Chapter 46

〈 Chapter 46 〉 Try to Stop Me

* * *

Hummm—

With the familiar mechanical sound, the monitor, which had been dark for several days, came to life.

“Phew…”

Perhaps it was because I hadn't sat in front of a computer for a long time.

My heart was pounding.

Actually, I hadn't been seriously ill since the first day.

It was just that I needed time.

Time to sort out and be fully myself again.

While lying in bed, most of what I did was watch League of Legends videos.

I wasn't particularly sleepy, nor did I have anything special to do, so it was a natural conclusion.

Lying down wasn't difficult.

In fact, it was comfortable.

For someone like me, who had been lying down as a daily routine, watching something while lying down was an incredibly familiar activity.

‘Ah, I shouldn't have done that there.’

Among them, the video I watched the most was undoubtedly my own gameplay.

Of course, I hadn't recorded it myself in a complicated way; I watched replays that someone had uploaded to Nertube.

Most of these kinds of videos are made by famous professional players or fans, but I had inadvertently gained a bit of fame.

I watched my gameplay videos and gave myself feedback.

‘Ah, I did well here. How did this happen? The opponent made a few mistakes, but still…’

I even had the thought that if I were to die someday, this replay should be played at my funeral as the best play of my life.

…Such trivial thoughts occasionally came to mind.

Anyway, as I watched my replays, related videos of internet broadcasters who had played against me started to appear.

At first, I didn't think it was necessary to watch the same game, but as videos related to mine kept being recommended, I couldn't help but click on one.

[“What, you came in like that?”]

I didn't usually watch a lot of internet broadcasts.

If I had to say, I only looked them up when there were patches or new information.

However, since this was the first time I was watching videos from the perspective of broadcasters playing against me, I quickly became engrossed.

I was more interested in seeing how my opponents played against me than in the entertainment value of the broadcasts.

‘Ah, I thought I knew this, but I didn't read it? That's why I wasted my movements. I need to remember this.’

As I watched one video after another, I eventually started alternating between videos from my perspective and those from my opponents' perspectives.

[“Aaaah!”]

When the streamer's scream echoed, the chat and donations pelted the streamer as if they had been waiting for it.

­mdcy mdcy mdcy

[“What, this is a mid lane advantage? It's a jungle advantage!”]

『“Mid lane advantage, mid lane advantage, yeah yeah mid lane advantage, mid lane advantage, yeah yeah”』

The mob culture was quite entertaining from the perspective of the viewers, but it felt strange to think that I was the one who had caused the streamer to be mobbed.

[“Ah, really playing the game dirty! Fight me, please!”]

­Extreme praise kekkekkek

­bdbdbd

[“What is our jungler doing!!”]

­kekkekkekkekkek

­So funny kekkek

­Season 45741 shotgun

『“Is this where the extreme praise machine Prisoner is? Oh, I came to the wrong place”』

As I watched various broadcasters' videos, I realized one thing.

‘The opponent doesn't always make the best judgment.’

Originally, when I played games, I assumed that the opponent would make the best judgment from the same position as me.

This was because thinking and responding this way statistically reduced the chances of losing.

However, watching them play, I noticed that there were many strange judgments, even when the reasons not to do something were clear.

If I had to use a metaphor, it felt like watching a solo queue player with poor mechanics.

‘Is this a characteristic of broadcasters?’

After all, to get cheers from viewers, broadcasters need to make flashy plays, and those cheers are essential for professional broadcasters.

The purpose of the game for professional players, who aim purely for victory, is quite different.

I was drawn into the videos.

As I watched, various thoughts naturally came to mind, and countless simulations ran through my head.

‘I wouldn't do that there.’

‘Ah, if he had come in there, I would have died. I need to be more careful in the future.’

‘I made a mistake there. …Well, the opponent made more mistakes, so I ended up benefiting.’

Watching my gameplay from different perspectives made my body itch.

I wanted to play.

I wanted to get up and play solo queue as soon as possible.

“Ah…”

The more my desire to play grew, the more the depression that had once threatened to engulf me melted away like snow.

The brief depression caused by the hormones that had affected me was nothing compared to the severe game addiction that had dominated my life.

And…

On the fourth day, I finally got up.

“Phew.”

­AM 2:13

When I opened my eyes, it was already late in the day.

But there was no need to worry.

This time was actually one of the best times to play solo queue in the Korean top tier.

Lying in bed, I had many thoughts.

The most frequent thought was the pure desire to play games.

[Game found!]

[Accept / Decline]

As soon as I launched the League of Legends client, I started playing, as if burning the game addiction that had built up.

