TGMND 44

– What the fvck? Are you saying that to me?

He asked in a calm voice. It was absurd. Did he not realize what he had just done? Yeo-woon burst into laughter and asked.

“Earth Star, do you actually like me?”

– What? Am I crazy?

No, then why? Yeo-woon took his hand off the mouse with a troubled look on his face.

– It would be nice to get the couple effect. Why would I ever ask a guy to go out with me for real? Not without actually getting shot in the head… I’m not gay? Absolutely not. I really hate men? I skipped school a lot back then and the number of absences at that time was no joke. Would you like to see it? I don’t even talk much with my older brother. Maybe you’re the one is gay?

“No, I…”

Why was he suddenly talking so fervently? Yeo-woon blinked dumbly at the torrential voice pouring out incessantly. Earth Star waited for a moment for there to be no answer, and then spoke bluntly.

– Anyway, you’re always running dungeons with me anyway.

“Oh, forget it. I’ll do it with someone else! It’s creepy when the heart mark pops up when we’re far away and our ranges overlap..”

– Ha, I’m totally disgusted too, you know? It’s unavoidable because of the effect…!

Yeo-woon didn’t really understand the additional effects. Neither the speed nor the attack power seemed to dramatically increase. Rather, it was really difficult to endure the heart popping effect when a couple entered a certain range.

[Guild] Halloween Eggplant: LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL Are you guys doing the dungeon right now?

[Guild] ParkRoach: ? Why? I’m doing it with Cat right now… We’re just about done.

[Guild] Captain Poseidon: Then I will gather everyone in the guild room.

[Guild] ParkRoach: ?? Did anything happen?

[Guild] Wandu Wandya: LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

[Guild] CatMeowMeowMeow: What??

‘Captain Poseidon has activated the All Gathering skill. If you accept, you will be moved to the guild room.’

A message appeared on Yeo-woon’s monitor window. He pressed the accept button, but since he was already inside the guild room, nothing changed. The guild members who started showing up one by one started laughing like crazy as they saw Earth Star kneeling in the cabbage field and holding out a ring.

[Guild] Captain Poseidon: Hahahaha

[Guild] ParkRoach: #lousyman #reunion #regretfulman

[Guild] Wandu Wandya: A lousy man hahahaha.

[Guild] ParkRoach: Hahahahahahahahahaha

[Guild] Halloween Eggplant: Wait, are they for real??? lol

[Guild] CatMeowMeowMeow: They just broke up earlier lol

[Guild] al0ha: lol

“…”

Yeo-woon was so shocked that he couldn’t even say anything. What’s the meaning of this? He could hear Earth Star giggling in his ear, finding it amusing. After thinking calmly, Yeo-woon spoke.

“What happens if I refuse?”

– I have a lot of rings, you know? I bought plenty before, so it’s fine even if I use them all up today.

As expected. It wasn’t surprising at all, considering the circumstances.

“Then, what will you do for me if I accept the relationship?”

– I’ll give you 10 billion.”

“More.”

– I’ll give you 20 billion.

“Okay.”

Since it turned out like this, might as well earn some money to upgrade equipment or something. Yeo-woon decided to just give up. He’ll seize another chance to break up later, no big deal.

‘A couple has been formed! Please check your skills in the couple window ♡’

‘The [Couple] tab has been created in the chat window. Secret conversations between lovers are now possible!’

– I’ll send you the money by mail later!

When the “Couple” window was activated again in the chat window and the relationship day count was reset to 0, a “thud” sound indicated that Earth Star had left the voice channel.

“What’s with him?”

He just finished saying what he wanted and immediately left. It was the first time Yeo-woon experienced a call ending like this, so he could only let out a wry smile.

[Guild] Ji9star: Haha

[Guild] Ji9star: So fast~

Earth Star seemed unusually excited as he moved around the guild room. He seemed like someone obsessed with speed. It probably wasn’t the intended purpose of this feature…

[Guild] neutaaaa: No, it’s because of the speed effect… ㅜㅜ

[Guild] Ji9star: Whoosh whoosh

[Guild] CatMeowMeowMeow: Looks like you were threatened…

[Guild] neutaaaa: Yes^^; It’s business

[Guild] neutaaaa: I also want to gain business benefits… So let’s just take what we need from each other…

Yeo-woon made excuses to the guild members surrounding him. Despite explaining it as a business relationship, he felt a bit embarrassed about why he had to say such things.

[Guild] Halloween Eggplant: Business couple? Hahahahahahaha

[Guild] Wandu Wandya: Suddenly hearing business words while playing a game gave me PTSD ㅠ lol

[Guild] Wandu Wandya: I don’t want to go to work tomorrow… If only the Earth suddenly ended

[Guild] ParkRoach: #Contractual Love #Unrequited Love Man

[Guild] ParkRoach: Hahahahahahahahaha

[Guild] ParkRoach: Earth Star, please don’t swear in a whisper ㅜㅜ

‘Ji9Star has been demoted to a regular guild member.’

[Guild] Ji9star: Guild Master; The vice-guild master is playing around with my position again.

[Guild] Halloween Eggplant: That’s not me hahahahahahahaha

[Guild] Captain Poseidon: I did it

[Guild] Ji9star: What?

[Guild] Captain Poseidon: Thank you for your hard work, Neutaaaa.

[Guild] neutaaaa: What…

“Ha…”

The chat window was noisy. Feeling a bit overwhelmed, Yeo-woon sighed and unplugged his earphones, closing his eyes.

***

‘I knew it. It looked like it was going to rain…’

The air had been humid since morning. Yeo-woon reluctantly bought a transparent umbrella from the convenience store inside the swimming pool. People were gradually coming out of the changing rooms, pausing when they saw the unexpected rain. Beyond the transparent glass door, it was all green summer. The heavy raindrops flowed down the transparent window.

“Get out of the way.”

Yeo-woon raised his head when he heard an irritated voice coming from behind. It was the man next door. The ends of his black hair were still wet and clumped as if he had just dried it roughly.

“If you don’t dry your hair properly, you’ll catch a cold.”

The man frowned at Yeo-woon’s words.

“Who cares? Mind your own business…”

What an attitude. Damn me for caring…

“Oh, come on! Let me through.”

“Ah yes.”

It seemed like Yeo-woon’s umbrella was blocking the way as he stood still in front of the door, so he awkwardly nodded and moved aside, making way for him to pass. The neighbor glanced at Yeo-woon and then abruptly turned his head.

‘Huh? He brought an umbrella.’

The weather forecast this morning said there would be no rain. He thought the man had figured it out. While Yeo-woon was scraping off the sticker on the umbrella handle with his fingernails, the man took a pitch-black umbrella out of his sports bag and dusted it on the floor. He held the umbrella forward and pressed the button on the handle.