Chapter 11

I became the older brother of a top star, Chapter 11

‘It looks dangerous somehow.’

What should I say?

Do I have to say it looks like a demon?

Moreover, it was jutting out sharply, as if it would pierce the ceiling.

“Brother?”

“Huh? Ah, yeah. What’s up?”

“Aren’t you going to play the game?”

Yuna looked at me with a pouting face.

“Ah, I will.”

Then, he glanced at the kid behind him, and whispered to me.

“He seems really angry. It’s strange, but people always get mad when they play that game.”

Hmm. Our Yuna hasn’t experienced the horror of LOC yet.

It’s a despicable game that shows how many psychopaths and weirdos there are in the world, but despite always saying I should quit, I can’t break free from its magical allure.

Today, people playing LOC are shooting shotguns with their keyboards and spewing all sorts of curses, even those who don’t usually swear, but they still remain in the game, maintaining its popularity.

“Yuna.”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t play that game.”

“Why? I was curious because it’s so popular.”

“Just don’t play it.”

I need to keep Yuna away from that game to protect her mental health.

“Alright, just come in quickly.”

“Okay.”

I ignored it and started the game with Yuna.

However,

“Yay!! Goal!!”

It’s already 3-0.

Yuna was even standing up and dancing on the spot.

“...”

Even after absorbing Yuna’s aura, I couldn’t win.

But there was a reason for that.

‘I can’t focus because of this.’

I couldn’t concentrate on the game due to the aura coming from that kid.

The increasingly sharp aura and the kid’s constant groaning were driving me crazy.

In the end, I was humiliated 5-0 by Yuna’s team.

“Brother, what’s wrong? Why are you suddenly so bad?”

“The first match is just a warm-up. And I’m letting you win.”

“Of course, of course. You would definitely do that. Hehehe.”

My hands and feet were trembling.

I have to win the next match...

“Goal! Goal! It’s a goal!!”

“...”

I was speechless.

The score quickly became 3-0 again.

Yuna, who was thrilled, was mimicking the commentator’s voice from the game.

“Ah-. That player has lost his mind.”

In the end, one defender was sent off, and with Jung Yuna’s relentless attack, the score widened to 6-0, leading to a defeat.

Feeling the bitter taste of defeat, I stared blankly at the ceiling.

“Why are you like this today, brother? Isn’t it a bit boring?”

Yuna said, but her face was still smiling.

Ha. I really wanted to show her a proper taste today.

‘Because of that damn LOC!’

In the end, I couldn’t hold it in and got up from my seat.

“Huh? Where are you going? We need to play one more match.”

“Just a moment.”

I approached the kid behind us.

In the meantime, the aura had grown even larger and darker.

The sharp thorns extending out looked like they would draw blood if touched.

‘What could make this aura appear like this?’

I touched the aura with my hand.

Then,

Whoosh-!

The aura suddenly swirled like a whirlwind, quickly spreading through my entire body via my finger.

‘What, what is this?’

I haven’t even touched the kid yet?

Is it possible to absorb just by touching the aura?

Today, I learned something new, and that too, with my bare hands.

“Ugh-.”

As the aura was absorbed, the kid’s talents and dark emotions flowed into me.

Anger towards teammates.

Sadness and frustration over defeat.

The pressure to win in the game.

The suffocating pressure to survive in the jungle-like pro league.

And-.

The dream of success for his mother, who is raising him alone.

“...”

These were too heavy burdens for a mere second-year middle school student to bear.

“Brother! Brother! Are you okay?”

Suddenly, the dark aura flowed into me, and Yuna, who had run over, grabbed me in shock.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt somewhere?”

“Huh? I’m fine.”

“Are you really okay? Do you need to go to the hospital?”

“No. I’m really fine. I just slipped and stumbled.”

“You really scared me. I thought there was something wrong.”

Seeing Yuna on the verge of tears, I was even more flustered.

“What, what’s wrong? I just slipped, why are you crying?”

“I thought you were shocked because I beat you so badly...”

“...”

“Sorry. I should have been gentler. I won’t do that in the next match, brother.”

Is she teasing me, or is she being sincere?

Her teary eyes are confusing.

“Brother, you’re fine, so sit down and do something else.”

“Okay. What are you going to do?”

“I have something to take care of. It won’t take long.”

After calming Yuna down, I approached the student who was sitting there, staring blankly at the monitor.

‘He looks pitiful.’

Usually, second-year middle school students are at an age where they play without a care.

But this kid is already tasting the bitterness of society.

The pressure to survive in fierce competition and achieve success is terrifying.

While absorbing the aura from this kid, I could feel those emotions.

Moreover, I understood why this aura was so sharp and dark.

‘If this continues, it will really be dangerous.’

This kind of aura represents the state of mind of the person.

And this kid’s mind is gradually breaking down.

If it gets worse, it won’t be long before...

