The god of eSports.

The god of gaming.

These were the titles that followed Lee Shin.

Debuting as a pro at the age of 20, he shocked the eSports world by winning his first individual league without a single loss.

From then on, he maintained an unbroken winning streak, dominating both professional and individual leagues alike!

With his tall stature and handsome looks, he became a national star.

However, his meteoric rise came to an end at 24.

It happened while he was serving his mandatory military duty as a member of the Air Force pro team.

He had just secured his spot in the finals after an effortless victory in the semifinals of an individual league.

Then, in the restroom, a masked assailant attacked him.

The assailant struck Lee Shin’s wrist with a steel pipe just as he was washing his hands.

The unbearable pain of shattered wrist bones!

Lee Shin screamed in agony, but the attacker fled as if their job was complete.

The police never caught the culprit.

His wrist never fully healed. Every time he tried to make precise movements with a mouse, pain would shoot through it. That was the end of Lee Shin’s career as a professional gamer.

The pro teams that had once vied for him all turned their backs.

Discharged due to his injury, Lee Shin returned home, spending his days in a state of emptiness.

Every morning, he would check his wrist upon waking, only to feel the same excruciating pain gnawing at his bones. And with that, despair would set in.

Time passed with him in a daze, wasting away.

At first, his family comforted him. But soon, their patience wore thin.

“How long are you going to live like this?!”

“This is why I told you not to waste your life on games!”

Lee Shin locked his bedroom door. And along with it, he shut everyone out.

The eSports news section was plastered with photos of his long-time rival, Hwang Byeong-cheol, clutching the championship trophy with teary eyes.

[Hwang Byeong-cheol, Free from the Shadow of Second Place: ‘I Feel Sorry for Lee Shin’]

[Champion Hwang Byeong-cheol: ‘This Victory Doesn’t Feel Complete’]

[Hwang Byeong-cheol’s Win—Was It Only Possible Because Lee Shin Was Absent?]

[A Rivalry with Opposing Fates]

Lee Shin stared at the pictures with an empty gaze.

Memories of his past four years of glory flashed before him.

Flawless strategy, instinctive control, monstrous multitasking—he had dominated an era.

Born into a prestigious family of scholars, he had chosen gaming over academics, defying his parents' fierce opposition.

Because he had no other choice.

Because gaming was exhilarating.

Because his dream had been to play until the day he died.

‘Yeah, that was my wish, wasn’t it?’

Lee Shin let out a bitter laugh. He lay lifelessly on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

‘So… should I just die now?’

It was at that moment.

A small black dot appeared on the ceiling. The tiny, round speck grew larger and larger.

‘What the…?!’

A swirling black hole-like light erupted, swallowing Lee Shin whole.

“You’re telling me to fight a war?”

At Lee Shin’s question, Gremory nodded.

One of the 72 Demon Lords—Gremory.

Her crimson hair shimmered elegantly beneath a golden crown. The black velvet and white lace of her attire accentuated her slender waist, draping gracefully over her figure.

Once ranked 56th among the demon lords, she had now fallen to the very bottom.

“I am one of the few demons who are merciful to humans and incapable of lying. But I suppose that kind of nature doesn’t help much in ranking battles.”

Gremory spoke with a sorrowful expression.

“If I lose even one more ranking match, I will be stripped of my title as a demon lord. That is why I summoned someone who could fight and win in my stead. That person is you.”

“But I…”

“I understand. You don’t want to get involved in the struggles of demon lords. But if you help me… I will grant you a wish.”

“No, but……”

Gremory did not give Lee Shin a chance to speak and continued talking.

“I preside over medicine and love. I can heal any illness and grant you the love of any woman. There must be many wishes I can fulfill for you.”

Lee Shin, who had been about to say something, fell silent as if his tongue had been tied.

‘She can heal any illness?’

His gaze naturally shifted to his right hand.

Following his gaze, Gremory also took an interest in his wrist.

“Oh my, your wrist is badly injured, isn’t it?”

“Y-yes.”

“Even applying a little pressure must be painful, right?”

“That’s correct.”

Lee Shin’s voice trembled.

“I can heal it for you. It’s a very simple matter for me.”

“……!”

Lee Shin’s eyes widened.

Seeing his reaction, Gremory’s eyes gleamed. She had spotted an opportunity to persuade him.

“If you form a contract with me, I will heal your wrist on the spot. And with each victory, you will gain much more.”

“What happens if I lose?”

“I will lose my status as a demon lord.”

“And what happens to me?”

“Only a demon lord has the authority to open dimensional gates. If I am no longer a lord, I will not be able to send you back.”

“So, I will be stuck here forever?”

“Until I regain my title as a lord.”

“Is this place Hell?”

“It’s the Demon Realm. A world inhabited by demons and monsters. Though, we do manage Hell as well.”

“If I win, will you send me back to my original world?”

“Until the next war, you will be able to stay in your world.”

“So, these wars happen frequently?”

“Yes, the ranking battles of the 72 Demon Lords never end.”

“If I lose even once, is it all over?”

“No, there will be times when you win and times when you lose. But the upcoming ranking battle is especially important since my status as a demon lord is on the line.”

Gremory smiled.

His many questions meant that his heart was beginning to waver.

“Do I have to personally fight on the battlefield?”

“Fufu, in the ranking battles, you will never be in danger. You only need to command.”

“……”

Lee Shin’s gaze wavered. Countless thoughts filled his mind.

If he formed a contract with her, his wrist would be healed.

If he won, he could reclaim everything he had lost.

If he lost, he would never be able to return to his original world.

‘I was planning to die anyway.’

For Lee Shin, who had wanted to escape his wretched reality, this risk was not that significant.

After calmly considering his options, he asked,

“What exactly do you want from me? Do you want me to keep winning? Do you want me to raise your rank to the top?”

“As long as I can maintain my title as a lord, I will be satisfied.”

At those words, Lee Shin made up his mind.

‘She’s giving me an opportunity, and she doesn’t have high expectations. This seems worth trying.’

Lee Shin opened his mouth.

“I’ll do it.”

At that moment, a contractor was born to Gremory, the demon lord who had once ranked 56th but now stood at 72nd place.