APGD 13

Chapter 13

I spotted a familiar nickname in the champion selection screen.

‘Sword Fragrance Record?’

That was the alternate account nickname used by Jung Jo-jun.

The corners of my lips curved into a wide grin.

‘I had vaguely expected we might run into each other sometime soon… but who would’ve thought it would be today?’

What made it even more interesting was that his main role was the same as mine—Mid Laner.

Since our positions overlapped, I hadn’t even imagined that we’d end up on the same team.

‘Did he queue up as Support, then?’

In Ball, before matchmaking starts, players must select two roles:

• The primary role they want.

• The secondary role they’re willing to fill.

If queue times get too long, the system assigns some players to their secondary role to shorten waiting time.

That means sometimes you end up in a position you didn’t actually want.

The higher the rank, the fewer players there are, so this happens more often.

‘Well, that doesn’t mean I plan to give up mid.’

I wasn’t here just to win games or climb the ladder.

My true purpose was to create a direct connection with Jung Jo-jun.

And now, the perfect chance was right before me.

Of course, it would’ve been even better if I could face him directly in mid lane… but for now, I was simply grateful to be in the same match as him.

One way or another, this was my chance to leave a strong impression.

‘What should I pick, then?’

The enemy mid-laner had already locked in their champion.

Renekton.

A melee fighter considered virtually unmatched in short-range duels.

Normally, he was picked for top lane, not mid.

‘That’s an interesting choice.’

Two ranged champions with favorable matchups instantly flashed through my mind.

But instead—

Doo-dung!

[“Death is like the wind… always by my side.”]

After a brief hesitation, I locked in Ryosuo, Jung Jo-jun’s most-played champion, a melee champion.

On paper, this matchup heavily favored Renekton.

To anyone else, it might look like I’d deliberately picked a self-counter.

But in this situation, picking a champion with a good matchup was meaningless.

If I won in a matchup I was supposed to win, it wouldn’t leave much of an impression.

‘There’s nothing that’ll catch Jo-jun hyung’s eye more than Ryosuo.’

Jung Jo-jun had an especially strong attachment to this champion.

It was the perfect seasoning to spice things up—making the match exciting from the very start with a bold pick.

Of course, I wasn’t planning to just throw the lane for attention.

No—I intended to leave a mark through my gameplay.

‘Time to go all out.’

I flexed my wrist lightly and fixed my gaze on the screen.

It didn’t take long for me to become fully immersed in the game.

Jung Jo-jun rubbed his face hard with both hands.

His eyes twitched slightly behind his palms.

“Ha, fuck… this has to be a joke, right?”

Ryosuo was one of those extremely polarizing champions—like Chad.

He had flashy mechanics but very weak base stats, meaning if he ever fell behind, he’d spiral into an endless chain of deaths.

Even many pro players avoided him because his difficulty was just that high.

That’s why the community jokingly called them ‘Ryosuo junkies.’

In low ranks, people literally flamed teammates just for locking him in.

“Renekton was first-picked, and he actually counter-picked with Ryosuo?! Kono baka yarou!! (You idiot!!)”

The player Penta had chosen him despite knowing Renekton was his hard counter.

• LMAO, this has to be stream sniping for sure.

• Sniping in such a critical mission match, I’m dying of laughter.

• If it were me, I’d dodge instantly.

• Who the hell blind-picks Ryosuo into Renekton? He’s insane.

• Legendary move, lol.

The irony was that Jung Jo-jun himself was famous for his incredible Ryosuo.

His reaction time was so fast people accused him of using hacks.

He played with flawless, elegant mechanics.

Even pro players admitted they learned a thing or two from watching his Ryosuo highlights.

He wasn’t called “The Best Ryosuo in Korea” for nothing.

And yet—even he would never pick Ryosuo into Renekton.

Because no matter how mechanically skilled, that matchup was pure suffering.

“…Wait a sec! What the hell is this match? My team luck is cursed!”

Staring at the loading screen, he let out a hollow laugh and chugged water from his desk.

On his side? Nothing but amateurs.

On the enemy team? Three pro players.

Two were rookies in the BCL (Korea’s 2nd league).

The other was a trainee for BCK, Korea’s top league.

The difference between the teams was night and day.

Even before the match started, defeat already loomed over him.

“Okay, fine. But one thing’s for sure—Penta, you stream-sniping bastard, you’re going straight on my blacklist after this!”

Though he played it up for his viewers, half of that fury was genuine.

After all, today’s missions alone were worth 1.5 million won.

The content was great, sure—but losing the mission because of a troll stung badly.

• Press X to pay respects.

• LOL it’s been ages since I saw him rage this hard.

