[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return – Chapter 347

Ryu Jin-hyuk tried hard to erase the phrase from his mind.

But for some reason.

Every time he saw Outlaw’s play during scrims, he strangely saw the image of Prisoner overlapping.

That champion, that skill shot.

Every single play.

‘…It can’t be.’

Ryu Jin-hyuk shook his head vigorously, trying to focus on the game, but it just wasn’t working.

[“Can you take a look over here?”]

“…Uh, I’ll go.”

[“Ah, oh no. I messed up. Sorry.”]

Is that why?

The game wasn’t going as well as he thought.

The opponent was OLZ.

Even though they were a team that had reigned as a king in the second division of Challengers Korea, all the teams that had been promoted so far were the same.

Therefore, it was widely evaluated that they were not the opponent of SY, the finalist in the Red Cup, but for some reason, SY’s champions couldn’t keep up.

It wasn’t simply that Ryu Jin-hyuk was off his game today.

OLZ was also not playing normally.

[“The opponent’s jungle is coming in.”]

[“The tempo is extremely fast, right?”]

[“What the heck is this.”]

OLZ’s movements were precise.

One would doubt whether they were even one body, so there was no need to explain how OLZ moved.

In an instant, they lost the first set, and SY’s players couldn’t hide their astonishment as they went into feedback.

“…They’re good.”

“Yeah.”

“I feel like we can’t let our guard down. Treat this like GRS, and take it seriously.”

“Understood.”

“Yes.”

The main feedback exchanged was that it wouldn’t do to let their guard down against OLZ.

The coaching staff also acknowledged that OLZ was a strong team and demanded seriousness in the scrim.

Yeah, losing the first set was purely due to carelessness.

It must have been that way…

[“Are they coming in at this timing?”]

[“They’re countering…”]

[“I think we need to pay attention over here. It looks like we’re about to be dived.”]

[“I’m going, but I’m a bit late.”]

[“Ah, that’s too bad. So close.”]

[“This is how it turns out.”]

Of course, SY also didn’t fail to launch sharp counterattacks in between.

However, every time they did, they had to concede to OLZ’s sharp counterattacks instead.

– Our ally has been taken down!

– Enemy, double kill!

They lost the first and second sets consecutively.

And after a fierce battle where they finally used the banned picks they had been saving up, they barely managed to win the first set in the third set, only to lose in the last fourth set in a hollow way.

“…Those guys are really good.”

“This time it feels different for real.”

It was always said that teams that had just been promoted from Challengers Korea were different this time.

However, every time they encountered a brutal initiation ceremony and got to taste the harshness of the first division, this time felt different in some way.

OLZ was genuinely strong.

On the other hand, SY was a bit off from their usual state.

It’s not that they were particularly bad.

It was just that the one who always led the team and carried wasn’t doing it today.

“Hyung Jin-hyuk, are you okay today?”

“…Uh, why?”

“I don’t know. You seem a bit spaced out since earlier.”

“I’m fine.”

Ryu Jin-hyuk tried hard to smile, but his mind was more complicated than ever.

‘Prisoner is alive?’

Of course, it could just be a simple joke from a fan.

But considering the process of how the note was passed and various other factors, the intensity of the joke was just too strong.

‘Prisoner…’

Ryu Jin-hyuk couldn’t understand why he froze up every time the story of Prisoner came up.

He simply thought it was guilt and remorse.

‘And then, Outlaw.’

He had known for a long time that Outlaw’s play resembled Prisoner’s.

But it couldn’t be, it just couldn’t, so he had been ignoring it while watching.

However, from this point, Ryu Jin-hyuk became unable to find the answer.

‘If Prisoner is alive…’

Then Outlaw is Prisoner?

No, could it just be a coincidence?

‘Logically, there’s no possibility they’re the same person… but…’

Why?

Ryu Jin-hyuk couldn’t shake off the strange feeling existing between Outlaw and Prisoner.

‘What the heck is going on…’

Amidst his complicated feelings, the time to the Red Cup finals kept approaching.

*

After the scrim against SY.

We had helped SY with scrims a few more times.

And we won all of those scrims.

“I’ve finally figured it out.”

“What?”

“SY isn’t weak.”

“What nonsense are you trying to say now… just give it a shot.”

Kim Jae-min said proudly.

“We’re really strong. Next year, the Red Cup championship is ours, right?”

“Absolutely.”

