[TS] The Return of The Gamer - Chapter 203

I committed it.

Very definitively.

"Is that… really true?"

Seo Yeon-woo's trembling voice.

I nodded slightly instead of answering.

The water had already been spilled anyway.

Trying to deny it awkwardly now would only make me look foolish.

"Ah…."

Seo Yeon-woo just pursed her lips, as if she didn't know what to say.

As time passed, without a word between them, only tormenting the innocent strawberry smoothie,

"Anything you want to say?"

"…."

Seo Yeon-woo didn't answer.

I spoke again to Seo Yeon-woo, as if driving in a wedge.

"Just say it."

I've come this far.

It's better to have a definite conversation this time.

Seo Yeon-woo fidgeted with her fingers and pursed her lips.

"Ah, hello…."

Huh?

"Uh… yeah. Hello."

I just accepted it because it didn't seem right not to, but… an unexpected greeting?

"Um, what is it… Did you have a good time?"

"What is that?"

A moment of silly laughter passed, and then in the ensuing silence, Seo Yeon-woo slowly opened her mouth.

"Are you… really a Prisoner?"

"You knew, didn't you?"

“…That's true, but.”

After confidently claiming to know who I was, Seo Yeon-woo was at a loss, as if she didn't know what to do, when the person in question admitted it.

"I am the Prisoner."

"Then… then what?"

"Speak."

"At that time… I mean, why did you suddenly disappear before?"

It was the question I had anticipated.

It was a question that couldn't be avoided.

Therefore,

I decided to mix in a little lie from here on out.

It would be better not to suddenly say that I had become a woman or something like that.

"I thought I was going to die."

“…Huh?”

Seo Yeon-woo opened her eyes wide and said as if genuinely surprised.

"Why, why?"

"I was sick. A lot."

I spoke, mixing lies and truth appropriately.

After all, it was known to the public that the Prisoner had been a terminally ill patient before disappearing.

"Then now…?"

"I'm much better. That's why I'm making a team, and trying to become a pro gamer. You know now, right?"

"Ah…."

Whether she understood my words or not, Seo Yeon-woo slowly nodded.

"I still don't know what happened. Still… I'm glad to see you again."

"I don't need a greeting."

“…Still.”

And, silence followed.

Even though there must be something she wanted to ask more, Seo Yeon-woo didn't bother to say it out loud.

"It's late. Should we go in today? The teammates will think it's weird if we stay out too long, right?"

"Ah, yes…."

So, Seo Yeon-woo and I left the cafe.

I felt strange glances around me as I left the cafe, but I was somewhat used to it by now.

"Then I'll go now."

"Yeah. Go ahead."

As we turned and were about to go our separate ways,

"Nu, Nuna!"

Suddenly, Seo Yeon-woo called out to me.

"Huh?"

"Don't worry too much! People often misunderstand me as a woman. But still, when I tell them, they understand…."

Uh…….

What's this again?

"Hey, I don't think that's it…."

No, isn't it not it again?

It seems like Seo Yeon-woo knows it right, but then again, it's not right now, so I don't know what I'm thinking now, that, what is it…….

'…I don't know.'

Unfortunately, there was no opportunity to explain this ridiculous misunderstanding.

"I, I'll go now!"

That's because Seo Yeon-woo left as if running away.

"…."

Looking at the empty and lonely cafe entrance, the eventful day finally came to an end.

Somehow, with a slightly unpleasant feeling.

*

The next day came.

There were only three days left until the 2nd division promotion match.

Of course, I had no intention of just waiting at home, so I headed to the dorm as usual.

'It would be better to stay at the dorm for the remaining time.'

Now, no matter how little time it took to commute, it was time to save even that little bit of time.

"You're here?"

"Yes."

Huh?

"What are you watching now?"

In fact, the first thing I saw upon arriving at the dorm was the Legend of League game screen reflected on Baek Seong-an's monitor.

Judging by the unfamiliarity of the team names, they didn't seem to be domestic teams.

'No, wait, if it's this time….'

Baek Seong-an looked at me, as if he was perplexed.

"It's the MSL. Didn't you know it's going on these days?"

Ah, right.

It was already that time.

If you think about it, it was natural.

Among the teams that had requested scrims from us, there were also overseas teams participating in the MSL.

