103.
In the PVP that started due to his instigation, Chae Yoo-jeong, who had high experience, better equipment, and higher level, naturally won.
However, the skill of the other user, which he learned in the process, was much better than expected.
[All] Park Seung-jin99: Sleepy-nim, are you really a newbie?
[All] Park Seung-jin99: I’m surprised;
[All] Drink some water: If I’m being honest, I thought I was having a heart-attack with how intense this battle was
[All] Harn: Me too omg
It was an unfavorable fight no matter who looked at it. Nevertheless, the other person’s attitude was quite calm.
He might have been disappointed because he lost so narrowly or complained about the unfavorable fight, but it was quite refreshing to see him drink the potion quietly.
‘I don’t think he’s a bad user.’
If you have that level of skill, you are very good. It seems that Kang Ji-hye, who had been picking out strange people and putting them into the guild, chose a normal guild member this time for some reason.
He started this because he couldn’t stand to see a guy with the same nickname as Yoo Ji-han behaving badly, but he felt like he could just sit there for a while. Although he still didn’t want him to be put in the guild.
Anyway, since he won, his opponent had to leave the guild. Since he can be kicked out if he says he doesn’t like it, Chae Yoo-jeong was going to receive his items from Kang Ji-hye at this point. At that time, the chat that followed caught his attention.
[All] Soeso: It’s a skill he gained from HOLㅋㅋㅋ
[All] Harn: He plays HOL too?
[All] I’m Sleepy: I guess partially
[All] Drink some water: yea that’s right
[All] Drink some water: He used to be a top ranker in every season too
“......What?”
His mind stopped for a moment. Chae Yoo-jeong, whose hands were stiff on the keyboard, bent his upper body towards the monitor, wondering if he had seen something wrong.
What? In HOL, he achieved grandmaster status every season?
It was a chat that he couldn’t believe even after seeing it. Chae Yoo-jeong, who was staring at the chat window while blinking several times, urgently typed on the keyboard.
[All] Yoo Chae: He plays HOL?
[All] Yoo Chae: Hero of Legends?
[All] Drink some water: ?
[All] Yoo Chae: You are a HOL top ranker?
[All] I’m Sleepy: Yeah
Chae Yoo-jeong’s heart beat at a rapid pace despite the short answer that did not seem the slightest bit sincere.
‘Wait a minute... really? Really?’
Is this... is this possible? It’s so unrealistic.
Reason tried to stop him, saying it was nonsense, but his body ignored his head and trembled like crazy. Even amidst his doubts that it was impossible, his hope swelled in his heart.
[All] I’m sleepy: What can you do about that
[All] Yoo Chae: How about your username?
[All] Yoo Chae: Could your username in HOL be ‘I’m Sleepy’ as well??
[All] I’m Sleepy: ??;
[All] Yoo Chae: I’m just really curious
[All] Yoo Chae: I see that you’re not going to answer
[All] Yoo Chae: Am I right? Right?
[All] I’m Sleepy: ㅋㅋ;
Unfortunately, the other person did not give a clear answer.
No, it didn’t matter though. If Yoo Ji-han was involved in even one small clue like this, Chae Yoo-jeong had no choice but to bite like a dog.
‘I can’t help it.’
These were self-deprecatory words that always followed when he thought of Yoo Ji-han. ‘Can not help it’ if it has anything to do with Yoo Ji-han.
Chae Yoo-jeong frowned before smiling bitterly.
[All] Yoo Chae: I won’t kick you out
[All] Yoo Chae: So, please be active in the guild
So we need to catch that user right now. It was better to keep him by his side until he could find more solid evidence.
The deadline is one week, and it must be determined within that period whether his suspicions are correct. ‘If it’s not Yoo Ji-han, I can just let him leave the guild, and if... it’s really him... I…’
Chae Yoo-jeong lowered his head, unable to finish his thoughts.
***
Since the other party was reluctant about him, there was a limit to what he could find out within Zenoris.
You can’t just kick the other person out of the guild after a week without properly finding out about it. Chae Yoo-jeong quickly shook his head.
[LVS gamgack] Hyung
[Flying away] ?
The next day, Chae Yoo-jeong logged into his HOL account, not Zenoris.
Chae Yoo-jeong’s connection rate had dropped significantly since Yoo Ji-han’s record was not updated, so it had been quite a while for him.
[Flying away] What is it?
[Flying away] Why are you talking to me?
Seo Tae-young was a little surprised that Chae Yoo-jeong, who was always so stuffy, sent him a message first.
