Chapter 285 – Trophy
“…Ugh, what’s this.”
10:47 AM. I woke up because of Dice sticking to my tail.
Through the blinds that automatically rolled up sensing the sunrise, I could see New York. It was lightly snowing. The sky was covered in white clouds, and Central Park in the distance was slightly blanketed in snow. The last day of this year was so quiet. The room was warm and the humidity was just right. The humidifier that automatically activated during the night kept the air appropriately moist.
…Of course, Dice’s drool trailing from my tail might have contributed to that.
I grabbed some wet wipes and wiped my tail clean before pulling the crumpled blanket back up. I was still wandering the border between sleep and wakefulness, the fragments of thoughts floating in my head boiled down to one simple realization – the Final Championship was finally over. That was the gist of it.
There was a results announcement and awards ceremony at 6 AM today, but all I had to do was attend. Engaging in life-or-death battles for five days straight was more mentally exhausting than I had anticipated.
Well, and besides….
‘…Is it almost New Year’s in Korea?’
A 13-hour time difference. It was currently 10:54 AM, which meant only about six minutes remained until the new year in Korea. I shook my head and got up to wash my face. I wet my hair slightly and combed it, then checked my face in the mirror. Luckily, my appearance was fine.
Holding a drone cam in my left hand, I opened the door and headed straight to the lobby filled with the fragrant smell of coffee. I ordered a sweet hot chocolate, took it, and activated the cam at a window seat. Naturally, people flooded in. When I opened the chat, it was predictably chaotic. Showing the dreary midday scenery of New York on December 31 only made it worse.
“…Ah, everyone. Nice to see you. It’s 10:56 AM here in New York. It’s a shame I can’t welcome the New Year in Korea this time, but since I have American citizenship too, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem….”
What nonsense as soon as she starts, LOL
Is that hot chocolate or coffee with brandy?
Hot chocolate made with whiskey
A woman who celebrates New Year twice, LOL
Looks like you just woke up, but your face is glowing, LOL
How are we supposed to live if you’re good at games and pretty?!!
I’m about to lose my mind.
Celebrating New Year twice… I hadn’t thought about it that way, but it made sense when I heard it. In fact, it’s more like my viewers in Korea are celebrating the New Year twice through my broadcast rather than me personally experiencing it twice, but that’s not the point.
Though it felt strange to say it, I couldn’t directly experience the New Year in Korea. But indirectly, I could. How, you ask?
“Now, I’m giving you all a homework assignment.”
The chat window was filled with question marks. Checking the time, I saw there were only three minutes left until 11 AM, and added,
“If any of you watching this broadcast think you can celebrate the New Year most joyfully, start a broadcast with the title ‘With Yoo Jin’ so I can find you. Let’s end the year together.”
What the heck?
Is this the creative economy content or what? LOL, I’m dying
Internet search on how to start a broadcast for lonely viewers with cake, LOL
Couldn’t you have told us earlier?!!!
I have a cake but it’s a family party, so I can’t turn on the broadcast, damn, LOL
Of course, one minute passed while I was talking.
With only two minutes left, I immediately went to the main site of Tricky and searched the keyword I just mentioned. Although broadcasts didn’t appear instantly, after refreshing for about 20 seconds, countless streams appeared. There were well over a thousand.
In a time when you could start a broadcast with just a phone, it was understandable, but the turnout was impressive. I wondered which one to enter, but with only one minute left, I clicked on a thumbnail that was quite striking, showing a small table with a cake and candles already lit.
A few seconds after I entered.
“Oh, what! Wow! Oh my God! I’ve been chosen!”
A man jumped up and down, expressing his joy with his whole body. It seemed a bit much, but I didn’t want to dampen his spirits, so I greeted him simply. I requested to activate the microphone in the chat, and soon my voice was being transmitted in that broadcast.
I briefly wondered what to say first, but since I didn’t plan to stay long, I decided to keep it short. After all, there were only about 30 seconds left until the New Year in Korea.
“Nice to meet you. Your place looks a bit quiet. Spending this year alone?”
“Ah, yes. I just started living alone a few weeks ago….”
“I see.”
Living alone, huh? Then I had something to say.
