Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 565

“What on earth did you do, some kind of magic?”

“Huh?”

“How did your style change so drastically? I told you to be aggressive, not to become a rabid dog.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, there’s no need to be sorry. That’s what I wanted.”

Oh Jin-hyung couldn’t stop the laughter that kept bubbling up.

‘This is it.’

His team was known for its solid strength, but they always missed the championship by a hair.

‘Next time, next season is the perfect time to win.’

He had been hearing that for years. But they always failed at the last hurdle.

Oh Jin-hyung had always pondered the reason. And finally, he found the answer.

A crack.

It’s the same in any sport.

Gathering good players can make a team above average. But to win, you need more than that. You need a crack, someone who can turn the game around single-handedly.

And what that crack needed was simple.

Relentless aggression.

Playing calculated and stable can make you a good player, but it won’t make you a star who can dominate the game. And now, right before his eyes, was a player with the potential to become a star.

‘It’s ironic that it’s this guy, though.’

A star is a star.

No one in Galaxy’s history had a better career than Park Yu-min. But there were many gamers who were more popular than Park Yu-min. That’s why Park Yu-min’s achievements are slightly downplayed.

He was the type whose achievements were diminished due to his personality, and now he’s back with this style.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Oh Jin-hyung said sincerely.

He knew how difficult it was for someone to completely change their style.

“It’s nothing.”

“Actually… well.”

Oh Jin-hyung struggled to find the right words. He wouldn’t have these concerns when accepting a typical rookie as a trainee. Whatever he said, the other side would have to accept it.

But the person sitting across from him now was Park Yu-min.

Even if he was the director, he couldn’t ignore the feelings of a player of that caliber.

“Based on what you showed today, you should be a starter… but honestly, I can’t guarantee that.”

“Of course.”

Park Yu-min replied calmly.

A game is a long race. You can’t change starters based on temporary form. Especially in a team game where teamwork is crucial.

“And… Yu-min, it’s true that the average salary has increased a lot compared to when you were active… I don’t think I can match your salary.”

“Yes.”

“Of course, you should get more than a typical trainee. If you come, the CEO will definitely give you a big salary. But… it’s honestly hard to match the salary you used to get.”

“I think that’s natural. That’s that, and this is this. It’s okay if you just match the trainee salary.”

“Hey, that’s not right. That doesn’t make sense. If you come, your uniform and merchandise will sell like crazy. That alone means you should get at least a regular player’s salary.”

“Still…”

“No. This is something I’ll take care of. Anyway, I hope you’ll keep that in mind. It’ll be hard to give you as much as before.”

“That doesn’t matter, Director.”

“Okay.”

Oh Jin-hyung smiled gently.

This guy… he was always like this.

He never had any material desires. Back then, he was so uninterested in money that he would just leave his salary and prize money in his bank account, and Oh Jin-hyung had even nagged him about it.

But looking back now…

‘He was the smart one.’

None of the players who received similar salaries to Park Yu-min back then have as much money as Park Yu-min now. Most of them either lost it all by investing in bad stocks or squandered it away.

Looking at it that way, maybe this guy is smart.

“When can you start?”

“…Did I pass?”

“Huh?”

“You should tell me that first.”

“Hey.”

Oh Jin-hyung laughed in disbelief and took out a cigarette from his pocket. After lighting it, he slowly exhaled the smoke.

“If I don’t pass the guy who crushed our team’s ace, who should I pass?”

Park Yu-min’s face flushed slightly.

“Normally, this is the time when I should lecture you about how hard it is to live as a pro gamer…”

Oh Jin-hyung scratched his head awkwardly.

“I can’t do that to you. You know it better than I do, so what can I say? Please take care of me in the future.”

“Yes, hyung.”

“Okay. Now, answer me. When can you start?”

“Well, it’ll take some time to sort things out.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

Oh Jin-hyung knew Park Yu-min’s situation well, so he couldn’t push him any further.

“But things aren’t the same here as before. You have more freedom to go out and stay out, and we send you home when there are no matches. So, you don’t have to come in all stiff.”

“Wow, really?”

“Don’t talk about the old days when you were a gamer. The kids will think it’s some story from the Stone Age and look at you like you’re a zoo monkey.”

“Heh.”

Park Yu-min grinned and got up from his seat.

“Then, I’ll be going.”

“Okay, you’ve really worked hard. Contact me when you know when you can start. And you, you know what you’re doing, but I have to nag you a bit. Don’t let go of the game just because you passed the test. Your form can drop in an instant. Even if you’re sorting things out, do it while playing the game.”

“Yes. Don’t worry.”

“Aish, I shouldn’t be saying this to you, but I guess I’m getting old, I’m just nagging too much…”

Leaving the grumbling director behind, Park Yu-min walked out of the director’s office. Then, Choi Jung-woo, who had been waiting in front, approached Park Yu-min with a cheerful expression.

“Hyung, how did it go?”

“They said I can come.”

“Yes!”

Choi Jung-woo clenched his fist as if it was obvious.

