[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return – Chapter 379

“At the start, it looked like the North American team’s bot lane was crashing down, and it seemed like the game might just fall apart… but Euphoria’s Jax managed to grow well and tried to lead the game, but ultimately, it didn’t work out.”

“No matter how strong Jax is against ADCs, we’re talking about Zeri with Yuumi here. Even the mighty Euphoria couldn’t help but collapse.”

“Hey! There’s two of them over there!”

It’s a painfully simple math logic.

The reason the bot has the highest carry potential is simply because there are two bot laners.

That sheer power from the bot lane washed over the game like a tidal wave, and even Euphoria, who was trying to carry the team, ended up getting swept away.

Anyway, as expected, the main event of the first day of the All-Star Event, the 5v5 showdown, concluded with Europe’s victory.

“That’s it for today’s schedule. So, what should we do now?”

In response to Kim Jae-min’s question, Baek Seong-an replied.

“How about heading to the dormitory first? Rest for those who want to rest, and those who want to wander around can do just that.”

“Let’s go.”

As we were getting ready to leave the waiting room, someone knocked on the door.

Knock knock-

“Come in.”

The one who walked in was none other than GuineaPig Yoo Sang-hyun.

“Oh, here you guys are. The staff said everyone would be here.”

“What brings you here…?”

Baek Seong-an asked, unable to hide his dubious tone, and Yoo Sang-hyun responded.

“I thought we could celebrate the end of the first day with a company dinner. Plus, we have the 5v5 showdown against the China team tomorrow, so I wanted to discuss that too.”

“A company dinner?”

Baek Seong-an’s gaze naturally shifted toward me, the OLZ team owner, jungler, and funder of this trip.

“What do you think? Since you and Yeon-woo are participating in the 5v5, I think it’s up to you two to decide.”

“Um… what about you, Yeon-woo?”

“I’ll just go with whatever my sister decides.”

Ah, so he’s passing the choice onto me.

“Uh…”

All eyes were suddenly on me.

The pressure almost made me hiccup, but I managed to hold it in and said, “…Yeah. Let’s do it.”

“Oh, good choice!”

Unfortunately for me, I had no backbone when it came to rejecting someone’s proposals or requests.

So, please don’t hand the choice over to me.

“Then let’s meet in front of the waiting room!”

“Okay!”

Yoo Sang-hyun left our team’s waiting room with a cheerful demeanor as if he already knew what was going on.

Feeling as though a storm had passed, Baek Seong-an said, “Then let’s head out too.”

“Ah, sure.”

Finally, the schedule for the first day of the All-Star Event was all wrapped up.

…Although, the biggest hurdle was still ahead of us.

*

As we headed to the waiting room, as Yoo Sang-hyun mentioned, players participating in the All-Star Event and team officials were waiting for us.

It was a massive gathering.

Since the All-Star Event consists of mixed teams, it seemed like the related personnel had increased significantly as well.

“…Are all of us going?”

Yoo Sang-hyun nodded as if it was obvious at my question.

“Of course. We’re on the same team.”

Sure, our team isn’t without its own members, but compared to that big crowd, we seemed rather minuscule.

“Then let’s go. I heard there’s a good Korean restaurant over there.”

“Korean restaurant?”

“Yeah. I thought it would be better for a big group to go there.”

“Oh, I see.”

Going to a high-end restaurant and making a ruckus wouldn’t suit the occasion.

Honestly, when it comes to a company dinner, gathering at a barbecue spot and chatting loudly feels like the right vibe.

“This way.”

And so, a seemingly large but also not-so-large procession continued.

As I glanced to the side, I saw the participating players in this All-Star Event.

Rainbow, BlackDog, GuineaPig.

Each one a franchise star representing their team, and recognized as superstars in Legends of League.

Even though it wasn’t an official tournament, I could hardly believe I was in the same place as them.

“…….”

A peculiar silence hung in the air as we walked side by side.

It felt even more pronounced since, aside from Yoo Sang-hyun, both Rainbow and BlackDog were quite taciturn.

“BlackDog hyung, if you don’t mind, could I get an autograph?”

It was Kim Jae-min who broke the silence.

“…Huh?”

“An autograph. Please.”

“Oh.”

BlackDog looked at the marker that Kim Jae-min presented.

“Where should I sign it…?”

“Right here on my back!”

“…Isn’t that permanent ink?”

“That’s fine!”

