Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Frontline (8)
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For two years, every time Frontline visited Korea and stopped by Legend's hospital room, she always ran into Myth.
Sometimes Frontline would arrive first and Myth would show up later, and other times Myth was already there when Frontline came.
"...You really come every day? You don't have to push yourself."
"It's not pushing myself. I do it because I want to."
"...Okay."
Frontline nodded at Myth's words.
The two of them naturally sat down on the sofa. If they used to sit at opposite ends, wary of even brushing against each other before, now they sat so close their shoulders nearly touched.
The shrinking physical distance mirrored the distance between their hearts.
"So, how've you been?"
"Me? Well..."
Myth glanced at Legend.
...She could never say she'd been doing well, not even if she died.
"Just living like usual."
"...Yeah. Me too."
Legend's hospital room, usually so quiet with Myth quietly sobbing, always bloomed with conversation whenever Frontline visited.
Some might find it annoying to chatter beside a patient lying there, but how wonderful it would be if the patient woke up just to hear that noise.
It'd be even better if he sat up and yelled at them to shut up.
For that reason, the two women never left Legend's room by even a step whenever they talked.
"I heard you got MVP at the world tournament in China this time. I was shocked."
"It was nothing."
Most of their conversations were about everyday life.
"...You've been growing a ton too."
"Nah, compared to you, sis, I'm still miles away. And it's all thanks to the avatar Legend made me."
"That's right. So do your best."
"Ugh... Yes, ma'am."
The world's strongest, top female pro gamer and Myth's Nutuber channel, which was growing but still slowly, were the main topics.
"Sis, how do you keep your skin so pale...? It's like you never go outside."
"...? I really don't. I live at the top of the company building."
"...? Did the company lock you up or something?"
"No? I just like being alone. I don't even like how my teammates keep glancing at me, so I train online only. Gotta stare just the right amount."
That was when Myth first learned Frontline was an extreme shut-in.
She'd remodeled the top floor of the company headquarters because she didn't want to go out?
It was beyond Myth's comprehension. Legend was extraordinary, and now his sister was too. At this point, their genes were downright scary.
"Wasn't this your first year...? And the company went along with it?"
"I'm pretty and I'm good."
"...Ah, got it."
Myth was convinced.
Of course. When you compared the profits from a pretty top-tier pro gamer 'dealer' to whatever, Landrox must have taken a big gamble on her.
And that gamble had paid off with a Grand Slam in her first year and a spring championship in her second. What more was there to say?
The topics the two shared boiled down to just three.
One was Myth's VTuber life.
Another was Frontline's pro gaming career.
And the last was their one and only common ground.
"What was Seol like as a kid?"
"...Always clinging to me, calling 'sis, sis' and being a total nuisance."
"Ehh? I wouldn't have guessed. That's surprising."
"...Wanna see baby photos?"
"Yeah, sure!"
This was the story from the second year since Legend had been lying in that hospital bed.
"What the heck were you two talking about while I was sleeping...?"
"Heh heh. If you didn't like it, you should've woken up sooner."
"...Sorry."
"No. Now that you're here like this, it's really nothing."
Myth smiled, looking genuinely happy.
I smiled back and asked her,
"Back then, did you ever talk to sis about our parents?"
"No. I didn't know anything to begin with. At that time, I wasn't treated like a daughter-in-law yet... so she didn't share the deep family stuff. I just assumed since you were always fine, you were seeing your parents all the time."
Ah, yeah. That made sense.
I poked Myth's cheek. No real reason—just felt nice and squishy.
How could she ask if she didn't know? A famous celebrity popped into my head right then.
"And after that, I barely saw you at all."
"Why? What happened?"
"There was a global disaster."
Ah. I thought of that disease with the cute name.
Cororon.
It was definitely the super-contagious illness that even kept Myth away from visiting for a while.
"Sis couldn't even come to Korea for a bit."
Social distancing, gathering bans, mandatory masks.
Things that sounded made-up to Legend now had made it impossible for Frontline to visit Korea.
No matter how much she wanted to see her brother, her agency had to prevent any risks.
And Frontline respected that.
Myth met Frontline again in the third year after Legend collapsed, when restrictions had eased a little.
It was a bit less than a year into the Cororon outbreak.
As I mentioned before, Cororon undoubtedly had a massive impact on human history.
Mostly negative, but paradoxically, some fields benefited as a side effect.
Subculture in particular—and VTubers among them—took it straight on.
"Hey, Seol-ah. It's been almost three months... Visits are so hard these days."
Myth, visiting Legend after three months, teared up as she rested her head beside him.
Of course, she wasn't climbing onto the bed—just pulling up a chair, sitting, and leaning over to place her head next to his.
Sigh... sigh. Only his breathing filled her ears.
