Chapter 159 : The Center of Attention
Chapter 159: The Center of Attention
In truth, the chatter about love triangles and “stolen woman vs. stealing woman” was nothing more than jokes.
As mentioned earlier, if left alone, personal broadcast chat rooms tend to run wild beyond the bounds of common sense.
Since it was merely idle chatter among viewers to kill time, the topic should have ended the moment Jeong Nayeon intervened… or so it should have been.
“I think Woohyun-nim would be perfectly fine!”
-Huh? What?
-Excuse me?
-We’re getting this angle here ㄷ
‘ㅇㅇ’ donated ‘1000 won’!
[Soyul, Soyul, what are you talking about?]
That is, if Kang Soyul, who had been subtly causing mischief next to Jeong Nayeon, hadn’t suddenly made that shocking declaration.
With a smiling face, she didn’t just fan the flames—she dumped oil straight onto the fire. Naturally, the viewers blazed up.
“So, Soyul-nim?”
“······.”
-Hey, Jeong-ssi, are you going to let her steal him again like this?
-Show the dignity of the current girlfriend!
-I was about to say “but you’re just a loser~”
-I’m voting for Kang Soyul! ←You get out
Jeong Nayeon was flustered, Baek Woohyun was at a loss for words, and the viewers who caught wind of something interesting immediately started egging them on.
Amidst the chaos from various directions, only Kang Soyul maintained a brazenly calm expression. It was the composure of someone who had already set the chat on fire multiple times.
Glancing at Baek Woohyun’s expression, she realized he wasn’t particularly displeased and allowed a faint smile to form.
“Besides, Woohyun-nim is handsome…”
-Wait, that’s your reason ㅅㅂㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-A woman who forgives everything just because he’s handsome
-Kang Soyul is a famous looks-obsessed person ㅇㅇ
-“Plausibility”
“It’s true that Woohyun is handsome like Soyul-nim said! Uh, I mean! How should I put it!”
“…Mm.”
‘ㅇㅇ’ donated ‘10000 won’!
[Press F for Hackphysical who wants to escape this situation right now ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
How long had the people on the broadcast been stirring like this?
The commotion only subsided after Kang Soyul waved her hands and said “I’m joking, joking!” to end the situation. In many ways, it was a collaboration broadcast that felt completely different from before, right from the start.
Baek Woohyun felt this more acutely since he had only experienced ‘Superstar N (meaning Nuclear~)’ or ‘Hack Disciple’, but regardless.
‘Looking at Nayeon’s reaction, it might just be that this time is strange.’
If nothing else, it was clear that Jeong Nayeon was shocked by Kang Soyul’s declaration.
Otherwise, there was no way she would have said things like how handsome Baek Woohyun himself was right in front of him.
“Phew…”
Belatedly realizing they had been standing around chattering, Baek Woohyun, Jeong Nayeon, and Kang Soyul took their seats, and a relatively calm atmosphere returned.
Fortunately, despite the noisy commotion that had swept through, there was still plenty of time before the auction started.
They had met somewhat early to calmly discuss SSR Cup matters, and regardless of the original intention, it was truly a wise decision.
“I’m worried, though.”
“What are you worried about, Soyul-nim?”
“The participants in the ‘Struggle-Annihilation’ division I’m entering are all too formidable. I wonder if a RePla beginner like me can survive there.”
-It is pretty brutal
-She started with Hackphysical
-ㅇㅇ She got a taste of it as a penalty for Turn It On King ㅋㅋ But isn’t she Platinum lineup now?
-? Why is Platinum lineup a beginner? Stop acting weak ㄴ
“Hey, acting weak? I’m a newbie! I’m a baby newbie who needs protection!”
“Uh, um. If it’s Platinum, mmm…”
Of course, the chat’s response to Kang Soyul’s self-defense was quite cold. Things like ‘baby my ass’ and ‘newbies are all dead.’
While Platinum tier couldn’t be called a particularly high tier, it absolutely wasn’t a level where you could downplay yourself as a newbie or anything.
Even Jeong Nayeon, currently at Diamond tier, was hesitating, unable to agree with the theory that ‘Platinum tier is a newbie!’
‘Inlife-achievement-grandmaster’ donated ‘10000 won’!
[But filtering out the Plat newbie bullshit, the Struggle-Annihilation division is uniquely brutal, that’s true]
“What! Calling it bullshit. How rude!”
“…When I checked the participant list, I did feel it was quite brutal.”
