Chapter 29: Chapter 29

[Infinity Arena Second Qualifier – Final Phase Passed]

Congratulations, Adventurer ‘Gawol’.

You have officially qualified for the Infinity Arena finals.

This is a significant first step and will serve as an inspiration for all adventurers.

As a token of our congratulations, we have attached a small reward.@@novelbin@@

[Attached Items]

Finals Group Selection Ceremony Invitation x1

Second Qualifier (Final Phase) Reward Package x1

Title: Best of 32 x1

After Haruka's parting words of “You pervert!” as she was eliminated,

I pushed on and cleared the final round.

The single-elimination tournament cuts the participants in half with each round.

Among the rapidly dwindling survivors, there was no one weak left.

But my last opponent was an archer class, highly dependent on countering my build.

The match was easier compared to Camellia or Haruka, regardless of my opponent’s skill.

The result was exactly as shown by the system message.

Even though it was an event tournament, I now held one of only 32 tickets available worldwide.

The thrill surged up from my clenched fist.

[Post by: MapleTreeCrunchyTree]

Title: Traveler Advances Cleanly to Finals

[Post by: LoveHotelMaster]

Title: Gawol, What Was That Rabbit Comment About?

[Post by: HanRiverTrashBin]

Title: Gawol Confirmed for Arena Finals

Gawol’s name was everywhere in the community threads I browsed briefly.

Not all the comments were praises, but that didn’t matter.

I lay on the ground, savoring the lingering taste of victory.

It felt like I owned the world.

It felt unreal that something like this could happen to me.

I worried I might wake up from this dream the moment I fell asleep.

I decided to bask in this moment until I felt ready.

Eldorin and Sulbbang were wrapping up their streams, and it seemed Luce had already ended his.

A little idling wouldn’t hurt.

Remembering, I made sure to save Luce’s stream recording.

He often deleted his streams afterward, being the cautious type.

I couldn’t afford to miss today’s broadcast.

After all, today was a historic day for me.

[Whisper from Eldorin]

We finished the stream :)

Do you have a moment to discuss something?

I’ll wait in the voice channel~

Discuss something? Was there anything left to discuss?

I wasn’t sure, but I figured it must be important.

Checking the server, I saw that Eldorin had already created a voice channel.

[You have joined Voice Channel 3.]

Eldorin: “You’re here! Just a moment, Sulbbang will join soon.”

“What’s up?”

Eldorin: “Well, since you’re in the finals, this will be our last broadcast together.”

“Oh…”

She was right.

For the Arena finals, the game company itself would take over.

Soon, there would be a group selection ceremony, and all matches would be broadcast through official channels.

Famous commentators would likely be there.

Despite their efforts, neither Eldorin nor Sulbbang were professional commentators.

Their streams would end here.

I must have been too excited to think this far ahead.

Eldorin: “The matches were amazing. I know it’s a bit late, but congratulations on your win.”

“Thanks. You were the first person who ever reached out to me.”

Eldorin: “Hehe, really? So, will you spare me if we meet in the field next time?”

“I won’t kill you. I do have some shame… so, yeah.”

I genuinely didn’t plan on killing Eldorin next time.

She wasn’t someone I would normally target.

Last time, it was just a coincidence—I happened to notice her while dealing with cramps.

It was a little disappointing that I wouldn’t be able to kill Sulbbang, but I suppose I should consider this as repaying a favor.

There were plenty of other streamers to focus on.

Though maybe I’d drop by Sulbbang’s stream once or twice.

His viewers seemed to enjoy it. If I didn’t have another target, maybe just that one time…

I’d have to ask him about it later.

[Sulbbang has joined Voice Channel 3.]

Sulbbang: “I’m here.”

Eldorin: “Shall we start with the most important matter?”

Sulbbang: “Let’s do that. Gawol, we need to split the donations. How would you like to receive your share?”

“Uh… huh?”

My mind blanked for a moment at Sulbbang’s words.

Split? I remembered they mentioned that at the start.

They’d split the donation revenue between their streams.

It seemed like a good deal at the time, so I agreed.

But now, how was I supposed to receive it?

I didn’t know a thing about how streamers handled their earnings.

“How do people usually do this?”

Sulbbang: “If you’re unsure, just give me your bank account number. I’ll transfer it over. If any other revenue comes in, I’ll send it again next month.”

