I am Smart

---

[I understand that feeling well.]

A sweet voice heard from a distance so close that our bodies almost touched.

However, her words momentarily halted Jo Dae-woo’s brain.

‘Brain play?’

‘Neural?’

‘Am I a neural player like her?’

“……?”

All those keywords were difficult for Jo Dae-woo, facing her with swords drawn, to understand.

Moreover, there was an oddly intimate sense of familiarity, as if she knew him very well from the past.

In the second set, her choice of swordman—a selection that could only be deemed as immature under the circumstances—was completely out of place.

And her, along with the word “neural,” which stood in stark contrast to both her and Jo Dae-woo.

None of it connected.

Still, in an effort to understand her intentions, the thoughts in his mind began to collate her words and the situation they had experienced, leading to several hypotheses taking shape.

And finally.

‘…… So.’

‘So, are you saying that you’re a neural-based player like me? That’s why you feel a sense of kinship?’

“……”

‘What does that even mean…?’

He still couldn’t comprehend it. All assumptions faded as soon as the keyword ‘neural’ entered the conversation.

And finally.

“…… Ah.”

A singular conclusion was reached.

‘You’re teasing me right now.’

Jo Dae-woo’s eyebrows knitted tightly together.

The most probable reasoning for his perception of Moon Si-hyun today.

She, whom he had just gotten to know by clashing with her, was surprisingly calculated.

His hypothesis suggested she was an above-average high-damage user from the beginning, pretending to be ignorant while creating a secondary account to stir up issues.

In a situation where a swordman made no sense, she chose a swordman to make a name for herself by defeating a renowned grandmaster user like him.

‘She claims I’m a neural user while subtly pointing out that my physical skill is lacking.’

Thinking this, Jo Dae-woo’s frustration began to boil.

“……”

As soon as Moon Si-hyun chose a swordman in the second set, Jo Dae-woo mentally rehearsed all the nasty comments he could hurl back at her.

“Ah, yes. Ms. Moon Si-hyun, your neural skill really doesn’t make sense, huh? I faced you and found no physical skills at all. You just relied on your brains to win.”

As he said that, Jo Dae-woo chuckled to himself.

Even so, exploding in anger would be the worst possible choice.

Thus, Jo Dae-woo opted for sarcasm in response to her remarks.

‘I bet she didn’t see that coming.’

His words slightly crossed the line for broadcast.

He saw Moon Si-hyun’s body flinch at that remark.

Feeling a sense of satisfaction for putting one over on the annoying her, Jo Dae-woo relished a little thrill.

He anticipated her flustered voice to follow.

– Swish

Now he stared directly at her with confidence.

[……]

After a brief silence, she replied.

[Hmph…… Thank you. I see you really know your stuff. I guess it must resonate among those with good heads.]

……

“…… What?”

[You were really good at brain play, too, Jo Dae-woo. I faced quite a few dangerous situations myself from my standpoint.]

“……”

[And, furthermore—]

Moon Si-hyun continued speaking without caring about Jo Dae-woo’s bewildered expression.

She seemed to be enjoying his sarcasm, chattering away.

Her finger spun around her hair, as if she was feeling good about herself.

As he blankly watched her bear-shaped finger twirl, Jo Dae-woo thought,

“……?”

‘Is she mocking me again?’

However, it was hard to maintain that suspicion.

Her voice, filled with genuine emotion, and her gestures were so pure that there was no trace of malice to be found.

[Before the match took place, Sansu provided an overall power analysis while showing me a replay.]

[I watched your replay back then, and since that moment, I’ve wanted to meet you. You have very similar stats to mine…… So when the match came up, I was genuinely happy.]

Hmph.

“……”

He stared blankly at her for a moment.

‘…… Could it be?’

‘Could it be that she’s being sincere rather than mocking? Does she genuinely not understand the meaning of neural and physical?’

It didn’t make sense for a grandmaster, who should fully grasp the game called Fiore, to be under such an illusion….

Now, curiosity began to outweigh his previous annoyance.

“No, are we physical players more than neural…?”

[……]

But then a brief awkward silence settled in.

[…… No, we’re not physical. Anyway, I’m pleased to see a fellow user like myself.]

“What do you mean, not physical…? Then how did you evade my ultimate so effortlessly?”

[…… With neural skills.]

“…… That doesn’t make sense! That’s all about reflexes and dynamic vision! Saying it’s neural—”

[Neural. That’s what we are.]

“……?”

Yet, under her subtly placing emphasis on a specific word, Jo Dae-woo felt a strange pressure rising.

