Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Gather Round, Warm Monster Forest (2)
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Night was deepening, but Dahye showed no signs of leaving the computer.
She'd chat excitedly for a bit, then suddenly zone out staring at the ceiling, only to dive back into furious typing moments later.
It was already past 1 a.m. What on earth could they be talking about?
Her lips kept twitching into a grin, so it must've been hilarious.
"Dahye, aren't you going to bed?"
"Seonghyeon, just a sec... We're assigning roles right now."
"Roles? For a guild meeting?"
"Yeah! Akahara's leading the game session. Linneun unnie's grabbing snacks... Oh, and the guild master's bringing booze!"
"Sounds like the real deal... You sure it won't fizzle out in an hour?"
"You think? I've never done one, so I can't picture it... Hehe, but it sounds fun."
"What're you in charge of?"
"Food! I'm cooking lunch! If I make something tasty, the guild master said they'd cover dinner delivery."
"Hmm... Just dump some kibble in water and call it a day."
"Eek... No way... I wanna get close to unnie and oppa."
Seeing her pout made my chest tighten.
Dahye thought feeding those losers would win them over, but she was dead wrong.
Those guys would bend over backwards to buddy up with her no matter what she served.
Linneun Trauzer—aka Ma-baji—was a full-time housewife always craving gaming buddies.
She'd been eyeing Dahye, who gamed all day, for ages.
The guild master? Dying of curiosity about whatever was up between me and Dahye.
And Akahara—that perv who spammed "sex" in global chat till he got banned—was probably losing his mind over the cohabitation bait.
He was the most dangerous one.
Dahye thought we were on food duty, but nah—that was just her job.
Mine was different.
Keep those loser punks from invading our love nest.
Until they left, we had to come off as nothing more than amicable roommates sharing a place.
Sharing a bed?
One whiff of that, and it'd unleash hell.
So while Dahye played Animal Forest with the animals, I'd stay sharp and run Animal Random Defense.
Of course, I'd need Dahye's help for that.
"Dahye, wanna plan tomorrow's menu together? I'll help with the cooking."
"For real? Anything goes? Can I pick from YouTube?"
"Sure. But I've got one condition."
"What?"
"Absolutely..."
"Absolutely?"
"...don't let them find out we sleep together."
"Oh... Embarrassed?"
"It's not about embarrassment. Feed those guys bait, and they'll yap about it all day."
"Would it even come up? I doubt anyone'd ask..."
"Promise me. Or no deal."
"Okay! But you'll really help with everything, right?"
"Obviously."
Her face lit up with a smile again.
That grin, like the world's happiest person over the tiniest thing.
She was probably thrilled at the thought of sharing yummy food she'd cooked with new gaming pals in our fresh home.
I knew that feeling all too well.
It was what I felt every time I did something for Dahye.
She'd always been on the receiving end, but now she got to be the giver—and soak in that joy.
Ah, that explained why she'd banned me from the kitchen before.
She wanted that giving joy all to herself.
Thanks for that, I guess.
Her cooking was always tasty... but I'd savor it even more from now on.
"Yay! Gotta make something super fancy! I'll pick the menu—grocery shopping together tomorrow? Promise?"
"Promise. Now let's sleep."
"Okay!"
I caught the bouncing Dahye, slung her over my shoulder, and headed to bed.
It was a routine we'd fallen into lately.
Bedtime hit, she'd launch herself at me, and I'd scoop her up to the bedroom.
Three weeks since we met, and we were that comfortable.
To the point where lying in bed without the other felt wrong—we'd go fetch them.
I still couldn't square my love for Dahye with this weird limbo we were in.
But that was our issue.
Whatever happened next, it was between us.
No room for nosy losers' meddling.
Just eat and leave.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Seonghyeon! They're at the first floor!"
"Don't tense up. You're making me nervous."
"Ugh... What do I do? Wonder what they look like... Do I seem weird? Should've done my makeup..."
"You're fine. Totally cute."
"Really? Ugh... Hands are shaking."
A week flew by, and the big day was here.
Zero hype from me, but Dahye's jitters were contagious.
She'd prepped like crazy last week.
Picked extravagant lunch dishes, which burned through nearly 30 bucks in ingredients.
Now we were in sky-blue and pink pajamas, waiting at the door for the losers.
Not thrilled, but it was a pajama party.
Dahye fidgeted at the entrance...
Ding-dong!
...then bolted to fling the door open.
"Come on in, everyone!"
"Hey, Pokttal."
"Pokttal! Seonghyeon! First time—I'm Aka!"
"Auntie's here."
Greetings poured in the second the door opened.
