Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1419

[Yes. The legend of e-sports is entering now. If you have even a little interest in e-sports, you can’t not know this person, right? Park Yu-min, the ruler of Galaxy, SS_Chaser, is entering now.]

[The cheers are no joke.]

[It’s understandable. Mr. Caster, what would you do if Jordan came back to play basketball?]

[That’s obvious. I’d buy Bulls tickets right away.]

[SS_Chaser is that kind of presence to e-sports fans. The Jordan of e-sports. But a slightly older Jordan. Many people remember the era when SS_Chaser was active, which wasn’t a time when e-sports was as popular as it is now. But that legend has returned. It would be stranger if he wasn’t popular.]

[Even in America, which can be called enemy territory.]

[Respect for legends knows no nationality. Most of the American fans gathered here probably want the North American team to win, but that doesn’t mean they’ll disrespect SS_Chaser.]

As expected, along with the announcer’s words, chants calling out Park Yu-min’s ID followed.

The roar was so loud that the entry of the people behind was delayed.

“Wow! Yu-min hyung is really popular!”

“Yeah. He’s really popular… It seems like he’s even more popular here than in Korea?”

“American fans are so passionate.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled wryly, listening to the reactions of the children from the orphanage.

He also felt that the reaction here was bigger than in Korea. He didn’t know if it was a cultural difference or a difference in respect.

“They just know how to enjoy themselves.”

Choi Yeon-ha chuckled and said.

“Everyone just has fun like that. Concert venues in Korea are the same.”

“I don’t know, I’ve never been to one.”

“…I’m sorry, sis. I’ll definitely take you sometime.”

Kang Jin-ho also agreed with Choi Yeon-ha’s words. In Korea, winning or losing was the most important thing, but the people here seemed more focused on enjoying the finals rather than the outcome.

That didn’t mean that American culture was superior to Korean culture, but the difference was clear.

[Hahaha, that’s right. One thing I’m curious about is why Park Yu-min’s ID has the meaning of ‘chaser’. A legend like Park Yu-min should be given something like ‘predator’ or ‘lion’. There were many rumors about the meaning of SS in the past. Starting from ‘it’s a guild name’. But it’s been confirmed that they were all wrong, right?]

[Since he hasn’t said it himself, we can’t know. Who knows, maybe if he wins today, we’ll hear the meaning.]

Kang Jin-ho wore a wry smile.

The meaning of SS in front of Park Yu-min’s ID is nothing special. It’s just an abbreviation for Sungsim [a Korean word meaning ‘sincerity’ or ‘devotion’].

When Park Yu-min joined the pro league, he added Sungsim to the front to signify that he was playing with the children from the orphanage.

And the meaning of ‘chaser’ is also nothing special.

[You, I’m going to chase you.]

‘How foolish.’

Who is chasing whom? Right now, Kang Jin-ho is the one who has to chase after Park Yu-min.

“Yu-min hyung, he seems really nervous?”

“…That hyung, his face is rotten.”

“It’s always rotten.”

“Who said that just now? Confess. I’ll bury you.”

“Sorry.”

Kang Jin-ho slightly narrowed his brows as he looked at Park Yu-min.

His condition seems worse than it was in Busan.

The children also seemed to feel it, as they stood up from their seats and waved their hands vigorously towards Park Yu-min. But Park Yu-min didn’t seem to notice the children on this side, as he didn’t look in their direction.

Choi Yeon-ha, who had a lot of experience on stage, sighed and said.

“If they shine the lights like that, you can’t see the audience. Maybe all he sees right now is white light? No matter how much you wave, he won’t see you, kids.”

“Ah, then we should have met him beforehand…”

“Hyung, do you think Yu-min hyung will do well?”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled at the children’s anxious question.

“It’s okay if he doesn’t do well.”

“Huh?”

“It’s not like he has to win.”

“…Still, it would be nice if he won.”

Of course, Kang Jin-ho agreed with that. Even if he lost, their view of Park Yu-min wouldn’t change at all.

But it would be better if he won.

Considering the effort he had put in, and considering Park Yu-min’s career, it would be good to win if he had come this far.

Kang Jin-ho stared intently at Park Yu-min.

‘Win.’

‘I can’t see anything.’

Park Yu-min stared blankly ahead. The glaring lights were hurting his eyes. But it was rather fortunate. It seemed like an enormous crowd had gathered, and if he had seen the crowd with his own eyes, he would have been overwhelmed.

“Let’s focus.”

Just as Park Yu-min was about to close his eyes and take a deep breath, the announcer held out a microphone. And then he started asking questions.

The interpreter, who was waiting in the back, quickly started simultaneous interpretation.

“As a legend of e-sports, you have finally reached the highest stage. What are your thoughts, and what is your determination for these finals?”

Park Yu-min looked around in confusion. His teammates were staring at him intently.

Park Yu-min, who had closed his eyes slightly and then opened them, said in a slightly firm voice.

“I don’t think I’m worthy of being called a legend. It’s a title that was possible because the fans looked kindly upon me.”

This was Park Yu-min’s honest feeling.

“But…”

Park Yu-min made a determined face. Everyone would be watching.

His friends, and the children from the orphanage. They would probably all be gathered in front of the TV right now, cheering him on. And he knew what those people would be saying to him right now.

