Hic-Hic- Rabbit-Eyed Jihyun
Hic-hic- Jihyun hiccupped away, her eyes wide like a rabbit's.
It was because Sera, sitting across from her, was gradually icing over with a cold glare.
Hic-hic- Faced with Sera's sudden shift in demeanor, Jihyun trembled like a rabbit before a boa constrictor.
"Hey, you little punk."
"Y-yes?"
Sera's voice was frigid.
"You don't know me?"
"I, um... hic-"
"Come to think of it, I never told you my name."
Sera twisted her lips into an icy smile.
"I'm Lee Sera."
"...Sera?"
Jihyun's mind raced. The face she'd thought looked familiar overlapped with the woman before her.
The Iron Empress, also known as the Blue Witch—Rank 3 high ranker.
"G-Geogi Seora...!"
Jihyun's eyes bulged wide. She'd suspected a resemblance, but never dreamed it could actually be her.
The shock was so great that even her hiccups stopped.
"Yeah, Molrangkau. Meeting you in real life like this is kinda nostalgic."
"B-but... you're a bit different. Your eyes and nose. Oh, and your jawline too..."
"Hey! Read the room!"
"S-sorry."
Sera glared at Jihyun, who had bowed her head deeply, with evident displeasure.
"Such a punk-ass in-game. Out here, you're a total wimp?"
"......"
Sera's icy words flew sharply at Jihyun, who couldn't muster a reply.
"I hate kids like you the most. Got it? Makes my skin crawl."
"......"
"Can't even string a sentence together in real life. But online? Strutting around like hot shit. Disgusting."
"......"
"If you were a punk-ass out here too, like in-game, it'd make sense. Tsk."
Sera clicked her tongue coldly.
"...Sorry."
Jihyun had nothing else to say. Everything Sera said was true.
She was a coward who couldn't even leave her room in real life, venting her piled-up rage only in-game—a pathetic mess.
Thud-
Sera slammed down her coffee cup with a loud clunk.
"I can't butt into things between you two and play mediator, but at least know this: I won't be cheering you on."
Scrape-
Sera rose from her seat.
"Whether you meet Hura or not, don't show your face to me again. Can't stand the sight of you."
"......"
Right. She's correct.
The old me was utterly pathetic. A total wreck. Rage-filled. Twisted and worthless.
'But, but...'
Jihyun clenched her pants tightly.
She knew she couldn't change her wretched past.
But the future that hadn't arrived yet? That she could change.
She was changing, bit by bit.
Putting in the effort with everything she had.
She'd made a friend.
After eating his warm kimchi jjigae, she'd cut back on the curses that habitually slipped out.
Switched from blunt banmal to polite speech.
Little by little. Step by step.
At first, even leaving her room terrified her.
Heading out alone? The fear had been overwhelming.
But she'd gritted her teeth and pushed through.
Whispering to her pounding heart that it was okay, she'd stepped outside.
Wandered the nearby park.
Then bumped into Hura by chance at the mart.
Some might call it coincidence, but to Jihyun, it felt like fate.
And finally, she'd ditched the mask and started exercising daily.
With him by her side, maybe one day she'd take off the hat too.
Thanks to Hura, joyful things kept happening.
Her heart raced not from fear, but excitement and anticipation.
She looked forward to tomorrow.
Like in the Genesis Village Mercenary Guild.
To walk side by side with him.
It took courage.
"Got a problem? Speak up."
"......"
"What, can't handle it in real life? Then try it in Pangwol again. We didn't settle things properly last time, right?"
"......"
Sera stared down at Jihyun, head bowed low.
Still no response.
"Hmph."
Sera sneered and turned to leave.
Then, from behind her, a tiny voice piped up.
A pitiful, trembling whisper—clearly mustered with all her courage.
"...It was back in elementary school."
Sera froze mid-step.
That watery, fragile voice leaked from Jihyun's quivering lips.
Jihyun began spilling her entire story honestly.
* * *
Snow flurried down in the chilly weather.
A punk had rolled into Yuten Village.
A blond thug spitting on the street and swaggering about.
"Hey, you. Move aside while I'm asking nicely! Not budging? I'll make you."
A silver-haired punk strutting arrogantly, eyes narrowed.
"...Tch. What're you staring at? Eyes down."
Both wore black suits.
Trailing behind them were two hunters.
Hura, his fur hat pulled low, spoke up.
"Priest. Where to."
"Ah, let's grab an inn first."
"Lead."
"Yes..."
The Crying Priest scratched her head awkwardly as she guided them to the inn.
Of course, before Hura activated his Dark Chef skill, he'd begged and gotten permission several times, but she still found it absurd.
A skill that changed your personality? She'd been skeptical until seeing it herself.
But the effect was perfect. No one recognized Hura.
His two summons, their suits dyed black, exuded a totally different vibe.
Just a change in atmosphere and color could completely alter impressions.
The group entered an inn under the Crying Priest's guidance and plopped down by the window.
"Welcome. What'll it be?"
A bearded old man who seemed like an NPC came to take their order.
"Rooms available?"
"Yes, plenty."
"One four-bed room, then. And bring whatever's the best food you've got."
The Crying Priest smoothly slipped him some money.
"Food as it comes, quick as possible. Beer first, please."
"Of course, of course. One moment."
The innkeeper bowed obsequiously and retreated.
The Crying Priest gazed out the window.
The sun was setting.
Heading to Harten at night was suicide.
Perfect for getting lost in the pitch dark, freezing to death.
She had ways around it, but no need to risk it when they weren't in a rush.
Better to regroup, spend the night in town, and head out at dawn.
That was the smart play.
"Beer's here!"
A girl deftly carried four large mugs at once and set them down.
"Give it a try. Our beer's the best."
