[TS] The Return of The Gamer - Chapter 58

The person I met after coming out of the convenience store was none other than Rainbow, or rather, Ryu Jin-hyuk.

‘…Why is he here?’

It was a meeting that was absurdly out of the blue.

It was as if the farewell I had made just a few days ago had become embarrassing.

Above all, even though we had maintained a connection for a considerable amount of time, this was the first time I had actually met Ryu Jin-hyuk.

‘Could he be living here?’

…But wait, isn't it expensive here?

Even if Rainbow is a top-tier pro gamer, is it really to the point of living here?

‘He can't be that well-off….’

Even if not in detail, I roughly know Rainbow's situation from the conversations we had before.

「“I think I have to go because of my part-time job today.”」

As far as I know, Ryu Jin-hyuk had a part-time job since high school.

For now, the hypothesis that he is well-off at home is rejected.

As I was thinking that, I remembered where this place was.

[SY Palace]

‘Could it be…….’

If so, wouldn't the fact that Rainbow, who belongs to the SY Pro Gaming Team, is living here have some kind of connection?

‘Come to think of it… I definitely heard that there were a lot of exceptional offers from overseas after winning the Red Cup for the first time.’

So much so that there were even rumors of blank checks.

At the time when everyone's attention was focused, Rainbow chose to stay at SY, breaking the prediction that he would go overseas.

Of course, it wasn't an incomprehensible choice as SY is the best team in Korea, but there were still a few questions left.

Why did Rainbow stay at SY, even rejecting numerous offers that were called legendary?

One of the answers to the question that has been going on in the Legend of League scene for quite a long time seemed to be right in front of my eyes.

“…Excuse me?”

I was brought back to reality by the voice I heard then.

Ryu Jin-hyuk, who seemed very embarrassed, was cautiously opening his mouth.

“Um… I’ll just go.”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

It was then that I realized that I was blocking the entrance to the convenience store.

…Embarrassment X3.

Rainbow, or rather, Ryu Jin-hyuk’s condition didn't look good.

Dark circles that had fallen down long.

Rough skin.

Sunken cheeks.

Seeing how he looked, which anyone could tell was far from healthy, it seemed he wasn't eating properly either.

‘Being here at a time when he should be at the dorm… Did he get a vacation?’

The season is not far off now.

That means that even within the team, they viewed Ryu Jin-hyuk's condition as that serious.

‘…Is it because of me?’

Even as I felt it wasn't an excessive sense of self-importance, I thought it was inevitable since I ended things like that.

‘Should I have not said anything?’

It might have been better for Rainbow if I had just disappeared.

Without saying anything, just slowly forgetting about me.

Ah, there was such a person.

I played a game with such a person a long time ago.

Huh? Ah, that person? He was pretty good.

It might have been better to leave it as just that much memory.

But I didn't do that.

I still can't know exactly why I did that, but it turned out that way.

Maybe that's why.

Why I called out to Ryu Jin-hyuk right now.

“Excuse me.”

Hey, he’s ignoring me?

“Excuse me.”

“…Me?”

“Yes, you.”

What should I say?

To be honest, I didn't have any thoughts when I stopped Ryu Jin-hyuk.

However, I felt a sense of guilt-like responsibility when I thought that a person had become like that because of me.

Should I cheer him on and tell him to hang in there, since I'm a fan?

He doesn't look well, should I give him a piece of my mind and tell him to shake it off and go back to his daily life?

Or should I tell him that since I’m Prisoner, to not be so pitiful here and go back to the dorm?

None of those are the right words for me to say right now.

Maybe that's why, the words and actions that popped out of my mouth were quite reckless.

“Drink this.”

“Yes?”

“You look dehydrated.”

I threw a bottle of water at him, as if throwing it, and ran away.

“Yes? …Wait, just a moment!”

Ryu Jin-hyuk's voice was heard from a distance, but I had already turned the corner.

And I was surprised in another way.

‘What the heck, why am I so fast?’

Even if Ryu Jin-hyuk is a homebody gamer, the SY, which is the best team in Korea, also considers managing the players' physical strength as essential.

However, I, who had never been able to run, let alone walk, in my life, easily outran Ryu Jin-hyuk.

‘Should I have been an athlete?’

I was so fast that I unconsciously had such a silly thought.

As soon as I returned to the parking lot, my mother, who had already brought the car key, was waiting for me.

