TGMND 128

Among the remaining three alternate accounts, excluding one production class, there were two left: one at level 16 and the other at level 87.

“…What’s this level 16 one?”

It’s a character Yeo-woon had no memory of. Given that he had abandoned it before even the first job change, it must have really not suited him. Anyway, Yeo-woon selected the Forest Guardian character that showed “Last accessed 692 days ago.”

‘dldudns, Lv.87 <Forest Guardian>’

Forest Guardian was the name of a magician class job that combined buffer and healer roles. He had chosen this job because he liked the skills and weapons it used. However, due to the supportive nature of the magician job, it wasn’t suitable for solo play, so he had only raised it briefly.

‘Do you want to log in with this character?’

‘dldudns’ was a female character with black hair tied in twintails and a prim expression. He had heard that Forest Guardian-exclusive items were far more numerous and prettier for female characters than male ones, so this was the only account Yeo-woon had created as a female character. When Yeo-woon selected the Forest Guardian after a long time, the character turned her head away with a sulky face, as if asking why he had come only now.

‘Your skill points have been reset. Please check your skill status again before embarking on your journey.’

The state of the character he logged into after a long time was a complete mess. Perhaps because it was a character he had been raising before a major patch, not only the skills but even the equipment needed to be completely overhauled.

‘The (old) equipment that can no longer be used has been unequipped.’

‘The (old) spirit stone that can no longer be used has been unequipped.’

‘The (old) weapon that can no longer be used has been unequipped.’

The weapons and equipment that could no longer be used had ‘(old)’ prefixed to them, distinguishing between old and new weapons.

‘New weapons have been provided in your mailbox as compensation.’

However, there was no reason to feel particularly sorry that the equipment he used before had become unusable. This was just an abandoned character with no plans for further investment, and not a single penny had been spent on its costumes.

“Ah, I need to hurry…”

Thinking about Yoon Ji-gu, who might be anxiously waiting to find party members, made Yeo-woon feel urgent. He wanted to help Yoon Ji-gu as much as he could, as it was nice to see him genuinely enjoying the game for once.

‘You have acquired the Witch’s Royal Broom.’

Yeo-woon found the temporary weapon provided under the administrator’s name in his mailbox and equipped it. Although it was a shabby weapon with no options attached, it was better than nothing.

“I should buy a warp capsule first.”

As Yeo-woon moved his character to find a general store, his character sat leisurely on a broom tied with a red ribbon. The animation, designed for the “forest witch” theme, brought back fond memories of how much he had enjoyed the movement animations when he was actively playing the character.

Shortly after, Yeo-woon bought and used a Sky Land warp capsule from the general store.

‘Do you want to use the Sky Land Warp Capsule (Consumable)?’

‘You are being transported to Sky Land. Please close your eyes tightly. You may feel slightly dizzy.’

The screen rippled like a stone thrown on calm water, and after a certain loading time, the screen filled with a refreshing sky-colored city. The ‘Sky Tower’, the boss raid dungeon, could be seen in the distance.

It was Sky Land.

***

When he approached Earth Star, he found familiar users swarming around. Yeo-woon, who usually enjoyed solo play in any game, understood well the overwhelming feeling when game progression was blocked. So he had been secretly worried about Yoon Ji-gu, but contrary to his concerns, there were surprisingly many volunteers for the Sky Tower raid when he actually arrived.

‘This is rather fortunate.’

Yeo-woon finally breathed a sigh of relief and began to reconfigure his reset skill window. He quickly allocated points to whatever seemed useful and set up hotkeys for frequently used abilities. Then he quietly slipped into the group of players to observe the scene.

<EfIsYouth>: Hey

<EfIsYouth>: For Sky Tower, it’s recommended to go with 1 tank, 2 DPS, 1 healer composition

As someone gave advice about the party composition, veteran users nodded or used skills distractedly in agreement.

<Ji9star>: Is a tank necessaryㅇㅅㅇ?

<Ji9star>: They said a tank was essential for Jelly Forest too, but I could solo it lol

<Ji9star>: How about 3 DPS, 1 healer?

<EfIsYouth>: Tank isn’t essential for Jelly Forest lol Who said that?

<Ji9star>: Everyone was saying so

<EfIsYouth>: But you know

<EfIsYouth>: In Sky Tower, it’s really crucial for the tank to absorb and nullify one ultimate skill

<EfIsYouth>: So one tank is essential. Can’t clear without one

<Ji9star>: Oh, that was really awful

<EfIsYouth>: Agreed. While the tank blocks one big attack

<EfIsYouth>: The two DPS melt all the regular mobs

<EfIsYouth>: And you can’t do without a healer either

<EfIsYouth>: Can’t withstand the monkeys’ group attack without healing

<Ji9star>: I see

<Ji9star>: Thanks for the tip

<EfIsYouth>: By the way, I’m a tank hehe

<Ji9star>: ?

