TGMND 17

Earth Star arrived through the portal as Yeo-woon sat on the deserted Marchen Bridge. He rolled the black shadow spear in all directions and in the air, then struck the spear on the ground and utilized random emojis in sequence as he approached Yeo-woon.

[Couple] Ji9star: I have no way to contact you

[Couple] Ji9star: The event period is fixed, and time keeps passing. If you don’t log in, the experience loss is too significant.

[Couple] neutaaaa: It’s my decision anyway, so what does it matter?

[Couple] Ji9star: It was frustratingㅜ

[Couple] Ji9star: I waited for you all day yesterday….

[Couple] neutaaaa: ? Sorry sorry

After a half-hearted apology, Earth Star finally stopped moving around.

[Couple] Ji9star: Neu-nim, do you know Holblue by any chance?

[Couple] neutaaaa: Yes

[Couple] Ji9star: Install that

[Couple] neutaaaa: ?

Holblue was an app commonly used in games with inadequate in-game voice chat features. It had voice chat functionality and could accommodate multiple users simultaneously, making it popular in various game guilds. Although Yeo-woon had only used it a few times…

[Couple] Ji9star: Then I’ll tell you my friend code>_<

[Couple] neutaaaa: Why?

[Couple] Ji9star: It’s inconvenient. We want to synchronize login times… Discuss when we’re both going to log in, that kind of thing?

[Couple] neutaaaa: ?

[Couple]neutaaaa: Do I have to chat with you on there too?;; That’s a hassle….

[Couple] Ji9star: You’re annoying me again ㅡㅡ;

[Couple] Ji9star: Then are you going to make me wait all the time???

[Couple] Ji9star: Don’t you know that time is more precious than money?

Earth Star got irritated by moving around the map non-stop as if his body ached when he stayed still. But the lingering feeling was sincere. However, Yeo-woon was sincere. Since they would become strangers again once the computer was turned off, he didn’t understand why they needed to expand their means of communication. He didn’t even want to do that…

‘Ji9star invited you to the party. Do you want to accept it?’

ParkRoach and Captain Poseidon were also present. Today, it appeared that Captain Poseidon was trying to help rather than CatMeowMeowMeow. It was both a burden and a gratitude, Yeo-woon felt as if a burden had been placed on his heart for no reason. ParkRoach and Captain Poseidon noticed the two people and moved to Marchen Bridge.

[Party] ParkRoach: I heard that Neu-nim has confirmed that it has become a slot machine! Congratulation

[Party] Captain Poseidon: I’m sorryㅠㅠ Our guild member lacks mannersㅜㅜ

[Party] neutaaaa: It’s okay

[Party] Ji9star: It’s okay haha

The four characters sitting on the railing looked cute, so Yeo-woon unintentionally took a screenshot. The background of the map filled with starlight and romance, along with the Poseidon guild mark with the effect of pouring waves, looked well matched.

[Party] Ji9star: Neu-nim, did I misunderstand all this time?

[Party] Ji9star: I thought you were one of those guys causing trouble when you joined the guild.

[Party] Ji9star: But after watching, it seems like you’re not that kind of person…

Suddenly?

[Party] Ji9star: Maybe just a little slow-witted guy?

[Couple] neutaaaa: ㅡㅡ?

[Party] Ji9star: Ah, anyway, I feel a bit sorry.

Yeo-woon tilted his head in confusion at the sudden attempt to resolve the misunderstanding.

[Party] Captain Poseidon: It’s all right^^; Even so, I will not raise your position.

[Party] neutaaaa: Haha No wonder…

[Party] Ji9star: Darn it-

It seemed like he was caught trying to make a false apology to raise his position while the guild master was present. Yeo-Woon really liked Captain Poseidon, who was firm towards Earth Star, regardless of whether he was a guild member or not.

[Party] neutaaaa: Earth Star

[Couple] neutaaaa: What are you gonna do?

[Party] Ji9star: I’ll take care of it. You won’t even install HolBlue.

[Party] neutaaaa: Is your money… too much that you prefer to buy things with cash??

[Party] Ji9star: Hahahahahahaha

[Party] Captain Poseidon: Hahaha..

The party members laughed meaningfully at Yeo-woon’s words. He felt a sense of alienation.

[Party] Captain Poseidon: Money… is… plenty, right…? It’s weird to say it like that because I spend it oddly.

[Party] neutaaaa: Are you unemployed?

