Chapter 58: The 500-Won Bet

“…Team 20 will win, right?”

I felt a bit sorry for Team Leader Go, but the result was obvious.

[General] Ame: lol Who’s gonna win?

[General] Eungae: Still, Team Leader Go is a ranker and his control isn’t bad.

[General] WaterIsSelf: But Team 20’s just way too overwhelming… lol

[Guild] Taki: Honestly, there’s no hope here, guys

[Guild] Ariel: lololol

Even the guild members were convinced of Team Leader Go’s defeat.

Chorok and Haema were already so scared they were on the verge of tears.

Despite the awkward atmosphere, Team Leader Go confidently declared he’d carry the team, but… the result was disastrous.

[Guild] INFP: …Rest in peace

[Guild] Gakdagwi: lmao

[Guild] Bambi: ㅠㅠ Good effort

[Guild] Ariel: grats grats

[Party] Proposal: lolol Sorry, but that was hilarious

[Party] Ro: lol

Team Leader Go’s group couldn’t even last a minute and lost quickly.

It was, in every sense, a ‘clean sweep’.

[Party] Proposal: lmao Go’s team tried to copy us

[Party] Proposal: They stuck together while moving

[Party] Proposal: But Chorok kept falling behind and drifting off to the side, lol

[Party] Ro: Made for a perfect target

As expected, Chorok died first.

Haema just gave up halfway, yelling, “Whatever, forget it—”

Left alone, Team Leader Go tried to run away to avoid embarrassment, but only ended up dying in a slapstick fashion.

[Arena — All] Operator: Round 5 of the second match, victory for Team 20.

[Arena — All] Operator: That was a truly unfortunate match.

[Arena — All] Operator: With this, the second match ends.

[Arena — All] Operator: For the third round, Teams 1, 4, 7, 8, and 20 advance.

[Arena — All] Operator: We’ll take a 5-minute break before continuing.

“Wait, five teams advanced, so how are they going to make the next bracket? One team will be left over, right?”

[Arena — All] Operator: For the third match, we’ll do a quick draw for the bye.

[Arena — All] Operator: We’ll settle it with rock-paper-scissors.

“Huh? What? Rock-paper—”

[General] Mushin: ——

[General] Jjapda: lmao this is insane

[Guild] Team Leader Go: …?

[Guild] Ariel: Are they actually crazy?

[Guild] Taki: lolol are they seriously messing with us

[Guild] Taki: They set up the teams however they wanted, and now the bye is just up to luck??

Only five teams for the third round.

There was no one left to cut, so honestly, anyone could take the bye. At least, that’s how the organizers saw it.

[Party] Proposal: Wow, even for a small company

[Party] Proposal: And a dead game, this is just wild, lol

[Party] Ro: I’m getting dizzy

[Party] Happy: It’s so ridiculous, I can only laugh

[Arena — All] Operator: Alright, leaders of the teams advancing to round 3, please enter the arena.

“So that’s the whole point of having team leaders?”

[Guild] Team Leader Go: Ha

[Guild] Team Leader Go: I wondered why we had to put down a leader on the application, lol

[Guild] S: But wait, if it’s like this, there’ll be three teams left for round 4, right?

[Guild] S: Will they do another draw for the bye then?

[Guild] Team Leader Go: Probably???

[Guild] Taki: lmao from round 4 onward, it’s just pure luck

Everyone who realized how things would play out from here couldn’t help but be dumbfounded.

Some were still grumbling about the weird matches just now… but since this was ultimately a fun event, the complaints faded quickly.

[General] Guldari: Typical MonWorld, lol, what did you expect

[General] Beomsik: This is the kind of event where only fools take it seriously^^…

In the end, most just laughed it off.

Above all, Team Water was especially happy.

[General] WaterIsSelf: I thought surviving among all these hotshots would be impossible

[General] WaterIsSelf: But here’s another chance!!!

[General] Eungae: Rock-paper-scissors is a blessing, lol

[General] Jjapda: Heck yeah, lol

And so, the leaders of the five teams advancing to round 3 entered the arena.

[Arena — All] Operator: When the “start” bubble disappears, show your hand.

“But if five people are playing, won’t this take forever?”

Not at all—Water won with scissors in just three rounds.

[Party] Happy: ?

[Party] Ro: ?

[General] Hannari: hehehehe

[Guild] Baegopa: lmao how does that even happen

[Guild] INFP: Was that rigged??

[General] Dodung: fr????

[General] SogogiGood: Is this for real?

Even the team leaders were just as stunned by the ridiculous outcome.

[General] Mushin: Come on

[General] Mono: Wow, I can’t

[General] WaterIsSelf: Yes!!!! Yes!!! ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

[General] Ham: ——

[General] Proposal: ??????

[General] Eungae: Thank you thank you thank you thank you

[General] Jjapda: Woohoo!!!!

And even the operator was speechless.

[Arena — All] Operator: Um…

[Arena — All] Operator: I was actually regretting not splitting it into two groups,

[Arena — All] Operator: but one scissors and four papers ended it perfectly.

[Arena — All] Operator: Anyway, thank you.

[Arena — All] Operator: Team 8 advances to round 4 with a bye.

After a five-minute break, round 4 began immediately.

[Arena — All] Operator: First match of round 4.

[Arena — All] Operator: Team 7 versus Team 20.

“Oh, then the second match will be….”

That’s us versus Team Mushin.

[General] BossOfTheOrganization: It’s half skill, half luck, lol

[General] MapleLeaf: Everyone’s pretty good, this should be fun now

[General] Guldari: Ah, but one team’s a little… questionable, lol?

