092. Fork in the Road
Before having individual consultations with each player for contract renewal, the time spent thinking about it became longer.
‘Come to think of it, my last memory before regression was actually a release.’
Being released doesn’t mean the end of a player’s career. Just as there are many players, there are also many teams.
And there are many players who go to other teams and show even better performances.
But… … being released in itself can’t help but bring about a lot of thoughts.
I feel like I’m useless. I feel left out. I feel complicated when I remember the team members I worked with.
“… … .”
Although I had been thinking about it for a long time, the truth is that as the person leading the team, the answer I had to give was already decided.
To be honest. To be cool and honest about the fact that it will be difficult to stay together in a league that is becoming more difficult.
I felt like that was the best I could do.
The reason I formed a team after my regression was to create the ideal team that I had in mind.
As the team rose through the ranks, changes in personnel were inevitable.
As of this season’s end, there are a total of 8 players remaining in PER, including me.
Me, Yoon Han-gyeol, Kim Do-jun, Han Ji-soo, Lee Gil-han, Lee Yeon-ju, Shin Seung-hyun, and Jeong Hye-yeon.
Among them, Shin Seung-hyun and Jung Hye-yeon… …
‘It’s unfortunate, but I can’t lead you any further.’
Shin Seung-hyun, who probably became a professional hunter by showing off his excellent interpersonal skills with [Strengthened Physical Skills: B+], or Jeong Hye-yeon, who has been holding her own with [Defense: C+].
Neither of them had much potential for growth. Neither in ability nor in status.
Is that all? In the future, team matches will become even more important, and in the second division, where team members’ abilities and synergy are needed for tactics, it will be even more disadvantageous.
Moreover, even though I gave direct instruction in Part 3, I didn’t show a very good performance…
Now PER was a second division team. They had to spread their folded wings and prepare to fly into the sky.
I can no longer carry this heavy burden.
***
After calling Jeong Hye-yeon and Shin Seung-hyun to the director’s office, he brought out the car.
Even though the call was sudden, the two of them showed no signs of being flustered. Rather, they looked a bit nervous, which was different from their usual behavior.
Perhaps because he was afraid to bring up a heavy topic even though he had been thinking about it for a long time, he started with a lighter topic.
“If I think about it, aside from the times when we practiced together before boarding, we never really talked about personal things.”
He spoke with a light smile.
The mood might have lightened up a little.
“Actually, I was a little scared at first. When the team was in shambles, you came in and started fighting with Gilhan. I was so surprised at that time. I thought you were going to completely lose.”
“that’s right.”
“That must have been when I had just come back from the PER game, and it was such a mess that I couldn’t help it. When I heard that team was now my team, I felt dizzy.”
“That’s true. Looking back now, I see that it was right.”
Is that already a story from quite some time ago?
I was surprised to realize that time seemed to pass so quickly.
At the same time, it was a bit surprising that we didn’t know much about each other even though we had spent this much time together as a team.
We spent some time chatting about our trivial stories.
‘I’m sure there will be more team members in the future… … I wonder if there will be more people like Jeong Hye-yeon and Shin Seung-hyun that I just pass by without much memory.’
I also had some sad thoughts.
But that thought was fleeting. I couldn’t put off talking about it forever.
It was a difficult word.
“Guys. Actually, the reason I called you today is… … .”
Seriously, he said, straightening his posture.
Jeong Hye-yeon seemed to be looking into my eyes more determinedly and clearly than usual, as if she knew what I was going to say.
And then something amazing happened.
“No. It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything.”
“… … .”
Jeong Hye-yeon said with a bitter smile.
“Me too, Seunghyun. I thought a lot while going through this promotion battle.”
Although he seemed calm on the outside, the hands he was holding were shaking slightly.
“I have no talent, and I’m too old. That’s all. And especially… … I know that we’ve been a hindrance to you while we were together on this team. I’m sorry about everything. And thank you, Changhyun.”
“Thanks to you… …I had a good dream.”
‘… … Did you know?’
How did he know? Was it because he had the contract in his hand? Or did he notice it when he saw that only the two of them were doing poorly?
That’s probably something we can’t know for sure, even now, or in the future.
What was clear was that those things weren’t what mattered now.
Because I felt that there was a lot of worry, thought, and determination in each and every word.
And, because I felt that he was considerate and took the initiative to speak when he saw me having a hard time speaking.
I felt sorry and grateful at the same time.
Shin Seung-hyun and Jung Hye-yeon approached and shook hands.
A hand that has never touched my body directly, because I have never taught it by touching it myself while practicing.
I felt the warmth of the hands of my teammates as I first met them, and I thought that this feeling would remain in my memory for a long time.
***
I wasn’t good at studying.
For me, ‘awakening’ was a ray of light that allowed me to discover a completely different possibility for myself and lean on it.
“I want to become a hunter.”
Half worry about the people around me, half anticipation.
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
That’s how my life as a hunter began.
But it wasn’t easy from the start. An Awakened who didn’t have overwhelmingly high status, didn’t receive early education related to being a Hunter, and didn’t have fraudulent superpowers.
There were many such awakened people who could set foot in the 3rd league.
Was it because I was bad at studying? I didn’t do well in school.
The team that reached out to me like that was PER.
Actually, looking back, it seems like I was just trying to pick any player rather than picking them because I was the one who picked them.
Maybe that’s why the team was a mess.
“It’s because you rushed in without permission!”
