Chapter 218
As someone who's always at the top of my list and deeply immersed in subculture across the board, I just can't help but smile when I see a cute type like Roha. No true otaku passes by a beautiful girl without a reaction. Even just hearing her voice has my lips curving up like this—she's definitely got that moe factor in her blood.
"...Is that so?"
"Yeah. In Korea, we call it Lupco Yanglip... Anyway, we don't talk much beyond that."
She seems suspicious no matter how I look at it, but the truth is probably just between them. At least until we meet in person, prying feels a bit off.
Clearing her throat lightly, Roha slipped back into her cool tone from earlier.
"You're probably a university student, right...?"
"Yes. I just started this year."
"I never went at all."
"You must still be super busy though."
"...Yeah, a little."
Considering her SPICA account has over a million followers, the jaw-dropping sales of the Lupco Yanglip manga adaptation, and how well her merch is selling, there's no reason for Roha to bother with university. Unless she has something specific she wants to learn like me, or craves that campus life—otherwise, it just doesn't make sense.
"So, it'll be hard to make time for a while?"
"Um... I adjust my schedule so I don't have classes on Mondays. With weekends, Japan is totally doable! Even this week works for me right away."
I've been set on a Japan trip ever since entrance exams ended, and if I can meet Roha there, it's killing two birds with one stone. I was planning to go solo originally, but now it's with Baek Sion and the club crew. It couldn't get any better. One night two days, even two nights three days is feasible. Sure, exams are coming up... but honestly, I don't sweat my grades much. As long as it's not group projects affecting others, I just aim to graduate somehow.
"I've been a huge fan of Seol-ah for so long—I really want to meet you."
"......"
Hearing that someone I truly admire is my fan fills my chest with this warm, swelling pride.
"And..."
Roha trailed off like there was more, then added softly, "No, it's nothing," as if brushing it off. What was she about to say? Something like, "Has Seol-ah been to Astasia too?" That would explain the hesitation. Even if we're both at the front lines of subculture, asking straight-up "Have you been to another world?" takes serious mental prep. If she said it and I turned out to be a normie forcing a laugh at a lame joke... it'd be black history-level cringe I'd remember until my deathbed.
Of course, once we meet, I'll know right away. Even if she hides it, I can sense special powers like mana.
So, maybe a little probing...?
"Did you like this latest illustration...?"
It perfectly matches my beautiful girl tastes, and since it's unnie Yuna's design, I poured my heart into it. Plus, as the one announcing our game's launch, I invested way more time than usual. The quality should be noticeably higher. We're not some big mobile game from a giant studio, so drawing curiosity bit by bit was essential. That said, this piece is packed with Astasia vibes, so if Roha's a returnee, she'd react.
I tensed like I was getting graded, but her response veered off-script.
"It was amazing. The accessories are so pretty, and clothing designs are tough for me, but I love that style."
...She's just purely praising the art. Her SPICA drawings prove she handles any outfit fine. Must be humility ingrained in her.
"And the character was totally my type."
"Right?!"
My voice rose unconsciously—nothing beats hearing praise for my masterpiece, drawn for my friend unnie Yuna. She's got universal appeal, gender be damned. Skip the textbook slender figure; her face is just luxuriously elegant. I'm thrilled with my own looks, but I've never thought of mine as "high-class."
If unnie Yuna had Roha's personality, she'd be the ultimate cool character—giving chills just standing there. But no Astasia reaction. Maybe she's not the clumsy type like me, so she won't bring it up first.
"Sorry if it's not public yet, but are you involved in the game production?"
"...Ah, yeah."
Doyun oppa mentioned starting to share game info soon, so no need to hide it anymore.
"I'd love to hear about that too. If you come to Japan, I'll cover your hotel and flights."
"...R-Really?"
It's kinda funny worrying about money with Japan's top mangaka—who just won a major award—but grabbing it outright feels off too...
"Yes. Think of it as fan service. I'll cover your whole group."
"...Thank you."
Turning it down twice would embarrass her more. ...So grateful, but her calm tone almost feels scolding.
"I'll match my schedule too—just tell me a good time. I have something coming up, so I should wrap this."
"...Okay!"
Convinced she's a good person, I mustered courage before hanging up.
"...Can I contact you again later?"
After a quiet moment, soft laughter came through the phone.
...How can even her laugh sound so cool? With barely any cool types around me, it stands out more. Park Harin comes close, but she drops the cool act around me.
"Of course. Anytime."
"...Yes!"
The call ended. I've never been into idols or singers, but now I get why fans hit signings. Stepping back into the club room, I saw everyone hustling. Baek Sion in headphones, working—damn, he's hot. ...Sexy, maybe.
"Ah, Seol-ah's back."
"Yeah."
Lee Seo-yeon, chatting with unnie Yuna, stared then smirked.
"...That happy? You're not even this smiley next to Sion."
...Was I grinning? I schooled my face and shot back.
"Sion's always priority zero, that's why...! Roha's my first contact ever..."
My voice pitched up, then I clamped it and glanced at Sion. Headphones on—no reaction, luckily.
...Lately, looking at him tests my composure, so I avoid his face. Even peeking at his nose bridge or lips stirs weird feelings. For daily sanity, I gotta try. Especially after overusing my fingers lately—outside, I avoid staring at them...
"He can't hear anyway, don't worry. But... priority zero? Hmm~"
"No, it's—"
"Oh, so zero's not it?"
"It is, but...!"
Flustered, I lunged at Seo-yeon for payback teasing.
"Eek...!"
My old Sion-inspired massage skills. Her muscles are tight, but as a flexible type, she just looked pleased.
"...Ahh~"
"Crazy... Want me to stop?"
Her moan—straight out of an adult game—jolted me; I smacked her side.
...Aspiring voice actress is scary.
"...Ow, not there..."
"Hmph."
Unlike cool Roha, Seo-yeon fired up her mischief soon after. Laughter pulled my gaze.
...Hold up.
"Hey, Baek Sion..."
Pretending to focus, but that laugh was definitely him. As I approached, giggles erupted from Seo-yeon and unnie Yuna.
...She lied about him not hearing? Then my whole "priority zero" rant...
"...Zero sounds kinda honorable."
Sion confirmed the kill, so I shut up, returned to my seat, and donned headphones.
...Teaming up to troll me...
With Japan trip planning midweek ahead, no more plaything today—I buckled down. Like a kid before a field trip, I dove into drawing, and the week flew by faster than expected.