Confucian Girl (1)
It's been over a week already. Checking my schedule, D-Day 7 until the collab. But there's a problem. I've killed too many zombies, and now I'm sick of it... Honestly, it's gotten boring. That's proof I've been streaming hard, though.
"Still... so many left..."
I've been grinding hard, which is great. But I just wanna clear them out fast. Too many, and it's boring. Hmm... hmm... Still, it's free gains, so that's nice. But that's it. I need to switch games to clear my head, but it's the same thing every day. Today I'll do something else... What else? I got nothing planned?! Oh no... No backup plan!?
No choice. Guess I'll kill zombies again today. But it's no fun. What to do? After some agonizing, I head to the cafe.
The cafe's already buzzing with Jjang Alexandria Library scholars deep in research. They observe mod compatibility, study it... Form their own parties, dive into the zombie world for optimal service. Then they write up quality research reports. I don't read them much. Honestly, I don't get what they're saying. Anyway, Editor-nim and the angels handle the cross-verification. So I never paid much attention, but there were way more posts than I thought.
Curiosity piqued, I start clicking through them one by one.
Posts on ideal zombie respawn rates and boss respawn probabilities... Scholars pulling my play videos, Maru-nim's, Moteok-nim's, Raming-nim's combat footage to argue what's balanced. Mods that work great and are fun, recommendations from one scholar, countered by another old-timer. Epic threads of long comments flying back and forth in heated debates—I have no clue. Pass. Next...
Ooh, this one's good! Character customization. Pretty sister customizations mod. I like it, so I hit the heart. Shoulda checked comments first. Editor-nim already officialed it's incompatible. Bummer.
Spent over an hour like that—it's impressive. Gotta respect the scholars' passion. Their dedication makes the content richer. Total respect... but it makes me ashamed too. I've been ignoring their fire, just whining: Bored. No fun. Don't wanna... I wanna crawl into a rat hole.
Clap clap
I clap at the monitor. Respect for them, and to wash away my shameful past. But clapping alone feels lacking, so I post an announcement in the cafe too.
"Hello, it's Sena. I'm moved by your passion. Thank you for contributing so fervently to the game. So! I'll kill zombies today too. Thanks everyone. Stay happy... and healthy."
AI helped write the announcement.
"Phew... nailed it."
Masterpiece.
Stream goes live, and chat explodes.
"No... this is unfair."
Super unfair. I declared I'd kill zombies, moved by the angels' passion. But they scold me right away. I wasn't even that into it!
"I said I'd do it 'cause you guys post so hard in the cafe..."
Way too harsh. This is how grudges form.
"Look at this passion. This tenacity. How can I ignore it? Check this out."
Compared to free board posts, Jjang Alexandria Library has way more. Free board today: 25 posts. Jjang Alexandria: 31... You think I'm wrong after seeing that? Say it!
"Right? See? Check the counts... Free board: 'Miss Sena', 'Sena when you coming', 'Ate yummy lunch today'—that kinda stuff, 25 posts. Meanwhile... 'Crashes on compatibility? Try this', 'Difficulty's tougher than expected. Considering member levels...' See?"
"Can't argue, huh? You all see the scholars' passion, right? Yeah? I'm right?"
The haters shut up. Victory feels sweet.
"Always hating but now speechless~?! Nothing to say~?! Uhuhu. I win~!"
"Yasss! I win. Nothing to say? My victory, right? Uhuhu. Yasss!"
Finally won. Made the haters kneel.
"Euhahahaha!"
I wanna dance even though I can't. Shoulders shaking. Oh, oh! Almost forgot greetings in the hype!
"Hey everyone... Hi. Forgot to greet. Hiii~!"
...Three hours of chat later, game time. But now I don't wanna kill zombies. Burned out. Hand won't click start. Don't wanna. Nooo.
"Hmm..."
"Huh? Hi Moteok-nim."
"Discord?"
I open Discord. Yup, message from Moteok-nim. Let's see... Wanna game together... FPS game!... I suck at FPS.
"I... I can't do this."
"Aha... But can I play? Order me kimchi jjigae! I really suck!"
Sucking in collabs gets you flamed. Pre-apologize, less hate. If they let you in anyway, grateful. If not, sad but fair.
Huh? Friend?! I'm a friend? For real? I'm really her friend?
"Am I really, really your friend? Real friend? That 'gungu'?"
Real? Real? How old is Moteok? Friends with me? Gotta know! Friends same age. You know?
"Then... can I call you Moteok? My friend?"
"Moteok-ah..."
Suddenly it hits me. Friends gotta be same age.
"How old? Can't be friends if ages differ... yo."
Even Moteok-nim... To be friends, same age required. Different age? No friends. Older? Unnie or hyung. Younger? Dongsaeng. That's Korea. Live in Korea, follow Korean rules.
"No... don't cry... How old? Can't be friends without same age. Remember that."
Sadly, couldn't be friends with Moteok-nim. She's older than me. Full 24. I didn't ask, but lots knew already. So no friend status. Hope she calls me dongsaeng Sena~ later, making us unnie-dongsaeng.
Anyway. Members: Moteok-nim, Raming-nim, me. FPS for top rank challenge. Trio decided! Moteok-nim and Raming-nim collabed with members today, but others left, just them. Found me while looking for players, they explain.
"Raming-ah, gotta wait a bit. Jjang-nim downloading."
"Ah... Take your time."
"Aaa!!! What? Chicken mission. Eat chicken, 100k per private room."
"Ooh! Wow!"
Clapping sounds. Chicken means first place. First wins donations, right?
"Ah... ha!"
"Jjang-nim, what's the 'aha'?"
"Why? Problem?"
"Nothing."
Brief silence... Almost lost it, but Raming-nim fills audio quick.
"Wait, why Jjang-nim? Why call Jjang-nim?"
"You don't know Jjang-hyung? Most famous guy around."
"...Oh, yeah? Got it."
"Ah! Right, you're '01 born, right?"
"Yup."
"Be friends with Jjang-hyung. I can't."
Shocking story. Thought Raming-nim older than Moteok-nim. Nope, opposite. Raming younger, Moteok older. But why banmal? Dongsaeng banmal to unnie? Not cool. In Korea, Confucian land, bad manners.
"Sena-nim. Really '01 born?"
"Yes...! Yup."
"Ooh. Friends then?"
"For real?"
"Yeah. Real friends."
"Raming-ah. Real friends ok? How old? We real friends? Banmal ok? Friends? I'm '01!"
"Of course. Me too~"
"Wow! Friends then. As friends, one thing: Raming-ah."
Now friends with Raming! Gotta tell her straight as friend.
"Huh...? Huh?"
"But why banmal to Moteok-nim? Unnie banmal means scolding, know?"
"Huh...? Sudden?"
"Hahahahha. Right. Jjang-hyung did good to sky-like unnie!"
"Yup! Polite to unnie. Know Confucianism? Respect unnie. Let's do it! I'll help!"
Friends, so I'll help! Easy! No worries!