080. Reflections on the Past Journey
With PER's victory, highlight reels from the match were already being edited and uploaded to the broadcast screens. There were a few standout moments, but the one generating the most buzz by far was my 2v1 sequence. It looked precarious at first glance, but I wrapped it up effortlessly with my dual pistols in a ridiculously anticlimactic fashion. Then there was the scene where I swooped in like a savior at the perfect moment to rescue Yi Yeon-ju from certain doom.
As the highlight replayed with my entrance, the crowd erupted in roaring cheers. Against a cosmic backdrop, I burst onto the scene wreathed in the halo of a star's glow, saving my teammate in the nick of time. Edited like that, how could the fans not eat it up...
'Feels like a hero making his grand appearance.'
And I wasn't the only one thinking it. Right after the promotion match ended, as we basked in the cheers on stage, a sudden light emanated from my body. It was the precursor to the Bloom skill—Talent Awakening.
The people around me on stage seemed pretty shocked, but no one made a fuss. They probably chalked it up to a second awakening rather than the Bloom skill.
Bloom - Talent Awakening: Dream Commander
Perfectly share imagined visions with others.
It was a talent I'd never acquired before regression.
'Sharing images with others...'
So, basically the ability to share my thoughts with someone else. It seemed closest to effortlessly conveying what I wanted to my teammates. On paper, it sounded kinda meh... But if it let me share the full sensation of my imaginations perfectly, it could be an absurdly broken skill.
Was I hoping for too much? A wry smile tugged at my lips anyway. At least it counted as an achievement—Talent Awakening recognized as one.
In my past life before regression, we hadn't won the Second Division promotion from Third Division. Back then, I'd switched from Third Division to LTD for my first shot at promotion. Looking back now, it was a pretty fun team. We racked up win streaks, the vibe was electric. I trained under a proper system for the first time, got stronger every day, and even clicked with some great guys.
'Ryu Jae-jun...'
My teammate who'd led the team with me through Third Division and beyond. Even with him there, we got crushed in the promotion match. The team atmosphere tanked hard after. Everyone thought we'd drag the Third Division scrubs up to Second Division, but only Ryu Jae-jun and I got called up.
On the surface, they said it was fine, congrats on Second Division. But inside? Their guts must've been twisting. Hell, they might've cursed us out.
That's why climbing to higher leagues never sat right with me. Sure, the best players rise—but I felt guilty for not bringing the rest along. They were all solid guys.
'Sigh...'
A bitter expression crept onto my face unbidden. But here I stood now, different from back then.
As the light from me faded, my teammates stared at me with dazed looks.
"Congrats, Chang-hyun."
"What, you awakened right now of all times?"
"Your luck's insane. Tch."
Reactions varied, but they were all here celebrating me. And at least we'd tackle Second Division together. Maybe more. For the first time, I could smile genuinely.
We're climbing together. This was a brilliantly shining new moment, undeniably different from my past life.
Caster: It's been a whopping 5 years since a Third Division team beat a Second Division squad in promotion. Did you know?
Lee Chang-hyun: Yeah, I knew.
Caster: With those overwhelming odds... wasn't it stressful?
...Honestly, yeah, it was more pressure than previous matches. It wasn't something I could carry solo, and unlike my past life, I couldn't just rocket up alone.
But saying that would be rude. Play it cool, like always.
Lee Chang-hyun: No way. You might not know, but last season we were dead last in Third Division. Dragging that team to first? A promotion match was nothing. I knew we'd win.
I wouldn't say we trained till our bodies broke. Keep it humble.
Caster: Great. Next up is Second Division league. Any ambitions for the word?
Lee Chang-hyun: Uh... not really. Third Division's done, and Second Division's just a stepping stone. No big meaning. But to not leave you hanging... Yeah, we'll take over Second Division too?
All scripted, of course. Second Division would demand even more focus than Third Division. Need to recruit, teach mountains of stuff. But this bravado was necessary to push forward. Second Division really was just a pass-through on my path.
Lee Chang-hyun: Oh, and now that PER's blowing up, the Third Division teams who lost to an unknown wipeout squad will look way better, right?
I kept rambling, enjoying it too much. I'd do well in Second Division anyway—no backlash for me. Teammates might catch some heat, but they'd grind through it. What choice did they have?
Meanwhile, the chat was on fire.
Eh, good job stirring the pot, then. Players live off fan attention—gotta give 'em something to chew on.
Caster: Hahaha! From Third Division to Second Division—how far will PER go? Second Division teams better watch out. That's it for the promotion match. Thanks for watching!
Big match, but just promotion—no trophy lifts or MVP gold bars. Back to the lounge like any game, grab gear and bounce.
"You sometimes go so hard, it's scary. You good?" Yoon Han-gyeol fretted, worried I'd get antis.
This level of aggro? Peanuts compared to pre-regression.
"This ain't shit."
He flinched but nodded, that expression saying yeah, fair...
Kim Do-jun's side was the real spectacle.
"He's manufacturing star power."
"What?"
Star power... Yeah, could see it that way. I did it for fun, but it boosted team fame? Wins pump my star too—sharp take from Do-jun.
That was fine, but...
"I don't need fake-ass star power."
"?"
Teammates packing up turned, faces screaming you said that?
PER had grown. Not just compared to their old Third Division wipeout days with new parts swapped in—Lee Chang-hyun joining. That was just replacing components.
Wouldn't shock that much. But it wasn't just that.
'They've changed.'
The team's identity, its very makeup had transformed. And it would keep changing.
No longer the hopeless wreck I'd written off as untrainable. I'd turned the team I thought doomed—handing it over half-doubting—into something real.
"Kehkeh... At my age, it's time to step back and pick a successor."
I recalled his bold demand.
'Then I'd be the one picking you as chairman.'
Back then, I laughed it off as cheeky fun. Even when he won that audition show and took PER, same deal.
But now? That joke was reality.
"Never thought I'd hear that from you..."
Jo Jun-ho, watching beside me, clicked his tongue.
"Fair enough. But what about Jae-jun?"
"Got a kid who begged to join my team—gotta let the one who walked out find his own way."
Jo Jun-ho tsked, absurd. Fair point, though. With Ryu Jae-jun wandering lately, better wait for him to explore wider horizons.
'Plus, being Lee Geun-taek's heir could chain him down...'
"The great Lee Geun-taek passing the torch—others'll be green with envy. Jealousy aside, you ain't giving him Hunter Association President, right? So then..."
"What could this old man give? Heh heh. Just some trinkets from my stash."
"Trinkets?"
Jo Jun-ho scoffed. Nothing he owned was "light" if he deemed it gift-worthy. Especially symbolic for the new gen—not ordinary stuff.
Jo Jun-ho pondered what it'd be. Coveted forge weapons? Rare mana gear licenses?
But what symbolized him best...
"So you're handing over a relic or something?"
"...Could be."
Jo Jun-ho's brows furrowed, incredulous.