Group of Purging (2)
PerG-Day Team Waiting Room.
Lee Gyeongbok bead as soon as the group lottery results ca out.
"Oh, this is lucky."
They had been put into the sa group as two of the top favorites, "LattePro" and "Plus Alpha."
While comntators and viewers reacted in shock, calling it the "group of death," he felt differently.
"This is going to be a fun ga from the start."
"I agree. I wonder just how strong our opponents will be...!"
Eclipse also agreed.
Since the waiting room conversation wasn't being broadcast, they spoke comfortably.
However, the other two, skullkim and Bakjapcho, whispered with somber expressions.
"Uh... Is this really sothing to be happy about?"
"Isn't our luck way too bad?"
They were considered average players.
They couldn't understand why Lee Gyeongbok or Eclipse would be pleased to face such strong opponents.
"Isn't this actually good luck?"
Startled, they turned to Lee Gyeongbok, who had caught their not-so-quiet mumblings.
"Good luck?"
"We're up against ex-pro gars and gold dalists?"
Seeing the two look baffled, Lee Gyeongbok smiled and answered.
"If we block the advancent of those two teams now, our chances of winning go up. If we were in another group, we might've had to face them in the playoffs instead."
"That's a good point."
For a mont, the two stared at Lee Gyeongbok, and then at Eclipse, who agreed, and nodded in understanding.
'Now I get it.'
'What Geno must have felt...'
Their whole concept of competition was fundantally different.
The sincerity in their faces and voices made it clear this wasn't just a broadcast persona.
"I'm really glad we're on the sa team."
"Sa here."
With faint smiles, the two finally shook off their anxiety. Just knowing Lee Gyeongbok was an ally, not an opponent, was reassuring.
anwhile, Geno was packing up the electronic display and turned around. The broadcast screen had already moved on to the next team introduction.
"Surprisingly, Purple has a point."
Although he was performing, he listened attentively to his teammates' conversation.
"If those two teams had been in other groups, they would've had more ti to analyze us."
"Oh, that's true."
"Yeah, you're right."
Nodding as they agreed, Geno chuckled lightly.
"If it's a mountain we have to climb anyway, might as well get it over with early."
Skullkim and Bakjapcho laughed as well, then suddenly realized.
'Wait, even Geno is...?'
Not just Lee Gyeongbok—but even Geno was speaking on the premise of winning.
And that ant—
'Is this how you get "PerG-soaked"?'
They felt it too.
With this team, losing didn't even feel like a possibility.
* * *
Caster Wanggeom flipped his cue card and looked at the screen.
"Well, with that, the introductions and group selection for all teams are complete."
"Wow, even after seeing it again, group A is just..."
"How did this happen? The other groups feel tense, but Group A already feels like a war zone!"
- For real, group A already feels like finals.
- It's basically the semifinals, you know.
- This is going to be nerve-wracking, seriously.
- Haha, uhwooper is just science!
- Nah, can't ignore Caffeine's awakening effect.
- LattePro is the real favorite lol.
- If you saw Plus Alpha's practice, you wouldn't say that.
- For real, everyone's stamina is nuts.
The chat responded instantly to the comntary. Wanggeom quickly continued before the chat could overheat.
"Alright, now, how about hearing each team's thoughts? We'll do the interviews in reverse order of introduction."
Viewers shifted their attention to the upcoming interviews.
"But for this ti, at my discretion, the most unpredictable, group A! We'll save the Group A team interviews for last!"
- Making us watch all the way to the end!
- That's why Kinggeom is so good at hosting lol.
- I can't skip the group of death interview!
With that, the screen changed. Starting from the bottom teams, captains began to share their ambitions and feelings about the matchups.
"To say I wasn't anxious would be a lie!"
"Oh, this ti, we've got a real shot at the playoffs. That was my instant thought."
"I just don't know! That's what they an by a 'Cinderella story!'"
"Are the favorites all paying attention? Our team is ready to flip the table."
Each team captain finished with confidence. Wanggeom then cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention.
"As I ntioned, group A's interview is at the end, right? First up, let's hear from Money Damas!"
"I wonder what thoughts last season's champion has!"
"Donkak?"
As the comntary continued, the cara switched to the Money Damas team. The three on air gasped in awe.
"Ah, team Money Damas! Talk about seasoned confidence, the reigning champs!"
