[TS] The Return of The Gamer - Chapter 21

Before sending a reply, I hesitated until the last moment, but the answer was already decided anyway.

"Do you have anything else you'd like? If it's the annual salary, it can be adjusted up to 800 million won. Please think carefully. This is an unprecedentedly generous offer."

…Was there still a higher annual salary left?

I couldn't hide my shock, but there was no change in clinging to the past.

"I don't have much time left to live. I'm sorry."

Silence fell on the card I had drawn for rejection.

The rumor that Prisoner was a patient with a rare disease had already spread widely, and in addition to that, the conversation I had just had confirmed it.

No matter how strong the offer to recruit me was, they couldn't take someone who was about to die.

"Ah... I've been too presumptuous. I'm sorry. Are you feeling well?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for the generous offer."

"I'm sorry for taking up your precious time. I sincerely hope you stay healthy."

"No, thank you. Goodbye."

"Oh, and if your situation or thoughts change later, please feel free to contact this number. I'll be waiting."

Even until the end, they didn't let go of their attachment, so I even felt a sense of regret.

“……”

The smartphone, which had been ringing for a while, soon fell completely silent.

As if the conversation that had just taken place was a dream.

In the afterglow, I rummaged through the text messages that had been exchanged for a long time.

-「I'll speak frankly. If you don't currently belong to or have a team you're scheduled to sign with, could we have a constructive conversation regarding joining our team?」

-「Regardless of your current situation, if you sign a contract with us, GRS will provide you with professional interpreters, as well as a specialized medical team, including your attending physician, who will reside in your accommodation 24 hours a day to care for you.」

-「I think you already know this, but we, GRS, are the best prestigious team in China, and we achieved a great result of second place in this Red Cup, surpassing many other teams.」

-「Of course, that doesn't mean we are satisfied. Second place in the Red Cup. It's certainly a good result, but we at GRS are always aiming for the championship.」

-「Therefore, we are confident.」

-「If you join us, Prisoner, we believe we can win next year's Red Cup.」

-「Regarding the most important annual salary, we are considering 600 million won in Korean currency, in respect of Prisoner’s wishes to not feel burdened by the overseas trip.」

-「This is the post-tax amount, not pre-tax, and all taxes imposed within China will be borne by the team.」

-「In addition, depending on the performance, performance-based bonuses will also be paid separately from the basic annual salary of 600 million won.」

-「I can confidently say that you won't receive such exceptional treatment anywhere in Korea or overseas.」

-「Oh, and if your situation or thoughts change later, please feel free to contact this number. I'll be waiting.」

After repeatedly reading the messages on his smartphone, I soon lay back down on the bed.

“…What am I doing right now.”

I know this feeling.

It's a lingering attachment.

A lingering attachment stemming from the anxiety that I might have missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, one that might never come again.

‘If only they had contacted me a little sooner…….’

I felt so much regret that I couldn't help but make such meaningless assumptions.

At the same time, I also felt gratitude towards the GRS team and Coach Jang Seok-hwan, who approached me without prejudice for the first time.

I still remember.

What they looked like when they found out about me.

「“Ah… I understand your will, Eugene, but as you know, being a pro isn't just about skill. You also need basic physical strength to participate in the team's scrim schedule, and there's also the tournament schedule…….”」

「“I'm sorry. We've already signed a contract with a new player.”」

「“I hope we can meet again if fate allows.”」

Therefore,

Unlike other teams that have been there, I am so grateful to them for breaking down the prejudice and approaching me first.

Thank you, and thank you again.

‘This must be fate, too.’

It’s not quite the same, but…….

Someday, if we meet again on a big stage.

‘I’ll give you a light beating then.’

I made that promise.

*

Beijing, China, GRS Dormitory.

GRS's mid laner, Lee Zi-xuan, doubted his ears at Coach Jang Seok-hwan's words.

"What did you say?"

