Chapter 76

〈 Chapter 76 〉 It'll work out somehow.

* * *

“Test? What kind of test?”

“Pro team entry.”

“…What?”

Mother, who seemed to have heard a draft, coughed a few times and then spoke with a trembling voice.

“Really? A pro gamer?”

“Mm-hmm.”

In the past, or rather, what is now a distant past, I once experienced a setback in my dream of becoming a pro gamer.

Since Mother was well aware of this, her skeptical reaction was inevitable.

“Well… when?”

Still, it seemed she had no intention of stopping me, as she responded with a question.

“I haven’t set a date yet… but probably next week?”

I haven’t contacted YSG yet, but it doesn’t really matter whether it’s sooner or later.

‘First, I’ll take the test, and then I’ll think about what to do after I pass.’

After all, once I pass, I’ll have some control until I sign the contract.

…Right? But it’s fine either way.

“Really?”

Mother put down her teacup and paused, deep in thought.

“…What do you need? Do you have it?”

“Um, I’m not sure yet. I haven’t contacted them yet.”

“Then let’s go buy some clothes first.”

“Suddenly, what kind of clothes?”

I’m pretty sure I went shopping not long ago… right?

“It’s an important occasion for a pro team entry test, isn’t it? You can’t go looking like that. No way.”

“Do you think I’ll go like this? I have a lot of pretty clothes.”

Now that the word 'pretty' doesn’t feel strange to me, it’s clear I’m getting excited.

“Those are winter clothes.”

“It’s winter now.”

“It’s almost spring.”

But it’s still quite cold….

Even now, looking out the window, I can see the white, no, black snow scattered here and there.

Despite the unpredictable weather, Mother still firmly believes that our country has distinct seasons.

Well… it’s not entirely wrong. Although not as clear as in the past, we do have four seasons.

“Then I’ll take that as a yes.”

“Ah, well….”

“Why? Do you have something to say?”

“…No, I don’t.”

I thought it would be impossible to persuade Mother no matter what I said.

Mother, who used to listen to my stubbornness, is now the opposite.

‘…How did it come to this?’

Of course, I don’t dislike it… but sometimes I miss the old days when Mother unconditionally took care of me.

‘But, this is for my own good, right…?’

The fact that my mind is filled with trivial thoughts shows that I’m getting excited about the test offer.

‘I don’t know.’

It’ll work out somehow.

*

“How’s it going?”

It’s often said that humans are creatures of habit.

I don’t agree, but seeing my body nodding automatically, it seems to be true.

“Yeah, yeah.”

“What about this?”

“All good.”

Mother led me to a different department store from the one we went to last time.

Not the usual luxury clothing store, but a more ordinary one… or rather, one that feels more youthful.

“Don’t just say it.”

“All good, I said.”

“Then I’ll buy this long skirt too. Please add this to the bill.”

“Yeah, yeah. …What?”

I nodded reflexively without thinking and then stared blankly at the packaged clothes.

“Why?”

“…Already bought?”

“You said it was all good, didn’t you?”

“No….”

I bought them, but I don’t have to wear them. Yeah, that’ll work.

“You’re so lazy, but I won’t force you here. Still, you have to try them on at home, okay?”

“…”

I hesitated to answer.

I didn’t want to say something that might lead to an uncontrollable situation.

“Mom!”

Maybe because it’s been a while since we went out, my younger brother, who was at the library, rushed to the department store as soon as he heard from Mother.

He was clearly excited to dress me up.

“…Did you call him too?”

“It’s been a while since we went out together, so he said he’d come. Why, don’t you like it?”

“No… I don’t dislike it.”

It’ll just double the fatigue.

Of course, I didn’t add that part.

They say that when a woman holds a grudge, even June can have frost. I didn’t want to say anything unnecessary.

“…Can I buy my own clothes?”

“You won’t if I let you.”

“What do you mean? I’ve bought a lot of clothes recently.”

Online shopping, which doesn’t require going out, is one of my not-so-bad hobbies.

