Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1215

“Ugh, I’m so nervous, I could die.”

Choi Jung-woo gulped down water.

“Hey, take it easy. You’ll need to pee during the match.”

“Ugh, I don’t care. My throat’s burning right now, what am I supposed to do? And I’ve sweated so much, I don’t think I’ll even have to pee.”

“…Then give me a bottle too.”

The waiting room is always filled with tension.

It’s not exactly quiet with staff members moving around, but the players always find this moment the hardest.

It’s actually a bit better once they get on the field. They’re still nervous, but at least they have something to do. If their hands are moving and they can see things, the tension tends to ease a bit.

But in the waiting room, there’s nothing to do. They just have to wait and wait, visualizing the match that’s about to happen.

“Is it still a long time until the start?”

“I think there’s about an hour left.”

“I really don’t get it, why do they call people in at twelve for a five o’clock match? We have nothing to do.”

“So, you’re complaining?”

“It’s not so much complaining, but…”

“It’s not like it’s any less chaotic in the dorm anyway.”

“That’s true, too.”

Choi Jung-woo gulped down water again.

His legs were shaking, and he couldn’t calm down.

“…I’m getting dizzy just watching you. Please, just stop.”

“No, how am I supposed to calm down? Ugh, I feel like I’m going to throw up.”

“Look at how calm Yu-min hyung [older brother or senior] is and learn from him.”

“That hyung has been to the finals ten times now. He’s the type who goes to the finals alone, so how would he feel the same about a final where multiple people go together?”

Park Yu-min smiled awkwardly.

“No, I’m nervous too.”

“Don’t lie, hyung! Does that look like a nervous face to you?”

“I’m serious.”

“Yeah, right.”

Choi Jung-woo got a little annoyed.

But deep down, he was very glad that Park Yu-min was here.

‘What would I have done if Yu-min hyung wasn’t here?’

If Park Yu-min hadn’t been showing such a relaxed demeanor next to him, Choi Jung-woo would have been taken away with hyperventilation by now.

He had never known that a person could be this nervous in his entire life.

“It’s just a game, even if it’s the finals. Why am I so scared when we’re just doing what we always do?”

“It’s a bit different, though.”

Park Yu-min gave a wry smile.

“Hyung, is there no way to not be nervous?”

“A way to not be nervous?”

“Yes!”

“Hmm… I don’t think there is?”

“Huh?”

Choi Jung-woo stared blankly at Park Yu-min. What was he supposed to do when someone who had been to the finals ten times said that?

“I’ve been nervous every time.”

“It doesn’t seem like it, though.”

Park Yu-min chuckled.

“Maybe it’s because it doesn’t show on the outside, but I’m super nervous. I couldn’t even sleep properly yesterday.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Is that okay?”

Park Yu-min tilted his head.

“Is it weird?”

“No, it’s not that it’s weird, but…”

“Jung-woo.”

“Yes, hyung.”

Park Yu-min opened his mouth with a slightly serious face.

“This might sound a bit strange, but let me tell you what I think. I don’t think there’s any way for someone who’s made it to the finals to not be nervous. It’s natural to be nervous. It’s the result of a year’s worth of effort. The harder you work, the more nervous you’re bound to be.”

“…That’s true.”

Choi Jung-woo nodded.

He was sure of it. He was confident that he had never lived as hard as he had this year. He had cut down on sleep, saved time on eating, and worked and worked.

And the result of that effort would be decided by today’s match, so how could he not be nervous?

“Don’t think it’s weird to be nervous. It’s a lie that the side that’s less nervous wins. The other side is just as nervous as we are. The losing side makes excuses that they lost because they were nervous. But you, have you ever seen anyone discuss excessive nervousness as a factor in defeat when analyzing past leagues?”

“…No, I haven’t.”

“They think they lost because they were nervous. They’re not in their right mind at the time. But when you look at it calmly later, the losing side has a reason for losing. In the end, it’s about skill. So don’t think that you’re going to lose because you’re nervous right now.”

Choi Jung-woo let out a hollow laugh.

It sounded like comforting words, but when you thought about it, they were very cold. It was basically saying that it didn’t matter if you were nervous or not, the skilled side would win anyway, so it was okay to be nervous.

“That’s kind of comforting and not comforting at the same time.”

Park Yu-min smiled gently.

“Be nervous. It’s better to be nervous. Pros who take the finals stage lightly end up falling. It’s better to be shaking a little. It means you’re aware of the weight of it.”

“Yes, hyung. I will.”

The other kids nodded too.

‘He’s definitely got the experience.’

It was strange to call the still young Park Yu-min experienced, but at Park Yu-min’s age, he was considered a veteran in this industry. And he was a veteran who was not just experienced, but overflowing with it.

He didn’t know if these words were helpful, but just the fact that Park Yu-min was sitting in this waiting room with them made him feel a little more at ease.

‘If it was just us, it would have been a disaster by now.’

It was the first final they had reached after years of hard work.

Choi Jung-woo shook his head as he watched the coach’s arms and legs move at the same time as he moved with the staff.

“Yu-min hyung seems to be in perfect condition. It’s a shame. I was going to go out if he got nervous.”

Park Yu-min’s face turned serious at Kwak Hyun-tae’s words.

“Hyun-tae.”

“Yes?”

“You might have to go out today.”

Park Yu-min’s eyes were as serious as could be.

“There are always a lot of variables in the finals. You never know when you might be put in, so don’t let your guard down.”

“…If I go out, then hyung can’t go out.”

