I am Smart

Chapter 107




“……”

At first, it was nothing more than an impulsive thought.

Moon Si-hyun had casually mentioned the 5th floor of the 1st Engineering Building in conversation with Park Tae-yeon, and I thought it was just nonsense, so I hung up.

Only after the broadcast ended did I ponder over it, and suddenly recall my acquaintance, Yoon Jae-hyun, who often frequented that building, so I decided to call him.

The moment I brought it up, Yoon Jae-hyun expressed his skepticism… At that point, I felt pathetic for seriously considering Moon Si-hyun’s cryptic intentions.

…… But.

[So I just said sorry and left. It wasn’t like I was trying to open up, so there was no need to mention this. Anyway, why the sudden inquiry?]

“……”

Park Tae-yeon couldn’t answer that question and just stayed silent, slightly parted lips.

As if it were natural, Yoon Jae-hyun responded.

It was tough to understand, even though he wasn’t beating around the bush.

Well, according to him, Moon Si-hyun really had visited the Seongso University for research purposes.

This meant that Moon Si-hyun, who claimed to have entered there, was not a ‘normal person’ in the eyes of the professor leading that place.

“…… What kind of experiment is that?”

[I don’t know. I don’t have the details. It’s probably some kind of experiment in this field. Anyway, they said not to enter.]

“Didn’t you ask the professor?”

[Nope. It was just strange that it was longer than other places. I was just curious that day. But why? You seem out of place by being so-]

“Did you see anyone who went in? A girl.”

[Hmm……? Yeah, there was someone… But what does that matter…?]

“…… Ah.”

At last, Park Tae-yeon realized how foolish his question was.

“No, no. That’s enough. Thanks for letting me know. Thank you. I’m off to bed.”

[Already? Alright. But before you sleep, I mentioned earlier-]

Click.

San-deng dropped his phone from his ear to the floor. It swung back and forth for a moment before coming to a halt.

“…… Hah.”

Was it because I had a tiring day today? An unexpected wave of fatigue washed over me.

He relaxed his tense body, watching the ambient lights set to a soft glow in the sky, and thought blankly about her again.

‘Is she really from Korea? Or is someone she knows from Seongso University? Is she just bragging?’

‘…… No, that can’t be. Moon Si-hyun just found out I attend Seongso University today. Plus, if she were that extreme, there’d be something wrong with her head.’

“……”

As he pondered, Park Tae-yeon soon felt a headache coming on and opened his phone to check YouTube.

What appeared was……

A mix of video thumbnails according to the recent algorithm, but they were all quite apparent even as he continued to scroll down.

―――

Moon Si-hyun’s brain power being transmitted to San-deng

Bear Doll’s legendary naming sense for the Demons Competition

Bear Doll’s sex education with Harris, lol

Moon Si-hyun’s Swordman demonstration viewed by 50,000 people (Warning: Slightly inappropriate content)

Shocking IQ test results of Moon Si-hyun

IQ 84, Seongso University student

―――

“……”

Eventually, Park Tae-yeon covered his face with his forearm.

He felt like he was the only fool again.

‘Just… let it go.’

Just as he always did.

*

―――
– The finals match-ups are out
―――

– Bear Doll Family
– TIGERS
– KILLTHAT
– LAVA

―――
– Wait, did the sharks drop out?
Oh wow, that’s an insane upset
They probably didn’t expect to get wrecked by ‘Bear Doll Family’
We didn’t see that coming either;
Did the Sharks lose yesterday?
Yeah, looks like KILLTHAT just demolitions after a fresh streak.

―――
San-deng’s broadcast

―――
The day after tomorrow, finals. Lose and you’re out in the quarterfinals.
But thanks to consecutive wins, the atmosphere is much better than before.

With about four hours left until the start,
San-deng and the Bear Doll Family gathered early in Fiore’s private lounge to casually warm-up.

“……”

[……]

Strangely, San-deng often found himself making eye contact with the white bear doll surrounded by girls way over there.

