Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Gather in the Warmth Monster Forest (4)
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Dahye cried without saying a word.
Her eyes were wide open, her lower lip and chin clenched tight as if she were trying her best to hold it back,
but despite her efforts, the tears just kept flowing endlessly.
What was it about that lively table from moments ago that made her cry?
Not worth thinking about.
Everything.
Everything on that table.
The casual jokes tossed around, the laughter exploding in unison like clockwork.
Aka, who called Dahye her friend, and Marbaji, who reached out with his creepy hands to hug her at every chance.
The meal Dahye had prepared so diligently, and the gold bugs enjoying it.
The stale old memories and the camaraderie from our days in Billion Saga.
As the saying goes, "The one who's tasted meat knows the flavor." For Dahye, who had always been alone, this must have been overwhelmingly stimulating.
Even in the middle of laughing together, she probably suddenly thought,
"Since when have I been hanging out with people?"
"Is it right for me to be with these fun folks?"
"Until recently, being alone was normal for me. Do I even deserve this joy?"
Something like that, feeling a sense of alienation.
Caught between the natural "we" others use so easily and her own "I."
And I know the fear Dahye felt after that.
The fear that this feeling, which came so suddenly, might vanish just as abruptly.
Stifling it in the whirlwind of joy and fear until the tears finally burst out.
I handed her some tissues and held her so she could cry her heart out.
This would probably make her cry even more.
The best way to stop tears would be a dumb joke to make her laugh, but right now, I just held Dahye and patted her back.
I wanted her to cry as much as she needed.
About 80% of those tears were from happiness anyway.
The gold bugs were still exhausting, but I was a little grateful they came.
A short time passed, and I comforted Dahye enough to step outside.
I figured they'd grill her about her red eyes and why she cried...
Guess I'd just insist she got smacked.
Being treated like trash actually put my mind at ease.
But their reaction was beyond my expectations. Do the gold bugs only have udon brains?
"Did you kiss?"
"Did you stick your tongue in!?"
"Cut the bullshit!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After chatter time ended, the gold bugs pulled out a bunch of stuff.
Housewarming gifts, they called it.
I've lived here for three years—who decided that?
"Seeing Kwon Seonghyeon, you little shit, looking so happy makes me wanna take it back, but it's too heavy, so here."
"Me too!"
"I just got it to make it look good. You two share it nicely."
Aka's gift first: a teapot and teacup set.
I tried to open it right away, but she stopped me hard.
Said it was cheap and embarrassing, to open it later.
Wonseok-hyung's gift was cognac.
The bottle was round like perfume—definitely expensive.
Dahye could hold her liquor pretty well, so maybe share a glass next time.
She'd probably never tried fancy stuff beyond soju.
And Marbaji's gift: a huge picture frame.
4-cut size, printed with SD illustrations of Kwon Seonghyeon Fighter and Kim Pokttal.
Wedding concept was annoying, but... Dahye loved it, so I let it slide.
"Aka drew this, but I paid, so it's my gift."
"Aka drew it? You draw too, Aka?"
"Yeah! I earn pocket money with commissions. I must've mentioned it two thousand times on guild chat, but you never noticed, oppa."
"You're good... Could you teach Dahye some digital drawing next time?"
"Sure! Does Dahye draw?"
"Yeah. Only by hand, but she's amazing."
"Whoa! Dahye, let me see! Show me your drawings!"
The bunch headed to the small room, spreading drawings on the floor and diving into talk.
I worried she'd burst into tears again, but Dahye was beaming, lost in art chat with Aka.
After crying it out once, I hoped she'd adapt to this rowdy vibe.
She couldn't just hang with me forever.
Someday, Dahye would leave this house and smile happily without me.
And right now, I thought her first step might be with Aka.
I'd hoped they'd be friends the moment I saw Aka.
This sexless bird had more uses than expected.
With that skill, teaching digital drawing would be easy.
Slip her some pocket money, and she'd be the perfect friend-slash-teacher.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ At exactly 4 PM, Aka made a fuss and dashed to the bathroom, returning draped in a weird cape.
She sat us at the table, climbed on her chair, and shouted.
So majestic, like one of those lying prophets in Billion Saga's cities.
"Alright... As promised, let's start the game! Your game master for today, cutie Aka, greets you all! Applause!"
"Here? I thought the game was Billion Saga? I even prepped my laptop."
"Hey! That's why noobs can't play. Oppa, doesn't it feel weird to play games again right after meeting up?"
"Fair, but... isn't the weirdest part you, the sexless bird?"
"So today's event is this! I went through hell to get it, so no running away."
Aka opened the huge backpack she'd worn in.
She pulled out a big paper box and plopped it on the table.
