[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return – Chapter 162

The higher tier cannot understand the judgment of lower tiers.

Likewise, the lower tier cannot understand the judgment of higher tiers.

It’s all about the perspective.

In that sense, from Kim Ji-hoon’s perspective, ShowMeTheAgal could be seen as one of the worst Bot Lanes he wouldn’t want to play with.

No matter how good the mechanics are, the inherent burden of the limitations faced by a Dia 1 Bot Lane will ultimately fall on the Supporter.

But…

Kim Ji-hoon knows the situation of the team.

A newly formed team.

Despite the buzz surrounding the team created by Outlaw, the colossal BJ sweeping the Legends of League scene, the actual talent pool of applicants was, unfortunately, mediocre at best.

The reasons were obvious.

The age limit of 20 years meant most aspiring professional gamers had already settled. They were a team participating in the qualifiers with an uncertain future, barely managing to enter a secondary league.

At first glance, these two conditions might not seem significant, but for hopefuls who have staked their future, they posed a daunting barrier.

Even though the conditions themselves sound good, those good conditions only hold meaning if the team is still standing.

What if they sign a contract, and then abruptly get knocked out in the secondary league qualifiers?

It would be fortunate if the club allowed them to back out of the contract at that point. If they fail in the qualifiers, the club wouldn’t be obliged to spend money on player salaries for no reason.

But what if the club refuses to let them go, risking losses? What if they end up stuck for more than a year?

For those dreaming of being professional gamers, a year is certainly not a short time.

It could well be a massive risk that could end a player’s career before it even starts.

Thus, no matter how good the conditions are, there’s no reason for already proven hopefuls to join a team with no guarantees.

After all, even without such a risky start-up team, big organizations with established academy systems like SY or SCV would gladly take them in.

Who among aspiring professionals would turn down the best prestigious team in the country, SY, the Red Cup champions, or SCV, which, although lacking a Red Cup, is almost on par?

I can definitively say, it would be hard to refuse.

As they filtered through conditions, the remaining applicants naturally ended up being hopefuls who had failed tests at other teams or those who initially had little interest in becoming pros and applied half-heartedly.

The number of applicants was quite large, but the majority of them were duds, and most importantly, they failed to satisfy Outlaw’s notoriously tough standards.

It was somewhat expected.

Often, when dreaming of going pro, there are phrases one hears.

Masters prove themselves,


Grand Masters put in the effort,


Challengers make choices.

In other words, a Grand Master or Challenger over the age of 20 is mostly bound to be filtered out by structure.

Thus…

Everyone had to agree with Outlaw’s opinion that they needed to find rough gems.


When recruiting team members, it was for the absurd reason of setting a tier limit of Dia 2 even when looking for academy trainees.

“But…”

The condition of the selected Bot Lane was overwhelmingly serious.

What’s even more frustrating is that there are no alternatives at this point.

Kim Ji-hoon thought.

“If another Grand Master or Challenger were to come, would they catch my eye?”

He recalled countless Bot Lanes he had met in solo queue.

Among them were some who played well enough to leave him in awe and others so bad he couldn’t help but be irritated.

How on earth were some of them even at this tier?

However, the Bot Lanes Kim Ji-hoon found impressive were mostly current pros or former professional gamers.

“…I have to acknowledge it.”

ShowMeTheAgal has talent.

It’s like the essential talent needed for a Bot Lane was crammed into him against all odds.

Well… it doesn’t seem he lost a lot of other things that ought to be there, but considering the tier, it’s not entirely incomprehensible.

No, even taking that into account, it’s hard to understand why he remains stuck at Dia 1.

“If I were to teach him… no, even if I don’t teach him, in a team game, he would definitely be usable.”

Of course, for that to happen, ShowMeTheAgal must obediently follow the team’s orders, but Kim Ji-hoon wasn’t too worried about that aspect.

Once the intensive training camp starts, any wild antics on his part would be resolved very easily.

“Moreover, seeing how seriously Outlaw is asking… there’s definitely something he sees.”