But as he had resolved the other day, he forced himself to ignore it and proceeded with his warm-up.

[Hey, can you all come over here for a sec?]

At San-su’s words, six people gathered closely around the whiteboard placed on the floor.

One of the interactive tools provided in Fiore’s private lounge, the whiteboard.

[There aren’t major changes in our basic strategy or unit pool, but-]

San-su reiterated the strategy he drafted from yesterday up to today.

Then.

[Any thoughts?]

Once again, San-su looked up and surveyed the six members.

It was a time to collect opinions for everyone.

But that was merely out of courtesy; his gaze was mostly fixed on San-deng and Moon Si-hyun.

San-su was not inherently an authoritative figure. Plus, he believed that only those who participated at any tier had insights to share.

San-deng, in particular, was a unique case, possessing quite high strategic intelligence even among masters.

While skimming over the strategy written by San-su, San-deng was the first to speak.

“I think, here. Here, right? If there’s no major turn, how about we try for an object early on?”

The conversation between San-deng and San-su carried on.

[…… Hmm. Then the other side will have a hard time holding out. There’s a tier difference, and it feels risky; you sure about that?]

“I’ve met their tank and some dealers a few times, and I think we can hold out.”

[…… Well, you probably know better than me. The calculations seem promising too. Okay, no issues on the big picture. If it doesn’t work, we’ll adjust. No pressure.]

[Oh……]

[Hehe…… I have no clue what you’re saying.]

[Heh. Me neither. Just need to listen well.]

―――
Kya

San-su acknowledging it, whoa

Is this the majesty of 250 points?

What dialogue is this

Looks like a solid brain duel between Gold and me

San-deng of intellect

Why hasn’t he been in the competition until now?

Surely the best output from Seongso University, San-deng, lol

I seriously have no idea what they’re on about; team games are a whole different ballgame

Brainpower really showing its colors

Not sure but it sounds awesome for now

Bear Doll Family’s brain, whoa

Sounding cool with that tone

―――

Beside him, numerous chats praising San-deng flowed in.

…… Honestly, he was trying to look indifferent, but it didn’t feel that bad.

Getting praised for being skillful by thousands of people is a unique charm of internet broadcasting.

[So what do you all want to do from here?]

“This is it. I think instead-”

At that question, San-deng again began to layout options here and there. A few others timidly chimed in as well.

San-su would cut in if anyone seemed off and accept it if they seemed right.

[So you’re saying it’s better for ‘1’ to take a loss even if it means ‘3’ holds off their joining for a bit?]

[……]

“…… Yeah. That seems better. We’ll hold out as long as we can.”

[Okay. Let’s tweak that a bit. How about this?]

[……]

“…… Sounds good.”

[……]

“……”

…… However.

The gaze.

[Everyone, look at this. Does it seem okay? Do you think we can do it?]

San-su explained a couple of strategies he and San-deng carved out, and finally asked for additional opinions.

[Si-hyun, do you think you’ll do that today? The one from yesterday.]

[Um…… I don’t think we can do it with this combination.]

[Okay. Got it. Let’s stop here for now. I’ll check separately then come back.]

After listening to all the opinions, he exited the call room and lounge.

“Yes.”

Following everyone else, San-deng said his farewells.

And the atmosphere began to dissipate.

…… But, there was one pair of men and women who were an exception to that.

And, it was as if they had no intention of hiding it, the blatantly incoming gazes.

“……”

San-deng slowly turned his gaze towards the direction from where the stares were coming.

There she was…… Moon Si-hyun, quietly sitting.

She distinctly stood out, sitting characteristically with her hands folded in a formal position while everyone else was comfortably seated with relaxed legs or lying back like a mermaid.

This was indeed the best position for sitting on the ground, but certainly not the most comfortable. Yet, it was remarkable how she could sit there completely still for several minutes.

She kept gazing at San-deng all that time.

Continuously, intermittently.

“…… Why are you looking at me like that?”

