Episode 07
Time passed quickly.
Siu and his friends held strategy meetings even at school, analyzing professional matches and studying different compositions. After classes, they would rush to the capsule room and practice as a five-man squad.
Through that process—
Siwoo surpassed Diamond rank and reached Grand Master.
A long streak of victories carried him there.
And yet—
Apparently, that was just the baseline for professional players.
Incredible people.
To think that being within the top 0.062% of all players was considered basic qualification.
Still—
Their team name had been decided.
“Saseong.”
Named after their high school.
According to Han Jiyeon, simple and clear was best.
They submitted their roster.
And Team Saseong officially entered the qualifiers.
But not everything was smooth.
Clashes of opinion were frequent during practice.
Yet—
After sharing dinner and talking things out, they always returned to normal.
Siu enjoyed those moments.
So much that—
He found himself wishing they would last forever.
It wasn’t just about the game.
It was about doing something together.
Running toward a shared goal.
That feeling—
Made him feel alive.
And before he knew it—
He had grown closer to everyone.
Then—
Vacation arrived.
And finally—
The day before the tournament.
They decided to gather at the capsule room.
“Looks like the others will take a bit longer.”
“Wanna queue one game?”
“Timing’s awkward. Let’s just wait.”
“Yeah.”
Only Siwoo and Han Jiyeon were there.
Then—
She asked casually,
“Hey Siwoo, haven’t you been getting friend requests or whispers?”
“In-game?”
“Yeah. From coaches or managers. Someone like you should definitely be getting them. Jongsoo said he got a few.”
Park Jongsoo was close to reaching Challenger.
Offers were inevitable.
Young.
Talented.
Naturally, teams were interested.
Siwoo nodded.
“I got some too. Asking if I’m affiliated with any team.”
“As expected!”
Jiyeon clapped with a bright smile.
“They’ve recognized your talent. Coaches don’t just send offers based on rank—they review replays, analyze everything, and only approach when they’re certain.”
She continued,
“High rank alone doesn’t mean you’re good. They look at mechanics, game sense—whether your skills translate to the pro stage.”
“Then what about players who are both high rank and skilled, but don’t go pro?”
“Mostly age. Pro careers are short. Even with VR, it’s still similar—though a bit longer than PC gaming.”
She shrugged.
“Some just prefer becoming streamers instead.”
She sounded like an esports expert.
Well—
Her father ran a professional team.
It made sense.
“What about Jongsoo?” Siwoo asked.
“He said he’s not interested. Wants to become a streamer. Says pro life is too tough.”
That suited him.
Outgoing.
Easygoing.
Perfect for streaming.
Then Jiyeon asked—
“So… what about you?”
“I said I’m not interested. For now.”
“Really? That’s a shame.”
She pouted slightly.
“You said no before, and now you’ve even gotten offers… but still no.”
Then she looked at him seriously.
“Can I ask why?”
Siu knew.
He knew very well.
The players he met in ranked—
They were monsters.
Top 0.01%.
Challengers.
Trainees.
Even active pros.
And yet—
None of them could beat him.
At first—
He didn’t believe it.
Thought it was luck.
But after winning again—
And again—
And again—
He realized.
“I have something real.”
And still—
He hesitated.
“Going pro… isn’t something you can just decide and do. Even if you join as a trainee, you might never debut.”
He ran a hand through his hair.
His chest tightened.
He was confident.
But reality—
Was heavy.
“What if this skill is just a fluke?”
“What if I bet everything—and fail?”
That wouldn’t just be losing a game.
It would mean—
Losing time.
Opportunities.
His family’s expectations.
“I can’t afford to waste time.”
His sister worked every day without rest.
His mother suffered through chemotherapy.
In that situation—
His choices were limited.
Only about 50 starting players existed nationwide.
Out of tens of thousands.
Could he really be one of them?
“…Unlikely.”
Rank was rank.
Pro was pro.
Trainees might be hiding their real skill.
True performance only showed on stage.
He bit his lip.
He was afraid.
And—
He wanted it.