[Party] Ji9star: ? Haha, I’ve been working in the same job for 14 years.

Even if he started working right after high school graduation… he could be considered older than Yeo-woon’s cousin. His way of speaking didn’t convey any sense of experience.

[Party] ParkRoach: He’s a college student, 2nd year haha.

[Party] Captain Poseidon: Hahahahahahaha 14 years

[Party] Ji9star: Well, what can I do about that?

Earth Star fell to the floor and made a crying motion before suddenly disappearing from its spot. Checking the party window to see his location, it was confirmed that he had already arrived at the ‘Rage of the Lion King’ map, which was higher than the ant dungeon.

[Party] Captain Poseidon: Oh, Earth Star is going first. Was it embarrassing for him?…. Should we go too?

[Party] ParkRoach: Yeah hahaha

[Whisper] Ji9star: Have you installed Holblue?

[Whisper] Ji9star: I’m going to go to dinner soon… ㅜ Don’t you wonder what time I will come back after eating?

[Whisper] Ji9star: You aren’t curious about what I do for a livingㅜㅜ

[Whisper] Ji9star: Aren’t you curious about what I eat?

“…”

Earth Star appeared to be making good use of the game’s features. Despite having party chats, he frequently used whispers and even talked through the couple chat. However, Yeo-woon wasn’t curious at all about what he ate or how he lived. He couldn’t even remember what he ate yesterday.

[Party] neutaaaa: The whispers are so small I can’t hear them well

[Party] Ji9star: You’re really annoying

[Party] neutaaaa: Yeah yeah

[Party] ParkRoach: What are you two doing… Are you dating?

[Party] Ji9star: Dating ha

[Whisper] neutaaaa: Aren’t you talking too harshly to me, Mr.Roach?

[Party] ParkRoach: ;;I’m sorry

Seeing Earth Star so frustrated that he had no way of contacting him, Yeo-woon felt a bit sympathetic and decided to help him out. Yeo-woon followed the party members into the dungeon and found the app in the store, and installation was completed the moment the boss monster, the Lion King, was defeated.

[Whisper] neutaaaa: sq10e04wea

[Whisper] Ji9star: ?

[Whisper] Ji9star: Ah

[Whisper] Ji9Star: Wow

Earth Star quickly sent in a friend request after recognizing the friend code sent as a whisper. A chat room with him was created after accepting the friend invitation by tapping the plus button. There was a voice chat option in the bottom right corner, as well as a messaging area comparable to regular messaging apps.

[Party] Ji9star: I’ll be back after dinner><

[Party] Captain Poseidon: Then, I’ll go out and get some coffee too.

[Party] ParkRoach: I’m running errands for my dad…

Everyone left their characters in front of the dungeon, promising to finish their tasks within 30 minutes. Soon after, Earth Star sent a picture. His dinner today seemed to be seasoned chicken with red sauce. After hesitating for a moment about what to say in response, Yeo-woon sent a thumbs-up emoticon.

***

While Yeo-woon was skimming through level dungeons and walkthroughs while waiting for the party members to go do their own business, an unidentifiable guild invitation window appeared on the screen.

<Strawberry Jam>Guild

Lv.218 Strawberry invited you to the guild.

Do you want to accept?

[Whisper] Strawberry: Afk?

“…Who?”

Strawberry appeared out of nowhere and had a customized character with greenish bald skin. Whether he applied snake-like features or not, blue scales were densely scattered on his skin. It wasn’t someone he knew, and he thought it was odd for someone over level 200 to invite him to a guild, especially a newly formed beginner’s guild. Yeo-woon mistakenly pushed the wrong direction key when closing the window, causing his character to move and exit standby mode.

[Whisper] Strawberry: Oh, it’s not Afk.

[Whisper] Strawberry: Since there is no guild sign on your head, we have one spot left.

[Whisper] neutaaaa: Suddenly…?

[Whisper] Strawberry: Our guild is level 10. Want to join?

“…?”

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a guild? Yeo-woon had started to think about joining one again somewhere. Having a guild would be better than not having one. Being approached for guild recruitment on the street was a first, and he wondered if this was the right procedure.

[Whispering] Strawberry: If you join, I will give you good information.

“Information?”

Good information. Yeo-woon immediately pressed the accept button.

With a black night fog effect spreading above his head, a notification emerged indicating that his guild membership was complete. He now has a guild as well. Yeo-woon looked at the star-shaped guild emblem floating above his character’s name with a sense of pride and satisfaction.