My Lord, Don’t Break That Wall (1)

Han Sieun, sitting next to me, asked:

“Why do they have a group selection ceremony? Couldn’t they just do automatic draws to form the groups?”

I chewed gum and naively answered:

“The group selection ceremony is like seasoning.”

“What does that mean?”

“Hmm…”

How should I answer this?

“Let’s say you and I participated in the group selection ceremony.”

“Okay.”

“And I picked you.”

“…Unni, why would you pick me?”

“No, silly! I’m just giving an example!”

“Oh.”

Sometimes she’s smart, but other times she can be a bit slow.

“Anyway, I’d pick up the microphone and say something like: In the world of competition, there are no family or friends. Only winners and losers. My sister has never beaten me in her life. So I’m giving her a chance now.”

“Okay.”

“How do you think that would be?”

Han Sieun made a gloomy expression.

“It would be sad.”

“No! I mean how do you think the viewers watching would feel?”

“Ah,” Han Sieun answered again.

“They’d probably get immersed. It’s the first time sisters are facing each other, and your words were pretty harsh.”

“Exactly. The group selection ceremony is a device to immerse fans. So you can think of it as a kind of performance. The organizers prefer players talking trash over being humble.”

“Oh, I see.”

The success of a tournament isn’t determined simply by how fun the matches are.

Just like even the most delicious food can be bland without seasoning, the same goes for sports.

There’s only one reason why people get excited about:

• • A soccer player who’s won every trophy but is frustrated by not being able to complete the puzzle with a World Cup

 

• • Professional wrestling that’s still popular despite being called fake

 

• • Kang Yohan past his prime and Hyun Junho who keeps losing without a single championship

Narrative.

That’s how important narrative is in sports. Because the viewers are humans, not machines.

That’s why even the most polite and humble players spit out juicy trash talk when they get the microphone at the group selection ceremony.

It’s a time for players to act.

A time for players to put on a show.

A time to deliberately create conflict structures.

The group selection ceremony was a signpost showing how this tournament would unfold and which rivalries would be highlighted.

Han Sieun looked up at the stage.

“What do you think you would do if you were up there, unni?”

“…”

Well, I haven’t thought about it. But if I had to…

“I wouldn’t act. That’s not fun. If you’re going to do it, it should be real to be interesting.”

“Real?”

“Artificial conflict isn’t fun. Fights mixed with real emotions are truly interesting.”

“I guess there’s a saying that watching fights is the most fun.”

And.

When it becomes hard to distinguish what’s acting and what’s real.

When the fourth wall breaks and real emotions start to mix in.

That’s when fans go even crazier.

I prayed desperately inside.

Just avoid Jung Suhyuk.

Just avoid that bastard.

It wasn’t time yet.

No matter how much Kang Yohan’s skills had improved, it still wasn’t enough to beat him. Not yet.

Still, thinking of their relationship made me feel better.

They had a close senior-junior relationship at SUC, so unless Jung Suhyuk had gone completely crazy, he wouldn’t pick his direct senior.

“The weather was really cold today. Thank you so much to all the fans who came to the group selection ceremony despite the bad weather.”

The Round of 16 group selection ceremony began with MC Jeon Sangjun’s bright greeting.

Of course, the audience seats were full.

Even though it was just the group selection ceremony, the cheers and energy in the hall were hotter than ever.

And on stage.

Sixteen star players were seated in their places.

“For those watching the group selection ceremony for the first time, I’ll give a brief explanation.”

[The text then explains the rules of the group selection process]

MC Jeon Sangjun, who had briefly explained the process, read from his cue card.

“Let’s look at the races of the players who advanced to the Round of 16. Six Aliens, nine Insects, and… yes, there’s exactly one Human.”

The commentators Kwon Jaewon and Yoon Seokhyung added:

“Yes, the so-called last Human.”

“Humans have always been the common enemy, right? There was so much talk about Humans being overpowered or the main culprit of balance collapse, but they’ve ended up becoming a minority race in this tournament.”

Even though no player’s name was mentioned, thunderous cheers erupted from here and there.

The camera focused on Kang Yohan.

“Yes, the last Human is none other than player Kang Yohan!”

Applause poured down like monsoon rain. Han Sieun and I also clapped along with the crowd.

“Now we’ll officially start the group selection ceremony. First, the top seed of Group A and last season’s GSL champion! The player with 6 major tournament wins, let’s welcome Jung Suhyuk!”

Jung Suhyuk, whose name was called, walked up to the podium.

The six championship badges on his uniform reflected the lights like jewels.

Just then.

Our eyes met for a moment as he was walking.

Jung Suhyuk raised the corner of his mouth with an arrogant expression.

That, that, that jerk!

Seeing his unpleasant face makes me want to punch him.

“How’s your condition?”

MC Jeon Sangjun asked with sparkling eyes.

“Same as always.”

