[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return – Chapter 309

Thanks to the owner’s direct ban on alcohol, this gathering didn’t end up as disgraceful as the last one.

There wasn’t absolutely no alcohol at the table, but instead of overindulging like last time, we only drank a little to lighten the mood.

What a relief that was.

“Alright, starting today, everyone can go home for a week. Oh, but if you want to come to the dorm and practice, you can.”

“Whoa. Evil boss.”

“Should I just call it a vacation that never existed?”

“Be careful going home, sis!”

Kim Jae-min waved cheerfully, all smiles.

Anyway… he was the same as always.

“Anyway, you don’t have to practice at the dorm, so if you want to stay, it’s fine. Everyone just do as you please.”

“Sure.”

“Okay.”

Once the gathering ended, my teammates, including me, decided where to go.

“Are you going straight home, sis?”

“Yeah, that’s the plan. How about you, Yeon-woo?”

“I think I should go home too.”

“Alright, sounds good.”

Seo Yeon-woo said she was heading home.

“I also need to meet some friends for the first time in a while. I’ll catch up with old team members as well. See you in a week.”

Baek Seong-an was also leaning towards going home.

As everyone headed home, surprisingly, Kim Ji-hoon and Kim Jae-min were making their way to the dorm.

“Aren’t you guys going home?”

“I find the dorm more comfortable.”

“Me too.”

“Is that so? Well, I’ll tell the lady to get to work. You need to eat something.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Oh, good good.”

While Kim Ji-hoon preferred the place with a personal gym, it was a bit unexpected for Kim Jae-min to stay at the dorm too. Wasn’t he just the one complaining about the ‘evil boss’ earlier?

“Why are you staying, though?”

When I asked Kim Jae-min, he replied as if it was obvious.

“I’m going to practice.”

“You?”

“Yeah.”

“Hmm… Alright, do as you please.”

Considering how he normally acted, this was quite surprising.

“Well then, everyone, take care on your way back.”

“Yep.”

“See you.”

With that, we dispersed after today’s gathering.

A vacation we’d receive for the first time since starting the team.

A kind of reward for us after a long journey.

‘So…’

As I watched my teammates leave, I felt a strange sensation.

Someday, we’d part ways too.

Maybe it was because of the light drinking, but I felt inexplicably sentimental.

‘Silly thoughts.’

After all, we still have plenty of time before parting.

And above all, there’s no guarantee we’d have to part ways anyway.

I also started walking.

It was time to go home.

*

The next day arrived.

Perhaps because there was no pressure about going to work, I overslept for the first time in ages.

“Ugh…”

Looking at the time, it was nearly lunchtime.

If my lifestyle suddenly changes like this, the following week is going to be rough…

Even on the first day of vacation, seeing all that ahead made me think I wouldn’t be able to relax.

“Are you up? Isn’t today your day off?”

“Uh, yeah.”

Surprisingly, my mother was home.

She used to always go out at this time in the past… well, I didn’t mind.

“What about food?”

“Not really hungry right now.”

Maybe it was just because I had just woken up, but I really didn’t feel an appetite.

“Really? I’m about to leave, should I make something before I go?”

“Nah, I’ll just eat something if I get hungry. Maybe order delivery.”

“Alright then.”

Once a total hover parent, my mother didn’t react much anymore, even if I said I’d order takeout.

That’s because I had been healthy enough for a long time now.

‘Come to think of it… I haven’t even had minor ailments since becoming like this.’

Of course, it wasn’t like I hadn’t gotten sick in other ways, but those had become part of my daily life, so I didn’t really care much.

A lot of things had changed in various aspects.

‘Anyway, what should I do now…’

If it were any other day, I’d likely roll out of bed and go for a morning solo queue game, but for some reason, that didn’t sound appealing at the moment.

What can I say… it felt like I was working instead of enjoying my vacation?

It was a lethargic morning, no, more like a lunchtime mood.

‘Should I check out some community forums? …Nah.’

Even though our team had won yesterday, I didn’t really feel like doing that.

For some reason, the lethargy just continued.

‘Should I eat something first?’

With nothing to do even though my appetite had vanished, the thought of eating something came naturally.

I opened the delivery app and after pondering menus for quite a while, ended up choosing a hamburger.

