Chapter 5

### Chapter 5: Solo Rank (2)

* * *

SY Pro Gaming Team Dormitory.

Despite it being a time when they should be enjoying their vacation after the Red Cup, the dorm was bustling with the intense practice of the players.

This was all for the grand goal of winning the Red Cup for the third time.

If asked who was practicing the hardest, all the players of SY would point to one person.

Rainbow.

The player that anyone would unhesitatingly name as the protagonist of this year's Legend of League.

Right now, Rainbow was staring blankly at the monitor screen, gnawing at his lip.

"…We meet like this."

The moment he saw Prisoner's nickname in the champion select, Rainbow genuinely considered dodging.

It wasn't because he didn't want to play with Prisoner.

It was because he felt awkward due to the interview from last time, which seemed to have put Prisoner in a difficult position.

'Should I just say I'm sorry?'

Rainbow had first met Prisoner several years ago.

Though they didn't even know each other's names, they had played hundreds of games together.

Naturally, their relationship was strong enough that minor issues wouldn't affect it, but human relationships, especially close ones, required more courtesy.

'Why did I say those things…'

Even though he regretted it later, all he could do was blame himself.

There were several reasons why Rainbow mentioned Prisoner, who was just an amateur, in his Red Cup victory interview, but the main reason was simple.

He was frustrated.

In Rainbow's opinion, Prisoner had the skills to succeed in the pro scene.

While Prisoner had some weaknesses in basic combat mechanics, they weren't significant considering his role as a jungler.

To be honest… he thought Prisoner was better overall than the jungler 'Yoon Gi' with whom he had won the Red Cup.

That's why he mentioned Prisoner in the grand stage of the Red Cup victory interview.

"‘I think my victory this year was just a matter of luck. If Prisoner had debuted as a pro, the outcome might have been different.’"

Why didn't you come out?

I recognized you.

Let's meet on a bigger stage.

Looking back, it was an incredibly arrogant thought.

He didn't know what circumstances Prisoner was in.

No, he didn't even try to find out.

He just couldn't understand why someone with such skills wasn't in the pro scene or even streaming.

How long had it been since the interview?

He heard from the coach that Prisoner had requested a test.

"‘Really?’"

The moment he heard this, Rainbow couldn't hide his joy.

Finally, he could play with Prisoner.

Even if they weren't on the same team, it would be enough to meet him in a pro match.

However…

He heard a shocking story from the coach.

"‘It's tough. I'm sorry. I know you had high hopes.’"

The story about Prisoner being a rare disease patient.

The moment he heard this, Rainbow realized his mistake.

What have I done?

For Prisoner, the fact that he had a rare disease might have been something he wanted to keep hidden.

He had brought it out into the open due to his arrogance and stubbornness.

It was clearly out of line and something he needed to apologize for.

'…'

Rainbow opened a 1:1 chat with Prisoner and repeatedly wrote and deleted various sentences.

'Sorry… No, this isn't right. Then, am I sorry? This doesn't seem right either…'

While he was hesitating, the champion select was completed.

He picked Zilean, and Prisoner picked Riven.

While the combination of the two champions was quite good, it was somewhat unexpected for Rainbow.

'Did I think Prisoner could play Riven?'

He soon dismissed the thought.

Riven was recently evaluated as an unconventional OP champion.

Given that Prisoner was one of the oldest users in the history of Legend of League, it wasn't surprising that he could handle an old champion like Riven.

And… the game began.

Looking at Prisoner's ID on the loading screen, Rainbow's complex feelings remained, but he was a pro.

A pro who had reached the top.

If it were before the game started, it might be different, but once the game began, this was a battlefield.

­Welcome to the Summoner's Rift.

In the high-level game, the game starts the moment you leave the fountain.

As if to prove this, he entered the enemy red side through the top bush with a perfectly synchronized ping.

The moment the ward was placed in the enemy red bush, the enemy team of five appeared.

'As expected.'

It was something he had already anticipated.

His teammate Nocturne also seemed to have anticipated it, as he immediately succeeded in a grab.

In other words, this was a winning fight.

The moment he made the decision, Rainbow invested his skill point in W.

­First Blood!

­Double Kill!

­Triple Kill!

­Massacre!

This was a level where the game could be considered to have exploded within 2 minutes.

Of course, he had experienced reversals due to complacency, so Rainbow didn't let his guard down.

The game continued.

As expected, it was a one-sided game, but since the opponents were also high-level players, they had one last move.

­Our team was attacked!

­We were suppressed!

When the enemy team of five dove on our top lane, Prisoner's ping appeared.

And a 2v5 fight ensued.

­Master of the Battlefield!

­Embodiment of the Battlefield!

­Legendary Appearance!

­Finishing Move!

The result was a decisive victory.

"Ah…"

Finally, when he secured the last enemy champion and finished the game, Rainbow felt a strange, indescribable feeling.

It wasn't because they had annihilated the enemy team alone, but because he saw something in his synergy with Prisoner.

'…What is it?'

The unfamiliarity Rainbow felt was not without reason.

'Could Prisoner play Riven this well?'

No, he had never seen Prisoner play Riven before.

His combat ability was on par with Yoon Gi, with whom he had won the cup.

'Is it because he has grown? No… it's not just that.'

Rainbow's evaluation of Prisoner had always been consistent.

Relatively weak physical combat, but a cold, calculated judgment and god-like game management that more than made up for it.

But what Rainbow saw in Prisoner now was a complete jungler.

Prisoner, who had been one of the oldest users since the launch of Legend of League in Korea, had not only not declined but had grown even more.

'…How can someone like this not be a pro?'

Rainbow felt the same frustration and regret he had felt before.

Perhaps, because of the situation, Prisoner had grown even more.

Pain, after all, makes people grow.

'I'll apologize.'

For mentioning it without permission and for the genuine regret. I didn't mean to cause trouble. I'll be honest.

Rainbow made up his mind.

* * *

The game ended.

­The enemy team has surrendered with 5 votes in favor and 0 votes against.

The result was a 15-minute Kassadin.

My KDA after the game was 11/0/8.

The level difference with the enemy jungler was 4.

And the number that appeared in the bottom right corner.

[2]

It was a 1:1 chat from Rainbow.

[SY Rainbow: Good job.]

[SY Rainbow: And I have something to say to Prisoner.]

Just as I was about to reply.

Knock knock—

My mother opened the door and looked at me.

"Yujin."

Only then did I notice the piece of paper in her right hand.

It was probably what I thought it was.

Given the seriousness of the situation and the look on my mother's face, it wasn't a time to play games.

I quickly typed a message.

[Me: I have something come up suddenly. I'll see you next time.]

There was no time to wait for a reply, so I closed the Legend of League client.

Even though my muscles weren't contracting like they used to, it was hard to turn my head.

I slowly faced my mother.

"…"

A moment of silence passed.

Finally, my patience ran out first.

"Wh… What happened?"

My mother looked at me silently.

What is it? Could it be… no? What will happen to me now?

Amidst these thoughts, my mother's lips moved.

"Yujin…"

She quietly called my name and hugged me.

"It's a relief, a relief…"

At the same time, the content of the paper scattered on the floor came into view.

+

[DNA Test Result Report]

.

.

.

(Excerpt)

.

.

.

Probability of Paternity: 99.9997%

+

"Ah."

Only then did I let out a sigh of relief.

Many things had changed, but I was still my mother's child.

*

After overcoming the biggest hurdle, the second one remained.

"…You still haven't told them?"

"How can I say it?"

That makes sense.

"Ha…"

I slowly stood in front of the door.

It was time to meet my family.

* * *