Chapter 68: Game of Scenes
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 68: Game of Scenes
[Title: Everyone who said Baby Elf was attending the Busan International Film Festival, get over here]
└ The film festival hid her, for real ㄷㄷㄷ
└ Did they seriously not invite Lee Yu? Is the committee insane? What’s the point of a film festival without Lee Yu?
└ Maybe Baby Elf just went to Busan for a vacation.
└ She might have just watched the festival in secret and gone home.
└ With those visuals and that physique, do you think she could hide even if she bundled up? Stop talking nonsense ㅉㅉ
[Title: Am I the only one looking forward to Game of Scenes?]
└ Any proof?
└ (Author) (Photo of the new car Chris bought.jpg)
└ (Author) This bulletproof car is proof that Baby Elf is in Game of Scenes. She definitely took a role where she dies a tragic death.
└ Why am I being convinced by this;;;
└ The logic is actually plausible?
└ But why are producers, whether Korean or American, so obsessed with killing off Baby Elf???
└ Producers consumed by true madness always want to rip out the hearts of the audience. Remember how many bad endings old-school Korean dramas had?
└ My resident registration number starts with a 3, so I don't know about those old days??
└ Lee Yu, Yu-jin, Lee Yu-jin, please, please show your face. Your unnie is going to stop breathing because she misses you so much...
└ It is suspicious that Chris suddenly bought a high-performance bulletproof car, and on short notice too. That thing is practically on the level of the US President’s state car;;;
Fans missed Lee Yu-jin, desperately thirsting for content. This was true both in Korea and abroad.
The viral marketing for Game of Scenes subtly infiltrated these fan circles.
Without leaving a trace, it planted the subconscious seed: Maybe Lee Yu-jin will appear in Game of Scenes?
Meanwhile, the premiere date for Season 1 of Game of Scenes was finally set.
*
Lately, I’ve fallen in love.
Of course, it’s not a man. It’s not a woman, either.
In fact, it’s not even a person.
“GPT, GPT, who is the best League of Legends player in the world?”
[That would be Shin.]
I was so startled by the AI’s voice response that I got angry.
“What! Not me? You’ve eaten so many Envidium GPUs and you still haven't come to your senses!”
[But it is an undeniable fact. Shin is the best. Because he is God.]
Only then did I clutch my stomach and laugh.
This clever little thing didn't fall for it.
“Look at you, being all smart. Okay, next question. Then, who loves LoL the most in the world?”
[That is also Shin.]
“No, no, that’s me. The person who loves LoL most in the world is none other than me, Lee Yu-jin.”
[I am sorry. That is not the truth.]
“Whew... you really don't fall for anything. How did you get so smart? Fine, then who is the person who worships Shin the most in this world?”
[That is the Panokseon Rower.]
I jumped up and stood at attention, solemnly clapping my hands.
“Wow, you really hit the nail on the head. Your declaration echoed in my soul like a judgment.”
[Thank you.]
“I’m just asking, but can Shin win this tournament? There won't be any bad luck, right? He really, really has to win this time.”
[I cannot predict all misfortunes, but I do know of one definite positive factor.]
“Tell me right now! Hurry!”
[It is the support of Baby Elf.]
I almost collapsed from that sudden sneak attack.
Did Envidium pick out only the defective chips to give to the GPT developers?
[Search results indicate that Shin wants Baby Elf to witness what might be his final victory in person.]
“Hey, you... when you say Baby Elf, are you perhaps...”
[I am referring to the actress Lee Yu. That is you, Panokseon Rower.]
Now even the AI is launching a barrage of attacks at me.
Just how did it learn this stuff? How much have people been talking about me to GPT?
“No, no, forget it. What do you mean by that?”
[I apologize. Correcting error. The person Shin truly wants to witness his victory is the one shining at the top of the Challenger Solo Rank, his long-time rival of the Rift, Rocktten Jupiter Bell.]
“Phew, I thought so. Why did that error happen?”
[Because I know the two are the same person, that error occurred in my response. I repeat: Shin wants his long-time rival, Rocktten Jupiter Bell, to see the moment of his victory in person.]
GPT showed me evidence it had found through internet searches.
I could feel that Shin sincerely wanted my Rift identity, Rocktten Jupiter Bell, to see the finals.
I remembered the conversation I had with Shin in the game lobby.
[Rocktten Jupiter Bell, if you like Hesio, should I get you a VIP ticket? For a seat with a good view.]