Just that was enough; after three months, hearing Legend's breath satisfied Myth.
"Not sure if this is good or the worst, but the VTuber scene is booming right now."
I wish you could see this.
Myth swallowed her tears and said that.
She had so many stories piled up from those three months. As she sat by Legend, unloading hours of tales, the hospital room door suddenly opened.
Who could it be?
Not many people could visit at this time.
"Sis?!"
Myth jumped up at the sight of Frontline, whom she hadn't seen in nearly a year.
Spring, summer, fall.
Almost three years...
"...How can you even visit during times like this?"
"Beats me. Power of friendship?"
"Why would you be my friend?"
Frontline gave a wry smile as she entered the room.
Myth looked at her and said,
"Mom and Dad were just here a bit ago. You could've met them if you'd come earlier. Too bad."
"...Lucky. Almost ran into them."
Almost ran into them? Myth tilted her head at Frontline's relief.
For a moment, an incident flashed in Myth's mind.
The day Legend first collapsed.
The day Father, unable to control his drunken anger, swung his fist. That was when Myth learned people could fly.
She'd realized aerial combos existed in real life. Maybe that still lingered.
"Sorry if this is nosy, but... did something happen with your parents...?"
"...For now, I'm the one ignoring their calls."
"From back then until now?"
Frontline turned away as if she had nothing to say.
Myth paled. No way. So three years without a single contact since then?
Myth's mouth hung open.
She should say something, but it was family business for an outsider, so she couldn't pry properly.
If she'd known, she should've confessed that night.
Frontline smirked at Myth's distress.
"Aren't you two getting a bit too close...?"
Ah. I clamped my mouth shut after saying it.
I hadn't meant to voice it, but it slipped out.
"Hmm~?"
Myth's eyes sparkled like I'd fallen right into her trap.
She pressed even closer to me.
"Jealous?"
"...No. It was just so absurd it came out."
Myth laughed happily. Was seeing a hint of jealousy from me that joyful?
Myth grabbed my arm and forced it around her, changing our position.
"I've only met Frontline like ten times, Seol-ah. But I've waited thousands of days for you."
Thousands of days. I had to shut my mouth at that.
Seven years was over 2,000 days in reality.
With me silenced by the weight of her love, the story continued.
"I know. I'm the one in the wrong."
Myth looked at Frontline, who narrowed her eyes as if resolving herself completely.
Myth swallowed hard at the determination shining through those usually languid eyes.
"I was too young back then."
Three years since that night at 20.
Now 23, and having lived fast as an adult, Frontline was starting to realize just how young she'd been.
Throwing tantrums to remodel the top floor because she didn't want to go out, demanding separate training because teammates' eyes lingered too much...
Beating up another victim because she was hurting that day, cutting off her parents because they hit her a bit.
She'd been immature. Childishly so. Now it was time to grow up.
Myth brightened at Frontline steeling herself and grabbed her hand.
"Then let's go see your parents right now! If not now, who knows when you'll get to Korea again with Cororon!"
"No. Let go first. Even I need some courage."
Frontline pulled her hand away like it burned, brushing off Myth's contagiously enthusiastic palm, then turned her head.
"Even I have my shame. How do I just show up to parents I've deliberately ignored for three years?"
"...Maybe, if it's not too much, but don't they want that?"
"No, even so, I need courage, an opportunity."
Frontline closed her eyes.
As if gathering her lacking resolve, she pondered deeply before speaking.
"Alright, I've decided. You know the Mid-Season World Tournament's in Korea next year?"
"Oh, yeah? You're not saying you'll reconcile if you win that, right? What if you don't?!"
"I'm not that stupid. Nah... if I just qualify, I'll apologize."
Frontline smiled brightly, as if picturing a pleasant future.
Just imagining apologizing and reconciling made her happy.
"...Qualifying is 100% guaranteed?"
"Don't ask the obvious."
Teams with over 60% win rates usually make Worlds.
And Frontline's league record over the past three years—excluding Worlds—was nearly 80%.
Undefeated her first year, and after that, aside from team transitions, she boasted devastating win rates.
Grand Slam launch year. Grand Slam year two. Year three, missing Mid-Season Worlds but lifting three trophies—the greatest player and team in history.
The world's strongest team, victory taken for granted.
That was Landrox, with Frontline at the forefront.
Plus, no rebuilding this year. She could run at next year with the world's best teammates fresh off a world championship.
"Qualifying? Piece of cake."
"Wait, I didn't hear this part, but I already know how the next part goes."
A bad feeling hit me.
No, if she'd really qualified for Worlds main stage, she and they would've met long ago.
They'd have reconciled and been laughing together by now.
"...I never knew flags like this existed."
Myth smacked her lips bitterly, and the next part of the story began.