[Author: Anonymous(341.223)]
[Title: Current Status of Gawol]
(Attached Photo: A合成 of Gawol being pushed by anticipation)
Gawol! Gawol! Gawol! Gawol!
Show us your armpits!
Please defeat Cerberus for us!
(Attached Photo: A合成 of Gawol sweating under the pressure)
How did it come to this? I’m scared. I’m so scared!
The expectations are overwhelming! The opponent is last year’s mid-season champion.
But I’m just someone who casually came here for the PK fun in the field.
(Attached Photo: A合成 of Gawol trembling with fear)
What is this talk about being the last hope of Korea? Are you insane?
Such responsibilities should be left to the pros!
—
[Comments]
– WTF lmao
– Is it right to call someone who defeated Reaper an ordinary person?
– Well, you laughed too
– The situation is extremely funny
– All the domestic pro team aces are gone, and now it’s just Gawol left. lol
—
[Author: TrustedUntiltheEnd]
[Title: Current Status of Domestic INVL Community]
(Attached Photo: Community search results for Gawol from a month ago)
What about those snipers who doubted Gawol’s skills back then?
(Attached Photo: Recent community search results for Gawol)
Now they’re saying, “We can seriously win”. FML
—
[Comments]
– You’re our game’s hero, Gawol!
– We trusted you all along!
– Welcome back! Great job!
—
[Author: Peropero]
[Title: Translation of Cerberus’ Semi-final Winner Interview]
Q. Congratulations on your victory. Could you share some brief thoughts?
A. Winning is always pleasing. However, I did receive an unexpected blow. While I believe the opponent was well-prepared, I see there’s still much room for improvement.
Q. Your set winning streak was broken for the first time.
A. It’s somewhat unfortunate as a record, but I don’t dwell purely on the negative. I’ll prepare well for the next match to show better performance.
Q. Luche stated she’s looking forward to a rematch in international competition.
A. That would be pleasant. I’ll happily await the opportunity.
…
Q. Coincidentally, you’ll face Gawol in the finals. Are your initial impressions from the draw still the same?
A. Absolutely not. Back then, she was a player who hadn’t proven anything, but now, isn’t she displaying her true capabilities?
Q. If you were to evaluate her weaknesses?
A. I won’t disclose specifics for finals strategy reasons.
Q. Then, can you speak about her strengths or aspects that concern you?
A. I can. This player exhibits a remarkably high level of physicality. Additionally, her psychological and tactical prowess deserves high praise. She’s meticulous and cunning. However, there is something that perplexes me.
Q. This is an unusually long answer for you, Cerberus. What exactly perplexes you?
A. I hesitate to phrase it this way, but her playstyle doesn’t align. Despite possessing formidable raw power, she approaches matches with extreme caution. It’s akin to a lion behaving like a fox. This is a characteristic typically found in players who’ve fought stronger opponents. However, who could have trained her?
Q. That’s an intriguing analysis. Do you suspect any specific players?
A. I’ve searched among professional players from other games, but I couldn’t find a match. Her growth background is truly captivating.
…
Q. Any final words or aspirations?
A. None. Aspirations should be voiced by the challenger.
—
I woke up to find the room filled with deep darkness.
The unique hue of the night. Checking the time in my drowsy state, it was almost midnight.
I woke up a bit earlier than my set alarm.
Well, I’ll likely sync with it eventually.
It’s alright as long as I feel fine when it counts, so things are working out.
Good. This means my body has fully rested.
The nine-hour time difference between the original venue of Iceland and Korea.
While it’s dark here in Korea, it is likely a peak afternoon for Europeans.
I should start adjusting my condition early.
—
[Chatroom with Iga-yun]
– Thank you for your encouragement!
– Although I didn’t make it to the very end this time, something good will happen eventually, won’t it?
– I’ll keep my spirits up and work hard for next season! 🙂
The message on my phone remained as it was from yesterday.
Though received several days ago, fan’s hearts are like those of children’s.
Even such simple gratitude brightens my mood instantly.
If I could use my leg properly, my body would probably be much stronger and healthier than an average person.
Evidence of this is my resilience even after pushing my body so hard yet still waking up strong.
