Academy League Summer Season (4)
It was past midnight.
Kim Ki-hyeon, the manager, and I grabbed a late-night meal at a nearby pork soup joint, chatting casually over our simple dinner.
"Hahaha! Those girls' requests are so cute. The others aside, Ha-young asking for a Netflix subscription that costs less than 20,000 won a month? Isn't that dream a bit too modest?"
When I told him what the players had asked for, Manager Kim burst into hearty laughter.
"Pros are supposed to perform well—that's a given. It felt absurd that these rookies, who haven't even played a single match yet, were already making demands based on that. I thought about scolding them but let it slide."
"Don't be too harsh on them. Isn't it only natural to reward them when they do their jobs well? It's not like we can't afford that much."
"You're really going to grant them?"
"Do you think a coach shouldn't?"
"Of course rewards are due for good results, but showing material greed already in the academy league... I'm worried it'll spoil their habits."
"Haha, do you really think the players you're coaching under me would turn out like that? I trust your abilities, Coach. Please tell the team we've approved their requests."
Manager Kim jotted down the players' requests on his phone and saved them. We picked up our spoons and ate for a bit.
Then he asked again.
"In your view, Coach, do you think our team will perform well?"
"If they play at their practice level, they'll take first place for sure."
"Ooh! Such confidence. How great it would be if they really could win it all. Tell them you'll give them bonuses if they hit their goals."
"And if they fall short, the scolding's on me?"
"Pretty much, yeah?"
"Feels like the company dangles the carrot while I'm stuck wielding the stick."
"Isn't that how it always is for those in guiding roles? As a manager who doesn't do much else, I at least have to provide the carrot. So, what goal did you set for the players?"
"Same as always. First place. And if they don't get it, no wishes granted."
"Whoa... With that level of confidence, I'm glad I offered you the coaching position. Alright, let's go with first place as the goal. If they're leading at the season midpoint, grant their wishes. And if they hold it till the end, heck, one more wish each!"
"The girls will love that. But they can't get too fixated on the rewards..."
This damn status window clearly existed just to screw with me. It took my offhand words and turned them into an official quest, tossing it my way like some kind of prank.
And it was crystal clear what the failure penalty meant, but it wouldn't spit out what the success reward actually was. What the hell is a Passfinder, you degenerate?
I tried swiping at the text floating above my head with my finger and even talked to it, but of course, no response.
Goddamn thing.
Whatever. With or without this status window, first place was the goal anyway. I, Kang Yuseong—11-time domestic league champ, 3-time seasonal major winner, 3-time TIC victor—wasn't going to sweat some academy league after choosing to coach this team instead of playing myself.
My pride wouldn't allow it.
Time passed, and finally, the day of the Eternal Combat Academy League opener arrived.
The players, hearing from me about the manager's promise—one wish at season midpoint and another at the end if goals were met—burned with even more determination.
Driving the team van we'd been provided, I kept drilling in reminders.
"In round robin, stacking wins is key—you know that, right? Every loss is fatal, so go in with a must-win mindset. But don't overdo it. Always follow Captain Ha-young's calls."
"But what's round robin again?"
"...Eunjae, you didn't read the tournament rules?"
"Nope."
I sighed and re-explained the rules everyone else knew.
A full league among the 10 academy teams—that's called round robin.
Each match is best of two. Not best of three, so wins, losses, and draws are all possible.
Win: +2 points. Draw: +1. Loss: 0.
Two full rounds, so 18 matches per team. Top 6 by win points advance to playoffs.
"So how do playoffs work?"
"We'll figure that out after qualifying. Focus on the matches right in front of you now."
"Hng."
"Blue Light—you just watch out for Choi Jae-yeon, like I said? Don't slack on other lanes either. Yuna, you ready to establish dominance? This match's offlaner init fight will decide it."
"Just leave it to me. I'll make them apologize for comparing me to that offlaner."
We arrived at the stadium—a flashy venue.
The stands looked like they held at least 2,000 seats. Ten capsules sat center stage, with multi-angle screens hanging from the ceiling for spectators.
Seeing the grand main stadium up close, the players' jaws dropped.
"Whoa, this is sick. We're really playing here? In front of people?"
"I-I might get nervous..."
"Don't be ridiculous. Who comes to watch academy league? This is for Division 1. Once you build your skills, you'll play here for real. Our spot's not here—it's over there."
I pointed to a side passage leading to the annex.
The annex was much smaller than the main stage, with maybe 50 seats tops.
Players like Seon-ah, who loved attention, let out disappointed sighs, like they'd been hit with cold water.
"Almost no one comes to academy games, but not zero. Every match is for the few here—and the online and in-game viewers. Play your best so you're not ashamed in front of them, or yourself."
"Yes!"
In the player lounge, staff soon checked attendance.
"Shining Star, confirmed. Two of you, follow me please."
"Huh? Where to?"
I answered.
"Makeup."
"Makeup? We wear makeup for games?"
"What kind of question is that? It's broadcasted. Even the men's league does it pre-match."
Eternal Combat capsules use biometric scans, projecting players' real appearances in-game. So everyone gets makeup for better on-screen presence.
Eunjae and Seon-ah lit up with bright smiles.
"Free makeup! Me first!"
"Me too! Together!"
They linked arms and followed the staff.
While waiting, Yuna and Sera scrolled phones indifferently. Ha-young, tense, kept sipping water and reviewing her notes.
Minutes later, Seon-ah and Eunjae returned, fully made up.
I was impressed inwardly.
Our girls really are stunning.
True to Shining Star's founding ethos of winning with visuals, they'd transformed.
They usually wore minimal makeup to practice, but pro artists had turned them into head-turners that stirred primal instincts.
Out in public like this, they'd get hit on every five minutes.
Honestly, coaching this team, the hardest part wasn't managing teen girls' dorm life or training—it was keeping emotional distance amid five beauties like these.
Seon-ah and Eunjae admired their faces on their phones, snapping selfies furiously.
Yuna, Ha-young, and Sera finished up, and we watched the ongoing match until our turn.
Match 1 had ended before we arrived; now Match 2 Set 2 was starting.
Brilliant—the academy gatekeepers who'd lost publicly to us in scrims last time—was playing.
As expected, Brilliant crushed their foes in 25 minutes under Oh Sujin's mid dominance, winning 2:0 easily.
"They look good from here? They sucked in scrims. Hehe."
"Means you're that strong. Stay calm, don't force it. Play like practice. You'll win."
"Players, time to set up~"
At the staff call, all five headed to the stage.
Not their usual capsules, so they calibrated internals and controls to match practice specs for comfort.
About 15 minutes later, they returned for final rest.
During wait time, in-game lobbies and streams showed pre-shot player profiles, records, etc.
Few viewers in lobbies or streams, but they all said the same thing.
Praise for our players' looks dominated.
Otherwise, skepticism about a "face-selling girl team chasing fame," with rare nods to those who'd seen the Brilliant scrim.
"Players, match time~"
"Finally!"
Seon-ah jumped up, stomping excitedly at the final call.
I gathered the five for a last pep talk.
"Alright, debut match starts now! Just like practice! Play without regrets! Show everything I've taught you, everything you've learned! This is the first button on your journey—sew it right!"
I thrust my hand forward.
Understanding, they piled theirs on top.
"Shining Star!"
"Fighting!"