Chapter 22: I’m on my way to meet you now

[General] As of today, I withdraw my affection for Friede.

From now on, we are no longer in a romantic relationship.

Friede and I are now of one mind and body.

Any attack on Friede will be considered an attack on me.

[I’ve been saying this, but what did Friede do wrong?]

[Did you get Friede’s consent before saying that?]

[Show some respect! Who do you think you are?]

[How dare this scum from Silons compare himself to Friede? Go cry in a corner, loser.]

[General] Summary of Friede’s reaction:

Goal: Become the #1 Challenger.

No plans for a pro career.

Planning to start streaming soon.

Support from Yongsaforming is requested.

“Everyone, stay happy!”

[That’s the spirit! Well done!]

[What a blow to Ji, who tried her best to secure an interview.]

[Who could have expected the broadcast to blow up like that, hahaha!]

[And yet, Forming is looking out for sweet Friede… so touching!]

[General] Press like if you want Friede to go pro!

“I’ll start!”

“Let’s have a duo with Warden from STK.”

[Honestly, she doesn’t seem to need a women’s league.]

[Even Lotus is in the women’s league, so don’t overreact.]

[Can Lotus do what Friede does?]

[But does she have to go to a women’s league?]

[I don’t know. Maybe.]

[Ugh, these gross idiots… now they think they can compare themselves to Warden.]

[Do you think Warden cares about you?]

[General] Holding my breath until her stream starts…

inhales

[He’s already passed out.]

[Hey, bro, this guy’s laughing.]

[Leave him be. He’s probably dreaming something nice.]

[If you have a conscience, write at least three lines.]

[Streaming… This feels ominous.]

[Isn’t it risky if those gallery guys come here too?]

[It’s a virtual reality game, so there won’t be issues like account sharing, but other problems might arise.]

[Since GM certified the game, there’s no issue with cheating. The gameplay is clean.]

[But if those gallery folks get involved, they’ll probably even start monitoring her cycles. Ugh!]

***

Every community even slightly involved in Soul Warfare was in an uproar.

But instead of genuine tears of regret, the response was filled with crocodile tears born from the delight of escalating chaos.

Even after the duel ended, the heated atmosphere fueled by accusations of cheating didn’t cool down.

Instead, the aftermath burned fiercely, like a raging furnace consuming everything.

In particular, while the Soul Warfare gallery was in complete disarray, Friede’s interview surged in popularity.

Among the various highlights, what garnered the most attention was her plan to start streaming.

For many, a streamer felt more approachable than a pro gamer.

They eagerly awaited her debut, speculating when she might start.

Despite being hidden behind her visor, glimpses of her lips and jawline suggested an extraordinary beauty, fueling endless fantasies.

Her seductive aura, combined with her undeniable skill that broke through the Challenger gatekeepers, quickly elevated her to idol status among the gaming community.

If her stream failed to gain attention, most female gaming streams wouldn’t stand a chance.

Of course, her other interview responses also became hot topics, with some fans eagerly speculating about every detail.

One notable point was her lack of interest in a pro career, which disappointed a subset of fans.

The idea of matching her extraordinary skill with other top-tier players was an enticing fantasy.

Additionally, some harbored a secret hope that if she pursued a professional career, the mysterious Friede’s face might eventually be revealed.

Meanwhile, the sudden shift in attitude among those who had once called her a cheater was almost comical.

They dissected her 1v1 duel with eagle-eyed scrutiny, creating detailed reviews and analyses.

***

Finally, the streamer’s channel that sparked this controversy—SUHO’s—lay in ruins.

The cause?

The apology letter posted by SUHO.

[Hello, this is SUHO, the streamer.]

[Hello, I’m SUHO.]

[The reason I’m posting this is likely what many of you have already guessed.]

[Due to my misunderstanding, I unintentionally caused trouble for Friede and Yongsaforming.]

[I want to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize.]

[I will take a hiatus to reflect on my actions.]

[When I return, I promise to approach streaming with more caution and provide better content.]

[I’m truly sorry.]

[Sincerely, SUHO.]

Likes: 1

Dislikes: 872

[He didn’t delete his account or channel? Bold move, Sensei.]

[At least it’s not a complete escape since he apologized and the parties accepted it.]

[One like… How pathetic.]

[“You bastard! Refund my donations!”]

[Shouldn’t someone take action against this?]

[What action? What’s there to do?]

[Since the parties involved reached an agreement, there’s nothing left to nitpick.]

Unsubscribes flooded in…

As with many past controversies, threats and backlash were common.

If the offense wasn’t too severe, time usually helped mitigate the fallout.

