This Season's Winning Team
After receiving word that Ryu Jae-jun would join the team, they decided to select just one from those who'd taken the test. In other words, the new additions to the team were Ryu Jae-jun and Kim Yu-hyeon. Two in total.
Right after the selections, they sent texts, and now both had just arrived at PER's home base.
"Nice to meet you. You saw me during that practice match with TAK last time, right? Looks like we'll be sticking together from here on out. Let's get along."
Ryu Jae-jun calmly shook hands with the team members. Kim Yu-hyeon, on the other hand, had dark circles under his eyes and didn't look to be in great shape.
'Heard there was some clerical error with a text going out by mistake... Is that why?'
Whatever the case, he didn't seem to be in top condition. So Lee Chang-hyun stepped forward to introduce him instead.
But as he approached, Kim Yu-hyeon spotted him and twisted his face into a bizarre grimace.
"[email protected]#?!?"
"?"
What the hell? Oh. He must've thought I was a test proctor since I showed up at the exam site last time.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Lee Chang-hyun, leader of PER."
"Y-Yeah... pleased to meet you too."
Only then did his expression sink a bit, like some realization had dawned on him. What the hell was that face about?
"You've played with Jae-jun before, so you know him. This is Kim Yu-hyeon."
Lee Yeon-ju was eyeing the new teammates with a slightly sulky look, but the rest of the team seemed to accept them without much fuss. That was a relief.
'Now we just need to recruit a coach to help with tactics and detailed personal training.'
He'd left that to Kim Seong-jun, so it should be fine. The guy handled things cleanly.
"Alright, then. Practice match next week, so don't slack on personal training. We're done for today."
"What? No team practice today?"
"Got something in the afternoon."
The Media Day kicking off the Second Division season.
Media Day. A pretty storied event. And amusingly enough, it existed even for the lower-interest Second Division and Second Division leagues. Something about motivating lower-league players and giving them media exposure to boost their confidence.
Anyway, for this Media Day, Lee Jong-gyu and Lee Chang-hyun attended together.
Cameras were lined up in front, and on the platform sat the directors and coaches from each team. Promotions from First Division or from Second Division to Second Division weren't everyday occurrences, after all. Everyone knew each other and exchanged quiet greetings.
"How's Stove League treating you? Manage to snag a player pool you're happy with?"
"No budget this time around, so... what can you do? We'll grit our teeth and tough out the season like this."
The murmurs didn't last long. As time hit exactly on the dot, everyone quieted down and looked forward. The Q&A with reporters was starting, marking the beginning of Media Day.
"How do you evaluate TAK's Stove League moves this time?"
"First off, we focused on broadening our player pool for diverse strategies. Not to mention..."
Yawn. Nothing but dull talk. Did they have success in the Stove League acquisition wars? What are the team's ambitions? The usual banal stuff.
Then a question came for Lee Chang-hyun.
"PER is one of the most talked-about teams in Second Division this season. Rumors among insiders say that Lee Chang-hyun here has been tapped by Hunter Lee Geun-taek as his successor. Can you comment on that?"
"Ah, well, yeah. Ever since that audition show, he's recognized my skills and potential, and that's showing results now."
A question about him before the team? Well, sure. A fresh Second Division newbie like PER probably drew fewer clicks than headlining with a 1st-gen hunter like Lee Geun-taek.
The rest were nothing special—no real substance. Mostly team ambitions and such.
Then came the question that always popped up, and it was usually pretty entertaining.
"Which team do you predict will win the Second Division league this season?"
It went to every director.
"We kept the same roster as last time, and PSG's got great synergy, so probably them for first."
"Makes sense. With Han Ji-hoo and all, PSG seems the top contender barring any surprises."
"...PSG's a strong pick, but QED put real effort into acquisitions this time, so they could be up there too."
Most said similar things. PSG, last season's champ, or runner-up QED. Established teams whose powers everyone knew inside out, so the predictions felt solid enough.
