Thanks to the good seat assignment, no unnecessary obstacles got in the camcorder’s line of sight.
Thinking that even in moments like this, the name Friede carried weight, Ajin’s lips curled into a satisfied smile.
“I like it quite a bit.”
“Uh, yeah. Well, I mean… yeah.”
‘Was it because she was away from her sister?’
Ajin’s stammering, which had returned once again, now felt unnatural.
Looking back on it, I wondered if we had all simply grown too accustomed to being saved by her.
Whether it was an event or whatever, I didn’t really care.
The only reason I was even here was because of one connection—Friede.
At that moment, as the commentators made their announcement, the team streamers began appearing one by one.
***
“They’re coming out.”
“Oh… Ohhh.”
“You really can’t do anything without your sister, huh? Give me the camcorder. If it’s too hard, I’ll record it for you.”
“N-no! My sister… I-I have to record everything…!”
Shaking my head at Ajin’s stubborn grip on the camcorder, I let out a sigh.
You and I—we really are tangled up with someone who carries too much on their shoulders.
To say she bore many sins… was an odd way to describe someone who had saved us as a hero.
Yet despite knowing she was the type to reject others outright, we still clung to her like bees circling a flower.
‘Was it the flower’s fault? Or the bees’?’
‘It’s the flower’s fault.’
Even though it was a cowardly rationalization, Dayoung accepted it without question.
Whatever. That much was enough to be called sinful.
***
“Huh?”
Ajin gasped beside me.
The arm holding the camcorder trembled slightly, looking dangerously unstable from where I stood.
And yet, she clung to it with desperate determination, making sure the screen didn’t shake.
‘Was this an editor’s professional instinct to capture a good vlog, or just sheer stubbornness?’
Of course, I felt the same way.
Even if I didn’t say it aloud, the emotion I felt wasn’t any different from hers.
If it was about Friede’s looks, or even her outfit, then sure—of course, she would draw attention.
But this… this was different.
Glancing around hurriedly, I saw that I wasn’t mistaken.
Everyone was frozen, their gazes locked onto the stage.
The once-bustling audience had fallen into absolute silence—not because they had suddenly lost their voices, but because they were utterly captivated.
The normally lively chat had gone still.
The cameramen, who should have been capturing a variety of scenes, were motionless.
The staff managing the broadcast showed no signs of movement.
Even the commentators, who were mid-sentence, had stopped.
And the players on stage—
***
‘She’s stolen their hearts.’
‘Would this count as a kind of pickpocketing?’
It wasn’t just that Friede’s striking appearance and provocative outfit had caught their attention.
It wasn’t her beauty.
It wasn’t her clothes.
It was something deeper—a strange, irresistible allure that made it impossible to look away.
This wasn’t about men or women.
It wasn’t about beauty or ugliness.
It was something beyond all of that, something that simply drew people in.
People had a word for it.
They called it “magnetic charm.”
The short moment it took for Friede to step onto the center of the stage was enough.
The tournament’s atmosphere quickly returned to normal, but the image of her entrance had been burned into everyone’s minds.
When a first impression is that powerful, nothing else matters.
If her outfit and presence created an overwhelming sense of sex appeal, well, that was fine too.
With that in mind, her steps remained confident.
‘Sorry, everyone. Just hold on and endure.’
For a brief second, I worried—if everyone ended up standing there awkwardly like penguins, it would be a disaster.
But then I thought…
‘If that were to happen, and if I were at the center of it all—’
‘Wouldn’t that be fine?’
It wouldn’t be so bad, really.
Just like now.
***
[No… way…?]
[Is this… Friede in real life?]
[Friede Godrida, Kingrida, Queenrida!!!]
[All-black sexy dominatrix concept Friede… this is a blessing.]
[This is it. This is the moment.]
[Who are we? The loyal followers of Friede, the top-tier face, top-tier body, top-tier skills!]
[Who are we? The loyal followers of Friede, the top-tier face, top-tier body, top-tier skills!]
[Who are we? The loyal followers of Friede, the top-tier face, top-tier body, top-tier skills!]
[Hey, rookie. Watch closely. This—this is what true sex appeal looks like.]
[Hah, who needs porn at this point?]
[That curvy line reminds me of a jar full of thick miso paste… absolutely delicious ^^ Oh, and I never said whose curves they were ^o^]
[Can’t deny it. We’re all just thirsty, pathetic mortals.]
[Mommy, give me milk.]
[This chat is full of degenerates.]
***
As if making up for the moment of silence, an unrelenting flood of messages exploded in the chat.
Some of the more inappropriate comments were getting banned without hesitation, but the sheer volume was overwhelming.
[Ah, yes. Friede certainly has many devoted fans. As expected, she’s incredibly popular given all the attention she’s drawn so far.]
[Yes, with Friede’s dazzling skills and beauty, it’s no surprise that she has such a passionate following.]