"That's experience for you!"
"Their uniforms are right on the!"
The other lower teams coordinated their uniforms mainly through matching avatars, but Money Damas was different.
Black suits and fedoras, tommy guns and stacks of cash lying around the waiting room.
They were dressed as Italian Mafia. At the center, the team leader, donkak, wore a red rose brooch on his chest.
Sitting on the sofa, a teammate whispered to him, and Donkak raised one finger and spoke.
"I made the Goddess of fortune an offer she couldn't refuse."
Viewers burst out laughing at the line.
- Don Father! Don Father! Don Father!
- Donkafchiné is making his entrance, lol.
- Is Donkak a now?
- kkk "Kafchine" is just "Kkapchine.
― What are these concept plays though XD
It was a parody of a legendary movie line. Donkak, ever the strear, continued confidently.
"People are all wondering who will survive Group A, but there's no need."
He took off his hat and held it to his chest, smiling.
"No matter who advances, the victory is ours—it belongs to the Money Damas family."
The comntators all let out impressed sighs.
"Ah, that's Money Damas for you! That's what being the boss looks like—he's already on top and won't concern himself with what's underneath!"
"That's why Money Damas is so popular. Looks arrogant, but then backs it up!"
"Will he keep the boss's seat this season too? Now, onto the much-anticipated Group A—the three teams thrown into the fiercest battlefield!"
Wanggeom kept the hosting moving at a brisk pace.
"Alright! The first interview for Group A is..."
The order changed at the host's discretion, and soon the screen switched to the LattePro team waiting room.
"Ah! LattePro! Their jerseys look so professional, fitting for ex-pro gars."
"They really do look like a real pro team."
"Right? The latte logo actually suits them unexpectedly well."
While the comntators praised, the team leader Caffeine sat upright, looking straight at the cara.
"We're definitely up against so very talented players—especially those known for their physical skill."
With that, caffeine shook his head.
"But the Mystic League isn't all about physical ability. When I was active, I didn't just practice champions—I spent ti coordinating with teammates so that..."
As he went on, wanggeom quickly cut in.
"Ah, caffeine! Could you please skip the stories from your pro days? We'd need a special broadcast just for that!"
- Kinggeom, nice cut!
- Too much talk, snip!
- Soone: 'When I was in LA...'
- He jokes about being a boor, but he's dead serious about the old days, lol.
- Group draw interview (3 hours incoming)
Seeing the chat reaction, caffeine let out a deliberate cleared his throat and resud.
"Ahem, what's important in Mystic League is not just physical skill, but teamwork. Playoffs? That's ours to take."
The comntators slapped their hands approvingly.
"That's right! Well said! The Mystic League is a team ga after all, isn't it?"
"With Grandmaster coaching that polished teamwork, I'm really looking forward to it!"
"Great! Thanks to Team Leader Caffeine for those encouraging words. Next up..."
Another screen transition, now it's "Plus Alpha's" turn.
"It's Plus Alpha! This place always looks imposing, even on cara!"
"Yeah, those tracksuits—they're usually super baggy, right? ant for comfort! But here, they're bursting at the seams!"
"Even setting gas aside, I really respect athletes. 'Plus Alpha'—that's about adding sothing extra, right? If you've ever had personal training at a gym, you know exactly what it ans!"
- This is unbeatable, lol.
- Soone: "Let's just do 15 reps.
― Soone else: "Just one more! One more!
― Trainers can't count, haha.
- Why does 'one more' never end!
- That's how your muscles grow!
- So that's what 'grit' ans?
― The body may be short-lived, but grit endures forever.
― Mystic League is grit too?
- That's not that kind of grit, lol.
Pride laughed at the chat and then cleared his throat.
"I'll keep it brief. Here's what I learned in athletics."
As he paused, wanggeom jumped in.
"Oooh, the gold dalist's insights! Folks, you don't get to hear this every day! Pride, what is it?"
"In any competition, second place ans nothing."
Pride folded his massive arms and continued.
"I stand here as a gold dalist. If I had a bronze or silver, I wouldn't even be here."
"But isn't it impressive just to be a dalist at all?"
"They all won first place to qualify. You don't even get a chance without gold."
Determined, pride declared,
"So, the only thing to aim for is first place. Victory is all that matters!"
