Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: A Man Serious About Games
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ㅡWhen you play a game, you have to win.
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Some character's iconic line. I felt the same way.
I could handle being called ugly any day. But a guy can't stand being told he's bad at games, and I was one of the manliest of them all.
If I'd been totally hopeless, the kind of skill level that fit right in with the deep-sea creatures down there, I would've laughed off a loss. But no, I was the type who hit average or better in any game I played, at least Diamond tier minimum. So yeah, I had some pride in my skills.
And naturally, I figured Yerim would be good too.
In my mind, Yerim was... what, perfection incarnate? The total package, scholarly and martial arts prodigy or something?
...Something like a biochemical weapon disguised as an omurice flashed through my mind for a second, but I shoved it aside. Yerim couldn't possibly suck at anything.
Anyway, last year when Yerim came over to my place, she showed interest in the game I was playing, so honestly...
ㅡEvent incoming!
...I secretly cheered inside.
Come on, any gamer nerd's dreamed of that, right?
Playing duo with your crush as ADC and support, laughing and chatting through games, high-fiving after a win with a "carry~!", hitting up a PC bang on dates, pulling all-nighters gaming together.
Thrilled at the thought of finally making that dream real, I jumped on it before Yerim could change her mind and dragged her to a PC bang the next day.
It was fun at first, watching her look around in awe like it'd never seen a PC bang before. I'd never taught anyone games, but with Yerim, even that process would be a blast.
We sat down, grabbed some drinks, and since it was her first time with League of Legends, I recommended Lulu, the cat-like champion.
Easy to play, and she loves cats. Luckily, her eyes lit up the second she saw her and she said that one's perfect.
So we started the game with smiles all around.
...Until my expression crumbled. It didn't take long.
There were two big reasons.
First one.
"...Yerim, why'd you buy that starting item?"
"I liked the name..."
WoojinS2 (Lulu): Purchased Tear of the Goddess EternalReturnInstantDownload (Urgot): Woojin, that the right item?
"How does this person know your name, Oppa...?"
...That's me she's calling.
I'd watched with a fond smile while she picked her ID, glancing at me nervously.
Everything comes back around, huh? That happiness then was boomeranging into misery now.
No, the recommended items must've popped up, right...? How'd she even find that one?
But I didn't want to be that noob-hating jerk barking orders at a newbie like Yerim. Let her buy what she likes, maybe she'll get hooked that way. So I smiled and let it slide.
...I'd chat-blocked her screen and was hammering my keyboard explaining stuff, but anyway.
Up to then, it was fine. She'd get the hang of it eventually.
The problem was...
"...Yerim, did that show up in recommended items by any chance?"
"No, it just looked pretty..."
...You're on an AP champ. Seeing her Lulu with 300 AD and 0 AP, I squeezed my eyes shut.
Darkness. Like the future of this game.
I thought the first game was a fluke, but one became two, two became three.
Put nicely, Yerim prioritized romance over efficiency—a true romantic. Put harshly...
Kimblepoong (Trundle): Woojin shot 12345 times, you human?
...She was troll material perfected.
Thank god she'd chat-blocked. Thank god she'd used my name for her ID.
Watching my name get pinged every game almost brought tears of joy to my eyes.
Up till then, the only games Yerim had played were single-player ones like Animal Crossing or The Legend of Zelda, where you could just do whatever.
She didn't know that in competitive games like this, where the screen's full of people—no, real wild beasts—you have to prioritize efficiency to win.
Second reason.
"Ah..."
"No, not that...!"
I was way more serious about winning than I'd realized.
The promise I'd made before coming—to teach her nicely with a smile—vanished somewhere amid the endless defeat screens and beasts pinging me every game.
Before I knew it, every loss drew a deep sigh from me instead of an "it's okay."
"......"
Yerim, watching me from the next seat, must've realized it was her fault somehow.
Seeing her at a loss, peeking at me silently for the first time like this, made me feel guilty...
But I couldn't muster even a simple "it's fine" through my pointless irritation.
"...One more game?"
...A win would fix it.
Sure, the vibe had turned icy from when we first sat down, but just one game.
One win, and it'd thaw. That's what I thought.
Until a sniffle reached my ears.
