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    “Are you okay?”

    The lights came on as the movie ended. Jehyun, who had been silently cursing the entire time, finally felt himself relax. He forced his expression back to normal and turned to look at Baekyung, who was sitting still, biting his lip. Seeing their clasped hands slick with sweat, Jehyun glanced at Baekyung’s face with concern.

    “It was terrifying, right? I’m telling you, our professor’s taste is really weird. He’s always making us watch stuff like this.”

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    Come to think of it, the movie they watched back in freshman year had also been strangely thriller-like. Letting out a sigh, Jehyun recalled that buried memory. He released Baekyung’s hand, which he had been holding for the entire hour, and patted him on the shoulder.

    “What are you gonna do if you can’t sleep tonight?”

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    “It’s not that bad,” Baekyung replied, shaking his head almost immediately, as if rejecting any implication that he was weak.

    Jehyun chuckled and nodded before standing up. “Let’s go. It’s already midnight. If we eat now, it’ll be past one by the time we’re done.”

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    “…Could we stay here for a little longer before we go?”

    “…”

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    Looking at Baekyung, who asked hesitantly, Jehyun smirked and sat back down. Watching him sit with his legs dangling loosely, Jehyun stifled a laugh. So his legs gave out, huh. He never imagined there was someone even more of a scaredy-cat than himself. Finding it endearing, Jehyun teased Baekyung lightly.

    “You’re seriously such a coward. Like a puppy or something.”

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    “…A puppy?”

    “No, no, my bad. I meant like a golden retriever pup—you know, big and adorable.”

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    “…”

    Baekyung’s eyes narrowed slightly, his expression growing unreadable. Pressing his lips together, he glanced at Jehyun with faint incredulity and asked, as if confirming, “You think I’m… cute?”

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    “Yeah.”

    Without a moment’s hesitation, Jehyun nodded, and Baekyung rolled his eyes, nodding back in a strangely detached manner. Was calling a guy cute too much? Jehyun thought briefly about adding a compliment about his looks but was interrupted as Baekyung stood up.

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    “I’m fine now. Let’s go.”

    “Alright, let’s stop by the restroom first,” Jehyun replied, pulling his padded jacket’s zipper up to his chin and throwing his hood over his cap. Now looking rather shady, he followed Baekyung toward the restroom.

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    After holding hands with Baekyung for an hour, Jehyun’s palm felt sticky, but he didn’t mind. Without Baekyung, he probably would’ve been cursing aloud and screaming during the movie.

    They stood side by side at the sinks, washing their hands, before slowly leaving the restroom. As the last patrons of the theater, the moment they headed toward the stairs, click, all the lights in the building shut off. Clearly, the night-duty staff was eager to go home.

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    “Watch your step.”

    Descending the dim stairs, Jehyun gave a word of caution. At that, he felt a light touch on his shoulder, followed by an arm sliding around him as if to steady him.

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    “You too, sunbae,” Baekyung whispered softly, matching his steps to Jehyun’s as they descended.

    The rubber-covered stairs muffled their footsteps, but Jehyun’s heart pounded loudly with each step. Was it the lingering fear from the horror movie? Hunger? He couldn’t tell, but the sensation felt unfamiliar as he exited the building alongside Baekyung.

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    March, third week, midnight.

    The world outside was dim, and the wind had a chill. The two of them walked down the street, debating what to eat for a late-night meal.

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    “So, why didn’t you eat dinner?”

    “Oh, I just… had something important to do. What about you, sunbae?”

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    “Same here. I was busy and lost track of time. Must be starving, huh?”

    “Kind of?”

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    “What should we eat? Most places open this late are bars… Hmm.”

    Jehyun mentally sifted through the dozens of bars he’d frequented with Seo Eunjae. Since it was mid-semester, many spots were probably open till dawn, though it was Monday, so a few might be closed.

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    “How about dakhanmari?”

    “Sounds good.”

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    Baekyung never refused anything Jehyun suggested. How could someone be this agreeable? Pleased, Jehyun smiled as he grabbed Baekyung’s arm and turned into a nearby alley.

    The dakhanmari restaurant, open till morning, was situated in a triangle between their officetels and the movie theater. As they passed through an alley full of Monday-night drinkers, Jehyun briefly wondered if Habaek was out drinking too. Given that Habaek had planned to go drinking late despite having a test coming up, he probably was. Hope he loses his wallet, Jehyun thought, silently cursing Habaek as he and Baekyung entered the restaurant.

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    Jehyun, guessing that Baekyung had a good appetite, ordered one and a half portions. As the chicken boiled in the milky broth, Jehyun scooped out the first batch of potatoes and rice cakes and placed them on Baekyung’s plate.

    He served himself next, savoring the broth and potatoes. The hot food was soothing on his empty stomach, leaving him feeling pleasantly relaxed. However, a faint bitterness lingered on his tongue, prompting him to ask, “Want some soju?”

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    “Yes, I’d like that,” Baekyung replied without hesitation.

    Of course.Dakhanmari and soju were a classic pairing. Jehyun ordered two bottles and poured soju into their glasses generously, knowing Baekyung could handle his alcohol.

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    What started as light drinking gradually turned into a full-blown drinking session. By the time they finished four bottles of soju and stepped out of the restaurant, two hours had passed. Under the faintly moonlit sky, both had flushed cheeks.

    “Haah… I’m sleepy.”

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    Yawning leisurely, Jehyun stretched and led Baekyung to a nearby convenience store. They bought two cups of hot tea, one for each of them, and began walking back to their officetels.

    “How’d you like the movie? Honestly, I think the message was fine, but the genre felt all over the place.”

