TL Notes: Hello friends, I apologise for the delay in posting new chapters. I've been travelling, but I'm back now and ready to work with renewed vigour. As before, you can expect three new chapters a day!

______________________________

 

Clank!

“Ugh…!”

“…Seriously impressive. That’s not a weight a normal person can lift.”

The bar, loaded with plates, moved up and down several times in midair before clattering onto the rack with a metallic sound. Multiple 40kg plates were stacked on each side of the bar. Exhaling deeply, I got up.

The towel under my back was soaked with sweat, and it was running down my body. No matter how much I moved, as long as I didn’t exceed a certain limit, this body stayed perfectly fine. That’s why I could do this.

Of course, for exercises like the bench press where I’m lying down, I had to cut a circular hole in the seat for my tail to fit through, which was a bit of a problem. Thankfully, the gym owner had provided a lot of support in that regard.

There was a bit of give and take with promotions and such.

“Phew.”

Drinking some ice-cold water made me feel a little better.

My muscles ached. But as I’ve mentioned before, even if I worked out like this, it wouldn’t bulk up my chest. After all, what grows is muscle.

Women have fat in their breasts instead. So basically, working out hard makes them look shapelier. It’s kind of obvious when you think about it.

…Of course, I don’t want to think too much about it, but it’s hard to avoid. My body has these curves that would’ve made me marvel back in the day, but seeing them reflected in a mirror instead of on a phone screen or retina brings up some weird feelings.

That’s why I prefer to wear baggy clothes when I work out. But some things just can’t be hidden. Especially the chest. Still, most people focus on the tail, so that’s something.

Anyway, that’s it for today.

“Thank you for spotting me today. You worked hard.”

“Oh, not at all. We’ve had so many new members lately, it’s exhausting. In about 10 minutes, I’ve got another personal training session lined up. But it’s all thanks to you, Yujin. We’ve been able to bring in new equipment and expand the facilities. We even refurbished some of the old machines.”

“Indeed, it’s been just over a month since I joined, but a lot has changed. The promotions must have helped a lot.”

“Haha, yes, that’s definitely a factor. Oh, and…”

He hesitated for a moment, shuffling his feet as if unsure whether to speak. Then, he leaned in and spoke in a very quiet voice so no one else could hear.

“…Actually, never mind. But congrats on ranking number one in Dark Zone, KSM. I watched it and really enjoyed it.”

“Fufu, I use the same avatar as in real life, so I imagine there are a lot of people who know me in real life but pretend they don’t.”

“It’s tempting to talk about it, but with the law and you being so close by, I have to keep quiet. It’s frustrating! By the way, any plans to reveal your real-life appearance?”

“Well, since it’ll come out naturally during the finals, I’m thinking about revealing it just before then.”

“Ah, I see.”

I’ve had similar conversations with Harmony.

As for why I’m talking about this with the gym owner, it’s because he already knows what I look like in real life. I’ve met him far more often than I’ve met Harmony, so it’s natural in a way.

But, of course, it’s strictly a member-to-owner relationship. Why would it go beyond that?

“Anyway, that’s it for strength training today. I’ll probably cycle a bit and then head out. Thanks again for your help this early in the morning.”

“Haha, no problem. This place runs 24/7, so I take turns. Plus, you need to be alert in the morning to prevent accidents. And lately, a few people have started showing up in the morning just to catch a glimpse of you, Yujin, so it wakes me up, too…”

“Haha, I see. Alright then.”

I gave a slight bow, thanking him for his effort, and he headed off to prepare for someone else’s personal training.

With a towel around my neck, I hopped onto the cycling machine and started pedaling. The beep sounded, displaying the time and speed. I increased the resistance slightly and opened up my Icarus screen, synced to my phone, to check today’s emails.

Since KSM ended—since I was selected for the national team—emails about ads and sponsorships have been pouring in. Among them were resumes from people who applied through the editor job posting. That was my priority, so I started reviewing portfolios.

My channel has surpassed 200,000 subscribers at this point. In other words, one editor and one thumbnail designer can no longer handle the workload, so I’ll need to bring in more help to keep things running smoothly.

And these days, with the salary increases for the thumbnail designer and the second editor, streaming alone is making enough money to cover it all. I haven’t even counted the revenue from the channel itself.

As long as I manage everything carefully, it should all be fine.