Seeing Choi Jung-woo being so happy for him, even though it wasn’t his own business, made Park Yu-min smile.

“It’s just the beginning.”

“That’s right. It’s just the beginning. It’s not too late to celebrate after we win the championship.”

“Aren’t you dreaming too big from the start? I’m not that helpful.”

“Hey, hyung. Our team is solid. We just keep missing the championship by a hair, that’s why we’re called the ‘Uncrowned Kings’.”

“They call you the ‘Kong Line’, right?” [Kong Line refers to a team that consistently finishes second, like the number 2, Kong in Korean.]

“Ah… you saw that.”

Choi Jung-woo scratched his head.

“But if you come and help us, we can win the championship. Everyone is working hard.”

“I’m just a sub, what can I do? I’ll just practice with you.”

“This hyung is doing it again. You don’t really think that way inside.”

Choi Jung-woo smiled gently.

On the outside, he always acted like he was downplaying himself, but inside, Park Yu-min was more competitive than anyone else.

‘He’ll be a real help.’

Even if Park Yu-min doesn’t become a starter as he expects, it doesn’t matter. If the team members who were starting to fall into a rut are just stimulated by seeing Park Yu-min, it would be beneficial for them.

And the guys who are no better than amateurs will definitely feel something by watching Park Yu-min.

“But hyung, how did you change your style like that? It’s not easy.”

“…I had to survive.”

“Huh?”

Park Yu-min shuddered as if just thinking about it made him sick.

“There was a guy who would try to kill me for anything, and while dealing with him, I became like this. Thanks to that, I also learned that if a crazy guy is running wild in the front, the people in the back become more comfortable…”

“Ah…”

One person came to Choi Jung-woo’s mind.

“You’re talking about that friend of yours, right? The one you practiced with from time to time.”

“Yeah, that’s right. Jin-ho.”

“…That hyung, he was like that in Galaxy too, and he’s doing the same thing here?”

“No.”

Park Yu-min shook his head firmly.

“No. He was a human in Galaxy. Now he’s a beast.”

“He said it’s okay to lose in a war, but you can’t lose in a battle. He’s crazy, for real.”

Choi Jung-woo closed his mouth.

There was a time when Park Yu-min’s friend ‘Kill. Y. M.’ turned the Battle.net [Battle.net is a popular online gaming platform] upside down. Some thought he was a pro gamer’s alternate account, and others thought he was a hidden master.

He didn’t play many games, but every time he logged in, he would crush all the top pro gamers…

‘Not many people outside our team knew his identity.’

It seemed like there was a lot of backstory, but in reality, he was just Park Yu-min’s friend who would bicker and play games with him.

‘He was super aggressive even back then.’

There were no long games.

If he saw even the slightest opening, he would rush in like a madman, and how many pro gamers’ mentalities ascended to the heavens because of that ferocity.

But back then, he was a human, and now he’s a beast.

“Do you want to play a game with him? A whole new world will open up for you?”

“I’ll pass, hyung.”

Choi Jung-woo knew how to value his own mentality.

“Okay, please take care of me. And…” Park Yu-min glanced inside and said.

“I want to say hello, but it’s better not to right now, right?”

“Yes. I think so too.”

“Hmm.”

Park Yu-min sighed as he looked at Kwak Hyun-tae, who was sitting as if he was nailed to his chair.

“Cheer him up.”

“Can I tease him a little? That jerk is so arrogant, he needs to be broken down a bit.”

“Don’t do that. Weren’t you like that too?”

“…Well, I guess I was.”

Choi Jung-woo laughed awkwardly and scratched his head.

Pro gamers are naturally competitive. In other words, they are full of self-love, and they often have poor relationships with others.

It’s a mistake everyone makes at least once.

“He’s a teammate. Cheer him up. If he knows this is just the beginning, he’ll work hard too.”

“Okay, hyung. Don’t worry.”

“Okay. Then I’ll be going.”

“Yes, hyung. Be careful going back.”

Choi Jung-woo waved his hand at Park Yu-min as he left the practice room. Today, there was no need to follow him like before. Park Yu-min was the victor today.

‘It feels strange.’

It was strange to think that someone who was once his idol was back and would be playing games with him. It was like a basketball player who debuted after Michael Jordan retired watching Michael Jordan’s comeback.

‘It’s not quite like that yet, but…’

Realistically, the chances of Park Yu-min consistently maintaining his top-class level are not high. Comebacks are always like that. Comebacks that start with the expectation of being able to do as well as before always meet the wall of reality.

To be realistic, Park Yu-min’s future would be to be a sub for a year or so and then be released or become a coach…

‘But who knows?’

Choi Jung-woo had a feeling that it wouldn’t be like that.

Because that person was Park Yu-min. Because it was that Park Yu-min.

“Hyung! Aren’t you going to practice?”

“Yeah. I’m going in.”

It was time for team games. Choi Jung-woo went to his seat.

“But how does that hyung play games to get those kinds of comments?”

Choi Jung-woo thought that he would have to play a game with Kang Jin-ho someday to satisfy his curiosity.