'Leaving our team out aside.'
"I'd say my team, PER, this season."
Unlike at Second Division Media Day, no one batted an eye—they'd all heard his reputation by now. But there was one surprise.
"I'd pick PER too. PSG and QED are strong, but... we scrimmed them last time, and they were sharp."
TAK's director—last season's Second Division third place—naming PER. A wave of surprise rippled through the other directors.
"Newly promoted teams usually struggle... Data backs it up, new environment, games change a lot. But PER with two votes? Interesting. Season predictions: PSG 5 votes, QED 3, PER 2. Looking forward to a hotter, fiercer league than last. Thanks for the interviews!"
As the final question wrapped, the buzz returned. Some headed out, others stuck around to wrap interviews.
Lee Chang-hyun was about to leave when—
"Lee Chang-hyun, right? Nice to meet you. Our teams scrimmed when I was away on business. Impressive stuff."
TAK's director extended a hand.
"Ah... nice to meet you."
"You've been the talk among Second Division directors lately—Lee Geun-taek's rookie pick. And you backed it up. Some directors won't admit it, though."
The vibe felt worlds apart from Second Division Media Day. No aggressive barbs, but clear respect. It hit home: they were truly stepping into the heart of the Hunters League.
"Anyway, let's keep in touch. Director-to-director, player-to-director—always welcome."
Guy seemed friendly. He'd overheard other directors before—some wary of him, others dismissing him as irrelevant in team fights despite his skill.
'More folks like this from now on, I bet.'
Even pre-regression as a player, he'd gotten this treatment sometimes. But as team rep, it felt different. Back then it was about "me" the star; now it was "team PER."
The day Media Day articles flooded in. Kim Jun-seo, for whom Hunters League news was a daily joy, predictably opened the sports section homepage.
'Anything new...?'
Big Stove League signings were already checked, so nothing major piqued him. And sure enough... no huge scoops.
'First Division favorites this season: LTD with guardian deity Kang Jun-hyuk... Form holding strong, huh.'
Skimming that, scrolling for more—then a Second Division Media Day article caught his eye. PER news.
'Huh...? Isn't that the team from before?'
He'd edited and uploaded their invisible tactic play to NutTube after finding it fun—memories flooded back.
'That vid... racked up views.'
Better explosion than expected. The match had been thrilling, after all. And now they were in Second Division? Promotions weren't common.
Intrigued.
'Picked up Kim Yu-hyeon and Ryu Jae-jun... Don't know 'em.'
He'd only watched First Division usually—skipped lower leagues unless forced. But one bit made his eyes widen.
'Lee Geun-taek's successor...?'
Lee Geun-taek predated the league but was a national hero—everyone knew him. Him picking a Second Division hunter as heir? Wild.
Curiosity piqued, he dove in.
'Oh... so that's the story.'
The team he'd enjoyed watching, backed by a national legend? Felt like validation for his taste.
Hooked now, he checked the schedule.
'Good... no overlap with First Division. Evening slot for the opener—perfect viewing time.'
PER vs... QED? Unknown teams. Wouldn't have bothered without the article. But that day was post-work anyway—why not?
'Debuted in Second Division at Media Day claiming his team would win. Gotta show something, right?'
Lee Geun-taek had talked big in his youth too. Smashing cocky foreign hunters, scraping every relic fragment. Overseas press even quoted him threatening to half-kill any foreigner who mouthed off.
Kim Jun-seo had been a kid then, but the buzz stuck.
'Man... that was Korea's hunter golden age.'
Koreans dominating the Tower, hoarding relics. Nothing like now, treated as a backwater.
'If 1st-gen hunters were still active...'
Korea would've been where America was. Or at least not getting curb-stomped by China and Japan in international leagues.
With a sigh of regret, Kim Jun-seo smacked his lips and hit the hay. Someday, he hoped, Korea would rule the world Hunters League again.