Descent of the Demon Master-Chapter 1081. Contemplating (1)

“...Did something happen, Yu-Min hyung?”

Park Yu-Min sobered up and looked at Choi Jeong-Wu. “N-ng?”

“I mean, your condition doesn’t look so good for some reason.”

“Oh...”

“It’s not like, uh... You look fine physically, right? But your situational judgment seems to have fallen off the cliff lately. It’s like something’s been distracting you. Is everything okay at home?”

Park Yu-Min smiled awkwardly. “Yeah, of course. If things hadn’t been okay, I’d have mentioned it first. You know I’m not the type to hide stuff like that.”

“Hyung, you know the play-off is around the corner, right?”

“Yeah, I do.”

Choi Jeong-Wu tilted his head in confusion while studying Park Yu-Min’s face.

‘This isn't what Yu-Min hyung is usually like, so why...'

Park Yu-Min’s passion for honing his pro-gaming skills was so incredible that the likes of Choi Jeong-Wu couldn’t even dare imitate. In fact, it was already beyond the level of “working hard” at this point.

Excluding meals and bathroom breaks, Park Yu-Min devoted every waking hour to practicing and fine-tuning his skill set. And he wasn’t just practicing, either. No one could match the passion and focus he poured into every session and every round.

But that was how someone who wasn’t exactly a youngster in this profession could still compete and even win against rivals so much younger than him.

However, Park Yu-Min's behavior seemed to have changed in the last few days.

Although his schedule remained just as intense, it felt like a screw had come loose in his head. The signs first became noticeable during his everyday activities. But now? Even his playing had lost the edge of his past self.

“Hyung, you need to get a hold of yourself. You know you must be at the top of your game for us to win!”

Park Yu-Min shook his head. “Don’t worry too much about it, Jeong-Wu. It’s not what you think.” ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

“Did you get burnt out? After trying so hard? Do you need some time off, hyung? We're supposed to get the rest of the afternoon off, but were you thinking of keep playing?”

“Oh, that... Actually, I gotta go now. I had an appointment with someone.”

Choi Jeong-Wu animatedly nodded. “That’s a good idea, hyung. Humans need rest, you know? Take a much-deserved break, hyung. I’m sure that’ll improve your moods and also sharpen your senses again. Oh, and take the evening off as well. I’ll talk to the team director and have your computer locked away.”

“Oi. Don’t go overboard, okay?”

“I’m being serious, hyung.”

Park Yu-Min chuckled while getting up. “Fine. I’m going now. If the team director is looking for me, tell him I’ll be back soon.”

“Got it, hyung.”

Once Park Yu-Min exited the team’s practice hall, other pro gamers in his team crowded near Choi Jeong-Wu.

“Jeong-Wu hyung? Do you think something weird has happened to Yu-Min hyung?”

Choi Jeong-Wu frowned slightly. “You guys noticed it, too?”

“Yeah. I’ve never seen Yu-Min hyung space out like that while holding his mouse.”

“Yeah, me too.”

Choi Jeong-Wu worriedly stared at the doorway Park Yu-Min used to leave.

Just what kind of a person was Park Yu-Min?

He was someone who didn't even have to resort to the cliched playbook of encouragement or sage advice to produce the result of his fellow teammates cutting down on their sleep. No, he only needed to show them how hard he trained, and that was enough.

Training hard obviously wouldn’t inspire others to follow his example. But...!

‘But, people will begin to think sleeping is a waste of time when they can see a man’s skill level improving at a crazy rate by training like a lunatic!’

That was how Park Yu-Min operated since the early days of his career.

Had it been some other person who was spacing out during the practice sessions, Choi Jeong-Wu would've just brushed it aside without too much concern. Humans had rhythms, after all, and would experience off days every once in a while.

However, the story changed somewhat when it concerned Park Yu-Min.

Choi Jeong-Wu sighed softly. “I hope it’s nothing serious...”

***

“...I’m pretty hopeless, aren’t I?”

Park Yu-Min sighed loudly.

He was deeply proud of giving his all during practice sessions. He could lose during matches. He might run into someone far more skilled than him. However, none of those things hurt him.

Of course, a defeat in a match could set the flames of anger ablaze deep inside his heart, but it was still not quite enough to wound his pride.

