"It feels like I just twisted a child's wrist, and I don’t feel that great about it."

Maybe it was because I made the perfect counter and played the game like that, but I didn’t feel particularly good about it.
It was, after all, a matchup I was supposed to win.

[🗡️All-Knowing Cthulhu: As expected, twisting a child's wrist, Dama, lol]
[Kang Hoo-min here: But haven’t you all twisted a kid’s wrist at some point?]
[Such a blunt assessment, lol]
[This is seriously harsh, though]
[Who the hell twists a kid's wrist?]
[But looking at how kids act, it feels like twisting is fine, lol]
[Damn, this is why the country’s like this, sigh]
[Harin: The chat’s already messed up here, huh?]
[Harin: I’m used to it**]
[Hahahahaha]

"Harin, it’s not usually like this. What do you mean, 'used to it'?"

The chat in my stream isn’t usually like this.
It’s… well, not high-class, but at least the people here talk about the game and are generally good-natured.

[🗡️All-Knowing Cthulhu: Hmm]
[Hmm]
[Hmm]
[Hmm]
[Hwanhee: Hmm]
[Harin: Hmm]
[Kang Hoo-min here: Hmm]

"Don’t make strange assumptions, I’m going to bed now. The 32nd round starts tomorrow anyway."

It was getting late, and I needed to rest.
The 32nd round tomorrow wasn’t the reason, though.
I had to work part-time, after all.
I knew the 32nd round would start at 4 PM tomorrow.
So, I could work, get home, and stream, all in good time.

[🗡️All-Knowing Cthulhu: Wow, you’re just doing the competition and leaving, huh]
[Die already]
[The broadcast vibe is dead]
[Ugh, Dama, die already, ugh]
[Hwanhee: What’s with the direct attacks, lol**]
[Dama’s viewers, average, lol]
[Harin: See you tomorrow, bye bye**]
[What’s up with you, 128th round dropout, lol]
[Damn, lol]
[Such rude words, geez]

"Don’t bash other people."

With that, I ended the broadcast.

[The broadcast has ended!]

"Ugh, this is exhausting."
Sitting all day playing League of Legends, I was a bit tired.
The fatigue had been slowly accumulating.
I think it was a good call to end the broadcast here.
If I pushed myself too hard, it could affect my chances of winning.

"Oppa, sleep quickly. You have to win tomorrow."
"What? Were you watching my broadcast?"
"Huh, why would I watch your stream? Ugh."
"You don’t need to hate it so much."

I chatted with Lee Ye-ram about trivial things and then fell asleep.

"Good morning."
"You’re working today?"
"I had something to take care of yesterday. I told you about it."
"Just kidding, just kidding."

Shin Ye-hwa greeted me warmly, and after a brief exchange, I immediately put on my apron.
Many people don’t wear aprons while working in cafes, but that’s a big mistake.
Coffee grounds can get everywhere, naturally staining clothes.
It’s especially bad if you wear white clothes.

Thinking about that, I hurriedly started making coffee.

"One iced tea, please."
"…Tea?"
"Takeout, please. I’d like it packaged."
"Oh, sure."

What?
Am I an idiot?
The thought just popped into my head.
Who calls takeout 'tea'?
I just wanted to slap the guy right then and there.

"There are a lot of customers like that these days. They shorten words unnecessarily... honestly, I still don’t get why people shorten 'iced Americano.'"
"Yeah, I don’t get it either. I never understood why people do that."

It seemed like Shin Ye-hwa shared my thoughts.
A small sense of camaraderie formed as I made the coffee.
Normally, Shin Ye-hwa makes the coffee, but with more customers lately, I had to help out too.

"Your iced Americano is ready."

I carefully placed it on the counter.
They’d probably take it themselves.
But then, suddenly...

"Please be more careful next time. If you work in a cafe, you should remember how to say 'takeout' properly."
"Yes!"

The guy had such a nasty attitude, but I just shrugged it off.
If I had fought him in the ring, we’d be kissing the asphalt by now.
I thought about that as I mechanically made the coffee and took orders.
Just then—

"I’ll order."
"Yes."
"First, a vanilla bean cream frappuccino with low-fat milk..."
"We don’t do custom orders."

I cut him off quickly.
What kind of nonsense is this?
We’re not a specialized coffee franchise, for crying out loud.
He could at least ask properly, without trying to act like a know-it-all.