Just then—

– ♫♬

He heard the notification sound for joining the Discord call.

[Hello. We will be starting the interview shortly. First, Si-hyun will lead us off. Please prepare.]

*

―――

Demons Competition Official Broadcast

―――

“Yes! That wraps up the analysis of the second set. Kant, that was an awesome breakdown.”

“Thank you.”

―――

Kant’s analysis was indeed top-tier, haha.

Jo Dae-woo did great, too.

If only he had acknowledged it like Kant said, it might have been better.

―――

“But we still have the big one left: the MVP and team leader interviews.”

“Right! I have so much to ask the two of you. There are things only the parties involved know beyond in-game.”

“Exactly!”

“Now, let’s bring in the team leader and MVP! First up, Moon Si-hyun!”

– ♫♬

As the words hung in the air, the sound of someone entering the call echoed, and a virtual avatar from the private lounge appeared on the large screen.

[Hello.]

A neat, sweet voice resonated.

―――

Kyaa

Da Si-hyun

I love Moon Si-hyun, I love Moon Si-hyun, I love Moon Si-hyun, I love Moon Si-hyun, I love Moon Si-hyun!

Da Si-hyun (really big) [deleted message]

Moon Si-hyun! Moon Si-hyun! Moon Si-hyun! Moon Si-hyun! Moon Si-hyun!

This set was truly awesome!

―――

Among the live broadcast of Demons Competition today, the voice of Moon Si-hyun was heard for the first time, and a flood of supportive comments filled the chat.

The commentators asked her many questions.

“This was really good physically—”

[That can also be seen as neural skills.]

“Oh… neural skills?”

[Yes.]

…There was a strange dissonance, but somehow the show continued smoothly.

“So, for the next question, if you could give the MVP to anyone in the team, who would it be?”

“Ah, by the way, giving it to yourself is allowed too, haha…”

[…… I’d like to give it to everyone.]

But her voice sounded a bit warm.

[I think my teammates did better than me. I’m the one at a relatively higher rank, so it’s only natural, while my team members defeated tiers way above their own.]

“Oh……”

“…… That’s true!”

The caster, who expected a mischievous response from Moon Si-hyun like usual, nodded.

―――

Kyaa

Kyaa

That’s right, yes.

Jo Dae-woo’s demeanor was quite contrasting to the team leader’s majesty, haha.

Kyaa

They did really well, especially the others.

Except for Cactus, everyone did great.

Da Si-hyun

Da Si-hyun

Humility always suits Moon Si-hyun, haha.

―――

Perhaps due to his age, he found the modest young man quite appealing.

“That’s great. I have more to ask, if that’s okay?”

It was Kant’s voice.

[Yes, please go ahead.]

“In the second set, the swordsman’s 1v2 victory was incredible. Personally, I think that engagement contributed the most to the victory. Jo Dae-woo did great too, but looking back on it… heh. It was really impressive. Could you go into more detail about that?”

[Ah, sure.]

She glanced at her hands as she spoke.

…… Short and chubby fingers, barely visible knuckles.

She looked at them for a moment, then said.

[Could you show my broadcast model?]

Since I find it a bit hard to explain this with this avatar.

“Of course!”

Soon the caster made a polite gesture to someone behind the camera.

The footage of her broadcast was displayed on the relay screen.

Thus, the avatar of Moon Si-hyun’s broadcast appeared.

Unlike the avatar she used in the Fiore lounge.

The stunningly curvaceous virtual avatar wearing a bear doll mask, prepared by a different creator.

―――

Kyaa

This is it, haha.

Kyaa

That’s so good, haha.

I heard that even some people said Moon Si-hyun’s avatar was better than the red potion, is that really the case?

This is it, haha this is it, haha this is it, haha this is it, haha this is it, haha this is it, haha this is it, haha.

Wow, what a figure!

That perfect hipline, so nice, haha.

Even without seeing her face, why do I feel so attracted…?

―――

The chat went wild.

Suddenly, the caster’s expression hardened as he checked the chat.

He shot a silent glance at a staff member sitting behind the camera with a laptop.

It was a signal to keep a closer watch on chat moderation.

Seeing the staff member nodding and lowering their head in response.

The caster sighed lightly as he watched the chats filled with excesses being filtered out one by one.

Given the nature of a long competition, there were those who risked being forcibly removed just to harass a female streamer inappropriately.

…… But still.

‘…… Especially with Si-hyun, it seems to be particularly severe.’

Though he didn’t know much about Moon Si-hyun, he was certain she was a good young woman.

Which only heightened his confusion.

“…… Casters?”

“Oh! Yes. The model broadcasting has finished. Can we see it now!?”

