“Waaaaaah!”

Jung Da-ul shouted in triumph. He jumped up and down, savoring his victory.

The players who had lived with him in the second team dormitory looked at him with a complex mix of envy and jealousy on their faces.

“He’s really a strange one.”

Manager Bang Jin-ho chuckled and muttered.

A 30% win rate.

Jung Da-ul narrowly passed the cut-off line.

The anti-Monster specialized strategy Lee Shin had provided had worked perfectly.

In 10 matches against first team players, the 3 wins he barely secured were all against Monster players.

He had succeeded in defeating 3 out of 4 Monster players, just barely managing to avoid failing the test.

“Good job.”

“Coach, thank you so much!”

“You’ve still got a long way to go. Against Monsters, you need a greater variety of tactical patterns. Your repertoire is too obvious, so when you faced the fourth Monster, you lost.”

“Yes, sir!”

“And how could you lose to a Human player, on a map favorable to the God Race, when Humans are weak against the God Race?”

“I'm sorry.”

But he only looked happy, and showed no sign of genuine remorse. Lee Shin felt a kind of culture shock as he watched Jung Da-ul.

‘How can someone be this happy without a 100% win rate?’

For someone like Lee Shin, who had an obsessive desire to win and wouldn’t even return to playing unless he was the best, this low-tier mentality was incomprehensible.

Still, defeating 3 out of 4 Monster players proved Jung Da-ul’s ability in anti-Monster matchups.

After all, his opponents weren’t trainees or second-stringers, but full-fledged first team players.

Generally, the God Race—naturally disadvantaged against Monsters—was ironically strong in Monster matchups. This anomaly could be strategically useful.

“You both made it. Well done.”

Manager Bang Jin-ho came over and offered his praise. Lee Shin simply nodded as if it was obvious.

“What about you?”

Manager Bang pointed at the whiteboard listing the names of the ten first team players.

“How about you give it a shot while we’re at it?”

At those words, Lee Shin scanned the first team players.

Everyone was tense.

Lee Shin, the God of Gaming.

If he were to take the first team test, it would carry a completely different level of weight.

Lee Shin thought for a moment.

“What, not confident?”

Manager Bang casually provoked him.

Lee Shin smirked.

“Let’s do it. But I’m adding one condition.”

“What is it?”

“Each one gets to fight me on their favorite map.”

He rolled his wrists and continued speaking.

“It won’t be any fun if it’s too easy.”

The expressions on the first team players’ faces simultaneously twisted.

And so began Lee Shin’s test—the undeniable highlight of the day.

[The God has returned.]

[‘God of Gaming’ Lee Shin, Confirmed to Return as Starting Member of MBS First Team]

[‘Magnificent Return of the God’ – Sweeps All Ten First Team Members in Internal MBS Test]

[Lee Shin Overcomes Injury – Still in Top Form]

[‘Army of the God’ – MBS First Team Reborn]

[Strengthened Roster, MBS Expected to Shake Up the Fourth Round]

It exploded.

The burning question of whether Lee Shin would return as a player, which had captivated the global e-sports world, was finally answered.

It wasn’t an official announcement from MBS.

But news of the internal first team test had spread through second team players and trainees present in the practice room, quickly igniting across internet communities.

Of course, everyone had already suspected that Lee Shin would return eventually.

Lee Shin had always had extraordinary love for the game, even during his active years. And even after returning as MBS’s coach, he had left the possibility of a comeback open.

His recent interview, where he mentioned "soon," had also drawn attention.

Everyone had been expecting him to appear in the upcoming second half of the season.

What people were most concerned about, however, was whether Lee Shin’s current abilities were up to par.

No one doubted he had been the greatest player in history, but after a long break and serious injury, people weren’t sure if he could return to his former level.

Lee Shin was a god.

No one wanted to see that god falter or decline.

There was also interest in whether he could still compete against Korea’s current top pro gamers like Park Young-ho and Choi Young-jun. This latest news sent netizens into a frenzy.

- I heard he swept all 10 first team members in the internal test. ㄷㄷㄷ

- He’s not human.

- A guy whose wrist was shattered, who took a year off, who’s now 25, came back and wiped the floor with ten fully active first team players!

- A trainee said each player picked their own favorite map. lololol

- Hoooooly crap.

- But aren’t MBS players kind of low class? It doesn’t feel that impactful.

- They’re so unpopular they’re called the Dark Priests. So beating all ten doesn’t feel that amazing.

- Wasn’t MBS flopping lately anyway?

- Hey, you idiots, do you think just anyone makes it into the first team? Those ten fought him on maps they picked themselves, and he still all-killed them. That’s insane level of play.

- The God is still alive ㅠㅠ

- He’s still divine ㅠㅠ

- Ahh, I can die happy now ㅠㅠ Just seeing his face would’ve been enough, but he still has the skills too ㅠㅠ bbb Oppa, just take me!

- I heard the two players he trained also made it into the first team instantly. Even as a coach, he’s literally a god ㄷㄷ

- Ugh, I want to see the test match. Don’t they show replays on personal streams or something?

Stories about Lee Shin flooded online communities without pause.

The media picked up everything and turned it into headlines, fanning the flames even further.

But neither MBS nor Lee Shin made any comments on the matter, and the spotlight shifted to those around him.

