Season 3: Chapter 299. A Familiar Face (3)

It was an interview studio.

[Vice Commander]

[Coffee]

The person seated in the chair was a player known by the nickname Coffee, one of Joseon’s vice commanders, Won Do-Joon. He gave off a cool impression with sharp eyes, neatly cut hair, and tidy horn-rimmed glasses. Despite his serious appearance, he wore warm-toned clothing and resembled a typical café employee. However, he wasn’t just an employee. He was the manager.

[Since the Japan match, the response has been intense. Is the coffee shop doing well?]

His somewhat cool expression softened slightly at the question. He seemed amused.

“From what I’ve heard... yes. Apparently, it’s been really busy. Stores that were usually quieter now have lines. I haven’t seen it for myself though.”

[Is it because of the Japan match?]

“I suppose so. We’re also selling limited edition national competition merchandise... so lots of people are stopping by. But...” Do-Joon added as if this was something he had to say, “Our café always did well.”

— It’s true, it was always busy near my place

— Lol

— Well, that’s why Cookie could fund the whole thing

— The coffee is good

[Who’s managing the café now?]

“There’s another manager. But I didn’t think the national competition would run this long, so even the former team members are helping out.”

After a few more questions, a surprising one came up.

[When are you and Bread going to start dating?]

“...?”

— ???

— Lollll

— Whaaat

— This interviewer is ruthless!

— What’s going on?

The livestream chat exploded and scrolled by.

“No comment. Moving on.”

— Ohhh?

— No outright denial, just no comment?

— What is this?!

— Is it real??

[Alright, it’s official.]

“Hey, excuse me!” Do-Joon jumped up in protest, but the feed crackled and cut away.

— Haha

— What’s he gonna do? Can’t stop the edit!

— Cute

— Why’s his face so red though? Asking for a friend

The interview resumed with normal questions.

[The final moments of Game 2 created quite a buzz.]

Do-Joon returned to his calm self and responded, “Oh, at that point... the entire series’ outcome depended on that game.”

He explained that game two decided the series outcome. If Joseon lost, they’d be back at square one. If they won, China would be backed into a corner.

[However, there was some controversy.]

Do-Joon’s speech slowed and he fell silent.

“...”

He lowered his head, but it wasn’t a bow of apology. It was as if something weighed on him.

“Yes... I can understand why.”

***

Bread faced off against Guan Yu alone while the five swordsmen, including Malatang, pushed into the palace. Coffee eventually shook off his opponent and joined her.

“Temporary alliance!”

Clang! Clang!

With both of their blades pressuring Guan Yu, it initially seemed like they’d take his head. Then—

“!”

Guan Yu shifted his grip, using his weapon's upper and lower edges to engage them as if he wielded two swords. Even if he had been wielding two swords, fighting two vice commanders alone would be almost impossible for anyone else. Yet he was managing it with just one. The commentators couldn’t hide their astonishment.

“Wow! Guan Yu’s skill is incredible!”

“Can they not push him back!? Is he unbeatable!?”

“They say Zhang Fei was stronger in the

Three Kingdoms

, so why isn’t Guan Yu losing!?”

— Haha, just lose already, please

— OrangeKing going off!

— Why are they even discussing historical accuracy? LOL

OrangeKing was practically begging him to lose, but Guan Yu didn’t yield even as he faced the two vice commanders. His example inspired his cavalrymen, who fought with renewed fervor. They took on the odds of fighting one against two and even one against four as they made their last stand, burning themselves out completely.

“What’s happening inside the palace!?”

“Are there troops inside too!? Joseon’s cavalry needs reinforcements!”

The situation wasn’t looking good inside the palace.

“What!? Liu Bei left eight men inside the palace!?”

“That many troops!? At this stage!?”

“It seems they’re using the palace as their last fortress and taking advantage of its defensive position!”

“Once inside a building, commanders can’t issue orders and visibility is limited. Should Joseon wait for reinforcements?”

Malatang’s advance team faced nearly double their numbers. If they waited longer, Joseon’s continuous reinforcements could eventually overwhelm China. However, time would also introduce new variables.

“Even now, China’s economy is picking up as they recover resources. Waiting might work against Joseon. Any additional time benefits the team that’s behind!”

China was grasping for any advantage it could find.

Crackle.

The feed returned to Coffee’s interview.

“I didn’t know what was happening at the time,” Coffee recalled. “I just... felt that we had to finish it then. Almond was on his way... I felt like I needed to make an opening.”

Unlike Bread, Coffee couldn’t actually hold his ground against Guan Yu.

“So it couldn’t be with my sword.”

He decided that he had to help in another way.

“So...”

Crackle.

The scene cut back to the battlefield.

‘Now!’

Coffee stood up on his horse and flung himself toward Guan Yu.

Whoosh!

Bread widened her eyes.

“You idiot...!”

In her eyes, Coffee suddenly leaped into the air. The scene played in slow motion.

— Oh no...

— :(

— This scene... lol

He wasn’t merely trying to get Guan Yu’s attention. He had something else in mind as his interview voiceover explained.

“I only gave Guan Yu two choices: share a horse with me or cut me down.”

In

Civil Empire

, if two players with conflicting commands were on the same horse, the horse would become uncontrollable. In mounted combat, a riderless horse would make even a master like Guan Yu vulnerable to Bread’s attack.

The moment Coffee leaped onto his horse, Guan Yu was forced to cut him down. It wasn’t a difficult choice either. Killing Coffee didn’t open him up to any immediate attack from Bread. Guan Yu would, of course, choose that option.

“At least... that’s what I thought.”

