Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Debut Match
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Current time: 3:06 AM.
A perfectly appropriate hour for a pro gamer to be active.
"Those of you who held your breath until I logged on—you can breathe again now."
With those words from me, the chat window starts scrolling down in a rush.
"Still a long way to bedtime. Thinking around 5 AM."
"Coming straight to my stream at this hour already means you're... nah, I won't say it."
Indeed, at this dawn hour, the viewers were in a state I couldn't even describe.
Well, that kind of thing was something I had to expect the moment I started streaming at this time, so I just cleanly hit permanent ban on the worst offenders.
Of course, it wasn't a full system-wide permanent ban—just something I could lift anytime if I wanted.
"If you come watch my debut tomorrow and write 'unban me' on a whiteboard, I'll do it."
"What? Did it sell out already?"
In my whole life, I'd never seen a second-division league sell out, but in this world, even third-division did. The sheer status of LOC really hit home.
And I could really feel how different my situation was from when I first started streaming.
"No way I'd do that in-game though..."
Hm. Actually, maybe I would.
Thinking back to scrims, no swearing but it might stir some controversy.
"Anyway, since you're here, cheer loud for ST3 too, yeah?"
"I can already picture the ones saying 'if you lose 2-3 games in a row, just eat your face and get out of Rock tier'—you know who you are."
By the way, this is from experience.
After Proud retired, idol fans crossed over, absorbed sports fan traits, dark-evolved, and spewed creative insults until the LOC World Cup win.
Because of my unnecessarily vivid extra details, viewers seemed to think I was embellishing some school incident.
"But hey, if I don't lose, it won't happen, right?"
Let's try for a perfect undefeated Master League championship run.
"So come cheer at every match, everyone."
"More people is better. Feels good to be cheered for."
Not a LOCK debut, but this was my first time standing before a crowd as a pro in this life.
I didn't want the arena silent when I stood up after the match.
In the waiting room.
Rehearsal done, normally time to set up stations, but since the VR device auto-adjusts to my presets, it was comfy rest time.
I put on my eye mask, reclined the chair fully, with the growing arena noise as BGM.
"...Isn't that too comfy?"
"Gotta be comfy before a match. Need anything else?"
I said that without taking off the mask and lay back relaxed.
"Oh right, this is your debut too."
"Forgot?"
"Yeah."
"......"
No, honestly, it felt unfair. In my memory, the guy in front of me was one of the monsters who won LOCK like it was breakfast after Proud.
So this fidgety, debut-nervous version wasn't Plook yet.
"Nervous?"
"Says the one who doesn't seem to be."
"I've got a long way to go still."
Maybe if I debut in LOCK again.
No plans to stumble here.
"Just do you. Like always. Got it?"
I said that without removing the mask and lay back again.
Weight loss really makes the chair hold up better.
"Eun-seol, if you're sleeping, should I be quiet?"
After a few scrims, the coach who said no need for my feedback since he'd call first-person pros instead now seemed ready to back whatever I did.
"Nah, do your jinxes or routines. I won't mind."
At my words, the team finally got to their tasks.
Plook fiddled champions with keyboard and mouse, Ox grabbed dumbbells for some reason.
Bot duo shared a tablet playing air hockey, stubbornly claiming their shots were better—match should be fine.
Time passed, a stagehand entered.
"Get ready! Entry in five minutes!"
I finally slid the mask up, stretched big.
"Ready to go?"
"Guys, prep time. One cheer before we head out."
But everyone except the coach next to me was turning away.
"Ah."
Next time, uniform one size up for sure.
Pre-game hype from casters and commentators, flashy lights.
'I'm back.'
Missed this vibrant opener.
"Line up by team in front..."
"Got it. We'll enter on signal!"
The signal was obvious.
Leading, I glanced back at the team, then stepped out.
Big screen had my nick huge, fans cheering.
(Plook's birthday three months before mine, so I got youngest title.)
LOCK youngest? Maybe. Gamers love minor achievements.
I took the warm intro and stepped onto stage.
"Why'd you wear that?"
"Climbed up without falling... what?"
"That eye mask on your head."
Plook's words—I patted my head, found the mask perched there.
Laughter from casters, crowd.
"Already owned the stage!"
"Praise Great True!"
"Win 2-0 quick and stream, sis!"
One section had chat-personified fans cheering me.
No time to get sentimental.
"Gear up, everyone. Voice check in-game, let's do this."
During the mishap, all sat, donned devices—arena vanished.
With coach's final cheer, familiar ban/pick screen popped up.
Team didn't forget jabs.
"Acting chill but super nervous, huh."
"Debut jitters for everyone."
"We'll carry. Half-half."
"......"
Did I really have time for their trash talk?
Dirty or not, I needed to carry this game.
Today demanded more than a win.
"Our pick turn—go as planned."
Coach calmly led ban/pick, no hitches despite the clowns.
Twisted Canyon, still rough but nostalgic.
"One, two, three!"
"ST Fighting!"
With fan roars, we advanced.
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