Chapter 123

Why me alone? Lee Seo-yeon was frozen in stun like some game character...

...Yeah, if she reacts like that, even the most oblivious person would catch on right away. And Doyun hyung might be hard to read, but he seems to have razor-sharp intuition, so I'm pretty sure he figured out Lee Seo-yeon's feelings way before we did.

I couldn't hear exactly what they were talking about, but while Seol-ah and I were messing around, those two must've been chatting too.

"...Oppa, you cook okay?"

"Just about average for a guy living alone. Home-cooked vibes."

Still, true to her saintess nature, she shook off the status effect pretty quickly. After a slightly awkward silence, Lee Seo-yeon snapped back to normal like nothing happened and kept the conversation going.

"But then wouldn't what I make be better? You seem decent too, oppa, but wherever I go, people say I cook great."

Lee Seo-yeon was talking like they were already living together for sure. Doyun hyung tilted his head a bit.

"Yours is way tastier, sure, but that wouldn't be paying you back."

"......"

Lee Seo-yeon was at a loss for words for a moment, then tried to steer things naturally elsewhere.

"...W-well, there are other ways, right? And aren't you guys gonna make the game huge? No need to worry then."

"True. We've still got a ton to explain anyway."

"How much prep have you even done...?"

He's probably grinding hard to match your level, Lee Seo-yeon. When talent and passion team up, the productivity is downright terrifying.

"Anyway, did any of these catch your eye? Feel free to suggest others if something comes to mind."

"Mobile's too tricky for super complex real-time combat anyway, and I liked number 2 the best."

"The range mechanic was solid too. Honestly, I wanna see dagger characters who can't hit anything except right-up-in-your-face opponents."

...Damn, she's coming in hot. Is this an invitation to throw down?

Yoo Seol-ah's words felt like she was sniping someone specific, so I jumped in with a casual tone.

"Right? Imagine a dagger char picking off enemies one by one, while a long-range mage gets cocky and blasts away, friendly fire and all. Sound good?"

Sparks practically flew between our intense stares. In our heads, the fight was already on.

Yoo Seol-ah huffed and turned away, raising her voice again.

"In a gacha game, AoE mages are born top-tier... Sure, they might team-kill a bit. Meanwhile, rogue—er, petty thief chars are like random mobs? One-star trash?"

"Where's this nonsense coming from? You gonna compare a mage's fireworks to an assassin on single targets? I can already picture late-game content being unapproachable without a top-tier assassin."

"Wh-what 'trickster'? Never played a gacha? Early-game meta is always AoE dealers. It's an ironclad rule across every game."

"...Guys?"

"Anyone saying that is probably quitting after the early game, right? Boss content is mandatory in RPGs. You gonna AoE when it's just the boss left? No way you're claiming AoE skills outdamage single-target ones."

"Mmph!!!"

"Mmf!..."

Suddenly, that familiar sensation from last time hit, sealing our mouths and forcing the argument to a halt. Only after we'd both calmed a bit did Lee Seo-yeon's gesture restore our speech.

She gave us a look like we were ridiculous.

"...You two fighting like kids? Over your self-inserts?"

"......"

"...But Seol-ah started it."

"Did I say anything wrong? ...Sorry. I'll be quiet."

As Lee Seo-yeon raised her hand again, we both shut up like we'd rehearsed it. Yoo Seol-ah secretly smacked my thigh, but as the mature one, I held back.

Thinking about it calmly now, it was pretty embarrassing. Felt just like back in elementary school, scribbling character stats in notebooks and bickering over whose was stronger. The only difference? We actually have the skills to back it up.

"And anyway, playable characters are off-limits, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠right?"

"...Oh, yeah, no self-inserts. I was just talking hypothetically about some random mage char...? Like, every game has mages or thieves... I mean assassins."

"No personal bias, huh?"

"As if. I'm not a kid—why would I push for mages just 'cause I like 'em when we're making a real game?"

"......"

"Why aren't you saying yeah? Is that how you see me...?"

Lee Seo-yeon just stared silently, and Yoo Seol-ah put on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a deeply hurt expression. Self-inflicted wound, I guess... She kept her cool in Astasia, but back on Earth, Yoo Seol-ah's been showing a surprisingly childish side more often.

"No, I do have some conscience. Balance is key for a game to succeed... Of course I'd think it through."

Unlike Lee Seo-yeon, Doyun hyung had been watching our bickering with clear interest from the start. Yoo Seol-ah mumbled an apology, looking a tad embarrassed.

"...Sorry. When it's the four of us, my energy just ramps up..."

"Nah, not complaining—tons of fun ideas popping up."

"Huh?"

"Most games make allies immune to attacks, but team-kill opens up wild strategies. Mage as an early-game accessibility char works great."

We weren't even brainstorming—just spitballing mid-argument. But it hit Doyun hyung differently. Developer mindset? Or just him?

"AoE skills need low damage by default, but add a penalty where nearby allies take splash, and you can buff the damage without issues."

Then Doyun hyung started laying out variations.

"Games need variety beyond reality, right? Say a char that damages the enemy on death."

"Self-destruct?"

"Kinda. Purposely AoE your own team into the suicide blast... Stuff like that."

I'd liked him already, but my respect for Doyun hyung skyrocketed. Must be from that strategy-heavy game he made before. Turning our banter into game mechanics on the fly? Impressive.

"...You just come up with that instantly?"

"Been obsessed with games lately? Everything I hear turns into game ideas."

"...We'll work hard too. Need any help...?"

Yoo Seol-ah couldn't stand watching someone slave away alone. Doyun hyung smiled faintly at her question.

"Nothing set in stone yet... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Oh, if there's anyone you really want as a character, tell me. You each know different people, right?"

"Ah..."

We didn't join up right away in Astasia. First few months after summoning, we trained solo to build skills.

My starting spot? A rundown tavern. The memory hit me, and I spoke up.

"Got someone I really wanna add."

"Who?"

"Klein. Kinda my mentor."

"...What's he like anyway?"

My vague answer got all three tilting their heads. Same reaction every time I mentioned him.

Grateful? Sure. But honestly, I'd love to punch him once. Time to spill the old story I'd held back on.

I gave the rough rundown, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the three started eyeing me with pity.

"...Why the looks?"

"Knew you came from the assassin guild, but starting in a tavern... Kinda gets the vibe."

"...What about you guys?"

"Mage tower babied me. Still pissed no matter the treatment."

"...Everyone was nice to me too. Told me to name anything I wanted. Scared I'd run?"

Order anything...? I survived on jerky. Fancy jerky, sure, but still.

Doyun hyung stayed quiet, but his sympathetic glance confirmed royal treatment. He started at the palace, after all.

...So why only me?

Indignation surged; I raised my voice a bit.

"...If we add Klein, can he be an unlikable jerk? Let users hate on him."

My desperate plea got a laugh from Doyun hyung.

"Hot guy?"

"...Super hot."

"Tough to make him hated then. Bad personality might just gain fans."

Nothing's working. Frustration boiling, I eyed the nuclear option.

...Pair him with a guy for a romance line, flood the fandom with BL doujins? Real person or not, he can't come to Earth anyway.