Poten

2. Old Gamers

It was entirely my father's fault that Minho became a professional gamer and went to the military. No matter what I did, I had him nailed since I was a kid, but it was even bigger because he was taunted that his skills would rust and beg if he went to the army.

This prediction was correct the first month after discharge. It took a lot of work to catch up with the fast pace of the game leagues that changed every day.

My father contacted me while I was busy training as I was living in the accommodations of the gaming team. Stop by the house for a second. I returned home without thinking about it because I was the father who let me do whatever I did after I was discharged.

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

Yoon, who was sitting in the library, bounced a coin and repeatedly held it.

“Why did you call me? ”

“Sit down.”

Ping-g-g-Tak! After placing the coin on the palm of his hand, Lubrication, checking the front and back, asked assertively.

“Are you here for more than just dirty? ”

Minho was hot. After practicing at the lodge, she was quick to look at the bodies of the women she had stored in the folder. In this regard, however, he and his father kept the secret rules between men.

“A new piece came out good. ”

“Put it on my hard drive later. ”

“Yep.”

The good thing about sharing was that it was also one of the rules of men.

“Then why did you really call me? ”

On Minho's question, Lubrication cleared his throat and caught the atmosphere.

“Now that you've grown up enough, I think it's time to tell you. ”

I nodded my head because I received Minho's face because it looked serious but not serious.

“If I'm not your son, I understand. Honestly, my face came out of my father's face... It's so big! ”

Coming back was a shock to the back of the head.

“I'm not kidding. Take it seriously. ”

While Burinake Minho was rubbing his head, Lubricant spoke again and caught the mood.

“I heard the same story from your grandfather at your age, and then my life changed completely. So think about it."

“What's so great about it? ”

“There is a secret in our family that has been passed down for generations. ”

Lubrication grabbed the coin and moxed it.

"For generations"? ’

Minho did not erase the eyes of suspicion. Sometimes, Yun could not distinguish between his father and his neighbor. Since he was a child, he often walked this ridiculous prank. He only thought it was one of those things again.

But I guess not.

“Here we go.”

Yunhwan flicked a coin and threw it to Minho.

“It's Solomon's coin, a family heirloom. If the answer is already given, there is the power to tell the truth and lie about anything. ”

Min-ho looked at the ring with a coin in the wrong hands.

“Positive on the front and negative on the back. ”

No matter how much I thought about it, my father's face was still serious. It's a beautiful twisted story.

“How does a coin answer that? ”

“Think of a question and bounce. ”

Minho, who was suspicious, said openly.

“Coin, is my father telling the truth? ”

Ping-g-g-Tak!

The front comes out. You grin as if it's ridiculous to see this. Min-ho laughed together.

“I don't know who my son is. Oops.”

“She's right.”

“Kid. Ask him the same question. Until you get bored. ”

Minho bounced back at Yoon Hwan's suggestion.

Ping-g-g-Tak!

“Front?”

“Is that a coincidence? Then do it again. ”

Minho bounced back twice more. And as I kept coming out the front, I kept looking at the coin. Then, thinking about the same question, when the same face appeared 10 times in a row, it was creepy and creepy.

"Isn't this haunted? ’

I even thought it was a coin with only one side. And then this time, I changed the question, "This coin only comes out the front, right? ’There was no room for the back. And so on.

What is this? ’

Yoon Hwan smiled at Minho, looking at the coin trembling.

“Isn't that amazing?"

“I see... But is this the secret of a family that has been passed down for generations? ”

“No. The family secret is that you were born with blood to use the coin. I just confirmed it. ”

Minho swallowed his saliva and listened to Yoonhwan.

“Minho, there are things in the world that have hidden powers like that coin. And we have the ability to discover it and draw it out. ”

Yoon took out one of the treasures he had collected to help his son understand. There were no devices, but a subtle scribe circles the old scroll and shines a hologram-shaped place into the air.

As Min Ho who sees it, his mouth will open. And I was delighted to see his collections.

