[TS] The Return of The Gamer - Chapter 96

1 billion.

It’s not a number derived from any specific calculation.

It was just an amount that came to mind, based on the vague idea that at least that much would be needed to do something similar to starting a new team.

[“……Huh?”]

My father maintained silence for a long time, then opened his mouth again.

[“What did you say?”]

“Can you lend me a billion won?”

[“…What are you going to use it for?”]

You could say it was as expected.

There was no answer like, "No," or "Where would we have that kind of money?".

My father asked about the purpose.

What to use the billion won for.

Of course, the answer was already decided.

“I want to start a team.”

[“……A team? An e-sports team?”]

“Yes.”

A billion won is certainly a lot of money, but it's woefully insufficient to acquire an existing team with that amount.

Although I didn't know the exact value of a professional gamer team, I didn't need to look into it in detail, as there were often cases where the basic annual salary of an S-class player exceeded a billion won.

That's why the method I chose was to start a new team.

‘I’ll create a team and break through the second league step by step.’

Of course, I have some doubts whether it will work with a billion won.

The players' salaries, anyway, I intend to start from the second league, so even if it's the minimum salary… it would cost a lot of money to create a practice room and an appropriate environment.

‘Well, somehow it'll work out.’

Despite many things happening recently, my original, anything-goes-attitude hasn't changed.

Perhaps someday, or maybe I've already been through a lot, so I only have a hopeful observation that it might gradually change.

[“Yujin, a billion won is a lot of money. So, let's talk about it at home first. Got it? What time are you coming home today? Are you going to be late again?”]

“Today… I think I’ll go early.”

I no longer need to be here.

[“Really? Okay. I'll go straight home after I get off work, so I'll see you at home later.”]

“Yes.”

Beep-

That was the end of the call with my father.

‘Alright, now what…….’

It’s been a while, so people will probably start looking for me…….

This is a filming site where they are in the middle of shooting commercials, and no matter what I say about leaving the team here, it was obvious that several people with vested interests would try to hold me back.

And I wasn’t the type of person with a cruel personality to brush those people aside.

To be exact, I was far too weak.

‘There’s nothing I can do…….’

Let’s end this contract now.

‘I’m sorry to the people…….’

I know how many people are involved in this filming.

Most of them were kind to me, and the fact that I was betraying them now made it difficult for me to take a step.

However,

From now on, I'm going to learn how to be a little shameless.

Even if someone else suffers a little because of me.

“Hoo……”

I took a deep breath for a moment and left a lengthy message to Director Choi Taedal with the utmost sincerity.

That I wanted to end this contract.

I didn't have the courage to say it on the phone.

‘Let's go now.’

As I was about to move, I manipulated my smartphone once again.

Because there was one more person to whom I had to send a message.

‘Is it done?’

Having finished all the preparations, I left the filming site with a hurried pace.

At first, my steps felt heavy, but now they felt very light.

* * *

“Let's play, let's play~”

Director Choi Taedal couldn't hide his excitement that he couldn't control.

‘Even the performance bonus that will fall from this… Uhehe.’

A total of 11 commercial shoots.

Team promotional video shooting.

That alone was enormous, and if he thought about the ads that would follow, it was as if Outlaw was a goose that laid golden eggs.

No, at this point, the main business of team management felt like an additional one.

‘It was worth taking the risk.’

Although the contract with Outlaw had to include ridiculous conditions, it turned out to be well worth it.

Above all, Director Choi Taedal was confident that Outlaw would not leave the team.

‘If Park Tae-hyung says so, the obsession with being a pro must be real.’

Director Choi Taedal knew very well how much players who dreamed of being professionals were obsessed with making their professional debut and becoming a starter.

That's why he was confident that Outlaw wouldn't leave the team even with these conditions.

‘If it goes this way, the offer for the director position isn't far away.’

While Director Choi Taedal was lost in a happy dream, the filming director's shout was heard.

“Director Choi! Has the player not arrived yet?”

“Ah, just a moment.”

Even though it was time to resume filming, for some reason, Lee Yujin wasn't there.

Director Choi Taedal couldn't barge into the women's restroom, so he looked for one of the front desk staff.

“Jihyun! Could you check if our player is in the restroom?”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

He didn't think much of it at the time.

As the filming was such a hard and tense job, it wasn't unusual for time to be needed.

It was after the front desk staff returned that he felt something was odd.

“She’s not there?”

“What do you mean? Not there?”

“Yes. All the restroom stalls are open... she's not in the restroom.”

“…The player?”

“That's right.”

What?

Did she go to smoke a cigarette?

