I am Smart

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The day after the unexpected event where the Bear Doll Family knocked out the strong favorite KILLTHAT in the same Group B.

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Hako Virtual Minor Gallery

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– When’s the next match for the Bear Doll Family?

Moon Si-hyun just joined, and I tried a little, and it’s pretty hype!

I gotta watch the next match while eating chicken!

– It’s tomorrow at this time.

What? That’s super quick! Can we just chill and watch?

Well, there’s really no other opponent if you support the Bear Doll Family, but seeing them crush KILLTHAT today, I really don’t know.

Seriously, KILLTHAT was Group A’s ace, but they got totally wrecked.

If it were like before, I’d have said they’d definitely lose, but seeing them wipe out the expected Group B winners KILLTHAT, hmm… I really don’t know.

Seriously, SHARKS could get wrecked too, honestly.

For real though.

Is a cheerful rebellion on the way?

―――

Today, the match between SHARKS and the Bear Doll Family was scheduled.

Most of the communities and viewers predicted a win for the Bear Doll Family.

It was the complete opposite of the predictions when the match schedule was first released.

Calling it an underdog’s accidental rebellion doesn’t quite fit, given the incredible performance the Bear Doll Family showed yesterday.

Moreover, they achieved victory without deviating from standard strategies, increasing their impact even more.

The Bear Doll Family’s Sky Realm held up far better than expected, and the Current Realm proved to be surprisingly destructive.

Leading with the tank San-deng, they staunched the bleeding while waiting for Moon Si-hyun to reach Nirvana.

What many feared, which seemed non-existent, ended up being a victory plan.

Plus, the visible tension, or rather, the condition of the Bear Doll Family today looked all good.

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Hako Virtual Minor Gallery

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Let’s just keep it going like this!

Sincere statement) Compared to KILLTHAT, SHARKS are basically dog food.

With everyone looking happy, they must be feeling good.

Honestly, even if they performed just half as they did yesterday, I can’t imagine a scenario where the Bear Doll Family loses.

―――

Unless a major upset happens, most expected they could easily qualify for the finals.

…But.

After starting the game with a good atmosphere based on yesterday’s memories, just a few minutes later.

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San-deng’s broadcast

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[This is it, we got this.]

[Huh!? No, Si-hyun!! Stop!!]

―――

Our side is down.

―――

[…Looks like we’re done for.]

[No, Si-hyun!! Please!! Why are you doing this!! Ahhh!!]

―――

Enemy double kill!

―――

From below came a poised voice and desperate wails.

[Ah, it’s too late. We need to pull Si-hyun out—]

[I’m going in.]

[What!? Again!? I don’t think that’s right!? Please, Si-hyun!!]

―――

Our side went down.

Enemy double kill!

―――

“……”

From the Current Realm below, those two contrasting voices echoed, repeating over and over.

And after the Bear Doll Family’s desperate resistance in the Sky Realm, when they finally took down the Current Realm—

[…Please respond.]

“…… Huh?”

San-deng doubted his ears with the absurd situation unfolding.

[Huh!? Huh!? You’re serious about that!?]

[Whoa!?]

[Sis! Wait a second!!]

―――

Our side went down.

Enemy double kill!

Enemy triple kill!

Enemy quadra kill!

Enemy penta kill!

Enemy hexa kill!

―――

[[……]]

“……”

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Pazzk Minor Gallery

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Stop throwing already, damn it, lol!

This is literally a disaster, just lol.

The Bear Doll Family’s doom, lmao!

Who did Moon Si-hyun fight against?

―――

Thus, the first set ended.

It was a complete defeat.

[Defeat]

[[……]]

A heavy silence descended from the unexpected manner of defeat that nobody predicted.

San-deng quietly… moved on to the game results screen.

―――

San-deng (Sky Realm/Tank) 1/3/9

Squirrel (Sky Realm/Support): 3/3/6

Satori (Sky Realm/Damage Dealer): 2/1/8

Harris (Sky Realm/Damage Dealer): 3/1/5

Cactus (Current Realm/Support): 1/9/5

Moon Si-hyun (Current Realm/Damage Dealer): 3/14/1

―――

“……”

The deaths of the two Current Realm players exceeded the deaths of the four Sky Realm players.

…Just before the match started, San-deng’s intuitive concerns became reality.

That intuition was… linked to his sporadic experiences with Moon Si-hyun from previous solo matches.

Watching that, instead of anger.

‘…No, how is this happening?’

San-deng was purely surprised.

