Chapter 164: Light and Shadow (5)

Tap.

Tako’s footsteps stopped.

He said to Koo Jun-Mo without turning around, "... I told you I'll make a decision."

Koo Jun-Mo was silent and asked, "With a Master and an unranked?"

"I told you. Since you're a Master, you'll do well in other positions—"

"You know I'm an ADC one trick."

Tap. Tap.

Koo Jun-Mo cut him off and walked toward him.

"What are you hesitant about?"

"Just stay still, and it'll be decided. Why are you pestering?"

"... Is this pestering?"

Tako turned around and met eyes with Koo Jun-Mo. Koo Jun-Mo was taller and had to look up, but Tako's eyes were unwavering.

"All you have to do is wait. Isn't coming here and talking to me like this pestering?"

"I think you're being sensitive. I was just asking because I thought I would obviously be the ADC."

Everything he was saying was true. From Koo Jun-Mo's perspective, he thought the role would be his. Tako couldn't say much since he thought the same at first.

While Tako was silent, Koo Ju-Mo spoke further, "And you know that this tournament has prize money. It's important for us as streamers. You know that my streamer character is... still a skilled player."

"So what you're saying is you want to win, right? All we need to do is win."

"... That's... right... yes."

His response was slow.

"Sigh,"?Tako let out a deep breath. He knew this would happen.

Winning wasn't the most important to Koo Ju-Mo because as a streamer who already hit Master, he also had his side of the story. His viewers would have their own expectations for him.

"You don't have to play one role in this kind of tournament."

This was the best answer Tako could give him for now. He could dive in further if he wanted to, but he didn't want to touch a sensitive spot.

"We can change freely during the tournament. Since I'm the coach, I'm going with the most optimal team."

Tako was saying that in the worst case, Koo Jun-Mo wouldn’t play ADC at all, but Koo Jun-Mo wasn't satisfied hearing that.

"... I think you're the one who's being sensitive. Weren't we just playing in this tournament for fun?"

'For fun?'

Whiff.

Tako approached Koo Jun-Mo with his eyes wide open.

"Did you fucking say for fun? Listen to me. Winning is fun for me."

"Hey..."

"Winning was my entire job and I ran away because I became obsolete, but winning is still fun for me. Is that okay? Since I ran away, do I look like someone who just plays the game for fun?!"

"N-No... that's not what I'm saying—"

"As long as I'm the coach, even if it's a small local tournament or whatever, I'm going to make my decisions solely for victory. If you have problems with that, you be the coach."

Koo Jun-Mo backed off and was speechless for a second at the man who was significantly shorter than him. Koo Jun-Mo recalled what Tako had to do to continue his career as a streamer and thought of who was behind the mask of Takoyaki, the streamer. Tako was still the pro gamer, Oh Jin-Sung.

"A... Alright. Calm down."

"You better practice properly."

After Tako finished, he took the portal and disappeared.

'... Did I catch him at a bad time?'

Koo Jun-Mo put his head down and let out a deep sigh. When he first arrived, Tako had a dark look. He shouldn't have brought it up with him. His sense of urgency made him angry.

'If I was confident in my skills... I wouldn't be like this.'

Koo Jun-Mo turned on the screen he was looking at earlier. He was also watching Almond's stream and looking at Tako's face. Tako had already decided to use Almond as the main ADC. It was understandable because even in his eyes, Almond's skills were out of this world. He was relieved this person could only play in low-tier normal matches.

"Sigh."

Koo Jun-Mo let out a deep sigh and sat on the bench. It was the same spot where Tako sat earlier.

*** historical

Chiiik—?

As the sound of the capsule opened, Sang-Hyeon came out looking tired.

"... Phew."

Ju-Hyeok turned around in his chair by habit and threw him a towel.

"LIL siege mode is pretty tiring?"

Sang-Hyeon looked more tired than usual because he had played for six hours straight. Since his play style was aggressive, it took more energy out of him compared to other players.

"I think I get tired easily," Sang-Hyeon muttered powerlessly.

"Don't say that. You did well."

"The tournament is going to be way harder..."

"I searched it up and apparently even?LIL?pros don't play for more than eight hours. You did really good."

"Okay. Well, if you say so. That's probably right. I'm going to wash up."

Sang-Hyeon massaged his right hand and headed to the bathroom.

"Alright..."

Ju-Hyeok didn't look confident. Seeing Sang-Hyeon like that made him feel bad.

'Was the contract with the other streamer... more important...?'

Ju-Hyeok was confused as to what his priority was. The hospital visit with Sang-Hyeon, who he started from the bottom with, or a new opportunity with a different streamer? Logically, the second choice made much more sense because Ji-Ah could go in his place. However, he still felt guilty because he hadn't decided logically. During that moment, Ju-Hyeok was selfish and more interested in the opportunity with the new streamer. That was how he felt when he looked back at himself.

Shaaaaa...

As he heard Sang-Hyeon showering, he looked up at the ceiling and took a deep breath.

"Sigh..."