“I can't believe this is happening! It's all mine! ”

It was a display that started with an antique and gave off a dazzling glow that reminded me of the museum's treasures. However, he put cold water on it.

“What are you talking about? ”

“Yes?”

“Why are you giving me this father's bony collection? It's the only coin I'm giving you. ”

Min-ho was embarrassed.

“You said you wanted to go. ”

“Well, that's one thing. ”

“Just this coin? ”

“Yeah, that's it. ”

Min-ho pouted Yoon-hwan, who was cutting his lips. Yoonhwan closes the shelves and fills the locks tightly, even if he behaves dishonestly.

Keeping a lock the size of your fingers locked, the vision of armor and shield, surprisingly, curtains wrapped around the shelf.

“Don't be so petty. If you're going to pass it on, just give me a little more. You have a lot of fathers.”

“A little presumptuous? ”

“Ever since I was a child, my father was the one I admired the most. Are you in love..."

“That's it. Just keep it respectful. ”

“Yep!"

“... Chop. ”

Yoonhwan picked up an item that was rolling around in the drawer and threw it around like a box. It was an old pocket watch the size of which fit into my hand.

“What is this? ”

“Very good. Well, it's not free, so if you make money, make sure you pay the price. ”

I was suspicious because it came from something other than an iron vault, but Minho said hello. Then I lifted my head and asked.

“How much is it?”

“300 million appraisers. ”

“Yes?”

“You'll be anxious to add something to it. ”

Minho shakes his head as if it were nonsense and puts his hand on the lid of the watch.

It was open.

Tick, tick.

The first watch spins fast. Exactly one minute. And Minho's mind flashed like a flash for a minute.

‘What the hell... …. ’

If not mistaken, what I just saw was a minute's future.

“If you're not going to pay me back, give it back. ”

Minho realized that he had just seen his father stretch out his hand and waved his head.

“No! I'll pay, do it! No interest, right? ”

“He's my son, so I'll give him that. ”

He was a humble father, but Minho accepted. I really had it all figured out. It's a short time to see the future, but it's worth it too! Min-ho suddenly asked Yunhwan, who was thinking about doing something with it.

“But, Father. Can I save the world with this? ”

“What?"

“Spider-Man said, That kind of responsibility is... evil! ”

“What responsibility do I have for his power? ”

Minho, who was getting serious and serious, covered his back. Then Lu Shu said to him as if he was throwing his tongue.

“Geez, responsibility isn't for the strong, it's for the children in front of you. You can just live wherever you want. ”

“Really?"

“Do you want to eat expensive food and make white noise? Minho, do whatever you want to do, except for crime. Instead, I'm just as responsible for the spiral. Oh, don't let them get cut off. ”

“What about obedience?”

“I'm not old yet, dad. ”

“Aah!”

My father was a free and cool man.

* * *

Minho looked at the tall building in front of him, holding the keyboard and bag with the mouse on his shoulder.

The ninth-floor stadium there, known as the E Sports Centre, was home to state-of-the-art facilities for professional gamers from all over the country to battle. Even though nothing had changed, I felt new because it had only been two years.

“Kang Min-ho!”

Minho was called from behind as he entered the building. He was about thirty years old in a suit.

Minho waved his hand for a short while.

“It's been a long time, sunbae. ”

“Wow, I heard you were back. Was it a game today? ”

I used to live in the same gaming group before joining the military. Minho welcomed him who is now a game commentator.

“Good job on the quiz show. I didn't know you were so smart. ”

“You're lucky. ”

“How much did you win? $300 million in taxes? ”

“Oh, that much. ”

Taepyeong stabbed Minho in the side and quietly asked him with an anticipated struggle.

“What are you going to do with that money? ”

“I already gave you everything. ”

In response to Minho's somewhat exhausted answer, he was unable to connect the horses. I can't believe you gave me a hundred million, not ten million!

“Great, great. ”

Min-ho smiled as she wanted to have all these enzymes. Who knows, he paid for a pocket watch to see the future.

Yun Hwan and Minho were rich people who were definitely trading money between families.

