HFS 50

Lee Cheong-hyeon was dumbfounded at being asked to leave. He looked at Seo Hee-won in disbelief, but the other man simply kept his eyes fixed on his phone. When Lee Cheong-hyeon didn’t move, he just kept giving him a look as if asking why he hadn’t left yet.

“…Alright. Then, rest until check-out time.”

Lee Cheong-hyeon wanted to ask if this was really his room, but he just stepped outside and closed the door behind him. Seo Hee-won’s dismissive attitude hurt his feelings, but he could understand if he was tired.

After hastily eating and cleaning up the breakfast that Lee Cheong-hyeon had planned to skip, check-out time was fast approaching. Until then, Seo Hee-won remained shut in his room without showing his face. Kang Woo-jin and Yoo Jimin were frantically packing their belongings at the last minute.

“Has anyone seen my phone?”

“It’s in your hand.”

“Oh, I think I forgot to log out!”

“I checked the computer. Everyone logged out properly.”

“No matter how drunk you are, you can’t forget something as important as your account. Do you know how much this account is worth?”

After checking one last time to make sure nothing was left behind, they left the pension house. The morning air was colder than the previous night. They split up the same way they had arrived, some riding in Seo Hee-won’s car and others in Tae-young’s.

“Drive safely!”

“Let’s meet again soon.”

“Everyone’s going to log into Byogat when you get home, right?”

“Of course.”

“Then see you later, bye!”

While everyone was saying goodbye, Seo Hee-won went straight to his car alone. Lee Cheong-hyeon watched Seo Hee-won with his eyes while nudging Kang Woo-jin beside him.

“Doesn’t Seo Hee-won seem a bit strange today?”

“What do you mean?”

“Like, he’s cold and unpleasant.”

“He’s always like that.”

“Well, yeah, but…”

He wasn’t like that with me. Lee Cheong-hyeon ended his farewells with a casual wave and headed toward Seo Hee-won’s car. He tapped lightly on the driver’s window, and the heavily tinted window slid down. Seeing Seo Hee-won’s face, Lee Cheong-hyeon smiled mischievously.

“If you’re tired, should I drive?”

“No. Just get in the passenger seat.”

“Oh.”

Being rejected so quickly made things a bit awkward. What could he be so tired about, making things uncomfortable between them? Lee Cheong-hyeon glared at the driver’s seat and grumbled internally as he walked around to the passenger side. Hearing the trunk open, he moved to the back to put his bag in. He also put away the scarf he didn’t need to wear in the car, then climbed into the passenger seat.

“Hee-won.”

“…”

Now that he was completely ignoring him, Lee Cheong-hyeon was getting increasingly irritated by this inexplicable cold treatment.

“Seo Hee-won.”

“…”

“What?”

“If you have a problem, just say it. Don’t just sit there with your mouth shut like that.”

“Why don’t you keep your mouth shut instead of bothering someone who’s tired?”

“Are you going to keep talking like that?”

“You seem to have forgotten, but this is how I normally talk.”

Seo Hee-won sneered. An icy atmosphere instantly filled the car. Just before a fight could break out, the back door opened and Yoo Jimin got in. Lee Cheong-hyeon sighed and just looked out the window. He didn’t want to argue in front of Yoo Jimin.

The ride home after the short trip was markedly different from the journey there, filled with silence. Even the usually chatty Yoo Jimin seemed to sense the cold atmosphere and was unusually quiet today. Only the music they had turned on to hide the tense mood filled the space.

Lee Cheong-hyeon didn’t bother to attempt further conversation with Seo Hee-won. He felt frustrated, but sometimes when you don’t know why someone is angry, the best solution is to leave them alone until they cool off. Separately, he couldn’t hide his hurt feelings and disappointment. He knew very well how Seo Hee-won spoke to others, but when he became the target, it felt incredibly unpleasant. It seemed like only yesterday that Seo Hee-won was eagerly following him around, and this sudden change felt like betrayal.

Just yesterday, he had prided himself on occupying a special place in Seo Hee-won’s life, but seeing Seo Hee-won treat him like everyone else made him feel like he’d crashed to rock bottom overnight.

In the awkward atmosphere, they arrived in front of Lee Cheong-hyeon’s house. Seo Hee-won silently unlocked the passenger door.

“Thanks for the ride.”

“…”

“Bye, Jimni. See you next time.”

“Yes, get home safely, oppa!”

While Yoo Jimin waved goodbye cheerfully, Seo Hee-won just looked elsewhere without responding. Though his behavior was expected, Lee Cheong-hyeon’s frustration with Seo Hee-won reached its peak. He got out of the car without saying another word.

He slung his bag over his shoulder from the trunk and casually wrapped around his neck the scarf he didn’t want to carry. As Lee Cheong-hyeon was about to head home, he changed his mind and walked toward the driver’s side. No matter how he thought about it, not even saying goodbye was too much. When he knocked roughly on the window, Seo Hee-won lowered it just slightly, with only his eyes visible.

