Ex Rank Supporting Role’s Replay in a Prestigious School

Amidst the roaring cheers for the victor, In Seon-oh stood up from his seat and Yoo Sang-hoon removed his headgear and walked to the center of the stage.

When the two shook hands, the applause grew even louder.

Then, accompanied by words of congratulations, the MC immediately began firing off questions like a storm.

The MC wasn’t a professional commentator or caster but just an Eun Gwang High student who loved games, and with no prior preparation the broadcast itself was so-so—but the questions were on point.

They asked as someone who knew and liked PlayerZ well would.

‘Maybe it’s because the questions are good that Yoo Sang-hoon is speaking so fluidly even though he lost.’

Usually interviews with the defeated opponent are full of hesitation.

With a ruthless MC you’d get your mental balance ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) shaken and pointed questions that bruise one’s pride, but being an exhibition match, it went refreshingly smoothly.

Most of the audience knew that the shield soldier hadn’t yet explored the new map, and wondered if that had been the deciding factor, so the MC asked:

“This map was unfamiliar, but based on information you gathered while exploring you quickly engaged in combat or lured out the High Priest, making the mission perfectly solvable. I don’t think the presence or absence of prior intel decided the outcome.”

Wow, did Yoo Sang-hoon really just say that?

I knew from PlayerZ interviews that he always answers at length and with structure, but seeing it in person, it didn’t feel like Yoo Sang-hoon—it made me laugh.

No, it was so like Yoo Sang-hoon to be this earnest about the game.

I’d assumed that the interview transcripts were polished and fleshed out by journalists, but it turns out Yoo Sang-hoon really did speak at such length. I almost laughed at the thought.

I glanced at Jang Nam-wook’s bitter expression to see if I was the only one thinking that. He looked like he wished Yoo Sang-hoon spoke this long in their group chat, too.

‘Yoo Sang-hoon says the win-loss didn’t hinge on prior intel, but when facing someone of In Seon-oh’s caliber it really matters. He must know that even as he says otherwise.’

Yoo Sang-hoon had quickly grasped the key to mission success.

He secured information that the treasure they sought, the Zealot’s relic, caused corruption and decay that was especially pronounced in the presence of the High Priest, and learned how to locate it.

But while Yoo Sang-hoon was gathering intel, In Seon-oh boldly drew out the enemy. He created a situation in which the High Priest had no choice but to appear.

‘He knew from the start that the High Priest would be bearing the relic. Would one learn that just by solving a new map? But judging by the audience’s reaction, they didn’t.’

Among the audience were so-called vanguard players—hardcore gamers who conquer new update content in real time.

Even they, upon seeing In Seon-oh’s insane rush, didn’t nod and say it was textbook strategy; instead, they gaped in astonishment.

In other words, it wasn’t a well-known or orthodox approach.

Meanwhile, In Seon-oh, perhaps prompted by Yoo Sang-hoon’s remarks, answered the MC’s question about the decisive factor calmly:

“This map favored me. I’d already finished exploration and strategy, so I had a high mission comprehension. If we’d started under the same conditions, I can’t say what the result would’ve been.”

“As a tank you can’t deal the same damage I can. Even with prior intel, you couldn’t pull it off the way I did.”

“That may be true, but I don’t know what the outcome would’ve been. If Sang-hoon had obtained the information just a bit faster and targeted me first, or if I’d been facing the Priest while he found the High Priest’s position and defeated him before me, I would’ve lost.”

At In Seon-oh and Yoo Sang-hoon’s exchange, everyone went “Ooooh,” watching with keen interest.

Seeing two top-rankers conversing felt somehow different.

But was In Seon-oh also considering the possibility of losing in a one-on-one against Yoo Sang-hoon? Depending on terrain, character balance, and other conditions, but usually if a tank and a pure dealer face off, the latter wins.

That’s why when Yoo Sang-hoon, using a shield, defeated a Berserker in the World Championship official match and then regrouped with his teammates, it was hailed as an all-time great moment, complete with every kind of BGM layered in clips.

Some fans seemed adamant that “the Dusk can’t lose to a tank,” yet others muttered “but he could still lose to a shield soldier.”

When you have a lot to say but can’t, that’s the usual reaction.

Meanwhile, the interview continued with occasional back-and-forth between them.

“I’ve just reviewed the match footage, and unlike BPB, DUSK clearly targeted the High Priest from the start. Looking at your growth point allocation, character build, and exploration path, you acted like you already knew the answer! How could you move with such confidence? I’ve also completed all new map exploration and still don’t get it.”

This question, too, seemed to pique Yoo Sang-hoon’s interest—he watched In Seon-oh’s answer intently.

I was curious, too. I had a vague hunch, but I wanted to hear it from In Seon-oh’s own mouth.

“Zealots believe in only two things: themselves and the higher being they serve. But the part of the world that higher being can influence is limited. As long as they’re on this land, they believe only in themselves.”

In Seon-oh explained matter-of-factly.

Even on the continent of Zeta there are higher beings. Every so often we get system messages like ‘The higher beings of Zeta grant blessings’ or ‘The higher beings of Zeta will watch over your journey,’ so you can’t miss it.

