Q: The World Championship Swiss Round is just around the corner. As far as I know, you have just arrived in Europe. How was the journey to Europe? How is the team's condition?
Viper : Everyone has been playing professionally for a long time and has this kind of experience, so there are no adaptation issues. Every time I go overseas to compete, I don't have any major problems except for the long flight time. I am very satisfied with everything. I am very much looking forward to this World Championship.
Q: Viper, your professional career is very special in that you won the World Championship before winning the LCK championship. This time, you finally defeated GEN to win the LCK championship, completing the missing piece of the puzzle. How do you feel?
Viper : Actually, winning the LCK championship was my personal goal. Achieving this goal gave me a sense of accomplishment. Although I have a World Championship title, I believe that current strength is more important regardless of whether you have a World Championship title or not. Having a World Championship title also means you have to play even better, so I worked harder this year. The LCK championship feels like a reward for me.
Q: You were very calm when you won the LCK championship, which became a topic of discussion. Peanut said this is your persona, that you deliberately maintain this quiet image. Do you really put effort into the image you present? During the GRF period, you were full of energy. Where did that energy go?
Viper : Actually, I am naturally quiet and less reactive. That's just how I am. I had thought to myself before, "If we make it to the finals and win, I might cry," and then I decided that I definitely shouldn't cry. We unexpectedly won the championship after five full games. Not only the summer season but also the bad things that happened last year, all the difficulties of the past two years suddenly came to mind. Thinking about these things led to my reaction, which was very natural at the time. I liked that reaction a lot afterward.
Q: Despite HLE winning the LCK Summer Championship, many people still rank GEN at the top of the power rankings. What do you personally think of HLE's current state? Do you have the confidence that "we are the strongest team in the LCK"? Do you think those people's evaluations are problematic?
Viper : I don't think there's a problem. Although we won the summer championship, people still remember the good form that GEN and BLG have shown during this period, which is why our evaluation is lower than theirs. This is other people's evaluation, and I don't care too much about it, nor do I think it's a problem. I have always thought this way. Since the beginning of this year, I have believed that we are the strongest team. I firmly believe that we have the strongest players. I don't find it strange that people have different evaluations; it's possible for them to think that way.
Q: Since your time at GRF, you have always been regarded as the "world's strongest AD." You have consistently shown good form, and even now, many people praise you as the world's strongest AD. People have high expectations of you. Do you mind this? When everyone praises you and has high expectations, how do you keep yourself from becoming arrogant?
Viper :First of all, I have always considered myself the strongest. I have had this mindset since I started my professional career, so those evaluations do not affect me. But objectively speaking, if you ask me whether I am currently the world's strongest AD, I would tilt my head. Compared to AD players in other leagues and those regarded as the strongest AD, I still have a lot to prove. Although I think that way, from the perspective of being evaluated by the public, I still need to do better. That's all my thoughts.
Q: Who do you think is HLE's biggest competitor? Is there anything you want to say to them?
Viper : I still think GEN will perform the best. We have faced each other many times and know each other very well. The last time we faced off, we took revenge on GEN. They are certainly waiting for their chance to take revenge on us. I'm waiting for you.
