Season 3: Chapter 174: First Time (3)
Do-Joon was experiencing many things for the first time. He advanced to the main tournament, won a match, was selected as an MVP, received tremendous cheers, and was being interviewed in a grand stadium.
Standing in front of the microphone amid the resounding cheers, perhaps Do-Joon had dreamed of this moment the most.
He recalled when Almond joined their team.
‘I couldn't understand it.’
Do-Joon was among those who couldn't accept Almond joining their team. He doubted Almond's skills, but that wasn't the main issue. What he couldn't understand was something else.
‘The reason why.’
Why did Almond want to participate in the national competition? He was someone who seemingly had nothing to lose. No matter how difficult his past, Almond now enjoyed success as a streamer with income and popularity far surpassing everyone else. For such a person, the national competition would only be grueling.
That was what Do-Joon thought.
‘People like him can’t endure it.’
They didn’t need someone who had no reason to endure the tough competition.
Skills were secondary. No matter how outstanding the skills, it was meaningless if one couldn't endure the arduous march. Such a person couldn’t be a national competition player.
Do-Joon had seen countless cases. People who had the skills, but gave up halfway and eventually returned to their original lives. Those people weren't wrong. Instead, he thought he could be the one in the wrong.
However, the national competition wanted people like Do-Joon, who was somewhat flawed.
They concluded that people who had no reason to endure would not be accepted.
Chi-Seung also knew this, but gave him this answer.
“Almond has a reason to endure.”
“What? What does he have to lose?”
“He wants to be a national representative.”
“… A national representative?”
It was the first time someone wanted to join for such a reason.
“Does that even count as a reason to endure? More importantly…”
Do-Joon couldn’t understand what that meant.
“We aren’t even real national representatives.”
For a long time, Do-Joon had doubted this. To be precise, he couldn’t understand it. Why did this come to mind at this crucial moment?
Why did Chi-Seung’s bitter smile and that answer resurface in his memory now?
“He thinks we’re national representatives.”
Do-Joon closed his eyes tightly as he received the microphone and the reporter asked him a question. He couldn't hear clearly because of the cheers. He bit his lip to hold something back.
‘It was the first time I thought about it like that.’
Even if Chi-Seung did, Do-Joon never had such illusions. Despite being involved in this game for a long time, Do-Joon never considered it.
A national representative? Could that be possible with a game like this? It just felt embarrassing because they were fake.
‘But that becomes a reason to endure…’
Even if it was just an empty shell, it was enough of a reason for Almond to endure. As proof, Almond was standing beside Do-Joon now.
“Coffee…?”
The reporter, sounding worried, examined his complexion. The cheers from the crowd gradually turned into murmurs.
The corners of Do-Joon’s eyes felt hot. It couldn't be stopped no matter how tightly he closed his eyes. With a trembling hand, he finally took the microphone and opened his mouth.
“… Ah, I’m sorry. What did you say?”
“Ah. Your thoughts on the victory! And how do you feel about being selected as MVP for the first time?”
Do-Joon nodded. He briefly met eyes with Sang-Hyeon beside him. He didn’t sense any worry or bewilderment in Sang-Hyeon’s gaze like everyone else. Sang-Hyeon simply looked at him as if conveying some strength.
“Uh, I…”
Do-Joon’s Adam's apple bobbed once.
“I never thought of us as national representatives, but… someone saw us as that…”
He took a deep breath and swallowed his trembling voice.
“At first… I didn’t know what that meant. I wondered why it mattered… Being a national representative… does it feed you…?”
He chuckled to push away his tears.
“But when someone believes so strongly, a miracle happens. Gradually… more and more people started believing… that we, just gamers… were national representatives.”
“…”
The reporter nodded for him to continue.
Do-Joon mustered the courage to finish his speech.
“I still thought, ‘What’s the point?’ I thought… does it really give someone a reason to endure? But it wasn’t like that.”
— Nooooo
— Why is he crying :(
— Oh no
— Awww
He squeezed out his last bit of strength and spoke each word clearly.
“It became a much bigger strength than I thought.”
After finishing his speech, Do-Joon seemed to collapse as if his legs gave way.
In his mind, old scenes played like a film. The first time he played the game, meeting Cookie, watching the national competition for the first time, meeting Barum for the first time…
They were insignificant memories, yet—
“It gave me much more strength.”
***
Watching Do-Joon’s interview from the waiting room, complex emotions filled Cookie's eyes. He had known Coffee for a long time and many memories flashed through his mind.
Someone approached Cookie as he tried to calm his emotions.
“Hey, Hui-Chul.”
It was the former generation's commander, Lee Tae-Yong.
“Ah, Tae-Yong.”
Hui-Chul turned to face him. He wasn’t surprised since he knew Tae-Yong came to watch.
Tae-Yong approached with a nod.
“I knew you could do it. I…” he swallowed a handful of air before continuing, “I knew I made the right choice.”
Tae-Yong spoke with a hand on Hui-Chul’s shoulder, leaving Hui-Chul speechless.
