Chapter 5: “Eating This Makes Money Go Up”

Right.

As far as I remember, Hwanhee definitely completed full military service in the army.

It’s been a while, so I’m not 100% sure, but that’s how I remember it.

So I quickly left a comment.

ᄂ-UnveilLondon’sSecret: Wait.

ᄂ-UnveilLondon’sSecret: Didn’t you say you completed full service in the army?

ᄂ-UnveilLondon’sSecret: What’s the truth here?

Just as I was feeling tense…

Ding!

A new comment came in.

ᄂ-hwanhee: Oh, about the full army service…

ᄂ-hwanhee: That was a lie. Haha.

ᄂ-UnveilLondon’sSecret: ?

ᄂ-UnveilLondon’sSecret: Really?

As far as I remember, Hwanhee had broadcast his enlistment process in the Efreet Gallery.

During that time, he said he was going to the ‘army.’

So what had happened in the meantime?

‘Did something seriously wrong happen with his body?’

I was considering this possibility when…

ᄂ-hwanhee: To be exact, I did go to the army at first, but…

ᄂ-hwanhee: Later, my health got worse, and after some stuff happened, I ended up becoming a public service worker.

ᄂ-UnveilLondon’sSecret: Is that even possible?

Going from active duty to a public service worker?

I was baffled.

It wasn’t something you could just change because you felt like it.

If that were the case, everyone would switch to public service work.

There must have been some special reason.

ᄂ-UnveilLondon’sSecret: What exactly was the reason?

ᄂ-UnveilLondon’sSecret: For you to end up as a public service worker?

This was the most important part.

I was curious what kind of story they would tell.

Just as I was waiting eagerly…

ᄂ-hwanhee: Oh, that’s a secret.

ᄂ-hwanhee: But why does it even matter?

ᄂ-hwanhee: I’ve already completed my service.

To be honest, Hwanhee had a point.

They had already finished their military service.

ᄂ-UnveilLondon’sSecret: Yeah, you’re right.

With that, the conversation ended.

“Whew.”

I had managed to smoothly avoid answering the question about which public service division I belonged to.

Of course, I could’ve dug up old memories and given an answer, but there was always the chance that the place I mentioned didn’t exist in this world.

Feeling relieved at how naturally I had dodged that, I closed the gallery and launched my game.

I was planning to play a soccer game today.

I had been planning to play it even before I logged into the gallery.

Personally, I don’t think I’m great at controlling players directly, so I enjoy soccer games where I focus on strategy rather than controlling the players myself.

While I was fiddling with the settings, I heard,
“Hey, do you have time right now?”

“Yeah, why?”

Time is something I have plenty of.

Although, I do have to return to school soon.

But because of a certain incident that happened back in university, I was reluctant to go back.

‘If only I hadn’t made that mistake back then.’

Thinking about that incident, I sighed and looked at Yeram.

“My friends and I are forming a five-player team. Join us!”

“I don’t even have an account.”

From the way she was talking, it seemed like she wanted to play League of Legends with me, but since I didn’t have an account, it would be hard to join in.

If I had an account, maybe, but…

And besides, why would I join a group of friends playing together?

It would be like a senior in their fourth year crashing a freshman’s orientation event.

‘Come to think of it, there’s always one or two people like that.’

I wondered if people like that are just a thing, or if it’s only my circle that attracts such weirdos.

Just as I was pondering that, Yeram spoke up again.

“That’s why I borrowed an account! Come on, let’s play together.”

Yeram, surprisingly prepared for once.

She even borrowed an account.

“Still, it’s weird for me to join when you’re playing with your friends.”

It was a plain fact.

A bunch of same-aged friends playing together, and then suddenly an older guy jumps in—it’d inevitably create some discomfort.

“Ugh, come on! Just play with us. I know you’re not good, but we can still play together.”

“Hey, sis, what do you mean I’m not good at games? That’s nonsense.”

Saying that I’m bad at games?

Granted, I’ve never played League of Legends before, so I wouldn’t be great at it, but that doesn’t mean I’m bad at games in general.

As I said that, she responded with:
“?”

Yeram countered with the invincible question mark.

I was truly at a loss for words.

I felt an overwhelming desire to track down whoever came up with that word and split their pectoral muscles in two.

“I’m not mad because I got scratched.

I’m mad because you’re distorting the facts.”

“Scratched?”

“Ugh, damn it.”

I rarely curse, but that word—”scratched?”—has a magical way of flipping someone’s mood.

Whether or not I was actually scratched didn’t matter.

