I am Smart

---

The Demons Competition is a large-scale event, progressing at a rapid pace to keep the audience engaged.

The finals were scheduled for the very next day after the semifinals.

Now, only a few hours remained until the finals, and seven individuals were connected in a private lounge.

Most of them were either stretching briefly to relax their nerves or sitting down engaging in conversations with the viewers.

Only one person stood up, wandering around here and there.

The place where his footsteps finally halted was.

“Hey, Cactus. How’s your condition?”

[Uh, yeah, hyung… Uh, um. It’s good. Heh…]

“Heh. You really seem to be tense.”

[Hey!! Why would you say that? I’m putting myself into a hypnotic state, hypnotic state… Hyung, but I’m really super desperate! Like, seriously. I haven’t felt like this desperate in a long time… Uh, what was the average tier of our opponents again?]

“Grandmaster, Grandmaster. Two of them. The highest in the team.”

[Ah, really? Huh…!? I’m a Grandmaster too, you know. I can do this. My pure skill is even higher, right? I’m still an unbloomed flower. You know? Oh, and who knows? I might actually be a Challenger-level player.]

“Hehehe. Right. That’s pretty manly. Let’s do our best. I’m off.”

[Yes~]

Sansu wrapped up his conversation with Cactus and approached the Squirrel, who was sitting alone and hugging her knees.

“Squirrel, are you okay?”

[Ah, um… Yes. Hehe… A little bit…]

The voice of the Squirrel trying hard to smile. But her body clearly looked stiff just from looking at her avatar.

Sansu stared at her intently, recalling their previous encounters, and spoke up.

“It’s okay. The professionals are really all like this. Unless they’re a complete weirdo, they get super tense, and some even end up vomiting.”

[…Yes.]

“Don’t blame yourself for being tense and stiff, Squirrel, just do what you can as best as you can.”

As he continued talking to the Squirrel.

“Right, Squirrel. Hang in there. If you just perform as you practiced, you can definitely win.”

Sansu patted the Squirrel model’s shoulder before standing up.

In the finals, Sansu prioritized mental care over putting more detail into strategies.

He paid particular attention to the Cactus and Squirrel, who seemed to be especially nervous.

He believed the finals ultimately came down to a mental battle. He must win the fight against himself before facing the opponents.

No matter how skilled one is, he had seen many players collapse in the professional scene due to mental issues.

After speaking with Satori, Harris, and San-deng,

His final stop was Moon Si-hyun.

Moon Si-hyun was sitting upright in a meditative posture, radiating a calmness that even left Sansu in awe.

“Isn’t it uncomfortable to sit like that?”

[…Sansu.]

Noticing him approach, she turned her head.

[Yes. This is the most comfortable position for me.]

“Heh… That’s interesting. Seems like that’s what you’re used to?”

She was truly a unique individual in many ways.

To be honest, there were times when she seemed so childish—no, even more like a little kid, but moments like now showed her composure and articulate speech.

And.

[…]

“…Si-hyun?”

[…Ah, I’m sorry. I got a quick message on Discord. Hu-ji—]

“Oh, heh… It’s all good.”

It had only been just about half a year since they started broadcasting, and especially since it was her first competition, her current demeanor revealed no signs of tension at all.

That was why Sansu had chosen to speak to her last. She clearly didn’t seem to need any mental management.

“In the finals, ‘Kill That’ did not come up; ‘LAVA’ made it instead.”

[…Yes.]

Moon Si-hyun nodded quietly.

It seemed she held some affection for Jo Dae-woo, showing a hint of regret.

“But even though Dae-woo lost, he performed quite well in the semifinals. Well, Dae-woo and Kant are somewhat acquaintances of mine. If you want to talk later, just let me know. Anyway, right now, you probably don’t have any questions for me about the game, right?”

Moon Si-hyun remained silent. As expected, she didn’t seem to have any particular worries.

“Okay. Let’s do our best.”

With that, Sansu intended to take his leave and head back to the Squirrel.

[…Ah.]

