Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Park Dahye (5)
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"I don't think I mentioned anything about Gold Panda..."
I hadn't said that.
I'd only said I played the game. I hadn't breathed a word about rice thieves.
I'd tossed it out as a hint, but Park Dahye didn't suspect me at all. Instead, she started double-checking her own words.
And then she came to an utterly profound conclusion.
"Don't tell me you read my mind again? Wow... I know it's ridiculous, but now I'm starting to believe it."
"It's true. But it's a secret, so don't tell anyone."
"I'm not an idiot..."
"It is true."
"For real?"
People could be this oblivious?
From the whispers in the goshiwon to the hints here, and I'd even given her my business card.
Kwon Seonghyeon.
It's not that common a name.
Should I poke one more time?
"Writer. Since I shared my secret with you, can you share yours?"
"What kind? I don't have any secrets."
"Kwon Seonghyeon Fighter."
"Why him?"
"His name's the same as mine, so I'm curious. What kind of person is he?"
But what was this?
The moment she heard Kwon Seonghyeon, Park Dahye's face melted into pure bliss.
"Come to think of it, it's the same as yours, sir... Hehe, you want to know about Seonghyeon, right?"
She spoke with a dreamy smile, as if lost in precious memories.
"Seonghyeon's... really special. You wouldn't get it, sir."
Gulp.
This wasn't my intention.
I felt a pang of regret.
I'd just asked as a joke before revealing myself.
If she'd badmouthed him, I planned to get indignant and turn it into fun banter.
But what was I supposed to do with that expression?
Saying it so earnestly made me feel like I was peeking into someone else's diary.
No choice.
By adult standards, I should stop here.
Eavesdropping on opinions anonymously was a sleazy thing to do.
Time to man up, reveal my name, and apologize for the deception.
But...
"Hmm... Where to start... Ah, Seonghyeon's this really weird guy."
That sparked my defiance, huh?
"Weird how? He seemed super cool, intellectual, and level-headed in his play videos."
"Hehe, not in a bad way. Seonghyeon never asks me anything. Not my real name, where I live, my job. He probably doesn't even know I'm a girl?"
"That's kinda harsh."
That was an automatic response.
It wasn't harsh at all. It happens!
How precious Billion Saga and Kim Pokttal were to me.
I'd just worked to perfectly separate reality from Billion Saga.
I knew real-life relationships couldn't be that solid.
Better to seal it there than drag it into reality and shatter it.
But thinking about it, I did feel a bit sorry.
From Kim Pokttal's perspective, I must've seemed like a bland person.
I should've at least asked her name.
But Park Dahye's face showed no hurt or resentment.
If anything, the opposite.
"Hehe, that's what makes it great."
"So he isn't uninterested in you?"
"Nah. Seonghyeon's super interested in me. He looks for me first in dungeons, brags only to me about good items, asks what I did every day, and praises me tons. Even for little things."
That was true.
You were the only one I sought in Billion Saga.
"He seems like a good friend, but I don't get why not asking anything is good. I'd feel neglected."
"It's because... Seonghyeon doesn't care if I'm an orphan or poor."
Of course, you idiot.
Why should you be rich? What's wrong with no parents?
I abandoned mine myself.
"Seonghyeon doesn't ask or expect anything about real-life me. Just me as I am is enough."
Yeah.
Just knowing you're in Billion Saga gives me strength.
You get it.
But why do you like it?
I sought you because I needed you. What good did it do you?
Park Dahye's eyes, which had been locked on mine, now drifted into space.
A faint smile played on her lips.
She continued, her face like that, probably digging deep to explain her true feelings.
And I was the creep eavesdropping.
But even knowing that, I couldn't stop.
I wanted to hear every word from those lips.
Even if it meant resentment later.
"To me... that's so grateful."
"With Seonghyeon, I don't need to change or pick pretty words to impress him."
"Just being myself, and he'll come find me."
"It makes me feel like I'm someone amazing. Even though I'm just a worthless gaming shut-in."
Time for a gentle correction.
No, you're not.
"No. You're an amazing person, writer."
