[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return – Chapter 98

My room, my chair.

As I settled into the familiar warmth, memories of the past began to flash by one by one.

The starting point of those memories was when I received the invitation to the Y So Games entrance test.

I was truly overjoyed.

So much so that I headed straight to Y So Games without thinking twice.

Life at Y So Games wasn’t bad.

I had a few complaints about the environment, but each day was fulfilling.

Still, it just didn’t feel like the place for me.

So, I tried to leave Y So Games, but they held onto me with an amazing deal.

I thought it over.

No, I got greedy.

“Anytime I can leave, huh? Then I can just stack some experience and leave if it doesn’t work out, right?”

I admit it.

That was a really selfish thought.

I had been going on about wanting to be a pro every day, yet I was looking down on being a pro itself way too lightly.

“Anytime I can quit? How can that be for real in the pro scene?”

As a result, many people suffered because of my complacency and greed.

I have nothing to say.

If given the chance, I want to apologize to everyone who was affected by me.

“……Nah, let’s do it now.”

Seizing the moment, I sent a message to Director Choi Tae-Dal, Coach Park Tae-Hyung, and DieHard Choi Woo-jin.

[I’m sorry.]

This alone won’t erase the things that happened, but I hope it at least eases their hearts a little.

“Phew….”

Barely freeing myself from those memories, I slowly shifted my gaze to the monitor.

[ON AIR]

The red light indicating I was live.

Right, I was currently broadcasting.

It’s just that since there were no viewers, I was staring blankly into space.

[Viewer count: 0]

Well, it got to this point, but I didn’t actually plan on starting the broadcast without a thought.

I had been crafting this ‘plan’ in my head for a long time.

Internet broadcasting is a type of process.

My true goal is to found a new team.

“I’ll build recognition for Outlaw through broadcasting and promote team member recruitment at the same time.”

A professional esports team needs the support and encouragement of fans to sustain itself.

That’s the fundamental reason for the existence of pro esports teams.

Of course, the team I’m trying to build might differ in form a little, but that’s just a matter of detail; the basic goal doesn’t change much.

In short, I want to secure the fan base, the biggest support foundation for a pro team, through this broadcast.

Along with that, I also planned to recruit promising players I meet in solo queue during the stream.

“Well… to be honest, it might be tough. But I still have to give it a try.”

I have one month.

Even if I were given more time, I don’t plan to broadcast for any longer than that.

No matter how you slice it, my ultimate goal is to become a professional gamer.

The reason I insisted on a month with my father is also in that context.

A self-imposed limitation.

“I’m going to be a pro.”

Though I might take a detour because of various things I’ve been through lately, I will ultimately make it happen.

“It’s going to be difficult… but I’ll still give it my all.”

I’m tired of giving up without even trying.

And…….

An hour has gone by since I officially turned on the stream.

But for some reason.

[Viewer count: 0]

The viewers aren’t increasing.

Of course, being anxious won’t change anything, but I never thought it would be blocked from the very start like this.

“…….”

Could it be that I underestimated this as well?

“Yujin, a billion is a lot of money.”

“No, some people lose their lives because of money. You don’t know the fear of money well enough.”

“Ha… Yujin. A billion is a lot, but so is ten million. You think you can earn that in a month?”

My father’s words weigh heavily on my chest.

At this rate, I won’t even be able to earn a million, let alone ten million.

“…I didn’t see this coming.”

To be honest, I had an unfounded belief that I’d succeed easily when I started broadcasting.

But it was an illusion.

The broadcasting ecosystem isn’t as easy as I thought it would be.

“……Let’s just play some games.”

I thought that maybe I’m not getting viewers because I’m just sitting around doing nothing, so I left behind about an hour of waiting and queued up instead.

Of course, like always, it didn’t get picked up immediately.

“……”

As I alternated between staring at the broadcast screen and the game screen blankly, I soon found myself queued.

[Game found!]


[Accept / Decline]

No need to think, it’s an acceptance.

+

───────────────


Dayou TV 015745 joined the lobby.


BOQ Corporal joined the lobby.


Outlaw joined the lobby.


GTD GuGu joined the lobby.