Minho went inside with Tae Tae and asked about the current situation of the game league. I answered kindly because I had eaten a pot of rice.

“There's a high school team that has a post-debut tradition, and it's really scary. Control for control, strategy for strategy. I have a crazy physicist who can't figure it out. ”

“What's the name of your team? ”

“Eagles.”

Minho thought and clapped his hands.

“You're with me today. ”

“Excuse me?”

He said that he was worried about Minho's response that he did not take lightly.

“If necessary, return. Nowadays, the preliminary leagues are not like me, so a lot of professionals fall apart. ”

“Don't worry. I'm definitely going up there. ”

Minho's peculiar confidence caused him to shake his head.

“… to have a good game anyway. Let's have a drink with this famous commentator after. I'll text you.”

Taepyeong greets him and disappears into the lobby. Min-ho's eyes in front of the elevator had suddenly turned dazzling.

Ding-dong.

The elevator has arrived on the ninth floor. When the door opened and Minho walked out, the eyes of the spectators who were passing through the hallway were pierced.

“Kang Minho!”

“Where? Where? ”

Minho turned straight toward the athlete's waiting room, avoiding dozens of people rushing towards him. Through the hallway, I looked at the stadium, but even though it was preliminary, the audience seemed to come like clouds.

"Quiz show is bigger than I thought." ’

It was a famous professional, but it was a cable broadcast, so I didn't expect it to be this talk. Minho, who was shrugged, joyfully entered the waiting room.

Sweet.

There were already two people inside the waiting room. Guy who is fat and bald, Yoon Ga-ram, and the guy who waxed his huge body, Kwon Cheol-sun. Both were the successors of Minho's current gaming team.

“Welcome!”

You crouch your head like a crowbar and a chunk of iron. Minho, who quickly scoured the marquee on the wall, asked the two of them.

“You don't have a game, do you? ”

“Our next opponent is one of the Eagles, and he's here for a power analysis. We can't lose this one. We've already had two in the first week. ”

“Whoa, power analysis? You're not cheering me on? ”

He opened his eyes and looked at it. He jumped into a fighting position with his fist clenched.

“Aja! Aja! Please win! ”

“Too late.”

“Aah!”

Garam groaned on his forehead at night. Min-ho smiled as he was overlapped with himself, who was beheaded by Yoon-hwan.

Minho flicked a coin and sat on the couch.

Let's see, is it my first game? ’

Two years ago, he was a powerful pro-gamer who won a full 201 in the War Games and Pentathlon.

And today, I was prepared to show that reputation is not just in the past. I did a lot of work after I served in the military, and I got abilities I didn't think I could.

I have to protect the world with this power just by thinking shallow. Since Yoon told her to do what she wanted to do, Min Ho was determined to faithfully follow her as an obedient son.

“I'll think about it later.”

First, I decided to try it well from now on. About the time Minho went through his mind.

“It's time to set up. ”

The concierge knocks on the door. Min-ho woke up. Outside, Ra-ram and Cheol-soon shout for him.

“Kang Minho's here. ”

“I heard you won The Answer. The prize there is higher than this league. ”

“Did you not see the show? I'm taking a quiz, but I live with Emoticons, so I got a thumb. Anyway, that was great. ”

When I opened the door of the stadium main hall, the crowded audience first caught my attention. I saw the power of the quiz show as I was standing still in the queue. I felt a little proud that I was paying this much attention to myself who should be treated like an old gamer.

Minho was at the booth following the instruction of the Facilitator.

“Preparation time is 10 minutes. ”

The concierge closes the door and disappears. The noise outside was blocked because it was soundproofed.

Minho immediately installed a keyboard and mouse and sat in the game seat.

“Phew. Reminds me of old times. ”

A space where you can sit quietly in front of a large audience with transparent windows.

It's been a good vibe for a long time. I felt like I had come to the right place, completely different from when I stood in front of so many audiences on the quiz show.

I took out the fold-out watch in my arms with an old-fashioned lid and placed it on the left side of the keyboard. The ticking of the clock gave me peace of mind.

