World Champions League.
To Seong Ji-han, this tournament actually didn't have much meaning.
What he was most focused on was the ranking of humanity in the Space League.
In order to prepare for the clash with Longinus, I had to train hard every day.
Seong Ji-han planned to leave the Champions League group matches to other Korean players.
'Then, when the time was right, I was just going to sit there to use up the ban card... … .'
However, because of the quest he received this time, Seong Ji-han's thoughts on the World Champions League completely changed.
'The matter of candidates for the Holy See was suggested by Pythia.'
Saying that it was to save Seong Ji-han's life, Pythia informed him of the 'Star Chaser' option to become a candidate for the Constellation.
Since there was still a significant difference between Seong Ji-han, the first-class human race, and Seong Ji-han, the second-class star, the star chaser option was still applied.
If this continues, as time passes, Seong Ji-han will be able to become a candidate for the Holy See.
In particular, by the time the Champions League title was decided, the deadline for becoming a candidate for the Holy See was also approaching.
Even if it wasn't a Celestial Cube quest, there wasn't much difference in time between becoming a constellation candidate anyway.
but.
'Nevertheless, it is meaningful that this is given as a reward.'
If the Celestial Cube truly provides rewards appropriate for the user's situation.
I could guess that selecting a candidate for the Holy See a month or two in advance was a very important thing.
'hmm… … Is it possible that the advent of Longinus is just around the corner?'
Longinus, the constellation that holds the spear of divine death.
No matter how powerful Seongjihan became, if the Constellation descended directly, the pendulum of victory or defeat would inevitably tip in that direction.
Could it be that the Celestial Cube's compensation is intended to prevent this?
'First of all, I must win without fail.'
In order to become a candidate for the Holy See, Seong Ji-han decided to work seriously on the World Champions League.
"What should we do to make sure our country wins?"
Let Seong Ji-han talk like that while watching TV with people gathering one by one.
"Oh, uncle didn't seem interested… … As expected, your heart races when you see the group lineup, right?"
"According to experts' evaluations. It is said that the most important thing against our country is luck. "Whether Seong Ji-han gets banned or not has a decisive impact on the game."
"The first and second vans are essential. From the 3rd time onwards, there is a 50% chance... … "If I'm really unlucky, the owner might get me banned for all 5 games."
"I will definitely pick up the supporter map as well. "My uncle showed his ability as a supporter last time, but with my uncle banned, our country is lacking in support power."
"It is said that England, which has a similar support force to ours, will only bring out the wizard map. "I guess mages and supporters are our country's weaknesses."
Everyone talked about the Champions League.
There are two main strategies being prepared abroad against Korea.
The first is with the sacred Philban.
The second was to adopt a supporter or mage map.
"Then we can recruit mage and support class talent from Korea."
"I see… … Do you? However, it is not that easy to find a player with national team-level capabilities... … ."
While Lee Ha-yeon was speechless.
"Me, me!"
Sophia, who brought her plate from the kitchen, raised her hand.
"A player with national team-level capabilities! Supporters lacking in Korea! Here you are!"
"ah… … ."
"There is a supporter, Sophia."
"But didn't Sofia get a call-up from the U.S. national team? "If you're in the lineup, isn't it impossible to play multiple times?"
"Ah, I wasn't called because I wasn't at the level yet. "The US national team has a very high level limit."
The U.S. national team is comprised of only the best players in the world.
In order to be selected as a member of the national team, no matter how good your gift was, you had to exceed the level limit set by the national team.
In Sofia's case, she was slightly below that level, so she was not able to make the U.S. national team lineup.
"But Jihan always asked me why I had to become a naturalized person… … ."
"It was because of the Sword King's case."
Maybe it's because of the case of Sword King, who went to Japan last year and caused great damage to the Korean national team.
Seong Ji-han was not happy that foreign players had to become naturalized.
In the first place, I wondered whether it was necessary to go to that length in a national competition at a time when the Space League was the most important.
