Long Time No See
Long Time No See
Attacking with a weapon consumes more stamina than attacking with fists.
That holds true even if you just put on knuckles.
Also, stamina consumption for every movement increases slightly.
In short, if you land a back choke in a situation where bare hands meet a weapon, it's a guaranteed win.
That's why Nogada spoke leisurely while the opponent struggled.
"G-ugh... Who are you...! Who sent you!!!"
"When dealing with someone bare-handed, the first strike is a swing, and if you get close, it's a stab. It's a basic, so memorize it."
"I asked who sent you!! Is it Kabukicho? Or juvenile detention!? Flamingo!?"
"You have quite a lot of enemies. We are Sotongbulga."
Yulia, who had approached at some point, answered.
"It literally means we don't communicate. So just quietly pass out."
"Sotongbulga... Remembered... it."
With that last word, he passed out, or rather, lay on the floor.
[Acting skills GOAT]
[Acting passionately until the end]
[Acting is first-rate, but the swordsmanship is third-rate]
[Isn't Nogada-ham just a natural disaster?]
[He needs to learn how to use a weapon]
[Nogada-ham already gave him a lesson lol]
[It's a lesson carved in blood, so take it to heart]
[Got beaten by a civilian while holding a knife lolololol]
[He even popped an adrenaline shot]
[Ah, no wonder the stun wore off quickly]
If you're in a war or a fight, the rule is that the person who passed out must keep their mouth shut.
Following that rule, the two gangsters lying on the floor chose to lie quietly rather than move.
Then what about Choi Dol-pung, who made a huge fuss while lying down?
If it was light WWE, it didn't matter.
If you couldn't speak just because you were lying down, it would be too inconvenient.
"They can't fight as well as I thought."
"Even with weapons, they're no match. Ajura-ssi really does fight well."
Ajura exchanged several blows with Nogada even while holding a pickaxe.
Of course, she got toyed with later, but she did put up a good fight at the beginning.
"Uhm... Thank you?"
As Yulia, who was chatting with Nogada, turned her head, a woman wearing a fluorescent vest continued to greet them.
"But can you handle the aftermath? The atmosphere is ominous these days. You said... Sotongbulga? You're a new gang, right?"
"We're not a gang."
"Eh? Then..."
Yulia thought for a moment and answered.
"We're just citizens. To be precise, maybe a construction crew?"
"Ah."
The woman made a sound as if she finally understood.
"Then I see. You're thinking of moving to the South or the East? These bastards have definitely been taking too much."
Perhaps because she felt a little less burdened, she started talking about this and that.
"I don't know if they lost their conscience or if they've gone crazy because the atmosphere is so ominous, but they're taking tolls like extortion. Maybe I should just move too..."
Unlike gangs tied to a region, citizens can go anywhere.
Of course, avoiding pursuit is a hassle, but if you die a few times, that gets resolved too.
So sometimes, citizens acted more aggressively than gangs.
"Still, you're getting involved in troublesome business... Thank you. It's not much, but if you ever need anything, tell me! I'll help."
The people around them responded to those words.
"Yeah! I'll help too!!"
"Anyway, this is refreshing!"
"These bastards really had no conscience."
Because they were also full of complaints.
To the point where they gathered and had a serious discussion.
"Should we seriously move? It looks like a war is going to break out soon."
"You could get shot on the road."
"Should I just go to the East? I heard they don't charge much for tolls there."
"I heard it's quiet because there are only two gangs."
"That's right. And I heard those gangs are very close to each other."
"Right. They're brother gangs, so the security is good."
"Oh, I didn't know that, is it true? If so, should I really go?"
"Oh really? There are plenty of jobs there too, so it's worth... Wait. The infiltration is natural."
Nogada and Yulia had naturally blended into the crowd.
"Do you happen to know the names of those gangs?"
"I don't know the names."
"It should be on Insta... Negotiation Impossible and Cooperation Impossible? They're openly brother gangs."
"This is the first time I've seen someone guess the names... Wait, 'Impossible'?"
The gazes of the people who were scattered turned to Nogada and Yulia.
In response, Yulia requested a joint emote 'Couple V', and with Nogada, who accepted it by surprise, they put their arms around each other's shoulders and made V-signs.
"We are Sotongbulga."
"The power brokers of the East."
"Possessing 1 high-grade construction equipment."
"Also possessing 2 gangs."
"Eh. Wasn't that a secret?"
"We're going to have to fight soon anyway, so let's just reveal it."
[Wasn't that a secret lololololol]
[Revealing it so refreshingly]
[This is the right way for Nogada-ham]
"Is that so? Well, since it's turned out like this..."
Yulia thought for a moment and then took a step further.
"If you have any hard times, come to us. We can't do things like 'taking someone out', but we'll help as much as we can."
"I can do the 'taking someone out' part."
"So don't worry about us."
"We will win."
A moment of silence.
"Wow... That's fucking cool."
"I thought they said those people weren't a gang."
"Aren't they like the masterminds or something?"
"I don't know what it is, but it's badass."
"They said they're a construction crew. Is that why the construction toll in the East was low?"
"It might be better to seriously move..."
"This is what they call school ties and regional ties. Aren't we also part of the same construction crew as Sotongbulga? This is how you get benefits without knowing it."
As planned.
Yulia, expecting the various ripple effects these people would spread, turned around but then stopped.
"Could you call EMS for us instead? We were on our way to a date."
