Volume 2

Since this is an old apartment complex, even one parking spot per household wasn’t guaranteed. As a result, many residents had to double-park, and many people didn’t put their cars in neutral, leading to loud shouting matches from early morning demanding cars be moved. I understood their plight, having heard it a few times in the early mornings.

“I don’t care what kind of car you have! If it’s such a nice car, park it in the public lot! How dare you not put it in neutral every time!”

“This car costs how much? If you accidentally roll it and crash it, will you take responsibility, sir? This one car is worth the price of two apartments here!”

“Then sell your car and move somewhere better, punk! Why bring such a car here and be a nuisance!”

“Did you contribute any money to me driving my car? It’s my business! In a capitalist country! Why are you interfering when I want to drive something nice with my own money?”

“If you have the means to drive something like that, park it in the public lot!”

“I refuse! It’s a long walk from here, who would park there? You park there!”

People gathered around to watch the two. Most sided with the middle-aged man. It was understandable, as the red sports car the young man drove was parked right in the middle of the lot, like a post.

If this parking lot issue had ended there, I could have gotten my carton of eggs, but the fight dragged on, preventing that. I was hungry. Unable to listen any longer, and with some unknown courage, I squeezed between them.

“From what I’ve heard, it seems like you just need to put it in neutral, aren’t you being a bit too rigid?”

“That’s right. Well said, young man.”

“Who are you to butt in?”

I told the young man that I was a resident here and one of the people inconvenienced by him. People in the same situation as me grumbled in agreement nearby.

“Will you take responsibility if the car is damaged?”

“You keep talking about responsibility. Your insurance will cover it, right? There’s CCTV here too. If we report it to the police, there’s no point in arguing about who takes responsibility for something that hasn’t happened yet. Are you already worrying about the future like that? If so, you should write a will. You never know when or how you’ll die.”

Perhaps I was so hungry that I couldn’t see straight. Looking around, I saw older middle-aged people, but no one else spoke up like me, only muttering about his bad manners. I thought it was just because the man was young.

But that wasn’t it.

That guy was a notorious troublemaker in this apartment complex. I should have known from the moment he started speaking to me informally.

“Hey. You, what unit are you?”

“Me? Unit 412, Building 101. Why?”

“Really?”

The owner of the red car said he’d think about it and left without taking the eggs. Now that the eggs were available, residents hurried to get in line, and I, joining late, was almost at the end.

As I received the remaining eggs, I found that 2 out of the 30 were broken. Still, I thought, it’s better than nothing. While waiting for the elevator, the same ajumma I’d met at the residents’ meeting was standing there.

“Tsk tsk. Young man, you’re really settled here now, aren’t you?”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“That red car, that guy. He’s a really terrible person. Well, you’ll find out soon enough, but…”

Despite her words, I had only slept here and didn’t know much about the outside situation. Moreover, I didn’t have a car, so I had no reason to run into that man.

Just as the elevator door was about to close, I pressed the open button again at the sound of “Just a moment.” A woman and a young boy boarded late…

‘No, wait a second.’

It was the kid who had said his mom wasn’t there earlier. I cautiously glanced around and mustered the courage to ask the woman who looked like the child’s mother.

“Excuse me… I’m sorry, but is this your child?”

“Yes. What is it?”

“Oh, he’s just cute.”

The child who had scammed me out of 30,000 won hid behind his mother’s skirt. Right, it was my fault for falling for it. I felt like a sucker for being kind, so I decided to let it go.

After getting off on the 4th floor, I glanced back. The child and I made eye contact inside the elevator. I gave him a small smile, and he stuck his tongue out at me.

Ah…

This shouldn’t be happening. I shouldn’t be this annoyed by a child. I had done a good deed, and in the spirit of wishing him to grow up well, I smiled, but I was completely ignored.

Wow, really. Today’s luck is terrible. The two broken eggs felt like my pride being broken, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.

Click.

Returning home, I placed the eggs on the sink. I was hungry and thought about ordering delivery with my card, but I decided to boil and fry the eggs instead.

When I moved the fried eggs to the coffee table in the center of the living room, it looked even more pathetic. After eating a few boiled eggs, I couldn’t swallow the yolks. As a last resort, I thought about eating ramen, but then I remembered I had run out.

“Ah. Why is today like this, really.”

This must be Seomun Jun’s fault. My luck has been going downhill since I partnered with him again yesterday. The world is made of yin and yang harmony, but perhaps I received too much yang energy in the game, I thought, a rather absurd notion.

The fried eggs weren’t cooked crispy enough, and the yolks burst and flowed out. I couldn’t stand it any longer and got up. I put on the same clothes as before, just grabbing my wallet. I hadn’t bought groceries thinking I’d get some side dishes from home next week and save money, but I couldn’t hold out.

‘If I hadn’t been scammed out of 30,000 won, I could have ordered chicken.’

My monthly living expenses were already depleted, so I had to buy only the bare minimum for food. Ramen was the best option to last a week. I had no choice but to eat it if I wanted to have lunch at the real estate office.

As I walked down, I searched on my phone for large bags of hardtack or snacks, referred to as ‘human feed.’

“Should I buy a bag of this and keep it at the office? Ugh… where can I get money…”

Just then, I remembered the “Relax” skill Shut Up had given me yesterday. Why hadn’t I thought of that? Selling it would fetch at least 3 million won. For now, I was hungry, so I planned to eat ramen and then check the bulletin board.

“Hey. Unit 412.”

As I came out of the mart with ramen, crossing the playground where I had been scammed earlier, someone called me from behind like a prisoner’s number.

I turned around, scowling, as the tone was clearly confrontational. It was him. The owner of the red car. He was sitting on a seesaw, the kind kids ride, eating a popsicle. I got a full view of him, something I hadn’t seen during our argument earlier. I tried to ignore him and walk away, but he provoked me again.

“Scared? Trying to run away?”

I slowly approached him. He was still sitting on the seesaw.

“What, punk? Want me to sit opposite you? Want to ride the seesaw?”

“You haven’t lived here long, have you? You don’t know who I am?”

“How would I know you?”

Only then did he get up and approach me.

I hadn’t realized it when we were talking with the older man between us, but up close, he was tall, like Seomun Jun. His clothes were like the blue tracksuits often worn by actors playing unemployed characters on TV. Judging by his appearance, he didn’t look like someone who would drive such an expensive car.

“Well, you wouldn’t have had a reason to run into me. I’ve arranged moves for more than a few people here.”

“Arranged moves…?”

“This time, I’ve picked you.”

Playgrounds nowadays are covered with soft mats. If it were sand like before, I would have thrown a handful at this guy and left, but I regretted talking to him.

“Yeah. Thanks for your support.”

I raised my hand as if greeting a candidate in an election and turned to leave. The bag on my wrist bothered me, so I nudged it with my knee as I walked towards the apartment entrance, but he followed, continuing to provoke me.

“Hey, Unit 412. Aren’t you a bit slow?”

“What? Are you introducing yourself?”

The elevator arrived, and I got in, but he followed. He looked at me as if to ask ‘What?’ but just crossed his arms. He only pressed the button for the 4th floor. Looking behind me, he was just staring straight ahead.

When we reached the 4th floor, he got off too.

“You live here too?”

“No.”

“Then why did you get off?”

“To go to your place.”

“Crazy bastard,” I blurted out. What kind of person is this? I quickened my pace. As I reached my door and was about to open it, he stood next to me, catching his breath.

“Go away.”

“No.”

I didn’t want to let just anyone follow me into my home. I went back to the elevator, but he followed again.

Suddenly, I remembered what the ajumma had said earlier.

“Tsk tsk. Young man, you’re really settled here now, aren’t you?”

I went down the emergency stairs, and I could hear him descending the stairs behind me. Do I really have to move? I’ve only been under contract for less than 3 months… What about the moving costs if I leave?

I was heading to the first floor but quickly turned into the second. The elevator happened to arrive, and I got on, getting off on the 4th floor. Then, as I reached my door and was about to enter the number, I saw the crazy guy running from afar.

“Ah, damn it!!”

I quickly opened the door, went inside, and locked it, including the deadbolt. Only then did I hear a loud bang from outside the door. This wasn’t some horror movie, but just a simple idiot chasing me, yet my heart was pounding.

Bang! Bang! Ding-dong— Ding-dong—

I heard him knocking on the door and calling me from outside. I cautiously looked through the intercom and saw him still panting in front of the entrance.

‘Wow.’

I thought he was no ordinary person. When he kept knocking, I threatened to call the police, and he quieted down.

About 10 minutes passed. I cautiously checked the intercom and saw that he seemed to have left, as he was no longer in front of the entrance. Right. He’s probably not home much on weekdays, so I just need to get through the weekend, I thought, brushing it off lightly.

I boiled ramen, placed it on the coffee table, and turned on the TV. Cable TV was again discussing the controversy surrounding “Blood Planet.” An idol singer’s face appeared at the top of the screen.

[The problem is that a fan, intending to give a gift, offered their body for the celebrity to have physical contact. How is this different from social sexual favors?]

[You’re being too harsh. At most, it’s holding hands, and at regular fan sign events, people hold hands. It’s difficult to label that as obscene and view it with prejudice.]

[How do you know if they’ll just hold hands or touch other places?]

[Please adhere to broadcast guidelines! Do you think words are just for show!]

[Would you understand if your child did that to a celebrity?]

It was also explained that celebrities meet within “Blood Planet” to have secret relationships. The more such controversies arose, the more popular the game became. With that in mind, I opened my laptop while drinking the ramen broth.

Searching for “Relax” on the bulletin board, I found many people wanting to buy but very few selling. I called Hanwoo for advice. He sounded like he had just woken up, perhaps from drinking the night before.

[Aren’t you open on Saturdays?]

“I take one day off a month. But do you know the market price for Relax? Is 3 million won reasonable?”

[Relax? You got it? How?]

“Well… Shut Up gave it to me. We’re partners again.”

[Hey… Didn’t you say he’s from the building opposite? Why get involved with him?]

“I’m not in a position to refuse right now, and I was threatened too. He said he’d kill everyone I party with. He actually did it yesterday.”

[…If it’s Shut Up, he’d do it and more. He’s always been like that.]

Hanwoo said he’d check if anyone nearby might want to buy it. After hanging up, I let out a yell of joy. In front of Hanwoo, I politely said, “Oh, really?” and “Hmm, I see,” but inwardly, I couldn’t help feeling as happy as if I’d won the lottery.

The market price for Relax had risen even higher than when Hanwoo sold it. But suddenly, I wondered how Shut Up had obtained it. He wasn’t in the low-level zones where Relax drops, as far as I knew…

For now, I decided to look for a buyer in the game. Having had a late lunch, there was nothing else to do on a leisurely afternoon but play games. I comfortably sat on the sofa and turned on the connection device. I felt a bit sorry for turning Shut Up into a slime yesterday, but there was nothing I could do.

<>

As soon as I logged in, it said <> and the login screen didn’t appear for a long time.

Once the update was complete, I saw the room where I had been with Shut Up yesterday. Remembering what had happened beyond that door yesterday, I shook my head and cleared my mind.

<>

Using a town return scroll, I teleported to the Velvet Town teleportation point. Then, I went to the warehouse NPC and carefully stored the Relax magic scroll Shut Up had given me yesterday. Next, I sold a few small miscellaneous items to a shop and listed them on the auction house.

If I had spare time, I could open a personal shop in town, but that was mostly for trading high-value items to avoid auction fees.

I could have sold Relax through a personal shop, but selling it for in-game currency involved a cumbersome process for cash conversion. I’d have to register it on a trading site and sell the in-game currency in parts. It was too much hassle, so cash trading was cleaner and better.

[GentleTouch : Relax for sale. Cash transaction]

[BT920720 : How much?]

[GentleTouch : 3 million]

[BT920720 : Gold possible?]

[GentleTouch : -]

“What, why can’t you buy it with gold?”

Someone nearby, perhaps, spoke in an agitated voice. But it wasn’t just one person; a group had gathered.

“I need the money. I’m going to cash it out anyway.”

The person who asked me that was not the one who sent me a whisper. Their group surrounded me. They insisted that they were new to the working world and asked if I could sell it a bit cheaper, saying they were buying it out of a desire to help.

“How much?”

Reluctantly, I asked, and they all said 1.5 million won. I refused, saying it was like selling it at half price and that even merchants wouldn’t buy like this. Looking at their names, many had IDs derived from the name [MooYul]. Were they a fan club too?

“I’m sorry, but I can’t give it to you for that price.”

“Oh, don’t do that, just sell it.”

I looked at them with the sternest expression I could muster, but it was in vain. Their game characters were so beautifully made that it was hard to resist when beautiful women grabbed my arms and shook them.

“Don’t do that, girls.”

Just then, a soft voice drifted on the wind. Everyone froze like a still image and turned their heads in the direction of the voice.

There stood someone who looked impossibly radiant, even for a game character. His name was [CathedralOppa]. His customization was so perfect that it seemed no more perfect appearance was possible.

“Oh! Oppa!”

“MooYul!”

It seemed CathedralOppa was the one. When he raised his hand, everyone clasped their hands and rejoiced. CathedralOppa apologized for the intrusion and apologized on their behalf.

“Um… Are you a celebrity?”

Instead of CathedralOppa, the people standing in front of him answered my question. Their overlapping answers were a bit hard to decipher, but they explained that he was an idol trainee belonging to a major agency, so he was practically a celebrity.

“So, you’re still a civilian…”

“Our Oppa isn’t a civilian.”

“MooYul being a civilian? That’s the funniest joke I’ve heard all year.”

So I said, “Ah, I understand,” and that if they say so, then so be it, and I tried to leave, wishing them well.

“Um… the Relax scroll. No celebrity discount, right?”

CathedralOppa stopped me with a hand adorned with numerous rings on every finger. It seemed he used a cosmetic item, as it’s impossible to wear 10 rings on one hand. That hand resembled the character from a certain movie who said, “I am generous.” However, I was not generous, so I firmly stated that even a real celebrity would not get a discount.

“No, our Oppa is really a celebrity.”

“Yes, I understand that.”

I looked for an opening to escape from them, but whenever I found one, they would surround me. It seemed they intended to keep me there until I agreed to sell, as CathedralOppa watched me silently.

As CathedralOppa raised his arm, perhaps to make a trade with someone, I saw Kim Taepung, whom I had hunted with yesterday, passing by.

“Mr. Kim Taepung! Mr. Kim Taepung!”

Everyone else didn’t know who Kim Taepung was, but he turned his head towards me at my desperate call. Kim Taepung, who had been about to enter a shop, approached. Under the gaze of several eyes, he looked startled.

“Oh? Da-jeong? What are you… doing in the middle of that?”

When the party appeared, I was finally able to break free with a slight opening. Although I hadn’t actually made a hunting appointment with this person, I wanted to escape from here immediately, so I urged him to go with me. I stopped walking only after we were out of their sight.

“Wow, Dajeong, you’re popular. Surrounded by women.”

“No, that’s not why I was surrounded.”

I told Kim Taepung about the flamboyant Church Oppa who had been in front of me and explained what had happened. Kim Taepung asked how I got the Relax Scroll, and when I honestly replied that I received it after reconciling with Shut Up yesterday, he looked extremely surprised.

“He’s a guy who massacres users… Shut Up gives out things like that? Was he always like that?”

“I don’t know what kind of guy you’re talking about, but he’s not a good person. I didn’t get it for free either.”

I didn’t want to go into detail. If I did, he might ask about the Link’s strength, so I quickly changed the subject.

“Are there any people around who sell Relax? Not people who rip you off like them.”

“I don’t know many Guides, but I’ll ask. You’ll sell it at that price, right?”

“Yeah. I might be able to negotiate a bit, and if I sell it, I’ll give Kim Taepung a finder’s fee.”

“Okay.”

Then, as Kim Taepung was about to agree to go hunting, a message from my linked mobile phone appeared at the bottom of the screen.

[Aren’t you opening the real estate office today?]

It was Jun. So many people were nagging me about not opening the real estate office today, honestly.

[I’m not opening. I take one day off per month.]

[Go to the department store and exchange the clothes. The color is bad.]

Even though he must have seen my reply, he just stated his business. It seemed like I would have to have an in-depth conversation with him, so I told Kim Taepung that we could go hunting another time.

As I didn’t reply out of disbelief, he called. I usually only received messages while playing games; calls weren’t linked before. I figured this was one of the many changes that came with the recent update.

When I pressed the phone icon at the bottom, the call connected immediately. Although virtual, a phone icon appeared above my head, and his voice switched to mute.

“Hello.”

[Yudu, there’s a store on the second floor. I’ll leave the clothes at the entrance, so exchange them by this evening.]

“Um, I replied that I’m off today.”

[You can go since you’re off.]

“No, I don’t have any reason to go to your area. I’ll exchange them on Monday.”

[No. I need to wear them tomorrow. Exchange them.]

“It’s too far today.”

[Too far? What are you talking about? It’s the same Seoul, what’s far?]

It seemed like he was getting revenge for me going home yesterday. He had complained about me coming from so far away while we were eating meat yesterday… and now he was saying it wasn’t far.

Annoyed, I wanted to retort, ‘Then why can’t you go to the department store, which is a 10-minute walk away?’ But the reason he was looking for me now was to get revenge under the guise of an errand.

I let out a long sigh, and he asked if I was cursing. I was about to retort by asking if he had tinnitus, but I vaguely said I was busy with something.

That’s when it happened.

Far away, I saw someone kill a passing donkey and pick up a potion that fell on the ground. Seeing that scene reminded me of the crude words Shut Up had said. Those words about 100 potions…

“Alright. Alright, so hang up.”

[What did you agree to? Do you remember what color I told you to change it to? See, you can’t answer.]

“Leave a memo in the shopping bag. Let’s make memo-leaving a habit.”

Ding dong. Ding dong—.

Just as I was about to hang up, I heard a familiar sound. I looked around, wondering what it was, but there was no place that would make a doorbell sound. Then, an announcement appeared at the top of the game: <> and the game screen turned semi-transparent. The living room appeared, and someone’s face showed up on the intercom screen.

<>

Come to think of it, a few days ago, the news reported on a person who died of suffocation in a house fire while playing Blood Planet. After that incident, an external detection system was added.

“I’m hanging up.”

Saying that, I pressed [Accept] and took off the access helmet.

‘Ah, seriously.’

I looked to see who it was, and it was that crazy guy. He was wearing the same blue tracksuit as always. I thought he’d given up, but he was back.

“Hey, Unit 412! I know you’re in there.”

I stared at the intercom screen without saying a word, and the crazy guy kept talking, telling me to come out.

Should I go out and argue? But then I thought about how many people were going around with weapons and visiting neighbors, calling it anger management issues, and I became timidly worried that he might be that kind of person.

No, how little did he think of me to come back and cause this trouble again? After he left earlier, I thought I’d just dismiss it as seeing a crazy guy passing by, but he came back and was being a nuisance again. Instead of replying to him, I called the security office.

“There’s a crazy guy at my door.”

[Ah, the one in the blue tracksuit? Sigh. This is troublesome.]

“Is there anything that can be done?”

[It’ll be faster to report it to the police.]

Indeed, asking the elderly security guard to deal with such a vigorous young man seemed too much. In case he could hear my voice, I texted 112 to report it, and a nearby police station called me.

[Where are you located?]

“I’m at ×× Apartment, Building 101, Unit 412. There’s a strange person at my door.”

[What are his distinguishing features? Is he a resident here?]

“Yes, he’s wearing a blue tracksuit, and he is a resident of this apartment.”

[Ah…]

As soon as I described his features, they gave a similar response to the security guard.

