A standoff with only one enemy left.
The moment I saw the kill score, I couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Some weirdos in the gallery kept trying to fire off signal flares.
As if.
Signal flares are total home-cooked comfort food, right?
In casual matches at least, you can hang with the pros.
Sorry to Mugeon, but honestly, before I picked up the double barrel to smash troll teammates' heads, my go-to was the sniper rifle.
My annihilation combo was breaking shields with a low-zoom sniper at mid-range, then rushing in while the exposed enemy tried to heal and finishing them off with stunned headshots using the weapon slotted in my second slot.
But even I have to admit Mugeon is an outstanding sniper.
Like that time he shot the guy firing from the hilltop right as I took cover.
I thought I'd dodged with the same movement, covered up, and aimed at almost the exact same timing.
But Mugeon was definitely faster.
If we'd been enemies aiming at each other, my head would've exploded first—that big a gap.
Even later, when he tried to steal my kills.
He'd fake a shot to bait me, but he'd watch through his scope to see if my bullet hit the enemy or not.
You've got to respect guys who make a living as pro gamers.
They earn that money because they're frustratingly good.
...But in the very end, who was the winner?
King, God, Great, Signal Flare.
[You got lucky. I lost.]
Mugeon called it luck, but no way.
What's the identity of Signal Flare?
Double-barrel shotgun and smoke grenades.
Stick to enemies with crazy shot super-accel mats, pop smoke, then crack open the heads of foes who think they're safe inside—that's my specialty.
And inside smoke, I can cook any enemy no matter what gun I'm holding.
I've been doing this for five years— it'd be weirder if I couldn't.
So when Mugeon started acting like he wanted to test me,
[...Then, could I watch you play? I'd like to invite you to an intra-squad match.]
Rage boiled up like, "Who do you think you are?" alongside a flashing idea.
It started as a simple recon snipe, but there was a collab stream coming up in a few days.
The boss trusted me with promo duties.
I figured I should make it explode big-time, so my mouth moved on its own.
[Unnecessary. You can see.]
"? What do you mean by that?"
[Reason. Revealed in 60 hours.]
─ ??
─ Not 60 seconds?
─ What's in 60 hours lololol
─ Kuaaaak
─ Spit it out straight!!
Thanks to winning the bet, everyone's attention was squarely on me.
You could tell from the chat reactions and Mugeon's invite to intra-squad.
Perfect timing—his crew's intra-squad starts in two days and twelve hours.
Wouldn't people be curious after hearing about those 60 hours?
Like, is "MugeonIsAFamousMomoAntiTeam" the same person as Signal Flare, aka today's participant "1st Gen 1st Anniversary Song November 5th Release"?
Sure, it'd be a bit sad if no one cared.
But if a ton of people show up for the intra-squad stream, that topic's bound to come up.
Like, "Didn't you snipe Mugeon just recently?"
I'd play dumb until the stream ends.
People's curiosity would keep ballooning without resolution. And in that process, my nickname "1st Gen 1st Anniversary Song November 5th Release" would get mentioned nonstop.
No need to keep saying "It's me from the 1st anniversary! Lots of love!"—the news would spread far and wide through fans' mouths.
Pretty solid strategy, right?
This is what you get from six years lurking and three under the boss.
...Bet the boss will be shocked at how I came up with this.
Hee hee.
* * *
… ─ Mugeon (Internet Streamer) Gallery ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ …
[Damn, what the hell is this mystery sniper]
I'm dying of curiosity hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!
[Comments]
— Mugeon831: Lost my mind for real;
— Mugeon701: This guy's actually insane lol
— Mugeon732: Muhahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
— Mugeon923: Damn so curiousㅐㅐㅐㅐㅐㅐㅐ
— Mugeon124: Even viewers got dragged into a group quiz show lol
… ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ …
… ─ Mugeon (Internet Streamer) Gallery ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ …
[Was it actually hacks?]
Honestly, no hacks and knowing exactly where enemies are in smoke? Doesn't make sense.
Probably aimbot or wallhack.
[Comments]
— Mugeon334: Yeah, the translation text was suspicious too
— Mugeon892: You from the mainland again?