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    “Same here. I get that it wanted to critique society, but the ending leaned too heavily into horror. It felt like they wrapped it up too hastily.”

    “Right? I’ll bet you 100 won that the director makes a horror movie next year.”

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    Jung Jehyun, slightly drunk, let a more casual tone slip into his speech. Amused by Jehyun’s playful remarks, Ha Baekyung chuckled softly and nodded in agreement.

    “If it comes out, let’s go watch it together.”

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    “Ah, I’ll probably have to hold your hand again.”

    “Yes, Sunbae. Please do.”

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    Baekyung took Jehyun’s teasing in stride, replying as if pleading. With cheeks flushed, Jehyun chuckled before reaching out and grabbing Baekyung’s hand, locking their fingers together tightly, just like they had in the theater. Baekyung also intertwined his fingers in return. Jehyun, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he was holding hands with a younger male junior in the bustling area near Korea University’s back gate, simply laughed.

    “Anyway, I get why the professor asked us to watch this movie. He’s really into topics like that—society’s creation of monsters. He especially thinks politicians play a big role in creating those monsters. That’s probably why he wanted to hear our thoughts.”

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    “What do you think about it, Sunbae?”

    “Me? Hmm…”

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    Jehyun blinked at Baekyung’s question, drawing out his words. Feeling the heat of the alcohol rising, he pulled off his cap, ruffled his hair, and turned to look up at Baekyung. Meeting Baekyung’s gaze, which was filled with a pleasant smile, Jehyun began sharing his thoughts about the movie.

    “To be honest, if the people who died hadn’t acted that way, the protagonist wouldn’t have become a murderer. So, you can’t say they’re entirely blameless. But if I’m being completely honest, how can the world only have good people? The protagonist would’ve been criticized by others sooner or later anyway. In the end, no matter what, he would’ve become a murderer.”

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    “I think so too. The protagonist would’ve killed someone regardless. But I also think society bears some responsibility for that.”

    “Yeah, there was no reason for the protagonist to stop killing.”

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    “The protagonist…”

    Both of them spoke at the same time. Baekyung paused mid-sentence, then tilted his head and smiled deeply, looking at Jehyun with fascination. His eyes sparkled under the moonlight, filled with intrigue. With an expression of genuine curiosity, Baekyung said, “You think exactly the same way I do.”

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    “Really?”

    When Jehyun laughed and asked back, Baekyung nodded and began explaining his thoughts.

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    The society depicted in the movie was extreme. While it was modeled after Korea, it amplified the country’s flaws. Those marginalized in that society were stripped of any opportunities—opportunities to find love, to form meaningful connections, and to integrate themselves into the framework of society, where they could coexist with others. The government played no constructive role; instead, it perpetuated discrimination and exclusion against the marginalized, leaving the protagonist utterly isolated from society.

    Early in the film, the protagonist was portrayed as someone who grew attached to even the smallest of lives and was willing to sacrifice for them. If he had even one social connection, he might not have made the choices he did.

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    As Jehyun listened to Baekyung, he couldn’t help but feel a clichéd sense of having found a kindred spirit. That’s how well they clicked. Though he also got along well with Seo Eunjae, there were numerous points where their tastes diverged. With Ha Baekyung, however, their tastes aligned remarkably well.

    The conversation remained lively, making the walk home thoroughly enjoyable. Jehyun was so pleased with their exchange that he almost invited Baekyung to his place for another drink after they arrived at the 14th floor. But since it wasn’t the weekend and tomorrow was a Tuesday, he couldn’t justify keeping a freshman who needed to focus on studying. Instead, he waved as the elevator doors began to close.

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    “Good night.”

    “Sweet dreams, Sunbae.”

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    Baekyung stood at the door, smiling until the very last moment before it shut with a thud, cutting off the sight of him.

    As the elevator continued to ascend to the 17th floor, Jehyun felt a lingering sense of wanting to spend more time with Baekyung. It was an unfamiliar sensation, one he had never experienced before.

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    Elka’s back?

    He’s been missing since before the server merge, but I saw him in Annihilation today.

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    Think this might shake up the guild wars dynamics? lolol

    Comments (5)

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    Anonymous1: Who’s Elka?

    └ One of the Four Heavenly Kings, a top PvP player.

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    Anonymous2: Honestly, in Annihilation, isn’t Elka better at leading than Yeomra?

    └ Why does everything always have to be a comparison?

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    └ It’s a fact, though. Elka’s way better.

    I don’t know who Elka or whoever is, but here’s one thing I do know:

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    Jicheonwang’s forums are full of salty haters lololololol.

    Every time I check, there’s always at least one post bashing someone.
    It’s like you can’t play Cavern without posting hate.

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    Comments (32)

    Anonymous1: How annoying do you think Hell had to be for that to happen?

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    Anonymous2: If they’re from Maverick, there’s no way they’d like Hell.

    Anonymous3: Let’s be real, lol. It’s not jealousy—it’s karma. Hell’s antics are why even the Four Heavenly Kings get dragged through the mud.

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    Anonymous4: What did Hell do to make so many antis?

    └ They were short on people for their raid, so they ordered a healer from another raid group to join theirs.

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    └ When the healer refused, they threatened to start a war, so the healer had no choice but to leave.

    └ What, and no one called them out?

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    └ Casual players not banding together—it’s an old story. Everyone just thought, “Better avoid the mess than deal with it.”

    Anonymous5: Ugh, they’re not the worst people ever, but… they’re just… yeah.

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    Anonymous6: Do you know what Hell’s biggest issue is? It’s not that the guild itself is trash or that all the members are awful. The problem is that the guild leader keeps letting their most toxic member run wild.

    └ Yep, and that’s Kanglim.