He had no problem accepting the fact that some people would be better than him. What he couldn't accept was someone putting in more effort than him, though! And this was why he always pushed himself to the absolute limit whenever he practiced.

That was Park Yu-Min the Pro Gamer’s way of life!

Unfortunately, he was finding it harder to focus on practicing lately. His state had gotten to the point where his juniors had begun openly voicing their worries about him.

“Fuu...”

Park Yu-Min sighed deeply again.

‘I know I need to wake up, but...’

Winning the upcoming play-off was indescribably important to Park Yu-Min and his team. As an individual player, this was the chance to stand on top as a pro gamer again. And for the team, it’d be the first-ever victory in the league.

As far as life's journey was concerned, winning the play-off would be a massive turning point for everyone involved.

The world of esports was unforgiving and perilous.

One’s skills would only deteriorate if they only half-heartedly participated in practice sessions. In other words, as long as Park Yu-Min continued to space out during the practice, it’d be safe to assume that he wouldn’t perform as well as he used to during the play-off.

He knew all this but still couldn’t focus. There was a good reason for that, though.

“Geez. I don’t know what to do...”

If someone noticed Park Yu-Min's current behavior, they'd urgently wave their hands while saying he was making them anxious for no reason.

Park Yu-Min’s gaze listlessly scanned the surroundings. His legs continued to tap the floor nervously as if they were made of vibrators! And he repeatedly grabbed and let go of the cup of refreshment.

Park Yu-Min wasn’t an idiot, so he knew how bad he looked right now. But he couldn’t help himself.

His gaze locked on his phone’s screen resting on the cafe’s table. The clock on it said six in the evening.

‘She should have been here already...’

Then again, being late by ten minutes or so was customary for his guest, anyway. And that was why he and Kang Jin-Ho would wait for her arrival in the past...

Just as Park Yu-Min’s thoughts reached that far, the cafe’s door swung open, and a person with a familiar face walked inside. She looked around and smiled brightly after discovering Park Yu-Min.

“Oh, hey...” Park Yu-Min awkwardly waved at her while looking at that smile.

She airily walked over and sat on the opposite side. “Hey, Yu-Min. You haven’t changed a bit.”

“...Really?”

“Yeah, really. I was worried about not recognizing you, you know? But nope! I knew it was you right away.”

“Thanks, I guess. But you, uhm...”

“Having a hard time recognizing me?” The woman smiled brightly again.

After seeing her dyed hair, the mixture of familiarity and strangeness was the overriding impression Park Yu-Min got.

While looking at his guest, Han Se-Yeon, Park Yu-Min sighed under his breath.

‘Well, she’s still as energetic as ever.’

Despite not seeing each other's faces for almost two years, she still acted as if they had been hanging out yesterday. That was probably why Park Yu-Min didn't have a chance to get lost in his awkwardness.

“When did you come back, Se-Yeon?”

“It hasn’t been long.”

“Are you thinking of going back to the UK, though?”

Han Se-Yeon shrugged casually. “Mm, no. Not really. I learned all I can that side, anyway. For now, I’ll stick around. And go back to university. But who knows what will happen in the future?”

“Oh. You want to resume your studies here?”

“Of course. Come on, Yu-Min. You haven't seen me for so long, right? Don’t you wanna ask me something else?”

Park Yu-Min smiled awkwardly. Trying to match Han Se-Yeon’s pace had always been a tall order for him.

He felt at ease around Kang Jin-Ho not just because they were friends, but because their paces roughly matched each other's.

However, Han Se-Yeon was the type to stomp on the accelerator from the get-go. She was too fast for Park Yu-Min to keep up.

He tried to defend himself. “It’s not like we’ve never spoken to each other while you were overseas, right?”

“But talking in person is way different from sending texts.” Han Se-Yeon chuckled while getting up. “Hold on. I’m thirsty, so let me get something to drink first.”

“Okay.” Park Yu-Min watched Han Se-Yeon leave, then groaned deeply.

‘Yup, she hasn’t changed at all.’

The reason for Park Yu-Min’s distraction was standing right over there by the cafe’s counter, ordering her drink. Watching her almost made him think he was back in the past. Back when he was hanging out with Kang Jin-Ho and Han Se-Yeon.

