Chapter 1: Why Insulting Orphans is Unacceptable: Understanding Respect and Empathy

I, who usually enjoyed reading novels, knew very well how convenient a “gender-reversed” world could be for men.

A world where the roles of men and women are swapped.

When I first arrived in this other world, I thought, Finally, the time has come. I finally get to use the Gustapo train cannon I’ve been hiding.

So, I casually went to the convenience store, trying to stay longer than usual.

Because in this kind of genre, it’s a well-known rule that women will flock to you just by breathing.

But reality was harsh.

“You don’t really need to bring the water.”

“Oh, okay…”

The part-timer had no interest in me at all.

It wasn’t even a man.

She was a rather pretty woman.

Yet, she didn’t show even the slightest interest in me.

That’s when I realized.

Ah, this isn’t paradise.

I should live like I always have.

That thought naturally came to mind.

Until I tasted reality, I had already envisioned what my future would look like in this world from my small apartment.

Returning to university in style, living a life that attracted attention from those around me.

I dreamed of that kind of life.

Click-clack.

Now, I was just stuck in my room playing games.

Nothing had changed from before.

If there was one difference, it was that in the game, men were a rarity.

Well, at least that part is nice.

When I’m at a disadvantage, I can mention, “But I’m a guy,” and avoid getting cursed at.

Except on forums.

If you try to use “But I’m a guy” on a forum, an unusually furious anonymous user will hurl insults and sharp retorts at you.

I don’t really know why.

I don’t want to know, either.

“Hmph, hmph.”

I was thinking about this while playing a game when—ding!

Along with a cheerful sound, my phone vibrated.

A notification had come in.

I paused the game to check my phone, and there was a message saying I should start work tomorrow.

“At least I don’t need to worry about money for now.”

For the first time since arriving in this gender-reversed world, I started worrying about trivial things like money.

Whether the lease contract for my apartment was the same as before.

Whether the people I knew around me were still the same.

Fortunately, after checking, nothing had changed.

The contract was still intact, and my parents, who had disappeared, did not return.

My younger sister also existed normally.

The only thing that had changed was the position of men and women.

Thinking that, I flipped my phone back over and resumed the game I had paused.

I have to finish this story.

I planned to finish this storyline and then move on to another game.

Since this was part of the main story, it felt like it would be boring to switch to a different game without completing it.

“Didn’t I ask if you had everything?”

Hearing the voice of Arthur, who had now become a woman, I hid behind a wall.

Beep. Beep beep beep. Beep.

Someone entered the one-room apartment after entering a simple five-digit password.

It was…

“Ugh, it smells. You should air this place out.”

My younger sister.

Though, honestly, whether she was female or not didn’t really matter to me.

Anyway, biologically speaking, she was a girl, so calling her my younger sister was appropriate.

“You open the window. I’m really in the middle of something important right now.”

“‘Important’ just means you’re gaming, what nonsense.”

“Arthur!! I’ll be there to save you soon!!!”

For me, gaming is life.

If Arthur dies here, I’m willing to shed at least a single tear.

As I passionately fired away in the game, she muttered,

“Ugh, whatever.”

My younger sister—Lee Yeram—flung the window wide open.

The breeze felt a bit cold, probably because it was autumn.

“Ugh, it’s cold.”

“Get some fresh air. How can a person stay inside all day just playing games?”

“How about saying I’m enjoying wholesome hobbies online with others?”

“Your words are smooth as silk, sigh.”

With that, Lee Yeram dropped her bag and perched on the desk chair.

She then turned on the computer.

I could tolerate most things for my one and only younger sister, but this I couldn’t let slide.

So, I paused the game and stood up.

“Turn off the computer.”

“Why?”

“You’re a high school senior; you should be studying, not gaming.”

“You didn’t study either, bro.”

“But I got into a good university, didn’t I?”

Luckily, I had a knack for studying and was able to get into a well-known university without extreme effort.

Though I’m currently taking a break from school.

“My practice exam grades are good too.”

“Yeah, let’s hear them.”

I hadn’t heard her mock exam results lately, so this seemed like a good opportunity to check.

