"There isn't one."
That was the best answer. Rather than complicating the situation by saying I supported a team, it was simpler and better to just say I didn't. Besides, it was true—I didn't support any team. Professional gaming is ultimately about competition, and for spectators, it's entertainment. Only those with the leisure to enjoy it can truly do so. Until recently, I didn't have that leisure. So, not supporting any team made perfect sense.
Of course, that wasn't the answer the viewers wanted, so the reactions weren't particularly positive.
―Boring.
―Honestly, which team do you support? S1, right?
―Why is an S1 fan even here? Go away.
―Why is there an S1 fan on the sacred GG coach stream?
―Leave!
―Then who do you actually support?
The sudden appearance of an S1 fan had skewed the mood, but I answered all the questions. The viewers naturally didn't believe me, but I could swear on my integrity that I was being honest. After confidently finishing the Q&A and waiting briefly, I got a whisper.
[We're ready.]
"They said they're ready. Let's start immediately."
I said that and immediately moved. I didn't know exactly where everyone had started, but catching them wouldn't be too difficult. Confident in that, I moved and soon spotted someone.
'The first target is Killingbird.'
The first person I found was the team captain, Killingbird. The angle I had now wasn't one he could see. I didn't attack immediately, instead observing to see if he was applying what I'd just taught.
"Maybe 50 points…"
You could tell he was trying not to stop moving. But his body, by habit, paused to check his surroundings and hide, causing him to fumble. A classic case of the brain understanding something but the body not following.
"Then you die."
These lessons are meant to be learned through dying. I placed my finger on the trigger and fired the moment he bent down to farm.
Bang!
With a short gunshot, Killingbird collapsed like a cut string.
['Killingbird' has died.]
The first hunt was successful. I didn't stop and immediately moved to find the next target. If I relaxed, my prey might escape.
'Can't let that happen.'
At least until they could move naturally without stopping, I wouldn't let them go.
"Run, run, don't let your hair show."
I moved my legs while humming a slightly eerie tune.
"Alright, that's enough for today."
"Th-thank you for your hard work…"
Everyone looked exhausted. Even professional gamers couldn't handle being beaten for four hours straight. I had tried changing maps occasionally to ease the strain, but it seemed to have little effect. Out of the group, only one person passed my challenge. Others escaped me but didn't meet the coach's criteria for success.
'Of course, I expected either Magus, the youngest, or Killingbird, the leader, to succeed… but I didn't think Mincho would.'
Mincho succeeded because he was simply faster than anyone else in GG. While the others struggled with the disconnect between mind and body, Mincho had already adapted, calculating the best route to escape from me. After a few trial escapes, he also satisfied the coach's criteria.
"Until next week, practice what we did today and get it into your muscle memory. I'll give Mincho a separate assignment."
The others would spend most of their time just reducing mistakes and internalizing the movements. It would be a waste to have Mincho, a valuable talent, do the same, so he alone got extra work.
"Mincho's assignment will be revealed next week."
After whispering the task to Mincho, I addressed the viewers watching. It raised expectations for the broadcast while preventing S1 from seeing his assignment.
"Then, that's it for today's broadcast. Philba."
―Philba
―Philba
―Phil~~ba!
―Philba
['Mincho Love Squad' donated 1,000 won!]
[Philba!]
['GodGodGodGodGod' donated 1,000 won!]
[Good work!]
['YooSeungRyokimocchi' donated 1,000 won!]
[See you next week!]
. . .
The chat and donations filled with Philba messages. Even in my old PC streams, I'd never received so many donations in greeting. It felt strange. After watching a little longer, I boldly ended the broadcast.
Looking back at the players waiting behind me, they looked completely spent, ready to collapse.
"Good work, everyone. You can go rest now."
With coaching done, I switched from casual speech back to polite language. The players' expressions darkened slightly.
"Huh? Why the sudden change?"
"Um… we thought since you were using casual speech, we were closer now…"
"No… I thought casual speech was necessary to give fast, strong feedback as a coach. Since coaching is done, I switched back to polite speech… should I not?"
The players nodded vigorously. If casual speech was easier, I was grateful. Speaking politely to someone seven or eight years younger constantly felt a bit awkward.
"Then we'll stick to casual speech."
"Yes!"
