I Became the Eldest Daughter of 10 Siblings - Chapter 119

The sky beyond the window had already turned dusky.

It was already evening.

"Unnie..."

"Yes."

"I'm really dying."

Son Yena collapsed face-down in front of the computer. She looked completely drained of energy.

I wasn't much different.

My exhausted face, slumped in the chair like a wilted kimchi, was faintly reflected in the monitor.

Twenty games of 15 minutes each.

The two of us sat in a 2-person room for a total of five hours making replays.

And it was extremely boring because the games had the same content and results.

"Unnie, I'm hungry..."

Does this kid have an elephant in her stomach?

Even war orphans or refugees probably wouldn't whine this much.

Still, she worked hard today.

"Order something."

"Yay! I'll eat something different this time!"

Life returned to Son Yena's eyes.

"You should order something too, unnie. I'm worried you might try to steal a bite."

"I won't steal your food. I'm more worried that you'll beg me to order more for you."

I rolled my stiff neck once, and said while organizing the replay files:

"Yena. Phone."

Son Yena flinched at my words.

"Why do you need my phone...?"

"I'm going to send a KakaoTalk message with yours."

At that, Son Yena tightly clutched her phone and hid it behind her back.

"N-no! You can just use yours! All my privacy is in here!"

"I'd like to, but we need to use yours for the culprit to take the bait."

"Wow, that sounds really unpleasant somehow. What do you mean?"

"You have a bit of an air-headed charm. If I say it, the culprit might smell something suspicious and run away."

"Ah, but still, my phone is..."

She's really suspicious.

What on earth does she have on her phone that's making her act like this?

Don't tell me she's making weird alt accounts on Twitter and writing strange posts or something?!

But well, I can't forcibly take it from her.

"I'll take you to a super expensive restaurant next time, so just lend it to me for a moment."

"Ex-expensive restaurant?"

"Yes. It's even a 3-star Michelin. I heard their abalone dishes are incredibly delicious."

"Abalone...!"

Son Yena handed over her phone as if entranced.

As expected, she's an idiot, an idiot.

I immediately wrote a message in Son Yena's name to the ELF group chat.

[Son Yena: I just had a legendary match with Yujin unnie. The game content was pretty good so I thought it would be nice to share. If anyone's interested, please send me a private message!]

I was about to press the send button when I suddenly paused.

Hmmm, is this really Yena's way of speaking?

It's missing something... the stupid feeling!

In the end, I deleted the message and started method acting, trying my best to recall Son Yena's personality and way of speaking.

[Son Yena: Kyaaaahhhh!!!!! Sunbaenim!!! I just played a game with Yujin unnie... the result is crazy amazing. I totally crushed her lolololol Yujin unnie's humiliation omg. Ah this is too good to keep to myself... should I share it...??? If anyone's interested please send me a private message!!!! (Coach please make me a starter this season I'm better than you think,,)]

...Perfect!

The subtle air of stupidity is exactly Yena's way of speaking.

After sending the message, surprisingly, private messages poured in within minutes.

1 person, 3 people, 7 people, 10 people, 15 people...

People were reaching out from everywhere like they were doing an open run to buy a new luxury brand bag.

Geez. Is everyone that curious about how I lost?

I feel a bit hurt, but also satisfied that they're moving according to my plan.

Anyway, I sent the replay file containing the mine I had secretly planted to each person one by one.

And.

[Hyun Junho: Yena]

[Hyun Junho: Can you send me the replay too?]

[Hyun Junho: I'm really curious how you beat Yujin-ssi]

[Hyun Junho: Someone even I can't beat...]

They say the axe you trust can cut your foot, and this guy has joined in too.

[Son Yena: replay.rep]

[Son Yena: Here]

And after thinking for a moment, I added a short message:

[Son Yena: I'm sorry about earlier.]

I sent the replays to all twenty people who had become suspects.

They'll think it's the same file, but actually they were all different files.

And the way to distinguish them was known only to me.

This was all I could do.

Now all that's left is to wait quietly for the build leaker to bite.

Will the build leaker move according to the scenario I imagined?

...Ah, I don't know.

I'll just leave it up to fate.

I stretched refreshingly.

Then, I heard alien language from beside me.

"Unnie, thish ish really really delishioush! You should try shome too!"

What is she mumbling about?

"...What?"

"I said the spicy chicken skewer is delicious. It's so good. You should try some too."

"...No need to talk with your mouth full, there's no one chasing you."