‘No… Lee Yujin doesn't smoke?’

Then did she go outside for a breath of fresh air?

The moment Director Choi Taedal opened his smartphone to consider this and that.

Ting!

A text message came as if it had been waiting.

‘…Huh?’

The moment he saw the sender, Director Choi Taedal doubted his eyes.

It was Lee Yujin.

[Hello, Director. This is Lee Yujin. I think I have to leave the team for personal reasons. Thank you for your good work so far. I would like to terminate the contract, and please discard all videos and records related to me as per the contract.]

“……Uh?”

The moment he saw the text message, Director Choi Taedal realized.

‘Ah.’

That his desires had blinded his eyes, and he was unknowingly cutting open the belly of the goose that laid golden eggs.

“…Lee Yujin, where is Lee Yujin right now?!”

Director Choi Taedal immediately looked for Coach Park Tae-hyung.

As Coach Park Tae-hyung was the closest to the players, he was the one Director Choi Taedal relied on most in this regard.

“…Yujin is, gone?”

“Yes. Find her quickly! It'll be a big problem if the contract is terminated like this!”

Director Choi Taedal regretted his mistake.

He was too hasty.

He should have taken a little more time to have her adapt to the team and build strong bonds among the team members.

To stay on this team,

To be unable to do without this team.

But he was blinded by the possibilities that Outlaw, or rather, Lee Yujin, possessed.

Director Choi Taedal himself had been blinded by the desires he had been so wary of.

No… looking from afar at a sparkling star, who could not be swayed?

‘…I should have been more careful.’

Although he had made an absurd contract, Director Choi Taedal, in his heart, believed in the sincerity of Outlaw, or rather, Lee Yujin, regarding professionalism.

At first, he didn't think so, but as he saw Coach Park Tae-hyung's words and the subsequent scrim results, his thoughts gradually leaned that way.

That's why he proposed the ad as well.

It should be enough by now.

It should be time to start working on making her a star in earnest.

However,

It was all a delusion.

Unlike her innocent appearance, Lee Yujin was calculating the profit and loss in her head meticulously.

He… underestimated his opponent too much.

“Director Choi! What's going on?”

Director Choi Taedal felt his mind turning white as the filming director and advertisers' urgings continued.

“Just… a moment. It seems there is a small problem.”

“We don't have time either! Where is the player?”

Ha…….

Damn it.

“Director!”

As Coach Park Tae-hyung found Director Choi Taedal, Director Choi Taedal shouted in anger.

“…Why are you still here? Go find Lee Yujin right away!”

“It's not that… look at this.”

What Coach Park Tae-hyung held out was a message from Lee Yujin.

[Coach Park Tae-hyung, this is Outlaw. Thank you for your hard work. I've thought a lot about it, but I don't think I can have the professional life I want at YSG, so I'm leaving the team. I hope we can meet again on good terms next time.]

“So? I got the message too.”

“…Isn't it right to just let her go since the contract is useless anyway? It’s already too late unless Yujin changes her mind.”

“So, that’s what I’m trying to change her mind!”

“Director, you know. She’s too soft. The jealousy that might be pouring out within the team must have had an impact.”

“So, you should have taken care of that in the first place─”

Coach Park Tae-hyung cut off Director Choi Taedal's words.

“So… I told you, didn't I? That time was needed. What is this? It’s not as if she decided to leave the team just yesterday. Have you ever been inside the practice room, Director? Do you know what the atmosphere of the practice room is like? So, I said let's take more time and take it slow.”

Director Choi Taedal had nothing to say even to Coach Park Tae-hyung's rebuke.

In fact, all of this had been anticipated a long time ago.

Coach Park Tae-hyung had always warned.

That time was needed.

But Director Choi Taedal, along with the director and the representative, had ignored all those warnings and gone ahead on their own.

If, as Coach Park Tae-hyung said, they had taken their time and let Outlaw naturally integrate into the team, what would have happened?

The Diehards would have poured out respect and awe, not animosity, and the scattered team members would have been able to unite around Outlaw.

It was now a futile illusion.

“You, you!”

Numerous numbers passed through Director Choi Taedal's mind.

Breach of contract fee, breach of contract fee, more breach of contract fee.

These were the hells that Director Choi Taedal would have to go through from now on.

Although the breach of contract fee didn’t have to be paid by Director Choi Taedal himself immediately, he couldn't know what would happen if he was held accountable and even sued.

The opponent was… the vicious YSG.

At this point, it was no longer a matter that would end with a resignation from the director's position and retirement.

“U, Uaaaa!!”

A desperate scream rang out.