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    └ Wait, was it Kanglim who poached that raid healer?

    └ Yep.

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    └ People who make excuses like, “Oh, it’s just Kanglim,” are the funniest. If someone’s kid commits murder and the parents just watch, are they in their right mind? Acting like Kanglim’s the only problem just shows their weak moral compass.

    └ Agreed. They’re all the same. The only reason Kanglim and the others are still there is because they’re all trash together.

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    Anonymous7: Sometimes I see people hyping up Hell’s members like they’re gods. Why?

    └ In Maverick, being chummy with Hell’s leadership was a privilege. They probably still think it means something. Honestly, it’s kind of sad.

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    └ “Hyped up” is a stretch, don’t you think?

    Elka’s in Annihilation, and the opposing team’s raid leader is Habaek lolol.

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    Do they know each other? They’re talking like they do.

    Comments (5)

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    Anonymous1: They were on different servers—how would they know each other?

    Anonymous2: Spend one day in Annihilation, and everyone’s your best friend.

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    └ True lol.

    Anonymous3: Annihilation is where yesterday’s enemies become today’s allies.

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    Anonymous4: Nah, I think they’re real-life friends.

    On Sunday afternoon, having finished his ranking tasks smoothly, Jehyun was taking a break from studying when he stumbled upon the post on Cavern’s forums. His expression twisted into a strange grimace as he read it.

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    Sangjae said he’s friends with Doummal, and now Habaek’s friends with Elka? Elkaros, the second-ranked Spirit Shaman, was a regular in Annihilation and battlegrounds. Jehyun had never spoken to him but had encountered him on the battlefield.

    Other than being a decent player, Jehyun didn’t know much about him. But hearing that Habaek was friends with Elka suddenly made Elka seem like an unhinged lunatic. Birds of a feather flock together. Nodding to himself, Jehyun stretched his stiff neck and glanced down at the scattered stationery and textbooks on his desk.

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    He had been sitting there for nearly six hours studying. Now that it was dinner time, he thought, why not take a quick look? Giving in to temptation, Jehyun got up from his chair.

    As he headed to the kitchen, he fiddled with his phone and opened one of the few live Caplet streams available.

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    ElkaTV. While it wasn’t the most popular channel, it had a modest 87 viewers tuning into the livestream. Compared to Jackson, a recent streamer to join Caplet with a viewership of 20,000, it was small. However, before the server merge and Jackson’s arrival, Elka’s channel had likely been one of the most-watched on Caplet.

    As Jehyun entered ElkaTV, he opened the fridge. He scooped half of the fried rice he had bought after class the other day into a bowl and put it in the microwave. Sitting down at the table, he linked his phone to the mini standing TV beside him, casting the screen to the larger display.

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    Listening to the hum of the microwave, Jehyun focused on the stream.

    “Habaek always plays one side, doesn’t he?”

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    Was it true that Habaek and Elka were friends? Even Elka’s voice sounded young. Was he also twenty? Resting his chin on his hand, Jehyun scanned Elka’s gameplay screen.

    From what Jehyun knew, Elka was part of the Jicheonwang guild. However, with guild-hiding settings enabled, there was nothing displayed before Elka’s name. Elka was a Spirit Shaman, a class Jehyun didn’t particularly like. Even without opening his inventory, it was clear from the glowing effects that Elka was equipped with a +15 Mallorca Magic Wand. The wand’s blue glow shimmered every time the cute beast-like character with a wagging tail waved its hand.

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    “This time, too, he’s going to the right, right? I’ll bet ten million gold on an all-out rush to the right.”

    Just as Jehyun was aware of Habaek’s tactics, so was Elka. Watching, Jehyun let out a small chuckle, his lips curling into a smirk. He was genuinely curious to see who would win this time.

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    [〉〉Hyung, are you really friends with Habaek? Challenge him to a 1v1 in the front yard and make it a 100,000-won donation bet.]

    At that moment, a viewer donated 1,000 won, leaving a message. Reading it, Elka responded with a voice full of disbelief, as if he’d just heard the most absurd thing in the world.

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    “Mister, how is a Spirit Shaman supposed to win against a plunder class? Wait, no, that’s not even plunder—it’s Habaek.”

    [〉〉Scared? LOL]

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    “I’m not scared; you just need to make sense if you want me to respond. Who in their right mind would set up a fight between a Spirit Shaman and a plunder class?”

    [〉〉You’re scared, huh? LOL]

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    “…Wait and see.”

    He really was young. Falling for such an obviously nonsensical provocation. While listening, Jehyun retrieved the beeping microwave’s contents. He placed some kimchi stir-fry on the rice he’d scooped earlier, grabbed some seasoned kimchi from the fridge, and started eating. Meanwhile, Elka, somehow, managed to drag Habaek into a voice call.

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    “Hey, hey, hey, let’s have a mind game battle.”

    “What kind of mind game?”

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    In response to Elka’s suggestion, Habaek answered. His voice sounded comically distorted, as if he’d used a modulator. Hearing it, Jehyun burst out laughing and instinctively hit the record button on his phone.

    “Hey, Habaek. You’re going to the right, aren’t you? It’s the right side, isn’t it?”

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    “Left.”

    “Cut the nonsense, you noob. It’s the right side.”

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    “Want me to go to the right?”

    “Yeah, the right side. Let’s have a clean, no-respawn, all-out brawl there. How about that?”

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    “Okay. Deal.”

    Although Habaek tended to act boastful and overbearing in arguments with him, he sounded surprisingly composed when talking with Elka. Was it some sort of image management? Jehyun scoffed, shaking his head as he watched Elka leave the voice chat.

