I Became the Eldest Daughter of 10 Siblings

Moon Jaehyun and I moved to a quiet cafe.
We sat facing each other at the table.
As I smiled and looked at Moon Jaehyun, his pale skin that showed his veins and the dark circles under his eyes caught my attention. A typical nerdy look.
But this guy, he couldn’t maintain eye contact with me for more than a second, constantly avoiding my gaze as if playing hide-and-seek.
If you keep turning your head away, what becomes of all the effort I put into this makeup, you fool.

“I deliberately dressed up exactly like Aragaki Mio to meet you.”
“Ah… I thought so.”
“So what do you think? Your impressions?”
“Huh? Oh, it’s, it’s good.”
What do you mean, when you can’t even look me in the eye properly and are just busy avoiding it.
“No, look more closely. You can’t see anything from over there.”

As I raised my upper body and brought my face closer, Moon Jaehyun pulled his body back. His gaze fled chaotically, tracing a spiral.
“I did all this for you to see, you should look properly.”
“Eh, really? For me?”
Yes. Just for you alone.
“Um, I’m sorry. I’m too nervous to make eye contact.”
“I see. Don’t worry, I’ll do it again next time.”
But then we’ll meet as broadcaster and editor.

He stuttered and spoke with difficulty.
“You’re, no, um, what, noona, no. Uh…”
“Did you come for an interview? Relax, relax. We’re going to be seeing each other for a long time.”
“So, HaYoo-nim is both Barcode and Zenith from our guild, right?”

I nodded while drinking my beverage.
“I’m sorry. Honestly, it’s hard to believe. I thought Zenith was definitely a man and my hyung. The way you talked, your class, all that.”
Man… well, that’s true.
“I’m sorry for deceiving you. Then shall we start with proper introductions? First, I’m…”
“No, no! I know everything! I’m the one who created the HaYoo minor gallery.”

Ah, so you were the gallery’s founder?
Then,
“I’m curious about you too. Won’t you tell me?”
“Ah, I’m…”

He hesitantly began his story.
He’s nineteen, the same age as Han Sejun. But unlike Han Sejun, his academic background is impressive. He entered Korea’s top university early and was the main editor for Lilme, Asia TV’s number one BJ.
What people commonly call a genius. That was Moon Jaehyun.

“Wow. You’re the same age as my younger sibling. Speak comfortably then, use informal language.”
“No. I’m comfortable with this, noona.”
Actually, I’m more comfortable with this too.

I brought up the main topic.
“About the future of the internet broadcasting industry, what do you think will happen?”

Moon Jaehyun put his finger on his chin and pondered at my question.
Actually, this was a kind of test.
From my perspective of knowing the future, I wanted to work with someone whose thoughts aligned with mine.

And he opened his mouth.
“The walls between platforms will crumble. YouTube will go for simplicity. Thumbnails will be simple, titles short, and playtime reduced.”

He gave a perfect 100-point answer.
Then, one more.
“What do you think would be good for my image in personal broadcasting?”
“Not too heavy or light, but a gray water that can blend in anywhere. That way, even if you get criticized, you can recover quickly, and even if you’re praised, you won’t fall into arrogance.”

Then, as if his mouth had been unplugged, Moon Jaehyun added,
“Noona should focus on Galaxy War as the main game, but it would be good to play other games too. What else do you play?”
“I’m good at Black So… no, I’m good at everything.”
“Okay. So you can do variety gaming too.”

I almost let it slip.
I can’t mention a game that hasn’t been released yet.

“Do you like sports? I think it’s going to be the era of live broadcasting now. A woman who likes sports is very attractive from the viewers’ perspective.”

Moon Jaehyun was right.
Internet broadcasting platforms will successively buy overseas sports broadcasting rights and usher in a great era of sports broadcasting.

“I… Arsenal?”
“Arsenal? Uh, hmm.”
Uh, hmm?
What’s wrong with Arsenal!

