[TS] The Return of The Gamer - Chapter 75

[YSG TaeHyeong: I am Park Taehyeong, a coach at Y So Games. If you're okay with it, could we have a constructive discussion regarding joining the team?]

My heart is pounding.

Whether it’s *dugeun-dugeun* or *kongdak-kongdak*, it doesn't matter; it was clear that my chest was beating.

“Hoo….”

Deep breath, deep breath.

Actually, I felt like it was about time.

That was the reason I accepted the friend request, unlike before.

‘Oh, maybe there were some in the friend requests I've had until now?’

That was something I couldn't know.

Well, whose fault is it but those who didn't put their team affiliation in their ID?

‘To think they’d miss someone like me.’

It’s a bit funny to say it when I still can't calm my beating heart, but anyway, it wasn’t me who felt sorry.

…Or was it?

[Me: What is it about?]

[YSG TaeHyeong: First, may I ask if you are currently under contract with another team or plan to be?]

[Me: No.]

[YSG TaeHyeong: Ah, I see. Thank you.]

And…….

There was a moment of silence.

For me, it felt like an eternity.

[YSG TaeHyeong: Excuse me, but do you have any professional or trainee experience? Or any other ID you used?]

[Me: No, I don’t.]

I flinched a little, but I proceeded step by step as I had prepared in my head from before.

If they persistently ask about the existence of another account later, I should say that I deleted it about a year ago because I was getting into trouble while solo ranking and using offensive language.

By then, the account information would be unrecoverable, and that would be a hundred, a thousand times better than revealing that I was Prisoner.

[YSG TaeHyeong: Thank you for your answer. Then, would you be interested in taking a tryout at our YSG?]

[YSG TaeHyeong: You may know, but our Y So Games is currently a team in the 1st League of Legend of League Champions Korea, and although we regrettably didn't make it to the Red Cup last year, we are a prestigious team with sufficient potential. We spare no effort in discovering new players every year and are looking for outstanding players like Outlaw. ]

[YSG TaeHyeong: If you are interested in joining us with talented teammates, a coach who you can rely on, and a front office that always cares, please contact … . I'll be waiting.]

The part below was a sentence that looked like copy-paste, but still, I didn't feel bad.

At least they didn't get my ID wrong.

[Me: Yes, I'll think about it and get back to you.]

I wanted to accept it right away.

But it's also problematic to show too much excitement, so it seems good for the future to pretend to be in a little bit of thought.

[YSG TaeHyeong: Yes, then I will be waiting for good news.]

That was the end of the conversation with the person who introduced himself as YSG coach Park Taehyeong.

From the simple end, a strange sense of ease is felt.

‘Well, my tier is only Diamond 3 now. It's not yet the right time to compete for the title of rising star.’

Of course, when my tier gets on track, I'll naturally receive various offers.

Well… that's that.

“Hee-hng, heung, hehehng….”

Now is the time to be happy.

“──!”

I scream silently.

I was that happy.

Honestly speaking, I wasn't completely without anxious feelings until now.

Can I become a pro?

No, before that, can I even get an offer?

I know it's unnecessary anxiety, but the professional realm is a realm I've never been to before.

It would have been strange not to be anxious.

Above all, I confirmed once again through this opportunity.

I don't have to be Prisoner.

Even if I'm not Prisoner, I'm a person who can be recognized as a pro.

‘Becoming a pro.’

As Outlaw, not Prisoner.

I will become a pro.

“Hooa….”

Calm down, calm down.

No matter how happy you are, you mustn’t lose your senses. You need to make a cold-headed judgment of the current situation.

After breathing deeply a few times, my trembling heart seemed to calm down a little.

‘…By the way, they didn’t ask my age.’

When I was active as Prisoner, one of the first conditions that most professional teams asked about was my age.

Someone might say, what's the big deal about age when it's just playing games in front of a computer, but nevertheless, age is very important for professional gamers.

Apart from external factors like the aging curve, the younger you are, the faster you learn, and, above all, you are more obedient to the words of the managers and coaches.

It is an extremely important issue for the Korean society and gaming teams, which favor a vertical relationship rather than a horizontal one.

‘They say it's hard to handle when their heads get bigger? Anyway….’

It was a culture that I didn't like.

There was nothing to be done about it.

‘The issue of age isn't just that.’

Experience continues to accumulate.

Data on victories accumulated during a long professional life can become the flesh of a professional as experience, but sometimes, the opposite happens.

I was sure it would win if I did this.

Or is it? No, if I do it like this, I'll win.

That I was wrong? It can't be.

Numerous experiences, along with an aging body, instead become a poison.

‘…Well, it might not be, though.’

I have no professional experience.

So, I might be wrong.

But at least I know how the results of countless solo rankings I've done so far have changed me.

「“Is this the right matchup? Why am I losing?”」

「“Because I’m bad? …No. I must have made a mistake. If I do the same thing again, I can win.”」

Some changes were beneficial experiences,

and some changes became poison.

As the number of matches increased, the data on past victories held me back, and mistakes occurred in important judgments.

‘Well, it’s not like age is the problem for me.’

To be exact, are both problems?

It seemed like there were many mountains to climb, but I wasn't worried.

‘Pros prove themselves with their skills.’

I was confident, at least when it came to Legend of League.

‘Now, then….’

I immediately opened the search bar to learn about YSG.

The information I basically knew was nothing more than the basics, so I was going to find out more.

YSG (Y So Games).

Even though the team name itself is a bizarre name that doesn't make sense, YSG is clearly a team in the 1st League.

It was a great opportunity for me, who was thinking of debuting even in the 2nd League, which came sooner than expected.

‘If my memory is correct, the existing YSG had problems with team synergy, as well as results.’

As is often the case with low-ranking teams, the problems YSG has are not one or two.

Individual problems are also a problem, but above all, the biggest problem of YSG is that the overall team synergy is not working.

There is a saying in Legend of League:

- Even if it’s wrong, it's right to follow it first.

This is one of the core concepts in team games, and it means that if even one or two team members don't follow the order, it's better not to have an order in the first place.

Of course, you can lose because of a wrong order.

No, in fact, the probability of losing is high.

But you still have to follow it.

If you don't follow the order in the first place, even the slightest possibility of winning disappears.

In fact, some mid-ranking teams, including BOQ, even though their individual skills were not that high, achieved the feat of advancing to the playoffs with a unique team work that moves as if five people were one.

However, YSG was a team where even such basic teamwork had collapsed.

‘No… is this well for me instead?’

If the team that offered me the proposal was a team like BOQ, even if I showed outstanding performance, there might not be a place for me to get in.

Because the balance that has been maintained so far could collapse.

But if it’s a team like YSG, where you don't see much trust between the team members from the start…….

‘Ah, this is no good.’

Even if I try to think and judge objectively as much as possible, my brain, drenched in happiness, tries to interpret YSG in a good way somehow.

‘Look into it slowly, think about it. And it's not too late to contact them.’

…Or is it? What if it's late? What if they've already recruited another player and tell me to wait for the next opportunity?

My head was complicated with all sorts of thoughts.

*

“I think I'm going to go see the tryout.”

The living room sofa, which was much wider than the old house.

There, like a madam in a drama, or maybe it's actually true, but anyway, my mother, sitting elegantly and enjoying tea slowly, had her mouth hanging open.