Queen Bee and Queen Ant (2)
"Looks like everyone's here... hold on. Mi, Minji. Got 'em all."
The party leader's voice is so bright and excited, you can practically feel it. That's gotta be my editor, right? Hmm. I stare holes into the chat window.
"Oh. Good good."
She's seriously smart—her speed is on another level. No sluggishness at all. Just papapapapapak. Tangtangtangtang. Shwoosh... done. What a pro. I'm so grateful she's my employee.
"As expected from the elite editor."
I'm genuinely impressed. Anyway, she got everyone... time to enjoy this as a woman. Yesterday I was all alpha male... wait, no, queen ant's different from alpha female. Alpha female sprays pheromones to seduce, like a fox if you wanna get technical. Fox. Real... real alpha females make you end up yipping like an idiot. But queen ant? She's the queen. The king. Emperor. Minister... that kinda thing. Say "sun!" and the worker ants go, "Yes!! Your Majesty! We'll work hard!"
"Alright, let's head out. Oh, really sorry. I'll grab one more quick. Tank, you new here?"
"Alt on another account."
Static crackles, then a male voice comes through.
"Aha. Got it. Minji, you here? I'll bring one more. One sec."
The tank's my editor, right? She said she was coming. Just to be sure, I ask.
"Editor? You're the tank?"
Tapatapadatak. Loud typing echoes. Looks like mic control's off.
"Not weird, but... keyboard tapadatapadatak is loud!"
The sound cuts off the second I finish. She takes feedback like a champ. Nice.
"Yep!"
We wait another five minutes or so. Finally, Worker Ant No. 2 crawls in. His voice is pure exhausted modern drone.
"Sorry. Hey everyone."
Doesn't sound sorry at all. If he really was, he'd be stumbling over words. Short tongue means no regrets. How do I know? I'm like that. When I'm in the wrong, I ramble excuses, defenses up full blast. When I'm confident? Short. Sharp. Dakdakdak. Try me. Say it. I'll listen. That's the vibe.
"Don't ghost next time. Stay on standby."
The party leader warns him kinda.
"Sure~ Got it."
Half-assed reply from Worker Ant No. 2. That's defying the queen bee. How dare he...!! Shouldn't the queen bee show up first and make us wait? Yeah? That's the real deal...!!
"No, you're way too late. Come early next time. Can't you see people waiting?"
Queen Bee snaps back curtly. That tone... takes me back to school. The sharp-tongued delinquent girl's face flashes in my mind.
"Sure~"
Still half-assed from Worker Ant No. 2. You sure you're a worker ant? Super suspicious. Hierarchies are strict here—no backtalk. Like the leader going "Mi... sorry. Sorry...!!" But this guy's what?
"Crazy? Late and acting all high and mighty."
"Me? When?"
This guy's in the wrong room. Mood's gone ice cold. Not what I wanted. I wanted queen bee commanding "go here" and everyone scrambling. What's this? Why the vibe?
"Hey, why you two fighting? Don't. Jimmy, you're late. Apologize to everyone. Minji, cool off. Won't happen again..."
Kya~ That's it. Good job, party leader! Yeah, this is what I wanted to see.
"Yeah. Sorry. Happy?"
"Wow, such a rude asshole."
Queen Bee's pissed to the max. Visible.
I check Anonymous's name. If I did it, it'd be different? Really curious. Pure curiosity.
"What's that mean? If I show it, it'll change? OniSena-nim. Spill."
"Ah, thanks OniSena-nim. No, wasn't like that—just pure curiosity. Thanks for the dona! But... if I did it, different? You didn't answer..."
Curiosity kills the cat—I couldn't sleep on it. No bad intent. For real. Super curious.
"Seriously just curious. Tell me."
"Aha!! That's it! But why dona? Coulda just chatted. Thanks!!!"
Such a sweet angel. Replying via dona even. Hehe. Good person. Love it!!
Anyway... "Yeah~ Sorry. Gonna whine forever? Wanna headbutt or what?"
Still fighting. Getting old... They'd flop if they streamed. No chill. Sigh.
"Everyone calm. Jimmy, enough. Embarrassing. Party's waiting. Sorry everyone. My bad. Jimmy complaints later. Let's start. Minji, cool off..."
"Haa... bro. Haa... fine. This once."
"Thanks really."
Party leader's so sweet. Endlessly gentle to queen bee. Real man. I couldn't. How do you always accommodate?
"You and the lady dating?"
Tank—er, editor—asks. Why now!! But curious too...!! Cool. Nice. Now I'm curious.
"No."
Queen Bee's curt. Hierarchy clear.
Party leader chuckles awkwardly, then: "Anyway... start? Oh, last one's not joining..."
Check: Last one's same guild. Editor chats, they say: 'Everyone knows anyway.' 'Here for homework.' 'Only party, so waited.' Impressive. Off we go into the dungeon.
