[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return – Chapter 94

A week has passed.

During that time, under Coach Park Tae-Hyung’s leadership, DieHard and I took turns participating in scrims.

14 wins, 0 losses.


3 wins, 9 losses.

Those were the scrim records for DieHard and me, respectively.

“Carry machine King Outlaw!”


“Wow, we would’ve lost right there if noona didn’t steal Baron. What was that judgment?”

Of course, I couldn’t hold my head up high every time my teammates said things like that.

How on earth could they say such embarrassing things? Is it something you can only do when you’re young? Is that… youth?

“… knock it off.”

The team atmosphere had split into two.


To be precise, it was fair to say that DieHard, our previous main jungler, was slowly becoming isolated.

“Woojin, have you had lunch?”


“…I’ll eat separately. You go ahead.”


“Really? Alright.”

The good-natured mid player, Go Go Sing, seemed to be taking care of DieHard fairly well, but you just couldn’t go against the flow.

Coach Park Tae-Hyung was also unable to intervene in this matter.


I suppose he didn’t want to throw cold water on the team mood that was finally improving.

Given the situation, various conversations naturally began to arise within the team.

“I feel like we would’ve won this game if noona was here…”


“Ah, is noona the starting member from the second round?”


“Hey, why say something like that?”

In the week, Y So Games had recorded 1 win and 1 loss.


Yet, I was participating in scrims more than DieHard, who was currently a starter, and there was a significant difference in scrim records. It wasn’t surprising that the players were having such thoughts.

And… it was indeed true.

While my position as a starter was already decided internally, DieHard and the other players had no way of knowing that fact.

“……”

Every time it happened, DieHard subtly excused himself or pretended not to hear, focusing on his own game.

Problems regarding a starting position are incredibly sensitive topics for a pro.


In reality, there are countless professionals who entered good teams but fell out of the fierce competition within, missing their prime as a result.

There’s a stark difference between pros who are playing in matches and those who aren’t.


The pros who compete always have to prove themselves.


Thus, even if their current contract with a team ends, as long as they’ve demonstrated their skills, they can demand a renewal or receive offers from other teams.

But what about those who cannot?


Teams that are unaware of YSG’s internal affairs will think that DieHard is simply a pro who lost out in the starter competition of a second-rate team like YSG.

In some ways, he might be in a worse position than a rookie debuting anew.


Because of that, it’s possible DieHard might not continue his pro career in the domestic league.


And among pros, there are many who would rather choose retirement than face the unfamiliar life overseas.

DieHard now stood at a critical juncture as a professional gamer.

‘…let’s not think about it.’

Up until then, I had tried my best to ignore this fact.


Pros prove themselves through their skills and performance, and yet, for some reason, it started to weigh on me.

I felt nauseous after eating, and the back of my head bothered me throughout the game.

‘What is this?’


At first, I didn’t know the reason.


Just thought it was a matter of my mood or that I wasn’t feeling well.

‘Um… something feels off…’


It didn’t take me long to realize what the cause was.

“Hik!”


While playing solo rank, I suddenly turned to see DieHard staring at me, and our eyes met.

‘Ah…’


That’s when I understood.


What I had been feeling—a damp, uncomfortable sensation.

From that day on, I could feel eyes on me, even when I was still.


Not just ordinary gazes, but clear resentment and hostility.

‘What on earth am I doing that disgusts them so much?’

At first, I tried hard to ignore it.


But unfortunately, I couldn’t afford to be that oblivious to the intense hostility directed at me.

‘… um?’


What is this? What’s happening?


Why can’t I breathe…

“Ha, ha…”


My chest felt suffocated.


It was hard to breathe.


It felt like something was weighing me down.

Deep breaths, deep breaths.


“Ha, hu, ha…”

I realized.


I had never faced someone else’s blatant hostility in my life.


Of course, in Legends of League, a game where even perfectly well-off parents can get shunned, I had my immunity to curses and insults.


But the problem was that I had no real experience of the hostility I faced in reality.

‘…I’m really weak.’

I was pampered too much.


If someone had lived an ordinary life, experiencing jealousy or dislike from others wouldn’t have been hard to come by.


After all, in life, there are bound to be people who dislike you for no reason at all.

But that had never happened to me.

“Yujin.”


“What do you want to do?”


“Where do you want to go?”

Excessive overprotection.


But it was the protection I needed.

Plus, the gazes directed at me were usually more filled with pity or sympathy than hostility.

“Poor thing…”


“Tsk, tsk, it’s a shame for such a young kid.”

That’s how I grew up.


If there’s anyone who embodies the saying of being a flower grown in a greenhouse, it’s me.

I was weak.


Weakness led to consideration and protection.

But now I’ve stepped into the real world that no longer considers or protects me.


No, instead, I had become a ruthless predator stealing from others.

Whether I intended it or not, it wasn’t particularly important.


What mattered was that others felt that way.

“Ha.”

Of course, it’s a lie to say I’m not resentful about this hostility.


What did I do wrong?