"Hehe, sir. I know you're trying to be nice, but I'm really not great."
You're really not.
The first time we met in Billion Saga, you grabbed my clumsy hand and charged into the maze like a fearless adventurer.
I spent eight years there just to watch your back.
"Anyway. You wouldn't get it, sir, but to me, Seonghyeon is... how to put it... um... that..."
Park Dahye trailed off, mumbling "um" for a while.
She couldn't find the words.
But strangely, I felt like I knew what she wanted to say.
"Rest stop, home, shelter, house, hometown—one of those?"
"Uh... yeah! How'd you know? Those were exactly the words I was thinking..."
"I told you, I read minds."
"Whoa. Sir, do you... have powers? No... it's a joke... but... so... ugh... amazing... snff... huh..."
I knew her emotions shifted fast, but this was next level.
A tear rolled down her flushed cheek, then it poured like rain.
Honestly, I didn't get why she was crying.
I was the one who wanted to bawl.
Rest stop, home, shelter, house, hometown.
You gave all that to me.
Right now, just knowing you felt the same... it makes me want to sob.
Too old to wail in a barbecue joint, though.
Pokttal.
Sorry for misunderstanding earlier about selling the figure.
You'd cherished our memories like One Piece treasures.
"I never thought... snff! I'd be understood... huh..."
Park Dahye cried uncontrollably now, like a glitched AI, face a mess of tears and snot.
I should give her tissues, but that'd feel like egging her on...
This might be better.
"Don't squeeze out more juice. Eat this."
"Yeth... huh..."
I fed her meat, and she chewed dutifully through the sobs.
Should've ordered another serving.
Her tears didn't stop for a good while after.
Even after the owner kindly moved us to a corner booth.
Everyone stared as they passed, making me feel like the villain.
Was I?
"Feeling better now?"
"Yeah... ugh... so embarrassing. I won't cry anymore."
And seeing her cry changed my mind about one regret.
From earlier.
Asking her to dinner.
Stupid mistake?
No.
Good call.
If I hadn't, she'd have kept everything bottled up, smiling normally in front of me.
Not as human Park Dahye, but as Billion Saga's Priest Kim Pokttal.
Eating cup ramen and convenience store bentos every day.
Trapped in that goshiwon.
Before me.
Park Dahye shattered reality's walls in one go and bared her heart.
So now, no more running. Time for my role.
Abandoning a struggling comrade isn't Kwon Seonghyeon Fighter.
Even if it means taking a beating first, charging into hell to save them—that's Kwon Seonghyeon Fighter's essence.
So.
Even if it means getting royally chewed out, I have to save her now.
I wanted to be real-life Kwon Seonghyeon, meddling in your life.
Alright. Time to drag Kwon Seonghyeon Fighter into reality.
Steel myself.
"Writer. I'm sorry."
"Huh? Sorry for what? Whoa, it's not because of you. Well, it is, but in a good way... just emotional..."
"I know. Not because you cried, but my guilt."
"What lie did you tell?"
"I can't read minds."
"Pfft, hahaha. Sir, I'm not dumb. I knew."
"There's more. Actually, tons of lies. But I'll apologize for one."
"...Which?"
"I play Billion Saga."
"Whoa! For real? I had a feeling. You knew my ranking, had the figure. We just clicked! No need to apologize. Wait, tell me your ID? Let's friend up."
"Can't friend you."
Her eyebrows drooped again.
Grinning, then bawling, then excited, now shocked.
"Ah... solo player, huh. Hehe, can't be helped. Everyone's got their style. It's fine."
"No. Not refusing—system won't let me. Billion Saga doesn't allow duplicate friends."
"Not sure what that means, but no need to explain. If you can't, you can't."
"You're great otherwise, writer, but your radar's off."
"Ugh...! No! Mine's level 100! I read all your thoughts! Really fine without friending!"
"Already friended, so I can't."
"So... that doesn't quite... click..."
"What's my name?"
"Kwon Seonghyeon, sir!"
"Who's first in your friend list?"
"Kwon Seonghyeon Fighter."
"That's me."
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