There was another “LoL fanboy” in Korea hidden behind Hyunseung….
And that was Kang Hajun.
After becoming a singer, he had not been able to actually play, but since he was a longtime fan of team “TP,” he made sure to watch every match they competed in.
Ahh.
This time, that included the matches of team DRY, the team Hyunseung supported.
Before long, Kang Hajun sat down in front of his computer to rewatch DRY’s semifinal match, which he had missed because of his schedule.
— Now, with the first Nexus destroyed like this, DRY….
Click, click.
— They did give up the second Nexus, but this is only the beginning. They have to manage their mentality well from here…
Click, click.
— Ah, what is this! Team DRY takes the lead again! This match is difficult to predict!
Click, click.
— DRY! DRY! DRY! Breaking everyone’s predictions, they have finally confirmed their first advance to the finals!
The first words that came out of his mouth, after he had kept it shut throughout the entire match, were none other than curses.
“Crazy.”
Kang Hajun was not someone who often put curses in his mouth, but right now, he could not hold back.
“Wow, damn, that’s insane…”
No matter who watched it, it was a match that could be called DRY’s overwhelming victory.
Moreover, it was something that no one had even predicted. Everyone had declared it absolutely impossible, and yet it had happened.
Kang Hajun had been the same.
When Hyunseung uploaded a post saying team DRY would win, he had not been able to bring himself to press “like.”
Although Hyunseung’s words were law, truth, and absolute, this time, he had thought Hyunseung was wrong.
Right.
Because he had been certain that even if team DRY somehow made it up, the quarterfinals would be their limit.
It was not that he disliked them.
It was just that when viewed realistically, that was what the odds said.
So even when he watched team DRY’s quarterfinal match, he simply thought luck had been on their side.
But in this semifinal match, they had shown stable teamwork in every game and achieved an overwhelming victory.
This was something like a miracle.
‘Maybe, just as Godchis said, team DRY might win Worlds this year.’
Kang Hajun suddenly knelt reverently and offered a prayer.
‘Godchis, please forgive me for having doubted you so rashly….’
To Kang Hajun now, Hyunseung had become a completely godlike existence.
‘Thus spoke Godchis, team DRY shall win this Worlds. I believe. Amen.’
Before long, Kang Hajun stopped praying, opened his eyes with a flash, and looked for his phone.
Right.
Prayer should not end as mere self-rationalization.
He had to atone by helping him.
[ Hello… composer-nim? Have you been well?… If perhaps… you need me. Or there is anything… you want… please contact me comfortably anytime^^~!… I am on 24-hour standby.. for Godchis ☎ ]
Since he did not know when a reply might come, he should set it to ringtone…
Ding!
The moment Kang Hajun changed it to ringtone, the notification rang, startling him so badly that he dropped his phone.
‘Th-that can’t be.’
It was because he could not believe the name “Godchis-nim” visible in the preview.
Seriously, how strange.
There was no way Godchis-nim would reply this quickly…
Snatch!
As soon as his thoughts reached that point, Kang Hajun quickly picked up his phone.
Right.
If someone like him had replied this quickly, it must mean there was something urgent he needed help with.
[ Can you send me every kind of Porkron bread? ]
Porkron bread? Isn’t that the bread I ate when I was little? Do they even still sell it?
No.
Even if they did not, he had to find it.
Because all of this was…
The will of heaven.
Worlds now had only the long-awaited finals left.
People were making a fuss over this Worlds, saying, “At this point, even a makjang drama would get criticized for this,” because absurd things were happening.
It was understandable.
First, there was the fact that “DRY,” called the weakest team and never once mentioned as a championship favorite, had advanced through Worlds.
There was also the fact that composer HS had made a tribute song for Duel, the player on that team who was called the eternal second place.
The most unbelievable thing was….
The matches were proceeding exactly like the development in the animated video released with the theme song.
For that sort of reason…
Currently, Studio Tiger’s work had been paralyzed by inquiry calls and messages.
People were saying all kinds of absurd rumors.
That Worlds and Studio Tiger had rigged the whole thing together.
Or that the person who made the video might be a time traveler.
So Studio Tiger made a choice it could not avoid.
[ Studio Tiger, the storyboard for this theme song video simply proceeded according to the request of “HS,” CEO of VINCIS Label… ]
In the end, they had turned the public’s arrows toward Hyunseung.
As a result, currently…
The front of the VINCIS building was packed with reporters.
“It’s not like I predicted this situation and strengthened security because of it, but still, I’m glad.”
Kim Woohyun looked down through the CEO office’s full glass window at the agents and reporters confronting one another at the main entrance for a moment.
“It’ll quiet down soon.”
Then he closed the blinds.
“Because it isn’t true.”
Then he threw out those words indifferently, as if comforting Hyunseung, who was sitting at the office desk.
“So don’t worry too much.”
Hyunseung had only made a tribute song purely as a fan, and because he wanted them to win, he had even gotten involved in the video production.
But suddenly, people were claiming it was match-fixing, or that at this point he might be a regressor who knew the future.
Since he was being subjected to groundless speculation, he must not be feeling very….
Rustle, rustle.
Or not?
“…Hyunseung, what are you doing?”
“I’m going to eat bread.”
“Is now the time to eat bread?”
Hyunseung stopped peeling open the bread wrapper and tilted his head as he asked.
