[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return – Chapter 369

It feels like time has stopped.

No, it’s not just a feeling.

Rainbow, who happened to cross my path, stood frozen and blank in front of me.

“…….”

To be honest, running into Rainbow here isn’t that surprising when you think about it objectively.

This is a hotel near the venue where the All-Star Event is being held, and Rainbow is a representative professional gamer from Korea, just like me, participating in the All-Star.

Given that we both made it to this place, it wouldn’t be strange to bump into each other at some point.

‘But…’

No matter how much I had anticipated this, experiencing it in reality is a whole other game.

If someone had just broken the ice, the awkwardness might have melted away, but unfortunately, neither Rainbow nor I were the types to initiate such a conversation.

“Ah, hello…”

“Ah, y-yeah…”

Barely managing to force out a greeting, I felt the awkwardness from Rainbow’s response.

“Is it for the All-Star…?”

“Ah, yes.”

And then came the silence.

Even though we’re both pro gamers, one is a superstar who has won the Red Cup twice, while the other just joined the first league as a rookie.

It’s only natural that there wouldn’t be much common ground between me, an Outlaw, and Rainbow, a superstar, so the awkwardness was expected.

“Um… thanks for the other day.”

“Y-yes? For what?”

“For cheering for me. It helped a lot… really.”

“Really? Ah…”

That past memory resurfaced unexpectedly.

It was true; something like that had happened.

I never expected Rainbow would remember something I’d briefly forgotten, and that left me at a loss for words.

“Ah, no need for thanks… I’m just going to go now.”

This encounter made me uncomfortable for several reasons.

Back when I was Prisoner, he was one of the few connections I had.

However, now I needed to erase that connection, so the discomfort only deepened.

Just as I was trying to awkwardly escape towards my room, Rainbow spoke up.

“Ah, by any chance…”

“Y-yes?”

“Do you know… Prisoner?”

“……What?”

At first, I thought I misheard.

“Prisoner. Do you know him?”

I never imagined Rainbow would mention that nickname, and I almost let out a scream.

Thump, thump.

My heart raced.

No, it felt like my heart might just leap out of my chest.

Calm down, calm down.

He’s just asking who Prisoner is. It’s not that strange… of a question, but still, breathe.

“Ah… yes, I know.”

It felt odd to say it aloud, but Prisoner is somewhat famous among amateurs.

In fact, among those involved in Legends of League, he was quite impactful and well-known.

So, it doesn’t make sense for me, a pro gamer, not to know him.

Regardless of the circumstances, outright saying I don’t know Prisoner just doesn’t fly.

Pretending not to know would, ironically, be more suspicious.

“……How do you know him?”

“Well… he’s a famous guy. I’ve met him a few times. Learned a lot from him, you know. Haha…”

Perhaps that’s why my words came out in a heap.

In my defense, I thought Prisoner and Outlaw played similarly, but…

“……You’ve met?”

“Ah, um… in Solo Queue.”

“Ah… Solo Queue.”

Rainbow’s expression turned oddly colored.

That’s when I realized what I’d messed up on.

‘Oh…’

I’m done for.

Outlaw is me.

Prisoner is also me.

In other words, with a bit of searching, it’d be easy to deduce that we’d never played Solo Queue against each other.

In simple terms, I’ve piled up lies and ended up spouting nonsense I shouldn’t have.

“…I ran into him a lot in Solo Queue too.”

“Ah… yeah.”

My mind went blank.

Did he catch on?

No… even if he didn’t, what if he goes back and looks it up?

What do I do then?

“You really did well, you know?”

“Y-yeah?”

“Prisoner. I mean it; you did well.”

“Y-yeah, of course. He hit 2000 points, after all.”

Was my flustered state making me suspicious?

Rainbow was looking at me.

For some reason, facing that straight gaze felt so difficult.

“And we were pretty close, too.”

“Ah, uh, really?”

Each of Rainbow’s words pierced right through me.

Like he said, there was a time when I was quite close to him.

Though it was a shallow relationship online, I’d still call that friendship.

Whether Rainbow felt the same… honestly, I have no idea.

“Sometimes, I think about what if I hadn’t said those pointless things back then. Maybe… everything would’ve been okay.”

“…What?”

“If I hadn’t done that… maybe Prisoner would…”

“What are you saying…?”

I couldn’t understand what Rainbow was getting at, but for some reason, I felt it was related to me.

Specifically, to Prisoner.

“…Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. Just talking to myself, ignore me.”

What on earth does that mean?

Is he saying that because he knows I’m Prisoner, or is it just some ramblings?

“I don’t know, but… are you alright?”

“Ah, no. I’ve just been rambling on too much.”

“Ah, no! It’s fine.”

Of course, I know.

Rainbow has no reason to share such things with a stranger.