The comntators nodded in impressed agreent.
"The living embodint of competitive spirit! That's Pride for you."
"Their determination is amazing. Once again, you can feel how fierce Group A is."
"That's right. It's an amateur tournant, but still a true competition! Every team will be taking it seriously, not just Plus Alpha! Now, last but not least—let's et the PerG-Day team!"
The screen quickly switched.
Like the others, PerG-Day had also prepared uniforms.
The comntators' mouths ford perfect circles in admiration.
"Whoa! What's this?"
"Ah, that's Geno for you! Truly prepared! He really knows how to stand out on stream!"
"It's what they call 'Jamba'—preparedness, but with each mber having a unique concept as well!"
Unlike other teams, which emphasized unity through identical apparel, Geno's team wore custom costus fitting for each mber's stream persona.
- Everyone looks great in those suits.
- Lol, skullkim's skull mask is perfect.
- Bakjapcho has a green mask, lol.
- Haha, the Kim Jerry movie is a classic.
- Is that an iron mask for Ecl instead of a helt? Fits him!
- Geno lol, what's with the Hahoetal mask?
- Can't hide that Pango instinct, lol.
- When will Godple's P-mask beco rch?
- Reality, are you watching? Start mass production!
Dark purple suits and masks—each mask perfectly tailored to fit their broadcast image.
Viewers were satisfied with their costus.
- For real, it looks just like a PerG-Day movie, lol.
- Purging prep complete, they're saying.
- Their costus already dominate, right?
- The impact is definitely greater with PerG-Day, lol.
- Anyway, uhwooper is science!
Geno stepped forward, sighing and shaking his head.
"Ha... I'm really worried about this."
With such a different opening from other teams, the comntators and viewers were puzzled.
"Wait, what's this about?"
"Geno, weren't you exuding confidence even on the electronic display earlier?"
"Don't be fooled, viewers, there's definitely sothing going on! You believe this? Watch out for the Geno-kick!"
Just as Wanggeom said that, Geno picked up his line.
"What worries ... is taxes!"
The unexpected comnt made the comntators widen their eyes and filled the chat with question marks. Taxes, out of nowhere?
"As anyone following knows, there was another tournant we participated in under the PerG-Day na. We narrowly missed out on prize money in the finals, so all the prize went to the boss."
He didn't ntion the na directly, but everyone knew what tournant he ant.
It was clearly the Ti Warfare event from Gunnerground.
"Huh? That's not how I rember it?"
"Yeah, doesn't Geno have nothing to regret there?"
"Hey, if you think we'll just let you gloss over it, think again, Team Leader!"
- Really, like he has anything to regret!
- Geno got "gene" and got knocked out early, lol.
- He got crushed instantly here and there, didn't he?
- To be fair, maybe NewtonLord or Ecl, but lol.
- Soone: "Chunom, do you even have a conscience?
― Did he ever? Conscience-kick!
- What's a conscience-kick, now, lol.
Geno ignored the banter and calmly continued his prepared comnt.
"But this ti, things are different. CrazySmurf! In this amazing tournant, we'll split all the prize money. Since it counts as inco, we can't help but worry about taxes!"
The comntators burst into laughter.
"Exactly! Other tournants are good, but CrazySmurf is truly fantastic!"
"Ah! This was all just setup! Plus, he's basically certain they'll win!"
"That's right! He's already talking like he's gotten the prize money! The experience really shows!"
- The hype is real, lol.
- Trchoip standard, lol.
- Look at the comntators getting surprised, haha.
- That's why he's a pro strear.
- Black Company can't dodge taxes either!
- Black Company (model taxpayer)
- Why is the Black Company such a faithful taxpayer, lol!
Chat got even more lively.
Wanggeom, satisfied, checked his watch.
Luckily, there was still ti.
"Geno, thank you for your comnts. With this, team interviews are finished—but honestly, there's sothing still weighing on ."
"Sothing weighing on you?"
"What might that be?"
The comntators and chat focused again. Was it really over? What's this business about a burden on his mind?
"Earlier, so many international fans tuned in. Right now, we've surpassed 80,000 viewers. If we ended the broadcast here, I'd be put on Interpol's wanted list."
"Is it an international cri to end here?"
"Seriously, wanggeom, your lines are insane."
The comntators chuckled, and chat was no different.