– Be confident.

Yes, be confident.

“Today, I will win in this place and earn the title of a true legend. The title of a living legend.”

As soon as the interpretation was over, a thunderous roar erupted.

And the children from the orphanage were just as excited by those words.

“Uwaaaaaa! Yu-min hyuuuuung!”

“That hyung is saying something cool for once! I thought he’d just say ‘I’ll do my best’!”

“Kill! Kill! Kill them all!”

“Hey, stop that guy. He’s getting excited.”

Choi Yeon-ha whistled.

“Yu-min-ssi can say things like that?”

“People keep growing.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled as he looked at Park Yu-min.

There was no reason to lack confidence. He had built it up.

It wasn’t just Kang Jin-ho who had been fighting. The people around Kang Jin-ho had always been fighting. Park Yu-min had also been working hard in his own battlefield.

Although his talent was exceptional, he would never have come this far if he hadn’t pushed himself without limits and had the attitude to learn without pride.

That’s why Kang Jin-ho was proud and impressed with Park Yu-min.

‘There’s no need to meet beforehand.’

Even if Kang Jin-ho didn’t help him, even if he didn’t get his condition perfect, Park Yu-min was now someone who could win with his own strength.

There was no need to taint his victory.

When Park Yu-min made an embarrassed expression after speaking, the host gave a mischievous smile.

“Then, does that mean you’re going to teach the opposing team a lesson today?”

It was a question to raise the atmosphere. Park Yu-min also looked slightly flustered after hearing the interpretation, but soon hardened his face.

“I don’t think I’m going to teach them. But I want to prove that I’m still the best in this e-sports world.”

The children from the orphanage clapped.

“He’s crazy. Yu-min hyung is crazy today!”

“That person is the same person who always makes curry!”

“Why is that coming up here?”

“Anyway, he’s cool!”

“I admit that.”

Even Kang Jin-ho was somewhat excited and fidgeted in his seat. He had never once thought that such words would come out of Park Yu-min’s mouth in his life.

“Yu-min-ssi is showing off a bit today? I love it.”

What Park Yu-min always lacked was confidence. But that confidence was exploding at this moment.

The host also seemed to like the answer, as he kept adding interjections.

“Wow, that was a really confident answer. Then, next…”

As the interview moved on, Park Yu-min rubbed his face as if it was burning. But conversely, his complexion was much better than when he had entered.

Lee Hyun-soo, who was sitting behind Kang Jin-ho, whispered softly.

“This is my first time coming to a place like this, but it feels like a coliseum. The atmosphere is also very intense.”

“I thought that at first too.”

“…This seems fun, should we introduce it to the general meeting? If we create a coliseum and make the kids fight each other, and make bets, we’ll have extra income…”

“Don’t open your mouth until the game is over.”

Kang Jin-ho, who had easily subdued Lee Hyun-soo’s outburst, looked ahead with a slightly different gaze than usual.

“I’m so jealous of Yu-min-ssi.”

“Huh?”

“So many people came here to watch Yu-min-ssi play. Even in America. I can’t even put my name out there.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Park Yu-min with a fresh perspective at those words.

Come to think of it, Park Yu-min was already a star.

He had been a star before, but now his status had risen to an unbelievable level.

“I’m going to try again. Since what I’m good at is gaming, even if the genre changes, I think I have no choice but to play games. I’m going to try with the determination to die, although it won’t be easy.”

The corners of Kang Jin-ho’s mouth kept curling up.

It was a strange feeling.

He had always thought that it would be good if his friends did well, but how many times had he felt this good about a friend’s work?

Regardless of the outcome, he wanted to pick up Park Yu-min and shout to everyone, ‘This person is my friend!’

That’s what the words ‘a proud friend’ are for.

“It looks like the game is starting?”

“Watch Yu-min hyung closely! See if he’s wearing his headphones backwards!”

“No! Who’s been putting curses in the middle since earlier! Confess!”

“It’s hyung! You punk!”

“…Jin-sung hyung, you shouldn’t keep doing that.”

“What did I do… Aaaah! Aaaah!”

Jo Mi-hye stood up from her seat and started to deal with Han Jin-sung. Everyone watched the scene with a cheering heart.

Even Kang Jin-ho nodded his head as he watched the scene.

‘He needs to be hit a bit.’

Anyway, once Han Jin-sung was dealt with, everyone looked at the stage with trembling hands. The faces of the players were shown one by one on the huge screen in the center.

Before the tension could even ease, the game started, and Kang Jin-ho gripped the armrests of his chair tightly.

Park Yu-min had come this far on his own. And these finals were a place to evaluate Park Yu-min’s efforts.

Kang Jin-ho, who had nothing to do but cheer and clap, couldn’t help but feel nervous.

“Are you nervous?”

Kang Jin-ho nodded at Choi Yeon-ha’s question.

“That’s the feeling that other people have when they look at Kang Jin-ho-ssi.”

Kang Jin-ho flinched at the sudden direct hit.

“You need to be punished a bit today. I hope the game lasts a long time.”

Kang Jin-ho, who had nothing to say, looked away from Choi Yeon-ha and looked at the screen.

If other people really felt this way when they looked at Kang Jin-ho, he thought that he should restrain himself a bit in the future.