“…”
After Hui-Chul became commander, Korea never made it into the main tournament again. As this persisted for about two years, some also directed criticism at the previous commander Tae-Yong.
Why did he choose Cookie, a complete rookie, instead of another veteran? It showed that the former commander had no eye for talent, leading to Korea’s current state.
Although these small criticisms only came from small communities, it felt like the entire world had turned its back on them.
‘Was it the right choice?’
Hui-Chul still couldn’t answer this question. Tae-Yong’s choice had finally paid off, but it took a long time.
Hui-Chul found it curious.
‘I still don’t know.’
He thought this feeling would disappear if they won for the first time in the main tournament because that would be an unprecedented achievement for Korea.
However, Hui-Chul valued the process as much as the result and couldn’t shake off this question.
When Hui-Chul asked Tae-Yong why he had been chosen, he received this answer.
“Because the time we’re given is short.”
Tae-Yong didn’t know about Hui-Chul’s condition, at least Hui-Chul thought so. After hearing that, it was hard to think otherwise.
“How is it supposed to work out if you choose based on that? It’s fine if it’s based on skills.”
“I believe I made the right choice.”
Tae-Yong only gave him a vague answer, but Hui-Chul thought he had been chosen because of his condition. The other candidate who lost to Hui-Chul eventually left the think tank and Hui-Chul remained as commander for five years despite poor results.
He still didn’t know why Tae-Yong chose him and whether it was right. Even when he asked, Tae-Yong never gave a clear answer. Hui-Chul couldn’t keep asking and reveal his own vulnerabilities.
He just focused silently on his given tasks, which led to today.
They had undoubtedly achieved a remarkable feat, but it wasn’t enough. They needed to accomplish an overwhelming and impossible achievement. Only then would Hui-Chul believe that Tae-Yong made the right choice.
Tuk. Tuk.
Hui-Chul bitterly laughed and patted Tae-Yong on the back.
“Yeah. You made the right choice.”
Tae-Yong brightly smiled and nodded.
“Yeah. After the tournament, let’s have a grand celebration.”
***
Outside the stadium…
“Almond!”
Jessie met him as they left the stadium after the match. She didn't look well after losing two to zero and playing a fierce game, but she waited for him to say her final goodbyes.
“You played really good today. It feels like just yesterday when I found you cute.”
Jessie had praised him several times, but she genuinely praised him this time for something unrelated to his looks.
“Are you going straight to Denmark?”
“Hmm. I probably should. It’d be nice to stay and shop, but public opinion isn’t great right now.”
Jessie, being a professional, had to be wary of public opinion.
‘So this is what strong countries face.’
It showed the pressure of high expectations.
Jessie, who always acted bright and confident, seemed down.
“Will you be coming next year…?” Jessie carefully asked Sang-Hyeon.
She knew his situation and the team’s circumstances. She knew he could possibly not come back.
“Yeah. Probably.”
However, Sang-Hyeon said there was a chance.
Jessie laughed at his confidence and turned to leave.
“See you again.”
***
The losing team left and the winning team stayed for the next match.
Joseon’s national team rested at their accommodations.
“Haa~~ I’m tired.”
Pang shared a room with Sang-Hyeon and flopped onto the bed after changing.
“Ah… but we won! I can proudly tell my mom…”
Snore!
Pang fell asleep mid-sentence. His mother hadn’t spoken to him since he quit his job. She probably felt too shocked.
‘He’s really sleeping.’
Of course, her son didn’t seem to care and just slept soundly.
At times like this, Sang-Hyeon found comfort in his situation. Even Ju-Hyeok struggled with parental conflicts.
After showering, Sang-Hyeon lay down on the bed.
“… Whew.”
He brushed his still-wet hair and raised his arm. His right arm started trembling after a while. He clenched his fist. The more he tensed, the more it trembled.
‘Can I play the second round?’
He knew using a normal capsule, even a premium one, would be hard. Experiencing it was a different story. It wasn’t as easy as he thought.
‘Coffee seemed to know.’
Coffee didn’t say anything, but Sang-Hyeon felt something when Coffee sent him off on the horse.
Coffee initially wanted to escape together, but he suddenly stopped and jumped off.
‘He knew when he held my hand.’
Even if Sang-Hyeon wasn’t very perceptive, he was quite sensitive about his right hand. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say all his nerves were focused there. He noticed everyone’s gaze or reaction to his disability.
It started as a suspicion. Then, their actions confirmed it. Today had a good outcome, but it often didn’t.
“Sigh.”
Sang-Hyeon decided to set aside his worries. He adjusted his pillow and lay down comfortably. He thought it was best to sleep while Pang was also sleeping.
Just as he closed his eyes…
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the hotel room door.
‘Hmm?’
Latte or Spam probably came to visit. They often gathered in Pang’s room to hang out.
‘They have good stamina.’
Always playing right after the game ended.
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door again.
“Ah… coming.”
Sang-Hyeon slowly got up, put on a shirt, and opened the door.
“!?”
Someone completely unexpected stood outside.
“Sang-Hyeon, did you block me?”
“...!”