Ranker's Return

Supplementary Story 39

Hyeonu left the officetel while dressed in light sportswear. Normally he would be playing Arena or sleeping on the couch, but he couldn’t do so today. He had a pretty important appointment.

‘It is once a month... I can’t be late.’

This meeting didn’t often happen, so it was even more important. At this moment—

“Hyeonu! Wait a minute!” In the distance, Reina ran over while calling out Hyeonu’s name. She was holding an iced Americano in her hand. The iced Americano looked like it was about to overflow every time her feet touched the ground.

“Don’t run. It isn’t too late yet.” Hyeonu held out his hand toward Reina. Then Reina slowed down.

“Did you run because you were afraid I would leave you?”

“No, it isn’t like that... I just felt like I had to run.” Reina smiled and handed Hyeonu the iced Americano.

“By the way, is it okay to go with me today? We can just meet later. I feel like you’re just going to wait...”

The place where Hyeonu was going now was the accommodation of Crescent Moon. There would be nothing for Reina to do there.

“It’s fine. I am curious about what other teams are like,” Reina replied and nodded with a bright expression. She could wait indefinitely if it meant seeing Hyeonu.

“Then let’s go.”

Hyeonu moved a bit slower than usual. Reina walked by Hyeonu’s side.

***

The accommodations of Crescent Moon were already packed with a few people.

“CEO-nim, you are here?” Crescent Moon’s head coach, Jeong Byeongjin greeted the club’s owner, Moon Doyeong.

“How are you, Coach Jeong?”

Moon Doyeong held out his hand toward Jeong Byeongjin with a bright expression. He felt very good. Crescent Moon had finished in 1st place in the Spring League. Additionally, they were maintaining the number one position from the beginning in the summer league that just started. There was no better news for Moon Doyeong, who loved the Arena League.

“I am always doing well with your full support.”

Jeong Byeongjin lightly grabbed Moon Doyeong’s hand and shook it.

“If you need anything else, then feel free to tell me.”

“No, CEO-nim. We have already received too much. As you know, no team has received this level of well-being.”

Jeong Byeongjin stepped back and shook his head.

‘Honestly, I still think it is a bit excessive, but...’

The welfare provided by Crescent Moon was excellent. The accommodation and practice rooms were located in different spaces and living expenses, including meals, were generously provided. There were also all types of benefits other than this.

“You might think so now, but one day you will need more. Tell me at that time, Coach Jeong,” Moon Doyeong said with a big smile.

“I understand, CEO-nim.”

Jeong Byeongjin also smiled like Moon Doyeong and guided him inside.

“Good morning, CEO-nim.”

Kang Ujong got up and bowed his head when he saw Moon Doyeong entering the room.

“I’m a bit late, Supervisor Kang.”

“No, there is still some time left.”

Kang Ujong shook his head strongly. There were more than 30 minutes left until the promised time. Moon Doyeong wasn’t late. Rather, he arrived incredibly early.

“Coach Gang hasn’t come yet?”

Moon Doyeong looked around the room for Coach Gang, Hyeonu.

“He contacted me earlier that he had already left, so he will be arriving soon,” Jeong Byeongjin answered Moon Doyeong’s question. He had received a call from Hyeonu around 10 minutes ago. The time it took to get from Hyeonu’s place to the accommodations of Crescent Moon was around that long, so he would probably appear soon.

“Ah, he said he is coming with a special guest today... CEO-nim, do you perhaps know who it is?”

“A special guest? It is my first time hearing about it.”

“What about Supervisor-nim?”

“It is also my first time hearing about it. In the first place, has he ever talked about something like this?”

It was the first time that both Kang Ujong and Moon Doyeong were hearing about it. A special guest? There hadn’t been any mention of it in any of the correspondence they received over the past month.

“Well... we will know soon.”

Jeong Byeongjin shrugged. Just then, there was the sound of the door lock of the front door opening.

“Hello, Supervisor-nim. Coach Jeong, how have you been? CEO-nim, you’re here as well,” Hyeonu greeted everyone when he appeared.

“Yes, yes. Welcome. Would you like something to drink?”

“It’s fine. I bought it beforehand.”

Hyeonu waved the iced Americano in his hand at Jeong Byeongjin’s words.

“Hey, what is with the special guest? No one knew about it.”

“Ah, the special guest?”

Hyeonu nodded at Kang Ujong’s question and turned to look at the door.

“Come in.”

Reina appeared through the open door.

“Reina?”

“Are the two of you really dating?”

“Should we keep it a secret?”

The eyes of the three men widened. It was a really unexpected appearance.

They never expected the special guest to be Reina.

“It isn’t like that, Supervisor-nim.”

Hyeonu narrowed his eyes and looked at Kang Ujong.

“She isn’t a formal coach, but she will act as a coach from time to time. It is like Teika.”

“Really? Reina?” Kang Ujong asked with an expression of disbelief.

The answer to Kang Ujong’s question came from someone other than Hyeonu.

“Yes, I said I could help.”

Reina nodded. This was what Reina had said herself as she came to Crescent Moon’s accommodations with Hyeonu.

“Why...?”

Kang Ujong still couldn’t understand Reina’s words. If she was going to help out this way, the target should be her former team, the New York Warriors, not Crescent Moon.

