Since It's Unpredictable (2)
Since It's Unpredictable (2)
Maybe because he wasn't used to typing chat on an old-style input device—a keyboard—his chat speed was extremely slow.
That was only natural.
The gap and dissonance from cyberpunk technology, where you can input whatever you want with only your thoughts and eye movements, was severe.
I was used to it because of my memories from Korea.
That was the only reason I could type chat quickly.
Considering Julia, Rabbit Gyungdyu — whose chat was short and slow — that was the normal side of things.
I could feel his willpower, steadily hammering out chat at that slow speed.
A sunbae's heart, trying to give me accurate information.
Even though I wasn't actually his real junior.
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): Obviously, the same goes for anyone close to Shooting Star. A bounty? Obviously, not putting one up is normal. ]
This guy suddenly became talkative.
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): Every single organization that's ever put a bounty on Shooting Star herself or people close to her has been wiped out. ]
[ I am a real mage(Warrior): Why is that? ]
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): Why do you think? Because Shooting Star flew in and smashed them all to pieces. Don't you know she got the nickname Shooting Star because when she lands everything in the vicinity gets wiped out? ]
Ah.
I thought the nickname just meant she appeared like a comet.
I learned for the first time that it had a hidden meaning — in a literal sense, like a 'Shooting Star,' she wiped everyone out.
If anything, that sounded even more accurate.
And coming from the testimony of someone who dwelled in the underworld, it was even more credible.
Wait, but.
If that was true, why was my name still there?
Just a moment ago, I had clearly seen my name sitting there plain as day.
[ I am a real mage(Warrior): Um, I saw earlier. A person I knew to be Shooting Star's colleague had their name posted on the bounty board? ]
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): Huh? Hold on a sec. ]
After sending that chat, his character moved.
He was going into the bulletin board to check what I had mentioned.
And after a very brief moment, his chat, which had stopped, came back up.
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): lolololololol there are still idiots like this lololol ]
[ I am a real mage(Warrior): ? ]
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): Don't worry about it too much. Well, it's just the kind of thing that happens to idiots who don't check the ground before they run. ]
His dry, unbothered reactions were familiar by now.
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): lololol take another look. Shooting Star must have already landed. ]
I followed his chat and clicked the bulletin board again.
.......
This was for real.
The bounty post with my name, which had been there just moments before, had vanished without a trace.
A fascinating thing.
5. Because It's Unpredictable (2)
The other person quickly continued speaking.
His chat speed was noticeably faster than before.
Was this the hidden talent of a keyboard warrior?
Or did he speed up because he found it amusing that Shooting Star had landed?
Anyway, he was fast.
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): Dumbasses lolol since you saw it, you get it now. If you want to survive in this world, you've got to keep your head on straight. A newbie like you even more so. ]
[ I am a real mage(Warrior): Thank you for the kind advice, teacher;; ]
Wasn't this personality among the top 3% of all Neon City?
Even compared to the people around me, he was.
It was comparable to 'Drex,' the nicest person I knew.
Kindness rarely seen in Neon City.
I had no idea what kind of person he was to be living in the underworld with a personality like this.
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): But... ]
Right then.
Once again, his character froze.
It looked like he had a question about me this time.
Had he somehow caught on to my identity?
No.
My acting through chat had been flawless.
Then what was it?
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): Um... how do you change the job title next to your ID, and how did you put clothes on your character? ]
He was just a newbie.
[ I am a real mage(Warrior): Ah. That is. ]
And I just can't resist a fresh newbie.
I guided him with the best explanation I could give and the kindest words I could choose.
·
·
·
[ I am a real mage(Warrior): If you press the M key, the map will open. ]
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): Where's that? ]
[ I am a real mage(Warrior): If you look closely under the old input device, it's there. ]
·
·
·
[ I am a real mage(Warrior): For your job, I recommend Warrior. Because you can wipe everything out in one hit. ]
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): Yeah? Well, if you're a guy, you've got to go Warrior. ]
[ I am a real mage(Warrior): As expected of you, teacher! You absolutely must not pick jobs like Archer or Mage! ]
·
·
·
After a bit of time passed, the brainwashing....
