Decision to Enter the Series Cup
Overlant Series Cup tournament.
Siwoo was already familiar with it.
He'd seen it mentioned plenty of times on Overlant specialist YouTube channels and official streams.
But.
It was basically a tournament full of promising trainees from pro gaming teams.
Teeming with users from the so-called heavens, even those already signed to teams joined in.
Enter a tournament like that?
“……”
Honestly, he thought it was pointless.
He figured they'd get knocked out in the first match.
Besides, he was about to move up to second year soon. Review was essential. He couldn't afford cram school like others, so he had to study twice as hard.
If it was a tournament where they'd dip in and get eliminated quick, wouldn't it be better to skip it altogether and prep for second year?
But.
He wanted to compete.
He wanted to feel that thrill one more time.
He wanted to see spectators chanting his name in cheers, his friends beaming with joy.
“What do you think? Oh, I'm not forcing you or anything! If you don't want to, no pressure. We'd love it if you joined, though……”
Han Jiyeon asked, gauging his reaction. For her, having Siwoo on the team would be perfect—a sniper even Grandmasters couldn't handle.
Siwoo seemed to mull it over, then met her eyes and spoke softly.
“……I'll do it.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Looks fun.”
Siwoo gave an awkward smile.
Separate from his answer, he had plenty of worries.
How to tell Mom and his big sister, how to handle second-year prep.
But for now, he decided to be honest with himself.
A few days of intense gaming wouldn't erase all the studying he'd built up.
“Great! I'll hit you up later then! Oh, can I get your number? I just realized I don't have it.”
Han Jiyeon grinned, handing over her smartphone.
“Punch it in.”
Somehow, he ended up exchanging numbers with Han Jiyeon too. They had class chat, but Siwoo took her phone without protest.
“Done.”
“Okay, thanks!”
Somehow, he'd signed up for the tournament.
Of course, he'd need big sis's permission first.
Right after the class tournament ended.
It was time for the MVP interview.
“Saseong High School class tournament final MVP! We've got sniper Siwoo—Lee Siwoo here! Hello!”
“Haha, hello……”
Siwoo managed an awkward greeting.
The chat was exploding. As the MVP who'd made the tournament so exciting, it was only natural.
Pajukjuk asked.
“You showed us an unbelievable sight! Hard to believe you're a high schooler?! Especially that aerial Hook Shot! How on earth did you pull that off?!”
Siwoo answered honestly.
“No special trick. It's all feel. Sometimes in midair, the floating sensation hits different, and if you fire then, it usually lands.”
The chat exploded again.
What were they saying?
Was he coming off arrogant on stream?
Pajukjuk held his breath, watching Siwoo. No trace of cockiness in his expression or demeanor.
Well, well?
Pajukjuk had met and observed countless pros. That's why he could tell.
High school sniper Lee Siwoo—he reeked of once-in-a-generation genius.
“I see! Is this the view from the top?! Can't skip this question—any thoughts on going pro?!”
Pajukjuk's follow-up was what everyone wanted to know.
“No plans for pro. It's just a game I play sometimes.”
“……Pardon?”
Pajukjuk's face went blank at Siwoo's reply.
Viewers reacted the same.
“Y-you're saying no pro thoughts with that skill?”
Maybe winning a class tournament didn't scream "go pro." But he'd proven it undeniably.
Flawless aim, midair headshots, survival sense through heavy focus fire.
He was pro material, no question.
“Yeah, well. Pros are way better than this, right?”
Siwoo smiled sheepishly.
Chat scrolled fast.
“Too bad on no pro dreams, but you're young—plenty of time to think it over! Back to the main topic!”
Pajukjuk reined in the heated vibe.
Forcing pro stage on a high schooler was a no-go.
“How'd a sub for your academy dropout attacker buddy lead to a win! Any words for your friends?”
Siwoo smiled awkwardly.
“Uh, first off, thanks to my friends for believing in me. Hope we all keep doing well after the class tourney.”
“Haha, solid and straightforward! Next—”
The interview continued.
Siwoo wrapped up his first tournament unscathed.
Seven PM.
Big sis's usual off-work time.
Back home, Siwoo knelt in the living room like a criminal, waiting.
“What's up? Why're you like that?”
Lee Siyeon, fresh from her post-work shower, tilted her head. Siwoo's big sister. He glanced cautiously, then forced the words out.
“Sis, can I join a gaming tournament?”
“Gaming tournament?”
Lee Siyeon blinked in confusion.
“What tournament? You even play games?”
“Yeah. Friends were really into it.”