<EfIsYouth>: If you’re grateful, how about inviting me to the party hehe

<Ji9star>: Nope

<EfIsYouth>: ㅠㅠ;;

“Why is he like that?”

He couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t let EfIsYouth join the party after listening well to his explanation. Around EfIsYouth, tanks with large shields on their backs started to appeal, saying ‘Then take me instead.’ Come to think of it, there were quite a few people below level 100, despite his worries. It was reassuring to think that they were all people who had deliberately brought out their sub-characters to help Earth Star.

<EfIsYouth>: May I ask why I was rejected?ㅜㅜ

<Ji9star>: Your nickname sucks – _-

<EfIsYouth>: Oh my

<EfIsYouth>: You must be really bad at studying^^

<EfIsYouth>: I should have known from when you were using dual pistols ^~^

<EfIsYouth>: Bye!

EfIsYouth left the game as if running away after saying that. He seemed to be a user who had logged in with an abandoned alt-character like Yeo-woon. Perhaps because there weren’t many new players, the competition was intense even for just a raid party. Everyone seemed desperate to help Earth Star and make him play the game longer.

<LoveSilverBell>: I’ll tank for you, newbie!!

<Ji9star>: Don’t speak informally;

<LoveSilverBell>: Shall I tank for you?

<Ji9star>: No

<LoveSilverBell>: Would you like this humble one to tank for you?

<Ji9star>: No

<LoveSilverBell>: How can I be more polite than this? What do you want me to do?

<Ji9star>: Rejected for speaking informallyㅇㅅㅇ

<LoveSilverBell>: Come on lol

Ridiculously, users started to line up and have interviews.

<Ji9star>: Get 1 billion won and Little Forest shuts down vs Little Forest revives but you’re 10 million won in debt

<KyodaeStudent>: LOL that’s unbalanced. I’d choose the former even for just 1 million won

<CicadaKid>: You traitor! Selling your hometown for 1 million?!

<YourDreamIsGradStudent>: ?

<SeriousAboutGames>: Get out^^

Not long after, someone must have requested a PVP, as the person being interviewed suddenly disappeared. Since the applicant was gone, they were naturally disqualified. No one seemed to find their absence odd, and the next candidate calmly stepped forward.

<ClassPresident>: If I’m chosen, I’ll treat my class to hamburgers

<Ji9star>: What about me?

<ClassPresident>: Sorry ㅠㅠ I can only afford enough for my classㅠㅠ

<Ji9star>: Get out

<ClassPresident>: Okay ㅜㅜ

<Optimus>: Hello^^

<Ji9star>: What’s the happiest thing that happened to you recently?

<Optimus>: The happiest thing was when Ji9star-nim chose me for the Sky Tower raid party^^

<Ji9star>: Lol lol lol lol lol lol

<Ji9star>: Rejected

<Optimus>: Would you also like to know my saddest moment?^^

<Ji9star>: ?

<Optimus>: This moment right now?

<Ji9star>: Get out

<Optimus>: It’s giving me pain after pain…

<Ji9star>: Next

At Yoon Ji-gu’s words, a user with a large ribbon neatly tied on their bald head bowed and rushed forward.

<YeniPang>: Hello, I’m next!!

<Ji9star>: Please infer the outlook of international affairs for the next 10 years

<YeniPang>: Huh?

<Ji9star>: 10 seconds time limit

<Ji9star>: Start! >_<

<YeniPang>: But the question

<Ji9star>: 3

<YeniPang>: This is so frustrating why am I getting this kind of question

<Ji9star>: 2

<Ji9star>: 1

<YeniPang>: D/amn;; You said 10 seconds

<Ji9star>: Rejected!

YeniPang clenched their fist in frustration, punching the air after being disqualified in just three seconds.

<YeniPang>: What do you know to ask such a question? You try answering it

<YeniPang>: What was the question again? I’m so shocked I forgot….

<Zero>: Infer the outlook of international affairs for the next 10 years ㅇ_ㅇ lol

<YeniPang>: Right, that!!

<YeniPang>: 3

<YeniPang>: 2

<Ji9star>: World peace♡

<YeniPang>: 1

<YeniPang>: ?

In the end, Earth Star, who managed to give a plausible answer, shot disposable fireworks over his head as if his answer was correct. YeniPang was speechless for a while, blankly staring at Earth Star celebrating his own answer. Only those watching this bizarre interview scene laughed like crazy.

