Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Don't Say It's Over Until You Stop Breathing
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Our.
ST3's season is over.
But the vast ecosystem of LOC hasn't finished reaping its yearly harvest yet.
Unlike the Master League, where international tournaments are only being introduced next year or the year after, the Grand League—the second division—already has several international events.
And among them, the one that always caps it off is...
The LOC World Cup.
The heat from the dedicated stadium built right in the heart of Seoul was impressive, of course, but the cheers emanating from the LOC World Cup felt somehow different even just watching on screen.
"Are they really going for the Fourpeat?"
"Once the Dragon kids make it up, it feels like they're guaranteed the win."
"I hope DJG's the one that comes up. The Dragon kids making it this far is already a miracle."
"......"
For reference, even though the season was over and we didn't have much else to do, we were collaborating with ST's video production team on reactions to the quarterfinals and finals predictions. But I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut.
"Eun-seol, you're usually so good at predicting stuff, why so quiet today?"
Bell looked at me puzzled and asked again, but I just quietly finished off my remaining drink.
"Whichever team is supposed to go up will go up."
"What's with that tone like you've achieved enlightenment?"
"You got rich."
"Yeah, this is right around the time when the thrill of money wears off and reality hits while you're splurging."
30 billion won for winning the Master League.
Not all of it goes to the players; most goes to ST.
Even so, factoring in the bonuses and prize money allocated to players—not to mention the hefty win bonuses we'd negotiated—there was easily enough in my account for an apartment in the provinces.
Of course, unlike my worries, I wasn't too fazed since I'd been the type to just play Rock while stashing away even more zeros in my bank account.
"What do you think she's gonna do with it? If anything, she'll blow it on a Rock all-skins account. We all know she won't spend it anywhere else."
"True."
"She'd even buy 500k or million-won skins if they came out."
"If they made crap like that, Rock would tank."
"Who's three?"
Let's skip the sad truth that there'd be plenty of suckers buying in bulk without it tanking.
For the record, I bought it back then too.
Anyway, while we were waiting for the Blue Dragon RX—BDRX—and DJ Gaming—DJG—matchup, the mic eventually made its way back to me.
The team lead overseeing the production crew was PD-ing and asked me for my winner prediction.
"I'll go with BDRX."
"Pardon?"
"This time you're really wrong."
"It's DJG. BDRX beating the quarterfinals was a miracle already."
My teammates teased me, but I stuck to my choice until the end.
What I'd learned living this new life was that what's meant to happen will happen.
Of course, ST's Threepeat was unexpected, but that didn't change my mind.
Honestly, with Proud's wrist intact in-game, it felt possible.
"Just watch and see."
That was all I had to say.
Anyway.
The match that started seemed to flow completely opposite to my prediction.
"Dude, they've already lost twice?"
"One more loss and it's over."
"Ah, shoulda made a bet with Eun-seol beforehand."
"Wanna do it now?"
"...You serious?"
Strike backed off slyly at the confident declaration.
And at that exact moment.
In game 3 of what might be the final set, disaster struck BDRX.
"Isn't this basically done with them all caught?"
"Nah."
Just looking at the current situation, it's far from over.
DJG might hold out for one turn thanks to luck, but the focus gap was already huge.
Sets 1 and 2 aside, BDRX had been leading game 3 consistently.
And we'd just confirmed their engage power in that last skirmish, so they wouldn't play passively anymore.
Just one set.
Some might call it a face-saving win after two losses, but anyone who'd watched the whole match could instinctively tell.
The momentum had shifted.
And that shift wasn't just a hunch.
"...Can I change it now?"
"Too late for that."
Spoons are best at dodging bets, as expected.
Rock Gallery was peaceful today too.
For now.
A familiar melody plays.
This year's World Cup theme song matched my memory perfectly.
"...I'm gonna step out for a bit."
"Why?"
Not PTSD, more like internal stress disorder.
"Stomach feels off."
"Dude, just let her go before she says it again."
"Ah."
Of course, not for the reason they thought—I just pretended to leave.
"Eun-seol, if you're feeling off today, you don't have to do the reaction video..."
The production crew staff—who I'd built rapport with long ago and who loved that views tripled whenever I appeared—genuinely worried for me, but unfortunately, I had a sort of duty to watch this match.
"...I'll watch."
I sighed, snatched Plook's popcorn, and plopped back down.
"Hey, that's mine..."
"Solo queue off-pick top—"
"Take it. Take it."
Gonna tease him forever.
Feeling a bit better let me stare at the match screen, which was lucky.
The World Cup finals were in NA, so we couldn't attend.
But every ST fan watching thought the same.
Good call not going—
Win loss win loss.
In this moment where anyone watching would lose their mind.
We sensed defeat.
BDRX's top laner sweeps teamfights.
HP bar refuses to drop, while ST gets caught out back and falls one by one.
Swords scatter, machinery shatters into fragments sprinkled along the river.
Even Proud's portrait turns grayscale, and led by Artrox—who topped off his HP smacking a few minions—BDRX advances.
"...Is this... over...?"
Strike wouldn't ask if he didn't know.
Just hoping it's not.
But that hope was crushed under a massive miracle.
I just lifted my cup and chugged cold cola.
And so, one season came to an end.