[TS] The Return of The Gamer - Chapter 224

"We won this."

Kim Jae-min, who had taken off his headset, spoke in a still dazed voice.

Objectively speaking, it wasn't a game hard enough to warrant such a reaction, but considering the opponent, Kim Jae-min's reaction wasn't surprising.

No, it was, in a way, natural.

"Hoo…."

Kim Ji-hoon, who usually doesn't reveal his emotions or even what he's thinking, also let out a deep breath.

That meant he was focused on this game.

It wasn't just Kim Jae-min and Kim Ji-hoon.

"Everyone, good job!"

"I'm finally sobering up a bit."

Seo Yeon-woo and Baek Seong-an were also trying not to show it, but their voices were trembling with excitement.

It was because they couldn't believe that they had won the game against SY.

'And me too….'

We won.

Against SY itself.

"Good job, everyone."

Of course, it was true that the opponent's movements were somewhat unusual in the early game.

Whether it was because they were scouting too much, the mid lane, which should have been constantly pushed back, managed to get through the dangerous early game without much trouble.

'They died later… but in the end, the enemy jungler had to use his turn, so it wasn't so bad.'

The feedback for this game was simple.

The opponent was careless.

Or, they were too cautious.

That's roughly how it could be summarized.

'The problem is from now on….'

With the first game, the opponent would have grasped our strength, to a degree.

From now on, it could be said that it's the real SY match.

"We were lucky in this game. It won't be like this from the next game."

Baek Seong-an also knew that fact well, so he said in a low voice amidst the cheerful atmosphere.

"Are you feeling better now?"

"Yeah. I'm fine."

At first glance, it seemed like the alcohol had worn off, but believing that statement at face value was too optimistic.

'There's a high chance he's mistaken that he feels better because of the excitement.'

Is it a temporary awakening effect caused by the adrenaline rush?

Sure enough, not long after, Baek Seong-an's expression gradually darkened.

"...I'll be right back, just going to the restroom."

There it is.

"Hyung, should I pat your back?"

"Ah, no, it's fine."

Seo Yeon-woo, the embodiment of consideration, tried to follow, but Baek Seong-an strongly refused.

Well, it's not a pretty sight to be throwing up in front of your teammates before such an important match.

"Wow, he went against Rainbow in the lane like that? That's crazy."

Kim Jae-min chattered with his usual high tension.

"I agree."

Seo Yeon-woo, who outwardly seemed to be as different as oil and water from Kim Jae-min, surprisingly agreed with Kim Jae-min's words.

"Jackson was insane too. He never got cut off once in the side lane."

"Ezreal did it all."

"Hmm, I agree with that too."

"But I'm better."

Kim Jae-min and Seo Yeon-woo babbled to each other.

It doesn't seem like it at all from the outside, but the two strangely have a good rapport.

'...Come to think of it, the 3-minute top-lane honor student's keyboard skills were also incredible.'

I had been deceived by the innocent appearance and appearance that I saw before my eyes, but what was inside was a ferocious top-lane worshiper.

It wasn't strange that he and Kim Jae-min had something in common besides age.

Watching the two of them chattering like that, I and Kim Ji-hoon very constructively discussed the direction of the subsequent games.

"The decision to focus on the top lane pick seems to have been a good one. But since the next game, we're on the blue side, we'll have to re-do the ban-pick."

"Umm, but our coach and coach are in that shape… let's do it among ourselves for now."

"Yes."

As we discussed the ban-pick, I felt a certain emotion creeping up on me.

'...I'm disappointed.'

What if SY had scheduled the match with a little more time, instead of this sudden request?

Wouldn't we have been able to face SY in the best condition, with full preparation?

'It's such a shame.'

Unfortunately, the water had already been spilled.

The only thing left was to do our best in the current situation.

"Nuna!"

"Yes?"

"They said they're ready."

"Ah, just a moment."

Has time already passed this much?

I hurried to the computer in my place.

[SY TheOne : Are you ready?]

I looked around.

Baek Seong-an was nowhere to be seen.

"Did he come out?"