"Okay."

For some reason, a bright smile bloomed on Son Yena's face.

Sigh, really.

Who did she take after to be so sloppy?

"...Ahem."

...Surely not me, right?

Anyway, there was still some PC bang time left, so I casually played a ranked game while waiting for Son Yena's dinner.

Son Yena, who had swallowed all her food, wiped her lips and asked:

"Unnie, are you going to play games again after running like that until now?"

"Yes. With broadcasting and filming commercials, I've been short on practice time, so I should use this time to practice whenever I can."

"You're amazing..."

The matching was quickly made.

The opponent's race was Alien.

But their nickname really bothers me.

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan]

This bastard...

I don't know who it is, but they need to be taught a lesson.

The screen went dark, and the game started.

As I was about to focus seriously, the opponent suddenly spoke first.

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: Oh]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: It's HaYoo-nim]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: Hello, player]

Actually, this is why I haven't been playing ranked games lately.

Everyone I meet greets me warmly after seeing my nickname, so it's hard to immerse myself in the game.

To exaggerate a bit, it's almost like a ranked fan meeting.

Still, since they greeted me kindly first, I should respond politely, right?

[I1li1lI1lil1i: Yes! Hello!]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: Ah, my nickname]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: Don't misunderstand]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: I hate ELF but I like player Han Yujin]

[I1li1lI1lil1i: Ah okay lol]

I tried to end the small talk appropriately, but the opponent's chat kept coming endlessly like a fountain.

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: How is it being in ELF?]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: It's not that great, right?]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: The team is in last place]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: Your teammates are weak-willed chickens]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: The coach and manager are incompetent and neglecting their duties]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: You're in a complete freefall, right?]

...This is definitely provocation, right?

I want to pour out a torrent of curses, but it's all facts so I can't say anything.

[I1li1lI1lil1i: But everyone is practicing hard so I think we'll get good results!]

Good! You held back well, Han Yujin!

Now let's both shut up and focus on the game...

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: What results...]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: I know all the inside information of that team]

This guy has really been...

As anger flared up, the blood of the toxic user barcode I used to be started boiling.

As I was about to write a bunch of curses and press enter.

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: You're having a hard time because of the build leak now, right?]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: I know all~ about it]

Seeing the words "build leak", my boiling blood cooled down.

How does this user know about this?

The build leak should be confidential information known only internally?

But the shocking talk didn't end there.

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: Actually I know who did it]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: But I'll hold back...]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: I'll refrain from saying because there's no evidence]

My mouse that had been moving busily stopped.

Instead, the sound of keyboard typing became thick.

[I1li1lI1lil1i: Who]

[I1li1lI1lil1i: Are you]

[I1li1lI1lil1i: Are you a pro?]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: I'm not a pro]

[I1li1lI1lil1i: Then what?]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: Well...]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: Someone who worked for that team?]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: I was fired though...]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: That's why my nickname became ELF Diehard Anti-fan]

They say a fan who's turned their back is scarier than an anti-fan, and it seems to fit this situation perfectly.

If they're not a pro, then what are they?

Before I knew it, my head was filled with curiosity about this user rather than the ranked game.

...No! Focus!

I'm practicing right now!

Just as I gathered my thoughts again.

[Your ally is under attack!]

"...Huh?"

A transparently squirming unit flashed across the monitor screen.

It was a Dark Templar.

Son Yena, who was watching my game while slurping ramen, was startled.

"What! How is there already a Dark Templar when the game just started?!"

"...4 minutes 30 seconds."

At my answer, Son Yena's mouth fell open.

"Having a Dark Templar at 4 minutes 30 seconds is impossible. Is this person using hacks?"

It was an unreasonable speed by common sense.

Moreover, it wasn't just one Dark Templar, but two.

I tried my best to buy time with workers and buildings, but it was helpless.

Crunch crunch.

My main base was being devastated by invisible blades.

...What is this build?

[I1li1lI1lil1i: Are you using hacks?]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: No]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: It's a build I made yesterday]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: Amazing, right?]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: The fun thing about this game is that you can overcome skill differences with build differences]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: There's no way I could beat player Han Yujin with orthodox methods]

It was shocking.

No matter how much this game relies on builds, I've never seen such a sharply crafted gambling hand in my life.

And from my perspective, the shock was doubled.

Because I've never seen anything like this even in the future.

In the end, I raised the white flag.

[I1li1lI1lil1i: GG...]

