Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Take It Sweetly
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[Ttalpi Reader] : Isn't that Kang Jun-oh?
...
[Ttalpi Reader] : The pro gamer who made it to the STL finals this time??
...
[Ttalpi Reader] : Why are you looking for him here?
No way, really an amateur?
From the sense in writing drop articles to the timing of expansions, it strongly felt like facing the current pro Kang Jun-oh.
Of course, the Kang Jun-oh that Kim Sung-jin knew didn't resort to tricky psychological warfare like his opponent, opting instead for more solid macro play...
But there was definitely a similar nuance in troop movements.
[Ttalpi Reader] : Thx thx
...
[Ttalpi Reader] : I didn't even know myself, but turns out I'm actually the current Humanity #1, Kang Jun-oh...
...
[Ttalpi Reader] : Finals in 5 days, but ditching practice to waste time in pubs like this
...
[Ttalpi Reader] : Thanks for finding my lost identity. lol
For a moment, mesmerized by the playstyle, suspicion arose, but upon second thought, it couldn't be Kang Jun-oh.
What pro gamer would waste time sniping a former pro right before finals?
Then, another pro gamer?
Kim Sung-jin began filling with confusion.
...
...
...
Was the opponent really a pure amateur?
Then, after getting a favorable build advantage and grinding out the macro, he lost to an amateur?
Did that mean his skills had regressed that much?
No. Objectively, the probability was extremely low.
...
...
...
Each word felt like a club bashing his heart.
How would this situation look in the eyes of someone who didn't know he was Kim Sung-jin?
He'd appear as a vile demon swollen with hubris from his meager skills.
Kim Sung-jin couldn't help but panic.
A few words from the opponent had turned him into the ugliest version of himself.
Was there greater dishonor in the world?
...
Infuriating, but it was true.
He hadn't run ranked lately, only customs, so exact rating wasn't measured...
But at his peak, his ranked score had definitely surpassed 3,000.
Considering usual season #1 hovered around 2,800.
One could understand how absurdly high 3,000 was.
That day, Kim Sung-jin had made a huge name as the overwhelming ranked #1.
...
In the end, he decided to reveal his identity.
If the opponent really was a coworker sniping as expected...
It was time to prompt the opponent to reveal theirs too.
Low probability given the macro sense, but if truly a normie?
Better to frame it as losing to exceptional talent than rotting as washed-up after amateur loss.
He left room for both possibilities and awaited response.
The game stalled as short time passed.
And...
"What."
With his healed hand, he could finally execute plays he'd only imagined.
Not the old lazy drops and auto-attacks,
but microing each unit for ideal trades.
Those tiny edges piled up into this victory.
Skills far superior to his past self.
Yet the opponent kept up remarkably in the complex, precise engagements.
Handled 2-multi harass effortlessly, only nicked damage with timed drops.
So he figured the opponent wasn't average.
But this was surprising?
"Real Kim Sung-jin?"
A famous broadcaster and skilled former pro was on screen.
Ignoring his half-lost main, sweating as he excused himself to mocking viewers.
The screen layout felt very familiar.
Exactly matching his monitor's battlefield.
"No! Opponent's a real master, you all saw it!"
Forced smile cracked on Kim Sung-jin.
That donor chat hit his pride hard.
"Nah. Opponent's definitely pro. Pros and amas differ in tight resource usage alone— this management ain't amateur level."
Watching the broadcast dazedly, realization hit.
So I'd been facing Kim Sung-jin all this time?
With past STL championship experience?
No. Then the 3k joke was real too...
And Kang Jun-oh came up due to real-life connections?
No wonder the level was so high, unlike anyone I'd met.
Never imagined it'd be a former pro.
Most shocking: overturning disadvantage against a former pro and winning.
My macro worked even in pro scene.
What rating would I hit in ranked?
"Ah! Watching the broadcast? But who are you really? You can reveal now."
Broadcast and in-game chat intertwined in communication.
Kim Sung-jin panicked seeing my chat.
Meaning he truly mistook me for a pro.
"Pardon?"
...
...
"...Really an amateur?"
Chat exploded instantly.
All mocking Kim Sung-jin who'd insisted I was ex-pro.
But he ignored them, just spacing out repeatedly.
...
"Wait! This doesn't make sense!"
"Rematch in priv before you go...!!"
"Yes yes! Speak!"
...
"......Pardon?"
"Fuck."
I quickly GG'd and dipped.
Truth is, one thing always bugged me.
When exercising 'winner's rights' on defeated foes, do they really rage and jump around?
I do when it happens to me, but unsure about others.
This was prime chance to observe reaction firsthand.
To satisfy curiosity, I cranked taunt level and bolted.
"Ah..."
Kim Sung-jin blankly skipped the handed victory screen.
Clutched his head, slammed desk.
Innocent hair mercilessly sacrificed to tensed grip.
Heavy sigh boiled with heat.
Lifting head, Kim Sung-jin immediately replayed.
Focused on sped-up footage, reviewing.
...Third-person view made him feel how insanely well I'd played.
Plays hard to believe from his own hands.
Too immersed in-game to notice.
"Amateur? Average this high now...? Game got harder?"
"What?? 'ExorcistSiri' why hit success?!"
50k cash didn't heal pride wounds.
Seeing his flushed face warmed a corner of my heart.
Clinging to one game over a decade breeds mannerisms.
Especially peak climbers satisfy and seek no more.
But today, he'd rediscover long-forgotten victory hunger...
That suffices.
If restoring初心 to past STL champ, I'd gladly play villain.
Seemed he'd mull our match to reclaim peak form, ending stream abruptly.
Pocketing darkened phone, nodded.
Successfully awakened stagnant Kim Sung-jin.
Honor to fulfill this role.
"Thank you."
Teabagging's pure upside.
Opponent gains spark, I get fun.
Beautiful virtuous cycle?
Must preserve this culture.
Someday lead settling teabagging worldwide.
Today: monumental first step.