“Lower it completely.”

At this commanding tone, Seo Hee-won sighed audibly and lowered the window further. Through the fully lowered window, Lee Cheong-hyeon faced Seo Hee-won properly for what felt like the first time today. His face looked extremely tired, as if he hadn’t slept at all. Sunken eyes with reddened whites, and his usually fair skin looked particularly pale today. Lee Cheong-hyeon’s anger was immediately cut short.

“What is it?”

His voice cracked at the end. Seo Hee-won rubbed his face with one hand. The nape of his neck visible beneath the hand pressing against his temple was still bare. Seeing this man in such an unfamiliar state, Lee Cheong-hyeon’s heart softened. Wondering if Seo Hee-won was really unwell, regretting taking him on the walk yesterday, wishing he’d kept the scarf he’d intended to lend him, Lee Cheong-hyeon unwrapped the scarf he was wearing and impulsively put it around Seo Hee-won’s neck. Instead of insisting on a proper goodbye, different words came out of his mouth.

“You always dress too thinly.”

“…”

“You look really tired. Drive safely, rest well, and call me after.”

“The scarf…”

“Return it next time. We’ll see each other again anyway. Take care.”

Lee Cheong-hyeon waved one last time before entering the apartment building. As soon as he disappeared from view, Yoo Jimin popped his head forward from the back seat.

“What’s with him? Why is that hyung acting like that?”

While Yoo Jimin shook the driver’s seat, Seo Hee-won sat blankly, fiddling the scarf wrapped around his neck. The soft texture touched his cheek.

“This is frustrating…Is it my fault for misunderstanding this?”

His gloomy voice lingered in the car. Though he hadn’t confessed last night, it felt exactly like being rejected. He had thought he was special to the other, but the realization that it was just his imagination was hard to accept. Feeling incredibly hurt, he’d avoided him because he couldn’t stand to see his face, yet the other had lingered in front of him. Whether he knew or was pretending not to know, it was infuriating how he’d wrapped the scarf around him and left.

“Why doesn’t he like me…”

While being so kind. He knew Lee Cheong-hyeon had knocked on the window intending to get angry. For whatever reason his mind had changed, and he had surprisingly offered kindness instead of anger.

Seo Hee-won nuzzled his cheek against the soft scarf. It seemed to still retain Lee Cheong-hyeon’s body warmth. It was pathetic how easily he got his hopes up over such a small thing. Though his pride was in tatters, he never really intended to give up in the first place. The reason he’d acted coldly toward him all day was because he didn’t know how to face him. Seo Hee-won just needed one day to recover. He felt annoyed at Lee Cheong-hyeon for interfering with even that, but also…A new determination ignited in his heart.

Giving up in difficult moments wasn’t in Seo Hee-won’s nature. Securing a PVP ranker position as a healer and raising his guild to the number one ranking required that level of perseverance, effort, and an innate problem-solving ability to support it. For Seo Hee-won, crises were always meant to be overcome. Though he felt blocked by the overwhelming wall named Lee Cheong-hyeon, he believed he could overcome this too. With that thought, he slowly started the car. It was time to find a new approach.

* * *

Title: Artirens GG Review

Author: Marvel

Waited for maintenance to end on the first day and immediately started trying.

It was fun at first lol. The developer must be crazy because the raid suddenly became an attack game, but they designed the patterns in innovative ways.

Thought “This seems doable?” so I tried for over 12 hours except for meal times, but still couldn’t even reduce the first phase’s HP by half lol.

There are so many gimmicks it feels like an escape room, but without hints or anyone telling you the answers, you just have to keep smashing into it until you figure it out yourself.

I heard there are at least 3 phases, so how long is this supposed to take?

In the old days, I would have spent nights trying for days, but my party members and I have gotten too old for this…

We just decided to disband the party and gather again when Heojung’s guide comes out. GG.

Random people, don’t bother trying, just wait until the guides come out. The mental fatigue is insanely high.

All Comments:

Our party gave up too. FML. Thought we could clear it in a day or two.

Watching streamers, it does look difficult though. Good effort.

Title: Where do you think Artiren’s perfect clear will come from?

Author: Ichibam

Thought it would come from Noona’s party, but they’re suddenly looking for a new tank, so they’re done for.

All Comments:

Isn’t Noona’s party the one that got Sea King’s perfect clear? Why would they change tanks?

└Both their tanks are DPS mains so they can’t progress.

Meohyuk has to do it this time.

Either Noona or Heojung, they have top-tier information.

└Seriously, where does Heojung get his info? Should we investigate for corruption?

└└He does a lot of experiments himself and has loyal viewers who give him tips.

The Earth party fell behind Noona’s party in Sea King, but they were still the first Hamil clear.

Seohee1’s party

└Seohee1 is busy flirting with Ittorang.

└└Are they just putting on an act or are they really dating?

└└└There’s a photo of them blowing kisses online.