I Have Returned, but I Cannot Lay down My Gun

Chapter 151 End of KSM

* * *

“Alright, from now on, the last day of KSM begins! Both players and viewers have 10 minutes to prepare. If you haven’t finished setting up yet, please complete it within this time!”

The host’s booming voice.

Usually, before a match, I wouldn’t pay much attention to such announcements. I felt this way during Saturday’s game as well. But hearing it two days in a row made it feel more familiar than grand.

There was no special reason for this. Perhaps my perspective had changed. But the perspective here wasn’t about becoming more mature after experiencing KSM once more compared to last year.

There’s no reason why the host’s voice shouldn’t feel familiar when there’s no longer a need to compete.

If I didn’t want to participate, there was no need to force myself. Only two event matches, which had no bearing on the KSM results, were left for the Sunday competition.

In summary, the popcorn tasted good.

“Hehe.”

The day that started at the boundary of morning and afternoon passed quickly.

Last year, after lunch and brushing my teeth, I would have connected to VR and immersed myself in practice. Considering the accelerated time in virtual reality, I would have finished practicing by around 3 PM at the latest.

Afterward, I would anxiously wait in the real world for about one or two hours, then connect to VR about 10 minutes before KSM started to wait in the players’ waiting room.

Memories from last year slowly resurfaced. Of course, those were just memories. In other words, they had nothing to do with reality.

“Ah, this is so good…!”

Flop.

The bed’s touch on my back felt particularly cozy today. As the host mentioned, there were about 10 minutes left before the match started. Adding up the breaks during the game, the third cycle provided about 50 minutes of rest in-game.

With an average match time of 25 minutes, each cycle consisted of four games. Therefore, about 2 hours and 30 minutes remained in virtual reality time until the event matches started. Considering everything, roughly 5-6 hours in total.

Of course, viewers in virtual reality and the recorded footage in real time made KSM around 5-6 hours long in reality too.

Anyway, the point was, there was plenty of time left.

Although I wasn’t particularly sleepy, I considered taking a rare nap. Suddenly, a voice came from beside me.

“Why are you lying down again?”

“Ugh, now you’re even criticizing me for lying down… Ow!”

“Another weird noise.”

With a sharp sound, a flick to the back of my head landed softly. Fortunately, it didn’t hurt since it wasn’t done with much force.

Anyway, what was this? It was a kind of privilege. A lounge prepared for preliminary selectees to rest comfortably. Through the glass windows, I could observe the stadium filled with numerous viewers.

Of course, if desired, I could make the glass disappear and only watch the match.

Speaking of lounges, memories from last year popped up. Back then, I thought the moment when I barely managed to qualify for the finals after going through all sorts of hardships was the highlight of my life.

Anyway, there were still 10 minutes until the match started. Although the start of the match wouldn’t make me particularly busy. As I sank into the soft sofa that would cost millions in reality, Yoo Jin naturally sat next to me.

It was a time when I felt like talking.

“Aren’t you curious about how we’ll get to the finals?”

“By plane, right?”

“Come on, be more curious. Just say you’re curious.”

It seemed like I heard a sigh, but I ignored it.

Even though my conscience was pricking me like a rotating triangle inside, I started talking, believing Yoo Jin would find it interesting once she heard it.

“It’s first class, first class. ICARUS HQ and the team split the cost, so we just need to pack ourselves and our luggage. We have to wake up early in the morning, so it’s cold and tiring, but there’s a limo pick-up.”

“That sounds interesting.”

“Right? I told you it’s interesting. If I start telling stories about last year’s finals, you won’t even care about today’s KSM match. So, what do you think? Isn’t your curiosity growing?”

“Ahaha.”

It was time to retell the finals stories that I had shared until my lips almost wore out last year.

I started speaking with a sly smile.

“The finals… will be held similarly this year. Around mid to late December.”

“That’s quite late.”

“I couldn’t understand it at first either, but there’s a reason. The preliminary rounds are held worldwide, and there are some unstable regions in South America and the third world.”

So they gave at least two months to prepare.

In countries with good security and international recognition, major incidents rarely prevented matches, allowing games to proceed considering players’ conditions and schedules. However, some regions weren’t like that.

They ensured the maximum possible time to resolve these issues. If they still couldn’t make it, other countries would make up for it.

“There hasn’t been a case where a team from the third world couldn’t participate in an Apex Predator tournament since its inception, but it’s a precaution. Additionally, starting next year, countries that don’t reach a certain performance level will be excluded.”

“The conversation is going off track.”

“Hey, it’s your fault. Anyway, we fly at 10 AM, but considering check-in, boarding, and baggage procedures, we have to wake up early. Around that time, the average temperature drops to minus 15 degrees…”

“Ugh, I hate the cold…”

“Oh, right!”

Hehehe.

With a rough laugh, the image of Yoo Jin bundled up in multiple layers of padding like a mascot for a padding company popped into my head. Even Dice knew that Yoo Jin and Harmony played survival mode together because they had seen the video.

Anyway, it seemed like Yoo Jin genuinely hated the cold. Even though I was mentally preparing for a second flick, Yoo Jin just shook her head without much reaction.

Meanwhile, the conversation naturally flowed to the lounge, the reason this topic came up.

“After arriving, you can rest a bit at the check-in area and then relax in the first-class lounge until departure. You can have breakfast there since there’s a chef who makes whatever you want.”

“That sounds delicious. What did you eat?”

“I had abalone porridge and grilled short ribs. It was really good. But they also serve a lot of food in first class, so if you eat too much, you’ll be full. Anyway, after eating, you can have dessert and coffee while waiting to board.”

­The match is about to start! The first map is Poplar Ridge Correctional Facility. We wish all the players the best of luck!