The kind education came to an end.
Thanks to the jump key I taught him, the other person's character hopped in place a few times.
I was deeply satisfied.
[ I am a real mage(Warrior): That's how you do it. As I said earlier, you can hunt outside the village and level up. ]
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): Huh. I thought it was a game in name only. But it is a game, the systems are pretty varied. Thanks for letting me know. ]
[ I am a real mage(Warrior): Don't mention it. Haha. ]
I had successfully recruited one newbie to a dying game (that was not a game).
It was a trash game with no content, so I was going to quit... but as they say, even if you know the world will end tomorrow, you still plant an apple tree.
I, too, today, planted one tree of hope.
I watched his character fade away beyond the screen.
Once his character had completely disappeared, I clicked the bulletin board again to check the contents.
Even after seeing it twice, it was real.
The bounty post with my name, which had definitely been there just moments before, was gone.
What was the timing on this?
I hadn't imagined it, and it was simply fascinating.
"Shooting Star landed, huh...."
[Calculating based on the database. The probability that the other party's statement is true... 98%.]
Even if it had said 100%, it would have made sense.
Since the thought had crossed my mind, I considered whether I should contact Catherine.
A message... no.
Even if I sent a message, it was obvious a holographic call would come in just like earlier (with Julia).
It was better to just call her first.
After exiting the game, I manipulated my vision interface and called Catherine.
A short song played.
The genre was modern rock.
Before the lyrics of the song even started, Catherine answered the call quickly.
A face with an expression half surprised and half delighted appeared through the hologram.
[What, hello?]
"Yo, Catherine."
And somehow, I felt a sense of déjà vu, like I was watching the exact same scene as earlier.
No, it wasn't déjà vu, it was reality.
What were you doing too?
But just like in Julia's case earlier, Catherine's expression shown in the hologram was extremely peaceful.
The vibe was like she had just stepped out for a walk around the neighborhood.
"Judging by the sounds, you seem busy."
[No, not at all. Really, not even a little bit busy. If you hang up, I'm coming to your place.]
[Blow it up!!]
[Kwaaaaaang!!!]
Hm.
She looked fucking busy to me....
Well, since she said she wasn't busy, I didn't make a point of hanging up and continued the call.
It was absolutely not because I surrendered to her words about coming to my house.
"Looks like you're doing a request or something."
[It's not a request, just some business. Nothing to worry about, not worth paying attention to.]
[Gyaaack!!!]
[Monster, she's a monster......!]
But no matter how much she said she wasn't busy, it didn't seem like the right atmosphere to keep the call going.
"...I just called because I thought of you."
[What's the occasion, you calling me first?]
[S, spare....]
...Uh, ma'am.
Unknown voices keep breaking in from the side.
"Anyway, let's see each other at home later."
[......Tch, got it. Then I'll see you at home later.]
"Yeah, good luck."
[I told you not to take that job! I don't want to di─.]
- Click.
The call ended.
No, I ended it.
My dreams were going to be uneasy.
......Hmm.
Clearly, describing it as Shooting Star landing was definitely fitting.
And one thing was for sure — I'd need to hang out with Catherine for a long time today.
With that thought, I waited for Catherine to return to the house next door.
* * *
"Are you two seriously friends? Si-un, Catherine, I've told you both to come see me how many times, and you never think about coming. Especially you, Si-un — we talked about this on the call last time, you said you'd come if I called! If we make plans, you've got to show your face at least once, damn it!"
Another friend and colleague of ours, Drex, had come to our house.
Even nice people got angry sometimes.
This was one of those times.
...But, honestly, Drex's house... even if we made plans, going there right away was way too far.
"I'm sorry! It was too bothersome to go!"
First, I apologized shamelessly.
Anyway, it was an apology.