Chapter 94

### Chapter 94: My Place

* * *

A week had passed.

During this time, under the leadership of Coach Park Tae-hyung, I and Daehard alternated in participating in scrimmages.

14 wins, 0 losses.

3 wins, 9 losses.

These were the respective records of my and Daehard's scrimmages.

"Carry machine King Laugh!"

"Wow, if you hadn't stolen the Baron here, we would have lost for sure. What a judgment~"

Of course, whenever the team members said such things, I couldn't hold my head up.

No, how do they even say such embarrassing things?

Is it possible because they're young?

Is that... youth?

"...Stop it."

The atmosphere within the team was divided.

To be precise, it was more accurate to say that Daehard, the former starting jungler, was gradually becoming isolated.

"Ujin, have you eaten lunch?"

"...I'll eat separately. Go ahead and eat."

"Okay? Got it."

While Gogo, the mid-laner with a good personality, seemed to take care of Daehard quite a bit, it was impossible to reverse the flow of events.

Coach Park Tae-hyung also couldn't intervene in this matter.

Perhaps he didn't want to pour cold water on the team's improving atmosphere.

As a result, such conversations naturally began to circulate within the team.

"If you were here, we would have won this game too..."

"Ah, are you starting from the second round?"

"Hey, what kind of talk is that..."

In the week, YSG recorded 1 win and 1 loss.

Despite this, I participated more in scrimmages than Daehard, who was currently the starter, and my performance in scrimmages was significantly better. It wasn't unreasonable for the players to think this way.

...And it was actually true.

My starting position was already decided, but it was impossible for Daehard and the other players to know this.

"......"

Whenever this happened, Daehard would subtly avoid the situation or pretend not to hear and focus on his game.

The issue of starting positions is an extremely sensitive matter for professionals.

In reality, countless professionals have lost their prime years because they failed to become starters despite joining good teams and facing intense competition.

There is a significant difference between professionals who play in matches and those who don't.

Professionals who play in matches always prove themselves.

Therefore, even if their current contract with the team ends, if they have proven their skills, they can always demand a new contract or receive offers from other teams.

But what about those who don't?

Other teams wouldn't know the internal details of YSG, so if things continued this way, Daehard would be seen as a professional who failed to become a starter in a mediocre team like YSG.

In some ways, he might have to start his professional life from an even worse position than a newly debuting rookie.

Thus,

Daehard might not be able to continue his professional career in the domestic league.

And among professionals, there are also many who choose to retire rather than start a new life in an unfamiliar overseas environment.

Daehard was now at a critical juncture in his professional career.

'...I shouldn't care.'

Until then, I had tried to ignore the situation.

Professionals prove themselves through their skills and performance,

But why?

For some reason, I felt stifled.

I felt bloated after eating, and my head was always on edge while playing games.

'What is it?'

At first, I didn't know the reason.

I thought it was just a bad mood or a slightly poor condition.

'...Something feels...'

I didn't take long to realize the reason.

"Hic!"

While playing solo queue, I suddenly felt a strange sensation and turned my head to see Daehard looking at me.

'Ah...'

That's when I understood.

I finally realized what the damp and unpleasant feeling I had been feeling was.

It started that day.

Even when I was just sitting still, I could feel a gaze.

Not an ordinary gaze, but one filled with clear resentment and hostility.

'What's so wrong?'

At first, I tried to ignore it.

However, unfortunately, I wasn't insensitive enough to ignore the intense gaze of others.

'...What? What?'

Why is my breathing...

"Ha, hah..."

My chest felt tight.

I couldn't breathe properly.

It felt like something was pressing down on me.

Deep breaths, deep breaths.

"Ha, ha..."

I think I understand.

In my life, I have never faced the naked hostility of others.

Of course, in League of Legends, a game that can make even well-adjusted parents lose their temper, I could say I was somewhat immune to insults and slander. However, the problem was that I had no real experience with hostility in real life.

'...I'm really weak.'

I grew up too sheltered.

If a person living a normal life had experienced others envying or disliking them, it wouldn't have been difficult.

After all, in life, there are always people who dislike you for no reason, or people you dislike for no reason.

But I never had that experience.

"Yujin."

"Is there anything you want to do?"

"Is there anywhere you want to go?"

Excessive protection.

But necessary protection.

Moreover, the gazes people directed at me were more often filled with pity or sympathy rather than hostility.

"Oh..."

"Tsk, tsk, what a poor kid."

I grew up in such an environment.

If there was anyone who perfectly fit the description of a "greenhouse flower," it was me.

I was weak.

I was weak, so I was cared for and protected.

But the real world I had entered no longer cared for or protected me.

No... I had become a ruthless predator, taking away what belonged to others.

Whether I intended it or not wasn't that important.