[I1li1lI1lil1i: RE?]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: sry]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: I have an appointment]

[I1li1lI1lil1i: You]

[I1li1lI1lil1i: Do you have more builds like this?]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: I've made quite a few]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: About 100?]

100...

If used in pro matches and all of them succeed, it would guarantee at least 100 wins.

The more I talked with this person, the more curious I became about who they were.

And ultimately,

I wanted to make this person my ally.

Because they looked like a goose that lays golden eggs.

[I1li1lI1lil1i: You]

[I1li1lI1lil1i: Do you want to come back to our team?]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: No]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: I'd rather go to SUC than that team]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: I've been hurt too much]

What on earth happened for them to harbor such a deep grudge?

[I1li1lI1lil1i: Please, I'm asking you]

[I1li1lI1lil1i: We're almost certain to catch the build leaker soon]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: You're catching that bastard?]

[I1li1lI1lil1i: Yes]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: Oh this is interesting]

At that moment, Son Yena poked my shoulder.

"Unnie. We have 1 minute left of PC bang time. People seem to be gathering outside too. I think the part-timer saw your face earlier."

Damn. Talk about bad timing.

I hurriedly typed a chat message.

[I1li1lI1lil1i: 010-XXXX-XXXX]

[I1li1lI1lil1i: This is my number, please contact me]

[I1li1lI1lil1i: I'll take responsibility and try to meet your demands as much as possible]

[I1li1lI1lil1i: Please reconsider once more]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: Why are you going this far...?]

[I1li1lI1lil1i: Because I really need you]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: ....;;;]

[ELF Diehard Anti-fan: I'll think about it]

And, as the remaining time notification appeared, the computer turned off.

Son Yena glanced at me and asked:

"Will this person contact us?"

"I'm not sure..."

Anyway, we absolutely have to catch them.

So we can win.

"Unnie. Where are you going instead of the practice room?"

"I'm going to the dorm for a bit. You go ahead first."

"Okay."

Son Yena entered the practice room with a freshly steamed bun in her mouth.

"I'm back!"

As soon as she entered, the gazes of her teammates shot at Son Yena like arrows.

"Hey, hey! Yena's here!"

"Son Yena! You came at the perfect time!"

The players who had been huddled around one monitor analyzing replays rushed over to Son Yena's side.

Questions erupted from all directions.

"Did you really play this game?"

"Of course! You saw my ID, right?"

"Your Dragoon control is so good? I've never seen anyone remove 10 mines in a row with just three units."

"Come on! Oppa! I may not look like it, but I'm a former amateur top player who's reached rank 50 in ranked!"

"Yujin didn't go easy on you, right?"

"That's..."

Son Yena flinched for a moment.

She chewed on the chewy bun skin while recalling Han Yujin's earnest plea.

Absolutely, do not, carelessly, reveal, that it was a staged match.

Engraving Han Yujin's fiery threat in her heart, Son Yena made up words.

"Would that unnie go easy on anyone? I gave her a good thrashing because she kept looking down on me!"

"Wow..."

The teammates let out exclamations.

Riding on those exclamations, Son Yena talked excitedly.

"I know Yujin unnie's play habits well. Why? Because I've watched her play a lot on personal broadcasts. Of course I could sense where she'd place mines. So I removed all the mines and crushed her with sheer numbers."

"Woooah!"

Son Yena exhaled through her nose with satisfaction.

The teammates praised Son Yena with impressed expressions.

"Wow, this Yena kid is something too?"

"She can't appear in broadcast matches because of association regulations, right? When can she start participating?"

"End of February."

The teammates' cheerful conversation led to a rallying cry for victory.

"If these kids join the lineup, we might cause a huge upset?"

"Yeah! It's still early in the league!"

"Then let's try to raise our ranking until Yena and Yujin join. It seems too early to give up on the race."

"Yeah, that's right! Let's go practice quickly!"

The team atmosphere quickly became warm.

And, Hyun Junho, who had been watching from afar, awkwardly approached Son Yena and spoke.

"Ahem, Yena you did well."

"Oppa. Are you nervous about losing your starting position to me?"

"No, well, that's not it..."

Hyun Junho cleared his throat and looked around before getting to the point.

"By the way, about the KakaoTalk message you sent."

"...KakaoTalk message?"

"Yes. You sent me a message saying you were sorry."

"I did?"

"...Huh?"

"...What?"

Son Yena scratched her head, checked the KakaoTalk content, and sighed.

