Chapter 6: The Sweetheart’s Burden

Han Ji-eun sat in her high-rise apartment, scrolling through her phone with an expression of mild amusement. The notification from Elara's stream had popped up earlier, but she'd been too preoccupied with work to tune in immediately. Now, though, she had some free time, and she figured she might as well see what the little troublemaker was up to.

She put on her wireless earphones and tapped into the stream. The first thing she heard was Elara's voice, filled with an unusual amount of self-satisfaction.

"From today onward, my most loyal viewer—Sundaenight—will be getting an exclusive rank in this stream. I call it… Sweetheart."

Ji-eun blinked. What?

She watched as the chat went feral, the messages spamming faster than she could read.

[Stormcaller: SWEETHEART??? LMAOOO]

[PixelPirate: RIP Sundaenight's dignity.]

[PhantomBlade: Not even Rank 1 status can save you from this one.]

Ji-eun exhaled sharply through her nose. It wasn't quite a laugh, but it was close. She leaned back against her chair, covering her mouth with the back of her hand as Elara dramatically defended her naming sense.

"Wow. The lack of faith in me. Unbelievable," Elara huffed. "This is an honor! Sundaenight should be thanking me."

Ji-eun felt a headache forming. She had spent years solidifying her image as the strongest hunter in Korea—untouchable, unshakable, absolute. And now? She was Sweetheart Sundaenight. The chat would never let her live this down.

[Sundaenight: …I don't know what to say.]

Elara gasped. "That's the correct response. Absolute speechlessness in the face of my genius."

Ji-eun pinched the bridge of her nose before sighing. This was what she got for enjoying Elara's streams in secret. She should have known something like this would happen eventually. The worst part? She wasn't even mad. Just… resigned. With a shake of her head, she muttered to herself, "You're ridiculous."

Twenty minutes later, Ji-eun was still watching the stream, now fully engaged in the disaster that was unfolding. Elara had started a Empyrean Wars match with LumaDrift_23—the very same teammate she had 'carried' the day before.

Except Elara was not carrying. Not even close.

Elara's economy was in shambles, her unit placement was a tragedy, and every single well-thought-out play Luma set up was promptly destroyed by Elara's questionable decision-making. It was like watching a house of cards get obliterated by a tornado.

Ji-eun sighed, rubbing her temples before finally typing into the in-game chat.

[LumaDrift_23: You're actually ruining my life.]

The chat erupted immediately.

[PhantomBlade: LMAOOOO SHE'S DONE]

[Stormcaller: Luma snapped.]

[PixelPirate: We have witnessed a friendship ending in real time.]

On-screen, Elara visibly flinched. Her character stopped moving entirely as she registered the betrayal.

Her expression contorted into one of complete and utter heartbreak. Mouth open, eyes wide, hand clutching her chest in exaggerated devastation. "Luma… How could you?" she whispered, voice trembling with faux pain. "After everything we've been through?"

[LumaDrift_23: What have we been through?]

Elara sniffled dramatically. "Betrayal. That's what."

Ji-eun exhaled sharply again, the closest thing to a laugh escaping her lips as she shook her head. Elara was an idiot. A fun idiot, but still an idiot.

Elara straightened up, pointing at her camera. "Alright, listen. Before you all slander my name further, let me explain. I just woke up, okay? I'm rusty! My reaction time is slower than usual, and my brain isn't at full capacity yet." She sighed dramatically. "You must understand, my dear viewers, that I am but a humble, sleep-deprived soul trying her best."

[LumaDrift_23: Your best is atrocious.]

[PixelPirate: She's ruthless.]

[LazyLuna: I've never seen someone get roasted so casually.]

Elara groaned, slumping forward onto her desk. "I'm being bullied on my own stream. Unbelievable. Is there no justice in this world?"

Ji-eun leaned back in her chair, the small smirk still lingering on her lips. Watching Elara get absolutely destroyed in her own chat was, admittedly, far more entertaining than she expected. Maybe this new 'Sweetheart' rank wouldn't be so bad after all.

Elara and Luma sat back in the lobby, the game's post-match stats screen displaying their final scores. Elara leaned forward with a self-satisfied grin, pointing at her kill-death ratio.

"See? Five to four. Positive K/D. That means I did good."

[LumaDrift_23: …That's barely positive.]