— Mugeon984: But Mugeon didn't call it hacks?
ㄴ Mugeon734: What, he's not a hack detector lol how would he know
ㄴ Mugeon325: This guy's brain is mush
… ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ …
… ─ Mugeon (Internet Streamer) Gallery ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ …
[So what's with that one shot~]
What's this "revealed in 60 hours" crap lololol
You can't just drop that and leave lolol
[Comments]
— Mugeon020: What if it's nothing and he just threw it out there?
ㄴ Mugeon393: Fuck that'd be even more infuriating lol
— Mugeon890: Could be a bluff imo lol
ㄴ Mugeon890: Snipers' psychology is predictable
… ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ …
… ─ Mugeon (Internet Streamer) Gallery ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ …
[Some speculation here]
*All brainfart, refute and you're 100% right*
Anyway, he mentioned 60 hours.
Checked Mugeon's schedule just in case.
He said it at 5 AM. Exactly two days later, 7 PM?
That's when the stream starts.
Mugeon Crew intra-squad yeah.
Maybe he's showing up there?
Sure, tons of other streams start then too, but doubt he'd snipe just to plug another one.
[Comments]
— Mugeon734: And what does he gain from that?
ㄴ Mugeon242 (OP): ?l?
— Mugeon842: Kinda convincing analysis but no clue what this MomoAnti guy's thinking lol
ㄴ Mugeon242 (OP): If he doesn't spill, we'll never know…
… ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ …
… ─ Momo (VTuber) Gallery ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ …
[Anyone here know Signal Flare well?]
Wondering cuz
Does Signal Flare like smoke fights by any chance?
Like, not just preferring smoke as utility,
But straight-up loves throwing smoke and fighting inside it?
[Comments]
— Momo849: Yeah
— Momo375: Yeah loves it
— Momo484: Loves it lol Signal Flare's one-shot is pop smoke and crack skulls inside
ㄴ Momo843 (OP): Oh
ㄴ Momo484: But why?
ㄴ Momo843 (OP): Found an account that seems like a sub-account for Signal Flare
ㄴ Momo484: Oh show me some clips?
ㄴ Momo843 (OP): Hell yeah, hit me with the good stuff
… ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ …
* * *
The next afternoon.
Cheon Do-hee, swamped communicating with the label rep about the 1st Gen song, got a call.
"You're calling a lot lately?"
It was Mugeon.
After agonizing all yesterday, checking communities, groaning in frustration, he'd finally pieced together a plausible lead and come to Momo.
[Are you Employee D or Signal Flare? You've played a ton with that person.]
"Up until three years ago, yeah. Why?"
[Does she fight well in smoke? Like pinpointing position from sound alone and shooting.]
Do-hee answered casually.
Figured he wanted info for intra-squad team balance.
"Not sure how precise, but yeah, she really loves throwing smoke and fighting in it. Her double-barrel's useless at range, so she smokes to close in and mess them up inside. It's her specialty."
Mugeon groaned long over the phone...
[Signal Flare, was she ever a pro trainee? Or an actual pro?]
"Nope?"
[But she's that good?]
Do-hee was flustered by the sudden stream of praise.
Felt just like when JIa snuck a game with her and came back gushing, "Tried gaming with her yesterday—she's amazing."
Irked for no reason, Do-hee pondered as Mugeon spoke.
[Anyway, Employee D or Signal Flare. Can you ask her to clear more time in two days? I only asked for two games cuz she's busy. More than that too tough?]
"Busy as hell. Dying of busy."
[What the hell, boss. Hire someone to cover her already.]
"You think you know shit.... Gonna pay her salary instead?"
[Hah... Fine. Just the two games as promised.]
Mugeon's reaction had shifted starkly.
Last week it was mild curiosity; now he acted like he'd lost half his life.
Everyone knew top streamer Mugeon auto-friends anyone good, spamming squad invites whenever bored—prime leech material.
But Do-hee had never seen him this bummed.
"Regret it? I can fill in."
[With your skills... No, sorry, take that back.]
