Chapter 87: YSG

Director Choi Taedal stared blankly at the fallen cigarette with a momentarily stunned expression.

As the smoke slowly drifted up and reached the tip of his nose, words finally escaped Director Choi Taedal’s agape mouth.

“……What on earth does that mean? Your mom told you not to?”

“Yes.”

“Huh……”

Of course, due to the nature of the pro-gamer profession, those dreaming of it are usually young.

It’s an extreme job where retirement talk surfaces before even reaching one’s mid-twenties, so naturally, the preparation period is significantly earlier than other professions.

Therefore, parents getting involved in important matters like contracts wasn’t particularly special or strange.

However,

Even so, in Director Choi Taedal’s experience, few parents blocked their child’s dream.

Isn’t this a position reached only after overcoming countless competitions?

“Isn’t that woman crazy?! Blocking what her child wants to do?!”

“Even so, your words are a bit……”

“My words, what, am I your friend? Stop talking back constantly.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Ha…… I’m going out for a bit, so convince that Yujin kid.”

Director Choi Taedal, who had stood up, seemed to ponder something before shaking his head.

“……No, just stay put. I’ll handle everything. Don’t say anything unnecessary. Got it?! Seeing how you handle things, I knew you’d cause trouble.”

“Yes.”

“Ha, honestly……”

Director Choi Taedal put on his coat and left the director’s office.

-Slam!

Staring blankly at the roughly closed door, Coach Park Taehyung clenched his fists so hard that veins bulged in his arms.

“Fcking bstard.”

It was highly likely, though uncertain, that Outlaw decided not to sign with YSG because of the poor conditions in the YSG 2nd team practice room.

Yet, Director Choi Taedal was shifting the blame entirely onto Coach Park Taehyung, making even the good-natured coach unable to hold back curses.

‘Even I wouldn’t join a team like this.’

Coach Park Taehyung himself had no choice but to join such a team because he was in a tight spot, but Outlaw’s situation was different.

A star.

Outlaw was a star capable of shining alone even in the darkest night sky.

Naturally, Outlaw was far too precious for a team like this.

‘…It would be a lie to say I’m not disappointed.’

If Outlaw were to play for YSG, hope would bloom even for this desperate team.

But the water was already spilled.

“Sigh……”

Letting out a deep sigh, Coach Park Taehyung left the director’s office with heavy steps.

The tightly shut door seemed broken, refusing to open easily.

---

Director Choi Taedal returned to the dorm about six hours later.

“Tell Park Taehyung to come in!”

Summoned as soon as Director Choi Taedal returned, Coach Park Taehyung couldn’t believe his ears.

“Draft a provisional contract immediately. Raise the annual salary to 100 million won, and add a special clause stating the contract can be terminated anytime the player wishes. Also, remove all clauses prohibiting team transfers.”

“……Excuse me?”

“I said add a condition allowing the player to leave the team whenever they want. Don’t you understand!?”

“No, I understood that, but……”

“Then why are you talking so much! It’s already settled with the General Manager and CEO. Just do as you’re told.”

Hearing this, Coach Park Taehyung was flabbergasted.

Doesn’t that mean the player could just walk out on the team even mid-season?

Even for a provisional contract, they want to proceed with signing an amateur just about to debut by adding such an absurd special clause?

‘…Did he come back drunk?’

Come to think of it, there seemed to be a faint smell of alcohol.

Coach Park Taehyung never dreamed that this embodiment of self-preservation would propose such a provocative reverse poison pill clause, only snapping back to reality after being yelled at.

Normally, Director Choi Taedal didn’t berate Coach Park Taehyung like this.

It signified just how seriously Director Choi Taedal was taking this matter.

“What are you doing?! Hurry up and move!”

“…W-Wait a moment! This is ridiculous. If we offer such conditions—”

“You think I don’t know that? Just do as you’re told. Don’t you know things ended up like this because you can’t even do what you’re told properly?!”

Seeing Director Choi Taedal unable to hide his impatience, Coach Park Taehyung’s eyes narrowed.

‘…Hmm.’

A contract unilaterally advantageous to the player, to the point of raising suspicion about the motive.

This was literally a contract that could never happen unless the player was the ‘super alpha.’

‘Does he want to secure Outlaw so badly that he’d offer these terms? This isn’t something Director Choi Taedal would normally consider……’

Pros speak with money.

Meaning, to hold onto a superstar, treatment befitting them is necessary.

Unfortunately, YSG currently lacks the funds to entice a new franchise star.

That leaves only the conditions as bargaining chips.

In that sense, these conditions were openly favorable to the player.

From Outlaw’s perspective, even if she signs with YSG, the special clause means the contract can be voided immediately if she changes her mind tomorrow or the day after.

‘…Is he really confident he can keep her even with such a clause?’

When the player could leave the team on a whim overnight?

What about the risks the organization would have to bear if that happened?

There’s a reason why organizations set the minimum contract duration at six months to a year, enough to play at least one season, when signing players.

Shouldn’t they at least play that season, or even that round, once registered on the roster?

‘This makes no sense.’

Coach Park Taehyung genuinely thought so, but he couldn’t ignore Director Choi Taedal’s words either.

“…Understood.”

“Get going. It’s late today, so contact her politely around lunchtime tomorrow.”

“…Yes.”

Leaving the director’s office, Coach Park Taehyung was lost in thought alone.