“We heard from the PD that you hadn’t decided which player to pick yet.”

“Ah, that was true. But…”

Jung Suhyuk paused for a moment before continuing.

“Now it’s clear.”

This time, Kwon Jaewon asked a question.

“What’s your strategy for the group selection? Will you choose practicality or justification?”

“Practicality and justification… I’m confident no matter who I pick, so forget practicality, justification is important.”

And then, our eyes met again.

“Recently, player Han Yujin provoked me on her personal broadcast, right?”

MC Jeon Sangjun made a puzzled expression.

“Yes. But we heard that you resolved that grudge in private.”

“We did resolve the grudge. But suddenly it’s coming to mind.”

Jung Suhyuk turned his gaze to look at Kang Yohan.

“So today, I’m going to do something similar.”

The audience stirred all at once.

I don’t have particularly good hearing, but I could hear everything they were saying.

[The audience speculates about Jung Suhyuk’s intentions]

With each passing comment, my mouth chewing gum became busier.

That crazy bastard isn’t really going to pick his senior, is he?

He won’t. He shouldn’t.

And then,

Jung Suhyuk spoke firmly.

“I’m picking player Kang Yohan.”

Hearing those words, I took a sharp breath.

MC Jeon Sangjun, looking dumbfounded, asked again.

“W-wait a moment. So, so, you’re saying you’re picking your SUC senior, player Kang Yohan?”

Jeon Sangjun’s voice trembled like a tree branch shaking in the winter wind.

It was understandable, as there was an unspoken rule that players from the same team don’t pick each other.

It was almost like an iron law.

Jung Suhyuk had just broken that unwritten rule.

“Yes. He’s not SUC or anything anymore, right?”

The commentators were shocked by Jung Suhyuk’s sharp words, as cutting as a honed blade.

“Not anything…”

“The community is going to go crazy.”

“Hahaha! It seems like player Jung Suhyuk has come with his knife sharpened. But isn’t this the true taste of the group selection ceremony? It’s the only place where trash talking is allowed!”

Jung Suhyuk touched the luxury watch on his wrist and smiled crookedly.

“But…”

His long finger sliced through the air.

Following the tip of his finger, the ENG camera turned its neck and focused on me. A red light flickered from the camera’s tally light.

“If player Han Yujin begs here, I won’t pick him.”

The venue went quiet.

I could tell instinctively.

That it was an act. That he was deliberately making himself the villain.

But…

Why am I so angry?

Isn’t that mixed with real emotion?

How much is sincere, and how much is fake?

At some point, without realizing it.

Even I had become immersed in the drama of the group selection ceremony.

---

In the Ingame.net control room. The GSL PD was monitoring with bewildered eyes.

“Ah, really! He’s really going to pick Kang Yohan in the end!”

The PD shook his head as if disgusted.

“Augh, damn it! I’m an idiot for trusting Jung Suhyuk. I’ve been pushing for that kid since he was a rookie, and this is how he stabs me in the back?”

“But looking at the community reactions, it’s not bad?”

“…Really? Let me see.”

The PD snatched the writer’s phone and read the posts with wide eyes.

[Galaxy War Gallery]

[Comments discuss Jung Suhyuk’s actions and speculate about the situation]

The PD himself was confused.

This was quite different from the Jung Suhyuk he had known until now.

Jung Suhyuk was famous for being lukewarm at group selection ceremonies, but today his expressions and remarks were quite aggressive.

“How can we draw out more reactions…”

The PD’s wildly racing heartbeat gradually calmed down. Quietly, calmly, without commotion.

The PD, having made up his mind, said to the writer:

“We’re crazy, right?”

“What are you suddenly saying?”

“Anyway, you and I are here because we believe in the crazy idea that people around the world can be united through games.”

The writer, wearing a cap, picked his ear and responded indifferently.

“Yeah. That was the case. Now that passion has been extinguished by the measly salary.”

“I’ll raise your salary. Since we’ve gone crazy, let’s go all out. We’re going to make this even bigger here.”

“…I’m worried. What are you going to do?”

The PD typed on the keyboard and sent directions to the commentators’ prompter.

[Pass microphone to Han Yujin]

[Absolutely do not cut]

[OK even if swearing comes out]

[Induce trash talking]

Jeon Sangjun, who checked the prompter, looked at Han Yujin with worried eyes.

“…Well then.”

Just then, Han Yujin’s mouth, which had been glaring at Jung Suhyuk, moved slightly.

Jeon Sangjun, who confirmed her lip movements, hesitated to speak.

He wasn’t sure since he saw it from afar, but it looked like a swear word.

It looked like she said “you bastard.”

Jeon Sangjun hid a sigh and said:

“Then we’ll pass the microphone to player Han Yujin for a moment.”

Han Yujin took the microphone from the staff.

With the knife handle in her hand,

She opened her mouth without hesitation.

“You should be the one begging me. Otherwise, I’ll…”