-Just look at how many tier frauds there are
-Since it’s Annihilation, did they just set it up to be complete chaos?
-Just look at the team leaders ㅋㅋ
-Struggle-Annihilation is the only division where all team leaders are top-tier Grandmaster ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
‘Oho.’
It seemed that, as Kang Soyul claimed, all the ‘Struggle-Annihilation’ division participants were skilled, which piqued Baek Woohyun’s interest.
For him, who planned to select his raid party from the SSR Cup, it was good news that the people he would see most often were exceptionally strong.
“Of course, including Soyul-nim.”
“Me? Why me?!”
“Soyul-nim only recently started and is already Plat. Since your potential limit hasn’t been confirmed yet, that’s why.”
-True ㅋㅋ
-She was winning comfortably even in Plat
-Physical trained by hipster trash games ㄷㄷ
-Isn’t this the real tier fraud deal?
“Kang Soyul-nim is.”
Baek Woohyun, who had been quietly listening, smoothly interjected.
He was someone who had become accustomed to evaluating others’ talents while serving as an instructor ‘there’.
Since he was the one who discovered and fully bloomed the hidden talents of the Beau-tiful Twins who were merely Silver rank, not only Jeong Nayeon and Kang Soyul but even the viewers waited for his next words.
“If she learns well, she should be able to reach at least Master tier. Depending on who teaches her, even higher seems possible.”
“Eh, really?”
“Really. She would give a good match to the Beau-tiful Twins I’m currently teaching.”
-Hackphysical’s assessment is out!
-Twins’ level, ㅎㄷㄷ
-Aren’t they currently tearing through Diamond?
-ㅇㅇ They smashed Plat and are massacring Diamond too
‘She’s at a level I’d want to invite to the raid party. Should I subtly bring it up soon?’
When Baek Woohyun openly stated that Kang Soyul had talent similar to the Beau-tiful Twins, the chat naturally exploded.
Though it came with the prerequisite of ‘if she learns well’, the declaration of minimum Master tier carried tremendous power.
If she properly grew during the SSR Cup practice period, it would mean obtaining Master lineup with a Platinum lineup, wouldn’t it?
-Isn’t this the real tier fraud ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-And isn’t Hackphysical going to coach her?
-Right ㄷㄷ Seeing them collaborate today, it’s confirmed
-It’s just that her talent is Master-level, so calling it tier fraud is ambiguous;
‘Malicious Devil’ donated ‘1000 won’!
[I went around all the team leaders’ broadcasts saying Hackphysical’s assessment is that Kang Soyul has Master tier potential ㅋㅋ You’re set for life now, dude ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
“What!”
-What bullshit ㅋㅋ
-Living up to the nickname, Malicious Devil ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-But if team leaders know, they’ll definitely try to buy her
-Can’t resist that Kang coin at rock bottom ㅋㅋ
“…Did I say something wrong by any chance, Nayeon?”
“No. It’s fine. It’s just talk about talent.”
While no one genuinely believed Jeong Nayeon committed tier fraud—or if they did, they didn’t reveal it—things inevitably became noisy again.
Even though she’s currently Platinum lineup, if she could become team leader-level Master lineup depending on her growth, anyone would probably show a similar reaction.
Though the donation just now said it jokingly, there would definitely be people actually spreading the word. Saying she’s someone who must be secured.
For viewers who wanted the team their favorite was leading to win, recommending good teammates was natural.
Clap!
“Alright, it’s almost time!”
In the middle of discussing participant levels, Jeong Nayeon clapped her hands as if out of habit to alert everyone.
Then, as she adjusted her personal space settings, the SSR Cup team member auction broadcast channel she had prepared appeared as a hologram.
Feeling somewhat peculiar about the fact that he would normally be inside that, Baek Woohyun focused on the broadcast that had just started.
〔Hello, viewers! This time we’ve come to you with the SSR Cup Struggle-Annihilation division auction broadcast. I’m Caster Kim Gwangjin, in charge of hosting.〕
-Oh, it’s Caster Kim Gwangjin
-SSR Cup investment is insane; They got all current casters and commentators;;
-They didn’t declare it the nation’s largest tournament for nothing
-We’re having fun watching anyway ㅋㅋ
〔We have Commentary Committee Member Cha Seongcheol and ‘Muz’ player Kim Oyun for assistance. Hello!〕
〔Yes, hello. This is Commentary Committee Member Cha Seongcheol.〕
〔It feels quite new to greet you like this. This is Muz Kim Oyun.〕
As one viewer’s chat said, the SSR Cup tournament investment was clearly felt in the broadcast crew as well.
