Supporting Characters in the Game are Obsessed

I thought it was some kind of game competition, but.

Unfortunately, our common ground wasn’t ‘Classic Classic Games.’

Well, what kind of competition is there in an MMO RPG?

It has become a newly updated “god game” recently, but it still wasn’t big enough to hold a competition. More like, can we buff the Warriors a bit?

Julia maneuvers her mechanical prosthetic arm.

In fact, in a way, it was an item that goes into the same category as Eve’s ‘body.’

Unlike Eve’s, which perfectly embodies the human form, Julia’s prosthetic arm felt, quite literally, like a chunk of metal.

A hologram screen glows above Julia’s hand.

It looked like a trailer video made for promoting the game.

《Chyang!》

The video starts with an unidentifiable battle cry.

Muscular men and women, either oddly thin or fat, throw punches that just don’t fit the present day.

《Chyop!》

The battle cries are peculiar, to say the least.

There were people with multiple arms.

And others with multiple legs.

Even from a cyberpunk perspective, it’s an overly unique look.

Sometimes, there were people wielding swords or guns, and even with their fearsome appearances, those hit by the weapons seemed completely unharmed.

Everyone in the room (a maid set, one criminal, and one wizard) focused on the hologram screen.

Finally, the hologram screen ended with the logo revealing the title of the game.

《IRON FIST – XII》

《- Now on Sale!》

It’s a game that I remember.

A fighting game conducted in virtual reality.

It was a game I had introduced to Julia back then. I think I lost all 10 matches we fought.

“…….”

…My pride was shattered.

For a while, I couldn’t even look at the virtual reality gear.

Still having PTSD from it, I squeezed my eyes shut when I tried to check the trailer.

Eve, who had watched the trailer, casually spoke up.

“I know that game too. The twelfth installment of the Iron Fist series. I’ve played it a few times during streaming.”

When did she even play it?

Anyway, it was a famous game that even Eve had played.

It was also part of the latest game lineup.

I asked Julia, “So why the sudden interest in going to a game competition?”

“……well.”

Julia, lightly biting her lips, continued to explain slowly.

22. Latest Game Mania (2)

In fighting games, there are winners and losers.

Though there’s a vile culture of draws, a contest ultimately must conclude with a victor.

Losers must endure the humiliation of hiding their bitterness while enduring kicks, while winners bask in cheers as long as they win.

It’s truly a world where the strong survive and the weak perish.

Only skill determines one’s prestige.

It’s like a jungle of survival competition.

And in such a world, Julia unexpectedly got embroiled in a controversy.

《IRON FIST – XII Bulletin Board》

[“Is ‘RabbitGangDude’ a little hacker or what?”]

The psychology doesn’t make sense at all.

Seeing how they suddenly appeared lately, they don’t seem like someone who played the previous game.

Their score is total garbage LOL.

— No?

The controversy began with a single post.

[“Ah haha, I should quit the game.”]

What’s the point of reaching the heavenly realm only to get wrecked?

As soon as a hacker clicks, you’re done LOL.

— Who?

There’s this rabbit something. (Author)

[“Isn’t this obvious by now?”]

It’s not like they’re participating in an offline match.

I checked the history, and it’s not someone who played the previous version.

Is there any fun in playing the game like this?

— ‘That Rabbit’

— Ah, this game is gonna be unbelievably lame [Hacker].

Is it revealed as a real hack?

Honestly, you’re pretty much convinced based on this evidence. (Author)

As time went by, the controversy got louder and louder.

Finally.

[“Ah~, that person? They can’t be a hacker. They don’t even show up for offline tournaments, react frame by frame, and never make mistakes. I believe that’s plausible. I know because I’ve been wrecked in rank easily. For your information, that’s why I’m not playing that garbage game these days, so don’t sponsor me to play it.”]

After a certain famous fighting game streamer called them out specifically during a live broadcast, Julia explained that she had been effectively labeled as a ‘hacker.’

“…These days, I can’t even play the game.”

How unfair must it be that she saved every single broadcast and post?