[Ringing the doorbell is a minor offense, and we can only issue a sticker. Doesn’t that person have some business there?]

“I have no business with him!”

When they asked again if he was a complete stranger, I replied that I had encountered him once at an apartment meeting. However, listening to them, it seemed like the crazy guy had done this before.

[He’ll stop after a while. He doesn’t have any dangerous items, so don’t worry.]

While keeping the call open, I glanced at the intercom. Just as the police said, he had nothing in his hands except his phone.

I told them I would report again if it escalated further and hung up. I didn’t want to make things bigger. I hoped he would get tired and leave on his own. Such a person might cause more trouble after paying a fine.

Looking through the intercom, he was leaning against the hallway railing, playing on his phone. He looked like someone who would give up in a day or two.

The problem was that I had to go out to run Jun’s errand, but with that guy at my door, it was difficult to leave… So, I called Jun again.

“I’m sorry. There’s a crazy guy outside my door, so I can’t go out.”

[Stop lying.]

“It’s not a lie…”

[Then, what should I wear tomorrow?]

Jun had no regard for my situation. A surge of anger rose in me, and I blurted it out, thinking, ‘Whatever happens, happens.’ Even if he was the superior one, this was too much on my day off.

“You’re in good shape, so just go naked! You’re so selfish. I’m annoyed because of the guy outside.”

[Should I go?]

“Yeees?”

[Should I go to your house?]

“If you intend to come to my house, change your clothes yourself. Then.”

[You said there’s an annoying guy. I’ll go.]

“No, thank you.”

I was taken aback by his sudden change to a caring tone. I had responded coldly, but him trying to appease me felt uncomfortable in its own way.

“I’m hanging up.”

I thought I heard him say something over the phone, but I just hung up and turned off my phone completely. Jun coming over would mean I’d have an ally, but something felt off. The fact that he would know my house.

Hiding the Blood Planet access device was not difficult, and there was no way he would find out I was Kind Touch, but it was a gut feeling. I shouldn’t ignore such instincts. Jun’s expression yesterday, as he desperately tried to stop the closing elevator, further fueled my suspicion.

Thinking he would go to change his clothes himself now that he knew my situation, I quietly approached the front door again. Even while talking to Jun, the outside was quiet. So I thought he had left, but the blue tracksuit guy was still leaning against the hallway railing, fiddling with his phone.

Occasionally, I peeked outside. He seemed to disappear for a moment but then returned and stood in front of my door. He didn’t seem bothered by passersby glancing at him. He even brought something like a fishing chair and sat down. It looked like he was about to pitch a tent soon.

‘Okay, it’s nothing.’

I thought it would be fine soon and took a nap.

After waking up, I looked out the window and saw that the sun had set.

Looking at the darkening outside, I instinctively checked the intercom to see if that guy was still there. Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I stared at the screen, but no one was there. I guess he really did leave after a short while.

Still, it was Sunday, and I had to be home all day, so the thought of that crazy guy ringing my doorbell and showing up like today made me instantly annoyed.

Then, I thought if I ignored him for one more day, he’d get tired on his own, so I decided to take refuge somewhere else. Although I didn’t go out often, being forced to leave was entirely different from choosing to. I had no choice but to turn on my phone.

As soon as I turned it on, messages started coming in. Ting—. Ting—. Several messages. Seomun Jun had sent messages to me on Jjuni’s number and to Dajung on Shut Up’s number.

The messages from Jjuni were mostly about why I was refusing his errands, if I was ignoring his messages now, and threats like “If you don’t exchange them today, I won’t list any more items at your real estate office.”

The messages from Shut Up were mostly about when I would log in, why I wasn’t answering his calls, if I was ignoring him after taking the Relax, and threats like “I’ll spread your number everywhere.” Regardless, Seomun Jun’s messages always ended with threats. The only exception was the last message from Shut Up, which was a kind invitation to come online, offering items, as if he wanted to resolve things with me for future Links.

“A perfect example of bullying the weak and fawning over the strong.”

Ignoring the messages from Jjuni and Shut Up, I called Hanwoo.

“Can you let me stay for just one night?”

[I’m not home right now. I’m out of town.]

“What’s the password?”

[You’re going to my house when I’m not there?]

“There’s a crazy guy roaming outside. Just for tomorrow. Please? I’ll be your Guide for a day.”

[2580. You can eat anything in the fridge, but don’t touch the wine.]

I promised Hanwoo I wouldn’t even look at his precious wine cabinet and packed clothes for Sunday and Monday into my backpack. Since I sometimes borrowed Hanwoo’s clothes, I didn’t need to pack much.

I hadn’t opened the door since coming in this afternoon. Looking outside through the intercom, thankfully, the stairwell sensor lights were off, indicating no one was there.

After watching for a while, I decided to leave, put on my backpack, and opened the front door. As I did, the sensor light in front of my door turned on, and I flinched, thinking someone was there.

“Why am I getting so jumpy?”

I walked, lowering my posture, just in case I was visible from the apartment across the street. Since it was a corridor-style apartment, it took quite some time to walk to the elevator at the very end. As I waited for the elevator, it took too long to arrive, so I decided to take the emergency stairs, thinking it was only four floors down.

As I reached for the emergency exit door, I saw a familiar blue tracksuit walking down the corridor. It stood out immediately. The sensor light in front of my door turned on, and the blue tracksuit was standing there. Then, he naturally leaned against the railing, fiddling with his phone, just like before.

‘Ah, I almost ran into him if I had been a moment later.’

Deciding to move on without looking anymore, I managed to turn and open the emergency exit door.

Ding—.* As the sound rang out, a family emerged from the elevator, their voices murmuring. The crazy guy, who had been staring only at my front door, turned his head towards the elevator. Then, he saw me opening the emergency exit door and our eyes met.

He was smiling. I saw him running towards me with a smile. I quickly entered the emergency stairwell and locked the door.

‘Why is he following me!’

I just ran, because someone was chasing me for no reason. As I ran down to the first floor, I couldn’t control my pounding heart. Was it from running, or from tension? My mind felt like it was flashing red, urgent.

As I hurriedly exited the apartment building, I still didn’t understand why I had to run, why I had to flee in the middle of the night. I just didn’t want to encounter that crazy guy.

Panting, I crouched in a corner to hide. I had seen him run a few times, but he was as agile as an athlete. If I kept running through the apartment complex like this, I’d be caught. I planned to wait until things calmed down before leaving. I couldn’t run any further because I was out of breath.

‘Haah, my stamina is terrible.’

As I hid in the dark shadows, my phone suddenly rang. It rang once, and although I turned it off, it sounded loud in the quiet space.

Looking at the caller ID, it was Jjuni. Seomun Jun was calling to ask me to run an errand.

I put my phone on silent and looked around. The crazy guy hadn’t come out of the apartment entrance even after I came out and hid. If he had followed me, he would have burst out panting, but he seemed to have given up.

My legs were getting numb from crouching for so long. I had no choice but to stand up and pat my legs. Becoming a fugitive in a peaceful apartment complex, I regretted going to the neighborhood meeting that day.

“All for a stupid egg.”

Looking around, I left the apartment complex. As I walked along the path to catch the subway, someone suddenly grabbed my backpack.

“Aack!”

“Whoa, you scared me! What are you so surprised about?”

It was Jun.

Huh? Why was Jun here? I looked back and forth between him and the black car parked neatly beside him with a bewildered expression.

“You said you live near this station. Why didn’t you answer when I called?”

“Uh… well.”

I quickly looked around and pulled Jun towards the car.

“Open the car door. Quickly.”

Jun looked at me indifferently and pressed the button on his car key. The car’s hazard lights blinked, and I slid into the passenger seat.

Jun followed, opening the driver’s side door and looking at me inside. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it and got in without a word.

“Um, I’m sorry. Could you just give me a ride to Samujeong Station?”

“Why would I?”

“Then, just give me a ride to the front.”

“Where are you going?”

“To a friend’s house.”

“Why at this hour?”

“I just… want to avoid someone. Please, I’m asking.”

“I’m not giving a ride to someone who didn’t exchange my clothes.”

Jun looked at me without a hint of mercy. His expression was one that wouldn’t save me even if I reached out for help while drowning. The reason he was being so petulant was likely due to yesterday’s incident. Asking me to exchange clothes was just an excuse.

“I’m sorry about leaving like that yesterday. I was a bit drunk.”

The sound of leather creaked as Jun moved, and he leaned his upper body towards me. It wasn’t a move like in a drama, where he’d buckle my seatbelt. He was cornering me, pressuring me.

“Yesterday, you knew and ran away, right?”

“What?”

“Do you think I’ll just let it go if you keep pretending you don’t know?”

Jun’s tongue flicked out between his teeth. I saw his red tongue roll inside his slightly parted lips.

It looked like a warm-up before biting into the neck of its prey. I thought the inside of the car was relatively safe, but this was a trap. I pressed my back against the passenger side window, trying to put as much distance between us as possible.

“Ah, I get it, so don’t come any closer.”

“Is that a request? Or an order?”

“A request!”

“If it’s a request, I don’t have to grant it.”

Jun’s face moved towards my shoulder as if he were about to bite my neck. Request? Order? So, was the answer an order? I quickly pushed his shoulder away and said firmly, like training a puppy.

“A, an order! It’s an order!”

“Is that so?”

I’m not a dog. Well, in a different sense, I was a dog, but giving orders to each other like this didn’t seem normal for people. But he urged me, “Try again.”

What else should I do? I made a bewildered expression, and he pestered me to give an order like before.

“I’m the one who runs errands, so isn’t it contradictory for me to give orders?”

“Still, try it.”

“Putting that aside, humans aren’t dogs to take orders…”

“It excites me when you say that.”

Ah…!

Having no intention of participating in this perverted game, I fiddled with the car door, wanting to get out as the outside grew quiet.

“You can’t open it from the inside.”

Jun simply stared at me, lightly holding the steering wheel. His long fingers tapped lightly on the wheel. Seeing him like that, it seemed he might stay like this all night.

It felt like the oxygen inside the car was slowly depleting, making me breathless. To escape quickly, I decided to comply with his words for now.

“Please drive.”

“That’s not a command.”

“Then, drive.”

He still didn’t start the car, which made me stubborn. I figured I had nothing to lose. And for some reason, I started to find him annoying, and I really wanted to try giving an order.

“Drive to Samjeong Station. Now.”

Only then did a faint smile spread across Jun’s lips. The engine roared heavily, and the car lurched forward. Honestly, being told to give orders, this wasn’t even like indirectly experiencing a power dynamic; it was so bizarre, beyond just being ill-intentioned, that it was hard to go along with.

Jun added another request, telling me to drop the honorifics. I cautiously gauged whether I could speak casually to him, but then thought, if a guy five years younger than me speaks casually, why shouldn’t I? So, I started speaking casually too.

“By the way, do I have to talk to you like this from now on, Jjuni-ssi?”

“Why? You don’t like it?”

“It’s a bit uncomfortable.”

“I thought you’d be uncomfortable, seeing how many complaints you seem to have about me. If it’s really uncomfortable, just think of it as an extension of running errands.”

“Does it make you feel better if I say it like that?”

“Yeah. It turns me on. A lot.”

As we were stopped at a red light, Jun parked the car and turned his face towards me. His eyes flashed for a moment, illuminated by the headlights of passing cars.

“When Yudu-ssi speaks in a commanding tone, I get this throbbing here, and I feel like I’m going to come. So… keep talking like that.”

As Jun said ‘here,’ I saw him lightly grip his crotch. The hand that gripped there returned to the steering wheel, and his gaze shifted forward again.

Even though the car moved smoothly, my core throbbed. I fully understood his intention, and it was clear he was grabbing his male center. But what did speaking in a commanding tone have to do with his groin throbbing? Then again, perverts don’t do things for logical reasons.

‘Seriously, why are there so many perverts around me?’

I came to Seoul to escape the panty man, only to find the command monster, the blue tracksuit weirdo. And then there’s Moment from the game. At this point, I was seriously considering a shamanic ritual. My fortune said my life would be peaceful without any major issues, but where was the peace in this? I started to doubt if my parents had gotten the time or date of my birth wrong.

Giving orders to Jun, who was driving now, wasn’t difficult, but his words about being turned on… I had a feeling this was dangerous, and I wasn’t sure if I should really do it.

‘I’ll hold back for now.’

As we neared Samjeong Station, Jun pulled the car over to the shoulder. I reached for the door to get out, but it wouldn’t open. I shifted my gaze to Jun, who was watching me quietly from the passenger seat.

“Could you…?”

Jun, who had been resting his face on the steering wheel and looking at me, let out a sound tinged with regret.

“The mood is good right now… It’s a shame to let you go just like this.”

My heart wouldn’t stop pounding. I had regained my physical rhythm when I got into Jun’s car after running earlier, but now…

My breathing, which had stabilized, suddenly became rapid. I suddenly remembered linking with him in the game in this kind of atmosphere, and my face started to flush. Fortunately, it was night, and the streetlights were orange, so I could hide my changing complexion.

I was about to firmly tell him to open the door, but remembering that a commanding tone seemed to stimulate him, I politely asked again.

“Please open it quickly.”

“Do you want to spend the night here?”

Deciding I would never hitch a ride with Jun again, I turned my gaze away and yelled.

“Open the door!”

I didn’t see his face because I wasn’t looking, but I heard the dull thud of the car door opening and saw Jun walking back around the front of the car.

Click.

When the passenger door opened from the outside, the night air rushed in coolly. As I tried to step out, I couldn’t stand up because he was still leaning his arm on the door.

“Unbelievable.”

Jun muttered something I couldn’t understand and looked down at me calmly. It was dark, so I couldn’t see his black pants clearly, but his front seemed slightly bulged. I tried my best to stand up, pretending not to notice.

If I stood up straight, I would be right in his embrace, so I bent my body as much as possible and slipped out sideways. It felt like I was doing a hurdle over the curb. I almost tripped and fell without seeing the edge of the sidewalk.

“Th-thank you. You can go now.”

“Yudu.”

Hearing my name, I saw a passing woman flinch and quicken her pace. I had never thought my name was embarrassing before, but now I did.

“Hey! Don’t call my name like that…”

Suddenly, my backpack flew at me, and I quickly caught it with both hands. I had put it on the passenger seat floor, but I had almost forgotten it. Jun closed the passenger door with a thud and stood in front of me.

“When are you going to exchange my clothes?”

Hmph.

I laughed in disbelief. If I had the mental capacity to be here, I could have gone to the department store right in front of us ten times over. I had so much to say, but I was too stunned to speak.

Fine. I decided to exchange those damn clothes and replied that I would do it when I went to work on Monday. But he insisted, saying he had nothing to wear tomorrow. The department store was already closed, and I almost argued that if I had the mental capacity to be here, I would have gone, but in the end, I just let out an “Argh!” and calmed myself down.

“I told you I’d exchange them on Monday.”

“You’re selfish. You don’t give a damn about my feelings, do you?”

“That’s what I should be saying!”

“Monday is too late. Exchange them tomorrow.”

I couldn’t take it anymore, and anger surged through me.

“Hey! I’ll exchange them on Monday! Wait!”

Jun took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, controlling his emotions. It was like exhaling cigarette smoke.

“…Uh, huh?”

Finally, Jun grabbed one of my arms and yanked me towards him. For a moment, I lost my balance and was pulled into his embrace, my body pressed against his. His erection met mine. Even through the thick fabric of our jeans, I could feel it as clearly as if we were naked and embracing.

Startled by the sensation, I tried to pull my lower body away, shifting my hips back, but Jun grabbed my hips with one hand and pulled me closer.

“I… got a little hard.”

A moist voice came from above my head as we embraced. It’s normal for a man to get hard, but he looked pleased that he had gotten a little hard.

You don’t have to tell me that. It’s either a lipoma or that in this position. I was panicking inwardly, wondering why he was doing this to me. I struggled to get out of his arms as quickly as possible.

‘This is a bad omen.’

It was Seomun Jun holding me now, not Shut Up, and I was afraid we might Link like in the game. In the game, it’s just a character, so there’s no physical strain, but feeling his carnal desire in reality like this, I felt a sense of crisis.

“Let go, let go! Let go for a second.”

After struggling a few times, I managed to break free from him. I backed away, trying to put distance between us.

“Jjuni-ssi, I know you’re gay. But I’m not. So, please don’t initiate this kind of physical contact. Sexual harassment is a crime, even between men. So, my, no, stand there and listen. Stand. I said stand!”

Even as I spoke, Jun closed the distance with long strides. I backed away, but when I realized it wouldn’t work, I turned and ran.

“Where are you going? I’m not finished talking.”

“Don’t follow me! I told you not to follow! Stop right there!”

I pointed at Jun and yelled, and he stopped abruptly. He told me to command him, and he actually listened. Turning back after running, I saw him standing still right where I had told him to stop.

There’s an officetel where Hanwoo lives, right in front of the subway station. As soon as I turned the corner, I caught my breath and scanned my surroundings. Fortunately, Jun had really stopped chasing me. I quickly entered the officetel’s entrance.

Ding.

As I got off the elevator, I checked my surroundings again. I passed through the quiet hallway and entered Hanwoo’s apartment by entering the secret code. I went straight to the window without turning on the living room lights and looked down at the street. That’s where Jun’s car had been parked. Nothing was parked there now.

“Haa… He’s gone.”

Why were so many people chasing me today? Was I a fugitive? Why was I so unlucky? I lamented my fate alone.

I had run so much that my tucked-in t-shirt had come out, and my hair was a mess. I had nowhere to relax, not at home or at the office.

Sunday is Jjajangmyeon day!

As luck would have it, there was that ramen at Hanwoo’s place, so I took out two packs. To eat a late breakfast, I put water on to boil and opened the refrigerator to see what side dishes there were.

“Ah… Does this guy not eat at home? There are no side dishes.”

I grumbled, wondering how there wasn’t even kimchi, and reluctantly took out some stir-fried anchovies and put them on the island counter.

I wanted to move into a fully-equipped officetel like Hanwoo, but the management fees were not cheap, and it was expensive to begin with. The furniture in the apartment I was currently living in was left by the previous owner, so I was using it, but the appliances were old and often malfunctioned unexpectedly.

When I added fabric softener during the rinse cycle, the washing machine didn’t spin and just drained the water, so I had to run it several times. The refrigerator froze on the inside and was weak on the outside, so side dishes would spoil or freeze solid, requiring constant checking before eating. And the air conditioner, which I hadn’t turned on yet, looked like it would give me pneumonia just by looking at it, so I didn’t feel like turning it on.

I boiled the Jjajangmyeon and put it on the table, picking up a piece of stir-fried anchovies with my chopsticks. Well, it was my first time eating it with side dishes other than kimchi, but it wasn’t bad. It was so quiet that I turned on the TV and fiddled with my phone.

Since Jun left yesterday, I had received a message from him. He demanded that I log into the game. I hadn’t run into Shut Up since I turned him into a slime back then. Actually, if I wanted to log into the game, I could use Hanwoo’s access device. But I didn’t want to go that far.

“Ouch!”

Chewing without thinking, a hard piece of anchovy poked the roof of my mouth. It stung so much that tears welled up, so I quickly swallowed the ramen and picked up the small hand mirror next to me. It looked fine, but when I gently rubbed it with my tongue, it felt like a wound.

“Haa…”

I sighed, lamenting my fate, wondering if even eating ramen was now being interfered with, and picked up my chopsticks again. As the door lock clicked open, a woman’s voice followed.

“Oppa! Mom! This—, huh? Duseon oppa?”

“Chae-yeon. It’s been a while.”

“Where’s oppa?”

