It’s not that kind of malicious broadcast

It was a disaster.

-B- just donated 10!-

『Legendary Scotch fails again in the third round』

– LOLOLOL LOLOLOL LOLOLOL LOLOLOL

– How do you lose even when you throw yourself in, Katchya?

– The opponent is a total maniac.

– Scotch was found with his pants down.

– Is this a room for old folks’ gathering?

– Katchya, you really played like trash…

– Got beaten to death, LOL

– Scotch, please use the toilet.

– Comeback victory, let’s go~!

– Is this chat filled with only trolls, seriously?

– Ultra-fast knockout build

In what was expected to be an easy match or at least a spectacle of humiliation for the opponent, it turned into a catastrophe in the early rounds.

Instead of showcasing the dignity of a professional, it was a pitiful and humiliating loss. Watching the opponent, who didn’t even bother to pick up a weapon and just beat him up with his fists, made his blood boil.

‘Damn, this guy… relying on cheap throws…’

He didn’t feel outclassed by skill. He just didn’t anticipate the opponent would throw such a ridiculous gamble.

Who in their right mind would throw a greatsword, not a dagger?

However, he couldn’t openly admit it. He had boasted about the class difference of professionals countless times. Now, if he claimed his loss wasn’t due to skill difference, he’d be buried in comments calling him a sore loser.

“Ah, I really got caught off guard with this one. Let’s focus and go again! No, I didn’t die from bare fists… It was game over the moment I got hit by the greatsword throw and got staggered. How do you even come up with a build that throws a greatsword? Their strategy was sharp.”

– IlIIlllIIlll just donated 10!-

『Sharp strategy = Blindsided by a cheese move, not my skill’s fault』

“Hey, don’t say it like that. Stop with the unrealistic criticism, and let’s tweak the build a bit.”

The first set’s plan, which he had mapped out in his head, crumbled with a single throw. But in the end, winning a one-on-one was all about builds and experience.

And as a knight, his hero’s structure was similar to Foragl in many ways.

There was one mistake, but that was it. Scotch believed that gaining the upper hand in a knight mirror match was not difficult.

“Using a greatsword for a one-hit trick, and then throwing it… seems like a guy who likes unconventional tactics… probably not confident in long-term strategy. Even if it’s a bit messy, if I drag it into a stamina battle, there’s no reason to lose.”

There were a few people jeering in the chatroom, but it was better than getting knocked out in the third round with two consecutive losses.

In preparation for a prolonged battle, he opted for self-healing traits and stamina management traits. He lost some agility and defense, but it was enough against an enemy wielding a large sword.

‘It would be better if I knew who it was, but they’re enforcing blinding to prevent broadcast sniping. Just in case, let’s enlarge the shield a bit more.’

He ensured minimal stability, considering the possibility that the opponent might change their build, and locked in. The build was customized to counter large sword users, and even if the opponent didn’t have a large sword, he was ready for a stamina battle against most knights.

Just before the loading screen appeared, Scotch lightly shook his body, heightening his focus. Slowly. If he moved slowly, he could surely beat those who used unnecessarily large weapons.

“Alright, gentlemen, I always told you, didn’t I? In one-on-one matches, builds are extremely significant, and the second set is where true skill shows. Let’s go for a comeback: Loss-Win-Win. I’ve always won knight mirror matches—what the hell, damn it.”

What he saw as he steadied his mind was a rogue in a black hood.

***

Maybe because it was the preliminary round.

The level of play was not as high as expected. More precisely, it felt like people didn’t fully understand the nature of one-on-one matches in the ‘KoK.’

My current opponent seemed especially so. Enlarging the shield and opting for stamina-focused traits. No matter how I saw it, it was a counter-build against an offensive trait large sword.

It meant they thought I wouldd use the same build as my previous game.

Did I look that naive?

Why?

Someone donated 1,000 won!

【If I were the opponent, I’d really cry】

With the donation sound still on, I slowly closed the distance. Probably due to the previous set’s loss, the opponent was shrinking back and fortifying their defense.

An obvious move aiming for a long-term battle. Perhaps a type confident in slow gameplay. However, going for a stamina battle against a rogue wasn’t a wise decision.

There might be something they’re aiming for. Either way, now was the time to feint. I didn’t approach rashly and instead moved near an ice pillar while keeping my distance.

I repeated hiding and revealing myself, a tactic called ‘You Come Here.’

It was a ploy to imply that I wanted to drag the fight into a stamina battle. I began light juggling, observing the opponent’s movements leisurely, displaying an air that I didn’t care if I laid down sincerely.

As I added a light tap dance motion to my juggling, the opponent began moving slowly. They were probably aiming for the attack power buff that appears at the map’s center in 1 minute and 30 seconds.

“…A bit disappointing.”

I had expected them to respond with a taunt motion.

Still, I couldn’t let them do as they pleased. Moving slowly, I stepped forward as if only interested in maintaining distance to guard the buff.