He had not been in favor of Sophia's naturalization until now, but now things were different.
"Sophia, do you want to come? to Korea."
"Really?"
"Yes, I have to win this time."
"and!"
Sophia's eyes widened, as if she was surprised that Seong Ji-han accepted the story even after she had brought it up.
"Uncle, what's going on? "He told me not to come like that."
"I received the winning quest."
"… … Are there quests for that too? "Uncle, do you play other games with us?"
"He suddenly gave it to me."
Upon hearing that he had received the quest, people around him looked at Seong Ji-han with surprised faces for a moment.
Lee Ha-yeon thought carefully and expressed her opinion with a serious expression.
"If it's because of a quest, why not make it public? Against powerful countries like the United States and China, the difference between winning and losing can depend on whether the owner has a van or not."
What if we met the United States in the finals?
If the American coach was lucky and the sacred 5 bans became a reality, it would be difficult to guarantee the outcome of the game.
So Lee Ha-yeon said, let's make this public and say, "Give me the win."
"Will it go that far, sister?"
"The owner says I have to complete the quest, but of course I should accept it if I'm human. Additionally, the standby guild effect has increased significantly this time, making everyone more cautious. "If it's just one win, you can probably get a concession."
Because the importance of Seongjihan and Daegi Guild to humanity was so great.
She was confident that winning the Champions League could be achieved through sufficient negotiations.
one.
"No, it would be a bit awkward to openly reveal the details of the quest to the whole world."
Seong Ji-han rejected this offer.
'There's no need to be cautious just because you're outright telling them to win.'
The servants of the God of War in the fortress were also watching the situation of humanity.
There was no need to show them that Seong Ji-han was doing too much by winning the Champions League.
"Rather, let's say that Sophia's recruitment happened because the Korean Association actively promoted it."
"aha… … Like the director recruited me while the owner was training?"
"Yes, a picture like that would be better."
"Yes, then I will contact you right away."
* * *
=Group B has been confirmed! Korea, England, Saudi Arabia, and Canada.
=What do you think of the group composition results?
=Very good! Although England is a strong team, they are not as good as us.
=That's right. Even if Seong Ji-han is training and cannot participate in the group match, it will not be difficult for him to advance to the round of 16!
After the formation of Group B was completed, I listened to the voices of commentators commenting that this was a favorable result for Korea.
"Director. My name is Lee Ha-yeon... … ."
Lee Ha-yeon immediately pushed for Sophia to join the national team.
next day.
[The round of 16 is already confirmed? Group B results, smile for Korea.] [Coach Young-Jun Noh makes a surprise announcement that he will include Sophia in the national team lineup!] [Who is Sophia? A promising supporter with the gift 'Trinity'.] [The American Battle.net Association could not hide their embarrassment at the surprise recruitment announcement]It's been a while since optimistic articles about the results of the group composition came out.
When coach Noh Young-jun announced that he would bring America's Sophia to the national team, all eyes were focused on this.
-omg; Sophia really naturalized?
-No, they just said they would come and didn't come, so I wasn't expecting it... …
- Didn't Seong Ji-han say there was a need to become naturalized?
-ㅇㅇ You must have said that while talking about the Sword King case. I don't like that kind of thing.
-Ah, but is Sophia the same as the Sword King? You weren't even selected for the US national team lol.
-Anyway, the director made a surprise announcement despite strong opposition? thief
-Oh no way. There must have been some coordination.
-ㄹㅇ Even director Noh Young-jun would not be able to do anything that goes against his sincere intentions.
People's reaction to Sophia's recruitment was explosive.
Because she was a card that could supplement the support power, which is a chronic weakness of the Korean national team, at once.
In fact, if it weren't for her special relationship with Seong Ji-han.
When the United States recruited from Korea, they recruited talent, not talent who would come to Korea from the United States.
Although Lee Ha-yeon borrowed the name of coach Noh Young-jun and announced a recruitment proposal.
Astute people were saying that it might not have been possible because Seong Ji-han also agreed to this to some extent.