“Hey, don't run. What's the rush?”

It wasn’t a short distance in my standards, but I didn’t run out of breath.

My physical performance was so good that I even wanted to learn a sport.

“Hehe, here’s water.”

“Oh… thank you. Hmm?”

My mother looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Does a bottle of water cost a thousand won these days?”

“Huh?”

“A thousand won was charged.”

“Ah……”

The card I used is what's called an "Om-ka" (Mother's Card).

Naturally, the card usage history had to be sent to my mother in real-time.

“I, I bought gum.”

“Really?”

My god… Are you saying this is an excuse right now? Where is the gum in the first place?

I was shocked by my own pitiful improvisational skills and carefully observed my mother's expression.

“Okay.”

My mother didn't say anything else, even though she probably didn't believe my lame excuse.

Just, she was wearing a very subtle smile.

“…….”

Something felt wrong.

* * *

Two weeks have passed.

I haven't done anything special during that time, and I just spent my days lazing around.

Of course, the peacefulness was only limited to me, so those around me were quite busy with moving preparations and whatnot.

Above all, the community was very noisy.

-Prisoner where is Prisoner where is Prisoner where is Prisoner where is Prisoner where is Prisoner where is Prisoner where is

-Information) Rainbow's return schedule

-It's about time for the gallery owner to say ta-da, it was a hidden camera, right?

-Breaking News) Prisoner reached Plat level ㅋㅋㅋ

-Prisoner you bastard ㅋㅋ

-Is it about time for Prisoner to be likable? Agree? Agree

Unlike the expectation that the interest in Prisoner would soon fade, the intensity became even more severe day by day.

‘Well.’

A player who achieved the first solo rank of 2000 points disappeared overnight.

In any case, the community, which is crazy about rumors and gossip, couldn't miss such a good subject.

‘Well, it's not related to me anymore.’

At least, I decided to think that way.

There is no Prisoner now.

Soon, I will no longer be Prisoner either.

Even if it's just a cover-up.

‘Anyway, when is Mom coming?’

She definitely sent a text saying she would leave a while ago‥‥.

-Beep, beep-

The sound of entering the password.

If it was someone coming at this time, it would only be my mother.

“Yu-jin.”

“You're here?”

“Here.”

I tore the paper bag that my mother handed me with a pounding heart.

And what appeared in the bag was, without a doubt, an ID card.

[Name: Lee Yu-jin]

Also, an ID card with a resident registration number starting with 2.

Something… something felt very strange.

Of course, the impression was only temporary, and I focused on the functional role of the ID card.

‘Now I can sign up!’

My heart is pounding.

How I’ve waited for this day.

Thinking about the past 3 weeks of life, it felt as if I were trapped in a prison again.

This time, it was a mental prison, not a physical one.

I hadn't known until now, but Legend of League had become that meaning to me.

But that's only until today.

“Are you that happy?”

“Yep.”

“Oh my.”

My mother smiled as if she couldn't help it.

‘Phew, calm down.’

Premature action was a no-no.

I had to endure the surging impulse because if I signed up or logged in here, the access logs would be left.

“Mom, can I go to that house first today?”

Referring to the SY Palace penthouse, which will soon be our new home.

It seems that place is about all tidied up, so it would be perfect to sign up there.

“Will you? Just a moment, I'll call Ms. Kim.”

“Okay.”

.

.

.

Arriving at the new house with the driver, I opened the door with the card key I had received in advance.

The scenery of the penthouse, which was definitely organized differently than before, came into view, but that wasn't important to me right now.

“Oh…….”

As I entered my room, the four 480hz ultra-high refresh rate monitors and high-end speakers that I had originally intended welcomed me.

A gamer's paradise.

Not only that.

Looking at the balcony, there were various types of chairs as I had said at first.

I had ordered several different kinds in advance, thinking of sitting in a different chair depending on my condition.

‘Should I try the PC room chair from today?’

That uncomfortable comfort that would ruin my back that I sat on before is hard to forget.

“Ugh.”

I sank into the soft sensation and sat in front of the computer.

-Woong…….

The monitor slowly lit up with the almost silent sound of the main body.

Connecting to the Legend of League website in earnest to create an account and turning on the client and logging into it was good.

[Welcome!]

“Oh, uhm…….”

[Please enter your Summoner name.]

The first obstacle came to me.