Chapter 66

66 [Thank you for first place! Ah... This isn't something to be grateful for since I did it myself, right? No, first of all, I'm grateful to the Noeul members.]

"It's Idol time, it's Idol time."

"Pro~."

Kim Sung-hyun's first-place interview played on the screen, and the Black Call vocalist chuckled and returned.

"Wow, kids these days have different stamina~."

"Jung-woo, you're getting old."

"Thanks to someone, I did get old…."

Joo-sung, who had been shaking his legs outstretched, smiled awkwardly.

Black Call had an especially gentle atmosphere. From the beginning, they didn't seem to have a strong desire for first place. It was the ease of those who didn't need to try harder to appear on camera for even a second, like other groups, because of their recognition in the industry.

"What's next? Rhythmic gymnastics?"

"Oh, archery after that."

Since we didn't have a member participating in rhythmic gymnastics, we got up slightly during the setup time, entered the waiting room, and received a box from the manager.

It was the bento we had prepared since yesterday.

"The fans haven't eaten yet…."

"That's why."

Usually, such things are prepared by the agency, but the members were determined to use their own money to prepare a humble bento, fearing that the agency would do the same. As we approached Noeul with the box, cheers were heard. We smiled and placed the box down, greeting them.

"You must be hungry. It's already 9 PM."

"Hey!! You guys must be hungrier!"

"We just had a quick bite."

Sung-woo took the box apart and started passing the bento carefully. We had prepared relatively light sandwiches for breakfast, but they were all homemade, showing a lot of effort.

"I hope it tastes good…."

Noeul almost cursed in amazement at receiving it. Each bento had a handwritten note from the members.

"You don't have much time to practice…."

"I'm sorry it's not much. I should have given you something better."

"I tried a bit earlier, and it was delicious!"

"You ate it?!"

Sung-woo covered Jung-da-jun's mouth and bowed his head repeatedly. This made the Noeul members burst into laughter.

We chatted for quite a while, and a fan's voice caught our attention.

"It's fine if you don't get first place today, just don't get hurt!"

"Of course!"

Jung-da-jun nodded with a bright smile.

Signs of the rhythmic gymnastics event starting were visible, so we quickly returned to our seats.

An idol of similar seniority to us was performing rhythmic gymnastics, specifically with a ribbon. The tension from head to toe in the elaborate costume was evident, as if they were grinding their teeth.

'Yeah, I clenched my teeth and came out too…'

Jung-da-jun stood and clapped for a long time before sitting down again. The idol, with a satisfied look, confirmed a satisfactory score and walked backstage.

The next event was archery. However, the staff seemed to be in a hurry, and their movements were urgent.

"Huh? Why is that?"

"Isn't archery next?"

The staff member at the broadcast station checked the note handed over hurriedly and, in a professional manner, smiled naturally.

"Then, everyone, the next event is e-sports!"

"Huh."

'Ah, it's probably due to time allocation…'

While setting up each sport, they had been inserting e-sports preliminaries in between, but the actual playtime differed from the expected time, so they pushed archery back and proceeded with the game.

I clicked my tongue and looked back. Kang Yi-chae, who was about to compete in the semifinals, smiled.

"Ah… Is it my turn?"

"……"

Kang Yi-chae, who had been obsessed with a strange concept for a few days, tilted his head arrogantly.

"Then, I'll go out."

Kang Yi-chae smirked, ran his hand through his hair, and did a high-five with each member in succession before leaving. The Black Call member sitting next to me was swept up in the atmosphere and did the same.

'A guy who's not afraid of anything…'

The e-sports members were Sung-woo, Jung-da-jun, and Kang Yi-chae, plus one member each from Refine and Nightmare.

Joo-sung, who was sipping juice, asked.

"Aren't you going out?"

"I was already eliminated when the team chose the candidates. What about you, Joo-sung?"

"I'm not good at games. What about Sung-hyun?"

"…I thought I was good."

"Ha-ha, you won the 100m gold medal, so it's fine."

Kim Sung-hyun spoke slightly dejectedly, and Joo-sung patted his back and laughed heartily. The Black Call members also chuckled at Kim Sung-hyun's pure joy at a simple compliment.

In the semifinals, the Refine member was at the front.

The previous e-sports preliminaries were to be edited into short clips, so there were no interviews or broadcasts.

That's why the broadcast team, who had received information about each team, looked puzzled.

[Oh! What is the Thorden team? It seems Thorden is the main team, but what is Naryin at the end?]

[It means Nightmare and Refine. Thorden has only three members participating, and the other two are from other groups.]

The announcer, sensing that this would be an interesting interview, approached and asked for the reason.

"Yi-chae, Thorden has five members, so they could have participated in the game. Why didn't the other members come out?"

Kang Yi-chae, receiving a question with an obvious answer, raised one corner of his mouth and replied.

"Because the member who is a minus one is not a member…."

"Wow, that's a bit harsh, isn't it?"

Kang Yi-chae and I gave a thumbs down, and the camera didn't miss this.

[Yes! We saw Yi-chae's quick response. Then, let's hear from the opposing teams, Refine and Nightmare.]

The remaining Refine members, with sour faces, complained about the Thorden members.

"They abandoned their members to win and went over there."

"What do you think about that?"

The announcer held the microphone close to the Refine member who joined Thorden. He responded with a relaxed expression.

"There's a saying that a white stork shouldn't go where crows play…."

The audience burst into laughter at the Refine member's light-hearted response. It seemed that the Refine fans were used to their bickering, so they weren't particularly surprised.

