Chapter 153

After Seo-jun’s interview ended and Ha Yoon-ho’s team was having a brief meeting, the commentary team began wrapping things up.

“Commentary panel, what choice do you think the winning team will make?”

“I think team captain Kim Tae-woo’s team will definitely be selected.”

Penguin voiced his opinion first.

“Why? To mess with his friend?”

Arin asked.

“Ah, no? Because he’s a friend, so he’s going to screw him over…”

Wait.

Caster-nim?

How does that logic circuit work?

Penguin thought for a moment, then recalled Seo-jun’s personality that he’d figured out in just one day.

It’s totally possible!

“…That could happen. Yes. But I chose them for a different reason.”

“What is it?”

“Because until we started Ground Zero, they were considered one of the two weakest teams.”

Things could change since they haven’t played the game yet.

But for now, public opinion was that Tae-woo’s team was severely weakened.

The A-tier is a support with low carry potential. They’re too bottom-heavy and the jungle is also low-tier.

Considering all these factors, Tae-woo’s team was currently evaluated as the weakest team.

“The other weakest team was player Seo-jun’s team, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct. However, given the shocking performance shown in Ground Zero, I’m not sure if they’d still be considered the weakest.”

“That’s true. But as long as the tournament continues with The League as a team game, Ha Yoon-ho’s team might still be weak.”

Seo-jun’s carry ability? Outstanding.

The quick thinking to find ways to crush opponents through skill alone, and excellence without a single mistake.

And even his personality(?).

However, there are limits when you’re alone. More than in Ground Zero.

Maybe Seo-jun could find a frying pan-like method for League.

But League is a much more complex game compared to Ground Zero.

Not only are the in-game situations varied, but the characters are diverse too.

Even if Seo-jun found League’s frying pan, they could just ban it.

Taeyang explained these points.

-Makes sense

-Really can’t tell about who will win the tournament

-Don’t get carried away from one Ground Zero match

-If they play Ground Zero one more time, the results would definitely come out differently. Everyone would prepare for it

And Penguin scoffed.

‘Yeah right, Seo-jun-nim still will win regardless.’

He just decided to believe that. Mindlessly.

Cat-talk.

Today was designated as the most humiliating day in Penguin’s life.

The mental shock was greater than the post he put up on retirement day.

“So you’re saying that if another team had gotten the group selection rights, they would have picked Ha Yoon-ho team captain’s team and Kim Tae-woo team captain’s team?”

Arin asked.

“Yes. That’s what I would have done.”

“But the winning team was one of those two. So how do you think it’ll be arranged, commentator Taeyang?”

“I also think team captain Kim Tae-woo’s team will definitely be included. Hmm…”

-Lol the suffering of the weakest teams

-Out of 3 teams in the group, only 1 team gets eliminated. So having a sure bottom-tier team makes it easy to advance to the main stage lol

-So which team do you think will be the remaining one?

Currently, they were dividing teams into two categories. Strong teams and weak teams.

The strong teams included Rain’s team and Mental’s team, which had good positional distribution during the auction.

And the remaining strong team was Spoon’s team.

A-tier ADC. B-tier jungle. C-tier mid. D-tier support. E-tier top.

The carry potential and influence of each lane is a topic that can generate many opinions.

It changes every year depending on the meta.

Still, if they must talk about the current meta.

Most people generally agree that top lane has limitations in carry potential compared to other lanes, even when ahead.

They also generally agree that jungle has the most influence and ADC has the highest carry potential in team games.

In that sense, Spoon’s team was a well-balanced strong team.

The weakness of this team was that the D-tier support wasn’t in their main lane and the E-tier top needed to hold their ground, but every team has such weaknesses.

The remaining three weak teams.

Excluding the two weakest teams, the remaining one was Goblin’s team with an A-tier in jungle.

“So you think they’ll choose Goblin’s team?”

When Taeyang was pondering, Arin asked first.

“Hmm, I think they’ll choose Mental-nim’s team.”

“Oh? Is that so? Why?”

“Mental-nim’s team’s A-tier is player Wave in mid. If they’re calculating that player Jin Seo-jun can definitely crush player Wave, then Mental-nim’s team would be the easiest opponent.”

-Oh, this makes sense too

-As expected of commentary

-Only if he can actually crush him though lol

-Still, does Wave look like trash in The League?

-No matter how much Wave goes back and forth between Grandmaster and Challenger now, that’s because he became a clown while streaming

-You can tell just from looking at his underwear lmao Wave is a true casual gamer

-He just got destroyed in Ground Zero LOL and now he’s getting cocky

-People naturally forget past events

-Ground Zero was a special case lol

-Even if his mechanics might be better, team games have many other factors

A fight broke out over Taeyang’s words.

“What about you, Navigator-nim?”

“You’re all mistaken.”

“Yes?”

“Why do you think that team would choose an easy opponent?”

“Yes?”

Indeed.

Navigator was still the person who knew Seo-jun best.

-Ah LOL

-Right, if you provoked them, you have to pay the price

-Let’s see what happens

* * *

“Ah! We got a message from team captain Ha Yoon-ho!”

After earnestly discussing with audio off, they made their decision within the time limit.

“Then Ha Yoon-ho’s team will be in Group A first! And the second team is!”

Arin reads the message.

“Ah! It’s team captain Rain’s team! Both commentators’ predictions were wrong from the start! And the last team is! Streamer Gongbeolre-nim’s team!”

Gongbeolre’s team was the team with Spoon.

In other words.