Then, just as the opponent took another step, turning their attention to the buff—

-Thwack!

I dashed forward as though I was throwing my entire body into it.

My opponent naturally hid behind the shield. It was as if they had anticipated this level of rush. Of course, they had.

Two seconds before impact, I slightly pulled my right shoulder back. My opponent adjusted their stance, appearing alert. Were they planning a just defense followed by a counter-attack or perhaps a shield parry? The latter seemed more likely.

It didn’t matter. It was enough if I could induce even the slightest movement of the shield.

From the beginning, I had no intention of swinging my dagger. It was pointless to exchange blows with someone who hid behind a shield and aimed for a long confrontation.

-Bang!

Using the full inertia of my rush, I drove my foot into the opponent’s shield as though I was throwing my entire body into it. Rather than kicking, I aimed to push through it.

If my opponent had come in full plate armor, I wouldn’t have dared. But since this knight chose light armor to manage stamina, they could certainly be sent flying.

With a thunderous crash, the opponent stumbled back two steps. I had hit the mark. While the shield had absorbed most of the damage, the knight’s stamina must have taken a considerable hit.

I feigned a follow-up attack-

-Whooosh!

Dodged the knight’s defensive maneuver by tilting my head back and retreated slowly.

Then, I continued to juggle.

Knights already had less stamina compared to rogues. With the stamina halved by that kick, it was impossible for the knight to think of a long duel. Now, even if it was irksome, the knight had to charge first.

Once the knight approached, I would use my survival skills to disengage once and exchange hits while maintaining my stamina.

But, being too textbook sometimes lessens the true strength.

-Thud!

As soon as the impatient knight lunged forward, I also dashed in the opposite direction. The distance between us closed rapidly.

The knight was quite skilled at gauging distances. Even though a bit flustered, the knight would approach just short of the dagger’s reach.

Then, at this moment.

-Swish!

Timing my move with the slight twitch of the opponent’s right shoulder, I threw the dagger I held in my left hand.

It wasn’t a powerful throw. Even if it hit, it wouldn’t decide the outcome.

But since the opponent didn’t know this.

Panicking, the knight canceled their attack and lost balance while attempting to dodge. The reaction was slightly exaggerated, likely because memories of the last match’s great sword throw still lingered.

It was a good sign. I advanced two more steps and swung my right hand toward the opponent’s thigh.

-Clang!

At the last moment, the knight moved their shield to block the attack. As expected, they had solid fundamentals. From judging distance to defensive timing.

Showing my empty left hand slyly, I thrust the dagger again—only for it to be evaded cleanly.

I thought I needed to engage a bit more.

*Swish!*

With a firm resolve to expend most of my remaining stamina, I continued the onslaught. Quickly. As fast as possible, leaving no time to think.

*Clang!*

They were at a distance so close we could feel each other’s breath, close enough to slit a throat with a dagger. It was two steps closer than the preferred distance of warriors.

*Thud!*

No matter how skilled one was with the basics, there was a limit to blocking and deflecting attacks at close range. Eventually, one had to allow low-damage hits that came in gradually.

The knight cornered by consistent attacks began to bleed slowly.

However, throwing one of the dual daggers didn’t change the situation. If even a momentary distance opened up and we clashed again, gaining the upper hand wouldn’t be easy. My opponent, well aware of this fact, was desperately waiting for a chance to shake me off.

In the flurry of back-and-forth attacks, I sensed the opponent’s growing anxiety. Maybe in no longer than 10 seconds. Even if the opponent liked taking risks, no longer than 20 seconds. A horizontal slash to create distance would come.

*Now.*

A sharp one-handed sword was aimed at my waist. Did the opponent target the empty left hand? The angle made it extremely difficult to block with my right hand, forcing me into a retreating position.

However, the opponent had misunderstood one crucial thing.

In a one-on-one match, it didn’t matter how—only that I didn’t die first. Defeating just one opponent meant there were no follow-up battles.

*Whack!*

My vision turned red. Despite trying to deflect the blow with the armor on my left arm, it still did considerable damage. Allowing just one more chained attack at this rate could be fatal.

But my opponent, already pierced in the neck by a dagger, didn’t have the strength for that.

“I survived.”

I pulled out a third dagger and threw it at my collapsing opponent, just in case. It seemed wasteful to bring three daggers, a build optimized for throwing, and end it after using only two.

Whether the final strike finished the opponent off or time ran out, a “Victory” message appeared as the snow-covered ground was stained with blood.

-User ㅇㅇ donated 1,000 won!-

【Are you intentionally only killing with throws?】

“Hmm… From what I saw in the first set, my opponent seems to have trouble blocking throws. In multiple duels, it’s right to exploit a visible weakness at least once.”

An opponent who reacted slowly to greatsword throws would naturally have trouble with dagger throws too.

“It’s a bit disappointing, though. It doesn’t quite have the same feel…”

Ultimately, finishing a game with throws does lack a certain satisfaction. I found himself longing to meet a worthy opponent soon.