‘Something really bad could happen.’

Even without external pressure, this kid is putting extreme pressure on himself.

Such a person will eventually give up everything, including their own life, due to the mental illness they create.

‘I can’t just let this go.’

I wanted to ignore it, but the kid’s determination to succeed for his hardworking mother was so beautiful that I couldn’t ignore it.

“Excuse me.”

I approached him in a friendly manner.

The kid glared at me with a defensive look.

“Why?”

His voice was sharp, probably due to his heightened nerves.

“I saw you playing the game really well just now. What champion do you usually play?”

I asked about the character he usually uses in the game.

“...Jhin.”

“Ah, I see. Are you a pro? You’re really good.”

Still a kid, he started to smile after receiving continuous praise.

“I’m a trainee.”

“Wow. I thought so. But it seems you’ve lost a lot today.”

“It’s not because of me, but because of my teammates...!”

The kid, whose name tag read Ryu Jae-won, was so angry that his fists were trembling.

With the aura from this kid, I now understand the problem.

Continuously losing is certainly due to his teammates, but his mental strength is weak.

Moreover,

“Hmm. Are you maybe too focused on one champion?”

“...What?”

The kid’s eyes changed.

I thought they would soften, but they quickly turned aggressive.

It was as if he was saying, ‘Who are you to tell me this?’

“Even though you like Jhin, why don’t you try other champions?”

LOC is a 5v5 AOS game where the goal is to destroy the enemy’s base first.

Each of the five players has a different position, and Ryu Jae-won’s main position is mid.

Mid is the most important position in LOC, significantly influencing the game’s outcome.

It’s not called the ‘Emperor Position’ for nothing.

“I think it’s better to expand your champion pool and play more varied games.”

“Excuse me.”

Ryu Jae-won looked at me with disdain.

“What’s your tier?”

“Mine?”

Indeed.

What is Jung Yun-sung’s tier?

There was no LOC ID in the notebook.

If it’s not Jung Yun-sung, then Kim Eun-sung’s tier is...

‘Silver.’

It’s almost at the bottom, not a tier from which I can give advice to a pro trainee.

“Is that important?”

“I don’t take advice from people who are worse than me.”

I would probably do the same.

Moreover, this kid has a very strong sense of pride.

He firmly believes that his losses are due to his teammates, not his own skills.

I know this because I absorbed Ryu Jae-won’s aura, and his abilities have nearly doubled.

He’s not losing because of his teammates.

“Alright. How can I make you listen to me?”

“Win a 1v1.”

“1v1?”

“Yes. If you win, I’ll listen to everything you say.”

Oh, look at this kid.

He’s really going to do it.

“How did you know I’m older?”

“Obviously...”

Ryu Jae-won’s eyes flicked to my brother, and he quickly bowed his head in surprise.

“Who in our school doesn’t know about you and your brother?”

Huh? Me too?

I understand Yuna, but me too?

“You’re the 1st-year champion, right?”

“...?”

“You won a 10v1 fight and even beat the original 1st-year champion, Tae-young. I heard all about it.”

What?

How did I become the school champion without knowing?

Probably because the rumor of my fight with Kim Tae-young’s gang spread.

“Hmm. Can I talk to you casually then?”

“Sure.”

“But do we really need a 1v1?”

“Even if you’re scary, I can’t compromise on the game.”

“Hey. Anyone watching might think I’m really scary.”

Still, I liked his attitude.

Usually, people are scared of a senior who fights a lot in school.

“Alright. Let’s try it. But wait a moment. I need to start the game again.”

“I’ll wait.”

When I returned to my seat, Yuna asked with curiosity.

“What’s up? What happened? Do you know him?”

“...I just met him today.”

“Huh? How did you meet him?”

“Yeah. And we’re going to do a 1v1 now.”

“What-!?”

Oops.

She might get mad if I exclude her.

I need to seek her understanding before she hits me.

“Ah, Yuna.”

“It sounds fun.”

“Huh?”

“Suddenly doing a 1v1. What will you do if you win?”

Yuna seems to like this kind of thing.

“If I win, I’ll listen to the other person.”

“Really? Then you have to win. It sounds fun. But, brother.”

“Yeah?”

“Are you really going to do a 1v1 in LOC?”

“Yeah.”

“No. You’re not even registered in LOC. Are you going to do that?”

“Ah, you’re right. I’m not registered.”

Then Yuna started hitting my shoulder.

“You’re crazy, brother. I heard that kid is a pro trainee. Are you going to do a 1v1 with him in a game you can’t even play?”

“Ouch. It hurts. You’re really going to bruise me. Stop hitting me.”

“You’re doing something strange, brother!”

I looked at Yuna, who was worried, and said,

“Who said that?”

“What?”

“That I’m bad at this game.”

I need to show her a truly surprising play.

But I hope this doesn’t make the kid more depressed.

Chapter 12