However, the crescent blade did not advance toward Coffee. Instead, it turned toward Guan Yu's own head.

“?”

What was aimed at Coffee wasn’t the blade, but the handle.

Thud─

The staff struck Coffee in the center of his chest and he froze as if suspended in mid-air.

“──!”

This was an unexpected method of restraint. Guan Yu had hesitated to cut him down at that moment.

“No, he didn’t hesitate.”

Right afterward, a loud bang echoed from Guan Yu’s face.

Kaaaang!!

White flames burst from the edge of his crescent blade. Almond riding a horse in the distance could be seen beyond the flashing light. Guan Yu had blocked Coffee with the staff and Almond’s arrow with the blade.

— Wow, that guy’s insane in a split second!

— Haha

— OMG

— Have to watch it in slow motion to catch that

— Wow, was it really like that?

Next came the real issue.

Whoooom──

Guan Yu’s crescent blade, swinging freely, aimed toward the awkwardly falling Coffee. Guan Yu launched two attacks on the airborne Coffee. First, the staff to stop him. Then, the blade to slash him.

Swish!

Finally, he stomped on Coffee using the horse for three attacks in total.

Thud!

— Ouch

— Ack

— He’s trolling, huh?

— Was supposed to be a super play but barely missed the mark...

All these rapid movements occurred while Coffee was still in the air.

Bread muttered with a blank expression, “What... is this?”

“Heeheehee...!”

Bread’s confusion was apparent as her horse nervously snorted. Even for a pro, this scene was baffling to witness up close.

“What kind of troll move is this, Won Do-Joon?!”

— LOL

— She’s just losing it

— She’s mad mad

— Haha

Bzzzt.

The scene switched back to the interview.

[Vice Commander]

[Shi Ba-Reum]

The interview subject was Bread, also known as Shi Ba-Reum. Dressed lightly in a white sleeveless top and wide shorts, the warm Japanese spring weather seemed intense for her.

— Shi Ba-Reum is on fire today!

— Oh wow

— Her arm muscles are insane. She could probably take on Do-Joon

— Looks like she just came from a workout?

A slight sheen of sweat beneath her tied-up hair suggested she had just finished exercising. She sighed as the interview began.

“Haa...”

Well, it was because of the first question.

[Thoughts on teaming up with Coffee against Guan Yu?]

“What an idiot.”

— LOL

— Ahaha

— She’s so likable!

“I knew what he was trying to do, but it’s a shame. If only he’d pushed a bit more... trusted himself...”

Although she critiqued Do-Joon, she lowered her head in genuine regret.

“It always feels like he’s one step short. His standards are just too high.”

— Yeah, it was a close call

— For real...

— Coffee was a bit hasty there

𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

— He hit a wall...

[Could you have won if you two fought longer?]

After a pause, Ba-Reum nodded thoughtfully.

“If we had more time, we could’ve done it. If only Do-Joon hadn’t chickened out.” She added as if in understanding, “I get why though. It was like fighting a wall for me too... I thought maybe we needed another way through.”

— Yep

— He did his best

— Don’t be too hard on him

— Do-Joon really gives it his all!

“In those moments, you just have to push through and break the wall down. You have to! You can’t always find some new, creative solution!!”

— Who’s she scolding now?

— Is this for Coffee? Haha

— She’s got some deep feelings about this

Ba-Reum said those words as if directing them toward Do-Joon.

[Many in the community labeled this scene as trolling...]

“Ah.”

Upon hearing that Do-Joon was being criticized, she averted her eyes and scratched her head.

“Well, but...”

She chuckled faintly.

“We won the game, didn’t we?”

Bzzzt.

The screen returned to the game. Coffee was down, Almond had closed in on Bread, and another 2-on-1 battle began. Or it was supposed to.

Bang!

Almond fired consecutive arrows that passed through Guan Yu as if he was a ghost. They made no impact at all. His horse, charging forward, also slowed until it finally halted.

“......!”

Everyone knew what this meant. The game was over, but they didn’t know which side had won. Then, a thunderous roar erupted within the palace.

“Uwaaahhhhh!!!”

It was Malatang, shouting from within the palace. The view shifted to him and the majestic interior of the palace. The luxurious gold patterns were stained with dark red blood. Countless footprints marked the silk-covered hallway. Four allies lay collapsed, tangled with eight fallen Chinese warriors. Before him, the Chinese commander lay defeated.

“Yes... truly... I truly wanted to win.”

As Malatang’s voice echoed, two words appeared on everyone’s screen.

[Victory]

Joseon had won game two of the semi-finals.

“Waaaaaahhhhhh!!!”

Cheers from the soldiers reverberated loudly.

— Amazing

— It’s so moving, even on a rewatch

— Epic...

— Basically ended the series here, right?

— Legendary play by Tang.

Afterward, in the naval battle of game three, China suffered a crushing and almost unbelievable defeat.

“Joseon! Joseon advances to the finals!!”

“They defeated China 3-0! They’re off to face Rome!”

“China is down! Rome, here we come!”

— Wow!

— NewJeans, where are you?

— Let’s goooo!

— Cookie sings NewJeans

— This is crazy

Joseon finally made it to the finals. The greatest match yet still awaited them in the national tournament.

[National Tournament Finals] Joseon vs. Rome]

[Today at 17:00]

The end to the long journey was just beginning.

Thud.

[Fake National Team]

[ep.10 The Beginning of the End]

And with that, the

Fake National Team

episode concluded.

— Let's go!

— Let’s win the championship!

— Tune in to the live broadcast!

— Legendary rematch

— Is this real? Joseon in the finals?