Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Gaming Dreams and Rising Rivalry
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It's a world where you can achieve great success just by being good at games.
You could become a pro gamer and gain fame, or a streamer raking in donations.
'YouTuber wouldn't be bad either. I've heard YouTube's growth is insane these days.'
To Jin-seong, Choi A-young had both the gaming talent and the charm to back it up.
She seemed like she'd have no issues choosing a career in gaming.
No, it went beyond that—she could achieve massive success.
"A-young, what do you think about making games your job?"
"Huh? Games as a job? Games make money?"
Clueless about gaming, Choi A-young didn't even know if you could make a living off it.
"Yeah, they do. If you're good, you can pull in thousands a month—sometimes even over a hundred million in rare cases."
"Gasp?"
Thousands a month? Even over a hundred million sometimes?
The numbers were so huge that Choi A-young couldn't help but be shocked.
"I get that games can make money. But can I really do well? I don't know much about games. I'm not even sure I have that kind of talent."
To her question.
Most people wouldn't have been able to give her a firm yes.
They couldn't be sure of her potential.
They didn't know how fiercely the gaming industry was growing.
'Making a living off games is tough' was the common perception.
And few people ever confidently assured others of success in the first place.
"You can do it."
Jin-seong gave her a definite answer.
"More than enough. You can pull it off."
He knew exactly how ridiculous her talent was.
And thanks to that Yeocam-obsessed Hong Jae-gu, he knew the gaming market was loaded with money.
- Jin-seong-ah, this one's a StarCraft BJ, right? Super cute, huh?
- Makes like a thousand or two thousand a month, I think.
- Whoa, this YouTuber—Bbangdi—is crazy pretty. Insane.
- Ugh, Nyan-nyang-jjang is so pretty, so cute, and games like a beast.
- Faceless streamer? Voice is adorable. Pulls in five or six thousand every month steady.
With Choi A-young's gaming talent and potential, he had no doubt she'd shine brightly.
More than anything.
Choi A-young was worrying about her future. She thought part-time jobs alone wouldn't cut it, that there was no real path forward.
"I'll think about it."
"Sure."
They jumped into ranked games.
- Victory!
- Victory!
- Victory!
They won game after game.
Choi A-young was consistent. Good team or bad, she hard-carried.
Overwhelming foes with her monstrous physicals.
Shattering their intentions with her brilliant game sense.
'Whoa, she's insane. In real-time... with every game... her skills are skyrocketing.'
Choi A-young yawned.
"Yawn, that enemy Corki guy? A hundred times lamer than our lame-o."
Normal games or ranked, they were all boring to her.
Games needed to be intense to be fun, but the opponents couldn't keep up.
They left the PC bang.
"I'm hungry."
It was evening already. LoL really was a time-eating game.
"Anything you wanna eat?"
"Tteokbokki?"
"Okay. Let's grab some tteokbokki."
They ate dinner, and he dropped Choi A-young off.
[Affection: 6]
Progress was slow.
Her favorability had shot up fast, but affection lagged behind.
The opposite of Park Ha-yeon's case.
"A-young."
"Yeah?"
She asked back.
Instead of answering, Jin-seong tried to pull her into a hug.
It was a shame.
He couldn't. She dodged nimbly, stepping back with a big smile.
[Inner Thoughts: Skinship's embarrassing.]
[Inner Thoughts: Kisses later.]
[Inner Thoughts: Hands are fine, though...]
Choi A-young waved her hand.
"Get home safe."
"Yeah, see you next time."
"Today was really fun."
"For me too, thanks to you."
He got a cheek kiss from Choi A-young.
She was fine giving them herself but got shy receiving one, so she never allowed it.
He boarded the bus and sat down.
He reflected on the day.
'Today was awesome. Reading was fun, LoL was fun. Being with A-young made me happy.'
It had been a sweet day.
'Now to the gym... then home to read a bit... think about the future... and sleep.'
There was still plenty left to do.
'But... A-young, the maknae, Ha-yeon... they have no idea how incredible their potential is... or what they want to do... or how far they could go honing their talents.'
Im Jun-ho. The reason he signed up for Manbok Gym wasn't anything special.
'I wanna be a popular guy too.'
To build a great body. To become an alpha male. To date a pretty girlfriend. To earn respect.
'Let's do this!'
He bought nice workout clothes and shoes, signed up for membership plus PT, and learned diligently from Park Man-bok.
'Whoa, she's gorgeous.'
The moment Im Jun-ho saw Park Ha-yeon, he fell at first sight.
She was a goddess.
'I'll get buff... become popular... and confess to Ha-yeon!'
A clear goal formed. His motivation blazed.
He'd become jacked, no matter what.
He trained steadily.
'What the? Why's our Ha-yeon hanging with that loser nerd?'