Of course, among the items I bought impulsively due to viral ads, there were clothes too.

“They’re all the same. Why do you like hoodies so much? Do you like being wrapped up like that?”

I defended myself against my brother’s not-so-subtle criticism.

“What are you talking about? The colors and designs are different.”

“Ugh.”

I understand why they want to dress me up in strange clothes… but can’t they show a little consideration when the person is so averse to it?

“Sis!”

“Eh, yeah!”

Even though I was thinking that, my body automatically responded to my brother’s voice. Pavlov’s dog, indeed.

“Try this on. I saw it when we visited before, and I thought it would suit you perfectly.”

“…Can’t I try it on at home?”

“No! You have to try it on before buying.”

My brother was even more resolute than Mother.

“…Okay.”

I’m tired.

*

Thud, thud.

When I got home, I naturally didn’t try on the new clothes and instead stood in front of the computer.

Throughout the shopping, I focused more on the proposal I received than on the shopping itself.

Soon, I made a decision.

“Phew…”

I’m nervous.

According to a survey by a certain organization, about 40% of the baby boomer generation and 76% of the millennial generation suffer from call phobia.

Whether or not this was considered, the contact information left by YSG’s Park Tae-hyung coach included an ID for a popular messaging app.

It means there’s no need to hesitate about calling the phone number.

‘If it doesn’t work out, I can always send a message… but typing on a keyboard is more convenient.’

Instead of hesitating with my smartphone, I opened the PC version of the messaging app.

Of course, I could send a text from my PC, but the process is quite cumbersome.

[Hello, this is Outlaw, whom you offered a test to last time.]

I tried to calm my nervous heart as I typed out the message, character by character.

Contrary to my expectations, the reply didn’t come immediately.

Five minutes passed.

“Hmm.”

I waited another 10 minutes, staring blankly at the messaging app, hoping the 1 would disappear.

15 minutes.

20 minutes.

30 minutes.

And… 1 hour.

[Ah, yes. Hello. I’m sorry for the late reply. Have you thought about our offer?]

The reply came exactly 1 hour and 14 minutes after I sent the message.

I was somewhat surprised, as I had never experienced such a delay in replies when I received offers as a prisoner… but maybe he was busy.

[Yes. Can I take the test?]

[That’s great. When would be a good time for you?]

[Whenever is fine.]

[Then, how about next Monday?]

[Yes.]

[Understood. May I ask where you live?]

[In Jongno.]

[Ah, that’s close to our accommodation. You can come directly to the accommodation. I think 2 PM would be good, but do you have a preferred time?]

[It’s fine for me.]

[Got it. I’ll see you at 2 PM on that day. I’ll send you the address right away.]

[Thank you.]

[You’re welcome.]

It wasn’t a long conversation.

But I couldn’t calm my nervous heart throughout the exchange.

‘Finally… I’m going.’

I remember the past.

I recall the expressions of the team officials when I went for the test as a prisoner.

Surprise, disbelief, annoyance, anger, pity.

Facing all those emotions, I ultimately failed to break through the wall to become a pro.

But now, it’s different.

The pro career I so desperately wanted is now within reach.

“Hmph, hmph.”

I can’t help but let out a snort.

If Mother or my brother saw me, they might look at me strangely, but for now, I’m alone in my room.

‘Then…’

I looked at the calendar.

Today is Thursday, so there are still a few days until next Monday.

‘Still, I should try to boost my rank as much as possible before I go.’

Of course, not all pros focus on boosting their solo queue rank.

But that’s only true for players who have already proven their worth and themselves.

I’m an amateur.

The only way to prove myself is through my solo queue score, and I know that very well.

‘I’ll aim for Master by then.’

That’s my immediate goal.

I launched the League of Legends client, ready to play, but then I realized I had forgotten something important.

‘Now that I think about it, did I tell them my gender?’

…Well, it’ll work out somehow.

A healthy mind in a healthy body, perhaps.

Once a pessimist, I now feel myself becoming an optimist.

“It’ll work out somehow.”

I repeated the words to myself.

* * *