Different Leagues

Yoon Ju-hwan had never won a single bet against Choi Myung-sung. Especially when it came to gaming, Choi Myung-sung boasted an absolute, flawless win rate! In fact, Ju-hwan had only seen Myung-sung be wrong once in his entire life.

"Forget it. I've never won a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠single bet against you, Team Leader."

"Oh, come on. You might actually win this time."

"Ugh... No, I seriously don't get it. If Do Dong-su wanted to, isn't he in the perfect position to completely screw Kim Tae-hyun over?"

It was a 5v5 arena match. On top of that, levels were completely equalized, and everyone's gear was standardized to average quality. Under these conditions, every single player's role was massive. If Do Dong-su decided to sabotage Tae-hyun here? It would be a 4v5—no, practically a 4v6.

"Well, that's true."

"Right?!"

"But even so, it won't happen."

"?!"

Yoon Ju-hwan couldn't wrap his head around it.

"Ah, is it because of this? You think that no matter how petty Do Dong-su is, he wouldn't dare pull something so stupid on such a massive stage? Is that it?"

"Do you really think Do Dong-su is that kind of guy?"

"...No."

As far as Yoon Ju-hwan was concerned, Do Dong-su was undeniably a narrow-minded, petty man. And after being so thoroughly humiliated today, he would undoubtedly be itching for revenge.

"Exactly. He won't do it openly, but he'll definitely try to get back at him. Pettily and cheaply. The setup is absolutely perfect for it, after all."

"Then why on earth are you saying he won't be able to sabotage him?"

"I told you. They're in completely different leagues."

Choi Myung-sung grinned, zooming in on the screen. The monitor showed Tae-hyun letting Lee Se-yeon's nagging go in one ear and out the other.

"There's no way Kim Tae-hyun will just sit back and take it if Do Dong-su tries to pick a fight."

"I am truly sorry."

"Well, you certainly have reason to be."

"..."

Bowing his head, Bae Jang-wook flinched. Tae-hyun's reactions were always entirely unpredictable.

There was only one reason Bae Jang-wook was bowing his head in apology: Do Dong-su had been selected for the team! One of the MBS staff members near the arena had spotted Do Dong-su and Tae-hyun having a tense confrontation—though, in reality, it was just Tae-hyun one-sidedly bullying him—and reported it. Realizing their relationship was far worse than he had imagined, Bae Jang-wook had come to find Tae-hyun to apologize in person.

"I'm incredibly sorry. I was against it, but the higher-ups kept insisting we go with Do Dong-su... and honestly, we didn't have many other players to choose from."

"No, I don't care that you picked Do Dong-su."

"??"

"You should be apologizing for putting me on the same team as Lee Se-yeon..."

"..."

Tae-hyun's response was, as always, completely out of left field! Bae Jang-wook composed his startled mind and spoke.

"I-I see. So you don't have any issues with Do Dong-su?"

"No, there's definitely an issue, but I just don't care enough to pay him any mind."

Tae-hyun looked as if Do Dong-su didn't even exist in his world! In truth, Tae-hyun genuinely didn't care what Do Dong-su did. To Tae-hyun, Do Dong-su was on par with Cain—no, actually, a tier or two below Cain!

I'm suddenly getting a really bad feeling about this...!

Seeing Tae-hyun's nonchalance, Bae Jang-wook felt a creeping sense of dread. An ominous premonition that something massive was about to blow up!

No, surely not. Even if Kim Tae-hyun acts like this, he's actually a deep thinker who...

"Oh, the match is starting."

"Pardon?"

Tae-hyun was watching the arena qualifiers on his phone. Watching him, Bae Jang-wook asked out of curiosity.

"Ah, is there a specific team you're keeping an eye on in the qualifiers?"

"An acquaintance of mine is competing."

"Ah, I see."

Bae Jang-wook nodded with a warm, touched expression. Even Tae-hyun, who usually seemed so cold and wicked, had a side that cared for others.

Yes, Kim Tae-hyun has a deep, caring side after all. Everything will definitely be fine.

"I suddenly feel like someone was just talking trash about me."

"...!"

"Well, probably just my imagination. Or maybe Do Dong-su was cursing me out?"

"..."

On the screen, Jeong Su-hyeok and his friends were waiting with tense, nervous faces. The number of players spectating from the arena stands had grown significantly since last time. Word had spread that there was a highly entertaining team in the qualifiers, drawing a massive crowd. Bae Jang-wook also glanced over at Tae-hyun's screen.

"!!"

The match unfolding on the screen completely shattered Bae Jang-wook's expectations! All ten opposing players were flailing helplessly inside the magic Jeong Su-hyeok had summoned.

"W-what on earth is this?"

"His class is a bit unique..."

Tae-hyun shrugged. Drag the opponents in, spam magic everywhere, and leave the rest to luck. Jeong Su-hyeok and his friends had managed to survive this far using that exact strategy. It was surprisingly impressive skill—no, actually, sheer luck. Thanks to that, the spectating players were having the time of their lives. After all, they put on a show like this in every single match.

"Ah, this is that guy! I saw the video of him that was uploaded recently."

"...?"

"The Mage player who blasted himself with magic to take down his opponent. I was deeply impressed watching that."

Bae Jang-wook nodded in admiration. Tae-hyun thought to himself:

No matter how I look at it, that was definitely a mistake...

If Jeong Su-hyeok actually possessed that kind of skill, he would never have come crying to Tae-hyun in the first place!