“Hanwoo? He’s probably still out of town.”

“…But what are you doing here? Did you come to eat ramen?”

It was awkward and embarrassing to explain in detail, so I vaguely said that there was a problem at home and I was just staying for one night.

“Ramen with stir-fried anchovies?”

“This was the only side dish I had.”

“Mom told me to bring you some side dishes, anyway.”

Chae-yeon placed the kimchi container she was about to put in the refrigerator on the table. When I opened the lid, it smelled perfectly fermented. Chae-yeon scooped some kimchi into a small dish and placed it in front of me.

“You don’t have kimchi at your place either, do you, oppa? Take some of this.”

Recently, Hanwoo’s parents had also moved to Seoul. Chae-yeon, who still lived with her parents, seemed to bring side dishes like this occasionally. As an only child, I sometimes wished I had a warm sibling like her.

As she heated the ribs, Chae-yeon glanced at me.

“Do you have a girlfriend, oppa?”

“Me? No. Why? Are you going to introduce me to your friend?”

“No.”

I was firmly rejected. After finishing the ramen, I took the empty bowl to the sink. Then, I picked up a sponge and made suds to wash the dishes.

“The food smells good. Are your parents doing well?”

“Yes. Why didn’t you contact me after you came to Seoul?”

“Well, a lot has happened.”

A lot had indeed happened. I had worried about financial hardship and an uncertain future, and whether I’d have to go back home and be tormented by the panty man, or if rumors would spread throughout the neighborhood, preventing me from getting married.

And now… I didn’t even want to think about it. As I rinsed the pot, I sighed, and Chae-yeon lightly patted my shoulder.

“Everything will be alright. Don’t worry.”

“Yeah. I guess so?”

After washing the dishes, I went to the bathroom to wash my face. I hadn’t done it when I was alone, but I felt a bit embarrassed to show my sleep-crusted eyes to my friend’s sister.

As I washed my face and hair, I thought I heard my phone ring. It rang a few times, and I wondered if it was a hallucination. When I finished washing and came out, Chae-yeon was standing there with my phone, a troubled expression on her face.

“What? Did someone call?”

“Yes. It kept ringing, so I answered it for you, but it was some man. He hung up rudely, saying he’d call back later.”

I picked up my phone and saw ‘Jjuni’ listed as the caller. I hadn’t said whether the friend I stayed with last night was male or female. Could he have thought I stayed at a girl’s place?

‘Well, what can I do about it?’

I just ignored it. Then my phone rang again, and this time it was Hanwoo.

“Yeah. When are you coming?”

[I’m on my way now. I’m hungry. What should we order?]

“Chae-yeon is here now, and I’ve made ribs. Come and eat that with rice.”

Hanwoo said he’d be here soon and sounded happy. After hanging up, I went to the living room and sat on the sofa. As I focused on the TV, my phone rang. This time, it was really Jun.

“Hello.”

[Was the place you stayed last night your girlfriend’s house? I thought it was a friend’s place since you said friend.]

Although Jun had told me to drop the honorifics yesterday, when I spoke to him on the phone, my usual real estate agent tone came out.

“It was my boyfriend’s house. And what business is it of yours whether I sleep at a girl’s place or a guy’s place?”

[Why isn’t it my business? You almost made me hard because of Yudu-ssi.]

I lowered the volume of my phone as much as possible, worried Chae-yeon might overhear, and moved away from her.

“So, what does that have to do with me?”

[You have to take responsibility.]

“What? What responsibility!”

“Oppa? What’s wrong?”

She seemed startled by my sudden shout as I came out of the room. I told Chae-yeon it was nothing and quickly put on my shoes and left.

“Jjuni-ssi, that’s enough. I told you I’m not g-gay.”

As someone walked past with a dog, I mumbled the word ‘gay’ and barely managed to finish my sentence. I had to talk quietly, not knowing who might pop out from which door.

[You made me so horny, how can you not take responsibility?]

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

[We’ll talk about the details tomorrow.]

After I stammered and whispered, Jun hung up.

‘No, what details are there to talk about? Why should I be responsible for his son getting hard? Ah, this is ridiculous.’

I let out a self-deprecating laugh, and a passing mother and child glanced at me and quickly moved away.

How many crazy people are there in the world that even an innocent person like me gets misunderstood like this? Experiencing it firsthand, there really are too many crazy people in the world. Perhaps it’s because the population density in Seoul is high, so I encounter more of them.

“What are you doing outside?”

Just then, Hanwoo got off the elevator and approached me. He was carrying snacks and dumplings he had bought from the countryside in both hands.

“Are you giving these to me?”

I asked him as he took off his shoes, but Chae-yeon approached and snatched the shopping bag. Hanwoo, who had been about to answer, looked at me with empty hands.

“Oh, no.”

“If you want to eat them, go ask for them.”

“Do you want to see me beg?”

“You do it well in the game.”

On the first day, a screenshot of him picking up items in his underwear in the village had been posted on the bulletin board. I thought Hanwoo hadn’t said anything, but it seemed he had seen it.

“Dinner is ready.”

We sat down and ate the ribs. My stomach was still full from the ramen I ate earlier, so I only ate a few pieces of ribs instead of rice.

After dinner, Chae-yeon left, and Hanwoo and I sat in the living room chatting. We were talking about the game when my phone rang. I looked at the phone screen and quickly ended our conversation.

“Hey, shh. Shut Up is calling.”

“Your voice is the same, doesn’t he know yet?”

“Yeah. Seeing that, he seems a bit slow too… Hello?”

[What time are you logging in?]

As soon as I received it, Shut Up asked when I was logging in. What’s wrong with this one? It seems like they only have that on their mind, whether in reality or in the game. How carelessly did they play to tell me to take responsibility and now be trying to charm Dajeong?

I considered this a feeling stemming from conscience. People should always be consistent, but isn’t Jun’s behavior now like straddling two boats? Like holding a rice cake mallet and wondering where to pound the rice cake…

“I can’t today. I’m not home.”

[I’ve filled up a lot of PG.]

“And, I’m not eating Chitosan anymore.”

[……You should let all the PG go down, shouldn’t you?]

“You can eat the Chitosan. And you, you kept going before even when all the PG went down.”

[Okay. I’ll only do it until the PG goes down.]

I thought I had won the argument with Shut Up, but I wasn’t the victor. In the end, linking with him was unavoidable.

“Hanging up.”

For now, since Hanwoo was next to me, I quickly hung up. However, just by roughly listening to what was said, I could fully infer what kind of conversation it was, so I couldn’t hide my embarrassment.

I went to the kitchen, made a cup of coffee, and sat next to Hanwoo on the sofa. Pretending to watch TV, I had listened to everything, yet Hanwoo was cautiously watching me.

“Yudu. I have something to ask—”

“Don’t ask.”

I’m not that kind of person, but the current situation was pushing me into being perceived as gay. After we each did our own things and washed up, it was already past 10 PM. The options for sleeping were the bedroom or the living room floor.

“The bed is big, so can I sleep next to you?”

Hanwoo, who had just finished brushing his teeth, responded with an “Mm.” and hesitated at my question. Normally, when we drank together and passed out, it was common to sleep in the same bed and wake up, but I suddenly wondered why he was acting like this, and realized it was all because of the game.

Ah. Even if my stomach hurt, I should have just suffered alone. I regretted needlessly talking to the people around me, leading to this mess.

“I’ll just sleep on the floor. I saw you didn’t have any extra blankets.”

“I’ll give you one to cover yourself with. Roll it up and sleep.”

I didn’t want to say anything to Hanwoo. I decided that to avoid that crazy guy in the future, I should just go to a jjimjilbang instead of Hanwoo’s place. My posture, curled up like a caterpillar on the living room floor, felt so pathetic.

‘This isn’t why I came to Seoul.’

It was a night I missed home.

“Haa……. This is driving me crazy.”

“What, you feel nothing?”

Jun irritably pushed aside the sheets, got out of bed, and walked straight towards the kitchen. The muscles on his bare upper body were cast in shadow by the outside light.

He opened the refrigerator, and the darkness around him was illuminated. Jun then took out a can of beer he bought from the convenience store and opened it as if taking out his frustration. After drinking a good amount, he finally took the beer can from his lips with a sigh.

Through the living room window, he could see a faint red light twinkling on top of a tall building far away. Like that light, his own instincts felt too distant and faint, bringing on irritation. The man who had followed him out late embraced Jun’s bare back from behind.

“Don’t be impatient. But Jun, am I not a good enough master?”

Jun didn’t answer the man’s taunting words, just drank his beer. Then, wiping the moisture from his lips with his hand, he looked down at him.

“You can’t even get it up, yet you have such grand dreams.”

“Jun. Isn’t it completely impossible for you? This much—”

A crumpled beer can flew past the man’s face. Although it was a thin can, the sound it made hitting the sink and falling was quite loud and jarring.

“If you couldn’t get it up, pay me the 7 million won. Get lost.”

Jun didn’t care about the un-drunk beer spilling on the floor and went back into the room. He then brought out the man’s outer jacket and threw it at his feet.

“Hey! I tried, so can you at least give me a discount!”

“If you leave within 10 seconds.”

Before the words were even finished, the man hurriedly picked up his clothes.

Judging by appearance alone, this man was definitely more sensual and captivating than Duseon. But why…

Jun pinched the bridge of his nose with two fingers, relaxing his eye muscles. While Duseon’s occasional commanding tone stimulated him, it was the first time he had shown signs of arousal like yesterday. It had been completely dormant, but that much was significant progress.

Recently, he had been satisfying his urges by linking in the Blood Planet game, but it felt insufficient, perhaps because it was indirect. He drank water because he was thirsty, but it only made him thirstier. It was like drinking saltwater, making him crave more.

“Then, I’ll be going.”

As he rubbed his eyes for a long time, the man wearing his jacket came into view, smiling. He gestured towards the entrance with his head, and as he slowly walked, he asked again, “How much will you shave off for me?”

Jun followed him slowly, and by the time the man had put on his shoes and opened the door, Jun had reached the entrance. As he pushed the man’s back to make him leave, and without answering, the man asked again impatiently.

“Can’t you just let me off? Huh?”

“……Okay. I’ll let you off a little.”

Jun pushed the man out the door and spoke generously before closing it.

“Not 700, but 690. Don’t come anywhere near here until you have the money.”

Bang!

Even as the front door closed, Jun could see the man standing outside, dumbfounded.

“Haa……”

He had commissioned the man to find a solution for his erectile dysfunction. However, despite the rumors, he had achieved no results after several attempts. Furthermore, the man had even pretended to be his boyfriend and extorted the card Jun had entrusted to Duseon.

At one point, the man had said it was best to understand his preferences as much as possible, and that he was interested in a Master-Servant Relationship. When Jun first asked if he meant a DS relationship, he said he wasn’t interested in that kind of SM Play and only needed mental control. Then, the man had asked to be made his slave.

But what could he do… My preference was to be the one receiving commands.

At those words, the man’s face lit up with even more joy, and he confidently declared he would be Jun’s master. ‘You? Me?’ Such was the daily ridicule.

This condition had slowly progressed since Hyung left two years ago. It wasn’t like a sudden breakdown. At first, normal sexual activity was possible, but over time, it became increasingly difficult to get an erection.

Was it because his heart couldn’t be filled by meeting various partners? It started to malfunction as if all the batteries had run out. Only after its function completely stopped did he look back at the past.

‘What did I miss?’

Thinking back to his relationship with Hyung, Hyung had always given him orders, and he had followed him like a younger brother. Having lived in that framework, he had already become accustomed to such a command structure.

Thinking that way, he remembered masturbating while thinking of Hyung. That was like the last missing piece, making him yearn. Just in case, he had met people with similar appearances to Hyung, but it didn’t work.

‘What’s missing?’

That one piece caused a thirst.

Then one day. As he was leaving the building to smoke, he saw a man lingering in front of his car. He seemed to want him to move the car, but he didn’t.

Before getting into the car, he threw the cigarette he was smoking near the cigarette butt pile. It was an action he didn’t think much of, as it would be swept up anyway.

“Wait! Don’t throw it here.”

His tone was clearly trying to control me.

The moment their eyes met, the missing piece of the puzzle surfaced. Perhaps, was this it? And besides his parents, he was the first person to call him ‘Jjuni’. And yesterday, he had pointed and stopped him as he approached.

“Stop right there!”

What a shame, I thought I was actually going to get hard.

Putting an end to his thoughts, Jun stood up and looked down at the messy bed. Then, he picked up his phone from the shelf and left a message for Duseon. He needed a more certain method.

[Let’s have lunch tomorrow]

He didn’t get a reply, but it didn’t matter.

Where he would be was obvious.

“Hey, aren’t you going to work? I’m leaving first.”

“Uh-huh. Go ahead.”

I had woken up earlier than Hanwoo, but I had finished getting ready for work and was sitting on the sofa. Under the guise of drinking coffee, I had been staring blankly at the morning broadcast for an hour. The time was just past 8 AM.

Normally, it would be time to get on the bus, but since Hanwoo’s place was close to the office, I could leave with a little more time. After Hanwoo left, I started matching the lines while watching the morning drama. The lines in scenes like that were always predictable. Similar scenes appeared when I watched TV with my mom.

“Who are you to covet my son!”

“Son… Shut up.”

“Are you even worthy of my son?”

Chewing on an apple slice, I mouthed the words along with the middle-aged actor. My mom put an apple slice in my mouth and warned me to be quiet. As the female lead was about to say, ‘I understand perfectly what you mean,’ I held back when I saw the paring knife in my mom’s hand.

“As expected, I’m good at matching.”

I also remembered the routine of watching TV with my mom on weekends. When we were in the living room together, the news playing on the TV my mom turned on caught my eye, so I looked away and just fiddled with my phone. While looking at the phone screen, I heard my mom sigh.

“Oh dear. Tsk tsk. Drunk drivers should not be forgiven. Sigh, how unfortunate. The couple died at the same time. What about their children?”

At those words, I looked up and stared at the TV. There, two cars, which had crossed the center line and collided head-on, were mangled. The report stated they were a couple in their 50s, so I figured they had children around my age.

It was similar to the traffic accident that had killed my father in the past, so I tried to look away. Wishing my mom would stop watching, I changed the topic.

“Mom, aren’t you watching the singing competition?”

“Oh, right. I should watch that.”

When the channel changed, the living room atmosphere quickly brightened with the clear sound of a xylophone. Thus, someone’s tragedy was briefly mentioned as mere news and disappeared like cotton candy.

“Ah, the time……”

When the morning drama ended and commercials began, it was really time to leave.

As I put on my shoes to leave, I remembered the message Jun had sent yesterday. He would surely say he wanted to have lunch and then talk about his son’s whereabouts, mentioning whether he got hard or not. The strange things he would say were as predictable as the lines in a morning drama.

Just like how the protagonist in a drama gets cancer and their life changes when they go to the hospital, I felt like my life would change significantly if I had lunch with him. I couldn’t shake off my worries easily.

With reluctant steps, I finally got into the elevator and went down. The backpack on my back wasn’t heavy, but my shoulders felt like lead. From Hanwoo’s place, I could take the subway instead of the bus, so I walked towards the station with more leisure.

Honk!

“……!”

Startled by the honk, I looked up from staring at the ground. It seemed to come from the car I had just passed, and another honk sounded from behind, so I turned around completely.

There was the black car, parked as it was that day. Before I could identify it, a long leg stuck out from the driver’s seat, and Jun’s face appeared. As he approached with long strides, I stepped backward until my back hit a tree planted on the sidewalk.

“Why aren’t you replying?”

“Huh? Ah, I was going to later. But how are you here….”

“Get in. You’re going to the real estate office, aren’t you?”

“Ah, no. I’m taking a day off today.”

“Can you just close the door like that?”

“Because I’m the CEO. Haha. Well, have a good day.”

I walked away quickly, circling the tree. Fortunately, the car couldn’t reverse this way, so I thought he couldn’t chase me further and walked as if running.

I heard him calling me urgently from behind. Pretending not to hear, I quickly entered the subway entrance. As I hurried down the stairs, I stumbled, perhaps due to nervousness.

“Whoa! Whoa!?”

I tried to grab the railing next to me, but my hand didn’t reach, and my body tilted forward. Just as I thought I was about to tumble down, my backpack was suddenly grabbed, and I landed on my backside. The impact of sitting down hard made me yelp.

Still, it was a hundred times better than rolling forward. Although I had fallen due to my own mistake, I found myself blaming the person who chased me. I got up and confronted him. Jun was two steps above me, making him seem even taller than he already was.

“Haa—. Why are you in such a hurry?”

“Ouch, ouch……. Why are you chasing me!”

“Get in. I’ll give you a ride.”

“No. I get motion sickness in your car. I prefer the subway.”

“I’ll drive gently, get in. I have something to talk about.”

His grip was so strong that when he yanked me by the backpack, my body followed like a rag doll.

“I have nothing to talk to you about!”

“Why not? You have to run an errand. Did you forget the promise?”

“W-what errand!”

“We agreed to change clothes today.”

Finally, we arrived in front of his car, and the passenger door opened. I saw his comfortable leather seat, which felt like a cage. He gestured for me to get in quickly.

“You promise we’re just going to eat and talk, right?”

“Yeah. Have you been fooled your whole life?”

That’s right. That was a common line used by con artists in dramas. They would mockingly ask if the person had been fooled their whole life when they expressed reasonable suspicion. As I was pushed forward with my backpack, I resisted, holding onto the car door.

“Promise you won’t touch me. Then I’ll get in.”

“Do I hit you?”

“No, anyway! Promise me.”

“I will. I can do that. Just get in already!”

“If you push me like that, do you think I’ll want to get in!”

“If we stay here too long, we’ll get a ticket. Are you going to pay the fine for me?”

Just as he said, I saw a parking enforcement vehicle approaching in the distance. A fine would be equivalent to a week’s worth of meals, so I clutched my bag to my chest and got into the passenger seat.

Click! The door closed, completely shutting out the noise from outside. The inside of the car was silent, as if submerged in water. The driver’s door opened again, and his body smoothly slid in.

“Where are we going?”

“My place.”

Jun’s answer made me openly flinch, but he replied nonchalantly, asking why I was acting like this when he said we were just going to change clothes. When I asked why he didn’t pack the clothes, he just smiled silently.

‘No, why are you smiling? At that moment.’

As Jun is gay and knows intimately how men have sex in games, it was natural for me to feel he was dangerous. But I seemed to be the only one tense; Jun was casually nodding his head to the music playing in the car.

When they stopped at a red light, Jun glanced at me.

“Breakfast?”

I didn’t know from when he had been waiting in front of Hanwoo’s house, but it was obvious he had skipped breakfast too. I wasn’t hungry, but I didn’t want to ignore his suggestion.

“We should eat. Shall we go to a fast-food restaurant?”

“Near the office, there?”

The drive wasn’t particularly special. It felt as natural as carpooling with him every morning.

Jun entered the parking lot of the branch skillfully, as if he came here often. As we parked and got out, people passing by on their way to work looked at Jun without hesitation. Even in his comfortable tracksuit, his appearance was certainly eye-catching.

I followed him, looking at Jun’s broad back. Standing in front of the kiosk, he pushed his hair back and languidly touched the screen.

“I’m getting a morning set, Yudu-ssi, do you want one too?”

Oh, come on!

I quickly looked around. Unlike last night, no one was looking at us strangely. Everyone seemed busy with their morning routine, leaving in a hurry after receiving their coffee or food.

Instead of answering, I stretched out my arm and touched the screen, then waited. We received our food near the counter and went up to the second floor. The seating area was sparse, with people eating by the window scattered like road signs.

