Puppy Jealousy and the Northern Crusade
“...What do you mean by that?”
Dahyun asked, her eyes fixed on Geriseora like a predator's. “Why is Customer-nim with Molrangkau?”
The atmosphere shifted in an instant. Just moments ago, she'd been like an eager puppy, but now it felt like a beast was growling.
Ptah pursed her lips into an 'O' shape, her eyes sparkling with intrigue. Baek Bal Baek Jung's eyes went wide in shock.
“Huh?”
Sensing the danger in her icy tone, Baek Bal Baek Jung took a cautious step back. He retreated into the shadows, then vanished with a stealth skill.
“Ah, well...”
Even Geriseora looked flustered. She forced a smile, trying to calm Dahyun down. “Ahaha... Did I not mention it? Ji-hyun is Molrangkau.”
“W-What?!”
Dahyun's mouth fell open.
“Seo Ji-hyun? That foxy little vixen?”
“...Yeah.”
Geriseora nodded. In Dahyun's mind, Seo Ji-hyun's face and Molrangkau's overlapped, matching perfectly aside from the eye and hair color.
“No way...!”
Dahyun was stunned—not because Hura was friends with Rank 5, but because it was Seo Ji-hyun, that sly fox, who was Rank 5 Molrangkau! Come to think of it, Hura had always skipped over her when talking about high rankers.
“......”
Dahyun sank into deep thought. While she pondered, Geriseora hurriedly whispered to Ptah.
“Ptah-nim.”
“Hm?”
“You know that thing I made? Did you see it by any chance?”
“Hmm?”
“Y'know, the one I said was fun to make.”
“Oh, that.”
“Yes, that one! Have you seen it?”
“I think I saw it by the robot's foot earlier.”
“Ah, there it is!”
Geriseora quickly used her mechanical arm to retrieve it. She approached Dahyun, who was furrowing her brow and muttering to herself, and tried to act casual.
“Dahyun-ah!”
“Yes?”
“Here, take this.”
“...This is.”
Dahyun accepted the leather pouch with both hands. It was heavy.
“Haha, I put a ton of care into making it.”
Geriseora smiled brightly, hoping to redirect Dahyun's attention. Dahyun had come all the way to Shin-dong Village for this, after all—not just to meet Geriseora in-game, but because she'd promised to craft her a weapon by hand.
After successfully job-changing, an excited Dahyun had chattered on about it to Geriseora, who, upon hearing her class, had cheerfully promised a custom weapon.
“The manual's inside.”
Geriseora watched Dahyun fiddle with the pouch. “I've packed it with all sorts of features, so read it before using. Or I can explain now—”
“Hold on.”
Dahyun cut her off. Her suspicious gaze turned to Geriseora.
“How do you know that?”
“Huh? What do you mean? I made it, so of course I know.”
“No, not that.”
Dahyun's eyes sharpened like a beast's. Geriseora swallowed hard, playing innocent.
“T-Then?”
“How do you know that Ji-hyun girl is Molrangkau... and that she's in Harten with Customer-nim?”
“W-Well...”
“Huh?”
Dahyun glared at her with wide, bulging eyes.
“......”
“Huh?”
She stepped closer, staring down menacingly from below Geriseora's chin. With a heavy sigh, Geriseora finally relented.
“Haah...”
“......”
“Ugh, this mouth of mine.”
She confessed with another sigh. “I met Ji-hyun.”
“...Ji-hyun?”
Not Seo Ji-hyun, but casually 'Ji-hyun'? Ji-hyun-ie?
“We ran into each other by chance, and after chatting, she seemed like a really nice girl.”
“......”
Dahyun's lips puffed out in a pout.
“Sis, aren't you on my side?”
“Uh... well...”
“Say it straight. Me or that fox?”
“Hmm...”
Geriseora averted her gaze, trailing off awkwardly.
Wait, she's actually thinking about it?
Dahyun shot her a fierce glare. But Geriseora just shook her head with yet another sigh—she'd been sighing a lot today.
“Sorry...”
“Huh?”
“I can't just cheer for you alone anymore.”
“W-What?!”
Dahyun's jaw dropped in shock, like she'd been hammered in the back of the head. It felt like when she learned Santa wasn't real as a kid—that same sense of betrayal.
“......”
She hung her head, staring at the ground, shoulders trembling.
Dahyun-ah. It's not that Ji-hyun's better or anything. I like both of you. That's what I'm saying—
Geriseora's excuses tumbled out, but they fell on deaf ears.
“...Harten, right?”
“What? You're really going there?”
Dahyun snapped her head up, yelling. “Yeah! Why not? That fox can, so why can't I?!”
“What are you gonna do there? And how? It's impossible at your level right now.”
“No.”
Dahyun shook her head firmly. “There's always a way.”
With steely resolve, she called out to Ptah. “Ptah-nim! Could you bring that elevator-looking thing?”
“Sure.”
Dahyun stepped into the suddenly rising elevator without hesitation. “Just watch me, Sis!”