…By the way,
This kid is really something, isn’t he?
My desire to have him was already sky-high, but now it’s threatening to pierce through the sky.
The instinct of being an only child, tightly pressed in a corner of my heart, is trying to burst out.
In my previous life, I was an only child.
What is an only child? A ‘one-strong system’ with no fierce competition due to the absence of siblings. An absolute dictator who can monopolize parents’ love and attention without even trying.
So from a young age, I had the nature of having to get whatever I wanted.
It was natural.
When others were debating whether the chicken or the egg came first, I was the child who nonchalantly ate fried egg and chicken skewers at the same time. That was me.

However, after becoming the eldest daughter of nine siblings in this life, I forcibly diluted and blurred that greed and selfishness. I became what Buddhism often preaches as a state of abandoning the self and desire, the so-called desirelessness.
But seeing this guy, my greed and desire are surging again. He was a white jade in the dust, too precious to give to others.
So I’m trying to steal him away.

“So how is it with Lilme-nim?”
“…It’s just okay.”
He said that, but his face turned pale.
“I like editing, but I also want to produce experimental long-term projects. But Lilme-nim always pursues stability.”
“Oh, I like experiments too.”
“Really? Then we’re on the same wavelength.”
“Right?”

Unable to hold back anymore, I pulled out a freelance contract from my bag.
“The same pay as that person, you write it yourself.”
“What?”
“I want to do it with you.”

At that, Moon Jaehyun’s pale complexion turned as red as a radish.
“D-do it… What do you mean!”
What kind of misunderstanding are you having?
“No, I mean I want to work with you. You clearly said you wanted to work with me too. I feel the same way. What’s the problem?”
“I want to too, but…”
“If you say you won’t do it,”
I set up my last stand with eyes full of sorrow.
“I might fall to the bottom.”

This cringe-worthy line was the famous scene dialogue that Aragaki Mio, whom Moon Jaehyun loved, uttered in episode 9 of the anime.
Moon Jaehyun, who knew this well, closed his eyelids heavily for a moment.

Eventually,
“I’ll do it. Actually, I had already made up my mind when I came here. It’s just…”
“Just?”
“I’m so scared of Lilme-nim! She has tattoos, smokes e-cigarettes, and has a foul mouth!”
Moon Jaehyun shuddered like a child who had a nightmare.

Well, she did look like a typical former school bully turned club girl.
I consoled him, saying,
“Give me her number. I’ll talk to her instead.”
“That’s really a declaration of war, a declaration of war.”
“Ah, fine. Hurry up and give it to me. It’s good to draw some aggro.”

After a long struggle, I finally got Lilme’s number.
“No more problems now, right?”
“…Y-yes.”
“Let’s do well together from now on, Jaehyun.”

I patted Moon Jaehyun’s head. Moon Jaehyun bowed his head like a cat and clasped his thin hands together.
“Shall we get up now?”
“Yes, noona. Thank you. You didn’t leave anything behind, right?”
“No. I didn’t. I made sure to take care of everything, including you.”
“…Eh.”
Moon Jaehyun’s ears turned bright red.

At the dorm of SUC, the best team in Korea.
Although it was a clear day without a single cloud, Kang Yohan’s face was overcast with dark clouds.
He sighed and opened an internet article window.

[The Fading Era of Old Gamers]
[Why Has the Emperor Become Icarus?]
[Kang Yohan, Missing from the Main Stage for 1460 Days]

He clicked on one column to read.
-Who said that falling has no wings? There are many empty seats at the Yongsan e-Sports Stadium. It’s the absence of familiar old gamers who opened the era of . The heroes known by nicknames such as Emperor, Hero, Storm, Devil, Dreamer, etc., who enjoyed great popularity, are unable to escape from the swamp of poor performance day after day. The reason for this…

Each word stabbed Kang Yohan’s heart like a dagger.

Kang Yohan.
The Emperor of , the Emperor of the Human race.
He was a legendary figure who transformed Humans, once despised as the weakest race, into the strongest race.