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    The moment he exited the chat, Elka immediately issued a raid leader command.

    [Raid Leader Notification] ElkaRose: Everyone go LEFTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

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    “That guy is definitely going to the left. He’s a sneaky one.”

    At this point, why did they even bother talking? Jehyun couldn’t help but feel baffled as he listened to the distrust dripping from Elka’s voice. Would Habaek really go left? Based on Shin Jehyun’s assessment, probably not.

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    Although Habaek liked concentrating his forces on one side, he also had a knack for surprising his opponents at crucial moments. After such a conversation, it was obvious he wouldn’t just recklessly throw all his forces onto one side.

    Jehyun suddenly recalled past moments when he had narrowly lost to Habaek. Sometimes… just sometimes, Habaek would pack ten players into an airship and send them straight into the fortress’s inner defenses. Would he do the same this time? Curious, Jehyun found himself abandoning his meal, completely engrossed in the annihilation match.

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    “See, there, isn’t that right? Left side, huh.”

    Elka and the 29 members of the defending raid team were all perched atop the outer fortress wall on the left. From that vantage point, they spotted the attacking raid team, a mass of players charging in from afar. It seemed Elka’s prediction was correct—Habaek’s team was approaching from the left.

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    Could it be that simple? Jehyun’s interest waned slightly, and he stared blankly at the screen. Following Elka’s command, the defending players all leapt down from the fortress wall and rushed into the outer courtyard to face off, as promised, in an all-out battle.

    But as the attackers drew closer, something about their numbers seemed off. Compared to the defenders, the attackers looked sparse.

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    Watching the attacking side with a serious gaze, Jehyun suddenly broke into a chuckle. Among the attackers running from the forward base to the outer fortress, Habaek was nowhere to be seen.

    “Oh, we’re doomed.”

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    Elka seemed to realize this too, immediately cursing as he climbed back up the outer fortress wall’s ladder. The minimap on Elka’s screen showed two airships flying high in the sky. Each airship, capable of carrying up to 10 players, likely had Habaek and his raid team aboard.

    Racing to the anti-aircraft cannon on the outer fortress wall, Elka belatedly began firing at the airships. But by then, the airships had already breached the outer fortress. Ten enemy players rained down from the sky, and Elka’s voice erupted into a scream.

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    “Oh, that’s so unfair!”

    The distance from where Elka was to the airship landing point was considerable. No matter how quickly he ran, he couldn’t stop the opposing team from climbing the inner fortress ladder and entering. Soon, a message appeared indicating the annihilation stone had been struck, its HP rapidly drained, and then shattered. The scene displayed Elka and the rest of the defending team members dying in unison.

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    [Battlefield] Habaek: Elka, is your IQ double digits?

    [Battlefield] ElkaRose: I’m tracking your IQ, you jerk.

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    The viewers burst into laughter as Elka zoomed in on Habaek’s trash-talking in the battlefield chat. That bastard. Elka playfully cursed at Habaek, then sighed deeply and apologized to his raid members via a raid leader notification.

    [Raid Leader Notification] ElkaRose: Sorry, sorry, my badㅠㅠ Let’s win next time, Hyungs.

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    Watching the broadcast, Jehyun began to understand why Elka’s stream drew so many viewers. Not only was his gameplay skilled, but his witty commentary made him entertaining to watch.

    After finishing his meal, Jehyun rested while watching Elka’s stream for about ten more minutes. However, since it took a while to queue for another match after an annihilation round, he didn’t get to see Elka lead another raid before his break ended.

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    As a result, Jehyun underestimated ElkaRose, who had lost to Habaek. But in the guild war the following week, Jehyun suffered a crushing defeat at Elka’s hands.

    * * *

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    “Ah…”

    Defeat.

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    The two characters hovering above his head felt like they had frozen his thoughts. Staring blankly at the chaotic chat window, Jehyun felt a wave of frustration rise within him. His pride wounded, he gazed fixedly at the monitor screen before letting out a deep sigh. Then, he apologized to his guild members.

    “I made a mistake. I’m sorry.”

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    Sangjae → It’s okay, no need to apologize. Mistakes happen.

    Boss → Yeah, good effort. Let’s take a break this weekend. That sounds nice and relaxing.

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    Although Sangjae and Boss tried to console him, Jehyun couldn’t respond. Wearing a miserable expression, he checked the guild information. Just a minute ago, their guild score had been over 10,000 points. Now, it was halved. They had lost points to Jicheonwang due to their defeat in the guild war.

    Looking conflicted, Jehyun cautiously tapped on the guild rankings.

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    [Guild Rankings]

    1. The Four Heavenly Kings from Hell
    2. Sunshine Kindergarten
    3. Countess

    Their ranking had even fallen behind the Sunshine Kindergarten guild, which owned the Weather Fortress. Could they recover before Sunday? Jehyun let out an irritated sigh, filled with doubt.

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    [Guild] Habaek: I can’t believe we lost like this;

    [Guild] Habaek: How much do you earn per 100 guild points?

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    Habaek’s nonsensical insinuation irritated Jehyun even further.

    Sangjae → Cut the nonsense.

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    Before Jehyun could even vent his frustration, Sangjae was already scolding his younger brother. Shin Jehyun let out a faint sigh and kept his lips tightly sealed.

    He didn’t want to start hurling curses at Habaek in front of his Hyung. However, Habaek seemed genuinely annoyed, expressing his dissatisfaction in a private party chat with Jehyun.

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    [Party] Habaek: Why the hell did you go in there?

    [Party] Habaek: I signaled you not to go.

