Chapter 17

At the same time Seo Dami was facing the Jinyang Stars players, the respawned members of Universe Cat were at their base, staring at each other, at a loss.

“Ah, the Universe Cat players! They seem to be deep in thought!”

“They’re not moving from their spots at all!”

As the Broadcast Team’s regretful sighs rang out, the Universe Cat spectators erupted in anger.

-You damn bugs!

-Hurry up and run to the Control Point!

-What the hell are they doing just standing there?

-Hurry up and help Seo Dami!!!

-Are they waiting for General Seo?

They were.

The reason Universe Cat was stuck at their base was because of Seo Dami.

Seo Dami, left alone to defend the Control Point.

But logically, it was hard to see this succeeding.

After all, wasn’t it a 1-vs-5 situation?

Even for Seo Dami, could she pull off a super save against a Second Division team? It was a reasonable doubt.

So, if it was certain that Seo Dami would die soon.

Waiting for her to Respawn like this and moving together was the rational decision.

It was a common sight in the Pro Scene for teams to get picked off one by one by moving separately, ruining the Domination Battle.

“Waiting is the right call, right?”

Unsure of her judgment, Kim Harim asked the de facto Leader, Kim Yujeong.

However, Kim Yujeong didn’t give any answer, neither yes nor no.

Because she didn’t know either.

Already under pressure from fans demanding her Release for doing nothing, she didn’t want to say the wrong thing and get even more flak.

As Kim Yujeong remained silent, Kim Harim let out a groan and decided to ask Seo Dami directly through her in-ear.

Communicating while separated consumed Mana, but this was an emergency, so it should be fine.

“Dami. Can you hear me? Should we wait at the base? Or should we run to the Control Point? Give us an Order.”

“……”

But the awaited reply never came.

It couldn’t.

At the very moment Kim Yujeong tried to communicate, Seo Dami was in the middle of an Engagement, dodging a mad hail of bullets inside a Smoke Screen.

Facing the Jinyang Stars who were blindly firing into the smoke, hoping to hit anyone, Seo Dami emanated a blue aura from her body.

Acceleration Skill initiated.

At the same time, a red light bloomed in Seo Dami’s eyes.

The speed was so fast that others would just think the Acceleration Skill naturally came with a red glint in the eyes.

‘Good heavens.’

The first person to recognize its true nature was Coach Baek Jeongseop of the Titans.

He knew that the glow spreading from Seo Dami’s eyes was an infrared vision Skill, and at the same time, he realized just how proficiently Seo Dami handled Advanced Mode.

‘To think she can activate Acceleration and vision Skills simultaneously.’

This was a high-level technique that only a select few among even the First Division Players could pull off.

‘A coveted talent.’

While Coach Baek Jeongseop’s assessment of Seo Dami was skyrocketing, Seo Dami, inside the Smoke Screen, used Acceleration to dodge the incoming attacks while simultaneously Targeting the enemies’ locations.

Recoil control. Power Enhancement.

After enhancing her gun’s power with a smooth use of her Skills, she immediately pulled the Trigger.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

With a roar unbefitting a Rifle, four Jinyang Stars players went down with Headshots.

She had taken out everyone but the Defender, one shot per person.

The Spectator Seats, which had been endlessly chanting Jinyang’s name, fell silent in an instant, a testament to their shock.

The moment a hush fell over the Arena that had been as noisy as a disturbed beehive, Seo Dami, still maintaining her Acceleration, burst through the Smoke Screen and lunged at the Defender.

Lightsaber.

As the blue Beam Sword, activated with Penetration Energy, stabbed the Shield, a hole was blown through it with a shower of sparks.

“Ugh!”

Startled, Jinyang Stars’ Ryu Sooyeon tilted her Shield and attempted a Counterattack.

Her own Acceleration hadn’t run out yet.

‘With Counter-Acceleration, I have a decent chance!’

With that thought, Ryu Sooyeon lowered the hand holding the Shield to secure a firing angle.

She attempted a point-blank attack.

