Failed Disguises and a Tearful Confession
Dahyun drove me right up to my place in her car.
"Thanks for the ride."
"No problem at all! Today was so much fun, customer-nim!"
"It was for me too! Drive safe!"
"Sure thing!"
Dahyun waved cheerfully until I disappeared into the building, her face beaming with that pure smile.
Once inside, I peeked out the window. I watched her white car pull away from the rundown apartment complex before finally slipping on my Dream Gear.
Would you like to log in as character 'Hura'?
"Yes."
Welcome to the Fantasy World.
Whoosh—
The artificial blue void faded away, replaced by a dense forest canopy. The chirping of birds from the underbrush felt comforting. The sun hung fairly high in the sky. Even in broad daylight, the chilly conifer woods signaled that our destination wasn't far off.
I scanned the surroundings, searching for my waiting companion.
Click—
"Hm?"
I turned at the sound of a camera shutter and spotted him off in the distance.
"What're you doing?"
As I approached slowly, I found a middle-aged man striking all sorts of poses against the backdrop of the pristine forest.
Arms crossed in a cool, indifferent stance.
Suddenly flexing his biceps.
Gazing off into the landscape like he wasn't aware of the camera.
Come on, that's a total "don't take my picture" pose.
Then abruptly going cute.
Click— Click—
Every pose came with an endless barrage of shutter sounds.
"......"
The Crying Priest was taking selfies.
"Ahem."
At the sound of my footsteps, he finally turned my way.
"Ah, you've arrived."
The Crying Priest approached with an awkward grin.
"Taking selfies?"
"Ah, yes. Just a hobby."
"...A hobby."
"Yeah. They turn out pretty cool."
I poured days into customizing this face— he murmured, gently stroking his own cheek like it was precious.
"...Want me to take some for you?"
"Oh, that'd be great."
"You could've just asked."
"Haha... yeah, you're right."
The Crying Priest scratched his cheek bashfully.
"So, how should I shoot 'em?"
"Here, take the camera. Make me look as badass as you want."
He handed over a camera summoned from his system window and struck a sultry pose like his shyness had been a lie.
"...Taking the shot."
Click-click—
"I'll turn around now—call me when you're ready?"
"...Priest-nim."
"Yes?"
Swish—
His gray hair fluttered.
Click-click—
The shutter kept clicking for a good while after that.
* * *
"...Whoa! Finally!"
I took a deep breath, gazing down at the large village encircled by tall log palisades.
Snow had begun to fall softly, blanketing the rooftops in fluffy layers. Most buildings were log cabins like mountain lodges, each chimney puffing out lazy curls of smoke.
"Ooh...!"
Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i echoed my awe as they peered down at the village. White breath puffed from their mouths like smoke, drifting away.
"Is this Harten?"
"No. This is Yuten Village."
"What? Not Harten?"
The Crying Priest nodded.
"Harten's farther north."
"So we just pass through?"
"No. We'll stop here for supplies before heading to Harten. Unlike Harten, Yuten's a decent-sized village."
"Ah, got it."
So it's a waypoint before the brutal north. I nodded in understanding. With the endless blizzards up there, we'd need serious prep—winter gear, provisions, the works.
As we overlooked Yuten, I caught some movement right beside me.
"......?"
Turning, I saw the Crying Priest stripping off his clothes.
"Wh-what are you doing?"
He replied calmly.
"Gotta disguise myself."
"Disguise?"
The Crying Priest shed his priestly robes with practiced ease, pulling fur clothes from his inventory and slipping them on.
"People might recognize me. It's a hassle. You can go ahead without me if you want."
"Nah, I'll disguise too."
I'd unintentionally become famous. A top-tier powerhouse, no less. Caution was key—one slip, and it'd be chaos.
"Here, wear these."
He handed me spare fur clothes and a fur hat, which I donned. I pulled the hat low over my face especially.
"How's it look?"
I turned to Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i.
"Perfect."
"Flawless."
Then to the Crying Priest.
"Good enough?"
"Yes. More than."
He'd transformed into a rugged hunter hefting a harpoon, brimming with wild charisma.
"Let's go."
We strode confidently toward the village entrance.
Two players were just exiting. To test my disguise, I greeted them boldly.
"Haha, hello there!"
"Oh, hi. Hello!"
They smiled and waved back politely.
"...Huh?"
But their eyes suddenly widened.
"Isn't that Hura?"
"Y-yeah, looks like it. Chef Hura-nim?"
"......!"
The Crying Priest and I exchanged panicked glances.
"N-no, wrong guy. Not Hura."
"No way! It is you!"
"Hura-nim! Huge fan! Loved your videos! One autograph, please!"
Their certainty made excuses pointless.
...How the hell?
I ordered a retreat.
"Tch! Fall back!"
I kicked up a flurry of snow from the ground, blinding them.
"Gah!"
"Hura-nim! Why?!"
We bolted while they flailed, successfully escaping into the woods.
Hiding among the trees until they left, I pondered our blunder.
"Priest-nim. How'd they spot us?"
"No idea. This usually works fine."
He brushed snow from his hair.
"Let's tweak the disguises."
We refined them, swapped outfits, tested six times.
"Hura-nim! Photo, just one photo together!"
Players freaking out like they'd met a high ranker.
"Argh! Get lost!"
"Hura-nim! I'm a fan!"
Failed again. Snow escape.