“8, 3, 1, 1, 1, 1.”

“A traitor to the nation, I see.”

There was no better way to describe it. She was a true traitor.

How can someone get an 8 in Korean history? If you’re a person, you should at least get a 5.

“Why is your Korean history grade like that? It’s a subject you just have to memorize.”

“Too lazy.”

“Well, that aside, explain why your Korean language grade is a 3.”

“…I’m more of a practical type.”

“Right, I see.”

Hmm.

She can’t do Korean language or Korean history, but she’s good at English?

“Naturalization might be a good choice.”

“Ah, stop it.”

“I’m being serious.”

While joking around, Lee Yeram started up a game.

Honestly, I wasn’t planning to stop her from gaming.

Even if she’s a high school senior, preventing her from doing everything she wants would probably be counterproductive for her grades.

“Then, how about playing a game? I decided what champion to play in my dream today.”

“Sure.”

The game Yeram was playing was League of Legends, but I wasn’t interested and hadn’t tried it myself.

I heard it was hard for beginners, so I avoided trying it even more.

With that, I returned to my seat.

Then—

“Let’s play a game together. League of Legends is really fun.”

“I don’t want to become a ‘Rell’.”

In the original world, the terminology was pretty similar.

Except for terms involving gender, which were used oppositely.

“Oh, come on. It’s just to get a taste.”

“Games are hard. I don’t like difficult things.”

“But you play those strategy games all the time.”

“Well, strategy card games, not just any game.”

“Same thing.”

It seemed like my younger sister was so hooked on League of Legends that she couldn’t enjoy ‘strategy card games.’

I had tried to convince her a lot before—

But after hearing “Who plays that stuff,” I gave up on playing games together.

Anyway.

That was that, and I didn’t particularly want to play League of Legends.

I was too focused on finishing the story in the game I was currently playing.

“Then, enjoy your solo queue, and I’ll get back to finishing the story.”

With that, I sat back down and began savoring the Old West experience.

Enemies fell instantly when I shot them with my pistol.

If I made a little more progress here, moving on to the next stage seemed like it would be easier.

But then.

“Ah, more politics. Did you register your birth in Yeouido?”

I heard Yeram mumbling.

Normally, I might have said something, but I wasn’t paying much attention.

It’s notorious for games like that.

“If the jungle goes, you should respond. Ha…?”

It seemed like Yeram’s position was the jungle role.

Even though I didn’t enjoy League of Legends, I still knew a little about it.

A place where people with mental illnesses are plentiful.

Despite that, many still couldn’t quit playing games, which clearly shows how addictive they are.

‘By the way, they really turned a normal person into that.’

Seeing Yeram, who usually doesn’t curse, acting like that made me realize just how powerful the game League of Legends is.

It was a good thing I never started playing it in the first place.

With that thought, I resumed my game and cleared the story.

“Ugh…”

As I stood up to stretch my stiff body after sitting for so long, I noticed that Yeram was still engrossed in her game.

It had to have been at least three hours since she came home.

I wondered how it could be so entertaining to play for that long.

Curious, I approached Yeram from behind and peered at her monitor.

Click-clack.

[All][PersonalitySucks][Koriki]: Why are you playing like that?

[All][PersonalitySucks][Koriki]: Jungle, are you even doing anything?

[All][PersonalitySucks][Koriki]: Please, just take some minions.

Seeing the word “jungle” mentioned, it seemed like my only sibling was getting flamed.

It looked like she was having a tough time.

And then, I saw this.

[All][BackdoorNidaleeSpear][Graves]: N****r

I saw the shocking chat message.

Although I don’t play League of Legends, I’ve seen enough of its community to know exactly what that message meant.

‘No, they…’

To say something like that.

If the opponent attacks with the same kind of language, neither Yeram nor I would be able to respond.

To make such a blunder.

Tap-tap.

“Ah, why—!”

Yeram, who was furious from being flamed, was in a really bad mood.

“Step aside for a moment. I’ll handle this.”

If I left Yeram like this, she might end up sending a lawsuit to the mailbox, so I decided to take responsibility.

“Calm down a bit.”