The ongoing match interrupted the conversation.

Although there was more to say, we had to start watching the player interactions in the game, so the lounge’s windows and interior were fully converted, like changing the channel.

As several large screens displayed the match, the conversation naturally shifted from the flight story to match-related content.

“Yoo Jin, who do you think will advance?”

“Are you talking about the Asia preliminaries?”

“Yes.”

“Summit and Crossline from TK1 are consistently performing well. Xi’s INK is also stable. Whale is good, but Corvus is not as impressive… Veritas’ Grizzly and Clear Sky’s Gambit are also doing well.”

“Blooming… maybe not quite ready for the national team lineup yet?”

“Maybe next year they’ll be in full bloom.”

“Haha, that joke matches their nickname well.”

The names were being shortlisted.

Summit and Crossline from TK1. INK and Whale from Xi. Grizzly from Veritas and Gambit from Clear Sky, Ebler from Arcadia Games, and ExcitementFilledExcitement from GEARUP. Including pre-selected Yoo Jin and Dice, there were about ten people.

Of course, the national team had a roster of 20, so there were still many others that hadn’t been mentioned by Yoo Jin.

In the meantime, a comment was casually thrown out.

“The lineup is quite competitive. I guess Dice is better than I thought, breaking through such competition to reach the finals.”

“Who are you to talk when you defeated them all? Seriously. I’m pretty famous and impressive, you know. Do you know how shocked the analysts were when I got solo-killed by Dice during the Xi scrim?”

“You should’ve done better.”

“Ugh…”

But I had nothing to say.

It was my first time experiencing a reverse ‘if you’re mad, do better’ situation. I had a lot to say but nothing I could say. But what could I do? Expecting a human to beat an infantry fighting vehicle was unreasonable.

Dice was pragmatic in that regard, not caring about unattainable goals. But the problem was the humanoid armored vehicle kept forcing her up the tree.

Anyway, well.

“Even if I teach Blooming continuously until next year, they’ll do well, but I won’t retire for a while. I want to finish in the top five, if not first.”

“If you follow diligently until mid to late December, there’s a chance even this year. I’ll get you into the top ten.”

“Really? I’ll rely on your tail, Yoo Jin.”

“Why my tail?”

“Hehe, ow!”

Thump!

Anyway, Sunday’s KSM passed swiftly.

And how much time had passed?

“Oh, Yoo Jin. It’s really nice to meet you. And you too, Dice. Back after a year as a crazy maniac. It’s payback time!”

“Ugh! Don’t press my head, ugh!”

Crumple!

Sure enough, the next pre-selected player Yoo Jin mentioned was TK1’s Summit. Having suffered greatly in the port city of Tannhäuser, Summit quickly turned docile in front of Yoo Jin after crum

pling Dice upon entry.

But even as Dice was being neatly folded into the soft sofa, Yoo Jin just calmly sipped her coffee. It was a spectacle, as the inevitable reckoning had arrived, and what else was there to do but watch.

And Summit, like Dice, had been a finalist last year, so new stories naturally blossomed.

One by one, the pre-selected players began to appear.

Phase 1 selectee was Yoo Jin.

Phase 2 selectee was Dice.

Phase 3 selectees were TK1’s Summit and Crossline, and Xi’s INK.

Phase 4 selectees were Clear Sky’s Gambit and Arcadia Games’ Ebler.

As each phase ended, the number of people in the room gradually increased, and after the final event match, a significant number of seven had gathered, each holding their results.

But it wouldn’t last long. KSM was nearing its end, and the detailed scoring process for the remaining 13 players to be selected as national representatives was underway.

So, how much time had passed?

With grand background music, the enthusiastic host opened his mouth.

“This concludes KSM, and we officially announce the twenty players selected as national representatives! Please give them a big round of applause!”

The applause was deafening.

Most were smiling, but those preparing for next week’s Korea Team Match (KTM), the team version of KSM, couldn’t laugh too much. There was still much to do before the Asia preliminaries.

Moreover, Yoo Jin and Dice had an interview yesterday, and today’s host’s microphone was passed from Dice to the other pre-selected players for interviews.

Thus, the two of them quietly continued various conversations on stage.

“Yoo Jin, now then…”

Correction.

It wasn’t a conversation but a confirmation of the results.

Yoo Jin silently showed the collaboration notice posted on Harmony’s personal site, and Dice nodded knowingly. However, unbeknownst to Dice, today’s notice came with a small gift.

“Take a good rest for about a week. It’s personal practice.”

“Really? Yahoo!”

She hurriedly covered her mouth, but it was too late.

As countless eyes turned towards Dice, she blushed like a ripe tomato, mumbling ‘Sorry…’ in a low voice.

And thus, Yoo Jin’s first story ended.

A period was placed on the sentence that had run for over a month, and a quill was dipped in ink to write the second sentence. The prelude ended, and the second act began.

KSM ended, a week ended, and a new week began. The fervor of KSM turned to ashes, piling thick on many people’s commute routes and school paths.

Dark circles under the eyes and vanished motivation. Every beginning accompanied an end.

But ironically, the consolation amidst all this was—

[General] Captured the scene of Dice’s sudden outburst, hahaha

Dice’s embarrassing moment would be immortalized.

With that small chuckle, everything came to an end.

Not with a blinding explosion, but in the stillness of dawn.

­[Harmony: Teacher~~ Did you see the notice I posted?? Please join by 7 PM tomorrow~~~ // (Written: Sun, 23:47)］

­[Harmony: Also, congratulations on becoming a national representative! I look forward to a delicious treat with your prize money~~ Just kidding! // (Written: Sun, 23:47)］

­[Harmony: See you tomorrow! // (Written: Sun, 23:48)］

* * *