[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return – Chapter 86

Coach Park Tae-Hyung protested.

“…Even if the contract is like that, suddenly calling up the first team? A starter?”

“It’s already been decided.”

“By who?”

“Me, and the director and the representative. Plus, the entire front office.”

At this point, there was nothing Coach Park Tae-Hyung could do.

“…I haven’t agreed yet. The players are supposed to be left to me.”

“Why? You always say you’re good, so what’s the problem? Pros speak with their skills, right? Isn’t that what you always say?”

They’re just promoting him to starter because of that?

What a ridiculous thing to say. Director Choi Tae-Dal doesn’t even know how good Outlaw really is.

“……”

But even though Coach Park Tae-Hyung clearly knew what Director Choi Tae-Dal’s purpose was, he couldn’t go against him openly.

There was no justification for it.

Thus, all he could muster were weak and flimsy protests.

The competency Coach Park referred to regarding Outlaw was merely “he’s good,” but in reality, Outlaw’s performance had surpassed that notion entirely.

Even if Director Choi Tae-Dal didn’t know that fact right now, it couldn’t change the obvious reality.

“…Certainly, I did say that, but we still need more verification. There are practical issues like the training camp coming up.”

“And what have you done until now?”

“…For now, it’s been a commuting arrangement.”

“Well, you can keep doing that moving forward.”

Like an old raccoon.

Director Choi Tae-Dal didn’t end up in that position by accident. His in-game insight regarding Legends of League might not be top-notch, but his political acumen as a coach was quite impressive.

However, the issue of whether that skill was used effectively or its direction was a completely different matter.

‘Damn it.’

In other words, the direction in which Director Choi Tae-Dal poured his talents was exactly the kind that Coach Park Tae-Hyung despised.

“Taehyung.”

Director Choi Tae-Dal lit a cigarette.

While smoking indoors was banned, no one would dare tell Director Choi Tae-Dal, who ruled like a king within the dormitory.

“…Yes.”

“Do you know why our team isn’t popular?”

“Isn’t it because our results aren’t good─”

“No.”

Immediately cutting off Coach Park Tae-Hyung’s words, Director Choi Tae-Dal smiled grimly.

“Because we don’t have a star.”

Franchise star.

One of the critical components that make up a sports team and, in many ways, can be viewed as the team’s symbol – an exceptionally talented athlete.

Unfortunately, YSG currently lacked such a franchise star.

Of course, YSG’s history isn’t that short, so there have been players with the potential to become franchise stars up until now.

The problem was that all those players had transferred to other teams before they could accrue a certain amount of experience.

‘Who do you think is to blame for that?’

Admittedly, this was before Coach Park Tae-Hyung had joined the team, but Director Choi Tae-Dal’s management was notorious among both the players and fans.

“You saw it yourself, right? Yujin, she has the potential to become a star.”

The first female professional gamer in the domestic league.

And not just any female gamer, she possessed looks that could make entertainers look ordinary.

The buzz that fact could create is unimaginable.

Moreover, if she also has skill, as Coach Park Tae-Hyung suggested?

YSG could potentially produce a unique star surpassing even the best stars in Legends of League history like Rainbow or MobyDick.

“…The existing players are going to revolt.”

Coach Park Tae-Hyung knew that.

Outlaw, given enough time, would not only rise to the first team but could also capture a starting position.

But that should come after going through the right procedures and processes.

If Director Choi Tae-Dal were to hastily call up Outlaw to the first team and make him a starter right away, the already chaotic atmosphere within the team would worsen completely.

‘They’ll definitely think it’s unfair that they lost their starting positions due to appearance and star power.’

Even though the existing team members didn’t get along well, if something unjust like this happened, they would surely band together.

‘I doubt he’s actually calculating everything this much, but…’

While it’s natural for existing factions to unite when an enemy appears externally, Coach Park Tae-Hyung couldn’t figure out how far Director Choi Tae-Dal was seeing.

In some ways, he seemed like a greedy snake, while in others, he was utterly inscrutable.

“What’s the problem?”

While Coach Park Tae-Hyung’s head was getting more cluttered with various thoughts, Director Choi Tae-Dal merely chuckled and stubbed out his cigarette.

“If you see it clearly, you’ll prove it with your skills. I believe in your judgment. Haven’t I always?”

That’s damn annoying yet oddly reassuring.

“……I’ll take my leave for now.”

“Okay. Handle the contract.”

“Yes.”

A coach that doesn’t even participate in contract discussions… It really made one wonder if he was actually a coach, but unfortunately, Director Choi Tae-Dal was exceptionally skilled at preserving his position.

It was more than likely that Coach Park Tae-Hyung would be dismissed or leave before it ever happened to Director Choi Tae-Dal.

‘…This is giving me a headache.’

I desperately thought of the cigarette I had put down.

*

Day six of the entry test.

As usual, Coach Park Tae-Hyung suddenly showed up in front of me at the dormitory.

“Is it about the contract?”

“Yeah. You passed the test. Well, you probably had an inkling about it. Haha.”

Setting aside Coach Park Tae-Hyung’s somewhat awkward smile, I felt that what I had long awaited had finally come.

My win rate during the entry test was 100%.

Since I had literally swept through every match, I couldn’t have been disqualified from the entry test.

“Here’s the contract. Should I explain it once?”

“Um… sure.”

Something felt off.

Even though this was something I had desperately wished for, I wasn’t as happy as I thought I’d be.

Was it merely a feeling?

Or perhaps…?

