Descent of the Demon Master-Chapter 1136. Proving (1)

“Hello. I’m back, everyone.”

Oh Jin-Hyeong couldn’t help but frown slightly at the sight of Park Yu-Min entering the team’s practice area.

He walked over to Park Yu-Min. “What are you doing, dude? You have time until midnight today, you know? It’s not even lunch yet, so why are you here already?”

Park Yu-Min grinned cheerily. “I thought it wouldn’t be a problem anymore, director.”

“Huh?”

“I can't say with 100% certainty that I've regained my form. But I think I'm on the right track. That's why I wanted to return as soon as possible and get in sync with my teammates instead of wasting any more time.”

“Really?” Oh Jin-Hyeong asked while closely scanning Park Yu-Min’s expression.

‘Hmm. His smile is...’

He remembered seeing Park Yu-Min smile like this before. A few times, as a matter of fact! And in all those times...

‘We won almost everything, didn’t we?’

Park Yu-Min was the type who didn’t ‘trust’ himself. Even though he had surpassed ‘Great’ in everyone’s view and into the realm of ‘Superb,’ he still doubted his skill level and continued to practice and polish himself.

...And he'd smile like that only when he had gained enough confidence to win after enduring the intense training regime.

‘Huh. It's been only a day and a half, so how?'

A pro athlete's slump was scary because it couldn't be overcome so easily.

If you could overcome it in one and a half days by racking your brain, no one would call it a slump anymore. No, everyone would say that your condition on the day temporarily hadn't been 100%!

In Oh Jin-Hyeong’s view, Park Yu-Min was genuinely stuck in the middle of a slump. So, to think this brat had overcome that in such a short time!

Oh Jin-Hyeong scanned the practice area. “Hey, when is the next scrim?”

“Director? Oh, uh, in thirty minutes, I think.”

“In that case... Hyeon-Tae, make way for Yu-Min in the scrim. I gotta see it for myself.”

“Understood,” Gwok Hyeon-Tae nodded, then got up from the designated chair. He then glanced at Park Yu-Min. “Yu-Min hyung? Are you sure about this? This scrim is crucial for the team, you see?”

“Yeah. It’ll be alright. I’m sorry about this, though. Let me have a go this time.”

“No, well, I don’t mind, but...” 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Before Park Yu-Min joined the team, Gwok Hyeon-Tae played the role of the first team's ace. However, he had been warming the bench, so to speak, as a reserve since the beginning of the season. Park Yu-Min falling into a slump had finally granted him an opportunity to shine.

But here was Park Yu-Min, making an unexpected return in less than two days!

‘Even I would’ve felt terrible in his shoes.’

Park Yu-Min grew a little apologetic. That didn’t mean he’d relinquish this spot, though.

This was the world of esports. Things like mercy and kindness meant little when one's position in the team was at stake. Only one's skills could make them a winner or a loser in this tough world.

“Don’t let the pressure get to you, hyung, and don’t worry about anything. I can take over if you can’t do it anymore.”

“I see. Thanks.”

Gwok Hyeon-Tae was sneakily trying to announce his availability just now.

Then again, why wouldn't he? When his skills were pretty good, and his arrogant streak had toned down a lot these days? With a little more polishing, he could become an even better pro gamer.

However, now wasn't his time to shine.

Park Yu-Min had no thoughts of relinquishing this position to Gwok Hyeon-Tae. Not yet!

“Okay, let me get ready,” said Park Yu-Min.

Oh Jin-Hyeong watched Park Yu-Min prepare for the scrim with equal amounts of anticipation and nervousness.

‘After all, we need Yu-Min to pull through...'

Oh Jin-Hyeong stealthily glanced at Gwok Hyeon-Tae. The complicated look on the youngster’s face only made the team director’s heart ache a bit harder, though.

That kid was a good pro gamer. Not only was he blessed with natural skills, but he now also knew the value of hard work, too. With a little more maturity, he could become a top star in this business.

That didn’t mean he currently didn’t meet the standard, though. He was the first team’s ace before Park Yu-Min showed up, after all.

However, that was about it, really.

The addition of a good player was not going to secure the team the winner’s trophy. To win the finals, they needed something else. Something bigger. More monumental. A variable, perhaps. And also...!

‘...A superstar!’

Every victorious team boasted a superstar in its ranks.

‘No, wait. It’s the other way around, isn’t it?’

It wasn't the case of a team winning because they had a superstar on their payroll. A superstar was a superstar because they could bring victories to their team!

In Oh Jin-Hyeong's evaluation, his players could certainly become top stars, but none qualified to be a superstar.

That was where Park Yu-Min came in. That should be his role.

That was because Park Yu-Min was already an expert in overcoming tremendous pressure. And more crucially, he knew what it was like to stand on top.

Oh Jin-Hyeong’s eyes narrowed to slits as the scrim began.

‘Something must’ve changed. Definitely!’

Park Yu-Min must demonstrate what he had been doing to change his...

“...?! What the heck?! What are you doing?! Why are you rushing in there like crazy!”

Oh Jin-Hyeong freaked out and yelled loudly in alarm.

