A Near-Impossible Feat
Mir Guild (3) : Kirin Guild (0)
* Mir Guild Victory (+3 Points)
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* MVP: Sanwang Kim Jong-phil (Rating: 9.9)
* Regular Season 1st Place, Highest Points
(*Replaced by Haemu Guild Round 2 Conquest Match)
Mir Guild records first place in the regular season.
Achieved the highest points in history (75*3). This is a first-ever record.
Congratulations. You have successfully completed your first major schedule.
You have accomplished something close to impossible.
You have accomplished something close to impossible.
You have accomplished something close to impossible.
You have exceeded expectations.
Due to exceeding expectations, rewards will be recalculated.
1. Receive rewards now? (Y/N)
2. Combine rewards with playoff performance? (Y/N)
The moment the match ended, all the lights went out at once. Then, in the darkened Yongwanggung, fireworks erupted with a thunderous roar.
Pop-pop-pop——!
Fireworks burst. Flames danced.
The magical fireworks prepared for this day transformed into dragons and soared through the air.
From the ceiling illuminated by the fireworks, pollen-like sparks rained down in a dazzling display. The sparks glittered like stars, and the Milky Way descended upon the stadium.
Yet even so.
Though it was dazzling enough to enchant the eyes and majestic enough to deafen the ears……
It could never compare to them.
―――――!!
The stadium trembled under the roar of a hundred thousand voices.
“We won! Damn it, we actually won!”
“That’s it! This is it! We won! This is what it’s all about! Hahahaha!!”
“Regular season first place! Highest points in history!!”
Here were those laughing in joy.
“Heh-heh-heh, damn it, we did it.”
“Sniff, regular season first place, sob. We actually pulled it off. Hic.”
“That’s right. Our kids did it. Hng, I think I’m going to cry.”
Here were those weeping in happiness.
It had been a dying dragon. A dragon whose scales had been stripped away and whose majesty had rotted, rendering its glorious birth meaningless.
These were the loyal retainers who had protected a dragon that had only been waiting to die.
The steadfast ones who had shielded it from every mockery. The foolish ones who, even while thinking it was impossible, could not let go of the thread of hope.
Fans.
Under their most beautiful cheers in the world, the stadium now trembled.
“Man, I love you bastards so damn much!”
“Sanwang is a god and Lee Shin is invincible!!”
――――!!!!
Amid the pouring cheers, the gate dissolved and the players appeared. Yu Ri-ra bounced around as if she had expected this.
“Kyaaa! Scream louder! Scream even louder!!”
While the excited Yu Ri-ra energetically circled the stands, Park Su-bin, as always, bowed deeply toward the crowd.
“Thank you. Thank you. We’ll do our best in the finals too. Thank you.”
Park Su-bin, who had burst into tears the moment he was promoted, now showed the composure of someone comforting the fans.
As expected of our sacred-blood youth! The fans showered them with generous applause for their pride.
On the other hand, the unexpected one was slightly malfunctioning—Baek Yeon-woo, who was flustered by the decibels that were easily three or four times louder than usual cheers.
“Uh…… uh…… uhh……”
Baek Yeon-woo never looked away even in knife-edge matches, yet this assault captain, who was just as valiant and strong, had been overwhelmed by the intense fervor radiating from a hundred thousand fans.
“Relax, Yeon-woo.”
“Uh, uh, Yusin hyung.”
Kim Yu-shin placed a hand on Baek Yeon-woo’s shoulder.
He waved toward the stands as he spoke.
“A fan’s voice can turn a human into a god. It’s a line I read in a book once. Isn’t that cool?”
A fan’s pure adoration possessed the power to turn humans into gods. But conversely, without them, even gods were no different from humans.
So……
“G-go and repay them quickly. The people cheering for you.”
When Kim Yu-shin smiled and pushed his back, Baek Yeon-woo carefully stepped forward toward the stands.
A fan was crying. He spoke to them in a flustered voice.
“D-don’t cry. There’s still one match left. I’ll definitely win for you.”
There was still one match left. I’ll do really well in the finals. Cry then.
