Dreams Are Something You Can Dream
After all the twists and turns, I finally made it back home, and I discovered I didn’t have the energy for anything at all.
It made perfect sense. I’d been outside for nearly six hours.
Early morning, I’d gone out to buy a wheelchair. Then lunch. After that, I’d headed to the department store for underwear. I’d stood in line for the League of Champions event and joined in. If it hadn’t been for the game, I honestly don’t know if I would have made it.
Of course, the wheelchair itself took up a lot of time afterward, but even without it I wouldn’t have lasted.
Sitting still for any length of time was already exhausting.
At home I could change positions and stretch as needed, but the difference was huge.
Come to think of it, back when I was still a student, the moments I got to rest during lectures and classes probably counted as the same thing.
People just aren’t built to sit still.
Anyway, I dropped from the wheelchair right in front of the front door and lay down.
I started replaying everything that had happened that day.
Had this been worth the physical toll?
The answer was yes.
Just thinking about the money I’d spent, I’d gained far more than I lost.
There had been the unpleasant moments—the mom who’d chased me out of the kkulbap place, the underwear I’d dropped in the department store—but everything had turned out for the best.
If that nosy auntie hadn’t twisted my words and misunderstood everything, I still wouldn’t be able to face Gabi’s clear, smiling face the way I used to.
The coach had grabbed that Tti-hwak-jjit hat right off his head and used it to cover the underwear in a flash.
He’d even apologized and promised to bring a clean one, all while I was still lying there.
The gratitude I felt was far stronger than the embarrassment.
I still don’t know his name, but that little gesture had been so thoughtful it practically sealed the deal.
Grandmaster tier is just the bare minimum to even get a chance at the test, so I could worry about it later.
With that off my mind, I let out a long breath.
“Ah… it was worthwhile.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt the need to sort through the shopping bags.
Just like Gabi had said, I had to wash everything first.
Bra, panties, even the swimsuit I’d worn today.
Even though it wasn’t a heatwave, I’d been sweating the whole time I was out in the sun.
Might as well wash the clothes too while I was at it.
After that, even if the next-door sister came over to nag me, I could proudly say I’d finished everything I needed to.
…Oh, I still had to shower.
I carried every garment and piece of underwear to the washing machine and started the cycle.
I had to crawl to the bathroom—always careful with the wheelchair.
Thinking about crawling around naked made me laugh at how close I was to looking like an actual wild animal.
But that was just the kind of silly analogy viewers always threw at me.
It didn’t leave a bad taste in my mouth at all.
This wasn’t the kind of shower my neighbor pushed me into or the one I felt I “owed” my body.
After I finished, a clean, light feeling settled over me.
It really had been a proper day.
…Well, I hadn’t earned any money.
But if things kept going well, maybe one day I’d actually become a pro gamer and get paid.
I never thought I’d see the day when all the grinding I’d done as a shut-in just paying for cup noodles would somehow pay off.
That hope made my chest feel lighter.
Of course, I probably wouldn’t get to compete in real pro matches.
Still, you can dream, right?
The idea of standing in the same spot as the top players, playing the game, and finally lifting the trophy—every gamer has daydreamed about it at least once.
It’s completely unrealistic, sure.
But if all I could do was play the event at the mascot spot and show up as a mercenary in scrims, I’d still be happy.
It was way better than planning to die the moment the gift cards and settlement money ran out.
I’d always braced myself for the worst because there was no other way to eat.
I just wasn’t the kind of person who wanted to die.
I’d survived on the cheapest cup noodles because I wanted to survive, even a little bit.
Letting go of that false hope had hurt, but I never really wanted to hold on to it.
Now, just one more step and I could almost touch it.
My whole mood lifted.
With a spring in my step, I headed back to my room.
I turned on the computer right away.
…That wasn’t part of any plan, but it was habit.
The moment I woke up or got back from anywhere, I always booted up the computer first.
I couldn’t stream completely naked, though.