“Do you come here often?”

“Mm, well. It’s convenient.”

Jun placed one morning set in front of me and three in front of himself. I was envious that he could eat so much without his stomach showing.

While carefully sipping my coffee, blowing on it to cool it, Jun, who had already finished his three morning sets, sucked on his drink straw and asked.

“Are you really going to close the office today?”

“……Since I came all this way, I should open it.”

It felt too hollow to just change his clothes and go home. As I noisily blew on my coffee and drank it, I heard a deflated tone from beside me.

“You can’t eat hot things?”

“I can eat hot things. But this is too hot.”

“……They say people who can’t eat hot things feel it more keenly.”

Just as I was carefully sipping my coffee, Jun’s rude remark reached me, and I tried to stay calm, carefully putting down the cup. I mustn’t be flustered. I told myself there was no need to react to every word this young punk said and replied in a calm voice.

“Are you making that up? I’ve never heard that before.”

“You’ll know if you try to confirm it.”

“Stop it. It’s early in the morning.”

Jun rested his chin on his hand and smiled at me.

I was about to get up without even properly drinking my coffee, but someone sat down next to me, talking on the phone. Glancing over, it was the real estate agent I’d met before. As expected, as soon as he placed his tray down, he started chatting on the phone without even thinking about eating.

“Ah—. That’s what I’m saying. That, the banner was taken down and put back up. Don’t you know that from seeing things like that? Both of them are the real deal.”

A chill ran down my spine. I knew the banner he was talking about wasn’t just a building banner. So I urged Jun to grab his bag quickly and leave.

But he was checking something on his phone, saying ‘Just a moment,’ and remained motionless. Even during that time, the voice of the man next to me didn’t stop.

“But, I heard something else too. That Shut Up is becoming a ‘dae’. Honestly, we only know they’re linking, but we don’t know who’s ‘ssusineun’, right? That’s why, even though over 80 percent of Guides appeared, they didn’t change it, you know. Doesn’t that tell you everything? Should I make a Guide with a sub-character and whisper to them? I’ll ‘ssusida’ them nicely. Who knows?”

Even up to that point, it was an infuriating situation for the person involved, but Shut Up’s real-life appearance was being denied, not just their in-game persona.

“They say Shut Up looks like an anchovy in real life? Ah, I mean, you know how some guys act tough in games but are just short, stubby things in reality. It’s pathetic losers in real life getting vicarious satisfaction through games.”

I was horrified by his words and looked at Jun. I didn’t even feel the heat from the hot cup in my hand. This man was blabbering away without knowing that the building owner and Shut Up, Seomun Jun, was right there.

I thought Jun wasn’t listening because he was only looking at his phone, but his thumb, which had been touching the screen, stopped abruptly. Then he stared blankly out somewhere. Just by his expression, I was certain he had heard the man’s malicious words unfiltered. Fortunately, the man’s abusive talk was cut short by a phone call he received.

“Ah, yes. CEO. I’m in front of the office. Yes. I’m just about to go in.”

The man gave up on eating what he had sat down for and stood up. He picked up his briefcase and was about to pass us, so I quietly lowered my head.

“Excuse me.”

Just then, Jun, still seated and only turning his chair, called out to the man. At first, the man looked at Jun with a ‘What?’ expression, but then he quickly bowed and hurried over.

“Oh my, CEO. Fancy meeting you here.”

As he approached, I moved away to watch them from a distance.

“Can I have your business card?”

“Ah, just a moment. Where did my business card go?”

The man frantically fumbled through his suit pockets and then handed his business card, which was tucked between some papers, to Jun.

“If you have anything to sell, please contact me.”

“Hmm… And by any chance, do you play Blood Planet?”

“Huh? CEO, you play that too? Oh my, what a coincidence.”

“What’s your character name? I’m low level and could use some help.”

‘Don’t say it!’

I tried to send him a telepathic message of help, but it seemed the signal didn’t reach him.

“I’m only B-rank, but I’ll gladly help. My ID is ‘Yeotjangsu’.”

“Yeotjangsu… That’s an interesting name.”

He was rolling the name of the person Shut Up was about to slaughter in his mouth. The smile on his face was eerily similar to when he appeared as the hidden boss in the dungeon that day.

The man, whose clothes were disheveled from searching for his card, adjusted his attire again, said goodbye to Jun, and left. Even as I approached, Jun quietly looked down at the business card.

“Yudu, do you know him?”

“Just… met him a few times at gatherings?”

I thought he would tear him apart right away, but Jun put the business card in his wallet and stood up. Truly, that man had bad luck. Why would he say such malicious things in front of Shut Up?

“Yudu, do you play Blood Planet too?”

“Yeah, huh? What, what is that?”

“If you don’t know, that’s fine.”

Jun picked up his tray and mine, clearing the table.

All the rumors the man had babbled about were false. Shut Up was indeed the one who ‘ssusida’, and he was as cool as his game character in real life. He had every right to be upset.

We got back into his black car and, as usual, parked in front of the real estate office. I was about to tell him not to park in front of the office now that we were a bit closer, but seeing how upset he seemed, I stopped myself.

“Clothes, bring them down. I need to open the office door.”

“Follow me.”

But Jun said that and walked into the building without looking back. I considered ignoring him, but he seemed to be in a bad mood since earlier, so I followed without complaint. As if he expected me to follow, he pressed the elevator open button and waited.

Ding—.

Arriving on the 7th floor, Jun opened the main door. Then he stepped aside as if to let me go in first. I had guessed the general layout, but through the slightly open gap, I saw that his home had a long hallway and living room stretching all the way to the outer windows.

As I hesitated at the door, Jun nudged my butt with his knee.

“What are you doing? Come in.”

“Are you going to show me your butt just like that?”

“Why are you making a fuss when I didn’t grab it? You told me not to touch it.”

Covering one side of my butt with my hand, I stepped inside and slowly took off my shoes. I saw several locks on the front door, but only the automatic door lock moved.

Marble was laid on the floor, and my socked feet slid smoothly.

Passing through the hallway, I saw a very large living room with a U-shaped sofa. The front was a floor-to-ceiling window offering a panoramic view of the outside. Blinds were drawn in various places, and morning sunlight peeked through the gaps. There were several doors on both sides. Jun entered the closest one on the left. Through the open doorway, I could see clothes.

Not wanting to just stand there, I sat on the sofa. It was quiet and still. I live alone in an apartment too, but it’s not this quiet. There’s always a gentle background of living noise, like footsteps from upstairs or laughter from the next apartment through the thin walls, making you feel someone’s presence.

But in Jun’s house, there was absolutely no sound. The only sounds were the rustling of the sofa material whenever I moved and the opening and closing of the built-in closet in the distant dressing room. The ticking of the wall clock, which I wouldn’t normally hear, became audible, making it feel like time had stopped in this space.

♪♩♬—.

Perhaps because of that. The phone’s ringtone sounded louder than usual, making me flinch.

“Oh? Sang-cheol.”

[Aren’t you opening the real estate office today? I stopped by on my way, but it’s locked.]

“I’m in front of the office. Wait.”

[No. I’m already in a taxi. Let’s meet with Hanwoo next time.]

“Okay, next time you come—”

Thump.

Just as I was about to say something playful like ‘Melona,’ Jun walked past and tossed something next to me. He could have put it on the coffee table, but he deliberately threw it on the seat next to me as if to make sure I saw it. After hanging up, I examined the contents of the shopping bag he had thrown.

“Ah, this. What color did you tell me to get?”

“Black.”

Jun walked past me towards the kitchen. Not wanting to just sit there, I got up and walked towards the entrance.

“Drink this before you go.”

Even though I was already full of coffee, I heard the loud whirring of a blender. I went back to my seat and waited demurely, hands on my lap.

A little later, Jun handed me a cup full of green. It looked bitter and unappetizing.

“I don’t really like this kind of thing… You’re just passing it on to me because your mom told you to drink it, right?”

“No. My mom passed away.”

The atmosphere suddenly changed strangely. I was reminded of a kid who extorted money at a playground. The situation was different, but I felt pity just the same. From now on, I’ll make sure not to ask about other people’s parents’ well-being.

After taking a sip, I paused, my mouth away from the cup at Jun’s answer, and swallowed the contents with difficulty.

“I’m sorry for bringing it up unintentionally.”

“It’s the truth, though.”

I watched his neck as he slowly drank the beverage. His Adam’s apple bobbed significantly with each gulp. The large amount disappeared in just a few swallows. Not to be outdone, I tried to drink it similarly, but I couldn’t manage more than two sips.

“Kuh… Ugh. It’s bitter.”

Jun silently pulled something out from under the coffee table and pushed it towards me. Opening it, I saw small candies. As I was choosing which one to eat, Jun’s hand caught my eye. He picked out a pink one and brought it to my lips.

“This one is the most delicious. I only pick this one too.”

As I reached out to take the candy, thanking him, his hand moved closer to my mouth.

“Ah—. Say ah.”

I was about to say, ‘I’ll eat it,’ and opened my mouth to say ‘mine,’ but his fingertips already touched my lips, and the candy went into my mouth. By the color, it looked like strawberry, but as I rolled it on my tongue, it tasted like cherry.

“Ah, I thought it was strawberry, but it’s cherry. I want to spit it out.”

“Then spit it out.”

Seeing tissues far away, I started to get up, but Jun placed his palm in front of my lips. As I looked up at him, holding the candy with my lips, Jun lightly nodded.

I wondered if this was okay, but as he said, I pushed the candy out with my tongue and spat it out. The wet candy landed on his palm as if stuck. Then, as if it were the most natural thing, Jun lowered his head and popped the candy from his palm into his own mouth. There was no time to stop him.

“Hey… Why are you eating it?”

“It’s delicious.”

I could see him casually rolling the candy on his tongue.

I was surprised he ate it so casually, covered in my saliva. As I licked my lips, I tasted the lingering cherry flavor. Thinking his mouth tasted the same, I felt a strange sensation.

“What’s the point of being older than me? Your taste is like a kid’s.”

“That’s rich coming from the person who stocked up on candy.”

As Jun and I exchanged words like this, I suddenly realized I was speaking to him in the exact same tone as Dajeong in the game. Surely, he wouldn’t mistake me for the same person just because I used informal language, would he? I suddenly felt the need to be careful.

As Jun rolled the candy in his mouth, one side of his cheek bulged out. I told him, while he was looking at something on his phone, that I was leaving and that I would go exchange the item after opening the office.

“Where should we eat lunch?”

“We ate the morning set together earlier.”

“That was breakfast. Lunch. Get that changed and wait. I’ll come around 1 PM.”

Jun, still rolling the candy in his mouth, crunched it loudly as our eyes met.

I lightly raised my hand in greeting, and he returned the gesture as I hurried towards the entrance. On the way, I saw firmly closed doors on the opposite side of the dressing room. They were a different color from the other doors, and the doorknobs were old-fashioned round ones, not modern ones.

‘He has unique taste.’

I thought something strange would happen when I was with Jun, but it was surprisingly normal. I expected him to say something weird like ‘stand up,’ but it was just like siblings, him giving me a ride and us eating a morning set together.

After taking the elevator down and leaving the building, someone called out to me from the side.

“Duseon. I thought you weren’t opening the real estate office today. But why are you coming out from there?”

“Ah. I had something to take care of.”

I subtly hid the shopping bag behind me, worried Namgung Bin might see it. It wasn’t like I had done anything wrong, but my remaining pride wouldn’t allow me to admit I was running an errand for the building owner, who was five years younger than me.

“Oh, CEO!”

Just then, the Tteokbokki CEO also approached and greeted me. As she asked if I had any studio apartments for rent nearby, I replied that I had a few. While we were talking, Bin slipped back into the building.

“If possible, I’d prefer one with some options.”

“What kind of options? Do you want a washing machine, refrigerator, and air conditioner?”

“That would be fine.”

I told her there were about two or three places in the back, and that before she came out, we should take a look before she opened the shop, as I was talking to her. As I was about to open the door to go in, something bumped against my feet.

“Huh? What is it?”

It was a delivery box. I hadn’t ordered anything online recently, so I wondered if something was arriving late. I picked up the box and went inside. I placed it on my work desk and started searching for available listings.

Fortunately, the properties I mentioned earlier were still available, so I asked the owner if they could be viewed now.

“Ah, yes. A cat might jump out? Understood. I’ll be careful.”

“CEO, is it okay to keep cats in the house we’re going to see now? I have two myself.”

“Yes. The studio apartment right behind here allows them. Let’s go see the two places we’ve contacted first.”

I got up and went out with her. After showing her two places, she said she liked the one where the cat lived, so I told her I would talk to her current landlord and let her know.

“Then, please think about the moving date and let me know.”

“Yes. It’s really difficult with the distance between the house and the shop. Well then, have a good day.”

I completely agreed with her words. I wished I could move into a studio apartment in this area too. Somehow, studio apartments in this area were more expensive than two-bedroom apartments. It would be nice to have a car like Jun, but that came with its own maintenance costs.

With a sigh, I returned to my seat and looked for any newly listed properties. While my eyes were on the monitor, I saw Jun’s car, parked in front of the office, start to move.

“If he has the energy to drive around like that, he should change my clothes instead.”

After roughly grasping the property status, I got up. I had to run the errand Jun had asked for. Just then, I saw the Hardware Store Owner tidying up outside and greeted him.

“Hey, there was a package in front of your store.”

“Yes, I saw it. I brought it inside.”

After hearing my reply, the Hardware Store Owner nodded and went back into his store.

I had considered going at lunchtime out of laziness, but it seemed better to go in the quiet morning. I had learned many shortcuts for doing real estate here, so I was able to reach the department store through an alley. As soon as I entered the store on the first floor, my eyes met with the employee at the counter.

“I’m here to exchange something.”

“Yes. May I have it?”

The employee took the shopping bag, took out the clothes, and was looking for something else inside.

“Do you have the receipt?”

“That… Just a moment.”

I quickly called Jun, but he didn’t answer. With no other choice, I made a troubled expression and took back the shopping bag, saying I would go get the receipt.

“Please exchange it for them. I know whose it is.”

A man who appeared to be the store manager approached. He took the clothes I was about to put back in the shopping bag and checked the tag.

“This is Seomun Jun’s item, isn’t it?”

“Ah, yes.”

I wondered how much he had bought for the employee to recognize it. And he brought the black one, which I hadn’t even mentioned the color of, and put it back in the shopping bag.

“It was a special order, so I remember it. I sometimes accompany him as a personal shopper. At that time, he said other colors were fine, but he wants black again.”

“Thank you.”

As I took it and was about to leave, he followed me out. Thinking he was just seeing me off, I bowed again and was about to pass him, but I saw him hesitate.

“Um, can we talk for a moment?”

“…Yes? Yes.”

What could it be?

It was still a quiet time, so I followed the manager into a room decorated as a guest room. When he asked if I wanted coffee, I said I had already had some and he poured me a glass of fresh fruit juice. I was drinking a lot of blended things today.

“The reason I asked is that Seomun Jun hasn’t been around much lately. Do you happen to know his recent whereabouts?”

“I don’t really know either. I was just asked to do this as a favor…”

“Then, to be direct, what is your relationship with our Jun?”

“What?”

His question was baffling in many ways. Not only was he suspicious of my relationship with Jun, but he also called him ‘our Jun.’ I wanted to ask him the same question: what was his relationship?

“Your question is a bit difficult. I told you I was just asked to do this as a favor.”

“Ah, I apologize. It’s just… I thought you knew him personally. Actually, an exchange like this can be done with just one phone call, so it’s not something you’d ask someone else to do. It’s just that I feel awkward.”

Even though it was our first meeting, hearing his words, which allowed me to infer his personality, made me feel like the pulp in my juice was stuck in my throat. I didn’t know what to say to him in this situation, so I just kept drinking the juice.

In the meantime, my phone rang. Looking at the caller ID, it was Jun. He must have called because I missed his call.

Now, I had a strange premonition that if I answered this call, I would be caught in a love triangle.

After pressing the silent button for the ringtone, I stood up from my seat.

“I’ll be going now, I have something urgent to attend to.”

“Then, could you please deliver this for me? Aren’t you delivering the shopping bag anyway?”

What he gave me was a small box. There was no way there’d be a bomb in such a small box, and even less likely to be semen panties, so I couldn’t refuse.

However, I was a little worried about what that rude person might say if I accepted this on their behalf. I was about to hand the box, which had slipped neatly into the shopping bag, back to him when I saw him quickly get up after receiving a call.

“Then, I have to attend to some work. Please, I’m counting on you.”

With my hands fumbling inside the shopping bag, I stared at him blankly. The call of “Ah, excuse me,” was ignored as the door closed.

It felt exactly like that. When parents fight, they don’t speak to each other and relay messages through their children, like, ‘Tell your dad to eat,’ or ‘Tell your mom the soup is too salty.’ I should have been suspicious from the moment they asked me to go to the department store, which was only a 10-minute walk away, to exchange something for them.

‘What the hell. Was I used again?’

My hand, clutching the shopping bag, felt uncomfortable all the way from the department store back to the office. Thinking about it, the department store employee from earlier had a neat appearance that Jun would like. It was the same feeling I got when I first saw Namgung Bin. Well, if you’ve lived here long enough, it’s natural to have one or two such relationships around you. It’s just that the gender is different.

I almost left the shopping bag at the door of the 7th-floor office, but I worried someone else might take it, so I brought it inside. On the way, I met a local real estate CEO and was talking about studio apartments when I heard rumors about which celebrity bought a building in this neighborhood.

“Alright, see you at the next real estate agent meeting, CEO Yoo.”

“Yes, please go in.”

After seeing off the local real estate CEO, I returned to the office and it was almost noon. As I stepped out, thinking I might go to the restroom, a black car smoothly pulled up and stopped in front of the office. The dark door opened, and Seomun Jun, dressed in muted colors, emerged gracefully.

“You’re here just in time. Seomun Jun’s shopping bag is on the desk, so take it.”

Saying that, I walked towards the building’s restroom. Even after using the toilet and washing my hands, I didn’t know how to explain the small box inside the shopping bag. I decided to just tell them as it was, dried my hands with a paper towel, and came out.

When I returned to the office, Jun wasn’t looking into the shopping bag but at a delivery box placed on the desk.

“That’s mine, Seomun Jun’s is in the shopping bag—”

“I know.”

“Then why are you looking at someone else’s delivery?”

Jun, sitting on the sofa and examining the package, scowled. Wondering what it could be, I took a step closer and stood beside him, and a cold sweat ran down my spine.

‘Pan…ties?’

And not just any panties, but cheetah-print ones that I used to wear, stained with a viscous liquid. Wow… As I tilted the box, the liquid was still moist enough to drip somewhere inside.

‘When did it get placed in front of the office? Did that panty man follow me all the way here? Who on earth is it?’

My stomach churned. At that moment, Jun snapped his fingers in front of my unfocused eyes.

“What are you staring at so blankly? Who the hell sent this?”

“I don’t know. No, that is, why is it there…”

“Looking at your expression, you’ve received this more than once. You must have some idea.”

“No, I have no idea at all…”

“Does it make sense for a stranger you don’t even know to send something like this? Is it related to you, Yudu—”

Jun was about to say more, but I no longer had the strength to respond, so I collapsed onto the sofa. A sigh escaped my lips, and I covered my head with both hands.

I had come here to start anew, only to be chased by that stalker. Why? Out of all the clumsy people, why me? The delivery box was placed on the coffee table, and Jun, without pressing me further, just watched me silently.

“Seomun Jun, take your shopping bag. I’m not in the mood for lunch right now.”

