[TS] The Return of The Gamer - Chapter 94

A week went by.

During that time, under Coach Park Tae-hyeong's lead, I and Daihard took turns participating in scrims.

14 wins, 0 losses.

3 wins, 9 losses.

Those were the scrim records for me and Daihard, respectively.

"Carry machine, King Outlaw!"

"Wow, if noona hadn't stolen the Baron there, we would've lost. What was with the decision, though~?"

Of course, every time the teammates said things like that, I couldn't hold my head up.

No, how do they even say such embarrassing things?

Is it possible when you're young?

That's... youth?

"...Stop it."

The atmosphere within the team was split in two.

No, to be precise, it was more accurate to say that Daihard, who was the previous main jungler, was gradually becoming isolated.

"Woojin, did you have lunch?"

"...I'll eat alone. Go eat first."

"Really? Okay."

Gogossing, the mid laner who had a good personality, seemed to take care of Daihard, but he couldn't reverse the flow that was already happening.

Coach Park Tae-hyeong also couldn't intervene in this.

I didn't know for sure, but it seemed he didn't want to pour cold water on the team's atmosphere, which was slowly improving.

Because of the situation, these kinds of conversations naturally began to emerge within the team.

"I think we would've won this game if Noona was here..."

"Oh, is Noona the main player from the second round?"

"Hey, what are you saying..."

Within a week, YSG recorded 1 win and 1 loss.

Even so, I was participating in scrims more than Daihard, who was currently playing as the main, and the scrim results also showed a significant difference, so it wasn't unreasonable for the players to think this way.

...It was actually the case.

My being the main player was already decided, but the other players, including Daihard, couldn't possibly know that fact.

"..."

Every time, Daihard would either subtly avoid the situation or pretend not to hear and focus on his own game.

The issue of being the main player is an extremely sensitive issue for a pro.

In reality, there were also countless pros who, despite entering a good team, were eliminated in the fierce competition within it and failed to become the main player, thus wasting their prime years.

There's a big difference between a pro who plays in matches and one who doesn't.

Pros who play in matches always prove themselves.

That's why, depending on the results, even if the current contract with the team ends, if they have proven their skills, they can get a request for re-signing or an offer to sign from other teams.

But what about the pro who can't do that?

Since other teams wouldn't know the internal circumstances of YSG in detail, if things go this way, Daihard would become a pro who lost the main player competition in YSG, not even a prestigious team.

In a way, he might have to start his pro career again in an even worse position than a newly debuted rookie player.

Therefore,

Maybe Daihard won't be able to continue his pro career in the domestic league anymore.

And among the pros, there are not a few who choose to retire rather than face an unfamiliar life overseas.

Daihard has now reached a critical juncture as a professional gamer.

'...Let's not worry about it.'

Until then, I tried to ignore that fact.

A pro was someone who proved himself with skills and results,

But why is it?

Since when has my stomach felt stuffy?

I felt like I was having indigestion after eating, and the back of my head bothered me throughout the game.

'What is it?'

At first, I didn't know the reason.

I thought it was just a feeling, or that my condition wasn't very good.

'Uh... something feels...'

It didn't take long for me to realize the reason.

"Hic!"

While doing solo queue, I suddenly turned my head at the strange feeling I felt from behind, and my eyes met with Daihard's who was looking at me.

'Ah...'

I knew then.

What that damp and unpleasant feeling I had been feeling was.

It was from that day on.

I can feel eyes even when I'm doing nothing.

Not ordinary eyes, but eyes filled with clear resentment and hostility.

'What's the problem?'

At first, I tried to ignore it.

But, unfortunately, I wasn't the type of person who could ignore the fierce gazes sent by others.

'......Huh?'

What is it? What's happening?

Why is it...

"Hah, haah..."

My chest feels stuffy.

I can't breathe well.

I feel like I'm being crushed by something.

Deep breaths, deep breaths.

"Hah, hah..."

I think I understand.

I've never faced the blatant hostility of others in my life.

Of course, since League of Legends is a game that can even eliminate parents who are doing well, I can say that I'm somewhat immune to insults or slander, but the problem was the fact that I had no experience, not even a little bit, of the hostility that was directed at me in reality.

'...I'm really weak.'

I grew up too pampered.

Perhaps if I had lived a normal life, it wouldn't have been difficult to experience others being jealous or disliking me.

That's because, you know, there are times in life when people dislike you for no reason, or when you dislike people for no reason.

But I didn't have that.

「"Yujin."」

「"What do you want to do?"」

「"Where do you want to go?"」

Excessive overprotection.

But the protection that was needed.

Also, the eyes of people towards me were always filled with emotions like sympathy or pity, rather than hostility.

「"Oh, dear..."」

「"Tsk tsk, the young one is in a bad situation."」

I grew up in that.

If there was a person who was most suitable for the saying "a flower in a greenhouse," it would be me.

I was weak.

Because I was weak, I was cared for and protected.

But the real world I came out to now no longer cared for and protected me.

No... rather, to someone, I had become a wicked looter who was taking others' things.

Whether I intended to or not was a relatively important fact.

What was important was that others, the parties involved, felt that way.

