[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return – Chapter 93

The team’s atmosphere, previously shrouded in silence, lifted greatly thanks to our victory.

Or perhaps it was due to the opposing team’s mental collapse after losing the first game.

[Victory]

We secured another win in the next game with relative ease. It wasn’t the grueling 50-minute battle like the first game, but a much cleaner match wrapped up around the 30-minute mark.

“We won.”

Against SCV.

A stunning two-game sweep.

Of course, our side consisted entirely of professional gamers, so it wasn’t completely out of the question.

Yet, the fact that we triumphed against such a strong team as SCV in our monumental first scrim felt incredibly special to me.

“We…won.”

[Victory]

Though the words were right in front of me, I was still in disbelief.

Did I really just win?

Against the full roster of SCV?

The situation was infinitely different compared to when I had faced SY in a regular game. Back then, SY wasn’t in their main position and didn’t play seriously.

“Sis!”

At that moment, a shout from beside me made my shoulders jerk involuntarily.

“What’s going on? How are you so good!?”

The one causing the commotion was none other than Mid, GoGoSing Go Jung-Hwan.

“Uh… I got lucky.”

“Speak casually, sis. I’ll do the same!”

No, I really don’t want you to be casual…

As I diverted my gaze, other team members began to approach, looking timid.

“Uh… thanks for the carry.”

“What’s your main account score?”

“How did we win this?”

The tense silence that had hung over the team vanished as if it had never been there.

“I know everyone’s feeling good, but come on, let’s get back to work.”

With Coach Park Tae-Hyung’s words, everyone began to pull their chairs together. It was feedback time.

Using a laptop connected to a massive monitor for feedback, Coach Park sequentially brought up the match footage.

“You really got caught out early. There was no choice, but why did you exchange damage here?”

“…I thought I should apply pressure early since it was Jason and Oren.”

“But it didn’t go well, did it?”

“…Yeah.”

“Knowing your own skill is also a skill. While you did exchange damage strangely causing Oren to get snagged, that was mostly luck, you know?”

“Yeah.”

“Alright, and next…”

Watching the feedback session, I felt a strange sense of dissonance.

“Hmm, I’ve heard the feedback sessions for the first team were brutal… this isn’t bad at all. It’s pretty normal.”

Is it because we won?


I don’t know.


Good things are good, I guess.

…

“This decision here seemed risky… Who called for it?”

At Coach Park Tae-Hyung’s words, I flinched and quietly raised my hand.

“…Me.”

I was referring to the moment in the first game when I stole the Elder Dragon during the Baron exchange.

“…Really? But you played well. In hindsight, we won partially because of that moment. It was based on a gamble, right?”

“Well, sort of, but I would have done it anyway. As long as I avoided a few CCs from Juniya, I could’ve escaped. Even if I died, if I just stole the Elder, I could’ve held out until I respawned.”

“…So, you were absolutely confident you could steal it?”

“Well, either way, it was going to be a tough game if I didn’t.”

Coach Park Tae-Hyung looked momentarily dumbfounded before nodding.

“…Yeah, it was a good call. You need to know when to take risks when it’s unfavorable. Now, let’s continue with the feedback.”

After the first game feedback, we immediately jumped into the second game feedback.

“This time you handled the lanes well.”

“Yeah, the jungler helped a lot.”

“See, since you secured the lane, the other lanes can contribute too.”

“…Haha.”

“Alright, so next…”

Once all the feedback concluded, Coach Park Tae-Hyung turned to DieHard, who had been sitting in the corner.

“Alright, let’s have Woo-Jin step up now.”

YSG DieHard, the ace jungler of YSG.

“……”

DieHard’s expression, which had been watching the match and feedback from the corner, wasn’t exactly cheerful.

That was to be expected.


The jungler had historically been the ace alongside Mid in YSG.

But now, the new call-up was for a jungler rather than the top or bot where reinforcements were needed?

It was hardly going to make him feel good.

“I knew something felt off… so this is why.”

Even when I recognized the piercing gaze on the back of my head, it didn’t make me feel any better; it only added to my discomfort.

Pros speak through skill.


Meaning, becoming a professional effectively meant taking someone else’s spot.

“Of course, it’s only natural… but it still feels off.”

Especially considering that the very process of me becoming the main player isn’t quite as commendable, that feeling grew even more.

After a 30-minute break for feedback, the scrim against SCV began again.


This time, DieHard would play as YSG’s jungler.

And…

[Defeat]

A total obliteration.

Not just a loss; it was a total disaster.

“……”

The atmosphere in the team once again fell into a silence far more profound than the cheerful mood just before.

Each of us harbored grievances against one another, yet tried hard not to voice them.

“Don’t let it get you down, everyone. If this were a match, we’d already won at the point of the second set. Just think of it as a bonus game. For now, let’s focus on the crucial parts.”

After a brief feedback session led by Coach Park Tae-Hyung, the fourth scrim commenced.

And… the result didn’t change.

[Defeat]

24 minutes and 42 seconds.

Given that SCV is known for their slow tempo despite being a strong team, this was absolutely humiliating.

