Chapter 49: Heh, loser.

“Alright, then. Shall we watch the first video? Candidate No. 1—this video was submitted by ‘BribedDwarf.’ The title is ‘Lost Again.'”

[What’s this sound?]

[Lost again!]

[This time, they were completely wiped out!]

The source is quite old, but they added the background commentary seamlessly.

Surprisingly, it seems like a lot of people know about it.

Judging by the reaction… perhaps there are viewers in their 50s here, too.

Since my main focus is on virtual reality games, I didn’t expect this kind of audience.

‘Could it be because of Stellar Craft?’

Well, broadening the viewer demographic is a good sign.

Anyway, I need to focus on the contest for now.

The edited video submitted as part of the portfolio began playing.

***

The first video, unexpectedly, wasn’t based on my broadcast but on another streamer’s.

And to top it off, the game wasn’t Soul Warfare but something else entirely.

I thought viewers might feel uneasy about the unfamiliar content, but no—its quality was captivating.

It was hard to take my eyes off it.

As expected of a video selected by Dayoung, its quality wasn’t ordinary.

This applicant is probably a professional.

[Not bad quality.]

[LOL]

[This is practically pro level, isn’t it?]

[If the other videos are at this level, that means they prepared thoroughly.]

[This contest of yours is already a success, haha.]

Look at that—the viewers’ reactions are positive.

The fact that skilled individuals like this are participating in my contest makes me feel quietly proud.

[ZekeGarterbelt donates 10,000 KRW!

-The video selection is excellent. Did someone help you?]

“Ah, Forming helped me out. They really carried this one.”

[This streamer keeps teaming up with Forming, lol.]

[If it’s Forming, it makes sense.]

[They bonded over their mutual hatred of a certain jerk, LOL.]

***

Fifteen minutes passed as we enjoyed the first video.

It wrapped up neatly and smoothly.

With six more videos to go, I realized that this contest could end up being quite lengthy.

Just as I was about to play the second video, an unexpected electronic notification rang out.

[UniversalCritic donates 10,000 KRW!

-Vote for Candidate No. 1, first video!]

“Why a vote already?”

When something like this happens in the middle of a video review, it can disrupt the flow and ruin the mood.

I frowned slightly.

If I didn’t manage this quickly, future voting interruptions could derail the broadcast.

“I forgot to mention—voting will take place after all the videos have been shown. I’ll cancel the current mission request.”

This kind of thing cuts the rhythm short, but I couldn’t let it show on my face.

Inside, I clicked my tongue in frustration at this minor grievance.

[LOL, no cutting in line!]

[Change your nickname to UniversalLineCutter, LOL.]

[No sense of etiquette, huh?]

[Is this the editor or their friend? Seems fishy.]

[Sharp observation there.]

[LOL!!!]

Before things overheated, I quickly changed the subject.

“Alright, let’s not poke the bear. Moving on to the next video!”

Like dousing steam with cold water just before it boiled over, the chat calmed down as I introduced the next entry.

“Candidate No. 2—submitted by ‘HeavenlyBerserker.’ There’s no title for this one.”

The second video featured Soul Warfare.

It was nice to see a familiar game, though I wasn’t the star this time.

If I recall, Dayoung had mentioned during the selection process that this one was slightly underwhelming.

She had said it had good pacing but was otherwise unremarkable.

The viewers’ reactions were lukewarm, showing no particular excitement.

Compared to Candidate No. 1’s video, which grabbed attention despite being based on a different game, this one felt less impactful.

It was like watching a game character who’s stuck because their stats are 2% too low to proceed.

That sense of inadequacy made it feel a bit disappointing.

Still, as they say, ‘The world of competition is ruthless.’

Everything will be decided by the viewers’ votes.

***

The third video… the fourth… the fifth… and finally the sixth video.

[Candidate No. 2 was kind of underwhelming, but the rest were neck-and-neck.]

[The standard is so high—this is what happens at a top-tier streamer’s editor contest.]

[Their use of source material is amazing.]

[Are these editors already working for other major streamers?]

[At this level of quality, it’s undeniable. They’re freelancers, after all.]

Among these, two videos used footage from my broadcasts—one from Soul Warfare and the other from Stellar Craft.

To my surprise, someone had used Stellar Craft.

I never expected that.

It was a bold choice, but it made me feel a bit excited.

If I had to choose without relying on votes, I’d probably pick Candidate No. 5, the one based on Stellar Craft.

I couldn’t help but smile at the thought, wondering how the viewers would react.

***

“Alright, we’ve reached the final entry. Candidate No. 7, submitted by ‘A-jin.'”

Ah, so this person was still left.

The name stuck in my mind because of their strong impression.

They seemed like a dark horse aiming to win this contest.

Blaming my earlier eagerness to jump to conclusions, I idly tapped my fingers on the desk.

While competition can be merciless, the results shouldn’t be predicted before everything is over.

‘Why had I been so eager to pick a winner before even seeing all the entries?’

[A-jin? LOL!]

[“Boo-hoo, I’m such a loser, bully me more, uwu.”]

[A-jin’s just a baby, LOL. You have to torment them.]

[What kind of preferences are these people exposing?]

[This is seriously unsettling.]

“Let’s not snipe at usernames, okay? If it gets too bad, I’ll hand out bans. Now, A-jin’s video is titled ‘Friede.'”

The title bore my name.

Simple, yet fitting.

Unlike the other editors, A-jin had chosen to edit footage of me fighting Sohu during a do-or-die match.

‘Ah, so that’s why they chose my name as the title.’

Since it was based on my Soul Warfare gameplay, there probably wasn’t a better title for it.