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    Here’s what had happened: Jehyun and Habaek were hiding together, while their guildmates were chasing Jicheonwang’s guild master, F1, on the other side. For some reason, there weren’t many Jicheonwang members around, so Jehyun began inching his character forward, thinking of supporting the guildmates.

    Although Habaek signaled him to stay put, a report came up in the world chat saying that other Jicheonwang members had gathered in front of Helkaras. Assuming that Jicheonwang was conducting a separate raid and no reinforcements would arrive at Mallorca, Jehyun took the opportunity to activate Noble Sacrifice to help his guildmates, who were close to being wiped out.

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    It was three seconds before the debuff from Noble Sacrifice expired that the Jicheonwang members supposedly in front of Helkaras appeared from behind. Realizing he’d been baited, Jehyun quickly tried to escape, but he died instantly on the spot, causing his guild to lose the battle.

    It was a painful blunder. Knowing full well that the defeat was entirely his fault, Jehyun was already feeling miserable. But to top it off, Habaek accusing him of selling off guild points only raised his blood pressure.

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    Did I lose on purpose? Jehyun gritted his teeth and typed furiously into the chat. Naturally, his words were far from kind.

    [Party] Healer: Yeah, I screwed up.

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    [Party] Healer: Sorry.

    [Party] Healer: I’m such an idiot I didn’t understand your signals, okay?

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    [Party] Healer: I’m pissed too, so let’s drop it.

    [Party] Habaek: Why would you trust world chat during a battle?

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    Habaek’s remark made Jehyun press his lips together tightly, his face contorting in frustration.

    The user who had claimed Jicheonwang members were in front of Helkaras was someone Jehyun had encountered several times on the battlefield. Not being affiliated with Jicheonwang, there was no reason to distrust them. What Jehyun had overlooked, however, was that Jicheonwang guild members had decided to resort to dirty tactics.

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    This situation was linked to the dynamics between the servers before the merger—Cullin, Maverick, and Countess.

    Compared to the relatively fair Cullin and Maverick servers, where the Four Heavenly Kings and Hell guilds operated cleanly, the smaller guilds on Neungdong and Jangji had long adopted underhanded strategies to win wars through assassinations. These included spreading false information in world chat, ambushing opponents under the guise of guild allies, baiting targets for assassination, and performing guerrilla attacks using teleport scrolls.

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    Such tendencies carried over post-merger. As a result, Jicheonwang, which employed relatively straightforward tactics, couldn’t win against Countess in guild battles. They were repeatedly outmaneuvered by the latter’s sleazy strategies, which were almost entirely new to them.

    Who could have guessed Jicheonwang would suddenly adopt the same approach? Jehyun certainly hadn’t, and that miscalculation led to their defeat in the guild war.

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    [Party] Healer: I didn’t think Jicheonwang would pull the same crap as us. Sorry.

    Ultimately, Jehyun was at fault. Having already lost the guild war, he didn’t want to fight with his guildmate Habaek any further. Letting out a short sigh, he apologized, signaling that they should move on.

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    [Party] Habaek: Didn’t I tell you Elka is leading them?

    [Party] Healer: Elka or whatever—how was I supposed to know who that is just because you said so?

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    But Habaek wasn’t backing down. His relentless nitpicking finally pushed Jehyun to snap and fire back in irritation.

    [Party] Healer: Look, I said I messed up, didn’t I? Can we drop it already?

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    [Party] Healer: How many times do I have to say ‘let it go’?

    [Party] Habaek: Does someone this defiant even sound sorry?

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    Of course, Jehyun was sorry! He’d apologized the moment they lost, hadn’t he? It was Habaek who refused to accept it. What was he supposed to do, kneel and beg? Furiously, Jehyun tore off his headset and quickly typed into the chat.

    [Party] Healer: Think for a second.

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    [Party] Healer: Who do you think is angrier?

    [Party] Healer: You, or me, the guy who just got beheaded by Yeomra?

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    [Party] Healer: I get it—I messed up. Let it go already.

    [Party] Healer: Even without you, I’m already pissed enough to die, so can you stop?

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    [Party] Healer: I said I’m sorry!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Habaek has left the party.

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    “Wow…!”

    Without a single word of feedback, Habaek left the party. Jehyun, glaring at the chat window, decided this couldn’t end like this and immediately sent a private message to Habaek.

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    [Whisper] To Habaek: Hyung, I’m sorry??

    [Whisper] To Habaek: Sorry for getting assassinated??

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    [Whisper] To Habaek: I’ll stop acting out and stay quiet from now on??

    [Whisper] To Habaek: I’m really, really sorry, okay???

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    [Whisper] From Habaek: Stop.

    [Whisper] To Habaek: I’ll do better next week??

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    [Whisper] To Habaek: It’s my fault, sweetheart??

    [Whisper] To Habaek: Please forgive me just this once??

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    [Whisper] To Habaek: Are you upset, babe??

    [Whisper] From Habaek: Stop it. You’re annoying.

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    [Whisper] To Habaek: You know how I feel, right??

    The other party has blocked you.
    The other party has blocked you.

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    Unable to stand Jehyun’s mocking tone any longer, Habaek blocked him. Scoffing, Jehyun switched to the guild chat tab and kept talking.

    [Guild] Healer: I’ll listen to you from now on.

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    [Guild] Healer: Stop being mad.

    [Guild] Healer: I’m sorry.

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    [Guild] Healer: I said I’m sorry, okay???

    [Guild] Contempt: ㅇㅅㅇ…

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    [Guild] Healer: Acting like a baby, sulking like that, haha.

    [Guild] Healer: Oh, poor baby, I’m sorry→???

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    [Guild] Contempt: Losing a guild war is really bad for your health… ;ㅅ;

    [Guild] Boss12MoreHours: Get a grip, seriously.