And that’s not all. His team, which was barely maintained by Kang Yohan’s prize money and the coach’s personal funds without any sponsors, was able to receive sponsorship from a large corporation called SUC, who came in solely based on Kang Yohan’s star power.
In other words, the team he was in wouldn’t have existed without him.

Before he knew it, even such glory had become a thing of the past.
When he was discharged from the Air Force Sports Unit, none of the old gamers of Kang Yohan’s generation remained except for Kang Yohan himself.
The fired coach, the disappeared coaches, the teammates who shared the glory of victory together.
No one was left.

And now he keenly felt that it was his turn.
‘Right. I’ve had a long run. I’ve held on well enough. Haha.’
He tried to compromise with reality, slowly suffocating in the wave of generational change.

But,
‘I want to win once more.’
That thought kept spinning in his head, refusing to leave.

Especially, the Golden Mouse.
It was a mouse trophy made of gold, awarded for winning the , one of Korea’s top tournaments, three times.
As if blinded by the aura of bright gold, Kang Yohan was obsessed and immersed in it.
‘If I could just win one more time, damn it.’

Realistically, it was nearly impossible for a 30-something pro gamer who couldn’t even get near the main stage to reach a major tournament and win.

“Sunbae-nim.”
“Oh, Suhyuk.”
Jung Suhyuk, the junior who had taken over his nickname ‘Emperor’, spoke with difficulty.
“The front office is calling. About the contract renewal.”
“Ah, right. The contract renewal is today. Thanks.”

With steps as heavy as if an anchor was tied to his ankles, he headed to the front office. When he opened the door, a gloomy atmosphere hung thick.
He could guess what words were coming.
‘Ah, a pay cut, huh.’

The team front office staff were seated in a row. The office manager, with whom he was usually on friendly terms, spoke up.
“Kang Yohan player, how’s your condition these days?”
“Not bad. It’s just disappointing that I can’t participate in matches.”
The office manager drank coffee from a paper cup.
“As you’re a pro with great intuition, you probably already know, but today’s conversation won’t be very pleasant.”
“I know. It’s the fate of a pro, what can you do.”
“No. We know very well what kind of player Kang Yohan is. So we tried to treat you with the utmost respect befitting a team legend, but due to worsening company circumstances… We’re sorry.”

The office manager fell into thought, then crumpled the paper cup.
“So I volunteered. I thought it was right for me, a fan of Kang Yohan player, to say it directly rather than someone who doesn’t know anything about the game. So the amount we can offer is,”

Looking at the contract, Kang Yohan sank into deep contemplation.
“…Could I have a little time to think?”
“Yes, of course.”

He greeted them and left the front office.
But he forgot where he was supposed to go. He sat down and thought slowly.
Three options came to mind.

First, not signing the contract and retiring.
Then he could have a retirement ceremony from the team and at least take some honor with him.

Second, signing the contract and staying on the roster as a number-filler while receiving a pittance.
This was the most horrifying option for Kang Yohan.

And the third…
After much deliberation, he called Hyun Junho.
-Yes, sunbae-nim. I’ve answered the phone.
“Junho. What are you doing?”
-I’m, practicing.
“You’re working really hard these days? I hear you’re dedicating yourself, even skipping vacations.”
-Yes. The build that Han Yujin… I mean, Barcode created is so good. Personally, Barcode also shared some details with me, so I’m trying to refine and polish it well, haha.

Kang Yohan suddenly became curious and asked,
“What about Barcode?”
-What about her? Hmm….
Lost in thought, Hyun Junho soon gave a firm answer.
-A pretty weirdo? Just kidding. She’s a once-in-a-generation genius. A genius so exceptional it makes you think she might have come from the future.

Hearing the answer, Kang Yohan let out a weak, sad laugh.
‘Right. If there’s someone exiting shamefully like me, there must be someone entering proudly like that.’

Just as he was about to hang up.
‘But it’s not over until it’s over, right?’
As if possessed, Kang Yohan said,
“Junho. Can I ask you for one favor?”
-Ah, of course! You know what you mean to me, sunbae.