<YeniPang>: Ah, what the heckㅡㅡ

<Ji9star>: Even if you do it, it’s useless

<FatherStore>: Lol lol lol lol lol lol sob

<GlowingHeadAnn>: Crazy Lol lol lol lol lol

<Zero>: lol lol lol lol

<Ji9star>: Get out, let me see the next person

<YeniPang>: Am I really rejected?

<Ji9star>: Yep!

<YeniPang>: You jerk, giving only me such a question

<Ji9star>: ㅇㅅㅇBut I answered perfectly!

<Ji9star>: And you couldn’t! lol

<Ji9star>: So who’s getting rejected lol

<Ji9star>: Huh?!

<YeniPang>: D/amn, it’s me;;

<Ji9star>: Bye~ >_<

<YeniPang>: This is really ridiculous….

<YeniPang>: Going back to line up again

YeniPang trudged to the back of the line, only to be asked to recite pi to 10 decimal places a few minutes later. They were disqualified again in three seconds.

<YeniPang>: I’m an arts major; I only know basic addition and subtraction!ㅠㅠ

Watching this, it felt oddly realistic as the interview questions were surprisingly practical. Thinking about how he would answer, Yeo-woon started to feel troubled as old experiences came flooding back.

<PenguinGuinCar>: I’m a priest and I’m applying for the healer position! Before the question, I’ll make an acrostic poem with the word ‘penguin’!

<GlowingHeadAnn>: Ugh, PenguinGuinCar will probably do something stupid lol

<PenguinGuinCar>: F/ck off, give me the first letter!

<Ji9star>: Pen

<PenguinGuinCar>: Penguin

<Ji9star>: Guin

<PenguinGuinCar>: GuinCar ha

<Ji9star>: ?

<GlowingHeadAnn>: Predictable, just as I expected lol

<PenguinGuinCar>: You sh/ut up

<YeniPang>: lol lol lol lol tsk tsk

<Ring>: Lol lol lol lol lol

<FatherStore>: lol lol lol lol

<GlowingHeadAnn>: It’s so obvious I’m speechless haha You must suck at the game too?

<PenguinGuinCar>: Yeah, but I’m better than you who got rejected lol

<GlowingHeadAnn>: No, you’re not lol

<PenguinGuinCar>: Yes, I am lol

The two were wearing matching outfits as if they were friends from the start. Watching the two characters customized like twins argue about who was right and who was wrong was subtly cute and made Yeo-woon laugh.

<dldudns>: Lol lol lol lol lol

<Ji9star>: Ah, gasp

<PenguinGuinCar>: Haha Seeing your surprise, does this mean I passed?

Earth Star, for some reason, hesitated for a moment before announcing the result to the expectant PenguinGuinCar.

<Ji9star>: Nope

<PenguinGuinCar>: What? You even gasped in admiration earlier, why did you change your mind?

<Ji9star>: I gasped because it was so boring?

<PenguinGuinCar>: ㅗ

<GlowingHeadAnn>: lol lol lol lol lol lol bye

“This is funny.”

It was amusing—but why was he acting like that? Yeo-woon was watching people’s desperate self-promotion with a half-given-up attitude. The absurdity of the interview questions made the whole spectacle entertaining, even though it wasn’t a position worth competing for.

‘They’ll probably pick someone better than me, a fake healer, anyway.’

It seemed like the best option for both parties: Yeo-woon wouldn’t stress over joining, and it would benefit Earth Star to find someone more capable.

That’s when it happened.

‘Ji9star has invited dldudns to a regular party. Do you accept the request?’

“Huh…?”

Compared to others, Yeo-woon was just watching this scene contentedly without saying a word, but suddenly he was invited to the party.

“What’s this? Is it obvious it’s me?”

Yeo-woon muttered in confusion. He was mixed in with the crowd and his actions weren’t particularly noticeable, so something felt off. He hadn’t mentioned having an alt-character beforehand, so he couldn’t understand how Yoon Ji-gu knew to invite him to the party.

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: Hey>_<

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: Among tank, DPS, and healer, what are you?

Yoon Ji-gu whispered to ask. Seeing that he called him ‘you’ instead of ‘hyung,’ it seemed he didn’t know he was Lee Yeo-woon yet. Yeo-woon pressed the reject button firmly and started typing a reply.

/Whisper/<dldudns>: I’m a healer, but…

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: Wow, perfect! We just happen to have an open healer spot!

He had just clearly seen him reject someone who applied for the healer position because they weren’t interesting, and now what? Yeo-woon tilted his head in confusion.

/Whisper/<dldudns>: I’m not going

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: Huh?

/Whisper/<dldudns>: I have claustrophobia, so the tower is a bit…

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: But Sky Tower fights are in the sky? There are clouds floating around

Oh, was it? Yeo-woon couldn’t remember.

