“Then you don’t even do basic makeup??”
“Yes, I haven’t felt the need yet.”
“Considering it’s not just anyone but Para saying this, it sounds convincing.”
Inside the League Park dressing room, the woman behind me, who was touching my hair, kept talking endlessly.
‘Why did it have to be the team leader?’
I knew the makeup team leader was talkative since my previous life.
Still, this was more excessive than expected…
‘Could it possibly be like this on game days too?’
Today, we had a more emphasized star styling for the profile pictures and opening shots. Usually, LCK players and commentators receive a simple makeup touch-up before matches. Could it really be like this every time?
At that thought, the makeup team leader smiled and said, “I’m not usually like this, but since it’s been a while since I’ve styled a girl, I couldn’t help but talk a lot.”
“Do the announcers not do this here?”
“Announcers do their makeup at home or at the shop and come here, only making adjustments.”
“That’s the first I’ve heard.”
“And the players just try to cover up skin issues, and don’t even attempt makeup. They say it’s meaningless since they’ll wear headsets anyway, so they don’t bother with their hair.”
I understood what she meant. In my past life, despite having long hair, I only parted it because I was too lazy for perms or styling, so I get it.
Still, what can you do when you’re comfortable with that? It’s more beneficial to watch a replay during the styling time.
“Because of your naturally good looks, just a little foundation and some hair adjustments should be good.”
Being born as a girl, I still didn’t care about makeup, so I didn’t understand what was happening.
“Your eyelashes are already long, but let’s not drop the fringe straight down. Let’s add a little wave.”
…
“Wow.”
When the makeup was finished, Kim Dojin couldn’t close his mouth upon seeing me.
‘Really that much?’
Satisfied with my natural face, I didn’t realize how much makeup could make a difference. For someone like me who prefers a natural look, this makeup was close to dislike. Team Leader said it was as light as possible, but setting the hair felt like a physical restriction already.
I asked Kim Dojin, still unable to close his mouth, for his opinion.
“Is it that different?”
“Uh… yeah. It’s hard to describe.”
“Feel free to speak your mind.”
“Looking at you like this, it’s like seeing a real celebrity. Honestly, if I didn’t know you, I wouldn’t dare approach.”
“What about usually?”
“Usually, it’s the level where I could approach but wouldn’t feel comfortable speaking.”
I listened half-heartedly, not really understanding what he meant. Since the other team’s shooting hadn’t finished yet, I wondered what to do while waiting.
‘Oh.’
I suddenly remembered I had an SNS account. I hadn’t posted anything since creating it, but logging back in, my followers were already nearing 60,000.
Feeling a bit guilty for neglecting those who liked me, I asked the manager to take some photos and picked the best ones to upload.
‘This should satisfy everyone.’
LOL Forum
Title: REALTIME – LCK Top 5 Mid Replacement
(Screenshot of Para’s SNS post)
Starting today, we, the entire LOL Forum, declare Para as the Number 1 Mid of LCK.
No arguments.
Wow…
No, seriously, is that even a human face? Is it not AI?
What’s today?
She’s going to meet her boyfriend~
Don’t speculate.
Seems like she got makeup for the LCK shoot today.
LOL Forum
Title: REALTIME – Para Hits 70k Followers
Without Chinese fan support, this speed is insane.
Just become an entertainer already.
Reverse sexism towards Para.
Seriously, could Para quit LoL right now and debut as an idol?
Joke.
Seriously, I fully invested in Para Coins starting from the vll finals, and I’m not sorry.
Sigh, every time I see these new fans who didn’t watch Para’s solo ranked streams calling her boring, it’s frustrating.
*
“The profile shooting is over.”
LCK video director and also camera director, Lee Tae-jin, rotated his sore wrist. Now, all player profile photos, which would be used for the Player of the Game poses, had been completed. What was left was the opening title shoot.
“Hey, don’t put the contact lenses in just yet.”
Lee Tae-jin caught a player who was about to put their contact lenses back in. Since the lenses can reflect the lights, they were removed beforehand, but it seemed like he thought the shoot was over.
