[TS] The Return of The Gamer - Chapter 179

Of course, among the countless matches we will have in the future, there won’t be many situations where our team’s weaknesses are revealed.

Especially now that we're aware of our weaknesses.

But…

‘There are always exceptions in the world.’

Several extraordinary mid-laners who are making names for themselves worldwide at the moment flash through my mind.

SY's Rainbow.

SCV's All-Day.

MAX's Hwarang.

China GRS's Nightmare.

Europe SU5's Andro.

And many more…

If GetBack faced them now, could he hold his own?

I don't know the answer, but even so, I thought it would be difficult first.

‘There’s still time.’

I know it's not a problem that can be overcome in a short time.

However, the time we have isn't too little either.

‘We can do it.’

Even if it takes time, if GetBack regains his memory, that is, if GetBack regains some of his skills, he will be able to stand his ground even against those top-tier mid-laners.

I don’t know if it will actually be so, but at least I believe it.

“…Let’s do a feedback session.”

The feedback session began in a strange atmosphere.

The content itself was similar to the scrims we usually do.

“I think your judgment was a bit lacking here, why did you do it like that?”

“Ah, yeah. I didn't think about it.”

“Okay, you just need to be careful next time.”

But it wasn't all the same.

“Um, but wouldn’t it have been better if I had taken more there?”

The beginning of the change came from Kim Jae-min.

His unique position as a playing coach.

Perhaps because of that, when Baek Seong-an showed a slightly poor performance in this scrim, voices of doubt began to arise in the feedback.

Of course, GetBack had the title of a former pro and his current tier was higher than Kim Jae-min’s, so such voices had not come out until now, but it seemed that this was because Kim Jae-min had played well while Baek Seong-an had shown a bad performance.

“It's true that you taking there isn't a problem. But if you keep showing that, you'll naturally lose the vision dominance on the other side.”

“Umm, is that so?”

Baek Seong-an proceeded with the feedback seriously as always, but Kim Jae-min didn’t seem to take it seriously.

Conflicts between coaches and players.

This was actually one of the things that often happened in other teams.

Since the tier of the coaching staff is often not higher than that of the players, they cast doubt on their expertise.

‘Umm…’

If only Kim Jae-min was showing that reaction, I would have just thought, ‘This ignorant son of a bitch’, and left it at that.

But it wasn't just Kim Jae-min who was having doubts.

“Um…”

Seo Yeon-woo, who had been silent until now, also carefully opened his mouth.

Of course, Seo Yeon-woo usually questioned the feedback right away, but this time it was something different.

“Isn't the judgment I made here correct? The result was good…”

“You could say that, but if the opponent had dealt with it a little better, it would have been a dangerous situation.”

“Um, still, the result was good… And I thought it was a good angle to go for.”

It wasn't a situation where anyone could say who was right or wrong.

A difference in pure perspective.

The feedback didn't end there.

“I think the TF’s judgment was a bit disappointing here. If he had given the call properly, I would have Teleported faster, or not at all…”

“Ah, right. I should have paid more attention to that part. You pointed it out well.”

“I also have something to say.”

“Oh, Ji-hoon.”

“I wish you would pay a little more attention to the vision on the mid river side. Even if the lane is pushed, it seems like the game is getting more and more screwed up because of that.”

“Ah… Right. I’m sorry about that too. I’ll pay attention.”

The direction of the feedback changed.

From a one-way direction from Baek Seong-an towards the teammates, to a direction of mutual communication.

I thought it would happen someday, but I didn't know it would be today.

Just by looking at that, I could tell how Baek Seong-an's performance today was seen among the teammates.

‘Well, strictly speaking, things aren't exactly bad right now…’

Baek Seong-an is not a god of League of Legends.

Of course, it's right to exchange opinions with each other during feedback.

But…

‘I wish this wouldn’t go too extreme.’

The direction of giving and receiving feedback between teammates is good.

But if this gradually escalates, I thought about the negative impact it might have on the team atmosphere in the future.

For example, blaming others.

‘I don’t think our teammates will be like that… but you never know.’

Strictly speaking, our team was on a winning streak in scrims right now.

