Cheers to Adulthood
Clink! The pub filled with the sound of glasses touching.
Kim Jihun and his friends were gathered at the neighborhood beer hall. Lively chatter, soft lighting. And right in front of them, golden-fried chicken and cold beer.
This was Jihun's first time at a pub like this, holding a drinking session. He'd finally become an adult.
Jihun tilted his glass, letting the cool beer slide down his throat, then murmured with a surge of emotion.
"We're adults now, huh."
His friends around him chimed in with a word or two.
"Yeah. Can't believe we're adults."
"Feels unreal even drinking like this."
"Doesn't change much, right? Except we can buy booze and smokes now."
"You idiot? We can stay at the PC bang past 10 PM too."
Jihun slowly looked around at his same-age friends. They were all caught up in the vibe, smiling happily as they raised their glasses. A satisfied expression crossed Jihun's face as he thought to himself.
Finally an adult.
Of course, not much had really changed for Jihun. He was still young, just a retaker. But after December 31st passed, he felt like something was about to shift.
Jihun had finally become an adult.
...
"Now I can do night shifts."
Kim Jihun muttered happily to himself as he searched for night part-time jobs.
"Night convenience store sounds easy, and they say there's plenty of downtime."
He planned to work at a night convenience store, just like at the bookstore—studying in his spare moments throughout the shift.
But Jihun's plans shattered into pieces.
"What? You haven't done your military service? Sorry, we only hire vets."
"Study on the job? This is a store, not a library. We don't want unreliable part-timers."
"No experience at a convenience store? We need someone with experience."
"It pays below minimum wage—is that okay?"
He failed at every convenience store he applied to. Some didn't want studying part-timers. Others only hired vets or experienced folks. Some didn't even pay minimum wage.
Jihun was flustered.
"Why is finding a part-time job so hard?!"
Once he actually tried, he panicked. With convenience stores everywhere, he'd thought night shifts would be a snap. But everywhere he went, some excuse blocked him.
Jihun grew frustrated.
"Convenience stores are tough."
He gave up on them and decided to look for other jobs.
"Maybe reading room manager or something? I'd have personal time to study and earn money."
He scrolled through Albheaven, pondering.
That's when it happened.
*Ding!*
Jihun glanced at his phone at the message tone. It was from his friend, Han Seokho.
After exchanging messages with Han Seokho, Jihun shut down his computer and muttered.
"Yeah, I'll job hunt slowly."
He headed to the nearby PC bang.
"You made it?"
Jihun entered the PC bang and went to Seokho's spot. He was deep into a game.
Jihun said to him.
"You said come, so here I am. What game we playing? I suck at games."
"Yeah, new game. Wanted to try it together."
"Won't be fun with me. You know how bad I am."
"It's fine. First time for me today too."
Jihun looked at Seokho's monitor.
This is Overwatch?
Various characters wielding weapons were battling it out in Overwatch.
Jihun asked Seokho.
"This is that fun?"
"Yeah. Watch me play first."
Jihun watched Seokho game.
"This is my gift!"
"How about this buff?"
"Justice rains from above!"
Looks fun.
Seokho's screen burst with flashy effects. Bullets rained down, skills swept the area like storms. Dynamic, fast camera switches. Smooth graphics too.
Jihun got interested in the game.
"What's it called again? Overwatch?"
"Yeah. Fun, right? Play with me."
Jihun sat next to Seokho, booted up a PC, and followed his guide to create an account and log in.
Then came the nickname setup screen.
Jihun pondered at the nickname creator.
What to name myself?
He thought a bit, then entered one that fit his current self.
[Retaker CreatorGod]
A fitting nickname for him. Jihun smiled contentedly at it.
"What? Why so plain? Make it cool like mine."
Seokho saw Jihun's nick and boasted his own.
Jihun glared at Seokho's nick and let out a hollow laugh.
[SupremeKingSeokho]
"...Cool nick."
Seokho's naming sense was the worst. Stuck at elementary school level like "AutumnStory."
Jihun shook his head and started the game.
-5 Players Eliminated!
-Team Wipe!
*Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!*
Seokho stared blankly at his monitor. Jihun's flashy play was in the highlights.
"What the... this guy."
He muttered blankly.
Jihun never imagined he'd be this good at games. His sense used to be trash.
Back then, he'd get flamed by teammates daily due to his lack of talent, so he avoided games.
But now was different. Since getting the Creator God Manual, he had talent beyond any human.
His dynamic vision was sharper than anyone's, reflexes superhuman. His sharp, flexible mind birthed new gaming sense.
Thus, he seized victory swiftly, as seen.
Seokho, shocked by the changed Jihun, asked.
"Dude... this really your first time?"
"Yeah."
Jihun stayed nonchalant despite Seokho's shock. Just lightning reflexes aiming mouse at enemy heads.
-3 Players Eliminated!
*Ding! Ding! Ding!*
Every left-click killed someone. Jihun's character portrait was on fire nonstop.
"No experience, no style. Just a rookie."
"I have a mission. Don't interfere!"
"Whoa..."
Seokho couldn't believe it. They'd played games before—Jihun always got flamed.
But now, Jihun's skill was unreal. The clumsy newbie gone, replaced by pro-level or hacker-sus play.
Seokho gawked at Jihun.
But Jihun just.
"Haha, this game's fun?" laughed.
"What... this guy's scary."
Seokho muttered.
...
Hooked on games, Jihun started hitting PC bangs often.
-5 Players Eliminated!
*Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!*
He was addicted to gaming fun he'd never felt before.
The world's vast. Fun stuff beyond books.
He'd avoided games before—not for any deep reason. Just no fun.
Games are competitive. But talentless, he couldn't score well.
Now, Jihun's skill overflowed into flashy plays.
His play was overwhelming.
"Target... acquired..."
Enemy Soldier:76 ults. Jihun reacts like lightning!
Mouse snaps, aims head, fires.
McCree's revolver—ONE SHOT!
Enemy ult nullified.
"Target acquired... ugh."
Not once or twice. Jihun massacred with his talent all game.
Chat exploded.
Suspicions and flames flew at him. But Jihun ignored.
Always heard it since starting.
Jihun thought.
Always hacker. These noobs...
He felt wronged. Months ago, flamed for sucking. Now for being too good?
But deep down, proud.
Well, skill looks like hacks.
Jihun kept playing. Won how many stomps?
Then he spotted a chat.
Stream? Jihun didn't get it. Him and broadcasting?
To clear misunderstanding, he chatted.
Now Jihun got it.
Africka streaming.
Internet broadcasts. Rumors said popular BJs make bank.
A idea flashed.
Game stream to earn money?
His skill was pro-level.
After pondering, he decided.
Try streaming. Money good, no loss if not.
Thus began Kim Jihun's game streaming.
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Author's Note
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