Without even lifting my head, I pointed to the desk with my hand. Today, I really didn’t want to be in this office.

“You have to eat lunch alone just because of these panties?”

“It’s not ‘just’ these panties. This, haa…”

“Could it be, an ex-lover?”

“No, why is someone like me, an ordinary person among so many men in Korea, being targeted like this?”

As I roughly ran my hand through my hair, I saw Jun looking into his shopping bag. He took out some clothes, glanced at them, then picked up the box that was rolling around inside the shopping bag. As he tore open the packaging, he asked in an exasperated voice,

“What is this?”

“I don’t know. The manager there asked me to deliver it.”

“Ah! Why would you bring something like this!”

What he was holding was a high-end luxury watch. It looked expensive at first glance, but he shook it carelessly and said with annoyance,

“Take this back!”

“You do it! I don’t know! At least you’re dealing with a watch, would you ask someone who received semen panties to do that? Wow, if I had received a watch, I would have been grateful, pervert or not!”

“Return it yourself.”

Thump.

Jun threw the box onto my thigh. It was fortunate that I instinctively closed my legs; if they had been open, it would have fallen to the floor. I shot back, “Why are you throwing things so carelessly?”

“As long as you received it, that’s enough.”

“Don’t throw it! Not something like this.”

With a firm tone, he seemed to scowl a little. He grumbled that if such an expensive item were damaged by being thrown, how would I return it, and that I never thought about the person who gave the gift.

But even as he said that, Jun was just looking at me and smiling slightly. I ignored him and turned my gaze to the watch on my thigh. To return it properly, I had to organize it, so I opened the box and carefully placed the watch inside where it was. Even then, sighs came out incessantly.

Just then, Jun casually spoke to me.

“I could catch that pervert for you, you know.”

“Huh?”

“If you left it at the door, they’d come back, right? I live in the building across the street. Who knows? I might see them by chance. And, I’m fast at running.”

It wasn’t an impossible idea. Rather than suffering alone, if someone could help, I should take their hand. And I wanted to put an end to this seemingly endless story.

“If it means I can get closer to you, Yudu, I’ll gladly do it.”

“By any means necessary?”

“Yes.”

I doubted if I could trust his words. But, isn’t it better than nothing? So I pretended to ponder.

My heart had already agreed to make a pact with him, but Jun’s behavior had been strange lately. He would say things like ‘erection’ without hesitation, and even took the candy I was eating. Then again, he wasn’t ordinary from our first meeting.

However, since his taste seemed to be for handsome guys like Namgung Bin, I concluded that I would just be an extension of his errands and was positively reviewing his offer. In terms of appearance, I was in a safe zone. Running away then was just my intuition, and his actions afterward weren’t much different.

“It’s not bad. But, what kind of relationship specifically?”

“First, shall we go get lunch? I’ll tell you there. I’m hungry.”

“Let’s just order in at the office.”

The mysterious box was still on the coffee table. Jun pointed at the box and reminded me again.

“I don’t want to eat where that was placed. Or, we could order at my place.”

“No. Let’s just go out to eat.”

As I reached for the box to throw it away, Jun snatched it first. He then went outside, to his building across the street, and put the box in the trash disposal area.

While Jun was gone to throw away the box, I put the box containing the watch into a small shopping bag and placed it in my desk drawer. Then, as I locked the office door, I heard Hye-seon-ssi’s voice.

“Hello. Where are you going?”

“Ah, hello. I’m going to lunch.”

“Then, shall we go together?”

“Well, I have plans.”

I smiled, hiding my disappointment, when the sound of car engines roared around me. If the smoke was proportional to the exhaust volume, the area would probably be shrouded in fog.

“What are you doing? Get in quickly!”

I was clearly invited to lunch, not for a drive. I awkwardly bent at the waist and approached the open car window. Jun tapped the steering wheel and looked at me.

“Aren’t we going somewhere nearby?”

“We’re going somewhere nearby. Get in quickly.”

Hye-seon blinked with a look of surprise, her eyes asking when I became so close with Jun. I scratched the back of my head and replied with an awkward smile.

I bowed my head slightly to her, apologizing for the inconvenience, and got into the passenger seat. If that box hadn’t arrived today, I would have ignored Jun’s lunch invitation, but things kept getting complicated.

As the car moved, I glanced at Hye-seon-ssi in the rearview mirror. She was standing, watching the rear of the vehicle. As her figure grew smaller and disappeared from view, I felt like my own love life was drifting away. But then, I realized I didn’t even have her contact information. That’s not usually called ‘ssom’, is it…

“Where are we going?””

“Uh, just anywhere.”

“Let’s go somewhere close.”

How many things in the world move in opposite directions? Not many, I think. But I just discovered one thing moving in the opposite direction. Jun completely ignored my request to go somewhere close and was driving on the highway.

If the passenger door opened, I could get out when we stopped at a signal, but since that wasn’t possible, I had to nag him while he was driving.

“Jjuni, you know, sometimes it feels like you don’t like me much. You never do what I say.”

“It’s not that I don’t like you.”

After passing the toll gate, I gave up trying to say anything. And if I upset him too much, he would drive recklessly. He seemed to know the locations of speed cameras like the back of his hand, braking suddenly and then speeding up again once past them.

“Hey! Slow down!”

Finally, after I yelled to slow down, adding something akin to a curse at the end, he drove at a speed comparable to other cars.

We pulled off somewhere and were driving around a rural area. I wondered if he even knew where he was going. Jun was winding his way through a rural village that seemed fitting for words like ‘mountainous’ or ‘remote.’

Could he be planning to bury me in the mountains? The absurd thought crossed my mind. Once the anxiety set in, I started to regret yelling at him earlier. I looked at him as if this place were a confessional booth at a church, repenting my sins.

“I’m sorry. I was a little scared earlier. But, are we going the right way?”

“Yeah. We’re going the right way.”

Despite his words, it was a repetitive scene of trees, forests, clearings, and trees. How long did we drive up the winding mountain road? Then, a familiar sign appeared.

Wild Chicken Baeksuk (Boiled Chicken).

It was surprising to find a restaurant in the middle of such a mountain, and even more surprising that he found this place without a navigation system. And I was astonished by the number of cars, wondering how everyone found their way to such a remote location.

“Get out.”

For nearly two hours, anxiety had been my main companion in the car, but upon arrival, I only felt the fresh, clear air. In a place like this, anything would taste delicious, not just white rice.

As Jun passed a low stone wall and entered, the owner, who was stirring something in a cauldron, approached.

“Uncle, have you been well?”

“Oh, my Jun has arrived? Go on in and sit down.”

Jun walked past the area where many people were seated and headed towards the back of the house. As I entered, I saw a small traditional Korean door, and he familiarized himself with the round doorknob and opened it to enter. Following him in, the place smelled of straw, like my Grandmother’s house used to.

“This room doesn’t seem to be for guests…”

Hesitating at the door, Jun brushed the back of my neck with his hand and placed it on my shoulder. For a moment, my neck felt hot, as if a fire had passed through it.

“What are you doing, standing there?”

Jun asked, looking down at me as I flinched, my shoulders hunched in surprise, and I replied, trying to stay calm, that I was coming in now.

As I slowly took off my shoes, Jun removed his hand from my shoulder and entered first. Looking around the room, he followed my gaze. The wallpaper looked old and yellowed, but the floor, a shiny yellow linoleum, made the surrounding items look as neat as new. Although it was old, it showed signs of long-term maintenance, and family photos were hung on the ceiling. Looking at the photos, I couldn’t find anyone who resembled Jun.

“This is the room my dad used to stay in sometimes. Uncle was my dad’s Hubae.”

“Ah…”

Although the room was small, it seemed to have everything. There was even a small floor desk.

Creak—

Just then, the door opened, and the owner, who had greeted Jun earlier, entered with a tray. It was filled with various side dishes and rice.

“Oh my, Jun! It’s been a while since you brought a friend.”

“We’re not friends.”

“Oh, really? Then a lover? Haha.”

No, sir, that’s not funny. I waved my hand and denied it. Seeing my gesture, the owner chuckled, saying he was just joking.

“Wait, I’ll bring the white gourd right away.””

As the door closed, the rattling sound of the doorknob was loud. Jun didn’t deny anything even when the person he called ‘Uncle’ made a joke.

“Jjuni, Uncle will misunderstand.”

Jun, dipping a chili pepper in soybean paste, twisted one corner of his mouth and bit into it with a crunch. The sound of him chewing the pepper was vivid. My words, too, were chewed and swallowed.

Even before the baek-suk arrived, the generous side dishes made it resemble a traditional Korean feast. There were many familiar dishes, like the ones from my childhood at my rural grandmother’s house. Jun, who looked like he only ate burgers and spaghetti, was skillfully wrapping rice in pumpkin leaves.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

I stopped using my chopsticks, mesmerized by watching Jun eat. It was an unexpected sight. As I reached for a pumpkin leaf to wrap it like him, he tore one off and placed it on my rice.

“Just a little gangdoenjang. It’s very salty.”

“Mmm.”

It was a bit endearing that a child five years younger than me was looking out for me like an older brother. The arrogant gaze I usually saw from him seemed to disappear in this moment. It was as if all his defenses were down, and his demeanor seemed very peaceful.

‘Is he always like this?’

♩♬♪—.

As I ate a wrap and wiped my hands, my phone rang.

Seeing an unfamiliar number on the screen, I answered, thinking it might be a customer, but it was from the security office of the apartment building where I lived. As soon as I answered, they asked if I was in unit 412, and when I confirmed, I asked the reason for their call. The reason was truly absurd.

“…What? In front of my house?”

[Ah, geez. You should have requested safe packaging for an adult product, how can you just accept it like this? There are so many suggestive pictures on the outside of the box… We received a complaint from nearby parents, so we covered the box with newspaper for now.]

“I never ordered anything like that. Is it mine?”

[You are Yuduseon, unit 412, correct?]

“Yes… That’s me, but…”

[Oh, dear. Hurry up and bring it inside! Or should we keep it in the security office?]

“No, just leave it there. It might not be mine.”

[We’ll leave it in front of your house, so hurry and get it.]

“……Okay.”

After hanging up, I thought for a long time, but I had never ordered adult products. I wondered if I had bought something while drunk, but even with a blackout, I had never made a mistake with online shopping.

Confused, I looked at my phone, and Jun chided me, saying I bought all sorts of things online. He must have heard my voice in the quiet space.

“What did you buy?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“A dildo?”

“Ah, stop!”As I denied it wasn’t anything like that, the owner came in with the white guest.” Fortunately, Jun’s questioning stopped.

“Stop eating and eat the chicken. Let me know if you need anything else.”

“I’ll get it myself.”

“Alcohol?”

At the owner’s question, Jun looked at me.

The implication was that if I drank, I would either stay overnight here or have to drive myself. I didn’t know how to drive a sports car like that. Jun ignored my bewildered gaze and smiled at the owner.

“Please give it to me.”

At his words, the owner said he had made some homemade liquor for me and went to get it.

“Ah, no, that’s not good. The driving?”

“We can leave after the alcohol wears off tomorrow. Or, Yuduseon can drive.”

“Is it okay if I cause an accident while driving?”

“Of course not. You’ll have to pay for it.”

“Then, don’t drink it. I have to go back today. I need to check what that strange package is.”

“That’s your problem, Yudu.”

What an absurd person.

He was impossible to talk to. I felt pathetic for having thought well of him, even for a moment, because he’d done something thoughtful. As I sighed inwardly, a thick chicken leg was placed on my side plate.

“Eat for now. There aren’t many clients at the real estate office anyway.”

“How do you know if there will be or not? You bring me to some remote mountain village as you please, or insist on leaving the next day after drinking. It’s just like that.”

“Like what?”

“That… No, never mind.”

I remembered the kinds of things people say when they’re trying to get close to someone they’re attracted to. Like saying the ferry stopped running, or things like that. I had a bad feeling that he’d say, “Oh, that’s right.”

Even looking at the pale chicken leg on my side plate, my appetite vanished. Why was he doing this to me? He told me his penis got hard for me, and now he brings me here to eat delicious chicken soup. It felt like he was feeding me before he was going to devour me…

Thinking this, I snapped my head up. Jun, sitting across from me, was tearing into the chicken breast like a predator. As I watched the meat, barely chewed, go down his throat, I swallowed involuntarily.

‘Dangerous.’

I picked up the chicken leg and took a cautious bite. Despite the sense of crisis, it was so delicious that my appetite was instantly whetted, and I instinctively chewed and swallowed.

But just as I finished eating it, another chicken leg was placed on my side plate. It was the first time in my life I’d been given two chicken legs. This was the real deal!

Just then, the door burst open and the owner came in. He appeared with two jars of infused liquor in his arms.

“This is deodeok-ju, and this is yagwanmun-ju. Take them if you have any left.”

Jun didn’t even look at the deodeok-ju, picking up only the yagwanmun-ju and examining it. Rosemary-like leaves were floating in it. Jun looked back and forth between them and me, his lips curving into a smile.

The owner, called away by someone outside, said cheerfully for us to eat and rest before closing the door. Only the chirping of birds outside could be heard, making it feel like we were trapped in a secluded house. I grabbed Jun’s hand as he was about to open the yagwanmun-ju and stopped him.

“You’re not really going to drink it, are you? I have to go back today. Don’t drink it.”

“Are you asking me not to? Or are you ordering me?”

He had asked me this before. I remembered him, how he seemed to want to be ordered around like a dog. Jun stopped what he was doing, placed the liquor on the table, straightened his back, and crossed his arms. His gaze, calm for a moment, turned sharp.

“If we have a Master-Servant Relationship, I’ll obey you well.”

“…Master-Servant Relationship?”

What nonsense was this? I looked at him in shock, wondering why he was suddenly trying to make me his slave.

“You want to make me your slave, not just a errand boy?”

“In short, you become the master.”

“You become my master?”

“No, you become my master.”

“Why?”

Most people would say, “You’re my subordinate,” and try to put me beneath them. They wouldn’t ask me to be their master. It was like a pet talking.

“If I’m the master, then you…”

“That’s not important. It’s just that when Yudu gives an order, I’ll do it, and if I do well, you just need to give me an appropriate reward. Understand?”

“No.”

“Should I explain more?”

“No, never mind. Why would you want such a relationship…?”

“When Yudu gives orders, I almost… I’m an Impo.”

Jun answered every question I asked, but I couldn’t grasp it. It felt like listening to a foreign language that hadn’t been translated. I tried to understand, then gave up.

“Find someone else.”

As I said this and took a sip of water, I saw his eyebrows twitch upwards. He looked displeased. Jun lightly touched the tip of his eyebrow with his fingertip.

“That’s the problem. It doesn’t work with anyone else.”

“Then you should go to a hospital, shouldn’t you?”

“I’m telling you because it doesn’t work. They say it’s not a physical problem, but a psychological one. So, if you help me overcome my Impo, I’ll give you 30 million won.”

“What!?”

“Wouldn’t trying continuously help?”

As I hesitated to answer, Jun finally popped open the yagwanmun-ju and poured it into a glass. Then, as he brought it to his lips, I yelled.

“Hey! I told you not to drink it!”

The liquid, which had been about to touch his lips, pulled away as he uprighted the glass.

“Ah, it’s a shame to see it go.”

I was about to yell back, but I clamped my mouth shut. The more I yelled and spoke forcefully, the more stimulated he became, the pervert.

And if I drank with him and spent the night together in this small room… No one knew what would happen. In a world where there are perverts who steal my panties, it was hard to guarantee that nothing worse would happen.

I was already anxious because I had done worse things with Jun in the game. The game was a virtual space, but reality was not. It was dangerous to be in the same space with him when I didn’t know him well yet.

So, I had to go back. I didn’t know what to do, as I couldn’t get angry or persuade him. I reached out and grabbed Jun’s hand as he was about to pick up the glass again. He smoothly lowered his arm, which had been under mine, and looked at me calmly.

“You know, right? A slave’s property belongs to the master. Well, I don’t mean my actual assets, but didn’t you want to do as you pleased while brokering real estate?”

I remembered that building I brokered a while ago, the one where they said they didn’t accept women. I coveted it. Just owning a building like that would mean no worries about office rent. There seemed to be quite a few vacant units…

As that flashed through my mind, Jun’s offer became very tempting. One of the reasons I came to Seoul was to escape that panty thief, but also to settle down here and return home in glory. Come to think of it, ‘money’ was scarier than that pervert.

I didn’t want to go back to my house in the countryside completely broke. I had poured all my savings and severance pay here, and I couldn’t let that happen. When I lived at my parents’ house, I was constantly worried that my mother, a local, would be embarrassed if rumors spread that men were attracted to me, but here in Seoul, where no one knew me, I gained the courage to ignore those semen panties and live my life.

However, the uneasy feeling remained. As if he had seen through my thoughts, Jun made another tempting offer.

“I’ll catch the bastard who sent those semen panties too.”

But with Jun saying that, my mind was already leaning.

It wasn’t a losing deal in many ways. Moreover, it was a proposal that completely reversed my position, where I was given strange errands like being told to change clothes even on my days off. Wouldn’t this be better than running errands?

“You’ll do as I say, right? Yes?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Good.”

“But if I do well, you have to give me a reward too.”

“You don’t mean the reward is… something dangerous, do you?”

Seeing my anxious expression, Jun put on a docile look.

He pleaded that the reward was just physical contact, and asked how he could solve his erection problem without contact. He also said it would be better for me to resolve it quickly and get the 30 million won, speaking softly. Seeing that… I became even more anxious.

“Still, a little…”

“Think about it. When you raise a dog, do you just give commands? Don’t you touch it?”

“I touch it.”

“Exactly. You have to pet it.”

The more he said ‘exactly,’ the more I felt like I was being drawn in.

Did I say something wrong again? Ah… this isn’t déjà vu. I remembered being persuaded in the game before. When he asked if I wouldn’t pick up 100 potions. On one hand, I thought, what could a little physical contact really be?

By the way, 30 million won. But I was suspicious, wondering if he would actually give it to me after saying all that.

“You’ll do it, right?”

“Are you really going to give me 30 million won?”

“Uh-huh.”

As if sensing my suspicious gaze, Jun typed something on his phone. Then he sent it as a message.

[Seomun Jun will transfer 30 million won to the account within 24 hours if Yudu resolves his erectile dysfunction. However, if the Master-Servant Relationship is terminated without agreement, the party causing the termination shall pay a penalty of 30 million won.]

It was a very brief message. Jun called me Yudu when he spoke to me, but in the message, he wrote ‘Yuduseon’ clearly. He was someone who knew how to separate work and personal life.

Since it was a one-sided message, Jun asked me to re-send it with a confirmation. I was still a bit suspicious, but I remembered what Jun’s friend, Human, had said in the game.

“Shut Up enjoys slaughter, but he doesn’t lie, so don’t worry.”

It was too much trouble to get this kind of contract notarized… So, I let it go for now.

“But, what if he still can’t get it up in the end?”

“Then we terminate it. If I terminate it first, I give you 30 million won.”

That meant the condition was that it didn’t have to be successful. If it didn’t work out, he’d probably give up out of exhaustion, I thought. Then, I briefly returned to reality and looked at the text message again.

“Wait, if I decide to end the relationship, I could owe 30 million won?”

“It’s more likely that I’ll terminate it than you, Yudu. If I back out midway, you’d be upset, wouldn’t you? I’m the one paying the money.”

“But, the verification method is a bit… A man’s penis can’t always get hard at will, can it?”

“30 million won isn’t a lot of money to me. I don’t need to lie about something like that. And, think about it. Is it harder to be a slave? Or a master?”

“A slave.”

