[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return – Chapter 95

“Let’s just say there was no guarantee of the starting position in the contract. Please make the starting selection purely based on skill.”

“……What?”

What’s this all of a sudden?

Coach Park Tae-Hyung questioned his ears at Outlaw’s unexpected statement.

“…It’s already been decided. I can’t just change that on my own. It’s clearly beyond my authority.”

Coach Park said, but Outlaw was stubborn.

“Or else I’m leaving this team. Please listen to me.”

“…I’ll talk to the director first. Still, in the end, nothing will really change. You and Yujin already have a big gap in scrim results.”

“I don’t care. What’s important is that the process is fair.”

“Is it really that important?”

“Just do it, please.”

“…I’ll at least mention it.”

Coach Park couldn’t hide his confusion while speaking.

Regardless of any scenario, Outlaw likely already suspected that the outcome would be the same.

But still, why bring this up?

‘……Ah.’

As Coach Park pondered, he felt he understood why Outlaw said this.

‘In the end… has it come to this?’

The worrying situation he anticipated had finally occurred.

In the petty scheme set by the adults, young players were now exposing their teeth to each other.

Coach Park had also subconsciously sensed this fact, but he hadn’t expected Outlaw to care about it so much.

On the surface, she always appeared to shine.

‘Was she actually concerned?’

What Outlaw was worried about was obvious.

DieHard, Choi Woo-Jin.

The starting jungler of YSG.

‘…It’s only natural for Woo-Jin to feel wronged.’

When asked which line needed the most reinforcement in YSG, DieHard was the only player exempt from that question.

YSG’s ace.

The hope of YSG sinking into despair.

Therefore, if player replacements or reinforcements were to happen, it should have been in another line before the jungle.

However,

The player called up to the main roster was in the jungle.

And it was a monstrous rookie.

For DieHard, Outlaw’s presence was like an unexpected truck.

Out of nowhere, it barges in and abruptly crashes into you.

But what can be done?

The unfortunate genius, the unfortunate player.

Such players have appeared countless times in esports history.

Not to mention that DieHard was slightly lacking to deserve the label of an unfortunate genius, in Coach Park’s eyes.

Every professional gamer has a certain genius about them, but unfortunately, DieHard was not among the standout ones.

She did fairly well, but just that.

DieHard was that kind of player.

‘He was just unlucky.’

If DieHard had joined another team, he might have had a decent pro career and could have wrapped up somewhat successfully overseas in his later years.

But as the saying goes, he was just unlucky.

For both him and himself.

‘And Outlaw as well.’

After shaking off his thoughts for a moment, Coach Park spoke.

“I’ll grant your request on one condition.”

“What is it?”

“We’re doing an advertisement for our team now. We’re also shooting a promotional video alongside it. I’d like you to do that… is that okay?”

“An ad…?”

“Yeah. It’ll be beneficial for you too. The incentives are massive compared to the work. I hear it’s half my salary… isn’t that amazing?”

For such an amount, it would be a huge sum for someone just starting their career.

However, an unexpected answer came back.

“Do I have to do it?”

“Hmm… why?”

“Can I opt-out? I’m not really… into that kind of thing…”

Coach Park smiled wryly.

In some ways, Coach Park had a keen sense of people.

Outlaw’s passion for the game was genuine.

The problem was that it was currently manifesting in a not-so-great way.

‘I didn’t want to say this.’

Coach Park reluctantly forced the words out.

“Then I guess I can’t keep my promise to you.”

“…What?”

“The issue with your starting position is something far outside my authority. If it comes to that, I’d have to resign. At least resolving the ad or promotional video would give me something to discuss with the director. Do you understand what I mean?”

It was a lie.

This method was no different from the style of Director Choi Tae-Dal or front office staff that Coach Park despised.

However, it was necessary.

This was no better than a third-rate villain, but Coach Park had a self-deprecating thought that perhaps he had been like that from the start.

“Then… I’ll do it. Understood.”

“Good, you made a smart choice. As I said earlier, this isn’t going to be bad for you at all. Beyond the ad, if the promotional video does well, you’ll have a chance to become our team’s new star.”

Coach Park said as if justifying himself.

He needed to feel slightly at ease within his own heart.

“…Okay, I’ll take my leave now.”

“Sure. Thanks for your hard work today.”

Coach Park stared blankly at Outlaw as she bowed her head and left, then turned toward the director’s office.

—

The sound of camera shutters echoed repeatedly.

Bright lights and flashes from all directions hurt my eyes.

Ah, I just want to play games.

“Alright, let’s try to smile this time.”

Although I reluctantly agreed, filming the ad and promotional video was quite exhausting.

Wearing glamorous outfits I would have never dared to consider before, I also had to put on makeup, just like before.

“…Wow, you look like a fairy. Are you really Korean? Why do you speak Korean like that?”

“Why don’t we sign an exclusive contract? I can help you out big time.”

“Haha… I’m good, thanks.”

“What a shame.”

