Chapter 82

Chapter 10 – Twins

1

[Death Light and Heart: They say you’ve worked hard.]

“Juk-sim, you’ve worked hard too.”

After finishing the rank game with Juk-sim, I let out a light sigh.

One guy ran away, and the other was whining. I really thought I was going to die this time.

“Somehow, the rank games seem to get messier the more you play.”

[Death Light and Heart: They say it’s because there are more kids these days.]

“Anyway, if I say ‘kids these days,’ I immediately become a boomer, right?”

[Death Light and Heart: They say considering your age, it can’t be helped.]

I don’t know Juk-sim’s age, but one thing’s for sure—she’s at least an adult.

It’s already been a long time since I became gaming buddies with Juk-sim.

[Death Light and Heart: They ask if you want to play another game.]

“I’ll pass. I can’t do anymore today.”

[Death Light and Heart: They agree.]

Watching Juk-sim stretch while sitting on the floor, I opened the chat window.

Then, a whisper message popped up right on time.

Since I turn off whispers during rank games, this one had been queued until now.

[I Am Extra: Domi, I’m going to Seoul tomorrow. Wanna grab drinks?]

The whisper was from Nae-ki.

It seemed like the drink she mentioned last time.

‘Let me check the time.’

Looking at my phone, thankfully, the timing seemed fine.

I immediately opened the guild chat.

[Doremipasolo: Is Nae-ki online?]

[I Am Extra: I’m here. What’s up?]

[Doremipasolo: Okay, what time are you coming?]

[I Am Extra: Probably around 6. Hit me up when you’re done with work. I have assignments to do anyway.]

Come to think of it, this girl is still a college student.

She probably delayed graduation because of a leave of absence.

At 26, still in school, she’d be treated like a fossil. I agreed to meet.

[Ediknorjeva has logged in.]

At that moment, Eva’s ID came online after a long time.

[I Am Extra: OMG, Eva-ham? Or is it unnie?]

[Ediknorjeva: It’s unnie. Nae-ki, long time no see.]

[I Am Extra: Wow, unnie, it’s been forever!]

Watching Nae-ki excitedly typing, I joined in.

[Doremipasolo: Unnie, are you coming back to the game?]

[Ediknorjeva: Work’s been busy, but I dropped by to take a breather.]

[Doremipasolo: What about Eva oppa?]

[Ediknorjeva: Ah, oppa’s side… I have too much to say, it’s driving me crazy.]

Is something going on?

[I Am Extra: Unnie, I’m meeting Domi tomorrow! Wanna join and talk?]

[Ediknorjeva: Meeting? Like a gathering?]

[I Am Extra: The more, the merrier!]

Nae-ki seems really lonely.

‘Should I invite Ayu or Seolhyang too?’

Then it hit me—I still hadn’t told Ayu about Ah-hing’s identity.

If she finds out, it’s going to be chaos.

‘Ggotbi’s probably too busy.’

Ggotbi’s on tour right now, so I didn’t want to burden her.

[Ediknorjeva: …Maybe. It might be good to talk to someone.]

[I Am Extra: Awesome, let’s meet tomorrow around 6! I’ll text you the location!]

In the end, Eva unnie decided to come too.

For me, it’s fine since we’ve known each other in the game for a long time, and I’ve met a lot of people recently.

‘Tomorrow’s going to be busy too.’

Lately, it feels like I’ve been meeting a lot of people.

2

The next day, I was on a bus.

Eva unnie said she’d be a bit late, so I planned to meet Nae-ki first.

‘Ayu and Seolhyang said they couldn’t make it.’

After the plans were set yesterday, I called them right away.

Ayu, who recently started working with the World Returner Association, was busy rooting out Giraseong remnants.

As a result, she’s currently in Busan.

She wanted to come, but her work wasn’t finished, so she couldn’t make it.

And Seolhyang, the Association President, was the same.

“And I want only Ha-chan to know my identity.”

Hearing her whisper over the phone, I shook my head.

After her confession, I’ve been too conscious of Seolhyang.

After the call, it suddenly hit me.

‘…The power struggles Ayu and Seolhyang always had in front of me.’

I thought they just didn’t get along.

But what if they both knew each other’s feelings and were fighting over me?

And here I was, cluelessly trying to bring them together?

‘Damn, am I crazy?’

Having never been loved by many people before, I didn’t even think about it. I felt pathetic.

I have no consideration at all.

“…Baek-san, should I just date someone quickly?”

Thinking that things would only get harder if this continued, I turned to Baek-san and asked.

Hearing my question, Baek-san yawned and said,

“Let me give you one piece of advice.”

“I’m all ears.”

