Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Brotherly Adjustments and Fanatic Frenzy
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- Right turn ahead, followed by a left.
"Every damn time, there's one thing I just can't get used to. Feels like I'm gonna scrape the car."
Right turn, then immediate left followed by another right—some mangy mutt from any country could navigate it better. And my brother was grumbling right beside me. With all this constant bitching.
"Why not just move back home? Dad would be thrilled."
All that endless nagging always circled back to the same thing. The "come home" decree, popping up every time I thought I'd dodged it.
"Then what about you?!"
"Tsk."
"...What!"
"Hmm......"
Haneul Lee had gone off the rails somehow. Every other word out of his mouth was a tsk, a hmm, or a huh—this pathetic trio that made full sentences impossible.
Why the hell was he suddenly like this? He had to be losing it. Felt like the whole family had spiked their drinks with something.
Goosebumps prickled my arms, but I twitched my lips anyway. I knew exactly what the idiot wanted.
"O, o......"
"Hmm......"
"O, o...! Cut the crap! Seriously, what's with you since earlier?!"
"Who might you be? No little brother in our family."
"......"
And just like that, he wouldn't even glance my way.
My life. How the fuck did we end up here?
I let out a deep sigh. It wasn't surrender. Not at all.
"...Then what about oppa......"
"Ah, oppa's gotta go independent now. Can't mooch off Mom and Dad forever, right?"
"Your company's in Seocho! Closest spot to Yongsan—why not crash here?!"
"...Hmm, clear skies today."
Bro dodged my gaze again. Clear my ass. It was overcast with rain spitting down.
"...Oppa’s office is in Seocho. Super close to Yongsan. Just stay."
"Ah, oppa wants to do some dating, you know? People talk if you don't."
"Who the hell talks?"
"Dunno, someone will. And it's not like young kids should be living solo anyway."
"...You never said shit before."
"I always planned to. But 'someone' kept dodging my calls."
"......"
Hard to argue when he put it like that.
I turned to the window, idly watching the scenery crawl by.
Sorry, bro—but I'd already gotten way too used to a life free of tiptoeing around. Not happening.
"Think it over."
"...Yeah."
Of course, no chance in hell.
"You won't, right?"
"...Yeah."
Shit.
"Ha, I will. I'll mull it over."
"So, positively considering it?"
"...Kinda leaning negative."
Bro pretended to dab at tears. Aww, whatever.
"This oppa's heart is breaking. Gotta prep for marriage, but all my cash is bleeding out on little sis's rent. No time to save."
"......"
"Guess I'll just live alone and croak. What else can I do?"
"That's low."
You said you were on my side before. Promised you'd have my back!
The words swirled in my mouth, but I knew I was the shameless one—so I swallowed them.
Silence after that. The spacious sedan hummed faintly with engine noise.
I wasn't the type to hate awkward quiet, so it wasn't bad. Still, I spoke up anyway. Maybe 'cause he seemed happy to drive me.
"...Oppa."
"Yeah."
"Isn't it weird calling you oppa? I've said 'bro' my whole life."
The question caught him off guard—Haneul's eyes flicked to me for a second.
"What's weird about it? Calling me 'bro' with that face is the real awkward part."
"Oppa, you're holding up well."
"Not holding up—just gotta adapt. Can't drag it out forever."
"......"
A voice flowed from the car's system. Already? The familiar building came into view. My little kingdom.
"Thanks for the ride. Heading in."
"Noeul."
As I grabbed the side dish container from the back seat, my name rang out. I turned—Haneul stroked my head, just like Ye had.
"They say accepting and adapting quick is good for your mental health."
"What......"
I'd read plenty of articles on it myself. Felt off, but I nodded.
"...Got it."
"Oppa’s got your back. No worries."
"What......"
Suddenly dropping the mood like that.
Old me would've scoffed. Now? Just nodded.
"Oppa, I'm really going."
"Hit me up."
"Will do."
"Introduce any boyfriend to oppa first. Before anything. Guys know guys best......"
No need to hear the rest—I slammed the door.
Anyone overhearing would think he couldn't tell good from bad. Haneul had adapted to my change way too fast.
I waved back at Haneul waving from the car.
Coming from such a bustling spot, the old quiet felt strangely off.
I stood blankly in front of the house, staring until his car vanished from sight.
'Used to be alone. Felt normal.'
Everything was fucked now.
All because I'd turned into a girl.
Logging into the game after so long wasn't the same.
Not just simple burnout from grinding nonstop for two years.
Something was seriously, seriously wrong.
I'd lived a good life—or so I thought. Why was this happening? Felt like a nightmare.
Seongil Kim's voice boomed through the headset, laughing his lungs out.
Hanna Lee was spot on. The self-proclaimed "Dori Corps" fans had changed. Big time.
Every last one looked like a screw was loose.
I'd ignored them, figuring the "fans" swarming me would fizzle out soon enough. That was my mistake.
Yeah. They'd gone full degenerate.
Couldn't fathom what they saw in me.
Back in the day, they'd just huddle together harmlessly. Now? They camped paths, blocked routes, howling nonsense moans and cheers like it was planned.
Raids were serious business—no time to waste, so I killed a few to clear the way. That just drew more.
They were even jealous of the dead ones!
O Jonghun nailed it—they embodied what happens when desperate nobodies crave attention.
A perfect cluster of humanity's worst traits.
'The truly horrifying part is......'
This insane Eden had dropped a Chuseok package hawking "job change tickets" for cash. Sorcerers everywhere switched to Sage.
'Which means......'
Massive obstacles now infested my hunting grounds.
Clinging to jump-pack gear and levels, the self-styled Dori Corps slunk into my spots in hordes.
And shit hit the fan.
Misery loves company—even scrubs gained confidence in numbers, swarming top hunting zones and harassing me nonstop.
'The Eden I knew is dead......'
Why launch such a rootless package? Made me hate the director for no reason.
Then Dokgo Jeong's voice crackled through the headset, drained of energy. Curious, I asked what was up.
Keyboard clacks mixed in—he was fighting hard.
"They like getting killed......"
Perverts, huh.
"Yeah, total pervs......"
"Tell 'em I'm not here......"
Getting that kind of griefing just for being in the same raid? What were GMs doing?
Couldn't see it, but the scene played vivid in my mind.
"......"
Sneaky bastards. Unlike Dokgo, the others found ways around.
Locust swarm to us, but the biggest victim was probably...
...Haon Park, facing even stronger foes now.
My smartphone buzzed nonstop today.