Struggle (4)

It’s a well-known fact, but tteokbokki is a food that’s close to the worst nutritionally.

Massive amounts of carbohydrates with spicy seasoning and sugar.

For effective body management, it’s wise to avoid it.

Of course, it was a food I didn’t even glance at during my athlete days.

But the more unhealthy the food, the more popular it tends to be with people.

In mukbangs, foods like tteokbokki are essential menu items.

Trying it, it’s true that it’s delicious.

If there’s one problem… it’s that my body really can’t handle spicy food.

“Ugh, hueeek. Hoo, hoo. Hiccup…”

– ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– How spicy did they order it

– Oh, tongue

– Why do I want to bully her when I see her

– I won’t say bad things like wanting to feed more spicy stuff to that incompetent tongue nnn

– Her neck is white but her face is red ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

The problem started when I became ‘Oh, why is this so delicious?’ after the first few bites.

Not long after gobbling up the tteokbokki, the aftereffects started to rise.

The devil hidden behind the sweet taste found me.

The devil’s attack was fierce.

“Water. No, milk? Juice? Don’t you have any?”

“Is it that spicy? I didn’t order anything that spicy.”

“Ahurghh… Haa- ha.”

“Wait. I’ll bring you something right away.”

It hurts.

I feel like tears might come out.

Clear saliva keeps filling my mouth, and my head feels dizzy.

I pant like a dog, wanting to cool my tongue in the cold air.

I barely managed to wipe away the saliva that almost dripped with my wrist.

“Here. At least drink some milk for now.”

“Th-thank you.”

Even after drinking the milk Elderin gave me, my tongue still hurt.

I fanned my mouth, and only after drinking apricot-flavored juice did it start to calm down a bit.

The red seasoning of the tteokbokki looked like deadly poison to my eyes.

“I’ll just eat the fried food.”

“Mm, okay.”

“This is delicious too…”

Why is this greasy food so delicious?

I thought it wouldn’t agree with me as my taste became more sensitive, but it went down smoothly as if that wasn’t the case.

Though it wasn’t a stomach that could eat a lot.

Let’s challenge tteokbokki very occasionally.

When the spicy feeling completely disappears, I’ll eat just one piece.

It’s a bit of a waste not to eat it at all.

This might be the fear of spicy taste.

It has an addictiveness that’s hard to give up even after going through this.

“Ah, by the way, what were we talking about?”

– Oh, white on the tongue

– Asked how the upcoming international competition might be

– Was the tteokbokki that spicy

– It did look really spicy ㅋㅋ

– Thanks for the good show

“International competition… Right. We were talking about that.”

I forgot the topic we were discussing because I was distracted by the tteokbokki.

There’s a high probability that Sigma will win this playoff.

Although Traveler is still strong, the skill gap with other team members has widened too much.

So making various predictions in the domestic league doesn’t mean much.

What’s important is after the postseason.

The first half of the year’s international competition that the winner will advance to.

It’s about time for attention to start focusing on this timing-wise.

“I guess you’re all curious about how Korea will do?”

Traditionally, three regions show strength in international competitions.

Europe, China, North America. These three regions are generally mentioned as championship candidates.

Japan, India, and West Asia are often cited as middle-tier lines.

Korea was once a region mentioned as a championship candidate.

In fact, the career high of the Korean league was even reaching second place in an international competition.

But it naturally declined after tasting the power of population and international capital.

Now it doesn’t seem to be considered top-tier even among middle-tier countries.

Especially with Japan, a rivalry has formed with quite a back-and-forth.

You could call it a time-honored tradition in the sports world.

“I think… you can expect a little. At least better than previous years, don’t you think?”

Because I’m here.

I don’t know yet if I’ll be able to enter the pro league.

First, after the brainwave connection method is approved, the next step is to get recognition for use in the pro league.

As we need to follow the procedures step by step, it’s not something I can be certain about right now.

However, the current Sigma is growing based on me as a standard.

When engaging in combat with enemies, they’ll naturally recall memories of me.

It’s somewhat compensated for the weakness in the assassin line that was pointed out as a chronic problem for Korea.

Sigma might be criticized for ‘lack of assassin power’ in the international league.

However, the completeness of anti-assassin tactics has definitely changed.

At least they won’t collapse helplessly like last year.

The Reaper of England, Phantom of North America, Hashashin of West Asia.

Unless it’s an assassin worthy of discussing world-class, it won’t be easy at all.

– How can you be so sure?

– ??? : Look forward to this international competition

– Ah ㅋㅋ so the rumors were true ㅋㅋ

“For now, I don’t have anything specific to say. I’m just… taking a break from the game for health reasons.”