“Exactly.”

From the perspective of running errands, I knew that precisely. But the way Jun added these interjections to every answer made me feel like I was being drawn in more and more.

For now, I saw the yagwanmun-ju and deodeok-ju on the table. The biggest advantage was that I could stop him from drinking them immediately. In addition, I could ask him to watch who was leaving boxes in front of the office, and I could exclusively contract the deals from his building. Nothing in the world went my way, so I figured it wouldn’t be a big deal to control a kid like this.

“Junie, you don’t regret this, right?”

“Of course not.”

He extended his hand and offered a handshake.

“Please take care of me, Yudu.”

“Sure.”

I lightly clasped Jun’s large hand and gave an awkward smile. He released my hand and reached for the yagwanmun-ju again, so I gave him my first order.

“Don’t drink, and let’s leave within 30 minutes.”

“Understood.”

The deodeok-ju and yagwanmun-ju on the table were pushed towards the door, and we finished our meal.

As I was eating, Jun suddenly got up and went out the door. After a while, he returned with a large bowl of cool sungnyung. He poured some of the water into his own cup and placed the bowl next to my rice.

“Thank you.”

“Is there anything else you want to eat?”

I said I was full, continued eating, and drank water, feeling his gaze on me. He had already finished eating and was staring at me silently.

“Don’t look. It makes me uncomfortable.”

Even though it was something I would normally ignore, Jun lowered his eyes and just fiddled with his phone. I didn’t realize the power of the contract could be so strong.

And my second order came when we were clearing the dishes after eating.

“From now on, don’t call me Yudu. Call me Hyung.”

At that, Jun lowered his eyes and seemed to ponder for a moment. I wondered if being asked to call me Hyung, five years his senior, was such a difficult decision.

After a long while, he blinked slowly a few times and met my gaze.

“Hyung.”

I don’t know why his voice sounded so pathetic. But, as they say, the first time is the hardest, and soon he started calling me Hyung, Hyung, at the end of every sentence. I thought Grandfather in heaven would be proud if he saw this.

Before getting into the car, Jun remembered something and brought the yagwanmun-ju he hadn’t drunk earlier. He was hoarding all the good stuff while being an Impo.

On the way back to the office, we stopped at a rest area, and my phone rang again. It was Hanwoo. He asked if I had sold Relax.

“I tried posting it on the village chat, but it’s not selling.”

[Try posting it on the website bulletin board. That would be faster.]

“Ah, really? I’m in the countryside right now. I’ll post it when I get to the office later.”

[I’ll call you later when I get off work.]

“Okay.”

After hanging up, I sighed as I looked down at my phone, when Jun, who had just come out of the restroom, grabbed my hand and pulled me along. Even when I told him to let go and walk, he was insistent. I wondered if he was going to show me something amazing, and then he led me to the snacks commonly sold at rest stops.

“What should I eat?”

“Anything.”

“Hyung, you decide.”

“Just eat what you want.”

Just then, an elementary school student approached us, holding 5,000 won. The kid skillfully said, “A hot bar and an fish cake, please,” paid, and took his order.

Even elementary school kids can order and get their own food, but this grown man, no, this guy taller than me, was throwing a tantrum, asking me to decide what to eat. We looked down at the elementary school student, then at each other.

“Can’t you choose and eat like that?”

“Hyung, you seem to be taking our relationship lightly. Do you think I’m doing this for no reason? Do it properly!”

“…I think the roles have just been reversed for a moment.”

“Then get your act together.”

“Then have a hot bar and an fish cake.”

“Uh, excuse me. This one and this one, please.”

Even though I said the exact same menu the kid had bought, Jun didn’t seem dissatisfied. He just wanted to eat what I ordered, regardless of the menu.

Newborns are swaddled tightly in cloth to prevent the Moro reflex, the reason being to provide psychological stability through the restraint of the cloth. I briefly wondered if Jun wanted me to control him in that sense, but I dismissed the thought when I saw him devour the hot bar in two bites. I didn’t want to imagine such a giant baby.

‘Does he want me to be obsessed with him? Or a nanny?’

He was an only child, so I suddenly felt like I had gained a younger brother. I just thought of it lightly. Just a bothersome distant cousin.

Before getting into the passenger seat at the rest stop, I gave him one more command. To open the passenger door from the inside. Jun seemed reluctant to do that, and his answer was delayed. He got into the driver’s seat first and I saw him fiddling with something.

“I’ve set it up, so you can get in now.”

As soon as I got in, I closed the passenger door and opened it again. With a click, the door opened cheerfully. For some reason, opening the door with my own hand felt refreshing. Seemingly satisfied, Jun fastened his seatbelt, and his car smoothly departed.

“Hyung, we’re here.”

After dozing off for who knows how long, his car naturally stopped in front of the real estate office. I stretched and woke up my stiff body.

It was already past 6 PM when we arrived at the office. Even if it was a nearby region, it was natural to take the highway, eat, and arrive leisurely. If I had known, I should have just asked him to take me home.

“Are you opening the office? Should we have just gone home?”

“No. I need to go in and check for missed calls. I’ll get home on my own. Then, go in and rest.”

As I leaned out to get out of the passenger seat, my left arm was suddenly grabbed.

“You have to give me my reward. You behaved well today.”

“Ah…”

It felt like someone might see, so I closed the car door again and turned towards him.

‘Okay. Let’s think of him as the neighbor’s dog.’

I gently placed my hand on Jun’s shiny hair. Stroking it softly as if petting it, my fingers soon sank into his hair.

“There, you did well. Is that it?”

As I tried to pull my hand away, my wrist was caught.

“Not this.”

“Then?”

He took my hand and brought it close to his mouth. Then he stuck out his tongue and licked my thumb. I flinched and tried to pull my hand back, but his firm grip held it, and my fingers just wiggled.

“…!”

Then, Jun suddenly opened his mouth and sucked one of my fingers in. He rolled his tongue around it like he was sucking a lollipop and pulled it out.

The car was filled with the wet, sucking sounds usually heard during kissing. When he swirled his tongue around my palm, I couldn’t help but clench my fist from the ticklishness, but each time, he clasped my hand from above, preventing me from closing it. The words “stop it” were cleanly ignored.

Then, my middle finger was licked from the palm to the tip, and like my index finger, it went into his mouth. This time, my finger, which I thought would be caught between his tongue and the roof of his mouth, was slightly pulled out and bitten sharply.

“Ah!”

I looked away, embarrassed to watch the act, but the bite made me look back. Jun was looking at me with a deep gaze, my finger in his mouth.

“…Don’t bite.”

Is he biting my finger because he’s like a dog? Meeting my bewildered gaze, Jun lowered his eyes again and put his finger in his mouth. I had to endure this situation, repeating only “Ah, ah, stop.” Finally, Jun sucked my pinky finger with a satisfying ‘slurp,’ and released my wrist.

I held my hand stiff, like a prosthetic. As if, like a surgeon entering an operating room, my hand was fixed upwards, stiff as though germs would transfer if I touched anything.

Along with it, I was confused by a tingling sensation somewhere inside my body. Jun had only licked my hand, but I was so flustered, as if that spot had been licked, I couldn’t control my heart.

Seeing that he was done, I saw Jun open the driver’s side door and get out. Late, I opened the passenger seat door and got out. My left hand was still held up towards the sky.

“Hyung. Can I go now?”

“Huh? Yeah! Go ahead.”

I saw his figure turn away. Jun, until the very end, cast a glance at my hand and walked across the street. After just a few steps, he disappeared into his building.

First, I wanted to wash the hand that had Jun’s saliva on it. Before opening the office, I walked to the building’s restroom. Fortunately, there was soap, so I scrubbed my left hand thoroughly. Only then did the events that happened in the car earlier replay one by one.

The tongue that licked my hand so deliciously, the red lips that mumbled and bit. Then, when I felt like what he was biting was not my finger but my genitals, my body heated up, and I washed my face, erasing the images from my mind.

‘Why is he licking my hand like that?’

As I dried my hands with a hand towel, a sigh escaped me.

Entering the office, the first thing I checked was the watch Jun had asked me to return. It seemed expensive, so it would be troublesome if it went missing. I confirmed it was there and locked the drawer with the key.

After checking for missed calls and tidying my desk, I remembered Hanwoo asking me to sell Relax on the bulletin board earlier. I was about to turn on the PC when I remembered that adult products had arrived, so I closed the office door and left.

As soon as I got off at the bus stop, I ran to my apartment without stopping. Adult products. I hadn’t ordered anything like that, so it was unfair. I was about to be labeled a neighborhood pervert. Passing the security office, I saw it was empty, as if they had gone to dinner.

As soon as the elevator stopped on the 4th floor, I hurried out towards the entrance, but the security guard was covering our door with something like newspaper again.

“Excuse me. Is that it?”

“Goodness. They sell all sorts of things online.”

Lifting the newspaper, I saw the box and understood why he said that. The outer packaging clearly stated ‘Masturbation device’ with explicit advertising phrases.

Honestly, even the person selling adult products should reflect. Shouldn’t this at least be wrapped in opaque packaging so the contents aren’t visible? For now, I apologized to the security guard and took the box into my home. I had no desire to open it.

“Ugh. What is this. Really.”

First, I checked the company that sent it. Fortunately, the salesperson’s contact information was there. However, I doubted if they would answer after 7 PM.

‘Judging by the company name, you’d think it was a fruit shop.’

[Hello…….]

“Is this Banana Peach Mall? I received a strange item, but I never ordered anything like this.”

[Unit 412?]

“Yes. My unit is indeed 412.”

[This was your phone number?]

At first, I didn’t realize it because the other person spoke in a quiet voice, but as their tension rose, I knew exactly whose voice it was.

‘The guy in the blue tracksuit.’

[You don’t like it? I put a lot of thought into sending it.]

“……Take it back. I’m going to throw it away.”

[It’s 200,000 won. How about paying by card? You can even pay in 24 installments.]

“What kind of nonsense is this, sending me something without my consent.”

[No returns, customer.]

“If you don’t take it, I’ll throw it all away. You can find it in the trash if you want.”

[Wait. If you put my babies in the trash, I won’t let you get away with it. I’ll be there soon.]

I thought, this is it, it’s do or die. If he came into my house and caused a scene, I would go out like a madman too.

I don’t know why today is so eventful. First, I was flustered by the package from the panty man, then I accepted Jun’s strange offer and was strengthened. And finally, being forced to buy these adult products, I turned dark. My patience had reached its limit.

Ding dong―.

As soon as the doorbell rang, I flung the door open without hesitation. The guy in the blue tracksuit, who was about to knock, looked surprised as I boldly opened the door wide.

“Take it.”

I tossed it to him like a watermelon, and he quickly caught it.

“Hey, Unit 412.”

As I tried to close the door, he wedged one foot in the doorway and held it open.

“I’m going to close it, you know?”

“Don’t think this is the end. I’m not leaving because I lost to you. I came because I didn’t want my babies to be contaminated in a dirty place. But, that’s strange. If it were me, I would have already opened the package and gotten off once— Ow ow!”

Regardless of what he said, I tried to close the door with force. He threw the box he was holding aside and held the door with both hands, resisting.

“Are you trying to cripple my foot?”

“Should I really try to close it?”

“Okay. Wait! Ow! Wai-t!”

As I slightly eased the pressure so he could pull his foot out, he squeezed through the gap in the door.

“Hey, aren’t you leaving? I’ll call the police. This is trespassing.”

“I don’t know if the police will arrive faster, or if I’ll poop in your house and smear it everywhere.”

“What……?”

I couldn’t understand why he was acting so pathetic despite his normal appearance. I wanted to know the reason why he was acting like this.

“Why are you doing this? Are you still upset about the parking dispute back then?”

“No, that was resolved already.”

“Then why are you doing this?”

“There hasn’t been a place I haven’t driven out of after someone bothered me.”

“So? Does it end when I move out?”

He answered casually, saying it wasn’t necessarily so. But he rambled on about how his reputation would be tarnished, how he was comfortable now because no one bothered him due to his current image, and only talked about himself.

The blue tracksuit, made of a flimsy material that fluttered insignificantly, was now shaped due to his broad shoulders. After loosening his neck a few times, he extended his hand to me.

“I’m Kim Rovan. I live in Unit 813 in the next building.”

I wondered what he was up to now, but I lightly touched his fingertips and let go. He grabbed my wrist with his other hand and shook it vigorously. Then, shaking my hand up and down, he declared like a declaration of war.

“Let’s be friends.”

“……”

“If you want to live here without being driven out, what else is there? If you and I become friends, people will understand. And people won’t bother you either. You’ve probably already been rumored to be the ‘masturbation bachelor.’ And I saw you getting extorted by a kid at the playground before.”

“……I just gave it to him. I just want to live quietly.”

“I’m doing this because I want to live quietly too.”

I couldn’t fully understand Rovan’s words. He said, “Can I sit for a moment?” and plopped down on my sofa. When he asked for something to drink, I put a green tea bag, which I didn’t know when I bought, into hot water.

“I run an adult product business from my home. I delivered that item myself.”

“It had a delivery label on it.”

“I just used that label. They don’t even pick up packages sent like that these days. Are you not thinking straight?”

“Are you thinking straight by leaving something like that at my door?”

When he was chasing me outside like a madman, he seemed like a lunatic, but now, seeing him carefully holding the teacup with both hands, he seemed normal. Then, he suddenly apologized. At that word, I almost dropped the TV remote I was holding.

“What is it, suddenly… Are you bipolar?”

“I did some crazy things.”

“You admit it. But why do you do such crazy things?”

“Me…? Just to feed the cats.”

“What?”

This time, I really dropped the TV remote. It was truly absurd. Hearing the reason, he was truly not normal. What connection could cat food have to his crazy actions?

The veins near my temples throbbed as if they would pop out. It was a sign that a migraine was coming on. Talking seriously with a guy like this from the start was a crazy thing to do. I felt foolish for thinking he was normal even for a moment. A greater sense of emptiness washed over me than when I was extorted at the playground.

“Get out. I’m really calling the police. Do whatever you want, poop or not.”

As I picked up my phone, Rovan took a sip of his green tea and opened his mouth.

“It started about two years ago. I started feeding stray cats. I fed them well for a few months, but then someone started dumping the food. I watched and found out it was the apartment’s women’s association president, saying it would lower property values. When I argued what that had to do with anything, she said a young man was talking back and saw me as a lunatic. I couldn’t complain anywhere.”

Rovan looked up and continued with a determined expression.

“So, I decided to become a truly insane person.”

He decided to punish the people who secretly dumped the food. He said he chased and harassed them relentlessly. There weren’t many ways to harass them within legal limits, and one of them was the door-blocking tactic he used on me.

The women’s association president, who had already moved out, had no openings. She was rarely home, so ringing the doorbell wasn’t effective, and she didn’t have a car, so he couldn’t block it.

“But, when that ajumma walked her dog sometimes, she didn’t use a leash. So, I bit it.”

“Her?”

“No, her dog.”

That women’s association president often walked her pet dog in the apartment complex, and because it didn’t wear a muzzle, a stray kitten was bitten.

When he protested about it, the women’s association president dismissed it, saying, ‘It was just a little bite,’ and Rovan lured the dog with a treat and bit its hind leg. Then the women’s association president protested to Rovan, and Rovan retorted, ‘It was just a little bite,’ mirroring her words.

“Then why the parking dispute? That has nothing to do with that ajusshi.”

“That ajusshi sometimes threw cigarette butts into the children’s food bowls. I told him a few times, but he wouldn’t listen. So, I blocked his car.”

Rovan, who had been proudly recounting his actions, suddenly stood up.

“Are you leaving?”

I was happy and tried to see him off, but Rovan turned around and said, ‘I left the babies outside and didn’t bring them,’ and came back in. He placed the adult products near the entrance and sat back on the sofa, then spotted the Blood Planet access device under the coffee table and looked pleased.

“Oh? You play Blood Planet?”

“Ah, no. It’s a friend’s.”

There were too many embarrassing aspects to admit to playing, and more importantly, I didn’t want to reveal my in-game character. Rovan said he also played Blood Planet and, saying it was fate, excitedly asked for my name, but I ignored him.

“Don’t be like that. Tell me. I’m a ranker. Do you play Psychic? Or Guide?”

“But if the servers are different, then…”

“I play on Antares, my name is Moment.”

“What?!”

“You know me?”

“Well, maybe. Since you’re a ranker, I think I’ve heard the name…”

Rovan generously offered to boost my level if it wasn’t too high.

‘How can this be.’

No matter how small the world is, how could Shut Up and Moment be people around me. My life was becoming increasingly tiring.

Jiiiing―.

Meanwhile, a text message arrived on my phone. Seeing it was from ‘Mouth,’ it was Shut Up. Jun, who was probably thinking of playing the game as soon as he got home, sent me, Dajung, this message.

[When are you coming home?]

The guy who just bit and sucked my hand was now trying to invade Dajung’s rear, looking for an opportunity. It was embarrassing to be found out by Shut Up, but I didn’t want Moment, who was right in front of me, to know either. Both of them were linked to me and Dajung.

“Go now. I’m tired.”

“I’ll contact you often and visit.”

“Don’t contact me, and don’t visit.”

Even as he put on his shoes, Rovan chattered that we would be best friends. For some reason, I felt this place had bad feng shui. Maybe it would be better to move further away for this price, even if it meant more hardship.

As the front door closed completely, Rovan was still standing outside, waving.

Ttiriric―.*

The door lock engaged, and I even put on the chain. As I was about to go back inside… something kicked my foot.

“Ah! Shit! Why didn’t you take this!”

I grabbed the adult product box and quickly opened the door. I ran towards Rovan, who was about to get into the elevator, calling out to him. Even though he clearly saw me holding the box, he got on the elevator and went down.

“Haa— Haa.”

As I caught my breath, a message arrived. The number wasn’t saved, but seeing the content, the face of the guy who just left popped into my mind.

[A gift to celebrate our friendship]

I was about to take it down to the trash collection area, but I paused and thought.

‘Should I give it as a service to someone buying the Relax skill?’

He had said it cost 200,000 won earlier. So, it should be okay to sell it on a used goods site, right? The thought occurred to me.

“The product itself is not at fault.”

Looking down at the box, I picked it up again. However, I felt like bad energy would spread if I brought it inside, so I left it by the entrance and took off my shoes.

“Haa……”

So much happened today. I didn’t have the energy to play games, so I sent Shut Up a message saying I wanted to rest today and turned on my laptop. Then, just as Hanwoo had said, I posted ‘Selling Relax skill’ on the bulletin board, adding that I would also give male adult products as a bonus. I left the screen on and went to wash up.

After washing up and checking the bulletin board, there were more comments asking about the adult products than people wanting to buy the Relax skill. I replied to those comments with the product name and usage written on the box, and that day, the post received the highest views and comments ever, simultaneously sparking controversy.

Eventually, the transaction post was deleted by the administrator. And my bulletin board ID was blocked, so I could no longer post.

I started my day by diligently sweeping the floor at the real estate office. Just then, the Hardware Store Owner also approached me with a broom.

“You’re having a tough time lately, aren’t you?”

Had anyone given me such encouraging words recently? Moved by the warm words, I stopped sweeping and invited him into the office. I shook a packet of instant coffee mix into a paper cup and replied that I had been a bit mentally preoccupied lately due to various events. After serving the Hardware Store Owner coffee, I made myself a cup and sat opposite him.

“You seem to clash with the place across the street often. It must be unpleasant for you.”

The Hardware Store Owner gestured with his chin towards a black car parked outside the real estate office. The direction of the car and the building across the street made it clear who he was referring to.

