Chapter 137 – Side Story – A Certain Family’s Daily Life (Final)

In the year 2081, the story surrounding Han Youngin, which had brought a great shock to UA fans, remained a vivid memory in people’s minds even after a considerable amount of time had passed.

People usually tend to forget even the most intense memories when someone is out of sight, but Han Youngin’s current status could still be easily found on TV or in articles.

The only male Coach of Super Sylph.

Having already achieved two consecutive World Championship victories by 2080, Super Sylph had become one of the world’s top sports teams, well-known not just to UA fans but to countless people around the globe.

The Coach of such an incredible team.

And since he was the very person who had caused such a scandal, people couldn’t help but frequently come across stories about Han Youngin.

-What’s Dog-Youngin’s schedule today?

-It’s the Break Period, so he’s probably resting at home.

-So he’s just chilling at home, touching Dami’s and Yunseuli’s boobs?

-Hey! Stop with the lewd talk;;

-I mean… can’t a husband touch his wife’s breasts?

<This member has been reported by the administrator.>

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Still, it’s true that Youngin’s sins run deep.

-fr;;

-Still, he contributed to Super Sylph’s two championships, so I’ll give him some credit.

-Get them one more championship and scout some solid prospects. Then maybe I can forgive you a little?

This year, Super Sylph was challenging for its third consecutive championship.

In truth, the reason Super Sylph was able to win consecutively was not only due to the players’ efforts but also significantly because their strongest Rival, Team Kamui, was not at full strength.

Kamui, who had been called the world’s strongest before Super Sylph.

And the one who had been at their center, the greatest Attacker, Kato Mikane.

After winning the World Championship, she, who was said to have no equal in a one-on-one, had made the shocking declaration that she was dedicating the victory to Han Youngin and their daughter, temporarily stepping away from her career as a player to focus on childcare.

If she were still holding the line for Kamui.

The consensus among industry insiders and the majority of fans was that no matter how much Super Sylph had grown, a second consecutive World Championship would have been difficult.

-She’ll come back.

-Our Kato will come back.

At first, Kamui fans had hoped for Kato Mikane’s return, but as one year, then two years passed without Kato returning to the League, they gradually grew bitter.

-This is all Han Youngin’s fault!

-Han Youngin has poisoned Japan!

-Give us back our Kato!

-No, but thinking about it, this is too much, isn’t it?

-Kato is your wife too! So why are you only taking care of Super Sylph!

-Take care of Kamui just the same! This is blatant wife discrimination!

The angry fans demanded that since he had wives in both countries, he should treat them fairly.

However, some viewed this situation from a different perspective.

-Guys. Wait a minute.

-What is it?

-The reason Super Sylph keeps winning the World Championship is because of Han Youngin, but it’s also because their main players are still active, right?

-You mean Seo Dami and Jung Yunseul?

-Yeah. But isn’t something strange?

-What’s strange about it?

-Kato had her child a while ago, but there’s no news from those two. Couldn’t this be seen as Han Youngin only loving Kato Mikane?

-That’s one way to interpret it…?

-No;; It’s good that Kato is being loved, but. More importantly, do something about the championship!

-How long are we going to let Korea take the world title!

Kamui, once the pride of the Japanese people.

Japan, which had held the pride of being the strongest in the global sport of UA.

But now, that title had been taken by Korea.

With things as they were, there was no way the Japanese people could have good feelings about Han Youngin.

To them, Han Youngin was nothing more than a bad person who had forced their country’s Ace into retirement.

And so, the man who was hearing all sorts of curses from Japanese fans, Han Youngin.

The man who seemed to be living the sweet life surrounded by his beautiful wives was, in fact, buried in work again today.

“There aren’t any decent prospects…”

“What are you looking at?”

“Ah, this is for Team Sylph’s work, you’re not supposed to see it…”

“What secrets are there between a married couple? Hand it over.”

The summer Break Period.

Han Youngin, who had come to Kato Mikane’s family home to rest, protested that she shouldn’t, but ended up having the documents snatched away by Kato.

After checking the documents, Kato wore an interested expression.

It was a list of players Super Sylph was planning to scout for potential contracts.

Most of them were prospects who had yet to debut.

