Vows on the Healing Server's Final Day

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pry open the chest on the last day of the healing server. Surprisingly, there's nothing inside. I'd blown it all on reinforcements to boost the memories. I'd totally forgotten about that.

"Ah, right. I dumped everything into reinforcements..."

I mutter without thinking.

"I'm not dead. I just blew it all on reinforcements."

They just killed me off out of nowhere. I'm alive and kicking right here.

The chat's going off about stuff I have no clue about. When did this supposedly happen? Gotta be a joke, right? Time to put those two weeks of lessons to use. Yeah, definitely a prank. But why pull a stunt like this? Hmm... what should I do? I scratch my head. No idea how to play along.

The viewers probably want some specific reaction from me. I got nothing.

"I dunno..."

Lately, I've picked up this weird habit. Stuff I could just think to myself, I blurt out loud anyway. Same thing here—I should've just thought I dunno and moved on, but I whispered it out loud without realizing.

"Ah, no, it's nothing. Nothing at all."

It wasn't even what I meant to say, so it was extra embarrassing. I wave my hands frantically.

"Ah, let's move on. Anyway, what should we do next? Any theme parks or famous spots around?"

The streamers who hadn't shown their faces all lunch start trickling in as evening hits.

I tap the tab, and there's Moteok-nim. I wanna invite her right now, but it'd be rude without some hook. Gotta make a connection somehow.

How should I go about it? The mission payout's pretty big—I really need that cash. Should I just shamelessly ask?

I have talked to Moteok-nim before... Nah, snap out of it. You wanna get called out for acting too buddy-buddy again? But I don't wanna miss out on that payout either. I groan, agonizing over it.

"Everyone... um..."

I hover my mouse cursor over the mission payout. Viewers are sharp as ever.

Chat's giving me exactly what I want. I ask shyly.

"How should I ask her?"

"Nah, should I just try? Challenge accepted?"

I type the slash for whisper, but then shocking donations hit back-to-back.

What? Is this for real? Huh?

"Ah, ah, no way... for real? It's a lie, right...? If it's true, we need a plan. Plan time. First, sell out MianhadaSeonaya-nim. I'm innocent. Totally innocent. Uh. And. Uh."

Panicking and strategizing when—

"Huh? It's Seon-ah-nim. Seon-ah-nim? Gone AFK?"

Moteok-nim's voice rings out. I frantically unmute.

"Uh. Hi!"

"Hi hi~."

"Um... Moteok-nim... you're... mad...?"

I swallow hard and ask. Gotta clear up any misunderstanding. It has to be one. Clear it fast.

"What? Mad about what?"

"Uh... they said... you're mad..."

"Me? Why?"

Huh? The person who's supposedly mad is this chill?

I learn the truth.

"..."

It was a lie? My face burns up. I'm such an idiot for believing it. The liar's at fault, not the believer. I thought it was real! But more than the hurt from the prank, relief hits first.

"Ah, no, it was nothing. For real! But are you busy, Moteok-nim?"

"Huh? Not busy at all. Why?"

"Come play at my place!"

"Huh...? Ah! Ahahahaha. Got it. When? Right now?"

"Yep!"

I guide her right away. But Moteok-nim knows the way better than me.

"This way. This way."

"Ah, right. Forgot!"

"Uhuhuhu~. Yeah~ forgot. Forgot. That way's wrong, this way's faster."

"Ah, right. Right."

Moteok-nim knows it better than me. But I know it too. Just a brain fart. Can't look like I don't know my own place, might cause a misunderstanding.

"I really do know."

"Yeees~ Of course you do. Sure thing. Sure thing."

Moteok-nim believes me. I follow her to the bridge. As soon as we arrive, she says:

"Not hard, right? You can come alone easy next time?"

Absurd. It's my house—of course I know. Just got confused for a sec. I'm so flabbergasted I can't speak properly.

"Shall we go?"

"Yeeah..."

I follow without a word. Even if I insist on my facts, big corp takes priority.

"Here it is."

"Yeees~ Right, this is Seon-ah-nim's place."

"As soon as you get here... I'll explain."

"Oh, explanations too? Lease or monthly rent?"

"Huh...? No, it's my house. I live here."

"Eh? I came to view the place... too bad. Take care."

Huh? Wait, I get it. This is roleplay. I've done it before. Bad memory I wanna forget, but it hits me. I screwed up so bad the vibe died, barely got into that group after. Then drifted away.

Felt left out 'cause they weren't acknowledging me, mustered courage to ask, got told not to kill the mood every roleplay, tone it down, stop pretending to know me. That memory floods back. What do I do? I'm bad at roleplay.

Can't upset them, can't kill the vibe. Hard enough to do one, let alone both. Back then I'd have bombed, but now's different. I glance at chat.

All bad advice, zero help. What now? What to do?

"Guess I'll head out then. Take care."

"Uh... wait... come see it eeng...!"

"Hahahahahahaha. No fair, that's cheating."

Wha? Huh? Didn't know I could make that voice. Came out in panic without thinking.

"Okay, I'll take a look eeeeeeng~."

Moteok-nim mimics me. Her playful tone makes my face burn. But I dodged the roleplay bullet—phew.

After that, I introduce the cabin. Get carried away spilling TMI. Snap out of it—thirty minutes gone in a flash.

I scratch my head.

"Any questions?"

"You already told me everything... ahahahaha. Learned a ton. Felt your home philosophy. Great stuff. Wanna ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠take a commemorative pic?"

"Yes! Awesome."

I grin ear to ear. Even my shallow knowledge had philosophy to her. Glad she saw it that way! We snap a pic with the cabin backdrop. Good call asking. Feeling great. Hehe.

The server's winding down. Growing more attached to the roads and cabin as time passes.

Everyone else at the concert, but I'm pacing roads. Never been into music anyway, no interest.

"Yeah... gotta fix the rough spots..."

"Ah, should I?"

I summon the angel I hadn't touched once. Hop on and fly up. Looking down from above—even I made something this good. Proud of my hard work's results.

Admiring my city when a server-wide announcement pops.

Can't be late 'cause of me, so I use a recall scroll to the village. It's packed. My ears catch tons of "concert was fun," "great time," "awesome," etc.

"Group photo soon—everyone stand by."

I climb a block in the far corner.

"Thanks for all your hard work. As announced, server shuts down at 3 AM, in 30 minutes. Feel free to roam. Great job everyone. Thanks."

Applause, photo done.

I head back to my cabin. Craft a wooden chair by the garden plot and sit.

"It's over... Thanks for watching everyone. *bow*."

Planned to wrap from the chair, but...

"There you are, Seon-ah-nim. Seon-ah-nim."

Himaru-nim comes to the cabin. I jump up to greet her.

"H-hi!"

"Gotta take a commemorative pic."

Inviting me was touching enough, but a photo too... I'm genuinely moved. Nearly burst into tears, barely hold it back.

"Th-tha... thanks."

But my quivering voice slips out. This is the happiest moment ever. Is this big corp ASMR? She remembered me!!

From today, I worship Himaru-nim forever. Lifelong benefactor. I'd go through fire with her!! For real!! We snap the pic, and my grand Mark server officially ends. Totally different feel from my Hakko days—feels like real growth. Anyway, sweet dreams tonight.