High School Reunion
A short while later.
He returned home, changed clothes, and headed to the meeting spot. Without a personal car, he took a taxi.
"We're here."
"How much?"
"6,700 won."
After paying, he got out of the taxi and entered the restaurant right in front of him.
People were already seated, clinking glasses and chatting noisily.
The inside was lively because of them.
"So, what's your level?"
Amid the chatter, a familiar voice rang out. Turning his head, he spotted Sung Min-woo there.
Mu-hyuk approached with a faint smile, spotting the group that had already arrived.
People he once considered friends.
Even her, the one he'd given his heart to.
"Yo, you made it?"
A guy with a well-developed jaw gestured casually with his eyes.
It was Heo Young-chan.
True to his name, he was a bit steeped in vanity.
His family wasn't wealthy, but a small online shopping mall he'd started had hit it big, now pulling in close to 15 million won in net profit a month, or so he'd heard.
That had sharpened his already blunt, straightforward speech even more.
The kind of guy who didn't know how to hold back words, even with friends.
"Yeah."
Before he could even respond properly, heads turned his way.
Everyone wore welcoming expressions. But how many were truly glad to see him?
Then Sung Min-woo stood up.
"Why're you so late?"
"Traffic was a bit backed up."
"Yeah? Sit here for now."
Sung Min-woo pulled Mu-hyuk over and sat him down.
Of all places, right next to her—the one he'd once had feelings for, Jeong Mina.
A twinge of discomfort rose at first, but as he sat and chatted with her, he realized he'd changed.
"It's been a while— you look totally different."
"Yeah? Been hitting the gym lately."
The old Mu-hyuk would've mumbled awkwardly.
Overcome with shyness, he'd have been gruff or avoided her gaze altogether.
But not now. She was just a girl he used to know, nothing more.
"Whoa, check out those muscles."
Suddenly, Jeong Mina reached out, her hand brushing his forearm.
Mu-hyuk flinched a little, but years of full-body paralysis had tempered his mental fortitude.
He hadn't expected to meet her eyes so steadily in a moment like this.
"Rock hard!"
She'd always shown up to these gatherings, but getting close had been tough.
There'd always been distance between them, but today, it was barely there.
Not that he liked her more for it.
He still remembered the pitying look and awkward words from her hospital visit when he was paralyzed.
"Thanks."
So he ignored her subtle glances now. With nothing left to say, he turned away.
Sung Min-woo was smirking at him.
He hadn't said it, but he knew. That Mu-hyuk had liked Jeong Mina. That's why he'd sat him next to her on purpose.
Pointless now, though.
Still, Mu-hyuk didn't let it show.
"You play Illusion, right?"
"Obviously."
"What's your level?"
"32 now."
"When'd you start?"
"Right at launch. You?"
"Me?"
Mu-hyuk shut his mouth at Sung Min-woo's question.
"Hey, what's your level?"
"Oh. I haven't been playing long."
"Yeah?"
"Just under two months."
"Still, you must be at least 15."
Mu-hyuk just smiled.
31, actually.
No need to get into details.
If it were just Sung Min-woo, maybe, but...
Capsule sales in Korea alone topped 20 million, and worldwide, they were nearing a billion.
Sales were skyrocketing daily, with 50 percent of TV programming tied to Illusion.
Rankers shot ads one day, and the next, their quests aired on major networks.
He might not feel the full impact, but he sure sensed it.
In a game like that, everyone dreamed of the top.
Mu-hyuk was no different. He had no desire to share his info with them.
"Why so quiet?"
That was the moment.
"Hey, hey. No tact? You can tell he's dodging 'cause it's embarrassing. Level's too low, right? We'll bus lowbies later—high levels like us should talk. I said I'm 46, yeah? Not ranker status, but people notice."
Heo Young-chan's voice hit his eardrums. Sung Min-woo's head turned toward him.
"But you run a shopping mall."
"Yeah."
"How'd you hit 46 already?"
"Ah, I downplayed it a bit."
"The mall size?"
"Yeah. No time for Illusion if I'm micromanaging. Hired an part-timer to handle it all. I still oversee sales, though."
Then Bae Min-gyu and Park Hwan-gyu on either side chimed in, envy plain on their faces.
"Whoa, baller."