Reluctantly, BlackDog signed on Kim Jae-min’s back.

Naturally, since it was on his back, the autograph came out all crooked, but it seemed enough for Kim Jae-min.

“Thanks! I’m a fan!”

“…Thank you.”

I don’t think I ever heard Kim Jae-min was a fan of BlackDog…

But it seemed like meeting one of the world’s best ADCs was too good of an opportunity to pass up.

I wonder if he might even sell that T-shirt later on.

If it’s Kim Jae-min, I could totally see him doing that.

“Outlaw-hyung.”

Just then, someone called my name.

It was GuineaPig Yoo Sang-hyun.

“Yes?”

“I’d like an autograph too.”

“…Huh?”

“Please sign on my back too.”

Taking the marker from Kim Jae-min as if it was his turn, Yoo Sang-hyun handed it over to me.

It looked like they had already coordinated this without me knowing, leaving me temporarily speechless as I accepted the marker.

Crooked lines.

The result wasn’t something I could confidently say looked good.

Honestly, I could hardly admit this was my autograph even if I wanted to.

“Thanks! Thank you! I’ll brag about this later!”

“Brag…?”

“It’s your autograph! Of course, I should show off! I bet Yoon-ki hyung would be super envious!”

At the mention of Yoon-ki’s name, I flinched involuntarily.

After all, given the countless times I had a rough time facing him in solo queue, it was a name that was hard for me to forget.

“Why?”

“…Nothing, just.”

“Oh, there it is.”

Finally, we arrived at the restaurant, which was a straight-up Korean BBQ joint, just as Yoo Sang-hyun mentioned.

It was so clearly a Korean place that even the sign had Korean characters, so no further explanation was needed.

“How many of you?”

The moment we walked in, the staff immediately recognized us and asked in Korean.

A person who looked like they were from SY got up to mention the number of people.

“I think the players can sit over there.”

“Oh, okay.”

The seating arrangement was simple.

The OLZ team members and All-Star participants sat at one table, while the remaining staff spread out at various seats.

By chance, I ended up sitting directly across from Rainbow.

“…….”

Amid a strange awkwardness, our savior Yoo Sang-hyun spoke up.

“Since we have a match tomorrow, it’s not great to drink alcohol, so let’s just keep it light with some beer.”

Baek Seong-an replied, “Beer is still alcohol, though.”

“Oh come on, beer isn’t alcohol. It’s a beverage. Just a beverage.”

Yoo Sang-hyun said confidently.

“Oh, for those who shouldn’t drink, opt for something else.”

“Then I’ll take cola.”

“I’ll have Diet Coke.”

Contrary to my fears, the company dinner turned out quite well.

Since the topics of conversation revolved around tomorrow’s showdown against China and the All-Star Event, there was no shortage of things to talk about.

Plus, since we gathered a bunch of die-hard gamers, naturally, conversations about games brought energy to the table.

“I guess going for a meme pick would be a bit too much, right? If we lose, it’ll be chaos.”

“We have to win. No matter what.”

“Then we’re left with the meta picks, right….”

BlackDog, who I thought was quiet, along with Baek Seong-an, began seriously discussing ban/pick strategies.

Kim Ji-hoon joined in, discussing bot lane compositions, throwing different ideas around.

“In the end, the trend seems to be leaning towards value fights, so I think utility supports would be better.”

“But if things go sideways early on, recovery becomes impossible. It’s actually easier to run a tank support from the start.”

“But if we go that route….”

While various discussions flowed, Rainbow turned to me and asked, “What do you think?”

“…Huh? About what?”

“About picking a supportive champion in mid or another lane, and then you taking a carry champion. I think that wouldn’t be too bad.”

Ah, that’s what we were talking about.

So many topics had come up during the conversation that it was hard to focus on just one.

Honestly… it feels a bit tough to breathe in a place with so many people.

“Well… I’m fine either way.”

Of course, it’s not common for junglers to be picking carry champions, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

Carries like Viego or Wukong have come up recently, and I was quite confident in those champions.

“Outlaw-hyung~”

Just then, Yoo Sang-hyun called my name.

Judging by the way he slurred his words, he seemed a bit tipsy.

…Didn’t he just say beer was a beverage?

“I’ve been wanting to ask you this for ages.”

“What is it?”

“What’s your relationship with Prisoner?”

“Pfft!”

The cola I had just swallowed exploded onto Ryu Jin-hyuk’s face.