TEAM – Arts and Sports Specialty
TOP: Malphite
JG: Ugong
MID: Irelia
AD: Ashe
SUP: Orianna
VS
TEAM – Still Good at LoL Even After Retirement
TOP: Gwen
JG: Nidalee
MID: Lucian
AD: Jhin
SUP: Leona
“Irelia?”
Choi Eunseo looked at the champion selected as the third pick for the red team with some confusion. Given that Malphite was first-picked and likely destined for top lane, and Ugong was second for the jungle, it was clear that Irelia would naturally fit mid. If picked to counter Jhin, it made sense, but…
“Does Seo Ha even play Irelia?”
Ever since seeing Para in Hanbyeori’s broadcast, Choi Eunseo had diligently watched all the YTube videos and tournament clips featuring Para. But never had she seen Irelia. Not once.
“Irelia? Even if I don’t do particularly well with her, the champion’s mechanics are tough.”
Para herself seemed uncertain of her capability with Irelia, at least from what Choi Eunseo had gathered. But then…
[Para is insane!]
[Spotless solo kill!]
Speakers boomed across both sides, endlessly praising the performance. Even the bodyguard Kim Minseo, who didn’t know much about games, felt the intensity.
“I may not know much about games, but this is impressive.”
The match unfolded normally, but by the fifth set, it was becoming clear Para was dominating. A solo kill in the midlane when the enemy champions reached the tower was just the start.
“Though the matchup does favor her.”
It was true that the late-pick Irelia had an advantageous matchup against ranged champions, but the massacre continued. From level six onward, Para was unstoppable.
[Arts and Sports Specialty team, even with a teamfight composition, they’ve ended the game right there in the mid-lane skirmish!]
[Of course, it’s understandable that Seongho picked Lucian to fulfill the AD role, but wasn’t this fifth set too challenging of a pick?]
At barely over twenty minutes, the kill score was 11-2. Arts and Sports Specialty had stacked three dragons uncontested.
“Since it’s the fifth set, will your friend win the championship if we secure this victory?”
“Yes.”
“But does the game really hinge on one person’s brilliance? Based on the commentators, the other four members seem lacking.”
“Typically, it’s tough, but what they’ve achieved so far is remarkable.”
“Is that right?”
On her third bag of popcorn, Kim Minseo asked Choi Eunseo who lifted her water bottle, drank, and responded.
“LOL has the most significant gap between professionals and amateurs.”
“So, how does your friend dominate every round?”
“I wonder too. Just how much skill is she hiding?”
After a moment’s pause, Choi Eunseo rose to leave.
“That’s enough. Let’s go.”
“Leave before it’s over?”
“Watching this much is as good as seeing the entire match. This won’t be overturned.”
Without waiting for a reply, Choi Eunseo left, leaving Kim Minseo to hurriedly follow.
“Should we take Baron and end the game?”
“Probably fine.”
“What is this, farming alone all game?”
“That’s top lane.”
With a 12,000 gold lead by 25 minutes, everyone seemed certain of victory.
“This Jhin’s ult is down, so let’s check Baron for any tricks.”
At my command, Prefot and Pressure swept the vision around Baron. With such a big gold gap, handing Baron would likely finish the game. The opponents would have no choice but to check the area.
“They’re not coming.”
“Are they just giving up?”
“They’re probably waiting for a steal opportunity. Let’s smoke out Nidalee.”
If the opponents don’t show, we could just take Baron and force their hand. First, we need to locate the enemy jungler.
“Top tri-lane!”
After circling Baron’s lair, Prefot urgently announced spotting Nidalee. Before he even finished, Yujin’s Ashe immediately launched her ultimate.
[Enemy eliminated.]
Without their jungler, they stood no chance to stop Baron. We could take it without incident.
“Game over.”
“Push top lane and it’s done.”
“Can Irelia only control mid lane?”
“Let’s destroy the bottom inhibitor, then slowly push top.”
The opposing team was already missing their bottom inhibitor, with their mid lane inhibitor exposed as their third-tier tower had fallen. Confirming their presence split between bottom and mid, the rest of my team rushed top.
Just as we thought it was over…
“This teleport is delayed!”
“They’re making a final play?”
“Irelia, place minions with teleport!”
“I have my ult ready, I can tank!”
The enemy team tried their last-ditch effort with a teleport from a hidden ward near the second-tier tower. Likely rushing back for items before making a final stand, but my teleport cooldown had expired.
[End]
At the conclusion of the game, the roar of the crowd was deafening.
Still dazed, staring at the monitor.
“Seo Ha.”
Still dressed as Shen, Shin Saengnim approached and tapped my shoulder.
“Go claim the trophy. They’re in a hurry.”
Walking to the central trophy, my teammates embraced and celebrated nearby.
‘Would I be in that hug if I were male?’
While thinking that, standing before the trophy.
“Are you serious? It seems like you might debut in the LCK.”
“Count and Yujin’s champion preferences have finally been acknowledged.”
“Unlike someone who jumped on the bandwagon recently, the guy who made the play of the tournament drafting Orianna.”
The excitement of my teammates lifted my spirits. In my previous life, such events would have been irrelevant to me, but now it felt like scaling a mountain.
“Alright, everyone gather in front of the trophy.”
The announcer stepped in, and everyone found their spot.
“Then, I will announce the winner! The winner of the VLL tournament is: Arts and Sports Specialty!”
Fireworks erupted and applause filled the stadium.
“And now, as tradition, we must interview the winning team.”
A staff member quickly passed the mic to Shin Saengnim before retreating.
“But, we have a fan-meet too, so we’ll have quick one-liner reactions.”
…
“Today was absolutely amazing!”
“Are you really making your debut in the LCK?”
“Any tips for playing Yone?”
At the final fan-meet, many still lingered despite the late hour.
After about an hour, when the line was almost finished.
“Hello!”
“Hi.. wait?”
It was the woman who earlier asked for a picture.
“I really enjoyed the match! Honestly, after a while, I stopped cheering and just watched in awe.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
“If you debut in the LCK, I’ll definitely attend your matches!”
“Deal.”
With that final autograph, the fan-meet concluded. Our opponents, professional players, had more stamina than us amateurs in general.
“Wow… pros do this multiple times a week?”
“But fans are what keep the league alive.”
“Did we mention dinner after?”
“Definitely. Hanbyeori is here too.”
Although the team would celebrate, my late hour, and parents being present, excused me beforehand. Being a student was understood by the teammates, who sent me off with promises for another gathering.
‘They asked to meet at the parking lot.’
Walking out of the now quiet stadium, thinking over the game near the elevator,
“Excuse me, do you have a moment?”
My concentration broke. After the fan-meet, who could it be?
“I heard you’re interested in going pro.”
A neatly tailored suit, an up-do hairstyle, and the badge on the chest marked with a red logo.
A costume I remembered far too well from my previous life.
“I am Kim Hanseong, head coach of ark 2nd team.”
The business card he handed me had a nostalgic name.
“Could you spare a few minutes to speak?”
“What’s this about?”
“I’ll be blunt.
In a previous life, ark in the second tier wasn’t cash-rich, nor an ideal choice for me. However, this life is different from the past. I casually pocketed the card.
“We’d like to have you join our team as our mid-laner. The terms offer second-tier upper-level pay, possibly matching the lower rungs of the first-tier.”
His proposition exceeded amateur expectations—far beyond what I had anticipated.
