Chapter 36: Crab and Father

Starting a clarification stream required a lot of mental preparation.

After all, I had never explicitly admitted that the photo was me, right?

But brushing it off with an excuse like that wouldn’t work. It was a carefully orchestrated act with clear intent, and now someone out there knew the truth.

[Stream Title: Let’s Clear Things Up.]

I decided to address the issue head-on.

“That weird photo circulating around claiming to be me? It’s not me.”

End stream.

“Whew.”

Clarification complete.

It felt like I had just crossed a massive hurdle.

Now I could finally sleep soundly tonight.

I had started the stream, made my clarification, and ended it.

By now, those with notifications turned on would have received the message: The stream has ended.

Anyone curious enough to watch the replay would hear my statement loud and clear.

[Author: ○○ | Title: Is Jeon Jeon-Seol Completely Insane?]

[Her clarification stream lasted 7 seconds LOL. Is that even clarification?]
[What did she even say?]
[She said the photo isn’t her.]
[Well, that’s clarification, then.]
[Clarification? Isn’t that just denial?]
[Denial? Jeon Seol-Mom is my mom! Wait, are you my dad?]
[What’s with this weirdo?]
[This is why the internet is cursed.]

Despite the sarcastic reactions, it seemed my message had gotten across.

[Author: ○○ | Title: Isn’t Today Rank Stream Day?]

[Jeon Jeon-Seol, start your stream! You need to hit Challenger!]

Sorry, but I’m taking today off.

Oh, right. Tomorrow is the start of the Lunar New Year holiday.

I need to head back home to visit my family.

I’d been so preoccupied with the witness interview that I completely forgot.

Guess I’ll take it easy for a bit.

[Author: ○○ | Title: Breaking News: Jeon Jeon-Seol’s True Identity Revealed LOL]

**[Fake voice, fake gender, fake photos—everything’s fake.

So, what’s Jeon Jeon-Seol’s real identity?

I’ve discovered the shocking truth:

(Official Teamfight Arena Illusionist artwork)

She’s actually the Illusionist herself.

Where are you looking? That’s just my afterimage.]**

-[You’re insane LOL.]
-[Wait, is this real?]
[Yeah, it’s true. Amazing, huh?]
-[Is this official lore from Teamfight Arena?]
[Totally real.]
-[I knew it!]
-[All her viewers are just as weird as she is.]

The Illusionist was a sexy female mage character with, let’s just say, very generous proportions.

While I can’t deny the character’s design played a role, her high skill ceiling and tricky playstyle also made her appealing.

But let’s be real, who can resist a mage like that?

Why am I even reading this nonsense?

Anyway, judging by the responses, my clarification seemed successful.

It almost felt like the clarification had already resolved itself before I even started the stream.

But hey, a win’s a win.

Returning home after such a long time felt awkward.

“Uh… I’m back?”

Even though I’d only been away for a month, coming back to my parents’ house felt strange.

After debating whether to say Excuse me or I’m back, I finally settled on the latter.

“Good, you’re here,” my dad replied.

My mom, however, didn’t say anything to greet me.

Dad nudged her with his elbow.

Finally, she mumbled, “You’re back?”

Her tone made it clear there was still tension between us.

“Let’s eat,” Dad suggested, trying to break the tension.

“Where’s Seol-Yoon?”

“She’s in the kitchen, helping out. Says she wants to learn to cook.”

“I’ll wash my hands first.”

While I headed to the bathroom, Dad and Mom went to the dining area.

The kitchen, separated by a counter, was bustling with activity as our housekeeper and Seol-Yoon prepared the meal.

The table was already laden with dishes.

It was crab season.

Since our family didn’t perform ancestral rites, there was no need for traditional holiday foods. Instead, the meal was tailored to my preferences—dishes they knew I’d enjoy after moving out.

Dad relied on an old memo from the housekeeper who had worked for them before their move to the U.S.

It wasn’t surprising; they hadn’t known what their eldest child liked.

They didn’t have the time.

The family had two children: me, the eldest, Seol-Hoon, and my younger sibling, Seol-Young.

From the moment he was born, Seol-Young was frail and spent most of his life in hospitals. Naturally, my parents were consumed with taking care of him, practically living at the hospital.

Meanwhile, I was left to fend for myself.

I had always been independent and capable, managing things on my own. But in doing so, my own needs had been overlooked.

To make matters worse, both children had simultaneously developed a rare condition that altered their appearances—faces, heights, body types, even gender.

Seol-Young became healthy, while Seol-Hoon grew smaller and weaker.

The family had to leave for the U.S., where the children’s identities could be thoroughly reset.

Years later, Dad finally understood.

His eldest had sacrificed so much for the family, enduring loneliness and hiding their pain.

But Mom still couldn’t reconcile the changes in her once-perfect child, who had now become a reclusive shut-in.

Seol-Ah returned to the table, where Dad handed her a plate piled with crab meat.

“Eat up.”

“I can crack it myself.”

“With those thin arms? I doubt you could even snap a crab leg.”

“That’s not true!”

“Just eat. I’ll crack them for you.”

Dad smiled softly as he diligently worked on cracking more crab legs for her.

“Is your new place okay?”

“It’s too big for one person. I feel like it’s a waste. I might rent it out and move to a studio apartment instead.”

“Absolutely not!”

Dad slammed the table, his face stern.

The idea of his precious daughter living in a studio in a sketchy neighborhood was unthinkable.

As Seol-Ah reluctantly continued eating the crab, Dad couldn’t help but smile at her cuteness.

“Why are there so many dads who adore their daughters but not their sons?”

At that moment, Seol-Yoon entered with a steaming pot of miso soup.

“Ta-da! My special miso soup is ready!”

Though the vegetables were unevenly chopped, it was filled with care and effort.

“Try it, starting with you, Unnie!”

For a brief moment, everything felt peaceful and warm.

Dad, however, couldn’t help but think: No one is taking my daughters from me. Not without a fight.

But the rift between Mom and Seol-Ah remained.

As Mom left the table without a word, Seol-Ah’s expression darkened.

Dad sighed.

Would the two of them ever reconcile?

The holiday passed with its ups and downs, but one thing was certain: Seol-Ah had a lot to figure out, both in her personal life and in the gaming world that continued to demand her presence.