“…?”

Sansu turned back at the sound.

Moon Si-hyun was looking this way.

“Is something wrong?”

[…Um.]

Then, Moon Si-hyun made some vague hand gestures a few times.

[…I’ve mentioned before that there’s been something weighing on my mind. …Um, I said I didn’t know the reason.]

“Hmm? …Ah.”

Sansu quickly recalled.

Moon Si-hyun had intermittently mentioned something since the qualifiers, or more precisely, it seemed as if she herself didn’t fully understand, but there was an awkward nuance she conveyed.

Something about not feeling right. That kind of nuance.

However, every time Moon Si-hyun explained, Sansu had trouble comprehending.

Moreover, the results had always been surprisingly satisfactory, so he had dismissed it as just her feelings.

…But now, with the finals approaching, if she still felt that way.

– Thud.

Sansu sat directly in front of Moon Si-hyun.

“Please tell me in detail. What’s weighing on your mind?”

He needed to help Moon Si-hyun think things through more thoroughly.

[…Um.]

Moon Si-hyun sat upright, looking steadily into Sansu’s eyes.

She quietly began to speak.

[…So, with other long-range classes, I feel like I can just go ‘ding ding,’ but for me, it feels more like ‘bang bang bang.’]

“…”

[It’s like an image of wearing the wrong clothes… So, if I could just do ‘bang bang’ and not ‘bang bang bang’—]

“…”

Sansu’s serious gaze began to soften little by little.

That was the reason he had struggled to understand Moon Si-hyun’s repeated explanations from before.

…This kid.

That word returned to his mind.

“Oh, okay. If you remember more later, just let me know.”

Time passed.

The official broadcast of the Demons Competition began.

[Alright, before we start the finals, let me welcome the two directors from Team Bear Doll Family and Team LAVA!]

– ♫♬

– ♫♬

[Hello there.]

[Hi.]

The voices of two men chimed in, accompanied by Ravi’s broadcast screen in a neat suit.

…And then, Sansu’s screen appeared in a disheveled outfit.

―――

“Wow.”

“Look at that. They’ve finally gathered together—”

“Formal vs. informal exhibition ㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

“Lava ㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

“Wow.”

“Looks like those two have finally met.”

“Looks like they’re causing trouble even in the live matches now ㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

“Is there really a need for this kind of clothing comparison…”

“Two pure-bloods ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ”

“I really didn’t expect Sansu to make it this far.”

“Info) Ravi graduated, Sansu high school dropout”

“Truly an eternal rivalry ㅋㅋㅋ”

―――

“Wow… It’s surreal to see the two of them here, usually only seen in pro matches.”

“Heh. Right? It feels a bit bizarre.”

The commentators chatted while engaging in small talk with the two directors.

“So, who’s the player you’re most wary of, Director Ravi?”

[Well, while San-deng is one to watch, I find Moon Si-hyun to be the most concerning.]

“Of course, I figured you’d say that. …Oh? Now that I think about it, Director Ravi, you also had your sights set on Moon Si-hyun.”

“Oh, right! I remember that you and Director Sansu raised the stakes for Moon Si-hyun together.”

“Huh, this creates an interesting scenario. The team that ultimately acquired Si-hyun and the team that gave up on her are now facing off.”

The commentary team seemed to have found yet another entertaining topic to discuss.

“Director Ravi, initially, Moon Si-hyun didn’t receive the best evaluations outside of you and Director Sansu. Could you share why you took an interest in her?”

[Well, generally, I believe Moon Si-hyun is a really skilled user, contrary to what other directors say. I thought we could get her at a low price… So I was surprised to find out that Director Sansu had the same thought and even invested up to 700 points.]

“Got it. That surprised us too. Now, for the next question, did you anticipate the Underdog team, Bear Doll Family, would make it this far in the finals? And what are your thoughts on giving up on Moon Si-hyun now?”

[Hmm… Honestly, I thought the Bear Doll Family would crash out quickly, dragging down three losses. But seeing them win like this, I was surprised.]

