Chapter 20
Chapter 20
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Always There
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I was about to push open the door and step out first when the coach grabbed me.
"D-Do you know the building layout?"
"Of course. I could navigate it with my eyes closed..."
Ah.
I wasn't supposed to know that already.
They hadn't even given me a building tour or told me where anything was, so everyone looked puzzled when I eagerly dashed out ahead.
"Well, I watch a lot of ST's YouTube videos."
"You've seen the building tour! Editing that was a nightmare—splitting it into public and private sections—and now someone actually appreciates it...!"
Luckily, the production team was thrilled that someone recognized their hard work, so it smoothed things over.
Anyway, the practice room we arrived at wasn't as crowded as I'd expected.
For reference, the ST first-division team has its own separate practice room. This one is for academy players up to Grand League pros, all mixed together just running solo queue.
"Looks like everyone's out for lunch."
"It's past five, and you're still calling it lunch?"
"The first meal of the day is breakfast, the second is lunch. That's how it works."
I know from experience.
Morning scrims starting at 1:00 p.m.—even schedules that warped would seem normal to pros.
Proud wouldn't skip scrims in the first place, so I knew it was lunchtime by now.
Coach An Jae-hoon oversees everything from the first to third divisions at ST, so he could arrive early.
"At least it's not empty."
"ST2 and ST3 are in their solo queue free time right now."
Not all teams share the same schedule, after all.
Still, thanks to that, I spotted another familiar face.
The moment I entered the practice room, I naturally headed straight for the guy right in front of me.
'...How do I wake someone with VR on?'
Should I just turn off the power?
If I lingered too long, it'd look suspicious, so I was about to give up and sit next to him to duo queue with Proud when, fortunately, he took off the device himself soon after.
"Why the hell are these idiots over there... ugh..."
The current top Challenger—and from what I'd looked up, ST3's top laner.
Plook was sighing heavily.
"You're becoming a fine top laner."
"What?"
Of course.
Tops either carry hard or flop spectacularly—if it goes well, it's their merit; if not, blame the team.
That's why they get called reckless punks.
"Wait. Why are you here? No, more importantly, why is everyone here...?"
Well, a third-division player ragequitting solo queue and standing up to see the production team, the coach, legendary pro Proud, and his school friend—I'd jump too.
"Because I'm ST3's mid laner?"
"......?"
Is that what a question mark ping looks like in real life?
Yeah, yeah.
I get it.
Free queuing with me felt like yesterday, so meeting at work would be awkward.
"Coach, for real?"
"Yeah. Dong-woon's out, and she's in."
"No greetings with the team? Straight to practice?"
"No, I came for a one-on-one with Proud."
"What?"
"Perfect timing. You spectate."
"......"
Naturally, he couldn't argue.
You have to crush a punk top and butcher's ego early for them to listen.
With the now-familiar floating sensation, I stood before Proud.
A large desk and computers blocked us, but conversation was fine.
"Any champ you want?"
"You have to give the junior some first pick."
"Where'd that fire from earlier go?"
"Take pity on your junior."
With trivial banter—and no intention of counterpicking—we selected simultaneously as the ban/pick screen loaded.
"...Proud?"
"Yes?"
"Don't you have a conscience?"
A champion based on the gumiho legend, and his signature pick against an unproven academy player?
The canyon's justice has crumbled.
"Still, no jungle hunter in a pure 1v1 lane phase favors True."
For reference, I picked Orianna.
One of the quintessential strong laners that boosts attacks, shields, and movement speed with its ball.
Purely in lane phase matchup, I'm favored across all levels.
The issue? Even without a hunter leaping from Twisted Forest—formerly jungle or whatever—this guy's unpredictability in 1v1.
Especially with first-person view as a massive variable beyond keyboard and mouse.
Of course, regardless of my complaints, time passed, and we were in the canyon.
[Ten minutes exactly. Ends on a kill or 90+ CS.]
Jung Ji-hwan, spectating, restated the rules.
Thus, mid lane minion standoff with emoting—we began lane phase.
And I died.
"Ah."
This kills me.
Early lane phase.
From level 1 to 4, we were even.
"...True's a rookie, so he's going easy early?"
Staff watching the screen asked Coach An Jae-hoon—the best-informed on the game among those who could speak—but his response shattered expectations.
"Feels like he's dead serious..."
"Really?"
Against Proud, on Proud's signature pick, no less.
Even with favorable matchup, top-tier rookie performance.
"Dodging skills. Oh, True dodges most too."
Like mirroring each other's movements.
"True must've studied Proud a ton."
Guess knowing all his games from the interview wasn't bluffing.
Then, the upset.
Nearing ten minutes, Proud threw his hand.
Both health bars under half.
The moment we thought trades ended.
Instant first-person switch, perfectly dodges Orianna's ball with movement, lands all skills, squeezes autos in between.
True dodged maximally, but psychological edge lost and first-person mastery gap couldn't hide.
The even flow shattered on that one kill log.
Game over instantly.
"Was worried there'd be nothing to teach. At least she earns her keep."
Though probably not for long, anyway.
That the girl dragged it out this far against Proud.
No—Proud moving one step ahead precisely because kill angles emerged thrilled him endlessly.
'This is why I can't quit.'
Coach An Jae-hoon approached True removing her VR device with a kind smile.
I considered another round but dropped it.
Fundamentally lacking in game system grasp—especially first-person.
Sure enough, Coach An Jae-hoon asked something similar.
"How's it feel experiencing it? You see your gaps?"
"I missed some things."
Surface knowledge isn't enough, huh.
Even Phillydog crushed with gold leads beyond movement during Challenger promo.
Pros' movement details worth studying.
Of course, overlooking one massive misjudgment:
"That guy's too healthy."
"...?"
I learned from post-retirement Proud.
Forgot he's active, and VR keeps his wrists at peak during games.
"Still, you did well. I was serious."
Proud, standing beside me, said so.
"Rematch if I ask?"
"Haha. Gotta eat."
"When are you free?"
As I leaned in deliberately, Proud kept distance, adding:
"Hmm. Win Master League, and I'll duo."
He left alone as he came.
—You're still not as good as me.
He didn't say it, but that smug grin read his mind.
"...Tch."
Good or bad.
The legend always waited there.