With her fists trembling fiercely, Julia finished her explanation.

“……I’m really not a hacker.”

“Well, I know that.”

It’s just scary; I wish you could at least put those fists down.

Honestly, it was quite a funny situation to see a wanted criminal seriously enjoying a game.

But at least the Julia I knew, while a criminal who broke city laws, wasn’t the type to use hacks in games.

And after all, I was the one who had introduced her to that fighting game.

…Indeed, this was an act that went against the righteous and noble values that existed even in a cyberpunk world.

As rogue elements were rising with fervor,

Julia, who solely trusted in martial prowess, felt unable to hide her regret.

So, to sum it all up.

“I want to go to an offline tournament, beat everyone up, and feel satisfied, you know?”

“…Yes.”

“It’s a team-based tournament, so I needed someone to join me.”

Julia nodded in agreement.

I could also understand perfectly well as a player enjoying a game.

“…I’m sorry for asking you for this, Siwoon.”

There’s nothing to be sorry for.

Honestly, it wasn’t a difficult request at all.

If someone asked me to help with an assassination or something, I’d be worried about how to refuse.

At least I was grateful for that.

It’s not like I couldn’t wear a mask when I streamed as Andrea requested.

There wasn’t going to be any exposure of my face.

One thing that was bothering me was…

There was a trivial issue that I hadn’t logged into that game recently.

Specifically, I hadn’t logged in since Julia beat the hell out of me.

Naturally, given that my win rate was below 50%, and I hadn’t practiced, it was inevitable that there’d be concerns about my skill before participating in the tournament.

However.

It was an issue for Julia to worry about.

It wasn’t something I needed to be concerned with.

“…Well.”

Julia opened her mouth again.

“…I may be a criminal, but luckily they don’t properly check identities for this game tournament.”

“Really?”

That was obviously a reasonable expectation.

Who would think a criminal would show up at a game tournament?

They’d probably just check a ‘biometric credit chip’ once and call it good.

And that kind of thing could easily be hacked through simple means.

…Hmm.

Well, it should be okay.

I happily accepted Julia’s request.

“If you’re okay with it, then.”

I had received a lot of help from her.

And I also wanted to have a light mood change.

It felt like the perfect opportunity.

Just then.

Eve, who had been quietly watching, suddenly spoke up.

“I can help as well.”

…Why is Eve so keen on looking after me today?

Of course, she has been caring a lot, but right now, it felt somehow different.

Dressing Catherine and Andrea in maid outfits just to greet me also felt like an odd decision.

Did she notice I was a bit down in No Answer?

I was fine now, though.

At Eve’s statement, Julia firmly shook her head. It was a clear refusal.

“…No, I really want Siwoon to help me.”

At that point, I was slightly puzzled.

If the goal was to participate in the tournament, it shouldn’t matter who goes with her.

Why did she specifically want me to join her?

Eve seemed to have the same thought.

Calmly, she continued explaining to Julia.

“…Objectively speaking, calculating it out, it would be much more efficient for me to participate instead of ‘Siwoon’—.”

Julia shook her head.

Eve’s white eyes pierced through Julia.

Looks like a fight might break out.

“I’ll just go.”

Nodding towards Eve, she responded stoically but somehow with an air of dissatisfaction.

“…I understand.”

In contrast, Julia’s reaction was bright.

“Thank you!”

Within their opposing reactions, Eve and Julia’s fates crossed.

Since it was Julia’s first time meeting Eve, maybe she was just awkwardly refusing.

“……Hehe.”

I could barely hear Julia’s giggle.

…….

…So it must be awkwardness, right?

Anyway, we entered the Net Space and submitted the participant nicknames and team name to sign up for the tournament.

‘RabbitGangDude’ and ‘ImARealWizard’s team.

《Warriors are the Best》

Tournament registration completed!

*

And then, on tournament day.

《Now, the next participants have a very unique team name.’《MachineStrongest and HumanStrongest Team’》

I met with Eve and Catherine.

…….

Why are you guys here again?

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