[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return – Chapter 179

Of course, there won’t be many situations in the countless matches ahead where our team’s weaknesses will be exposed.

Especially now that we are aware of our weaknesses, it’s even less likely.

But…

“There are always exceptions in the world.”

A few names from unconventional mid laners currently shining worldwide flash through my mind.

Rainbow from SY.

AllDay from SCV.

Hwarang from MAX.

Nightmare from GRS in China.

Andro from SU5 in Europe.

And so on…

If Getback met any of them now, could he really endure?

I can’t say for sure, but I couldn’t help but think it would be tough.

“There’s still time.”

I know it’s not something we can overcome in a short period.

However, the time given to us isn’t completely insufficient either.

“We can do it.”

If it takes time, but Getback regains his memory, that is, if Getback recovers some of his skill, he would be able to hold his own against those top-tier mid laners.

Whether it will actually happen or not, at least I believe so.

“…Let’s do some feedback.”

The feedback started in a strange atmosphere.

The content itself was similar to what we usually do in scrims.

“I think your judgment here was a bit lacking. Why did you do it like that?”

“Oh, right. I didn’t think of that.”

“Yeah, just be cautious next time.”

But not everything went the same way.

“Hmm, but wouldn’t it have been better for me to engage more there?”

The first twist came from Kim Jae-min.

Due to his special position as a playing coach, when Baek Seong-an showed slightly less favorable performance in this scrim, skepticism began to arise about his feedback.

Of course, Getback had the title of former pro and was currently at a higher tier than Kim Jae-min, which is why such doubts hadn’t surfaced until now.


However, today was different; Kim Jae-min performed quite well while Baek Seong-an struggled, so it seemed that contributed to it.

“It’s true that there’s nothing wrong with you engaging there. However, if you keep exposing yourself like that, you’ll inevitably lose control of the vision on the other side.”

“Umm, is that so?”

Baek Seong-an carried on with the feedback seriously as always, but somehow Kim Jae-min did not seem to take it seriously.

Conflict between the coach and players.

This was one of the common occurrences even in other teams.


Many times, a coach’s tier is not higher than that of the players, leading to doubts about their expertise.

“Hmmm…”

If it was only Kim Jae-min showing such a reaction, I would’ve thought, “This foolish kid,” and dismissed it.


But it wasn’t just Kim Jae-min.

“Um…”

Seo Yeon-woo, who had remained silent until now, also cautiously opened her mouth.


Of course, she usually questioned feedback directly, but this time felt different.

“Isn’t my judgment correct here? The result was good…”

“It could be viewed that way, but if the opponent had countered a bit more properly, it would have been a dangerous situation.”

“Still, the result was good… And from my perspective, I thought it was the right angle.”

It wasn’t really a situation where someone could clearly be right or wrong.


Purely a difference in perspective.


But the feedback didn’t end there.

“I felt the judgment from Twisted Fate here was a bit lacking. If you’d made a proper call, I could have teleported faster or not at all…”

“Oh, right. I should have paid more attention to that. Good catch.”

“I also have something to say.”

“Oh, Ji-hoon.”

“I’d appreciate if you could pay a bit more attention to vision around the mid-lane river. Even if the lane is being pushed, it seems to lead to more issues in the game.”

“Ah… That’s true. I’m sorry about that. I’ll be more careful.”

The direction of the feedback changed.

From a one-sided direction from Baek Seong-an to his teammates, it shifted to a two-way communication.

I thought this would happen sometime, but I didn’t expect it to happen today.

Just by observing that, I began to see how Baek Seong-an’s performance today was perceived among teammates.

“Well, technically speaking, things aren’t bad right now, but…”

Baek Seong-an is not a god of Legends of League.

Of course, it’s good for both sides to exchange opinions even during feedback.

But…

“I hope this doesn’t get too extreme.”

The idea of teammates exchanging feedback is good.


However, if it starts to get overheated, I began to worry it could negatively affect the team’s atmosphere in the future.

For example, blames being thrown around.


