Chapter 124
Chapter 124
Chapter 124: Platinum National Representative (2)
Translation: godtl
"Hyung, I'm sorry..."
Kim Si-hyeok hung his head dejectedly.
Kim Si-mun let out a small sigh and turned his gaze away.
There, he saw Lee Yu-jeong and Go Mal-suk quietly clearing away the alcohol.
"Even if you were comforting him, 120 bottles in broad daylight is a bit much, don't you think?"
"Hey, it wasn't 120, it was 127 bottles... oops."
Go Mal-suk's voice grew smaller under Si-mun's glare. She averted her eyes and began stuffing the bottles into a bag—she'd already endured one round of his scolding.
"By the way, hyung, is it true?"
Si-hyeok's slightly drowsy voice caught Si-mun's attention.
"What is."
Si-mun turned his head to look at his younger brother.
"What you said earlier—about participating in the Special Match."
"Yeah, I decided to join."
"Really?"
Though the alcohol hadn't completely worn off yet.
"Why? There's nothing in it for you, is there?"
Kim Si-hyeok tilted his head, his eyes now clear.
"Knowing your personality, you wouldn't care about popularity. And the rewards don't mean much to you either, right?"
True to his Ranker instincts.
Kim Si-hyeok quickly grasped Si-mun's stance on the Special Match.
Si-mun nodded lightly.
"That's true. But I got a request. They specifically asked me to participate."
"A request?"
Si-hyeok tilted his head again, then realization seemed to dawn.
"Don't tell me... no way?"
His eyes trembled faintly.
Si-mun chuckled and confirmed.
"Yep."
"Holy shit!"
Kim Si-hyeok's jaw dropped.
He still looked disbelieving as he spoke.
"No way, seriously? Uncle actually asked you? To join the Special Match?"
"That's what I said."
"Damn... that's insane."
Si-hyeok pressed his palm to his forehead and let out a hollow laugh.
He wasn't the only one shocked.
"B-Brother, is that really true?"
Even Lee Yu-jeong, who had been quietly putting away bottles, widened her eyes and asked.
It was only natural.
She knew exactly what kind of person Association President Kim Mu-yeol was.
And what kind of relationship he had with Si-mun.
As if completely sobered up now.
"But why did you agree? You could've refused if you wanted."
Si-hyeok sat up straight, his eyes fully alert, and asked.
"Well... there was a bit of a deal involved."
"A deal?"
Si-hyeok's eyebrow rose at the word.
No wonder.
Hadn't he already witnessed his older brother Kim Si-mun making a "deal" with their uncle Kim Mu-yeol before?
As if confirming his younger brother's suspicions.
"Yeah. I had some things to test before entering the next Arena anyway, so we worked out some conditions."
Si-hyeok briefly pondered just how unreasonable those conditions must have been.
"Whatever the conditions, Uncle's gotta be fuming. The moment he reached out first, his teeth must've been grinding."
He shook his head with a hearty laugh.
"Si-hyeok-ah, people might think I'm some kind of villain."
"I wouldn't say you're not."
"The hell?"
"Hehe!"
Si-hyeok laughed it off playfully.
Si-mun, who had been glaring at his mischievous younger brother, also let out a small chuckle.
"By the way, hyung, how are you going to participate? The roster's already finalized."
National team selections take place between mid-January and February.
At that time, Si-mun had only recently regressed and started the Arena.
He had zero connection to the national team.
So how could he possibly join?
Si-mun shrugged.
"We didn't discuss that part. Probably using an Option Addition Ticket."
"Ah, so the Reserve Personnel Addition Option then?"
"Most likely."
"Hmm. Then you'll have to face the opponent's added option completely unprepared... you sure you'll be okay?"
A question loaded with implications.
"I hope you don't suffer like I did."
At his brother's genuine concern, Si-mun smiled faintly.
"Si-hyeok-ah."
"Yeah?"
"Hyung is already used to carrying."
An answer equally loaded with meaning.
To which—
"See, hyung, we really are cut from the same cloth."
Kim Si-hyeok grinned.
The next day.
[National Buff Disappearing?! The Rising Importance of the Special Match]
["This Special Match Will Be Different"—Association Confident in Victory, Secretly Deploying a Relief Pitcher?!]
[The Unrevealed Identity of the Reserve Member—Does Everyone Already Know?]
[Platinum Representatives Express Reluctance—"Hasty Use of Option Addition Tickets Could Backfire!"]