The first time I had this, oh, how I was touched by its deliciousness…

[Please leave it in front of the house.]

Of course, delivery is all about no contact.

After about 30 minutes of waiting, the delivery finally arrived.

Fast food is indeed fast.

I munched on the hamburger while blankly staring at the TV that was playing something meaningless.

There wasn’t anything particularly special happening.

As I wasted time like that, before I knew it, it was already 5 PM.

At that moment, a message pinged.

[Baek Seong-an: They’re about to play soon.]

“Ah.”

Now that I think about it, it was the day of the losers’ bracket match.

I had been totally zoned out since our team’s match ended, forgetting about this crucial game.

Today’s match was between SS Class, ranked 10th in the first league, who lost on the first day of the qualifiers, and BLH, ranked 2nd in the second league.

Today, one of these teams would definitively get relegated to the second league, aka CKR, or fail to get promoted.

It was truly a guillotine match.

[Kim Jae-min: Super fun lol]

Looks like our team chat was also very interested in this losers’ bracket.

Having nothing else to do, I sat in front of my computer and started the match.

It wasn’t something I had to see, but there was no reason not to watch either.

Actually, if I had to point it out, there were more reasons to watch.

[Baek Seong-an: Who do you think will win today?]

[Baek Seong-an: Poll]

A poll was taking place within the team.

[Seo Yeon-woo: But I hope BLH wins.]

[Kim Ji-hoon: I’ve voted.]

[Kim Jae-min: Isn’t this SS Class?]

[Baek Seong-an: Silly Jaem-min, it’s obviously BLH.]

[Kim Jae-min: ? Are you okay?]

[Baek Seong-an: Come here.]

The results were 2:2.

Kim Ji-hoon and Kim Jae-min’s bottom duo picked SS Class, while Seo Yeon-woo and Baek Seong-an went for BLH.

‘Hmmm.’

Based on my past experiences competing against both teams, it was quite balanced.

Well, to be precise, while the power itself was slightly in favor of SS Class, who belongs to LCKR, it doesn’t mean BLH couldn’t win.

The outcome would depend on today’s condition and the strategies they prepared.

‘Above all… SS Class had lost consecutively and their momentum waned, while BLH came off a win from CKR.’

Momentum may not be visible, but it shouldn’t be overlooked.

After all, morale matters in war.

[Baek Seong-an: Yujin, what about you?]

I hesitated for a moment before replying.

[I: I’m abstaining.]

[Kim Jae-min: Boring.]

Though I said that, I actually had a team in mind, but I wasn’t confident enough to voice it.

‘Considering all circumstances… BLH has a slight advantage.’

And finally, the match was about to kick off.

『“The Nexus is being destroyed!”』


『“Gigi!”』

SS Class took the first set.

Just like a skirmish, both teams stuck to standard ban/pick while after a fierce game lasting over 45 minutes, the more seasoned SS Class claimed victory.

[Kim Jae-min: ^^]


[Baek Seong-an: ;;]

Naturally, Kim Jae-min’s smile didn’t last long.

In the second set, BLH immediately launched a counter-offensive.

[Baek Seong-an: lol Silly noob.]


[Kim Jae-min: SS is going to win, just watch.]

[Baek Seong-an: Next silly noob.]

Sets 3 and 4 were tightly contested, and before long, the situation reached 2:2.

[Baek Seong-an: This is going to the fifth set.]


[Kim Jae-min: For real.]


[Seo Yeon-woo: Both are doing well.]


[Kim Jae-min: Nah, we’re the bomb.]

Kim Jae-min was thorough in his guiding principles.

If only his abilities matched that level of thoroughness, that would be great.

Finally, the fifth set began.

The ultimate victor was about to be decided.

『“Ah! After a bloody battle, BLH takes down SS Class and advances to the finals!”』


『“Gigi!”』

Was it what we expected?

In the losers’ match between SS Class and BLH, SS Class was narrowly eliminated 2:3 after a full set.

So now, the final will be GBP against BLH.

[Baek Seong-an: lol So pathetic.]


[Kim Jae-min: No way they threw that. Honestly, I would have won this one.]

[Baek Seong-an: Nope.]


[Kim Jae-min: Ugh…]

Just like that, the first day of our vacation slipped by.