***

“...”

“...”

Oh Jin-Hyeong’s thoughts were rather complicated as he stared at Park Yu-Min.

However, Park Yu-Min was confidently standing tall right before his director’s eyes, his expression saying he hadn’t done anything wrong.

“...Hey, Yu-Min?”

“Yes, director?”

“You look really proud of yourself for some reason.”

“I am, sir. Things went as I wanted them to, you see.”

Seriously? He wanted things to go that way?

“Are you, uh, high or something?”

“No, sir. I didn’t do any drugs, but... Well, you could say I got myself exposed to some.”

“...Oh. Whatever you say.”

Oh Jin-Hyeong held his forehead.

‘I mean, the result wasn’t bad, so, uh... Mm...’

The result of the scrim was two wins and one loss. Three matches were played, and Park Yu-Min somehow managed to win two of them!

Considering today's practice partner was a team that placed second during the regular season, this result should have been evaluated as 'excellent'.

Even in regular matches, it was difficult to get a 50-plus% win ratio, after all!

As far as results were concerned, this was probably the best Oh Jin-Hyeong could have hoped for. However, that was only when focusing on the results and nothing else!

‘The problem is how Yu-Min won!’

During the scrim today, Park Yu-Min went on a crazed rampage. Literally!

He completely ignored the concept of working together with his teammates and charged straight into the enemy side. And then, when the command to fall back was issued, he actually started attacking instead only to get himself killed!

‘That’s what happened, so how did you win? How?’

This here was the dilemma plaguing Oh Jin-Hyeong.

Park Yu-Min insisted on doing things no self-respecting pro would do. Maybe amateurs could get away with it, but a pro betting their everything to win should never resort to playing like that in a competitive match!

A top-tier esports match was like walking delicately on a sharp blade. One mistake, and the other side would devour you instantly like a pack of wild dogs.

Yet today, Park Yu-Min made one mistake after another. When viewed on his performance alone, he should’ve lost over and over again. Yet he won. Not just once, but twice, no less!

Winning once would’ve been considered a minor miracle, yet he did it again!

“Yu-Min, I have to say, that’s not how you usually play.”

Park Yu-Min nodded. “I know, sir.”

“Can you keep up with it, though?”

“I think it won't be a problem, at least until the finals. Once everyone is in sync, I think things will work out well for us, sir.”

“Mm...!” Oh Jin-Hyeong leaned back and slowly rubbed his chin.

This was troublesome, indeed.

It was he who told Park Yu-Min to be more aggressive. However, what he wanted to see was some sprinkles of aggressiveness added on top of Park Yu-Min's original play style.

...But what he got here was totally something else.

Park Yu-Min returned as a transformed man. Just what did he go through in a day to change this much? Oh Jin-Hyeong just couldn't figure it out.

His common sense as a director of an esports team just didn't want to acknowledge it.

The correct way to play this game was to minimize one’s mistakes as much as possible. Being even more mistake-prone was asking to be killed out there.

However, results meant everything to a pro gamer. That much was also true.

Park Yu-Min produced a dazzling if puzzling result. As a pro esports team director, could he really discard this result because his common sense couldn’t process it? Of course not!

“Yu-Min, you think this is the right way forward for you?”

“Yes, director,” Park Yu-Min confidently nodded. “You know you can't win by doggedly sticking to proven tactics.”

“Well, yeah.”

That story also applied in Galaxy Craft, didn’t it?

It was fairly common to see players displaying overwhelming success in pro leagues and team battles faltering and stumbling in tournament settings.

That was because, while a ‘regular’ game was a battle of pure skills, tournaments filled with one-off matches usually devolved into who could exploit your opponents’ openings and mistakes the best.

‘It’s true, though. That our team has been a bit flavorless until now.’

All those world-conquering teams boasted some kind of unique things about them. Meanwhile, teams that relied on textbook tactics and pulled them off well could, at best, reach the semis and that would be their limit.

Even if that was all true, wasn’t Park Yu-Min’s tactic still a bit too outlandish...?

“Okay, got it. Stay in my office for a bit.”

Park Yu-Min tilted his head. “Sorry?”

“I’m going to talk to the players for a bit. Stay here.”

Oh Jin-Hyeong got up from the director’s chair and exited his office. After closing the door behind him, he summoned the rest of the players, currently sitting before their computers, to where he was.

“Hey, guys. So, what do you think?”

The players tilted their heads. “What do you mean, director?”

“I’m talking about how Yu-Min played.”

Park Yu-Min's name immediately prompted the players to exchange glances with each other, their expressions rather complicated.

“It wasn’t bad, right?”

“Well, you could say it was terrible, but...”

“Yeah, you’re right. It was terrible but also not bad at the same time.”

Choi Jin-Wu casually shrugged. “Well, sir? I can say for sure that Yu-Min hyung's antics made it easier for us to concentrate. It's just that we're not totally in sync right now. Once we learn to match each other's paces better, things will get much better, I think.”

“Really? You can concentrate when Yu-Min is rampaging around like that?”

