Episode 227: The Envious Guys
When the match first started, Lee Geun-taek predicted a landslide victory for Lee Chang-hyun.
The reason was simple. Since my affinity with PER had not completely disappeared yet, I knew about the match records between Lee Chang-hyun and Yoon Han-gyeol during practice, and I thought that even if the other guys had high ranked match scores, there was a significant difference.
But when you actually look at it, what was it like?
Although he may have been defeated by Lee Chang-hyun in terms of his own strength, didn’t Yoon Han-gyeol also use his wisdom and fight quite hard?
“Hehehe… … As expected, when there’s one outstanding person, the people around them also develop along with them.”
A high-level genius. It is common for trendsetters to create a large number of followers, open new horizons, and develop.
Although for now, Lee Chang-hyun and the team members he is personally teaching have only developed under his influence, it will gradually spread further.
The Korean first division teams that are competing with such PERs. And even the prospects of lower leagues that are under the influence of the first division teams that are changing like that.
Even after [Hunters: The Next Generation], Lee Chang-hyun has continued to show his outstanding skills. But I didn’t think he would do this much.
‘That guy with the mask over there. If you hit that guy, and the guy who’s going to step with Chang-Hyeon… ‘
I thought that in this international exchange competition, Korea might get more seeding rights and have the opportunity to send more teams to the international league.
There is a seed right there, but doesn’t that mean that the international status of the Korean Hunters League has been raised?
“Ahem… … Anyway, I’ll assign you one or two people to work with, so think carefully about it. It doesn’t have to be from the same team.”
“……all right.”
As soon as Lee Chang-hyun’s game ended and the conversation concluded, Kang Jun-hyeok left.
At one time, Kang Jun-hyeok was the one who stood at the forefront as a Korean player and shined by showing off [Mana Unleashed].
Lee Geun-taek could understand that he was frustrated and uncomfortable with Lee Chang-hyun’s actions that were chasing him at a frightening speed.
‘Tsk tsk… … It would have been less painful if I had transferred to an overseas league during the season that Chang-Hyeon was promoted to as planned.’
What was the guy thinking that made him stay in Korea? Lee Geun-taek had no idea.
However, one thing was certain. Kang Jun-hyeok would feel a lot more pressure than before due to the advancement of Lee Chang-hyun and PER.
***
“How is it? … … Did you call me because of the international exchange event?”
The director of LTD, Jinhan Lee, opened his mouth. It was obvious why Geuntaek Lee called LTD’s captain every year around this time.
“Yes. But, I think it might be a little different than usual.”
“… … .”
Lee Jin-han looked at Kang Jun-hyeok with a “no way?” expression.
Until now, teams that participated in international exchange matches, which had a major impact on seed distribution, were usually comprised almost entirely of LTD team members.
There were several reasons. Since it is a team sport, it is advantageous to play with teammates who have been in sync for a long time. It is easy to prepare…
For that reason, it was common to gather most of the LTD team members and famous aces from other teams and go out as one team.
That’s why it’s not uncommon for LTD team members to go to international exchange events in groups of five…
“I think Chairman Lee Geun-taek wants a change. The results during this international league were not good… … .”
“Ugh… … But what, are we the only ones who got killed in the international league? It was the same for all the other teams that went to the international league!”
Lee Jin-han felt wronged. He knew that the Korean league had not been able to exert its influence in the international league. He also knew that Chairman Lee Geun-taek was trying to overcome this through change.
But why now? Why, now that he is the coach of LTD, is he breaking the tradition of selecting players for international exchange matches and reducing the number of LTD team members selected?
I felt resentful of Lee Geun-taek.
“Don’t be so angry. You haven’t achieved anything so far, so there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“How… … How can that be? Playing an international match once is such a great experience and asset for the players… … Even if the number of people selected from the LTD team decreases, you’ll still be selected, right?”
It was a slip of the tongue that came out of Lee Jin-han’s mouth, as he got angry in the moment.
Only after he said it did Lee Jinhan realize that it was a mistake, but there was no way to take it back.
Kang Jun-hyeok’s expression was already frozen and he didn’t say anything.
Perhaps, the player who is feeling the most anxious and nervous is Kang Jun-hyeok.
Regret about why I didn’t go to an overseas league when I wanted to.
The feeling of impatience as the younger players, who are much younger than me, are catching up at a crazy pace.
And the fear of being caught up or overtaken.
Kang Jun-hyeok was usually gentle, but when he got angry, he would stay angry for a long time. Lee Jin-han realized his mistake and spoke first.
“Ah… … I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant to say.”
However, Kang Jun-hyeok’s reaction was rather different than being angry.
Pain, regret, anticipation… what could it be?
“No. I also feel sorry that the LTD team members can’t go further. Maybe they came to this team just for me. I feel like I didn’t lead them as well as they expected.”
Kang Jun-hyeok, already the best player in the Korean Hunters League, spoke about his shortcomings.
“When I’m here, I hear stories. It’s a little different from the manager or coaching staff. When I go to the international league, I hear stories along with offers from players or teams from other countries. They say someone from a certain country is good. They say a certain team is drooling over them. Of course, I don’t hear stories about Korean teams or players. It’s a remote league, so that’s natural and normal. I hear the story of just one person.”
