Chapter 55: Amidst the Pouring Love Calls (3)
by AfuhfuihgsAmidst the Pouring Love Calls (3)
It feels like the fog that was thickly spread in my mind has cleared and a ray of light is shining warmly.
My lips trembled slightly with a bit of elation and excitement.
I looked at the clear sky without a single cloud through the glass wall and said,
“How about ELF?”
“That famous eternal second-place team?”
“Yes.”
ELF.
A team that gets mocked by fans as the ‘bean team’ for always being runner-up.
Their recent results were 24242322, right? It’s not even an eight-digit password.
“The reason I thought of ELF is…”
I explained to Jang Bonggyu while clicking the pen button.
A team that receives sponsorship from a major corporation and can match my salary.
An ill-fated team that’s always considered a championship contender but ends up as runner-up.
A team with a grudge for winning.
So if I make them win, the rewards and reactions would be tenfold.
The input versus output was perfectly ideal for me.
Hearing my words, Jang Bonggyu smiled with satisfaction.
“As expected! I was also considering ELF as the first choice if not an American team. Then I’ll proceed with ELF as the target.”
Only then did my hand stop clicking the pen.
This time, Jang Bonggyu spoke at length.
It was his plan for the future.
“First, we’ll formally request a revision from the e-sports association.”
Jang Bonggyu said. Legally, I can’t participate in the pro league until I complete the basic education twice.
Of course, I knew this.
But the interval between those basic educations was so long that it would take at least 3 months for me to participate in matches.
The impatient Jang Bonggyu couldn’t bear that wait.
So under the pretext of player rights, he planned to urge the association for a revision to get me into the league quickly.
“If that happens, when can I participate?”
“Hmm.”
Jang Bonggyu flipped through the calendar and answered.
“You should be able to participate right after this GSL ends.”
That’s fortunate. I can help Kang Yohan’s GSL championship challenge without trouble and then enter the league.
Next, Jang Bonggyu brought up his second plan.
“This month will be busy for you. Because I, Wise Jang, will make Han Yujin-ssi number one in the December brand reputation rankings.”
“…What? That seems a bit difficult.”
“Have confidence! I think it’s fully possible with Han Yujin-ssi.”
Star brand reputation rankings.
It’s an index created by analyzing big data generated by domestic consumers.
Simply put, it’s a measure of popularity.
But…
Since it analyzes entertainers, singers, actors, and sports players altogether, naturally no e-sports player has ever ranked first.
Not even once.
You’re saying I’ll be the first to build such a difficult golden tower?
It was hard to believe easily.
“From tomorrow, it’ll be signing, signing, signing continuously. I’m contacting various fields from small PPLs to ambassadors for famous luxury brands.”
Jang Bonggyu gulped down coffee like water. Then, as if something occurred to him, he added,
“By the way, are you going to a dermatologist?”
“…No.”
Hearing my answer, Jang Bonggyu’s expression filled with sorrow.
It was an expression that seemed to say, ‘How much money have I spent on dermatologists, yet why is your skin so good?’
“We should get a dermatology sponsorship too. I know a good place. Ah, while we’re at it, we should contact health and beauty brands like Lush or Innisfree too.”
Excited at the thought of making money, Jang Bonggyu rubbed his hands together like a fly.
Luxury brands, PPL, Lush, dermatology.
I felt strange at the sudden tsunami of advertisements.
…Am I really a pro gamer?
No, before that, am I really a streamer?
Suddenly it feels like my weight class has increased from featherweight to heavyweight.
Because the scale surrounding me has grown too much in both quantity and quality.
At that moment.
With a bustling sound, an employee opened the door and came in.
“CEO, the representatives are here.”
“Ah, okay. Guide them here.”
Representatives from each team, neatly dressed in suits, visited.
Without exception, they all came to me, handed me their business cards, and showed courtesy.
Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. Yes, me too. Yes. Yes.
Jang Bonggyu lowered the blinds.
The bright seminar room darkened like a shadow.
Blue light came from the beam projector and a video appeared on the screen.
It was the fierce battle I had in the guild competition a month ago.
Jang Bonggyu said confidently,
“To conclude, the opponent player is Jung Soohyuk, the domestic rank 1 player.”
At that, the representatives from each team stirred.
The SUC representative raised his hand and asked as his player was mentioned.
