[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return – Chapter 157

The players who perform as so-called “order” bot laners in the first division are all quite smart.

However, can a mere Diamond 1 amateur bot laner really juggle both aspects?

In other words, that kid is really good at the game and knows how to win, yet is stuck at Diamond 1 tier.

So what’s the problem?

It’s a very simple issue.

“Not much is required from a bot laner.”

Instantaneous explosive power.

They lack what we call “physical skill.”

To elaborate, among the elements that make up a ranged dealer, the crucial aspects such as laning, teamfight positioning, and the most important damage-dealing ability are relatively lacking.

[Outlaw: Yes, the test has ended. We’ll inform you of the results in a week. Thank you for your hard work.]

The second applicant, Park Sang-Soo, didn’t impress me for similar reasons.

Moreover, Park Sang-Soo is not particularly smarter than the first applicant.

In short, he doesn’t play well.

Perhaps it’s to be expected.

No matter how I’ve gained a little fame lately, it’s too much to expect promising players to apply to a team with nothing to offer.

“I know I can’t fill my stomach on the first bite… but still, it’s disappointing.”

Of course, if I were to utilize the previous two applicants, I might put out the immediate fire.

After all, a smart bot laner is synonymous with one who knows how to ride the bus well, allowing me to find a new bot laner after passing the promotion matches.

“No… I’m confident I can manage up to the second division with this skill level.”

Top, mid, support.

All of them are handpicked talents carefully chosen by me.

Although they’ve either not pursued a pro career due to personal circumstances or faced setbacks in the pro scene, the situation is different now.

Above all, I have confidence.

However, that’s only a last resort, as applicants keep increasing, so it wasn’t something I needed to consider yet.

“I’d prefer to go with the initial team members I’ve picked.”

As I conducted tests for about four hours, I wondered how much news about the recruitment announcement had spread, and soon enough, quite a few application emails had piled up.

Although the majority were still prank emails, there were some genuine applicants.

“Roughly… around five?”

That meant, counting the one who hasn’t taken the test yet, there were six applicants remaining.

Since the number of applicants would continue to grow, all I could do was hope among them to find a gem.

I prepared for the third applicant’s test while checking the tiers of the newly registered five.

[Dia 2]

[Master 142 Points]

[Dia 1]

[Master 50 Points]

[Dia 1]

Finally, I started seeing tiers above Master.

That was quite encouraging.

“Still, the gem I’m looking for doesn’t hinge solely on current tier.”

Sure, even gems like this do differ between a Dia 2 and a Master gem, but you know.

“Is it time for the next applicant?”

[Outlaw: Are you ready?]

[ShowMeTheAgal: Just a moment]

[Outlaw: Yes, please let me know when you’re ready]

I waited a bit and searched the match history of the third applicant.

+

[ShowMeTheAgal]

Ranked 21,111 (top 0.4297%)

Solo Ranked

– Diamond 3

– 89 LP / 664 wins 660 losses

– Win rate 50%

+

Huh?

Wait…

[Outlaw: Your tier is Diamond 3, do you have another account?]

[ShowMeTheAgal: Oh, I was playing solo queue while I was waiting and got demoted.]

“……”

What’s this…?

Even so, it’s a team aiming to go pro, and we have a Diamond 3 bot laner?

“I didn’t like the application from the start.”

+

────────


Bot Laner Application

────────


────────


Name: Lee Han-Wool

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: 2002-05-15

Summoner Name: ShowMeTheAgal

Ranked Tier: Dia 2

[Competition and Team Experience]


– None

[Self-Introduction]


– I play bot well

────────


+

The tier is low, and there’s no experience in competitions or teams.

And does their champion pool align with the current meta? Not at all. Their most-played champions are Kalista, Lucian, Vayne? Who does this kid think he is?

“Moreover, what’s up with that obnoxious self-introduction? Even a convenience store resume is better written than that.”

No matter how young he is, 20 years old isn’t that young in pro gamer standards.

In fact, considering age alone, he should have just finished a lengthy trainee period and just now be able to debut as a pro.

“Well… age isn’t my place to talk about.”

I mean, I’m a bit of a special case.

If he’s got the chops, hit 2000 points.

People tend to be lenient with themselves, so I decided not to overthink my age.

[ShowMeTheAgal: Ah]

[ShowMeTheAgal: I’m sorry, but can I take the test a bit later? My mom asked me to eat ;;]

What is this nonsense?

What’s with eating during such an important moment?

‘…No need to see more. You’re out.’

There’s a saying that if you can see one, you can see ten.

If a kid can’t handle such fundamentals, how could he possibly be good at the game?

[Outlaw: Okay.]

[ShowMeTheAgal: I’m sorry, I’ll be back soon.]

No, he doesn’t have to come back forever.

Naturally, I shifted my focus to the next applicant.

*

Two days had passed.

In the midst of testing, I lost track of time.

[Outlaw: Good work.]

.

.

.

[Outlaw: Thanks for your hard work.]

.

.

.

[Outlaw: I’ll contact you in a week.]

.

.

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[Outlaw: Great job.]

.

.

.

[Outlaw: Thanks for your hard work.]

After two full days, the tests for five applicants wrapped up.

My impression?

Mediocre.

Way too mediocre.

“This is how it should be.”

A new team.

Not even close to the first division, struggling to become a second division team, barely trying for the promotion matches.

What a disaster it would be if someone stepped into such a mess and signed a contract only to get relegated!

Would a rookie confident in their skills take such a risk?

Especially since the current Legends of League pro scene is intensely competitive for acquiring new talents.

In that context, the chances of a challenger, let alone someone above Grandmaster, joining a team like ours with unclear prospects are pretty much zero.

“Still, I thought I’d built a bit of recognition through my broadcasts… was it not enough?”

It could be awkward to brag about it myself, but I believed a team generated by a jungler with a 99% win rate ranked first should hold some competitiveness, even if it’s a new team.

Yet, I couldn’t wash my eyes to find a rookie that fits what I’m looking for.

“…Everything’s fine, but the age restriction is a hindrance.”

19 years and older.

On the surface, it seems like a perfectly ordinary condition, but considering pro gamers prepare from high school and, at times, even middle school, it’s a major hurdle.

In summary, if someone has passed that period, chances are they’ve already found their affiliation if they possess talent and ambition.

But there was no helping it.

What we truly needed was a team member to play matches with.

It was a tough situation all around.

[Getback: Do you have a favorite applicant?]

[Me: No, not yet ㅜ]

[Getback: Still, the Master 140-pointer was the best so far.]

[Me: That is true…]

As Getback said, the highest-rated applicant so far, Master 142 Points, was somewhat usable.

Their mechanics were decent enough for their tier, and they had sufficient game sense.

At least with that level, the weight of a bot laner isn’t too much in the current meta, so it shouldn’t hinder us much in the second division promotion matches.

“Still… just a little more…”

Though applicants had piled up again during those two days, to be honest, it felt hard to remain hopeful.

From what I peeked at, the newly registered applicants didn’t have any tiers above Master 100.

“Sigh.”

Just as I was going through the emails from new applicants…

[ShowMeTheAgal: Can I test right now?]

Oh, right, I totally forgot about him after he left to eat a few days ago.

[Outlaw: Yes, that’s fine.]

Though I had already mentally marked him for elimination, it wouldn’t do to deny him a chance.

“Hmm? He’s Dia 1.”

I distinctly remembered him being Dia 3 last time…

Well, if he’s a local in that tier range, it’s not unusual for him to bounce between nearby tiers often, so I wouldn’t need to stress over it.

“Still just Dia 1, though.”

And…

– Welcome to Summoner’s Rift!

The real test began.