Usually event tournament broadcasts are handled by personal broadcasters or retired players, but this time they filled it entirely with active personnel.
From offering prize money to that side as well to encourage coaches’ participation, strong commitment oozed from various aspects.
Anyway, the ‘Struggle-Annihilation’ division auction broadcast proceeded smoothly without any hitches, perhaps thanks to the broadcast crew prepared with substantial funding.
A somewhat unusual situation occurred after the explanation of the auction method and regulations ended smoothly, during the team leader interviews prepared afterward.
The same answer came out in response to a trivial question: 〔Do you have any team members you’re paying attention to?〕
〔I’m paying attention to Kang Soyul-nim.〕
〔If I had to say… Kang Soyul-nim?〕
〔Kang Soyul-nim, definitely.〕
〔Viewers kept saying it. That I should recruit Kang Soyul-nim.〕
〔Kim Woochan-nim, Cheonyo-nim, and Kang Soyul-nim.〕
“Gasp…!”
“You’re super popular, Soyul-nim.”
“I, I didn’t want this kind of popularity!”
-Damn burdensome ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Being popular at auction isn’t good
-“Viewers kept saying it”
-Seems like many people spread it from here ㅋㅋ
The reason all five team leaders pointed to Kang Soyul was too obvious.
There was the prediction that Baek Woohyun, currently the most powerful commodity among official support coaches, would be with her, so they were trying to recruit her as a team member somehow.
The fact that Kang Soyul was Platinum tier but had Master tier level potential also played a part, but that had only been revealed recently.
Considering that even the person who mentioned it was Baek Woohyun, this too could be attributed to Baek Woohyun as the cause.
〔Platinum lineup participant Kang Soyul is receiving tremendous attention. Commentary Member Cha Seongcheol. Do you happen to know why?〕
〔It’s probably because of Hackphysical.〕
〔Hackphysical, you mean the one participating as a coach…?〕
〔That’s right. I see it as the calculation that if they recruit participant Kang Soyul, they can also bring in Hackphysical, whose coaching ability has been perfectly proven.〕
-They’re openly mentioning it on the broadcast too
-Can’t resist a 1+1 event ㅇㅇ
-Kang Soyul is already tier fraud-level material, and on top of that, Hackphysical coach ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Will there be a team leader who goes all-in on points for her?
“Ah! All-in is not allowed! What if I fail after that!”
〔While receiving coach training this time, I watched the broadcast of Coach Hackphysical teaching the Beau-tiful Twins, you know? He was truly amazing.〕
〔If even player Muz-nim says so, he must be truly amazing. I understand why participant Kang Soyul became the center of attention.〕
After that, the actual team member auction proceeded.
After introducing participants through their PVP videos, actual auctions were conducted using points given to team leaders.
Since ‘Struggle-Annihilation’ division teams consisted of five members per tier—Bronze & Silver & Gold (2) – Platinum (1) – Diamond (1) – Master (team leader)—team leaders had to strategically decide where to save and spend points.
If they spent too many points on Platinum and Diamond, two of their team members could end up being Bronze + Bronze.
〔Oh, another pass?〕
〔Even a commodity like player Joun passed.〕
-Pass again
-Everyone’s saving points
-This is all because of Kang Soyul ←Why is this true
-What if Kang Soyul, obtained after going this far, fails? Terrifying ㄷㄷ
“Kyaak!”
“No bad words!”
“······.”
However, team leaders weren’t being particularly active in the auction, and everyone knew the reason.
It was because Kang Soyul, the auction’s biggest commodity, hadn’t come up yet.
If they spent points heavily before she appeared, they might not be able to buy her.
Two team leaders seemed to have completely given up on Kang Soyul and snatched good commodities from the Gold tier, but three were still waiting.
“Hmm.”
‘That person is quite good though?’
For Baek Woohyun, it didn’t really matter, so he was leisurely watching participants’ PVP videos.
And then, finally.
〔The next auction commodity is… participant Kang Soyul!〕
〔Participant Kang Soyul’s turn has come, who unintentionally drove many participants to pass.〕
-Finally!
-She’s hereㅏㅏㅏㅏ
-Who will be the owner of the SSR-rank commodity?
-I’ve been waiting only for this ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
It was Kang Soyul’s auction turn.