Chapter 48

In Universe Arena, even when competing in tournaments, players rarely had the chance to meet offline.

This was because in the domestic League, even the Final was held in the In-Game Arena without a separate gathering.

But global tournaments were different.

For global tournaments like the World Championship or the Olympics, all the players gathered offline.

This Event Match was no different.

Since players from four leagues were gathering, a Rally point was needed, and Jeju Island was chosen.

“So hoooot.”

Exiting Jeju Airport, with its palm trees, the players fanned themselves with their hands as they waited for their vehicle.

The group was a modest one.

No Director, no Coach.

Just five players.

On top of that, four Guards were assigned to them in case of any unforeseen incidents.

With only the players gathered, without a Director or Coach, it felt more like a trip somewhere than an international competition.

Somehow having heard the news, a fair number of fans were waiting at the airport for the joint team.

Most of them were there to see Kim Seunga.

Kim Seunga.

Captain of the domestic First Division League’s Artemis Team.

This Academy Challenge event also held the meaning of giving guidance to Second and Third Division players, so for the First Division Player, an experienced player who could act as a mentor was to be selected.

As a result, Kim Seunga, who was evaluated as the most skilled and experienced in Korea, was selected as the Captain of this joint team.

And from the Second and Third Divisions, perhaps conscious of the original intention to provide an opportunity, all the selected players were under nineteen years old.

First Division Kim Seunga (Rifle), 25, Artemis.

Second Division Seo Dami (Rifle), 19, Super Sylph.

Second Division Han Chaei (Supporter), 18, Red Phoenix.

Third Division Kim Soyoung (Defender), 18, Nymph Gaming.

Third Division Lee Seulgi (Sniper), 17, Shooting Star.

Jung Yunseul and Hwang Jua were greatly disappointed by the selection results.

“What am I lacking! Graaah!”

Hwang Jua was deeply dejected at the news that I was the only one chosen from our team, but in truth, there wasn’t much of a skill difference between Han Chaei and Hwang Jua.

If I had to pick one thing, it was that Han Chaei was a year younger.

It seemed the association had decided to pick the younger player if their skills were the same.

“Why wasn’t I picked…”

Yunseuli was just as disappointed.

But what could be done?

The team already had two Attackers.

It was true that Jung Yunseul was a standout in the Second Division and among players under twenty, but if her competition was me and Kim Seunga, she still had a long way to go.

-Dami, you got picked, right?

-Of course.

-I’m so jealous…. Do well in the international match!

-Watch closely, I’m going to win.

-Okay, okay.

There was someone else who was disappointed.

It was Kim Harim.

I still kept in touch with Harim from time to time, and it seemed she had been secretly hoping she would be chosen.

‘Oh, Harim…’

Kim Harim was twenty this year.

Since the selection was focused on young Prospects from the start, she was far from qualifying.

Of course, it was true that her skills had grown considerably compared to before.

She had diligently asked me whenever she had questions during training, and in fact, Universe Cat was currently ranked 6th this year.

One might say that a team that placed 3rd last year doing 6th isn’t good, but one had to keep in mind that this team had completely replaced its members and recruited a large number of Prospects.

The fact that they could achieve a 6th place ranking with rookies who had no League experience was largely due to the role of the Team Leader, Kim Harim.

Although Promotion seemed difficult this year, if the rookies’ Form improved a bit, it looked like they could aim for Promotion to the Second Division next year.

Work hard, Harim!

Then you’ll be able to set foot on the threshold of the Second Division!

“General Seo!”

“Seo Dami-!”

“Look over here, please!”

Just as I was thinking about Harim, I heard voices calling my name.

When I turned in that direction, a pterodactyl-like shriek of kyaak-! rang out, and flashes went off.

Their identities were fans who were taking pictures of me with cameras and waving their hands.

Compared to Kim Seunga’s fans, they were just a handful, but I was touched that there were fans who came all the way to the airport to see me.

<Dami… is touched!>

Since I was mostly active In-Game, how many chances would I get to actually interact with fans?

While Dami was feeling touched, I spoke to the Guard ahjussis.

“Can I go over and say hi for a moment?”

“You may not.”

“The bus isn’t even here yet.”

“It’ll be here soon.”

“10, 9, 8, 7…”

“???”

When it didn’t come after waiting 10 seconds, I stealthily moved over and quickly grabbed the T-shirt the fans were waving.

A marker was with it.

SEO.

When I signed it in a somewhat cool way, they were all thrilled, saying thank you.

Seeing that, Kim Seunga’s fans started to slowly drift over to my side.

“Wow. They’re giving autographs over there.”

“That’s Seo Dami, right?”

