Season 3: Chapter 245. Legends Never Die (1)
"No."
Sa-Rang shook her head defiantly at those words.
“What do you mean no? That’s something I, the doctor, should be saying.”
“We don’t have another commander.”
“Why should I care? Since when did you start putting your life on the line for this game? Ah, I get it now. You were just planning to quietly go along with it, throwing everything away, including your life!”
‘L-Life?’
The atmosphere in the bustling waiting room instantly chilled.
‘Wait, it was that serious?’
‘I don’t know...’
Hearing the doctor say her life was on the line made it hard to dismiss it as just a figure of speech.
“Ahaha! Everyone? It’s not that her life is literally on the line... haha. It’s just a figure of speech.”
Sensing the atmosphere, Song Ha-Na corrected herself.
‘Is she really a doctor?’
‘Would a doctor say someone’s life is on the line just like that?’
‘What’s going on?’
“Phew.”
The players felt relieved to hear it wasn’t a life-threatening issue, but the silence continued.
‘Isn’t this basically the same as saying she can’t come out?’
Even if it wasn’t life-threatening, the doctor had still declared her unfit to compete. And they had no replacement commander available. According to the rules, only players registered as commanders could compete.
“Chi-Seung...”
Barum looked at Chi-Seung with a meaningful gaze.
“If the opposing team agrees, we can have a commander from outside the roster in an emergency.”
Chi-Seung nodded.
“That’s right.”
The problem was that the opposing team had to agree.
“Ringo is usually well-mannered, so he might agree. But...”
He didn’t doubt that Ringo would agree.
“They’ll know we’re sick.”
Cookie had refused visitors to hide his illness and was hospitalized in a secluded place where no one knew.
“No.”
Sa-Rang had the same thought. She added a firm, “Never,” as she pushed the doctor away and approached them.
“Even if we win like that, we’ll definitely lose the next game.”
Even if Chi-Seung went out and Joseon managed to win, they would have no chance in the semifinals. The enemy would relentlessly target them with endurance battles once they knew the commander was weak, leaving Joseon unable to hold out. They would also figure out that Joseon had no choice but to make early decisive moves, exposing many strategic and tactical weaknesses.
“So what do we do?”
But Joseon had no choice. It wasn’t the time to worry about the semifinals. The issue was surviving the quarterfinals.
Sa-Rang answered simply, “I have to go.”
“......”
Everyone looked at the doctor, who naturally shook her head.
“No.”
“Yes. I understand your opinion.”
“... What?”
“I understand the medical team’s opinion well, but I will play.”
“...?!”
Song Ha-Na was left speechless. She had no authority to forcibly stop her if Sa-Rang insisted on going. She couldn’t understand.
“Why are you doing this?”
She refrained from saying it wasn’t even LIL, but the thought lingered in her throat.
“Because I want to win.”
“It could interfere with your rehabilitation—”
“What’s the point of rehabilitation?”
“......”
Song Ha-Na couldn’t find the words. Sa-Rang finished her sentence for her.
“Because I want to win.”
***
The break ended and the fourth game began. The audience took their seats and the commentators picked up their microphones.
“Ah... we narrowly lost the last game. We need to turn things around this time.”
“Yes. We definitely have the capability. In the third game, Japan managed to turn things around strategically. We can see it that way, but...”
OrangeKing had concerns.
“Yes, of course?”
“Well, naturally! The third game had significant meaning for Japan. More than just continuing the game, they may have found a key to come back...! We could put it that way.”
The worry that Ringo possibly figured out Joseon lingered.
“Right? They lost the first game quickly, held out longer in the second, and won the third. It seems like they’re overcoming something! Yes!”
Japan was clearly improving in its strategies against Joseon.
“But! Joseon’s performance today was overwhelming in the first and second games! They were flying! Literally!”
“That’s right!”
“And in the third game, Best Yi Sun-Shin even won the early formation fight against Ringo! She showed that she could do the same thing too!”
The hopeful part was that Best Yi Sun-Shin was also improving. However, her condition was deteriorating rapidly.
‘It seems risky if it drags on.’
The commentators didn’t mention it, but they could sense it.
“Of course, fans love exciting Korea-Japan matches going the full distance! Honestly, as a Korean, we need to finish it in this game! We can’t give Japan any momentum!”
More than giving away momentum, they couldn’t afford to lose any more stamina. OrangeKing hoped for a victory in the fourth game.
“That’s right! And this is Japan’s home ground! Their cheering is no joke when they gain the momentum! Oh! The players are entering now!”
“Waahhhhh!”
With tremendous cheers, players from both sides entered again.
“Both teams have no changes in their rosters!”
The lead commanders on both sides remained unchanged. There were no changes in the soldiers either.
“But Japan, having played quite a long game now, will probably start bringing out their second string players!”