“…There was nothing we could do. He doesn’t have much time left, what could we do?”

If he had wanted to, he would have pursued a more aggressive recruitment, but Jang Seok-hwan couldn't be a harsh person who would do such a thing even to someone who was about to die.

Above all, Coach Jang Seok-hwan himself had some doubts about the recruitment of Prisoner.

Of course, he knew that Prisoner was a good amateur and that his form had been going crazy recently.

But, would he take on all these risks and go to recruit him even while spending money that could be used to nurture several promising players?

Coach Jang Seok-hwan had fundamental doubts about that part.

"Ha……."

Lee Zi-xuan let out a deep sigh at Coach Jang Seok-hwan's words.

This was not in his plan.

Lee Zi-xuan believed that he could win the next Red Cup with Prisoner.

To not recognize such a gem.

There must only be fools in Korea.

…Thinking the same thing.

But, something unexpected happened.

The best treatment, the best conditions.

He failed to recruit despite all of that?

It wasn't that the other party had no interest in becoming a pro at all.

Even before Prisoner's illness was revealed, Prisoner definitely had the intention of debuting as a pro.

‘Inept.’

He was beginning to doubt the abilities of Coach Jang Seok-hwan, in whom he had always believed.

"Why are you so obsessed with Prisoner? He's just an amateur at best."

"Rainbow, who crushed us, and Yoon-gi, were both amateurs at first."

Of course, in those two cases, they quickly stood out after only a short period of amateur activity, and soon became the best team in the Korean E-sports scene, SY, and were talked about at the time.

On the other hand, Prisoner had been active for a long time, dating back to when he started playing games, to the point where he could be considered a first-generation gamer in Korea.

There were such stark differences between the two cases that it was hard to compare them, but Coach Jang Seok-hwan didn't bother to interfere.

"Prisoner has that much value. Isn't the coach of GRS supposed to know that?"

"I understand how you feel, but there's nothing we can do now. Forget about Prisoner."

Lee Zi-xuan thought for a moment, and then said, as if he had made a firm decision.

“…I’ll go to Korea.”

"What? Are you going to see Prisoner? Even so, that's not right."

"Of course not. I'm not that tactless. The next World Championship is being held in Korea, isn't it? It's like a training camp."

"How much time is left until the season starts… No. The director won't allow it either."

"You don't have to worry about that. I’ll talk to the director separately."

At those words, Coach Jang Seok-hwan was speechless.

Lee Zi-xuan's words that he would talk to the director directly meant that he would be exerting external pressure, not as a player.

The mid laner who led China, which had always been defeated by Korea, to the Red Cup runner-up.

The reliable backing of the main sponsor of the prestigious GRS team.

No matter how much they respect him and call him Coach, Coach in the normal times, Lee Zi-xuan's position within GRS is absolute.

“…Okay. Instead, I'll go to Korea with you. And you have to come back a week before the season starts. Got it?"

"Don't worry."

A small smile formed on Lee Zi-xuan's lips.

* * *

How long had I been lying down?

"Ugh."

It felt like the whole day was over because of how busy things were right after waking up, but, strictly speaking, the day had only just begun.

‘Let's eat something.’

When I opened the door and came out to the living room, I saw the usual morning scene.

A little sparse, but familiar nonetheless.

My father and younger brother had gone to work and school respectively, and my mother, who had been busy lately, had gone out early.

In the past, I was rarely alone at home, but recently, it had become quite a frequent sight.

After I became a woman, one of the first things my mother did was stop calling the cleaning lady.

Although the burden on my mother regarding housework increased as a result, she seemed to be only concerned about me, as if she didn't care at all.

「“What's the big deal about doing some housework? You're the most important thing to me.”」

As I walked to the living room table, there was a simple breakfast and a note, as always.

-Eat the rice from the rice cooker and heat up the stew in the earthenware pot. Be careful with the fire, and put what you've eaten in the sink.