LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 8
Chapter 8 – Oh, it shouldn’t go wrong.
『Writer: Anonymous』
『Title: Detailed Explanation of Why GetDevoured Jerk is such a Hacker』
『I’ve had doubts before, but I couldn’t grasp the evidence because this damn game doesn’t allow ranked game spectating.
But did that GetDevoured jerk really use hacks even in custom games against a Challenger opponent?
I don’t know if it’s stupid or shameless, but it seems like both to me.
Now, let’s first take a look at the route that the rogue drew at the beginning…』
***
Students heading home, office workers leaving work. As the starting alert sound of Ark’s broadcast rings like an alarm, I woke up from a pleasant nap.
A regular broadcast starting every day from Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. There may be breaks but never delays. That’s the main reason I love Ark.
Having a ‘Cafe Tour’ time reading posts on the fan café for the first 30 minutes of the broadcast before starting the game was perfect.
How could you not like a broadcaster who takes care of eating breakfast before starting the game?
Unwrapping a chocolate pie I had bought the day before, I sat in front of the computer and logged into Tw*tter.
『Master Tier Ark’s Promotion Match Broadcast (x _ _ _ _ _ _) | Part 1 Cafe Tour』
Oh. It was a promotion match broadcast. I’m not really into viewer participation during promotion matches. Not that there’s any particular reason.
When you fail to cross a major milestone in life, it’s easier to blame the outside rather than look internally for the cause. By not reflecting on your own mistakes and blaming the world, it not only hinders growth but also leads to feelings of powerlessness and pain.
Such a delicious sight must be enjoyed by watching the facial expressions changing every moment during the game. I’ve made up my mind.
Today, I’ll cheer on Ark’s promotion match while chatting with fellow viewers. I took a bite of a Choco Pie and opened a notepad filled with cheering emoticons.
I carefully selected cheering emoticons from both domestic and international broadcasts. As I scrolled down the seemingly endless notepad, I felt full even without eating a meal.
However, to my disappointment, after preparing meticulously and putting on a satisfied smile, the broadcast of Ark I connected to was quite different from usual.
* * * *
“Huh? What’s this? Why is our cafe on fire?”
Ark planned to show off a few fan arts, react to clips of other broadcasters, and maybe watch some funny videos. As usual before starting a game, I logged into the fan cafe with a light heart.
But it was a completely different atmosphere than usual. First of all, the speed of comments was different from usual-
『”Where are the ones who used to fanboy over the Shadow Rogue Preacher or whatever?”』
『Calling a despicable sexual harasser a cheerful terrorist – recognize it』
『If that disgusting cheater doesn’t get a permanent ban, I’m really quitting this game』
『What’s up with the pathetic hacker being called the spice of the broadcast? lol』
『Let’s all report them one by one』
『Caught the trash that’s disrupting the broadcast lol』
『How boldly do you need to admit to using hacks so confidently lol』
Just by scanning the titles, Ark could tell there were a lot of angry people.
“Um… What’s going on?”
Just by skimming through, she could tell there was some incident related to GetDevoured and hacking.
– User1 has donated 1,000 won!
【Yesterday, proof video of GetDevoured using hacks was revealed】
‘Even a video surfaced.’
It could be a sensitive issue and become a hot topic. However-
‘Why is my fan cafe on fire!!!’
It was not good in many ways. Not only was the hacking issue a bad topic, but it was even worse because it involved a controversy regarding ordinary people.
If not managed carefully, the controversy could stick to the more famous self-proclaimed person, leading to a new controversy arising due to a mishandled response.
“Um… that person? No, everyone, I understand your anger… but please refrain from mentioning ordinary people and causing controversy in the fan cafe.”
“Huh? Look at me. Just talk about me.”
Despite trying to ignore public opinion with a cutesy expression and laugh, and change the subject, the viewers who caught onto the topic easily didn’t seem ready to move on.
– User2 has donated 1,000 won!
『Remember when we were doin’ that Discourse sesh, did it bring some heat, huh? Maybe~』
『Fr, lol』
『Why did we have a one-on-one Discourse convo? Why did we have a one-on-one Discourse convo? Why did we have a one-on-one Discourse convo? Why did we have a one-on-one Discourse convo? Why did we have a one-on-one Discourse convo? Why did we have a one-on-one Discourse convo? Why did we have a one-on-one Discourse convo?』
『Let’s have a public hearing~ Let’s have a public hearing~ Let’s have a public hearing~ Let’s have a public hearing~ Let’s have a public hearing~』
『Nah, that was just… ugh.』
– User 1 has donated 1,000 won!
『Why are you acting like Ark did something wrong here?』
“Yeah! But, seriously, everyone calm down. I’m a victim too, why come to the victim’s room and act this way?”
In an unexpected friendly demeanor, Ark, who had been provoked, spoke up firmly to change the atmosphere.
『Please refrain from mentioning unrelated individuals. If you continue, I will bring down the banhammer.』
– User 2 has donated 1,000 won!
『Mentioning unrelated individuals (sharing IDs, adding on Discourse)』
‘Of all days… Ah, really!’
It was a rare promotion match. A day to attract viewers by provoking them, collecting congratulatory or comforting funds.
On this fateful day, as a catastrophe unfolded, Ark’s expression, usually proud of his acting skills, began to stiffen.
– User 3 has donated 1,000 won!
『The host doesn’t look happy; did something bad happen with their boyfriend?』
『Oh no, what should we do about our Ark?』
『Let’s go comfort Ark right away, guys』
And while focusing on tracking down troublemakers and giving them a permanent ban, momentarily shutting out the chatter, the atmosphere in the room began to take an odd turn.
– User 4 has donated 1,000 won!
