The Dead (1)
Time passed, but there was no sign of PassingDwarf posting anything. I didn't even think he'd grabbed the booze and run. If he had, it'd be a permanent ban. Nah, he was probably chugging liquor with the snacks I gave him as a side dish. That had to be it.
'He won't die of liver failure or something, right?' It was mandrake adult-soaked booze, so maybe it'd make him healthier instead. I sighed and double-checked the gallery posts. No matter how hard I scrubbed my eyes and searched, nothing from PassingDwarf.
Fuck fuck fuck fuck, not the XGodTeam. Please disband already lololol. How the hell did the TailChasers become a powerhouse?
Instead, all sorts of bizarre posts were popping up. I even searched his name in case it got buried under the regen spam. What the hell was going on? I clicked into one random post.
XGodTeam SusanghalJeongdorok (roaring lion emblem) Disband. You idiots.
└lolololol
└What's the score right now?
└Just got grand-slammed, 7-0 lolol
└What a fucking retard team lololol
Hmm. I was starting to get the picture. Most of the other posts were sports-related—baseball, specifically. Looked like a game was happening somewhere right now. Sports usually had multiple games at once, so it wasn't weird for related posts to flood in.
???: Post it, you bastards. (gruff tiger beastkin photo) What did I say?
└Sorry for doubting you.
└Fuck, shoulda pulled him ages ago
└This asshole hoarding pitchers in his treasure chest pisses me off lolol
???: Your balls are so slow (furious middle-aged chef photo) my grandma could hit 'em with her cane!!!
└Grandma's gonna be out in force today lolol
└From the looks of the game, even grandma whacking with her cane would be legal.
└Fr lol
We all know you love the XGodTeam XGodTeam.
└Like your mom raising you?
└lololololololol
└Spicy af lololol
Child Abuser Bastards (dog emblem) These fuckers aren't nurturing kids' dreams—they're smashing them. Went with my son today and he cried when we got reversed. Fuck.
└At least they're teaching a lesson.
└What lesson?
└Even if you're XGod-level shit, you can still make a living.
└lolololol
└lolololololol
"Pffahahahaha."
The posts were overflowing with gut-busting memes just from reading them. Spiced with plenty of heat, it felt like scarfing down some spicy junk food. The personal attacks were low-key enough that even the head mod wasn't stepping in.
└Why's the head mod letting this slide? It's a swear-fest.
└Don'tAbandonHero: Sometimes you need to vent your rage!
Something like that. Thanks to her, users were unloading all their fury. Sure, some went overboard with spam, but the head mod handled it quick.
'Come to think of it, doesn't Cheonma do sub-mod stuff too?' The thought popped up. What did she think of sports? I shot her a 1-on-1 message.
Is Cheonma around?
Cheonma: What is it?
She replied instantly. Wasn't she supposed to be busy? Shaking off the surprise, I asked about the gallery chaos.
You know about the gallery situation, right Cheonma?
Cheonma: I know the dead are howling, yes.
The dead?
Cheonma: Their wailing makes them no different from rotten corpses, no?
Sharp as ever—one line nailed the sports fan state. I wasn't a fan myself, but I got it. My friends back home were walking zombies on game days. I remembered their mental meltdowns.
They don't do bans or anything, right?
Cheonma: No need. It's hilarious every time. Go take a look yourself.
I'm watching already. No sports in Jungwon?
Cheonma: There are. Probably a match tomorrow. Martial arts and sports—what a strange mix.
Jungwon was conservative, but people craved entertainment. Healthy fun like sports was probably tolerated.
Got a team you root for?
Cheonma: No. You seem quite invested.
It's from my old life. I'm a casual fan—not diehard, no favorite team. But if a team had a good story, I'd dive in deeper than most.
Cheonma: Planning to become one of the dead yourself?
Not that far, but I'll cheer for the ones who helped me. Like ChangguPrincess.
Cheonma: Hm. I don't see the appeal in ball games. Sparring's better.
Total boomer take. But I got it—I used to think the same about pointless ball-chasing and rooting for losers. Then I watched my friends turn into addicts. Nah, it wasn't drugs... just an inexplicable pull you couldn't put into words. Tastes vary, hard to explain. Anyway, stuff like sports builds bonds.
Cheonma: Builds bonds... sounds like religion.
Religion's culture too.
Cheonma: Then if this lady starts a team, our followers' bonds would strengthen.
Instead of playing, why not found a franchise? You're a big shot.
Cheonma: Good idea. I'll consider it. But save money first. It burns cash.
Only if you can afford it. I knew she was high up, but a whole team? Don't treat it like just "ball play," that's all.
Cheonma: One question for you.
Shoot.
Cheonma: If this lady starts a team, will you cheer?
Of course. No question.