Starting the day with a splash of cold water and a drink of fresh water clears my head quickly.
This is how I usually begin my days.
For breakfast… It’s an important day, so I decided not to go with ramen.
Even though it’s night for others, it’s morning for me right now.
“Hmm. It’s been such a long time since I ate salmon. I couldn’t bring myself to buy it because it was too expensive.”
—
I took out the salmon that had been sitting quietly in the fridge.
The one I had ordered specially prepared for today.
It’s the perfect ingredient to start the finals with, isn’t it?
On important test or match days, my mom always bought salmon the night before and kept it ready.
Because she watched some TV program about the ‘benefits of salmon.’
Reportedly, the doctors on the panel said it boosts energy and concentration.
Hence, every night before a competition, we had grilled salmon for breakfast.
I didn’t really like it but I didn’t dislike it either, and I was someone who loved to eat various dishes anyway.
Unfortunately, no one is here to grill salmon for me now.
Hence, there’s no reason for me to suffer in the early morning making some unfamiliar dish.
But I wanted to eat this salmon at all costs.
“Always start with the skin. It prevents the flesh from drying and tearing.”
“Be careful not to overcook it; otherwise, it will become too dry.”
Anxiously, I spent too much time staring at the pan.
My legs, which had been supporting my weight for so long, began to hurt.
So I sat on the computer chair, but it blocked the view of the fish, making me rely on my phone camera.
This is harder than I thought.
I thought it was just about oiling the pan and grilling, but there are so many things to keep in mind.
Food that’s too greasy isn’t suitable for pre-match breakfasts.
How did mom do it? I saw her cooking several times, but I don’t recall exactly how.
I remember her sprinkling something while grilling.
Was it salt, pepper, or something else? No way to know.
Since I couldn’t decipher it, I decided to follow the advice of a renowned chef.
Learning to cook from a chef in a corner of the room – quite miraculous, don’t you think?
—
[Message from Elderlyn]
– Best of luck for today’s final! ꉂ(ˊ<tool_call>`)
– If you win, I’ll treat you to premium beef!
– Anything you fancy, I’ll buy! Just come back as the winner!
– Make both Cerberus and the neighborhood stray cats turn to ashes!
While cooking, I somehow found time to check the in-game messages.
There were quite a few.
Messages from Elderlyn, Soobin, even Traveler and Dynamic Station Agent among others were left, telling me to win in their own ways.
It felt too awkward to reciprocate with a thank-you.
I felt that as soon as I say it, emotions would spill out uncontrollably.
Anyway, after the taxing cooking session, the meal turned out better than expected.
With the steaming rice I prepared, and the leftover kimchi from Master’s house still in the fridge.
Great. That’s the final setup.
After having a satisfying meal, I’ll do the last check and head into the tournament.
The rich aroma of salmon stimulated my appetite.
When I sat down at the table and took the first spoonful, it tasted better than expected.
Apparently, as long as you follow the recipe properly, you can replicate it.
It was certainly good, just like the chef’s recipe, but somehow, it felt hollow.
The emptiness brought back memories.
—
“Why don’t you eat a bit more? Aren’t you hungry?”
“Mom, I’d rather finish meals a little hungry.”
“Are you sure?”
“Sure!”
No, mom.
I’m not fine now.
In fact, I don’t find the rice I’m eating now very tasty.
It’s greasier than before and dried out a bit because I overcooked it.
I just want to eat the salmon you once grilled for me.
Cheering is great, but I miss being nagged.
I know it sounds selfish, but back then, it felt bothersome.
With plenty of time before the match, memories are hard to recollect now.
“Ahh… damn it, my food is soaked with tears.”
Because of these intrusive thoughts, my precious meal got damp.
Wasting it felt too costly, so I ate it despite the dampness.
I didn’t know, but tears have a slight bitter taste.
The silence in the house was annoying, so I turned on the music.
Though I dislike loud music, our home was always noisy on the day before matches.
Silence was scarier than commotion.
After finishing the meal, I’ll wash up with warm water.
I’ll surely feel better after sensing the warmth.
An hour later, I entered the connecting device to prepare for the competition.
