“Nice.”
“Director Seoha totally carried that one, didn’t she? She was insane, for real.”
“I bet Sister Hanbyeori’s looking down at this from heaven and smiling…”
” seriously, did we just qualify for the main competition?”
Through the headsets draped around our ears, cheers from the team rang out.
Even though we ended up with two wins and one loss—losing the middle match—we had still managed to secure victory in the final game and make it to the main tournament.
[Lord Seoha]
[He’s just good at carrying, no matter what]
[To be honest, I was scared that we’d just barely qualify, but look at Queen Seoha smashing it kk]
[Agreed]
[Agreed]
‘Game two was pretty nerve-racking.’
The top laner we faced in the winners’ bracket was truly worthy of his Challenger 900 ranking, as he dismantled Shin Saengnim right from the laning phase.
Then, Pressure came in to help out, but ended up dying in a counter-gank, which led to a disastrous situation where the game was out of reach before we could even react.
Thankfully, we won the final match, but if we had lost, we wouldn’t have just missed the championship; we would have been eliminated in the preliminaries.
“Still, since we’ve made it to the main competition, should we go ahead and give some feedback?”
As the team was starting to disperse, Pressure brought up the idea of feedback. Perhaps he felt a bit guilty about how badly he and the top laner screwed up in that second game.
[Pressure carry]
[But, shouldn’t Pressure be last to talk about feedback when he didn’t do that well either?]
[Don’t you know Pressure’s personality? He’ll call himself out on his own mistakes]
[True. That’s why Pressure’s the best—when he messes up, he apologizes, but he doesn’t blame others]
‘He doesn’t seem too bad.’
Since this team was put together so quickly, it would be a good idea to align our thoughts at least once.
“If the big bro wants to do it, we should.”
“Not too bad.”
“Then let’s spend some time on it.”
“I’m okay with it.”
Because the suggestion came from a Worlds champion, everyone agreed, and I also expressed that I was on board.
“In that case, first, let’s talk about the top laning phase.”
“Why do I have to be first…”
“They say it’s good to criticize those who did poorly first.”
Pressure’s feedback was that Shin Saengnim wasn’t hitting the right timing.
It seemed that because he was accustomed to roaming, even when he should have been concentrating on laning, he would return to base instead, which left him at a disadvantage.
He was right. Ignoring the need to return to base completely could be an issue, but when the match-up was in his favor, he needed to take advantage of it.
[Hmm… Grandpa, if you keep whining like that, I’ll cry…]
[Still, Shin Saengnim’s champion pool is too fixed and limited]
[Still, maybe Shin might get it right once]
[If Shin ever gets it, he’ll turn right into the Demon of Roaming]
[? It’s Director who tears games apart via roaming though]
[True kkk]
“And as for bottom lane, taking carry champions isn’t bad, but now that our mid is strong, maybe you don’t have to aim so high.”
Next, the feedback directed at bottom lane was that they were too focused on selecting carry-capable champions.
“What, are you telling me to go full support?”
“Look at Pressure. The guy who was only doing damage as support has been grinding on champions like Riven and Nautilus.”
“Still, there are champions with dignity. I have pride, you know.”
Yujin had a unique skill set for hyper-carry ADCs, which once created quite a controversy in the past.
Unfortunately, the downside was that she often collapsed during the laning phase.
[Ah, if you’re gonna go support, just say Prince]
[Prince? Let’s just call it support kk]
[Prince [Kai’Sa, displaying damage over 15,000]]
“Then let’s do this. Zeri, if Kai’Sa won’t work, try Ashe.”
“That’s not too bad…”
.
.
.
[Are you serious? We were actually fighting like pros or what kk]
[Not Pressure being tough, things are just chaotic]
[Pressure quietly roasting all three of us is kinda funny kk kk]
[Meanwhile, no one dares to criticize Para]
[If Para carries our games with such dedication, scolding them isn’t human]
[Real-time memo about Yujin’s on kk]
The two-hour session disguised as feedback but mainly consisting of heated debates finally came to an end.
While it might have looked like we were fighting, this is common in team-based games. To the point where, in my previous life, the team would even argue in the waiting room after a set.
‘We had such intense arguments but won that day, it was bizarrely satisfying.’
From my past experience in professional gaming, arguments are somewhat necessary as long as they don’t get too intense.
“See you all on Tuesday.”
“You’ve all worked hard, let’s go to the semifinals.”
“We definitely need to make it.”
“I’ll carry on Tuesday.”
“Director Seoha.”