“What’s the basis?”
“The guild is the same, and when we analyzed the replay with the replay analyzer, the hotkeys are the same too. Above all, the players within SUC testified to this.”
The SUC representative fell silent as if he had a thorn in his throat.
Actually, I had sent that replay to Jang Bonggyu. Just in case it might help with my PR.
Looking at Jang Bonggyu’s expression, it seems it was definitely a big help. He put his hands in his pockets and said confidently,
“This was a whole month ago, a month ago! It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to say that my client already had skills on par with Jung Soohyuk-ssi even before starting to broadcast.”
Jang Bonggyu pressed the button on the remote he was holding.
As the PPT slide changed, my record and win rate appeared.
“This is my client’s record against pro gamers she met on the ladder after starting to broadcast. You all know them, right? Hyun Junho, Jeon Taewook, Yoon Songhyun, Park Minjun… well, etc., there are so many. Han Yujin-ssi’s win rate against these players is… Yes, can you see it clearly?”
80%.
It was the win rate I achieved against pro gamers I met in solo rank.
The PPT slide changed again, and this time various information about me appeared.
How many views my YouTube has, how many Instagram followers I have, how much my merchandise sold, how many advertising inquiries I received, that Kang Yohan player advanced to the main tournament, how many times my name was mentioned in communities…
It felt like my value was listed comprehensively from A to Z.
“The reason I called you all here is simple.”
Jang Bonggyu rubbed his index finger and thumb together.
“Han Yujin-ssi’s salary will go up. No, it must go up.”
At that moment, the ELF representative raised his hand and asked,
“I want to clarify this first. Is the rumor about going to SUC true?”
“Don’t worry. My client hasn’t decided anything yet.”
Jang Bonggyu, with his warm raccoon-like appearance, now looked like a brave lion.
Rumor has it that he once threw a chair when negotiating with an English football team after clashing with the front office.
Seeing him dominate the seminar room with his gleaming eyes, it seemed like he really had that spirit.
Jang Bonggyu took off his jacket and opened the door.
“I think I’ve explained enough about Player Han Yujin. Now I’m going to explain what we’re demanding. Those who want to leave, please leave promptly now.”
The surroundings were as quiet as a mouse. No one stood up from their seats.
After a moment of silence,
Jang Bonggyu smiled and said,
“Then I’ll continue. The conditions we want are…”
After the presentation, I had lunch with Jang Bonggyu.
It wasn’t a simple meal. It was an upscale restaurant where royal court-like dishes came out one after another.
Even while eating, Jang Bonggyu shook his head and muttered to himself.
That something was lacking. That it felt like one more puzzle piece was needed.
But he didn’t know what it was.
I’m quite greedy too, but this man was even more so than me.
A person who can’t give himself a carrot unless it’s 100 percent.
It was endlessly good from my perspective since he was doing it to increase my value, but still.
After finishing the meal, I came to Kang Yohan’s practice room after a long time.
Kang Yohan’s concentration was really amazing.
He was focused on the monitor screen, immersed without even noticing that I had come in.
I watched him fondly from behind with my arms crossed, like watching a child dancing at a talent show.
I admired him as I watched.
Really, really…
His skills have improved a lot.
Kang Yohan was perfectly executing the build I taught him.
Rapid progress.
It was hard to believe he was the same player as Kang Yohan from a month ago.
Of course, it’s thanks to the future builds I brought.
I saw a phrase written in black permanent marker on Player Kang Yohan’s keyboard.
[Winning is everything]
…Right, winning is everything.
Finally, the opponent surrendered and left the game.
I lightly poked his back with my finger.
Then.
“Kyaaaak!”
Kang Yohan screamed like a girl, like Guan Yu from Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
“Ah, I thought my soul was going to leave my body! When did you come?”
“Just now.”
“My hair is already long, so I thought you were a virgin ghost! I almost died of a heart attack before winning.”
“Isn’t it good if there’s such a pretty virgin ghost?”
“…That’s true.”
Kang Yohan caught his breath and rubbed his chest area clockwise.
I smiled and opened my mouth.
“Tomorrow is the 24-player dual tournament, right?”
“Yep.”
“I think you’ll pass smoothly. But,”
The worst problem Kang Yohan faced.
That he’s weak against carriers.
