[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return – Chapter 166

“How on earth did you catch BOQ? They probably won’t even play with our team in the second division…”

“I told you, their scrim schedule got canceled right in time.”

“But still, you really think they’d match up with a team like ours in the first division?”

“Of course they would. It’s us. Don’t underestimate our team.”

Baek Seong-an sat down with his usual cheeky smile.

His overly confident demeanor felt a bit off, but I decided to overlook it this time.

“Everyone ready?”

“Ah, not yet. Almost done.”

“Me too.”

Since ShowMeTheAgal and Timid Person 190 were still deeply engrossed in solo queue, Baek Seong-an asked the other side for some time.

[Getback: Just a moment, our other teammates are still in solo queue but will finish soon. Really sorry about this. It’ll be wrapped up in five minutes.]

Before even sending the message, Baek Seong-an coldly ordered the bot lane supporter.

“Wrap it up in five minutes.”

“…That’s going to be tough.”

“I’ll try.”

Kim Jae-min and Kim Ji-hoon had delivered conflicting responses—one negative, the other positive.

“I already said we’d finish in five minutes.”

“…I’m going to surrender.”

In that way, Kim Jae-min wrapped up the game even faster than the overly confident Kim Ji-hoon.

The scrim was set to take place on the live server.

Given that they hadn’t even been promoted to the second division yet, they didn’t have a tournament server ID, let alone a client.

In a way, it was slightly more advantageous for us to scrim on the current live server patch version.

It couldn’t be helped since it was playoff season, and obviously, teams that advanced to the playoffs were practicing based on the tournament server.

‘Well, there’s probably not a massive difference because of the version…’

Maybe that’s exactly why BOQ agreed to this scrim.

BOQ (Boys of Question).

What kind of team is that?

A perennial mid-tier team.

That’s the common perception people have of BOQ.

But against everyone’s expectations, BOQ quickly secured a spot in the playoffs this season alongside SY and SCV.

Thanks to that, BOQ managed to shed the label of being a perennial mid-tier team and perhaps even sparked expectations that they might show something beyond that this season.

BOQ is a uniquely exceptional team, almost singular in the history of Legends of League.

That’s because they are composed entirely of military service members, which is a remarkably rare background.

This is true not only compared to other countries with volunteer armies but also even in South Korea, a conscription nation.

Professional gamers have short careers.

The time a player can stay at their peak is limited, and that limited time is critical for pro gamers who must sacrifice their youth in the military.

For that reason, a pro gamer in a conscription country like South Korea typically considers their enlistment period as the beginning of their retirement.

Once they finish their military service, very few continue to pursue professional gaming, with a few exceptions.

Nonetheless, BOQ stands out with not just one or two, but all of its members having completed their military service.

The origin of BOQ was simple.

By chance, individuals with a keen interest in Legends of League gathered within the same military unit—and coincidentally, their tiers were all Diamond or higher, and furthermore, they all shared a dream of going pro.

BOQ was a team birthed from that background.

Mates, seniors, and juniors united through a common interest in Legends of League and a shared dream of being professional gamers.

In fact, even the name “BOQ” isn’t just a random title. It actually derives from “Bachelor Officer Quarters,” a term for single accommodations in the military, adapted to fit their team name.

The members of BOQ have mentioned this a few times, suggesting it’s more than just a rumor.

Anyway, that’s that…

Given its origin, BOQ isn’t a team characterized by exceptional individual skills.

However, the teamwork that compensates for those individual shortcomings is what they truly possess.

BOQ’s anecdotes are well-known.

They formed a team after their military service and practiced without a proper dormitory, moving from PC bang to PC bang, eventually succeeding in the promotion matches for the second division.

Did they stand out in the second division? Not really.

They continued to engage in fierce battles in the second division as they slowly, very slowly, grew, and after a year of being promoted, they succeeded in the playoff matches for the first division.

Then, as everyone knows, they floated around the mid-tier before finally making a push this season.

A story reminiscent of a movie.

In some ways, they served as a sort of role model for our team.

However, a role model is still a role model, and doesn’t mean they’re someone we should look up to.

Now we have to face that BOQ.

‘They’re a suitable opponent for feeling out team play.’

I examined the opponent’s IDs.

────────────────

BOQ Sergeant – Diamond 1

BOQ Private – Master

BOQ Captain – Grand Master

BOQ Recruit – Challenger

BOQ Corporal – Grand Master

────────────────

A complete set of military ranks from sergeant to recruit was greeting us.

‘Hmm.’

I had frequently encountered BOQ players in solo queue.

So I knew.

Excluding Getback and ShowMeTheAgal, each of their individual skills was probably better than our team’s current first division members.

‘But their teamwork must be far superior.’

Of course, in the top solo queue environment, each individual’s skill might manifest as intricate movements resembling team play, but it can’t compare to genuine team play.

No matter how many patches have come out, narrowing the gap between solo queue and team games, a distinction still exists.

“Done.”

Timid Person 190, who actually wrapped up the game in just four minutes, entered the lobby.

[Getback: We’re all set.]

[BOQ Captain: Okay.]

[BOQ Captain: Then let’s get started.]

With that, the ban/pick phase kicked off immediately.

Our side was the blue team.

We were at the bottom side and first pick.

[“…Huh? Ah, uh. So, what should we ban?”]

3 Min Top School Honorary Member Seo Yeon-woo seemed quite flustered by the sudden start of the ban phase.

Even though they had gone through this several times during ADC tests, it looked like she was very nervous about this scrim.

‘Well, they are a first division team.’

I had scrimmed countless times against first division teams when I was briefly with Y So Games, so it felt all too familiar to me.

‘I felt pretty shaky when I first did it, too.’

I could relate to that feeling well.

“Don’t be nervous. It’s just a scrim anyway.”

[“…Okay.”]

At my encouragement, Seo Yeon-woo looked so bashful she was squirming in her seat.

Ah, shouldn’t have said anything.

[“I think it’s better to ban TF. What do you think?”]

While I was getting exasperated with Seo Yeon-woo’s behavior for a moment, Baek Seong-an chimed in. As expected, our team’s coach.

“Uh… Not a bad idea. That mid laner uses that card really well.”

Besides, giving a first division team like BOQ the current meta’s tier 1 and operational champion, Twisted Fate, didn’t seem like a wise choice.

Our team is still inexperienced, and if a team like BOQ decides to engage in a strategic battle, it wouldn’t be easy.

[“Then let’s just ban TF for now.”]

[“Sure.”]

[Twisted Fate]

As soon as our bans were over, the opponent quickly followed up with their own ban.

[Lucian]

Nothing special up to this point.

Currently, Lucian was indeed one of the top picks, especially when paired with Nami.

But…

[Vayne]

[Kalista]

Once all the bans were completed, the intent behind the opponent’s strategy couldn’t be more explicit.

[Ban List]

Twisted Fate / Lucian

Miss Fortune / Vayne

Jui / Kalista

Our team’s main weakness, without a doubt, was the ADC.

Not only was the tier low, but in terms of objective skill, the ADC had talent but wasn’t quite ready to unleash it.

The opponent clearly capitalized on that weakness as if it were a given.

[“…Three bans for the ADC.”]

Kim Jae-min couldn’t hide his unease, this being his first time experiencing a situation like this.

But it was only for a moment.

[“Indeed… Looks like even pros see me as a threat. Right?”]

Kim Jae-min’s confidence had risen.