HFS 45

45

“Oppa, do you have any more potato chips?”

“I ate them all. But there’s popcorn.”

“Perfect.”

The guild members, who had started to get up from the sofa, thinking there was nothing more to see, sat back down in their seats.

“This isn’t right? You criticized me so much for changing equipment briefly during practice.”

“What are you talking about? Break time is almost over. Let’s get ready for the boss.”

“Is that what’s important right now? Just be honest with me. This is about our trust.”

“About what?”

Seo Hee-won kept avoiding eye contact and trying to change the subject. His suspicion was turning into certainty right then and there. Lee Cheong-hyeon called Seo Hee-won’s name, his expression turning serious. His interrogating manner looked just like someone about to confront a cheating partner.

“Seo Hee-won. While doing dungeons with me, have you ever switched weapons?”

“…I never did that.”

“So you have…”

The pause before his answer was long. If Seo Hee-won were truly innocent, he wouldn’t hesitate and answer as if feeling guilty. Lee Cheong-hyeon covered his mouth with both hands. It was hard to accept the fact that Seo Hee-won had been doing such things behind his back.

“So he secretly switched weapons and happily dealt damage while giving Cheong-hyeon oppa a hard time?”

“That’s really conscienceless.”

“Yeah, conscienceless.”

“So conscienceless.”

Lee Cheong-hyeon was rendered speechless with shock and betrayal. Seo Hee-won brushed his hair up in embarrassment and called out to Lee Cheong-hyeon with a regretful voice.

“Hyung…”

“Was I not enough alone?”

“That’s not it…”

“What part of me was lacking?”

“It’s not like that, I’m telling you. And are you really in a position to criticize me for changing equipment? You secretly changed your equipment today too.”

There was a sigh from behind.

“Ah…now that’s asking for a fight.”

“Exactly. He should have just apologized sincerely. Idiot.”

“When trust is already broken, talking like that honestly makes you think about breaking up.”

“Yeah, just break up already! Stop playing as if there’s only the two of you all the time!”

He couldn’t hear what they were saying behind him. Seeing Seo Hee-won’s shameless attitude made his teeth chatter with betrayal. There was a world of difference between changing equipment briefly during practice and secretly switching items during actual dungeon runs.

“At least I never changed equipment during actual runs! Because I trusted you!”

“Wait a minute, hyung.”

As he stood up in anger, Seo Hee-won quickly grabbed his arm. Even though he wanted to shake him off, Seo Hee-won wouldn’t let go easily.

“Let’s talk later. I can’t bear to look at your face right now.”

“It was just once. In a low-level dungeon, where healing isn’t really needed.”

“Making excuses now doesn’t…”

“It won’t happen again.”

“I don’t know how to trust you anymore.”

“Hyung, please…can’t you trust me just this once?”

“…Then, can you sell that weapon?”

“…What?”

“Well, you go everywhere with me for dungeons and hunting, so you won’t need it in the future anyway.”

In reality, today was the first time Lee Cheong-hyeon had taken out his old equipment since being with Seo Hee-won. Likewise, Seo Hee-won had no need for damage-dealing weapons unless there was an incompetent damage dealer. The problem was that he preferred dealing damage as a healer. Seo Hee-won started to think with a serious expression. After a tense silence, Seo Hee-won opened his mouth with a determined face.

“Fine, I’ll sell it.”

“Really?”

“But you also have to sell all the equipment you used before meeting me.”

“…”

“By the same logic, you don’t need that equipment anymore either.”

“…”

“What? Can’t sell them?”

Lee Cheong-hyeon held up his palm, signaling he needed time to think things over. An invisible tension flowed between them once again.

“Wow, things are really heading in this direction.”

“Isn’t it a shame to sell them?”

“They’re both just taking losses…”

“I should buy Cheong-hyeon oppa’s necklace.”

These pieces of equipment that Lee Cheong-hyeon cherished but never used were items that had been lifelines during the days when he played the game without Seo Hee-won. Although he hadn’t used them since meeting Seo Hee-won, they were treasured items, and being asked to sell them felt like selling his soul. He was especially attached to the equipment he had crafted himself.

If he sold them, he would never find them again, and he glanced at Seo Hee-won, worried about what he would do if he needed them later. He wore an expression that said, “See? You can’t sell them either, can you?” Looking at that triumphant face that was almost obnoxious, he knew he had to make up his mind in a surge of emotion. He couldn’t back down here.

“Fine, I’ll sell them! Why couldn’t I sell them?”

“…Really?”

“Yes!”