No matter how weak a Defender’s submachine gun’s Firepower was, landing a full clip was more than enough to take down an Attacker.

A fleeting moment.

Ryu Sooyeon felt as if time had slowed down.

The Shield slowly lowered, and Seo Dami’s head began to rise into view.

Shoot. If I shoot, I win. I just have to mercilessly spray bullets into her face.

With that mindset.

Ryu Sooyeon twisted the submachine gun in her right hand with all her might.

‘Just a little faster!’

Her mind was racing, but her body couldn’t seem to keep up.

The Muzzle of the submachine gun was slowly turning toward Seo Dami’s face.

‘If I just get you…! Victory is ours!’

It was then.

Ryu Sooyeon saw it.

Seo Dami, her eyes meeting hers, grinning.

A chill ran down her spine.

In this slow-motion world, it felt as if only that girl was moving freely.

It’s just my imagination, right?

There’s no way you can be that fast. Right?

The moment Ryu Sooyeon felt that anxiety.

The Muzzle of Seo Dami’s Rifle popped up over the Shield.

‘No way…!’

Shock.

Before she could even process why things had turned out this way, a loud bang echoed as Seo Dami’s fifth shot went off.

A Headshot, fired with the Muzzle right in front of her face.

As Ryu Sooyeon’s body crumpled to the ground, the blue Point Gauge, signifying the Blue Team, began to fill up.

“My goodness! Universe Cat! A super save—!”

“Seo Dami! She withstands Jinyang Stars’ fierce assault all by herself and defends the Control Point!!!”

-Waaaaaaah!!!!!

-Seo Dami!

-Seo Dami!

-Seo Dami!

The undisputed strongest in the Third Division League.

Having succeeded in her super save, Seo Dami raised a triumphant fist toward the Spectator Seats.

‘Goddammit.’

The good times were over.

Looking like drowned rats, the Universe Cat players sat in the Waiting Room, sniffling.

On the Scoreboard, a single green circle lit up, signaling Universe Cat’s victory.

A Set one victory at the Temple of Attica.

And yet, despite the win, the atmosphere in the Waiting Room was far from good.

‘We should have finished it faster.’

I brushed the water from my hair and checked the Scoreboard again.

Next to the Set one victory, the numbers 24:31 were written.

24 minutes and 31 seconds.

That was the time we had spent running around in the rain just to take a single Set.

<Oppa. Are you okay…?>

‘For now.’

<Don’t lie.>

‘Why ask if you’re not going to believe me?’

<……>

‘I still have some left in the tank. I’m fine.’

I acted nonchalant, pretending to be fine for Seo Dami, who was worried about my Condition.

But in reality, I wasn’t fine at all.

It was because I had used up too much Stamina.

Kim Yujeong, Lee Seyeon, Song Yuri, and even Kim Harim.

All those girls did during the first Set was run around and die.

They were constantly getting headshot by Jinyang’s snipers while running from the base, and on the rare occasion they made it to the Control Point, they would quickly disappear while being marked one-on-one.

Useless teammates.

And the continuous Engagements in one-versus-many situations.

The hard-earned gauge fluctuated wildly every time Jinyang Stars charged in, and I had to endure and endure the seemingly endless battle.

After all that chaos on the front lines without any proper Support…

It would be strange if I had any Stamina left.

I wanted to soak my body in a warm bath right away to raise my body temperature, then cover myself with a blanket and get some sleep.

As if he knew my situation, Director Hong was relentlessly nagging the players.

How long were they going to rely on Dami?

Now it was their turn.

If they wanted to get promoted to the Second Division League, they had to prove they were players worthy of the Second Division.

But I knew, Director Hong knew, and my teammates knew that it was an impossible task.

From the beginning, I was the only player on this team qualified to enter the Second Division League.

‘Damn it. I’m going to Transfer anyway, I don’t know why I’m going through all this trouble.’

But the thought of giving up just wouldn’t come to me.

Was it because I didn’t want to lose to Jinyang Stars, who had underestimated us?

Or was it because I felt sorry for the Spectators who came to watch the match?