After that, we chatted casually about a few topics before leaving the capsule. I collapsed onto the bed as soon as I got out. They must have been exhausted from being chased, but chasing them was just as draining.
Still, their reaction speed was incredible. I had shot from unseen positions, yet they reacted instantly to sound, dodging bullets.
'At this rate, they might actually block bullets.'
With that reaction speed, they were practically superhuman. Using silencing attachments could have solved it, but I couldn't use them since I wanted to reveal my position deliberately. At the same time, I had to shoot them to prevent escape. Fighting in such a harsh environment was tiring.
"Being a pro isn't something just anyone can do…"
I muttered, my eyes closing, and soon fell asleep.
While Dongmin slept, the GG players who had completed training gathered.
"How was today's training?"
Director Song Chi-hyun spoke first. He'd been observing the entire training and needed player feedback to adjust the intensity and other details.
"It was brutal."
"I didn't think we'd get completely wrecked like that."
"I expected a big gap between pros and normal players… haha."
The three who hadn't passed spoke with self-deprecation. The director decided they wouldn't give proper feedback, so he turned to Mincho.
"It was difficult, but not impossible. Once you get used to it, the others and Jaehyuk will catch on quickly, too."
"So you think it's okay to continue this training as is?"
"At least, that's how I felt."
Hearing Mincho, Director Song paused in thought. Watching the training, it might have looked like he was trying to demoralize them.
'But listening to Mincho, that doesn't seem to be the case.'
I had initially taught the basics. Seeing the others struggle, I wondered if I was teaching something beyond basic skills. But Mincho applied it immediately and improved. That was why it was confusing—was I teaching basics, or something entirely different?
When the director trained himself in speed mode, he hadn't needed to learn such things and could win effortlessly.
"I see."
Director Song sent the players back to their rooms and called Manager Kim Dongseok.
"How did it seem to you?"
"I didn't think they'd struggle even with these basic skills."
"But is this really basic? I did fine without it."
Director Song asked honestly, and Kim Dongseok laughed heartily.
"It's basic. If you don't use these skills and play like a normal game, you just die in speed mode. You were just too good."
"I see…"
"Of course, even basics can be hard for some. But since you're a pro, they expected you'd handle it, so they trained you hard right away."
Being a pro meant you could pick it up immediately. Today's training had that Spartan approach. The director, listening to everything, decided he needed to play speed mode himself over the next week. Only then could he learn to teach and provide feedback independently. He replayed today's training in his mind.
After a good sleep, I ate leisurely, showered, exercised, and started the broadcast.
"Philha."
―Philha!
―No guests today?
―It's a normal broadcast today.
―Going back to Battle Hill?
Of course, yesterday's broadcast and the GG players were mentioned, but I didn't bring it up myself. Yesterday, I was the coach; now, I was just streamer Philgong. No need to dwell on it.
After a short wait, most viewers who had come to see the GG players left.
'Around 200 left…'
Since we'd broken through the first floor yesterday, it was a bit disappointing. Still, compared to previous viewers, it was a decent turnout.
"Before we go back to Battle Hill, I'm going to try Killground for old times' sake. Speed mode has returned, so it's only polite to enjoy it once."
―Definitely.
―I wonder what rank he'll get.
―With him, probably top 10.
―He won't get first, so a safe bet?
['BeastMan' donated 1,000 won!]
[Mission: 10,000 won if first in first try]
BeastMan's challenge. Getting first on the first try would be difficult, even for me. Other viewers seemed to agree and risked their money on the safe bet.
['GlassHeart' donated 1,000 won!]
[Mission: 10,000 won if first in first try]
['BbyukGeneral' donated 1,000 won!]
[Mission: 20,000 won if first in first try]
['cccc' donated 1,000 won!]
[Mission: 5,000 won if first in first try]
. . .
The missions piled up like small drops making a mountain, exceeding 100,000 won. Ten thousand won for first on the first try. It was challenging, but not impossible, giving me a small boost of motivation. I immediately entered the Killground lobby and selected speed mode.
The map hadn't changed much since the PC days, but shooting and driving still required heaps of adaptation.
'At least shooting became familiar during coaching yesterday…'
Military experience helped me get used to shooting surprisingly quickly. Now, I just needed to master in-game driving and movement to quickly regain my skill.
"Let's start immediately."
I said that and queued up speed mode.