Gender Swap: The Introvert’s Broadcast

First, let me explain the role of a support in Reore.
I haven’t played much myself, so I don’t know all the details, but I’ve heard that the role involves assisting the ADC (Attack Damage Carry).
The support typically takes hits for the ADC or provides shields and buffs to protect and enhance their gameplay.

However, I have a slightly different perspective.

As the old saying goes, “The best defense is a good offense.”
If I can deal damage to opponents and force them to retreat, isn’t that also fulfilling the role of a support?

“I’ve noticed something while playing casual games alone... The ADC role often doesn’t live up to its name.”

To unlock ranked play, I had to reach level 30 by grinding casual matches, during which I realized something:
The supposed “ranged damage dealer” didn’t contribute as much as expected.

“And most of the time, they’re just trying to rack up kills while treating the support as an emotional punching bag.”

When I wasn’t playing with Yeram’s friends, I sometimes queued alone and got assigned to the support role.
In those games, it was common for the ADC to use me as a scapegoat.
The chat logs I remember are full of gems like “you beast,” “what are you doing there, you orphan,” and other charming remarks.

Naturally, my trust in ADC players wasn’t very high.

[Omniscient Cthulhu: Wow.]
[Omniscient Cthulhu: You’ve already figured it out.]
[Omniscient Cthulhu: All ADCs are trash, lol.]
[Hwanhee: Why are you hating on ADCs?]
[Hwanhee: They’re so kind and polite!]
[Hwanhee: Stop slandering them, lol.]
[Kang Hoo-min Here: I don’t play Reore much these days, but even back then, ADCs were awful.]
[Such keen insight based on historical data! Classic Hoo-min, lol.]

“So... in my opinion, it might be better not to take minion gold and instead roam to secure kills in other areas for growth.”

As a top laner, it would be a different story, but as a support stuck with a random stranger, I figured it might be better to do my own thing rather than stay glued to an ADC.
For example, like now—

[Enemy slain!]

“Nice.”

Salus, the champion I was playing, had a kit that excelled in early skirmishes with quick hit-and-run tactics.
Taking advantage of this, I roamed around the map, getting involved in every lane except the bottom lane.

[Omniscient Cthulhu: Hold on.]
[Omniscient Cthulhu: Why are you so good?]
[Omniscient Cthulhu: Didn’t you just start playing Reore?]
[Hwanhee: For real.]
[Hwanhee: Is this a smurf account?]
[It does seem suspicious.]
[But why would anyone go through the trouble of creating a smurf for this?]

People were starting to misunderstand.
So, I explained why I was doing well despite being new to the game.

“I watched Reore videos during my breaks at work, analyzed replays after every casual match... That’s just how I approach games. I did the same with other games I played.”

I’ve always liked strategy games, and Reore had some similarities to them.
It reminded me of chess in some ways.
Of course, the overall rules were completely different, but the feeling was similar.

[Omniscient Cthulhu: Dude.]
[Omniscient Cthulhu: Aren’t you supposed to work during your shift? LOL.]
[Kang Hoo-min Here: Well, it’s not exactly a bad thing.]
[Kang Hoo-min Here: I used to watch Reore championship videos during my part-time shifts too.]

As I continued roaming with Salus and exerting influence on other lanes—

[All chat][Gumiga Dangineun Nal][Kasa]: Why is our support abandoning me?
[All chat][Gumiga Dangineun Nal][Kasa]: What are you doing in other lanes?
[All chat][Gumiga Dangineun Nal][Kasa]: This is ridiculous, lol.

The ADC started venting.
Most people hide their true feelings in everyday life to avoid negative social judgment.
But not this ADC.
They broke all unspoken social norms, throwing a tantrum like a toddler.

“Objectively speaking, ADCs tend to complain the most, followed closely by top laners.”

This was based on data I’d collected over the past few days of solo gaming. Reliable data, in my opinion.

[All chat][Gumiga Dangineun Nal][Kasa]: Ugh, I seriously don’t want to play anymore.
[All chat][Gumiga Dangineun Nal][Kasa]: Why does my support keep abandoning me?
[All chat][Gumiga Dangineun Nal][Kasa]: Forget it, I’m done.

The ADC essentially declared they were quitting the game.
I was used to this kind of behavior from casual games, though I hadn’t expected it in ranked.

“Honestly... If your support always leaves you, shouldn’t you consider that the problem might be you?”

What a fool.
If they were even a little like me, they could have been a genius among geniuses.
Shaking my head in disappointment, I typed into the chat.

[All chat][LondonIsInDanger][Salus]: ADC, may I ask something out of curiosity?
[All chat][LondonIsInDanger][Salus]: Did you complete the mandatory middle school education?
[All chat][LondonIsInDanger][Salus]: I’m genuinely curious.
[All chat][LondonIsInDanger][Salus]: I’ve gained significant advantages for our team. Why are you upset? It doesn’t make sense to me.

I avoided using direct insults since that could lead to legal trouble.
Besides, polite sarcasm tends to anger people more, as seen here.

[All chat][Gumiga Dangineun Nal][Kasa]: F* you.**

“Ah…”

The ADC had crossed a line they couldn’t return from.
While their insult wasn’t directed at me specifically, I could still deal with them within the confines of this game.

[Omniscient Cthulhu: Wow, that escalated quickly.]
[Omniscient Cthulhu: Straight to personal insults, lol.]

“I think I handled that quite tactfully. Unfair, really.”

Feeling slightly aggrieved, I sent one final message.

[All chat][LondonIsInDanger][Salus]: Screenshot taken.

After that, I didn’t respond further.
Truthfully, I couldn’t pursue legal action based on this.
The insult wasn’t directly targeted at me, and it wasn’t specific enough.

[Enemy slain!]

“Nice. That was a lot of value.”

My roaming strategy had been highly effective.
Our top laner was now overwhelmingly strong, and Kasa, the ADC, was still refusing to play, idly typing in chat instead.

“If it were me, I’d swallow my pride and aim for victory. But their pride must be too strong.”

Pride is important, sure, but in an anonymous game, isn’t it better to let it go and focus on the goal?
With that thought, I destroyed the enemy nexus.

Boom!

[Victory!]

The word “Victory” filled the screen.
My first ranked game—and my first win.@@novelbin@@

Shortly after the game ended—

Ding!

Someone sent me a friend request.
Curious, I checked the name.

[Gumiga Dangineun Nal]

“They must be really mad.”

Hoping the issue would resolve quickly, I declined the friend request and queued for the next game.
It looked like I’d be playing late into the night.

Chirp, chirp.

The sound of birds greeted the dawn, as usual.
What wasn’t usual was the fact that I was still awake—completely focused on gaming.

“Phew... That’s it for today. Ugh, I’m exhausted. At least I reached Gold.”

[Omniscient Cthulhu: Nice work today, bye.]
[Kang Hoo-min Here: See you next time.]
[Hwanhee: Bye.]

With those words, I took off my headset and ended the stream.
The stats for today’s stream began to appear.

[Average viewers: 12]

Not a bad start for someone new to streaming.
I’d even reached the Gold tier.
Maybe I really had a knack for Reore.

With that thought, I stood up.
It was time to wake Yeram.