-If this is the case, only we wizards are really weak. How come Masid doesn't come? lol
-Masid ended up playing for the Argentina national team last time. So he won't be able to play in this Champions League.
-It's a shame... … Can't we just recruit him next season?
-But Masid is the head of the Argentinean boy family, so I feel sorry for leaving him out there haha.
-Well, Sofia wasn't able to make it to the U.S. national team because she wasn't good enough, but Masid's case is different.
-Are there any wizards you can raise on your own?
-yep… … Strangely, no magician talent appeared.
- If Seong Ji-han came out, it was enough. What more do you want?
If Masid is recruited, the strongest team in this Champions League will be confirmed, but people are expressing regret.
However, with Sofia joining the national team, expectations for victory grew even higher.
And the game schedule that was released after that.
The matches against the three countries were scheduled for 2, 4, and 6 days later.
A fairly tight schedule.
However, there was a reason for this.
-Why is the schedule so tight?
-It looks like there is a Space League match early next month.
-This time's opponent is… … World Tree Elf.
-Oh, it's them again?
-World Tree Elf 200. Ranked 1st.
Space League match to be held in early July.
The opposing race in this game was another world tree elf.
Number 200, ranked first in the Space League.
Because the Champions League had to end before the game against them.
This schedule was very tightly planned.
"That's why. We will continue our schedule here at the Battle.net Center until early July. "It may be a forced march for everyone, but please do your best to achieve our goal of winning."
"Understood, Director!"
Meanwhile, at the Battle.net Center in Korea.
Coach Noh Young-jun was talking about this situation to the players selected this time.
And he finished talking about the schedule.
"Oh, and Sophia is the newest member of the national team. As everyone knows, he is one of the most notable prospects among support players. This time, I had to make a very difficult decision. Please welcome us with applause."
Sophia, who joined the national team, was introduced to the players.
"Hello~ I'm Sophia. Please take care of me~"
Clap clap clap.
As Sophia bowed her head, applause erupted from the audience.
Compared to the Korean national team, he was actually a foreigner with quite a different color.
The national team players, who knew that the support force was extremely weak, welcomed her with loud applause and looked at her in wonder.
"Wow, the accent is really Korean. "It's the same as what you see on BattleTube."
"Is it true that I became a naturalized citizen because of Seong Ji-han?"
"Wouldn't you? Otherwise, why would you come from the U.S. to join the Korean national team?"
"But a holy player… … "Aren't you dating the standby guild master?"
"Well, that's true, but… … ."
While the players were talking, they glanced towards where Seong Ji-han was sitting.
Although I dare to ask him, it is inevitable that gossip-like interest will arise.
"I'm surprised that my brother-in-law would put Sophia on the national team. He was so against it... … ."
Yoon Se-jin also left home to look for relics, following the will of the Holy See.
I returned to Battlenet Center for the Champions League and was watching this scene with interest.
"Dad, the coach recruited me."
"Hehe, if Jihan hadn't given permission, would the director have recruited him arbitrarily?"
"what… … "Isn't that right?"
Seong Ji-han smiled bitterly as he listened to the words of Yoon Se-jin and his wife.
Originally, Seong Ji-han did not agree, but he tried to make it seem like the Korean Battle.net Association had recruited Sophia because of the Champions League.
'My status is too high.'
Is it because Seong Ji-han's current position in the Battle.net industry is so high?
People naturally accepted that it was because Seong Ji-han agreed to this.
In fact, he is against it, so what power can the Korean Battle.net Association have to recruit Sophia?
Seong Ji-han briefly told Yoon Se-jin about this incident.
"I had a situation where I needed to win this time. "I pulled out a clear card."
"okay? Because of circumstances… … "If Sophia joins us, it won't be a problem."
Yoon Se-jin heard those words and nodded.
"Okay, I'll do my best to win."
In his eyes as he said those words, a golden light was sparkling, even if only slightly.
And that.
'… … That light is strange.'
Seong Ji-han did not miss out.