I am Smart

---

As soon as Moon Si-hyun’s team pressed the accept button, the character selection window popped up.

[Oh, the BGM changes for 6-man ranked, huh? Did you know that, San-deng?]

[Nope. We only play solo ranked.]

[Ah, this is a bit tense… Ugh… Aren’t you nervous, unnie?]

“Not really. Since there’s nothing at stake, Daram, you can relax. If you get too tense, it’ll actually make it harder to perform well.”

[By the way, Si-hyun, can we really pick any character?]

“Yeah. Since there were no specific orders from Sansu. Just go with what you usually play.”

[Okay.]

[Yep.]

[Yes~]

―――

Oh

Feeling somewhat like a leader now

There’s definitely a hierarchy in speaking rights here

Is this the legendary Da Si-hyun?

Since emotions don’t fluctuate much in-game, it suits her being a leader

Is it true that orders follow a higher tier?

―――

San-deng (Sky Realm/Tank) – Knight

Daram (Sky Realm/Support) – Priestess

Harris (Sky Realm/Damage Dealer) – Wizard

Satori (Sky Realm/Damage Dealer) – Archer

Moon Si-hyun (Current Realm/Damage Dealer) – Fighter

Cactus (Current Realm/Support) – Priest

―――

14 seconds left until the game starts.

―――

As they chatted back and forth, the awkwardness started to fade slowly.

[Si-hyun, do you have a good chant for us to all yell together when we start?]

It was San-deng.

“What? … Um… How about ‘Fighting!’?”

[Huup! Fighting!]

[Heh! Fighting!]

[Fighting!]

[Figh, ting!]

“… You don’t have to copy if you fumble.”

At last, the sound signaling the start of the game rang out.

―――

The game begins!

―――

And shortly after.

[Huh?]

[What the?]

[Wait, what?]

Confused murmurs alternated among them.

―――

??

Why is the queue like this?

What’s going on?

―――

On the game start screen, the portraits of a total of 12 characters, including allies and enemies, appeared.

In “Fiore,” the 6-man ranked is quite popular, commonly referred to as team rank.

Team rank tends to follow the individual rank’s MMR to some extent and if they haven’t done team ranks, it aligns with their solo rank tier.

Still, that adjustment isn’t perfect. If someone is diamond in solo rank, they might have a platinum MMR in team rank, getting matched one tier lower.

… But.

Moon Si-hyun’s team had one Grand Master, one Master, and four Diamonds.

The opposing team also had one Grand Master, one Master, and four Diamonds.

[… What? Why is it like this?]

[Seriously?]

“It’s fine. It’s not that high, and that Grand Master on the opposing side is a Current Realm damage dealer, so we should be able to handle it.”

With Moon Si-hyun’s encouragement, the game began.

―――

San-deng’s stream – 8,103 viewers

―――

We got taken out.

Our allies went down.

Enemy double kill.

―――

“Ah, the Sky Realm is in a tough spot. I have to go down.”

[Okay. – … Ah! You surprised me. You dropped right down? Did two of them come down? Si-hyun, you can leave me behind.]

―――

Our ally got taken out.

―――

“Uhm.”

[Ah, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have died at that timing.]

“It’s okay, it’s okay. This is how we feedback.”

[I should have joined in. I’m sorry, San-deng… .]

“No, no. It’s all good.”

[… Ah~ I think Si-hyun will die here.]

“Really? Ah… then I guess it’s time to enter Nirvana next turn.”

[Um, San-deng, what should I have done?]

“Specifically, it’s Satori’s unique problem- … Um. I’m not really sure.”

―――

This is chaos

The skill gap is way too big

Let’s just move on to the next game

Everything is a problem, lol

San-deng unable to speak the truth…

It’s just a skill difference; they can’t win a single engagement

It’s a surrender game

Is the enemy really that good?

But why does it feel so different even though they’re the same tier?

It’s because there are three who underperformed like this

Both Sky and Current Realm tiers are the same.

―――

“… Um.”

‘This isn’t good.’

San-deng, keeping his words to himself, had various thoughts swirling in his mind.

