[TS] The Return of The Gamer - Chapter 197

[“……Huh?”]

Following Kim Jae-min’s voice, filled with bewilderment, silence fell.

If Seo Yeon-woo was the type to chatter like Kim Jae-min usually did, everyone would have just let it slide.

However, while playing the game up until now, Seo Yeon-woo had always shown the ideal form of a top laner.

Supporting when they needed support,

Carrying when they needed to carry.

That’s why everyone couldn't hide their bewilderment at Seo Yeon-woo's current reaction.

[“Uh… since we're getting an advantage on the bottom side, can you hold out a little longer? We’ve almost got the game.”]

[“…I know.”]

[“Then why─”]

Seo Yeon-woo cut off Baek Seong-an's words.

[“I just want you to watch. Is my request that difficult? Just once, just once would be enough.”]

A voice that was cracking, hoarse.

It’s a voice that sounds extremely angry, or perhaps one that’s overcome with emotion.

“…Sorry. I didn't pay attention. But since we've almost got this game, just hold out a little longer─”

[“What's there to hold out? Top already lost. …We could have won.”]

Frustration can be felt in the voice.

I understand too.

The Kennen vs. Camille matchup is a favorable one for both sides when they get fed, but nonetheless, from Camille’s perspective, she can take down Kennen anytime if the jungler comes.

‘……I see.’

Thinking about it now, it was strange.

I know Seo Yeon-woo.

No, to be precise, I know Amateur 3-Minute Top God of Honor, not OLZ Honor.

3-Minute Top God of Honor.

An amateur in the top tier of solo queue, who suits the term "top god devotee."

His play style is extreme, close to all-or-nothing, but he performs as much as he’s fed.

Since that 3-Minute Top God of Honor entered OLZ, he completely changed his play style.

The top laner who always looked for the jungler and pushed his head in until the end if there was no jungler, has somehow become like a seasoned veteran.

He gave up his previous style because it was a team game? But is that something that can be done so easily?

The reason many top laners become top god devotees is because the data of pain and defeat from it is ingrained into their bones.

They often call top the lonely lane.

That's true.

If top gets pushed in a fight, it's hard to recover without intervention from other lanes.

The reason those called top god devotees keep on rushing in, even if they get solo kills, is also the same.

Even if 1 death becomes 2 deaths, 3 deaths, they know instinctively and through experience that they can't recover the gap that has been created if they don't try.

That kind of top laner, and that too an amateur who has maintained that play for a long time, changed in a short time?

It was strange.

No, I should have considered it strange.

‘Why?’

Bewilderment comes first.

Why did Seo Yeon-woo abandon his previous play style and completely comply with the team's requests?

Why did Seo Yeon-woo suddenly go back to his past self at this crucial moment of the promotion/relegation preliminary round?

Why did Seo Yeon-woo…….

-Allied champion has been slain!

The thought couldn't go on for long.

Because the allied top, Seo Yeon-woo’s Camille, who was desperately holding on by the turret, ended up dying.

[“…….”]

“Uh… it’s okay.”

I tried to offer consolation, which wasn't consolation, but the only answer that came back was silence.

The voice that was friendly within the team had cooled down in an instant.

A long, long silence followed.

It was a long and quiet silence that seemed like it would never end.

* * *

It's hot.

It feels like I'm going crazy from the heat.

The hoodie I'm wearing as a team uniform is stuffy, and the headset I'm wearing for communication is suffocating.

I want to take off these things right away, all of them.

I feel like I've been sleeping badly for the past few days, no, maybe much longer than that.

My head aches, and everything I see is annoying.

"Ha…."

The only thing that comes out is a deep sigh.

The countless words that are lingering in my mouth, unable to come out, linger on the tip of my tongue.

Why aren't you coming top anyway?

If you come top, we can catch them, can't we?

They don't have Flash either. Just come and catch them.

Camille also has her ultimate, so why?

Why do you keep going bot?

Why do you keep…

「“Oh, can you watch that scene again, noona? It was awesome.”」

「“Which scene?”」

「“You know, that black dog thing at the bottom…”」

「“Ah, I see.”」

Why are they going that way…….

Amidst the rising irritation, Seo Yeon-woo felt that he couldn’t control himself any longer.

Just, just, I'm so angry.

‘…Why am I like this?’

I slowly recall the reason.

Ah, I think I know.

Why I’m so shaken.

