Chapter 269
"Is this the country of Shin Hayeon, Baek Doyul, and Jin Seojun?"
After getting off the plane, completing immigration, and entering Korea, the foreign man and woman looked around Incheon Airport.
"That was so stupid, Bernard. And more importantly, we've been to Korea before."
They were both sixth-year pro gamers.
Over the past six years, they had advanced to countless world championships, and naturally, Korea had been among the host nations.
"What's that kid doing over there?"
Rachel pointed at a blonde player standing right in front of the arrival area, holding a placard and welcoming them.
"Didn't she fly in with us? Her team is based in New York too."
Christina.
If Rachel went around calling herself Shin Hayeon's rival (not really), then Christina went around calling herself Rachel's rival in North America (not really).
They didn't even play the same lane.
Their relationship wasn't bad.
It's not that pros never have bad relationships, but unless someone had a terrible personality, no social awareness, and flamed even during tournaments, there was little reason for things to turn sour.
They had also become friendly while attending international tournaments together.
"Finally, you're here! Do you know how many times I asked Team Leader Michael when you'd arrive? Good to see you, Rachel and Bernard!"
The two gave a half-hearted wave and approached.
Then they lowered their voices.
"Is Christina the Korean guide the team leader mentioned?"
"Seems likely. Rachel, is it just me, or does she look like a tourist who's been sightseeing for days already?"
"Not just you. I feel it too."
"What's with those clothes?"
"Hanbok? Isn't that it?"
Christina, dressed in a hanbok, greeted the two as they approached with their luggage.
"Leave your bags with the managers and let's go have fun! I was bored!"
"Good grief... never mind. Let's just go to the accommodations first."
Rachel nodded at Bernard's words.
They liked sightseeing too.
But the most important thing was, ultimately, recovering their condition.
Six days left.
Since the History Tome was being held in another country, even more obstacles awaited them.
They followed Christina, got help from the waiting manager to load their luggage into the car, and headed to the hotel.
They chatted about various things along the way.
"You went ahead, so you checked out the accommodations, right? How was it?"
Christina answered Rachel's question.
"Same as last time. Good facilities, a big room with an open view for mental health. They have high-end capsules, but you can bring your own if you want."
"So, did you bring yours?"
"No. I don't play in a capsule."
"How annoying."
Bernard chimed in.
"Did you two bring yours?"
"No. I don't use a capsule either."
"I brought mine."
"Bernard, aren't you too sensitive? You really had to bring your own capsule abroad?"
"They called us here, so we should do at least this much."
"Well, the org grumbled a lot, wondering why the game company summoned people to Korea when there are over 30 pros here. Hehe. Didn't your org do the same?"
"Ours whined about it too. But looking at it, maybe because they judged that everyone's form and overall skill improved more than expected due to the Trials, there's no major dissatisfaction."
"It's basically 'figure it out yourselves.' What can we do? Still, at least we can rest a bit more, hehe. Not sure about Korea, though. Wait, Christina, when exactly did you get to Korea?"
"A week ago. I've been sightseeing and adjusting to the time difference since then."
"No wonder the orgs are grumbling. I mean, why? The game company wouldn't have given only you an early ticket. You were definitely on the same flight as us."
"Well, that's..."
"That's?"
Christina's eyes shifted in an instant.
The look of someone contemplating prey.
Her position was jungler.
"I figured it'd be tough if I wasn't in top condition. I had no choice but to come early. The sightseeing was just a bonus."
They didn't need to ask what she thought would be tough. Bernard shuddered slightly.
'Looks like she wants to clash properly in this History Tome.'
Maybe many pros were thinking the same thing.
Weren't they all coming, aiming for that person?
Even Bernard himself.
'Hmm... Do I want to clash with him?'
Against that person who had been impressive from the very first time he saw him?
He wasn't sure yet.
More than anything, he wanted to meet and talk first.
"Ah, but did you know? Bernard?"
"What."
"That Sword God guy. They say he used to play top and ADC."
Suddenly, he really wanted to fight him.
That was top lane.
And Bernard was a top laner.
"Hahahaha. I can't resist this."
Rachel clicked her tongue and shook her head, looking away from Bernard.
Bernard caught that and said.
"Rachel, you won't even get to face him."
"..."
"A bet. I'll never forget. Haha."
"..."
"What bet?"
***
They arrived at the hotel. It was a massive hotel in Seoul.
"I heard everyone's staying here? We might run into people if we sightsee before it starts. I went far, so I haven't bumped into anyone yet."
Rachel was sure that almost no one had arrived as early as Christina, so she wouldn't have run into anyone even if she'd just stayed nearby.
"I see."
"Yeah."
Originally for the History Tome, they just assigned accommodations near the participants. Each separately.
There was no reason to gather participants in one place.
They gathered in-game.
There weren't that many participants either.
Among the countries participating in this History Tome, the one with the most participants was America.
Six people.
Most countries didn't even have a single participant.