She clenched her fist triumphantly as the doors closed. The elevator descended into the machine-filled floor.
“Hehe~ This is fun, huh?”
Ptah giggled. Geriseora clutched her face, muttering. “She's fighting over Hura with Besta's successor, the puppy...”
“Hoo... This isn't the time to find it amusing...”
Geriseora sighed deeply, as if the ground might cave in.
The dimly lit meeting room of the Tteokbokki Cult buzzed with discussion. Hooded executives sat in a circle around a massive round table, deep in heated debate.
“So, Rank 8 is chasing Hura-nim?”
“Yes. They've been combing every inch around Nimal Village, where Hura-nim was staying.”
“And Hura-nim?”
“Doesn't seem to be in Nimal Village anymore.”
“Good.”
“Not good. They've realized it too.”
“Then?”
One executive spoke gravely. “...It looks like they've asked the Sapjaru-dan for help.”
“What?!”
“Sapjaru-dan?!”
“Those lunatics!”
Gasps echoed around the room.
“...Those mad bastards?”
“Yes. But Sapjaru-dan hasn't found Hura-nim yet, as far as we know.”
The unexpected alliance brought silence to the room.
“What should we do? Let's hear opinions.”
At the Chairman's words, executives offered ideas one by one. He synthesized them.
“Then we'll monitor their movements closely. If sightings pop up, spread conflicting info to sow confusion. We can't confront them head-on—their forces are too vast.”
The executives nodded.
“Any other business?”
“None.”
“This meeting ends here. Good work.”
“Wait!”
As the Chairman wrapped up, one executive raised her hand.
“What is it, Gwisinigo Kalroli?”
He asked curiously.
“We got a tip.”
“What?”
Round glasses glinted under her hood. “A ridiculously delicious restaurant appeared in Harten.”
“...And?”
“Please look at this data.”
Gwisinigo Kalroli beckoned, and waiting members distributed packets to each executive.
“As you know, Harten's far north, near the pole. Hard to reach, tough monsters. Not many visitors.”
Flip—
The executives read while listening intently.
“But a chef opened a restaurant there. Page 3 has a review from the famous food hunter 'Myeongran Jeot Konan.' Take a look.”
Rustle—
The room filled with page-turning sounds, followed by murmurs.
“Hoh...”
“No way...”
A familiar word jumped out from his critique.
“Yes, exactly. As you see, he uses the word 'nostalgia.' And Myeongran Jeot Konan never gives five stars—he's notoriously harsh. Yet five stars. We know one such brilliant chef.”
“But it's just speculation. Could be another great chef. Great food often evokes memories. And the chef's name is weird.”
Gwisinigo Kalroli nodded, flipping pages. “Page 5, please?”
Rustle—
“A sighting of Hura-nim at Yuten Village entrance, south of Harten. Detailed account: he scattered snow and fled.”
“...!”
\“Page 6 compiles customer reviews. Familiar words again: nostalgia, tears, **inspiration**.”\
“Then...!”
“The weird name? Hiding his identity. Makes it more credible, right?”
“Hearing it now, yes...!”
The executives marveled at her airtight logic. Pinpointing Hura's location was a first since the cult's founding.
The Chairman gazed at her admiringly. “Gwisinigo Kalroli. I thought you were busy with your YouTube channel. When did you investigate this?”
“Nothing much. My hands made videos for the cult's revival, but my eyes and ears always tracked Hura-nim.”
“Impressive. Truly!”
He stood, clapping. Others followed with a standing ovation.
“Wheee~ Whoa! Amazing!”
“Knew you could do it!”
“You're at Seoul University, right?”
“Thank you. Thank you.”
Gwisinigo Kalroli bowed here and there, then cleared her throat—more to say.
As the excitement settled, she continued. “We must leave a minimal crew here and mobilize maximum forces to Harten now.”
“...Now? Maximum? Why?”
“Two reasons.” She held up one finger. “First, Hura-nim said only 7 days of business—Pangwol time, so 4 days left.”
“But the review says 5 days...!”
“Posted yesterday. Now 4.”
“Such...!”
Two fingers. “Second, high chance Sapjaru-dan knows too.”
“What?! But earlier—”
“If I know, with their resources? Even if not yet, it's only time.”
“Ugh...!”
She slammed the table. “So we rush to Harten! Protect Hura-nim from Sapjaru-dan or bring him back—either way, we go!”
“Right!”
“Hear hear!”
“First there wins for Tteokbokki Cult!”
All eyes turned to the Chairman.
“......”
He met each gaze, took a deep breath. “At last, the first chance since founding to meet Hura-nim in person.”
Hope swelled on their faces. He scanned them calmly, then declared:
“Northern Expedition.”
Cheers erupted like wildfire.
“Waaaaah!!”
“Northern Expedition!!”
“Hura-nim wills the war!”
“Crush the mad Sapjaru-dan!”
“Holy war, you heretics!!”
“Uahaha! Crusaders, advance!”