Chapter 15: Became the Older Brother of a Top Star

"Director, I've brought the trainees' tier indicators."

"Oh, right. Thank you."

Han Jisang, the coach of the professional team GX in the LOC game, checked the table given by the coach.

Managing trainees is very important.

If you can nurture new players well, they can bring great benefits to the team, and you can also secure a substantial transfer fee later.

"Hmm?"

While checking the trainees' indicators one by one, Coach Han Jisang noticed one that stood out and tilted his head.

"Is this correct?"

"Yes, I double-checked it several times."

"Then, is this the correct indicator for Ryu Jae-won?"

It was an unbelievable indicator.

The tier, which had been at the bottom, suddenly shot up as if it would break through the graph.

"Yes, we also found it strange and checked it multiple times, but there was nothing wrong."

"Wow, this is not an easy feat."

Sometimes, players burst with potential late in the game.

But in Ryu Jae-won's case, it was clear from the start.

He was at the bottom, unable to rise, and his talent was just a fleeting spark.

That's why he was planning to keep an eye on him a bit longer before releasing him.

"How could he achieve such a dramatic tier increase?"

Where did he learn what even the coaches couldn't teach?

"Can you call Jae-won in?"

"Yes."

This had to be asked directly from the person himself.

Soon, the coach brought Ryu Jae-won from the practice room.

"Jae-won, sit down here."

"Yes."

His face looked different from before.

While he used to seem timid, now his face was full of confidence.

Well, with such a tier increase, he couldn't help but feel confident.

"Right, I just checked your indicators. Our Jae-won is doing incredibly well, isn't he? Your performance has been low, but suddenly you've shot up like a rocket. It's quite surprising."

"Hehe, thank you."

"If you can maintain this level of performance... "

Ryu Jae-won swallowed hard, waiting for the director's next words.

"You could debut in a match, right?"

"Really?! Really?"

Coach Han Jisang calmed the suddenly standing Ryu Jae-won and made him sit down.

"I'm not saying you'll debut immediately, so sit down. Of course, you're much closer to an opportunity. Among the trainees, your skills are the best. Maintaining this level is crucial, right?"

"Yes, of course."

"Then, let's get to the point. There must be a secret to such a sudden and significant improvement in your performance?"

The reason LOC is popular is that the meta is not fixed and constantly changes. Additionally, two new champions are released every month, and adapting to the changing meta is the responsibility of the pros.

Those who adapt well have a long career, while those who don't are eliminated.

Perhaps Ryu Jae-won has just caught the flow of the meta and achieved a tier increase.

But,

"The secret... actually, I have an older brother who teaches me the game."

"Huh? Someone who teaches you? Is he another pro trainee?"

"No, not really... This brother is really good at the game. His understanding is quite high. I've never beaten him in a 1v1 line battle. It's almost like he's toying with me."

"Really?"

"Really."

So, there's someone who can toy with Jae-won, whose performance is skyrocketing?

"Is this person also a trainee or a pro?"

"No, just a regular person."

"Regular person? What's his tier?"

"He doesn't have a tier. He doesn't play the game much."

"..."

How can a regular person who doesn't even have a tier and doesn't play the game much beat a pro trainee?

"Really. I sometimes get feedback and play with him, but he doesn't touch the game at all except when he plays with me."

"Is that possible?"

"I don't know. He's a genius... no, just a monster. I think there are probably very few pros who could beat him."

A regular person who can beat pros.

Coach Han Jisang just stared at Ryu Jae-won, who was enthusiastically talking about this mysterious regular person.

* * *

"So, this is... this, this is...?"

I looked at Yuna, who was trembling with excitement.

Finally, Yuna said,

"This is the G chord!"

Ding!

She let out a joyful exclamation, making a resonant guitar sound.

"Brother, did you see? I just played the G chord?"

"Yes, I saw."

"Hehe. Am I good now?"

"Y-Yeah, you're good."

Yuna glared at me and said,

"Why are you reacting like that? You seem really dissatisfied."

"Did it show?"

"Ugh! You suggested I learn, didn't you? You should be praising me to the skies!"

I did suggest she learn, but I didn't expect her to be this bad.

"Hehe. Yuna, you're just starting, right?"

It's been a week since she started learning, not just now.

But she still couldn't easily play the G chord.

Usually, one should know how to play basic chords like C, D, E, and G.

"Yuna, try another chord this time."

The person teaching Yuna and me guitar was none other than composer Lee Eun-jung.

It's great to have a father who is the CEO of a talent agency.

If you want to learn music, you don't need to enroll in a music school; you can just come here and learn.

"What chord?"

