Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Frontline (9)
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『Just hold out for the last 10 seconds—only 10 more seconds!!!!』
My breathing grew ragged.
The survivors were me and one opponent.
This final clash was where the opponent's revival and regrouping would come faster, but it didn't matter.
In extra time, before they could regroup, everything would end.
A pure 1v1 duel between me and my foe. A contest of raw physical skill—no variables, nothing.
『Frontline has won every single 1v1 across all their matches so far! In clutch situations like this, that win rate is 100%! It's that unbeatable record that crowns this player the world’s best!』
『Even I'm on the edge of my seat calling this! Here we go—Frontline versus Ezio! They clash! The outcome will be decided in 5 seconds! Landrox has been struggling in the playoffs lately—can they push forward to the world stage once more?!』
Frontline and Ezio's characters were identical. In a hyper-FPS like Hyperwatch, there was no difference in performance.
If anything, Ezio had a slight edge from cover first, but it wasn't enough to decide the fight.
Our aims locked.
'If I take this guy down, I can go see Mom and Dad.'
The chance of losing? It didn't exist in my mind. My head-to-head record against Ezio from the last league was 28 wins, 0 losses.
I was overwhelmingly stronger.
The moment I pulled the trigger—
"…So you lost after all?"
Myth turned her head away at my question.
Acting all triumphant like she'd won, only to lose clean.
My face burned for no reason.
"But everything after that went well, right? They still call her the world’s best in the Hyperwatch scene."
"Her form's dipped a bit lately, but yeah, she's still top-tier worldwide."
"Then what's the problem?"
Why the hell hadn't my sister met our parents yet?
Myth pinched my cheek as I grumbled.
"Hyperwatch—and pro gaming in general—is an industry where the internet calls the shots."
Myth's expression turned bitter.
"The internet always craves dopamine. Something new and different from yesterday, content that tickles their nerves… or they make it themselves."
Even a single slip-up from a shining star becomes prime fodder for the vultures hungry for that hit.
Because the highest light draws the most eyes.
"Malicious comments?"
Myth nodded at my question.
"More than just comments. Europe's huge, so there were hundreds, maybe thousands, of those trashy rumor articles. Even though her share of the blame for that loss was tiny, they tore into her from all sides."
Myth remembered it vividly.
Back when Frontline's exploits had made Hyperwatch pretty popular in Korea too, Korean communities were flooded with mockery and hate posts about her.
If Korea was that bad, she couldn't even imagine the inferno in her home turf.
Even when level-headed folks pointed out the loss wasn't her fault but the rest of the team's for letting it get that far, the mob torched reason right along with her.
"So you haven't seen Sis since then?"
"Yeah. That was the last time I saw her."
Which meant no one knew how she was doing now.
"But she did great after that."
Myth nodded.
I'd heard she'd even won a world championship, and she was still called the 'Emperor' in Europe.
Landrox was still the world's top team.
So her form hadn't dropped that much—why was she still stuck in Europe?
"Right? So, what do you think?"
"Hmm… Honestly, no clue."
Lots to think about, but no answers.
This was purely a mental block for her. Unless her agency literally put a leash on her.
So all I could do was what was in my power.
I closed the text from Dad.
The first one made sense, but the second threw me.
"…Never thought I'd end up coming all the way out here."
The next day, I stepped out of a taxi in front of a building in Gangnam.
The developers of Hyperwatch—and one of the global gaming behemoths.
Dad's game company did well in Korea, sure, but it paled next to this titan, one of the top three worldwide.
Heatwave.
Starting with some hit RPG and RTS games in the past, they'd expanded into card games and FPS titles, and now their massive Korean branch loomed before me.
I wasn't much of a gamer, but just stepping into a company like this brought an inexplicable pressure.
(Myth couldn't come along. Partly because she's a VTuber, but mostly because she wasn't invited.)
"Whoa, it's huge."
A gasp escaped me as I entered the building.
Sky-high ceilings on the first floor, streams of people passing by, and in one corner—a massive figure of Heatwave's mascot character? No, it was a life-sized statue worthy of the name, cleaving one sword into dual blades.
Two swords had to be stronger—that was common sense. It was pretty badass.
I approached the counter cautiously, adjusting my oversized mask that covered half my face, checking myself over.
Being linked to Myth meant more people recognized me these days. I'd even been spotted alone on the street once before.
Lucky it happened when I was with her.
"Excuse me, I have a meeting scheduled today."
"A meeting today…? Ah, no way. You're Legend, right?"
I blinked in surprise. A total stranger tossing my name around so casually for the first time.
Figures—a place like this. Even the counter staff handled my odd name without batting an eye.
"Yes."
"One moment. Here's your card key and visitor badge to wear… I'll escort you personally. That okay?"
The counter staff stood up.
Did they always do personal escorts? I wondered.
"Um, do you usually guide people yourselves like this?"
Curiosity got the better of me. Maybe I looked young, and they were going extra?
Not to brag, but my 27-year-old body looked about 20. Side effect of sleeping for seven years, maybe.
The staffer glanced at me, then shook their head.
"The director ordered it himself. 'Treat him with utmost courtesy and escort him in.'"
Utmost courtesy?
Tension started creeping in.
The headquarters was enormous. They serviced a ton of games domestically, and as one of the true top fingers in the industry, their Korean branch got serious attention.
'Feels like a real company.'
Sorry, Label—but they were still mid-sized at best. Comparing them to this mega-corp was an insult.
In a sea of crisp office attire screaming "salaryman," my thin short-sleeved shirt felt out of place.
…Maybe Myth was wrong about "casual is fine."
"The director's waiting on the top floor. Shall we?"
I followed into the elevator.
Top floor or not, the low-rise building stopped around the fifth.
We halted before a door marked "Director's Office."
"Shall we go in? You good?"
The escort's politeness bordered on overkill, leaving me itchy. Was this big-corp hospitality?
I nodded.
They knocked lightly.
"Director, I've brought Legend."
Stepping inside, a spacious executive office welcomed me.
Luxurious leather chairs, an ornate fish tank in the corner with fish gliding by. A faint, tickling incense scent, plaques and timelines adorning the walls.
It dwarfed the Label president's office in grandeur and luxury.
…Sorry, Prez. Can't help comparing.
A single man was inside—a guy in his forties at least.
I swallowed hard.
Way below president rank, but the aura of a mega-corp director hit different.
In the vast room, just us two, he approached.
'Why am I so nervous?'
I gulped again.
He came right up… and bowed deeply.
Uh, wait.
A forties director showing the crown of his head to fresh-faced me. …Why?
"My apologies. I should've come down to greet you, but I was tied up."
"N-no, don't worry about it."
"Thank you. Still feels bad… haha, never thought I'd slip up like this."
He apologized like he was truly mortified.
I could see him deliberately lowering his posture, like I was the superior.
Why the extreme deference all of a sudden? His humility threw me off more than anything.
"Let's head inside and sit. I've prepared some fine tea and snacks."
Dazed, I followed the director.