The orders were supposed to come from the highest scored San-deng in the Sky Realm, yet it wasn’t going well.

The underperformers. In other words, Satori, Daram, and Harris.

San-deng didn’t expect much from underperformers, but…

‘I feel like we’re just not syncing up well.’

Repeated losses, with two going down, making it 2 to 4. No, since Cactus died, it’s now 1 to 4.

If Moon Si-hyun dies now, it will mean the game is as good as done—rushing into Nirvana way quicker than the enemy’s average, exacerbating their losses in the Sky Realm.

San-deng stared at the muted portraits of their team in the Sky Realm.

‘… I should probably inform the supervisor separately—’

―――

[You’ve defeated the enemy.]

―――

“… Huh?”

[Oh? What’s this?]

―――

?

Oh

??

What’s happening?

―――

[Double kill.]

[Triple kill!]

[Our ally has fallen.]

―――

[Ugh… That’s a pity. I felt like I could have taken them all out. The Grand Master is definitely skilled.]

―――

[Quadra kill!]

―――

[Ah, got him.]

―――

[All] Frepzi (Sky Realm/Swordman): ?

[All] Frepzi (Sky Realm/Swordman): ?

[All] Frepzi (Sky Realm/Swordman): ?

[All] Frepzi (Sky Realm/Swordman): ?

[All] Nizlan1 (Current Realm/Gunner): How did you dodge all of that?

―――

That day, Moon Si-hyun met Cactus for the first time.

“…”

A déjà vu from that moment.

[[…]]

A sudden silence enveloped everyone.

[At this rate, it’s not over yet. Stay focused.]

As if it were natural, a calm voice broke the silence.

“Si-hyun, fighting.”

[Huh?]

[Fighting…!]

[Fighting…!]

The powerless Sky Realm could only cheer on Current Realm’s Moon Si-hyun.

“Ah… – Huh? Huh? Huh? Whoa!! Hah!!”

Sansu, caught up in watching intensely, jumped out of his seat.

―――

Oh, you startled me

Damn it, I spilled my drink

Wow

He just wiped them all out

Is this the Grand Master?

No way, the enemy’s damage dealer is a Grand Master too right?

What just happened?

―――

While watching the stream on a multi-screen with a serious expression, Sansu thought.

– Ah, here we go. Ah… this can’t be happening.

– Hmm… it’s shaking more than I expected.

– Indeed, Daram, Harris, and Satori—the underperformers are really a problem. There’s a lot I need to tell them… Hmm.

– No, it’s okay. Not yet—I haven’t given them feedback. Let’s not be too extreme.

– … No, but honestly, I’m a bit disappointed. It seems like the underperformers—everyone seems to be more of a cerebral type. San-deng is probably feeling frustrated.

Sansu’s previously troubled expression brightened in an instant.

“Hey. With this, the scales are suddenly tipping, huh?”

―――

For real

Yeah

If it continues like this, it’s going to be an unearned win

―――

Sansu stood up, focusing on the game while enlarging Moon Si-hyun’s screen amongst other multi-screens.

“Parrying? Parrying!? Oh! Whoa!! If this keeps up, they’re going to win! Wow… he just rushed into Nirvana first.”

Moreover, after achieving a massacre in the Current Realm, they entered Nirvana ahead of the Sky Realm.

Based on their earlier coordination in the Sky Realm, Moon Si-hyun’s team was able to demolish the enemy team’s tower relatively easily.

―――

They won, whoa

Da Si-hyun

Da Si-hyun

Was this Sansu’s grand plan?

But seeing it again, it might not be a dead end…?

This must also be Sansu’s grand plan.

―――

“Wow… Nice. Whoa. No joke, Si-hyun’s output is… Yeah. This is really extraordinary. From a worst-case situation, she pulled off the best results. That was so cool. Perhaps I’m not doomed? Haha…”

Sansu chuckled for a moment.

“Where was that Discord room? Guess I should hop in soon.”

―――

?

Didn’t he say he was going to review a few matches for feedback?

―――

“Oh, just going to proceed right away. Since I got a feeling it won’t matter anymore.”

