[TS] The Return of The Gamer - Chapter 20

GRS.

It's a familiar team.

No, it was a team that anyone with even a little interest in the League of Legends competition couldn't help but know.

Red Cup runner-up.

The overlord of China.

Contact came from a prestigious team that is always ranked within the top five in the world.

‘Come to think of it, the IDs with GRS in them sent me a lot of friend requests.’

I didn't intend to accept them, so I ignored them all, but the reason was obvious.

Because I had just crushed GRS's Red Cup runner-up mid-jungle duo.

In fact, it wasn't strange considering that teams consider the players' opinions quite important when recruiting new players.

‘What should I do…….’

My sleepiness completely vanishes.

I didn't even accept friend requests on purpose for fear of this kind of thing, but they actually contacted me like this…….

How they knew my contact information was obvious.

I had already contacted several pro teams before, so they must have gotten it from one of them.

It wouldn't have been difficult for someone with the name card and connections of a GRS coach.

‘Let's reply first.’

Even if I say so, they are a team that thinks well of me. I couldn't ignore them out of consideration for their sincerity, so I pressed my smartphone.

「Yes, that's right.」

Ting-

As if they were prepared, they replied in less than ten seconds.

Even with this, I could roughly guess what the other person thought of me.

「Oh, I see. In that case, would it be possible to have a phone call?」

That's obviously not going to happen.

My voice right now was that of a heavenly woman, and it actually was.

For me, who is preparing to completely end my life as Prisoner, I must never leave any evidence that Prisoner is a woman, or any connection with the future me.

「I'm sorry. I'm not in a situation where I can.」

「Oh... I see. Then, would it be possible to communicate like this via text?」

I hesitated for a moment, then sent a reply.

Even if I say so, they are people who recognize my value and came to find me. Even if I refuse, it's better to do it as politely as possible.

「Yes, it is possible via text.」

「I'll speak frankly. If you don't currently belong to or have a contract with a team, could we have a constructive discussion about joining our team?」

As expected, it was about joining the team.

The so-called scout.

Of course, since my current situation didn't allow me to talk about joining a team, it was a problem that I didn't need to worry about.

「Oh... I'm sorry, but I have personal circumstances that prevent me from being able to participate in team activities. I'm sorry.」

I'll just refuse appropriately.

Anyway, if they find out about my situation directly from my mouth, they won't be able to give up.

「I know.」

…So I thought, but the reply that came was completely unexpected.

「What do you mean?」

I pretended not to know and replied, but I guess Coach Jang Seok-hwan knows about my rare disease.

It wouldn't be strange if he didn't know, since rumors about me have been spreading even to internet communities.

「Regardless of your current situation, if you sign a contract with us, GRS will provide you with a professional interpreter as well as a dedicated medical staff who will reside in the accommodations at all times and care for you 24 hours a day.」

It was clear that they knew about my illness.

But… something is strange.

Even though they already know about my illness, they want to scout me……?

Even to this extent?

‘…What is it?’

Even though I was staring blankly at my smartphone in confusion, the text messages kept coming.

「I think you already know, but we, GRS, are the best prestigious team in China and have achieved a good result of runner-up in this Red Cup, beating out many top teams.」

「Of course, that doesn't mean we are satisfied. The Red Cup runner-up. It is definitely a good result, but we, GRS, are always aiming for the championship.」

「Therefore, we are confident.」

「That if Prisoner-nim joins us, we can win next year's Red Cup.」

It's not something that was written on the spot.

It was definitely prepared content.

The text messages continued before I could even realize it.

「Regarding the most important annual salary, we are thinking of up to 600 million won in Korean currency, respecting Prisoner-nim's wishes to be cautious about going abroad.」

「This is an after-tax amount, and the team will bear all taxes imposed in China.」

「In addition, we will separately pay performance bonuses in addition to the basic annual salary of 600 million won depending on the results.」

「I can confidently say that such exceptional treatment cannot be found anywhere in Korea or abroad.」

A net annual salary of 600 million won, after taxes.

On top of that, exceptional treatment such as various professional care.

Of course, in the case of current top-class pro gamers, they receive hundreds of millions of won in annual salary, but that's only for the top class.

No matter how high the expectations are for me, it was an unreasonable condition for me, who is just an amateur.

The reason I know this is because I have received countless pro offers so far.

The maximum annual salary offer I have received so far is 300 million won.

Even that disappeared like a mirage after it became known that I had a rare disease.

That's why, at first, I thought this scouting offer was just a feeler.

Anyway, if they found out about the disease I have, they would give up like the other teams did.

I thought so, but…….

Something was going wrong.

「As you may already know, I can't walk due to my illness.」

「It's okay. We will provide a professional caregiver, including an electric wheelchair, at all times.」

「And I don't know when the seizure will occur.」

「As mentioned earlier, a skilled doctor is on standby at the GRS accommodations. In addition, in case of an emergency, it is also possible to be urgently transported to the hospital by helicopter on the rooftop of the accommodations.」

…Why are they even appealing with a helicopter?

「I have limited time to be active in a day. I won't be able to follow the team schedule normally.」

「We can adjust the team schedule as much as possible. We have many excellent players in our team who can substitute for Prisoner-nim in case of an emergency. You don't have to worry about that.」

No, then just use them.

I felt a sense of eeriness at their obsession with me, which I couldn't understand.

In the end, I had no choice but to ask directly.

「Why are you doing this?」

「We think that Prisoner-nim can become a player who will be remembered in history. That first step is us, GRS.」

Flattery that sounds tempting just by listening to it.

But it's not unpleasant.

No, it was rather good.

No matter what the purpose was, it meant that they were recognizing me, Prisoner.

If I were the old me, I would have jumped at the bait without hesitation.

Is there anything more joyful than being recognized for your value by others?

‘But… it's already water under the bridge.’

I have changed, and I will change.

I, as Prisoner, must disappear in a while.

I'm sorry.

That's all I have to send.

But why is it so?

I know in my head that I should refuse right away, but for some reason, I postponed the reply of refusal.

Instead, I sent another reply.

「By the way, does that mean you're going to make me a starter?」

「Of course, you'll have to go through a fair competition process. But we think Prisoner-nim can easily secure the starting position, so you don't have to worry about that.」

「Of course, this story is a secret from the other players ^^;」

Whether it's flattery to lure me, or absolute belief in me, Coach Jang Seok-hwan's assessment of me didn't seem ordinary.

‘The biggest reason… maybe because of the recent changed form.’

If the old me was like, ‘Why? Do we need to go that far?’ then the current me has become a ‘player worth bringing in, no matter what risks are taken’.

That's why it's a pity.

It's so, so regrettable.

「I'm sorry.」

In the end, I reluctantly moved my unwilling fingers and sent a reply.