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    Guild member Habaek has logged off.

    Having reached the end of his patience, Habaek logged out, but a furious Shin Jehyun refused to back down.

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    Damn it, I’m the one who’s the most pissed here—why are you the one freaking out? Determined to annoy Habaek even more, Jehyun grabbed his phone and opened the guild group chat. Tagging @Habaek repeatedly, he bombarded him with apologies. After dozens of messages, Habaek finally left the group chat, clearly fed up.

    “Sigh…”

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    Jealous as he was, kicking Habaek out of every space didn’t make Jehyun feel any better. On the contrary, his mood kept sinking further.

    It was agonizing to know he had ruined everything with his own hands—both their shared goal of reaching the Hall of Fame and his relationship with Habaek.

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    Deflated, Jehyun stared blankly at the game screen before finally logging off himself.

    “Did you guys fight?”

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    “Fight? He’s the one sulking by himself.”

    “He must’ve been really upset.”

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    “He’s not some crybaby kid whining because he didn’t come in first place. It’s ridiculous.”

    Jehyun scoffed with a disapproving look, and Boss12MoreHours and Chu Gaeul snickered at him.

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    “He’s only twenty. That’s still young. Cut him some slack. Look, you’re 24, and you’re this upset—how do you think Habaek feels?”

    “Who’s upset? I’m not upset at all.”

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    Feeling guilty, Jehyun raised his voice, eyes widening. But Chu Gaeul was right. A 24-year-old man storming out to drink over a game loss would sound laughable to anyone else, but Jehyun was genuinely crushed by the guild war defeat.

    Knowing his mistake had cost his guildmates half the points they had worked a week to gather and caused their loss had completely shattered Jehyun’s pride. To make matters worse, this week had been crucial—if they had maintained first place, their guild name would have been engraved on the first page of the Hall of Fame’s history. But now, they had failed….

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    “Ha…”

    Recalling the Hall of Fame, Jehyun buried his face in his hands, overwhelmed with self-reproach. Shin Jehyun couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt toward his guildmates, who had tasted defeat and missed their shot at Hall of Fame glory because of him.

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    Thinking about the Hall of Fame made Habaek’s behavior somewhat understandable. After all, Habaek was a fiery 20-year-old. With a terrible personality and a competitive streak to match, losing so much due to someone else’s mistake must’ve infuriated him.

    Still, Shin Jehyun wasn’t the type to bow his head and apologize after being accused of selling guild points for money or questioned for his decisions during the war. And especially not to Habaek. Jehyun could swallow his pride for most people, but with Habaek, it was uniquely difficult.

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    Why the hell did he have to say something so irritating? Jehyun grumbled, pouting slightly. In hindsight, it was embarrassing to have vented his frustration at someone so much younger, but apologizing now for his outburst seemed ridiculous. So instead, he chose to ignore the matter altogether.

    However, thoughts of Habaek, who hadn’t logged in since, kept nagging at him. Unable to shake off his irritation, Jehyun muttered in annoyance.

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    “That guy’s mindset is all wrong. If we lost the war, he should’ve immediately made an alt to prepare for next week. But no, he’s sulking and refusing to log in…”

    “The lab’s opening tomorrow anyway. He’s probably planning to use that to rack up points.”

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    “If he doesn’t get the first clear, we’re screwed!”

    “You don’t think you can do it?”

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    “Of course, I can.”

    “Habaek probably thinks so too. Wasn’t the K-Hill first clear his thing?”

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    “…Yeah, it was.”

    A memory resurfaced, and Jehyun rested his chin on his hand.

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    Back on the Countess server, Jehyun’s biggest rival for first clears was a guild called Undertaker. At that time, both guilds still had strong, elite five-member parties.

    When K-Hill’s Lab debuted, the race for the first clear became a hot topic on the Countess server. After an exhausting 12-hour grind of retries, Undertaker managed to take down K-Hill first.

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    Seeing the system message pop up when K-Hill’s health was at 5% had driven Jehyun to a blind rage. Even now, recalling that day kept him up at night.

    Anyway, as Chu Gaeul had pointed out, Monday marked the opening of the third oversaturation dungeon. It had already been a month since the server merge.

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    “Still, you two seemed pretty close lately. I honestly thought you guys were dating.”

    “…Noona, don’t even start with that. It’s not like that. What, do you think I’ve lost my mind to date a guy…?”

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    Jehyun, recoiling at the suggestion, abruptly stopped himself and corrected his words.

    “Like I’d lose my mind and start online dating with someone like Habaek. I’d rather date Contempt. At least he’s cute.”

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    “Mel just threw up. I can hear it from here,” Chu Gaeul quipped, bursting into laughter. She downed her soju in one shot and poured another glass for Jehyun.

    Holding the glass absently, Jehyun suddenly remembered something and shot Chu Gaeul a sidelong glance.

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    “What about you, Noona? How’s it going with Sangjae?”

    “Pfft!”

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    “……”

    The unexpected question made Chu Gaeul spit out her drink.

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    Jehyun leaned back in his seat, wearing a half-exasperated expression, and asked again.

    “Why are you so shocked? Is there something going on between you two?”

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    “Damn it, what could there possibly be? Hey, hey. He’s really not it. Not my type.”

    “Why not? Didn’t you say he was the light and salt of your life when you first met him?”

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    “Yah, shut it, will you?”

    When talking about the guild merger, Chu Gaeul had definitely said something along those lines. She’d practically sounded smitten with Sangjae. But now, at Jehyun’s question, Chu Gaeul grimaced in disgust and muttered as if letting out a sigh.