And, taking a deep breath, he said,
“Could I also get Barcode’s personal contact information?”

“Kyaa!”
I screamed, hugging a pillow.
Is what I’m seeing real? Real? Huh?
I feel like I’m going to go crazy from happiness.

Suddenly, I got a KakaoTalk notification and when I checked,

[Kang Yohan: Hello, Barcode-nim^^]
[Kang Yohan: I asked Junho]
[Kang Yohan: And got your contact info]
[Kang Yohan: If you’re uncomfortable]
[Kang Yohan: I’m really really sorry…]
[Kang Yohan: I was so desperate]
[Kang Yohan: I’d be grateful if you could understand that I committed this rudeness… ㅠㅠ]

No. What rudeness? You’re the Emperor.
A sweet, tangy happiness spread gently, like putting sweet fruits in my mouth.

Kang Yohan.
My eternal Emperor.
These days, people make fun of Kang Yohan as a deposed emperor because Jung Suhyuk is called the Emperor, but that’s ridiculous nonsense.
Because there’s only one Emperor, and it’s this man.

The person I loved most in the world after my parents.
I must have gone to Yongsan and made cheer banners and called out Kang Yohan’s name well over a hundred times.
Ah, of course, that was in my previous life.

But what business does my Emperor have?

[Han Yujin: Gasp…]
[Han Yujin: To think the Emperor himself would contact me]
[Han Yujin: (I’m honored. emoticon)]
[Han Yujin: I’m a die-hard fan haha]
[Han Yujin: What brings you here? :)]

Soon the 1 disappeared and an answer came back.
[Kang Yohan: I want to become your disciple]

What? What did you say?

[Han Yujin: That’s absurd..]
[Han Yujin: How could I become Yohan-nim’s teacher ㅜㅜ]

I flatly refused. Because it doesn’t make sense.

[Kang Yohan: I want to make one last attempt]
[Kang Yohan: The journey to the Golden Mouse]
[Kang Yohan: No matter how I look at it, only Barcode-nim can help]
[Kang Yohan: Did I ask too rashly? I’m sorry. Please feel free to refuse ㅠㅠ]

In the future I know, he eventually retires without even getting close to the Golden Mouse.
A tragic retirement? Not really.
He later transitions to become a professional poker player and does very well.

But…
I like this person’s tenacious life motto.
His actual game content is like that too. A player who uses every possible method for victory, and never gives up or bends until he’s completely defeated.
A person similar to me.
That’s who player Kang Yohan was.

Sympathy and admiration swelled up softly.
If I help him wholeheartedly… couldn’t Kang Yohan win the Golden Mouse?
Couldn’t he retire more brilliantly than that future I knew?

Honestly, I wanted to see it.
Kang Yohan kissing the Golden Mouse amidst a shower of champagne drops.

[Han Yujin: Please wait a moment]

I wanted to hear Moon Jaehyun’s thoughts, so I called him.
-Gasp, yes, yes, noona.

I told Moon Jaehyun about Kang Yohan contacting me and wanting to become my disciple.
I asked what he thought.
If it seemed to have good marketability.

-Noona. Can I ask you directly?
“Yes. Go ahead.”
-Are you confident you can make him win?

Confident I can make him win?
Ah, yes. Because I know the future.

“Of course. He’s my Emperor.”
-Then let’s do this. Let’s capture the entire process of meeting and growing on broadcast. Let’s make it a real documentary.

Oh, that’s not bad?
If we do that, we can quickly amplify interest through word of mouth.
Especially, it would generate tremendous interest among young adults between their late 20s and mid-30s who are starting to become complacent as they blend into society.

Fans would cry and laugh at the catharsis of a falling old gamer reviving and eventually winning.
It’s already exciting, so thrilling!

“Okay. You really are a genius.”
-Ah, noona. But what should we name the project?

The name of the project?
What would be good?

“Kang Yohan’s Oldboy. How about that?”