In fact, he was miserably toyed with by Eo Jaehyun’s carriers in the offline preliminaries.
I judged that he absolutely cannot win without compensating for this.
“I think you need to learn one more build.”
“Oh, what is it?”
“Drum roll please- The name is…!”
“Fire Blade?”
…Was this guy a Dungeon Fighter Online fanatic?
“No. It’s an anti-carrier build. It’s a build made to counter the Alien’s carriers.”
I clearly remember that Eo Jaehyun from my past life also achieved remarkable results with carriers in this tournament.
By now, he must have humiliated Kang Yohan and his nose must have grown as high as Pinocchio’s.
For Kang Yohan, Eo Jaehyun is a mountain he must overcome.
And,
I know how to conquer that mountain.
“I’ll teach you right after we rest a bit.”
I sat in a chair and turned on my phone.
When I entered the community, there was a lot of talk about me.
[Game Korea]
[Title: Heard Han Yujin had a group meeting with team representatives at CSA office]
She might not go to SUC???
Will SUC stock price fall..?
Everyone run away!!!!
Likes: 872 Dislikes: 16
-Fuck I’m so curious where she’ll go
-Sign here, ELF squad!
-My cousin is an e-sports journalist and he says it’s confirmed Han Yujin is going to an American team
└But there were no American team representatives at today’s meeting?
└It’s all a smokescreen tsk tsk you believe that?
-She’s already made up her mind to go to SUC, she’s just meeting to raise her salary by pressuring them lol
-I’ll stop being a fan if Han Yujin goes to SUC bye
-Just turn on your broadcast first HaYoo you bitch this girl always just posts notices and takes breaks all the time
└But tomorrow is Kang Yohan’s 24-player tournament so it can’t be helped lol
└If Kang Yohan makes it to the round of 16, Han Yujin’s value will rise again, it’ll be sweet lol
-Han Yujin is secretly a real snake, she’s really good at push and pull and putting on a show. She might get the highest rookie salary ever lol
I read the last comment over and over like a mantra.
Show?
Show…
One thought flashed.
A way to make interest in me explode like a supernova.
I immediately called Jang Bonggyu.
I conveyed my thoughts exactly.
Then I heard an approving laugh from the other end of the phone.
“Han Yujin-ssi. You really seem like a genius. I’ll proceed with it right away.”
After hanging up, I thought.
If we’re going to put on a show, let’s do it publicly,
And make it big, really big.
A heavy mood hung over Ingame.net’s strategic programming room.
The game entertainment program “To the End Since It’s On” that they had ambitiously prepared was struggling with low viewership ratings.
The face of Programming Team Leader Lee Byunghoon turned as white as cigarette smoke.
At that moment.
The Ingame.net director burst open the door of the programming room and came in.
“Hey, Team Leader Lee!”
Here it comes. A chill ran down Lee Byunghoon’s spine at that sharp voice like a tiger’s roar.
Lee Byunghoon answered in a crawling voice like a child about to get spanked.
“…Y-yes. Director.”
“What was our programming for this Saturday at 5 PM?”
“…A GSL rerun, sir.”
The director laughed heartily and said cheerfully.
“Let’s remove that. I just got a call. We’re going to air a special broadcast.”
“What?!”
“Ah, and it’s a live broadcast. We’ll stream it together with Twimer.”
Stunned by the sudden news, Lee Byunghoon trailed off and asked.
“What kind of special broadcast…?”
The director answered immediately without looking at Lee Byunghoon, his gaze fixed on his phone.
“Han Yujin will publicly decide which team she’ll go to on the broadcast.”
Hearing those words, Team Leader Lee Byunghoon let out a single groan.
“Don’t tell me, it’s a decision show?”
“That’s right. The one LeBron James did. Han Yujin is really something. Anyway, I’ll tell the PR team, so hurry and sketch out an outline of how to structure it with the PDs.”
As the door closed, Lee Byunghoon was seized by a feverish excitement.
I woke up early in the morning because I had an advertisement shoot.
Surprisingly, my mind was clear.
Yeah. Yes. My mind was really clear, but,
My phone…
It was very, very, very chaotic.
There were endless missed calls, and communities and internet articles were stained with my name.
Like flowers blooming in spring.
And now I…
Have reached the level of enjoying it.
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