[General] Interview schedule's up, lololololol

<Picture of the interview schedule posted on the Icarus official homepage>

Why is it on Monday????? Yujin noona, you're insane??????

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-Another day where the 9-to-5 zombies perish lmao
-I swear lol I’m not giving up my phone tomorrow, gonna watch the interview during lunch break
ㄴHigh schooler gamer? lol
ㄴIs this… Korea’s future?
ㄴGrandmaster…, same high school age…, these days, everyone’s talking about Black Zone…, punks~,,!!!
ㄴ-Boomer-
-200,000 high schoolers nationwide all planning not to turn in their phones on Monday lol
ㄴSince when did Black Zone allow under 19 lol
ㄴNowadays, high schoolers can play up to 4 hours, but old people wouldn’t know this lmao
ㄴWhat’s the point of 4 hours, lol, so frustrating
ㄴIf I were still a high schooler, I’d die from the suspense lol
-I’m on Monday duty, guess I’ll rewatch it in the early morning
ㄴHospital worker?
ㄴField army sergeant, right? lmao
ㄴGoverrrnnmenttttttttttttt
ㄴCan’t even use foreign guns in military-issue VR lmao
ㄴStop poking at my wounds, you brats!!!!!!
-Dice is always showing up lololololololol
-Wait, Dice is one thing, but Mikael and Gambit? Isn’t this basically a reunion of offenders and victims?
ㄴIt’s not an interview, it’s a hearing, lol
ㄴLMAO, so true.
-Look, it’s Starry Night Story. They’ve officially hit world-class now.
ㄴWell, they’re national representatives, of course, it’s world-class lol
ㄴAccidentally spoke the truth, didn’t we?
-The climax starts right from the beginning lol

Once the weekend ends, the weekday begins.

After a week of rest, the players from Korea’s national team match, including the AP duo and squad representatives, finally had their chance for real rest. They were preparing to showcase their skills in the Asia Qualifiers—duo and squad divisions, which would happen one week after the soloing qualifiers.

Meanwhile, those selected through KSM for the national team woke from their extended slumber, ready to sharpen their dulled senses.

For the AP soloing representatives, there were two main tasks in the second week. First, they had to adjust to the curriculum they were given, getting used to the hectic schedule that would start in week three.

While the players rested, the teams, Icarus, and sponsors were busier than ever. A task force composed of ten teams worked tirelessly to manage each of the twenty players and develop strategies for the Asia Qualifiers.

This rigorously crafted training course was passed to the players, who began executing it while providing feedback and making adjustments. Discussions between the players and coaching staff would continue endlessly over the course of the month, intensifying as scrims officially began in weeks three and four.

And the second thing players had to do? Public appearances.

“Ugh, I still don’t get why we’re doing an interview with a scrim concept. I’ll never get used to this.”

“Didn’t you explain last time how this made total sense?”

“It’s always annoying when it actually happens.”

It was as if they had just returned from the battlefield—realistic but not too disheveled. The gear was functional but not cumbersome, with a hexagrid plate carrier and a chest rig layered on top.

Players who typically preferred efficiency, opting for armor with built-in pouches, found this unfamiliar. As for me, I’ve always worn titanium plates in my vests—anything to avoid getting shot—so it didn’t really matter. The weight never bothered me.

In today’s interview, there were four participants. Of course, Dice and I are always together, but the other two were surprisingly familiar—though people might assume nothing good comes from being associated with me. Not this time, though.

Today, it was Clear Sky’s Gambit and Reaper Infected’s Mikael.

…Okay, maybe it wasn’t entirely drama-free.

At least I had built some rapport with Gambit after I dunked him in lava once, and we’ve kept in touch over curriculum-related matters. As for Mikael… well, no excuses there. I didn’t expect Dice to end up bashing him too.

His shield play was better suited for team matches than solo play, but getting completely obliterated in a straight-up firepower duel was still surprising.

Anyway…

“How are you two doing?”

“Yes, we’re doing fine!”

“Whoa, didn’t expect that.”

Why do they always act so startled when I call on them?

Gambit was the one who answered quickly, while Mikael jumped in surprise. Both of them were using avatars with cat ears, so their ears flicking up in shock was cute. I still don’t understand why they use cute avatars in the virtual world, but to each their own.

Still, it was pretty adorable.

“We’re just about done, though we ran into a few snags.”

“Good to hear.”

“Yujin, stop looking around and come here. We need to go over the script. It’s nice you’re being thoughtful, but we’ve still got a mountain of things to do.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Dice has a strangely domestic vibe to her.

Anyway, as you can see, the interview was taking place in virtual reality. In reality, studio setups, schedules, and countless other logistical issues could arise—though I was probably the biggest issue.

Besides, as I’d heard at the reptile café on Saturday, the national team title doesn’t last long. A month at most. This was likely a way to forcefully imprint the image of a “reliable national representative” on the public’s mind.

We started reading the script.

As expected, it began with introductions. Then, each player would be introduced through various media, starting with me. There wasn’t a clear script for this part—it seemed they wanted spontaneous answers rather than rehearsed ones.

I’d go first, followed by Dice, Gambit, and Mikael. The focus would shift whenever a specific player was mentioned, following a typical pattern.

Then there was the mock battle.

The gallery and MCs would participate as spectators. The game was 2v2, with three rounds in total. Each player would team up with Dice, Gambit, and Mikael, facing off against the others. The more wins, the more prizes players could draw for.