“Then. What are you going to do if you don’t fight there? Are you just going to get hit?”
A coach with little understanding of the Hunters League and an owner with no interest in the team.
Athletes who live in poor environments and lack talent, but only have dreams.
The atmosphere at this team’s home, where Gosung is in full swing, was truly amazing.
‘Ahh… … When I think back on that time, I still feel so.’
I wonder how I held out. But I held out.
I didn’t have the confidence that I could do anything else, and I wondered what I would do for a living if I quit. That’s why I didn’t quit.
The atmosphere is a mess and the future doesn’t look good, but they still give me money.
Because I can tell something to other people.
It’s only part 3, but he’s a hunter.
A new season has arrived even for PER, which was in such a mess.
“I watched the game. You played well. You were good at digging.”
I miss that moment now. I think so, but at the time, I was so shocked because it was a new guy.
A guy like that is joining this already messed up team?
I just sighed. So I decided to live with the mindset of holding on to my job as a salaried worker in the team. I gave up on that.
But, after that guy came, one by one, amazing things started happening.
The team home was still small, but we were able to learn something about the Hunters League in a systematic way.
They were a winless team with no strengths, but they were able to win in the pre-season scrimmage.
There weren’t many regular people who knew us yet, but a new sponsor appeared who asked for us.
One, two. The system was established, we learned about the Hunter’s League, new guys came in, and we gradually became a real team.
When I came to my senses, I saw that the team PER, which had been undefeated, was now in first place and had won the relegation match and was promoted to the second division.
‘Who could have thought that when he first came in?’
Never. No one could have thought of it.
The past years had been spent feeling defeated and abandoned in the vast ocean, but now that we had come this far, the team members were already dreaming.
The team that did not settle for first place in Part 3 challenged Part 2.
I was successful in getting promoted.
‘Come to think of it, this is the first time we’ve taken a picture together as team members… ‘
While I was packing and feeling lost in my thoughts, I noticed a picture framed in a frame.
A while ago. It was a photo taken at the stadium after winning the promotion match.
Everyone was laughing.
And now that they’ve achieved that dream, they’ll dream another.
From promotion to the 2nd division, to 1st place in the 2nd division. To the 1st division. And further, further up.
If it’s Lee Chang-hyun that we’ve seen so far, he’ll definitely lead the team like that.
That’s what I thought.
But now, I won’t be on that team.
It might be a little disappointing.
In this short season, I’ve felt and achieved so much.
How far can the team members who continue to stay in PER and go all the way go?
I was jealous.
‘Still, it was a good memory.’
If Lee Chang-hyun had gone to another team that he was scouted by in the third division, and if he had not become the owner, manager, and player of PER.
If Lee Chang-hyun had been active in the 3rd division alone and gone up to the 2nd division alone.
If Lee Chang-hyun had finally entered the PER, the players would have abandoned him, deeming him untalented.
I have never felt this way before.
I was once again grateful to Lee Chang-hyun, who suddenly appeared from an unexpected place.
“Is this the last load?”
A picture frame containing a photo we took together that I had left behind earlier. I put it in my carrier and left the team home we had just moved into.
“What a pity. We just moved into such a nice home.”
Moving out as soon as you move in. There is nothing more inefficient than this. If you were going to move out, you should have said so first when you moved.
Well then, I would have regretted it less.
I guess my feet would have felt lighter after leaving the home that was filled with shabby memories.
In the Hunter’s League, he only showed his ugly side and didn’t have much of a presence, just taking up space and causing trouble for the team. I didn’t want to see his face and say hello, so I just packed my bags and left.
‘I already told Changhyun anyway, so it probably doesn’t matter… … .’
The moment I went outside and was about to go from the garden in front of the building to the road.
“Gasp… … Gasp. Sister… … !”
“Performance… … .”
As if she knew, Lee Yeon-ju followed her. She looked out of breath, so it seemed she came out in a hurry.
“Why… … Why are you leaving without even saying goodbye? You said this was the last time. You said you weren’t going to be a hunter. But you’re not going to just leave me alone, are you? Where are you going to go alone, leaving me behind?”
Unlike her usual self, Lee Yeon-joo became speechless and words poured out like machine gun fire.
Yeonju had been a member of the same PER team before Lee Chang-hyun came, so it seemed like they had become quite close.
He hugged Yeonju without saying a word. It was obvious what he was going to say.
“I’ve got a good job, so I’m going to stop here in the Hunters League. I have to work even harder now that Yeonju is gone.”
What the hell is a good job? Now I’m just unemployed.
“I actually liked watching my sister play more than playing. I’ll keep watching her PER games, so she needs to keep winning like she is doing now.”
It’s better to watch than to do. What’s the point of just sitting still and watching?
Anyway, since it’s the last one, I can’t be honest.
‘Still… it’s nice to finally see your face.’
“Sister… … But when you have time… … please come here to play… … I’ll be waiting.”
“OK.”
I kept leaving, but I couldn’t help but laugh in vain.
Before I could become more foolish, I quickened my steps.
***
Outside the window of the director’s office, the front yard of PER was visible.
Jeong Hye-yeon left, and soon after, Shin Seung-hyun left.
In the dark room, Lee Chang-hyun bitterly recited the two names.
“Shin Seung-hyun, Jeong Hye-yeon… … .”
The names of the team members who have been together the longest and shared the team’s history in the 3rd division.
May their lives be filled with blessings in the future.
fantasy,
