Episode 223: Unexpected development
“What are the changes in the upper ranks of ranked matches these days? Do you feel like things have become more active overall?”
“That’s… … There are a few players who attract attention. But in reality, isn’t the ranked match really stagnant water? Maybe that’s why there aren’t as many changes as expected.”
Lee Geun-taek let out a sigh after hearing that answer.
Even with the prize money, overseas league training, and a program to connect with overseas hunter leagues, there has been no change.
I thought that maybe the real Korean Hunters League might just remain as it is now, a periphery country, since its past glory.
“Since everyone is so unstimulated… … I guess I didn’t expect much from the international exchange event. Tsk tsk… … .”
In the past, hunters from other countries would not have even been seen.
The fact that I can no longer even stand shoulder to shoulder with other hunters who I came to Korea to observe, take notes from, and learn from.
That fact made me feel like time was passing so cruelly.
But the only thing that can provide some comfort is Lee Chang-hyun’s existence. That’s the only thing.
***
“But I threw it out there… … Are you really going to do it?”
“Did a guy who had no intention of doing so say something like that?”
It seemed like he wanted to take back the fact that he had declared war on me while I was imitating him and wearing a mask during ranked matches.
“If that’s the case… … I’ll have to pretend to be you with that mana equipment and fight you. Are you sure I won’t get caught?”
So, what Kim Do-jun said was this.
Anyway, the one who is hiding my face to the public is Kim Do-jun. But if you fight me one-on-one while wearing a mask and show me a clumsy fight, there is a risk of getting caught.
“I have to educate him well so he doesn’t get caught.”
“… … ?”
Kim Do-jun’s face turned pale. But, what… … Rather, he should like it.
As the overwhelming ace of the team and the one who stood at the top of the Hunters League, I will personally train you to the point where you can imitate me.
What a great honor and help this is for me as a player.
I’ll roll you to death.
From how to use a sword to how to use mana equipment. Everything from the basics to advanced.
Even if we have to catch Kim Do-jun, we must use this opportunity to transform him.
Of course, I guess he had noticed something like that.
Maybe it was because quite some time had passed, but Kim Do-jun was slowly distancing himself from me.
I can’t miss that.
No matter what, I can’t just upload it roughly since I’m going to imitate you.
“Where are you running away to?”
I caught Kim Do-jun, who was running away with a pale complexion.
“I have to practice.”
It’s never my fault for teasing you out of spite.
maybe?
***
Even though the last time I was wearing a mask and playing ranked matches in public, Kim Do-jun pretending to be me drew aggro and gave people confidence.
This ranked match was bound to happen eventually.
From the very beginning, when he was first belittled in public as a primitive guy who only uses his fists, it was a set story.
Instead, it was natural that elaborate undercover operations were carried out to avoid detection.
[Lee Chang-hyun, provoking the opponent who has neither power nor weapon to fight, saying that he will not use his power alone]
ㅋㅋㅋ I somehow had a feeling that Lee Chang-hyun’s personality would be like this.
Yeah but these are equal conditions right?
n Who do you think will win?
ㄴ There were a lot of people predicting Lee Chang-hyun to have an advantage, but Lee Chang-hyun has barely played a ranked match until now ㅋㅋ
ㄴ If you look at it one-on-one, you might be a bit weak if you don’t have the ability?
I gave a convincing reason for fighting with a sword, rather than using abilities or fighting methods that only I can use.
Now all that’s left is Kim Do-jun and I giving our all in our acting.
In the first place, Kim Do-jun learned swordsmanship from me, and additionally received intensive lessons from me, so it wasn’t that difficult for him to imitate me using only the sword.
It was enough to just show that they recognized each other and worked hard to achieve a draw.
Anyway, this fight was started to hide my presence in ranked matches.
“Whew… … Even though it’s acting, it’s not easy. It feels like every muscle in my body is screaming.”
“Did I give you too much freedom in training just because you touched the mana equipment? Don’t joke around about that.”
Anyway, Kim Do-jun’s acting was pretty clean, and in the end, the fight that seemed close ended in a draw.
At that moment, after achieving the desired result and passing through the locker room, I was heading to the ranked match waiting room.
An unexpected event awaited.
“It was a great game. But maybe I could try my hand at Lee Chang-hyun’s game… … .”
There were quite a few people loitering around the waiting room.
***
It was commonly known that skill in the Hunters League was not proportional to skill in ranked matches.
It was not uncommon for players to rank at the top of the ranked matches and be paid a lot of money by their team, only to find out that they were nothing special in the Hunters League, the first division.
That can’t be helped.
In ranked matches, there was no need to worry about variables such as maps, neutral monsters, the existence of relics, or synergy and strategy with teammates.
Simply dodge and counter his attacks, and hone the good abilities you have. That was enough.
That’s why it was always natural for some of the top ranked players in ranked matches to keep an eye out for opportunities to play against players who were in the spotlight in the Hunter’s League.
It’s a chance to stand out by knocking down the players who are doing well in the Hunters League and waiting for a moment to get the spotlight.
‘And if the opponent is more capable than you think, then even more so… … .’
There is a lot to gain when you win, but less to lose when you lose.
