Academy's Silver Gatekeeper

Chapter 0 - Prologue

TN: The prologue takes place in a competitive online game, where players must win ranked matches to climb tiers. So expect in-game banter before the story shifts to the main plot in Chapter 1.

killNyang (Beritz Kring): If we win, we hit silver.  

killNyang (Beritz Kring): This is irritating.

Life is a tragedy when viewed from afar and a comedy when up close. As if my life wasn’t hard enough, the people here make it even worse. Ten seconds in, and this is the atmosphere? It gives me chills.

[All] HiksSaveMe (Callen): Guys, our mid-lane has two wins.

[All] HiksSaveMe (Callen): Are you in a promotion match too?

[All] killNyang (Beritz Kring): Yeah, we are. Our mid has two wins too.

In the middle of this chaos, I found a comrade. Even with the exact same two wins. They say the end of a season feels like the end of the world, and it really does. I had to make it through before the tragic finale. Postponing the promotion match due to work led to this mess.

[All] Park Yujin (Malang Kai): Gather in mid-lane.  

[All] Park Yujin (Malang Kai): Let’s pick one worthy person.  

[All] djajsltptkddp (Kaaktherin): Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!

The mid-lane became a gathering spot, and I hoped someone would cast the first skill. If just one person betrayed the group, it’d be a great excuse to play fiercely.

But against my expectations, all eight players truly gathered in mid-lane. No one made the first move.

These bastards. They only unite like this when it’s inconvenient for me.

[All] Ping9Ping9 (Two Sets): Give me your reasons for wanting a promotion.  

[All] Park Yujin (Malang Kai): We’ll spare only one sincere player.

What a spectacle of the end times. I never imagined I’d have to give a self-introduction here. Is this what it’s come to? Something wells up inside me, but I can’t let it out.

Today marks the 99th attempt. Damn it, my 99th silver promotion match. I’ve failed 98 times. Always facing the so-called “Gatekeepers.”

Please, team. Let me escape bronze. How long do I have to listen to people call me an ‘eternal bronze’? At least let me slap a silver badge on my name before I quit or do anything else.

[All] TeamHAJA (Hari): Smurf account here, good luck.

A rope of salvation descends. The opposing promotion player claims to be on a smurf account!

[All] killNyang (Beritz Kring): No way.  

[All] Ping9Ping9 (Two Sets): Hari, What rank is your main account?  

[All] TeamHAJA (Hari): Gold 3.  

[All] Park Yujin (Malang Kai): LOL, what nonsense.

The response is enthusiastic. Maybe I can redirect their focus. It feels like they’re trying to reduce the fun by calling out the lie.

[All] Park Yujin (Malang Kai): Hey, Opposing team, our Hari says it’s a smurf. Let them stay in bronze.  

[All] Ping9Ping9 (Two Sets): You believe that? Why would a gold-tier be here?  

[All] killNyang (Beritz Kring): Lying adds to your guilt, you know.

There’s hope. Yeah, 99 failed promotions is too much. Surely heaven will recognize this as unfair and grant me a break. Let me shake off the eternal bronze curse and breathe silver air for once.

[All] djajsltptkddp (Kaaktherin): Let’s just go to our lanes.  

[All] Park Yujin (Malang Kai): Agreed. Let’s plan as we play.

The gatekeepers return to their roles. If only they’d just focus on the game.

[All] Ping9Ping9 (Two Sets): Hey, mid-laner, say something. LOL.  

[All] killNyang (Beritz Kring): How much are you willing to offer?  

[All] killNyang (Beritz Kring): If you pay now, I’ll play seriously.

Now I understand why Satan lost his job.

killNyang (Beritz Kring): No response?

- An ally has been slain -

[All] HiksSaveMe (Callen): Say something before you throw. At least we’d know how to adjust.

- An enemy has been slain -

You die once, I die once. Tears almost come to my eyes in this harmonious exchange. How is it that getting promoted feels harder than finding a job? Is this game run by Satan?

[All] TeamHAJA (Hari): I’m blocking everyone and focusing on the game.

The opposing team’s player chose to block everyone. Whether that’s wise or foolish, I can’t say.

What followed was a dog-eat-dog game of death, where players fell one after another. Some were unhappy with Hari’s attitude and began suggesting they drop the player.

The rest of the team seemed to be on board with the plan. At least, I tried to play along.

- An ally has been slain -  

- An ally has been slain -  

- Quadra Kill! -

But what the hell? Why is this game falling apart so fast?

[All] KarangKakakang (Naisa): Sorry, I’ve got cram school in 20 minutes. Let’s speed this up.

Is it a real cram school, or are they just pretending? At the very least, could they tell the truth?

[All] killNyang (Beritz Kring): Lord, we’ve blocked one more today!  

[All] Ping9Ping9 (Two Sets): Adding that to life achievements.  

[All] Park Yujin (Malang Kai): Ha, easy win for us.  

[All] KarangKakakang (Naisa): Sorry, SwagGod, my bad.  

[All] TeamHAJA (Hari): Mid diff.

- Defeat! -

And just like that, the dream of silver shattered again.

- You failed your promotion -

I stared blankly at the screen for a moment before queuing up for another match. At this point, I wasn’t even angry anymore. No laughter, either. Just... acceptance.

Might as well keep reading the novel I’d started while the queue loads. …Damn it. Even here, it’s all about “measuring silver potential” nonsense.

99 promotion failures. The 99th descent of the Silver Gatekeeper. I never dreamed that my one wish in life would become, getting to silver rank. Ha-ha. Damn it. You bastards.

“…Damn it.”

I’d heard that the trend these days was to avoid reckless comments online. So, I didn’t comment. I swear. I didn’t even look at the comments section.

[Assessment Department – Baek Seojin]

- The Third Eye is activated.

? Baek Seojin  

Low level civil servant.

? Details  

Happiness increases after stopping work.

But why on earth did I end up possessing a character in this novel?