“Right. Most countries adopt that strategy.”
“But Joseon has been using their first string players consistently!”
“That’s right. Since they’re playing a fourth game for the first time, we don’t know what choice Joseon will make!”
— Joseon can’t use second string players...
— The second-era rush is too important. They can’t do it without the aces.
— Shouldn’t have reached the fourth game...
— I’m worried.
— Let’s go, Joseon!
Even without considering Sa-Rang and Sang-Hyeon’s condition, Joseon would be at a disadvantage against Japan in the fourth game. Various misfortunes kept overlapping.
“And the players have all entered their capsules!”
Finally, the fourth game began.
“Can Joseon seal the deal? Or will Japan lay the groundwork for a comeback? Joseon vs. Japan! Japan vs. Joseon! This is the national competition quarterfinals! The fourth game begins now!”
***
Right after the game began, not much happened besides checking the positions of Joseon and Japan’s bases. Because of this, the broadcast frequently showed the audience instead of the game. The former CK members watching the quarterfinals at home were surprised.
“What!?”
“Isn’t that Han Woo-Joo?”
Han Woo-Joo, an American pro gamer and ADC player, was caught on camera. He was once a member of CK.
“... Seriously?”
“He went to watch this?”
They hadn’t been in contact since the fallout following JeonJaPa’s departure.
“Did he go to cheer for Sung-Hyun?” Popcorn kept asking in disbelief, but no one could answer.
After fighting like that, who could guess what he was thinking?
“Oh no... do you think he’s planning something weird... no, right?” the jungler Banana mumbled worriedly.
Popcorn wanted to scold him for the nonsense, but he couldn’t be sure. Han Woo-Joo, or Cosmic, was notorious for his problematic personality since his debut.
“Damn...”
It was hard to believe he went there just to cheer.
“Why did he suddenly show up? Especially for Sung-Hyun?!”
***
A sharp pain split her head for a moment. Sa-Rang closed her eyes and steadied her breathing.
‘Was this a mistake?’
Being human, such thoughts crept in when the pain felt too intense. Naturally, the desire to quit surfaced in moments of extreme pain and hardship. People remembered JeonJaPa as the legend who achieved a grand slam in every mode of LIL and won the World Championship three times, but they didn’t know about the long gaps between those victories.
She had a slump and had seriously considered retiring. However, even when she wanted to give up everything, this brought her back to life.
“JeonJaPa! JeonJaPa! JeonJaPa!”
The cheers of the crowd. The roar of the fans.
‘Even now.’
It felt like she couldn’t go on as her breath grew ragged and her vision wavered from the pain.
“Best Yi Sun-Shin! Best Yi Sun-Shin! Best Yi Sun-Shin!”
Hearing the fans’ cheers brought her back to life.
‘I can do this.’
Choi Sa-Rang, no, Choi Sung-Hyun was that kind of player.
“Waaaaaaah!”
Boom!
[Joseon - Second Era]
Joseon advanced to the second era as quickly as they did in the first and second games.
“Joseon! Are they coming back to life!? Was the third game just a mistake!?”
— Back in form.
— Yeah!
— Let’s gooooo!
— But another fast rush?? It might not work this time...
— Wow
— That’s really fast.
“Wow! Looks like she’s in the same form as in the first and second games! Best Yi Sun-Shin is truly the best!”
“In a game like Civil Empire where the details of terrain and resources change every time, advancing to the next era this quickly and consistently shows real skill!”
“That’s right! It’s not just luck! Even if resources are conveniently placed a few times, it’s not enough to always advance this quickly! This commander is something else!”
As soon as Joseon reached the second era, they began producing short bows.
Clang!
The blacksmith's forge lit up as the players armed themselves.
“This will be decisive! Will Joseon continue with their first string players? Or will they make a compromise?”
“Right! In the third game, they used the first string players all the way... Can they do that again...?”
“I think it’s going to be tough, especially with Almond’s stamina issues. It’s not as bad as during the LIL competition, but... Oh, wait!” OrangeKing exclaimed as he spotted something.
“Almond?!”
It was Almond. He was asking the commander for a bow.
“Is he trying to show off to the commander?!”
— LOL
— Almond showing off is unstoppable.
— Oh... He’s saying he can do it.
— How do you know?
— He’s wagging his tail like a puppy lol
— Isn’t he overdoing it????
“He’s asking for the bow because he’s afraid the commander might exclude him! He’s saying he’s okay!”
OrangeKing joked, but he was choked up.
“This is the spirit of sports! Everyone! Even though he’s exhausted, he’s saying he’ll do it! It’s truly admirable! Almond!”
“Yes! And the bow goes to Almond!”
Almond held the bow.
“This means they’ll follow the same winning pattern as in the first and second games!”
Joseon chose a fast second era rush with short bows and Almond in the lead again. All the conditions had been met.