『Judging from the shielding, looks like they’re going after Ark… Isn’t it a bit of a stretch to target the boyfriend?』
– User 5 has donated 1,000 won!
『Even after the host said it’s unrelated, why keep tearing at it? Will you only be satisfied if they commit suicide?』
“Why did you have a Discourse with unrelated individuals?”
– User 6 has donated 1,000 won!
『It seems like you’ve lost recent contact with that unrelated individual, huhㅠㅠ』
“Oh my! That’s…”
『Hahaha』
『Oh no,ㅠㅠ You gotta maintain a relationship with your significant other oftenㅠㅠ』
– User 7 has donated 1,000 won!
『Analyzing Ark’s aegyo every day… Brother, I gotta go hardcore shopping too!』
Perhaps it was because they usually maintained a relatively free broadcasting atmosphere. Or maybe they underestimated the malice of viewers who had come in specifically to stir up trouble.
Whichever side it was, the clumsy attempt at containment only added fuel to the spreading fire-like atmosphere. The number of viewers had suddenly surged to nearly 5,500, with IDs that were not usually seen in sight, flocking in abundance. For every ban, two new people were coming in.
『Does Ark even know how that Newnamed guy is treating him lately?』
『True LOL Just ignorance tbh』
『They’re even doing Discourse together, looks like they were about to duo LOL』
『Seriously, not his boyfriend?』
『LOL I almost wanted to say, ‘I wish!’』
As the bans were duplicated, the broadcast chat literally exploded, and the piled-up donations were mostly filled with malicious 1,000 won punches. Unable to bear it any longer, the chat was switched to subscriber-only, but –
『In reality, it wasn’t sniping but an unofficial duo~』
『Stop the bans for real』
『Ark, just end the broadcast for now』
『Unni, please just ban them allㅠㅠ』
『Oh, that forum…』
『What’s the manager doing? Get rid of the bans』
『What if the manager is also involved? OMG』
『Why are they shielding the hacker; do they really know each other?』
The chat had slightly relaxed its tone, but it was already too late, confirming the fact once again. To manage the situation by suppressing the chat, they should have done it right at the very beginning.
Above all, even from the fans’ perspective, the boyfriend rumors were not something easily brushed off. No matter how absurd the suspicions may be, boyfriend rumors have a penetrating and enduring power.
Even viewers currently chatting in support of Ark could harbor boyfriend suspicions if the situation was not properly clarified immediately.
It was particularly problematic that the subject was someone like GetDevoured. Some viewers were skeptically thinking that Ark was trying to include GetDevoured in the broadcast through Discourse.
Originally, boyfriend rumors start from small doubts like, ‘Why did xx’s break day coincide with the broadcast?’
‘Why did oo suddenly go on a trip to Busan where she lives?’ and explosively escalate from there.
“Oh no….”
He could feel a cold sweat running down her spine. No matter how much Ark aimed for skillful gaming broadcasts, she was well aware of her essence as a female broadcaster.
And, the slight difference between being ‘the female friend who is good at games and fun to tease, with a bit of charm’ and ‘The woman who doesn’t see me as a man so I can be comfortable around her, but might be harsh with a boyfriend’ is just one step, but a world of difference for a broadcaster.
Especially for a broadcaster like Ark who allowed some level of cheekiness in a relaxed atmosphere, it was even more crucial. She was doing well until her so-called boyfriend was mentioned on the broadcast, and the broadcaster’s career took a nosedive.
Fortunately, he wasn’t really her boyfriend, but the problem was the atmosphere. It felt as if Ark had to prove she didn’t have a boyfriend, creating an uncomfortable vibe.
However, how does one prove the absence of a nonexistent boyfriend?
Proving nonexistence is fundamentally close to impossible. As Ark regretted every single thing from her failed attempt at a Discourse interview to her handling of today’s broadcast, she received a donation from one of the culprits of the situation.
– Gwangjil donated 100,000 won!
『Ah… I’m truly sorry, Ark. It seems things escalated because of me.』
* * * *
“Uum…”
On one monitor, there was Ark’s broadcast, and on another, the KoK Forum was open for confirmation.
This was an unfortunate incident that occurred due to various overlapping factors.
Someone had recorded and uploaded a 1:1 underground match I had with Gwangjil on G-tube yesterday. Then, someone brought that video to the forum and went on a lengthy rant, spreading rumors that I was using hacks.
Unbelievably, some gamers who usually despised rogues seemed eager to latch onto anything related to rogues and tear it apart completely.
Adding to that, Ark was quite famous in the KoK Forum, and it just happened that Gwangjil also frequented Ark’s broadcasts and made donations.
With all these sparks coming together, and with the unfortunate fact that it was Ark’s broadcast in the center of it all, a user flooded the forum, pinpointing Ark’s broadcast.
“Ah… everyone, I’m sorry, but I’ll have to block the chat for a moment. I really have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“No, I really don’t have a boyfriend. No, but how do I prove it… Asking me to explain such nonsense…”
“I’ve lost my mind and shot myself in the head a few times because of that person. If it’s acting, then should I go into acting instead of being a broadcaster!”
“I’m not a crazy masochist, why would I date a sniper!!!”
To top it off, each nonsensical statement from the mentally shaken Ark was delicately tickling people’s hearts, making them go even more crazy.
Normally, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to spam whip emoticons with comments like “What? Is it supposed to mean a crazy masochist?”
…Of course, given my unexpected role in the whole situation, I couldn’t do that. I have a conscience.
Gwangjil donated 100,000 won!
『Don’t mess with that annoying scammer hacker and leave!』
It does seem like even the one who has nothing actually has something.
“Uum…”
Lost in thoughts, I repeatedly brushed my lower lip with my thumb and forefinger.
What should I do?