However, it seemed this particular case would require a much longer period before the dust settled.

When events unfold as envisioned, it brings a twisted sense of satisfaction.

Even the Soul Warfare gallery and the Outven boards were now flooded with discussions about this incident.

In events like this, the victor gets to enjoy the sweet fruits of triumph.

This was no exception, as the user “Hero Friede of Light” saw a significant rise in recognition.

Not only did existing players take notice, but even those who previously had no interest in such matters now had my ID etched into their minds.

Many even asked who I really was.

Everything was going…

“According to plan.”

“According to plan, my foot!”

Smack!

The sharp sting and fiery sensation on my back made me instinctively shrink away.

Forming’s snap was no joke, her slap packing the force of a seasoned disciplinarian.

She might make an excellent mother someday.

With her hands on her hips and her face flushed, Forming glared at me furiously.

“My entire streaming career was on the line, and you think I want to see someone drop dead in front of me?!”

“Thanks to that, we got attention. Happy ending, no?”

“Attention? Do you know how dangerous that kind of reckless attention-grabbing is for a streamer?”

I shrugged, and she let out a sigh, shaking her head in disbelief.

Perhaps she realized there was no point arguing now that it was all over.

After a moment, she fidgeted, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something, but her expression was slightly awkward.

Finally, she turned her head and muttered in a small voice, “Still… thank you, Friede. For saving me…”

‘Why so sentimental all of a sudden?’

Regardless of what I thought, her face turned as red as a strawberry, and the way she nervously touched her nose was oddly endearing.

“Nope! No need for that. I already told you when I sent the duel footage, remember?”

I put a finger to my lips and smiled.

“I said I’d save you… because I’m a hero, didn’t I?”

Forming’s eyes widened at my words before she broke into a soft chuckle.

‘Yeah, that’s better. You look good when you laugh.’

“Honestly… I might have to give up the title of ‘hero’ in front of you, Friede.”

“So, when’s the next collab?”

“Not anytime soon… Maybe later. Things turned out well, but in this situation, it’s better to lay low for a while.”

“Hmm…”

“Especially for Soul Warfare duos, it’s best to avoid them for now.”

I didn’t ask why.

It was clear that she didn’t want to be seen as someone piggybacking on my achievements.

With our duo, she had reached Grandmaster tier, but maintaining it with her current skills—let alone climbing higher—would be tough.

As someone who had played alongside her, even I could see that.

To the sharp eyes of her viewers, it would be even more apparent.

Considering the backlash from the controversy over teaming with a so-called “cheater,” her cautious approach wasn’t surprising.

Still…

‘I can’t afford to waste any more time like this either.’

I decided to firmly tie up the loose ends regarding my resolve for Forming.

“Forming.”

“Yes?”

Her curious tilt of the head was adorable, and I couldn’t help but deepen my smile.

“Are you free today?”

Her eyes widened so much that it looked like they could fit a whole egg.

The sun had already set, and the moon and stars were beginning to light up the sky.

I sat on a bench, waiting for what felt like hours.

Although I had arrived early, as time passed, a small seed of doubt began to sprout in my heart.

‘Will she really come?’

Even though she had agreed when I suggested meeting at the MS Room, I couldn’t shake the feeling that she might not show up.

‘Should I thank that idiot SUHO for this?’

At least things had been resolved smoothly, and I had managed to earn Forming’s trust.

‘Yeah, it turned out well in the end.’

After all, the rule of thumb is that you reap the rewards after taking down the villain.

Originally, as an online acquaintance, I would’ve preferred to take my time before meeting her in person.

It’s normal for people to be wary when someone they only know online suddenly asks to meet in real life.

Maybe that’s why…

When the troll posted a video targeting Forming, I worried this might permanently ruin any chance of solving her “curse.”

If she had turned her back on me because of this incident, it would’ve made breaking her curse that much harder.

Constantly covering for her with donations would’ve been a hassle too.

But since it was resolved… cheers to that.

Ding!

The crisp sound of my smartphone notification broke my thoughts.

I checked the screen, and there it was:

[Almost there.]

I let out a deep breath, a mix of relief and lingering nerves washing over me like a half-and-half pizza.

This was unavoidable, and I had brought it upon myself, so I tried to calm my heart.

As a hero… didn’t I promise to “save” Hero Forming?

‘I gave her the location, so she should be able to find her way here.’

Looking around, I noticed the crowd thinning out.

The bench I sat on, tucked away in a corner of the park, wasn’t drawing much attention either.

It was time…

‘Let’s get started.’

Today, I would finally uncover the curse that plagued Hero Forming.

And with it… her true identity.