/Whisper/<dldudns>: Sorry, I have acrophobia too

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: I think I just developed rejection phobia

/Whisper/<dldudns>: My condolences

Yeo-woon had planned to just watch Ji-gu safely enter the dungeon and then return to his main character, but he didn’t expect Ji-gu to approach him first like this. Even in his flustered state, Yeo-woon calmly collected himself. Somehow, he felt that the moment he revealed this character was Lee Yeo-woon himself, he would be caught and dragged along without a chance to escape.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help Yoon Ji-gu. He just didn’t want to play the game with a job that didn’t suit him and that he didn’t enjoy, especially when there were many others who could replace him. That’s why Yeo-woon deliberately pretended to be a stranger.

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: Didn’t you come here to help me anyway?ㅡㅡ

/Whisper/<dldudns>: Who are you?

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: Lol lol lol lol lol

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: Oh really ol lol lol lol

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: Lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol

He couldn’t understand what was so funny. Yeo-woon muttered, squinting his eyes in inexplicable unease, wondering why he was acting like this.

/Whisper/<dldudns>: I don’t have time to help you. I’m leveling up too

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: Lol lol lol lol lol

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: Do I look like an idiot to you?

/Whisper/<dldudns>: Yep

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: ㅡㅡ

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: There wasn’t a single person hunting here until I came lol?

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: It’s a dead game, there wasn’t even one person to overlap in hunting grounds lol This is hilarious

/Whisper/<dldudns>: ? There are plenty of people here

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: They’re all just my fans ㅇㅅㅇ

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: And you’re following me now because you like me too

/Whisper/<dldudns>: I’m just here to watch because there’s a crowd

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: Come on lol lol lol

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: You like me!! lol >_<

“Does he really know it’s me?”

Unlike before, his affectionate tone was strange. Yeo-woon grumbled with suspicion. Why was he being so persistent? This wasn’t like Yoon Ji-gu. It also felt strange that he had singled him out for whispers when he didn’t have any particularly special features compared to others.

/Whisper/<dldudns>: I’m not going

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: Yes, you areㅡㅡ

/Whisper/<dldudns>: No, I’m not

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: Yes, you are

/Whisper/<dldudns>: No, I’m not

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: Yes, you are

/Whisper/<dldudns>: Not going

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: Go

/Whisper/<dldudns>: Not going

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: Go!!!

Earth Star sprawled on the ground, flailing his arms and legs. Since all the conversation so far had been in whispers, other people wouldn’t have been able to understand Earth Star’s behavior. Everyone murmured in confusion at Earth Star’s sudden action. However, soon enough, some people even started lying down on the ground, pretending to imitate him.

“When did he learn to express emotions by throwing tantrums?”

Yeo-woon let out a helpless chuckle, flustered by Earth Star rolling on the ground.

/Whisper/<dldudns>: I said I’m not goingㅡㅡ There are many other healers here besides me, right?

/Whisper/<dldudns>: All the people with staves or brooms are healers, so choose from them

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: They won’t do;;

/Whisper/<dldudns>: Why me?

At Yeo-woon’s words, Earth Star, who had been answering without hesitation until now, paused for a moment. However, the reply arrived just within a reasonable delay, within a range that didn’t feel unnatural.

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: Unlike them, you’re not wearing a cloak

“The cloak was the problem?”

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: You’re just my type ㅋㅅㅋ

“Let’s see… I should have one.”

Yeo-woon muttered to himself and immediately started rummaging through his inventory.

“Found it.”

He took out a black cloak from among the old equipment he hadn’t processed yet and equipped it. With a click, the black cloak overlapped on Yeo-woon’s character riding the broom. While he was at it, he put on a witch’s hat too, transforming into an entirely black-clad figure from head to toe.

Now he’ll go find someone else. Yeo-woon smirked at Earth Star who couldn’t say a word.

‘Ji9star has invited dldudns to a regular party. Do you accept the request?’

But reality was completely different from his expectations.

/Whisper/<dldudns>: ??

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: That’s a rare look—the cloak suits you well – _-

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: It’s kind of refreshing

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: I like it

“…What’s going on?”

/Whisper/<dldudns>: So what if you like me? lol

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: Party with me?

/Whisper/<dldudns>: No thanks

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: lol lol lol lol lol lol

‘Ji9star has invited dldudns to a regular party. Do you accept the request?’

When Yeo-woon pressed the reject button without saying anything, another invitation popped up in less than 3 seconds.

‘Ji9star has invited dldudns to a regular party. Do you accept the request?’

He’s persistent.

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: Please accept the party>

‘Ji9star has invited dldudns to a regular party. Do you accept the request?’

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: Let’s see who wins? lol

/Whisper/<dldudns>: F/ck off

/Whisper/<Ji9star>: ㅠㅠ