I Have a Reason to Hate Streamers

I understood it all in an instant.

As soon as I saw Camelian’s eyes, a certain instinct kicked in.

A longing stirred within my heart.

It felt like looking at a rival that was hard to surpass.

Desperately igniting my competitive spirit while deep down, black jealousy and pure envy were intertwined.

I knew this kind of person too well.

I boldly faced the deadly spear.

In martial arts, it’s customary for a warrior to lightly clash blades before starting a duel.

But an assassin greets with a swift weapon throw.

The spell aimed at my forehead was weakly blocked and fell.

“It’s been a while. Ah, is it okay to speak casually? It’s not like we’re strangers. We’re enemies, after all.”

“Do as you wish. I just don’t get why formal language is used on broadcasts…”

“What? I didn’t catch the last part.”

“Nothing at all.”

Ah, a familiar start.

Just like when we first met, the lunar blade came crashing down towards my shoulder.

There was no change in my response; I stepped lightly on the spear’s shaft.

Back then, I was way too slow in retrieving the spear.

I rushed too hastily to lift it, and ended up getting countered.

Camelian probably simulated that moment hundreds of times.

─How could I have won back then?

Until that heart’s question was resolved.

“Let’s see how much you’ve improved.”

“Ha!”

Your expression is amusing.

Did my words hurt your pride? Your eyes twisted in rage.

Yet, a strange smile lingered at the corners of your lips.

The test was frustrating to your pride, but also thrilling as a chance to prove yourself.

Back when I was practicing kendo, I was probably in that state until my friend died.

It’s hard for me to feel that kind of emotion now – but I understand that sorrow and desperation better than anyone.

So I didn’t sense any anger from Camelian’s spear.

Even though an amateur dared to say they’d “show their skills” to a professional in the first-string.

[Passive: Emotional Control]

[You are immune to the ‘Intimidation’ status abnormality.]

[Target Applied: Sigma Camelian]

The spear I placed aside slipped away.

Alright, this makes it hard for me to stay tied up more.

But the side will be completely exposed, won’t it?

Just as I was about to jab at my unguarded flank.

The spear’s shaft rose quickly, aiming for my chin.

Once freed, the grip shifted before the spear shaft was back in motion.

There’s no rule stating that once you wield a spear, you must attack only with its tip.

Even swordsmen use half-swording and Mortau techniques against armored opponents.

Moreover, that movement had an attitude as if she anticipated how I would respond.

This is sturdier than I thought.

I should have done a bit of analysis.

Plus, I should keep in mind that I have to consider other reinforcements…

“Don’t worry. No one will come. That was my joining condition.”

“Oh, really?”

“If Cross breaks their promise, I’ll take your vacant spot.”

“That seems unfair, doesn’t it?”

You look puzzled, pondering what it means.

Then, as if realizing, grit – Camelian clenched her teeth.

“There’s no way anyone could take my place. If that were a lie, I’d be at a disadvantage.”

This time, anger shone through her lunar blade.

A series of consecutive attacks followed with thrilling momentum.

The path traced by her blade felt oddly prickly.

My dodging movements became larger than usual.

I had to bend down sharply or outright jump over, properly.

The attacks seemed to specifically target my height.

Thanks to that, even after evading, my turn didn’t last long before it returned to me.

The best I could manage was a few pinpricks to my wrists and ankles.

Moments ago, several headlines from a news article flashed through my mind.

– Camelian obliterates Sparrow! Completed anti-assassin match.

– Camelian: “There’s someone I want to meet.”

An accomplished anti-assassin match, huh?

That phrasing seems a bit off.

What Camelian prepared wasn’t an anti-assassin match but rather, an anti-Gawol match would be more accurate.

Otherwise, there’s no way she’d know me this well.

Even Kelberos didn’t analyze me this thoroughly.

Well, there were reasons for that.

As I shadowed behind, the lunar blade came flying.

After a failed attack, I parried with the spear shaft as the standard.

Taking a step back, I threw a dagger towards her forehead.

I wouldn’t take something like that lying down.

Such expectations weren’t there from the start.

Yet, the thrown dagger certainly split her focus.

Just as the knife bounced off, I summoned a clone.

Right on the left and right.

I pressed Camelian with movements identical to those I had planned for the clone.

The measures she brought for my psychological warfare were…

[The effect of ‘Warrior’s Greatness: Insight’ has been activated.]

[Dispelling all confusion-type debuffs for 3 seconds while perceiving all illusion effects.]

You’d decided not to accept it from the beginning, huh!

Using Warrior’s Greatness in ‘Insight’ means she gave up the ability to detect my stealth or position.