"Try F."

"Ugh, that's too hard."

Those who have learned guitar know how difficult it is to play the F chord when you're just starting.

No wonder so many people give up on guitar because of this.

Sure enough, Yuna, with her delicate hands, struggled and couldn't perfectly play the F chord.

"Ugh, it's hard."

She bowed her head and groaned, but her determination to keep trying was commendable.

And her puffed-up cheeks were cute too.

"Yuna, do you want to try this time?"

Yuna's eyes widened.

"I want to see how well you can play, brother."

I'm sorry, but I'm good.

I grabbed the F chord and smoothly strummed the strings.

Ding!

A perfect F chord with no noise.

I continued playing, performing a song.

It was 'Together' by JJ, one of the hit songs of the best brother-sister group in Korea.

"Wow, Yoon-seong. I thought you hadn't learned guitar for long? The CEO said you only learned a little and then stopped. But you're really good."

Of course, I've never learned guitar.

But it doesn't matter to me.

'As long as I have the aura.'

The aura from Lee Eun-jung and the knowledge of various instruments I gained from PD Kim.

With a bit more practice here, I could play as well as a professional guitarist.

On the other hand,

"Ugh!"

Beep! Beep beep!

Yuna, like someone doing strength training at a gym, was struggling to play the chord, gasping for breath.

Strangely, Yuna's guitar skills didn't seem to improve much.

Clearly, the aura's size is,

'Enough to overwhelm Lee Eun-jung and others.'

Why aren't her skills improving?

'Am I missing something?'

Otherwise, she couldn't be this bad.

It feels like she has no talent for guitar.

"Ugh, I can't do it anymore."

"Hehe. Are you giving up? But you lasted quite a while today?"

"Still, I'm getting a little better, right?"

"Sure~. You're doing well, Yuna."

This person is lying through her teeth.

But,

"Does brother think so too?"

Faced with Yuna's demanding gaze, I had no choice.

"Uh-huh. You're doing well. Very well."

I had to lie.

"Wow, teacher, did you see that? People can be bad at guitar. How can you look at them like they're bugs?"

"Yoon-seong, you really can't lie. But you're kind. Even though it's just empty words, you say I'm doing well."

It seems I still can't manage my expressions.

"Hey? You guys are still here?"

At that moment, my father appeared like a savior.

"Dad!"

Yuna ran to her father and started complaining.

"Brother told me to learn guitar, but he keeps ignoring me because I'm bad."

"What? Yoon-seong?"

"Yes. He keeps looking at me like I'm a bug and saying I can't even play this. I'm so sad."

"Ugh. Who would make our precious daughter suffer like this? What can I do about it?"

As if waiting for this, Yuna said,

"I'm sad. Buy me chicken."

"..."

Father let out a short cough and tried to leave.

"Cough. I'll go first. I'll come back later."

"Dad, come with us! Are you going to leave your lovely daughter like this?"

"Ugh-."

Father, who couldn't resist Yuna's charm, took us to a chicken place he often visits.

"Our Yuna loves chicken. Maybe she's a rooster."

"Yup. Dad, eat quickly."

"I'm full just watching you eat. Eat a lot."

Father patted Yuna's head as she munched on chicken.

He then put a piece of chicken in his mouth, took a sip of beer, and relaxed from the day's fatigue.

"Yoon-seong, grow up quickly."

"Huh?"

"I've never envied my friends, but I have one thing now."

"What is it?"

"Hehe. Drinking with my son. It's really... how envious. So, grow up quickly and drink with me."

I want to do that too.

I want to clink glasses with my father, drink cold beer, and relax from the day's fatigue.

Honestly, I'm craving beer right now but am holding back.

The small happiness I couldn't experience in my previous life, the refreshing beer with my father, I want to enjoy here.

"Ah, Dad, are you drinking?"

"Uh? No, I won't drink with you. Ha-ha. In-seok, finish eating and then we'll talk. You'll get indigestion."

It's always a warm father-daughter relationship.

Parents who cherish their children.

Jung Yuna, who loves her parents terribly.

Living as Jung Yoon-seong, I realized why Jung Yuna had to be so broken.

If my father and mother suddenly disappeared, I would be mentally devastated and unable to function for a while.

Therefore,

'I have to stop it.'

For the sake of the drink with my father.

For the sake of Jung Yuna, a world-renowned pop star who receives her family's love, not a broken Top Star.

And for the sake of my mother, who gives up watching her favorite drama to spend time with us.

For the sake of this happy family I've dreamed of, this precious opportunity given to me by heaven, this time,

'I will definitely protect it.'

Chapter 16