HG Ch 16

<16>

The man, who had returned with an indifferent expression as if he had no interest in Eunho whatsoever, opened his mouth again.

“What else are you curious about? Did you ask for an introduction? Yoon Iseo. Age, thirty-one. ■■■■ ■■■■■ and ■■■. But even if I tell you, will you understand?”

Since it was an adult game, Eunho had expected the man to be older than him, but the age gap was even bigger than he had thought. Remembering how he had casually spoken informally when they first met, Eunho straightened up a little more respectfully.

Now, there was only one question left.

“What does this game mean to you, hyung-nim?”

Sensing that the conversation was reaching its climax, Eunho deliberately put on a weighty tone and asked meaningfully. However, the man responded with an exasperated look.

“Is this an interview? A game is just a game. What kind of meaning could it have?”

“No, it can’t be just a game. Then why are you trying to help me? If this is just a game, you gain nothing from helping me.”

At those words, a dry smile spread across Yoon Iseo’s face.

“So you’re saying you can only trust someone if there’s a mutual interest involved? Damn, you’re a minor, but you’re already this cynical about romance?”

“……”

After a brief moment of contemplation, Yoon Iseo spoke.

“■■ ■■. Can you understand this?”

“No, I can’t hear it…”

At Eunho’s response, Yoon Iseo effortlessly rephrased his words.

“I need you if I want to get out of here. Just like you do.”

Did that mean he was trapped here as well?

Until now, Eunho had never once let slip a hint that he was “trapped in a game” while speaking to the man.

Alarmed by the possibility, he hurriedly asked, “Wait, hyung-nim, did you also get stuck here… from reading BL or something?”

At that, Yoon Iseo let out a dry chuckle and replied.

“I came here because ■■ ■■■ ■ ■■■.”

“Huh?”

“I ■■ got ■■■ ■■ ■■■ and ■■ ended up here.”

“…What?”

This was practically the curse^[1] of the Tower of Babel^[2]. Yoon Iseo looked at Eunho as if he were an amoeba in human form, and Eunho, unable to understand a single word, was growing frantic with frustration.

“How much did you catch just now?”

“The interference was so bad I didn’t understand a thing.”

Yoon Iseo frowned.

“…What was it you asked me before that?”

“I was asking if you also got transmigrated here after reading a game… or, well, a novel.”

After a brief moment of thought, Yoon Iseo replied with a tired expression.

“Yeah.”

Eunho’s jaw dropped. No way. He had suspected it, but to think Yoon Iseo had also been possessed into this world after reading that BL game novel!

“Gasp, seriously? You read that kind of stuff too, hyung?”

Unlike the excited Joo Eunho, who was thrilled by the unexpected camaraderie, Yoon Iseo still looked as if he couldn’t be more annoyed.

“Oh, I’m absolutely loving it. That’s why I’m trapped here. If I manage to get out of this in one piece, I swear I’m never reading another one.”

“Wow, same here. That was exactly what I was thinking. Holy crap… So you read it too, hyung-nim.”

So men actually read these kinds of novels more than he thought. Well, considering Yoon Iseo liked men, it wasn’t too strange for him to have such a secret hobby.

“It’s kind of exciting and surreal to meet someone in the same situation as me.”

But Yoon Iseo didn’t look the least bit excited. He lowered his gaze halfway, as if recalling something, and even furrowed his brows as though an unpleasant thought had crossed his mind.

Tilting his head slightly, Yoon Iseo finally spoke.

“Yeah. If we had met earlier, I would’ve been more excited. But the person in question was so busy drowning in romance that they were nowhere to be found, so I had to struggle quite a bit.”

“No, that wasn’t romance…”

He had been hiding in a dungeon precisely to avoid that so-called romance. It was frustrating, but considering how Yoon Iseo had only ever seen Eunho parading around with his personal guards in full immersion, he probably wouldn’t believe him anyway.

“…Anyway, hyung-nim, are you also progressing through the main quest? The one about saving Joseon from crisis? Did you come looking for me because you needed my help?”

“To be precise—‘Save Joseon from crisis with Joo Eunho. The reward is the game’s ending.’”

Yoon Iseo, who was apparently set to the maximum height option, slowly lowered his head, his gaze meeting Eunho’s. His pitch-black eyes stared straight into Eunho’s own, the bright natural light making Eunho’s irises appear even paler than usual. For a fleeting moment, an unreadable emotion crossed Yoon Iseo’s face.

“Wouldn’t you say this is a pretty good mutual interest?”

Yoon Iseo continued speaking.