“Why not think about it again? If it’s you, Yujin, I’m sure you could definitely become a top star.”

“I prefer being a pro gamer more.”

Yes, I wanted to be a professional gamer.

I don’t even know if this is truly part of a professional gamer’s duties or not.

“This time, can you do a pose with your arms wide open while jumping?! Right, this should work well because the model is great! Haha!”

Haha, I feel like a clown.

Following the director’s instructions and moving awkwardly, my earlier doubts became more certain.

‘…I didn’t ask for fairness just to end up like this.’

What am I doing right now?

Did I join this team for this?

Certainly, the last week hadn’t been that bad.

I had been actively participating in scrims within the team and competing against real pro teams.

Each day was fulfilling and enjoyable.

Of course, there were some emotionally tough moments afterward, but I thought those were just part of living as a pro.

But what is this situation?

‘I know there are things that can’t be helped. But this…’

I’m being swayed by others’ animosities, filming an odd promotional video that I never wanted.

This is not it.

I’m not trying to become pro just for this kind of stuff.

‘Is this how all pro teams are?’

Would it be any different if I joined another team?

It would be different to some extent.

Although I’ve never experienced it firsthand, each team likely has various environments to offer.

‘But no matter how different they are… surely there won’t be completely no advertisement or video shoots.’

I slowly recalled my memories.

If I had received an offer from another team instead of YSG, would things have been different?

Yes, teams like SY or SCV, or even not quite as good but still major teams with corporate sponsorships.

‘…No matter where I go, I’d still have to do things I don’t want to do.’

Whatever those might be.

I want to become a pro.

I’ve been striving tirelessly for that.

‘Let’s hang in there a little longer.’

These trivial matters don’t even count as trials.

After all, since it’s the season, I need to return to the team schedule to play as a starter soon.

And….

Days passed.

Ads, ads, more ads…

In the meantime, I hardly participated in the team schedule, being dragged from one scene to another.

Finally, I approached Director Choi Tae-Dal adorned in a dress and flashy accessories.

“Director.”

“Oh, hey. Our Yujin. What’s up?”

“When can I return to the scrim schedule?”

“Hmm? Ah, you should be back soon. Filming is tough, right? Just hang in there a bit longer.”

At first, I trusted those words.

Surely, it won’t be long.

I should be back soon.

Two more days passed, and I sensed something was going wrong.

In the last week, I had only participated in three games within the team schedule.

In reality, I had hardly participated at all.

‘…This isn’t right.’

This is not the life of a professional gamer I’ve idealized.

I know this comes off as greed.

A true pro must inevitably engage in tasks they dislike, and these ad shoots or promotional video recordings are likely in the same vein for YSG.

‘But still…’

My prior doubts started to morph into certainty.

– Is this the place I’m meant to be?

Even if I joined another team, not much would change.

I would still feel someone’s animosity, would get hurt, and be swayed.

I don’t want that.

‘…Rather, I’d like to throw everything away and start from scratch.’

And so it was.

“How’s it going? It’s nothing special, is it? Just doing this and getting three thousand bucks… You made the right choice coming to our team, right?”

Director Choi Tae-Dal approached me with a friendly smile.

Crack—

I heard something snap in my mind.

“Ah.”

I get it now.

There was no need to worry from the start.

The answer had been set from the beginning.

As my long-held doubts finally transformed into certainty, I felt that further contemplation is rather futile.

The long deliberation reached its conclusion.

“…Excuse me, I need to go to the restroom.”

“Ah, yes, of course. Hey, director! Our player needs a break!”

Upon Director Choi Tae-Dal’s shout, the filming director nodded.

“Ah, yes. Let’s all take a short break!”

Throwing off my uncomfortable shoes, I headed not to the restroom but to a secluded staircase corridor.

I needed a place to be alone.

Holding my smartphone, I hesitated for a while before finally pressing the call button.

– Ring, ring.

The dialing tone rang.

During the wait, I went through my memories.

What I recalled was my younger sister.

““Daddy!””

My sister always used to sweetly call our father whenever she wanted something.

I don’t know if that worked or not, but in the end, she always got what she wanted.

Why did I think of my sister?

For pretty much the same reason.

I wanted something.

– Click.

With the familiar click, a familiar voice came through the smartphone.

[“Oh, Yujin.”]

It was my father.

“Dad.”

I cautiously uttered a title I’ve barely said a handful of times in my life.

I don’t know about others, but I strangely had no qualms calling my mother “Mom,” whereas I had hardly ever called my father “Dad.”

There wasn’t really a particular reason, it just happened that way.

[“…Oh, is that you, Yujin?”]

From the other end, my father’s voice was filled with surprise.

I can understand.

I also find it quite awkward.

“Yeah, it’s me.”

A moment of silence passed before my father’s voice came again.

[“Oh, okay. What’s up?”]

Now this part is crucial.

I took a breath, gathering myself, and slowly spoke.

“Can you lend me a billion won?”