While other editors had edited content from my regular broadcasts, this video featured pre-broadcast gameplay, giving it a distinct advantage.

[Oh.]

[The background music selection is great. Where is it from?]

[Sounds like it’s from Apocalypse Century OST.]

[What’s that, you weeb?]

[It’s a domestic RPG game from 35 years ago. The story is solid, and the voice acting and OST are masterpieces.]

[Now I’m curious about how old everyone in this chat is.]

The audience’s reactions were quite positive.

It seemed even better than the vibe surrounding the fifth and sixth videos, which I had considered to have the best reception so far.

So, this is what it feels like.

‘I only focused on myself as the subject back then.’

Seeing how I appeared to others through a third-person perspective like this felt refreshingly new.

Instead of recalling my past through memories, this visualized version created a subtle difference.

And that’s how I realized—I was pretty awesome back then.

[Wow, this is impressive.]

[Look at that parry execution.]

[LOL, the timing of the parry matches perfectly with the music change, creating an incredible atmosphere.]

[The subtitles flow naturally with the story, too. It doesn’t feel off-putting.]

[Haah, I may be a third-rate in life, but my editing is first-rate.]

[Don’t forget your viewership is also third-rate, lol.]

That person got banned.

After banning the viewer who made the snide “third-rate” joke, I continued watching the video.

The clip focused on me, like a hero in a shonen manga delivering the final blow to a boss.

The close-up of me landing the decisive attack was epic.

The duel itself was an easy win, but packaging it as a protagonist overcoming adversity? That’s true talent.

I had skimmed through it during the selection process and was genuinely impressed even back then.

But watching it in detail now felt like peeling back the layers of an onion, revealing new aspects and continuous enjoyment.

“Hmm, this is good.”

That comment slipped out without me even realizing it.

It made me think, ‘Was I really this impressive?’

***

“Haah.”

Yawning slightly, I poured a freshly brewed cup of coffee from the pod.

After watching all the videos, I took a brief break.

The mental exhaustion was starting to catch up with me—it had been nearly two hours of nonstop viewing.

Both I and the audience needed a moment to recharge.

I couldn’t help but wonder—are the editors who submitted videos featuring other streamers still under contract with them?

This feels a little like an NTR situation…

‘What nonsense am I thinking?’

Shaking my head at the unnecessary thought, I returned to my seat.

Now it was time for the final segment.

I needed to push through just a little more.

***

[Who said “the ultimate tuning is no tuning”? The ultimate tuning is exactly that—tuning.]

[Wow, heresy at its finest. Simple edits like this bring out the real charm of a video, kid.]

[Why are there so many boomers in this chat? If you like simple things, go eat plain rice soaked in water.]

[You think MSG came out of nowhere, huh? LOL!]

While I was away, the chat had turned into a battleground over editing preferences.

It’s not like this kind of debate wouldn’t die down once a winner was decided anyway.

“I’m back! Whatever your video preferences are, respect each other’s tastes.”

[Exactly.]

[Hurry up and hold the vote already. This is getting annoying—ugh.]

“Voting time is approaching, but before that, let’s hear some words from the participants.”

[Huh? What do you mean, words?]

[Did they record something?]

“Yes, I reached out to all the finalists and asked them to share a short message before the vote. Thankfully, they all agreed.”

I had requested something along the lines of a brief comment to mark their participation in the contest.

‘It’s common in competitions to have participants share their thoughts before the results are announced, right?’

That’s the vibe I was going for.

I sent individual emails to the seven finalists, and luckily, they all agreed.

It helped that it was audio-only, which likely reduced any pressure they felt.

[Ohhh LOL.]

[Let’s hear what they have to say.]

[I’m curious now.]

[Let’s see how dorky A-jin sounds.]

[Why does this chat feel like a support group for friendless school nerds? Why am I tearing up?]

“Alright, let’s start with Candidate No. 1.”

The audio clips were all under a minute, so they were quick and easy to listen to.

Starting with Candidate No. 1, the participants’ messages played one after another.

Most of them followed the usual clichés—expressing honor at participating, mentioning how it was a great experience, or confidently stating they aimed to win.

There was one unusual point, though…

[Wait, are they all guys?]

[Why do I smell sweaty dude energy from this?]

[Hey! Stop assaulting my ears with “night-blooming flower” smells!]

[Agreed!]

From Candidates 1 to 6, they were all men.

At first, the chat was calm, but as it became clear that every voice was male, people started to stir.

And then came the last participant, Candidate No. 7.

‘A-jin.’

Arguably the most talented among the seven finalists, A-jin was definitely a top contender for victory.

I, too, was curious about their voice.

Thinking nothing could go wrong, I hadn’t reviewed the audio beforehand.

And then…

“Um… uh…”

A hesitant, soft, and young-sounding female voice played.

I unconsciously widened my eyes.

‘It was a woman?’

[She’s a woman!?]

[LOL, after all those deep male voices, my ears feel refreshed.]

[Let’s goooo! Winner, incoming!]

[Wow, A-jin’s not just a skilled editor but also a cute girl…]

While the chat exploded with excitement, “I’m better than everyone else… all of you are just… losers.”

[YES!]

[Vote for her, brothers! A-jin-sama, take my poll vote!]

[Kawaii…]

[Pat, pat her on the head…]

[Wow, these sweaty losers are now acting like weebs.]

[Sweaty losers and weebs are basically the same thing.]

[Can you ban these degenerates, please?]

[Hey now, more is better when it comes to cute voices.]

Cheers filled the chat as it overflowed with enthusiasm for the unexpected revelation.