“Well, sure, sir. If it had been someone else, we couldn’t have done anything. Because we wouldn’t have known what was going on. But this is Yu-Min hyung we’re talking about. We all know he’s doing all that for a reason. Which means we don’t need to run around like headless chickens.”

The other players all nodded in agreement.

“Really now?”

Oh Jin-Hyeong frowned. This situation had gotten even more complicated, it seemed!

He might be the team director, but the ones actually competing were these kids. What he thought was important, but what these players thought and felt were probably even more crucial.

In that regard, they were clearly awarding Park Yu-Min the full passing score.

‘But I would have vehemently said no, though.’

Maybe those who were playing on the same side as Park Yu-Min could feel something extraordinary?

Oh Jin-Hyeong turned toward Gwok Hyeon-Tae next. “What do you think, dude?”

Gwok Hyeon-Tae frowned slightly. “Sir, I’ve seen Yu-Min hyung play like that before.”

Oh Jin-Hyeong remembered that, too. It happened during Park Yu-Min’s second test.

“Back then, I couldn't really understand why he was playing like that. Now that I've observed him from behind, I think I get it now, sir. Honestly? If we use this card right, well...!” Gwok Hyeon-Tae helplessly shrugged. “Yes, I think we stand a decent chance of winning, sir. Everyone's jittery like crazy in the finals, you know? Enough to wet their pants and stuff. So, if Yu-Min hyung suddenly starts playing like that? None of them will know what hit them.”

Oh Jin-Hyeong narrowed his eyes. “Hmm...? I see. But, how do you feel? You okay with this?”

“Well, if it was someone else, I'd be unhappy, but...” Gwok Hyeon-Tae helplessly chuckled. “You know you can't stay mad at Yu-Min hyung forever. Even if he can annoy you sometimes. No, sir. I don't have any issues.”

“I see. Thanks for putting it that way.”

“However, sir! If we win twice in a row, how about I get a shot at...”

“That’ll depend on the situation.”

“Wow, so heartless!”

Oh Jin-Hyeong chuckled wryly while re-entering his office. He found Park Yu-Min waiting for him with eyes filled with expectations.

‘This brat already knows what I’m going to say!’

Things like this kind of annoyed Oh Jin-Hyeong.

He was also a pro gamer once upon a time. However, that part of his career went nowhere, and that was why he ended up in this place.

Maybe that was why? He never really understood the top-tier players and their almost supernatural feel for things and how they viewed the world around them.

Even though he could only see a hot mess, whether it was Park Yu-Min or the other players... They all acted as if this was the right path to take.

‘Fine. Fine! Do what you want, you brats!’

One of the roles of a team director was to trust in the instincts of his players, now wasn’t it?

“Yu-Min, I want you to join the practice sessions.”

“Understood, sir.”

“However! If I think it’s not working, you are out. Understand? Remember that Hyeon-Tae is chomping at the bit right behind you.”

“Don’t worry, sir. That won’t happen.”

“Uh-whew...!” Oh Jin-Hyeong groaned while shaking his head. “Just what did you do to change this much in one day? Did you train to become a Taoist monk or something?”

“No, sir. It's not what you think but more like... When you raise a tiger cub and a bunny together, the bunny will end up ferocious, too.”

“Huh?”

“What happened was that I spent the whole day playing games with someone who is, well, quite unlike anyone you know.”

“Really now? Who’s that?”

“He's a close friend of mine, sir,” Park Yu-Min smiled brightly. “A friend who’s always there to help me whenever I'm in trouble.”

“Is that right? Is he that good in this game, though? If he is, how about we invite him here and...”

“No, director. You might pass out from your blood pressure spiking after watching him play. And we’d have to call an ambulance afterward.”

“...?”

“And he’s not the type to waste his time playing video games, too.”

“What are you even saying, you brat? You’re a pro gamer, so how could you say gaming is a waste of time?”

“Oops. That was a slip of my tongue, sir.”

Park Yu-Min apologetically smiled, then glanced outside the office window.

‘Right. Jin-Ho’s not the type to spend his time playing games.’

Kang Jin-Ho had far greater things to achieve, after all. And he'd no doubt make a name for himself in various aspects of life, too.

‘That’s why I gotta work hard to catch up. I want to be better at something, at least in one thing, than Jin-Ho, you see!’

Park Yu-Min nodded in determination, then looked straight at Oh Jin-Hyeong. “I’ll go start practicing, sir. We have a final to win, after all.”

“Hold on. You look like you haven't slept in a while. Are you going to be okay?"

“Yes, I am. I can still focus.”

“Got it. We only have less than a week left. Let's just pretend we’re all dead men for the next few days, okay?”

“Understood, director. And I’ll make sure you get to kiss the winner’s trophy.”

“Hah! I don’t need promises, kid. Make it happen, okay?”

Park Yu-Min smiled brightly before exiting the office.

Oh Jin-Hyeong couldn’t help but chuckle at that sight. “He’s still so cheeky, isn’t he?”

Even though a part of him said Park Yu-Min was bluffing, Oh Jin-Hyeong still couldn't help but anticipate something big happening to the team. Why?

Because Park Yu-Min had never broken his promises until now.