After speaking, Ravi seemed to ponder for a moment.

[And regarding the second question… I personally felt that I would have meshed really well with Moon Si-hyun, so I was a bit disappointed, but now I think it was actually a blessing in disguise. Hu-ji excels in areas that complement Moon Si-hyun’s skills quite well.]

[Got it.]

[Oh, and.]

“Yes?”

[I believe I’m far superior to Director Sansu when it comes to ban-pick strategy and tactics. That will be the deciding factor. For instance, even if I were on the Bear Doll Family team, my side would win.]

With that unexpected provocation.

And a smirk.

“Puh!”

That laughter was filled with the lingering bitterness from past grudges, just like what Kant felt at that moment.

“…Yo, why are you provoking suddenly?”

[Heh. Come on, Jinhyung. Didn’t you get wrecked by me in the last Feed Cup finals?]

“Whoa!”

“Wait! Wait a second! We can’t have such foul language here!”

―――

Pazzk Minor Gallery

―――

– Set 1 Result

(Bear Doll Family 0:1 LAVA)

LAVA wins

– Ah, Bear Doll lost?

– Is this the end?

– It was supposed to be a typical North Mountain ending, right?

– They did well, though.

– It seems like the right call to ban the weakling side instead of the powerhouse like Moon Si-hyun.

―――

– Why is Hu-ji so good?

Wasn’t he a casual player? When did he become a Grandmaster?

His operational skills are remarkable.

– He must have awakened ㅇㅇ

– He drastically improved after ditching the underclassmen.

‘Weren’t you originally Sansu’s pick?’

‘He was just sucking up to the viewers, and now that he’s showing real skills, he’s shooting up.’

‘As Sansu mentioned, his brain logic is insane.’

– In the Grandmaster tier, he’s very capable, and there’s no one with his level of brain logic.

– Yeah, usually, when the main order is put on someone, it’s rare, but in LAVA, he is the main order.

– His brain logic is absurd.

– He knows he stands no chance against Moon Si-hyun in a direct fight, so he’s avoiding confrontation while targeting weak points.

―――

– What are Bear Doll Family’s chances of winning in the next match?

I want to see Moon Si-hyun win.

– I don’t think it’ll be easy unless Sansu makes significant changes.

– Hu-ji seems to be performing much better than expected, and the ban-pick seems solid too.

‘Yeah, it’s great that he knows his limits compared to other players.’

‘So, does that mean the other players are fools?’

‘It’s more like I’m unsure how to acknowledge Moon Si-hyun.’

‘Are we good enough to even acknowledge her? But then we get wrecked by her, and it’s just confusing.’

‘You can understand if you see Cactus tanking.’

―――

―――
Hu-ji’s Broadcast

―――

[Alright. Great job, everyone. Let’s prepare for the next match’s ban-pick.]

“Yeah.”

[Oh, Hu-ji, you were the MVP. Congratulations! If you win, make sure to rub it in Sansu’s face during the interview.]

“Ah, haha… Sure.”

Hu-ji secured the first win with a strategy crafted alongside Ravi.

Absolutely, under no circumstances did he want to clash fists with Moon Si-hyun unnecessarily.

Instead, he would avoid as much as possible and use his operational skills to take down Cactus, focusing on the Sky Realm side.

Even though the threat and aggression from Moon Si-hyun were beyond imagination, the difference in skills on the other side couldn’t be denied.

It was easier for Hu-ji to eliminate their team than for Moon Si-hyun’s side to eliminate his team.

[Hey, but Moon Si-hyun isn’t anything special, right?]

The Sky Realm tank, Tong-kkae said.

“…Hmm.”

[Plus, that trait. The Great Tree’s regeneration. You tend to use that a lot. Initially, it looked like you would start with the basic traits, but now you’re using that. Since you seem to be following my lead, you must be a few steps ahead, right?]

“…”

Tong-kkae continued spouting his thoughts, spitting as he spoke.

[Ah. San-deng isn’t anything special either. I can coach him again.]