“Doesn’t our Seunga give autographs?”

“Seunga gives them all out at the official Artemis Fan Meetings, you idiot.”

As Kim Seunga’s fans, who had been whispering, stealthily joined in to get an autograph, the size of my fan group swelled in an instant.

I thought they wouldn’t be very interested in me, but it was unexpected.

“Awesome.”

“She’s even prettier up close.”

“So cute…”

“Should we try cheering for her?”

“I think it’d be fun to cheer for her.”

I could clearly hear the fans whispering as they looked at me.

Yes. Please cheer for me a lot.

The Fan Service is great here.

‘You must be happy, Dami? It’s a sea of fans calling you pretty.’

<Hmph…>

Just as I was signing a few more autographs, the bus really did arrive.

I put my hands together to apologize for not being able to do more, then boarded the bus.

Leaving the waving fans behind, I was about to sit down when Kim Seunga, who had gone inside earlier, moved to the window seat and patted the spot next to her.

It was a clear sign for anyone to see that I should sit next to her, so I quickly sat down.

When I sent her a look that said, If you have something to say, say it, Kim Seunga spoke with an awkward expression.

“You know you’re the Sub-Leader this time, right?”

Hmm? Was I?

The Leader is Kim Seunga, and I’m next?

Come to think of it, I was the second oldest on this team.

A team where a nineteen-year-old is the second oldest.

How fitting for a Prospect Development event.

“By age, and by skill. There’s no one else to be the Sub-Leader but you.”

Kim Seunga said that, then brought up whether I had thought about the offer she made last time.

She was talking about the offer to join Artemis that I received during the Legendary Challenge.

If my teammates had seen this, it was a moment where they would have shrieked that they could never let Seo Dami go.

How should I answer this?

If I say, We’re getting promoted this year, so I’m thinking of Re-signing, will she get angry?

As I was contemplating my answer, the man sitting at the front of the bus stood up and began to speak.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you all. I am PD Kim Seungha, and I will be with you all during this Academy Challenge period to manage the Content.”

A PD?

Well, since it had to be broadcast, it was only natural in a way that there would be a producer.

He said that from now on, a cameraman would be filming us during the Event Match, and that we shouldn’t be flustered but just show our natural selves.

At that, the Third Division players sitting in the back made a fuss.

Saying, what if they become popular stars from this?

Do you think it’s as easy as it sounds?

Your skills have to back it up. Your skills.

No matter how I looked at it, the core of this event wasn’t player Development, but the results of the international matches.

Raising Prospects was just for show.

In the end, you had to win to gain popularity.

If we showed ourselves getting completely thrashed by Japan, China, and Russia, even the fans we had would run away.

“First, I’ll explain the schedule. There are no matches scheduled for today…”

First, since it was a hastily formed team, we would have a few days to train under the command of the mentor and Leader.

Three days.

There was a Practice Match in between, but that was just practice.

Once we got used to it, we would start the full league against the overseas teams, he said.

The PD added that since it would be broadcast live across the country, he hoped for good results if possible.

“Personally, I have high expectations. Player Kim Seunga, Player Seo Dami.”

Saying so, PD Kim Seungha looked towards where we were sitting.

From behind, the Third Division rookies whispered, Why isn’t he saying he has expectations for us?

The main PD seemed to have expectations that didn’t match our domestic team’s capabilities, and the kids scouted from the Third Division seemed to be living in a fantasy world.

Somehow, I had a feeling this event would be full of twists and turns.

The bus headed for a hotel in the Jungmun Tourist Complex.

“There are two rooms, so you can use them as you see fit.”

The twin room was for two people, and the deluxe twin room was for three.

He also said that cameras were installed in the rooms, but they would only be used for editing, and any problematic scenes would be cut, so we should just live our lives without worrying about it.

Worry about it my ass.

How uncomfortable would it be if someone told you they installed a camera in your room?

Not me, but during my player days, I saw a guy who would walk around from room to room naked as soon as he was done washing up.

There could very well be that type among the female players too.

“How should we divide the rooms?”

Kim Seunga pondered, holding two key cards.

“Should Dami and I use the small room, and you guys use the big one?”

“Un, Unni. I want to use the room with Dami Unni too…”

“Huh?”

The one who cried for help in a tiny voice was the Red Phoenix team’s Supporter, Han Chaei.

Her reason was that if Kim Seunga and I shared a room, she would have to share with the Third Division players, and that would be too uncomfortable.

Indeed, those two from the Third Division already seemed to be hitting it off well.

“Then we’ll use the big room, and you guys use the small one.”

“Okay.”

And so, the First and Second Division players decided to live together, and the two Third Division players would use the remaining room.

