[Yoo Chae: Yeees]
[Yoo Chae: Sounds good]
…Did this guy even understand what I just said?
I asked reluctantly, caught off guard by the unexpected response.
[I'mSleepy: ?]
[I'mSleepy: What's good about that]
[Yoo Chae: That you're using me!]
[Yoo Chae: Go ahead as much as you want]
[Yoo Chae: I don't mind]
[I'mSleepy: LOL]
[I'mSleepy: What the hell;]
[I'mSleepy: How did you know I'd say something]
[Yoo Chae: Seriously, anything's fine]
Oh wow. This guy really doesn't know how scary the world is.
I laughed at the obedient Yoo Chae.
[I'mSleepy: Then…]
[I'mSleepy: Lend me some money]
[Yoo Chae: How much?]
How much, huh… Uh...
[I'mSleepy: Like... 100,000 won?]
[Yoo Chae: Okay, give me your account info]
[I'mSleepy: LOL 200,000 won]
[Yoo Chae: Okay, account]
[I'mSleepy: 500]
[Yoo Chae: Account]
"..."
Forget it. What's the point of having a power struggle with a lunatic.
[I'mSleepy: What are you doing right now]
[I'mSleepy: If you're not busy, wanna chat?]
[Yoo Chae: Yeah yeah yeah]
[Yoo Chae: I'm totally free!!]
[I'mSleepy: Where are you]
Well, since Yoo Chae took the staff, I should at least explain the situation. But why isn't he answering?
[Yoo Chae: Um]
[Yoo Chae: Are you coming here, hyung?]
(hyung = respectful term for older brother/male friend)
[I'mSleepy: Yeah]
[Yoo Chae: If you wait an hour, I'll come to you..ㅠㅠ
(ㅠㅠ = crying emoji)
[I'mSleepy: ?]
[I'mSleepy: Didn't you say you were free?]
[Yoo Chae: I am free, but…]
[I'mSleepy: If you're busy, forget it]
[Yoo Chae: No, I'm not…]
[Yoo Chae: I'm not busy ㅜㅡㅜ
(ㅜㅡㅜ = crying face)
What the hell does he want? I'm already pissed off as it is.
[I'mSleepy: ––?]
I sent a short, loaded message. After a long pause, Yoo Chae finally responded.
[Yoo Chae: I'm at the Feroco Lighthouse..]
Feroco Lighthouse… That was where I went a while back to join the Twilight Guild. Also where I first met Yoo Chae.
After reviving in the city and recovering all my lost HP, I headed straight to Feroco Lighthouse. As the screen changed, the lively BGM unique to Feroco Island started playing.
[Global] Yoo Chae: Hyuuungㅎㅡㅎ
Yoo Chae's character came running up to me, panting, after loitering near the lighthouse. It had been a while since I'd seen him, and above him the Cotton Candy Fox pet hovered halfway visible. Watching him like this, his actions were still the same as ever.
[Global] DrinkSomeWater: ??
[Global] Let'sDoRockPaperScissors: Uh, what's going on?
[Global] Haerun: Am I dreaming right now?
It wasn't just Yoo Chae near the lighthouse, but other Twilight Guild members too. So that "wait an hour" thing must've been guild-related.
'Said he was free, this little bastard....'
Well, we met, so I guess I should at least say hi.
[Global] I'mSleepy: hey
[Global] Haerun: Are you here to PvP with the guild master again?
[Global] Let'sDoRockPaperScissors: Why is it always fights here with the guild master?
[Global] Let'sDoRockPaperScissors: So curious
[Global] I'mSleepy: Nah
[Global] I'mSleepy: Not here for PvP
[Global] DrinkSomeWater: ??
[Global] Yoo Chae: Sleepy-hyung came to see meㅎㅎㅎㅎ
[Global] I'mSleepy: Nah
[Global] Yoo Chae: ?
[Global] DrinkSomeWater: ????
[Global] Haerun: LMAOOOO
Okay, I did come to see Yoo Chae, but really it was about the guild. No matter how much of a toxic group they are, they're still the server's third-ranked guild.
And in an RPG of all things, if a newbie like me wants to kill them and take back the gear, I need enough power to do it.
[Global] Yoo Chae: Hyung
[Global] Yoo Chae: You did come to see me!