‘…He’s way too high on his Master title.’

Such were Hu-ji’s inner thoughts.

In his heart, he wanted to critique every single point Tong-kkae brought up.

…Of course, he had no intention of ruining the atmosphere.

“Haha…”

Hu-ji merely chuckled awkwardly.

“Hmm.”

Sansu read through the notes containing various strategies and ban-pick scenarios while slightly furrowing his brows.

It was a difficult situation. Hu-ji had performed better than expected. He successfully evaded the fight against Moon Si-hyun while adeptly targeting Cactus and the underclassmen of the Current Realm.

The tier difference in terms of power wouldn’t yield immediate feedback.

“…”

It was quite a headache, actually.

Sansu and San-deng, along with the other players, were momentarily checking their opinions with each other.

[…Sansu.]

“So, um—…Yes? Yes?”

Suddenly, it was Moon Si-hyun’s voice.

This was peculiar, as she usually stayed quiet in scenarios like this, so Sansu felt a bit surprised.

Her gentle voice continued.

[In the past, you said that no matter the situation, if I gave orders, everyone should follow it, right?]

“…That’s right?”

Sansu affirmed his self-imposed principle.

He wondered why she was bringing it up now, but he simply went along with it.

[…I think…]

Moon Si-hyun’s calm yet graceful voice kept flowing.

[- how about we do it this way?]

“…”

Sansu and the players were momentarily stunned, absorbing what they had just heard.

“…Si-hyun, are you out of your mind?”

[…No. Are you the one who’s lost your mind?]

The ban-pick for the second match began.

“Again, LAVA will proceed with the same ban-pick as the previous game.”

“Yes. I was wondering if this was the right strategy, similar to TIGERS targeting their relative weaknesses, but LAVA has proven that digging into weaknesses is indeed the right move.”

“Now, for Bear Doll Family’s final ban card, will they ban the Fighter?”

The final ban card from Bear Doll Family was—

The Priestess.

“Ah, of course! Banning the Fighter is a matter of pride, right!? I doubt Moon Si-hyun would want it any other way!”

“Yes! We don’t want to either! Moreover, Moon Si-hyun hasn’t shown any signs of sluggishness, so we’re confidently going forward by banning the Fighter before making our pick!”

“Yes, this means Hu-ji will also select the Fighter!”

The commentators, led by Kant, spoke almost animatedly.

“And that concludes the ban-pick.”

“Bear Doll Family didn’t change their ban-pick strategy after a defeat; what are your thoughts on that, Kant?”

“…I was a bit surprised. Personally, I think they need to reinforce their aspects with the tank, burst, and current damage, right?”

“Yes, I agree.”

The commentary team turned to Kant to actively listen to him.

“However, even with the loss factors blatantly evident, returning to this strategy—whoa?…. What?!!”

Kant, who was speaking, suddenly lingered on his words, widening both his mouth and eyes in shock.

“What’s going on?”

“Why are you acting like that?”

As the commentary team instinctively followed Kant’s gaze towards the broadcast screen.

Beside the Fighter and Warrior illustrations,

A sudden change emerged.

“…Huh?”

“Whoa!? No way!! What’s this!? Bear Doll Family! Have they finally lost it, or have they gone insane!?”

―――
Hu-ji’s Broadcast

―――

[Whoa… No way, is this right?]

[Are they actually using that?]

[Did Sansu come up with this?]

“…”

All seven members felt bewildered.

Displayed on the game loading screen were the traits of the Warrior and Fighter.

The traits that transform the Warrior into a so-called “Berserker” build.

…Frenzy of Battle.

It’s a trait that causes one to take more damage while giving their opponent significantly more grogginess.

When it comes to close combat, it was a taboo trait.

…And they were using that.

Both the Fighter and Warrior were happily wielding it.

Voices of confusion and shock swirled around.

[…Wow… Seriously. Heh… Who in the world ordered this?]

A highly emotional Ravi could be heard.

[Truly… what a total lunatic.]