“PD-nim. Is it free time after this, then?”

“It seems you can spend your time freely today. If you have business outside the hotel, please be sure to let us know. A camera has to be attached.”

At that moment, I got a very ominous feeling.

We can go outside the hotel?

We didn’t come here to play, did we?

And yet, the PD’s reaction was that he wouldn’t care what we did.

Kim Seunga, who seemed to have gotten a similar feeling, made a hmm- sound and asked where we could play the game.

“We have prepared an environment where you can practice during this schedule in the hotel basement. You can use it freely at any time.”

“You said there’s a Practice Match. Could you tell us when that is?”

“Hmm. It’s tomorrow at lunchtime.”

The first Practice Match against an overseas team was less than 24 hours away.

And yet he’s saying he won’t touch us no matter what we do?

“Unni, isn’t something strange?”

“Hmm. It is. This is a first for me too…”

Since there was no Coach or Director to plan the schedule, managing the team was Kim Seunga’s responsibility.

She thought for a moment, then spoke to the players.

She asked if anyone had any physical discomfort, as they were going to train before eating.

At that, the Third Division players’ expressions turned slightly sullen.

Look at these kids.

It was obvious they were thinking of going out to play since it was free time.

Are you in a position to be playing around right now?

The ones with the worst skills are thinking about playing first.

No.

Perhaps the PD was aiming for this?

It was a well-known fact that among the teams gathered this time, Korea was the weakest.

Since the result was already decided anyway, a rational suspicion arose that he was trying to get some footage that would become a hot topic.

It made sense. If the team with the worst skills doesn’t practice and instead goes around having fun, visiting famous restaurants, and then gets completely crushed.

Even if it was just a Practice Match, the thought that the Community opinion would be ablaze came to me naturally.

The ratings would be good, is what it is.

<Are you saying he was trying to use us as firewood?>

‘Probably?’

We were almost torn to shreds by UA fans across the country before the game even started.

If this was the plan, why did he say he had expectations for us on the bus earlier?

I clicked my tongue and glared at the PD.

The fortunate thing was that our Leader was a sensible person, so such a disaster wouldn’t happen.

A twenty-five-year-old veteran national Ace.

When a great Sunbae like Kim Seunga said let’s train, there was no one here who would throw a tantrum saying they wanted to play.

If there was a kid who could say that with a camera right next to them, they deserved praise in a different sense.

You’re the craziest one in this area.

“Then let’s unpack and meet back here.”

“Yes.”

So we unpacked in our rooms and gathered in the Lobby.

I had a quick look around, and the room Condition was as good as it could be.

As we gathered in the Lobby and waited for the Third Division players who hadn’t arrived yet, the main entrance area became noisy.

An entourage of people came rushing in through the door.

And among them were blue-eyed players entering with confident strides.

It was the Russian team that had just flown into Jeju Island.

<Pretty.>

Tall with slender limbs.

The Russian players were all tall, and at that moment, the player at the front who seemed to be the Leader glanced our way, then paid us no mind and went straight up to her room.

‘What the. That’s annoying.’

<Now that I look again, they don’t seem that pretty.>

Was it something like, I don’t even want to talk to a low-level team like Korea?

She didn’t just fail to see us; she clearly looked our way, smirked, and then whipped her head away, which made me think that was definitely her intention.

The Lobby, where a crowd of people had rushed in and then rushed out.

After that, the Third Division players came down.

Why did it take so long just to drop off one piece of luggage?

So undisciplined.

Since they weren’t my team, I couldn’t say anything too harsh, but then my eyes widened.

‘Is this for real?’

I wondered why they were late, and it was these kids.

Their skin tone was different from before.

As soon as they heard on the bus that a camera would be on them, hadn’t they come down after putting on makeup?

There was no way the other players wouldn’t notice this difference.

Even Kim Seunga was just blinking, as if dumbfounded.

No, don’t just blink at a time like this, you have to say something as the Leader! Seunga!

As I shouted that inwardly and looked at Seunga, her gaze met mine.

-You do it. Dami.

Seunga’s eyes told me.

It’s too absurd and I’d lose face if I stepped in. You’re in the middle, so you handle these brats for me…

She was saying she wouldn’t hold me responsible in any way.

Ah, damn it, I shouldn’t.

Even knowing the camera was filming us, I had no choice but to swing the sword Seunga had handed me.

Seeing how these kids had been acting since earlier, I was pretty pissed off too.

“Hey.”

“…Yes?”

“You guys. Did you come here to play?”

As I lowered my voice, the Lobby became quiet as if doused with cold water.

It was a very bad start right from the beginning.