-[Notification: Switched to bulk ad review mode.]

Buzz.

Instead of checking each email individually, I used the gear to quickly scan through the attached photos and requests, focusing on the important parts.

Most of them were for products that could be worn in virtual reality. It made sense because those are the easiest to advertise. There’s no need to ship the actual items. So, the first things that caught my eye were a variety of accessories.

In other words, they were data files of things to wear during broadcasts.

“Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, watches…there’s so much.”

I don’t know how to describe it, but there were so many items that would be perfect for a social gathering or ballroom event.

Even Bulgari asked me if I could advertise their snake-shaped watch, saying it matched my avatar concept. I couldn’t help but laugh when I first saw that.

The fact that the watch wraps around the wrist made it seem like I could use it to block attacks someday. Of course, with the Icarus gear, that wouldn’t be necessary, so I just kept it for now.

While it seemed like it was all accessories, there were plenty of offers from different industries.

Some examples include sportswear, selling time for meetings with me, and collaborations with cooking channels on YourSpace. Public TV interviews are a given.

And then, a notification popped up.

-[Notification: SSM Entertainment has made you an offer.]

Click.

The message was simple. They were offering a multi-million-dollar contract to continue working with SSM, asking if I was willing to participate as one of their players. If not, they also offered roles in a documentary or advertisement co-produced by SSM and Icarus, featuring pro gamers.

To be specific, it was for items like food, snacks, bedding, shoes, and clothes, all of which prominently featured the SSM logo either on the front or on the shoulder.

I kept this one for future consideration as well.

 

In the meantime,

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen this.”

Vortex, EOTech, Mechanix Wear, 5.11 Tactical, Strike Industries, Monstrum, Nightforce, Sig Sauer, SureFire, OSS… all these tactical gear manufacturers whose names were practically drilled into my head from the past missions.

In short, they were asking me to promote their tactical gear through Dark Zone.

On top of that, companies like Vortex, EOTech, and Nightforce specifically selected me. It’s probably because during the AP matches, I always used the Vortex Razor Gen 3 or EOTech’s Vudu variable scope, giving them plenty of free exposure.

I wonder why Americans are so interested in watching Korean matches, but I just brushed it off as something that happens.

Also, the makers of the Mk.18 Mjölnir, SWORD International, subtly contacted me through Icarus. Of course, since they’re a firearms company, there’s no way for them to send me a real sponsorship.

I’m very tempted by this, but unfortunately, I’ll never get to try it out in reality. Not being able to shoot it is one of many disappointments.

While I was going through all these offers—

-[Notification: ‘Dice’ is calling you via VR.]

“Mute mode.”

Suddenly, the room became silent.

After blocking the external noise with the Icarus gear, I answered the call. Due to the nature of VR-linked calls, Dice probably thought I was using the avatar’s voice, even though I was speaking in my real voice.

Anyway, that’s beside the point.

“Yujin, are you busy? Oh, wait, you're at the gym! Sorry, I’ll hang up!”

“It’s fine, I just stepped out for a moment to take your call. What’s up?”

“Oh, did you see the email I just sent? The briefing date and venue for the Asia preliminaries have been set. This Saturday, at the Grand Swiss Hotel convention hall, all the national team members and coaching staff from each team will be there.”

“In real life? That’s unexpected. I thought it would be like the last KSM briefing, held in virtual reality.”

“Well, starting with the Asia preliminaries, it’s got more of a national competition vibe. Plus, since we’ll have to head to the U.S. for the finals, it’s a chance for the players and coaching staff to get to know each other.”

Then… hold on a second.

Just glancing over the email, I already had a pretty good idea of what Dice’s real motive was in bringing this up. Even if I pretended not to know, I could hear the excitement in his voice.

And, as expected—

“I’ll finally get to see your face, Yujin!”

“I figured.”

“Heheh, even if you say that, there’s no turning back now. In just two days, not only I but everyone will know what you look like. I’m so excited!”

And then he added:

“Seriously, though, I’m curious. Could you give me a little hint? Like, are you super buff? Stronger than the trainers you’ve worked with?”

“You talk too much. Aren’t you worried about the consequences?”

“Uh… I’ll leave that to future me. Anyway, Yujin, I bet you’ll be surprised when you see me, too! Last year, people from other teams were totally shocked when they met me. They couldn’t believe it. The fact that my identity hasn’t leaked is for the same reason.”

