Deep Sea Dwellers Are Happy Just Seeing Each Other's Faces (2)
I made it back home.
The moment I shut the front door and stepped inside, I collapsed right there.
"I... I did it...!"
My body trembled as I raised my fist. With this cotton swab of a punch... no, this fist of mine, I'd ambushed and beaten that muscle-bound beast Dandan Mukjik.
"F-First strike wins, as always!"
Old truth: fights aren't about weight classes. It's all about who hits the vitals first. My body might be tiny now, but a surprise attack to the weak spots got me the win.
"I... I'm not dead yet!"
I jumped up and threw punches at the air. Shadowboxing. And don't forget the sound effects—that's key.
"Shoo, shwish!"
After bouncing around like an idiot, hyping myself up for a good while, my eyes suddenly met my reflection in the mirror.
"... "
A blonde foreign girl with short arms flailing punches at nothing. Her cheeks flushed red from victory—super striking.
"...Wait. What the hell do I do now?"
I'd won the real-life duel. My online life should be safe from now on, too.
But the rest of my life?
I frantically dug through my pockets and pulled out my wallet. Flipping it open, there was my resident ID in its usual spot. The problem? The details were anything but.
Yuaran
Thank god, still my name. No weird body-swap accident or anything. Plus, the birthdate prefix matched my old one perfectly. The kicker? It started with a 2 now. Meaning: female.
"Name's the same, but why the ID number...?"
What a mess. At least I'm not some illegal immigrant named Anastasia or whatever—that'd be a nightmare to even start fixing.
Who the hell do I even tell about this?
Freaky shit. Call the cops or 119? Yeah, right—they'd ship me straight to the psych ward. Haven't escaped the Simhae yet; can't get locked up now.
No cops or emergency lines. Calm down first.
It's not like I have zero people to talk to. Even with my trash social life, there's one person I can spill to.
Click.
I booted up the PC and logged straight into Asgard. Friend list: yep, Simhae Cheongsobu was there. Closest thing to a confidant.
24/7 online. Fellow emsaeng on my level. That's Simhae Cheongsobu. Though with the PC always on, no guarantee they're actually at the desk.
They must've checked my record quick. Yeah, 5 losses in a row.
Normally I'd be like, "Tool bitch, queue up now!" But no headspace for the usual troll act.
My crumbling social circle brought tears to my eyes. Only reliable contact is this pitiful soul.
Chat went silent. Typing indicator spinning—they're writing and deleting nonstop.
Please believe me.
You're my only shot. But nope.
Chat flooded with lol's.
Checked the full-body mirror by the shoe rack. Yep, long blonde hair swaying on a little girl. Sat back down.
Right?
Even I think so.
If the roles were reversed, I'd react the same.
I invited Simhae Cheongsobu to a game.
*
Whatever, emsaeng life. Girl, dinosaur—doesn't matter.
Escape Simhae first, life later.
My life's goal: bust out of the Simhae. Iron 5 hell now, but Challenger someday. Even if it kills me.
Simhae Cheongsobu has joined the party.
Party filled. Simhae Cheongsobu popped in the lobby—chat exploded.
Hit match start. 10-min queue. I flexed my tiny hands, getting the feel.
Hands too small.
Adult male mouse—awkward as fuck now.
It's fine. I got this.
True pros don't blame gear. Adjusted chair, fixed posture.
Pick screen opened.
Accept—picks revealed. Chat went nuts, as expected.
Lost first game already. That mid's a notorious troll even in Simhae. Hates the jungler? Grabs Swiftness + Ghost and dives enemy mid.
We're infamous too. No slouch compared to that mid.
Simhae rules. Threats mean jack to these abyss dwellers who've lost a million games. Just a hello.
Mid locked champ, ready. Game on.
"No dodge, huh."
After my keyboard rant, spotted a familiar name late.
No... why...?
Why here?
I get Simhae matchmaking the same trash 0.0001% pool every time—Mariana Trench of players. But today? Tomorrow would've been fine...?
But that troll mid typed again.
"Huh."
A tiny voice slipped out.
Agal. Asgard Gallery shorthand. Someone from that game posted.
"Fuuuck..."
Head was spinning then.
Asgard's my lifeblood. Defended my rep IRL without thinking...
But my body's not normal anymore.
I waited for Dandan Mukjik's response. But Simhae beat him to it.
Best to bury it. He ate my ambush hard—won't blab if I play it off.
Win-win. Dandan Mukjik got the hint, stayed quiet.
"...Ah."
Mouse hand twitched. Waited anxiously for Dandan Mukjik's reply. Please no weird shit.
"Phew... safe."
Dandan Mukjik gifted you a Nickname Change Ticket.
But... random gift outta nowhere?