“For now, they’re customers, so I’m trying to accommodate them. What can I do? I’m the subordinate.”

I took a sip of coffee with a slight smile. Then, unexpectedly, the owner revealed a past story.

“Their parents used to come to our store and buy things often too.”

“Ah, Jjuni? I heard his mother passed away…”

The Hardware Store Owner leaned closer to me and whispered in a lower voice than usual. Jun’s parents had died in a traffic accident a few years ago. That’s why he became a building owner at such a young age.

“I used to go to that building to fix things, so I visited often. Back then, he just seemed like a gruff young man, but perhaps because he lost his parents like that? He became even more withdrawn. Tsk tsk.”

As the owner sat up straight, I also returned to my original posture and listened to his words.

‘Parents died in a traffic accident…’

So that’s why he lives alone, I nodded. My father also died in a traffic accident, so I could empathize with his feelings. Back then, I couldn’t even stand to see cars of the same model as my father’s. Still, since I heard this fact from a third party, I had to pretend I hadn’t heard it.

“Owner!”

Just then, a voice called out from outside the office.

It was a shout from outside the adjacent hardware store. The Hardware Store Owner picked up his paper cup of coffee and stood up. He gave me a nod and a wave as he left, saying, “Take care.”

As I sank back into my seat, I suddenly missed my mother. All I had done was reply to her elaborate picture message wishing me a good day and a lively week with ‘Mom, you have a good day too.’

Although I called her occasionally, this was the first time since coming to Seoul that I had wanted to hear my mother’s voice so much. When I pressed the call button, my mother answered “Hello.” shortly after the first ring.

“Mom! Mom, what are you doing?”

[Oh, Mom is at a flower exhibition with Hyeja Ajumma from next door.]

Around my mother’s voice, I could hear sounds like, “Oh, look at that, take a picture quickly.” As I kindly asked my mother how she was doing, she said she was busy and had to hang up.

“Yes, Mom. Always dri—”

I was about to tell him to be careful of the car, but it was already too late. They say you miss your family when you’re far apart, but I don’t think my mom felt that way.

“What? Doesn’t Mom miss me?”

Still, I thought she might be home alone, just sitting there, but it seemed like she was having fun with the people around her, which put my mind at ease.

In the morning, I showed rooms to a couple looking for a newlywed home, and I also finalized the contract for the person who will be living with the cat.

Lunchtime had long passed, and it was already 2 PM. Yesterday, the bulletin board ID was blocked, so I couldn’t post the Relax for sale. I was considering just putting it up on my personal shop when I asked Hanwoo for advice.

[If you can’t post it on the official website, just put it on a trading site for game items. Sell it like you’re selling game money.]

“Hanwoo, you’re a genius. Thanks.”

[If you’re thankful, give me that adult toy.]

“Yeah, I’ll give it to you. Take it.”

After hanging up, I signed up for the site Hanwoo mentioned and posted the sales ad. Unlike the official website, I just briefly stated the cash price of 3 million won, without any extra words. Anything excessive caused problems. If I had left it as concise as this yesterday, there wouldn’t have been a problem…….

“Excuse me.”

I was working on my PC when I heard a voice call out, and I peeked my head out from beside the monitor. A customer had come in and was sitting there without me noticing.

“Ah, I’m so sorry. I was working and didn’t see you come in.”

“It’s alright. Do you, by any chance, have a studio apartment? A fully furnished one.”

This neighborhood was strange; so many handsome men seemed to be around. I heard there was a web agency or a planning company nearby, so I wondered if that’s why they were all flocking here from all over the country.

There was an apartment that met all the conditions the man was looking for. Without hesitation, I called Jun.

However, Jun only picked up after a long while. It didn’t sound like he was woken up, just his usual annoyed voice. On one hand, I felt a bit relieved that he seemed the same, even after signing that slave contract or whatever it was.

“About that officetel, can you tell me if there are any vacancies?”

[I’ll come to the office.]

After some time, Jun entered the office carrying documents. He glanced at the man sitting on the sofa, and the corner of his lips turned up. Jun walked past the man to the desk and placed the lease agreement for that studio building down. It looked like a whole book’s worth, given how thick it was.

“You manage it from now on, Hyung. Just send me the deposit.”

After figuring out the vacancies, I took the customer to Jun’s building. He, who didn’t necessarily have to come, walked with us. It was my first time inside Jun’s studio building, and seeing it in person, the facilities were state-of-the-art, with a tower parking lot up to the 13th floor.

“As you can see, there’s an elevator up to the 12th floor, and you have to go up one more flight of stairs directly to the 13th. However, the rent is 100,000 won cheaper.”

“The utility bills are all separate too… Do I have to pay an additional 100,000 won for management fees?”

“You don’t have a car, right? In that case, I think we can ask for a discount…”

As I said that, I looked at Jun, who was following like a shadow. He grumbled about why the hallway was so dirty and clicked his tongue.

“Junie, he says he doesn’t have a car. Can we give him a discount on the management fee?”

“Just waive it.”

There was a benefit to him following along. I could get things done immediately. There were lower floors available, but the customer wanted the 13th floor because of the cheaper rent.

The customer asked me more detailed questions about the studio. I approached him and answered kindly, smiling at every question, but I could feel Jun watching me indifferently from a distance.

‘What’s his deal? Why is he staring like that at someone else working?’

However, the customer seemed to be looking around, searching for something.

“Doesn’t this place have an air conditioner too?”

The customer, looking around the room, started searching, his head darting here and there. Jun, who had been watching quietly, stood behind the customer and reached out. He lifted what looked like a simple ceiling storage compartment and propped it open, revealing an air conditioner inside.

The customer, who was shorter than Jun, flinched back, perhaps startled by his closeness. Maintaining that posture, they briefly made eye contact in mid-air. And I saw them smile slightly at each other.

I don’t know why I felt a little, just a tiny bit, disappointed seeing them like that. It reminded me of when I was brokering office spaces with Bin, and he treated me like I was invisible. I guess a guy who only cared about looks is still the same.

‘Why is he dragging a decent person into this mess when he could just play those contract games with someone like that?’

Staring at the two of them, I went to the bathroom to check the water pressure. Fortunately, there were no blockages, and no tiles were broken. They said it was a house that had been vacant for a while, but it wasn’t dusty. I checked the facility checklist and looked at the optional items.

“Then, the move-in cleaning…”

As I was taking notes and approaching them, I saw them whispering to each other. And, as if it were natural, they were exchanging phone numbers on their mobile phones. Well, it’s not my place to interfere with Jun’s private life, so I pretended not to see and looked around elsewhere. But in this small studio, I couldn’t help but see them just by turning my head.

“Hmm. If you want to look around more, feel free. I’m leaving now. I can’t leave the office for too long.”

As I put on my shoes to leave, Jun strode to the door. Was he going to say something? I looked at him, but he just held the door wide open for me to leave.

“I’ll come by later to sign the contract.”

“R-right, then.”

As soon as I stepped out, the door slammed shut behind me, followed by the sound of the door lock. Huh? I turned my head and looked at the firmly closed front door.

I felt very displeased, like I was being ignored. But I couldn’t pinpoint what was bothering me about Jun’s actions. His behavior was the same as always.

Ding—

I went down to the 12th floor, pressed the elevator button, and thought hard. We ate chicken soup together, he licked my hand, and we became involved, but that didn’t mean Jun and I were in a special relationship. It just meant my role had slightly changed from when I was just his errand boy.

What mattered was how I felt. With Namgung Bin, the dominant feeling was relief, but now, my mood was a bit strange.

“What is this? Why do I feel so uneasy?”

I returned to the office and was working when I glanced at the clock. They were supposed to come to sign the contract, but they still hadn’t arrived. As it neared 7 o’clock, I figured they’d come tomorrow, so I got up to close the office.

As I went to lock the door, I felt someone watching me. But when I looked around, there was no sign of anyone. The hardware store next door had closed early, as the lights were off. This office was a bit far from the streetlights, so when the surrounding shops were dark, it was easy to get lost in the shadows.

Conversely, the tteokbokki place across the street was brightly lit, making that side look cheerful. After locking the office, I looked up at the 7th floor across the street; the lights were still off.

“Where are you wandering off to? Just hurry up and sign the contract.”

Grumbling, I got on the bus home. As I held onto the bus handle, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I took it out to check, and there was a message I was happy to see.

[Buying Relax for 3 million]

I had been in the mood to log into the game today, and since I received an item trade offer, I had a good reason to log in. As soon as I got off the bus, I messaged the other party. It was true that it sold easily when I posted it on the item site. That’s probably why they take a commission.

As soon as I sent the message, a reply came.

[The deposit will be made under Kang Chungman. Let’s trade at the central fountain in Velvet Town at 8:30 PM tonight.]

[Yes, I understand.]

After replying, I headed home at a brisk pace. It wasn’t 8 PM yet, so if I logged in as soon as I arrived, it would be perfect timing. On my way, I bought something simple for dinner at a convenience store and went inside.

“Huh? Unit 412. You’re here now?”

Just then, Rovan, who was standing near the apartment entrance with cat food, waved at me. Some passersby avoided me because of his friendly greeting, and even the security guard I usually chatted with turned his head away as if he didn’t know me.

There was a good reason for the sudden change in attitude from those around me. It was because of this guy in the blue tracksuit next to me. This situation was beyond mere inconvenience; it was social isolation. I passed Rovan and pressed the elevator button.

“You’re late getting off work?”

“My workplace is far away. Well then… Why are you following me?”

“Just because. I was thinking of having dinner with a friend.”

Rovan, unbelievably, pointed at the lunchbox I bought at the convenience store. I had only bought one serving, so it wasn’t enough to share with anyone. More importantly, I was reluctant to let another person like him into my home.

“Sorry, but I have something to do.”

“Do it. I’ll just be next to you.”

The elevator door on the 4th floor opened, and I blocked Rovan from following me out. I handed him the plastic bag I bought at the convenience store into his hand as he tried to move my arm.

“Eat this and please leave me alone. I have something really urgent today.”

Rovan looked a little disappointed, but then he saw the contents of the convenience store bag and nodded with satisfaction.

“Alright, friend. Good luck.”

Before the elevator doors even closed, Rovan popped a sausage into his mouth and didn’t even look at me. His behavior was a prime example of superficial relationships. Shut Up was the same, and Moment too; their real-life appearances weren’t much different. The rude Shut Up was actually annoying, and Moment, who was caressed by monsters while naked, was actually selling adult toys.

Upon arriving, I changed into casual clothes without even washing.

Just then, a message arrived.

[(Web Sender) (itembyebye) S191117 Amount 3,000,000 won Buyer Contact 010-42-2*** Payment Complete]

[(Web Sender) (itembyebye) S191117 Payment Complete Purchase Password (2565) Sales Password (2020) Character Name Kang Chungman]

The message was from the game site.

Finally, I felt fulfilled thinking I had sold it. I felt good thinking I just had to give the item to him. I was hungry, but I decided to trade first and then order delivery, and with a happy heart, I put on the access device helmet.

<>

<>

Coincidentally, the point where I logged out was Velvet Town, so I took out the Relax Scroll from the warehouse and went to the fountain to sit. I then displayed the message screen on my phone and sent a message to the trading partner saying I was at the fountain. I told him my ID was ‘Kind Touch’ and to let me know when he arrived. He said to give the item to a character named ‘Goddess’.

‘Goddess? Isn’t that a male character? Why is her name Goddess?’

As I looked at the coins on the fountain floor, wondering if I should pick them up, a woman’s silhouette appeared on the transparent water. Turning my gaze that way, I saw ‘Goddess’ written above her head.

“Excuse me, are you the one trading Relax?”

“Yes.”

“The depositor was male, but the character is female?”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s a gift.”

Although the situation was suspicious, I had clearly seen the message from Kang Chungman telling me to give it to the character ‘Goddess’. Still, before handing it over, I sent a message back to the depositor, saying, “One moment.”

[Goddess has arrived. Should I give it to her now?]

[Yes, you can give it to her.]

Ah, this is the right person.

I immediately initiated the trade. I placed the Relax Scroll on the trade window and pressed the confirm button. Thus, the 3 million won item left my hands. Now, all I had to do was get the settlement from the game site. It was the first time I had used it, but I thought it was a very convenient system.

As soon as Goddess received the item, it seemed she used it, as a bright light flashed around her body. Not long after, many Psychics gathered around her. I had been standing close to her, but as people crowded in, I was pushed further away.

“Male Guides are treated like second-class citizens.”

Regardless of her appearance, she seemed to be at a higher level than me. Moreover, she was wearing what looked like good items. She was even wearing clothes like fairy wings, which I didn’t know where she got them from, making her look truly angelic. If I were a Psychic, it was natural to be drawn to a Goddess like her rather than me, wearing a drab-colored robe.

Standing near them, I could hear their conversations clearly.

“Where did you take the photo you posted on Instagram today?”

“She was a goddess in real life too.”

“How can a game character look exactly like their real appearance?”

Hearing their conversation, I nodded without realizing it. The words “the game character looks exactly like their real appearance.” If they had seen Shut Up and Moment, they might have been even more amazed.

However, looking at the Partner window at the top, I saw that Shut Up was online. The 7th floor of the building wasn’t lit earlier, so maybe he just came in. Yesterday he was nagging me about not logging in, but now, even though he knew I was online, he wasn’t calling me. Meanwhile, my body flashed once.

“He’s hunting.”

I considered warping to Shut Up’s location but stopped. Isn’t it enough to just stay like this and get a Link? But that Link wasn’t a trivial matter that could be done with a casual “I’ll just do it.”

I raised my left hand, the one he had been sucking and licking yesterday, and turned it around.

‘If I say I’ll make up for it with my hand, will he accept it? He seemed satisfied with just his hand…’

I had never paid close attention to the hands of game characters before, but looking closely, even the lines on their palms were rendered.

‘Wow, look at this life line. It looks like he’ll live a very long time.’

Does this mean I should just endure? As I was lost in my own thoughts, my hand was suddenly grabbed.

It was Shut Up.

Shut Up, who had come so close that he cast a shadow, smelled faintly of burnt electricity. Had he been electrocuting something with excitement? Faint currents flowed around his eye sockets.

“Why aren’t you coming? You should Warp as soon as you enter.”

“How am I supposed to know where to go? What if I die as soon as I get there?”

“Why would you die when I’m here? Anyway, hurry up.”

Without saying where, Shut Up Warped again.

<<'Shut Up' has sent a party invitation. [Accept / Decline]>>

After accepting the party invitation, I saw that Shut Up wasn’t hunting alone. There were other people in the party.

<>

Arriving via Partner Warp, I found myself in a forest.

Trees with purple and blue leaves lined the path, and the surroundings were as quiet as dawn. It wasn’t quite a jungle, as there weren’t many trees, and the path was straight, making it look like a well-maintained park.

As soon as I Warped, I saw Shut Up’s back. Shut Up glanced back at me slightly and walked ahead. Following him, I looked around. It was a forest terrain, yet there were no insects or reptiles approaching me. It truly felt like a leisurely stroll.

‘Huh?’

And after a short while, I saw a large lake. The color of the water was different from the lake I had seen from a pavilion before. The purple water looked eerie, as if one would be eternally submerged if they fell in, reflecting the moonlight.

“Since the lake is purple, it feels like I’ll die if I drink it.”

“Yeah, you will.”

“……”

Just then, a male character approached Shut Up, who had answered simply. He also seemed to use electricity, as a blue light enveloped his entire body. I looked at the name floating above his head.

‘Ipdae.’

Next to his name was a guild mark. I had seen him somewhere before… Thinking back, I remembered seeing him in the Guild Hideout when Shut Up and I were first matched.

“Dajeong, long time no see! You’ve gotten so radiant, probably from receiving so much love from Shut Up.”

I wondered where he saw me getting radiant. I just smiled, glancing down at my still drab robe.

“Didn’t you say you’d come out at the exact time?”

“Yeah. But it was just speculation, so I don’t know.”

“What did you catch?”

As I looked around, I heard a rustling sound from the forest behind me. I quickly turned my head, startled, and saw something like a rabbit hopping around where there had been nothing just moments before. I didn’t see it on the way here, so there must be something.

“Siren.”

“What’s Siren?”

I asked, looking back and forth between Ipdae and Shut Up. Ipdae tapped his lips, thinking. Then, he suddenly exclaimed, “Ah!” and mentioned a coffee brand name. It was a brand that anyone would know, even if they didn’t drink coffee.

“The mark in the middle there. That’s Siren.”

“Isn’t it the Little Mermaid?”

“It looks similar to the Little Mermaid, right? Junie?”

“Don’t call me by my name.”

Shut Up urged Ipdae. Well, even so, I knew Shut Up was Seomun Jun, and his friends had called him Jun a few times, so it wasn’t a secret.

Wanting to tease him along with them, I chimed in.

“Why didn’t you name yourself Jjuni instead of Shut Up? It suits you.”

“……Jjuni?”

Gasp.

As I blurted it out to tease him, my expression froze for a moment. It was because the name had slipped out exactly as I would have said it in reality. Shut Up was still looking down at me with a sharp, incredulous gaze.

“Hey, looks like something’s coming out.”

Just then, Ipdae quickly tapped Shut Up’s shoulder. Fortunately, Shut Up shifted his gaze to where the water was rippling.

I followed them and shifted my gaze to the calm lake, where small ripples were forming as something approached from afar. I instinctively backed away, fearing that bubbles would rise and a giant mermaid monster would suddenly appear and drag me to the bottom of the lake alive.

But then, Shut Up grabbed my arm.

“Stay close. It’s dangerous if you get separated from me this time.”

“Uh, yeah……”

Nodding repeatedly, I held onto one of Shut Up’s arms.

The thing that had been quietly shimmering in the water was gradually approaching us. There was definitely something underwater. I tensed up, feeling like something was about to burst out, but what had approached the surface slowly rose.

And then, a woman of fatal charm, as if all the beauty in this world had been combined, revealed herself to us. I swear, I almost stopped breathing for a moment. The woman stood at a suitable distance from us, wearing a seductive and benevolent smile.

I’d bet my life that the game designers had poured their souls into creating her. I’d expected a mermaid when I heard Siren, but she wore a lace dress, and her long, slit skirt revealed long, white legs.

She wasn’t wearing much, but she began to drop what little she had onto the ground, seducing us. I was instantly mesmerized. A voice as beautiful as her appearance flowed from her lips.

“Hold me.”

Ah……

I was truly mesmerized, my mouth slowly falling open. I felt an urge to take the hand she offered. My mind was so clouded that my hand rose involuntarily.

Clack!

“Ah!”

Suddenly, I was hit on the forehead. It didn’t hurt as if I’d actually been hit, but my vision flashed. Looking for the source of the rap, it was Shut Up, as expected. He looked at me with a pathetic expression and clicked his tongue.

“Snap out of it.”

“I was just looking……”

“Just looking? You looked completely entranced. Still, the game developers have such short-sightedness. Is this what they call seduction?”

After a brief warning to me, Shut Up looked at the woman indifferently.

I figured Shut Up was gay, so I let it slide, but strangely, Ipdae also showed little interest, digging his ear with his pinky finger. I thought it was the composure of a high-level player. I was the only one staring, completely entranced. A pointless curiosity arose, and I looked at Shut Up.

“By the way, if a female user came here, would a male Siren appear?”

Shut Up gave me a look of pity, as if I’d asked a ridiculous question.

“Probably. But, does only one appear here?”

“I heard there are several. Look, another one is coming.”

There are things in this world that you cannot choose between. Mom and Dad, Jajangmyeon and Jjamppong, Samgyeopsal and Beef, Meat Mandu and Kimchi Mandu, Kimchi Jjigae and Doenjang Jjigae, Spicy Tuna and Vegetable Tuna.