Is it wrong for a pro to prove themselves through skill?


Why do they glare at me like that?


Are their eyes not working? Just…

“Ha…”

Finally composing myself, I suddenly felt a wave of nihilism.


What am I doing here?


Is this what I wanted as a pro?


Or have I been living in a rosy dream until now, facing reality for the first time?

‘…damn it.’


“Ah.”

I felt genuine irritation rising within me and flinched.


‘What am I doing here?’

I came back to YSG solely to gain certainty about my doubts.


But what is this sight before me?

“……”

Is it right for me to be in this team?


I still didn’t know the answer, but my anxiety gradually intensified.


I didn’t think this decision would take long.

*

Coach Park Tae-Hyung couldn’t believe his ears.


He went to check what scheme Director Choi Tae-Dal was plotting, expecting something outrageous, but he was greeted with news beyond his imagination.

“…an advertisement?”


“Yeah, while we’re at it, let’s shoot a few promotional videos for us too. Do you have any idea how hard the director and the manager worked to secure this?”

The information Director Choi Tae-Dal conveyed was straightforward.


Advertisements and promotional videos for the team.


It was a clear signal to start generating revenue using Outlaw.

“…Director, no matter how you put it, this isn’t right. Have you forgotten the contract? What if Outlaw breaks the contract and just leaves?”


Having mixed feelings about Outlaw, Coach Park Tae-Hyung wanted to hold onto him at least until he could.

In fact, Outlaw had been leading the team to victory whenever he appeared, regardless of scrimming against SCV or other teams.


‘The atmosphere has improved, and we’ve even snagged a win in an actual match.’


It would be unfair for DieHard, the one who secured that victory.

“Taehyung, you’re speaking out of ignorance. Do you know how much incentive the players will get from this ad? It’s almost half of your salary. Just a little over an hour of shooting, and they get that much. Have you ever seen someone turn down money?”


“…yes?”


Wait, is it really that much?


For an ad featuring a rookie?

Coach Park Tae-Hyung didn’t want to accept it, but when it came to money, Director Choi Tae-Dal, along with the manager and representative, showed remarkable skills and instincts.

And with the actual value Outlaw provided, he couldn’t voice any objections.

“So stop with the objections.”


Director Choi Tae-Dal added with a smile.


“Girls around that age? They’re all the same. Dreaming of a glamorous life like a celebrity. To them, gaming isn’t an end, it’s a means to an end. They want to debut as pros and gain some popularity to live like celebrities.”


Coach Park Tae-Hyung directly contradicted Director Choi Tae-Dal’s stark words.


“…That can’t be true.”


Though not for long, he had been observing Outlaw.

Outlaw’s approach to the game.


Outlaw’s passion.


Outlaw’s overwhelming skill.

Could a gamer with that level of skill and understanding use the game as nothing more than a means?


No, that couldn’t be.

That was nonsense.


Of course, maybe Director Choi Tae-Dal was right.


If Outlaw was just using gaming as a means and his skill came about from natural talent rather than effort, then yes.

Genius does exist, after all.

But,


Could everything Outlaw achieved really be explained by mere genius?


Coach Park Tae-Hyung was negative about that.

“Really? We think differently. Either way, this isn’t a bad scenario for him at all. Do you know how rare this opportunity is for a rookie who hasn’t even played a match yet?”


“Of course, it’s non-existent.”


But that changes when you consider Outlaw’s unique situation.

“…But what if Outlaw doesn’t want to do it?”


“Well, we can’t force it due to contract obligations. If they really wanted to breach the contract, big trouble would ensue. But persuading him is your job, right?”


…And they’re just passing the buck again.

“Why? Are you not confident? Should I get someone else?”


“…I’ll do it.”


If he left it to another coach or front staff, he could hardly imagine what option they would choose. So, Coach Park Tae-Hyung took it upon himself to be the villain.

He could already guess their methods.


“The team is facing challenges. Please help us just this once. If you don’t, it will be hard to continue with contracts with other players next year.”


Using the team and teammates as hostages, they would employ shameful methods that couldn’t be refused.

“I believe you’ll do well.”


Director Choi Tae-Dal patted Coach Park Tae-Hyung’s shoulder, and he felt chills run down his spine.

“…I’ll be going now.”


“Sure.”

As Coach Park Tae-Hyung exited the director’s office and ascended to the rooftop again, he pondered.


“Will he really agree?”


Still, Coach Park Tae-Hyung held lingering doubts, but the truth was he couldn’t know for sure.


After all, Director Choi Tae-Dal and the manager were surprisingly effective in aligning with their goals.

‘Why not focus solely on celebrity management? Why are they bustling around here…?’


As Coach Park Tae-Hyung inwardly cursed Director Choi Tae-Dal and the team’s upper management, someone approached him.

“Coach.”


“Ah, Yujin. What’s up?”


It was Outlaw.

“I have something to tell you.”


Outlaw’s lips began to slowly move, and Coach Park Tae-Hyung’s expression slowly hardened.