Be that as it may, Chae Yoo-jeong, whose mind was filled with Yoo Ji-han, ignored the response and got straight to the point.
[LVS gamgack] I’m sleepy-nim, this person
[LVS gamgack] You said you were close to this Hyung.
[Flying away] To Ji-han?
[Flying away] yeah, Why?
[LVS gamgack] Has this person completely quit HOL?
[Flying away] Um...
[Flying away] It seemed like that
[Flying away] Anyway, I just logged in here and checked
[Flying away] I think he quit HOL and is playing another game?
[LVS gamgack] Did you just log in? In HOL?
[Flying away] yeah, I logged in for now
[Flying away] I think he’s playing Zenoris or something like that these days?
“…….”
Chae Yoo-jeong mumbled without realizing it and covered his mouth with his hand. Before he knew it, his neck and face had turned red.
The probability that the newbie he met yesterday was Yoo Ji-han jumped up to 80%. Even though the situation wasn’t 100% certain yet, he was so happy that he felt like his heart was going to jump out of his mouth.
‘This is not the time.’
He had to turn on Zenoris immediately. Chae Yoo-jeong, who was trying to turn off HOL, was still grateful to Seo Tae-young for giving him such great information, so he sent him a response.
[LVS gamgack] ok
[Flying away] ??
[Flying away] Anyway, if you’re done with what you’re curious about, let’s talk about yourself as well.
***
[Guild] I’m getting lazy: Gilma-nim heh2
[Guild] Seasoned crab sauce: Hi hi
[Guild] Park Seung-jin99: Whoa?
[Guild] Park Seung-jin99: As soon as Sleepy-nim came online, the Gilma came too~?
[Guild] Harn: (；￣Д￣) ~?
[Guild] Let’s do this: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Until he spoke with Seo Tae-young earlier, he thought he needed to find out more because it wasn’t 100% certain, but just by looking at I’m sleepy’s username, the probability automatically went from 80% to 90%.
His emotions and mind changed so wildly that he felt awkward. In the meantime, Chae Yoo-jeong was barely able to suppress his laughter that kept leaking out as he continued chatting.
[Guild] Yoo Chae: there
[Guild] Yoo Chae: Sleepy Hyung
These were three words that he had wanted to say for a long time.
***
[Party] Yoo Chae: Hyung
[Party] Yoo Chae: Should I explain to you about Raids?
Why is it so difficult to just chat about raiding together? Chae Yoo-jeong let out a long, tense breath as if he had just confessed his affection, and wiped his red face as if he were dry washing his face.
“Hyung?”
“……Uh.”
His low, soft voice that I heard many times on Seo Tae-young’s stream. Even in those short words, he could clearly feel that he was uncomfortable with himself, which made him laugh and feel sad at the same time.
“Is it awkward for you to speak like this?”
“...No, it’s not awkward.”
Still, it was okay. It was really nice to be able to talk directly with Yoo Ji-han instead of just watching him talk to other people from a distance.
“Thanks.”
“It’s nothing. Use it well, Hyung.”
Actually, there was something else he wanted to say but Chae Yoo-jeong swallowed all those words and smiled bitterly.
It was fate that reconnected with him like luck. He did not want to put an unnecessary burden on Yoo Ji-han.
‘You know, Hyung. I think we......’
I think this is fate.
15-year-old Yoo Ji-han, who held an umbrella for him in an alley on a snowy winter day, 19-year-old Yoo Ji-han, whom he met at a convention in Busan, and the current Yoo Ji-han, a person who approaches and leaves regardless of Chae Yoo-jeong’s efforts.
To Chae Yoo-jeong, Yoo Ji-han was closer to disaster than salvation. Yoo Ji-han always came unexpectedly, shook Chae Yoo-jeong’s world completely, and left suddenly.
No matter how hard he tries, he can’t catch him. All Chae Yoo-jeong could do was wait for Yoo Ji-han, who came by chance.
‘I thought this time I would be able to forget.’
As soon as he decided to give up on his relationship with Yoo Ji-han, he met Yoo Ji-han again. It felt like someone was playing with him.
So, Chae Yoo-jeong... thought of that person as his destiny and decided to accept it. Even if that decision brings pain rather than happiness.
HM: It’s sorta interesting from this perspective… but I can’t help but worry. ha…
---
Credits:
Translator: Hoshi Miya
Editor/Proofreader: Meimei, Ghostx
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Oommmggggg wtf this chapter felt so short ༼;´༎ຶ ༎ຶ༽. And thank you for the chapter! (◍•ᴗ•◍)