Today as well, Baek Yeon-woo was growing into a proper hunter beside an excellent senior.
While the team members looked after the fans, Sanwang was showing courtesy to those left out of this festival.
“Good work. You’ve worked hard.”
The Kirin fans who had come all the way from Seoul to Yeongdo, the southernmost tip of Busan.
Every expert and official had predicted defeat, and even they themselves had known deep down it would be difficult, yet they too were fans and, just like the Yongbung-i, had not abandoned their guild.
To those Kirin fans, Sanwang bowed, wishing to repay the support he had once received from them.
Then he approached his former teammates one by one and patted their shoulders.
“Everyone worked hard.”
“Sir, I……”
“It’s fine. Jia, there’s still the playoffs. Cheer up.”
“We’ll see you in the finals.”
“Let’s do that, Gang-cheol. Let’s definitely meet again in the finals.”
He offered pure encouragement to his former teammates, who sent him complicated looks, and finally sought out his old friend.
“Jeong-do.”
“……”
Han Jeong-do turned his head like a broken doll. He looked especially old today.
Kim Jong-phil saw his past self in that face. The powerless version of himself back when he had been drinking soju alone on Mt. Geumgang.
Though their ending had been bitter, he still felt he should offer some encouragement.
Thus Sanwang approached his friend first, but unfortunately their reunion did not continue.
At that moment, the announcers and cameras rushed in and blocked the space between them.
“Sanwang-nim! Sanwang-nim! I’m so, so sorry for being late. And congratulations! You’ve been named Season MVP!!”
“……Not match MVP, but the entire season MVP?”
“Hehe, it was originally scheduled for next week, but you received unanimous votes. That’s why the interview prep was delayed. This way, please.”
The stadium lights came on, and spotlights illuminated Kim Jong-phil.
The Yongbung-i, who had been cheering just moments ago, fell into a miraculous silence and focused on Kim Jong-phil’s mouth.
Our proud raid leader smiled and opened his mouth.
“Today as well, we won.”
* * *
― “……Regular season first place, highest points in history. It truly feels like a dream. As the raid leader, I first want to express my gratitude to my teammates over there.”
― “Throughout the season, every single one of them gave their all in every match without exception. Because they silently shed blood and sweat following this lacking leader, today’s glorious legend could exist. Thank you, everyone.”
― “Next, I want to thank all of you who supported us unwaveringly throughout this long season. Without your passionate support, we could never have written such a brilliant legend. Thank you, everyone.”
― “And finally, I can’t leave out the front office staff and my young partner, Representative Lee Shin. Although I am receiving the honor of being Season MVP, it would have been impossible without your dedication. Thank you.”
* * *
Thank you. Thank you……
Every time Sanwang expressed his gratitude on the giant screen, Mir City outside the stadium erupted.
“Sanwang-nim says he’s grateful!!”
“Drink as much as you’re grateful!!”
“Boss, ten beers over here!”
“Cheers!!”
The streets were packed with fans at every stall set up along the road, not just the shops.
Staff members weaved constantly through the crowd while people linked arms and raised toasts.
Never met before today? So what? You’re a Yongbung-i and I’m a Yongbung-i.
And our guild won!!
“Sanwang is the MVP!!”
“Lee Shin is invincible!!”
Clink——!
Glasses clashed like applause, and cheers of “cheers” exploded like fireworks.
And among that lively scene, an old man savoring the emotion of passion for the first time in a long while—Lee Sang-byuk.
“Hoho, it’s much hotter than when I watched it on screen.”
“Humans are naturally hot. There’s a reason they’re called human heaters.”
“You spouting nonsense? That’s not what I meant.”
“Hehehe, I’m just saying enjoy yourself.”
Clink.
Lee Sang-byuk clinked his soju glass against the one Lee Shin offered and smirked.
“But is it okay for you to be here? Shouldn’t you be over there?”
“Over there” meaning the stadium where the interview was currently taking place.
Lee Shin, who usually thanked the fans excessively, had left with Lee Sang-byuk the moment the match ended today.
