The Demon King’s Game

17) God of the Stadium (4)

It was certain to be CT’s victory thanks to Park Jin-su’s 3 kills.

Many fans were attracted by the loss of Shin Ji-ho, MBS’s ace in the 1st set. But the audience was still delighted. They were all concerned with an area not part of the game.

-That is a fight. Fight. Look. Why is that a fight?

-2 units entered the hills. That tower will switch to artillery mode and the range will barely reach.

-Just a threat. He is pretending to attack while taking additional expansion bases.

The commentary of Lee Shin! His precise details entertained the caster, commentator and fans.

Finally.

-Player Lee Shin, I just had this thought. Are you doing prophetic commentary? It kind of feels like a spoiler.

The audience burst out laughing at caster Lee Byung-cheol’s words.

Thus, the 3R playoffs was entertaining thanks to a surprise guest.

Moreover, even Lee Shin’s method of leaving was peculiar. Less than 3 minutes after the medium sized match between CT and MBS started.

-That build is mixed. CT will win. So I’ll be going.

Build was ‘Build Order,’ which meant the order of buildings in tactics.

A variety of builds existed for each pro team so each build was like rock, paper, scissors. In the end, Space Craft was about hiding their build while fighting to figure out the opponent’s build.

Anyway, the caster and commentator were shocked at the sudden end to Lee Shin’s commentary.

-Y-you are going?

-I should leave now before the rush. So please watch until the end.

Then Lee Shin left the broadcast booth.

The remaining two were embarrassed but they returned to their professional commentary.

-Ah, Lee Shin gave another spoiler before leaving.

Laughter again. Read at Rainbow Turtle Translations

-But hasn’t it been an exciting game thanks to him?

-Yes, the external parts were very interesting. Anyway, I’m glad to see Lee Shin after a long time but let’s return to the commentary.

-Yes, there are variables with the build can reverse the situation. We can’t tell until the end of the game.

*     *     *

Lee Shin exited through a back door of the stadium and took a taxi.

And the next day, Lee Shin’s name was plastered all over the internet news portals and e-sports corner.

[The disappeared Lee Shin, he revealed himself at the e-sports stadium in Gangnam.] [The ‘Game God’ Lee Shin’s surprise commentary] [Lee Shin’s ‘prophetic commentary.’] [Lee Shin’s appearance that jolted Gangnam Stadium.] [MBS vs. CT, what happened in the 3R PO?]

The internet media clamoured about Lee Shin’s appearance after his tragedy.

Doubts were raised. Whether Lee Shin behind invited to commentate wasn’t a planned script. In other words, Lee Shin was planning a career as a commentator.

Lee Shin’s reappearance at the stadium caused a deep impression. But he didn’t really care about the debate between the netizens.

Lee Shin was so concentrated on the game that he didn’t pay attention to SNS.

‘It reminds me of the old online days.’

Lee Shin’s sense of being an amateur player in Space Craft was restored. The newly created ID Player-SIN started from an F rating and ended up at an A rating.

Normally a new ID would take 1 year to reach that rank but Lee Shin wasn’t satisfied.

‘A little boring. I want to play with the pro kids.

Most of the players on a professional team had a S rating. Lee Shin started the application to become a S class user.

*     *     *

“2 years 500 million.”

Park Sang-hyuk said to the frowning player sitting opposite him.

It was Shin Ji-ho who was MBS’s ace. Shin Ji-ho objected to Park Sang-hyuk’s words.

“Shin Ji-ho is an important player so this is the maximum pay that can be offered. I am not allowed to offer you beyond that.” Read at rainbowturtletranslation.com

“Don’t you think that I have more value than that?”

“That’s impossible. There is a limit.”

“It is a little unpleasant. Who do people come to MBS matches to watch?”

Shin Ji-ho’s words hit home and Park Sang-hyuk scratched his head as he replied.

“Of course I acknowledge Shin Ji-ho’s worthiness. That’s why I offered 500 million for 2 years. By the way Shin Ji-ho, do you know how much salary Lee Shin received before enlisting in the Air Force?”

“470 million. Do you think I don’t know?”

“Lee Shin had a 90% chance of winning in pro leagues and that was his salary.”

“Are you saying you can’t give more than that? Do you think it is still the past? Online ticket sales have grown as a result of a bigger market. It isn’t a stretch to get an annual salary of 1 billion.”

“Even Lee Shin could only mobilize 4~5000 spectators. Anyway, the important thing is to use Lee Shin as the upper limit.”

“……”

“Shin Ji-ho is a player with only a 60% chance of winning in the pro league. Therefore I hope that you will accept the 500 million for 2 years. Compare it to the salaries of the other team aces. Is this a low amount?”

Shin Ji-ho wasn’t dumb.

The mention of the winning percentage wasn’t to praise him. Lee Shin had a 90% winning rate for 4 consecutive years! He was asking to be compared to that level.

At that time, Director Bang Jin-ho who had been listening said.

“Ji-ho.”

“……Yes Coach-nim.”

“You know that our team is in an urgent situation this year. If our market share becomes bigger in the future then we can improve the treatment of the star players. But don’t look at another team.”

“In the future?”

Shin Ji-ho’s eyes lit up.

Don’t you know the future of promising pro gamers? Won’t I be obsolete after my early twenties?!”

Shin Ji-ho was only 21 years old.

But a pro gamer’s prime was in their late teens and early twenties. It was the harsh reality of e-sports.