Season 2: Chapter 127: Cookie (1)
[VeryVeryCastle: Sigh…]
[BoySchool: D:]
[CheesyAttackJudge: …Damn]
The atmosphere in the chat room became extremely downcast. Not only had AK47 lost the game, but the manner of his defeat was utterly devastating.
Most of the posts on Embul criticized him.
[Wasn't that commander stream sniping? lol. And he still lost lol]
[He used the most despised strategy, stream sniping, and still lost. Just die lol]
Not only did he stream snipe and use a highly criticized tactic, but…
[The perfect trifecta: 'Stream sniping + Despised strategy + Rage quitting' lol]
[Seriously, rage quitting? That’s not cool]
[If AK47 is an Embul user, he should be banned, right?]
To top it all off, AK47 ended the game with a rage quit. Although it wasn’t intentional, everyone else treated it as such.
As a result, Almond and BornToB had to wait for ten minutes. OrangeKing unleashed a legendary ten minute rant filled with expletives. It was a war where no honor or benefits were gained on both sides.
The chat members grew divided. Some even went as far as capturing and posting AK47's contact profile.
[Breaking News: AK47's life is a rage quit lol]
Of course, it didn’t display his phone number. They only posted AK47's default profile after he had already locked all his profiles and gone into hiding.
Even in real life, Embul users felt astounded by AK47's decision to go into hiding.
— lol, I'm speechless
— What an idiot lol
— Did it have to go this far?
— It's as if the word “pathetic” took human form
Expressions of dismay and derision dominated the comments. Subsequently, users analyzed what could have caused AK47's meltdown.
— Netizen10: I bet he saw the video of Almond counting money and lost it
└ lol, true
└ That would drive anyone insane~~
└ Imagine losing a nerve-wracking game and then seeing your opponent casually enjoying and profiting from it lol lol lol
Some suggested that seeing Almond casually enjoying the game could have infuriated AK47 even more.
— It's OrangeKing's 10 minute diss track that broke him lol
└ Agreed lol
└ His brain must've gone white lol
└ "The snake that changed its cable"
└ lol lol lol lol
└ Doratnal lol lol lol lol
Others believed that the clip of OrangeKing venting during the ten minute wait was what did it. Whatever the case, the situation was utterly humiliating for AK47 from all angles. It was a classic case of public admonishment.
Although OrangeKing and the Embul users didn't intend for it, it ended up that way. After AK47 was publicly humiliated, no one dared to stream snipe anymore.
[SandSpoon: Guys, aren't we stream sniping?]
Even when someone asked if they were stream sniping or not.
[Brr: Just one stupid kid caused us all this grief]
[BoySchool: Has he left the chat? Really, his life is a rage quit]
[CheesyAttackJudge: AK47... I don't even need to judge you, the world is judging you already. I'm worried we'll be dragged into this mess…]
The so-called Elite Four simply exchanged unrelated messages despite continual prodding from others.
[SandSpoon: lol, guys! Aren't we stream sniping? Almond is starting another game lol]
Almond and BornToB started another game and continued playing.
[Brr: I'm tired, let's call it a day]
[VeryVeryCastle: Yeah, let's do it next time]
[CheesyAttackJudge: Alright, take care]
The Four Kings ended the conversation as if they were done for the day.
[SandSpoon: ??? What did you guys do to get tired? lol lol lol]
They acted as if they had been stream sniping and playing several games themselves. SandSpoon was bewildered by their attitude.
[SandSpoon: ???]
However, SandSpoon himself didn't have the courage to stream snipe.
[SandSpoon: Ok. Goodnight. (sleep tight)]
Eventually, he left a message suggesting he was also done for the day and disappeared.
Chi-Seung, who had been watching this chat room, smirked to himself.
‘They scatter after just one attempt at stream sniping.’
He thought it would be a long battle if these guys really set out to stream snipe in earnest. Was this really the end?
‘No, not yet. They haven't left the chat room.’
Of course, they could return tomorrow as if nothing ever happened.
“Kimchi Warrior? You suddenly went silent. Is the game too boring for you!?” OrangeKing called out from next to him.
Kimchi Warrior had been lost in thought and hadn't said anything in a while.
“Ah… I was just lost in thought for a moment...”
— lol
— So at leisure
— This game is a free win~
— Might as well sleep through it
The current game was against an unknown foreign commander. Obviously, it wasn't a stream snipe and the opponent had no clue about BornToB’s aggressive archer strategy.
The opponent naively opted for a standard build and dreamed of quickly reaching the third era to dominate the map with a strong military force.
However, Almond decimated fifteen of his workers in the transition to the second era.
“Ah! The workers are getting massacred!!”
OrangeKing was naturally excited to announce this. The game was practically over.
“Another promotion match is just around the corner for Almond and BornToB!”
If they won this game, Almond would reach another promotion match. With a win there, he’d reach A+ rank. After that, he wouldn't need to practice with BornToB anymore. Instead, he’d move on to rank up with the junior member of the actual national team.
That would make things much easier than now, allowing him to gain a wider range of experience and improve his skills.
Meanwhile, Almond killed three more enemy workers.
“Eighteen workers down! It wouldn’t be surprising if the enemy surrenders right now!”
Having just transitioned to the second era, the opponent helplessly lost workers to Almond’s incursion.