“It is because it helps each other. It is good for Crescent Moon to practice PvP against a grandmaster. It is also great for Reina to practice PvP with professional gamers.

This time, Hyeonu answered Kang Ujong’s question.

“Additionally, it isn’t just practice with us. She will occasionally practice with the New York Warriors.”

“That’s right. I always help them with practice one or twice a week.”

Clap clap.

Moon Doyeong heard the conversation between the three people and clapped.

“It is likely that we will stay number one for the summer league.”

Moon Doyeong had a happy expression. PvP could be considered Crescent Moon’s weakness. Reina’s assistance would help them overcome it, so it was considered a great help.

“As expected, there must be Coach Gang at Crescent Moon.”

Jeong Byeongjin shook his head. He and Kang Ujong could never do the same thing as Hyeonu. It was something that only Alley Leader, Hyeonu, could do.

“That’s it. Let’s start today’s meeting.”

Hyeonu smiled and sat down. It was his turn to work. It was as a coach of Crescent Moon.

***

“I think this is enough for today.”

The meeting lasted two hours and ended when Moon Doyeong’s right hand pointed to the ceiling.

“Everyone has worked hard today.”

Hyeonu stood up from his seat and stretched.

“Coach Gang, was today’s meeting boring?”

Kang Ujong smiled at Hyeonu’s appearance. Hyeonu was really consistent. His ability was really good, but he couldn’t stand the boredom if things dragged out for a bit long as it did now.

“It wasn’t boring. It was very informative. It was a time that made me realize that it isn’t unreasonable to be first in the summer league.”

Hyeonu yawned and coughed. Then he replied to Kang Ujong with a casual expression.

“By the way, do you like it, CEO Moon-nim?” Hyeonu quickly changed the topic. He pulled in Moon Doyeong, who was sitting still.

“Like it?” Moon Doyeong blinked and asked in a confused manner at Hyeonu’s sudden words.

“Your team has become the most prestigious club in South Korea... don’t you like it?”

“Of course, I like it. My dream has become a reality.”

Moon Doyeong had been really happy lately. Having an Arena club had been a lifelong dream. It wasn’t enough to simply achieve a dream. He gained more than that.

“It is all thanks to Coach Gang. From the beginning to the present, you have done so much.”

Moon Doyeong recalled the day when he first saw Hyeonu. A young man came to pay off his father’s debt. He thought Hyeonu was overconfident and didn’t know much about the world, but it turned out that Hyeonu was full of power.

“That is true. I have done many things.”

Hyeonu accepted Moon Doyeong’s words straight away. Humility? There was no such thing. Moon Doyeong’s words were a fact that couldn’t be called an exaggeration.

“Even so, your contribution isn’t small, CEO-nim. Didn’t your generous investment eventually make everything possible?”

However, he didn’t forget to praise Moon Doyeong’s contribution. If anyone had poured as much into Crescent Moon as Hyeonu himself, then it had to be Moon Doyeong.

“I look forward to working with you in the future, CEO Moon-nim.”

Hyeonu held out his right hand to Moon Doyeong.

“I agree. I look forward to your continued support, Coach Gang.”

Moon Doyeong shook Hyeonu’s hand.

“Then I’ll be going. Have a great day, everyone.”

Hyeonu shook off Moon Doyeong’s hand and left the room. It was with Reina.

“Are you sure there is something?”

Kang Ujong looked at the door where Hyeonu and Reina left and looked disappointed.

“How can there be nothing? Even a three year old can see it.”

Jeong Byeongjin shook his head and smiled bitterly.

“Do the two of you not have girlfriends?”

Moon Doyeong had a different expression from the two of them. The expression on his face made him resemble Kim Seokjung.

***

“Can we just leave like this?” Reina asked as she left Crescent Moon’s accommodations.

“It doesn’t matter. Originally, everyone will disband after the meeting,” Hyeonu replied and waved his hands as if not to worry.

“I don’t think you believe me right now? Right?”

Hyeonu saw the strange expression on Reina’s face and frowned.

“No, I believe it.”

Reina shrugged and entered the elevator.

“Okay, let’s say so.”

Hyeonu followed with a sullen expression, entered the elevator, and pressed the button.

“What do you want for lunch?” Hyeonu asked Reina as he looked at the rapidly descending floor number.

“You know that I eat everything well.”

Anything was fine as long as Reina could have a meal with Hyeonu.

“Then, um... let’s do this.”

Hyeonu thought for a moment before turning to look at Reina.

“There is a restaurant that I know well around here. It is quiet and the atmosphere is nice. Let’s go there.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

Reina nodded. There was a deep smile on her face.

“Additionally... I am going to stream there.”

The smile on Reina’s face was erased in an instant at Hyeonu’s words that followed.

“Streaming?”

“Yes, streaming. I think it has been boring because I only do it in Arena every time.”

“Well... I don’t mind. But will you be okay, Hyeonu?”

Dding-!

The elevator arrived at the lobby the moment Reina asked this question.

“I don’t mind either. It’s not like we’ve only done it once or twice.”

Hyeonu shrugged and moved through the open doors. Reina smiled brightly and followed Hyeonu out.