Debut of the Children of God
Meanwhile, as Mir Guild Team 2 steeled their resolve after seeing Lee Shin’s children appear in the qualifiers, Korean league fans were also glued to their screens.
The ban pick began and Vietnam’s coach appeared. A blue-eyed European director glared at the Korean team while covering his bearded mouth. Moments later, the face that filled the screen was Park Gwang-seob’s.
It was a textbook choice.
Vietnam’s coach took the baton again and spoke into his earpiece.
While similar talk flowed among the casters, Hong Han-hyun, after some thought, used his second ban card just before time ran out.
It was a dead-even exchange. The chat’s assessment was the same.
The suffocating ban war continued. Now it was time for picks.
Vietnam picked first.
When Inferno appeared, the chat exploded with sighs as if a bomb had dropped.
HHH had been unknowingly demoted. There was no time left. Everyone held their breath for his next choice.
The moment the countdown ended, HHH’s selection was pure shock. The face that appeared on screen was one familiar to every Yongbung. Yu Ri-ra, smiling brightly while making a V sign.
The commentator’s faint voice revealed his mixed feelings. And the chat? It was pure chaos.
The Yongbungs were especially savage.
A tidal wave of 👎👎👎 crashed through the chat.
Who debuts in an international match like this? At least save her for fifth pick. Or pick a support with her! Show some consideration!
Yet even in the middle of the storm, some were saying it was fine. GalleryQuitter, who had been playing the role of speedwagon, was one of them.
While the heated debate continued, both teams used their final ban cards. Vietnam banned Spear Ghost Yang Kang-cheol (rank 6), locking out the top bruiser, while Korea banned Vietnam’s jungle ranker.
The commentator let out a sigh of relief. The fans felt exactly the same.
Just as everyone was calming down after the 👎👎👎 wave turned into praise for HHH, the next face selected made the casters’ expressions freeze solid. They instinctively knew that fans back home across the sea were making the exact same face.
From this point on, the fans’ minds went completely blank.
It was incomprehensible. They were on the verge of fainting.
In the meantime Vietnam completed their fourth and fifth picks, filling the empty top and jungle slots.
Cross was a powerful healer who could even pierce the canyon’s control, but his influence in the early game was minimal. Moreover, he was the type who created synergy with strong damage dealers rather than being strong himself.
In other words:
With the slowest mid laner in the league in Cross, both top and bot filled with international rookies whose stability was close to zero, the opponent was openly targeting top and bot while countering mid as well.
No lane priority at all? It was the same as saying ‘Please kill me.’ Even more so at the international level.
They had already lost at the ban pick.
Just look at the casters’ historically sour expressions. Look at how the chat had been historically destroyed.
If they lost this match they would be buried alive. At the very least, Hong Han-hyun would be finished.
Just as shock and fear gripped all of Korea, Hong Han-hyun’s final pick was revealed.
And then—
The casters were breathless.
The chat was choking on question marks.
On screen was a gentle face with drooping eyes and round pupils that looked utterly harmless.
No official alias, unranked, no international experience.
But.
The hunter who had opened the era of defensive mid laners in the Korean league.
Top: Baek Yeon-woo.
Jungle: Guardian.
Mid: Park Su-bin.
Marksman: Yu Ri-ra.
Support: Cross.
When he saw the completed squad, Lee Shin gave a meaningful smile and said only one thing.
* * *
East Asia Regional Qualifiers Group D
South Korea (4) : Vietnam (0)
* * *
Mir Guild annex. The broadcasting team’s studio was in an uproar.
“Nineteen million, twenty million—it keeps climbing!”
“Did you send the official letter to YouTube Korea?!”
“They said they’ll monitor it too.”
“Match footage and analysis videos are ready, right? Did you get permission from the broadcasting stations to use the footage?”
“Yes.”
“In writing?”
“Well… we got verbal permission……”
“Do you want to die? Are you out of your mind? Check again! How many times do I have to tell you to double-check everything! What are the rest of you doing? If you have nothing to do, at least check the lines! If today’s broadcast has even one mistake it’ll be an international embarrassment!”
Even though he was shouting, no one could get annoyed with the broadcasting team leader.
Because he was the most pitiful of all.
Lee Shin had casually dropped the line “I’ll explain it on the broadcast” right in front of world journalists who were already losing their minds over the Children of God.
At that exact moment the broadcasting team leader had been asleep at home.
‘I didn’t know! He never discussed it with me!!’
To suddenly be in charge of a broadcast—a world-class broadcast—without a single word of discussion? You devil! ◎#!◎#!!◎#◎!◎
Representative or not, curses flew out. What kind of irresponsible person does this! If he could, he would tender his resignation right now…….
At that moment the door opened and Lee Shin and Chae Dong-ha walked in.
“Why is it so chaotic in here? Just do it the way you always do.”
“Haha, yes, we’ll do it the way we always do.”
“Looks like I caused unnecessary trouble for our team leader.”
“Not at all. This is our job.”
“Hehehe, don’t worry. I’ll pay you as much as you work. Everyone, look forward to it.”
At Lee Shin’s single sentence the resignation letter in the broadcasting team leader’s heart melted away. As expected, financial therapy was the best.
With preparations complete—
30 million viewers
Lee Shin transformed into the cold Professor Lee.
“No greetings are necessary. We will begin class immediately.”
Of course, he was wearing the antique taped glasses.
Chae Dong-ha let out a silent sigh.