The Heat of Determination

Tae-hyun wondered what on earth he was talking about, but he didn't press further. Honestly, he wasn't all that curious anyway. He figured taking a quick photo wasn't exactly a monumental task.

But there was one person who strongly disagreed.

"Why do I have to take a photo like this? Tsk. I don't even do this when other fans ask. Why is Kim Tae-hyun getting special treatment? This isn't fair."

Do Dong-su, who absolutely loathed everything Tae-hyun did! He had no idea who Chairman Yoo actually was. To him, he was just some random old man Tae-hyun had dragged along. And technically, his point wasn't entirely wrong.

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Tae-hyun shrugged and replied, "He's right. Let's not take it then."

If they didn't take the photo, the only one losing out was Chairman Yoo, not Tae-hyun. And Tae-hyun was absolutely the type of person who wouldn't care in the slightest whether the old man was disappointed or not.

"?!"

Do Dong-su was stunned.

"?!?!"

Chairman Yoo was equally shocked. Then, Chairman Yoo glared at Do Dong-su.

It was a glare on a completely different level from ordinary people—intense and full of raw pressure! It was the overbearing aura that only a tycoon who had ruled the business world for decades could project.

This punk...! Because of you...!

Gasp, what kind of look is that...?!

Do Dong-su quickly averted his gaze. He didn't know who the old man was, but the moment their eyes met, he felt like a frog cornered by a snake.

I will remember your name! You will absolutely never join the team Yuseong is going to build!

Chairman Yoo vowed a deeply petty revenge.

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"By the way, sir."

"Ahem. I knew I could count on you. Yes. I haven't said it often, but I've always thought you were a decent fellow..."

"Are you doing this because of the photo?"

"N-No, of course not!"

He really wanted to take that photo.

Chairman Yoo's face was practically dripping with lingering regret. Tae-hyun shook his head.

"Sure. If you say so. Anyway, I haven't seen Ji-soo around lately. What is she up to these days?"

"Why does a punk like you care about what my granddaughter is doing?!"

Chairman Yoo's anger flared instantly! It was the exact opposite of his praise just a moment ago.

"Didn't you just call me a decent fellow?"

"You must have misheard. Hmph."

"No, I just asked because I haven't seen her. Why are you getting so mad?"

"I don't know. Hmph."

"Well, I'll just contact Ji-soo and ask her myself."

"W-Wait!"

Chairman Yoo reached out to stop Tae-hyun.

"She's preparing for her college entrance exams."

"What?"

"I said she's preparing for her exams! Unlike you, my granddaughter is a high school student."

"Ah..."

A reason he truly hadn't expected! Tae-hyun nodded.

"Well, that can't be helped then."

Since summer was almost over, there were only a few months left. In fact, it was more surprising that she had been playing Pan-On up until now.

"But she still managed to play Pan-On all this time?"

"My granddaughter is smart and knows how to manage her own life. She kept her grades up, so neither her father nor I said anything. But now, it's finally time for her to focus..."

"Did Ji-soo take it well?"

Chairman Yoo didn't answer. Tae-hyun ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠smirked, understanding the silence.

"It's for her own good!"

"Well, that's true. It is time to focus."

"How was it for you?"

"I played as much as I wanted and still got in just fine."

"..."

Chairman Yoo stared at Tae-hyun with a complicated expression. He was undoubtedly an incredible guy, but why was he so incredibly irritating?

Wait, so if Ji-soo had made it to the main tournament, was she planning to do the tournament and the CSAT at the same time? That's impressive.

Of course, it wasn't likely that Ji-soo's family would have heard that and said, "Our daughter is so proud! Go ahead and try!" To begin with, Tae-hyun, whose father Kim Tae-san basically let him live however he wanted, and Yu Ji-soo, whose grandfather was the chairman of the Yuseong Group, were in completely different positions.

"Well, don't worry."

"Right? My granddaughter will do well on her own..."

"You have plenty of money, sir. If worst comes to worst, you can just send her to study abroad."

"..."

Chairman Yoo's face turned cold.

"Haha, just kidding."

"Don't ever make a joke like that again! Besides, she already refused. She doesn't seem to want to study abroad."

"Why do you think that is?"

"Who knows? Maybe because all her friends are in Korea? Or because she thinks it'll be hard to adapt overseas? No, perhaps it's because all the family members who cherish and love her are here in Korea."

"I don't think that's it..."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing."

When it came to Yu Ji-soo, Chairman Yoo was truly terrifying. Even Tae-hyun felt a bit intimidated!

"Anyway, her grades are more than ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠enough. As long as she doesn't make a mistake, she'll easily get into her school of choice. As expected of my granddaughter. Carving out her own future with her own strength..."

"Well, she's living under your roof and eating your food, so I wouldn't exactly call it 'her own strength'..."

"Why does this punk keep throwing cold water on my granddaughter's future?! You. Don't make me pick up my fishing rod!"

"Calm down. So, where is she planning to go?"

"If she stays in the country, Hankook University, of course."