After all she'd done? She must've felt it—her reply warmed up.
Cheonma: It's my one regret not converting you. I'll heed your words.
Thanks.
Cheonma: Don't die till I drag you in myself.
Our chat ended on blessing vibes. I checked the time after. Too awkward for training or anything big.
'Gotta hand over those stones to ChangguPrincess and StarlightPrincess first.'
No word from the dwarf, so trades first. Even if plain rocks, freebies were fine.
StarlightPrincess: Is this really Oriharukon?
Dunno. Doesn't matter—it's yours anyway.
StarlightPrincess: Thank you. Here's a gift for you.
What?
StarlightPrincess: Cookies. Super tasty.
Ooh! Cookies after that ice cream? Hyped already. Though Ppareumbo scarfed the ice cream anyway. I gifted her a stone right away.
StarlightPrincess can verify if it's Oriharukon too, right?
StarlightPrincess: I'll test at the workshop—won't take long. Thanks. Oh, working out lately?
StarlightPrincess: Yes.
What kind?
Gallery flooded with sports—natural question. She'd been on death's door days ago. Heard she'd gone full fitness post-recovery.
StarlightPrincess: Just this and that. Feels good building muscle.
No interest in sports?
StarlightPrincess: Prefer strengthening my body directly.
Makes sense. No time for spectating while rehabbing. Not even a week post-cure.
Gotcha. Into exercise before recovery?
StarlightPrincess: No. Just wondering when I'd die.
...
StarlightPrincess: Not anymore. Post-workout sweat... so refreshing.
Evolving into a gym rat. Good sign. She rambled on exercise till I wrapped it up. Offered protein supps—I passed. Better stuff around anyway.
'If anything, I'd give her one.'
Shoulda given her an inner core. Later. Anyway, stones to StarlightPrincess done—I shared cookies with Ppareumbo while hunting for someone. ChangguPrincess. No word from her.
I'd traded with StarlightPrincess cuz she posted ahead. Still radio silence. Too late for sword practice anyway.
'Trade with ChangguPrincess, then train or prep dinner.'
Trade cooldown was tight—perfect timing. I browsed gallery till her offer. Rotten dead flooding in, per Cheonma. Wonder if weekly? Posted a question.
Gallery like this often? YasaengGrill: Psychos everywhere. Every game day?
└SwordTasteStar: No. Quarterly different crazies.
└YasaengGrill: Quarterly? What happens?
└SwordTasteStar: Academy exam season.
└Learn the scholar drips. Stay tuned.
└Most posts about killing profs lol
└???: Exam scope-kun...... not that big!!
└???: Won't fit in my skull, fuck.
└lolololololol
└lolololol
People everywhere, same shit. Exams spawn memes—gotta check later.
ChangguPrincess requests trade. Accept?
Came while scrolling. She'd been busy. Accepted instantly.
ChangguPrincess: Hi yoong! Late prepping yoong!
Prepping what?
ChangguPrincess: Game-watching yoong! Need training for mental prep yoong!
...Wouldn't skipping be better?
ChangguPrincess: Never yoong! It's loyalty, loyalty!
Couldn't relate, but understood. No deep dive for me—just cheer from sidelines.
Here's the presumed Oriharukon stone. More if confirmed.
ChangguPrincess: Thanks yoong! Need anything yoong?
Confirm first, then. You've given enough—drawing the line.
She got it, no pushback. Game soon?
ChangguPrincess: Yep! Must-win against these guys yoong!
Highlights posting?
ChangguPrincess: If Oriharukon, full game record yoong!
No lawsuit?
ChangguPrincess: Gallery post—who'd catch? If not Oriharukon, highlights tough anyway yoong.
True. Gallery vids glitchy anyway.
'Max vid length?' Never noticed—short clips only. Her words suggested long. Soccer's 90 min—same?
What's gallery vid limit?
ChangguPrincess: No hard limit yoong. Mana-heavy, most cap at 10 min yoong.
You can do 90 straight?
ChangguPrincess: With Oriharukon yoong. No overheat, efficient yoong!
Aha. Useful if real. Gotta confirm.
ChangguPrincess: Gotta go yoong. One cheer? Chaeyu fighting!
Chaeyu fighting! Win today!
ChangguPrincess: Thanks haha. Chaeyu'd love knowing you yoong?
Then cheer harder. Romantic af. Nah, won't happen. My nose is fourteen inches anyway. Traded blessings, done.
Game soon—stepped out to check.
'Smoking good, spray repellent first.'
Snake/bug spray routine. Saved my ass from night deaths. Quick fixes, back inside.
Planned to cheer hard for ChangguPrincess. Logged in—and first post:
Holy fucking shit what the hell you XGod bastard kids [25]
In that short time, ChangguPrincess had become one of the dead.