‘Would Sang-Hyeon be able to participate in tournaments that could go on for hours? Why did Miho ask me to be her manager? Even though I know the answer, should I accept so I can be a management CEO in the future? Do I take the chance when it's given to me? Do I act first?’

"Sigh," he let out a deep breath again. Many questions and emotions weighed down on his chest, but they didn't disappear. If he could get rid of all his worries with a deep breath, he wouldn't have even left Ahsung.

***

Shaaa...

Sang-Hyeon looked down at his body as the hot stream of water poured down on him. Although he hadn't been doing separate muscle exercises lately, his physique was still firm compared to the average person. With his keen eye for body structure, he could only see a slight deficiency in the muscles of his right arm. There were no issues with the other parts. In fact, his body was fit enough to be featured as a success story on a gym poster. That was why he felt even more frustrated.

'My body is fine...'

Even though his body was perfectly healthy, he couldn't explain this peculiar sensation of his brain not keeping up. He couldn't properly explain to the doctor that the trembling in his right hand wasn't muscle pain. What more could be said? Suddenly, the doctor's words about gaming time came back to him.

Could it be that he was pushing himself too hard?

Sang-Hyeon didn't feel any pain, just fatigue. Everything would be fine after a good night's sleep. However, whenever this trembling occurred, it was somewhat unsettling. It was a fear that lingered, even if only slightly.

'Do I have to find a solution?'

It was clear that stamina consumption was lower in story mode. Even though it was natural for there to be differences in stamina consumption among capsule games, there was a significant gap between what he knew and what he didn't know. Now, Sang-Hyeon was almost certain. Even though he didn't show it, he kept track of his fatigue levels while playing story mode and other games. Now, he had formulated a confident hypothesis.

'If I do something I can do in person, my brain doesn't become exhausted.'

If he only performed actions that were possible in reality, he could use capsules for a longer time. This applied not only to Sang-Hyeon, but also to other players to some extent. It was said that games that relied completely on fantasy-like powers like LIL were much more mentally and physically exhausting than games based on reality. This could be due to sensory fatigue caused by dazzling lights and thunderous sounds or because players had to exert more mental effort. Sang-Hyeon, however, formed his own hypothesis about it.

'If that's right... I can extend my play time.'

He was thinking of specific training to extend his playtime.

***

[Almond reached Level 20 today! He's going to take over the world soon!]

Ju-Hyeok browsed the LIL Pro community to cool his head. The first post swept away Ju-Hyeok's worries.

"Hahaha!"

Taking over the world when Almond only reached Level 20 was funny even for Ju-Hyeok.

— The fanboys are overreacting again, haha

— They're at it again

— Are the nuts taking over LIL now?!

— LOL, now it's just funny

There were probably people laughing at the post like Ju-Hyeok, but some people recognized Almond's skills.

— If we're looking at Almond’s skills, I'm kind of excited for him at the tournament.

└ He's for sure not a bronze.

└ Seeing how he's destroying everyone in bronze, he'll probably be plat at least. Doesn't that mean the team is OP?

└ Nono, but there's a conflict of interest in the roles with the highest ranked player on the team. They still haven't solved that.

— Isn't the funniest team Almond's team? The support is Tako staring him down with his shaved head while the ADC charges in without thinking, and the mid lane is a goddess...

└ LOL, are you writing a poem?

└ Are you their PR team?

└ If overreacting was a course, you'd get an A+

Of course, more people refused to recognize his skills. Even the best player in the world, JeonJaPa, had anti-fans.

— Whatever~ SweetRadish is going to win it all~

└ That guy better win. He was a pro like yesterday.

└ 3 months ago = yesterday(?)

Everyone was expecting SweetRadish to win the tournament. From his research, Ju-Hyeok learned that it wasn't long since SweetRadish retired from the pro scene. Even during his pro days, SweetRadish did well. He hadn't won like Tako, but still had an impressive history.

— SweetRadish? In our nut universe, we don't eat that~ only walnuts, cashews, or peanuts~

— SweetRadish? We don't need that side dish here~!

└ Does he have a different name for the main dish?

└ Of course not, wtf?

└ This guy must be new to LIL. He's probably here because of Almond... wtf do you mean is there a main dish, LOL.

— I eat sweet radishes on the side all the time. Of course, he won't be able to beat our Almond!

— The Almond fanboys are fighting back using nicknames. So childish.

└ They're probably kids.

Almond and SweetRadish fans were already fighting, but this was great for Almond. The good news was that a normal person was being compared to a previous professional player.

"If the public is on our side today, it'll be perfect."

They were gaining more viewers as well and slowly finding their place in LIL.

Bzzzt...

[Manager Oh]

Manager Oh was calling. It was rare for him to call at this hour.

Ju-Hyeok quickly picked up. He replied in a serious, but excited tone after listening for a while, "... Did that really work?"

“It's thanks to Almond having a good image. Congratulations.”

Ju-Hyeok felt relieved. Before he added another streamer under his umbrella, his gift for Sang-Hyeon had arrived. With this, he'd feel a little better.