"...Huh?"
I whipped around in shock, and there was Yerim, head down, shoulders shaking.
Even then, her tiny hand gripped the mouse tight.
...Like she had to hit accept when I queued.
"Y-Yerim. What's wrong? Why are you crying..."
Ah.
You idiot. Han Woojin, you fucking idiot.
It's just a game, for fuck's sake.
Did I get too comfortable?
Seeing her cry that first time, I'd wished she'd never cry again.
And now I'd made her cry. My heart tore like paper.
"Sorry. I messed up. Please don't cry..."
At my apology, she weakly shook her head.
I gently pried her hand off the mouse, pulled it to her lap, and wrapped both my hands around it.
So small compared to mine.
If she'd yanked it away, said she didn't want to see my ugly mug.
If she'd blamed me, yelled about making a fuss over a stupid game.
That would've been better.
But like she couldn't bear to blame me, like it was all her fault.
Just watching her cry quietly like that felt like something in my chest was collapsing.
Drop.
Why was that?
In the noisy PC bang din, why did the water drop hitting my hand sound so loud?
One drop.
Two drops.
Her eyes, always fixed on me before, were hidden now with her head bowed.
All I could see were the tears she couldn't hide.
Quietly streaming down her cheeks.
That's when I realized.
The reason I could always capture her eyes...
Wasn't because I was looking at you, but because you were looking at me.
"...Sorry. Really."
All she wanted was to share my favorite hobby.
To share my feelings.
Just like I expected so much, she must've too.
And I ruined it. Dumbass me.
"O-Oppa."
Her voice, thick with tears, stammered out searching for me.
"Yeah, Yerim."
"I-I, hic, today, really, looked forward to it so muuuch..."
"I know. Sorry, really."
"Sob, Oppa, kept, making, hing, scary faces..."
"What can you do, this is just how I look?"
Thud.
She lightly kicked my leg like "shut up with that nonsense."
"I hate youuu, Oppa, gonna really hate you..."
Each word sobbed out, squeezed through sniffles.
All I could do...
Was slowly wrap her shoulders so she could cry it out.
"...Sorry. Promise I won't ever again."
"Liaaaar..."
"For real. If I break it..."
"Hic, if you break it...?"
"...I'll do whatever you say forever?"
"You wouldn't have to if this never happened...?"
"...Can't say that."
"Dummyyy..."
Her arms, weakly punching my chest like she hated me to death.
Growing weaker with time.
Until they slowly wrapped around my waist.
In our closer space now.
Yerim cautiously lifted her head.
"So I'm letting it slide this time..."
Her damp, glistening purple eyes seemed to say got it? I vowed right there.
"Yeah, got it. ...Thanks."
To never forget this warmth in my arms.
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After leaving the PC bang that day, I barely atoned with sweet macarons and her favorite pasta.
After that, when we gamed together, I stuck to light, non-competitive stuff she'd like.
At first, when I suggested gaming again, her eyes shook like "this Oppa hasn't learned," but when I begged for one more chance, she followed with a sigh like she couldn't help it.
Luckily, we both had a great time. Even to where she'd sometimes ask to play those games again.
League of Legends? Never touched it since.
I'd vaguely thought even if our personalities meshed perfectly, we'd fight or hurt each other someday.
Never imagined the first time would be over a game. The shock was huge.
Now, seeing it triggers that memory. Makes me hesitate.
...And I'd gotten banned too.
...Fucking assholes. They trash-talked "Woojin this, Woojin that" first, then noobishly reported me. No romance in those bastards.
If I watched League vids on NewTube sometimes, Yerim would peek and say,
"Oh, that's the game where Oppa made me cry...?"
Half-serious. Felt so guilty I stopped watching altogether.
Adios, my Diamond account...
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Yoon Do-hyun and the others were probably planning League at the PC bang too.
League's the national rule for middle-school guys. Obvious without asking.
Accounts are easy to borrow, so I was debating going or not.
When suddenly the kids around started buzzing, eyes turning behind me.
Wondering what's up, I started to turn too—when a tap on my shoulder beat me to it.
Who is it? I looked.
"Oppa, let's go home..."
There was Yerim, smiling only at me amid all those stares.