[Global] Yoo Chae: You don't know anyone else here!
[Global] Yoo Chae: You came for me, right? ㅜㅡㅜ!!
Ugh, so noisy. And honestly, I don't really know anyone here.
[Global] DrinkSomeWater: So what's the deal?
[Global] DrinkSomeWater: Did you two make up or something?
[Global] I'mSleepy: No
[Global] I'mSleepy: I got my weapon taken
[Global] I'mSleepy: I just want it back
[Global] DrinkSomeWater: ?
[Global] I'mSleepy: That's why I messaged him
[Global] Let'sDoRockPaperScissors: Your weapon??
[Global] Haerun: Don't tell me it was the staff?;;
[Global] DrinkSomeWater: You lost your staff..?
From their reactions, looks like even these guys knew the staff Yoo Chae gave me was a high-tier weapon.
[Global] I'mSleepy: Yep
[Global] Yoo Chae: LOL
[Global] Yoo Chae: From who?
"Umm…"
I was flustered and rubbed my mouth absentmindedly, then started explaining step-by-step.
I got into trouble with a Feber Guild member while doing a side quest. Got ambushed by their guild master and ended up dropping the staff when I died.
As soon as I finished explaining, Yoo Chae quickly typed:
[Party] Yoo Chae: Join the guild, hyung
[Party] Yoo Chae: Let's get you to max level first
[Party] Let'sDoRockPaperScissors: Damn I'm the one getting pissed off, fk**
[Party] Haerun: But guild master
[Party] Haerun: That was actually a surprisingly normal response
[Party] Let'sDoRockPaperScissors: For real, I thought he lost it and we'd have a guild war again lol
[Party] Haerun: The Feber bastards do deserve more beatings tho lol
[Party] Yoo Chae: Sleepy-hyung doesn't like that stuff
[Party] Let'sDoRockPaperScissors: damn…
[Party] I'mSleepy: ?
[Party] I'mSleepy: Why are you acting like you know me
[Party] Yoo Chae: Of course I could just fix it for you
[Party] Yoo Chae: But that wouldn't feel right
Well… he's not wrong.
[Party] I'mSleepy: Yeah
[Party] Yoo Chae: Don't you want to be the one to kill them yourself?
That too... is true.
[Party] Yoo Chae: First, let's do a raid and get you to max level
It wasn't just acting familiar—he really did know me well. But this guy...
[Party] I'mSleepy: What are you doing?
In response to my question, Yoo Chae—who had been sitting politely with both knees on the ground—suddenly triggered an emote where he started bawling.
[Party] Yoo Chae: It's because of me
[Party] Yoo Chae: That those bastards acted like thatㅜㅡㅜ sob
[Party] Yoo Chae: So I'm kneeling and begging! >.<
[Party] Let'sDoRockPaperScissors: For someone begging, you're awfully confident
[Party] Haerun: Why aren't you apologizing for making him drop the item though ㄷㄷ
[Party] Yoo Chae: That part wasn't my fault
[Party] Yoo Chae: The problem is the bastards who killed him
"...."
This smug bastard… Even when he's right, he still manages to piss me off.
[Party] Haerun: No but LOL
[Party] Haerun: When you first met Sleepy,
[Party] Haerun: You were the one who PvP'd him for real, and now you're acting like this;
[Party] Let'sDoRockPaperScissors: The shattered pride from back then still hasn't recovered
Even with everyone teasing him, Yoo Chae stubbornly stayed in his kneeling pose.
That's when DrinkSomeWater, who had been AFK, came back.
[Party] DrinkSomeWater: So I checked,
[Party] DrinkSomeWater: Looks like the guild master still has the staff
[Party] DrinkSomeWater: He's planning to give it to a newbie after upgrading it
[Party] I'mSleepy: A newbie?
[Party] DrinkSomeWater: They probably recruited a newbie to participate in the prelims
So the new Feber Guild recruit must be a Dark Mage too. As I nodded to myself, a question came to mind.
[Party] I'mSleepy: But
[Party] I'mSleepy: How'd you even get that info?
[Party] DrinkSomeWater: LOL
[Party] DrinkSomeWater: I planted an alt in Feber
[Party] DrinkSomeWater: It's been so long, they probably think it's one of their own LOL
Whoa, they even planted a spy? That's impressive on multiple levels.