"Which team advanced?"

"SCV and GRS."

According to Baek Seong-an, the MSL finals would be between SCV, the Korean champion team, and GRS, the Chinese champion team, as everyone expected.

Well, since the final match date almost overlapped with the promotion match date, I didn't have the luxury to care about the MSL games right now.

"I think it would be better to watch it in various ways."

"Umm, I think so too."

After all, our team's scrim schedule wasn't that tight right now.

Because there weren't many teams to scrim with given the time of year.

"The finals are tomorrow, are you going to watch?"

"I'll watch tomorrow."

"Okay, then."

Then, while watching the game on Baek Seong-an's monitor, I asked.

"What's the schedule for today?"

"Umm, there's probably one team?"

"Which one?"

"You know. The Group B winning team."

Ah.

You mean the team that passed the promotion match preliminaries, just like us.

Indeed, an enemy's enemy is an ally, and in any case, it was a competitor, but in the first round of the promotion match finals, it was a relationship that could be seen as an enemy's enemy.

"The team's name is probably…."

"It's PBHG."

"Ah, ParkBokHee Gaming. That's right."

PBHG (ParkBokHee Gaming).

ParkBokHee Gaming.

A team that passed the promotion match preliminaries, Group B entry team, just like us.

It was bound to be vague in my memory, because, to be honest, the players' skill level was so-so, and it was a team that had struggled to enter Group B.

'I think the team name was almost made as a joke.'

Teams participating in the 3rd division, that is, the 2nd division promotion match preliminaries, were roughly divided into two categories.

Teams that are supported by small, medium, or large companies and have a system like other pro teams, and

Teams that participate by amateur players coming together.

There was actually a case of a team like BOQ succeeding enough to advance to the 1st division, so it couldn't be ignored at all.

'Still, I don't think we'll lose.'

In the meantime, the team members who had finished preparing one by one appeared in the practice room.

"You're here."

Kim Ji-hoon, who appeared first, except for Baek Seong-an, seemed to have gone for a morning workout, judging by his training clothes and his soaked with sweat.

How diligent he is…….

"You should wash up quickly too."

"Yes."

Kim Ji-hoon went to wash up, and soon I made eye contact with Seo Yeon-woo.

"Uh… You're here?"

"Uh."

"Nuna's here?"

There was a moment when a strange atmosphere was about to flow, but thanks to Kim Jae-min, who soon appeared, we were able to avoid the awkward atmosphere.

"Ah, Nuna, did you eat breakfast? The menu for today is pork and spicy sauce."

“…I ate."

"Ouch. Then, let's eat at lunch."

"Yeah, yeah."

I was going to stay at the dorm from today until the promotion match anyway.

As I spent a busy morning, the scrim time approached.

"Is everyone ready?"

The team members answered one by one to my question.

"…Yes."

"You can start right away."

"I'm ready too!"

"I'm all set."

"Let's do well today too."

D-3.

A fierce day began.

*

The full-fledged scrim began.

It was definitely the same practice as usual, but it didn't take long for me to feel a sense of incongruity.

[“I'll do the red leash for you.”]

“…No need to, actually.”

[“It's a matchup where you have to pull anyway.”]

What is it?

[“No need to come top.”]

"No, if you go now, it's a gank…."

What is it?

"Can you come here?"

[“Ward, ward! I'll teleport right away!”]

What the hell…….

Is it because I revealed that I'm the Prisoner?

Seo Yeon-woo's attitude had changed drastically from before.

To the point where it was a burden for me.

In the end, I couldn't stand it and called Seo Yeon-woo again separately and said,

"Hey."

"Yes, yes?"

"Don't be so careful. Just do as you always do."

"I've been doing what I always do."

"Just, do it like solo queue."

"No. It's a team game."

…From a top-tier player, or maybe a current one, this kind of statement came out, so I couldn't refute it, no matter who I was.

"Don't worry. After all, Nuna… or Prisoner will win."

What? This absolute trust?

And you're still having that nonsensical misunderstanding?

"No, wait…."

"Then I'll go first!"

Listen to the person and go, you bastard!

'…Let it be.'

To be honest, I didn't want to explain it that actively.

Because it seemed like if it got longer, it would be twice or three times as annoying as now.

And…….

We had the MSL finals day, two days before the promotion match.