HFS 29

While Cheong-hyeon’s wrists had actually been a bit sore, they’d already healed, and he had no intention of skipping the next Holy War season. He smiled with satisfaction. As the Normal People guild members were taking commemorative photos and enjoying their victory, Seven Guild found themselves unable to accept the outcome of the match.

[Server] Lucky: Do you honestly think it’s possible to dodge all attacks from two ranged DPS?

[Server] Lucky: I’ve reported Ittorang for hacking, so now all we have to do is wait for a response 🙂

Lucky’s claim was basically that Cheong-hyeon’s movements and high damage didn’t make sense unless he was hacking. However, thanks to the solid support base built up for Cheong-hyeon after watching the finals, no one was listening to Lucky. Moreover, when the administrator publicly responded that “no evidence of illegal programs was found,” the hacking controversy around Cheong-hyeon faded away before it could even gain traction.

[Server] Seohee1: lol washed-up guild be quiet.

[Server] Seohee1: Why does the loser have so much to say?

[Server] Marachip: Seven Guild got completely wrecked by Normal People.

Additionally, Lucky was mocked by many people every time he used the server megaphone, so he quickly disappeared without a trace. In the midst of the intoxicating feeling of victory, Jimni came out with an unexpected suggestion.

[Guild] Jimni: Everyone!

[Guild] Jimni: I’m organizing a guild meetup to celebrate our victory!

[Guild] Tiramisush: Kyaak! >ㅅ< Great!

[Guild] Tiramisush: Everyone come!

A guild meetup? Cheong-hyeon just blinked at the unexpected announcement.

[Guild] Hyutzzi: Can’t we just meet in the guild room?

[Guild] Tiramisush: No!

[Guild] Jimni: No way, we need to gather and share our joy together!

Though he had become close with them quickly given the time spent together and was curious about what kind of people they were, Cheong-hyeon had never considered an offline meetup and agreed with Hyutzzi’s opinion. The guild members were already online all day whenever they opened the game. He wondered if they really needed to meet in person when they were already sick of seeing each other in the online world.

[Guild] Ittorang: I’ll pass. I won’t have time that day.

[Guild] Tiramisush: Why?!!!!!!!!

[Guild] Jimni: We haven’t even set a date yet.

[Guild] Heekkom: I think I can’t go either ㅎㅎ..

[Guild] Hyutzzi: I’ll pass too.

[Guild] Tiramisush : So mean!

[Guild] Jimni: We’re going to eat beef…

[Guild] Hyutzzi: I’m in.

[Guild] Jimni: And!

[Guild] Jimni: A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

[Guild] Jimni: Seohee1 will cover all expenses!

[Guild] Seohee1: ?

[Guild] Ittorang: I’m in.

[Guild] Tiramisush: Kyak!

Cheong-hyeon changed his mind about not going. No matter what was suggested, Seo Hee-won would always respond with a “hmph.” So prickly, with such a bad temper…He was determined to attend the meetup just to see what kind of person Seo Hee-won really was.

Besides, being able to feast on meat at Seo Hee-won’s expense was an opportunity not to be missed. It would likely cost quite a bit, but recalling how Seo Hee-won spent money, he figured he must have enough financial resources.

But…he wouldn’t just pay without showing up, would he?

Given Seo Hee-won’s usual personality, this was quite possible. Trying to politely ask him to come would just result in another “hmph” and dismissal…Thinking hard, Cheong-hyeon used the know-how he had gained from clashing with Seo Hee-won to cast bait that he absolutely couldn’t ignore.

[Guild] Ittorang: But…

[Guild] Ittorang: Is it okay for Seohee1 to come to the meetup?

[Guild] Ittorang: Didn’t you catfish or something?

[Guild] Tiramisush: lol lol lol

Whenever Cheong-hyeon provoked Seo Hee-won this way, Tiramisush’s reaction was especially enthusiastic—so much so that when on voice chat, he would be out of breath. Encouraged by this strong support, Cheong-hyeon continued to gently dangle the bait.

[Guild] Seohee1: Do you really want to piss me off again?

[Guild] Ittorang: I’m just worried about you.

[Guild] Ittorang: Since you don’t want people to find out you’re a man

[Guild] Ittorang: It’s okay if you don’t want to push yourself to come^^

[Guild] Seohee1: I’m definitely coming, so you better show up on meetup day^^

[Guild] Seohee1: Just try not showing up.

[Guild] Seohee1: I’ll come find you.

[Guild] Seohee1: I really want to see your face once^^

[Guild] Ittorang: Sure haha definitely see you there.

Cheong-hyeon grinned mischievously as he watched Seo Hee-won grinding his teeth in anger. He wondered if that temperament would remain the same when they met in person.