Chi-Seung even pitied the opponent who just managed to produce some archers and sent them naively against Almond. Of course, they were no match.
The massacre of workers depleted the opponent's resources while BornToB continued recruiting more archers on his side.
Almond’s archers began to accumulate at the enemy base.
“Ah! The game is almost over!?”
Almond and his archers invaded the enemy base and took over more resources. Although the archers couldn't directly attack the town hall, the game was effectively over.
However, the opposing commander didn't quit.
“Ah! Does this commander have incredible perseverance!? Is it because he’s from a Nordic country and doesn’t care much since 70% of it goes to taxes!?” OrangeKing joked that the commander was from a Nordic country.
— lol
— King Welfare State lol
— Are they even going to tax the game money? lol
Usually, BornToB stepped in to swiftly resolve such situations.
[BornToB: NOOB]
The effect was tremendous.
[The enemy commander has surrendered!]
— BornToB’s mental attack lol
— Savage lol
— I’d be pissed too if I were him lol
“Yay. Another win! Currently, BornToB and Almond are on an unbeaten run. They’ve reached the A+ promotion match!”
— Legendary, really
— Incredible…
— But honestly, a bit of it is because of Kimchi Warrior lol
With that, the match concluded. A drum resounded and a message appeared.
[You are now eligible for a promotion match!]
Almond finally reached the A+ promotion match. It was around 11 P.M. so he would continue with it another time.
“It’s best to call it a day.”
“Ah, that’s right. Adequate rest is also a part of training!”
OrangeKing and Kimchi Warrior exchanged farewells. Almond also bid goodbye to BornToB.
“You worked hard today as well, BornToB.”
“Thanks, Almond. It seems like we don’t have much time left together…”
BornToB seemed saddened by the impending separation from Almond.
— It’s like sending away the goose that lays the golden eggs lol
— BornToB will now go back to being B rank lol
— More like Gone-to-be lol
Although the viewers playfully teased BornToB, Almond had grown fond of him. It felt somewhat bittersweet.
‘It’s a bit odd.’
He practically climbed all the ranks of Civil Empire with BornToB. The idea of parting with BornToB didn’t quite feel real.
“Yeah, let’s play together again sometime.”
Almond wasn’t just making a formal statement and truly meant it.
“Really?”
“Yeah, I’ll contact you after the national competition.”
“Wow, thanks!”
BornToB vanished with a bubbly laugh reminiscent of bubblegum popping.
“Everyone, it was fun today.”
Almond concluded his stream.
“Bye Treevy!”
He prepared to leave the capsule.
Ssshh.
The dedicated capsule opened with a soft noise and Sang-Hyeon sat up.
“Whew.”
He let out a deep breath for no particular reason.
“...”
Sang-Hyeon stared blankly into space. Someone had occupied his thoughts all day.
‘That veteran knight… was he famous?’
Today, he had encountered the 18th ranked player, Jancos. Jancos seemed to be a level higher than the other veteran knights he met before.
What if he encountered Jessie as an opponent? What rank was Jessie?
Sang-Hyeon’s curiosity about veteran knights began to grow.
‘If I get better equipment… can I win?’
The knights' first strength was their gear. The equipment they heavily invested in was difficult for Sang-Hyeon, a mere archer, to penetrate.
What if he switched to the knight class to fight them?
Sang-Hyeon shook his head.
‘What’s the point if I can’t hold a bow?’
He doubted his combat prowess without a bow could match them.
Bzzz.
Just then, his phone vibrated.
Sang-Hyeon picked up his phone tucked away in a corner of the capsule.
[KimchiWarrior: Do you have some time early tomorrow?]
It was Kimchi Warrior.
[KimchiWarrior: Around 1 P.M. would be great.]
[Almond: Yes, I’m free then.]
He wasn’t sure what it would be about, but he agreed since he was free at 1 P.M.
[KimchiWarrior: Alright. I'll pass the message to Cookie. The national competition rules differ a lot from the basic game, so he wants to explain them separately.]
‘A separate explanation?’
Cookie was the commander of the national team. He was the most knowledgeable and skilled person in this game in the country. He was offering to explain the rules of the national competition to Sang-Hyeon.
That was undoubtedly a good thing, but Sang-Hyeon felt puzzled.
[Almond: But isn’t reaching S+ rank the priority?]
If he didn’t reach S+ rank, he wouldn’t even be able to register for the national team roster. If he didn't reach S+ rank, what would happen then? Cookie would be explaining the rules to someone who didn’t make the team.
[KimchiWarrior: I think Cookie just wants to meet you in person. Ah, not in person, but in the game lol]
[KimchiWarrior: Cookie said even if it’s not this year, you’re someone to consider for next year and should know the rules.]
[KimchiWarrior: It won’t take much time. It’s just about hearing the rules.]
‘I see.’
It seemed like a genuine act of goodwill. Cookie was even considering Almond for next year.
[KimchiWarrior: Oh, and ask Cookie anything you’re curious about. He can probably answer almost everything lol]
[Almond: Ah, okay. I’ll ask.]
[KimchiWarrior: Then, see you tomorrow!]
That was Kimchi Warrior’s last message.
Sang-Hyeon put down his phone and thought for a moment. He recalled the movements of the veteran knights he previously faced.
‘Should I ask him to teach me swordsmanship?’
No, Almond wasn’t even part of the national team yet. He quickly dismissed the thought.