I dried my hair with the towel I’d draped around my neck and changed into a simple hoodie.
I’d just bought new underwear, but I’d have to wait until tomorrow for them to dry—they’d all been soaked in the wash.
Everything was ready.
I turned on the stream as promised to the viewers.
I wasn’t sure it counted as a real promise to them.
I’d only said “I’ll go out for a bit” before I left.
Still, we’d decided to call it a promise.
And promises were meant to be kept.
“Hi, I’m back. Were you waiting?”
The moment I started the stream, seven viewers appeared.
They’d been watching other channels and hadn’t realized I was live yet.
Or maybe they’d been waiting for me to come back.
Either way, the fact that someone was already there made me smile and greet them warmly.
Only two of them replied.
Tti-hwak-jjit: Yep, I was watching something else while it was on.
SilverPanthea: Boss, you’re back? Did you eat something good for lunch?
“Yeah, I ate something delicious. Did all of you eat?”
Tti-hwak-jjit: Yeah, I watched other streams too.
Tti-hwak-jjit: Lunch isn’t the issue though—it’s almost dinner time lol
SilverPanthea: I ate! Boss, how was the wheelchair? I heard from Celeste, but I don’t know how it feels to ride in it.
“Ah, it’s amazing. Just sitting still without moving is so convenient. I could even go up and down stairs better than before. It was kind of mind-blowing.”
Tti-hwak-jjit: ?? Is that not a wheelchair? What kind of caterpillar is that? Wheelchairs are seriously next-level now.
SilverPanthea: Whoa… you want one just for yourself lol
As I chatted with them, more viewers started filtering in.
They’d probably seen the alert and come because I was a subscriber.
The viewer count had risen way too fast.
Normally it started at one or two and climbed slowly to under ten.
Even during a game I might hit thirty, but those viewers were usually just the regulars I saw often, plus a few strangers…
HanyangJodae-gi-jung: Is this the real studio broadcast of Junpro Noel, the junior pro who killed with the top?
Bukgeul-gosa-jalja: Is this the arctic bear slaughter base?
ERECTUS: !tier
ERECTUS: !score
ERECTUS: !command
Tti-hwak-jjit: No commands here
ERECTUS: What the hell, this is a hack stream
SilverPanthea: ??? What??? Whoa, suddenly so many people are joining?
Karabonara-ga-ui-hyeongje-deul: If it’s a girl getting pro solo kills, I gotta watch lol
RolloNohaKim-chun-sik: Girl? Is she pretty?
Daeryu20-stack: Why is a girl not going for the solo?
Strangers from who knows where flooded in and the chat exploded.
My body vision was still good enough to read them, but the chaotic atmosphere took me by surprise.
How had thirty something viewers turn into over two hundred in such a short time?
The numbers kept climbing.
It was nice that so many people were watching, but the sudden rush was confusing.
“Uh, how did you all find out? I just turned the stream on and I haven’t even played a game yet…”
I asked, and they explained.
Glungjuju-bung: I came because the top laner got a solo kill and even the mid laner pro did.
Baebuhi-hydera: Did you get dragged into the department store event? I came because the kids went viral so hard.
OEJNW2415: When are you doing the solo?
Rasputin14: I came to see you because you got scouted by Hanwha Life Gaming coach lol
Tti-hwak-jjit: It’s not scouted yet, I got a name card to come test when I reach Grandmaster
CORKEY: That’s basically junior scouted lol
mdchamdel41566: Maybe they just did it to save face for their own players?
qorhvk55: Why scout if you’re just saving face…? Just say “you’re good” and that’s it
Hideorseek: Gotta watch the girl who got pro solo kills lol
Oh. I see.
The department store story had spread.
Thankfully, the underwear part never came up.
The coach had covered it properly with that hat.
I still didn’t know his name, but I should have at least checked it from the card.
The thought crossed my mind as I looked for the card.
A sigh slipped out before I realized it.
“…Oh. I put the coach’s name card in my pocket and washed it.”