He added that bit deliberately. He knew she sacrificed for the family.
“Why not give it a shot? You're not in second year yet. I'd stop you if you were third year.”
“……Really?”
“Yeah, go for it. Need parental consent?”
“Nah, not that.”
“Then what's the issue?”
“No issue, haha……”
Against his worries, she approved readily.
Siwoo sighed in relief. With her okay, Mom would follow.
“What tournament anyway?”
Lee Siyeon asked curiously. Siwoo grinned sheepishly.
“Overlant Series Cup.”
“Oh, Overlant? Yeah, everyone's on that these days.”
Even non-gamer Lee Siyeon knew of Overlant.
A global phenomenon since VR launch.
“But you're good at it? Tournaments are for the elite, right?”
She rummaged for her hairdryer.
“Kinda think so. Friends said I was good. Won our class tourney, even got prize money.”
“Whoa, high school class tourney with cash? Back in my day, it was just a burger.”
“Just kinda happened.”
Siwoo skipped the details. Too much to explain.
Finding the dryer, Lee Siyeon shrugged and headed to her room.
“Anyway, do your best. Win some prize money, treat me to something nice.”
“Got it.”
Click. Her door shut.
Siwoo let out a huge sigh.
“Phew.”
He'd expected a lecture on second-year grades and studies. Not this easy yes. But now he could compete.
Tournament, huh.
Siwoo gazed out the window.
Can I feel that rush again?
No guarantees he'd play well, but he hoped so. That's why he was joining.
After school.
Siwoo and a few friends lingered in the classroom post-dismissal.
Teammates for the tournament.
One girl, two guys.
Awkward silence till Jiyeon arrived, but someone spoke up.
“You're Lee Siwoo, right?”
“Yeah……”
He asked.
“Know my name?”
“No……”
“Park Jongsu! From the class tourney first match!”
“Oh, Class 1's Grandmaster?”
“Yup!”
Park Jongsu beamed, shaking Siwoo's hand wildly. Clearly thrilled.
“You're insane! I've queued with pros, all kinds of players—no one aim-searches like you!”
Exact same as Jiyeon. The praise tickled but burdened; Siwoo smiled awkwardly.
“Yeah?”
“Totally! You're pro material for sure!”
Heard that one a lot too.
“Hey, introduce yourselves already! Siwoo doesn't know us.”
Park Jongsu turned to the others. His grip finally released.
“Nice to meet ya. Class 4, Lee Jinseong. Master 400 points. Attacker.”
“Class 3, Kim Jeongin here. Master. Main support, sub attacker.”
“Like I said, Class 1 Park Jongsu. Defender, Grandmaster 540 points.”
Top-tier rumors checked out. Saseong High first-years assembly for the tourney.
Park Jongsu said.
“All at least Master. Some got pro trainee offers. Lowest's Master 0 points—barely Master, but we just say Master, skip points.”
Kim Jeongin bristled.
“Hey, 0 is still Master!”
“Nah. Looks Diamond to me.”
“Diamond's a whole other level!”
“Nah. I'm right.”
“Who're you?”
“Grandmaster. Jealous? Grind to 500 and join us.”
“Ugh, damn……!!”
“Master-bread squad.”
Tiers don't lie. Kim Jeongin shut up at Park Jongsu's jab.
“Anyway, let's crush this tourney. We're Saseong High's best first-years.”
Park Jongsu grinned confidently. Grandmaster warranted it—top 300, just below Challenger.
“……Sure.”
Siwoo nodded awkwardly. Doubts against pro trainees, but worth a shot.
Drag.
Classroom door slid open.
“Sorry sorry! Teacher held me up!”
Han Jiyeon, architect of Saseong High first-years assembly.
“Introductions done?”
“Yup.”
“Siwoo too?”
“Siwoo's a given. Smashed the class tourney.”
Park Jongsu chuckled. Han Jiyeon clapped, beaming.
“Cool! Let's sync up then. Uncle reserved capsule room spots.”
“Uncle's Pajukjuk? Rented a capsule room?”
“Nah, not rented. Streams and runs a few as side gig.”
“Capsule rooms too?”
“Huge gamer.”
Impressive guy. Streaming alone's a full-time gig, yet businesses too.
“Anyway, enough chat—let's game. Win the cup on break!”
Han Jiyeon led.
“Let's go!”
“Bust through qualifiers!”
“We could hit main tourney fr?”
Friends followed.
Siwoo rose too.
Capsule fees? Covered by class tourney winnings.
Let's do this. Feel that rush again.
Siwoo steeled himself, leaving the classroom.