After checking the player list, Kato scoffed, saying that Korea’s pool of prospects was too small.

“Compared to Japan, Korea’s talent pool is too small.”

This was unavoidable.

While Korea’s population had now dipped below 30 million, Japan still maintained a population of over 80 million, so the difference in the absolute number of prospects between the two countries was inevitable.

“Still, we have no choice but to search hard…”

Han Youngin replied in a downcast tone.

It wasn’t yet time for Super Sylph’s starting players to retire.

Seo Dami and Jung Yunseul, who were building their reputation as the world’s best Attacker Duo, were twenty-five and twenty-four years old this year, respectively.

The Ace players were still performing at their peak.

Nevertheless, the reason Han Youngin was so focused on scouting for prospects was largely because the UA Pro Scene had grown even bigger during the last Season.

A rule change.

UA, which had previously been played with five, or at most six, players, was now in a trend where each team held more players.

This was because a Substitution card system had been created.

This Substitution System, with a limited number of uses, meant that, like in soccer or basketball, a Director could swap a player on the Bench with another player at any time.

When this Substitution System was first introduced, the players seemed to welcome it, thinking they could finally lessen their Stamina burden.

Previously, the players registered in the Entry had to play the Full Set, so the Stamina burden was severe, but they thought that with proper use of substitutions, they could reduce the strain placed on them.

However, in the first Season after the Substitution System was introduced.

The players who played in the matches immediately felt, huh? This isn’t it.

Far from the game becoming easier, it had actually become more intense.

It was inevitable.

The Substitution System had the effect of bringing a tired player to the Bench to recover, but it also had the effect of accelerating the game’s Tempo.

“What? Conserve Stamina? We have substitution cards, what nonsense are you talking about! Run and run until your feet sweat! We’re going to devour the opposing team with Stamina and speed!”

With the introduction of substitution cards, the directors of each team began demanding faster operations and more Stamina consumption from their players.

If they get tired, we can just pull them to the Bench.

Thus, tactical attempts that involved going all-out without thinking about the Late Game, unlike in the past, increased dramatically.

The players lamented that they would have preferred the old way, but this change brought positive effects to everyone except the players.

The biggest beneficiaries were the prospects hoping to become UA players.

In the previous 5-player system, becoming a pro was extremely difficult, but now with the creation of the Substitution System, all teams had to recruit more players.

The roster size had nearly doubled in one fell swoop, so the prospects had no choice but to welcome this change.

Their chances of getting into a pro team had instantly doubled.

And the Substitution System also drew a positive response from the fans.

This was thanks to the games becoming much faster and more intense.

This was why Han Youngin was diligently working on reviewing documents and videos to scout for prospects, even during the break.

“We’re also looking for prospects this time. Want to see?”

“Hmm?”

Returning the documents to Han Youngin, Kato slyly showed him a tablet, asking if he wouldn’t want to check out Team Kamui’s prospects as well.

On it were videos of prospects from all over Japan that Team Kamui had its eye on.

It was obviously confidential, but Kato showed him because she knew well that Han Youngin would never leak this information to another team.

People thought that because of Han Youngin, Kato was doing nothing and just staying at home, but in this way, she was still partially handling Team Kamui’s work.

Kato Mikane still held strong influence over the team.

So much so that with a single word from her, even a player with no Talent could instantly become a Starter for Team Kamui.

“The player pool is really good…?”

“You think so too, right?”

“Yeah.”

Checking the videos and the prospects, Han Youngin immediately wore an envious expression.

Japan definitely had the upper hand when it came to the pool of prospects.

It was only last year that UA had surpassed Gaia to become the world’s top sport.

However, Korea was a region where Gaia’s power was exceptionally strong compared to other countries.

This was thanks to having dominated world tournaments for a long time.

Gaia fans were naturally happy, but as a result, the growth of UA in Korea inevitably lagged far behind other countries.

This was one of the reasons why, despite its reputation as a gaming powerhouse, Korea had long been at the bottom of the Asian UA scene.

But now, thanks to Super Sylph, Korea had joined the ranks of the strongest UA nations.

Han Youngin assessed that although their pool of prospects currently lagged behind other countries, this was something that would eventually be overcome with time.

A global era.

