Unstoppable Troll - Chapter 3

“Is LoL not fun anymore?”

Four years ago, after Jaehyuk announced his retirement as a pro gamer, the first person he faced was Seo Moonyoung, who was lying on the sofa in Jaehyuk’s living room as if it were his own.

Seo Moonyoung is Jaehyuk’s same-aged cousin and his best friend for 26 years. Since they were both born out of wedlock, they grew up as close as brothers, and that’s why Seo Moonyoung knew everything about Jaehyuk. Whether it was Jaehyuk’s game account password, his jinx, or the subtle changes in Jaehyuk’s emotions, Seo Moonyoung knew it all.

That’s why Seo Moonyoung was the first to discern the changes and understand why Jaehyuk retired.

“No.”

“Then why did you retire?”

Nevertheless, Seo Moonyoung feigned ignorance and believed it would be preferable to hear the reason directly from Jaehyuk. There was no significant reason for Jaehyuk to retire from professional gaming and start broadcasting on YouTube.

“Just because…”

It wasn’t because the game wasn’t fun anymore, and there wasn’t any opposition in the family. Rather, Jaehyuk’s father, who used to preach out, “Anything you’re good at, contributes to your happiness,” recognizing that his son had a talent for games, had silently supported and encouraged his son from behind, proud of his son’s exceptional leadership skills in the game.

“it’s not fun anymore.”

“I see.”

Others who overheard their conversation might not have grasped it immediately. However, Seo Moonyoung comprehended Jaehyuk’s response right away and nodded. He speculated that the issue might not have been the game itself, but rather the profession, individuals, and players that surrounds Jaehyuk.

And that was exactly the right answer.

Even before winning the LoL Championship, Jaehyuk had started to feel increasingly disillusioned with being a professional gamer. Becoming a pro gamer was about being exceptionally good at and passionate about games more than others, so they’re being able to make a career out of it.

It was initially rewarding and fulfilling to represent the country and bring home trophies, but at some point, he began to feel a deep sense of disillusionment with the reality of just boasting about trophies, rather than worrying about the stress and pressure that usually players feel.

Jaehyuk competed as a professional gamer representing his country, but he didn’t reap anything from it, and the pressure placed on the players was immense. People claimed that their country could easily secure first place, but that was not the case. While they disparaged gaming, asserting it wasn’t a sport, their hypocritical attitude deeply drove him crazy.

Jaehyuk didn’t pay much attention to the double standard directed at himself, but he was infuriated by those who used him as a standard to belittled and compared other players. As the leader of the team, Jaehyuk led the players, they trusted and followed him,

but they all gradually fell apart because of Jaehyuk…

‘How can Ha Jaehyuk win even when he’s not in good condition?’

‘Why are his teammates so lackluster?’

‘If these loser can be on the national representative team, then I can join the national team too.’

‘Ha Jaehyuk is doing well even when he’s not in good condition, but why are his teammates who should be in good condition performing so poorly?’

Ultimately, all team members except for Jaehyuk left one by one. The gaming clubhouse didn’t make an effort to retain them, believing that Jaehyuk was the only essential member. They saw him as a one-man army and continually recruit new players to replace those unimportant players.
Consequently, the newcomers couldn’t help but fade into darkness under Jaehyuk’s light.

Their darkness was really weighing down on Jaehyuk’s shoulders. Sports always emphasize the importance of teamwork, and the game was even more so. However, at some point, there was no such thing as teamwork in Jaehyuk’s team.

The club coerced other players to obey Jaehyuk’s leads, even though they were frustrated. They waited for his orders and unquestioningly followed them, knowing that it would ultimately lead to victory.

Can that even be considered as team sports?

Jaehyuk had good affinity with his teammates during the game. He’s a great player, but other players were also excellent gamers. He wanted to compete together with them, not control everyone alone.

He had suggested this to the club management several times, but they kept ignoring Jaehyuk’s opinion. They said trophies were more important than players’ egos. He tried to persuade the other players to protest together, but they thought the same — the trophy was more important than their dignity.

So Jaehyuk did what they wanted. He went to the LoL World Cup alone, called all the shots, controlled every situation, and casually taking home the first place trophy. He declared retirement there, ending his career as a national representative pro gamer. Jaehyuk no longer found joy in being a pro gamer or in team-based games.

However, he still loved games and wanted to share the appeal of gaming with people. The fun of dealing with unpredictable situations without being fixated on winning. So Jaehyuk reappeared through YouTube, showing them the fun of gaming that he had always felt.

“Are you not coming down?”

But of course, now he was feeling a different kind of fun.

“Uh, how do I coming down…?”

Jaehyuk knew about CURV too. When he first heard the voice, he had no idea. But the explosive reaction from the viewers made him realize that Player 2 is a member of CURV.

Even though Jaehyuk uninterested in idols, he naturally knew the idol who’s shaking up the K-pop world right now. He even hummed along to last year’s mega hit song by CURV. Only the problem is…

“Just press F.”

“Oh… okay, okay…”

The fact that the idol couldn’t even take a step away like a newborn baby.