On the other side of the booth, a uniform with the logo 'Eagles’ was sitting across from it, and he opened his eyes and saw his hands untied. Minho grinned as she grinned at that defeat full of tension and challenge.

"I only play sports. ’

It was just using a mouse and keyboard instead of a soccer ball or basketball. Joyful and fun together was no different from talking to someone about soccer, baseball, or playing GO and organs.

It's probably not a story that my father's generation will understand. But now it's like this. Games became play, work, culture.

‘Come on, let's hit it. ’

Minho clicked on the launch icon of the Pentathom game. The opponent reaches the game room and greets you with a chat.

[Kang Min-ho, please be gentle. ^ - ^]

[Come.]

Chat went away, but the look of the high school across the street seemed to eat away at him.

Minho has chosen a bio group that is one of Pentathom's species. This fast-tempo was the weakest of the three, rather than the strongest of the attackers.

On the contrary, the opponent chooses a legion of guardians that require sophisticated control. This faction, like looking at Medieval Soldiers, had a long production time for each unit, while its Defense Strength doubled that of an equivalent unit.

[Please stand by for players.]

Along with the referee's chat, a large bulletin board said, "06/20 Today Match Up." A light comes on the stage in the middle of the booth.

Han Yong-jun, who was sitting in the center of the relay seat, greeted with a lively expression.

“Hello gaming fans, Pentathom Summer Season hosted by ENGAMENet! Today I'm going to broadcast the Preliminary League Week 2 game to you. With help, game expert Um-tae-hyeong Kim Jae-kyung is with us. Hello!”

Two commentators and Castor finished their greetings.

“It's a duel between Kang Min-ho, the traditional comeback fighter, and Lee Taek Yong, the leader of the Emerging Kang Ho. How do you see Tae-tae? ”

“Looks like there's a stage as exciting as a match today. Kang Min-ho, who was shining in the 201 victories, recently returned from military service. I will take advantage of Kang Min-ho who is watching. ”

The camera illuminated Minho. Minho waved his hands at the audience as he looked at the camera.

“Look at that relaxation. That's Kang Min-ho's style. No matter how close you get to the corner, you don't lose your cool. ”

The camera illuminated the alternating player this time. He was pretending to practice seriously while keeping his eyes fixed on the monitor. In fact, Minho noticed it because he was just clicking on the empty air, so he couldn't help but faint.

The commentator Jaekyung began to explain about Lee Taek Yong.

“The Taxi player, it's never easy. because in the professional world, young athletes are never young. Crazy high school. I know it's offensive to just hear it, but it means that young athletes are just as scared. Especially the Eagles were born for the Pentathlon. Crazy! Crazy! ”

“Yes, he's crazy! We have just received word that you are ready. Match Map" Master's Valley "! Kang Min-ho versus Lee Taek Yong. Let the games begin! ”

As Castor Yong-jun shouted, thunderous applause followed in the audience.

The big screen has also switched to the game screen. The start count went up and finished loading. Minho stretched his fingers lightly and threw his gaze at the monitor.

It's time for the game.

Four worm-shaped workers have been summoned to the home of a bioforce called the hatchery. Minho put the three on the resource crystals and pulled one out and went straight to the center of the map.

What's Kang Min-ho doing?

- At the beginning, you should only focus on mining resources for workers. A worker's difference can be blown away like a snowball and can be a big hit.

- I think I've come up with a different strategy.

A Defensive Scout for Lee Taek Dragon has entered Minho's headquarters. You have been caught by a crustacean with a swift foot while checking which unit you are building and how the building is progressing.

- The first battle has begun!

Lee Taekyong, who confirmed Minho's origin, ambushed five guards. The spectators were amazed at the control that fled while avoiding the crustacean attack.

- There aren't many crustaceans left! Kang Min-ho is in trouble!

A second batch of crustaceans produced in a straight line on the Guardian's route, circling around Minho's stronghold. A surrounded guard bursts out in an instant.