With the answer unclear, I silently bowed my head to rest even for a little.

To hold a gun again, I had to conserve even the energy to speak.

As I was catching my breath, a vibration, along with the Spectators’ Cheers, was transmitted to the Waiting Room.

The next Battlefield had been decided.

“Set 1 was fierce enough to be recorded in the history of the Promotion-Relegation Match! The Battlefield to follow is! Boundary! A Deathmatch in the ruins!”

I was now in a situation where I had to run around in the rain for another 15 minutes.

I cursed inwardly, I’m fucked.

It seemed the goddess of victory wasn’t on my side today.

「Universe Cat’s Breadwinner, Seo Dami. The Fighting Spirit She Showed.」

「Jinyang Stars, Back from the Brink. Expressing Gratitude to the Fans Who Believed in Them to the End.」

「The Reason for Universe Cat’s Defeat Was the ‘Do It for Me’ Mentality That Persisted Throughout the League.」

「SH Titans Officials Spotted at the Promotion-Relegation Match. A Green Light for Seo Dami’s Move to the First Division League?」

「Seo Dami, Proving Her Worth Even in Defeat. Rapidly Emerging as a Hidden Storm in the Winter Transfer Market.」

The Season was over.

When I opened my eyes, it was the next morning.

Universe Cat had lost Sets 2 and 3 in a row, and ultimately failed to get promoted.

It couldn’t be helped.

Dami was still only eighteen.

There was a structural limit to how much I could Carry on my own.

She was far from her physical peak, and there wasn’t a single person on the team I could trust.

By the time Set 3 ended, I was exhausted. After bowing my head to the fans who came to watch the game, I went straight back to my room and slept soundly.

No one came looking for me until morning.

No, maybe someone did, but it wasn’t enough to wake me up.

“There’s a message…”

It was a text from Dami’s father.

He said I had worked really hard.

It was a message of support, hoping I would play for a better team next year.

“Dami. It looks like your father wants you to go to another team, too.”

<That’s understandable.>

Recalling yesterday’s match, Seo Dami uncharacteristically chided her teammates.

She said the team was truly beyond the pale.

“The real negotiations will probably start next week.”

Starting today, there was a one-week Exclusive Negotiation Period with my original team.

Universe Cat would try to hold onto me somehow during that short time.

But I had absolutely no intention of staying on this team.

This one Season of such a shitty experience was more than enough.

I didn’t have much to pack, so I was about to just grab my phone and head to my parents’ house, but the cafeteria was bustling from early in the morning.

Wondering what was going on, I saw Director Hong spot me and rush over.

“Our Dami. You’re up now.”

Our Dami, my ass.

Even though I scowled, Director Hong just chuckled and asked for a moment of my time.

“What is it?”

When I entered the cafeteria, besides Director Hong and Coach Kim Hakseong, there were a few other people sitting there.

“These people are here to help with your Contract.”

Employees from the Parent Company, and even a lawyer for notarization.

I could feel their strong desire to get my signature on a Re-signing Contract, one way or another.

“Is this why you all gathered here so early in the morning?”

“‘This’? Isn’t this the most important matter for our ‘team’?”

Director Hong, wearing a business smile, pulled out a chair for me to sit comfortably.

As I sat down, I came face-to-face with a corporate employee I had met once before.

“Seo Dami. We’ve met before, haven’t we? I’m Kim Minseong, a deputy manager at Wooju Chemical.”

“Yes. Hello.”

I gave a slight nod, and he said he wouldn’t take up too much of my time before showing me the Contract he had prepared.

“The performance you showed this Season, Seo Dami. It was truly impressive.”

The deputy manager started off by saying I was an indispensable player to the team, a player who would greatly revitalize the League in the future, then puffed out his chest, saying he would give me the best treatment in the Third Division League.

“Your Annual Salary this year was 35 million Won, wasn’t it, Seo Dami?”

“Yes.”

“If you re-sign, you can receive 245 million Won starting next year. What do you think? It’s a higher amount than not only the Third Division League but also most Second Division players.”