Korea's top university, Hankook University. If she wasn't going abroad, she had to go to the best place domestically. And Yu Ji-soo definitely had the ability to get in.

"Ah, really? Which department?"

"She seems to still be thinking about it. Personally, I think she'll probably go to Business Administration..."

"How about the Department of Philosophy, the home of great contemplation?"

"...Or Law wouldn't be bad either."

"What about the Department of Korean Language and Literature, rich in history and tradition?"

"Are you trying to ruin her life?!"

Unable to hold back his anger any longer, Chairman Yoo lunged forward to grab Tae-hyun by the collar.

"Hey, what's wrong with that! What's wrong with Philosophy or Korean Literature!"

"You absolute punk!"

"We don't even know what Ji-soo likes yet!"

"At least we know it's not those two!"

"Wow, sir, are you trying to force your granddaughter to fit your own greed? She has to go to the department you want?"

"N-No! When did I ever!"

Framed as the bad guy by Tae-hyun, Chairman Yoo desperately tried to defend himself. He wouldn't have batted an eye at any other attack, but the "bad grandfather" accusation was impossible to ignore.

"I will support and back my granddaughter no matter where she goes."

"Sure, sure. Of course you will."

Tae-hyun's completely unconvinced "of course you will" made a vein pop on Chairman Yoo's forehead.

"I mean it!"

"Yes, I believe you. You're a modern grandfather, so you'll trust and support whatever your granddaughter does. I know."

"..."

Chairman Yoo felt an uncomfortable sensation. It felt like he had just been swindled!

"By the way, if Ji-soo comes to the Korean Literature department, does that make her my junior?"

"...I must make sure she never goes to the Korean Literature department."

"What?"

"It's nothing."

"Why is the Korean representative team talking so much?"

"The match is about to start, and the map is out. Of course they have to discuss strategy."

"But they didn't even gather until just now?"

"True."

Unlike other teams, Team KL showed "excellent teamwork" by not gathering at the arena until right before the tournament. Naturally, this caught the attention of other teams and fans.

Rumors and nonsense were spreading wild!

It was no wonder the surrounding fans found it fascinating to see the Korean team talking so passionately now.

"Who is that old man?"

"Who knows. The coach?"

"They already have a coach?"

"Well, it's the Korean team, so it wouldn't be strange if they had a coach. I heard pro gaming teams are already sending them scout offers."

"Really? That's amazing."

Regardless of what was being said outside, Tae-hyun was quietly using a skill in the waiting room.

He was trying to make a ring by throwing in whatever decent materials he had on hand.

"Let's go! We have to head out now."

"What? Can't I just finish making this?"

Under the gaze of countless spectators, the first match of the Arena Tournament began.

"Alright. I know a lot of things happened to get us here. But now, it's time to forget all of that and focus on the match. Everyone got it?"

"..."

"..."

Ugh, these troublemakers.

Looking at Tae-hyun and Do Dong-su, Lee Se-yeon cursed inwardly.

"According to our predictions, the opponents will definitely... Hey! Are you even listening?!"

"I don't take orders from anyone weaker than me!"

Dash—

Do Dong-su opened the arena door and stormed out, refusing to listen any further. Tae-hyun shouted after him.

"Then you should listen to us!"

Meanwhile, Lee Se-yeon gritted her teeth. To think they had to start their very first match like this. Anger welled up inside her, but she wasn't foolish enough to let it explode right now.

"Fine. Since it's the first match, let's go see what they've prepared. Move like we did last time."

"Should I go down the middle?"

"Yes, please."

Lee Se-yeon and Kim Chul-soo went top, Tae-hyun and Cain went middle, and Do Dong-su went bottom. Meanwhile, Team Blue waited.

Cain stared at the forest with a tense face. The middle base required climbing a slightly sloped hill. Once they went up, there was no telling when the enemy would appear.

The cold, ruthless world of professionals, where a single mistake decided victory or defeat! Thinking about everything he had done to get here, his heart suddenly began to pound.

Inhale. Exhale. Don't be nervous. Don't be nervous. I can do this. Trust in myself. Think about everything I've done...

Cain closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them. Having Tae-hyun behind him was incredibly reassuring. Even though Tae-hyun was a foul-mouthed jerk, in situations like this, he was the most reliable person alive! Cain had faith that even if he made a mistake, Tae-hyun would somehow bail him out.

Alright. Let's go!

Cain made a passionate vow. As if responding to his determination, a wave of heat washed over him from the side.

What's this? Is it because I steeled my resolve? This heat... Is Kim Tae-hyun also feeling the heat of determination right now?

Cain turned his head. And screamed.

"What the hell?!"

Beside him, Tae-hyun was setting the forest on fire.

Tae-hyun was setting fire to the forest below the middle base. The spectators hadn't realized it yet, but this was Sadiq's Flame. A flame on a completely different level from ordinary fire!

And finally, Tae-hyun aimed toward the bottom base where Do Dong-su had gone and unleashed Sadiq's Flame.

Whoosh!