In Kim Ji-hoon’s view, while Outlaw had his human flaws, he was practically a god when it came to the Legends of League.

Back in the day, Prisoner’s solo rank record of 2000 points seemed like something Outlaw could easily achieve if he just had the time.

“Maybe Outlaw is…”

No, that’s not it.

Kim Ji-hoon shook his head.

Anyone interested in the Legends of League would doubt that figure, but they wouldn’t dare voice it.

It’s some sort of taboo dictated by social conventions.

Prisoner is dead.

Therefore, one shouldn’t casually bring up the deceased.

Of course, some still questioned the relationship between Outlaw and Prisoner, but it was completely suppressed by the statements of several coaching staff.

Prisoner was indeed suffering from a rare illness, unable to move.

Above all, he was a man.

“…But that part is not important.”

What matters is that Outlaw is skilled enough to draw up conspiracy theories about whether he is the same person as Prisoner.


And ShowMeTheAgal is one of the few Bot Lanes recognized by someone like Outlaw.

For Kim Ji-hoon, it was something he had to seriously consider.

“…”

Indeed, it seems that’s the right course of action.

Kim Ji-hoon concluded his lengthy thoughts.

It was time to reach a conclusion.

[Timid Person 190: I think it’s good.]

After much deliberation, the response was short.

Perhaps Outlaw had also secretly agreed, as his reply came quickly.

[Outlaw: Okay, I’ll test the other applicants first, and if none pan out, we’ll go with that kid.]

[Timid Person 190: Yes.]

Though he said that, Kim Ji-hoon didn’t think there would be a promising candidate among the applicants coming up that could surpass this one.

He just had a feeling.

*

After that…

The testing continued for a week.


During this time, our team faced an influx of new applicants, among whom were, surprisingly, Grand Masters and Challengers.

Ten in Dia.


Four in Master.


Three in Grand Master.


Two in Challenger.

To be honest, while a Grand Master wasn’t shocking, I never imagined a current Challenger would apply to such a team.

However, when the tests were all done, none of them seemed satisfactory in my eyes.

“Just as I suspected… it’s only that guy.”

It’s not that the Grand Masters or Challenger Bot Lanes who applied this time are bad.

They were capable of plays deserving of their tier, and if utilized right away, they were talents who could definitely clear the qualifiers.

But…

“They’re not shining.”

When I first saw Timid Person 190, I felt his play was exceptionally brilliant.

Seeing and playing the same way as me.

But that feeling was based on the fact that Timid Person 190 was in the position of a Supporter, and the qualities needed for a Bot Lane are on the far opposite side of that.

What a Bot Lane needs is overwhelming power.

Pure and, more pure, power.

The Grand Master and Challenger Bot Lanes were smart players, adept at playing the game like seasoned professionals.

But did that mean they lacked mechanics? Of course not.

They were Grand Masters and Challengers.

People who have secured a place among the top tier in the Legends of League. Naturally, they had skills befitting that title.

Yet, why was that?

Maybe it’s because I also saw the limits laid bare.

“To thrive in the pro scene, simply being good isn’t enough. You have to be special.”

I know this too.

It’s crazy to reject the two Challengers who walked in at their own volition and then go with a lackluster Bot Lane instead!

It’s downright insane.

Not just crazy, but properly insane.

“If I misunderstood… that would be a disaster.”

Logically thinking, it would make sense for one managing a team to minimize risks.

But I am both leading the organization and a professional gamer.

“And the Challengers were too old.”

Ages 24 and 25, respectively.

If the Challengers had been just a bit younger, I would have chosen them without a second thought, talents or not.

But considering future growth potential, I ultimately made my choice.

“Trust my judgment.”

Just as I always have.

[Me: Hello. This is TEAM OLZ. First of all, congratulations on passing the entrance test we conducted previously.]

After sending the lengthy message I had prepared in advance to ShowMeTheAgal, I let out a sigh.

“Now, it’s time for the real start.”

Professional gamer.


My team.

First, the second division qualifiers.

“Also, the dormitory construction is finally done…”

It’s about time to signal the official start.