He was pissed.
Park Ha-yeon, who was icy to him and the other members, was oddly friendly to that nerd Jin-seong.
'No way?! Why's Ha-yeon teaching that loser how to work out?'
He got even more pissed.
"Sajangnim, could I maybe learn from Ha-yeon too?"
"Sorry, that's not gonna work. My daughter's not a trainer."
"But that guy's getting lessons from her?"
He couldn't understand. It didn't make sense.
Why could the loser get it and not him?!
"Oh? Member Yoo Jin-seong? She's teaching him voluntarily 'cause she's grateful and thankful to him."
"I wanna learn from Park Ha-yeon too. Really no way?"
"Hmm, nothing I can do. I'll ask her once."
Im Jun-ho's face lit up.
But it soon hardened rigidly.
"No thanks."
Instant rejection.
No 0.1-second hesitation when Park Man-bok asked—she shut it down flat.
'Damn it.'
He fumed.
He was insanely jealous of Jin-seong learning from Park Ha-yeon.
It pissed him off that she only taught Jin-seong.
Im Jun-ho listened in on their conversation.
'170? One-seventy?'
Hearing Jin-seong's big three lifts.
'Pfft, total loser nerd. Pathetic weakling.'
He sneered at the pitiful specs.
'How's a guy only at 170?'
Weak.
'What kinda man can't even hit 200?'
Frail.
'Shouldn't it be at least 200?'
A nerd through and through.
'Tsk tsk, I'm at 200.'
He clicked his tongue.
Meanwhile, Jin-seong...
Steam rose from his head.
"Haa, huaa, haa."
He was too busy gasping for air.
Drip. Crackle. Drip. Crackle.
Drip-drop. Drip. Crackle-drop. Drip.
Sweat poured like rain.
His workout clothes were soaked through.
'Haa, this is killing me.'
Chasing Achievement 69, taking Park Ha-yeon's guidance—he was exhausted beyond belief. His mind was blank. He'd hit his limit.
Without stamina buffs, he'd have collapsed.
'Sigh, that guy's got it made.'
Jin-seong made a fed-up face after checking Im Jun-ho's inner thoughts.
They were packed with malice, contempt, and jealousy.
[Inner Thoughts: Loser nerd, why's he hitting on Ha-yeon?]
[Inner Thoughts: What's Ha-yeon see in a loser who can't lift 170?]
[Inner Thoughts: Fuck, I'm better looking than him. I lift more. I'm at 200.]
'Pathetic. Laughable.'
He couldn't comprehend it.
To Jin-seong, 200 or 170 was six of one, half a dozen of the other.
Starting at 170 didn't mean you'd stay there forever.
With effort, you could raise it as much as you wanted.
'Huh? The more I think, the madder I get?'
Anger bubbled up.
'He hits 200? And I'm stuck at a measly 170?'
He furrowed his brow.
'I'll hit 200. In record time.'
He bit his lip.
'No, over 200. More than that bastard.'
He clenched his fist.
'You punk, I'll crush that smug nose of yours.'
Park Ha-yeon tilted her head.
"Piggy, what's up all of a sudden? Something piss you off?"
"Nah. Ha-yeon, can we make the strength training even more intense?"
"It's already plenty intense? How much harder?"
"I wanna hit 200 in record time. No, 300."
He resolved himself.
He'd train harder. Smash Im Jun-ho's ego. Tired of hearing "weakling" everywhere.
He was fired up.
Workout done.
'Ah, wanna beer.'
Ever tasted ice-cold beer after a workout?
Can, bottle, draft—doesn't matter, it's divine.
'No. Hold it together. Endure.'
But he endured.
He resisted the temptation.
'Gotta read with a clear head.'
At least an hour of reading planned.
'When a man sets his mind.'
He must keep it, even if it kills him.
'Ugh, maybe skip just today?'
The temptation was overwhelming.
In the end, he bought beer at the convenience store.
'After reading.'
Final compromise.
He read. Set a one-hour timer. Fatigue crashed in, but sheer willpower got him through.
He filled the hour.
"Good job. Yoo Jin-seong, you nailed it. You did it again today."
Well done.
He praised himself. Admired himself. Acknowledged himself.
Praise is sweet. Recognition brings joy. Growth is fun.
Hiss.
Cracked open the can.
Reward time.
"Kyaah!"
Best taste in the world. No gourmet delicacy could compare.
Just one can. Skipped snacks for diet.
'Bliss.'
Happiness welled up. A smile crept on naturally.
'Bedtime.'
Flopped down.
'What should I live for?'
Same reflection as always.
'How should I live?'
The pondering didn't last long.
'I'll figure it out as I grow.'
Sleep hit the moment he lay down.
Monday. 4:48 a.m. The same daily routine began again. He threw on workout clothes and went jogging.