Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Living Legend
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Rewind the time a bit.
The morning after hitting Grandmaster.
"You have something to talk about?"
Since it was the weekend anyway, I woke up late and half-dragged my parents, who were peeling fruit in the living room, into my room.
"Our daughter, showing off your tier again?"
"Something like that."
Of course, it wasn't just for that.
I smoothly entered my ID and password, logged into the game, and displayed my rank on the screen.
A score just shy of Challenger.
No, more than that, the Grandmaster tier itself.
Dad, who understood what that meant a bit quicker, alternated between looking at my face and the screen, letting out a hollow laugh.
"...No way, already?"
"Yeah."
"No, wow... our daughter...?"
He knew better than anyone what that banner signified, since it was higher than my original tier.
Of course, that didn't mean Mom was clueless.
"I'll support you going pro."
Our Mrs. Jang said that even though I wasn't Challenger yet.
She seemed to know exactly what it meant for a middle schooler to reach this tier after looking into various things.
"What should Mom do first? Should I look into one of those academies?"
"That sounds good. Our daughter likes ST, right? How about there? With that score as a middle schooler, they'd take you without a test."
Even if it wasn't about studying.
Once they realized my desire to become a pro gamer wasn't just a phase, my parents reacted like any typical folks thrilled to discover their child's talent.
"Mom, Dad."
Since no more convincing seemed necessary, I showed them the contract I'd downloaded onto my tablet.
"I already got an offer. Right after hitting Grandmaster."
My parents' eyes shifted from joy at discovering their child's talent to sheer astonishment.
Of course, the shock wasn't entirely negative.
"No, Eun-seol, you should've told us sooner!"
"But they said I had to hit Challenger for sure. That's why I'm showing you the tier today—because the pro offer came in."
"That was just Mom worrying. This changes everything!"
Our Mrs. Jang scolded me for not mentioning such an important thing earlier.
It was a hundred times better than getting scolded just for playing games.
"Mom's not an idiot. Scouts approach talented kids watching pros all the time. How was I supposed to judge and set conditions? If you'd shown it earlier, we could've helped sooner."
"It's fine. You've helped a ton already."
Honestly, with no clue if I even had talent for the game, most parents wouldn't wait around for their soon-to-be middle school daughter suddenly obsessed with gaming—they'd think about fixing her head.
Just waiting for me like they did was more than enough.
"Oh, but Mom and Dad, I need one more thing."
"What?"
"We're signing the contract today. I'm a minor, so I can't go alone."
"Then let's go right now! To the ST headquarters, right?"
Dad seemed even more excited than me—it wasn't my imagination.
"An Jae-hoon!"
"Haha. Yes, that's me. It's surprising that you remember me from my playing days, sir."
"How could I forget? I even went to watch the finals back then."
Dad, who always played it cool about Rock, melted the moment we entered ST headquarters and met the coach.
"Dad, last time at the arena, you didn't even know Proud's name properly. How do you know so much now?"
"...I was pretending not to know. See, I said I was interested."
Yeah, otherwise taking me to arenas might've become our weekend routine.
Plus, with me throwing tantrums as a side issue, Mrs. Jang's glare would've gotten sharper for sure.
"But now that our daughter's excelled, no need to hide it anymore. All good."
Dad pinched my cheek lightly and turned back to An Jae-hoon.
"I was worried where you'd ended up these days, but you're coaching?"
"It's been a while since I've heard 'player.' Lately, it's just been 'coach.'
"Come on, don't say that. To fans, you're the eternal emperor."
"Thank you."
At this rate, it seemed like Dad was the one signing the contract, not me.
Anyway, the contract went smoothly.
One-year deal, no weird clauses—just salary, championship bonuses, and win bonuses.
'...Huh?'
But the salary was odd.
It was three times what I'd gotten starting in the academy's third division.
Even accounting for the game market size in my past and current lives, it was excessively high.
"Isn't there a digit wrong?"
"No, that's correct."
Coach An Jae-hoon shook his head with a smile.
"Personally, I think you'll make it to ST2 for sure. Simply put, we're trying to snag you early."
Still carrying the sharp aura from his playing days, he seemed to be asking me.
—You've got more to show, right?
Even though team games differ from solo queue, it felt like he was posing a question with a set answer.
When he puts it like that, courtesy demands a response.
"Then make the contract six months, not a year."
"Why?"
"I'll squeeze out more when this season ends."
"You know what that means?"
"I'll win ST Master League Team the championship."
"......"
Everyone there fell silent at my words.
After signing the contract, I hit Challenger, did some streaming appearances, and time flew by with all sorts of things.
"Time to head out?"
"Yeah."
Today was the day to shoot the entry commemorative photos and video we'd postponed from signing day.
"If it weren't work, Mom would go with you."
"It's fine. I've been there plenty."
"Then send Mom some photos? It's the first time seeing our daughter all dolled up properly."
"Got it."
I'd done makeup during my pro days, but women's makeup was unfamiliar—curious how it'd turn out.
'Won't take long, probably.'
I'm not an idol or anything.
Lost in such thoughts, I took the bus and arrived at headquarters, where a familiar face greeted me.
"Our prospective champion has arrived."
Coach An Jae-hoon waved as I came for the entry photos and video.
"...Coach, is it okay to have this much free time?"
"I can't manage the kids' solo queue myself, can I?"
He whistled and led me to the media room.
"Snacks over there—eat while you wait... already found them?"
"This place is definitely comfy."
Home sweet home, indeed.
Considering how much time I'd spent at headquarters, the building itself was practically my home ground.
As I waited munching away, an employee approached—obviously the makeup artist by her vibe.
"You must be Eun-seol?"
"Hello."
She pulled out various things from the vanity in one corner of the media room and continued.
"Change into the uniform first. Any makeup on already?"
"No. Bare face."
"For real? Your skin's so pale. Hair's great too. Lots I can do with this..."
She was suddenly fired up, and it didn't look like it'd be quick and simple.
"Put on the uniform and sit in the chair first?"
"Sure."
"Leave it to big sis—I'll make you look amazing. I've been doing only boys lately, so I was bummed not showing my skills, and now a girl pro comes along... perfect!"
And so, I spent a full hour in that chair.
"I did it, but it's perfect."
After an hour pinned down, I wanted to argue, but the mirror shut me up.
'...It is different.'
I'd gone to school with messy hair, no makeup beyond lotion, then gym and solo queue—no time for looks. This was beyond neat; it was something else.
Black hair with light waves swept to the side, bangs with slightly red extensions blended like bridge hair to match the uniform.
Face: cat-like red eye makeup, groomed brows, powder making pale skin even paler.
Worth an hour, for sure.
"Debuting right away, right?"
"Yes."
"Eun-seol's gonna blow up in popularity."
"...We don't have to do full makeup like this every match, right?"
"Nah. Only special days. Normally, just what sis recommends. You've got great natural features, so it's fine."
Agni aside, now I had another big sis? Must be my imagination.
"Alright, time for entry photos."
"Felt okay sitting, but moving makes the uniform kinda tight."
"...Any tighter and it'd look bulky. Can't be helped. Let's go."
She deflected and led me to the photographer.
"...They record this stuff on video too?"
"Yep. All spotlight, all views."
Someone was even vlogging nearby.
Didn't used to be like this—kinda novel.
"Okay, look here—snap!"
We wandered headquarters for concept shots, then a few clean ones against the white media room backdrop for composites.
That's when it happened.
"True player here?"
"...Huh?"
A familiar, very familiar voice rang out.