"His skills are quite extraordinary. I didn't know you two were acquainted."

"He's a junior from my department."

"Oh! Come to think of it, Tae-hyun, your major is..."

"Korean Language and Literature."

"...K-Korean Language and Literature actually has a surprising connection to gaming if you think about..."

Bae Jang-wook was desperately trying to keep the conversation going! But Tae-hyun was absolutely not the type to play along with such a stretch.

"Does it, though?"

"...Anyway, it would be incredibly entertaining if he makes it to the main tournament."

"I hope so too."

Tae-hyun looked like a warm, caring senior wishing the best for his junior! Of course, the reality was the exact opposite.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Hurry up and win so I can rack up some Church reputation!

In truth, Tae-hyun wanted nothing more than to throw on a mask and join their team, but Jeong Su-hyeok's stubbornness made that impossible!

"Ah, ah. Thank you all for gathering here today."

"You dragged us here, what do you mean 'gathering'..."

Tae-hyun muttered, but Lee Se-yeon completely ignored him.

"We need to decide on a party leader. How should we choose?"

"Not Kim Tae-hyun."

"I didn't want to do it anyway, you piece of shit..."

As a stream of colorful profanity flowed naturally from Tae-hyun's mouth, Lee Se-yeon frantically waved her hands.

"—I told you guys to stop fighting!"

"...motherfucker..."

Do Dong-su's face flushed red and blue all over again!

"A-are you done?"

"No. That was just verse one. I'll let you hear verse two in a bit."

Watching the exchange between Do Dong-su and Tae-hyun, Kim Chul-soo quietly raised his hand and spoke.

"I think it would be best if Se-yeon-nim takes the role of party leader."

"I agree."

Cain raised his hand in agreement as well.

"Then, though I may be lacking, I will take the role. The reason we gathered today is to test our synergy in a practice match..."

"I don't take orders."

"..."

The atmosphere instantly turned icy. At Do Dong-su's words, the other four directed freezing glares at him. But Do Dong-su didn't care in the slightest.

"Why should I listen to you? I'll move as I please. You guys can do whatever you want."

Tae-hyun raised his hand. He looked unusually polite compared to before! Lee Se-yeon let out a deep sigh and spoke.

"Fine. Go ahead. What is it?"

"Can I beat him up now?"

"..."

Lee Se-yeon was starting to get a massive headache. She had set all of this up because she wanted to coordinate with Tae-hyun and fight alongside him on an official stage... But now, she was seriously starting to wonder if this whole thing was just sheer madness.

Surprisingly, however, once the practice match began, Lee Se-yeon's team performed exceptionally well. The gap in their raw physical mechanics was simply too massive!

"T-this makes no sense...!"

The opposing team members panicked as they found themselves being pushed back. Their opponents were a team from a large guild currently working their way through the qualifiers. When Lee Se-yeon had proposed a practice match, they had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠readily accepted. After all, facing a team that boasted players like Lee Se-yeon, Kim Tae-hyun, and Do Dong-su was all profit and no loss. And they also harbored a bit of ambition.

Even if they're top rankers, levels are equalized and gear is standardized! We definitely have a shot!

Besides, their roster was only finalized recently! Their synergy is bound to be terrible. And rumor has it they don't even get along!

Their logic wasn't entirely wrong. Tae-hyun's team indeed had zero synergy, and Do Dong-su and Tae-hyun absolutely despised each other. There was a clear weakness to exploit.

If we put up a good fight against them, we can make a name for ourselves!

Currently, the qualifiers were producing several overnight sensations. Not just Jeong Su-hyeok, but any player who pulled off a super play was getting highlighted in individual ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠videos and gaining massive attention. It was only natural for them to get greedy. However, that ambition shattered the very instant the match commenced.

Before the fight even properly started in the center, Tae-hyun casually eliminated one opponent. And the player he took down was the enemy team's tank.

Kim Chul-soo frantically intervened. If Tae-hyun and Lee Se-yeon started bickering while Do Dong-su was off doing his own thing, the team would literally disintegrate!

But Tae-hyun and Lee Se-yeon seemed completely unfazed. To them, this was just their usual banter.

They were speaking in the party chat, which Do Dong-su could hear. They were saying this specifically for him to hear.

Tae-hyun and Cain went to Zone B. Lee Se-yeon and Kim Chul-soo went to Zone A. Do Dong-su went to Zone C alone.

A 2-2-1 split was normally dangerous for the solo player, but Do Dong-su was lucky. The opponents split 2 and 3 to Zones A and B, leaving Zone C completely empty for him to take.

Tae-hyun was deliberately baiting Do Dong-su. Trying to maintain his cool, cynical image, Do Dong-su silently clenched his fists. But Tae-hyun just wouldn't leave him alone.

Lee Se-yeon changed the subject.

Listening silently, Do Dong-su was secretly horrified. If 2 went to A and 3 went to B, then Tae-hyun and Cain should be fighting 3 people. In Zone A, Lee Se-yeon and Kim Chul-soo were still locked in a tight battle. But in a 2v3, Tae-hyun was already taking down his second opponent?

How on earth...?!

If it were a PvP-specialized Thief, such a play might be possible—rapidly closing in, bursting down an opponent to reduce their numbers in a 1vMany. But this was the Prika Arena. Levels and gear didn't matter, and the opponents weren't letting their guard down. To quickly take down two people under those conditions...

This is completely absurd...!

"!!!"