"So you just sit back and cash rolls in monthly?"
"Exactly."
Heo Young-chan's lips curled up.
That smirk practically said it: How's that? I'm not on your level.
Then Jeong Mina's eyes sparkled as she asked him.
"But do you really need to go that far?"
"Huh?"
"Shrinking the business cuts income."
"True. But becoming an Illusion ranker looks better long-term. Think about it—net, TV, it's all Illusion now. Idols used to rule, but now even they MC or guest on Illusion shows."
Everyone nodded.
"And rankers filled those spots."
"Yep."
"Illusion's not crashing anytime soon."
Obvious.
With billions of capsules sold worldwide.
"Spotlight there means stardom, not just Korea—global. Know how much ranker quests on the big three networks pull? Appearance fee alone's 20 million won, and paid streams? Hundreds of millions monthly."
Mouths dropped at "hundreds of millions."
"Whoa, that much?"
"No surprise."
Paid streams weren't easy—only special quests qualified.
But high levels and good guilds made it possible.
Few shone now, but guilds would dominate later.
"Got offers from some hot guilds lately."
"Jealous."
"Huge, man."
"Aw, shucks."
Everyone hung on Heo Young-chan's words.
Everyone but Mu-hyuk.
"You thought that far ahead?"
"Duh. No VR game's matched this quality. Illusion's game-changing."
Heo Young-chan's eyes gleamed.
Mu-hyuk eyed him oddly.
It'd play out like he said.
He'd seemed all vanity, but the guy read trends well.
Made sense—enough savvy to strike gold with the mall.
Mu-hyuk agreed mostly, but spotted flaws he couldn't endorse.
Like "hundreds of millions" from paid streams—only mega-hits pulled that.
Even popular ones faded as new content dropped, viewers and revenue plummeting.
He glossed over that.
Fine, whatever.
But could Heo Young-chan really join them?
Enter the ranker world teeming with monsters?
Survive?
Unlikely.
Why? His level: a measly 46.
Started at launch, ignored the mall except sales.
Massive cash spending, probably all-in—still just 46.
Low for over seven months.
50 might be debatable.
Mu-hyuk hit 31 in under two.
40 before four months? Possible.
Ogre-hunting at 31 sped things up.
Early info edge enabled it. That gap would snowball—undeniable.
"46 in a top guild."
Impressive to them, laughable to Mu-hyuk.
No hidden quests cleared, obviously.
Just +45 stats—catch top rankers? No way.
True top 10,000 had hidden quests boosting sub-stats.
Their gap? Beyond words.
Tempted to drop truth.
Reveal his level?
31 in two months—they'd faint.
Human urge to brag, especially as a guy.
Problem: exposure.
Name, age, school.
Even without malice, loose lips spread it.
If caught...
Caught?
So what?
Why fret?
Some hesitation, sure.
Family.
They'd die of shock halfway.
Low level drew more cons than pros, but no need to hide this hard.
Who'd care about 31 anyway?
Suspect speed might draw eyes, but without proof, it'd be dismissed as BS.
Maybe overthinking...
But those thoughts didn't linger. Heo Young-chan's bragging hit again.
"Heh, anyway, snag a guild spot and I'll hook you guys up. No worries."
"Sweet!"
Mu-hyuk just chuckled inwardly.
Yeah, whatever.
No need to point out flaws, snap him to reality.
Dirty personality, but trend-savvy—watching him crash in arrogance? Kinda fun.
"Anyway, Jeong Mina."
"Yeah?"
"You play Illusion too. What's your level?"
"Mage, level 20."
"Hmm, low."
"Yeah, no time."
Jeong Mina laughed, chatting with Heo Young-chan.
"Want a party?"
"For real? Hell yeah!"
"Cool, hit me up tomorrow."
"Got it!"
Illusion talk dominated, so even Mu-hyuk stayed engaged.
Didn't drink much, but the vibe got to him.
Didn't love the crowd, but this relaxation was rare—couldn't stop the smile.
When he refocused, time had flown—past 11.
"Whoa, already?"
"Time to head out?"
Heo Young-chan shook his head, eyes glassy from booze.
"Head where?"
"Huh? More drinks?"
"Nah!"
"Then?"
"Capsule room, idiots!"
Mu-hyuk's expression hardened at "capsule room."