The commentators struggled to maintain a calm demeanor, but their effort was almost painful to watch.
They were clearly aware of the chat.
They must have seen the chaotic flood of crude jokes and reactions.
What were they really thinking right now?
For a brief moment, Friede had the urge to use telepathy.
But in the end, she simply shook her head and let it go.
[Alright, next, we’ll have a pre-match interview with the players. Jiyoung, please come forward.]
Like generals conceding defeat, the commentators hastily passed the baton, their voices tinged with subtle desperation.
Fortunately, the screen quickly switched away, avoiding another situation where Friede’s face dominated the entire frame.
***
“Hello, this is Jiyoung.”
[Ohhh! The reliable Jiyoung is here!]
[At this point, it’s impossible to imagine an interview segment without Jiyoung!]
[She really went all out with her makeup for the offline event!]
[But her lips tho @@]
[No need to feel self-conscious—next to Friede, we all look like squid larvae anyway.]
[Jiyoung, ganbatte!]
Having appeared in countless events, popping up here and there like a flash, Jiyoung had become a familiar presence to viewers.
At this point, an event interview without Jiyoung would feel like red bean bread without the red beans.
Her eyes burned with determination—she was set on securing a position as a full-time interviewer in the next season.
***
“Today’s match between Team STK and the Streamer Team is already heating up. Let’s start by interviewing the players from STK, who will be leading the game’s strategy.”
The pre-match talk from STK’s players was brief.
“We’ll do our best.”
“We’ll put on a fun match.”
“We’ll show some great plays.”
The same generic lines, repeated over and over.
As expected from STK, a team notoriously dull in public interviews.
Even so, Jiyoung skillfully led the conversation with her usual enthusiasm.
***
“Now, Lotus, this time, you’ll be facing off against Friede in a team battle. Any words for her before the match?”
Taking the mic, Lotus glanced at Friede, who stood calmly at the other end.
Then, in a near whisper, she spoke.
“Sis, go easy on me.”
And with that, she bowed her head, fidgeting awkwardly.
Even Jiyoung, a seasoned interviewer, found the sight unfamiliar.
Curious, she skipped over the other players and went straight to Friede with a probing look.
“Friede, how do you respond to Lotus’s request?”
“I simply… wish STK the best of luck. And… Eunha, come here for a second.”
“Okay!”
“Huh?”
Had there ever been a moment where players from opposing teams casually crossed the stage like this?
Even Jiyoung, with all her experience, was momentarily stunned.
Lotus, her eyes shining, trotted over—only for Friede to gently pat her cheeks.
“Make sure to cooperate well with your teammates. And don’t get hurt. Got it?”
“Got it!”
Like a child earnestly nodding at her mother’s words, Lotus beamed.
‘Hello? This is an event match, and you two are opponents.’
Jiyoung muttered blankly to herself, while the chat exploded.
***
[This streamer is suspiciously obsessed with cute girls.]
[Why are there only girls around Friede?]
[Better than having a bunch of sweaty dudes whining next to her.]
[Sisterly bond, love to see it.]
[Poor Forming is crying rn lmao.]
***
Even STK’s own teammates were taken aback—this was a stark contrast to Lotus’s usual icy demeanor.
Jiyoung, recovering quickly, wrapped up the moment and moved on.
“Alright, we’ve seen how the bond between these two has strengthened since their last duel. Now, let’s turn to Warden.”
She redirected the mic to Warden, the last player to be interviewed.
“What are your thoughts heading into this match? Any words on facing the Streamer Team?”
Even for Friede, Warden was still an obstacle standing in her way.
He was, without a doubt, the strongest player in this event.
Though it was just an exhibition match, he was known for always giving his all.
[Could Friede overcome him?]
That was the question on everyone’s mind.
Taking the mic, Warden gazed straight ahead with calm, unreadable eyes.
“It’s not a matter of how I feel. I simply… wish the Streamer Team the best of luck.”
His words, spoken without hesitation, carried the weight of unshakable resolve—like a solid rock.
With that, the interview concluded.
***
As the players returned to their positions, the camera followed their backs, capturing the air of determination surrounding them.
[Alright! STK vs. the Streamer Team! The exhibition match is about to begi—huh?]
The commentator, just about to announce the start, suddenly hesitated, letting out a confused sound.
It was unlike him to break his composed delivery, but something the staff had just relayed through his earpiece left him momentarily stunned.
His expression stiffened before shifting into an awkward smile.
[Ah… We apologize for the delay. Due to multiple players experiencing sudden spikes in blood pressure, we will be postponing the match for approximately ten minutes for safety reasons.]
[Ah… Aaaah….]
[A moment of silence…]
[……]
[Ping….]
The cause wasn’t explicitly stated, but the chat knew.
And instead of mocking the situation, they simply sighed in unison.
For once, no one dared to joke about what had just happened.