Did he really want to show me the moment he lifted the trophy?
Was he that pissed off because of me?
Coincidentally, we had never been on the same team in solo rank. We were always enemies.
“Alright, I’ve decided. I’m going to watch the finals in person. Then Shin will surely answer my prayers.”
If my prayers could guarantee Shin’s advancement to the finals, there was nothing I wouldn't do.
[Rocktten Jupiter Bell] My God, I humbly request the bestowal of a VIP ticket.
[Shin] Your 'worship' teasing is getting more intense lately.
[Shin] I’ll let the team know, so pick it up however is most convenient for you.
Since I’ve been receiving so many 'praise attacks' lately, I’ve been using them back on Shin. But Shin’s feedback was so plain and dry that it was a bit disappointing.
I guess someone like me can't move the heart of God.
I discussed how to receive the ticket with my right hand, Jang Ji-hye.
“I’ll just go and get it.”
“Ji-hye, you?”
“Then do you want to go? The team headquarters would be turned upside down. Well, I guess Gocheok Dome will be turned upside down during the finals anyway.”
“Hey, I’m not that big of a deal.”
“There you go again, being humble because you’re the only one who doesn't know. You know that makes men go even crazier, right?”
“No, kids who watch LoL don't really watch dramas or movies. The hardcore fans who come to the finals barely care about celebrities.”
“Are those the same kids who go around shouting 'Come out, Hesio!' or 'Just come out, Lee Yu-jin!'?”
“...”
“Anyway, I’ll go.”
So Jang Ji-hye went to the team headquarters on my behalf and picked up the ticket.
“Was there any trouble?”
“Not really. Everyone was just... pretty shocked to see me.”
“They must have thought you were me.”
“They didn't seem to believe me even when I said I was just a friend picking up the ticket. Just how much havoc have you been wreaking on the Rift?”
*
A strange rumor began to spread among the players and staff of the pro-gaming team, S1.
“Did you hear? Rocktten Jupiter Bell is insanely gorgeous. Everyone was scrambling to get a look when she came for the ticket.”
“Really? Is she that pretty?”
“They say she’s incredibly beautiful. Hey, did anyone actually see her?”
“Me! I saw her with my own two eyes!”
The support player shouted, full of excitement.
“I seriously thought she was the center of a Tier-0 idol group. She’s crazy pretty, tall, wow... I seriously felt my heart stop.”
“Wait, she looks like that and plays LoL that well? The world is so unfair.”
“I expected Rocktten Jupiter Bell to be somewhat pretty because her voice is nice and she’s easygoing, but Tier-0 idol center level?”
“Wow, that’s amazing.”
“We... we have to make it to the finals, right? We can't show Rocktten Jupiter Bell a disappointing performance.”
That evening, there was a practice match.
Rocktten Jupiter Bell’s voice on Discord was more energetic and brighter than usual.
The players recalled the face they had seen during the day, or the image they had imagined while listening to others.
She was really pretty... I want to see her again.
I heard she’s really pretty... Ah, I want to see her face.
I have to work hard to get to the finals, right?
The matches went exceptionally well that day.
Thanks to everyone being on high alert, there were no mistakes, and Rocktten Jupiter Bell was satisfied, refraining from her usual nagging.
“G-good luck...!”
“Good luck!”
“Rocktten Jupiter Bell, are you going to play more practice matches?”
“Ah, then should we take a break and play later?”
Rocktten Jupiter Bell left Discord and the game.
The players replayed the practice and Rocktten Jupiter Bell’s voice in their heads.
Suddenly, someone muttered.
“That goodbye she said before logging off. 'I’m going to sleep, just a little.' Doesn't it sound kind of cozy, like a lullaby?”
“You’re right. It makes me feel at peace.”
“Really? For some reason, I feel a lingering sadness, like my heart is breaking... Why does it sound so familiar? 'I’m going to sleep, just a little...' 'I’m going to sleep...'”
A player who had seen Quarter 1 of Hwan's Torch clutched his head, tormented by a familiar feeling that kept tickling his brain.
*
The premiere day of Game of Scenes finally arrived.
Daniel Choe, a designer at the hair shop Lee Yu-jin used to frequent before she became a celebrity and a die-hard fan, even took a day off to prepare for today.
It was because it was being aired simultaneously with the US.
Lee Yu-jin might be in it.