[Party] Yoo Chae: Hyung
[Party] Yoo Chae: If you want the staff back,
[Party] Yoo Chae: Join the guild and participate in the prelims
[Party] DrinkSomeWater: Yep
[Party] DrinkSomeWater: We were actually discussing the prelims just now LOL
[Party] DrinkSomeWater: The timing's perfect
The prelims, huh…
[Party] DrinkSomeWater: We're not just saying this for fun
[Party] DrinkSomeWater: Even if we start a guild war, it won't matter
[Party] DrinkSomeWater: If that newbie doesn't equip the staff, we're screwed
[Party] Yoo Chae: Prelims aren't like guild wars
[Party] Yoo Chae: They're big, and usually require full guild participation
[Party] Yoo Chae: And if the newbie's in the prelims, they have to show up
[Party] Yoo Chae: That's when you kill them
[Party] Yoo Chae: Until they cough up the staff LOL
Prelims can only be entered with a newly created account.
If it's certain that Feber's guild master is giving the staff to a newbie, then the prelims might be my only shot at getting it back.
[Party] Yoo Chae: Think of it this way
[Party] Yoo Chae: They upgraded it for us LOL
[Party] Yoo Chae: And they're just handing it back
[Party] Yoo Chae: Man, so generous
[Party] Yoo Chae: Right? ㅎㅡㅎ
[Party] Let'sDoRockPaperScissors: For real LOL
[Party] Let'sDoRockPaperScissors: What a sweet deal
It sounded overly optimistic, but honestly… I felt the same.
The outcome's already set: those bastards are going down, and I'm getting my staff back. If they upgrade it in the meantime, even better for me.
[Party] Yoo Chae: So
[Party] Yoo Chae: Join the guild already!
Yoo Chae couldn't wait and sent me a guild invite.
I filled out the form quickly, barely paying attention, and a notification popped up saying I'd joined. Were they seriously just sitting there waiting?
[Guild] Hwasoun: ???
[Guild] ParkSeungjin99: Huh?
[Guild] YangnyeomCrabZzup: Wha? ㄷㄷ
[Guild] MochaBread: What is this? What is? Wha.ㅁ?
[Guild] ManaRingingGuy: Is this really that Sleepy I know??
As soon as I joined, the guild chat lit up with surprised messages.
After everything… I've ended up right here. It's kinda funny, kinda depressing.
I gave a half-hearted laugh and sent a greeting.
[Guild] I'mSleepy: Hello
[Guild] I'mSleepy: Nice to meet you all lol
[Guild] Haerun: FFS LOLOLOLOL
[Guild] Hwasoun: LOOOOOL
[Guild] DrinkSomeWater: lol hey hey
[Guild] JustTakeItAndGo: Ah lol so you're the new recruit huh
[Guild] I'mSleepy: Yeah lol
[Guild] ParkSeungjin99: This is f*ing hilarious omg**
[Guild] CapitalistMonster: So what the hell is going on here lol
[Guild] Let'sDoRockPaperScissors: Isn't it obvious?
[Guild] Let'sDoRockPaperScissors: The guild master and him finally...
[Guild] Haerun: Yeah... it's happened
[Guild] I'mSleepy: ?
[Guild] Yoo Chae: >///<♥
What the hell are these lunatics talking about?
[Guild] ParkSeungjin99: Is this for real?
[Guild] Hwasoun: I'mSleepy…
[Guild] Hwasoun: How did it come to thisㅠㅠㅠ
[Guild] YangnyeomCrabZzup: I believed in you...
[Guild] YangnyeomCrabZzup: Haa....
[Guild] LaggingSoBad: Who bet on him not coming back lol
[Guild] LaggingSoBad: Hurry up and send my winnings in the mail~
[Guild] Haerun: ssssss
[Guild] Hwasoun: Damn itㅠㅠ
[Guild] Let'sDoRockPaperScissors: lol ssssss
[Guild] DrinkSomeWater: sss
[Guild] ParkSeungjin99: My money goddamn
[Guild] Yoo Chae: LOL
"..."
Yeah… was this the wrong choice?
Only five minutes into joining Twilight Guild… and a massive wave of regret was already washing over me.
[T/L: Read extra chapters on my ko-fi page "Pokemon1920" : http://ko-fi.com/pokemon1920 ]