"Oof, canceling quick? This horse is fucking insane?"
[Sorry. Sorry. Uh. Hey. Still, jumping straight to "fucking" is a bit.]
"Sigh."
Mugeon brushing off Do-hee wasn't new.
He was way better at games, so she just sighed shortly.
But more importantly, why was he suddenly hyping up Magia?
Best guess: she sniped him on a secret alt.
They seemed to have played together, and that fit.
Magia was a diehard Momo fan, overly devoted for an employee.
Maybe she'd pranked him with anti-Momo vibes like a unicorn grudge.
[Uh. Around 5 AM yesterday, someone came to my stream. Not 100% sure. Just lots of speculation posts.]
...Why isn't this a lie?
Couldn't play dumb—checked communities, and there was Jia's joke nickname circulating.
Do-hee groaned long, clutching her forehead.
"She didn't cause any trouble on your stream, right?"
[None. Made it fun. Viewers woke up laughing at dawn. And I'm not certain. Just guessing. Why?]
"Just in case.... Glad it's nothing."
Still.
Even if she slipped in quietly.
With her Parallel employee status already exposed, sniping?
You should've told me first, Magia!
* * *
"Magia."
As I headed to the boss's office with morning coffee like always, I was greeted by two furrowed brows.
Fans joking about boss raging with "award" emotes clearly never saw her face up close.
Momo's character design softens the eyes a lot compared to the original.
Fans shouldn't see this—pure horror material.
...Why's she so pissed, though?
Grateful to be alive, I replied.
"Yes?"
"Yes? 'Yes' my ass. What the hell is this?"
"What's what?"
The boss had Mugeon's VOD open on her phone.
There I was, sniping him in the early dawn a day ago, captured perfectly.
How'd she find out?
I was careful not to get caught.
But shamelessness is my specialty, so my follow-up flowed smoothly.
"Caught red-handed. Boss's eyes are as sharp as ever."
"At least use a different nickname.... So, why snipe without a word?"
"Oh. Just recon. Gotta feel out how good he is firsthand to promo hard on the day."
"Promo hard...?"
"Yeah. If I smack Mugeon during intra-squad, won't everyone freak? Changed my nick and all—gotta milk it."
Boss pondered, then asked.
"You didn't snipe just cuz I told you to handle promo yourself?"
"Yeah. First time, so prep thorough as possible."
"...If that's it. No sane person does recon snipes."
She eyed me like "Is that the truth?" so I smiled brightly, confirming it all was.
Her fierce gaze softened—lately I thought cuteness ruled invincible, and seeing these new boss expressions proved it.
"Fine. Approach isn't bad for drawing attention. But consult me first next time. Got it? Bad for my heart...."
I pouted.
"But I hate you owing Mugeon."
"Your snipe *is* owing!"
"He owes *me*. My dawn snipe made his stream hilarious. I toed the line perfect! No issues."
"That damn twisted mindset...."
Her hand shot up—braced for a knuckle rap, but it was a head pat. Phew...
"...Aaaaaah."
It was a pat! A pat!
When'd it switch to fist?!
"After you promo on his stream, you'll be Parallel's face. Know that? Be more careful."
"R-Really?"
"Duh. That was my gig, consulting promo team."
"Ah. Yeah. Sorry. Just thought of it as your assignment."
"No sorry needed. Just careful from now. I know you toe the line, but lots of haters lately. Promo success is great, but I can't watch you get bit. Consult me first?"
"If they're uncomfortable, they can shift in their seats...."
Boss eyed me languidly half-lidded, then sighed.
"Anyway, any controversy, I'll clarification stream it. Got that?"
But I won't allow that.
Boss doing a clarification stream over my screw-up?
"No way. I'd rather dogeza on stream first."
Boss smirked, asking.
"You'd go live solo?"
Cute gets me favors now, but trust's dipped a bit.
Hard showing pro with this face, huh.
But I'm the boss's reliable errand runner.
If she's worried, just reassure till she's not.
… Honestly, as a Momo lurker, I'd rather she streamed 30 more minutes than worry about me.
"You say it like I won't. What's the big deal."