Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Party (2)
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It's sweet.
All I need is you.
I wish that were really true.
I wish I made a ton of money, was ridiculously strong, and had insane power so I could do anything.
So that with just me around, nothing else would be needed.
Dahye would stay holed up in the corner of the room, and I'd feed her, pet her head.
Even if you're incompetent, lazy, and sometimes dumb, I'll make you perfect,
as long as you stay by my side.
You rely on me for everything and look only at me.
And they lived happily ever after.
How nice would a lazy ending like that be.
I want to see Dahye's face.
Dahye wrapped her long arms around my neck and wouldn't let go.
Is that still not enough?
"Hug me."
"I'm already hugging you."
"Hug me more."
"I don't have enough arms."
"Figure it out."
I'm ready to grant any wish, but she barely asks for anything.
In addition to my two arms holding Dahye, I used my legs too, pulling her into a full embrace.
I wondered what we were doing on the floor, but whatever.
"Like that?"
"Heehee, it's decent enough."
She likes it, so I like it too.
I think I know how Dahye feels right now.
After dealing with sleazy, underhanded creeps waving cash all day.
Finally smelling my scent must make her feel like she's home.
She forgets all the dirtiness and sleaziness and just feels happy.
I know that feeling well—it's what I get every day when I come home from work.
Her reality still needs more than just me, of course.
But right now, I'm just glad that I'm her home.
"Dahye."
"Yeah."
"You're really not doing cosplay or internet streams?"
"For real... I hate it all. Cosplay, streaming—everything."
"Because of the people?"
"Yeah... I don't want to look good for them. I hate forcing a smile."
"Guess that won't work then... It's fine. We had a good experience, that's what counts."
Then Dahye pulled away.
Now she placed her hands on my shoulders and stared straight into my eyes.
I expected a whiny face.
But there was no hesitation in Dahye's eyes.
This was Super Dahye's expression.
"Seonghyeon."
"Yeah."
"I'll draw a thousand emotes each."
"Your arms'll break. What for?"
"I'll draw pictures hard and make tons of money. Then I'll make you happy."
Hmm...
This is why girls watch melodrama dramas.
It sounds like a cliché proposal line, but hearing it live drives me crazy.
Damn, Park Dahye, you're so cool.
Too cool—my head's blank.
I'm probably making a dumb face right now.
To hide it, I quickly pulled her into a hug.
Embarrassed, I just endlessly stroked her hair.
Dahye's only twenty, how is she so brave?
When I was that age, I was such a coward.
Even now, older and all, I'm still a scared, small-minded punk.
That's why I can't say manly stuff like, "Thanks, babe! I'll make you happy, kiddo!"
How pathetic—I feel relieved just seeing her cool words and eyes.
Even when she says she's kicking away a bright future with her own feet, it puts my mind at ease.
If I had to explain why I'm relieved, there are probably two reasons.
First, she seems to know exactly what she wants to do.
Even if it means less money and a harder path, deciding on a direction is a huge win.
That reassures me.
Actually, that's closer to an excuse.
The real reason I'm relieved is way more pathetic.
I thought Dahye, dressed in wings, would soar away.
I thought she'd fly too high for me to see.
But she's still here with me in this room corner, looking at me from the same level.
That reassures me.
Deep down, I know.
She can do it.
Once Dahye starts something, she'll excel at it.
She'd nail cosplay, streaming—everything.
That's why if I gave standard advice like, "Still, give it a shot."
Or "Talk it over with Dongbaekyang first."
She might change her mind.
No.
She'd probably nod and say, "Okay, I'll try!"
100% chance.
But I don't.
Instead of proper advice, I hug her.
Dahye does the same.
Instead of enduring and trying, she says, "I only need you."
She could make a fortune on a shinier path.
A little patience would guarantee her future.
She could grow enough to conquer the world alone.
Others would call it a stupid choice, but we can't help it.
It's too ingrained a habit.
We're an eight-year-old worn-out party—we can't shake the bad habits.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ To conquer one dungeon, we brace for a hundred deaths.
Messages like [Party member has died.] are no big deal anymore.
So familiar now that
[Me: lololol rip. Next round go go go]
I say it casually and move to the second try.
The harder the dungeon, the more death becomes routine.
To clear it, you use party members' deaths as stepping stones.
How efficiently to burn through lives.
Who sacrifices how to send the last one to the end.
It's unpleasant at first, but familiarity turns lives into consumables.
That's how you grab rewards faster, more abundantly.
But we always move to the next try.
Even with potions left and just one room to go, one death means we quit.
Our motto is never abandon a dungeon, but one death and we bail for the next run.
Imagine this:
Clearing the final room alone, cheered on by dead Pokttal, facing the treasure chest solo.
Look beside you—no one.
Open the chest alone, grab rewards, share joy via chat at best.
She'd be happy bragging about my flashy plays, but our story vanishes.
I hate that picture.
That's not what we want.
Overcoming pitch-black dungeons together, opening chests side by side.
Bragging about our shared adventure logs like rivals.
More than clear joy,
having someone next to you to share the chest-opening thrill.
We crave that joy nonstop.
So we enter dungeons.
Thus,
when [Party member has died.] pops,
I quit without hesitation.
Dahye too.
We're slow.
Our clears lag pitifully behind overwhelming try counts.
Others would laugh, but who cares.
No one knows what we do in dungeons.
Dahye shares her happiest moments with no one.
She hides loot in the shared vault, logs memories in her diary, savors the instant without bragging.
Billion Saga's slogan for eight years:
—Your journey no one's walked.—
Our journey's laughably slow and pathetic to others,
but we wouldn't trade it for any grand adventure.
Dahye feels the same.
She always steals my thoughts.
So this time too, she bails the try and waits for me.
Full gear from Dalnyangnyang, diving into the internet stream dungeon,
but no me there.
Hating solo fights, Dahye weakly quits, returns to the room corner, preps next run with me.
Maybe I saved a country in a past life.
What karma lets a beauty like Dahye sync with me.
She flips off my haters, kicks her future fearlessly,
says she'll make me happy.
Thanks to that, our journey stays on this floor.
No telling others, no trading endings.
This floor's too good,
I kneel to Dahye's violent affection, harbor these feelings.
"Me too."
"Huh?"
"I think I only need you too."
"Eek!"
A barrage of kisses rains down.
I dodge into Dahye's chest for cover.
Today's coated in pearl lotion, sparkling.
Viewers swear it's silicone.
Pity—it's real.
Superiority high knowing the truth among 50k, I bury my face in her chest.
Lately, browsing streams and YouTube, I learned something.
People see what they want.
Spot what they don't? Twist it to fit.
Always high on catharsis, missing real happiness.
Me too.
I wanted Dahye to grow big—but that's just my fantasy.
My true heart? Wasting time pathetically on this floor with Dahye.
Knowing that petty wish, I'm happy now.
"Ugh... Seonghyeon. Clothes all wrinkled, what now..."
"Too late already."
"Yeah... Gotta apologize to Dalnyangnyang sis."
"I'll do it."
"No... My fault for being clingy..."
"Would've wrinkled anyway."
"Why?"
Why?
'Cause I can't stand party play without you. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