San-deng asked in a guarded tone.

[……]

But there was silence.

“……”

Once again, that ominous feeling began to creep in.

After a brief moment passed.

[Strategy.]

“…… Yeah.”

[You’ve really laid it out well.]

“……”

It was definitely a compliment, yet something felt off about it.

“…… Thank you.”

Still, he slightly nodded and was finally about to get up when.

[You’re really smart. You have talent.]

At the end of that statement was a laugh that made it hard to forget.

“……”

It was undoubtedly a compliment.

Being called smart was a pleasant word for someone like Park Tae-yeon, who didn’t shy away from studying.

For San-deng, who had his share of pride in gaming, hearing someone say he was good at strategy was also a gratifying remark.

But.

―――
???

It’s a compliment, but something feels weird

Lol

No wait, it’s just… something

Why does it bother me?

―――
‘…… Why do I feel mad?’

San-deng, wrapped in confusion.

He attempted to decipher the unsettling emotion, his mind spinning on its own.

It could be taken as condescending, that saying one has talent.

Smart…… being smart.

An odd laugh, that gaze.

Yesterday’s bizarre message from Discord.

And lastly.

…… The words Moon Si-hyun had said when she learned about his educational background a couple of days ago, the moment of disbelief.

– Huh? Oh… no. Suddenly San-deng is so cute—no, just… let’s move on.

‘……’

Could it be?

‘Could it be, that she thinks I’m cute in that sense…?!’

The moment that calculation surfaced, he felt blood rushing to his head.

He never thought, of all people, Moon Si-hyun would treat him that way.

San-deng stared at Moon Si-hyun intently.

“…… Hah……”

He exhaled heatedly and changed his thoughts.

If this match ends with a win, then this time, I’ll really tease her.

The strategies were alright, and now there was a high chance that her only credible excuse for being ‘brainpower’ would likely arise from her spontaneous behavior from yesterday.

Moreover, he had just heard her assure she wouldn’t act the same way as before.

If, once again, they won through sheer physical effort and she kept pushing the ‘brainpower’ nonsense.

This time, he’d proudly straighten his shoulders and logically rebut her.

Imagining Moon Si-hyun, who would now fall silent, brought an involuntary smirk to his face.

The initial resolution San-deng had to simply ignore her had long since faded away in the wake of her provocative remarks.

*

First Set.

“Let’s hold back.”

[Nope. We’re going in.]

“…… Huh?”

“They said they’re not doing it.”

[My thoughts have changed a bit.]

“…… No. What’s the basis for that? Here of all places-”

Then, Moon Si-hyun pointed silently at the approaching enemies.

*

A bloody melee, narrowly avoiding death’s grasp, the axe embedded into the enemy right after, yet the onslaught didn’t end there.

Despite feeling somewhat adjusted to the situation.

“Hah…… Hah, whew……! Damn……!”

His heart pounding like crazy, vision darkening, legs trembling.

Regaining his senses was much tougher than during the SHARKS match.

The clash only just settled.

San-deng, with slight dizziness, used his hand to brace himself against the ground to prevent himself from toppling over, breathing heavily.

…… But.

[…… Nice. Total annihilation. Let’s go smash that Watchtower.]

Moon Si-hyun, looking down at him with that steady gaze, made him wonder why she seemed so unshaken in such a heart-pounding chaos.

She looked down at San-deng and said.

[…… I’m good too, right?]

“…… Huh, no……! Damn it!”

A sentence without a subject. Yet he understood it right away.

San-deng wanted to retort somehow, but he was out of breath and couldn’t say a word.

[Didn’t know your stamina was so low.]

“This isn’t because of stamina…… it’s just not…!?”

[Let’s hurry. We can’t break the Watchtower like this.]

Moon Si-hyun, perhaps not hearing his last comment, dashed off into the distance.

“Ugh, dammit…!”

Holding onto his trembling legs, feeling a sense of defeat, he clutched his axe and limped after her.


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