In Lee Jin-han’s mind, the thought “No way… …” appeared.
There are certainly people in the Korean league who have connections overseas. Like Lee Min-seok, Jin Su-hyeok… … But I’m not talking about those guys.
“Lee Chang-hyun… … .”
“Yes. My friend in the US told me about it.”
Of course, since it’s the US, there’s a huge rookie! This player will be the turning point of the Hunter League! I don’t think there were any rumors like that… … but it was a huge deal that the name of a player who had never played in an international league or an exchange match or an overseas league was being talked about.
Among the LTD team members who participate in the international league every year, only Kang Jun-hyeok is remembered by overseas teams.
“At the Hunter’s League party where he was promoted to the second division. I told him that I wish he had been born five years earlier. Then we could form a team or compete. That’s what I said… .”
Kang Jun-hyeok’s words did not continue after that.
But even without saying anything, Lee Jin-han seemed to know what he wanted to say.
LTD will probably be able to participate in the international exchange competition with fewer players than before. But what about PER? It’s a team whose name I didn’t even know until now, but judging by their current ranking and form, they’ll probably be able to participate.
Kang Jun-hyeok was successful as an individual, and although he came close to reaching the pinnacle of individual skills such as [Mana Unleashed], he was unable to lead the team to the top or to a higher place.
But Lee Chang-hyun wasn’t like that.
Personal success? Just looking at this ranked match, it’s in the late 4000s. He defeated 4 vs. 1. He achieved overwhelming growth and achievement that is undisputed. Up to that point, I could understand.
But Lee Chang-hyun didn’t stop there, he changed the team. He took on an unprecedented, perhaps reckless, role as the owner, manager, and captain of the team.
It wasn’t about competing with or being on par with Kang Jun-hyeok, but rather, looking beyond the individual to the team, they had already reached a better ideal.
“It was funny. Me saying that.”
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“No, at that time, definitely… … .”
Because it was a rookie team that had just been promoted to the second division, and it seemed reckless.
Even at that time, it was not something that Kang Jun-hyeok, who reigned as the strongest player in the Korean league, could not say.
“Do you know when you feel most pathetic as a player?”
“……stop.”
“You expect things from others, not from yourself. What you couldn’t do, won’t your teammates do it? Or won’t someone else do it? Something like that. But when I see that guy, I think like that.
If it’s Lee Chang-hyun… … maybe he could do it in the international league? If I go to an international exchange match with him on the same team, wouldn’t I have a chance? In fact, he might find a way I hadn’t thought of and show me a way to win? Something like that… … .”
“stop.”
Kang Jun-hyeok’s words conveyed deep regret and pain. That’s why Lee Jin-han felt that he had to end this conversation somehow.
I can sympathize with how you feel, what emotions you have. But now the match against PER is just around the corner.
“The next game is PER. So, since he’s that kind of guy, let’s lose? Don’t say things like, “There’s nothing we can do about losing.” In the first place… … I admit that he’s doing better than expected, and he’s embodying the ideal image you had in mind, but so what?”
What the future holds, what the trends are, those are just guesses.
LTD has been the undisputed best team in Korea for several years now, and although they may have shown a bit of weakness in the international league, that is the same for all Korean teams.
“The reason we struggled in the previous practice match against PER was because we adopted an experimental strategy, and the map’s characteristics were incredibly entangled. Even professional analysts have similar scores, but LTD is ranked higher than PER.”
Yes, objectively and subjectively, LTD was more advantageous and of a higher standard.
Obviously, the odds of winning will be much higher.
“I’m not denying it… … I just felt that way.”
Kang Jun-hyeok swallowed his words, but Lee Jin-han seemed to be able to hear what he wanted to say during that intermission.
If even LTD loses to PER in this regular season.
If such a change occurs and PER starts to run first in the regular league, and the Korean league enters a new phase, a strong change may even occur in international exchange matches.
That’s what Kang Jun-hyeok thinks.
“That won’t happen. Because I’m definitely going to win this time.”
That is why Lee Jin-han declared.
It was an international exchange event, and it was a chance to win. Going to that stage was meaningful to Jinhan Lee only if the LTD team members got on it.
“Don’t just sit there and be absorbed in your own useless sentiments. Let’s go down to the conference room. You need to review the tactics you studied with the power analyst with your teammates before the game.”
“……yes.”
“And if you continue to be so depressed, I’ll hit you in the back of the head. You’re the Korean Hunter’s poster boy right now, so what if you keep doing that? If you keep doing that, I’ll mobilize the comment section and tell you to swim back every time you lose in an international match, so just know that.”
Only then did Kang Jun-hyeok answer with a faint smile.
“yes.”
After confessing everything to Director Lee Jin-han, Kang Jun-hyeok had this thought as he went down the stairs.
I wish I had been on the same team as Lee Chang-hyun from the beginning. I had these thoughts that were pointless and lacked pride as a player.
‘The PER guys just got it right.’
They are enviable guys.
fantasy,