“I have a rough guess. You’re a woman, right?”

“Wha…?”

For a moment, I could imagine Dice’s dumbfounded expression on the other side of the call.

Of course, other pro gamers last year wouldn’t have known much about what this guy’s real life was like since they didn’t spend all day with him like I did… but in my case, it was different.

From knowing all about shower products and cosmetics—which, sure, might not be entirely gender-specific—to spending over 40 minutes in the shower. Not to mention the way he talks. We didn’t just exchange voice chats during games, but shared small details about everyday life. How could I not know?

“…How did you…?”

“Fufu, why would you think I wouldn’t know?”

“Ugh, but there’s still a lot more I haven’t revealed yet. I’m going to keep the rest a secret to keep you curious.”

“Just don’t be too shocked when you see me on Saturday.”

Considering that Harmony almost collapsed when she met me in person, I wonder what Dice’s reaction will be.

Anyway, after exchanging some more small talk, I realized I’d already been on the cycling machine for an hour. I was drenched in sweat.

Even while riding the elevator, stripping down, and stepping into the shower at home, Dice kept chatting away. It’s a wonder he thought he could keep his gender a secret.

Now it was time to eat.

Whirr!

“Oh, what’s that noise?”

“That’s the sound of making a 2,000-calorie shake in one go. I need a lot of calories, you see. It’s a blend of chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream, milk, and chocolate syrup. Want to try it later?”

“Ugh, if I eat that, I’ll die of diabetes!”

“Hahaha.”

Still, considering I burn at least 5,000 calories just by breathing—and that’s the minimum—even a little exercise doubles that. Technically, I’ve got a body with insane fuel efficiency, but I don’t really feel that way.

Anyway, if I down this with a few slices of pizza, I can hit about 4,000 calories. The explosion of high-calorie foods in the modern world has been a blessing for me.

“Well, in any case. See you the day after tomorrow! They’re serving lunch at the event—a buffet. If you’re free that evening, how about dinner? I’ll treat. But, uh… no alcohol, you know what I mean?”

“I don’t drink either. Don’t worry.”

“…Except for what you eat, you really do take care of yourself.”

…Can you really say I take care of myself if I don’t control my diet?

Either way, the call wrapped up on that note. As I placed the freshly blended shake on the table, I heard a ding from the oven, signaling that the food was ready. This early morning was shaping up to be quite greasy.

While chewing on some bread—

“This will be something fun to mention on the stream later.”

The viewers will love it if I bring it up during the Just Chatting session.

It feels like I’m slowly becoming a full-fledged streamer.

[Tricky’s Personal Community - Yujin]

[Announcement] I might take a day off from streaming on Saturday.

Hello, everyone. It’s Yujin.

As you can see from the title, this is due to my attendance at the Asia preliminaries briefing. After that, Dice is treating me to dinner. I’m not sure when I’ll be home. If possible, I’ll try to stream around 10 p.m.

Of course, there will be no outdoor stream. What were you expecting? Hehe.

Additionally, a heads-up: there may be a lot of ads in future broadcasts. I’ve been receiving tons of sponsorship offers. I’ll try to host some giveaway events so many of you can benefit.

Since I can’t handle all the stuff I’ve been sent… well, that’s about it. I feel kind of bad that I can’t give more to you all.

But honestly, it’s Saturday night—aren’t you all going to watch, even if I start the stream late? If you don’t mind, please tune in.

See you later. 20000.

[All Comments] [Sorted by Time]

=How is this even an announcement, lololololol

=He really knows how to roast people gently, lol

=Do we get voiceover announcements now? Why am I hearing Yujin’s voice reading this in my head?

ㄴRight?! lololol

ㄴAre you hearing it too?

ㄴMe too!

=You think you’re taking just Saturday night off? You’re taking every day off! Get a job already!

ㄴPlease, go do something! Get to work!

ㄴI’m prepping for the military…

ㄴOh no

ㄴLMAO

ㄴ[Yujin] Please take care of yourself in the army ◟( ˘ ³˘)◞ ♡

ㄴWow!!!!!!!!!!!! I’ll cherish this forever!!!!!!!!!!

ㄴIf I re-enlist, can I get a kiss from Yujin too? Please tell me, this is urgent!

ㄴI’m signing up as a professional soldier right now, lolol

=The comments are going wild, lololol