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And actually seeing Lee Chang-hyun fighting the guy wearing the mask, I don’t know if it’s because he only uses a sword, but he looked pretty capable.
“I think it would have been better if I had done it?”
“Well, Sungjun Ahn. Even though you’re not very good at Hunter’s League, you can fly in ranked matches. But anyway, it’s not as bad as I thought.”
“Last time, during the Hunters League promotion tournament in the first division, was it 1v7? If we just pick out the highlights from ranked matches, wouldn’t there be quite a few like that?”
4000 points. Ahn Sung-jun and the group playing ranked matches with him laughed.
It wasn’t the first or second time that we’d come face to face in ranked matches.
As these conversations went on, they had a good grasp of each other’s intentions.
I no longer cared who would win between the masked man and Lee Chang-hyun. It would be better if Lee Chang-hyun won, though.
What interested me was that right after the game, he took on that guy who seemed more capable than he was and won in a 1-on-1 match, and then he got the spotlight and made a name for himself.
And then the game ended.
‘The swordsmanship of Lee Chang-hyun, who comes and goes, and the use of the mana equipment by the masked guy were surprising, but… … there wasn’t much of a difference. Rather, I think I gained confidence after seeing him use the sword.’
The result was a draw. After everything was sorted out, we went out to the waiting room and had an interview where we acknowledged each other.
The timing was now.
Even though it may seem like he’s breaking the mold, Lee Chang-hyun doesn’t really play ranked matches at times like now.
An Sung-jun headed towards Lee Chang-hyun and the other rankers he had become close with through ranked matches.
“It was a great game. But maybe I could try my hand at Lee Chang-hyun’s game… … .”
If he didn’t talk to me properly, I was determined to make a blatant provocation, even taking into account the fact that reporters were interviewing me right now.
But was it true that the public opinion that he was much more combative than he looked was true?
“You want to mix hands with me… … After watching the game just now, I guess you thought it might be worth a try?”
I know we’re like hyenas surrounding a lion that’s exhausted after a hunt, but I never thought we’d show our resentment so openly.
There was a bone in the horse.
‘But I like it rather.’
Steeling his mind, Ahn Sung-jun opened his mouth.
As the opponent comes out strong, we also come out strong.
“Ranked matches and Hunter’s League are different games. Why, are you nervous?”
Lee Chang-hyun’s expression hardened.
Well, since my debut in the Hunter’s League, I’ve only heard good things about it and I’ve been doing well without even thinking about it.
You must be embarrassed when someone comes to pick a fight like this.
If this is the case, it’s our turn.
There was no way I would refuse this fight.
however.
“I was nervous… … In my opinion, it seems like all the ranked players came out in droves just to face me. It also seems like the people next to me came with the intention of having a go at me.
“I don’t have time, so why don’t I just finish it all in one go instead of spending the whole day playing ranked matches?”
“… … .”
What the hell is this guy talking about?
All at once… … you say?
My hands were clenched into fists and trembling, but I held it in.
Yeah, let’s beat them all up together. And then I’ll make this arrogant guy do a one-on-one fight.
That’s what I thought.
***
When I was interviewing Kim Do-jun after talking to him in advance, and felt a strange atmosphere, the first thing I felt was, ‘Thank goodness.’
When I came out of the game, I thought that if Kim Do-jun was still dressed up as me, it might have been a real headache this time.
Other than that, anything else… …to be honest, it didn’t really matter.
As there is a gap between ranked matches and the Hunter’s League, it is not uncommon for players who only excel in ranked matches to cause trouble in order to get the spotlight.
Because these are things I have already experienced.
However, what they were demanding was that the scales were tilted to one side.
‘Even if I beat them one-on-one, I have nothing to gain… … but if I lose, the loss will be huge.’
The situation itself was one where I was forced to suffer losses. I didn’t like it.
So, we had to start over.
“I don’t have time, so why don’t I just finish it all in one go instead of spending the whole day playing ranked matches?”
Reduce my risk and increase my reward when I win.
‘I hate fighting when I have nothing to gain.’
Of course, it was obvious from his expression that he thought he was being arrogant and cocky since he never played ranked matches.
Well, I guess he picked the fight because it seemed like he had a chance of winning in a one-on-one fight.
It would be absurd if he told us all to come and join in.
Actually, I think that was somewhat correct.
The problem is that if you think that 1:1 becomes 1:3 and you are three times more advantageous, that is a mistake.
If it was Hunter’s League, it might be even more advantageous since teammates would come in together, but this is an individual ranked match.
It was likely that 1 vs. 3 would be much less disadvantageous than 1 vs. 1, which is 3 times less disadvantageous.
They are the ones who are good at individual matches, and they are the ones who are not as good at team matches like the Hunters League compared to individual matches like the Ranked Match.
It was only natural to expect that there would be trouble if they did a joint attack.
As I was preparing for a multiplayer match and fiddling with my equipment, thinking that I should take care of it appropriately, at that very moment… …
“Yoon Han-gyeol… … .”
There was a completely unexpected person in the group that wanted to have a go at me.
He was scratching his head, not knowing what to do, as if he had been caught. But he was part of a group whose goal seemed clear.
fantasy,
