Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Off to Steal Again Today
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Haneul.
She had been timid ever since she was a child.
Because of that, she had never really hung out with other kids.
She just watched from afar.
The idea of approaching someone first and talking to them was something she had never even considered.
A distant world.
A gap that was hard to bridge.
Her time alone far outweighed the time spent with others.
Of course, she hadn't always been completely alone from start to finish.
Sometimes, people approached her first.
But.
'Did you see her yesterday? After I talked to her a few times, she was over the moon. She really shows how friendless she is, right?'
'Her family's super rich, right? No harm in getting close then.'
Even those were people who approached her with ulterior motives.
They had their own agendas.
That was probably when it started.
That's when she stopped trusting people easily.
So Haneul had lived her life without opening up to others.
Except for one person.
Her friend who had always treated her without reservation.
'Haneul, you're gonna play Agas too, right?'
She had started playing Agas this time because of her classmate's enthusiastic recommendation.
'...Agas? You mean that Agas?'
'Yeah, that's the one. It's been super popular lately. Even the billboards are advertising it.'
'Uh-huh, yeah.'
And so, she stumbled into the virtual reality game.
While most of her classmates chose mage or priest, Haneul alone picked warrior.
She wanted to change her timid personality, even if just a little.
Of course, it wasn't easy at first.
The sword and shield felt completely foreign.
Even the cute animal monsters scattered across the fields.
'I-I just can't do this.'
'Haneul, you've already taken down eight of them.'
'But!'
'......'
Adapting to the game was a huge struggle.
But somehow, she managed to get the hang of it and reached level 10 in the Starting Village.
She even picked up some high-grade items along the way, leaving the village in high spirits.
And finally, the Trial Forest.
There, amid the first major hurdle to the main continent, she met Luke for the first time.
'The one with the highest health here is Rabbit. So, I'll tank up front as much as I can and pass the baton. That way, Rabbit won't have as much pressure.'
'Everyone, great job. Without you two, the first wave would've been a real pain.'
Luke was, in a word, a polite player.
Kind.
Considerate.
And with leadership that guided others.
He lacked nothing.
Maybe that's why.
During the carriage escort, Haneul was able to open up a bit to the party members.
'Right, that high-grade item from last time. It's a dagger, so maybe Luke could use it?'
Kindness for kindness.
She even considered giving him the Braincleaver she had.
'...Nah, that feels off. We're not that close. Giving something like this might come off weird.'
In the end, it stayed just a thought.
'R-Right. Add friend naturally first. Start with the friend request!'
Her first friend in the game.
Rushing could lead to mistakes.
So, take it step by step and build the relationship.
Haneul made that plan in her head and waited for an opportunity.
But.
[The carriage will arrive at the destination soon!]
[Party member Luke has left the carriage first!]
[Next up is...]
Unfortunately, the party disbanded right before that chance came.
'I should've just said something.'
All that remained was regret.
Afterward, she didn't give up and wandered Parten a few more times, but she never found Luke.
So she had given up on the search.
But now.
"You should've listened to me sooner."
That connection was reigniting in real life.
"You're Luke, right?"
"......"
Meanwhile.
'Why the hell are you popping up here?'
Seokwoo was utterly flustered.
No matter how small the world was, running into someone from the game in his own neighborhood?
And of all people, the one whose Braincleaver he'd stolen.
"Luke?"
Cold sweat dripped down.
"Luke who? Think you've got the wrong guy."
"It is you."
"Ahem, I don't know anyone like that."
"But it is..."
"Anyway, I'm busy. Gotta go."
In situations like this, the best move was to play dumb and slip away.
Knowing that, Seokwoo turned his head and hurried out of the alley.
Or tried to.
Thud!
If only he hadn't bumped into someone midway.
"...Oppa?"
Delicate features.
A swaying ponytail.
Flawless skin.
A girl who would turn heads anywhere stood before him.
Her lunchbox tumbling blankly to the ground from her hand.
"M-Mira?"
That's right.
It was none other than Seokwoo's little sister, Mira.
"Oppa, who are those guys?"
"Well..."
"Don't tell me you fought them again?"
"No, those bastards started it!"
"Oppa."
"Eek!"
He had gone through a wild rebellious phase like any other teen.
Maybe that's why.
Mira fixed him with lifeless eyes.
Unable to hold out, Seokwoo caved.
"Sorry."
"Sigh, any CCTV around?"
"Probably not in this alley."
"You didn't start it, right?"
"N-No. That big burly one blocked the way first..."
He was explaining the situation when.
"Well, that's a relief at least... Huh?"
"Ah?"
Mira finally noticed Haneul standing behind him.
"Oh, her? I don't even know..."
Seokwoo, stuck in the middle, tried to explain quickly.
But it was pointless.
Because.
"Haneul?"
"M-Mira?"
They already knew each other.
Seokwoo, oblivious, could only stare back and forth in a daze.
A brief silence fell over them.
Once he caught on to their relationship, Seokwoo started sweating bullets.
'...No way.'
The worst possible scenario.
A little later.
The situation had more or less sorted itself out.
"Th-This incident will definitely be reported to the director!"