Then they barged in shamelessly, leaving Dahye stunned at the chaos...
Or so I thought.
My prediction missed the mark.
They froze the moment they lifted their heads.
Mouths agape, heads cocked at 45 degrees.
Why stare like that?
They're the weird ones.
Pajama party—don't people change here?
Unless you're nuts, why show up in sleepwear?
Wonseok hyung: chicken pajamas. Gross.
Dark wavy brown hair? Ma-baji unnie—in a monkey onesie.
And... that tiny speck is Aka?
Figured the Giant character perv was a dude.
Nope. Girl. Maybe 150 cm.
Bob cut, round glasses, dinosaur pajamas.
Three of 'em lined up? A circus.
"What're you doing? Come in."
"Hold up. These faces look familiar..."
"Us?"
"No way... You guys..."
Ma-baji unnie and Aka squinted, scanning us.
Wonseok hyung behind them, hand over mouth, choking back laughs.
Dahye glanced between us and them, clueless...
I could guess from the vibe.
What our faces jogged in their memories.
What they'd seen.
Damn.
Then dinosaur and monkey yelled in unison.
I'd half-expected it, but not those names.
"King Rosanne and Jotgrna, right?"
"King Rosanne and Jotgrna for sure!?"
Yeah. No helping it.
Low-quality enough to meme online? Check.
But Jotgrna? Can't even call it Ragnar properly.
"Wonseok hyung... Ease up. I have a private life. How far'd you spread it?"
"Wasn't me. I said nothing. That's why I'm shocked too. Right? Didn't know you cosplayed."
Monkey and dino whipped around at the chicken.
"What!? King Rosanne and Jotgrna are Pokttal's roomies?"
"For real!? Our guild has... top-rankers?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The internet pics of us blew past my worst fears.
Perfect Rosanne next to my constipated grimace.
Should've smiled. Might not look so tragic.
Now it screams "noob cosplay kid crying over bad quality."
Pullworthy, even to me.
If we'd blended in, they'd geek out on games like normal noobs. But nope—aggro pulled hard.
King Rosanne and Jotgrna.
"Kyahaha! Too cute, Pokttal—why so pretty? Kwonpa looks funny in the meme, but irl? Sexy!"
"Our Pokttal's an absolute cutie! But why's Kwon Seonghyeon so human? Not a robot?"
Ma-baji auntie and Aka had spent 10 minutes snapping pics with Dahye, pinching cheeks, hugging chaos.
Me? Sneer if our eyes met.
Then monkey auntie launched a sneak attack.
Before we even sat. Quick one.
"So how'd you two end up cohabiting? Secret dating?"
"No dating—just roommates."
"Just roomies? Really? Pokttal, true?"
"Yeah... Gosichon rent's pricey, so we teamed up."
"Hmmm... I see. Gotcha..."
Dahye's innocence shone here.
So tense, every move was robotic.
Intro skipped—our rehearsed house tour kicked in.
"Um... Ma-baji unnie! And everyone! Wanna tour the place? I'll show you around."
"Ooh, yes! Lead on."
Good girl! Better this way.
Robot mode—no gaps.
"First, our gaming room. Cool, right?"
"Whoa... Insane. Gaming with hubby is my dream..."
"It's basically a PC bang? Epic..."
"Seonghyeon fixed Pokttal's dream. Fun gaming together?"
"Love it. Games are so good lately—saw my ranking jump?"
Aka grinned at me, asking.
Innocent smile, but those glasses hid filthy thoughts.
"Just games?"
"What else?"
"Dunno, just asking. Hehe."
Sex-perv bastard.
Hold out a bit, stuff 'em with food—they'd nerd out on games.
Smile. Stone-face it.
Then monkey auntie sniffed Dahye's pajamas.
And dropped this.
"Hey, Pokttal."
"Yes, unnie!"
"Smells like Seonghyeon on your PJs? Time to wash."
"Eek? Really? Sprayed air freshener... Still?"
"Kidding—your reaction's gold. Haha."
"Wha... Huh?"
Sneaky auntie...
All eyes snapped to me.
"What? Why stare?"
"Just roomies? Then what's with her reaction?"
"Dahye's shy—gets weird sometimes. Right?"
"Yeah! I'm weird!"
Monkey auntie eyed me like trash.
Wonseok hyung shook his head, disgust plain.
Why so harsh?
Luckily, Aka laughed.
Of course. Snooping over smells is the real weirdness.
Akahara.
Ditch the auntie-uncle pervy brains—see me with pure 20s eyes.
Our eyes met, and Aka said:
"Sex."
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