“Is there perhaps a set time for eating bread?”
“That’s not what I mean…”
“You said it’ll quiet down soon, so I shouldn’t worry.”
“That’s true, but…”
In the end, Kim Woohyun trailed off at Hyunseung’s words.
Honestly, he always said only the right things and made it impossible to respond.
Right.
Hyunseung was not the kind of person who would care about such petty gossip.
‘I overdid it by myself again.’
However, even if Hyunseung did not care, it did not mean it would become something that never happened. Either way, speculative articles kept coming out.
The one thing that could at least be called fortunate was this.
Perhaps because Hyunseung’s fandom in Korea was solid.
Rather than public opinion flowing toward match-fixing, it was instead flowing toward worshiping Hyunseung.
[ HS, now even prophecy? His past Stargram post, “Team DRY will win,” becomes a hot topic again. ]
[ U.S. Studio Tiger reveals that HS also participated in the storyboard for this Worlds theme song video…. ]
↪ Behold, this is the reason he is called Godchis.
↪ Godchis really is a strange and mysterious person.
↪ Seriously, doesn’t he have some kind of divine power? Whether they were unknowns or trainees, everyone Godchis gave songs to became popular ㄷㄷ
Slide, slide.
↪ But those kids, 4WAY or whatever, aren’t quite at that level yet, are they?
↪ You don’t know they made it onto the Billboard chart?
↪ Forget all that, oppa, will I get into college this time?
Hyunseung would probably find that annoying in its own way too.
Anyway, from now on, the company…
No.
It was work he had to handle.
Clench.
Just as Kim Woohyun clenched his fist with determination.
“Ah!”
He was startled by Hyunseung’s sudden short scream and asked.
“What happened!”
“Because you talked to me, Director, I got a weird sticker.”
Should he really just tell him to handle it himself this time?
“What, you brat?”
Right, this problem child.
“How is that my fault?”
He needed to discipline him firmly this time.
“I was praying with a reverent heart for a good sticker to come out, but you interrupted me.”
“You’re nonreligious, so what prayer? And what are you, a child? Eating that bread and collecting stickers?”
“Hah, you really don’t know trends.”
“Where in the world is there a trend where grown adults buy bread and collect childish stickers?”
At those words, Hyunseung’s gaze blurred for a moment.
“Uh…”
Soon, he shrugged with a calm face and added.
“Maybe it’ll become a trend now?”
Because he always acted so confident and as if he knew everything, things like this probably happened.
‘…Don’t tell me he really is a time traveler?’
Right. He had been extraordinary and far from ordinary from the moment they first met, so it was entirely possible….
‘What am I saying? My delusions have gotten worse too.’
Then, just as Kim Woohyun let out a small laugh.
“I’ll be going.”
Hyunseung suddenly stood up, taking the helmet he had kept in the drawer.
“Where are you going?”
Kim Woohyun hurriedly stopped Hyunseung. The fact that he had taken the flame helmet clearly meant he was going to leave this place.
“You know the reporters are spread all over outside right now, right?”
“The sticker was lame, so I’m just going to go home.”
“I understand, but still, once the reporters back off a little….”
However, despite Kim Woohyun repeatedly trying to stop him, Hyunseung firmly dismissed him with, “No.”
Then he added.
“I’m telling you, I’m in a very bad mood right now because I got a ‘Jammani’ sticker that looks like you, Director.”
For some reason, it felt like he was insulting him in a roundabout way, and it also sounded far too playful, but….
“R-right.”
A faint murderous intent could be felt in Hyunseung’s eyes, so he could not stop him.
After leaving the CEO office, Hyunseung walked straight ahead.
Step, step.
His footsteps boiled with certainty and anger.
Step, step.
The fact that the sticker from the Porkron bread Kang Hajun had managed to find for him happened to be “Jammani” did not put him in a very good mood either.
But what really bothered him was the public opinion saying team DRY’s victory might have been fixed because he had intervened.
‘Of all times, right before the finals….’
If Duel’s mentality collapsed because of this public opinion, couldn’t he lose in the finals?
‘No.’
Hyunseung quickened his pace and headed to the lobby in one breath.
Step, step.
The security guards protecting the interior tried to stop him, but he paid them no attention and continued walking.
Before long, when he opened the building door and stepped outside, flashes brighter than sunlight poured out all at once.
Click, click!
For a moment, Hyunseung frowned at the barrage of flashes that came through the goggles of his helmet.
“Who here watched this Worlds match live?”
He raised his right hand high toward them and asked.
At that question, the reporters exchanged glances, and only a few cautiously raised their hands.
“Then I want to ask you.”
Hyunseung looked over the faces of the few reporters who had raised their hands and added.
“Did it really look fixed to you?”
The question Hyunseung threw out soon felt close to a warning.
Was that why?
The reporters who had raised their hands only hesitated and watched the mood, unable to answer easily.
No.
To begin with, the match had been so fierce that it was difficult to think it was fixed. Unless they were fools, they would know at least that much too.
They were simply trying to bite because it was good prey for attention.
“I will ignore other things, but if there are people who continue to disparage their efforts and results and drive them into accusations of match-fixing, I will respond firmly under the name HS.”
Then he had to show them that he was not prey but a fierce beast with sharp teeth.
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