“Bank account? Uh, well… hold on. Give me a second.”

Sulbbang: “Take your time. It’s not urgent.”

So they just transfer it to a bank account.

Not as complicated as I thought. Of course, I had an account of my own.

You need a place to receive funds if you’re going to cash out.

But… giving them my real name—

Would that be okay?

Why was I hesitating over something as simple as revealing my name?

I couldn’t easily open my mouth.

The reason I’d kept my identity a secret until now was to avoid siege guilds.

But Eldorin had no connection to siege guilds. Sulbbang just played casually, like a mercenary each season.

There was no issue with revealing my name to them.

“…Nobel Bank. 70301-6581-2204, Han Da-eun.”

Sulbbang: “Han Da-eun? Got it. Sending it now.”

“Thanks.”

Eldorin: “I just sent mine too! Please confirm.”

Only after saying it did I realize something.

I felt uncomfortable merging my in-game self, Gawol, with my real self.

Gawol wasn’t limping or a recluse stuck in a tiny room like me.

Even if I was trapped in the muck, I wanted Gawol to shine.

I guess that childish thought was buried somewhere in my heart.

It lasted only for a moment.

As soon as the deposit alert appeared, I checked my account and my jaw dropped.

“This… this much? Are you sure you didn’t send it by mistake?”

Sulbbang: “No mistake.”

Eldorin: “Me neither. I’ll send you a screenshot of the donation breakdown.”

“Ah… got it.”

I suddenly felt like an idiot.

My head lowered involuntarily.

Sulbbang: “Isn’t it a bit disappointing to end things here?”

There was still some time before the second qualifiers wrapped up.

Many players hadn’t matched yet.

With numerous international players, there were time zone differences and scheduled streams like mine.

For a while, there’d be some downtime.

[Post by: CrocodileCrocCroc]

Title: Infinity Highlights: Gawol vs. Haruka Top Moments

I normally don’t write analysis posts, but as an assassin main, this one got my blood pumping.

(Attached Video: Round 1 Slugfest)

Round 1 wasn’t much.

She turned it into a messy brawl to keep her opponent on the defensive.

Gawol knew she could win by dragging it out like that, especially since it was Haruka.

In Japan, few kunoichi match Haruka’s skill level.

She had some experience in the pro scene and decent records.

…

(Attached Photo: Gawol Fighting Haruka)

(Attached Photo: Close-up of Dagger)

Looking at the dagger, it was already set up for the silver thread build.

The last thread in Round 2 had been prepared far in advance.

Gawol likely considered it as soon as she saw Haruka’s silver threads.

It would’ve been difficult to control with Gawol’s build, which made it more unexpected.

(Attached Video: Salmu Partial Defense)

She just blocked that? Against Haruka’s Salmu?

For those unfamiliar, the usual way to deal with Salmu is to use every survival skill available.

The best approach is to prevent its use altogether, but it’s not easy against someone as skilled as this kunoichi.

Since she didn’t reveal her full hand, Haruka couldn’t opt for a frontal assault.

…

Camellia was debatable, but after this match, I’m convinced.

There’s no assassin in Korea who can match Gawol.

Am I overreacting? Sure, believe what you want.

(Attached Video: International Match – KOR Sparrow vs. UK Reaper)

Sparrow may be a top assassin in Korea, but he doesn’t hold up internationally.

It’s been ages since I felt such a thrill from a domestic assassin match.

I want to see that girl in the pro league.

We get wrecked every year in the international competitions. Just once, give us a chance.

With a stronger assassin line-up, Korea could pull off a surprise upset.

Comments:

Wasn’t Gawol just a field ambush one-trick? She’s been showing up more lately.

└ You think a one-trick would reach Infinity every season?

└ She’s in the lower ranks of Infinity.

└ She does just enough for rewards!!!!

Yeah, Korea doesn’t stand a chance anyway~

In the previous season, Infinity meant being among the top 300.

That’s enough to recognize true skill.

A smile crept onto my lips as I scrolled through the post.

“Gawol, something good happen? You look really happy.”

“Hmm? Oh, it’s nothing.”

“If there’s something fun, share it with me. Or… is it a boyfriend?”

“No way! Absolutely not.”

“Hm... okay then.”

The halfling bard, MountainBird, gave me a mischievous grin.

It was a few days before the end of the second qualifiers.

I was back in the heat of party hunting once more.