“So you can trust me. I’ll make sure to ■■ ■ out of ■■■■ safely. Even after saying all this,”

Interference swallowed his words. Eunho frowned at the rising confusion. Noticing this, Yoon Iseo spoke in a voice as gentle as if he were reassuring a lost child.

“Eunho. Are you still not in a hurry?”

And even now, Eunho regrets it.

He shouldn’t have been so easily swayed by that carefully crafted tone and designated the man as his companion.

Seriously, fuck. This is exactly why loners should never step foot into one of those overly friendly clothing stores.

They act all friendly, pick out outfits for you, even help you try them on and out of sheer guilt, you end up buying something… only to regret it horribly afterward.

***

[SYSTEM] While searching for the source of the eerie energy lingering over Joseon, you sense a significant threat. [SYSTEM] This seems too difficult to resolve on your own. [SYSTEM] Now is the time to find a companion. Choose one trustworthy person and head to “Seonyeok Village” together to look for clues. [SYSTEM] ※ Once a Sworn Companion is chosen, they cannot be changed and will accompany you until the situation is resolved. Please choose carefully. [SYSTEM] Would you like to designate “d20524” as your Sworn Companion?

As Eunho read through the system window and was about to select ‘Yes,’ the butterfly fluttered up.

「No, you must not. That man cannot even properly interact with you. Think it over once more!」

“Which is exactly why this is good. Seriously, you eroge guides don’t know anything. It’s chaotic enough already, so stop flitting around in front of me and stay still.”

When Eunho waved his hand as if swatting away a fly, Yoon Iseo, standing beside him, asked, “That a guide?”

“Yes, for beginner players.”

“Ah.”

“You have one flying around you too, right, hyung-nim?”

“I turned my guide function off.”

“Oh, I see.” Eunho nodded before reaching into the air. The moment his fingertip brushed the ‘Yes’ button on the system window, a new message popped up.

[SYSTEM] You have chosen “d20524” as your Sworn Companion. [SYSTEM] Someone has appeared who can truly understand your music. [SYSTEM] Like Bo Ya[3], who cut the strings of his guqin upon the death of Zhong Ziqi[4], your Sworn Companion “d20524” severs all “Threads of Fate” connected to you.

Eunho unconsciously clenched his fist.

This is it!

Yoon Iseo had explained that selecting a Sworn Companion would erase the existing Threads of Fate list and prevent any unwanted flirting. But seeing it happen firsthand was even more moving.

[SYSTEM] Hidden! By choosing a kindred companion outside of the “Threads of Fate” list and achieving ■■■■ title, a hidden effect will be triggered.

What’s this?

Well, since it’s a hidden effect, it must be something good, right?

[SYSTEM] The “Sworn Companion” list has been unlocked. [Main Quest: “My Eternal Sworn Companion” (Complete)]

As Eunho was reveling in the joy of having erased his Threads of Fate list, Yoon Iseo suddenly reached out his large hand and grabbed the butterfly, which had been flitting wildly in front of Eunho’s face.

「Squeak!」

“Yours is way too damn aggressive. Takes after its owner?”

The sheer force with which he clamped down on it made Eunho gasp in horror.

“Whoa, Master! What the hell are you doing?!”

“If something keeps flying around, don’t you just want to catch it?”

“What are you, an animal? And how are you even able to physically touch someone else’s guide?”

“It’s not ‘someone else’s’ anymore.”

With the companion quest complete, Yoon Iseo tapped at the air with his other fingers as if pressing an invisible touchscreen. He was mimicking Joo Eunho’s habitual gestures in virtual reality, something familiar to those used to computers and tablets.

Unlike computers and tablets, which rely on keyboards, mouse, and touchscreens as input devices, virtual reality games use the human brain as an interface. Brainwaves were translated into commands and transmitted to the system through a direct neural link, allowing real-time interaction.

Some players struggled with this method, so they customized commands using hand gestures instead. But not Yoon Iseo. Without a moment’s delay, he summoned his class weapon, a spear, and used the Assassin class skill “Bind” to trap the butterfly.

Of course, his skill had absolutely no effect on Eunho’s guide. The butterfly, its wings now crumpled, wobbled weakly as it passed through the phantom cage created by the “Bind” skill. Watching this, Yoon Iseo chuckled.

“Let’s disable this thing already. I’ll show you how.”

「This body is necessary for ‘MwonGaeSori’…」

Do companions hear the guide’s voice too? Yoon Iseo nonchalantly responded to the butterfly.

“Not anymore.”

Then, he added, “You don’t need a guide when you’ve got me.”