Even so, this kind of atmosphere, I couldn't even imagine how the atmosphere in the team would change during the losing streak that would inevitably come someday.

“Yujin? You need to focus.”

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

The feedback continued.

It was a little longer feedback than usual.

* * *

1 AM.

Even though the players were going into their rooms one by one, Baek Seong-an remained in his seat.

“Hyung, aren’t you going to sleep?”

“Ah, I will a little later.”

“Then I’ll go to sleep now.”

“Okay, go ahead.”

Seo Yeon-woo, with wet hair, yawned and went back to his room.

Baek Seong-an, who had been watching him quietly, turned the queue again mechanically.

“….”

Still not enough.

It's not this feeling.

How did I do it before?

It’s not this.

Baek Seong-an played the game again amidst all kinds of distracting thoughts swirling in his head.

[Defeat]

Lost.

Lost again.

How can I win?

What was the winning method?

How should I…

Time was already 2 AM.

Even though there was no scrim schedule tomorrow, it was time to go to sleep, considering condition management.

Nevertheless, Baek Seong-an did not stop.

[Game found!]

[Accept / Reject]

He kept turning the queue, as if possessed by something.

[Defeat]

Was it because his head was complicated?

The game didn’t go well today.

“Ha…”

No, maybe this is the limit.

If he had come this far with the remaining firewood, he might have done well enough.

Baek Seong-an felt it.

With this team, they will probably pass the second league preliminaries without difficulty, and they might even be promoted to the first league.

But can he do his part there?

Will he be able to… keep from holding back the other teammates?

Thoughts were followed by thoughts.

In that self-loathing and self-criticism, Baek Seong-an reached a keyword.

‘Retirement.’

Baek Seong-an remembers that day.

The day he decided to retire.

『“Ah! The iron wall is collapsing!”』

『“The mid has to do it! The mid has to do it. The mid─”』

『“It’s collapsing like this…”』

Four years of professional life.

He had even been given the title of veteran by then, so it wasn’t a short time for a player.

Among them, there were times that could be called the golden age, and there were times when he received a lot of attention compared to his skills.

「“Seong-an… I think it's going to be difficult to renew the contract next year. You know, this year's team results.”」

「“…Yes. I understand. Thank you for everything so far.”」

But in the end, the place Baek Seong-an arrived at was a dead end, and he had no choice but to announce his retirement, half by force.

「“If it's Seong-an, other teams will be interested in you. You know?”」

Of course, it was true that he could have challenged again.

Like other players, he could go abroad, or even to the second league, and start over from the beginning.

But Baek Seong-an at the time was exhausted.

He was tired of the competition, and he despaired at his own inability to win in that competition.

So he started broadcasting.

Fortunately, the broadcast was not a big hit, but it wasn’t bad.

He thought that it would be enough like this.

Outlaw.

Until he met her.

At first, he was lured into the broadcast by the absurd catchphrase of ranking 1st, no ending broadcast, and her unrealistic appearance.

But that was only for a moment.

Baek Seong-an was soon fascinated by Outlaw's absurd plays.

Maybe that's why.

He dared to take the courage to start his professional life again, which he had ended by running away.

Of course, it wasn't easy.

He worried, and he worried again.

The opportunity that has come to Baek Seong-an now was the result of those worries and a miracle that would never come again.

Baek Seong-an knew that fact better than anyone else, but he couldn't shake off the sense of self-loathing that he was holding back the teammates.

‘…Isn't it necessary to be a player? I can do it myself up to the second league, but it's difficult beyond that. After I find a suitable player, then I can move to the coaching staff─’

The moment Baek Seong-an's distracting thoughts, which had repeated thoughts upon thoughts, reached that conclusion.

“Are you busy?”

A very familiar voice rang in his ears.

It was OLZ’s supporter, Kim Ji-hoon.

“Oh, oh, no? What's going on? Did you wake up already?”

The time now was 5 AM.

It was a little early to wake up.

“I have something to say.”

“…To me?”

Baek Seong-an felt a strange sense of foreboding.

Whether he did or not, Kim Ji-hoon said.

“Let’s go somewhere with me.”