"Why?"
"Well… it’s just not allowed."
"All you have to do is change the milk to low-fat and froth it up, then set the soy milk to 34 degrees."

I could feel my inner anger building, but I managed to hold it back.
I almost wanted to yell at the customer.
I sighed and grabbed my phone.
The boss had said to contact him if we had these kinds of customers.
I just hoped the time would pass smoothly while I worked.

"Ah, I’m so pissed. I really want to strangle that guy."

[🗡️All-Knowing Cthulhu: Whoa, calm down]
[Why are you so mad, Dama?]
[Totally understandable, lol]
[That guy’s a total jerk]
[This is why idiots shouldn’t be around]
[Temporarily banned!]
[What kind of chat is this when the host is also a guy?]
[Subtly bashing Dama too, lol]
[I’ll track him down and slit his throat if you give me the address]
[As expected, the blunt assessment, lol]

I was still angry, thinking about it.
Why the hell was he talking about custom coffee at a small cafe?

"Making the boss come here... Ugh. No, focus on the tournament."

The situation finally calmed down when the boss arrived at the cafe.
I couldn’t help but think how I would have loved to throw him into a Suplex.
I checked the matchups.

"My opponent is Fabru? Never seen this person before."

[🗡️All-Knowing Cthulhu: Oh, that person]
[🗡️All-Knowing Cthulhu: The one who knocked Harin out, lol]
[Harin: Cough, cough]
[Harin: Please take revenge for me]
[Harin: How shameless, lol**]
[Why is Dama the one taking revenge? lol]
[Ah, H-Sense is uncontainable]

It seemed the person I was facing was Harin’s opponent.

"Ah, right. So it’s them."

This would make the 32nd round a bit more interesting.
It’s more fun fighting someone with a connection, rather than someone random.
I thought it would be an exciting match as I waited for my turn.
Then, suddenly...

[MingMing: Hello]
[🗡️All-Knowing Cthulhu: Oh, welcome, 32nd round dropout]
[What is this, a meeting of the eliminated players?]
[Hey hey]
[Let’s stop calling them ‘eliminated,’ okay?]
[Harin: Wait, are we playing the Fine Cup like this?]
[The prize is ten million won, so of course it’s a serious match.]
[Damn, these losers really stink, lol, get out of here, don’t bring bad vibes to the stream]
[Kang Hoo-min here: “Losers”]

MingMing, who had been knocked out in the 32nd round, joined the stream.
Why do they all come to my stream after losing in the tournament?
I’m just hoping nothing bad rubs off on me.

"I heard MingMing’s opponent is Gold rank."

I had heard a lot of rumors about MingMing’s opponent while playing in the Ifrit gallery.
I think they were Gold 2 or 3.

[MingMing: It was tough, they’re a pro with their legs.]
[🗡️All-Knowing Cthulhu: A master getting owned by a Gold player, and they’re still talking.]
[Hahahaha]
[Is this the elegance of a loser?]
[Harin: Tsk tsk**]
[Hwanhee: I just got here, hasn’t started yet, thank god**]

Hwanhee arrived a bit late today.
Something must have happened, since normally they’d join right after the broadcast started.

"You might lose to a Gold player. I understand."

I said, passing time as I waited.

Then, suddenly, I received a message in Discord.

[Next match. Please enter the private room.]

I immediately typed in the password and entered the private room.
My opponent was already there.

[Fabru: Hello]
[LondonIsDangerous: Hello]

After exchanging brief greetings with Fabru, the 32nd round began.

I knew that the official interviews would start from the quarterfinals, so I didn’t need to worry about that yet.

‘Interviews are such a hassle.’

I didn’t want to think about what I’d say.
Just annoyed at the thought, I clicked on the random champion selection.
A moment later—

"Wait a second."

A champion appeared that I hadn’t expected.
A male character with pink-dyed hair.
He was standing on floating platforms in mid-air.

[🗡️All-Knowing Cthulhu: Whoa]
[Whoa]
[Whoa]
[Hwanhee: Whoa**]
[Kang Hoo-min here: Whoa**]
[Harin: Whoa**]
[MingMing: Whoa**]

This was a champion that would be instantly banned if mispronounced.

[Sejinpin]

"..."

I couldn’t speak.