“I hope your home becomes more lively in the New Year. I wish you can find a girlfriend… and if you already have one, I hope your relationship lasts long. And though it’s a cliché, may you reap many rewards, even more than your efforts. And since it’s winter, stay warm and take care not to catch a cold.”
“Oh, thank you so much… I’m really grateful just for your words.”
Wow, reward, LOL
Warmly (snug icon)
Damn, I’m so jealous, LOL
Used up all his New Year’s luck, LOL
I want a New Year greeting from Yoo Jin too!!!
With only 10 seconds left until the New Year in Korea, I stayed until the end. Along with a modest round of applause, I heard the bell ringing on TV, celebrating the New Year.
The chat window was flooded with wishes for a Happy New Year. Unfortunately, it didn’t feel real here. Maybe in 12 hours, looking at the crowded Times Square, it might feel different.
Anyway, I congratulated him on the New Year. It seemed he was genuinely happy, which was good.
After sharing a brief farewell, I exited the broadcast and added,
“I hope you all have a Happy New Year… of course, this broadcast won’t end here. There are many more rooms to visit, so let’s spend another 30 minutes looking around.”
No one objected.
I spent 1.5 hours just broadcasting, and after being dragged to the hotel buffet by Dice and Harmony, I managed to end the broadcast only after a hearty lunch.
The morning of the last day of the year passed like that.
“Even though the game is over, there are still so many people.”
“Everyone’s here to welcome January 1st. But it’s better than Times Square.”
“That’s true. I heard there’s no room to stand there.”
And it was a Saturday.
New York, one of the busiest cities in the world, on a holiday, the last day of the year and the first day of the new year overlapping, creating a huge chaos. Thanks to that, even though the Final Championship was almost over, Henry sang praises, asking to push the ICARUS Gear for another day or two.
I understand, though. If there were any accidents during the final event, it wouldn’t be good for Henry’s political career. Probably, the other candidates were watching closely for any mishaps to criticize him… Well, it’s not just someone else’s problem. It’s a matter of life and death.
Thus, the matter was settled without any major issues, and I turned my attention back to the Final Championship.
The beds that were previously in the debriefing room and lounge for the players had all been removed and replaced with chairs to sit and rest. Since we weren’t going to stay long, this setup seemed sufficient. It felt quite strange to see a space that had been so comfortable, almost like home, change so drastically overnight.
Anyway, I didn’t need the staff’s help to find my way. The debriefing room, which I had entered and exited several times over the past few days, looked about the same. Simple refreshments were prepared. Five of us, including myself, sat down in the chairs. At that moment, a holographic projector, seemingly pre-installed, activated and depicted a large stadium filled with spectators.
The booming voice of the announcer came through the speakers. The volume was set just right, so there was no need to adjust it.
“And now, we will begin the announcement of the Final Championship rankings and the awards ceremony!”
Simultaneously, the building shook with vibrations.
It wasn’t just the 60,000 people inside the stadium cheering; likely, it was the multitude of people throughout the complex who erupted in cheers simultaneously.
Anyway, how should I put it? The awards ceremony itself didn’t evoke much emotion. To be precise, the Final Championship itself felt that way. I had come to New York mainly to uncover what secrets were hidden in this game, not necessarily to compete in the finals. Even if I hadn’t participated, I would have made my way to New York on my own.
In fact, what pleased me more was having faced Logan head-on several times and winning more than half of those encounters. If I were obsessed with winning and first place, I wouldn’t have bragged about not participating next year.
Regardless, the rankings were calculated.
Out of the 14 Final Championship matches, I won 6. If that didn’t secure first place, it would be absurd. So, I didn’t worry much about it.
“This year’s Apex Predator, the pinnacle of predators, is – Korea’s Yoo Jin! Followed by the U.S.’s Logan!”
The cheers erupted. The list continued to reveal itself, with Dice’s ranking being the most crucial. But there was no need to wait long.
Dice ranked 4th.
I turned to look at her, wondering how she would take it.
“4th, 4th place. 4th… My goodness. How is this even possible….”
She wore an expression of utter elation.