- Min-ho Kang's M-Bride of Congress! Are you the guy who took two years off? Stand down for Taek Yong!

- Clearly not rusted.

Meanwhile, Minho's workers open up a building around the corner of the map.

- Guard units are busy!

- There were a few crustaceans on the mainline. Aren't you sneaking up on me? You want to think about it.

Lee Taek Yong rolled his mouth and laughed.

"I'm going to push you to the ground, so you're going to do something about it? ’

Each and every one of the Guardian Squad's units reveals the map in detail.

We've been spotted the Underground Monarch who was secretly pulling them out!

- The Underground Monarch of the Biological Society is a resource-consuming unit that can hide in the base of a deceptive unit and deal enormous damage if it is trapped underground. But it would be a waste of resources beyond being spotted.

- Emergency production has begun at Tac Yong HQ!

Blue light has appeared all over the base of the Lee Taek Dragon, which is packed with medieval palace-shaped buildings. The portal opens and a four-legged, immortal chariot spills out.

- Immortal chariots are the perfect countertops for the underground. It is specialized for chopping off enemy units with superior ranges.

- Oh my, Kang Min-ho's strategy that empowered him from the beginning is failing!

- Gambling is over if they find out.

Immortal chariots crossed the map.

- Kang Min-ho, we have a second crisis!

- Look. Range upgrades are already over. I'm ready. As an underground monarch, a Guardian can be easily captured, but not an Immortal Chariot.

Minho was obsessed with building a production building in case he knew what he was building secretly.

“Kang Min-ho! It's over! ”

Lee Taek Yong invaded Minho's headquarters with joyful eyes. And he faced the screen of the Sky Lord, not the Underground Monarch, in a row.

“Nice to meet you!”

Minho smiled and gave orders to one of the Heavenly Monarchs. Crush the Immortal Chariot.

- No, what is this?

Castor's excitement screams at the sudden lord of the sky. The ruins of an immortal chariot were slaughtered by the Heavenly Monarch in front of Minho's headquarters.

A cheer burst out from the audience with applause.

- It wasn't a gambler. Counters at the counter. They dug a trap and waited. in the building that I was secretly building, repeating the production and cancellation, pretending to keep going. And from that resource, we produced the Lord of Heaven at a daily rate on the mainland. This is psychological insanity!

Gentlemen? If the Tai Lung commentary is crazy, it's crazy!

- The crackdown is here. Look at the headlines for Lee Taek Yong. As soon as we see the immortal chariot going down, we are rapidly preparing a combination of crisis fighters and giants with multitudes. It looks like we've decided that if we go in before the expansion, we have no quadrant.

Lee Taek Yong set up a base on multiple resources and broke down Minho's building in the corner. The Heavenly Monarch, who departed from Minho's stronghold, had to return without breaking through the defenses of the guards who turned it into a field in an airspace.

- Lee Taek Yong has lost dozens of units, but Kang Minho's loss from the Underground Monarch Tech building is not great! We don't know the game yet!

Minho, who is relatively relaxed in the number of attack units, chose two expansions at once. Taek Yong has been controlling terrorist units and harassing various parts of Minho, and has managed to maintain a thorough defensive line.

A game with a slight downturn.

Soon.

Castor and commentator scream at the same time.

- Total aggression for Taxi begins!

- Incredible volume!

- Kang Min-ho! How do we stop it?

Even though Minho had gained advantages in the first half, he felt that he was not able to break through for the second half. As the crustacean that was out for reconnaissance fades, the area north of the minimap is covered in black fog.

Circumstances that cannot be viewed one inch ahead.

Now combine the unions. There was only a massive struggle.

The beauty of real-time strategy games was in predicting the number of opponents and devising strategies that surpassed them. In that sense, Minho had favored winning with a strong strategy in the first half.

The opponent doesn't give in to it, but drags the game all the way here. Eagles' ability to compliment everyone he met was quite observant.

‘Let's check out the odds. ’

Minho stared at the clock on the left side of the keyboard. In the middle of the tangle, I placed my hand on the lid of the watch.