Specifically, the two people trained by Lee Shin: Judith Levelin and Jung Da-ul.

Of course, the real buzz centered around the adorable foreign girl Judith Levelin, while Jung Da-ul got overshadowed and quietly absorbed into MBS’s dark priest army.

Coincidentally or perhaps deliberately, a photo of Lee Shin and Judy taken together was leaked by the Lee Shin Sect fan café and released to the media, earning her the title of “Disciple of God.”

Being called the disciple of Lee Shin carried significant weight, drawing attention even across the sea to her home country of Canada.

[The famous ‘Disciple of God’ is Judith Levelin, heiress of the Levelin family]

[Disciple of God, Judith Levelin’s beauty becomes a hot topic]

[Foreign heiress becomes a disciple of God]

Once her family background became known, the spotlight shifted to her. And then...

There was a reason why MBS had yet to make an official announcement regarding Lee Shin’s return as a player.

It was a contract issue.

An annual salary of 100 million won.

How wonderful it would be to utilize Lee Shin as a player at that salary?

However, the contract with Lee Shin included a special clause: participation in matches required his own consent.

In the end, to use Lee Shin as the team’s ace player, renegotiating the contract terms was unavoidable.

“How much should we offer as salary?”

Director Park Sang-hyuk had a deeply troubled expression.

“Still, it’s Lee Shin we’re talking about. The higher-ups must be extremely interested. Even if they’re stingy, surely they’d invest in locking down Lee Shin.”

At manager Bang Jin-ho’s words, Park Sang-hyuk sighed.

“That’d be nice, but they’re not going to approve more budget so easily. They’ll probably try to negotiate with some strange conditions or incentives.”

Bang Jin-ho’s expression twisted. It was just the kind of thing they would do.

“Anyway, I’ll try to phrase it well.”

The next day, as soon as he arrived at work, Lee Shin was summoned to the director’s office along with manager Bang Jin-ho.

“First of all, we’ve decided to maintain the 100 million won annual salary you receive as a coach. Based on Manager Bang’s recommendation and our evaluation, you’re still essential to the team in your coaching role.”

“That’s my intention as well.”

Lee Shin nodded.

“And as for your role as a player, we’ll naturally need to add new contract terms.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve reported it to the higher-ups and received approval, but... I’m not sure whether to call this good or bad news.”

“Let’s hear it first.”

“They’ve proposed a performance-based bonus — 10 million won per win.”

“Ten million per win?”

Lee Shin fell into thought.

A season in the pro league is composed of four rounds.

Each round involves eight teams facing off once, so that’s seven matches per round.

With four rounds, that makes 28 matches.

Additionally, each round includes a playoff. The top four teams by points in that round compete for extra points, playing one to three more matches.

If the team ranks in the top four in total season points, they advance to the postseason and can play three to four more matches.

Moreover, the playoffs and postseason matches follow a win-streak format.

If you go out first and achieve an all-kill — that’s five wins!

If the score is tied in a series, a team representative plays a tiebreaker match as the ace.

“Also, there’s an additional condition allowing you to appear on broadcasts during the season.”

“That’s probably because the MBS executives want me to appear on public TV. I’m not interested. Let’s drop that.”

“……”

Director Park Sang-hyuk became speechless.

Lee Shin continued speaking.

“The idea that my salary varies based on performance isn’t bad. But…”

“But?”

“For ace matches, playoffs, and postseason matches — I want 20 million won per win.”

“T-Twenty million?”

Park Sang-hyuk was taken aback.

“The value of a win should increase with its importance.”

“Uhm, I’ll have to talk to the higher-ups to see if they’ll approve that...”

“If they don’t like it, tell them I’ll just stay a coach and do personal streams every night as a hobby.”

“W-What?!”

“As far as I recall, the coaching contract doesn’t restrict personal broadcasting.”

“W-Well, that’s true, but...”

Since it wasn’t a player contract, Director Park hadn’t considered that angle.

“Don’t you think I’d make 50 times more than what you just proposed if I started personal streaming?”

“……”

Awkward silence filled the office.

Lee Shin spoke again.

“I’ve already earned plenty of money and have no interest in more, but that doesn’t mean I’ll accept unfair treatment.”

“Hmm. Understood. I’ll be sure to pass that on exactly.”

Director Park immediately left to relay the matter to the network executives.

Left alone, manager Bang Jin-ho scowled.

“Didn’t you say you don’t care about money?”

“I don’t.”

“Then why add more conditions?”

“The higher the reward, the more I’ll want to win. And... I think I might need some money soon.”

“Why do you need money?”

“To buy a car.”

“You’re going to drive?”

Bang Jin-ho looked surprised. Lee Shin shook his head.

“No.”

“Then why buy a car?”

“Just because I buy a car doesn’t mean I have to be the one driving it, does it?”

“What the hell are you saying? Who’s going to drive it for you—”

He stopped mid-sentence, and a blank look appeared on Bang Jin-ho’s face.

Lee Shin shrugged.

Soon after, Director Park returned with approval, and they finalized the new contract.

Base salary of 100 million won.

And an additional win bonus — 10 million or 20 million won per win depending on the match.

The terms were announced to the media, and with that, Lee Shin’s return as a player was officially confirmed.