The wise old they said that one's reminiscence of the past only consisted of good memories. That notion seemed true since Park Yu-Min could only recall having fun with his friends.

‘Even though I’m pretty sure not everything back then was fun...’

...Especially for Park Yu-Min!

Han Se-Yeon returned to her seat while carrying her coffee. Her decision to not return to the table while waiting for her drink seemed like the proof of the distance now existing between her and Park Yu-Min.

‘Well, it kinda makes sense. I’m sure it’s awkward for her, too.’

Even though Han Se-Yeon was pretending everything was fine, was she really? Even family members would feel weirded out after not seeing each other for almost two years. In that case, there was no way she didn’t feel awkward right now.

Yet she was pretending to be fine probably as a way to lessen Park Yu-Min's own awkwardness. Han Se-Yeon always had been someone who could think about other people despite her energetic, my-pace-only personality.

“How have you been?” Han Se-Yeon asked nonchalantly as soon as taking her seat.

“Well...” Park Yu-Min tried his best to sound casual, too. “Not much has changed for me since you left to study abroad. I’ve resumed my career as a pro gamer, you see? I wake up, practice, then go back to bed when I’m too tired to carry on. Rinse and repeat. That’s about it.”

“Are you having fun, though?”

“You don’t stick to work because it’s fun, Se-Yeon.”

“Hnng~?” Han Se-Yeon grinned as if something amused her just then. “Although you look the same... Yu-Min, you’ve actually changed a lot, haven’t you?”

“Eh?”

“The old you would’ve said something that sapped all enthusiasm from your audience, you know?”

“...”

Park Yu-Min couldn’t really deny that. Even he thought he had changed a lot, after all! His old self would have reviewed what he wanted to say five times first to make sure it didn’t upset people around him.

“Still, you look great. That’s what matters,” said Han Se-Yeon.

“Eh?”

Han Se-Yeon grinned. “I’m saying, you look great.”

Park Yu-Min couldn’t help himself but sigh just then.

‘Yup, I can’t keep up.’

Her way of speaking whatever came to her mind was like chewing on rat poison for Park Yu-Min. Here was one of the reasons why he found chatting with her on his own so burdensome.

Park Yu-Min fake-coughed to clear his throat. “How about you, though? How have you been?”

“Oww... Don’t remind me, okay?” Han Se-Yeon waved her hands in disgust. “If only I knew how tough it’d be to stay in another country! I would’ve never left Korea, you know? I guess you have no idea how great it is here.”

“...?”

No one told her to leave, though? Didn’t she choose it herself?

“If I meet myself from two years ago, I wanna tell her something really, really important.”

Park Yu-Min tilted his head. “As in, don’t study abroad?”

“Nope!” Han Se-Yeon firmly shook her head. “You can study, just not in the UK! The food there is not fit for human consumption.”

“...Eh?”

What a pragmatic reason that was. Still, Park Yu-Min could more or less sympathize with her on this one.

“That’s weird, though. Locals don’t have a problem, right?”

“Too expensive!” Han Se-Yeon angrily spat out. “It’s not that all food over there is terrible. But the good stuff is so expensive! The more affordable stuff tastes so horrid, you know!”

“Oh. You sure had it tough over there, didn't you...?"

“I want to praise myself for surviving that place until now. I'm telling you, it's no joke over there.”

Judging from Han Se-Yeon’s playful rant, Park Yu-Min couldn’t help but feel that she had a lot to get off her chest.

“Still, your resume must look even better now, right? Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Well, sure. It is.” Han Se-Yeon triumphantly sat up tall before shrugging casually.

...And then, the conversation came to a lull. Han Se-Yeon didn't say anything as if she had something to think about. Meanwhile, Park Yu-Min couldn't think of anything to say. No, more correctly, he thought now was not his turn to speak.

‘I’m sure she’s not curious about how I’ve been.’

Han Se-Yeon’s true objective, her focal point of interest, was not that. Park Yu-Min obviously knew why she wanted to see him like this.

Knowing what was about to come... waiting for her to get to the main topic seemed like the right move.

Sure enough, Han Se-Yeon sneakily gauged Park Yu-Min’s mood. Her expression was a little sheepish as she broke her self-imposed silence. “Hey, Yu-Min?”

“Yeah?”

“How is Jin-Ho doing?”