[TS] The Return of The Gamer - Chapter 198

The game was won quite easily.

Because we essentially broke the game from the bottom, without even needing to go up to the top lane.

"……"

The TBW players across the table are seen collecting their gear with forlorn expressions.

"...I knew it would be like this."

"Ugh..."

"You all worked hard."

"...Next time, there will be another chance. We just had bad luck today."

"Seriously, why is this bracket so... Ugh..."

The QS Ulsan players, who lost to us in the first match, also moved their feet with heavy steps because of the already decided result.

Since we had already secured 2 wins and determined the 1st place in Group 1 of Group A, the single match between QS Ulsan and TBW was meaningless.

"OLZ is Group 1st place."

Soon, we advanced to Group 1st place easily with a score of 2 wins and 0 losses, and after that, if we win against the 1st place team of the 2nd group and the 3rd group of the same Group A in a best-of-three series, we will advance directly to the main round of the Promotion/Relegation match.

Having broken through the most worrying group single-elimination round, we could at least breathe a sigh of relief.

Of course, the real problem facing us now wasn't that.

‘……’

If I were asked if I was angry, I wouldn't exactly say so.

Rather than anger, it would be more accurate to say that I'm worried about Seoyeonwoo's sudden change.

We are currently at a critical juncture.

It is not an exaggeration to say that our future as professionals depends on today's results.

Therefore…….

What we need right now isn't in-game feedback or anything like that.

We needed a conversation.

Thud, thud─

The place we headed was the upper floor of the stairs of this building.

Thanks to quickly finishing the group single-elimination round with 2 wins and 0 losses, our team had a considerable amount of free time.

We have enough time to have a conversation itself.

Of course, it felt a bit awkward to go outside, so we went up the stairs of the PC room building and found a place to sit.

"……"

Silence falls.

Because neither Seoyeonwoo nor I were the type to proactively initiate conversations, it was inevitable.

Ah, I'm really bad at this…….

"Yeonwoo."

With the words I managed to squeeze out of my mouth, my eyes met Seoyeonwoo's.

Trembling eyes.

Anxious expression.

Fidgeting body language.

Everything indicated that Seoyeonwoo was currently trembling with anxiety.

"…Yes."

"Have I not paid attention to you all this time? I'm sorry. I had a lot to take care of, so it ended up like that. Please understand."

"Ah, no! I'm sorry for suddenly raising my voice. It wasn't my intention…."

Seoyeonwoo's voice, which already sounded like it was barely audible, faded like an ant's voice.

She looked like she wanted to say something.

"Seoyeonwoo."

"Yes, yes?"

"Do you have something you want to say to me?"

"……"

I don't know why, but I felt that way.

"…I do."

"What is it?"

Let's have a conversation slowly for now.

Then, we can also understand why Seoyeonwoo acted like that today.

"…You don't come to top lane that often."

"Oh… I'm sorry."

I was surprised to hear such a top-lane worshiper-like answer...

To be honest, I was a little taken aback.

"I'll pay attention next time. It just happened like that today. I didn't intentionally exclude top lane. You know that, right?"

"…Yes."

I feel like the conversation is going better than expected.

I'm actually pretty good at this, aren't I?

"Anything else? Any other problems? Were you just nervous today?"

"…I'm sorry. I was just so angry…."

"Angry? About what?"

"It's…"

Seoyeonwoo hesitated.

"It's okay. Just say it."

"I…"

"It's okay, I said."

Slowly, Seoyeonwoo's lips moved.

"…I, I don't want you to just go somewhere without saying anything anymore."

Huh?

"What are you talking about? Where am I going? Where would I even go?"

"You've gone before. …In the past."

"Oh, are you talking about the time I went to the bottom lane? Hmm, okay. I'll tell you next time."

"No. Not that. In the past… You just went without saying anything. Without saying a word to me."

What is this?

I feel like the conversation is going strangely awry.

"…What are you talking about?"

"I, I know."

Seoyeonwoo's lips moved.

It feels like time is passing slowly.

"Who you are, as a sister."

* * *

"Huh? By the way, where did the sister go? I've been looking for her, and Yeonwoo isn't here either."

Kim Jaemin, who had been buried in the crowd, looked around belatedly.

"…She took a moment to buy something to drink."

"Huh? I've never heard that. Then, I'll have a strawberry smoothie─"

Baek Seong-an stopped Kim Jaemin, who quickly picked up his smartphone.

"I, I'll tell them!"

"Huh? Ah, can't I just do it?"

"T, that, you know, sending it all at once will prevent them from getting confused."