If they kept repeating “scratched?” the other person inevitably ends up being the scratched one.

“Just play two rounds with us.

My friends said they want to see you.”

“…Really?”

Now, I’m not some creep who wants to flash my privates to minors, but getting attention from the opposite sex is always an intriguing thing.

“Well, in that case, I guess I have no choice.

It’s hard being so exceptionally handsome…

Fine, I’ll play two rounds.”

“…Forget it.

Don’t play with us.”

“Whoa, mind your manners when speaking to your elder brother.”

“The sky’s not that high, and this isn’t even a film set.”

After some casual banter, we finally made a decision.

I decided to try League of Legends.

So, I was in the middle of installing the game on my computer.

“Hey, make sure to tell your friends that I’ve never played League before. I don’t want to get cursed at for being bad.”

“Of course, who would say anything bad to you?”

She had a point.

It’s unlikely that anyone would jump on a newbie who’s just starting the game.

There were always rumours, but it should be fine.

Surely, her friends wouldn’t curse at her “older brother,” right?

With that thought in mind, I logged in and sat down, waiting quietly.

‘I’m kind of nervous.’

Though I’ve played games with other people from the forum before, this was my first time doing it with a group.

Aside from that one game where you build structures with blocks and fight, this was new to me.

Anyway, I felt a bit nervous as I waited.

Ding!

A cheerful sound rang out, and in the top-right corner, a checkmark and an X popped up.

It looked like that was the party invite.

“Hey, is the party name really ‘I Want to Mate with a Woolly Mammoth’?”

It felt embarrassing just to read it out loud.

Like my mouth was being violated.

“Oh yeah, that’s the one. Just accept it.”

“…Okay.”

It seems like nowadays, kids are into expressing themselves like this.

With that thought, I clicked the checkmark.

And shortly after…

-Ah ah, mic test.

-You idiot, I told you to come on Discord, not here.

-Why am I an idiot? You’re just a low-tier rank.

-This is so annoying. Shut up, my brother’s joining, so be quiet for a sec.

As soon as I joined the party, all sorts of voices filled the chat.

It seemed like I should let them know I was here.

Since Yeram had gone to the bathroom.

“Uh, excuse me.”

When I spoke—

-…

There was silence.

It made sense.

They were making crude jokes among themselves and laughing, but it turns out their friend’s brother was listening in?

‘Yeah, they must be embarrassed.’

I figured they’d feel that way.

But that was that.

“Is no one here?”

As if I was about to leave the party—

-Oh! You’re here!!

• “Is your mic not working all of a sudden? That freaked me out.”
• “I’ve told you, you really need to replace your mic. How are you still using that crappy thing?”
• “Hey, it’s not crappy; it’s classic.”
• “Classic, my ass.”

Luckily, the awkwardness seemed to fade, and they started chatting comfortably again.

At that moment, Yeram came back from the bathroom and took her seat.

• “What’s going on? Why are you talking here? Aren’t we switching to Discord?”

From what I’d been hearing, they all seemed to use this app called Discord for voice chat.

It made sense since anyone who plays games would have Discord, and I didn’t mind either.

‘The sound quality is usually better on there, anyway.’

With that thought, I spoke up.

• “Could someone send me the Discord link in chat? I’ll join.”
• “Ah, sure.”

Everything was progressing smoothly.

Everyone joined Discord, and the only thing left was—

• “Alright, let’s figure out our positions.”

We had to decide on positions.

Earlier, they briefly explained that the roles consisted of Top, Jungle, Mid, ADC, and Support.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed, I listened carefully to what Yeram was saying.

• “Okay, you guys take the top half. I’ll go bot with my brother and teach him how to play League.”
• “Yeah, that sounds about right.”
• “You can’t send a newbie to Jungle, or they’ll get flamed.”
• “We’re playing together; who’s going to flame them?”
• “I might flame them.”
• “Dude…”
• “Just kidding, just kidding. Like I’d actually curse out a friend’s brother~.”

It didn’t sound like a joke, but I cautiously followed Yeram’s instructions.

• “I’ll go ADC, and… you can go Support, bro.”

“Got it.”

I never thought I’d end up playing League of Legends.

Feeling nervous, I started the game.

And then, shortly after—

• “Hey, bro.”

“Huh?”

• “Do you want to die for real?”

“Why?”

• “I told you not to last-hit the minions. Why are you doing it?”

“But if I kill them, I get gold. Why should you be the only one benefiting? This brother is sad, you know.”

It seemed like Yeram was getting a bit upset about something.