"Yeah, call it for them instead."
I turned on auto-input for the first part, but didn't for the latter.
It's still a bit embarrassing to say it directly, and I'm worried she might back out again.
No, to be honest, I did it because I was afraid she wouldn't back out.
Because she's been aggressive lately.
"Kyaaaaa! What, what...!!"
"We were holding up busy people for no reason."
"Oh, my sides are cold..."
Anyway, spread this rumor too.
"Please?"
Got it?
"No."
"Ah, please!!!"
Choi Jae-rim's voice over the phone was definitely desperate.
But my answer remained the same.
"No."
It was also because the first voice I heard upon waking up was Choi Jae-rim's, which put me in a bad mood.
"Just!!! Just give me 1 hour!! Please!!!"
I have to play on the Life Server.
There are people inside the monitor.
"Absolutely impossible."
"Absolutely please!!!!"
The situation was like this.
"We have to win this time so we can take this place!! If we lose, our turn gets pushed back! Contribute as a basketball crew member too!"
The school opened its doors even during vacation.
It meant to come for studying or exercise, but naturally, exercise was more popular.
Why go all the way to school during vacation?
Youths with boiling blood and overflowing stamina get restless if they don't go to school.
Normally, they would release that overflowing stamina through games, but they weren't normal.
"Grrr, basketball... Aren't you ashamed as a basketball player!!!"
"What even is a 'basketball player'?"
The backlash from breaking the routine they did every day was bigger than expected.
Lee Ju-yeong, who looks gentle but swears without hesitation when exercising; Ahn Woo-jin, who becomes aggressive as if his usual calmness was for this moment; and even Choi Jae-rim, who only gets serious at times like this.
Since exercising after school was their daily joy, they had even more time to exercise during vacation.
Therefore, there was no way they would give up the school auditorium, which was the closest and best-maintained court in the neighborhood.
But what do you want me to do?
"I'm not going during vacation anyway."
I would have run there if it were during the semester, but not now.
Once again, my life is inside the monitor...
"Sorry, but this includes the time after vacation too."
"What?"
No, what is that...
"The bastards from other classes played a trick. They heard the news that you've been staying indoors playing games lately, and then......"
To sum it up, that was it.
"Damn it, democracy!! I hate you!!"
They said they were outnumbered.
While I, the best basketball player in Lee Ju-yeong's group, was holed up in my room, the other classes conspired to make a decision, and under the principle of majority rule, they had no choice but to accept the proposal.
"Ha..."
I rubbed my face dry and checked the time.
Today's wake-up time, which was a bit early due to the sudden vibration, was 11:23.
"Until when?"
"Until 12! Are you coming??"
Then I have to go, what else can I do.
"I'm coming. Buy some food at the convenience store."
"I will obey your command!!"
I'd let other things slide, but basketball was a serious matter.
I grabbed my heavy head and headed to the bathroom.
"I don't want to..."
"Ah, this bitch."
Choi Da-ram's voice over the phone was more venomous than usual.
What is it, is she on her period?
"Why are you like this. I told you I'm busy..."
To be precise, I'm sleepy.
"Hey, honestly, isn't this too much? It's been a while since vacation started, does it make sense that you haven't shown your face even once? Let's see each other for a while since it's been a long time."
It was rare for Choi Da-ram to talk for this long.
I don't know... but I'm sleepy.
I opened my eyes halfway and checked the time.
11:04...?
No wonder I'm sleepy.
"But... isn't it only 3 days?"
"..."
It's the truth.
3 days... no, 4 days? It's not really a 'long time'.
Anyway, it hasn't been long.
I'm a girl too, but I really don't understand girls of this age.
Getting upset over not seeing each other for just 3 days.
They were truly sensitive creatures.
But she's cute, so I'll forgive her.
"Okay. Let's see each other."
"... Just get lost."
Playing hard to get.
I ignored Choi Da-ram's fussing and continued.
"But I can't stay long. I have an appointment at 3."
"3 o'clock? Hmm..."
If it were normal, I would have let her whining about being disappointed slide, but...
"Sorry, but it's a really important matter."
Not now.
I have to go meet my darling.
I'm going even though I'm extremely pressed for time.
"3 o'clock will be cutting it close. Okay, just come out."
"Mmm... but where are we going?"
"School."
"Eh? I don't want to go..."
"This crazy bitch, real..."
Choi Da-ram's screeching gradually faded, and soon a calm, beautiful voice was heard.
"Da-ram, calm down. Yu-ri, long time no see."
"Yes, darling. Long time no see. You're still pretty."
"This isn't a video call."
"I know just by hearing your voice. But why school during vacation? We could meet in the city."
Does she want us to go together?
But then the route is not great.
"Ah... well, Ju-yeong said he's playing basketball with friends, so we decided to eat together while watching."
"Eh?"
The first thought I had after hearing that was.
"Then why call me and Da-ram? You two can just eat together."
'Why would I join that'.
Watching other people's romance is fun, but that's only when you're watching from a step behind.
I didn't want to join a date.
"Because Kim Jae-hyun is coming too? I heard from Ju-yeong that he would definitely call him..."
The thought I had after hearing this was.
"I love you."
As expected of my darling.
I immediately got up.
"Since Da-ram brought it up first, tell her too."
"Tell her I'll give her a kiss when I get there."
Shin Yu-ri ran to the bathroom in a good mood.
I get to see Jae-hyun after a long time.
Hehe.