“Thanks for your hard work, everyone.”

In the scrim against SCV, every game where I played as the jungler resulted in victory, while the games where DieHard, the original ace, played ended in losses.

And the feedback for the 3rd and 4th games wasn’t led by Coach Park Tae-Hyung.

In reality, no matter how much Coach Park tried to mediate, he couldn’t stop the team members from running wild.

“Why the heck are you trying to dive here? This isn’t even a cannon wave, and ally backup is a lot slower!”

“Isn’t it because we’re getting stomped down there!?”

“Getting stomped? I heard the introductions. You’re a top who’s getting shooed away.”

Witnessing firsthand, the feedback session of YSG’s first team was worse than I had heard.

“…I can’t say I don’t understand.”

Legends of League is an incredibly stressful game.


No matter how close friends may be, losing consecutively can crack even the strongest of friendships.

But what if it’s not even friendship but business relations?

“Sigh.”

That they didn’t get to physically grab each other by the collar during the game felt like a miracle at that point.

As aggressive feedback volleyed back and forth, someone spoke up.

“When I played with my sister, we won…”

I couldn’t tell who spoke.


But the voice and message clearly reached everyone in the practice room.

“Oh.”

At that moment, DieHard’s expression hardened.


Other team members also cast glances at DieHard with apprehension.

No matter how hostile the language exchanged, there are things you should and shouldn’t say.


The earlier comment was definitely crossing the line.

“……”

To speak plainly, DieHard had performed his duties in all the games from 3rd to 4th.


Even when the team was losing, he made the best calls possible, striving to maintain a semblance of control as the jungler in a lost game.


He simply wasn’t exceptional.

“Hah….”

DieHard sighed deeply, then left the practice room.

“Woo-Jin! Wait a moment!”

Coach Park Tae-Hyung chased after DieHard, but he had already locked his door.

“…Hey, how can you say something like that?”

“It’s the truth. When I played with my sister, we won everything, but when I played with that guy, we lost everything.”

“No… even so…”

Returning late, Coach Park Tae-Hyung spoke with a bitter tone.

“…Everyone, let’s have individual practice. That’s it for today.”

Silence enveloped the practice room.


In this suffocating stillness, I sat dazed, staring blankly at the door.

“……”

For a while, I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the spot where DieHard had exited.

*

After witnessing the practice room descend into chaos, Park Tae-Hyung sought out Director Choi Tae-Dal.

“…Is this really what’s right?”

Selecting players for the scrim against SCV was Director Choi’s directive.


Coach Park didn’t come here without knowing what purpose Director Choi had in mind.

“What’s the problem? Pros talk through skill. They should be selected based on skill. Isn’t that something you’ve been mouthing off about constantly, Park Tae-Hyung? How many players have you chased off because of your stubbornness?”

“That’s…”

In reality, many players had been recommended by Director Choi but ended up being chased away by Coach Park.

“Star power, and a player you admire for their skills. What’s the reason not to make them a starter? Besides, that’s how the contracts were made.”

“…If that’s the case, then it would have made more sense if you had just said it was an unreasonable replacement. This is far too cowardly. If you just gave it a bit more time, we could’ve resolved everything nicely.”

Time.


What the hell was needed was that damned time.


To let Outlaw settle into the team and for even Team members, including DieHard, to purely acknowledge Outlaw’s skills.

But what’s happening now?

“Hey, Tae-Hyung. Didn’t I tell you? I trust you. I trust your judgment. That’s why I let you drive the players away. Look at things now. Everything is fine, right? I heard the news from this scrim. You took down SCV, right? With this strength, we should be able to reach the playoffs this time. No, we could even reach the finals!”

The words of Director Choi Tae-Dal, billowing cigarette smoke as he spoke, left Coach Park without a retort.

Is this method the right one?


No, it wouldn’t be honest to say it’s wrong either.


Perhaps DieHard, who was pushed aside by Outlaw, might intensely strive harder because of it.

But…

Is it really right to trample on the original ace, DieHard, just to avoid controversies when the results are already set?

What if Outlaw had lost and DieHard had won?

Sure, in that case, they would’ve had to reluctantly force Outlaw as the starter, but thankfully, that situation never arose.

According to Director Choi’s wishes, and as Coach Park saw, Outlaw’s abilities had no competition against DieHard.

“You’ve got nothing to say now, huh? Get out.”

“…Director!”

“I said get out.”

Under the threat from Director Choi, Coach Park had no choice but to drag himself out of the director’s office.

Taking the elevator up to the rooftop, Coach Park idly stroked the cigarette pack he had recently pulled out again.

‘There was no need for it to be done this way.’

Coach Park’s thoughts still lingered on the resentful gaze from DieHard.

That glare wasn’t aimed solely at Coach Park.


DieHard’s resentment was also directed toward Outlaw.

Why do adults set up a game, prompting young players to hate and envy one another?


Coach Park had no answer.

“Damn.”

Coach Park inhaled deeply, smoke filling his lungs.


He couldn’t distinguish whether it was cigarette smoke or regretful sighs escaping his lips.