‘This uniform…was it ARK? If it’s their first time, it’s understandable.’
It had already taken over 5 hours just for the profile shoots, so the players must be tired. Still, finishing the opening today since they’re here would be best for everyone.
“Now that everyone has rested, let’s start the title shoot.”
It was tougher than profile shots but with most scenes planned for CGI edits, the opening shoot wasn’t overly difficult. If the players and director were in sync, it could be done quickly.
‘Composition…’
Since LCK came back from international tournaments this year without any trophies, the theme decided for the opening was “The Challengers.”
“First, YK and WDM players, please come over here. We’ll start with the scene of two teams facing each other inside the stadium.”
As the strongest teams that faced off in the finals of both Split and Summer, YK and WDM were scheduled to be the main focus.
“And also we’ll take a shot inside with RG.”
Despite their lackluster performance in the league, RG showed a fierce battle all the way to the Worlds finals, so they deserved a shot.
“AX, who came back through the promotion tournament, seems fine to give a little more screen time.”
Considering the need to finalize an opening under a minute, lower-tier teams rarely had their full rosters shown. Usually, it was around one to two members, or at most, three.
‘ARK is the problem.’
The biggest issue was ARK. They made a big splash in the CK, but would it be justified to give them much screen time?
Based on Lee Tae-jin’s experience, making even small mistakes with the lower teams in LCK could stir up controversies, considering their solid fan bases.
He needed to balance well while assigning their screen time.
“Two players only.”
After all, ARK’s main star was Para, the female player Yoon Seohwa. When styled for the promotion shoot, Para seemed less a gamer and more like an idol. Her face alone was enough of a draw.
“Para and… Lesser will be included in the shoot.”
“Huh?”
To the two named players, the others gave incredulous reactions. As rookies stepping onto the LCK stage for the first time, they might have expected screen time for everyone.
But in the world of professionals, everything was about skill and popularity. Lee Tae-jin felt for the rookies but there wasn’t much he could do. Still, before he got a chance to explain, Yoon Seohwa interrupted him.
“It’s the same for all lower-tier teams.”
“I know, but even I carried the ADC spot in the promotion…”
“Then what about QG? They beat YK, the Summer champions, yet they only had two players.”
“That’s true but…”
“No need to feel wronged. If we do well, we’ll be the stars next season anyway.”
After comforting the team, Yoon Seohwa approached Lee Tae-jin.
“Will we be shooting inside the stadium too?”
“First, we’ll shoot Para and Lesser together, and then Para alone inside.”
Thus began ARK’s team shoot. As Lee Tae-jin observed Yoon Seohwa’s impeccable ability to grasp the atmosphere, his curiosity grew.
“Most pros find profile shots easier, but how are you so natural in opening shoots too?”
Photography skills improve the more you take photos. This was why the star players, accustomed to appearing in finals, always appeared composed. However, it wasn’t typical for a rookie debuting in less than a year to be so poised.
After finishing their team shots, Lee Tae-jin proceeded to a personal shoot with Yoon Seohwa to express his vision of LCK as “The Challengers.”
“Please open and walk into the door here.”
As if they’d practiced their lines for years, Yoon Seohwa flawlessly executed Lee Tae-jin’s instructions. Even among veteran LCK players, only a few could pull this off so seamlessly; truly, an incredible young woman.
“Para, are you naturally talented in acting too?”
It had been so long since he had such an enjoyable shoot. Once her session was over, Lee Tae-jin joked,
“Mostly thanks to the director’s amazing skills.”
“Among the players I’ve seen, you’re one of the best.”
“Is that so?”
At his compliment, Yoon Seohwa politely thanked him, then added,
“But my teammates also do well.”
“Yes…what’s that supposed to mean exactly?”
“By the Summer opening…or rather before that, the finals title shoot.”
“Finally, Lee Tae-jin realized what she was getting at.
“You’ll have to shoot all five members then, won’t you?”
The young woman who hadn’t yet begun her LCK debut confidently stated, as if it were a given, that she would reach the finals.