Lee Cheong-hyeon, who shouted confidently, immediately searched the auction house to check the market prices of the items. Comparing prices here and there, he even kindly set the price for Seo Hee-won’s weapon.

Please…say you can’t sell it!

He hadn’t wanted things to escalate this far. If Seo Hee-won said he couldn’t do it, they could just let it go as if nothing had happened. Contrary to Lee Cheong-hyeon’s desperate hope, Seo Hee-won entered the auction house, selected the item to sell, and even entered the price. It would really be over if he just pressed register. At this point, Seo Hee-won couldn’t back down either.

“What are you doing? You list yours too.”

“Huh? …Oh.”

A game of chicken ensued between two people bundled with pride. Lee Cheong-hyeon entered the sales tab with trembling hands. As he entered the price for the necklace, Ji-min quickly ran to his seat, sat down, and entered the auction house. The sound of frantically pressing refresh could be heard. It seemed like there was also a voice asking if he could list it a bit cheaper.

“Are you really selling it?”

“Yes. I’m really selling it.”

“Mine will sell as soon as I list it. Can you see Ji-min?”

“Same for me. There’s no better staff than this on our server.”

“…”

“…”

He slowly moved the cursor over the register button. It was a critical moment.

“You’re selling such a good weapon on the first day a new boss has been released? Don’t you need to keep up with other parties?”

Taeyoung, who couldn’t watch anymore, stepped in to mediate the situation. After being so tense, the sudden voice from behind startled them. He almost pressed the button. 

Lee Cheong-hyeon immediately took his hand off the mouse and clutched his heart. He cleared his throat once and pretended nothing had happened. Ji-min expressed disappointment, asking why the interruption.

“Ahem, ahem. That’s a fair point.”

“It would be a loss for the guild if another party buys it.”

“It’s not like I don’t want to sell it…”

“It’s not like I can’t sell it because I cherish it…”

“…”

“…”

“Then…let’s not sell them, I’ll give you mine. Let’s exchange and keep each other’s.”

Lee Cheong-hyeon thought for a moment and suggested an alternative. This way, they wouldn’t have to doubt each other, and if they needed the items again later, they could get them back. Seo Hee-won seemed to think it was a good proposal, nodding in agreement. With this dramatic compromise, Seo Hee-won’s weapon found a place in Lee Cheong-hyeon’s inventory, and Lee Cheong-hyeon’s accessories settled in a corner of Seo Hee-won’s inventory.

“You can’t sell my accessories.”

“Yes. And you can’t sell my weapon either, hyung.”

“Mmm. We still have some break time left, what do you want to do? I’m going to go fishing.”

“Let me join you.”

“You’re just going to torment me instead of fishing, aren’t you?”

“I’ll really fish this time.”

“Then let’s go somewhere with fewer people. It’s distracting.”

“Okay.”

“Did you see the collaboration event? The one where you can get a turtle mount while fishing?”

“Yes. But riding it slows you down, doesn’t it?”

“The pirate turtle is supposed to be fast. I’m going for the pirate turtle.”

The two began fishing together amicably, chatting as if they had never fought. Taeyoung stood up from the sofa with a disgruntled expression on his face.

“I did the right thing by stopping them, right? Why do I feel so bad…”

“You shouldn’t get involved in couples’ fights.”

Hyo-jeong patted Taeyoung’s shoulder to comfort him.

* * *

On one side of the living room, there was a glass door connecting to the terrace. Opening the door wide, a blast of cold air rushed in.

The spacious area was surrounded by a tent to block the cold wind, and even equipped with electric heaters, making it possible to enjoy a barbecue despite the cold weather.

Lee Cheong-hyeon approached Hyo-jeong, who was alone filling the grill with charcoal in front of the centrally placed barbecue grill.

“I’ll do it. Weren’t you with Woo-jin just now?”

“Ah, thanks. He was setting the table but went inside saying it was too cold out here.”

“That’s crazy. Should I go get him?”

“Haha. No, Taeyoung already went to fetch him.”

Giggling, she used a torch to light the fire starter. The flames quickly began to rise, turning the charcoal red-hot.

He placed the grill rack on top of the hot grill that was radiating heat and put the pork belly that Hyo-jeong had brought.

“By the way, I don’t see Hee-won.”

“Seo Hee-won? Why? Should I call him?”

“No, no, it’s just that you and Hee-won were always together. I was wondering why you’re apart now.”

“Were we that inseparable…?”

“Hee-won has been following you around all day today. You two seemed to have gotten very close.”