"How are they seeing through it?"
"Beats me."
This time I'd fully covered my face. How...?
"Ugh..."
Leaning against a tree in thought, I noticed Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i squinting seriously beside me, pondering too.
They wore flashy butcher outfits. Eye-catching as hell.
"...Priest-nim."
"Yes."
"I think I found the problem."
I stared pointedly at Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i. The Crying Priest's gaze followed.
"Ah."
He let out a short realization.
What good was my perfect disguise if these flashy summons trailed me like ducklings?
"U-us?"
They glanced at each other nervously under our stares.
"Yeah, you guys."
What to do with them? Unpredictable situations ahead—I needed them close. But then...
"Should we disguise too?"
"No."
I shook my head at Tteoksoon-i.
"Heh... Got a great idea."
* * *
Second-floor window seat at a café. Late afternoon sun painted the world in twilight hues outside.
Slurp—
Seo Ji-hyun carefully brought her warm coffee to her lips. She glanced ahead.
Sera propped her chin on the table, staring intently.
Her hat and sunglasses—unnecessary now—lay discarded.
Ji-hyun dropped her gaze. She set down her cup, fidgeting with her fingers.
That stare felt uncomfortable. Burdensome, awkward, a bit scary.
She wanted to bolt.
Sera spoke to her.
"Jihyun... right?"
"Y-yes... Seo Ji-hyun."
Ji-hyun answered, eyes fixed on her cup.
"Wow... you're really pretty."
Sera's tone was genuine admiration, no sarcasm.
"Th-thank you..."
Ji-hyun floundered, face flushing deeper as she ducked her head.
"No wonder Dahyun made such a fuss."
"...Pardon?"
"Nothing. You an idol or something?"
"N-no, of course not."
"Hm... but you look familiar. Like I've seen you before. Have we met?"
"No..."
Sera narrowed her eyes.
But Ji-hyun had no answer. Though she had a guess.
"How'd you meet Hura? I thought my brother had zero girl friends."
"In Fantasy World..."
"Yeah? And IRL?"
"By chance."
Their first real-life meeting at the mart had been coincidence—no lie there.
She sipped her coffee, bargaining with herself. Her throat burned.
"You like Hura?"
"Pfft—"
Sera's question hit out of nowhere, like a harpoon piercing ice.
The fish swimming beneath froze as the spear stabbed its vitals.
"Ack— *cough*— *cough cough*—"
Sera fetched water and tissues for the choking Ji-hyun.
"*Cough*— Th-thanks."
As her coughing subsided, Sera repeated.
"You like Hura?"
The hunter wouldn't release her speared prey. The harpoon stayed sharp.
"Uh, w-well..."
"Better be honest. I don't ask twice."
Sera stared straight at her.
"I'll take your answer at face value. Got it?"
Ji-hyun nodded slowly.
Sera waited silently.
Ji-hyun clutched her chest.
Thump-thump—
Her heart raced. She opened her mouth.
"I-I..."
She looked up, meeting Sera's eyes.
The cold, intense gaze stung. But she held it, eyes wide, even as they trembled.
"I like him. I like Hura."
A single tear trickled down.
Just from the sting? Or something more? Even she didn't know.
"......!"
Sera's eyes widened.
Ji-hyun's face burned crimson as she bowed her head again.
It was her first time confessing her secret feelings aloud.
Embarrassing. Required guts.
But liberating. Refreshing. Like planting a seed in sunlight, waiting for it to sprout and bloom.
"...Why do you like him?"
After a pause, Sera asked.
"...He's warm."
"Warm?"
"Yes."
'Warm? If anything, he's kinda cold.'
Sera tilted her head.
Two knockout beauties into her brother? The sudden windfall thrilled her.
But questions bubbled first.
Hura was no slouch himself. My bro's a catch! Subjective, sure, but she'd seen few better.
Yet both at once? After 19 quiet years?
Good fortune comes rolling in twos.
'Playing it cool while leaving a trail?'
She shelved the doubt.
"This is tricky."
She spun her coffee cup.
"I was rooting for Dahyun."
"......!"
Ji-hyun's head snapped up, launching her pitch.
"I-I'm athletic! I can work out with Hura every day!"
To Sera, it sounded like: 'I can walk Hura daily!'
'Daily exercise? Sounds good.'
"And?"
"Uh... I-I'm a bit prettier."
"Oh ho, saying it yourself?"
Psssh—
Ji-hyun's face went scarlet again. Desperation made her blurt it; instant regret.
Hard to claim definitively.
Sera eyed her fondly.
"Dahyun works at a big corp. Fantasy Games."
"I-I'm rich!"
Sera's eyes sparkled.
"Hm... parents' money? Or yours?"
"Mine."
"How'd you earn it? What do you do?"
Ji-hyun hesitated.
"I'm... a Pangwol high ranker."
"High ranker?"
Sera's eyes bulged.
She was Rank 3 herself, a Pangwol vet from launch.
Even disinterested, she knew the stable high rankers. They were celebrities, media darlings.
"No wonder you looked familiar. Character name?"
"W-well... um..."
She'd blurted it but balked now.
Her char was infamous: Molrangkau. Hard to impress with that.
"Hold up."
Sera cut her off. Her gaze sharpened.
"You."
"Y-yes?"
"You're Molrangkau, aren't you?"
"......!"
Hic—
Ji-hyun hiccuped. Affirmation enough.