I Have a Reason to Hate Streamers

Chapter 120

Each ripple of the water made my body sway. Floating aimlessly like a boat adrift at sea, I felt my mind slowly growing fuzzy.

Still, the warm, soothing sensation was delightful. I found myself laughing along with Sansae and Elderin’s conversation, or sometimes drifting off into my own thoughts. The drowsy, relaxed feeling nearly lulled me to sleep.

After blinking a few times, I noticed Elderin looking at me with a concerned expression.

“Da-eun, your face is all red. Are you feeling alright?”

“Oh... hmm? Huh.”

Is there something off about me? I shook my head lightly to check, and immediately felt a bit dizzy. I couldn’t be sure, but it definitely didn’t seem like a good sign.

“Maybe I stayed in too long.”

I hadn’t accounted for this. My body, smaller and more delicate than when I was male, had different limits, especially for how long I could withstand the heat.

I’d been so proud of myself for getting into the bath that I’d let my guard down. This is exactly why one shouldn’t get carried away.

I needed to get out of the water. As I held onto the edge to stand, a sudden wave of dizziness hit, and I lost my balance.

“Oh...?”

“Da-eun!”

It took me a second to understand what was happening, and another three seconds to realize I hadn’t fallen flat onto the floor. Sansae and Elderin had quickly reacted, catching me from both sides.

If I’d actually fallen, it would’ve been dangerous.

I probably would’ve hit my head against the edge. Getting hurt in a place like this, at this timing, would’ve ruined the whole atmosphere.

Relieved, I managed to express my gratitude.

“Thank you... you saved me.”

“Be more careful. That was close.”

“Yeah. But... um, I’m fine now. Could you... let go?”

“Oh, sorry. Did that hurt?”

“It didn’t hurt.”

It was just... a bit embarrassing.

Traveler’s move to the UK was a legitimate trade. The timing had been right before roster submission, and under the terms, he could immediately participate in international matches. Naturally, Traveler entered the Prelude tournament with his new team.

[Champion's Prelude Group B – Match 2] [Acid Gaming vs Qingyun Club] [Map: Ruined City] [Mode: 6-Person Deathmatch]

Though I said that, the bath’s heat still hadn’t fully worn off.

I held the ice-cold drink with both hands and pressed it to my forehead. The chilling sensation felt almost shocking, but it cleared my head and relaxed my body.

"Thanks, I’ll enjoy this."

"Were you watching the InBlack tournament just now?"

"Yeah, just wanted to see how things were going. I’ve talked with Traveler a few times, so I was curious."

You’re one of the people I really want to beat.So let’s meet in the international tournament.I’ll make sure to crush you, so wait for it.

After all that, the best he could say was, “I’ll crush you.” I’d found it a bit ridiculous at the time, but I’m not so sure anymore.

It looked like he’d adapted well to a top-tier team. He’d gain invaluable experience and wield the privileges of being on a strong team.

Compared to that, I hadn’t even gotten off the starting line. One-on-one, I might not lose to Traveler or Ripper, but Infinity Black was a team game. In sports, one plus one could sometimes equal three in terms of effectiveness.

“Doesn’t matter. If I practice enough, I won’t lose.”

A burst of motivation filled me. I wanted to stand on a stage like that, too.

How many times had I dreamed of facing off against other strong players and claiming victory on the international stage? To win and prove that all the years I spent in kendo weren’t in vain.

I jumped up and took a sip of the icy sikhye, feeling its chill cool me down. Just as my condition improved, Elderin returned with a tray of snacks.

"Let’s eat these and head into the jjimjilbang."

"Are you sure you’re okay? Maybe rest a bit more?"

"I’m fine."

The brown eggs were surprisingly filling.

With a piece of ice, I felt I’d be fully refreshed. As I opened the lid of the plastic cup and went to pop a piece of ice into my mouth, a few cubes slipped down my shirt.

"Ack! So cold... aah!"

The fallen ice wasn’t a big deal; I could just pick it up. The problem was one piece slipping between my chest.

It was slipperier and colder than I’d expected. As I tried to grab it, it darted around on my chest, evading capture. In the end, I picked it up with my whole chest and popped it into my mouth.

Both women were staring at me with concerned expressions.

“Da-eun... what are we going to do with you?”

“Huh?”

“Just promise you’ll never be alone with a guy.”

“...?”