“I don’t think my teammates would do that, but… you never know with people.”

To be precise, our team is currently on a winning streak in scrims.


Yet, considering this atmosphere, I shudder to imagine how the team mood might change when inevitable losing streaks come.

“Yujin? You need to focus.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

The feedback continued.


It was a bit longer than usual.

*

1 AM.

As the players headed to their rooms one by one, Baek Seong-an remained seated.

“Hyung, aren’t you sleeping?”

“Oh, I’ll do that soon.”

“Then I’ll go to bed.”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

Seo Yeon-woo, with her wet hair, yawned as she headed back to her room.


Quietly watching her, Baek Seong-an mechanically queued up for another game.

“……”

Still lacking.


This isn’t the feeling.


How did I do it before?


This isn’t it…

Baek Seong-an played again, wrestling through the chaotic thoughts in his head.

[Defeat]

Lost.


Lost again.


How do I win?


What was the winning method?


What should I do…

Time slipped to 2 AM.

Even though there’s no scrim scheduled for tomorrow, considering conditioning, it was time to start sleeping.


However, Baek Seong-an didn’t stop.

[Searching for a game!]


[Accept / Decline]

He kept queuing, as if possessed by something.

[Defeat]

Was it because my head was cluttered?


Today, the games particularly did not go well.

“Ha…”

Or maybe this could be my limit.


If I’ve come this far on just the remaining firewood after burning it out, maybe that’s already a good job.


Baek Seong-an felt it.

With this team, we could probably make it through the qualifiers of the second league, and even get promoted to the first league without much difficulty.

But could I pull my weight there?


Would I be able to avoid holding back the other team members?

Thoughts chased each other.


In that self-loathing and self-criticism, he arrived at one key word.

‘Retirement.’

Baek Seong-an remembers that day.


The day he decided to retire.

“Ahh! The bastion crumbles!”

“The mid has to step up! The mid must—”


“It crumbles like this…”

Four years of professional life.


It was long enough to be called a veteran by now, not a short time for a player.


During that time, there were moments that could be classified as a prime, and periods when he received plenty of attention relative to his skill.

“Seong-an… It seems next year’s re-signing will be difficult. You understand? Our team’s results this year.”


“……Yeah. I understand. Thank you for everything until now.”

But in the end, Baek Seong-an found himself in a dead-end alley, where he had to declare retirement half out of others’ insistence.

“Seong-an, if it’s you, other teams will definitely want you. You know that, right?”

Of course, he could have tried again if he wanted.


He could start from scratch, like other players, overseas, or even in the second league.


But back then, Baek Seong-an was exhausted.


Exhausted from competition and despairing at being unable to win in that competition.

So, he started streaming.


Fortunately, the streaming wasn’t a big hit, but it was decent enough.


He thought that would be enough.


Outlaw.


Until he met her.

At first, he was lured by the ridiculous catchphrase of being a rank 1 solo streamer and her unrealistically good looks.


But that didn’t last long.


Baek Seong-an soon found himself captivated by Outlaw’s insane plays.

Maybe that’s why.


He found the courage to restart the pro career he had fled from so hastily.


It wasn’t easy, of course.


He thought about it, and thought about it again.


The opportunity that had come to Baek Seong-an now was a result of those thoughts, a miracle that wouldn’t come again.


Even though Baek Seong-an knew that better than anyone, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was holding his teammates back.

‘…I don’t have to stay as a player, right? I could make it through the second league myself, but anything above that would be tough. I could find a proper player later and step back as a coach then—’

At the moment Baek Seong-an’s thoughts spiraled into that conclusion.

“Are you busy?”

A very familiar voice echoed in his ears.


It was Kim Ji-hoon, the supporter from OLZ.

“Uh, no? What’s up? Did you get up already?”

It was 5 AM.


A bit early to be up.

“I need to talk to you.”

“…Me?”

Baek Seong-an felt a strange sense of foreboding.


Be that as it may, Kim Ji-hoon spoke.

“Let’s go somewhere.”