[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return – Chapter 151

Of course, just because I told my mother doesn’t mean that the contract already agreed upon by my father and me has changed.

It’s just that father has been nagging my mother with advice that hasn’t been quite advice for quite some time.

“I can’t live like this.”

Ah, that line sounded so much like a housewife.

My mother, who usually embodies youth, couldn’t seem to hide the signs of aging.

Anyway, that’s that…

“Finally, it’s team formation.”

This was something postponed and delayed.

To be precise, it was something I had no choice but to postpone.

Now it stood right before my eyes.

“Should I contact the team members? What should I start with?”

Now that the formation of the team was imminent, I was at a loss over where to begin.

The reason I felt so anxious was simple.

“There’s not much time left.”

Soon, the regular season of Legends of League would come to an end, and the playoffs would begin.

So far, the teams confirmed for the playoffs are SY, SCV, and BOQ.

“SY or SCV makes sense, but I didn’t expect BOQ to secure their spot so quickly.”

BOQ was mostly assessed as a team with average individual capabilities, distinct from their exceptional teamwork.

Given that they were strongly perceived as a perpetual mid-tier team, I found it a bit odd.

“Well… what’s important isn’t that…”

What I deemed important was the large event that would take place after the regular season, playoffs, and finals.

“The promotion tournament for the second division.”

In May, the promotion tournament for the second division will kick off.

A venue will be opened to decide which two teams would stay in or advance to the second division, from the bottom two teams of the second division and two teams newly coming from the preliminary rounds of the third division.

“There’s still over a month until the application period, but… it’s not the time to be lax.”

It made sense, given that our team currently had a vacant spot for a bot lane, often referred to as the flower of Legends of League.

Even now, every former member could band together to practice, but we hadn’t even confirmed the team name or the members.

“To register for the preliminary round, we need five team members including me.”

Given the circumstances, what I needed to do was practically predetermined.

“I need to establish the team and find a bot lane, pronto.”

There are many young people dreaming of becoming professional gamers.

It’s just that among them, very few have the talent to actually compete professionally.

It would have been great if I had found a suitable bot lane during the break between tournaments, but all the ones that caught my eye were active professionals from either Korea or abroad.

Certainly, there were good amateur bot lanes as well, but… to be honest, they didn’t impress me.

To put it accurately, I couldn’t even imagine going to the Red Cup finals with just any of the ordinary bot lanes I had seen until now.

“If worse comes to worst, I could just pick someone randomly and compete in the preliminaries…”

But the biggest problem was the tight budget.

I was already making a team by accumulating debts disguised as investments; to increase the ‘spoons’ within the team was absurd.

“And more than anything, changing the main player mid-way isn’t ideal.”

It’s completely different from being in an established team.

Due to the nature of a new team, the members would have to bond and endure somewhat harsh conditions, and changing the main player in that situation…?

Having already experienced similar competition for the main position, I could easily foresee how negatively it would impact us.

“Is this… the struggle of a team owner?”

In truth, calling myself a team owner was a stretch when our team didn’t even have a name yet; we were more like a group of aspiring gamers.

“For now, I need to meet the team members.”

It’s time to announce the official formation of the team.

*

To cut to the chase, the summons as the owner, director, coach, and jungler didn’t go as planned.

[Oh, I have a collaborative stream on that day…]

[It’s leg day.]

Refusal, and more refusal.

Responses from Getback and Timid Person 190 came in one after another.

‘…What do they think being a pro is all about?’

I could somewhat understand Getback’s point.

Getback had already faced a near-failure experience as a pro gamer.

In a situation where it’s uncertain if he could return as a pro, I couldn’t say anything about his desire to expand his visibility through collaboration streams.

But I mean…

“Leg day? For real?”

Right when the aspiring team owner was trying to discuss matters seriously about the future of the team, what is this nonsense?

“I seriously want to kick him.”

Of course, seeing him so devoted to exercising usually makes me realize that if I kicked him, my leg would just end up broken.

“…I really am short on time, though.”

But everyone has their own values to chase, and just because someone else’s values differ from mine doesn’t mean I can criticize them.

Unless perhaps, later on, if we write a proper contract, things might change.

Well… that didn’t mean only bad news was on the horizon.

Fortunately, the other team member, our proud top laner, didn’t seem to have any other plans.

[I’m available]

[Definitely available]

[Where are we going?]

Of all people, it’s the one I least wanted to rely on who was free.

This wasn’t originally the plan.

First, I wanted to gather all the team members, decide on a team name, and especially get Getback’s advice to discuss our future plans in detail.

Timid Person 190 being absent made sense, but now that Getback was also out, the gathering lost much of its significance.

“Should we just meet next time then?”

I know 3 Min Top School Honorary Member.

He doesn’t know that I know him, but that’s not really a big issue.

“A typical top player.”

How can I hold a discussion about team formation when it’s just him and me, who’s quick to call in the jungler?

But…

[When are we meeting?]

[Today? Tomorrow?]

[I’m available right now.]

The eagerness of 3 Min Top School Honorary Member, as if he had been waiting for this day like a dog going for a walk, made it hard for me to extend the summons.

‘…Either way, I had to see him at some point.’

And who knows? Maybe 3 Min Top School Honorary Member surprisingly knows a decent bot lane.

[I’m on my way now.]

*

Going out.

If it were the past, it would have felt quite special, but now it doesn’t seem so special anymore.

Yet still, the fact that I was stepping outside after almost a month felt somewhat refreshing.

“It’s been a while.”

I had vaguely told my family that I was just going to meet someone I know, but my mother had looked at me with a peculiar gaze.

What do you call it…? It seemed like she was looking at me as if saying, “Who do you know?”

Even so, the reason I didn’t tell my family the full details before leaving home was simple.

I didn’t want them to prepare some weird things saying that it was an important occasion just because I was going to meet the team members.

Having left home, I called a taxi using the app I had installed in advance.

My mother had asked several times if I was really okay going alone, but somehow I felt it would be fine.

Perhaps it was the month of being off-air, but something in me felt a bit changed.

“Is it the right place, Seodaemun?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

The meeting point was a small café near Seodaemun.

I purposely chose a place that seemed unlikely to have many people, but upon arrival, it looked like everyone had the same idea, and it was just as crowded as any other café.

I checked my smartphone.

[I’ve arrived]


[Where are you?]

I immediately sent a reply.

[Arrived ㅇㄷ?]

As soon as I hit send, I made eye contact with one of the people sitting in the café.

It was definitely 3 Min Top School Honorary Member.

From a distance, the overall impression of 3 Min Top School Honorary Member was… lean.

His waist and body were so slim that you wouldn’t believe he was an adult man.

The slender arms visible through his clothing.

His brown bob reaching to his neck.

And…

‘…Is he really a guy?’

Why is he pretty?

It felt ridiculous to think that, but my first impression of 3 Min Top School Honorary Member up close was that.

He definitely seemed like a guy, but somehow, combined with his oddly pretty face, he gave off a gender-neutral vibe.

In short, he was… something.

“…Are you 3 Min Top School Honorary Member?”

Since I hadn’t heard his name yet, I could only refer to him like this for now.

“Oh, that’s me. Hello.”

Hearing his voice made me more confused, but based on his clothing and various circumstances, he seemed to be a guy.

“Oh, yes, I’m a guy.”

What’s this, psychic powers?

“Usually, when people look at me like that, they all think that.”

“…Ah.”

“Anyway, it’s great to finally meet you.”