Having never been looked down upon for his height or appearance wherever he went, no one had ever openly acted hostile toward Cheong-hyeon to his face, even if they might call him a “parasite brother” behind his back. It was a childish thought, but this seemed like a good opportunity to completely crush Seo Hee-won’s spirit. If he was exactly the same as his in-game persona, that would be entertaining too.

[Guild] Capybara: Can I come too??????

[Guild] Jimni: Of course! Can you come by yourself?

[Guild] Capybara: Yes!! I’m good at finding my way!

[Guild] Marachip: Heekkom unni…are you really not coming? ㅠ,ㅠ

[Guild] Heekkom: Hmm…do you want to go, Mara?

[Guild] Marachip: Yes ㅠ,ㅠ Can’t you come with me?

[Guild] Heekkom: Hahaha

[Guild] Heekkom: Okay, let’s go together.

With the two students and Heekkom attending, all eight initial members of the guild had expressed their intention to participate, making the 1st Normal People Guild Meetup quite a grand affair.

Seo Hee-won had sworn he’d never attend something like a guild meetup. Winning Holy War was nothing special to him—it had been the norm since his time in Seven guild, so it wasn’t something new that warranted gathering to celebrate.

The same was true for Yoo Jimin, but he had grown fond of the new guild members and decided to organize a meetup. Of course, compared to his previous guildmates, Seo Hee-won also preferred these people he had personally selected and brought in.

However, this was strictly about boss raids and Holy War, he didn’t feel personal closeness beyond that. If there were no issues, he’d maintain this party, but if he found someone more skilled than the current members, he planned to form a new party. That was the extent of his feelings on the matter.

With just one exception: Ittorang. Ittorang, who occasionally, no, frequently, got under Seo Hee-won’s skin, never showed any signs of being intimidated. Even when Seo Hee-won withheld healing and played tug-of-war with his life, even when Ittorang left the party only to crawl back on his own, even when Seo Hee-won beat him up under the pretext of PvP practice, it was only temporary. Most people would be unable to make a peep in front of Seo Hee-won after such treatment, but Ittorang always acted as if he’d never been subdued, constantly making snarky remarks.

Unfortunately, it was unlikely there would be a better melee DPS than Ittorang. Even if there were, Ittorang couldn’t leave Seo Hee-won’s party.

Every piece of equipment Ittorang wore from head to toe had passed through Seo Hee-won’s eyes and hands. It was Seo Hee-won who had polished and refined Ittorang, who had been constrained by the Dark Assassin class and unable to fully demonstrate his PvP skills, into the main contributor to their Holy War victory.

The current Ittorang was too valuable to expel from the party. Seo Hee-won had no intention of letting Ittorang go until he quit the game himself, and for that, he needed to occasionally put Ittorang, who was always eager to get the better of Seo Hee-won, in his place.

It wasn’t difficult. All he needed to do was look down on Ittorang when they first met, greet him, and mock him, that would be the end of it. Standing at 189 cm with a naturally large frame, Seo Hee-won often created an intimidating presence just by standing next to other men. The typical pattern was that once he praised a subdued opponent a few times, they would continue to wag their tail seeking Seo Hee-won’s approval.

Ittorang, who seemed to have nothing better to do than gaming, had recently evolved into a nag who couldn’t speak without referring to himself as “hyung” (big brother). Seo Hee-won had no idea what kind of person he was, but he was certainly not normal.

With a smirk and a wicked smile, Seo Hee-won counted down the days until the meetup. After this meetup, Ittorang would be reborn as an obedient and well-behaved melee DPS.

A week later, on the day of the guild meetup, Seo Hee-won waited in his car in front of the villa where Jimin lived. Seo Hee-won and Jimni’s parents knew each other through their businesses, so they had occasionally seen each other since childhood, though they were never close. They became closer when they coincidentally attended the same high school and Jimin approached Seo Hee-won first.

It was also Jimni who started playing Biz of God first and kept telling Seo Hee-won how fun it was, which led Seo Hee-won to start playing. Their innate competitiveness, the desire to not lose to each other and to become stronger than the other, had led them to immerse themselves in the game, continuing until now. Seo Hee-won checked the time on his phone. It was 11:57 a.m., and he planned to leave without Biz of God if he didn’t come out by the agreed time of 12:00.

“Seo Hee-won, hi?”

Thirty seconds before noon, the passenger door swung open. Wrapped in a long padded jacket with brightly bleached hair tied up in a high ponytail, Jimni appeared. About to get into the car, Jimni froze upon seeing Seo Hee-won.

“…What’s going on?”