Chapter 721. Grappling (1)

Chapter 721. Grappling (1)

"Your form lately has been something else, Yu-Min!" Director Oh Jin-Hyeong heartily chuckled while patting Park Yu-Min on the shoulder.

Park Yu-Min smiled sheepishly. "I just got lucky, that's all."

"Don't say that in public, okay? If the dude who climbed to the number one spot in the solo rankings says it's all down to luck, all the pro gamers sacrificing sleep to get more practice might as well jump in a lake and get it over with."

"That's not what I meant, though..." Park Yu-Min got flustered and started sweating.

Oh Jin-Hyeong smiled brightly.

'Seriously, this kid is something else, alright.'

He had to acknowledge that he used to be under some serious misunderstanding until recently. And that misunderstanding was about Park Yu-Min.

This kid had been active as a pro gamer for quite a long time now. Even back when he reigned supreme as the emperor in the Galaxy Craft days, Park Yu-Min was one of the most experienced players in that scene.

A pro gamer's career was much shorter than a pro athlete's, so anyone lasting over three years in e-sports was worthy of the label grizzled veteran. That was where Oh Jun-Hyeong's misunderstanding stemmed from.

He should've remembered that Park Yu-Min wasn't even twenty-five years old. Considering that an average e-sports athlete usually reached their physical peak before the age of twenty and their prime during the early twenties before entering the gradual decline past the age of twenty-five... Park Yu-Min should still be in his prime.

Oh Jin-Hyeong had failed to properly evaluate Park Yu-Min because this was a different game to the Galaxy Craft, and the latter had comparatively longer experience in e-sports than his younger teammates.

'He should be able to remain in his prime for a few years longer, at least.'

Oh Jin-Hyeong was confident of his findings. After joining the team's practice area, Park Yu-Min improved himself at a voracious rate. It was as if he had finally found the right environment to unleash his talents. All the proof was in how he conquered the solo rankings and put in some of the craziest, most outstanding performances during scrims![1]

Choi Jeong-Wu sitting next to Park Yu-Min enthusiastically butted in. "Hyung! I'm telling you, you give me goosebumps sometimes!"

"Come on, dude. Stop it."

Choi Jeong-Wu was clearly more pumped by Park Yu-Min's feats than Park Yu-Min himself.

"I mean, seriously! Hyung, that solo kill was the stuff of a legend, you know! We were dealing with the number one-ranked team, too! We won easily because you were with us. Dang it, if only it wasn't a scrim but an official match...!"

Park Yu-Min shook his head. "Things would've been different if it had been an actual match, Jeong-Wu."

"Eiii. Nah~, I don't think it would've been."

Park Yu-Min suddenly grew serious. "Listen, Jeong-Wu."

"Yes, hyung?"

"It's pointless to do great in practice. As a pro, you need to do great in actual matches. Don't ever forget that many so-called kings and queens of practice halls faded away into obscurity."

"Eii, hyung. You're different, though."

"Jeong-Wu...!"

"...Yes, yes. My bad. I got a bit carried away."

Park Yu-Min chuckled at that, which also helped Choi Jeong-Wu to stop pouting and smirk back.

Oh Jin-Hyeong smiled contentedly.

'And the mood's been pretty good, too...'

A jovial atmosphere would inevitably surround a team that had been doing pretty well. However, some level of discipline was still necessary.

Despite being energetic and motivated, Oh Jin-Yeong's team lacked the spirit of pro athletes until recently. But Park Yu-Min showed up just in time to fill that void. To the team members, Park Yu-Min was a super-senior and an idol they looked up to. So, when someone like that joined their team and practiced harder than anyone... It became a catalyst that naturally transformed the team's atmosphere.

It was that kind of an atmosphere where everyone was motivated to work harder without their team director losing his temper or personally pointing out all the areas requiring improvement. Better still, their skills were improving noticeably, so how could the team not be motivated?

"Director?" Choi Jeong-Wu, making an expectant face, called out to Oh Jin-Yeong.

"Yeah? What is it?"

"Who's gonna get picked as the mid-laner for the next match?"

"Hmm..." Oh Jin-Hyeong couldn't reply right away. 'Well, it's about time, anyway.'

No, that wasn't right. It was a bit late, wasn't it?

Oh Jin-Hyeong silently studied Park Yu-Min's expression. There was not a hint of wavering in the latter's face. "I see. What about the pressure, though?"