"Ah, this? This wasn't me, it was unnie who sent it."

"...Yujin-ssi did?"

"Yes. I guess she was too scared to apologize to oppa face to face. Just let it slide cutely."

"Where is Yujin-ssi now?"

"At the dorm."

Hyun Junho thought briefly, then quietly left the practice room.

The empty dorm was quiet.

I sat on the living room sofa without a single light on, lost in thought.

Who could that person be? Will they contact me? I want to make them my person by any means necessary.

Then I came to my senses and shook my head.

That's not what's important right now.

There's something I need to do while no one's here.

I turned on the lights and took out stationery and a wrapped gift.

Then I carefully wrote a letter, word by word. A letter containing words of apology.

I was too embarrassed to apologize face to face, so I had to do it like this at least.

I took the finished letter and the beautifully wrapped gift and entered Hyun Junho's room.

The room was utterly ordinary.

A room that was moderately dirty and moderately clean.

An empty, colorless and odorless room.

It was like, my room.

Then I had a strange feeling.

As if I had entered this person's inner heart.

As I was about to put down the letter and gift and leave, a small frame caught my eye.

I saw a young Hyun Junho in the photo.

"Wow, a Moncler padded jacket..."

This bourgeois kid...

I thought he had good home training because he always brought side dishes when he came to our house, but I didn't know he was actually from a well-off family.

Still, well...

"He looks smart."

As I stared at it for a while.

Suddenly a voice came from the door.

"That smart-looking kid grew up to be me."

My heart, sank.

"Peekyaaah!"

A scream reflexively escaped. I turned around with startled eyes.

Hyun Junho was leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, watching me.

"There's nothing to steal in my room."

"No, that's not it..."

Even I think this looks embarrassing.

I felt ashamed as if I had really been caught stealing, even though I wasn't.

As I was about to run out the door with my head bowed, unable to answer.

Thud!

Hyun Junho closed the door with his long leg, blocking my escape route.

"...Wh-wha-what are you doing?!"

My voice trembled.

Hyun Junho scratched his head and said:

"That's what I should be asking..."

"No, why, why, why are you closing the door?!"

"You were trying to run away."

"Open it!"

"I can't."

"Ah, open it quickly!"

"Then explain why you came in before you go. This is the room of truth."

Room of truth my ass!

Even though I tried to push Hyun Junho away with all my strength in my hand, he didn't budge.

"Ah, geez..."

I just stomped my feet, not knowing what to do. Sweat had already formed on my lower back.

"...Huh?"

At that moment, Hyun Junho noticed the letter and gift placed on the desk.

"What's that?"

"No, this is, um..."

"It looks like a letter and a gift. Don't tell me Yujin-ssi left them?"

"Co-come on! Me? For you? Why would I?"

Seeing my sharp reaction, Hyun Junho pursed his lips and muttered:

"If not then it's not, why are you so sensitive? I'll have to read it to see who wrote it."

Hyun Junho approached the desk with curiosity gleaming in his eyes.

No! Not now!

It's too embarrassing!

I pushed Hyun Junho away with my palm.

"You can't!"

"...Why not?"

"Just don't come!"

"Anyone would think this is Yujin-ssi's room, not mine."

"Ah, you just can't for now!"

"I don't want to. I want to see."

"Ah, geez! I said you can't!"

With my mind blank, I ended up kicking Hyun Junho's shin hard.

A piercing scream rang in my ears.

"Aaagh! Why did you hit me?!"

"Gasp, are you okay? Ah, what should I do..."

I covered my mouth and looked at Hyun Junho with worried eyes.

Seeing that, Hyun Junho let out a bewildered laugh.

"This isn't giving medicine after causing harm... what's with hitting me and then asking if I'm okay?"

"No, well..."

"I feel like I've been kicked before too, but it hurts more than that time."

"..."

Looking at Hyun Junho rubbing his shin while smiling foolishly, I confessed:

"Actually, I did leave them..."

"I thought so."

"I wanted to apologize for what I said earlier today..."

"...Ah."

A very deflated voice flowed weakly from my mouth.

"I... my words were too harsh. I didn't mean to hurt you. Really."

"..."

"I'm sorry."

My eyes lingered on Hyun Junho for a moment, then settled on the floor.

I gathered courage to lift my gaze again, but this time it was even shorter.

And as I slightly raised my gaze once more, our eyes finally met.

Hyun Junho, who had been quietly watching me, smiled softly and raised the corners of his mouth.