Elara waved her hand dismissively. "Barely? Barely? No, no, no. It's a win. And you know what they say—winning is winning."

[LumaDrift_23: Who says that?]

Elara scoffed. "People who win."

[LumaDrift_23: You barely won.]

Before Luma could roast her further, Elara hurriedly queued them up for another game, cutting off whatever retort Luma was about to type.

[Stormcaller: DID SHE JUST DODGE THE CONVO BY QUEUING???]

[PhantomBlade: LMAOOOO]

[PixelPirate: Cowardly move but I respect it.]

Elara cleared her throat. "Well, looks like we're in queue! Guess we can't dwell on ancient history now. Time to focus on the future."

[LumaDrift_23: …I despise you.]

As the match countdown began, two new teammates joined their team. Elara stretched her fingers, preparing herself.

"This time, we win properly."

[LumaDrift_23: I don't believe you.]

Elara grinned at the camera. "And that's the best part, Luma. You don't have to."

Elara slumped forward onto her desk, arms sprawled out like a defeated warrior. Ten games. Ten losses. In a row. Her heart, soul, and pride had been utterly crushed.

Chat was in absolute shambles, gleefully roasting her for breaking what had to be some kind of record.

[Stormcaller: TEN LOSSES???]

[PhantomBlade: We are witnessing history.]

[PixelPirate: I looked it up. This is the longest losing streak in Empyrean Wars history.]

Elara groaned, pressing her forehead against her keyboard. "I am never playing this game again."

[LumaDrift_23 has left the party.]

She looked up just in time to see Luma leaving the group. A deep, ominous feeling settled in her chest.

[LumaDrift_23: Don't invite me for at least two days.]

Elara gasped dramatically. "Luma—Luma, no, we can talk about this!"

[LumaDrift_23 has gone offline.]

She stared at the screen in shock. Betrayal. Absolute, soul-crushing betrayal.

[Stormcaller: AHAHAHA SHE LEFT YOU]

[PixelPirate: Even Luma can't handle the curse of Elara's skill issue.]

[PhantomBlade: Rest in peace, LumaDrift_23. May she find better teammates elsewhere.]

Elara pouted, hugging her knees to her chest. "I… I've been abandoned." She sniffled dramatically. "She left me all alone in this cruel, unforgiving world."

[Konqueror99: Deserved.]

[Stormcaller: DESERVED.]

She sulked for a few more seconds before dramatically throwing herself back onto her chair. "Fine. Who needs Luma anyway? I'll just—just… I don't know, rebrand as a cooking streamer or something."

As if the universe itself was pitying her, a notification suddenly popped up on her screen. A donation.

[Sundaenight has donated 50,000 won.]

[Sundaenight: Go get something to eat.]

Elara blinked.

Then, she instantly perked up. "Oh? Ohhh?" Her entire demeanor shifted in a split second, from sulking mess to shining beacon of joy. "Sundaenight, my one true supporter! My beloved patron of the arts!" She placed a hand over her heart. "You truly care for my well-being."

[Stormcaller: LMAO the way she switched up.]

[PixelPirate: She was just mourning a second ago.]

[PhantomBlade: The power of money is truly something.]

Elara ignored them, clasping her hands together. "I will cherish this gift, oh kind Sundaenight. With these 50,000 won, I shall embark on a noble quest to procure the finest meal my local convenience store has to offer."

[Sundaenight: Just eat something that isn't instant ramen.]

Elara gasped, placing a hand over her chest in mock offense. "How dare you insult my beloved staple food?"

[Stormcaller: He's right tho.]

[PhantomBlade: Get some actual nutrition, streamer.]

She sighed, dramatically slumping forward. "Fine, fine. I'll actually buy something decent." Then, she glanced at the time on her screen and stretched her arms above her head. "Alright, alright. I'll take a break and get some food. Be grateful, my dear chat, for you have convinced me."

[Stormcaller: We literally didn't do anything.]

[PixelPirate: Just go already, you gremlin.]

Elara chuckled, ending the stream with a final wave. "See you all later, my lovely viewers! Stay tuned for my glorious return." And with that, the stream went offline.

She sat there for a moment, staring at the black screen. Then, with a satisfied hum, she grabbed her hoodie and prepared to set off on her grand journey—otherwise known as a short trip to the nearest convenience store.