Hoh…

It was certainly a lot of money.

My Annual Salary of 35 million had jumped sevenfold in an instant.

However, that alone wasn’t enough to change my mind.

As long as I could teach Seo Dami for even one more day, she needed to experience a bigger stage.

Dami’s goal was to win the First Division League.

There was no reason to waste time in the Third Division League when she had such a long way to go.

Of course, I hadn’t thrown my social skills out the window, so I thanked him for the offer and stood up, saying I would go home and think about it.

“You’ll… think about it.”

“Yes.”

When I stood up abruptly, the deputy manager looked a little surprised.

He must have thought I would happily sign on the dotted line as soon as he presented such a sum.

So naive about the ways of the world.

Although I lost in the Promotion-Relegation Match yesterday, the plays I showed were imprinted in the minds of many Scouts.

Of course they were.

Anyone with eyes would know that it wasn’t a Performance a Third Division League player could show.

I could guarantee it.

Once the Exclusive Negotiation Period was over, countless officials would be knocking on my door with even better offers.

Among them, there might even be a First Division League team.

So why in the world would I stay in the Third Division?

“I hope for a positive outcome.”

I bid farewell to the bitterly smiling deputy manager and was about to leave the Team House when Kim Harim, in her pajamas, came rushing down the stairs.

“Don’t go! Don’t go… Seo Dami!”

Her eyes were puffy, as if something had happened during the night.

“The Season’s over. I’m going home to rest.”

“Not that! Let’s play together. Dami. Just for one more year, huh?”

Come to think of it, Kim Harim still had another year left on her contract with Universe Cat.

Meaning she was stuck here for another year, even without me.

That’s why she was clinging to me like this.

She had benefited greatly from my help this Season, so I understood her not wanting to be separated.

But Harim.

Think carefully.

I’ve done my part, haven’t I? In fact, considering what you got this Season, you shouldn’t be acting like this.

This is no different from asking me to slog through this hellhole for another year, when you should be bowing down and saying, ‘Master, thank you for this past year!’

When I said as much with my eyes, Kim Harim hung her head low.

She seemed to know she had no justification to persuade me.

“Unni.”

“Huh?”

“The Third Division is your level for now.”

“……”

“If you want to play with me, practice hard. Don’t be lazy. Then who knows? We might see each other again somewhere, someday.”

“Hmph.”

Kim Harim sniffled.

And Director Hong, who had been eavesdropping on our conversation, had a soured expression.

It was as good as announcing to everyone that I was leaving the team.

“Dami. Please, just reconsider one more time…”

“I told you I’d think about it at home, Coach.”

“R-Right.”

It felt like Director Hong would keep clinging to me if I stayed any longer, so I hurried out of the Team House.

Of course, I didn’t forget to pat Kim Harim on the shoulder one last time.

“See you later, then.”

“…Yeah.”

Kim Yujeong’s gang was irredeemable trash, but Kim Harim still had potential.

She was still nineteen.

If she trained hard enough to shit blood, she had a chance of moving up to a higher League.

“Contact me anytime if you have something to say. You know my number. I won’t ignore you.”

“…Yeah!”

And so, I took a taxi and headed for my parents’ house.

Seo Dami, who had caused a small storm in the UA Pro Scene this Season.

It was now time to begin a new journey as a Big-Name Free Agent.

“Mom! Dad! I’m hooome~.”

A week had passed peacefully, eating fruit cut by the housekeeper whenever I was bored.

Just as I was clicking my tongue after belatedly confirming the news that my hometown team, Magnus, had barely avoided Relegation, I received a call from an unknown number.

“Yes, hello.”

-Hello. This is the SH Titans Front Office. Am I speaking with Seo Dami?

“Ah, yes. That’s me. But what is this about?”

What is this about?

They obviously called to talk about a Contract.

Setting aside how the Titans got my number, I was curious about what they would offer.

SH Titans.

A First Division League team with Samho Construction as its Parent Company.

The first team to cast a line was quite a big catch.