Whether I deny or affirm that fact, it means that I, as an existence, reminds Rainbow of Prisoner.

Is it simply because our play styles are similar?

Or is there something else that identifies me as me?

That’s when it clicked.

On the very day I decided to end my life as Prisoner, I left a message for Rainbow.

That made me realize how much he must have struggled and been hurt.

‘……Ah.’

I really did something awful to this person.

Perhaps it was something I could never even hope to repay.

“I won’t… regret it.”

Is that why?

That I, who should never have said such a thing, dared to say it.

“……What?”

“Prisoner. You were recognized by Rainbow in an official setting… so I bet Prisoner is satisfied too.”

“……How did you know?”

“I just had a feeling it was about that interview.”

“…….”

The very day Rainbow mentioned Prisoner in that interview.

I received a precious gift.

It gave me courage and compelled me to chase my dream of becoming a pro gamer.

Of course, that dream shattered once, but I don’t blame Rainbow for it.

In fact, I’m grateful.

For letting me dream.

For giving me the courage to live a new life.

“I hope so… really.”

“I believe so.”

I said it confidently.

“Ah, I’ve taken too much of your time. I’m sorry.”

“Ah, no problem!”

Rainbow nodded.

“Then… I’ll see you at the All-Star Event.”

“Ah, yes…”

With that, Rainbow got on the elevator, and I headed back to my room.

Light yet heavy.

It was a strange step.

*

Lying on the hotel bed, my sanity slowly began to return.

Guilt eats away at a person.

That’s how I felt just moments ago.

“Ah…”

Why did I do that?

Regret began to creep in about the words I exchanged with Rainbow earlier.

Every word, one by one.

All of them felt like I should’ve never said them, making me kick the blankets absentmindedly.

“Ugh!”

Am I insane?

No, I’m definitely insane.

Why on earth did I spew those words in front of Rainbow?

“Uwaaaaah!”

Of course, the blankets aren’t to blame.

But for today, I wish they’d serve as my punching bag.

‘Aside from everything else, I should’ve never mentioned meeting him in Solo Queue…’

Sure, I shouldn’t have said plenty of things, but those could be passed over without major concerns.

The problem is, saying Outlaw met Prisoner in Solo Queue.

That’s just a stupid, evidence-creating rumor beyond mere speculation.

Prisoner and Outlaw have completely different activity timelines since their debuts.

And for good reason.

Because Prisoner was Outlaw.

Anyway, what’s important is, if someone looked up Outlaw’s history, it’d be obvious we’ve never crossed paths.

In short, my earlier words to Rainbow basically meant I just acknowledged I had an undisclosed account as Outlaw.

……Or, it could be that the thief cried out in pain, admitting to being Prisoner.

Though there was no way Rainbow could draw any conclusions from my slip-up, digging my own grave so obviously like this feels ridiculous.

‘Did he catch on?’

‘No… but that just doesn’t add up.’

‘Who in their right mind would think Prisoner was Outlaw?’

I tried to reassure myself, but my hands trembled and my heart raced.

Yet regrets always come too late.

The words have already slipped out, and there’s no way to swallow them back.

“Ugh….”

Trying to calm my anxious mind, I logged into the Legends of League community.

It was a kind of defensive mechanism for me as a recluse.

And the first post I saw was none other than:

-Outlaw = Prisoner Still no one knows, huh?

-For real, lol

-Come on, it’s obvious Outlaw is Prisoner. No arguing unless you’re a noob.

-Agreed, total agreement.

“…….”

Who would have thought?

The very community I once chose as my refuge has now become an unsafe zone.

“……I don’t need any of this.”

I’m just going to die right here!

Boldly, I opened the hotel window and looked down at the dizzying height of the skyscrapers before promptly shutting it again.

“……A little too high, isn’t it?”

Maybe I lacked the courage to follow through with such a determination.

Ding-dong—

Then, the doorbell rang.

I hurriedly closed the window and made my way to the entrance.

“Hmm?”

When I opened the door, the person who stole away my time to dwell on my dark past was none other than Kim Jae-min.

“What are you doing, sister?”

“Ah, huh?”

“Anyway… haven’t you seen the group chat? We were supposed to meet, but you’re the only one missing.”

“…Oh, was that so?”

Maybe it was because of my encounter with Rainbow, but I had completely forgotten.

“Hurry up. The others are waiting.”

“Uh, okay.”

Why do I feel like this?

The moment I saw Kim Jae-min’s silly face, all my worries seemed to dissolve into nothing.

Right… whatever.

“……Fine, let’s go.”

“Oh, hey! Did you know?”

“Know what?”

“Rainbow is at this hotel. How cool is that? I saw him in the lobby earlier.”

“…….”

I wonder… is this All-Star Event going to be okay?