He didn't say anything, but there was a warm glow in his eyes.

As if conveying the words 'It's okay' through his gaze instead.

He pointed at the letter with his finger.

"Can I read it?"

I slowly nodded.

Hyun Junho smiled brightly as he read the letter, then began to recite the contents of the letter like a sutra with a mischievous look.

"I'm trying to apologize like this because I don't have the courage. I'm more of a coward than you think... Ack!"

I kicked the same spot again.

Anyway, you're asking to be hit.

Hyun Junho rubbed the kicked area of his shin and pointed at the wrapped gift.

"Can I open the gift now too?"

"...Yes."

He carefully peeled off the wrapping paper.

And seeing the gift inside, he made a subtle expression.

"This is..."

It was a small cactus.

"A cactus... huh?"

"Yes, that's right."

"I've received all sorts of gifts from fans, but this is one of the most unique gifts ever. What's the meaning?"

"Just..."

I played with my hair as I opened my mouth.

"Cacti grow silently enduring the sunlight. It seemed just like sunbae who practices and works hard quietly."

"Really? Was that my image?"

"That too, but cacti bloom flowers even in February."

"...Flowers?"

I moved my lips and continued speaking.

"I hope sunbae finishes this tournament well and blooms the flower of victory."

"...Ah."

"That's why I gifted a cactus... if you don't like it, give it back."

As I reached out to take it back, Hyun Junho smiled warmly and pulled the cactus back.

"No way. Absolutely not. This is the first gift Yujin-ssi has ever given me. Plus, the meaning is so good that I'm really touched."

"...R-really?!"

"Yes!"

Then that's good.

Hyun Junho snapped his fingers and said "Ah."

"It's not much of a return gift, but I have something to give Yujin-ssi too."

"What is it?"

"Follow me."

"...Huh?"

"Ah, come on quickly!"

Hyun Junho grabbed my wrist and pulled me out to the living room.

Then he sat me down neatly on the sofa and took out a dessert box from the refrigerator.

The dessert box I saw earlier in the day.

"You didn't eat it earlier. I kept thinking about that so I went and bought another one. For Yujin-ssi to eat."

"Ah..."

"Here you go. The sweet macarons you wanted to eat so badly."

Hyun Junho smiled brightly and placed a macaron in my hand.

The texture of the macaron shell was crumbly.

"Hurry and try it. It's delicious."

I looked back and forth between Hyun Junho and the macaron, then slowly put it in my mouth.

The soft and moist macaron filling gently wrapped around the tip of my tongue.

It was sweet. Sweeter than I thought.

"...It's delicious."

"Right? It's good, right?!"

It was so delicious that even the toothache I had all day disappeared. Before I knew it, my mouth was full of macarons in three flavors.

And Hyun Junho crouched in front of me, resting his arms on his knees and staring intently at me eating.

While chuckling.

"...Why do you keep staring?"

"No, you just look like a squirrel."

"That's a compliment, right?"

I said that while glaring at Hyun Junho's shin with fierce eyes.

Hyun Junho flinched and hid his shin.

"...Of course it's a compliment."

"Then it's fine."

Hyun Junho, who had buried his face in his knees, looked at me silently and chuckled.

"Do you remember? Our first meeting was as enemies in a game."

"Yes. It was an ill-fated encounter."

"That's right. I really resented Yujin-ssi back then. But looking back now, I think meeting Yujin-ssi then was lucky."

"...Suddenly?"

"So what if it's sudden. Emotions are inherently sudden. Now I even feel like that. That my life would have been colorless if I hadn't met Yujin-ssi."

"..."

"It feels like a gift, and like a savior too. Anyway..."

Hyun Junho wiped his lips and said:

"Thank you for coming into my life."

"..."

My mouth, which had been busily chewing macarons, stopped abruptly.

Hyun Junho changed the subject.

"You said I'm like a cactus, right?"

"...Yes."

"Yujin-ssi is like a rose."

"Why?"

"You're Han Yujin at a glance. Splendid. Blooming as if burning. Showing off soft petals. And..."

Hyun Junho trailed off.

I tilted my head and asked:

"And?"

"And..."

Then Hyun Junho spoke as if he had made up his mind.

"You're lovely."

"..."

"..."

"..."

A sweet silence swallowed up the living room.

At the same time, I swallowed the dry macaron.

The sweet aftertaste somehow,

Lingered longer than usual.

So intensely that I couldn't forget it.