TGMND 51

Halloween Eggplant attempted enhancement once again, broke one more item, and then jumped off the roof without hesitation.

[Guild] Captain Poseidon: Having fun, huh…

[Whisper] CatMeowMeowMeow: Neu-nim, could you try enhancing my weapon once? It’s okay if it explodes, but I hope it doesn’t explode… I’m scared that if I do it, it will explode 100%…

[Whisper] neutaaaa: Sure

[Whisper] CatMeowMeowMeow: Wow!! Thank you!!

‘CatMeowMeowMeow has applied for a transaction.’

Yeo-woon received CatMeowMeowMeow’s item and attempted enhancement once again on the spot.

[Guild] Wandu Wandya: Sh1t

[Guild] ParkRoach: Ahh, Sh1t

On the other hand, the guild members who had cheerfully destroyed their weapons one after another at the spot where Yeo-woon was standing all fell into despair. The only one smiling was CatMeowMeowMeow, who had secretly asked Yeo-woon to enhance his weapon.

[Whisper] CatMeowMeowMeow: Wow lucky +7 level lol Are you a genius??

[Whisper] neutaaaa: I suppose so haha

[Whisper] CatMeowMeowMeow: By the way, I got a hair change coupon yesterday when I took some newbies through a dungeon

[Whisper] CatMeowMeowMeow: I didn’t use it… Neu-nim, if you don’t mind, please use this.

[Whisper] CatMeowMeowMeow: Consider it a job advancement gift too!!

[Whisper] neutaaaa: Ah haha why are you giving me this haha

[Whisper] CatMeowMeowMeow: You’re not refusing…

CatMeowMeowMeow’s special hair change coupon appeared in Yeo-woon’s item window.
What a kind cat! Yeo-woon purchased a makeover ticket with the remaining money at the fashion shop and then leaped off the royal palace roof.

-Where are you going?

“…”

Yeo-woon ran toward the fashion shop without answering Earth Star’s question. It was obvious he would make fun of him either way. Earth Star, who had been following Yeo-woon, swallowed hard as the sound of furious keyboard tapping came through the headphones.

[Guild] Ji9star: <Breaking News> Neuta enters fashion shop sparking controversy! Research shows he was definitely bothered by comments saying he looks like a fool

Fvck.

[Guild] Captain Poseidon: Lol on my way~

[Guild] Wandu Wandya: Lol I should go too hahaha

[Guild] Halloween Eggplant: Lololololol

[Guild] Ji9star: I guess I’ll have to change my eyes too >< hehe

Earth Star disappeared from his spot for a moment and reappeared less than 30 seconds later. It seems that he also bought the right to a makeover at a fashion shop.

[Guild] CatMeowMeowMeow: For the hair, except for limited styles, you can choose what you want!

“…Hmm, what to do.”

Even after scrolling through all the available hairstyles by talking to the NPC, there was nothing that really caught his eye. Next to Yeo-woon, who was scrolling aimlessly, Earth Star began to change his face first. After being eaten by a beauty salon machine, Earth Star lost his crucian carp eye and was reborn with blue slanted eyes.

[Guild] Ji9star: Nice

[Guild] al0ha: Ah your eyes were cuter before

[Guild] Ji9star: When are you going to change, Neuta-nim?

[Guild] Wandu Wandya: Whatever you do, it’ll probably be better than now, right?

[Guild] Halloween Eggplant: Hahahahahahahaha

“… What should I do?”

-Choose what you like.

“I don’t really like anything…”

-Don’t you have a favorite style?

“Favorite…?”

-Yes. Favorite.

He didn’t really think about such things. Yeo-woon scrolled down, and amidst the options, he found a curly hairstyle with bangs. He stopped scrolling and clicked on the black hair option. In less than 5 seconds, the machine changed Yeo-woon’s hair to stylish black.

[Guild] Wandu Wandya: Doesn’t seem like the hair is the problem though…

[Guild] Halloween Eggplant: Hahahahahahahahaha

‘Alright, then maybe I should change my face too. Please make me look extremely sharp.’ Yeo-woon tightly closed his eyes, said a prayer to a god he didn’t believe in, and hit the change button.

“…!”

[Guild] Wandu Wandya: Oh you got a delicate-looking face, pretty!

Opening his closed eyes, Yeo-woon found himself surprisingly satisfied with the face that suited him more than he had expected. The listless expression seemed to resemble someone else. He liked it in his own way. As his face and hair changed, he started to crave fashion items that he had never worn before. This must be how fashionista is born.

[Guild] neutaaaa: I’ll change my outfit too!

[Guild] Halloween Eggplant: Whoa finally?

Yeo-woon went into a fashion shop and clicked on everyday clothes to try on the character. He clicked on ‘Unemployed Worker’s Training Clothes’ and was excited because he thought this was it. He bought the helmet and gauntlets to match, and he returned from the fashion shop with a simpler look.

-… Huh?