He had never participated in a tournament like this before, but as a dedicated Fiore streamer, he had at least watched some amateur and pro tournaments.

Moreover, since he also streamed himself, he was somewhat knowledgeable.

The higher up you are, the more mistakes you make, the more nervous one gets.

Especially in a grand serious tournament with what you’d call ‘over-invested viewers,’ this is bound to happen.

Even if streamers themselves avoid the dark corners of online broadcasting communities, plenty of nasty people hover around in chats and donations.

Many say they don’t care about such things, but the human heart isn’t so simple.

Even San-deng, with his easygoing personality, felt a bit of that pressure.

However, Moon Si-hyun was the complete opposite.

No matter how many mistakes, as long as there was an opening, she would throw herself in without hesitation.

That would be understandable if it were a solo match.

…But he never expected her to act this way in such a perilous tournament.

…Moreover.

‘Looks like we don’t really match up.’

San-deng felt a slight headache coming on.

He was an extremely cerebral player. Most Sky Realm tanks are.

Among them, he had an exceedingly defensive nature.

He had climbed up to Master 300 points due to his exceptional ability to shutter defenses.

Because of that, despite the skill difference in the Current Realm, they could block the opponent under San-deng’s command.

However, for someone with such a nature like San-deng, it was only natural to feel fatigued if it didn’t go smoothly with Moon Si-hyun.

– ♫♬

[Ah, hello?]

It was Sansu.

The match was finished and feedback time began.

“……”

San-deng was thankful that feedback time was given between matches.

Right now, Moon Si-hyun… needed someone to stop her.

It’d be fine if it were him, but preferably if it were Sansu, who had the authority of a coach.

With that thought, San-deng waited for Sansu’s sharp voice.

[Um, Si-hyun. Let’s try to do better. I can see what you want to do. The form looks okay, but the angles are a bit lacking. We might need to adjust the sights a bit more.]

[Yes. I’m sorry.]

[So then, let’s push—]

[Got it.]

“……?”

San-deng’s eyes wobbled.

After that, Sansu never mentioned Moon Si-hyun in a critical way, as a strategic assessment.

‘…Is it over?’

San-deng stayed quiet for a moment.

‘This is… I need to give a hint.’

Deciding that, he opened his mouth.

“Um, Sansu.”

[Huh?]

“Uh, Si-hyun’s gameplay… it’s good, but it’s a bit hard to keep up with.”

He sugar-coated his words heavily.

But if Sansu were sharp enough, this would be sufficient.

[Ah. That.]

Fortunately, it seemed Sansu understood, clapping once as he spoke.

[I’ve been thinking about something. San-deng, you’re doing really well too. That’s why I didn’t give any additional feedback.]

“Yeah.”

[Um… There’s something like that.]

Sansu seemed to hesitate, thinking if he could say it this way.

[San-deng, I know you’re good at Fiore. So it’s natural you don’t grasp what I’m trying to say. Given your preference for defensive play, you might end up in a stressful position.]

[…… Yes.]

[If Si-hyun acts so strangely, just be a bit more proactive… just throw caution to the wind and let’s dive in. I’ll give you a warrior role again.]

But that was an answer he never expected.

San-deng… took a moment to process it, then.

[Let’s start the ban/pick phase. You get what I mean?]

His brain froze, unable to respond after all.

The second set went a bit more smoothly.

This time, unlike the first set, there weren’t many situations where Moon Si-hyun died first.

…But.

―――

[Shit!!]

―――

Our side went down.

―――

This time, the problem was Cactus.

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Hako Virtual Minor Gallery

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This is a disaster, damn it.

Cactus’s patented “Throwing Means Disaster” move is out, haha!

What the hell.

If we lose this set too, is it a total wipe for the Bear Doll Family???

But Moon Si-hyun hasn’t done anything particularly good either…

She can’t die now!

F*cking people keep giving us false hope!

The other gallery is going to blow up!

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Pazzk Minor Gallery

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Jungler JOAT.jpg

The Romantic Team specialty: Shine brightly at the start to give hope, then absolutely flop.

Moon Si-hyun, you f*cking idiot, lol!

Si-hyun’s chaos is phenomenal, haha!

Looking again, it’s a name that sounds like absolute dog food, lol!

How can the Romantic Team’s flow not change, haha!

I’m not blaming Cactus; it’s Moon Si-hyun who’s the weirdo!

―――

“Get back! Just retreat for now!”

San-deng used his axe and heavy armor to absorb skills, creating a path for his team to retreat.

‘We can’t afford to leave now.’

After the last retreat, he surveyed the situation with a cold sweat.