• Imagine if Ryosuo actually beats Renekton—that’d be hilarious.

• No way. Not even Ryosuo’s great-great-grandpa could win this lane.

• Classic Jo-jun, blaming bot lane when he’s trolling mid.

He wagged his finger at the camera.

“Oi oi, omae-tachi! Don’t underestimate my Alistar support! Even if the game’s doomed, I’ll show you how to stomp bot lane at least!”

Thus began the early laning phase.

Jo-jun aggressively traded with his Ezreal ADC against Caitlyn and Sona.

It wasn’t easy, but until level 3, they managed to pressure fairly well.

“Haha~! Too slow! That was just my afterimage~!”

But at level 4, when Jo-jun went in first—

KWAANG!

“Ah crap, I misclicked!”

…THUD!

[First Blood!]
[Double Kill!]

A misplay in his combo gifted the enemy bot lane a free double kill.

And it didn’t stop there.

After respawning and returning bot, within a minute—

[Double Kill!]
[‘DNT illusion’ is on a rampage!]

The enemy ADC now had 4 kills early.

Jo-jun scratched his temple awkwardly.

His ADC erupted in chat, spamming insults.

• Buddha’sPatience: Dude what the fuck!! What are you even doing?

• Buddha’sPatience: Are you even trying to win lane?

• Buddha’sPatience: If you suck at support, just dodge!

• Buddha’sPatience: You’re griefing the whole team you piece of sh—

Jo-jun muted him instantly.

Viewers exploded with laughter.

• LOL his name’s Buddha but he’s flaming nonstop.

• Even a saint wouldn’t stay calm in this situation.

• Haven’t seen Jo-jun int this hard in ages.

• Yeah nah, he’s definitely the problem here.

Ding!

[‘Streamer Nomad’ has donated 30,000 won!]
[“This is hilarious. If you somehow win this, I’ll donate 1 million instead of 500k.”]

Jo-jun coughed and tried to play it cool.

“Arigato for the 30k donation, Nomad-san! I haven’t given up yet! Consider that handicap the last one. Time for a serious carry!!”

He roamed top, trying to salvage the game.

But again—

[You have been slain!]
[Double Kill!]

The enemy top and jungle destroyed him.

Mute button again.

“Ehem! Yare yare! The enemy jungle pathing’s weird, huh? How’d he be top at that exact timing?”

By now, even he was embarrassed, though he forced a poker face.

• Shameless lol.

• Bro’s literally a disaster incarnate this game.

• He doesn’t even WANT to win the mission lmao.

• Better stay home, someone might hunt you down IRL after this.

• So it’s true—outside mid lane, his support is pure disaster.

At 15 minutes, surrender became available.

This was the textbook “15-minute FF” game.

‘…Ugh. Completely doomed. At least it’ll make good content. I just hope it ends quickly.’

But then—

[‘Penta’ has slain an enemy!]
[Double Kill!]

From mid lane.

Ryosuo had just gotten a double kill.

Jo-jun gasped.

“Oooh, what the—?! Wait! Ryosuo-kun, a double kill?!”

He shifted his camera mid.

From the corpses’ positions, it looked like Renekton and Tidal jungle had tower-dived—and lost 2v1.

Even more shocking—pressing [TAB], he saw Ryosuo had 30 more CS than Renekton.

“What?! No way! He’s doubling Renekton’s farm? How is that even possible?”

Chat exploded.

• Wait… how did he do that?

• Holy crap, goosebumps.

• That’s huge.

• Turns out he’s not trolling, he’s a Ryosuo one-trick.

• Quote: ‘This sniper’s going on my blacklist after this game!’

Jo-jun gave a big thumbs-up to the camera.

“That’s it, Ryosuo-kun! I believed in you!!”

• Bro switching sides faster than Udyr stances lol.

• So shameless.

• LMAO this is actually crazy.

• Dude where’s your conscience at?

But celebration was short-lived.

Back in bot lane, the fed enemy duo pushed hard.

And then—

RUMMMBLE!

The enemy top (Seion) and mid (Renekton) teleported bot, joining the siege.

“Aw crap! They’re syncing Seion’s ult for a bot dive!!”

It was like waiting for execution.

Jo-jun and his ADC were trapped under tower.

• Already doomed, now the enemy top’s joining too?

• Bot lane highway’s getting bulldozed lol.

• GG, game’s over.

• Watching Seion sprint down is like a horror movie.

BOOM!

Seion ulted, diving the tower—

But then—

FWOOOSH—!

A teleport appeared on their bot turret.

“Wait—?!”

It was Ryosuo’s teleport.

The one who had just recalled.