“Why are you not moving?”

“Huh? Oh… But I’m falling right now…”

“Are you doing vertical drop?”

“… what is vertigo drop?”

– ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Ah, fuck it ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– Song Eungyu ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– Y’all are seeing a typical noob right now.

– I had Eungyu’s broadcast on and it wasn’t even a speed vertical drop ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ, he just spread his limbs and flailing around ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– This player 2 didn’t even know how to get off from the plane, let alone how to fly. When he did fly, he didn’t know how to maintain horizontal flight or reach Jaehyuk’s marker. He was just falling with arms and legs spread out, looking like a complete rookie.

“Then you can just farming over there. I’ll farm here.”

“What is farming….?”

“Go into houses near you and find something like guns or drugs.”

“Oh…! Okie. Thank you.”

In the end, Jaehyuk turned his parachute from the spot where he hit the marker and flew to land closer to Player 2. He didn’t show any signs of annoyance at all, but instead let out a little chuckle as if he was having fun. It wasn’t the kind of chuckle that seemed dismissive, but rather it was a chuckle that showed how absurd the situation was, but still finding it funny.

[Hyung, they said this is Song Eung-gu’s first game.] – MikeWazowski* has sponsored 1,000 won.

*TL/N: this last part name has abbreviation with ‘bastard’ in Korea.

“Oh?”

No wonder. The gameplay was unexpectedly refreshing. Jaehyuk glanced at Player 2’s nickname for a moment. His name is Eung-gu right? So that’s why his nickname is yesnine1….

At least Jaehyuk had unconsciously hummed their hit song once, but because he didn’t know any of the members’ names, he thought the name the viewers called that person was his real name. Jaehyuk was a man without bias towards someone’s name.

“Oh…? The door*…”

*TL/N: He is trying to to say that the door is closed, he doesn’t know how to open it.

“Press F.”

“How to… pick…”

“Press F.”

“Ah… okay, okay…”

‘His full name is Song Eunggu right, hmm… so unique.’ Jaehyuk quietly licked his lips and checked the nickname of Player Number 2 again. ‘There must have been a big meaning for his parents to name him like that,‘ he thought so with no other thoughts.

[Sharing Eung-gu picture! *insert* the real Song Eung-gu] – This is your child, has sponsored 2,000 won.

Jaehyuk was farming while giving teaching Eung-gu to use F, briefly looked at the right of the screen to look at live chat. A fan of Eungyu who thought Jaehyuk wouldn’t recognize Eungyu, sensibly shared a photo. Jaehyuk then turned his head to look at Eunggu’s picture.

In the photo, he was wearing a white short-sleeved t-shirt and black short hair and non-prescription glasses. His sparkling, large eyes could be seen clearly through the camera’s lens and screen. He seemed quite serious as he stared at the screen, with his slightly open mouth and a protruding neck.

They say when a man looks at another man, the first thing they’ll notices is their physique, and idols are expected to be slim and frail like skeleton, regardless of gender or age. However, surprisingly, Eungyu has well-maintained chest and arms looked quite solid. But his waist seemed thin, and his loose-fitting shirt gave him a delicate and alluring atmosphere that made him look like a natural-born entertainer.

Idols are really different. Jaehyuk had encountered many announcers and celebrities in his previous and current professions, but he always felt they were just like regular people. However, Eungyu, as the most popular idol in South Korea, exuded a completely different vibe.

Just by looking at a randomly captured photo of Player 2 who looked glamorous and beautiful without any indignity, made Jaehyuk understand why people are so obsessed with idols.

Despite looking gorgeous, in the game, Eungyu was slow to react and understand, to the point where regular people would find it frustrating. Yet, despite being a celebrity and new to the game, Eungyu approached gameplay with a serious attitude, which Jaehyuk appreciated.

So, with the mindset of a tutor who thinks “he might not be good at studying, but he’s a good kid,” Jaehyuk answered Eungyu’s endless barrage of questions without any complaints.

On the other side, Eungyu was in dead trouble.

– OMFG EUNGYU! THERE’S SOMEONE NEXT DOOR!

– Eung-gu! There is someone on the other house!

– Eung-gu, run away!

– Heck! Prince Ha, please save our Eung-gu!!!!!!

– Summon @HaJaehyuk!!!!!!!!

Seeing the live chat, it seemed like trouble had come to Eungyu. In the fans heart, they wanted to shout-out with their voice, ‘Prince Ha! Please save our Eungyu!!!‘, and Eungyu want to do that too. However Eungyu felt that it would be too disrespectful to this broadcaster who was already being bombarded with his many questions.

Eungyu is thinking about how much this person has helped him with his ‘Press F’ answer many times.

“Is there anything you need help with?”

As if it were privilege for idols, Prince Ha asked him if there was anything he needed, without even showing any signs of annoyance. Eungyu who was tried to get attention by saying “Uh… uh… uh…”, but he couldn’t bring himself to ask for help because he felt like he was already being a big load of burden.

Then it’s happened.

Taptaptap-

The sound of footsteps in game is leaking out to Eungyu’s ears.