“First of all, the player referred to in the contract is obviously you, and the company is the team on the side. It’s not really significant, it’s just for convenience, so keep that in mind.”

“Ah, got it.”

“All right, the important part is your salary, which is a bit above-standard at 65 million won, and it’ll be deposited monthly. Also, there’s the important part, which is a separate performance bonus based on results. Look here.”

Having received so many offers worth billions in the past, it may have been reasonable, but it still didn’t draw me to the amount.

“Okay.”

“The contract period initially is one year, and if you want, it can be extended for up to three more years, with the right to request renewal every year based on your performance. This means you can negotiate your salary every year at year-end depending on how you perform. Well, if you mess up, it might not increase, though.”

“Haha…”

At first glance, the contract didn’t seem particularly bad for me.

But I knew all too well that I was not very knowledgeable about how the world works, and more importantly, I didn’t forget my mother’s warning.

“Any other questions?”

“Um… Can I take this contract home? I’m not really sure about this side of things.”

“Of course you should. Show it to your parents and think it over carefully before telling me.”

I half-expected him to say no, but surprisingly, Coach Park Tae-Hyung nodded obediently.

“Yes.”

“Okay, then head home for today. You’ll need time to think.”

“Yes. I’ll discuss it with my parents and let you know.”

“Great. Be careful getting home.”

And so, my entry test for YSG finished without needing to fill the entire week.

‘Did I… do it?’

My long-desired pro debut was so close you could almost touch it, but instead of happiness, I merely felt a bit dazed.

‘Let’s just go home.’

First, I’ll show the contract to my parents, and then think about the rest afterward.

I began to walk.

*

Coach Park Tae-Hyung felt very strange handing the contract to Outlaw.

He hoped Outlaw would sign it without hesitation.

At the same time, he also hoped he wouldn’t.

Not for any other reason.

‘…Outlaw deserves better than to merely play the idol role on this team.’

Day six of the testing.

During those six days, Outlaw not only achieved victory in internal scrims but also reached grandmaster tier in solo rank.

Of course, it was only a matter of time before he hit that tier since he was already an excellent player, but it also meant one additional thing.

It was about time he should receive serious offers from other teams.

‘If Outlaw’s here…’

Coach Park Tae-Hyung might just be able to step on the stage of the Red Cup, a stage he had only set foot on once during his active years.

Even now, thinking back to that day made Coach Park feel like a pro once again.

‘But, it’s such a waste.’

To Coach Park Tae-Hyung, Outlaw could certainly aim for the championship if he went to another team.

How could such talent spend their peak years playing the big brother or sister role on a team like YSG?

‘…It’s maddening.’

In a way, he wished Outlaw would choose not to sign the contract.

Then, he wouldn’t have to ponder such moral dilemmas from the start.

Pragmatism or conscience.

“Ha… I really want a cigarette.”

Caught in a situation where he could neither do this nor that, Coach Park Tae-Hyung eventually lit up a cigarette again.

*

“Did you get home?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

Director Choi Tae-Dal smiled contentedly as he inhaled smoke when he heard this from Coach Baek Soo-Ho, another coach at YSG.

After all, even if he took the contract home, it was just an ordinary contract with nothing special about it.

There were no hidden toxic clauses like before, and even if there were, it would be hard for a commoner to feel any discomfort.

‘The salary is actually 500 more than other rookie players.’

Director Choi Tae-Dal wasn’t losing his composure.

It was almost natural to think like this.

For an amateur gamer, turning pro was literally a dream come true.

No amateur would easily reject the chance given by a professional team to make that dream a reality.

It must have been that way…

‘What’s going on? Why is there still no news?’

Three days had already passed since Outlaw took the contract home.

If she needed time to review it, she should have done so by now.

Yet for some reason, under no circumstances was there any contact from Outlaw.

‘No way did she go to another team, did she?’

Park Tae-Hyung, that incompetent fool! What has he been doing while she shifted her attention to other teams?!

Director Choi Tae-Dal rushed to find Coach Park Tae-Hyung.

“Park Tae-Hyung! Where’s Yujin’s contract?”

“…Not yet.”

“Still no signature? What have you been doing? If another team snatches her up—”

“She said the player needs more time to review…”

“Hey! Are you defying me? Are you doing this on purpose?!”

“…No, it’s just that the player is asking for time to think.”

“Forget it. I’ll contact her directly.”

At that moment:

-Beeep!

Coach Park Tae-Hyung’s smartphone buzzed.

“Who is it?”

“…It’s Outlaw, Yujin.”

Finally, the flustered face of Director Choi Tae-Dal, who had been scolding Coach Park Tae-Hyung, began to relax.

“Ha… Of course. There’s no way she wouldn’t sign the contract and give us the slip. So when is she going to come sign?”

Unlike Director Choi Tae-Dal, who sighed with relief and lit another cigarette, Coach Park Tae-Hyung’s expression was oddly strange.

“She… said she can’t sign.”

“…What?! Why?!”

Director Choi Tae-Dal’s voice rose unexpectedly at the unexpected response.

“I… don’t know how to explain this…”

Coach Park Tae-Hyung’s expression was bizarre.

He seemed torn, at one moment painful and at another trying to suppress laughter.

As if he were teasing himself, Director Choi Tae-Dal’s face turned exactly the shade of red once more.

“Spit it out already!”

“She said her mom told her not to.”

“……What?”

The cigarette that Director Choi Tae-Dal had in his mouth dropped to the floor.