’s Size – 160]
Lee Jihyeon let out a small sigh and then entered the small staff changing room Goo Doyoon had pointed out.
A short while later, seeing her emerge in the changed clothes, Goo Doyoon smiled contentedly.
‘She looks better than I expected.’
The slightly loose-fitting white shirt and the tightly tied apron suited her perfectly, as if custom-made. She resembled a tiny fairy dressed in doll’s clothes.
“Alright, come over here, will you?”
Goo Doyoon called Lee Jihyeon to the kitchen, specifically to the counter where drinks were prepared.
The counter was quite high, reaching Lee Jihyeon’s solar plexus.
“This.”
Goo Doyoon tapped and pointed at a small step stool placed beneath the counter.
“I prepared it just in case. If you step on it, the height should be about right.”
Appreciating his thoughtful consideration, Lee Jihyeon stepped onto the stool without a word. Immediately, she found herself at the perfect height to work at the counter.
“Good.”
Goo Doyoon nodded with satisfaction.
“Since it’s your first day, just watch me make drinks. When an order comes in, I’ll go as slowly as possible and show you how it’s done.”
He naturally assumed that Lee Jihyeon would still be clumsy.
*Jingle-jangle—*
Just then, the first customer entered. It was a female student in a school uniform, seemingly on her way to a nearby academy.
“One strawberry smoothie, please!”
“Yes, just a moment.”
Goo Doyoon deliberately began making the smoothie slowly, as if demonstrating, so Lee Jihyeon could observe clearly.
“Alright, watch closely. For a strawberry smoothie, it’s 200 grams of frozen strawberries, 100 ml of milk, and two pumps of our special house syrup. Put all of that into the blender, blend for 30 seconds, and you’re done. Simple, right?”
He poured the finished smoothie into a cup, handed it to the customer, and then turned to Lee Jihyeon.
“What do you think? Can you do it?”
“Yes.”
Lee Jihyeon replied concisely.
Immediately, the next customer entered. This time, it was a parent who appeared to be picking up a child.
“One chocolate shake and one iced Americano, please.”
While Goo Doyoon made the Americano, Lee Jihyeon naturally picked up a shake glass.
She placed the glass on the scale and began adding ingredients, her gaze fixed on the recipe book attached to the counter wall.
[Chocolate Shake]
1. Chocolate Powder 30g
2. Milk 150ml
3. Vanilla Ice Cream 1 Scoop
4. Ice 5 Cubes
5. Blend 20 Seconds
The habit of precisely following fixed sequences and exact measurements, which she had learned through practicing the tea ceremony (TL Note: ‘Dado’ (다도) refers to the traditional Korean tea ceremony, emphasizing precision and ritual.), was ingrained in her body.
‘Huh?’
As she prepared the drink, something flashed through Lee Jihyeon’s mind.
[Chocolate Shake] = [Powder] → [Milk] → [Ice Cream] → [Ice] → [Blend]
The combination of specific ingredients and sequence required to complete a single drink.
‘This is just like….’
[Kagero Combo #1] = [Flash] → [Aerial Shuriken] → [Launch] → [Slam Down]
It bore an uncanny resemblance to the combo commands of a fighting game.
Up until now, fighting game commands had been nothing more than a meaningless string of arrows and letters to her. That was why she couldn’t grasp them.
But what if she thought of them as a recipe?
‘It’s not about memorizing… my body remembers.’
The twenty seconds the blender spun, the rhythm of her hands precisely adding ingredients in sequence.
‘Strawberry Smoothie is [Strawberry] → [Milk] → [Syrup] → [Blend].’
‘Basic Combo is [Light Attack] → [Medium Attack] → [Heavy Attack] → [Special Move Cancel].’
‘Mango Juice is [Mango] → [Water] → [Syrup] → [Blend].’
‘Grapple Combo is [Flash] → [Phantom Step Cancel] → [Grapple] → [Follow-up Attack].’
Dozens of recipes and combos swirled, rearranged, and were committed to memory within her mind.
*Jingle-jangle—*
Before she knew it, the last customer had left the shop, and the busy period was over.
“Phew… today was really busy. Jihyeon, are you alright? It’s your first day, you must be tired, right?”
Goo Doyoon asked, wiping his sweat.
He was genuinely concerned. Customers had been nonstop all afternoon, forcing them to make drinks without a break.