But since they all gathered in Korea this time, it seemed they had centralized the accommodations.
"Then shall we meet among ourselves at the lounge bar or restaurant and share info?"
"Wouldn't they tell us not to?"
"Seems like we'd be monitored."
"They wouldn't just trust our conscience."
"They probably won't forbid us from leaving our rooms. They'll just manage it somehow."
Since reality could solve communication issues that were difficult in-game, the game company would ban their communication.
Also, absolutely no internet during the History Tome period.
It couldn't be helped.
Since they were streaming live rather than recording in advance and broadcasting later, if participants used the internet, the game itself wouldn't proceed.
"But then, how many people are in this hotel? By country?"
"What does it matter? As long as the room is spacious and we can come out occasionally, it's fine. So rest. When should we hang out?"
"Not going out today."
Six days before the start.
Participants who had entered Korea from overseas according to their own schedules were all assigned rooms.
From the day the History Tome started, they'd be under management in their assigned rooms, but until then, they were free.
They could keep staying there, or go to another five-star hotel right now.
They could even return to their home country.
Though no one would do that.
On their first day in Korea, Rachel and Bernard just rested to manage their condition.
And from the next day, they went around tourist spots and tried different foods with the American group.
They were helped by the manager assigned to them and Christina.
Looking online, it seemed most participants were just hanging around the area.
"Look, Bernard. It seems like everyone keeps meeting each other downtown."
"Shall we just stick around the area starting tomorrow?"
"What about turning on a stream?"
"Hmm, that's a bit... We don't have the gear."
Four days before the History Tome.
They decided to stick around the area.
They had more or less adapted to the time difference, and the chances of meeting someone they knew were high, so they planned to chat if they did.
There was a pre-event party two days before.
"Are the Koreans staying here too?"
Christina said as they walked out of the hotel.
She had her attention on that person.
"Korea, four people this year. That's a lot."
Korea usually had one or two.
But this time, Baek Doyul and Seojun came out, so with America's six and China's five, they tied with India for the third largest number of participants.
"Huh? Look over there. Quite a crowd gathered. Not Koreans, no—wait, isn't that Yon?"
After walking a little outside the hotel, they spotted a shop suspiciously crowded with people near the entrance.
The first person who caught their eye was Yon, a player from Denmark, a gaming powerhouse since the PC era.
A giant standing 203cm tall, you could believe his immediate ancestors were Vikings.
Even surrounded by people, he was easy to spot.
Since his face stuck out.
"What are they doing?"
"If you look around, it seems like mostly participants? Hardly any regular fans."
It didn't look like a line for eating street food.
Soon, Bernard figured out why people had gathered.
"There's a punching machine in front! Hahaha! Now I can't resist!"
The general public seemed to be spectating from around.
"Men."
Bernard loosened his arms and approached first. Christina and Rachel shook their heads as if they couldn't help it, but they followed Bernard anyway.
They couldn't resist this.
"Really a lot of people."
Rachel said.
"Tell me about it."
"At least ten participants? Fifteen?"
"Pros are easy to recognize since we know their faces. No one's streaming."
"Guess everyone's too lazy."
Thwack!
A loud sound as fist met pad, and the machine shot up to calculate the score.
"877! Oooh! That's a good hit!"
"Waaah!"
Definitely a good hit.
The settings clearly weren't on some average street machine level.
Was it UFC standards or something?
"That person isn't here."
Once again, Christina looked for Korea's Jin Seojun.
"He lives in Korea. He could show up at the hotel the day before and still be in perfect condition."
She shrugged, and this time Bernard stepped forward.
As soon as he arrived, he started talking and said he'd give it a shot.
Everyone spoke English, so communication was smooth.
Thwack!
[901]
A new record. The previous best was 895.
"Finally broke 900! Wow!"
The men were excited.
No wonder they'd been gathered here since morning.
Yon, the biggest guy at the back, watched with a smile.
He had a strong competitive streak and loved fighting and rivalry, but he looked like he didn't feel the need to move yet.
"Did you see that?"
"He'll break it in no time once Yon steps up."
The players giggled, hitting the punching machine, cheering and jeering.
908.
The current highest record, set by a German streamer.
Even as the atmosphere gradually suggested he give it a try, Yon just watched from a short distance, as if finding it all adorable.
And then.
A Korean man pulling a suitcase approached from a distance. One person noticed.
Two people.
Three people.
And following their gazes, everyone's eyes locked on to him.
Some began observing as if sighting prey.
The majority there fell into this category.
The Trials incident was no different from him challenging gamers worldwide, telling them not to doubt he was the best.
And since he had actually proven his qualifications, he was like the most tantalizing hunt to them.
Some had only simple curiosity in their eyes.
Mainly streamers like Rachel, who wasn't allowed to fight.
A smaller fraction curled their lips, wanting to clash right now, even just lightly.
Falling into that last category, Yon was the first to start walking toward the Korean man, Seojun.