What mattered was that others, the parties involved, felt that way.

"Ha."

Of course, it would be a lie to say I didn't feel wronged by this hostility.

What did I do wrong?

Is it wrong to prove yourself as a professional through your skills?

Why are you looking at me like that?

Can't you just stop?

"Ha..."

I suddenly felt a sense of futility.

What am I doing here?

Is the professional I wanted to become just this?

Or have I been living in a rosy dream and only now facing reality?

'...Damn.'

"Ah."

I felt a genuine curse rising in my heart and was startled.

'What am I doing here?'

I returned to YSG solely to confirm my doubts.

But what is this?

"......"

Is it right for me to be on this team?

The answer is still unknown, but my heart is gradually leaning.

This decision won't take long.

* * *

Coach Park Tae-hyung doubted his ears.

He had gone to Director Choi Tae-dal's call, suspecting some sinister plot, but the news he heard was beyond his imagination.

"......Publicity?"

"Yeah, and while we're at it, let's shoot a few promotional videos for the team. Do you know how hard the CEO and the manager worked to secure this deal?"

The news from Director Choi Tae-dal was simple.

Publicity and team promotional videos.

It was time to start using Outrow to make money.

"...Director, even if that's the case, I don't think it's right. Have you forgotten the contract? What if Outrow breaks the contract and just leaves?"

Despite his lingering mixed feelings about Outrow, Coach Park Tae-hyung still wanted to hold on to her as long as possible.

In reality, Outrow had performed exceptionally well, not only in scrimmages with SCV but also in scrimmages with other teams, leading the team to victory whenever she played.

'The improved atmosphere has even helped us win a real match.'

Of course, it must be frustrating for Daehard, who actually won the match.

"Taehyung, you don't know. Do you know how much incentive the players get from this ad? It's almost half your annual salary. They get that much for about an hour of shooting. Have you ever seen anyone who doesn't like money?"

"......Really?"

No, that much?

For a rookie's ad?

Coach Park Tae-hyung didn't want to believe it, but at least in terms of money, the abilities and senses of Director Choi Tae-dal, the manager, and the CEO were exceptional.

And, at least from Coach Park Tae-hyung's perspective, Outrow was worth that much, so he couldn't argue.

"So don't argue."

Director Choi Tae-dal added with a smile.

"Girls her age? They're all the same. They dream of and envy the glamorous lives of celebrities. To them, the game is not the goal but a means. They want to debut as professionals and somehow gain enough popularity to live like celebrities."

Coach Park Tae-hyung immediately denied Director Choi Tae-dal's blunt statement.

"......That's not true."

Although it wasn't for a long time, Coach Park Tae-hyung had observed Outrow.

Outrow's attitude towards the game.

Outrow's passion.

Outrow's overwhelming skill.

Would a gamer with that level of skill and understanding use the game as just a means?

No, that's not possible.

It's an absurd story.

Of course, perhaps Director Choi Tae-dal was right.

If Outrow was just using the game as a means and her skills were achieved through innate talent rather than effort, then maybe.

Geniuses do exist.

But,

Could what Outrow had achieved really be explained by genius alone?

Coach Park Tae-hyung was skeptical.

"Really? You think differently. Anyway, this is a win-win for her. Do you know how rare it is for a rookie who hasn't played a single match to get such an opportunity?"

Of course, it's rare.

But that changes when considering Outrow's unique situation.

"...What if Outrow doesn't like it?"

"Well, we can't force her because of the contract. If she really wants to break the contract, it would be a big problem. But convincing her is your job, isn't it?"

...You're just passing the buck again.

"Why, are you not confident? Should I ask someone else?"

"...I'll do it."

Knowing the methods they would use, Coach Park Tae-hyung decided to take on the role of the bad guy.

Their methods were predictable.

The team is struggling. Please help us once. If you don't help, we won't be able to continue contracts with other players next year.

They would use despicable methods to make it impossible to refuse, using the team and teammates as hostages.

"Right, I believe you can handle it, Taehyung."

Feeling goosebumps as Director Choi Tae-dal patted his shoulder, Coach Park Tae-hyung said,

"...I'll go now."

"Okay."

Leaving the director's office, Coach Park Tae-hyung climbed to the rooftop again, thinking,

'Will she agree?'

Although he was still skeptical, it was still unknown.

Despite everything, the team management by Director Choi Tae-dal and the manager had been surprisingly effective in achieving their goals.

'What are they doing here? They should be running an entertainment agency...'

While Coach Park Tae-hyung was cursing the team's leadership in his heart, someone came to find him.

"Coach."

"Ah, Yujin. What's up?"

It was Outrow.

"I have something to tell you."

Outrow's lips slowly moved,

and Coach Park Tae-hyung's face gradually stiffened.

* * *