But Lee Jihyeon remained silent.
“…Jihyeon?”
When Goo Doyoon gently shook her shoulder, Lee Jihyeon finally snapped out of her daze.
“Ah, yes.”
“Are you really okay? If you’re tired, you can say so.”
Goo Doyoon said, looking at her with concern. Then, he added a sincere compliment.
“And truly, you were amazing. How can someone who’s never worked a part-time job before make everything so quickly and accurately, without a single mistake? You seemed even better than me.”
‘Good job….’
That single phrase created a gentle ripple in Lee Jihyeon’s heart.
‘Good job.’
Words she had longed to hear in her previous life, yet had never properly heard even once.
But since reincarnating into this world, she had already heard them multiple times. In fighting games, and now even in drink preparation.
Unconsciously, Lee Jihyeon’s lips curved into a bright smile. It was an unadorned smile, born of genuine feeling.
“Thank you.”
“Anyway, you worked hard on your first day. You must be tired, so I’ll take care of the cleanup. You can head home first.”
Lee Jihyeon was about to politely offer to help, but she pressed her lips together.
‘No, right now! I want to try out the Kagero combos I just organized in my mind! I feel like I’m going crazy!’
“Then, I’ll be heading off first!”
Lee Jihyeon bowed respectfully at a 90-degree angle. Then, without looking back, she dashed to the changing room, quickly changed her clothes, and ran out of the cafe.
*Jingle-jangle—*
Only the boisterous jingle of the bell remained in the empty cafe.
Goo Doyoon stared blankly at the door through which Lee Jihyeon had disappeared, muttering to himself.
“…She must have been really tired. Seeing her leave without looking back.”
‘Did I push her too hard on her first day?’
‘How exhausting must it have been for her small frame to stand and work like that?’
All sorts of worries flashed through Goo Doyoon’s mind.
“She’s not going to show up tomorrow, is she?”
A wave of anxiety washed over him, fearing that the employee he finally liked might quit after just one day.
****
Meanwhile, at the same time, on the second floor VR Arena.
As evening approached, most customers had left, leaving the shop quiet.
“Ah~ I’m bored.”
Han Juyeon yawned widely, idly scrolling through her smartphone screen.
She had finished all her webtoons and found nothing to watch on YouTube.
Just then, a notification message popped up at the top of her smartphone, accompanied by a familiar icon.
[LIVE: MadHorse has started broadcasting.]
“Oh, Hyuk Oppa (TL Note: ‘Oppa’ is a Korean term used by a female to refer to an older male friend or brother.) started his broadcast?”
Han Juyeon excitedly tapped the notification.
MadHorse Kanghyuk, her favorite pro gamer and streamer.
With his flashy playstyle, witty banter, and handsome looks, he was her perfect idol in every way.
Soon, Kanghyuk’s broadcast screen played as a pop-up.
Watched by tens of thousands of viewers, he was playing a ranked match with Tsubaki, a new character released yesterday.
[Broadcast Title: Tsubaki Transcendent Climb! (Current: Diamond 3)]
“Wow. He already hit Diamond? That’s insane.”
Han Juyeon exclaimed in admiration, utterly captivated by his dazzling gameplay.
A soft chime sounded—
“Hello.”
“Hm?”
At the familiar voice, Han Juyeon lowered her head to look down.
“Oh, Jihyeon! Hi. Are you done with work already?”
“Yes. What are you watching?”
Lee Jihyeon glanced at Han Juyeon’s smartphone screen and asked.
“This? MadHorse’s broadcast! Don’t you know? He’s the best D-Battle Fighter pro gamer in Korea!”
Han Juyeon tilted her smartphone screen so Lee Jihyeon could see it better.
On the screen, a man using the nickname MadHorse was showcasing flashy gameplay and interacting with viewers.
Lee Jihyeon’s expression instantly turned cold.
‘MadHorse.’
That name, plastered all over the gallery last night, belonged to the very person who had first called her a ‘hacker’ and spread that rumor throughout the entire community.
On Han Juyeon’s smartphone screen, MadHorse’s rank was clearly visible.
[Current Tier: Diamond 3]
Lee Jihyeon recalled her own tier.
[Platinum 3]. Considering the winning streak bonus, it was a tier she could quickly catch up to.
‘I’m not a hacker.’
She wanted to state, fair and square, on broadcast that she hadn’t used a hack.