As the team was leaving the Discord channel one by one, Shin Saengnim called my name in a hesitant tone.
“That… The main competition starts on Tuesday.”
“Yes?”
“Will you be able to participate?”
“Huh? Of course… wait, I might not.”
Thinking about it, I was still in middle school.
Meaning, I had to attend school on weekdays.
“Let me check. I’ll check the schedule since I should have some announcements.”
My typical schedule usually revolved around school, tutoring, and League of Legends.
Tuesday was one of those days I didn’t have tutoring, though.
“It’s at 7 PM on Tuesday. Would that be okay?”
Since I usually returned home around 5 after school, that wasn’t such a bad time.
“And if we win, the semifinals are at 8 PM on Friday. The finals will be a live event starting at 6 PM on Saturday.”
Even though 8 PM on Friday seemed tight, I could leave tutoring and make it in time.
And Saturday, well, I had all the time in the world.
“Friday might be a bit tight, but is it okay if I arrive a little late?”
“Hmm… Since you’re in school, 30 minutes or so should be fine. I’ll let the organizing committee know in advance.”
“In that case, the timing should work.”
“If we make it to the finals, is Saturday, a live offline match at Sangam Stadium, okay?”
“Yes, where at?”
“It’s at the Sangam Stadium.”
Sangam Stadium.
Even though I had only competed at the LCK Stadium located in Jongno, this stadium was used in Star League matches before League of Legends came around.
I heard it was currently in use for FPS gaming events or streaming tournaments.
“Saturday should be fine.”
Even though we hadn’t reached the finals yet, the thought of having the opportunity to attend was thrilling.
‘If we reach the finals, maybe I can invite my parents.’
Given my father’s deep passion for Star League, he would definitely enjoy a visit to Sangam Stadium.
And if not, I’ll just tell my mom that it’s a date night with dad.
*
“Phew…”
In a training room’s balcony of ark, a professional team in the second division of CK—not LCK—sat a middle-aged man smoking one cigarette after another.
“Sponsorship contracts are running out this year…and if we don’t get promoted again…”
His name was Kim Hanseong, a former professional gamer who now serves as the owner and coach of ark.
“Rather than finishing first…”
Having claimed first place in the regular season, they qualified for the first promotional series but ended up losing. Nonetheless, because they demonstrated such overwhelming form during the regular season, their newly discovered rookies got poached by other teams.
“It’s money. Money…”
As he sighed, he pulled out his mobile phone from his pocket.
What appeared on Kim Hanseong’s phone was a vll match, specifically a game involving para, a female player.
[Ah~ Para, and yet again!]
Whether she got an unfavorable lineup or not, she managed to at least hold her own.
When she got a favorable lineup, she would pressure the opponent from the start and together with the jungler, explode the game out of control.
It sounds easy in words, but performing every match without a single error was an incredible level of skill.
‘Judging by her playstyle, she could fit well with our team.’
Kim Hanseong was someone who strongly scouted players from internet broadcasts.
Whereas other coaches and managers often criticized them for lowering the team’s dignity or lacking the ability to play as a team, he had a different view.
‘After all, with broadcasting, the entry barrier is low.’
Among the younger broadcasters were quite a few individuals with impressive potential.
However, most of them didn’t even consider the route to professionalism or started with broadcasting due to the low entry barrier.
‘She’s fifteen years old?’
The age limit for the CK second league was 15 years old. She could start playing professionally starting next year, considering it was December.
‘She ranks top in solo queue…she’s physically monstrous too.’
In Kim Hanseong’s eyes, para was undoubtedly an appealing candidate.
Definitely other CK teams would have their eyes on her too.
‘The issue is that she’s a girl…’
It wasn’t that female professionals didn’t exist before, but most of them were seen as part of events.
It was natural since there wasn’t a female user who had achieved Challenger status in anything but support before para’s emergence.
‘…Can I have middle school girl stay at the dorm full of men?’
Even if her parents allow it, it would be controversial socially.
Additionally, para’s streaming career was going well.
This was indeed a situation full of complications.
‘I should watch until the finals at least.’
Even though para stood out, the other players were generally good as well.
There was no guarantee that a player capable of replacing para wouldn’t emerge.
‘I should just watch first, then if she makes the finals, I can have a chat…’
This edition of the vll was a non-seasonal event officially sponsored by LCK.
Because of that, LCK and CK personnel could receive invitations.
He intended to attend the finals anyway, and considering the possibility of para making it there, he thought it might be a good idea to have a conversation.