Baek Seong-an, who was chuckling nearby, chimed in.

Even upon looking again, those two really had an oddly good chemistry.

“Enough jokes, but if this continues, isn’t SY really going to lose?”

The words sounded like a ‘what if’, but at this rate, SY’s loss seemed imminent.

SY’s form had dropped significantly, while GRS showed a gruesome form in their previous match.

“We won’t know until we try.”

“True.”

Kim Jae-min and Baek Seong-an were bantering back and forth again.

“At this rate, it’s dangerous, meaning it’s serious.”

“Hm. I concede that.”

“That’s true.”

Baek Seong-an said.

“But Yujin, why are you worrying so much about that? I mean, I don’t want the Korean team to lose either, but is it necessary to care that much?”

“Well, that’s true, but somehow, it feels like it’s bothering me.”

“Just remember, we need to prioritize our team. Even if SY loses, we can repay them next year.”

Kim Jae-min interjected.

“What? Are we really aiming for the Red Cup?”

Baek Seong-an replied to Kim Jae-min with wide eyes.

“Well, would you not want to go?”

“No, I mean… going would be nice, but is it really that easy to just say?”

“We’re going, man.”

While Kim Jae-min and Baek Seong-an chatted about trivial things, I reflected on the scrim against SY.

I wasn’t mistaken.

SY, especially Rainbow’s condition, was distinctly different from usual.

‘If this continues…’

SY will lose.

Not just lose, but devastatingly.

Of course, Baek Seong-an’s statement wasn’t wrong.

It would be disappointing if SY lost, but intervening this much about it wasn’t right.

Our team’s goal was to do well in the upcoming season and get to the Red Cup.

It meant minding our own business.

‘But still…’

I don’t really know why I’m feeling this way.

It could be a sense of responsibility as a team that scrimmed against SY, or simply a supportive feeling as a fan of the Korean team.

I had no answer, but one thing was certain: I didn’t want to see SY lose.

‘Let’s give feedback from SY’s perspective. Then I might understand the cause.’

Just then, while I was troubled with this and that in my head.

Baek Seong-an ran over urgently.

“Yujin!”

“Yeah?”

“Rainbow is asking to switch the phone for a second!”

“Really? Who?”

“Rainbow! The one we played against!”

What’s this all about?

Why suddenly ask for me to switch the call?

“…Alright, I got it.”

“Here.”

I received the smartphone with a slightly trembling hand.

“…Hello?”

[“Hello. This is Rainbow Ryu Jin-hyuk.”]

“Ah, yes. This is Outlaw Yujin.”

When the opponent introduced themselves like that, I felt like I had to introduce myself too, so I did the same.

[“Sorry for contacting you out of the blue. I have something I’d like to ask.”]

“Sure, go ahead.”

Why is this person suddenly acting like this?

What are they going to say?

[“Do you by any chance know about Prisoner?”]

It was a question that I felt like I had heard before.

So my answer was the same as before.

“Yes, I know.”

[“You don’t personally know him, do you?”]

“No. Prisoner is quite famous, after all.”

[“…Ah, I see.”]

A brief silence.

After that silence, Rainbow spoke up.

[“But if you happen to know anything about Prisoner, please let me know.”]

For some reason, I felt a sense of urgency in that voice.

“I…”

For some reason.

I just needed to say it plainly.

I know nothing about Prisoner; I just know him because he’s famous.

Yet for some reason, my lips wouldn’t move.

As if I shouldn’t lie in this situation.

“I…”

I don’t know about Prisoner.

I just needed to say that.

But I couldn’t say it easily.

“…I’m sorry. I don’t know.”

I don’t know.

What I should say here, and what I should do.

[“Ah… Yes. Sorry for the sudden contact.”]

“…It’s fine.”

[“Then I’ll see you at the next scrim.”]

“Ah, yes.”

That was the end of the call.

“What did Rainbow say?”

By now, Baek Seong-an and Kim Jae-min were looking at me with wide, interested eyes.

“…Not much.”

“Did they confess their love or something?”

“What? Don’t say such things. That could cause trouble.”

“Then what was it?”

In response to Baek Seong-an’s question, I spoke lightly.

“Just… old stories.”

*

Still unable to hide my unease, time flowed quickly.

『“The long-awaited day has come!”』

『“I’m sure fans all around the world have been eagerly waiting for this day!”』

The Red Cup finals.

Finally, that day was approaching.