"Board game?"
"Heard of TRPG? I blew a year's commissions on this. Applause, everyone!"
I knew what TRPG was.
Board game cornerstone of modern game dev—as a dev, I had to.
Players become RPG protagonists on an adventure.
Listen to rules and GM story, choose paths to victory.
Heard plenty, but first time seeing one.
We crowded around the box.
"Whoa, how'd you get this?"
"Sold out online instantly. Forty bucks?"
Dahye was most excited, glued to the box.
Title: Expedition of Four.
The Billion Saga TRPG set Dahye wanted most at Gpex.
Dino—no, now Game Master Aka yelled.
"Let's set off on adventure!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "You face a pack of 13 kobolds. Sap from the World Tree drips from their mouths as they glare at you. Madness in their eyes. What do you do?"
Six hours into TRPG.
Still lost in World Tree Labyrinth.
Escaped cave, now kobolds.
Tougher than expected. But so fun, couldn't stop.
Aside from fun, true natures showed... pissed me off to the max.
But grinding through gritted teeth was the thrill.
Brave adventurer Kim Pokttal declared.
"I'll cleave their necks with my sword! Follow me, all!"
But infamous little shit thief Linnentrauzer rolled dice solo.
"Yeah, I'm outta here. Good luck! Umhahaha!"
Over twenty battles, her choice: always flee.
"Dice: 20! Thief Marbaji exits battle! Botanist Kalua sits out again."
Botanist Kalua dug every plant, got poisoned, useless.
Left adventurer Kim Pokttal and orc porter me handling fights and story.
"You old hag! Fight with us! Traps everywhere—thief flees, what then?!"
"Heh heh heh, foolish orc mistakes. I'm no thief."
"Bullshit. You picked it yourself."
"Oppa, you're the orc! No acting, curse incoming!"
"Krrgh! Thief bad! Always runs! Shitty halfling!"
"Our party's got a 29-year-old shacking with a 20-year-old. Real thief's him—trap disarming on that fucker."
"Son of a bitch! Krrgh!"
I, the porter, maxed club swing, pushed adventure.
Suggested beheading useless thief multiple times, but Dahye always opposed.
"Nonsense. We'll all reach World Tree heart alive! Trust and follow me!"
Dahye...
If serious, don't level sword—level rock smash.
Dahye ditched sword for rock again.
Fancy dice control smashed kobold skulls one by one.
"Adventurer Kim Pokttal's Rock Toss skill levels up. His rock's majesty echoes worldwide! Demons now fear rocks into panic."
Game progresses like this—hilarious.
Adventure continues.
Marbaji fled, rolled 1, leg broke. Botanist Kalua stabbed by branch picking plants, KO.
Thief shortcut mission: fail. Botanist antidote: fail.
Now 2 AM.
Ten hours in.
Marbaji and Kalua sulking, not looking at each other.
I gritted teeth, time precious, dove in.
"Final demon falls to orc porter Kwon Seonghyeon Fighter's club. All rests on adventurer Kim Pokttal. Mage Ikyudraus holds World Tree heart, deploys shield. The moment of choice!"
Me club, Dahye rock—barely reached boss.
Just damage left.
Dahye's two dice sum over 30k shatters shield, victory ours.
Two d12s for 3? Impossible to fail.
Dahye's rock skill so high, condition dropped from 10 to 3.
One roll, end this crap adventure.
But Dahye stared at dice in hand, wouldn't roll.
"Ugh~ It's over. Thief carry, right?"
"Yeah~ No botanist, we'd be screwed?"
"Wanna kill you both. Dahye, roll quick. Put these bastards to sleep."
Dahye flipped hand multiple times, but clutched dice instead.
Three times.
All eyes on Dahye.
No one rushed her.
Her slowly changing expression.
"Can't roll... Don't want it to end..."
Hm. Thought post-cry she'd be fine.
Dahye wiped falling tears on pajamas, sobbing.
Seeing it, Botanist, hated thief, commentator rushed to hug and bawl with her.
Drunk too, totally unhinged.
"What're you idiots doing?"
"You not sad? 'Don't want it to end!' Don't you get Dahye's feelings, psycho?!"
Haha, look at you go.
Guess I'm the psycho.
Good Dahye has friends without me shielding.
Hoped she'd cry only to me, strong in public.
Well, not just me can comfort her emotions.
Seeing Dahye surrounded eased my mind.
But oddly...
Why this ache in my chest?
I wanted to be Dahye's porter, aiding her adventure.
Like Marbaji said.
A thief's heart grew in me.
This ugly feeling: jealousy.
Ugly thief Kwon Seonghyeon Fighter said.
"Quit it and fuck off to bed, morons."
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