3 Min Top School Honorary Member joined the lobby.


───────────────

+

“Hmm?”

Maybe it’s because I’m around that rank, but there were quite a few familiar usernames popping up.

Among them, the one that stood out as extremely familiar was 3 Min Top School Honorary Member.

‘……So this is where I meet that guy.’

3 Min Top School Honorary Member.

He’s one of the top laners who decorated my friend list back when I was a Prisoner, and we were pretty close amateurs.

Though his unique top lane devotion often led to games falling apart, in terms of both objectivity and subjectivity, 3 Min Top School Honorary Member was quite a skilled top laner.

‘It feels nice to see him like this.’

I’d love to greet him, but unfortunately, 3 Min Top School Honorary Member and I aren’t friends right now.

‘Well… knowing his personality, he could probably send a friend request right after this game ends.’

Should I accept it or not?

My rational side says not to, but for some reason, I have a strange feeling I won’t be able to refuse.

‘Anyway, let’s focus.’

Before I knew it, the bans were finished.

+

[Bans List]


Kamal / Lee Sin

Maokai / Ezreal

Shaku / Jiksoo

Ashe / Elise

Elise / Talon

+

We’re on the red team.

It’s the upper side and a last-pick.

[Nidalee]

The opponent’s first pick is Nidalee.

A jungler without inherent CC, so she’s a pick that depends on her combination, but it’s also a pick that can be picked with confidence.

‘Hmm….’

My allies in the 1st and 2nd picks in bot lane picked Kai’Sa and Leona.

[Kai’Sa]


[Leona]

Since it’s a first pick in bot lane, they brought in solid and good picks.

‘Not bad.’

[Aphelios]


[Thresh]

And finally, it was my turn.

‘So both bot laners have been picked.’

Since the opposing bot lane was picked later, one could argue they had a slight edge in the laning phase.

Aphelios can counter Kai’Sa while Thresh has some favorable matchups against Leona.

‘Then…’

Here, I have to step up in the jungle matchup for the picks to mean anything.

‘Alright, let’s do this.’

[Rek’Sai]

When it comes to the Nidalee and Rek’Sai matchup, technically speaking, Nidalee is a little favored.

That’s because of Rek’Sai’s inherent tankiness; if they meet, Nidalee can kite effectively.

Of course, that’s from the perspective of Rek’Sai, while from Nidalee’s viewpoint, Rek’Sai is a pretty scary opponent.

As long as she can measure distance on flat ground, she shouldn’t be too afraid. But if she gets surprised or makes a mistake in spacing, she could easily go down in one blow.

So fundamentally, while Nidalee is slightly favored, Rek’Sai still has a decent matchup.

‘Well… even so, I wouldn’t usually pick Rek’Sai against Nidalee…’

Especially since the other team has Thresh, who can counter Rek’Sai pretty well.

Still, the reason I picked Rek’Sai so eagerly?

The answer is simple.

‘That’s… if I don’t go top, he’s doomed.’

-3 Min Top School Honorary Member

I know that idiot’s play style too well.

“3 Min Top School Honorary Member (0/11/3): ggwp ggwp wtf”

In other words, once I entered the champ select, I was forced to commit to a certain pick and movement pattern.

Rek’Sai has advantages in early ganks depending on the team composition.

Due to her inherent champion design, Rek’Sai’s ganks from red side level 3 are extremely potent—when on the bottom side, she can gank bot strongly, while on the upper side, she can gank top effectively.

Thus, the fact that I picked Rek’Sai, who is strong at top ganks, was entirely because of that idiot.

Sigh.

But I didn’t feel bad about it.

After such a long time, it wouldn’t be so bad to show a bit of hospitality to that goof.

‘That’s not necessarily a bad situation.’

The picks were completed.

+

[Allies / Enemies]


Top: Kennen / Nyar

Jungle: Rek’Sai / Nidalee

Mid: Galion / Renekton

ADC: Kai’Sa / Aphelios

Support: Leona / Thresh

+

[Please choose your champion!]


[Please choose your skin!]

The game has started.

Up until this point, it was a perfectly normal solo rank game.

-?

-Whoa

Until the moment my first live stream’s first viewer came in.