At the Crying Priest's words, the three gulped it down.
"Kahaha! Not bad!"
"...Decent."
"Mm."
Geum Taeyang, Tteoksoon-i, and Hura in turn.
As they sipped their beer, the food started arriving one by one.
"Chicken soup!"
"Roast wild boar!"
"Strawberry pie!"
The bearded man and the girl alternated bringing dishes.
"Our food's top-notch too. Easily top ten in the north."
"......"
"......"
"Mm."
But the reactions weren't great this time.
Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i tasted it and barely nibbled, while only Hura ate heartily.
The two cooking summons' palates had been spoiled by Hura's food.
Hura eyed the picky pair.
"Eat."
"But..."
"Want a scolding?"
"......"
Only then did they start picking at the food.
"Enjoying the meal?"
The bearded man returned to the table.
"Yes, delicious. Eating well."
"Heh heh, glad to hear. Where you folks headed?"
"Planning to leave for Harten at first light."
"...Harten? Bad timing."
The bearded man's face darkened.
The Crying Priest asked curiously.
"What's wrong?"
"The paths to Harten are all blocked."
"Blocked?"
Harten was rough enough that only skilled high-level players could handle the monsters.
Which was why no obstacle could stop hungry hunters.
But completely blocked?
"An Ice Devil appeared."
"...!"
"We just sent for priests from the nearby church yesterday. Not even sure if they'll send any..."
The innkeeper trailed off regretfully.
But the massive hunter leaning his harpoon against the table smiled instead.
"...Sounds fun."
"Pardon?"
"Where's the mayor?"
The Crying Priest stared at the quest window that popped up before her eyes and asked.
* * *
"...That's how it happened."
Jihyun's long story came to an end.
Darkness had filled the window outside before she knew it.
Stories she'd never told anyone but Dr. Seo Eunmi poured out.
From buying tteokbokki alone in elementary school to getting doused in kongnamul kimchi jjigae in high school.
Once they started flowing, it was like a dam breaking—unstoppable.
The wounds etched like tattoos on her heart apparently hadn't fully faded.
And someone had listened quietly from start to finish.
Sera said nothing, asked nothing—just heard Jihyun out.
Even after it ended, silence hung between them.
"......"
No reaction. Jihyun grew more afraid.
She couldn't lift her head.
What face was she making? Still glaring coldly?
Did she despise her? Maybe furious at how pathetic she was...
She must hate me...?
Plop-
A square tissue box landed before the fretting Jihyun.
"Wipe."
Cold words.
'As expected...'
Jihyun picked it up and glumly dabbed the tear tracks on her cheeks.
She lacked the courage to look at Sera.
Her voice was still icy.
'She hates me...'
And sure enough, the frosty voice struck again.
"You idiot."
"......"
"That's why shit happens when you bottle it up like a moron. What'd you grow a mouth for?"
"......"
"You're so dense. Stuff like that, tell your parents or a teacher—sniff-"
"...?"
"I mean, don't be a stubborn idiot alone—hic-sob-"
Startled, Jihyun looked up at Sera.
"...!"
Her eyes were massively swollen from crying.
"Wahhh- sob... You idiot. Wahhh-"
Sera burst into full sobs.
Jihyun handed back the tissue box.
"Um... here, tissues—"
Sera yanked her hand.
"C'mere, you idiot wahhh-"
Sera pulled Jihyun into a tight hug and bawled.
Caught off guard in Sera's embrace, Jihyun's eyes widened.
Warmth. Tears shed for her sake.
Jihyun's own eyes welled up unexpectedly.
"Sobbbb- wahhh- waaah-"
But with someone crying her heart out like a faucet in her stead, Jihyun didn't need to shed more tears.
"I-I'm okay."
Jihyun gently patted the sobbing Sera's back, soothing her.
* * *
"Udon."
"Dongpo pork."
"Pork... pork ramen."
"Mi, mi-du."
"......"
"......"
"Dai."
Tteoksoon-i slumped over with a pout.
"Indian- rice!"
Pow-pow-
"Kyaang!"
Tteoksoon-i whimpered, rubbing her back.
"Hing, why only me?"
"Filthy loser's got a lot to say."
"...Not filthy, senior."
Then the priest, who'd shoved us in the inn room to rest and gone out, returned.
Beaming ear to ear.
"Hahaha! What'd I say? Follow divine revelation, and fun stuff happens, right?"
Alone with us, the Crying Priest's speech turned girly and light again.
"How'd it go? What's this Ice Devil?"
"I think I know why the revelation told me to meet you, Hura-nim."
The Crying Priest threw her arms skyward and boomed with laughter.
"Hahaha! Yupinel! You never disappoint! Surely you didn't call me for those pathetic desert zombies!"
...Wasn't she just pitying them earlier? Is this really a cleric?
"So, what's the Ice Devil?"
"Ah, got excited. Sorry. The Ice Devil's one of the Demon King's army's evil forces. Our church's archenemy."
"Like the Four Heavenly Kings?"
"Not quite. More like a mid-level exec. On the weaker side among them."
"Weaker side, and all those players can't budge because of one?"
"Relatively weak within the Demon King's forces. On its own, it's a pretty damn strong boss."
"Oho. I see."
"Looks like it's isolating Harten for some scheme."
"Aha."
"Then let's go!"
The Crying Priest flung the door open excitedly.
"W-wait. Isn't night travel dangerous? We need to regroup too..."
"Who cares?"
"...Pardon?"
"The Ice Devil's waiting! No time to waste!"
Without hesitation, the priest kicked the door open and charged out.
"Hahaha! Sinner, receive judgment! Yupinel demands your death!"
Yupinel's inquisitor thundered down the stairs with glee.
"...Why are all the weirdos around me?"