There would also be a bonus match against selected streamers and skilled members from the gallery, adding a fun twist.

Fortunately—or unfortunately—not every interview included such combat. Tomorrow’s program was slated to be more straightforward.

How much time had passed, I wonder.

“Five seconds until broadcast starts! All players, please stand by!”

The world around us gradually turned white as the transmission began.

Dice spoke up in the meantime.

“Just make sure you don’t say anything weird, okay? Got it?”

“You say that like I’m always spouting nonsense.”

“Anyway, let’s do our best!”

Through the blurring scenery, I chuckled softly.

“Yeah.”

The show was about to start.

“Welcome to IBS’s Esports special talk show, Starry Night Stories! We’re here with IBS’s most passionate esports celebrities and announcers, ready to engage in deep discussions with the finest national representative gamers!”

“Hello! I’m Kim Kang-hyuk, celebrity and esports enthusiast. It’s an honor to be invited here today!”

“I’m Oh Yeon-jin, IBS’s esports-loving announcer. I want to extend a warm welcome to everyone gathered here today.”

Applause rang out as the audience showered praise, their claps filling the room as the hosts continued.

“Greetings, everyone! I’m Phoenix, the caster who’s been bringing you all the coverage of this year’s qualifiers and KSM.”

“Alongside Phoenix is Flame, the analyst and host. Great to be here with you all.”

Celebrities, announcers, casters, and analysts.

As they introduced themselves, the stage expanded, doubling the number of chairs from four to eight. The celebrities and announcers sat on the left, while the casters and analysts took the right.

The four center seats, of course, were for the players about to make their entrance.

More conversation followed, setting the stage for the player introductions.

“And so, casting and analyzing the games alongside these athletes is what helps drive the growth of esports.”

“Haha, thanks for saying that. You know, Dark Zone has only been out for five years, right? I believe there’s still plenty of room for growth, and we hope to be the driving force behind it.”

“Well said. Considering it’s still at its peak, the role of casters and analysts who witness this growth firsthand is invaluable.”

With a gesture, the atmosphere shifted.

The screen on the wall lit up, and dramatic music began to play.

“Now, it’s time to invite the stars of this show. The crowd has been eagerly awaiting their appearance, and these rising stars of the esports world will soon take the stage!”

The air changed.

The colors black and blue intertwined, forming a sleek, surreal serpent emblem. As soon as the audience recognized the silhouettes and pictograms, cheers erupted from every corner.

As the anticipation reached its peak, the snake symbol fragmented into four different pictograms.

Black, blue, yellow, white, and a light tan.

The personal symbols of the four players appearing today.

“Please give a warm welcome to Yujin of the Free Agents, Dice from SSM Entertainment, Gambit from ClearSky, and Mikael from Reaper Infected! Let’s give our national representatives a huge round of applause!”

Woooooo!

With that, the stage exploded into a flurry of effects, and the doors swung open, revealing four figures walking out confidently.

Their heavy equipment radiated an overwhelming presence.

The familiar sound of metal clanged as they carried their weapons, and dusted with white concrete powder and bloodstains, they looked as if they’d just stepped off the battlefield.

They stood in a line, gazing at the audience.

As the mics appeared in their hands, the introductions began.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Yujin.”

A short greeting, but the weight behind it was unparalleled. Dice smirked as she caught Yujin’s brief but impactful introduction.

Next up.

“Thank you to everyone who came today. I’m Dice from SSM Entertainment!”

Cheers, cheers, and more cheers.

The applause didn’t subside as Gambit and Mikael introduced themselves. Only when the MCs regained control of the mics did the energy finally simmer down, like magic.

Now that all eight had taken their seats, it was time for the talk show to begin in earnest.

“Wow, just sitting here with you all, the aura is palpable… Yujin’s gaze feels especially chilly… I’m sitting a seat away, so I’m fine, but how about you, Kang-hyuk?”

“Oh man. By the time the show’s over, I think there’ll be frost on my left shoulder. Honestly, with Yujin’s avatar being an anaconda… I feel like prey standing in front of a predator.”

As the audience burst into laughter, even Yujin’s lips curled into a small smile.

The real questions were about to begin.

“I’ve seen you and Dice together a lot, but are you meeting Gambit and Mikael for the first time?”

“No, we’re the victims and perpetrators.”

“They came here to wave carrots around.”

“Save me!”

Laughter erupted from all directions.

The harmless jab of a question was redirected toward Mikael, who responded, Dice added a touch of chemistry, and Gambit’s exaggerated cry finished it off.

It took the audience a second to process the carrot joke, but then the whole room was laughing again. As Yujin, still with her straight face, followed up:

“Yesterday’s enemies become today’s teammates. As long as you’re alive, that’s how it goes.”

“So, you’re saying it’s over if you’re dead?”

“Pretty much.”

“Wow, these people are intense! They’re already talking about such grim stuff right from the start!”

“Oh, right. Sorry about that.”

The script? It was out the window at this point.

Their individual backgrounds, pride, friendships, and all sorts of other factors created a lively dynamic that quickly derailed the pre-planned flow of the talk show.

But that wasn’t a bad thing. You could say the banter was perfectly in sync. The back-and-forth between the players and MCs was so natural it gave birth to new stories on the spot.

An unplanned, finely tuned chaos was beginning to unfold.

And it had only been three minutes since the talk show started.