Then he spoke quietly,
“…You probably noticed, but my family situation isn’t great.”
Jiyeon asked gently,
“Do you need to earn money?”
“Not exactly… but I want to support myself. And ease my sister’s burden.”
She looked at him firmly.
“You don’t have to worry about that.”
Her expression was serious.
“Pro gamers are treated much better now. Even trainees get a minimum salary—about 30 million won. More, if you’re a top prospect.”
She continued,
“That’s not bad for a high schooler, right?”
Siu blinked.
“There’s a minimum salary?”
“Yeah. Early pros fought for it.”
Back then—
Players earned almost nothing.
Contracts were unclear.
Rights weren’t protected.
Many couldn’t even make a living.
“But thanks to them, Korean team became the best in the world.”
She smiled faintly.
“Anyway, it’s not wasted time. And honestly—”
She looked straight at him.
“You don’t believe in yourself enough.”
Siu’s eyes trembled.
Something inside him—
Shifted.
A door—
That had been tightly shut—
Opened slightly.
If even trainees had guaranteed income—
Then this wasn’t reckless anymore.
He could still study.
He could come back if needed.
What was breaking—
Wasn’t his future.
It was his fear.
“…Can I trust myself?”
It was the first permission—
He gave himself.
Jiyeon answered immediately,
“Think about your results.”
“Your aim was better than anyone’s. That’s not luck. That’s your skill.”
She tapped his shoulder.
“Now it’s your turn to believe in yourself.”
That single sentence—
Cracked something deep inside.
All this time—
He had ignored his dreams.
Because of his family.
Because of responsibility.
He had turned away—
Again and again.
But in his mind—
The same image always appeared.
The stage.
The lights.
The roaring crowd.
And himself—
Standing there.
“Do I want to be a pro gamer?”
There was no need to answer.
Of course he did.
Then why not try?
Why run away—
When he had overwhelming talent?
There was no reason.
No excuse.
At the very least—
He had to try.
So that one day—
He wouldn’t regret turning away.
“…Alright.”
Siu nodded.
“After this tournament… I’ll contact the people who reached out to me.”
Jiyeon smiled and extended her fist.
“I’m rooting for you.”
He bumped it.
“Thanks.”
Siu smiled awkwardly.
Since entering high school—
He had always been helped by her.
At first—
He couldn’t even talk properly.
He ate alone.
Stayed outside every group.
Then—
She approached him.
Spoke first.
Called his name.
Stayed by his side.
Because of her—
He stepped into the world of people.
Into relationships.
Into friendship.
“I should repay her someday.”
He clenched his fist.
First step—
Do his best in this tournament.
Elsewhere — Team Kaiser
A prestigious pro team—
Kaiser.
Backed by massive capital.
A legacy organization.
They had once dominated leagues and international tournaments.
But—
After VR esports began—
They collapsed.
Failed recruitment.
No franchise stars.
Their glory faded.
Now—
The upcoming spring season—
Was their last chance.
“This tournament has a lot of promising players.”
Head coach Shin Seunghyun spoke.
Former NA coach.
Now leading a struggling team.
If he failed—
The team might be dissolved.
Still—
He chose this path.
To prove himself.
“My goal is the world championship.”
Staff replied,
“Yes. Kim Dohyun, Lee Haseong… even Lee Junghyeok is participating. But most are already signed.”
That was the reality.
The tournament was “amateur” in name—
But full of trainees.
Unsigned players were rare.
And expensive to acquire.
Kaiserst had limited budget.
They had to be smart.
Then—
Shin Seunghyun narrowed his eyes.
“There’s always a hidden gem.”
He pointed at a name.
“Lee Siwoo. Headshot rate 97%. KDA 17.8. Grand Master with 54 games. No team.”
“…That sounds insane.”
“Exactly.”
Sometimes—
Players came from other games.
Or—
Rarely—
A true genius appeared.
Like legends of the past.
He smiled slightly.
“Let’s keep an eye on him.”
Then quietly—
“I smell something.”
“A top-tier prospect.”