– OK, I believe you

– And then you’ll compete as Sigma Gawol, right? I’m holding my breath waiting?

– Isn’t it AT Gawol?

– If you were in their shoes, would you stay in Korea instead of a foreign team that treats you well? ㅋㅋ

– She’s declaring she’ll sweep everything herself

“That’s speculation. For now, Sigma’s skill is different from last year, right?”

– But Sigma’s current form is the best they’ve shown so far

– Sigma’s form improved = When this Ten-ryeon started her break

– Now that you mention it, that’s true?

– Seems like the flavor really came alive after Camellia joined

There are some sharp ones here.

But unless I give a definite answer, it’s just speculation.

Of course, I had no intention of saying anything.

If I can’t return to the game in any way, the contract itself would fall through.

Luche seems to want me to join even as part of the coaching staff, but… well

The direction I want to prove myself in doesn’t seem to be that way.

Well, there’s no need to think about it now.

Anyway – it’s a broadcast now.

A slight smile came up.

“Speaking of Camellia, shall we dissect the last match?”

One of the most fun things in the world is giving unsolicited advice about other people’s games.

Especially in a situation like now where the other person seems to be watching me.

It’s even more enjoyable if they’re in a position where they can’t refute me.

“Surely Camellia isn’t watching, right? There’s no way.”

With your personality, you’ll probably pretend not to be even if you are.

* * *

[Author: FireDoggy]

[Title: Gawol, that bitch is a real spice wimp?]

(Attached video: Gawol suffering from spiciness)

(Attached photo: White-coated tongue after drinking milk)

(Attached video: Gawol panting)

Thank you

[Comments]

– ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

[Author: SigmaFighting]

[Title: Does this Gawol have some feelings for Camellia?]

(Attached video: Gawol reviewing Camellia’s match)

I know it’s not wrong but

Why is it so annoying

Is it because she interfered during the siege?

[Comments]

– Gawol: It’s not like that

└ What the hell is this

└ Why is this real?

└ Why do you keep appearing only in places like this?

* * *

I think I’m doing everything I can.

Consistently clashing with active pro gamers and accumulating engagement data.

Sigma is steadily improving the equipment, and the synchronization rate is gradually decreasing.

The synchronization rate of the device I first used at Sigma was 65.8%.

It’s decreasing by about 0.1% every few weeks at best.

Still, it was much better than when it was stuck at 70% during the research device era.

[Current Synchronization Rate: 65.42%]

Building awareness through broadcasts is also going smoothly.

Slowly but surely, the number of people looking for me is increasing.

Elderin is even suggesting that I should create a broadcast account for myself.

Yeah, I should make one.

Maybe because I’ve gotten too comfortable piggybacking on other people’s broadcasts, I keep procrastinating.

At the same time, I was steadily gaining experience in multi-player battles in the pro league.

After all, the team battles I’ve experienced are mostly ranked matches or siege battles.

There was a difference from team games at the pro level.

It’s natural that tactical research becomes more active as more capital is invested in the game.

Naturally, the difference between competitive matches with random teammates and pro league was indescribable.

Siege battles are so different they might as well be a different game, so it’s pointless to even mention.

Yes. I was diligently sharpening my blade.

I fought without shame to myself for several weeks.

I received a lot of help in the process.

But there was one homework that no one could help me with.

[Training Mode – Free Practice]

[Battlefield: Bamboo Forest]

[Participant: Gawol (Swordsman)]

The sword.

My reverse scale that I still haven’t overcome.

My beloved weapon that I can no longer hold because it contains all my lingering attachments and pain.

It’s time to properly face what I’ve been avoiding all this time.

[6 Practice Dummies (Highest Grade) have been created.]

The sword in my hand wailed bleakly.

The grip feels terribly familiar.

The sword hilt weaving between my fingers is incredibly light, and the feel of the black uniform is more comfortable than any other clothing.

The wind coming through the V-shaped gap felt particularly cold.

“Haah…”

I need to put a little more strength in my hand than before.

Because my physical conditions have changed.

To not drop the sword with a woman’s body, at least the forearm needed to be firmly fixed.

And… what was it?

Before my head could recall, my body started reacting first.

As the created dummies approached, an unpleasant, sticky feeling started rising from my right hand.

I closed my eyes for a moment─

When I opened them.

All the practice dummies were rolling on the ground.

The blade was faintly visible under my kneeling body.

A posture of bringing the blade to my own neck and pressing down on it with one hand.

Before I could do anything, with a shearing sound and a dizzying pain, my vision went dark.

[You have been killed by Gawol.]

[You do not receive a death penalty due to ‘Training Mode’.]

[You will respawn in the ‘Player Waiting Room’.]

…Not yet, huh.

Still, I have to fight.