I didn't know. Didn't see proper... Thought newbie welcome, not newbie party. Not heading pot. I die three times...
"Gear's good... why keep dying..."
Party leader doesn't point at 'me,' but it's me. Guk... nothing to say.
"Mage... that..."
No excuses. Sniff... sniff...
Whatever. Party leader's talking.
"Sorry..."
"But... Seonijjang-i-nim... lady? Kozza? Nick sounds girly... or not."
Tank cuts in. What? Sudden?
"O! Girl vibe? Real? But Seonijjang-i? Nick's kinda kozza? Mic on."
Jimmy chimes in.
"Girl changes what? Still sucks."
"You suck too. Don't front."
"Don't bullshit. I haven't died once."
"If Seonijjang-i didn't die, you would've."
Jimmy? Why so fiercely defending me? Feels... good. Super nice? Keep it up? What do... mic on?
"Seonijjang-i-nim mic broken?"
Jimmy's going hard for me. No choice? Could leave, but hate dishonorable exit for sucking.
"Chat's pure kozza power... let slide? Not only newbie."
Jimmy snorts.
"Me?"
"Guilty? Good."
"Wow, that rude fuck. Bro, who's that prick?"
Fighting again. Jimmy's solid. But unbeatable setup. Why? Cuz...
"Jimmy. Watch mouth. Don't talk shit to Minji. Not cuz you're two years ahead."
"Sure~ Sorry."
No remorse. Some backstory? Hard to hold grudge like that.
"Anyway Seonijjang-i-nim. Mic work?"
Party leader... why ask mic? Weird. Girl changes what? Real?
I swallow, turn in-game mic on.
"Ah... hi. Sorry... newbie so..."
Party leader's tone flips 180. Super sweet. Like to Minji.
"O...! Wow. Hi. Lady huh. Yeah, this is tough."
Party leader's weird af.
Whisper hits too.
Another long whisper.
I don't know that stuff... Why troll first meet? Scam first meet? Just wanted queen ant tour. Not this!
＊＊＊
Mood flips cuz me. Leader sweetens, Minji silent. Jimmy chats me up. Editor positives Jimmy. Same now. I died again. Bad spot. Normally sour. But.
"Happens."
"Agreed."
Jimmy and editor forgive in sync. This... feels good!!
"Sixth time?"
Someone hates. Minji. Can't hold back, speaks disgusted. But.
"Can suck sometimes. You suck too."
"Yeah. Tough spot. Healer dies, whatever."
What they doing? Feels good. I say nothing, ehehe. Tried hard this time. Mic on, state position.
"Sorry... tried hard... not working."
"Happens."
Editor shields. Love it. Best. No guilt dying now? Right?
"Haa... shameless."
Minji cold. Uh. Minji mad? Cuz me? No other reason? Hmm... yeah. Me.
"Sorry. One correction. Not shameless. Admit what I suck at. Did."
"Different for sure. Admits it."
Jimmy says. My sincerity shone. Fixed...!! Hit Minji too.
"Thanks. Chant? Break it this time! I count 3,2,1. All yell 'break it!!'"
Learned from Moteok. Mood down? Chant. Rally, grind hard...
"Wow. Legend. Party leader."
"Huh? Why?"
"No remorse."
"Ah... yeah..."
Leader mumbles. Minji tone rises, unhappy.
"Bro what? Sucked, right? You're leader?"
Women's hearts mystery. No clue why mad. But me, right?
"Mi... healer-nim. Why mad? Tell, I'll reflect."
"Haa. What? Wanna fight?"
Tough. Where'd I say fight? Angels. My frame control's pro. They'd miss it!
But I sucked, so bow.
"Can't fight. I 1st forfeit. Sorry."
Laughter somewhere. What's funny? Serious, laugh? Minji wants forgive but forced madder. Idiots! Augh, morons!
"Wow. What?"
"Me... mage."
"Haa. Don't get it? What you doing."
"DPS in dungeon... suck, keep dying."
Answered sincerely. I sucked.
"Easy target?"
"No... respect healers. Hate 'Hyeji this' crap. Healers got issues... heal me, miss others, trouble... always thankful."
Her heals saved potion cash...
"Saved tons potions. Thanks... try harder!"
Genuine thanks. But...
When? No idea. Frame or real? Who tell... Ah! Right.
"Healer-nim. This power struggle? No intent. If feels that... really not. No misunderstanding?"
Ask direct. Third parties useless. Real respect. Right? Felt it? Say so! Quick!
But... healer's reply shocks.
"Wow, total bitch."
Quiet, but heard... Next's wild.
"Fuck this. Bro kick her. Get another."
Why me... blacken? Cuss? I'm bad? Me respecting healers? Cuss me? Don't respect healers then. My fault. Got pride too? War now!
"Kick reflex!"
Merong.