Chapter 59

### Chapter 59: Choma's Debut

* * *

### Choosing a Nickname

For every gamer, this is an extremely important rite of passage and one of the most time-consuming tasks. How many countless users, when a new game comes out, rush to secure rare nicknames first? Of course, some might say, "Why not just come up with a nickname quickly and start playing?" But that's a naive view. A game nickname is one of the most important first impressions of a player. For example, just looking at the nickname "3분탑교명예신도" (3-minute Tower Capture Honor) shows how important a nickname can be. From a jungler's perspective, if a top laner with such a nickname is on your team, it feels like your win rate drops by 10% statistically. This isn't just a metaphor; it's actually true.

On the other hand, what about MYE's top laner, LaLaLa, who is also a 1st Division player? LaLaLa's solo queue nickname is "정글러의노예" (Jungler's Slave). Statistically, this nickname can boost the win rate by 11%.

Naturally, my dilemma deepened.

‘…What should I choose?’

In the past, I was able to secure a relatively clean nickname like "Prisoner" because I was one of the earliest users of League of Legends. It was a time when anything you created would be accepted. But now, how is it different? League of Legends is one of the most popular games in the world, with 5 million concurrent users, 12 million daily active users, and nearly 100 million monthly active users. Even if we consider only the Korean server, how many meaningful nicknames could still be available?

“Ugh.”

At first, I thought about using simple opposites like "Liberator" (解放者, Liberator) or "Escape" (脱出, Escape). Or even "FreeMan" (自由人, Free Man) or "Bittern" (看守, Warden) wouldn't be bad. I even considered "Ex-convict" (前科者, Ex-convict) as a last resort.

However, as I mentioned, League of Legends is now a well-established game. It's highly unlikely that such nicknames would still be available.

[This summoner name is already registered!]

[This summoner name is already registered!]

[This summoner name is already registered!]

...

[This summoner name is already registered!]

I checked just in case, but as expected, it was as I thought.

‘Let's give up.’

If I really wanted to, I would have tried every possible method to secure those nicknames, but I didn't. The reason I gave up so easily was that if someone with a nickname opposite or related to "Prisoner" appeared shortly after "Prisoner" disappeared, it would be a perfect lead for those who love conspiracy theories. I realized that any clue I left could ultimately connect back to "Prisoner," so I felt the need to be cautious.

Let's not do anything rash.

After all, this is a hard-earned opportunity.

[This summoner name is already registered!]

[This summoner name is already registered!]

[This summoner name is already registered!]

I tried various nicknames that I thought were cool, but they were all taken, of course.

‘...This is frustrating.’

Forget it.

[Prisoner]

[This summoner name is already registered!]

“...”

These guys are really pushing it, aren't they?

‘This won't work.’

In this situation, I have no choice but to use a forbidden ultimate move...

[Iyu Jin]

[This summoner name is already registered!]

What? Give me back my name.

[This summoner name is already registered!]

[This summoner name is already registered!]

[This summoner name is already registered!]

...

It had been about an hour.

I never thought it would take so long to choose a nickname, and what's even more frustrating is that I still haven't decided.

“...”

I'm tired.

In the end, I wrote down a random nickname in resignation.

[GameWell4148]

[This name is available.]

Exhausted, I clicked to create the nickname.

After all, I can't keep holding onto this forever.

‘I can always change it to my real nickname when I start ranked games.’

Or even later, when I debut as a pro.

‘It would be nice to build a reputation with one nickname before debuting as a pro, but...’

What can I do?

My naming sense has its limits.

In the end, I decided to put it on hold.

It was a conclusion based on the baseless hope that a good nickname would come to me someday.

[Welcome!]

“Phew.”

Seeing the lobby screen for the first time in a long while, I felt a strange sense of nostalgia and immediately clicked the "Start Game" button.

+

[PVP]

[5v5] [Summoner's Rift]

<◆> Blind Pick

[5v5] [ARAM]

<◆> ARAM

─────────

[AI Match]

<◆> Beginner

< > Intermediate

< > Advanced

─────────

[Training]

<Tutorial>

<Practice Mode>

─────────

+

‘Good.’

Without hesitation, I clicked on Summoner's Rift.

[5v5] [Summoner's Rift]

<◆> Blind Pick

Normally, the best way to level up a new account to 30, where ranked games are possible, is to play against AI bots. However, I didn't want to do that.

This is a new life I've worked hard to get.

Naturally, each game is incredibly precious to me, and I have no intention of wasting such valuable time playing against mere bots.

‘Using macros or smurfs is out of the question.’

I will become a pro.

Even in the early stages of development, I have no intention of leaving any blemishes by using macros or smurfs.

Therefore, I decided to play normal games from level 1 myself.

‘Oh, right.’

I forgot to buy that.

[Shop]

I immediately went to the shop to buy IP and experience boosters.

Since I plan to level up through normal games, not AI matches, I need experience boosters to speed up the process.

‘I can't keep playing normal games forever.’

As I entered the shop, I had another thought.

‘Hmm, I need champions to play the game, after all.’

Unlike normal games where you can use rotation champions, ranked games require a minimum number of champions.

Most players buy the cheapest champions to meet the requirement, but that doesn't allow for optimal bans and picks.

You end up losing from the start due to external factors like the number of champions.

‘That can't happen.’

So, I immediately paid about 1 million won and bought all the champions and experience boosters. Then, I had another thought.

‘Oh, I don't want to play some champions without skins.’

In League of Legends, some champions look weak without skins due to their poor default designs.

A prime example is Riven without a skin.

‘I can't stand that.’

[Payment]

I paid an additional 4 million won and bought almost all the skins available, excluding those that require opening boxes or grinding.

How can I play the game without champions and skins?

‘Let's see...’

The once-empty champion list now filled up, giving me a sense of relief.

‘This is the minimum I need to play the game.’

Satisfied, I checked my profile and started the game.

[Searching for a game...]

Then, 2 minutes passed.

‘...Why is the queue so slow?’

I had forgotten one important fact.

League of Legends has been in service for nearly a decade.

Not just a decade, but it has been the top game globally for that long.

In other words, there are almost no new players in League of Legends now.

The game is well-established.

As a result, the normal queue, which used to be quick, now takes as long as the Challenger queue.

“What a mess.”

However, even in a well-established game, new players can still join.

[Game found!]

[Accept / Decline]

This is the real start of Choma's debut.

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Holororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororor