Exam Period # 9
Exam Period # 9
I learned Kitty had never been to a PC café before. Who hasn't been to a PC café in this day and age? That practically makes her a cultural barbarian.
So we obviously had to go straight to one.
We walked into a nearby PC café and sat at a couple's seat.
"Geun-cheol, isn't this a couples-only spot?"
"It's just a comfortable two-person booth."
"Hmm, really?"
Sure, they call them couple's seats, but they're basically just two-person booths. When friends go to a PC café, the couple's seat is always the first thing we grab. Anyway, I turned on the computer and started the sign-up process.
"Just type in a random address."
"Okay."
"And use a fake name."
Once Kitty and I finished signing up, I went and loaded some cash onto our accounts.
"Kitty, you at least know what a computer is, right?"
"Geun-cheol, what? Come on, I'm not that clueless."
"Ah. So this is just your first time at a PC café?"
"Yeah. I never had a reason to come. Seeing all these computers is amazing."
"It is pretty amazing."
When I was a little brat, I thought PC bangs were amazing too.
A nostalgic monster-infested hellscape with no concept of non-smoking sections. Back then, there was no system for topping up your time, so when your session was up, some old guy would come over and tell you to log off. There was a certain affection in the "Sir, just let me finish this round!" ritual of those days. Of course, I was the only one who felt that affection. I still got yelled at and had to shut it down.
Good memories.
Really dizzying memories. After about an hour of secondhand smoke, even the most high-and-mighty little brats in the world would start complaining of dizziness.
"Kitty, you don't have any game you usually play?"
"Nope. I've never really played games."
"Whoa. You really are a rare breed these days. What do you even do in your free time?"
"Magic training? Or hanging out with my sister?"
She trains magic while hanging out with her sister?
"What does your sister do?"
"She does magic too. She's a mage leagues stronger than I am."
"So why did you say I'm similar to someone like that? Personality?"
"No. You don't look alike or act alike. It's just a feeling."
So we have nothing in common, but our vibe is similar?
Like we have a similar aura or something?
Sounds like cult talk.
"Geun-cheol. Teach me to play a game too."
Kitty looked at me expectantly.
"Sure. I'll teach you. You actually interested?"
"I know what games are. I've just never played one."
The only games you can play with a kid are stuff like Left 4 Dead or some kart racer. When my younger cousins came to visit, I used to drag them all in a line to the PC café and get some Left 4 Dead going.
The kids screamed every time a zombie rushed them, so I had my hands full calming them down. Still, everyone absolutely loved it.
But since Kitty's a girl, should we start with a kart racer?
I wonder if it's still around.
—Tap, tap, tap.
I went straight to the game site.
"It's here."
The game site had the exact same name.
Same logo too. The list of games they service is a bit different from what I know, but mostly similar. Whoa, and some I've never seen before.
Will my login work?
—Tap, tap, tap.
I haven't opened a game since I came to this world. Considering I'm an orphan now... no, I probably still had an ID.
"It works."
I'm logged in.
With the exact same ID I always use. The password is the same too. How the hell can everything be just like mine? He even set up the same ID and password.
Amazing.
I can't help but think this guy really is me.
ID: PowerViolence123. Password: MammothPsycho123.
The same ID and password I always use.
"..."
What kind of person is this guy... to have the exact same naming structure as me.
"Ugh, making an ID is hard."
"Hold on. Let me use a different ID... ah."
The parent accounts I always use. Those won't work. Because I'm an orphan, I guess. So much for that. I gave up cleanly and decided to switch to Left 4 Dead, which doesn't need a login.
"Ah, blocked by the ID thing. Kitty, have you heard of Left 4 Dead?"
"What's that?"
"It's a game where you shoot zombies to death."
And it's still here. I booted up the game immediately and made a lobby. Then I got Kitty connected and started the game.
"I'm kind of excited, Geun-cheol."
"Heh heh heh, right? That's just how games are. Okay, so. You move with the keyboard, and clicking the mouse fires the gun. You just use that to attack the enemies."
"Got it. Oh, it started."
And with that, the game began.
* * *
"Kyaaak! Kyaaaaaak!"
—Ratatatatat!
"Kitty, Kitty! Quiet! You can't scream that loud!"
"I, I caaan't heeelp it!"
When the zombies rushed her, Kitty shrieked and panicked. She'd fire her gun wildly, then squeeze her eyes shut and press her head back against the headrest, turning it to the side.
This game is a simple one where you shoot and kill hordes of zombies. The visuals are pretty scary, so it's super popular with little kids.
"Waah!"
And the moment a special zombie with a charge-grab skill latched onto Kitty, she dropped her mouse and covered her mouth with her hands.
"Heh heh heh! Kitty, come on! You're an Awakened, how can you be scared of this?"
"But I can't properly fight back here! This isn't reality!"
"If it's not reality, why are you so scared?"
"That's, well...!"
She couldn't finish her sentence.
"You're so mean, Geun-cheol! Making me do this!"
"Oh, so you want to stop?"
"Don't underestimate me!"
Kitty grabbed the mouse again and started shooting the zombies. Classic trait of a scary game. It's scary, but you want to keep playing.
"Eep!"
So Kitty fired her gun furiously and suppressed her fear. Just like you'd expect from the number one game for little kids.
"Let's go!"
Man, it is fun playing a game for the first time in a while.
Gaming during exam period is always the most fun. Well, I worked my ass off for a whole week, so I can take today off.
With that thought, I enjoyed the game with Kitty.
* * *
"Aah, Geun-cheol. Today was fun. I played a weird game and ate a hamburger. Yeah. I liked it."
Kitty stretched and smiled, looking very pleased.
"Yeah. It was fun for me too, gaming after so long."
Today, I enjoyed myself to the fullest. No training, no studying, just relaxing and playing games. I felt like my depleted energy reserves were recharging.
Alright, let's ride this wave and grind hard again starting Monday. You can only really put in the work if you recharge on your days off.
"Kitty, let's grab some food. It's dinnertime."
"Has it been that long already?"
"Yeah. What do you want for dinner?"
"You pick, Geun-cheol."
"Then let's go get some cheap Chinese food."
When you're done at a PC café, cheap Chinese food is the law. Kitty immediately and very naturally linked her arm through mine, and just like that, I walked down the street with her.
"Geun-cheol, if I call you next time, will you come out with me again?"
This girl.
She's completely fallen for me.
"Yeah. If I have time. Let's meet up and play games once in a while."
"Okay."
As we were walking and talking—
"Huh?"
A large building up ahead caught my eye.
A huge advertising screen was mounted on the center of the building, and it was playing the news.
—So, are you saying the frequency of these sudden, warningless gate appearances has increased recently?
—Yes, it has. About one case per week is being reported. Apparently, people are getting hurt because the sirens sound too late.
—Gates appearing suddenly without any warning... that sounds incredibly dangerous. How is this even possible?
—Yes, which is why an investigation into the cause is ongoing.
They were talking about gates that appear out of nowhere.
I've already experienced that twice.
"Kitty, do you know about that?"
"Hmm... I don't know? What is it?"
Kitty tilted her head, looking like she didn't know.
Is she too young to know?
"That. They say gates are suddenly appearing without warning. Normally, when a gate appears, there are warning signs so you can prepare. But these ones have no signs and just pop up out of nowhere. That means people have less time to run, right? So it's extremely dangerous."
"Hmm, really?"
At my explanation, Kitty showed some interest and looked up at the news screen.
"I went through some trouble because of that. Ah. Now that I think about it, the first time I met you, Kitty, was because of that."
"Oh, it was? No wonder. It was weird. The sirens didn't even go off, but a monster showed up."
Kitty nodded.
"I'm telling you. It's really dangerous."
"Yeah. That really would be dangerous."
"You be careful too, Kitty."
"I'll be careful."
Kitty smiled brightly as she said that.
"Heh heh, but you seem to worry way too much, Geun-cheol."
"It's because you're so unpredictable. Anyway, just be careful."
I scanned the news again.
—Some are suggesting that the S-rank monsterkin Void Princess may have resumed her activities.
—Hasn't she been out of sight for quite a while now?
—Yes. That's just one of the rumors going around. Void Princess used to create gates and summon monsters. That's likely why people are talking.
Void Princess, huh.
I heard she's a monsterkin who just summons monsters all over the place. Anyway, a dangerous existence. Well, as long as we have our Chairwoman, I guess there's nothing to worry about.
"Geun-cheol. Let's hurry up and go eat that Chinese food."
"Sure."
I started walking with Kitty again.
"Let's go in here."
We went into the nearest Chinese place and ordered a set with two jjajangmyeons and a small order of tangsuyuk. I thought about getting jjamppong... ugh, what the hell is this memory? Asura...? I know nothing. I am ignorant of jjamppong.
As expected from a Chinese restaurant, the set came out fast.
"Eat up. It's all my treat today."
"You're too kind, Geun-cheol. I'll treat you next time."
"You got money?"
"I can just ask my sister for some."
I feel a bit guilty taking an allowance from a kid.
Anyway.
—Slurp.
I ate the noodles... ah, yeah. This is just your standard jjajangmyeon flavor. Nothing lacking, nothing outstanding, just average. It's perfectly inoffensive and great for just getting a meal in. It's on a whole different dimension from that jjamppong back then.
"Ah, Geun-cheol. This is delicious."
"Glad you like it."
"I'm eating a lot of interesting things today."
"Have some tangsuyuk too."
I asked a question while picking up a piece of tangsuyuk.
"By the way, Kitty, what do you normally eat?"
"Hmm, I dunno? Pretty normal stuff, I guess. I just don't eat out much."
"Is that so?"
Did this kid grow up without getting to eat good food? She seemed to really love the hamburger and jjajangmyeon. Seeing her like this makes me want to buy her even more...! So she is poor after all!
So this is how Leona feels!
"Eat plenty."
"Okay."
Watching Kitty eat so happily, I could understand how Leona felt. After we finished eating, we headed outside.
"Geun-cheol. Today was fun. Thanks for everything."
"Yeah."
"I'm going now. You get home safe too, okay?"
"I will. Ah. But can you go alone? Isn't it dangerous?"
"Heh heh heh, I'm an Awakened. Why do you worry so much? Is it because I'm a kid?"
"Yeah, something like that. Now get going."
Awakened or not, a kid's still a kid.
"Bye."
Kitty smiled and waved her hand. I waved back and turned around. Time to head back myself. Starting tomorrow, it's back to studying and training. And sparring practice too.