[Persistent Concerns Over the Risks of the Reserve Personnel Addition Option]
The news on various portal sites was ablaze once again.
The number of views had exploded as well.
The reason was simple.
The Association had presented a solution to suppress the uproar over the national tournament qualifier elimination that had been raging for the past three days.
Beyond the Arena community,
the attention of every online community in South Korea was intensely focused.
It was only natural.
With the qualifier elimination practically confirmed,
a relief pitcher had appeared to save them.
Of course,
"F*cking bastards!"
There were those who weren't pleased with this savior.
A man with a short sports-cut hairstyle roughly threw down the phone he'd been browsing the news on.
"An Option Addition Ticket?! Who the hell decided that?!"
The Option Addition Ticket—
an item used in tournament-style Arenas like the National Tournament's special match.
Of course, it wasn't mandatory and was rarely used.
The reason was simple.
"You don't even realize you'll get countered if you add options first!"
Because getting countered made it worse than not using it at all.
If one side used an Option Addition Ticket, the opposing team would receive one for free as well.
Naturally, they could observe the added options and counter them.
Thus, using the ticket often resulted in a worse outcome than not using it at all.
Unless it was part of a predetermined strategy, the Option Addition Ticket was practically never used.
"Adding a reserve member option just to squeeze in one guy? There's a limit to this bullsh*t!"
Unfortunately,
For Si-mun, who hadn't participated in the qualifiers, to join the Korean team, they had to use the Option Addition Ticket first.
And of all things, the most useless option—the Reserve Personnel Addition Option.
"Exactly! They're making us shoulder all the risk!"
As one woman began defending him in a sullen voice,
"Even if Kim Si-mun is amazing, he's still just one person."
"This isn't just any Arena match—it's a team battle where we've been training together right after the qualifiers!"
"My point! Throwing in one extra person last minute will only ruin our prepared strategies!"
The others around them also voiced their complaints.
Of course,
"B-but if he's Magic Class, his position is flexible, right?"
"Did you see his Debut Match? It was insane... Honestly, even a fresh Platinum would probably be top-tier here..."
"From the broadcast, he handled every crisis perfectly. He might even counter their added options well."
There were some who welcomed Si-mun's inclusion.
Even if the Reserve Personnel Addition Option had no effect beyond adding a member,
Si-mun's overwhelming performances so far had been enough to crush any doubts.
But—
"You siding with that bastard over us after training together for months?"
"I saw the broadcast too, and I admit he's impressive, but the National Tournament is different. It's not like a normal Arena match!"
"If we go through with this, win or lose, we'll take all the blame. If we win, it's thanks to Kim Si-mun. If we lose, it's our fault?!"
Because they were outnumbered by the resentful players,
those who welcomed Si-mun's inclusion couldn't raise their voices too loudly.
Naturally, they began gathering together in one corner.
And at the center of their gathering—
"Everyone, that's enough."
A middle-aged man of somewhat short stature spoke in a quiet but firm voice.
Perhaps because he was over forty,
the grumbling died down instantly.
"It's already been decided. The Option Addition Ticket was approved at the Association President level. Nothing will change just because we argue about it. Instead of complaining, we should focus on..."
He continued calmly,
"Ugh! Here comes our Sang-min ahjussi's lecture time~."
A voice dripping with sarcasm cut him off.
It was the same man who had thrown his phone earlier after seeing the news about Si-mun.
"Excuse me, Lee Sang-min."
Running a hand through his short sports-cut hair, he swaggered toward the shorter middle-aged man.
"Do you not get the situation? If we go through with this, win or lose, we'll be the ones taking all the blame. Huh?"
"Jeong Ha-jun, we're the weaker team either way. No matter what, we'll get flak for it."
"Unbelievable. Who the hell decided we're the weaker team?"
Whether it was because of Sang-min's retort,
the sports-cut man—Jeong Ha-jun—narrowed his eyes dangerously.
"I have a different opinion. The opposing nation is randomly selected anyway. If we get lucky, we could even have an easy win."
"You've been in the Special Match for five years too—don't you know? The National Tournament isn't a place for easy wins. Even lower-ranked nations would be tough for us."
"Listen to you. Hey, old man, don't lump me in with you. I've only been playing for five years, but you've been at it for ten."
A venomous glint seeped into Jeong Ha-jun's sharpened gaze.