-Lmao they really picked only strong teams

-Gotta admit they have guts

-No wonder Rumi’s face was getting sour in real-time, this is why lmao

-So if Ha Yoon-ho’s team is actually strong, this becomes a hell group?

“Now! The groups have been formed! We’ll see you in scrims in two days! See you later!”

The group stage was decided.

* * *

“Well then, good work everyone.”

When Ha Yoon-ho greeted them, everyone said together.

“Good work everyone.”

“Now, let’s talk about the upcoming schedule.”

The schedule had been announced on the broadcast and could be checked after leaving the capsule, but they needed to discuss it first.

And that was the team captain’s job.

Ha Yoon-ho quickly explained.

“Before entering the group stage main games. First, we’ll rest tomorrow, then starting the day after, we’ll have scrims—practice matches—every other day for about 6 days, one match each time. The opponents will be teams from other groups.”

Other groups, huh.

‘Keil, Wave, Goblin?’

Seo-jun recalled the A-tiers from each team he’d faced today.

Meanwhile, with Seo-jun’s now nearly transcendent skill at trolling, he fabricated the names.

His profound mastery of fooling even himself!

Unfortunately, no one could read Seo-jun’s thoughts to notice fragments of his skill.

“I think this period might be the most important. We can figure out positions that fit each member and establish team strategies, and we can practice our coordination.”

Right, right.

Practice is important, after all.

“Should we decide our positions tomorrow?”

“Sounds good. Let’s meet tomorrow and discuss it. We have a day to spare.”

Alpaca and Windstorm Sword agreed.

“Seo-jun-nim too?”

“Yes.”

“Everyone has plenty of time, right? I’m just asking in case. Of course, we’ll adjust to fit your schedules.”

This was essentially directed at Seo-jun and Windstorm Sword.

Seo-jun was a college student, and Windstorm Sword was a working professional.

The other three had been established as full-time streamers for years, so they naturally nodded as if they’d accommodate.

And naturally, three pairs of eyes turned toward Seo-jun and Windstorm Sword.

‘His expression looks surprisingly bright?’

After observing Windstorm Sword, Seo-jun spoke first.

“I’m free from 4 PM onward. I have earlier free time on some days too, so I’ll share my schedule with you.”

“Oh, really? Amazing.”

“Why? Windstorm Sword-nim?”

When Windstorm Sword seemed amazed by Seo-jun’s words, Ha Yoon-ho asked.

“Our company president told me to leave at 4 PM while I’m in this tournament, and it’s amazing how the timing matches up.”

“Really?”

“A company like that exists?”

“Oh, amazing.”

“Hehe. This is the power of Korea’s great… no, small-to-medium enterprises! For once, I have to acknowledge our company as small-to-medium!”

Indeed.

Seo-jun was impressed. Being small in scale means the president can handle things at their discretion.

“Well, the president isn’t quite a viewer but is interested in virtual reality, so he’s been considerate. Actually, if the timing didn’t work out, I was thinking of just quitting.”

Makes sense.

While Windstorm Sword’s viewer count was in the 1,000-2,000 range—not much—if he started streaming properly, he could soon surpass his salary.

It would also be possible to hold out until finding his next job.

For reference, Kael one-tricks have the world’s strongest unity, and Windstorm Sword was the most famous Kael one-trick.

Right now, though…

‘It’s me, but…’

Anyway, Seo-jun smiled inwardly, thinking it was good that favorable conditions were stacking up.

“Then I’ll reorganize the practice schedule and such tomorrow for us to discuss again. What should we do about our team name?”

“Wasn’t ours already decided?”

“Right.”

“Wealth Gap is good.”

“Are we really going with that? What do you think, Seo-jun-nim?”

“Not bad.”

“Haha… Alright, understood. If anyone thinks of other team names, please share!”

“Okay.”

They disbanded like that. Still forgetting to turn on audio until the very end.

-Are you abandoning us? Are you abandoning us? Are you abandoning us?

-These bastards only realized they were broadcasting after coming outside and hastily tried to fix it

-So what can you guys do! Lol

They only checked the broadcast after leaving the capsules and had to make not-really-explanations.

Afterward, Ha Yoon-ho began planning whether they could meet once during the tournament period.

It was bad news for Windstorm Sword, who had completely forgotten about saying he lived in the countryside.

* * *

After leaving the capsule, Seo-jun took a shower.

Then, after talking with the editors, he fell asleep at exactly midnight. Tae-woo still hadn’t come out by then.

The next day.

When he came out early in the morning to go to the gym, Tae-woo was awake.

Seo-jun was startled.

Because Tae-woo’s eyes lit up the moment he saw him.

“Thanks!”

What?

“If we just get through groups, we’ll win everything! Because we have Keryl the analyst!”

Ah, I get it. It’s because I didn’t select them for the group stage.

After understanding, Seo-jun looked at Tae-woo’s slightly bloodshot eyes and asked.

“Hey, did you stay up all night?”

Even that Tae-woo would mess up his condition before the tournament started?

Impressive.

“Ah, hehe. I just went to bed a little late and woke up a little early because of excitement!”

Why is he talking like that? Like he’s deliberately exaggerating to escape from some obsession.

“What excitement?”

“Winning, of course! Just kidding. To check the patch notes. Something seemed fishy. Ah, I’m tired.”

Patch notes?

The thing the game company releases to announce updates? Why?

Eventually.

When the clock struck 6 o’clock.

Tae-woo, who quickly checked his phone, said.

“As expected.”

“Why?”

“Kael was mentioned in the patch notes.”

Kael in the patch notes?

This feels like something I’ve experienced before.

Seo-jun felt a sense of déjà vu and chuckled.