Rather than allowing a surprise attack, she refused to fight me in a psychological battle.

This is troublesome.

I delayed my dodging too long while pretending to be a clone.

The spear tip grazed past my collarbone.

If I must give a hit, then I want to take something with me.

I stabbed my dagger deeper into her thigh.

[Effect of ‘Critical Hit: Muscle Tear’ successfully activated.]

[Effect of ‘Enhanced Bleeding Poison’ is now in effect.]

Twisting the blade, I tore out down to her knee.

Camelian’s elbow punctured my back, but I could manage this much.

The problem was that the spear tip was coming straight at the spot where I needed to exit.

Just like I didn’t let Camelian score freely, she seemed to avoid giving any room as well.

It was unavoidable. As my shadow blurred, dark chains rose around.

Grabbing the end of the chains, I pulled taut, causing Camelian’s spear shaft to get caught in the middle.

That successfully stopped her but…

I intended to swing it back, but my lack of strength was a hindrance.

After the shaft moved roughly, she surged away slightly.

“Ugh!”

“Don’t underestimate me!”

So we’re just casually switching to informal speech now.

Should I let it slide since I did the same?

The momentum of her spear shifted.

It became rougher and more aggressive than before, yet the completion didn’t waver.

It seemed she disliked how I held back my skills.

Well, I can understand that feeling.

The moment my friend felt I was ‘holding back’ against him…

I also engaged in my fair share of tricks.

But… that’s that, and this is this.

This battle isn’t about me winning by killing Camelian.

I still have the next fight ahead of me.

“I never underestimated you. I just made a cold assessment.”

I see you’ve worked hard to analyze me.

I know you’ve bled for this, and I fully understand how much you pushed yourself.

However, you’re not quite on the level of Kelberos yet.

I have no intention of pouring everything I have into you.

That spear is purely meant to kill me.

Camelian tried to makeup for her lacking tier with thorough analysis.

So at least when facing me, she can inflate her tier to that of a top athlete.

But how about we try this?

Face not me, but those I’ve fought against.

Just before the attack lands.

I slowly, deliberately delay the tempo.

Camelian’s expression, who had previously moved the spear shaft, shifts to one of confusion.

Sometimes, being slow is harder to deal with than being fast.

It’s the off-beat, which the Ripper favored.

Naturally, Camelian’s parry attempt failed.

With the blade now embedded in her palm, I drew it out along her wrist.

Then I kicked the spear shaft back to push her away again.

“You couldn’t see what Kelberos did. I have no habits or fixed styles. Just a casual way I like to use.”

“Ugh!”

“Well, you’ve gotten a lot better. Targeting my height was a good move. If you polish that, it’ll become a sharp weapon.”

Next comes the multiple-choice question that Kelberos forced.

Jabbing at the center of her crumbled guard, I aimed for her left side.

Would she relinquish her spear-wielding arm or yield to my attack?

Camelian’s choice was to switch to defense.

Then I quickly transitioned into the next question.

Choose between the top of her right foot or her left thigh.

Her reply was slow.

In that case, I’ll take the left side.

[Effect of ‘Critical Hit: Internal Organs’ successfully activated.]

[Effect of ‘Enhanced Bleeding Poison’ is now stacked.]

[Effect of ‘Enhanced Bleeding Poison’ has changed to ‘Unstoppable Hemorrhage’.]

I twisted the blade inserted within her.

After tearing through her insides, I pressed her face down with my palm.

Then, I aimed to strike the spear shaft down again.

Still a bit lacking in strength?

I couldn’t push it all the way, and the spear inevitably pricked my calf.

Thank goodness it was my right side; that one had been risky.

“Ha… dizzying.”

But this is it.

I sliced deeply with a dagger from her side, right under the armpit.

The fierce bleeding continued, and I pushed her down to the floor.

With both hands together, I held the dagger to her heart.

I meant to stab it precisely.

But Camelian merely blocked it with her trembling hands.

“Ready to give up? All this is just wasting time, you know? It’s pathetic.”

“Before that, just one answer for me.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Why aren’t you a professional?”

“…Because I don’t want to.”

That’s an annoying question. I tightened my grip on both hands.

Though a warrior’s power is higher than mine, in this position, she struggled to hold on.

Little by little, my dagger crept closer to Camelian’s heart.

“Not a chance, I know it’s a lie.”

“What do you know to say this nonsense…”

“Answer!”

[With strength to uproot mountains and a spirit that could cover the world─]

[Sigma Camelian is applying the effect of ‘Pushing Mountains and Covering the World’.]

---