Kaiserst, the Team No One Believes In

Kaiserst is a team no one expects anything from.

Even when the organization boldly declared all players free agents, and even when they signed the hot prospect Lee Siwoo and veteran Kim Ho-jong, there wasn't much hype among the fans.

Why?

Because it's Kaiserst.

They were the team that went 0-for-the-season last year, and ever since the Overlant Champions League Korea (OCK) launched, they'd been glued to dead last.

No matter who joined, the team somehow managed to ruin them. Fans call it "curse-ification."

Just like Manchester United—once you join, it mysteriously turns you into a last-place specialist, so they dubbed it "Curse-Kaiserst." Their antics are so similar to that one English soccer club that they even share the nickname.

While Gaia Land turned every tournament into a festival, Overlant matches felt like funerals.

You could tell just by looking at the manager's face twisting like a demon every time Kaiserst played.

Debates raged on, but they all ended with the humiliating 0-win record from last season.

So that's why.

Even signing Kim Ho-jong, the star from China, was met with predictions of doom. He was 27 now, entering the twilight of his pro career.

It was inevitable. Players hit their aging curve and crumble.

The consensus was that even super-prospect Lee Siwoo couldn't save them. He was just an amateur who'd shone in the Series Cup and solo queue.

Inevitable. Rookies pick the wrong team and flame out.

Anyway, for all those reasons.

Kaiserst was always the team no one believed in.

Long ago, back when the esports industry was just getting started, they had their glory days—and they got stuck living in that past, blind to reality.

But in Week 3 of OCK.

The momentum was different.

They crushed WolfX perfectly, securing a 3-game win streak.

──And the next match, Week 4 of OCK.

The momentum was undeniably different.

They swept Fox Gaming 2-0, hitting 4 straight wins.

──And Week 5 of OCK.

Kaiserst wasn't just tying with the bottom feeders anymore—they were straight-up massacring teams that used to hug it out or form peace treaties.

And soon.

They obliterated DX Gaming, hitting 5 straight wins.

It had been 10 years since OCK launched, and Kaiserst fans were losing their minds at this unprecedented sight.

Fans who'd been scarred by years of losses were still scared to hope, but now even they were raising their heads.

The fans' love poured toward Kaiserst's core, Lee Siwoo—the hero of their win streak.

It had only been a month since the season started.

But Kaiserst hadn't lost a single time, dominating in overwhelming first place as the current strongest team.

Week 5 of OCK—right after their fifth match, Siwoo got holiday leave from the organization.

Lunar New Year was coming up.

He'd thought they'd have games during holidays like this, but players were human, and staff had families too—no way around it.

Fans grumbled, but anyway.

"So you're not heading home for New Year this time?"

Siwoo called Jiyeon on his first day off.

He'd already looped in his big sis and mom the day before. Said he'd come home for New Year.

Not that it'd be much—Mom was sick, and they weren't close with relatives anyway.

Rare holiday off, so he'd hoped to see her face—and luckily, Jiyeon seemed free too.

"Wanna meet up then? I got nowhere to go either."

"Yeah, let's do it."

The thought of seeing Jiyeon after so long already had him buzzing. Siwoo hid a grin behind his hand.

"...Yeah?"

Sad not to see other friends, but this was better. A one-on-one date with Jiyeon?

Not that he had the guts yet. Overthinking it might make her uncomfortable.

But he didn't want to waste the chance...

"Cool, just us then. I'll buy food."

"Got a 900-point POM bonus. And you made me that player notebook? Least I can do."

"Let's do it."

"Okay. KuTalk when I head home?"

Call ended.

"Phew."

Siwoo let out a relieved breath. Jiyeon didn't seem weirded out by just the two of them. Good—he'd been worried.

This was prime time for him anyway. Not many chances to chat with her.

She helped me back then, and still does now.

"What, dating? Heard a girl's voice."

Then Ho-jong hyung sauntered over with a shit-eating grin. Voice must've leaked. Siwoo played it cool.

"Me? Dating? Nah, I'm married to the game."

"Bull. That dopey grin was textbook 'talking to crush' face."

Why's this hyung so sharp?

Siwoo cleared his throat awkwardly.

"No way. You saw wrong."

"Nah, my eyes don't lie."

"What doesn't lie? You're wrong..."

"Told you, no. You were talking to your crush."

"Heh."

"Heh my ass. Spill. It's your crush, right?"

Ho-jong slung an arm around Siwoo's shoulder, smirking sleazily.

"The kids here are all weeb trash, cat obsessives, romance rejects—no clue. Tell hyung first. I'll advise ya. I get it. You're at that age where you wanna date, right?"

Persistent even after denial. Siwoo chuckled with a sigh. Should've taken the call outside.

"Siwoo, cut him slack. Ho-jong hyung's old—estrogen surge making him obsessed with romance talk. He was watching I'm Solo last time?"

Yong-taek hyung came to the rescue, perfectly timed.

"Hey! What ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠does being single have to do with age?!"

"You watch ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that 'cause you wanna date. They say estrogen spikes with age—maybe that's it..."

"You calling me an estrogen dude?!"

"If not, what are you then?"

Soon Yong-taek and Ho-jong were bickering. Topic shifted naturally.

If they find out, I'm screwed...

Siwoo slipped back to his room.

Can't let these weird hyungs ruin his holiday date with Jiyeon.