Of course, 4th place was a bit ambiguous. Would she be that satisfied? I briefly thought. But considering this year’s Final Championship included both Logan and me, two players who shouldn’t technically be in such a competition, Dice essentially achieved 2nd place if properly evaluated.
A player who hadn’t even made it into the top 20 last year rose to 2nd place within a few months of intense training, in an international competition no less – it’s understandable why Dice was so happy.
I lifted my tail, placed it on her lap, and added,
“You’ve worked hard.”
“…It’s all thanks to you, Yoo Jin.”
“It’s thanks to your dedication.”
Even as I said that, Dice gently massaged my tail without any resistance.
Meanwhile, the rankings continued to appear. Michael in 9th, Gambit in 13th, Ink in 15th. No one ranked below 20th. For those who came expecting results similar to last year, it must have been a disaster. Out of the top 20 players, six didn’t even make it into the top 20.
As the rankings were announced, their expressions varied. However, none could hide their emotions. I just hoped that the rankings they achieved weren’t overwhelming for them.
Once the announcement up to the 40th place concluded, the lower rankings weren’t mentioned and were to be individually notified.
And now, the main part began.
───Knock, knock, knock!
At that moment, two staff members opened the door and entered.
“We will guide you to the awards ceremony. As you walk, you will find platforms with numbers on them. Please stand according to your rank.”
“Understood.”
It was time to move.
Everyone rose from their seats with excited expressions and followed the staff’s guidance. As we walked, the corridor darkened completely, soon revealing the number 1 glowing in gold ahead. According to them, I was to stand there.
How long did I wait in the gold-marked first-place spot when I felt a finger poke me from behind – unsurprisingly, it was my senior, Polar Bear.
She added playfully,
“Seeing the rookie standing here makes me want to take that spot next year.”
“Dice might cry.”
“She needs a good cry. Her pride has taken quite a hit.”
“Please stop….”
If she got serious, she could be as terrifying as Laurentina – who, once in combat, would tear everything apart like a madwoman.
One by one, people lined up. When the top 20 players stood in a row, the surroundings shimmered, indicating the path forward. We all walked along that path. It felt like Dice’s heartbeat was resonating through my feet. Considering she placed in the high 30s last year, standing here must be a first for her too.
It was a place only the chosen ones could stand. It sounded grandiose, but in reality, it wasn’t much different.
And then-
───Woooooo!!!
Hearing cheers of this magnitude in one’s lifetime might only be possible for the truly chosen. In that sense, it didn’t seem wrong.
There were podiums from 1st to 5th place. Behind them were stairs, and the floor had holograms indicating the path forward, all the way up. As the numbers appeared and only the word “GO” greeted us, I began to slowly ascend to the podium.
Once the top five were filled, the remaining 15 positions in front were occupied one by one. Thus, the top 20 stood before 60,000 spectators.
A small trophy made of pure gold and a dog tag engraved with my name appeared from beneath my feet. They glistened as if inviting me to wear them, so I slung the trophy over my shoulder and wore the dog tag.
Thunderous applause erupted.
As I bowed slightly, receiving the flood of cheers, the trophy podium opened, and a microphone emerged. I wondered if I should say a few words as the winner, so I carefully took the microphone.
Although there was an automatic translation feature, I didn’t need it.
I carefully opened my mouth and spoke in my second native language.
“Hello, everyone. I’m Yoo Jin. It’s a true honor to stand here and receive your cheers.”
I pondered what to say next and decided to keep it simple.
Just my honest feelings.
“Through this Final Championship and my visit to New York, I learned a lot and had great experiences. I’m very happy to add another special memory on this last day of the year. I thank everyone who made this wonderful time possible.”
As I placed the microphone back in the podium, it retracted beneath, and another round of thunderous applause filled the air.
Next was Logan, 3rd place, then Dice, and finally the 5th place winner….
Once all five had given their speeches, applause erupted once more.
───Whiiir!
The podium retracted into the stage.
At some point, the five of us found ourselves standing on a flat stage. This meant one thing.
It was time to go back.
“Shall we go, Yoo Jin? The day isn’t over yet.”
Nodding, I held the trophy and retraced my steps.
Everything was over.
It felt truly liberating.