[General] MapleLeaf: lolololololol

Team 20 had proven their skill with a single match.

Mono’s team had shown impressive teamwork, making them a tough opponent.

And with our match against Team Mushin up next, the excitement was palpable.

[Guild] S: So the teams that lose here will tie for 4th and 5th place, right?

[Guild] Taki: lol Water’s team is getting all the breaks

[Guild] Team Leader Go: Those guys are guaranteed at least 3rd place

[Guild] Mono: lolol dammit

[Guild] Bambi: I wonder who’ll end up in 4th or 5th, lol

With everyone on edge, the operator gave the signal to begin.

As the speech bubble vanished, both teams moved fast.

Mono’s team stuck together in a line. Team 20 spread out, staying alert.

Maybe because they’d seen each other fight, both teams spent a long time feeling each other out.

After about 30 seconds, Team 20 made the first move.

They charged at Shik, who was positioned at six o’clock.

Mono’s team, of course, surrounded and countered them as soon as Team 20 got close.

“Oh… they’re retreating right away?”

Three hits, one per person. Like a test run, Team 20 immediately fell back and stalled for time.

Then they rushed in again, hit, and pulled back.

Early on, Team 20 clearly held the initiative.

Mono’s team, whose members seemed likely to be more aggressive, just kept defending.

But with Team 20’s perfectly timed hit-and-runs, Shik’s HP was dropping fast.

In response, Shik and Ghost switched positions.

Once Shik was in the center, Team 20 split up and started surrounding Mono’s team. Then, with wild momentum, they charged straight at Shik, throwing punches. It was a risky move, expecting counterattacks.

“Whoa.”

Mono’s team fought back hard, their punches making Team 20’s HP flicker.

“Just a little more…!”

As Shik, whose HP was almost gone, clenched his fists, Mono’s team—who’d been attacking Janggun—suddenly retreated.

Team 20 also pulled back quickly, opening up the distance.

“Huh? Are they just facing off again?”

Both teams took up positions at twelve and six o’clock, standing still. The audience was baffled.

Mono’s team was on their last legs. With Team 20’s control, a full-on rush could end it.

[Party] Proposal: Wow, they went from aggressive to suddenly cautious

[Party] Proposal: Looks like they were counting the number of hits

[Party] Ro: Yeah

[Party] Ro: They must’ve calculated that if they just stall for time now, they’ll win with no risks

[Party] Proposal: Exactly

[Party] Proposal: Janggun’s lost a lot of HP

[Party] Proposal: If they charge in, Janggun’s likely to die too, yeah

“Wow…”

In other words, they know where to lay down.

Their calculated play drew admiration.

[Party] Happy: But honestly, Mono’s team’s HP is all shaved down so evenly

Impressive.

I thought they were only focusing on Shik, but they must’ve managed to hit Mono and Ghost too.

“Hey, Buffer’s friends are kind of scary. Are they pro gamers or something?”

With my limited knowledge, I couldn’t help but imagine.

[Party] Proposal: I’ll bet five hundred won on Team 20 to win, lol

[Party] Ro: Same, lol

[Party] Ro: It’s not like Mono’s team is bad

[Party] Ro: But those guys are just too good

[Party] Proposal: But seriously, how are we supposed to beat them ——

[Party] Ro: lol

Honestly, I didn’t care much about facing Team Mushin or Team Water, but the thought of going up against Team 20 had my nerves tingling.

“Man, I’m really looking forward to this…”

While I was distracted for a moment, Mono’s team, having figured out Team 20’s plan, suddenly charged.

Team 20, as if they’d been waiting for it, immediately split off to the diagonal edges and in a flash, closed in on Shik at the center.

Shik and Janggun’s HP bars shook, both quickly losing color.

Everyone was laser-focused, eyes wide, trying to see who would fall first. But Mono’s team suddenly retreated again.

Whether or not people booed, both teams maintained their standoff, taking turns taunting each other.

With the lowest HP, Shik and Janggun took turns moving forward and retreating.

That prompted a flood of “lololol” from outside the ring.

As the atmosphere lightened, the operator ramped up the tension.

[Arena — All] Operator: 35 seconds remaining.

No sooner had the notification popped up than Janggun charged straight at the enemy.

I thought, “Oh, that’s a more aggressive aggro pull,” but Janggun fearlessly closed in, tapped Mono at the edge, and retreated.

Almost like showing off his speed.

“Wow, that’s some next-level taunting.”

Naturally, Mono’s team was provoked.

Shik, who’d been taunting Janggun just as much, also started to move boldly.

Of course, he didn’t just charge in recklessly.

But…

“If he keeps building confidence like that, he’ll lose all caution soon.”

That kind of surprise attack only works on certain opponents—wouldn’t Team 20, being so calculating, see through it all?

Just as I thought that, Shik, after pacing back and forth a few times, moved closer to Ham’s character.

“He’s gonna hit.”

Sure enough, Shik smacked Ham.

Yunjae and Janggun quickly rushed in behind Shik, cutting off his escape.

Trapped, Shik hesitated for a split second, and the three converged, throwing punches.

Thwack, thwack, thwack.

What little HP Shik had left drained away.

[Arena — All] Operator: Shik has died.

The operator jumped in as if waiting for that moment.

Normally, when a team’s down to two, they either give up in defeat or stall out of stubborn pride.

But Mono and Ghost chose to charge straight in.

They’d accepted their fate.