Gender Swap: The Introvert’s Broadcast

I’m not someone who judges people based on rumors. Information tends to get distorted in the middle, after all. I prefer to make my judgments based on my own experiences. And right now...

“Are we queuing for normals as a trio?”

The suggestion caught me off guard. While I wasn’t new to playing normals with others—I’d played with Yeram’s friends when I first started Reore—this was the first time I’d been asked by complete strangers. It naturally made me a bit suspicious.

[🗡️Omniscient Cthulhu]: A trio in normals? Seems fun, LOL.]
[🗡️Omniscient Cthulhu]: This could be hilarious.]
[What even is this lineup?]
[This is going to be insane, LOL.]
[You’ve barely started streaming and you’re already collabing with big names?]
[You’ve made it, kid, LOL.]
[Big Dama.]
[Hwanhee]: Is this for real?]
[What do you think? Fake?]
[Never imagined this combo in my life, LOL.]
[Mangming and Salok are one thing, but Dama? What is this lineup?]

The chat’s reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Honestly, I was taken aback. I had hoped there would be some negative comments in the chat so I could politely decline, but it didn’t pan out that way.

Still, I decided to reject the offer at first—accepting immediately might make it seem like I’d been eagerly waiting for this.

“Well, since I don’t really know Salok, it feels a bit sudden…”@@novelbin@@

I trailed off, implying that I was hesitant.

[Salok donated 10,000 won!]
-I’m a fan of yours, Dama!

[🗡️Omniscient Cthulhu]: A fan? LOL. You’ve barely been streaming for a few days.]
[Isn’t Salok’s definition of a fan just someone they know?]
[If you know them, I guess that makes you a fan, LOL.]
[Kang Hoo-min]: Look at this guy squeezing out another 10,000 won. Ruthless.]
[Conspiracy theorist Kang, LOL.]
[Not sure this is even a conspiracy, though...]

I hadn’t expected this sudden donation. I didn’t ask for money, but here it was.

“Also, Mangming has to agree too. It wouldn’t be right to just decide without her input.”

Since Salok had initially asked me to join, I wanted to make sure Mangming was okay with it as well. When I brought it up—

[Mangming]: I don’t mind.]
[🗡️Omniscient Cthulhu]: Nice! Everything’s aligned, LOL.]
[Hwanhee]: This is already looking hilarious, LOL.]
[This will be pure comedy.]
[Mangming actually agreed to this? Amazing.]

With Mangming’s agreement, Salok’s enthusiasm, and no valid reason for me to refuse, it seemed I had no choice. After all, we weren’t meeting in person—just playing a game together. It didn’t sound too bad. Plus, there was the 10,000-won donation to consider.

“Alright then, share your in-game names so I can add you.”

[Salok]: Got it.]
[Mangming]: Got it.]
[🗡️Omniscient Cthulhu]: You already know Mangming’s name from last time.]
[🗡️Omniscient Cthulhu]: Why are they sharing it again, LOL?]
[Mangming]: Oh, right.]

After adding both of them to my friends list, I invited them to a game.

“Ahem, hello, everyone.”

It was my first time talking to them via voice chat, so I was a bit nervous. What if I slipped up?

• “Hello…!”

A timid voice broke the silence—Mangming, cautiously greeting everyone.

• “Hey, everyone~!”

Then came Salok’s voice, calm and confident, in stark contrast to Mangming’s. Hearing her tone, I couldn’t help but wonder where that confidence came from.

“Alright, let’s get started with a quick match.”

There was no need to drag things out.

• “Oh, come on. We’ve just met—shouldn’t we chat a bit first?”

Salok clearly had other plans. Since she’d initiated this, it made sense she wanted to take the lead.

“Well, I haven’t been streaming for long, so I don’t have much to talk about…”

I tried to draw a line. My streams were meant for interacting with viewers from the forums, not for building relationships with other streamers.

• “Wow, that’s a little cold. I feel hurt.”
  “If it came across that way, I apologize.”
• “Oh, no need to apologize! I was just teasing.”

At that moment, I got the feeling that Salok was trying to test me, perhaps engaging in some subtle power play. Years of gaming had made me familiar with this sort of dynamic.

[🗡️Omniscient Cthulhu]: Smells like a power struggle.]
[🗡️Omniscient Cthulhu]: I’m not the only one feeling this, right?]
[Not just you, LOL.]
[Why are they playing mind games?]

“Alright, let’s just get into the game,” I said, hitting the start button.

At that moment, Mangming spoke up.

• “Dama, um, would you like to duo in bot lane with me?”

I paused to consider the suggestion but saw no harm in it. I’d played bot lane duos before, so I accepted.

“Sure, let’s go bot together.”

• “Have you duoed much before?” Mangming asked.
  “Not really. Just casual games with some friends.”
• “Oh, so you have a lot of male friends who play Reore?”
  “They’re girls, actually.”
• “What?”

The silence that followed was almost deafening.

‘Ah.’

I realized how that sounded. Saying I played with a group of girls probably gave the wrong impression. I quickly clarified.

“Oh, no, don’t misunderstand. They’re all minors.”

• “...What?”

[🗡️Omniscient Cthulhu]: ???]
[🗡️Omniscient Cthulhu]: Dude;]
[What is happening right now?]
[Hwanhee]: Is this real?]
[Kang Hoo-min]: Uh, what?]

I sighed and corrected myself again.

“They’re my younger sister’s friends. We just played together a few times, that’s all.”

This situation was spiraling out of control. My explanation had been so poorly worded that it was easy to misunderstand.

• “Oh, right! I misunderstood. Sorry about that.”
  “No worries. I probably made it sound worse than it is.”

Just as I was clearing things up—

Ding!

The game queue popped. Accepting it, we entered the champion select screen.

As soon as we entered the champion select screen, the chat lit up with a flurry of activity. Since this was a normal game, roles weren’t predetermined like in ranked matches. Instead, everyone had to claim their preferred role in the chat.

And now:

[Salok: Support]
[Salok: Support]
[Salok: Support]
[Salok: Support]

Salok spammed the chat at an incredible speed, securing the support role before anyone else could respond.

“Wait, what?”

Even Mangming seemed caught off guard, unable to finish her sentence.

• “Oh, I was just joking! You and Dama can go bot together. I’ll take jungle.”

Salok laughed as she shifted to the jungle role, clearly enjoying her little prank.

• “I told you to stop joking around like that.”
• “I’ll only joke once a day, so cut me some slack~”
• “Ugh…”

From Mangming’s reaction, it was clear she was used to Salok’s antics. Apparently, Salok wasn’t the only one who enjoyed teasing Mangming. It seemed Mangming wasn’t just my target for jokes.

“So, Mangming, what ADC are you planning to play? I’ll adjust accordingly.”

• “Hmm…”

Mangming paused for a moment before answering.

• “I’ll play Xayah!”

I could tell she was subtly nudging me toward picking a specific champion. The choice was obvious.

“Alright, I’ll go with Rakan.”

[🗡️Omniscient Cthulhu]: LOL, Mangming picking a couple champion duo.]
[🗡️Omniscient Cthulhu]: This is hilarious.]
[Hwanhee]: Transparent. So transparent.]
[This is comedy gold, LOL.]
[Alright, let’s see this couple duo in action.]
[Kang Hoo-min]: This will be entertaining.]

And just like that, Mangming and I ended up as a bot lane duo, playing the classic couple champions, Xayah and Rakan.

I couldn’t help but admire Mangming’s sense for what would make the stream more entertaining.