It seemed like the Earth Star was speechless after seeing his changed appearance!

[Guild] neutaaaa: How’s this?

[Guild] Captain Poseidon: You don’t look like you’re level 50 anymore!

[Guild] neutaaaa: Did I look like level 50 before?

[Guild] Captain Poseidon: …

Captain Poseidon responded with silence, and his intentions were conveyed to Yeo-woon. It wasn’t that bad. Yeo-woon grumbled.

[Guild] ParkRoach: Now all you have to do is take off my cape.

[Guild] neutaaaa: ;;

[Guild] ParkRoach: Got it, sorry.

[Guild] Halloween Eggplant: Hahahahahahahahaha

Yeo-woon liked his character transformation. His character seemed like he would chew up everything or swear at anyone who spoke to him, and even though he was covered in armor and a helmet, he seemed strong in his own way.

“Hello?”

By the way, Earth Star, whom Yeo-woon had expected to tease or laugh at him from the start, remained silent. Finding it strange that Earth Star didn’t say anything even after a long while, Yeo-woon shifted his gaze to the HolBlue voice channel window. The only blue light on was next to his own name.

“…?”

Why did he suddenly leave? When he noticed something strange and looked at the screen, he found that Earth Star had left the game.

‘Ji9star has disconnected.”

[Guild] Halloween Eggplant: Did he get disconnected?

[Guild] ParkRoach: Maybe AFK time…

[Guild] Wandu Wandya: Hahahahahaha Let’s all act like we don’t know when he comes back~

Everyone didn’t seem too bothered by Earth Star’s departure and congratulated Yeo-woon on his transformation and job advancement. And no matter how much time passed, Earth Star didn’t log back into the game.

「Why did you suddenly leave?」

Yeo-woon typed the message into the HolBlue chat window and looked at the chat window for a while. Earth Star didn’t even read his message.

“…?”

It seemed there must have been a complete power outage at the apartment where he lived.

***

“Hyung, did you fight with that big p3nis brother?”

“Huh?”

While Yeo-woon was changing clothes in the locker room, an elementary school kid who often acted overly friendly with him came up and asked. His hair was wet and sticking up, so he must have just finished drying it.

“My older sister. She asked why that brother hasn’t come this week, so I’m asking you.”

“Me?”

Yeo-woon blinked in confusion. He didn’t understand why the kid was asking him of all people.

“You two are friends, right!”

“…Do-hyun-ah. Do you even know what a friend is?”

“Huh, what… I have a ton of friends? I have over a hundred friends! All the kids in my grade and the grade above at our elementary school have been friends since preschool, so we’re super close.”

“Lucky you. I don’t even have ten friends.”

“If you try, you can make a lot of friends.”

The little kid nodded seriously as he gave his advice. How cute. Yeo-woon suppressed a laugh and asked,

“But who said I’m friends with him?”

“Huh? Aren’t you friends? That big p3nis brother doesn’t really talk to anyone but you.”

Yeo-woon tilted his head when asked as if it was obvious.

He hardly talks to him either…?

Aside from occasionally giving Yeo-woon a suspicious look as if to ask “What are you looking at?”, the neighbor rarely initiated a conversation with him. Whether he was naturally taciturn or just shy around Yeo-woon at first… Either way, Yeo-woon couldn’t understand how that man, who had been coming to this pool longer than him, talked to Yeo-woon the most out of everyone. It seemed this kid had the wrong idea.

“Oh, quickly. Hurry! When is that big brother coming? My sister asked me to ask.”

“Uhm… I don’t know.”

“Then ask that brother when he’s coming. My sister says she doesn’t feel like going to the swimming pool anymore.”

Even if you said that… It’s not like Yeo-woon met up with the neighbor very often outside of the swimming pool. And this week, he didn’t think he had even caught a glimpse of him. Yeo-woon thought for a moment before nodding in response.

“Okay. I’ll ask when I see him.”

“Then I’ll tell my sister that too.”

The elementary school kid nodded firmly, then turned around and walked away. Yeo-woon hurriedly put on his socks while fiddling with his slightly split ends with his fingers.

“…”

After hearing the kid’s words, he was starting to worry a bit now. Did the neighbor change his schedule? Why hadn’t he shown up at the swimming pool? Just as the saying goes that exercise becomes a habit the more you do it, you also quickly forget about it the more you don’t do it. Of course, it wasn’t to the point where Yeo-woon could be concerned about someone else, but it was true he felt a little worried not having seen him for several days.

Yeo-woon had now reached a point where he could float in the water to some extent, as guaranteed by the swimming instructor, and had exchanged greetings with other members of the beginner class. After the lessons, the routine was to take turns swimming laps, which naturally led to conversations. Although there was a range of ages, the younger children, mostly middle schoolers and below, were not reserved and engaged in conversation. However, he hadn’t even introduced himself yet to his next-door neighbor Yoon Ji-gu, whom he had known much earlier.