“It’s a hundred times better for me to not go out and win than for me to go out and lose. Watch the match carefully and keep analyzing what mistakes I’m making and what you need to do if you go out.”

“Okay, hyung.”

He was someone who didn’t take jokes as jokes.

That’s why he was even more reliable.

Park Yu-min got up from his seat.

“I’m going to go to the bathroom.”

“Huh? The coach told you to stay put.”

“I’ll be right back.”

“Yes, hyung.”

Choi Jung-woo let out a low breath as he watched Park Yu-min leave the waiting room.

“What would we have done if Yu-min hyung wasn’t here?”

“I know, right.”

They had come this far, so they had to win.

Choi Jung-woo clenched his fist tightly.

‘Ugh, this is killing me.’

Contrary to the expectations of the kids who were looking at him with trust, Park Yu-min was more nervous than ever right now.

He already knew that nothing would come out even if he went to the bathroom. But he kept feeling like he needed to pee. He knew that it wasn’t really that he needed to pee, but he couldn’t just sit there either.

Park Yu-min, who had his head against the wall in front of the urinal, feeling the coldness on his forehead, straightened up.

“Hoo.”

The tips of his fingers were trembling slightly.

‘I’m too nervous.’

It was natural, if anything.

This was different from the finals he had been in before. This was a final he had reached after quitting being a pro gamer once and starting again. The pressure was bound to be incomparable to any of the finals he had been in before.

And one mistake of his could not only ruin his chances, but also the chances of his other teammates.

‘This is killing me.’

It was true that he had been nervous every time he had reached the finals. But he had never been as nervous as he was today.

‘No, there was one time.’

The first final.

In the first final he had reached after becoming a pro gamer, Park Yu-min was so nervous that he left his equipment behind and got into the car. He didn’t even remember how he got into the booth.

‘But how did I win?’

After losing continuously…

“Ah!”

Kang Jin-ho’s face came to mind.

Park Yu-min chuckled.

‘That’s right.’

It was a stroke of luck that he had found Kang Jin-ho’s face when he had raised his head in the trembling booth. He was able to see the face of a familiar friend in that unfamiliar place.

‘I owe him a lot.’

He had to pay him back a little.

Park Yu-min washed his hands and took a deep breath as he came out. He didn’t care about being nervous. He had to win, whether he was nervous or not.

His legs were trembling slightly…

“Hey, I’m a staff member!”

Park Yu-min turned his head sharply at the sharp voice.

‘What?’

A loud voice came from behind.

“I’m a staff member for the players!”

“You need an ID card to enter.”

“I can’t get in touch with the player right now! Or go inside and call Park Yu-min!”

“That’s not allowed.”

“Hey.”

“We can’t let suspicious people in. Or take off your hat and sunglasses first.”

“Can you handle it if I take them off? Huh?” Park Yu-min’s face turned pale. Before his head could think, his feet moved first.

“Wait, just a minute!”

There was no way a woman would be looking for him here. The kids from the orphanage were told not to come to the waiting room, so it wasn’t them. Then?

Park Yu-min ran through the hallway to the entrance leading to the spectator seats, and a familiar silhouette came into view.

A familiar man and a familiar slenderness, so to speak.

“Jin-ho? Choi, Choi Yeon-ha?” Choi Yeon-ha, who was wearing sunglasses, turned her head to look at Park Yu-min and beamed.

“Yu-min!”

“Ah…”

“Come quickly, quickly! This person doesn’t understand!”

Park Yu-min bowed his head to the staff.

“I’m sorry. They’re my acquaintances.”

“Ah, Park Yu-min. Yes, please go in.”

Choi Yeon-ha glared at the staff through her sunglasses.

“How harsh. They don’t believe people.”

“You should have called.”

“Who is it that I called like crazy and didn’t answer once!”

“…Ah!”

His phone was in his bag.

Park Yu-min smiled awkwardly.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t expect you to come, so I didn’t prepare anything in advance. What brings you here, Jin-ho?”

Kang Jin-ho answered calmly.

“To watch the match.”

“All the way to Busan?”

“I had some business here.”

“Is that so?”

The corners of Park Yu-min’s mouth curled up.

He didn’t know if it was true or not, but it didn’t matter. Just seeing Kang Jin-ho’s face made him feel so much better.

“Let’s go in. There’s still time.”

“No, it’s okay. I’ve seen your face. But…”

“Huh?”

Kang Jin-ho walked towards Park Yu-min and put his hand on his head.

In that instant, he felt an icy chill.

Park Yu-min took a step back without realizing it.

“You’ll be fine.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“Do well.”

“Yeah. Of course.”

“Okay.”

As Kang Jin-ho was about to turn around, Park Yu-min shouted.

“Ah, Jin-ho! I’ll send a staff member, so sit in the front. There are team seats.”

“It’s okay.”

“I’m more comfortable with that.”

“…Okay.”

As Kang Jin-ho nodded and turned to leave, Choi Yeon-ha bowed deeply.

“Yu-min, fighting! You have to win!”

“Yes. Don’t worry.”

“Let’s go together, Jin-ho! No, how can you do that when your friend is playing in the finals! You have to cheer him on more! Are you listening? Huh?”

Park Yu-min laughed as he watched the two of them walk away noisily.

‘They’re really something.’

It was strange.

The tension that had been tormenting him just a moment ago had completely disappeared. Suddenly, he felt like he was in top condition.

“I have to win.”

Because Jin-ho came.

He couldn’t show his friend a losing side.

Park Yu-min clenched his fist and turned to head back to the waiting room.