"Hah."

Of course, it would be a lie to say that I wasn't resentful of this hostility.

What did I do wrong?

Is it wrong for a pro to prove themselves with skill?

Why are you looking at me like that?

Aren't you going to look away? Just, like that.

"Haa..."

Having barely caught my breath, I suddenly felt a sense of futility.

What am I doing here?

Was the pro I wanted to become, was that all there was?

Or am I just now facing reality after living in a too rosy dream?

'......shit.'

"Ah."

I flinched, feeling a genuine urge to swear in my heart.

'What am I doing here?'

The reason I came back to YSG was to gain confidence in my questions.

But what is this mess?

"..."

Is it right for me to be on this team?

Although the answer is still unknown, my heart is gradually tilting.

I don't think this decision will take long.

* * *

Coach Park Tae-hyeong doubted his ears.

He went because of Director Choi Tae-dal's call, wondering what kind of scheme he was up to, but he heard a notification beyond his imagination.

"...Advertisement?"

"Yeah, let's also shoot some promotional videos while we're at it. Do you know how much the representative and the director worked to get this?"

The fact Director Choi Tae-dal conveyed was simple.

Advertisement and team promotion video.

It was time to start using Outlaw to make money in earnest.

"...Director, I don't think this is right, no matter what. Did you forget the terms of the contract? What if Outlaw breaks the contract and just leaves?"

Coach Park Tae-hyeong still had mixed feelings about Outlaw, but at least he wanted to hold on as long as he could.

In fact, Outlaw was leading the team to an all-win record, not only in scrims with SCV but also in scrims with other teams, whenever Outlaw participated.

'We even won a game thanks to the improved atmosphere.'

However, it would be unfair for Daihard, who was the one who actually won the victory.

"Tae-hyeong, you don't know, so you're saying that. Do you know how much the incentive will be paid separately to the player if you shoot this advertisement? It's almost half your annual salary. You just have to shoot for a little over an hour and get that much. Have you ever seen anyone in the world say they don't like money?"

"...Yes?"

No, that much?

An advertisement that a mere rookie player is shooting?

Coach Park Tae-hyeong didn't want to admit it, but at least when it came to money, the abilities and sensibilities of Director Choi Tae-dal, the director, and the representative were outstanding.

And, at least in Coach Park Tae-hyeong's opinion, Outlaw was actually worth that much, so he couldn't argue anymore.

"So, don't complain."

Director Choi Tae-dal added with a smile.

"Those girls around her age? They're all the same. They dream of the glamorous life of celebrities and idolize them. For those kids, games aren't the goal, but a means. They want to debut as a pro and somehow get enough popularity to live like a celebrity."

Coach Park Tae-hyeong immediately denied Director Choi Tae-dal's blunt words.

"...That can't be the case."

Although it wasn't for a long time, Coach Park Tae-hyeong had been watching Outlaw.

Outlaw's attitude towards the game.

Outlaw's passion.

Outlaw's overwhelming skills.

A gamer with that much skill and understanding, would use the game as a mere means?

No, that can't be the case.

It's absurd.

Of course, maybe Director Choi Tae-dal was right.

Outlaw might just be trying to use the game as a means, and the skills were also achieved not by effort but by innate talent.

Because it's not like there are no geniuses.

But,

Can what Outlaw has achieved really be explained by genius?

Coach Park Tae-hyeong was negative about it.

"Really? You think differently than me. Anyway, this is something that's not bad at all for that friend. Do you know if a rookie who hasn't even played a match yet can easily get this kind of opportunity?"

Of course not.

But that's a different story if you consider Outlaw's special situation.

"...If Outlaw still doesn't like it?"

"Well, we can't force it because of the terms of the contract. It would be a big deal if they were really trying to break the contract, as you said. But it's your job to persuade them. Isn't that right?"

...So, they're pushing it onto me again.

"Why, you don't have confidence? Shall I assign it to someone else?"

"...I'll do it."

Because he imagined what methods other coaches or front staff would choose, Coach Park Tae-hyeong took the role of the villain himself.

The methods they use are obvious.

Team operations are difficult. Please help just once. If you don't help, it'll be hard to continue the contract with other players next year.

They would use the team and teammates as hostages and use a cunning method that could not be rejected.

"Okay, I believe you'll do well. Tae-hyeong."

Coach Park Tae-hyeong felt goosebumps on his body at the sight of Director Choi Tae-dal patting his shoulder.

"...I'll be going now."

"Okay."

Coach Park Tae-hyeong, who had left the director's office, went up to the rooftop again and thought.

'Will they agree?'

Coach Park Tae-hyeong was still negative about it, but the truth was that he still didn't know.

No matter what, the team management of Director Choi Tae-dal and the director was amazingly consistent with their goals.

'They should be doing a celebrity agency, why are they hanging around here...'

While Coach Park Tae-hyeong was cursing the team's leadership, including Director Choi Tae-dal, someone came to see Coach Park Tae-hyeong.

"Coach."

"Oh, Yujin. What's up?"

It was Outlaw.

"I have something to tell you."

Outlaw's lips slowly parted,

and Coach Park Tae-hyeong's face gradually hardened.