"Of course, I'm joking. But if we just end, we'll take heat for it. So, how about we use this break to have Purple say a few words?"
The screen switched back to the PerG-Day team's waiting room. Halfway through removing his mask, Lee Gyeongbok was suddenly called out—and his eyes widened.
But he stepped forward imdiately.
- Luv u Purple!
- I can't understand what he's saying, but I feel it.
- Mr. Perfect is here!
- Look at how fast Korean expats show up, lol.
- This is what becoming a world-class fan feels like?
- I dunno what you saying, but your voice makes happy!
- I don't know what he said, but I know he's happy, lol.
- This is all I want! lol!
- Mask and suit are 'perfect' for you!
- For real, he looks so happy.
Standing in center-screen, the international fans, who had been quiet, began chatting in English. The chat beca a flurry of English and Korean.
Lee Gyeongbok didn't lose his composure, even as ssages ca flying in.
"Thank you for coming, even though it can't be easy to watch a foreign broadcast."
As he offered gratitude, the chat filled with hearts and subscribers-only emotes. Foreign fans knew he couldn't speak English well.
Though they didn't understand each other's language, Lee Gyeongbok could feel their affection.
"What I can give you, as thanks, is fun. We'll give you an entertaining broadcast this tournant..."
He paused for a mont and finished with a smile.
"But in the end, I think the most fun is winning the ga."
That single sentence sent the chat into a frenzy.
- That's it! That's what I'm talking about!
- Godple's declaration of victory! Godple's declaration of victory!
- Uhwooper! Uhwooper! Uhwooper!
- Translate please!
- Yeah, just this sentence plz!
- Winning is the real fun, lol.
- Soone: We won! Tournant over!
- Jojo ending style, lol.
- I'll translate: He says 'I give you fun, and Fun is the win'
- What kind of amateur translation is that?
- Thanks!
- It's already funny, lol!
- Is it Perfect-Confidence, right?
- This is working?
- Was "Purple confidence" used overseas too?
The chat overflowed with excitent and cheers. Wanggeom was pleased and bowed his head lightly.
"Yes, thank you to Purple for your spontaneous reply! It's ti to wrap up the broadcast. One final announcent for the match schedule, please."
"Yes! For the joy of CrazySmurf! The real competition starts next week!"
"So, is there nothing to watch before then? Not at all! Each group's teams will organize scrims as they wish."
With the explanation over, wanggeom took over again.
"Excellent! We'll see you next week with the official matches!"
"Please keep loving CrazySmurf!"
"Thank you!"
With cheerful energy,
The comntators said their closing remarks and the broadcast ended.
* * *
Geno's studio.
The broadcast was over, but PerG-Day's work was not done.
"Now we'll coordinate scrim schedules with other team leaders. Just mark any dates you can't make."
Geno projected a weekly schedule into the air. Lee Gyeongbok, without other obligations, stepped back.
While Skullkim and Bakjapcho pondered, Eclipse quietly raised his hand.
"Ecl?"
"Um, what exactly is a scrim?"
The others blinked at him, but understood quickly.
"Ah, you wouldn't know, would you, ecl?"
"That's right. He started Mystic recently—it makes sense not to know the lingo yet."
Having only played From's gas, Eclipse was still picking up in-ga terminology, let alone tournant jargon.
"Simply put, it ans a friendly or exploratory match."
Lee Gyeongbok answered on the team's behalf.
"You get together with the opponent team for a practice ga to gauge each other's strength. And you use that to plan match strategies."
"But it's not just casual practice."
Geno added quietly.
"The rules are the sa as the tournant, so we do ban-picks. That ans we can see which champions we'll ban and who on our team the opponents will target."
It's not just pointless practice. If you want effective training, the rules should match the real thing.
Geno glanced toward Lee Gyeongbok.
"For example, in a scrim, the first player the opposing team would want to restrict is still Purple. They'll definitely ban Yami and Barzan first, then see what counterasures we've prepared."
"Hmm... Honestly, I'd do the sa."
Eclipse nodded in deep agreent. The example made the value of scrims clear to him.
"No problem preparing new champions, right?"
Geno asked. Lee Gyeongbok flashed a bright smile.
"It's not that hard."
Far from worried, he was
"Honestly, I can't wait to use them in a real match."
Looking forward to the upcoming scrims.
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