What exactly was Director Choi Taedal banking on to offer such conditions?

After repeated contemplation, Coach Park Taehyung reached one conclusion.

‘He plans to use the starting position as bait.’

Every pro wants to be a starter.

But the path to becoming a starter on other teams is incredibly arduous.

In so-called prestigious teams like SY or SCV, only the exceptionally talented, not just from the 2nd team but also from the academy system, can make it past the 1st team to become starters.

Debuting as a real pro gamer there is difficult in itself.

But, here at YSG?

Competition isn’t nonexistent here either.

However, the competition here is incomparable to other teams, and moreover, Outlaw has already proven herself to some extent in that competition.

Although there might be resistance from the existing 1st team players as initially expected, from Outlaw’s perspective, she enters with a guaranteed starting spot, and even if the promise isn’t kept, she can simply leave the team.

‘From Director Choi Taedal’s perspective, there’s no reason not to make her a starter, so there’s no need to break the promise either.’

If Coach Park Taehyung’s guess was correct, Director Choi Taedal’s confidence was understandable.

A fairly high salary for a rookie.

A promised starting position.

An absolute condition allowing her to back out if things go wrong.

‘With this… Outlaw might actually accept.’

Especially the point that the contract itself could be nullified if necessary.

From Outlaw’s viewpoint, it was a condition with virtually no risk, potentially convincing her that it was worth trying out.

“Ha……”

It was complicated.

Holding his smartphone, Coach Park Taehyung felt the same turmoil as before.

I hope Outlaw accepts.

But I hope she doesn’t.

“…I don’t know anymore.”

Amidst his own inner conflict, Coach Park Taehyung pressed his smartphone.

---

On the day I first received the contract offer, after returning home, my mother told me this when I was wavering.

[“If you can’t decide rashly, just refuse for now. If they truly want you, they’ll somehow propose different conditions. Mom looked into that company a bit too, it’s not entirely bad quality. …Though the rumors were a bit concerning.”]

And today, a few days later.

“……It really came.”

“Mom was right, wasn’t she?”

A message arrived from Coach Park Taehyung.

It stated that several clauses from the original contract would be abolished, and some special clauses would be added.

And those special clauses looked quite groundbreaking even to my inexperienced eyes.

“Hmm.”

“Why? How is it?”

My mother, carefully examining the message for me, looked at me and smiled faintly.

“It’s not bad at all. …For now, it’s a good condition for you too.”

“Really?”

If Mom said so, it meant it was truly the case.

Of course, things like the salary still weren’t entirely satisfactory, but one couldn’t be full from the first bite.

“But still, Mom hopes you don’t join this team.”

“Why?”

“I have a bad feeling about it.”

“Actually, I don’t particularly want to go either.”

“Right?”

Mother smiled affectionately.

It was a smile rarely seen these days, and seeing it after so long brought a strange sense of calm.

-Ding!

Just then, my smartphone chimed again. This time, it was an unknown number.

[Hello. This is YSG Director Choi Taedal. I would have preferred to meet you in person, but regrettably, I couldn’t, and I apologize for that.]

The sender of the message was none other than YSG’s Director, Choi Taedal.

Messages kept coming.

[I believe you’ve already heard about the changes to the contract. Nevertheless, the reason I contacted Lee Yujin separately is that I have something to tell you apart from the contract.]

[I am aware that Lee Yujin showed outstanding skill during the tryout process. And we at YSG have no doubt that with Lee Yujin, we can reach the Red Cup stage.]

[If you proceed with the contract with us, I, as the director, promise Lee Yujin not only roster registration starting from the second round but also the opportunity to play as a starter.]

[As you can see from the already amended special clauses, if I happen to change my word midway, Lee Yujin may do as she pleases. This means I will definitely keep my promise.]

[Of course, this is purely because I highly value Lee Yujin’s skills. Please make a wise choice. Thank you.]

‘…A starter?’

I had been prepared to spend several months as a trainee regardless of which team I joined.

Considering this along with the previous contract clauses, it was true that interest I didn’t have before was suddenly sparked.

“What’s wrong?”

“Look at this.”

After checking the message content, my mother’s expression turned peculiar.

“Hmm… What do you want to do?”

“…Honestly, I kind of want to try it. There’s no risk, right? And there’s something I want to check.”

During the YSG tryouts this time, I saw and felt a few things.

That’s why I want to confirm those feelings by being active in a pro team myself.

Is it really… right for me to join a ‘team owned by others’?

The fact that I had virtually ignored offers from other teams after hitting Grand Master was in the same vein.

I needed time for verification.

“It’s not entirely risk-free. Wait.”

Taking my smartphone, my mother directly requested via message to Director Choi Taedal’s number that several conditions be added to the contract.

One notable clause among them was that the copyright for all video footage or photos featuring my likeness would be entirely vested in me, and their use would require the explicit consent of myself or my legal guardian.

“…Is something like this really necessary?”

“It is necessary.”

Mother was firm.

[Excellent. Let’s proceed with the contract immediately. I will be waiting.]

The reply came quite quickly.

“Looks like they’re quite desperate over there. Seems our daughter has quite the talent?”

“…Apparently.”

Something felt unsettling, but since they agreed, it couldn’t be bad.

‘One week. Let’s just try it for exactly one week.’

And then I’ll see for myself.

About what kind of pro-gamer life I truly desire.