The needle in the clock, which was sharp and open, turned around quickly. In Minho's head, a minute of situation compressed into a panorama and passed instantly.

Large-scale combat situation. A bioforce pinched by Finch. A multitude that barely prevents it from collapsing into a crucial drop. Consecutive losses in small wars that started everywhere. And defeat.

“Bite!”

You have good taste!

This is not the exact future after 1 minute. Probably would have been correct.

In many ways, we learned about the 300 million people's clock, that the scholar who used to own it was famous as a future researcher. Can the scholar change the future by trying? I said something about destiny.

It is possible. With the basic skills and the courage to put it into practice, we can change any future.

‘I'm sorry, but I can't just bust you out of the army. ’

I acted immediately to win. Causes Analysis!

The crucial defeat was the failure of large-scale engagement. I recovered from my discharge, but was pushed out of control in a large-scale war.

So, what happens if we overcome this even worse?

- Kang Min-ho! Half our units are being transported to the carrier! Stormy drops! I'm in a panic for Taegeuk!

Minho's close victory in large-scale warfare has not left a hindrance to the relatively defenseless multibases.

Guards, 12 o'clock! Underground Monarch Kang Minho secretly lays a Thorn Tentacle on his worker!

A high-crisis lightning storm has been launched over the Underground Monarch. The crowd cheers for the defenses of Taekyong, who has managed to defend the multitude so closely, and for a moment, aircraft flock onto the exploding underground monastery. The crowd cheered at the control of Minho's Jade Monarch who disappeared after only killing workers while avoiding cooking during a lightning storm.

Lee Taekyong ran a repentant rush across the map to plot a counterattack.

- Multiple raids on Tactician Raiders! At the same time, target Minho's main building!

Minho stopped the assault knights by returning to the second squad that was heading into the center.

- Sweaty battle! Not enough resources for takeover. You've hit your limit!

The defeated Lee Taek Yong was devastated in a series of small wars on every side. A minute ago, he was clearly ahead of the number of units, but now he's been pushed to the front yard.

“Damn it.”

The fingertips of Taek Yong who put his hands on the keyboard tremble. When he typed two letters and pressed Enter, a letter pops up in the chat window.

[GG]

- For Lee Taek Yong!

The crowd cheered as Lee Taek Yong finally declared defeat. Minho grabbed his hand and shouted "Yes" on the big screen.

After his debut, Lee Taek Yong lost his first battle like a child, striking the keyboard. The image was reflected in a large light panel.

Eagles' late notice dives into the booth, scrubbing in. Lee Taek Yong rushed to pose as serious. The audience burst into laughter.

Minho, who organized his keyboard and mouse for the next player's setting, came out to meet Taekyong who came to greet him outside the booth. His handsome face looked like a heavenly child, unlike before the match.

Lee Taek Yong bowed first and greeted me.

“I've learned a lesson. Your reputation precedes you.”

“It was a fun battle. You weren't easy on yourself. My wrists were so tight, I could have retired in one game. ”

It was a joke, not an empty word. If the eyes were equipped to determine who the other person was, rather than the movements that were well trained for Lee Taek Yong, they would not have been able to guarantee the advantage even if they tried to preview after one minute.

Minho waved coolly to the athlete's waiting room. Opening the door, Ra-ram and Cheol-soon came at me with a stern expression.

“Excellent, sir! ”

“You pressed your nose again. Can I ask you a secret? ”

Minho wanted to give advice to the two who were watching the power analysis car for a while. However, the current Lee Taek Yong and the two of them are quite skilled.

“Are you two going to fail the preliminaries the next time you lose? ”

“Certainly.”

Minho slowly tapped the shoulders of Razor Slash and Iron Soon.

“Well done. See you next season. ”

“Yes? Yi, this season? ”

Minho kicks his tongue and shakes his head at them, dumbfounded.

“Teach me something for the off-season. I can practice on you if you want. Or go to the army. ”

“Sir!"

-------

relic: Futurist's Swing Clock

effect: I can see the variable future for 1 minute.