"Weren't you part of the First Generation with twelve years in the Arena? And yet you're still stuck in Platinum. Who do you think you're talking to like that?"
"And you're no different, Ha-jun. You've been Platinum for all five of your six years, haven't you?"
"Ha! This old man's unbelievable."
BANG!
A sudden explosive noise erupted.
Even as a fist strong enough to dent the wall grazed past his face,
Lee Sang-min didn't so much as blink.
Perhaps that only fueled the anger.
"Who do you keep provoking, you washed-up First Generation trash? Old man, are you seriously insane?"
Jeong Ha-jun raised his voice, his tone laced with faint killing intent.
Yet none of the players present dared to stop him.
Of course not.
"I placed first in the Selection Tournament. What about you, old man?"
"...Third."
"Yeah, that's right. Third. Twelve years in the Arena, ten years in the National Team Selection Tournament, and all you've got is third place. Do you even understand what that means?"
"......"
Lee Sang-min remained silent.
"It's because useless has-beens like you keep pushing for the national team that we're called weaklings. Huh?"
"Ha-jun, I've participated in every Selection Tournament and earned my spot on the national team fairly."
As Lee Sang-min's energy waned, Jeong Ha-jun's aggressive stance gradually softened.
Of course.
"Honestly, do you really think that's your skill? It's just because age equals seniority—the Association keeps accepting your applications to babysit the kids' morale, isn't it?"
His eyes and lips twisted into something even more acrid.
"Well, looking at it that way, I guess it makes sense why you keep sucking up to the Association. Is this what middle-aged socializing looks like?"
"Pfft!"
Another laugh cut into their exchange.
A woman with a bob cut.
But no one dared to challenge her laughter.
Naturally.
"Look, even our second-place Hyo-yeon is laughing at you."
"I'm not laughing at him. It's just... kind of pitiful."
Choi Hyo-yeon, who had placed second in the Selection Tournament.
Who would dare speak against her, the second strongest after Jeong Ha-jun?
"Ha-jun oppa? That's enough. Even if it's just barely, Sang-min samchon has some hidden strength, you know."
"Oh, come on. After twelve years in the Arena, shouldn't he at least have that much?"
"Keep going and you'll make samchon cry. The match is tomorrow—do you really want to mess with a middle-aged man's emotions? He is the third-place winner, after all."
She finished with a mocking laugh.
Following her lead,
"Honestly, ten years in the Selection Tournament and only third place here?"
"That's why he's a perpetual Platinum. Wasn't the longest among us just seven years?"
"Ah, terrifying~ Over ten years as a Platinum. I better not end up like that~."
The majority of players who had been siding with Jeong Ha-jun also let out slow, derisive chuckles.
Lee Sang-min and the players around him visibly shrank back.
Perhaps sensing they'd gone far enough,
Jeong Ha-jun smirked in satisfaction and said,
"Anyway, I won't stop you from obediently following the Association's orders, old man. Just don't get in our way."
"...What are you planning?"
"What else? A boycott."
"What?"
Shock flashed in Lee Sang-min's eyes.
"The Special Match is tomorrow, and you're talking about a boycott now?"
"Classic old-man thinking. That's exactly why we're doing it now."
At Lee Sang-min's concerned tone, Jeong Ha-jun scoffed.
"Most of us here have participated in the Special Match for years. We know it better than the Association with their armchair theories."
"Exactly. Kim Si-mun might be talented, but the Special Match is different. You know that too, right, samchon? The Special Match isn't a solo Arena."
Choi Hyo-yeon nodded in agreement.
She wasn't wrong.
Didn't Platinums from each nation immediately begin joint training after the Selection Tournament?
This was a clash between teams, not individuals.
No matter how exceptional someone was, the Arena wasn't something one could handle alone.
"But adding a reserve member? Using an Option Addition Ticket to bring in a solo player for an already tough match is insane. I have zero intention of becoming the scapegoat for public outrage."
As soon as Choi Hyo-yeon finished speaking, the team representatives silently nodded in agreement.
Sensing there was no stopping them now, Lee Sang-min let out a deep sigh.
"...Huu, fine. Do whatever you want."
"Hey, old man. Don't even think about secretly snitching to the coach later, got it? You know who's got my back."
Jeong Ha-jun sneered as he watched Lee Sang-min's defeated posture.
Then.
"All this talk about listening is making my head spin. No wonder people call this a weak team."
"Wh-who's there?!"
A clear, feminine voice abruptly cut into the conversation.