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    “Jehyun, looks aren’t everything when it comes to men…”

    “Ah, that’s why Mel and I told you back then! He’s a guy who’s crazy about the game!”

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    “Yeah, you two were right. But listen, Sangjae runs a café nearby, and he’s dropped by the PC bang a few times with snacks. And honestly, it felt like I was raising a little brother….”

    Chu Gaeul spoke with a bitter expression, as though reflecting on those moments. Then she casually dropped a remark to Jehyun.

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    “Anyway, Jaekyung said something.”

    “Who’s Jaekyung?”

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    “Sangjae.”

    “…You’re calling him by his name while saying looks aren’t everything? This is a setup, isn’t it? You two are dating, right?”

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    “Do you wanna get smacked? Jehyun, I call you by your name too. Do we have anything going on?”

    “No, nothing at all.”

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    “Exactly. So what do you think there is between me and Jaekyung?”

    “Doesn’t seem like there’s anything.”

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    “Yep, that’s right.”

    Faced with Chu Gaeul’s sharp gaze, Jehyun quickly backtracked on his insinuation. Smirking, Chu Gaeul sipped her drink before continuing.

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    “Anyway, he suggested having a guild meet-up in May. Since I told him you were coming to the PC bang today, he asked me to bring it up with you.”

    “A meet-up?”

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    Jehyun immediately frowned at the idea.

    A guild meet-up… Sure, back when they were on the Neungdong server, guild members from the metro area occasionally gathered at Chu Gaeul’s PC bang. But they’d never had an official meet-up.

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    From what Jehyun had heard about meet-ups in Cabenvin, they were like team retreats—renting a pension or booking a bar for an all-night drinking session. But was there really a need for that?

    Of course, he was curious about people like Sangjae, Matgomgi, and Beoseottangsuyuk. And it would be nice to see Contempt, now an adult, after a long time. But the guild wasn’t just made up of people like them.

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    “Do I really need to sit face-to-face with someone like Habaek? If that guy runs his mouth in front of me, even I don’t know how I’ll react.”

    “A-ha-ha-ha!”

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    Jehyun’s serious response, fueled by his current disdain for Habaek, had Chu Gaeul nearly doubling over with laughter. After wiping away the tears that welled up from laughing too hard, she gulped down some ice water and finally replied.

    “That’s exactly why you should meet him. According to Sangjae, Habaek might actually calm down after meeting you in person. Apparently, he doesn’t act up as much around people he knows in real life.”

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    “So even he knows Habaek’s a keyboard warrior.”

    “Yep, something like that.”

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    “Hmm.”

    So, meeting him in person would put an end to all this nonsense? Jehyun pressed his lips together, lost in thought.

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    Habaek was a problem. If there was one thing disrupting the first-clear party and getting on Jehyun’s nerves, it was undoubtedly Habaek.

    If meeting Habaek through the guild meet-up could help establish a more stable relationship with him… Jehyun mulled it over for a long moment before nodding. If he’d already resolved to meet Habaek, he would’ve done so during the “IRL fight” incident. This meeting was simply delayed.

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    “Alright then, when? University students like me will have exams soon, so April’s not going to work.”

    “Mid-May? During your campus festival. That week should be good, right?”

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    “Got it. I’ll reach out to Sangjae then.”

    “Yeah, make sure to book a nice place. I’ll pitch in more for the fees—you know I’m picky.”

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    “…Understood.”

    Jehyun, who had planned on just booking a bar for drinks, nodded. Since Chu Gaeul was covering the cost, he began plotting ways to drain her bank account.

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    “See you later, Noona.”

    “Yeah, yeah. Hey, try to stop fighting with Habaek, okay?”

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    “Sure, get home safe.”

    After helping the heavily drunk Chu Gaeul into the backseat of her Porsche, Jehyun handed some cash from her wallet to the designated driver. The driver gave a polite farewell to Jehyun before driving off, the black SUV roaring into the distance. Watching it fade away, Jehyun let out a deep sigh and started walking. He figured walking would help him clear his head before heading home, as taking a taxi now would almost certainly make him sick.

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    He strolled through the neon-lit but mostly shuttered streets of Neungdong’s commercial district, heading toward Children’s Grand Park. It was late March, and the arriving spring made the weather pleasantly cool. Wearing a casual department jacket he’d thrown on, Jehyun walked aimlessly, hands stuffed into his pockets.

    Suddenly, he thought of Ha Baekyung. Memories of two weeks ago surfaced—walking home together after a night of drinking. That night had been fun. He recalled a drunken Baekyung holding his hand, fingers interlocked.

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    Baekyung, whispering like a child that horror movies scared him and asking to hold hands, had looked unexpectedly cute despite his sturdy build.

    That is… he wasn’t scared at all. It was only after replaying that night in his mind several times that Jehyun realized it.

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    “……”

    Jehyun stopped in his tracks, biting his lips.

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    Yes, Shin Jehyun knew Baekyung hadn’t been afraid of the movie.

    The way Baekyung tightened his grip whenever a scary scene played wasn’t an attempt to find reassurance—it was as if he was silently reassuring Jehyun, letting him know he was there. Feigning fear had just been an excuse to hold Jehyun’s hand.

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    It was such a thoughtful and kind gesture. If the roles were reversed, Jehyun would’ve laughed and teased, “What, you scared?” while smugly offering his hand. But Baekyung hadn’t laughed or mocked him for being scared of something that wasn’t even remotely terrifying.

    When Jehyun realized that, it had left him feeling odd—embarrassed, self-conscious, and unsure if he could look Baekyung in the eye again.

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    Recalling that feeling now, warmth spread through his chest like a gentle wave. A peculiar sensation followed, prompting Jehyun to glance at his watch.