―――

[Si-hyun, be honest. Do you have a challenger smurf account or something?]

[Wow…! Si-hyun, you were really amazing.]

[No, unnie, why are you so good? I even tried to teach you at one point.]

[It’s alright. I started right after “Fiore” came out, and I’m already in diamond—]

[Hey, you bastard!!]

[Hup! Guh…!]

Thanks to winning the first match, the awkward atmosphere was nearly non-existent.

– ♪♫

Just then, a notification sound from Sansu’s Discord chimed in.

[Oh, hello there.]

[You came in early.]

[Ah, yes. I realized that while team synergy is important, it seems I need to teach the basics first. So I came in early.]

Sansu spoke and then added,

[Let’s start right away. I’ll turn on screen share, so come have a look.]

―――

Pazzk Minor Gallery

―――

– But what is Sansu famous for?

I know he’s known for being a Yuguan, but there are many Yuguans out there, right?

He’s way more famous compared to Umang, who came out at the same time.

While he has his share of haters, he also gets a lot more respect than Umang.

– He’s a main character.

– He’s popular because he’s a madman.

No, I mean, not that; in-game.

– Basic skills are solid, yeah.

– He teaches really well.

– His feedback is top-notch.

– He’s just really smart and honed his skills in “Fiore.”

– His feedback is seriously on another level.

―――

[So, what this means is that Daram shouldn’t have leveled his ultimate here. With this combination, you only use the Priestess’s ultimate when the enemy’s is faster.]

[Ah… Got it.]

[San-deng, you really did great. Thanks for your effort. But—]

[Satori… Um, I think you need to work a lot harder. You’re okay with strategy, but you show a lot of weaknesses in your split-second judgment.]

[Okay. I’ll remember that.]

[Angling is good. Well done. But—]

[Harris is similar to Satori. San-deng needs to push a bit more aggressively—]

Sansu’s feedback flowed swiftly and efficiently.

―――

Wow

This is intense

I gotta note this down

For real, he just dropped some sick tips

Sky Realm pre-line tips being shared, whoa

―――

[And Si-hyun.]

[Yes.]

[That was really insane. Wow… I almost boiled over watching it. Want to step into a separate 1v1 Discord room? This discussion isn’t going to mean much to the others and might take a bit longer, but I’ll have them practice and give feedback.]

With Moon Si-hyun’s acknowledgment, Sansu and Moon Si-hyun departed.

[Wow… pros are different.]

[Seriously. I already feel like I’ve become a master.]

[I feel like I’ve gotten a ton better.]

[Next match, I feel like I can carry! Oh, I shouldn’t get ahead of myself, huh?]

[But seriously, how much better can Si-hyun get?]

[Is she about to become a monster? Like, hitting Challenger status?]

[That could really happen, huh? Hehe… ]

And then, the next match.

―――

tlgus123’s stream

―――

[[…]]

“……”

The screen fell eerily silent, so quiet it felt like a ringing in the ears.

Conversely, the chat was speeding upward rapidly.

Moon Si-hyun’s team’s tower was destroyed.

……Eventually, the game result screen appeared.

―――

San-deng (Sky Realm/Tank) 4/5/12

Daram (Sky Realm/Support) 1/1/12

Harris (Sky Realm/Damage Dealer) 12/4/6

Satori (Sky Realm/Damage Dealer) 6/3/12

Cactus (Current Realm/Support) 1/4/9

―――

And at the very bottom:

―――

Moon Si-hyun (Current Realm/Damage Dealer) 3/21/2

―――

Fuck, my eyes

I came here because people said she was amazing, and this is what I get?

Is she trolling?? Is she trolling?? Is she trolling?? Is she trolling?? Is she trolling??

What are you doing? Damn, lol

Why did she perform worse after getting feedback???

I’ve never seen this person before; can they really perform like this?

If I report them for intentional trolling, they might get banned.

―――

“……”

Sansu stared blankly at the result screen, fingers interlocked.

“…… What the?”

He said absentmindedly.

It was the first time Sansu had ever heard that kind of dazed voice.