Seo Yeon-woo replied.

"Not yet."

"Really?"

Unfortunately, Baek Seong-an didn't seem to be coming out of the restroom.

[OLZ Outlaw : Just a moment. Our mid laner went to the restroom.]

[SY TheOne : Yep, please tell me when you're ready.]

Fortunately, the SY side didn't seem to have a tight schedule either, and they understood.

'Of course, they probably don't think it's because of alcohol.'

I was a little curious what expressions the SY players would make if they knew the truth, but there was no way I would do something that would shorten the team's lifespan.

[OLZ Outlaw : Yes, thank you.]

Against my will, I earned the team title of having kept SY waiting.

* * *

[Defeat]

Ryu Jin-hyuk stared at the words that appeared before his eyes for a long time.

"……."

What?

What am I looking at right now?

A defeat that no one expected, but had come to pass.

None of the teammates had foreseen this.

Of course, strictly speaking, a pro and defeat are inseparable.

No matter how strong a team is, they must experience defeat.

The problem was the identity of the team that had inflicted the defeat on SY.

SY, the previous year's world champion, had been defeated by a team that had just been promoted to the second division league.

Even if SY had been unfortunately defeated in the spring, it was only because the opponent was the strong team, SCV.

The matches between the top-ranked teams are often decided by very subtle differences, and SCV had simply won there.

"……."

Given the situation, the SY players, who were united with confidence, were bound to have their pride hurt.

Of course, strictly speaking, none of the SY players hadn't been severely defeated by Outlaw in solo queue, but that was only in solo queue.

Even though the gap between solo queue and team games had narrowed compared to the distant past, that was only relative.

There was still a clear gap between solo queue and team games.

Without having to look far, the fact that there was a distinction between solo queue-only picks and tournament-only picks was a good example.

But, SY, who wasn't even in solo queue, but a team game, and not just a first-division team, was defeated?

It was shocking, even if it was only the first game.

"...Ah, come to think of it, I heard that the opponent we met when we played a normal game before was Outlaw."

It was a report from Yu Sang-hyun, the community ghost.

"That was real?"

"Yep."

The first to react was Yoon-gi.

They also remembered the previous defeat in the normal game.

They thought it was just a loss from throwing the game while having fun... but the opponent was Outlaw?

They had regarded the rumor as just a myth circulating in the community, so the current defeat was even more shocking.

'……I lost because of me.'

Ryu Jin-hyuk retraced the mistakes he had made in this game in his head.

There was no need to check the replay. The mistakes he had made were all clearly imprinted in his head.

And the conclusion that was reached.

'Getback's clumsy play wasn't intentional.'

Of course, he could have shown such plays with truly divine acting skills, but what would be the benefit of intentionally "playing poorly?"

If he made such foolish acts again in the next game, Ryu Jin-hyuk had no intention of just letting it go.

'My thoughts were too complicated.'

Let's go back to the basics.

Let's not underestimate the opponent, nor let's praise them too highly.

'As is.'

That's enough.

"Jin-hyuk hyung?"

"Ah, yeah. I'll go."

There is no more carelessness.

There is no more misjudgment of the opponent.

"I think the mid lane should have moved a little more actively here, what do you think?"

"...I think so too."

After the feedback on the first game was over, before the second scrim, Ryu Jin-hyuk said.

"We're better."

It could be seen as arrogance, considering that he was saying this immediately after the defeat, but it wasn't if you consider who was saying these words.

The teammates chuckled lightly at his words.

"That's obvious."

"That's right."

"That's right."

However, Yoon-gi replaced his answer with a small laugh.

As if he didn't have the confidence to surpass the opponent in the jungle.

* * *

Game 2.

Side: OLZ Blue / SY Red.

Game Time: 29 minutes 41 seconds.

Kill Score: 4:13.

SY Win.

Game 3.

Side: SY Blue, OLZ Red.

Game Time: 36 minutes 55 seconds.

Kill Score: 15:8.

SY Win.

Total record of today's scrim: 1:2.

It was OLZ's defeat.