Why was the guy who loved showing off here? In response to Lee Sang-byuk’s question, Lee Shin poured another drink and asked back.
“Are you going to go over there and get all excited just because the results were good?”
“……You’re saying this isn’t the championship?”
“Heh, it’s not over yet. We’re only regular season first place. If I grab the mic and stir things up over there…… it’d look pretty tacky no matter how you slice it.”
It was like this.
You tearfully said your goodbyes only to run into each other again the next day—awkward.
They would meet again in the finals in two weeks anyway.
Moreover, thanks to the right of regular season first place, the finals would be held at their home stadium. If Lee Shin stirred the atmosphere there now, it would only make everyone look foolish.
So, I’m still hungry. That kind of feeling, you know what I mean, right?
Of course, that was only Lee Shin’s thought. To Lee Sang-byuk, it was simply cheeky.
“What do you mean tacky? Hah, look at this arrogant brat. The guild representative is ignoring a record? Do you know how many people stake their lives on that ‘tacky’ thing?”
“Arrogance from someone qualified is just charisma, isn’t it? Heh. Your grandson is doing pretty well.”
“Look at this brat, really acting up.”
Though he used crude language, Lee Sang-byuk’s lips had not stopped smiling since earlier.
A few years ago, this had been an irredeemable troublemaker.
Someone who had been evaluated as having nothing worth looking at except his parasite-like face, and who had been Lee Sang-byuk’s painful weakness.
Now he was writing a legend in Korea’s guild scene as an undefeated genius representative.
So it was only natural that Lee Sang-byuk found Lee Shin, who had achieved his final wish of a number-one guild, endearing.
“Why are your eyes getting moist? Don’t tell me you’re about to cry pathetically.”
“……Cheol-ong, bring the club. I need to do some exorcism today.”
“Hehehe, don’t get sentimental for no reason. Cry when we lift the championship cup. I’ll give it to you as a gift. Clink!!”
“Hoho. Anyone would think you’ve already secured the cup. So you’re confident?”
“Need I say more?”
“You’re talking nonsense again.”
Lee Sang-byuk scoffed.
Yet he did not look displeased.
“Well, a championship cup, huh. For something that came out of your head, it’s not a bad gift.”
Clink!
While the two clinked glasses, people finished the event and left the stadium, and a hundred thousand Yongbung-i joined in, making the heat of Mir City even more intense.
Yongbung-i in identical uniforms sang the cheering song without anyone needing to start first, waving identical mufflers and riding the wave.
While Lee Sang-byuk was entranced by the spectacle of the mufflers and cheering tools he had created illuminating the entire city, the door opened and the Mir conquest team entered.
“Hello, we came to get a drink.”
“Oh, welcome. Cheol-ong.”
“Please come this way.”
While Yu Cheol-ong and the strategy planning team staff prepared seats, Kim Jong-phil smiled and hugged Lee Sang-byuk.
“Oh my, Sang-byuk hyung-nim.”
“You came, you came. Today’s protagonist. You worked hard.”
While Lee Sang-byuk patted Kim Jong-phil’s back encouragingly, the children standing behind greeted him.
“Hellooo!”
“Hello.”
“Hello.”
“Ooh, welcome, everyone. Sit down, sit. You all worked hard today. What do you want to eat?”
Lee Sang-byuk’s tone had completely melted.
Who would call this person the bloodless, tearless iron man Lee Sang-byuk? Seeing that, Lee Shin smiled and raised his glass.
‘Nice.’
Kim Yu-shin laughing with his family, Kim So-yeon—the big shot of the Haetnim class—dancing and making Kim Jong-phil’s couple fall over backward, Lee Sang-byuk not knowing what to do with the three children.
The conquest team, the front office, the fans—everyone’s joy became light and embroidered the night.
All of it had been scenes that did not exist in the story he had seen. That was why Lee Shin quite liked the story he had created.
So……
Lee Shin’s slender fingers pressed against the air.
2. Combine rewards with playoff performance? (Y/N)
Yes
To enjoy many more festivals like this, they had to win, didn’t they?
Lee Shin was confident.
It had been an incomparably happy night.
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