"Hmm, that's true. I'll have a strawberry smoothie."

"Okay."

Kim Jaemin, apparently convinced, put down his smartphone and turned his gaze to the replay.

"Wow, it was really amazing here, agree?"

"…Right. Good job."

Kim Jihoon approached Baek Seong-an, who was pretending to send a message with his smartphone.

Did he notice?

Even though he seems insensitive on the surface, Kim Jihoon, who quietly observes everything happening within the team, might very well have.

Baek Seong-an unconsciously swallowed hard with tension.

It wasn't for nothing that he hid the fact that Yujin and Seoyeonwoo were going out separately.

He was worried that if something went wrong, it would affect the team atmosphere and have a negative impact on the upcoming match.

If Kim Jihoon suspects anything here…….

‘Not good.’

He has to play it down as much as possible.

"I'd like an iced Americano, please."

"…Oh, oh? Ah, okay."

…He didn't notice.

Baek Seong-an breathed a deep sigh of relief inwardly.

For now, it seems that the situation he was worried about didn't happen.

How long had they waited?

"Ah, they're here. Huh?"

Lee Yujin and Seoyeonwoo returned.

Naturally, empty-handed.

"Where's my strawberry smoothie?"

Kim Jaemin came to greet Lee Yujin and Seoyeonwoo, but the reaction was strange.

"……"

A strange silence.

In that silence, Kim Jaemin looked at their hands once again.

"Nothing?"

"……"

"Come on… you said you'd buy some. Liars."

What is this?

"Wait a second."

Baek Seong-an, who finally sensed something was amiss, interjected.

"What happened?"

It was then that Lee Yujin slowly shifted her gaze, which had been blank.

Something was off.

Although it couldn't be expressed exactly in words, he felt that something about the atmosphere was strange.

"...No. Nothing."

"Then why are you acting like that?"

"Um… It's really nothing. Hurry up and prepare for the next match."

Lee Yujin said so and immediately sat down.

Although there was still some time left before the selection match for the Group A advancement team, unfortunately, Lee Yujin didn't seem to want to open her mouth.

‘If that's the case…….’

Baek Seong-an turned his gaze to Seoyeonwoo.

He thought that if it was Seoyeonwoo, who was with Lee Yujin, she might have some idea why Lee Yujin was acting like that.

"Seoyeonwoo."

"Yes?"

Surprisingly, Seoyeonwoo had a bright smile like usual, unlike a moment ago.

It was a completely contrasting appearance from Lee Yujin, who had a hardened expression.

"Did something happen with Yujin? Why is she like that?"

"No. Nothing special happened. We just talked casually."

"What did you talk about?"

"Just… things we were disappointed about, things we hope for in the future, things like that."

"Really?"

"Oh, and I'm sorry for raising my voice a while ago…."

"Huh? No. Don't worry about it. That's just how League of Legends is. There's no other game that's a disaster."

Did nothing really happen?

‘…No, that's impossible.’

Something must have happened.

But, unfortunately, neither Lee Yujin nor Seoyeonwoo, the people involved, seemed to want to talk about it.

Furthermore, Baek Seong-an didn't have time to keep pressing them about it.

Because a staff member approached as if they had been waiting.

"Are you ready, OLZ?"

"Ah, yes. Is everyone ready?"

The team members nodded silently.

Baek Seong-an had no choice but to convey their tacit agreement to the staff member that they were ready.

"Yes. We're ready."

"Then we'll start right away, so please wait a moment."

In the strange team atmosphere,

The Promotion/Relegation round qualifiers headed towards the end.

* * *

A strange sense of déjà vu is felt.

It's not a coincidence.

Surely, something like this happened before.

「"Ah, that man is right."」

「"Most people think that way when I look at them like that."」

「"...Aha."」

「"By the way, I finally get to meet you."」

「"Prisoner-nim."」

At my first meeting with Seoyeonwoo, Seoyeonwoo called me Prisoner.

「"What does that mean? I'm a Prisoner?"」

「"Oh, I'm sorry. What did I just say?"」

「"You just called me a Prisoner…."」

「"Ah, I'm sorry…. I just couldn't help it…. I often thought of Prisoner-nim when I saw Outlaw-nim. So, it seems my words slipped out by accident."」

Of course, she immediately corrected it afterwards, but to be honest, I felt uneasy.

And right today, Seoyeonwoo said that she knew who I was, as if she had made a long-standing resolution.

「"Let's talk next time."」

Although she ran away, avoiding the situation instead of answering, I was certain of one thing.

She was caught.

This time, I was really caught.