Chain Reaction
After the match ended, the waiting room was even rowdier than usual after a win.
"Whoa... that was seriously scary. I thought we were done for when I saw him dying right next to me."
"Yeah, but the real no-win moment was when he just put up that shield wall and they charged right into it anyway."
"Totally."
With more unpredictable situations than usual and such a dramatic game, everyone was still buzzing even after it wrapped up.
In the midst of all that chaos, one person stood out with an overwhelming presence.
"Hey, you see that?"
Kim Do-jun was strutting around the waiting room, shoulders puffed up, before anyone could even praise him.
'Ugh...'
Apparently, my compliments weren't enough. Well, the team put up with his self-aggrandizing anyway, even if they rolled their eyes. After all, we might've lost without him. Plus, everyone was loving this winning streak vibe.
"Anyway, how'd you pull off that sudden vanish?"
"There's ways. I customized that flashing sword from the start with that in mind. You don't know the design?"
"Design my ass~ You remember last time when you three charged and your team couldn't fight 'cause their eyes were fucked from your shit?"
Yoon Han-gyeol's tongue-clicking jab set off laughter throughout the room. Kim Do-jun couldn't really argue, his face shifting to one of reluctant surrender.
"Yeah, that was my bad. I own it."
He tried to play it cool, but predictably, the teasing didn't stop.
"And if you'd designed it ahead, you'd have mentioned it at the strategy meeting. Admit it, it was luck."
"Luck? Come on~ Don't you know mana gear gets prepped before matches?"
"That's even worse!~ Hiding it from your own team just to shine at the end and play hero."
Somehow, the guy who'd shone brightest was now under full-team fire. Even Lee Yeon-ju, who rarely showed expression, turned away stifling a pfft of laughter.
'What a spectacle.'
The lively mood continued until—knock knock—a staffer opened the door.
"Kim Do-jun, today's MVP, please get ready for your interview~."
At those words, Kim Do-jun headed out, flashing a rotten grin at his tormentors.
'Eh, it's a good day. Let him have it.'
With that, everyone turned to the TV showing Kim Do-jun in the interview room.
Soon, the broadcast began.
[Caster:] And here we have Kim Do-jun, today's sole MVP!
[Caster:] Today's RIX vs. PER match drew tons of buzz as a rookie powerhouse clash. Kim Do-jun, how'd it feel?
[Kim Do-jun:] Today? Overall... pretty satisfying, I'd say.
Kim Do-jun smirked, quirking one corner of his mouth. He probably thought it looked confident...
"Isn't that smile kinda funny? Like he's faking it for the crowd."
Han Ji-su's jab had Yoon Han-gyeol cracking up in agreement. But it was still just chuckles—until...
[Caster:] What specifically stood out?
[Kim Do-jun:] Hmm... the part where I straight-up "carried" the game?
That "carried" emphasis sent the team into hysterics. Not just the word, but the sheer audacity of the answer.
"No way, he shits the bed every time and one carry makes him cocky... You can't let him get away with that."
Han Ji-su laughed incredulously, clicking her tongue.
[Caster:] Right, your play is blowing up online. Even in a league with history like this, it feels new—a third-division tactic: the flashing sword forces opponents to wear sunglasses, covering the weaknesses of the Invisible Cloak. Was this a team strategy from the start?
[Kim Do-jun:] Team...? No way. Our director—er, Chang-hyun—helps a bit, but this is my "original".
[Caster:] Got it. PER's been all about Lee Chang-hyun and Yoon Han-gyeol, but looking forward to more from you, Kim Do-jun.
The caster smoothed it over, but yeah, classic Kim Do-jun.
'Of course he'd say that...'
Pre- or post-regression, his interviews and personality were unchanged. So consistent.
The online reactions were a riot too.
I scrolled down a bit, then pocketed my phone. Regression or not, the world's the same.
Talk of Lee Chang-hyun flowed easily after that text. He'd checked him out personally. Official records aside, beating Takumi for real...
Jin Kyung-tae's replies sketched out the guy's profile bit by bit.
'Seasoned...?'
An unexpected term—for a newcomer in the third division. The league’s tiers weren’t arbitrary. Even with powerful abilities, experience was essential for true mastery.
Third division: basic hunter-vs-hunter combat. Second division: map and terrain-based strategy, with added variables. First division: everything above, plus real pain sensation.
No matter the talent, time was required.
'But Jin Kyung-tae sunbae said it himself...'
Maybe early hunter training like me? Otherwise, that veteran savvy, sharp eyes, tactics made no sense.
As Jo Yeon-hwa pondered Jin Kyung-tae's texts, the TV replayed Kim Do-jun's MVP interview.
[Caster:] ...flashing sword forces sunglasses, covering Invisible Cloak flaws. Team-planned?
[Kim Do-jun:] ...My "original"...?
'...! That PER tactic from today...'
Kim Do-jun claimed it, but she couldn't shake the feeling it was Lee Chang-hyun's.
A world-first strategy: Invisible Cloak + flashing sword to force eyewear, creating stealth conditions.
Hunter League had endless tactics from gear/maps/powers, but this was rare. No forced powers or maps—just a custom flashing sword and common stealth gear.
Anyone could do it, but devastating impact.
A third-division newbie coming up with that? Impossible.
...Unless he'd prepped Hunter League with a secret mentor since early training?
'Totally possible.'
Pieces clicked. Talented, sure, but backed by an unseen master.
Jo Jun-ho was great, but the world's vast.
Now clear: 'Find Lee Chang-hyun's teacher.'
Learn from them, achieve her goals.
Just ID them—at season-end [Hunter's Day] party with all Korean hunters. No separate meetup. Go with Dad, casually apologize for past, chat naturally.
Jo Yeon-hwa smiled triumphantly.
After PER vs. RIX, only promotion to the second division remained midway through the season. The PER dorm was unexpectedly buzzing.
A few days later, a first division Hunter League broadcast featured Kim Do-jun’s tactic.
The result? A predictable dominant win in the first division L.T.D., powered by a flashing sword and an Invisible Cloak.
[Caster:] LTD's tactic is huge online. Ace Kang Jun-hyuk forces goggles with flashing sword; they block light, he cloaks. Director prepped surprise?
[First Division L.T.D. Director Lee Jin-han:]Haha... glad everyone’s enjoying it. We take inspiration from international leagues as well. This actually debuted in Korea’s third division.
"Do-jun, that's your play, right? They're copying."
"Yeah, worth copying."
"But if everyone copies, your spot's in danger, no?"
He hadn't foreseen easy imitation. Kim Do-jun's face hardened fast.
LTD drew the biggest Korean audiences. Every team might use it now.
'Things just got interesting...'
This could be a huge variable in promotion.