Also, before the game’s release, during development they announced they would apply the post-otherworld collision laws of this changed world.

So what In Seon-oh was saying could be game lore, but it also applies to reality.

“That’s why the Zealot leader never entrusts anything precious to others. They understand their followers’ desires and faith. That’s why I targeted the High Priest from the very start.”

In Seon-oh looked straight into the device filming him as he spoke. He was smiling slightly, with an expression similar to when the Zealot’s land was chosen as the background for this exhibition match.

In Seon-oh knows Zealots well. When Kwon Rena revealed her family history and our classmates shared stories about their families, In Seon-oh said:

― My parents worship the Death God. If anyone approaches claiming to be my family—

― Run away.

In Seon-oh is aware he’s a potential embodiment of nightmares and has traveled the world himself to track down nightmares, establishing his own independent intel network.

So he knows that parts of what happen in Zeta remind him of real-world incidents.

There are many fearless cults in this world, but the worst by far are the Demon Sect, the Zealot group that worships the Demon God.

While tackling the new map, In Seon-oh had many thoughts, and seeing today’s theme surely stirred a lot within him.

‘The hidden quest of the Dragonkin’s Sanctuary was uncanny, too. It can’t be a coincidence.’

I recalled the Dragonkin’s Sanctuary hidden quest, as if they’d twisted and reinterpreted the Dragon Palace scenario. A few other scenarios came to mind, too.

Perhaps the Demon Realm scenario and PlayerZ’s Zealot theme are connected.

The Zealots in the game don’t take on a demonic form, so ordinary people who know nothing of the current situation wouldn’t realize it.

The tigers, sensing something, narrowed their eyes and either listened intently to the interview or whispered to each other.

“If your only goal is the treasure, my method is the most efficient. But for land purification, reclamation, hostage rescue, or something else hidden, you’d need another approach.”

With that, In Seon-oh handed back the microphone.

Though it sounded like a comment from someone who’d just played the game, its meaning was significant.

How would this apply to the current Demon Realm scenario?

‘The most efficient way is to, like In Seon-oh, brace yourself for your body to be shattered and take out the High Priest first. We have that firepower here.’

But unlike game characters who fully recover and respawn when another match begins, here we must deploy actual players.

Whether sacrifices occur or not, In Seon-oh’s method would be the wisest for ending the Demon Realm scenario as quickly and efficiently as possible.

But I didn’t want to do that.

I remembered the final fate of the Demon Sect Extermination Squad at Plma High and the ultimate end of fallen playable characters.

“This exhibition hall is showcasing content slated for the next update. I plan to stick around and watch.”

Hwang Ji-ho said, and the White Tiger nodded as they both viewed the same hologram. Suddenly the two tigers simultaneously turned their heads in one direction.

A group of attention-seekers in Aurora Santa outfits were charging toward them from that direction.

The two stared at the stage being cleared after the event with looks of utter devastation.

“How could they not call us!”

“I wanted to cheer, it’s so disappointing! I feel betrayed!”

They shouted loud enough for In Seon-oh, surrounded by people asking for autographs, to hear.

They looked ready to wreak havoc, but the attention-seekers who wouldn’t dream of mistreating In Seon-oh’s fans ran straight up to me to express their sorrow.

“Partner, how on earth did you know to come? It’s too much to exclude us and come to support Seon-oh!”

“I came to see Yoo Sang-hoon and happened to catch this match.”

“You came to see someone from another class, not Seon-oh? How could you do that? It’s unfair!”

What am I supposed to do with that?

Anyway, they seemed very upset, so I let them whine to their hearts’ content and comforted them.

Only after In Seon-oh introduced me to his fans as “my friends” did they finally calm down and look satisfied.

Now that those two have made their appearance, it’s about time we head back so the tea house doesn’t have a gap.

“You two seem really interested. Let’s set a date soon.”

Yoo Sang-hoon cut right into the conversation and spoke up, and I nodded.

I was curious what PlayerZ intended to convey about the Zealots.

After promising to schedule time soon with Jang Nam-wook and Do Si-hu, we headed to the tea house with the tigers.

Our class’s tea house still had a long line.

“Ah, you’re here! Did you have fun?”

Now that it was break time, Sa Wol-Se-Eum greeted us warmly.

Until just before we arrived, she must have been messaging someone, because holograms were flickering all around her.

I wondered if she was sending news to Gae Wol’s family, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

“Do you remember the person who came during the festival and gave me their blessing? They couldn’t come today, so we agreed I’d show them around via video call as we move. On their end, equipment issues make it hard to share video, so I have to show it unilaterally.”

If the other party weren’t the leader of Gye Mok-Rim, I’d suspect voice phishing.

Requesting live video unilaterally sounds odd, but a glance showed the sender was definitely Gye Mok-Rim.

Sa Wol-Se-Eum sounded excited, as if she was happy to show the school to Gye Mok-Rim.

“She seemed so excited, her voice got all youthful. I want to match her tone.”

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