If the UKL became the world’s top League, it was a structure that would inevitably attract better players and prospects.

“Could you pick out some good players from this list? The ones you think are the most outstanding.”

“I’m busy enough with our team’s work…”

“Are you going to be like this? If you keep this up, I’m really going to return as a player.”

It had been nearly three years since Kato left the Battlefield.

There were many opinions that even if she returned now, she wouldn’t be able to beat Super Sylph, but Han Youngin knew the truth.

If Kato Mikane were to rejoin Kamui.

The fact was that Super Sylph’s achievement of a third consecutive World Championship would become extremely difficult.

If that happened…

The Japanese fans would be overjoyed, but the Korean fans would surely start throwing stones at his innocent self again.

Han Youngin had no choice but to look over Team Kamui’s documents.

He just had to hold on a little longer anyway.

Dami and Yunseul were also raising their voices, saying they couldn’t do it anymore and would retire to have children too.

He was reaching his limit in persuading them to just try for a little longer.

‘If we get a third consecutive championship, we’ll have done enough…’

Rather, to Seo Dami and Jung Yunseul, who had trusted and followed him and remained active players until now.

Han Youngin felt incredibly grateful.

If they too had retired from active play.

He might have truly been torn to shreds by the fans of both countries.

Let’s pour everything into it, thinking of this year as the last.

It was while he was thinking this and chatting with Kato.

“Momma!” a voice cried out, followed by the sound of slapping footsteps on the tatami mats.

At the sound, Kato’s eyebrows shot up.

“Yukina. I told you not to keep bothering the carp.”

Her daughter had once again caught a carp from the pond.

The pond at the Kato family’s main house was so clear that you could see to the bottom, so there was no problem with the water quality, but it was still a problem that her daughter kept going into the pond and bringing carp into the house.

Unaware of her mother’s feelings, Yukina proudly showed the carp, bigger than her own torso, to her father and smiled brightly.

“Daddy! Dami-momma helped me catch the carp!”

As soon as she finished speaking, Seo Dami, her pants soaked with water, followed in behind Yukina.

One child, three mothers.

A very unusual family structure, but fortunately, the Han Youngin family was a tight-knit one that cared for each other.

Of course, the current situation was a bit of an exception.

“Instead of stopping the child, what were you doing?”

“Yukina said she wanted to go swimming.”

The problem wasn’t that the child wanted to swim.

The problem was that she caught a carp that should be living in the water and brought it into the room.

Knowing this, Seo Dami feigned ignorance and stroked Yukina’s head.

“Was it fun swimming with Momma?”

“Yeah! It was fun! Momma’s the best!”

As the words “Dami is the best” came out of Yukina’s mouth, the tip of Kato’s eyebrow twitched.

Realizing this was a sign of an impending explosion, Han Youngin quickly brought a towel and suggested they return the carp to the pond.

“Yukina. The carp has to live in the pond. Otherwise, it will die. So let’s send the carp back home.”

“Okay… Bye-bye, Lion.”

Having already given it a name, the child sadly placed the carp back in the pond.

Once the commotion had subsided, Jung Yunseul, who had woken up in the meantime, came out from the next room, touching her messy hair.

Seo Dami and Jung Yunseul.

The two Aces leading Super Sylph were currently on a short vacation in Japan during the Break Period.

The Break Season was usually a busy time for players, filled with physical training to prepare for the Second Half.

So they couldn’t stay for long, but they had made time to be with their family.

“I’m hungry, shall we eat?”

“Just lazing around…!”

While clicking her tongue at Jung Yunseul, who nonchalantly suggested eating as if she knew nothing, Kato had a servant prepare lunch.

This was the daily routine Han Youngin always saw during the vacation season.

It was while they were spending time as usual.

Around the time after they had finished dinner.

Yukina, who was watching a UA special program on TV, clapped her hands and cheered.

“The mommas are on!”

On the screen, a Highlight of Super Sylph winning last year’s World Championship, with Seo Dami and Jung Yunseul’s focused performance, was playing.

To make matters worse, last year’s Finals opponent was Kamui.

While Yukina was praising Seo Dami and Jung Yunseul for being so cool.

Kato, watching her home team get beaten up, looked clearly displeased.