[Refine team, Thorden team, please take your seats!]

"Putting our 'pride' on the line… Match ON."

"Sure~!"

Even with Kang Yi-chae's hardcore gamer catchphrase, Sung-woo responded nicely and waved his hand with a bright smile.

[Now, let's start the first preliminary match!]

The broadcast team stepped back, and the professional gamers took their seats. The commentators didn't seem to have high expectations.

[Ah, the players are heading to their towers in each camp. Sung-woo is playing as the ADC, and Yi-chae is playing as the support. Is this to show Thorden's teamwork?]

[Yi-chae's submitted rank is quite high. But Sung-woo… there's no published rank?]

[He didn't submit a ranked match.]

[Ah…]

The commentators burst into laughter. 'There's not much to expect,' but since the fans who knew Sung-woo well didn't have high expectations either, it didn't matter.

However, as the game progressed, the commentators' eyes sparkled.

[Oh! The opposing Refine jungler is coming down. It's a gank, but unfortunately, the vision above is limited. This might work.]

"Hyung."

"Yeah, I saw it."

Yeah, I saw it?

At the same time, Sung-woo moved the mouse skillfully. Sung-woo's character's brown hair fluttered beautifully, dodging a grab from the darkness and alternating between auto-attacks and skills.

[Oh!]

[Sung-woo, dodging and trading damage!]

[At the same time, support Yi-chae is coming in! He's giving speed!]

[The Refine member is confused and moving up! Here, a bold move was needed!]

[First Blood! Sung-woo gets the first blood!]

Sung-woo, without the thrill of getting the first blood, calmly said.

"Yi-chae, let's dive. 2)"

"Huh."

[Here, diving? Wow, they're going in more boldly than expected!]

[The support is too weak to dive! They'll die quickly!]

Just before entering the enemy turret, Sung-woo killed an enemy and leveled up a skill with the experience. He then cast a skill in the area where the Refine member was coming in. Meanwhile, Yi-chae cast magic damage on the incoming enemy, and the enemy's health quickly drained.

[Refine! Refine is entering the turret!]

[The support is too weak! No, Thorden is going in! They're going in!]

Thud, thud, thud, thud!

As soon as Sung-woo entered, he immediately cast auto-attacks and skills.

['Thorden Sung-woo' double kill!]

One enemy was instantly killed, and another was killed by a pet that had been placed, leaving the last bit of health.

['Thorden Sung-woo' triple kill!]

At the same time, the turret's attack came, and Yi-chae cast a timely heal and speed boost, taking damage but surviving.

[Wow! What a great play!]

[Sung-woo! He gets the first triple kill!]

[If Yi-chae hadn't cast the heal just now, he would have been killed! A 0.5-second delay would have been the end! In fact, it would have been advantageous for Yi-chae to die in this situation, but he survived!]

[Wow, Thorden's teamwork is excellent. This is getting interesting!]

The commentators got excited as the game progressed more thrillingly than expected. They must have felt like they were watching an amateur match with a pro's perspective, but they were riding the momentum.

[The bottom lane is completely pushed. They haven't even maxed out their ultimate yet….]

"Want some ice cream?"

"Ah, baXba."

"There's no such thing."

"…Then anything."

We were leisurely watching while sucking on ice cream. I didn't know much about games, and the commentators, who were already excited, didn't care about the reactions of others.

"Hyung, come this way."

"Okay."

[It seems Yi-chae is in charge of the overall game management.]

[Yes! But now, in the top lane, Refine's Young-jun has quietly gotten a kill! The top lane is also completely pushed!]

[Here, bottom! Thorden's bottom lane is showing a strong intention to end the game quickly, completely ignoring the pushing! They destroy the turret!]

Kang Yi-chae clicked the mouse, thud, thud, thud, thud.

[What is Yi-chae doing with the minimap? Did he see everything at once?]

"Gank."

"Okay!"

[Sung-woo is heading to the river! Ah, but he saw it! Refine saw it! They're rushing over, but the physical difference is overwhelming! Kill! Kill!]

['Thorden Sung-woo' is going wild!]

[Sung-woo, unbelievable!]

[This is natural talent, talent!]

The broadcast team jumped up. The Noeul fandom was already buzzing.

Kim Sung-hyun and I were sucking on ice cream and half-heartedly waving our slogans.

"Try your best~."

The entire broadcast team burst into laughter, except for the commentators who were focused on the game.

[The remaining Thorden members, are they cheering, or not?]

[It seems they're thinking, 'See if you can win without us!']

The Thorden team swept through the team fight and destroyed the inhibitor of the opposing base, then destroyed the final turret in just 20 minutes.

[Ah!!! The Thorden team secures the victory, victory~!!]

[Wow! In this match, Sung-woo and Yi-chae stood out particularly.]

Even as the commentators continued, Jung-da-jun threw off his headphones and ran out excitedly.

"Hyung! Yi-chae hyung! Sung-woo hyung~!!"

"…Done."

What a stubborn guy….

Even in this situation, Kang Yi-chae's arrogant concept remained.

"That was amazing just now!"

The Thorden team hugged and celebrated wildly. In stark contrast to their enthusiasm, Kim Sung-hyun and I felt increasingly uncomfortable.

"Is it the finals?"

"I keep wanting to be sarcastic…."

We sat slanted in our seats, pouting and grumbling.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1) The act of killing the first opposing player.

2) The act of diving into the enemy's territory, risking being hit by the turret.