The suited men yelled that as they fled, leaving the three to exchange quick introductions and head to a nearby cafe to talk.
"Those guys were your bodyguards?"
"Yeah, my parents assigned them. They've been tailing me for a while, but this time I said I wanted to go out alone, and they kept insisting it was too dangerous..."
Then Seokwoo barged in, and things escalated.
'Mira's friend she was meeting here was this girl.'
Seated across from her, Seokwoo felt deeply uncomfortable.
His little sister's friend.
And that friend was the one he'd stolen from in-game.
'What kind of coincidence is this?'
He couldn't believe it.
But it was reality, staring him in the face.
No denying it now.
Seokwoo glanced at Haneul, who kept stealing looks at him, then let out a deep sigh.
He sipped his half-closed-eyed coffee, thinking back to the suited men.
'Bodyguards, huh. Didn't seem professionally trained.'
More like thugs.
The type that relied on bulk and bravado without real skill.
That was their level as bodyguards.
'Otherwise, they wouldn't have gone down so easily. Parents assigned them, but this feels less like protection and more like...'
Surveillance.
That's what he thought deep down.
But it was Haneul's family matter.
No point digging in.
'Not like I'm the nosy type anyway.'
He shrugged it off quickly, but another crisis loomed.
"So you met Oppa in the game?"
"Yeah, we were in the same party escorting the carriage..."
Haneul brought up their in-game encounter.
Her explanation started from there.
From how he was the party's core.
To all the help he provided.
And how they parted right before she could send the friend request.
A summary of the carriage escort.
"I even had a thief weapon back then..."
She mentioned the Braincleaver midway, letting Seokwoo realize his mistake.
'She knew its value.'
She just hadn't had the chance to give it away.
'...Makes sense now. With bodyguards and all, she seems like some chaebol daughter. No reason to cling to a Braincleaver.'
It finally added up.
"But it's gone now?"
"Guess I lost it somewhere. Ugh, shoulda stored it in the warehouse."
"Eh, it's fine. My bro isn't the type to obsess over stuff like that."
Mira comforted her like that.
Seokwoo flinched!
It stung.
Anyone else, maybe not. But Mira's close friend? Different story.
But he couldn't confess now.
He chugged his coffee, avoiding their eyes.
"Anyway, this is wild. Meeting someone from the game in real life. What a coincidence, right?"
"Yeah, I was shocked too. To run into Luke... I mean, Seokwoo here. And he's Mira's brother."
"Oppa was freaking out too. Looked ready to bolt right there!"
"Did I do something wrong...?"
"No, no. Right, Oppa?"
Suddenly, all eyes on him.
Seokwoo, pretending not to notice, startled and turned.
Forcing a grin, he replied.
"Y-Yeah, totally. No biggie."
"See? He says so."
"Phew, good."
Haneul clasped her hands, visibly relieved.
How could a girl be so innocent?
Even Seokwoo, who'd lived without a guilty conscience his whole life, felt uneasy now.
'Heard about Mira's friends sometimes, but didn't expect someone this pure.'
From a prominent family.
Kind-hearted.
As a big brother, he'd normally be proud of her friend choice.
But the problem? He'd pickpocketed that friend.
'In-game, but still.'
As he sat there uncomfortably.
Mira started voicing her own worries.
"I'm actually worried we'll get you in trouble. Those suited guys earlier saw you and bolted, saying stuff."
"N-No way! Just a little warning at most. And if anything, you helped me. That... um..."
Haneul fidgeted with her fingers, glancing across.
"Seokwoo helped."
"Huh?"
"What?"
The siblings panicked in unison.
Helped? He just beat down some roadblockers.
Her bodyguards, no less.
Yet Haneul framed it like he'd saved her.
"Haneul, actually, Oppa just... they were blocking the way..."
"Still, he did help, right?"
"W-Well, yeah?"
"It was a bit scary, but thinking back now..."
She trailed off, dropping her head.
Soon after, cheeks flushed, she bolted up.
"I-I'm gonna hit the bathroom real quick!"
"Oh, sure. Go ahead."
"......"
She fled like the wind.
After a moment of confusion.
Mira snapped out of her daze.
"Today's been one shock after another. Feels like my head's been spinning since we got down here."
"Yeah, didn't see this coming."
"Oppa meeting Haneul in Agas. Still blows my mind."
"Hahaha..."
"So, what happened? You've been playing Agas for two years, right?"
As expected.
Mira asked about that part.
A dark gamer doing carriage escorts? Suspicious.
"Complicated stuff. I'll explain later."
"Mm... Okay. I'll trust you know best. But if it gets tricky, tell me. I might not be much help, but I'll try."
"Thanks."
She could've pried, but Mira held back out of consideration.
Proof she trusted her big bro.
'I'll steal something pricey later and buy you tons of yummy food, Mira.'
Seokwoo murmured inwardly, smiling warmly.
But then.
Clap!
Mira clapped her hands, beaming.
"Oh, right!"
"Yeah?"
"So now we can meet up in-game too?"
"Uh, well, regions are close now..."
"Awesome! Always wanted to play Agas with Oppa. You did it with Haneul, so no skipping me, right?"
"R-Right."
Her smile somehow felt chilling.