“Yukina. Is Momma cool?”

“Yeah! Super cool!”

Seo Dami had Yukina sitting between her knees watching TV, her face blooming with a smile.

Just then, Kato spoke.

“Yukina. Your momma used to be better at UA.”

“Momma was…?”

“Of course. There was a time when UA meant your momma.”

“No, no. Yukina. That’s a fabrication.”

“Fabrication? What’s a fabrication?”

“Ah, that’s too difficult a word for Yukina. A fabrication is…”

When Jung Yunseul said that no matter what, that was a fabrication, Kato retorted, asking what she was talking about.

“Honestly. The person in question is right here, and you’re going to deny it?”

“What are you talking about. It’s true you were good at the game, Unni, but UA was Kato Mikane? That’s not it~.”

Jung Yunseul, refuting Kato’s opinion, went a step further and said to Yukina.

“It’s true that Kato Unni was very good at the game, but now Super Sylph is the world’s strongest. You could say Unni’s era is over now, perhaps?”

“You. You’re asking for a fight, aren’t you?”

As Kato’s voice gradually rose, Yukina, who was looking left and right, sensing the mood, asked.

“Then… who would win if you fought now…?”

“Of course, we mommas would win.”

“Of course, Momma would win.”

Seo Dami and Jung Yunseul, Kato Mikane.

As they each claimed they would win, Yukina looked confused.

“Unni. No matter what~. We’re not the same as we were in the past, you know.”

“If you’ve been away from the active scene for almost three years, you’re just a regular person now. Yep, yep.”

“Unni. Think about your age. You’re twenty-eight now. Isn’t it about time you let go of your past Glory?”

“Eek! You’re treating me like a has-been now? You, say something too!”

Han Youngin, who had been on edge ever since they started arguing about UA, was startled when the fire was directed at him.

From Han Youngin’s perspective, it was difficult to side with either of them.

‘Just you try siding with Unni.’

Seo Dami and Jung Yunseul glared at Han Youngin with eyes that said, if you side with Kato, we’ll wring you dry tonight.

And Kato Mikane was pleading with her eyes for him to take her side, as if to say, you’re an Earth Vein user, you know my frustration! I can still beat those girls even if I fight now!

Between a rock and a hard place.

In the end, Han Youngin had no choice but to cautiously raise Dami’s and Yunseuli’s hands a little higher.

A night of being attacked by both of them at once was far too terrifying.

“Well… it’s true that Kato was the world’s strongest back then, and it’s true that Super Sylph is better now…”

“See? Who said you weren’t good, Unni?”

“It’s just that now is the era of Super Sylph, and we’re the masters. Yep, yep.”

“……”

How could even you, Han Youngin, do this.

Kato lowered her head with such an expression on her face.

Was it because it was a reaction rarely seen from her?

Yukina, who had gotten off Dami’s lap, approached Kato and comforted her.

“Mommy…. It’s okay if you’re not the best at the game. Yukina loves Mommy the most in the world….”

“……”

From Yukina’s perspective, it was heartfelt comfort, but it seemed to be something Kato Mikane couldn’t bear.

Hugging Yukina tightly, her eyes wide, she glared at Seo Dami and Jung Yunseul.

“Just you wait. I’ll show you exactly who the master of this era is!”

The year is 2081, just before the start of the World Championship.

An article that made the hearts of UA fans not just in the Japanese archipelago but all over the world pound was posted.

「Empress Kato Mikane Announces Her Return to the World Championship After 3 Years.」

-Kyaaaa!

-Kato kita-! Kita! Kita! Kita! Kita! Kita!

-My love has finally come!

-This is really happening;

-Thank god she came back before it was too late.

-The real first-string is deploying!!

The Japanese fans were extremely happy about her return.

If Kato Mikane came back.

It was because they thought they could reclaim the World Championship trophy that had been taken by Korea.

However, not all UA fans thought this way.

This was especially true for overseas fans who had only seen Kato Mikane during the World Championship.

-It’s true that Kato Mikane was a good player, but….

-Still, isn’t UA a team game?

-And the game Tempo has gotten faster with the Substitution System. The era where one player could dominate the game is over….

-Her being good was already 3 years ago.

-At 28, isn’t that an age where she’s definitely less competitive as an active UA player?