[Victory]

[Victory]

[Victory]

Three consecutive wins.

Under normal circumstances, I would have stopped here, watched the replay for self-feedback, or taken a break.

But I didn't stop.

I was still thirsty.

.

.

.

[Victory]

When I finally came to my senses, I had achieved six consecutive wins.

My score was 1890.

One more win, and I would reach 1900 points, a legendary realm beyond 1800 points.

Of course, it didn't matter to me at the moment.

I just wanted to win.

So I started another game without even taking a break.

[Game found!]

[Accept / Decline]

I didn't hesitate.

There was no need to.

[Victory]

After seven consecutive wins, I felt the burning thirst subside a little.

“Phew…”

When I came to my senses, I had reached 1900 points.

+

[Prisoner]

Rank 1

Solo Queue

­ Challenger

­ 1904 LP / 260 wins 172 losses

­ Win rate 60%

+

Even though I had reached 1900 points with my own hands, I was slightly taken aback.

Was this score so easy to achieve?

‘…No, it wasn't easy.’

While some games were easy wins, the opponents were not easy.

I quietly looked at the date on my computer calendar.

‘…There's not much time left.’

The time my mother mentioned was approaching.

It was time to end my life as Prisoner.

‘I need to end it definitively.’

Solo queue 2000 points.

I would leave an indelible mark on that dream score, which no one had ever even approached.

As Prisoner's final act.

“Phew.”

While I was taking a deep breath, a private message flew in.

[1]

[SY Rainbow: Prisoner]

It was Rainbow.

Recently, Rainbow seemed to be avoiding me, and our relationship had become a bit distant, but it was the first time in a long while that she had initiated a conversation with me.

[Me: Yes]

[SY Rainbow: Congratulations on being number one.]

[Me: Ah, thank you ㅎㅎ]

[SY Rainbow: And, not only did you reach 1800 points, but you also hit 1900 points today ㄷㄷ That's amazing.]

[Me: Well, compared to Rainbow, it's nothing ㅎㅎ]

Even though we had become a bit distant recently, we hadn't played together for just a day or two, so it wasn't awkward.

After some light pleasantries, Rainbow spoke after a brief silence.

[SY Rainbow: And... I'm truly sorry for the careless things I said about you during the interview. I know it caused you trouble. I'm sorry for pretending not to know.]

Even though it was a short message, I could feel how much Rainbow had struggled to say this.

She had probably been avoiding me because of this.

[Me: It's okay.]

Of course, thanks to her, I had pursued an unsuitable dream and tasted despair, but that was in the past.

It was irrelevant to my present and future.

However, it was certain that her words had reignited my dream of becoming a pro.

[SY Rainbow: Then... I have to go now. I'll see you later. I'm really sorry.]

[Me: Okay, good luck. I'm really fine ㅎㅎ]

[SY Rainbow: That's a relief ㅜㅜ Really sorry...]

[SY Rainbow: And]

There was a brief silence.

She seemed to be thinking about what to say.

[SY Rainbow: It won't be easy from now on.]

The meaning of her words was clear.

Rainbow, a two-time Red Cup champion, was declaring that she would try to stop me, an amateur.

[Me: You're going to target me?]

[SY Rainbow: ㅇㅋ]

Look at that?

Is this the same person who just apologized?

Then I have a way too.

[Me: I'll add you as a friend.]

[SY Rainbow: ;; ㅈㅅ]

[Me: Just kidding.]

I said that, but honestly, I was intrigued.

If I received a declaration of war, it was only natural to respond.

[Me: Can you do it alone?]

[SY Rainbow: So I'm going to duo with Yoon-gi.]

Why is this guy so confident?

[Me: ;;; That's too cheap.]

[SY Rainbow: I don't have the confidence to do it alone. You've been playing really well lately.]

Her straightforward acknowledgment made me chuckle.

‘It's not just that reason, though.’

Rainbow was probably more likely trying to avoid meeting me on the same team by duoing.

‘But she still says it like that.’

Now, with two Red Cup championships, Rainbow's image has become more serious, but the old Rainbow was originally a playful person.

It was a case of the position making the person.

How should I describe my current feeling? It felt like I had returned to the days when Rainbow and I played together before she became a pro.

[Me: ;; ㅇㅋ I'll watch you.]

[SY Rainbow: ㄱㅅ]

[Me: But I won't watch you.]

I declared.

If you're going to try to stop me, I'll try to break through you with all my might.

[SY Rainbow: Me too.]

Even if the opponent is the world's best mid-jungle duo.