"Well, the pressure is always there. And it's heavy and kinda scary. So scary that I nearly black out whenever I step inside the arena. However... If I avoid playing matches because of that fear, I might as well quit this scene. We didn't become pros to play well in practice, after all."

"Mm. You're right." Oh Jin-Hyeong nodded while smiling brightly. 'Yup, he's gotten tougher than before.'

Park Yu-Min was always an outstanding pro gamer. But now, he was steadily becoming something more than that. He was becoming an outstanding person.

'As for me, I should learn to trust my players more.'

Worrying too much was a problem, now wasn't it? Oh Jin-Hyeong couldn't shield Park Yu-Min from the headwinds forever. And the truth of the matter was... Oh Jin-Hyeong needed Park Yu-Min's help, not the other way around. His team needed a trigger to turn things around right now.

The ace called Park Yu-Min needed to play his part for his team to finally start aiming for victories.

Oh Jin-Hyeong slowly nodded. "Okay, got it. Can you start from the next match?"

"Yes, director," Park Yu-Min confidently replied.

"Good. Let's go with that."

Park Yu-Min silently nodded.

Choi Jeong-Wu cried out in excitement. "Woah! Yu-Min hyung, that means you're taking the lead in the next competition, right?"

"I guess so."

"The internet's gonna go absolutely mental now," Choi Jeong-Wu cackled in anticipation.

Once Park Yu-Min rocked up and played an outstanding match, the online gaming communities would experience another Renaissance. Probably. Choi Jeong-Wu couldn't wait to see how many new memes would pop up afterward.

Oh Jin-Hyeong tutted loudly. "You're worried about online communities? We've come this far, so you should be focusing on winning matches instead!"

"What's there to worry about, director? I know for sure we're gonna win, anyway."

Oh Jin-Hyeong was dumbfounded and stared weirdly at Choi Jeong-Wu. "And what makes you so sure about our chances?"

"With Yu-Min hyung's skills, not winning will be more weird, you know? As long as he turns up for the match, we'll win. No ifs and buts. And if we lose somehow, you can blame us, not Yu-Min hyung."

"Don't worry, I'll definitely do that," Oh Jin-Hyeong chuckled. "Don't get too cocky and keep your head in the game, okay? If one of you idiots somehow messes up Yu-Min's debut match, you're gonna receive a lifetime's insults in one day."

"...Wow, you're right, director." Choi Jeong-Wu shuddered grandly. He got scared by the prospect of the Park Yu-Min cult members making his life miserable if he somehow messed up the upcoming match.

Park Yu-Min got up to leave. "Before the next scrim starts, can I go outside and make a phone call?"

"Sure thing. Don't be late, though," said Oh Jin-Hyeong.

"Got it." Park Yu-Min nodded and left the practice area.

Choi Jeong-Wu sighed and muttered quietly. "He sure is an amazing dude..."

"Yup, I agree," Oh Jin-Hyeong nodded slowly.

Park Yu-Min was much younger, yet as a fellow man, Oh Jin-Hyeong couldn't help but respect that kid. A talent for playing computer games wasn't really important. What was important, though, were the persistence and adventurousness to reinvent oneself over and over again to reach one's goal.

On the surface, Park Yu-Min was a timid kid, yet inside him was a hotly burning furnace. People should learn from how passionate Park Yu-Min really was.

"Hey, Jeong-Wu! You should also work harder, kid! At least try to be more like Yu-Min, will you!"

"That's easier said than done, though. Yu-Min hyung is like a superman, you know!"

"He's a human being like everyone else."

"Sure, he is, but it feels like different people are born to different standards. Ask me if I can become the world's top player, and I'll tell you nothing is stopping me. But ask me if I can win against Yu-Min hyung, and I won't be able to give you a straight answer."

What kind of nonsense was that? Still, Oh Jin-Hyeong was able to figure out what Choi Jeong-Wu wanted to say.

'In any case... Yu-Min's one remarkable kid, alright...'

Oh Jin-Hyeong stared at the doorway Park Yu-Min used to exit, his expression warm and fuzzy. Just how many people would get the shock of their lives once Park Yu-Min re-debuted in the scene? He was genuinely looking forward to that day.

1. "Scrim", short for scrimmage, means a test match between two e-sports teams. ☜