-Well, it still seems like it’ll be fun. A player of Kato’s Class should be able to adapt to the current Meta quickly.

-And it’d be exciting to see what a showdown with Mystic Angels’ Elizabeth would look like, right?

-Super Sylph will win anyway!

In response to the article about Kato’s return, fans offered various opinions.

Some posts even included pictures of Han Youngin and Yukina.

-Daddy. Who are we rooting for?

-Yukina, no matter which team we root for, we win.

-Wow! How exciting!

All sorts of memes ran rampant, saying that the Han Youngin father-daughter duo would never lose, at least in a Korea-Japan match.

And so, the World Championship began amidst everyone’s expectations.

Kato Mikane, who started the game with high expectations, succeeded in capturing the world’s attention in just a single game.

A three-year hiatus.

As if to mock the number twenty-eight, with overwhelming Game Performance.

Kato Mikane had begun to dominate the Battlefield.

Things like the new Meta or the Substitution System didn’t have much of an effect on her.

She was still on the UA Battlefield.

Dominating the game as the Empress.

-Kato!

-Kato!

-Kato!

-Wow, how is her Game Performance the same as back then…. No, I think it’s gotten even better.

-Just her Game Performance? Her face is the same as back then too!

-Who would call someone who looks like that a mother.

-fr;;

-As expected, it’s only the great Emperor Kato…!

-Han Youngin, you bastard!!!

The scene of the entire World Stadium chanting her name.

Only then did Yukina realize.

The fact that no matter what anyone said, the best UA player was her mother.

“Mommy! My mommy is the best!”

Yukina was watching Kato Mikane’s match live, held in Han Youngin’s arms.

The Roar of the Spectators was so immense that there was no way her voice could be heard, but as if she knew her daughter had called out to her.

Kato Mikane smiled brightly and waved at her daughter.

The Empress of UA.

It was the moment Kato Mikane announced the revival of Kamui, firing the starting gun for her reconquest of the World Championship.

“Merry Christmas~.”

“Merry Christmas!”

Japan doesn’t take Christmas off.

In Korea, Christmas is a holiday, but in Japan, more companies took time off afterward, from the 27th until the new year.

But this year, the Kato family was different.

They decorated a tree and got into the Christmas spirit.

The whole family gathered together to celebrate Christmas.

They sat around in small groups, eating fried chicken and chankonabe.

It was a day without any particular standards, but Kato Mikane thought that sometimes, this was pretty nice too.

She had spent her whole life lonely on holidays and birthdays, but now things were different.

Now she had a loving husband, a daughter, and though there were times she wanted to hit them out of frustration, she also had Seo Dami and Jung Yunseul, who were fundamentally reliable.

Watching Yukina hang a large stocking on the tree to receive presents.

Kato leaned her head gently on Han Youngin’s shoulder.

“What’s this. How unfair, Unni.”

As if she had been there all along, Seo Dami scurried over to Han Youngin’s side and took the spot opposite Kato.

Realizing she was too late, Jung Yunseul made a “Darn, I’m late!” face, then briefly focused her attention on the space between Han Youngin’s legs.

Both the left and right sides were taken, so should I try sitting on top? That was probably what she was contemplating.

But Jung Yunseul soon shook her head and chose to play with Yukina a little more.

After all, climbing on top of him was something she could do anytime, not necessarily right now.

“Yukina. Should we put a big star on top, too?”

“Yeah, yeah!”

And so, everyone enjoyed a happy evening.

It was an ordinary Christmas evening for Han Youngin’s family, just like any other.

---

Ah! This is a side story for The Hit Game’s Dealer that even the author didn’t know they’d write.

To be honest, I was planning to take a good long rest, but then artist Domi drew a picture to congratulate me on finishing the novel. And a very beautiful Kato at that…

I felt like I absolutely had to write something, so I’ve written this side story about the daily life of Youngin’s family.

I’d also like to thank artist Domi for drawing the illustration to commemorate the novel’s completion.

And I’d also like to express my gratitude to any readers who might have been waiting for a side story.

I will now prepare for my next work and hope to see you all again in the future.

I hope you all stay healthy until then, and with that, I’ll end my message.

Thank you