Gender Reboot
0036-1. Mission Failed?

Her attempt to normalize her younger brother Yujin’s life by making him quit the highly addictive mobile game was a success.

No, it was a disaster.

Yujin, who had been defending his territory solely with Beatrice, was humiliated and defeated as the legacy heroes launched a full-scale assault, stripping his warehouse bare.

Unlike simple plundering, when both sides willingly engaged in war, one could be utterly crushed.

But Jimin stopped her relentless attack for a very practical reason.

‘Ah, I should start getting ready for bed soon. Work tomorrow.’

Jimin had work the next day.

So, by around 10 PM, the offensive ceased. But by then, the hierarchy had already been established, and Yujin was completely demoralized.

"H-Huh? Are you… going easy on me? Why’d you stop attacking all of a sudden?"

Already conditioned into submission, Yujin was on his knees, desperately spamming ceasefire requests like a groveling dog.

[YujinTheGodOfNormalization has requested a ceasefire. Will you accept?]

While Jimin took a bath, Yujin sat there, mouth dry with tension.

‘Why isn’t she saying anything?’

No way.

Was this punishment for daring to challenge her all-completed account?

Was she making him suffer?

[YujinTheGodOfNormalization - Hey.]

[YujinTheGodOfNormalization - I’m sorry for acting up.]

[YujinTheGodOfNormalization - Can’t you let me off just this once?]

Yujin was ready to do anything to survive.

When Jimin finished washing up and saw those messages, she smirked.

She typed out a reply casually while drying her hair.

[NoonaIsInvincible - [Noona is the best]—spam this 10 times and I’ll go easy on you.]

"Guhh!! I’ll never forget today’s humiliation!"

Yujin trembled as if he had just suffered a historic disgrace.

[YujinTheGodOfNormalization - Noona is the best!!!]

[YujinTheGodOfNormalization - Noona is the besttt!!!]

"Ahaha. Good boy, our Yujin."

Jimin watched with amusement as her little brother obediently followed her orders.

This should kill his interest in the game, right?

She decided to monitor him for a few days. With that thought, she logged off. It was time to focus on work again.

***

‘Huh? His playtime’s gotten even tighter…?’

Jimin realized something was wrong when she saw Yujin farming like a storm, even using dealers.

And then came the KakaoTalk messages on her personal phone.

[Yujin - Noona, lend me some money.]

[Yujin - Noona.]

[Yujin - It’s urgent.]

[Yujin - There’s someone I absolutely have to take down.]

[Jimin - I don’t have money.]

[Yujin - I’m gonna die! Noona! Waaahh!!]

[Jimin - Drama again? You wanna get hit for real?]

"……Did this backfire?"

She thought he’d quit after getting crushed, but instead, it seemed like he’d found a rival, someone he was now obsessively waiting to strike back at.

Jimin sighed, rubbing her throbbing temples.

‘This isn’t what I wanted. Hmm.’

She’d overlooked something.

Her brother had a strong sense of pride in the online world.

……And his endless urge to spend money on the game stemmed from a need for validation he couldn’t get in real life.

Of course, this was the analysis of a noona who had watched over Yujin for over a decade. She believed that if he ever received proper recognition outside, he’d leave his hikikomori life behind and return to being a normal person.

That was her hope.

‘At this rate… Haah. I’ll just have to go and tell him.’

That the person he was so desperate to defeat was actually her.

That was the only solution left.

Jimin took another day off because of her brother. She knew if she warned him in advance, he’d pretend not to be home, so she decided to barge in unannounced.

"Yujin~ Noona’s here. Open up."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

As usual, unless she made this much noise, he’d never open the door.

She knocked loudly, raising her voice.

"Yujin~ Aren’t you gonna open up?"

When the door finally opened, Jimin was slightly taken aback.

Yujin stood there, looking all messed-up, like he hadn’t shaved in days.

‘Huh? What the...?’

He looked like he’d been through hell.

"Come in. Noona."

As Jimin took off her shoes and stepped inside, the place was messier than usual for Yujin.

And then…

"Sit wherever. I’ve got some homework to finish real quick."

"Homework?"

Yujin looked utterly drained.

"I have to make that bastard who humiliated me pay… Kehehe."

Shiver.

Jimin averted her eyes, guilt creeping in.

No way…

"Game stuff? I-I mean… it’s just a game. Why get so obsessed over losing?"

"JUST A GAME!?!"

"Eek!"

Jimin flinched as her brother grabbed her shoulders and shouted.

"Did you just yell at noona? You wanna die?"

"S-Sorry. I wasn’t mad at you. It’s just… you said something unforgivable. Kehehe."

"……Do you have to end it with that awkward ‘kehehe’?"

"I’ve unleashed one of the vengeful spirits inside me."

"……"

‘Don’t ask. It’ll drag on.’

That defeat must’ve been an earth-shattering experience for him. This much was beyond Jimin’s expectations.

"Was it really that shocking?"

"Don’t talk to me. I’m busy."

"Ugh. Noona came all this way, and you’re..."

"Noona. My dignity is on the line here. If I don’t strike back, I can’t live as Yujin anymore!"

"……"

Ugh. He’s lost it.

Completely.

Jimin kicked Yujin in the side...thwack!

"Listen to yourself! You’re betting your life on a game? Seriously!"

"Guhk!"

A left hook, then a right hook, jiggling the soft fat of Yujin’s belly.

Wham! Wham!

"Are you a kid? Throwing a tantrum over nothing!"

Slap! Slap!

The sound of pork being tenderized echoed through the room.

Noona’s small hands pounded Yujin’s belly. Given the size difference, it should’ve been her hands at risk, not his.

"Begging noona for money! Not even cleaning your room! You really wanna be a shut-in forever?"

"I was just… busy grinding on multiple accounts…"

It was clear Yujin was desperately trying to beat Jimin’s main account.

Meanwhile, Jimin had been casually logging in, doing daily quests, and wrapping up, while Yujin was breaking his back farming.

Somehow, just by joining a guild that invited her and lending out support characters, Jimin’s progress had snowballed.

Now, she didn’t even need to try, countless players brought her farming materials, and the tribute alone was enough to keep her growing.

"I’m tightening my belt right now, noona. Lend me some money."

"No. Noona’s broke."

"……I see."