“Among those who like you, there’s not a single one who’d give up just because you date someone.”

My body froze.

“Regular girls might, but the ones who like you are monsters who’ve survived and risen to the top. You think they’d back down after just one loss?”

I thought of Ayu and Seolhyang.

If I told one of them I was dating someone, what would happen?

I couldn’t picture either of them giving up.

Both of them are the type who’d take what they want, even more so than Gwak Sa-yeon.

“Do you get how pointless your worries are now?”

“Then if I say I have a girlfriend and reject them…”

“Kang Ha-chan, those are the kind of people who’d push the world to destruction if you died.”

I let out a hiccup.

“If you really want to shake them off, you’d have to at least delete all their contacts and disappear. You think they’d stay calm after that?”

Then Baek-san twirled his finger near his temple.

“Returners aren’t called crazy for nothing. They’re dependent on you. They’re insane women who only see you. Without you, they’d find no meaning in this world.”

“No, that’s too much…”

“You don’t know their true nature. You have no idea how much influence you have on them.”

I quietly closed my mouth.

“You’re more important to them than you can imagine.”

Hearing that made me a bit embarrassed.

Baek-san clicked his tongue, looking exasperated.

“First of all, do you even like anyone?”

Hearing that, I seriously stroked my chin.

“…What is love?”

Am I still too young to understand?

Baek-san stared at me, then sighed as if something came to mind.

“I get why you can’t easily give your heart to them.”

“You get it?”

“People who’ve lost everything they love are hesitant to like something carelessly.”

Hearing that, I first thought of losing my parents.

“They don’t want to lose again. So they try not to have anything from the start.”

“Am I incapable of love?”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

Boo-hoo, so mean.

I guess I’m the tragic protagonist.

“Stop the nonsense and remember what I said earlier. If you’re going to date someone, either date all the people who like you together or don’t date at all.”

Baek-san’s solution was shocking to me.

What kind of nonsense is this guy spouting in the 21st century?

Seeing Baek-san casually suggesting polygamy, he sighed and said,

“You might live fine without them, but they can’t live without you. I’m telling you this because I’ve seen it happen. You brat.”

Baek-san shook his head, signaling the end of the conversation, and looked outside.

I wish he’d given a proper solution.

Looking at Baek-san with a pitiful expression didn’t yield any answers, so I got off the bus with a bitter expression.

Then I started the map on my phone.

“Where was it? The Moonlit Bar, right?”

Thankfully, it wasn’t far.

Thinking I could head straight there, my phone suddenly rang.

The caller was Seolhyang.

“Hello.”

[Ah, Ha-chan, have you arrived?]

“Almost there.”

[Sorry I couldn’t come with you.]

“It’s fine. You’re busy. It’s okay.]

Listening to Seolhyang’s voice, I started walking along the path I saw on the map.

[Today it’s Nae-ki and Eva unnie, right?]

“Yeah, that’s right. Nae-ki kept bugging me, so it ended up like this.”

[Hmm, two girls.]

I felt a chill from Seolhyang’s tone.

[Nae-ki’s probably fine, but Eva unnie… well, she might not be a big problem either.]

“…Can I ask what you mean by that?”

[I’m worried someone else might fall for our Ha-chan.]

Her whispering voice made me embarrassed.

“No, I’m not that popular.”

[Really? I thought by now you’d start to notice.]

“Sorry.”

[Yeah, it’s about time you noticed. I was probably the final blow.]

How much does Seolhyang see through me?

She’s scary.

[Even though I knew that, I still confessed. I couldn’t hold back anymore.]

“Uh, well.”

[I like you. So please don’t make the person I like feel more insecure. Okay?]

“Uh, yeah.”

After her confession, Seolhyang’s continuous confessions left me stiff.

[Hehe, call me when you’re done.]

With a voice full of laughter, Seolhyang’s call ended.

Is it okay for me to be this clueless?

Baek-san said that, but I still felt frustrated as I started walking.

Soon, I arrived at the Moonlit Bar.

Looking around inside, I called Nae-ki, and after a while, someone picked up and stood up.

She met my eyes and smiled, waving her hand without hesitation.

“Domi, over here!”

“Hey, keep it down.”

As people’s eyes turned to us, I calmed Nae-ki down and went to the table.

Nae-ki, who had already ordered two bottles of soju and beer, smiled at me while eating the snacks.

Nae-ki, with her light brown hair, had a somewhat faint impression.

Her bangs covered her eyes like a curtain, so her face was barely visible.

“Fufu, seems like my bangs are bothering you.”

“Ah, sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

“No, I don’t like it either. I have some issues with my eyes! Please understand.”

Issues with her eyes?

Is there a black dragon sleeping in there or something?