Once, there was someone I admired.

He wasn't a pro gamer.

He was an amateur like me, and from some point on, he was someone I trusted and relied on more than anyone else.

-[All][3-Minute Top God of Honor(Camille) : Agent T mission complete.]

-[All][3-Minute Top God of Honor(Camille) : Can't let the sacred rank 1st be handed over to someone like a butcher.]

Seo Yeon-woo thought that he and that person were friends.

Although they never saw each other's faces and didn't even know each other's names, nevertheless, when they played games together, they thought they were sharing something with each other.

-[Prisoner(Diana) : Hey?]

-[3-Minute Top God of Honor(Camille) : How's it? I just made the opponent let their guard down]

-[3-Minute Top God of Honor(Camille) : I've fattened up mid. Come on now ㄱㄱ]

Seo Yeon-woo liked him.

At first, he liked him just because he was good at games, and he liked him because he was a person who had a lot in common with him when they talked.

-[3-Minute Top God of Honor : Duo ㄱ?]

-[Prisoner : Um ok]

Every moment was enjoyable.

I once vaguely thought that this moment would end someday, but I thought of it as something that would happen later.

I’m sure it was…….

-There is no summoner name.

「“Huh?”」

That person, one day, disappeared.

Without a word to him.

The end came without any sign.

「“What, did he unfriend me?”」

At first, I denied it.

I thought something was wrong.

But as time passed, Seo Yeon-woo despaired as rumors about him spread.

-[Special Feature] Prisoner, who wrote the history of the first 2000 points, disappears.

-Where did Prisoner go?

He died.

Maybe a long time ago.

「“Why, why, why….”」

That was when.

-Outlaw.

When Outlaw appeared, Seo Yeon-woo could instinctively tell.

He had returned.

Prisoner was not dead.

He, his old friend, was not dead and had returned alive.

But why?

His old friend, who returned as Outlaw, ignored him as if he didn't know him.

Maybe not?

It was true that such doubts came to mind for a moment, but after watching his gameplay, he was convinced.

Outlaw was him, for sure.

He didn't know what circumstances there were, but currently, Outlaw didn't acknowledge him as Prisoner.

As if starting anew.

Of course, Seo Yeon-woo also agreed with him.

In any case, what was important was the fact that he had returned.

That was when.

He came to Seo Yeon-woo and said.

-[Outlaw : Hey,]

-[Outlaw : I'm thinking of forming a team this time, are you interested?]

-[3-Minute Top God of Honor : Team?]

-[Outlaw : Yes]

There was no reason to hesitate.

If he could play games with him again, he would do anything, whether it was professional or whatever.

-[3-Minute Top God of Honor : Um yes, I'll do it]

-[Outlaw : Yes?]

-[3-Minute Top God of Honor : Where should I go?]

And so, the amateur Challenger 3-Minute Top God of Honor became OLZ Honor.

Seo Yeon-woo thought.

Now, he can get back the enjoyable days.

But, did he think too easily?

The road to becoming a professional wasn't easy.

It was impossible to play games as he pleased like he did as an amateur.

「“You have to give up top here. We’re getting an advantage on the other side anyway. You got it?”」

「“……Yes.”」

Seo Yeon-woo abandoned all of his previous stubbornness and nodded obediently.

Seo Yeon-woo didn't want to be hated by him.

Because he was afraid that if that happened, he would disappear from his sight again forever.

So, he had been wearing clothes that didn't fit his body, and he hadn't expressed any complaints.

However, there has to be a limit to forcibly enduring.

And so, he came to the current situation.

[Victory]

The game ended without any problems.

No, perhaps it could be said that it was a result that was planned from the beginning.

Apart from the top suffering a little, the other lane had broken early.

Because in this game, the top's role was just that much.

“…….”

“…….”

Even though they smoothly broke through the single-round full league, which seemed dangerous, with a score of 2 wins and 0 losses, the faces of the team members, including Seo Yeon-woo, didn't brighten.

Now, they had a bigger problem than the preliminary round.

“Hey.”

A cold voice came from beside him.

As he heard the icy voice that he never wanted to hear, Seo Yeon-woo flinched as if he were a frightened puppy.

He's angry…….

That's right.

It’s my fault.

“Let's talk.”

He turns around.

He turns his footsteps as if he's angry.

“Follow me.”

Gradually, the image of his old friend faded.