The caster composed himself and spoke in his usual high toned voice.

[Yes. Sword against sword is… ]

Moon Si-hyun said as she brought her hands together in front of her.

For the caster, Moon Si-hyun appeared very earnest and exemplary in spirit.

She was the type of streamer seldom seen in individual broadcasts.

[First, I’ll prepare my stance like this.]

Ten long, slender fingers grasping an invisible, thick and long sword blade in the air.

The caster couldn’t help but replay the earlier thoughts in his mind.

‘…… Why does a person like this attract only malicious viewers?’

So far, all he had seen from Moon Si-hyun was a prime example for all viewers.

[First, you keep this stance. Tock, like this. Tock, tock.]

[…… Yes.]

“Oh……”

From her choice of words, caution arose regarding her expertise… but still, the analysis team quietly listened.

[Then, my turn comes now.]

Suddenly, she spoke as she continued.

[When the enemy swordsman goes “tock tock,” what then?]

[Like this, then? Tock tock. Tock tock.]

Moon Si-hyun was still pretending to block, but now began to simulate an attack.

[Tock tock. Tock tock-tock.]

She continued to sway her hands up and down.

For a moment, this kind of words and actions persisted.

“……”

The analysis team fell silent briefly.

With a mature voice juxtaposed against her word choice.

The model’s hands’ delicate movements showcased her figure explicitly.

…… And, as if holding something in her hands.

There was certainly something suggestive, but the analysts could play dumb quite easily.

After all, they were adults.

The chat also maintained its mask, not discarding it entirely.

…… But.

[Tock tock-tock? Dodge? Tock tock. Tock.]

Moon Si-hyun’s increasingly overt gestures continued.

…… Eventually.

―――

????

Kyaa

Kyaa

Oh, I was trying not to chat but I can’t help it, Si-hyun!

Damn haha

Kyaa

Kyaa

Gasp

It’s a gold gauge!

What?

Hey, hey, hey

That’s mine ㅇㅇ [deleted message]

How big does it have to be to need both hands? How big does it have to be to need both hands? How big does it have to be to need both hands?

Damn, she’s standing in front of a guy again! Damn, she’s standing in front of a guy again! Damn, she’s standing in front of a guy again! Damn, she’s standing in front of a guy again!

Sigh haha

Kyaa

Clipped it!

Si-hyun…

I’ll use it well, Si-hyun, haha I’ll use it well, Si-hyun, haha Si-hyun, haha Si-hyun, haha I’ll use it well, Si-hyun, haha I’ll use it well, Si-hyun, haha I’ll use it well, Si-hyun, haha!

―――

The chaos erupted.

The caster sat there dumbfounded as he exclaimed.

“Si-hyun, wait! Wait!”

“Uh, uh-huh?”

“Just a second!!”

*

―――

Squirrel’s broadcast

―――

[Shall I turn it on, Alchemist?]

[Oh. Go ahead and do it.]

[Yes, please, Sansu, you have the best gear!]

[Can you see it?]

[Uh-huh! It’s visible.]

[Are you close with Jo Dae-woo? You seem like you’re in a conversation together.]

“Hmm……”

[Oh, Si-hyun is on now.]

―――

Squirrel, show your expression!

Getting jealous again, haha!

―――

……

[Ah, wasn’t Si-hyun’s concept just that?]

[Looks like she misunderstood some terms…..]

[No way. In my opinion, she knows but is just pretending to be ignorant… um… heh…]

[It’s a concept. She’s really smart, right? Isn’t that right, Squirrel?]

“…… Hehe… um… ah! No, but you’re really amazing, even if it’s only in prelims, to get two consecutive MVPS in such a large competition…”

[Ah right. If it weren’t for Si-hyun, we would have been in real trouble.]

“Right? Hehe…”

―――

Hahaha!

Why do you like her so much, Squirrel?

―――

……

[Wow, is that really the 1v2 win from earlier?]

[Oh, I was curious about that too.]

[Oh, she seems to be showing it. It looks like she’s going to show it herself?]

“Oh.”

―――

Kyaa

Kyaa

Oh

Finally showing it!

Oh, that long model is on too!

Si-hyun noona ㅠㅠ

……

[Huh?]

[Huh?]

[Oh no!!]

[Wait! Wait! No weird chats will get you banned.]

[Let’s freeze the chat for a bit.]

[…… Sis, was that part of the plan too?]

[Um, me too… everyone, wait a moment; I’ll wash my face. Just a second.]

“…… Chat…… everyone…… nice chat……”

“……”

“…… Haah…”