    …Would he still be awake?

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    It was an unusual time for him to contact anyone, yet Jehyun oddly wanted to talk to Baekyung. Maybe it was the frustration Habaek had caused over the past two days, or perhaps the memory of walking and chatting with Baekyung that night stuck vividly in his mind.

    Whatever the reason, Jehyun found himself absurdly longing to hear the voice of his junior, four years younger than him, in the dead of night—despite having seen him four more times in the past week alone.

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    “Am I losing it?”

    Even in his drunken, irrational state, Jehyun couldn’t shake the feeling that this was strange. He smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand, questioning himself. But whether it was the alcohol stirring something deeply buried or a rising impulse, he couldn’t suppress the urge.

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    [Baekyung-ah] 2:28

    [You awake?]

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    The moment he saw the message sent, Jehyun snapped to his senses, feeling like a pathetic ex texting late at night. He immediately tried to delete the message, but before he could, the read receipt disappeared, and a reply came through almost instantly.

    Ha Baekyung

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    [[Photo]] 2:28

    Without a word, Baekyung sent a photo. Zooming in, Jehyun realized it was the draft of a report for a mandatory liberal arts class. The content, written neatly in Baekyung’s tidy handwriting, looked solid enough to earn good grades.

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    Ha Baekyung

    [Was working on a report haha] 2:28

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    Ha Baekyung

    [Why are you up, Sunbae? Is something wrong?] 2:29

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    Seeing Baekyung respond with concern instead of ignoring him warmed Jehyun’s heart. His cheeks inexplicably grew hot as he stared blankly at the chat window. Finally, coming to a stop, he replied.

    [Nothing’s wrong. I was out drinking and walking home. Just remembered walking home after that movie with you last week.] 2:30

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    [That night was fun.]

    [So I was wondering what you were up to, so I decided to contact you.] 2:31

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    [Want to talk on the phone?]

    As soon as he asked, the “1” disappeared, and Jehyun received a call from Ha Baekyung.

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    Ha Baekyung. Jehyun stared at the three letters on the screen, and perhaps because of the alcohol, his heart was pounding, and the world seemed to be spinning. He felt like he might throw up. Swallowing dryly, Jehyun pressed the call button.

    “Yeah, Baekyung.”

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    — Were you with Seo Eunjae Sunbae?

    “Seo Eunjae? I cut ties with him.”

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    — You cut ties? Really? Why?

    “Uh, I don’t know. He got mad because I didn’t want to eat with him and said I’m not even a friend anymore.”

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    — Ah.

    At Jehyun’s response, Baekyung burst into laughter. The sound of his laughter from the phone was pleasant to hear. Jehyun brought the phone closer to his ear and, focusing on Baekyung’s voice, asked:

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    “Are you taking Introduction to Political Science?”

    — Yeah. You can tell just by looking at the report?

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    “Yeah. You did a good job on the report. I got an A+ on it. Want me to show you the one I wrote?”

    — Can I see it?

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    “Yeah, it’s not a big deal… I’ll email it to you when I get home.”

    Baekyung chuckled softly. It wasn’t a particularly funny comment, but for some reason, both of them kept laughing. Anyone who overheard might think they were talking to a lover.

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    — You’re not surprised I’m writing a report at 2:30 AM?

    “I do it too.”

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    — Do you often study late at night, Sunbae?

    “Yeah, almost every day.”

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    — Every night until dawn?

    “Yeah. Otherwise, it’s hard to get good grades in relative assessments.”

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    Jehyun answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

    Although he played a lot of games, Shin Jehyun studied just as much. During the semester, when the game matchmaking was running or while waiting for it, he would always move his chair aside to study, and during exam periods, he’d listen to his class notes via TTS while running dungeons. If he didn’t do that, it would’ve been hard to stay on top in his department.

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    — Seo Eunjae Sunbae said there’s no one as tough as you.

    “That guy is just looking for an opportunity to talk shit about me, right?”

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    — I thought it was a compliment…

    “Oh, really? Eunjae knows me well. But there are plenty of people like me, including you.”

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    — Really? I don’t think many of my classmates are like that.

    “When you’re a freshman, everyone’s just playing around.”

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    — I heard Sunbae studied while still having fun when you were a freshman?

    “…Did Eunjae spill that too? That guy can’t keep his mouth shut when he’s in trouble.”

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    Feeling embarrassed, Jehyun insulted Seo Eunjae, causing Baekyung to laugh again. Then, in a more serious tone, Baekyung asked:

    — Did you know that we think a lot alike?

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    “You and me?”

    Now that he thought about it, Jehyun had felt the same way. That’s why the time he spent with Ha Baekyung was enjoyable. Even talking about trivial things, the conversation flowed so naturally that the time never felt boring. Jehyun nodded as he thought back to that, when Baekyung spoke again.

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    — I saw you put a sticky note on No Longer Human.

    “Ah…”

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    — I thought it was something I wrote.

    There was a note Jehyun had written in the book he had lent to Ha Baekyung. The moment he remembered the ramblings he had written on a sticky note, embarrassment rushed in. He probably didn’t write anything weird, right? Should I open it and check? Jehyun slightly regretted it in that instant.

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    — So, I like you, Sunbae. I want to get closer to you.

    At Baekyung’s serious voice, Jehyun was at a loss for words.

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    The words “I want to get closer” didn’t even register in his ears. Hearing “I like you,” a phrase that would be embarrassing to hear from anyone, coming from Baekyung made Jehyun feel strange.

    Stopping in place, Jehyun couldn’t say anything and closed his mouth. Shin Jehyun’s heart was pounding, just like the day he watched a movie with Ha Baekyung.

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