After Cactus died, the numbers were 5:6.

With Cactus’s final struggle and the enemy pushing aggressively, the enemy team had lost a bit of health due to San-deng’s control, but…

‘…No way.’

In team games, one missing member makes a huge difference.

“We should back off.”

…In the end, the main order, San-deng, decided to concede a major buff.

[Ah, I’m sorry. I… forgot about the warrior taunt.]

“It’s okay, it’s fine. Let’s pull back first and target the next buff object.”

San-deng spoke in as calm a voice as he could.

…Truthfully, it wasn’t okay.

If they pulled back now, their chances would drop significantly.

It hadn’t been long since they started fighting 6v6 in the Sky Realm.

But because of Cactus’s repeated mistakes, the Sky Realm’s Watchtower was already heavily damaged.

Furthermore, they were going to contest a crucial buff object along with the Watchtower.

“…… Huh.”

A bit of a headache started to creep in for San-deng.

At that moment.

[…… I’m going to look for an opening here.]

Another ear-tingling voice was heard.

San-deng’s brow furrowed slightly.

‘What kind of devil is riding them today?’

“No! This is really not good.”

San-deng said firmly.

[…What?]

“Yeah. No, it’s really… not okay.”

But an unsettling silence followed.

Sansu had established a rule a long time ago.

San-deng was the main order.

…But any orders issued by Moon Si-hyun had to be respected.

That’s why he had followed everyone without a word in the last set.

However, this situation felt a bit different.

He couldn’t see the grounds for what she wanted to do.

…Moreover, in the first set, if Moon Si-hyun were the culprit, she really threw that match beautifully.

“Seriously, we can’t. Let’s concede this one and aim for the next fight. That’d be much better, right?”

This time, San-deng determined he needed to rein it in.

…

“……?”

But he didn’t hear a response.

As curiosity sparked, he looked around.

Moon Si-hyun was nowhere to be found.

“Wait? Where did Si-hyun go!? – No!!”

While talking, he searched for Moon Si-hyun.

Right in the enemy’s zone.

Moon Si-hyun was heading into the place she absolutely shouldn’t be.

[…I’m going in. Please respond.]

“Huh!? Right now!?”

[Yes. Right now.]

Her voice was devoid of any tension, as cold as ice.

[Huh!?]

[Si-hyun, are you serious!?]

[Do I have to dive in too!?]

[Sis, is that really you!?]

The other four were in confusion as Moon Si-hyun distanced herself.

In the end, there was only one option.

“Ah, damn…! Let’s go!”

San-deng, clad in heavy armor, led the charge, following behind.

The knight rushed towards the comparatively low-HP wizard.

Then he unleashed everything he had.

San-deng’s eyes moved rapidly. He had two choices.

Play it safe and protect the Sky Realm’s damage dealer.

Or go against his preferred strategy and follow Sansu’s advice to dive in alongside the knight.

And…… this time’s choice was.

“Damn…!”

San-deng thrust his axe forward.

The warrior’s mighty battle cry echoed.

Slower than the knight, but an unstoppable wild charge.

After swatting away all incoming projectiles and melee attacks.

The warrior swung his axe madly within the mayhem.

He deflected arrows flying towards the knight. Battling while risking his limbs and organs.

In this chaotic melee, he saw little of what was going on.

All he could make out was the wizard moving beautifully within the blood storm.

A frenzy of battle.

―――

Our side went down.

Enemy double kill!

Our side went down.

―――

Enemy eliminated.

Double kill!

Triple kill!

Quadra kill!

Enemy eliminated.

Double kill!

―――

Countless kill logs flooded in.

And…… when the dust in the melee settled, what remained was.

The knight and the warrior.

And no one else.

San-deng slowly came to understand the present situation.

Truly, out of the blue, it was Moon Si-hyun who handed victory to San-deng.

San-deng operates using his mind in Fiore.

He feels fatigue when actions push beyond his calculations.

But…… breaking out of his calculations with an outcome like this brought about feelings of…

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Hako Virtual Minor Gallery

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Ah crap, I canceled my chicken order.

Si-hyun, I love you, lol!

What just happened???? Why did that work???

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Pazzk Minor Gallery

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Crazy superstar, haha!

Moon Si-hyun resurrected Season 2309, lol!

Wow, she actually pulled it off, haha!

―――

“……”

[Good job, San-deng.]

“Wait, no…”

San-deng stared at his trembling, axe-wielding hand.

“This shouldn’t be happening!!”

He shouted, sprinting with all his might toward the goal.