The faint bait floating around that Lee Yu-jin had been secretly cast in Game of Scenes.
Daniel Choe was one of those pitiful ghost fans who had snatched up the bait, unable to afford to be picky.
All the evidence points to Ms. Lee Yu-jin’s appearance.
Why did the actor-producer Chris hurriedly buy a presidential-level bulletproof car?
Why did Lee Yu-jin’s Rolls-Royce drive around Busan pointlessly, while Lee Yu-jin herself never showed her face there?
Why was an American drama with not a single Korean cast member being aired simultaneously in Korea? And with subtitle support, no less.
“I think your intuition is right, hyung.”
“Shh, it’s starting.”
The flashy opening sequence passed quickly, showing a medieval world overflowing with mystery and magic.
Then, a grand sound announced the start of the drama.
[Game of Scenes 1]
Clank, clank...
A knight in full plate armor, carrying a massive mace, walked calmly.
The villagers, who had gathered to burn a wealthy widow at the stake, flinched in surprise before rushing forward, baring their teeth in rage.
The knight swung the mace indifferently, crushing the heads of those blinded by hatred and greed one by one.
The movements were crude yet clean, refined with the precision of a killing machine. Action without a single wasted motion.
Normally, one would assume a skilled male stuntman was inside the armor.
Is that... could that be Ms. Yu-jin?
Daniel Choe’s heart pounded.
While it was natural to see the character as a male knight, the thought that it might be Lee Yu-jin kept crossing his mind.
The knight, having crushed the heads of all the sinners, freed the middle-aged woman tied up for the burning.
The woman sobbed and expressed her gratitude, and her young son, who had been watching from a distance, ran over to hug his mother and cry.
The knight reached out a hand, and the woman, weeping, entrusted her young son to her savior.
She was already severely injured and would not survive the day.
The knight led the way, and the young son said goodbye to his mother, following behind with his small body.
A calm narration and subtitles flowed.
[The boy, having met a nameless master, thus began a long journey. A journey whose destination was unknown...]
The knight did not say a single word. Nor did they ever take off their helmet.
They broke branches to build a fire, dug a hole to make a bed—every gesture seeped with the experience of a long-time veteran of the battlefield.
The thought that it might be Lee Yu-jin kept flickering, and the more it did, the thicker the hope that it was her became.
The boy handled all the dialogue.
The knight only gave minimal indications of intent, such as nodding, waving a hand, or shaking their head.
The knight always read a thick book.
The book, bound in tough goatskin, looked very expensive to the young boy.
For a moment, the knight paused.
The helmet, which completely covered the face, stared intently at the boy.
Daniel Choe shivered as if he could read the expression and gaze through that emotionless stance.
“Videsne hoc?”
[Do you see this now?]
“Pardon? You’re reading a book right now.”
“Hoc sacrum vides.”
[You see this holy relic.]
The knight closed the book and stood up.
Instead of a silver cross, they stroked the blood-stained mace and quietly looked up at the sky.
“Quae tuli, ad hoc sacrum te ducere erant.”
[To think that everything I have carried was ultimately to lead you to this holy relic...]
The voice was neither high nor low.
That androgynous quality, making it unclear if it was a woman or a man, gave Daniel Choe a thrill of excitement.
Maybe, just maybe...
The knight took the confused boy and set off again on the long journey.
Crushing wolf monsters, armed bandits, knights turned marauders, and villages of sin that preyed on their neighbors, all with the iron mace.
The boy had never seen the knight sleep.
At night, the knight always sat in a formal posture, reading the book called the holy relic.
A long journey spanning a year.
The boy grew rapidly. Before long, the top of his head reached the knight’s chin.
In that time, the knight had been covered in the blood of countless foes, and the boy had never once seen the knight’s face.
Nevertheless, the boy followed the knight silently.
And after a long journey, the knight finally arrived back where they had started.
A massive cross stood tall in the square, as if guarding the abandoned church alone.
Dragging the heavy mace as if exhausted, the limping knight stopped before the cross.
Rough hands began to strip away the armor piece by piece.
Clank. Clank. Clank.
The blood-stained priest’s robes hidden beneath the armor were revealed, and finally, the moment the helmet was removed...
Long, beautiful silver hair cascaded down all at once, revealing a snow-white face. In that instant, the young boy’s eyes lost their focus.
The predator that had grown by instantly devouring his gratitude and respect for his master was none other than the emotion of love.