And now. I discovered something new.

This woman and that woman.

If the woman in front of me was blonde and innocent, the one who appeared next was alluringly beautiful with black hair and striking red lips.

‘I can’t choose, I can’t choose…….’

“Hey!”

As I was lost in thought, Shut Up yelled into my ear, making me jump as if waking from a dream. Ipdae was trying to suppress his laughter watching me.

“Dajeong, they’re all monsters. Don’t touch even a single hair on them. If you touch them, the addiction won’t wear off until you die.”

“What’s more troublesome is that it’s not just you who dies. We can get infected too. So, don’t move. The boss hasn’t even appeared yet.”

If they were considered trash mobs, what would the boss be? I felt nervous, anticipating an even more powerful and captivating woman, but also excited.

“Hold me.”

“Come here.”

When the two women, with their seductive movements, had almost completely shed their clothes, I turned my back. Shut Up playfully asked me why I was standing there. The woman’s moans, mixed with sighs, grew louder, and I had to cover my ears.

Wow, this was clearly a deliberate attempt at seduction. Fortunately, the women maintained a certain distance and didn’t approach further.

Just then, the wind suddenly picked up.

Purple and blue leaves began to fall one by one onto the calm lake. The leaves that fell onto the surface spun and floated powerlessly. Suddenly, the dry leaves, which seemed to be stopping, were pushed outward by the strong waves. Something huge was rising from the center of the lake.

What emerged from the surface, like a thin veil, was a human-like figure. The figure, invisible at first, became clearer as the mist cleared. I rubbed my eyes, unable to believe what I was seeing.

“What the… this is… a scam.”

Why?

How could the game developers have recreated the girl I had a crush on in school so perfectly? Legs rose from the lake, and Hae-jin walked towards me. Despite having just emerged from the water, her neatly pressed shirt and the tightly fastened buttons of her school uniform were exactly as I remembered.

“Why, she……”

“Hyung……”

Hyung?

At the word “Hyung” from Shut Up’s lips, I blinked and turned to look at him. He was looking at my first love, who was approaching, with a gaze full of longing, so different from the indifferent look he had when he saw the two women earlier. But why “Hyung”? She looked like a woman no matter how you looked at her.

Next to Shut Up, Ipdae was reaching out his hand, saying, “Jae-in-ah.” It seemed we were all seeing different figures. The approaching woman tucked her long hair behind her ear, smiling shyly.

However, I knew this scene was fake. Because Hae-jin used to flip me off and tell me to fuck off whenever she saw me, she would never smile like that. Still, when I was only captivated by Hae-jin’s looks, this was the image I imagined. If she had actually been this shy, she would undoubtedly have been the queen of our neighborhood. Or rather, of the entire region.

I didn’t know how they recreated my first love, but it seemed like some memories were digitized upon logging into the game. Otherwise, how could she be exactly as I remembered her from school? Of course, while her appearance was recreated, her actions were different from reality, making it feel less authentic.

Hae-jin stood where the two women had been earlier. The women who had been seductively crawling on the ground had vanished, and Hae-jin stood alone.

“Duseon-ah.”

Hae-jin called my name. I wondered if Shut Up had heard, and looked at him. He was staring at someone, his eyes reddening.

“Dajeong-ssi.”

Just then, Ipdae, who had been a little distance away, seemed to snap back to reality and called me, checking my condition.

“Hey, Jun-ah! It looks like only Jun is properly entranced. He’s not responding even when I call him.”

“What the hell? Snap out of it! Hey!”

Ipdae and I slapped and shook Shut Up, but we couldn’t turn his gaze away from the front. Even when I moved beside him and spoke to him, he only looked straight ahead.

“What do we do?”

“What do we do? We just let him die. Ugh, this guy. What is he even looking at?”

“He said ‘Hyung.’ Is he his biological brother?”

“Jun is an only child.”

I wondered who it could be that he was looking at with such sad and resentful eyes. In the end, we decided to just kill him quickly and told Ipdae to use his skill.

“If you use this, your PG will fill up, so use Relax.”

Ipdae gripped lightning swords in both hands. The swords, curved like crescent moons, shot out electric beams identical to their shape when swung. As the monster came within range, Ipdae swiftly swung his swords in multiple directions. They flew like boomerangs and struck down at the boss monster from all sides.

Clang! Clang!

However, the electric blades, which seemed like they would cut down the monster instantly, were deflected by some force and fell like fallen leaves around him.

“Hey! Are you serious?”

The one who blocked Ipdae’s attack was none other than Shut Up. Behind him, I could see Hae-jin smirking. Of course, Shut Up was looking at his ‘Hyung.’

“Don’t touch him.”

“Hey! Snap out of it! That’s a monster!”

Thinking a cure spell might bring him to his senses, I raised my hand, but Shut Up grabbed my wrist tightly and pushed me away.

“Don’t try any funny business.”

“We came to catch the boss, not to have a love triangle.”

“Dajeong-ssi, calm down. We shouldn’t fight amongst ourselves.”

Ipdae stopped me from approaching Shut Up and calmed me down.

Swish—

In the meantime, a long shadow flickered across the ground. As I wondered what it was, vines stretched out from around the forest and grabbed my ankles. Except for Shut Up, of course. Ipdae and I were bound, hands and all, and could only watch.

That was it. Get lost, intruders.

If Shut Up approached the boss monster and made contact, and then came towards us, it would be total annihilation. With this, the dream of transferring servers was pushed back another step.

“Fine. You’re so great, aren’t you? You told me to snap out of it, and look at you now. Serves you right.”

Watching Shut Up approach the boss monster, I wondered if he was going to do that right in front of us, and considered disconnecting. But my bound arms prevented me from even bringing up the menu.

At least Ipdae was tied up with his back turned, so he didn’t have to see this. Instead, he kept pestering me with questions like, ‘Is Jun still like that?’, ‘What are you two doing?’

“Don’t ask. I don’t really want to see it.”

Finally, Shut Up, who had approached right in front of the boss monster, reached out his hand. He then touched her shoulder. Looking at the party window, a poison mark appeared. I could tell even without looking, as Shut Up’s body was turning a purplish hue.

“……Why did you leave me?”

She just smiled. Of course, to me, she looked like Hae-jin, but to Shut Up, she was the person he called ‘Hyung.’

“Are you satisfied now that you’re gone? Was I that much of a bother?”

Hae-jin nodded.

‘……Huh?’

But something was strange. The figure that looked like Hae-jin flickered like a computer error screen and suddenly changed into the form of a man.

“Who is that?”

“What? Dajeong-ssi, what is it?”

Ipdae, unable to see even when turning his head as much as possible, bombarded me with questions out of frustration.

“Is he a man? How tall? How old does he look? What color is his hair? Is it long?”

“Uh… he’s just ordinary.”

Unlike Jun, who usually cared about appearances, he was an extremely ordinary man. You might pass him on the street and think, ‘Huh? Did I bump into that person?’ He was so unremarkable, just a regular person.

I saw the man open his mouth to say something, but I couldn’t hear it. However, Shut Up seemed to get angry at his words.

“Don’t talk nonsense!”

Saying that, Shut Up hugged the man. Even as his body was being consumed by purple, his HP steadily decreasing, he held him like that.

“Ugh, what an idiot.”

“He’s definitely going to die. He was so confident coming here.”

We had almost given up, deciding we would never come here again and just do ordinary dungeons, discussing such trivial matters.

“Gasp, cough—!”

“What now?”

Suddenly, a gasping, choking sound was heard. I thought it was Shut Up dying, but it was the opposite.

Shut Up was gripping the man’s neck with both hands. He had shed the expression of a lost, abandoned dog and now wore the face of a predator latching onto its prey. His hands clamped onto the man’s neck as if sharp teeth had pierced it, refusing to let go.

With a grin that was hard to distinguish from a grimace, Shut Up spoke with apparent enjoyment.

“Had enough playing around?”

Crackles—!

As he spoke, he unleashed electricity from his entire body. It shot out like long thorns, piercing the man’s body in various places. His head, held so tightly by the neck, was glowing a deep red, as if about to explode.

“Kuh, Kuaaak—!”

Perhaps because he was a monster, his body began to mutate in his final struggle. Multiple tentacles, like those of an octopus, emerged and began to constrict Shut Up’s body. But Shut Up didn’t let go of the man’s neck, even as his own body was being held. He just exerted more force.

Splash—!

Eventually, the monster, unable to endure any longer, threw itself into the lake, taking Shut Up with it. The murky purple water swallowed them both and became still. However, Ipdae and I were still unable to move.

“He died so anticlimactically.”

“Ipdae. What drops when you kill that thing that made us come all this way?”

“You get an item that raises Charm stats. They say it’s good for Linking.”

“To get something so useless, my precious Level 1 is gone. I thought something expensive would drop……”

Ipdae whispered that it would sell for a lot. But what good was that, when it was already lost……

Crackle!

“What the hell is that?”

It was then.

Above the spot where Shut Up had disappeared, lightning struck like electricity hitting a lightning rod. The lightning powerfully struck the lake and then split into multiple branches, spreading across the surface. It wasn’t just coming from above; a strong electrical force was emanating from the bottom of the lake, causing the murky depths to flash multiple times.

“What is it? What’s going on?”

“Jun has completely lost it.”

As if to confirm that something was indeed happening, the vines that had been binding me and Ipdae suddenly loosened. Ipdae turned around, saw the spectacle, and laughed excitedly.

Shut Up was unleashing all his stored electricity. As he did, aquatic creatures floated to the surface. They had died from electrocution. I’d seen something similar on TV. It was called battery fishing, a method to stun fish. Of course, this method was illegal, and you’d get fined if you actually fished like that.

In the midst of this, as I reached out to grab the items floating on the surface, Ipdae stopped me.

“I’ll have the pet pick them up. It’s dangerous.”

Ipdae summoned a bird onto his shoulder and gave it orders. The bird, flapping its wings incessantly like a hummingbird, flew into every corner of the lake and picked up something with its beak.

However, looking at the party window, Shut Up was not dead yet.

“Wow, he’s persistent.”

“Haa… Haa…”

I heard ragged breathing beside me and turned my head to see Shut Up, speckled with purple from the poison, standing there. Shut Up wordlessly dropped something like a hairpin onto the ground. Then, the summoned pet swallowed it with its beak.

In the meantime, my body flashed twice. My level had become 47. Shut Up’s PG was almost full. Yet, he was still intermittently emitting electricity.

“Hey… Jun, calm down.”

“What? You told me to snap out of it, and now you’re completely entranced……”

“Fuck. Shut up.”

Given his usual rude way of speaking, I would have normally let it slide. But the situation was different now. Was it romance when I did it, but adultery when someone else did? It was absurd, considering everyone almost died because of him.

“What? Fuck? Hey, you shut up!”

“Argh!”

Shut Up’s large hand suddenly lunged towards me. Even though touching it would immediately cause poison, I wasn’t scared. My pride wouldn’t allow it right now, more than my level.

“What? Grab me. Go on, grab me! Team kill me!”

“Dajeong-ssi, stop.”

Ipdae grabbed me by the waist from behind and pulled me away from Shut Up. Shut Up cursed once more and began to form an Electric Sphere. I knew he would get stunned once his PG was full if he did that…

“Hey, you’ll get stunned if you do that!”

Despite my words, Shut Up endlessly enlarged the sphere and threw it into the center of the lake. A giant crown-shaped water pillar then appeared and disappeared, sending current throughout the entire lakeside.

“Tsk tsk. Such a temper.”

“Shut up, will you!”

Shut Up created a Thunderclap Spear in his hand and threw it at me. The sharply shot spear pierced through me and embedded itself in a tree behind me. Although I didn’t take damage as an ally, it was a sufficiently threatening action.

After that, as expected, Shut Up collapsed onto the ground. I froze in surprise, but Ipdae shook me.

“Let’s just return to town. Jun is stunned and logged out, so we can divide the items among ourselves without him.”

“Ah… Should we?”

The moment the Thunderclap Spear was thrown, Shut Up’s eyes were filled with murderous intent. So, while my body was unharmed, my heart was wounded.

There was no need to look at me as if you wanted to kill me, was there? Are you saying I’m more insignificant than a mere monster, or what? I couldn’t forget the face of the man Shut Up had looked at so pleadingly earlier.

Returning to town, I first repaired my equipment and waited for Ipdae. Since we each used a town return scroll, our return locations were scattered. Ipdae said he would come to Velvet Town, so I sat by the fountain where I had met the Goddess earlier.

“Dajeong, did you wait long?”

“Huh? No.”

“Shall we go to the Guild Hideout first?”

I nodded at the suggestion, and as soon as we entered the Guild Hideout using the portal, he approached me and initiated a trade. In the trade window were armor and weapons with low level requirements.

“Here, I brought what I had piled up in the storage. Use it or sell it, and let’s split what we ate earlier.”

Ipdae summoned his pet and checked its inventory. Looking at him, wondering if it was really okay for just the two of us to split it, he coldly said, “Jun already left,” and divided the items exactly in half.

“He left while still under the Shut Up debuff, what do we do?”

“Well, he’ll probably die here or somewhere safe. That way, we can pick up the items if he drops them. Don’t worry about it, he’ll handle it.”

Ipdae dropped the spoils from the lake one by one onto the Guild Hideout floor. He seemed to be contemplating, saying, “Hmm…,” and then placed even the hairpin on the floor.

“…Huh? Isn’t this expensive? For me?”

“It’s an item usually used by Guides, so it’s for you, Dajeong.”

I wondered if a male character could wear a hairpin, so I picked it up and tried it on. It was a ribbon-shaped pin, and it was unlikely to suit me… But when I actually put it on, it suited me quite well. I looked at myself in the mirror and wore a satisfied expression.

However, Ipdae, who had been watching quietly beside me, moved closer. Then, he gently touched the hairpin and the hair around it, saying the effect seemed quite good.

“Right… Dajeong, you’re a Guide.”

Ipdae’s hand, buried in my hair, gradually moved towards the back of my head. Feeling a strange atmosphere, I tried to pull away, but his grip on the back of my head instantly pulled my face close.

“You can Link me, right?”

Normally, at this distance, he couldn’t have gotten any closer, but since we were in a party now, it was possible. I turned my head, refusing and pushing his face away, begging him to just hold my hand, please just hold my hand, when suddenly, nothing touched my hand.

Crash!

As I wondered what was happening, Ipdae fell over the surrounding tables with a sound of something collapsing.

“What are you two doing?”

The one who made Ipdae fall was Human, who had just logged in. I quickly disbanded the party in the ensuing commotion, and Ipdae, seeing that, smiled sheepishly, saying it was a shame.

“Jun, I, and Dajeong just came back from hunting Sirens. I was asking Dajeong to Link me.”

“Is that how you ask? Jun doesn’t like it when people touch his Guide.”

If I kept talking to them, I felt like I might accidentally call him ‘Jjuni’ again.

“By the way, where’s Jun?”

Human approached me, asking if I was okay, and looked for Shut Up.

“He fainted and logged out. That’s a bit… due to circumstances.”

“He went to hunt Sirens, and he was completely smitten.”

Ting—

Meanwhile, I received a message from Seomun Jun.

Not as Shut Up, but as Jjuni.

[Can I come over to your place today?]

My breath hitched as I read the message.

My place? Along with the short question, I immediately remembered yesterday’s contract. Is he really coming? What will he do when he gets here? Do you two know your friend is like this? I looked at Human and Ipdae with that kind of gaze. Human approached me as I stood frozen, my hand awkwardly raised.

“What? Is something wrong?”

“No, I was just surprised reading the message.”

I lowered my hand to a salute position and said I was done for the day and would be leaving. However, Ipdae, disappointed that the party had been disbanded, grabbed my pants and persistently pleaded.

“I’ll give you a Relax.”

I stood Human and Ipdae side-by-side and cast Relax. Ipdae suggested we go to a dungeon, just the three of us excluding Shut Up, but I wanted to rest.

“I haven’t even showered yet. Later.”

After a brief farewell, I brought up the menu on the screen.

<>

I disconnected and took off my helmet. I had to check the 3 million won that came in after handing over the items, and I needed to shower and eat. And most importantly, I was agonizing over whether or not to reply to Jun.

I typed [Don’t come] and deleted it. Refusing so abruptly seemed a bit harsh. We had fought, but thinking of Jun’s pained expression earlier made my heart soften. So, instead of a message, I called him.

As the ringing continued, I nervously reached for the end call button, but Jun’s voice came through the phone. His character was addicted, but I didn’t know why his real self sounded so sluggish, as if addicted too. Jun sounded heavy and listless, like a sponge that had been soaked in water for a long time.

“If you’re going to sound so listless, you should just stay home and sleep. Why are you still coming over?”

[Can’t I come?]

“Yeah, just stay home and sleep. I’m tired too.”

[I won’t bother you.]

“Well, do you have something to say?”

[No, it’s not that…]

“…?”

[Hyung.]

At the word ‘Hyung’ that Jun spoke, the face of the monster I saw earlier flashed in my mind. The ‘Hyung’ he looked at so pleadingly, hated, and begged.

I could vaguely understand. Jun wanted to be comforted by using me as a proxy. Was I just a substitute for that Hyung? I felt my pride hurt by being a stand-in. No matter what.

“Don’t come.”

[What? Then why did you call? You got my hopes up.]

He must have been lying in bed; I heard the rustling of sheets over the receiver. The call ended shortly after without further words. Weren’t we the kind of people who could say “Rest well” even if saying “Sleep well” was too embarrassing? He was just as cold-hearted in hanging up as he always was.

“Rude bastard.”

In our relationship, I was the one in power, yet he still seemed to lack the qualities of a subordinate. I decided I would teach him about that point the next time we met.

“What should I order?”

After hanging up, I showered and flipped through delivery menus. I was craving beer, so I called Jonggajip Seasoned Chicken. Of course, Jonggajip is the best for seasoned chicken! I asked for an extra radish pickle instead of a cola service and waited with a happy heart.

Then, to bring some life into the quiet house, I turned on the TV and flipped through channels. A program reporting on incidents and accidents was on, and it was providing preventative guidance about the recent surge in voice phishing scams.

Tap—!

Before the chicken arrived, I opened a can of beer and chugged it down while watching TV.

The story was about someone who received a text from an acquaintance and transferred money, only to find out the text itself was fake. A cyber investigation officer advised that even if it’s from an acquaintance, one should not send money based solely on a text, but should always call to confirm their identity before transferring. A celebrity guest warned that one should not lend money to others in the first place.

“That guy, he bragged about buying a building on TV, how stingy. He could lend a little. Anyway, people fall for a single text like that.”

Thinking that my mother or people around me might fall for it, even if I wouldn’t, I picked up my phone and made a voice phishing prevention memo. After writing it down briefly, I sent it to my acquaintances via messenger. Then, I found peace of mind. At the end of the message, I stated, ‘I will never ask to borrow money via text.’

“Now, there won’t be anyone around me who falls for such scams, right?”

Ding dong—

Just then, the doorbell rang. The most welcome visitors in the world were deliveries and food couriers. I quickly opened the door wide, and the delivery person stepped inside and placed the chicken on the floor by the entrance.

“That’ll be 20,000 won.”

“The coupon’s inside, right?”

“Yes.”

While paying by card, I brought the chicken to the coffee table in front of the TV. Then, as I went back to the entrance to get the card, the delivery person took off his shoes and came inside. As he handed me the card, he said, “Are you being stingy and eating alone?” When he took off his helmet, Rovan emerged from within.

“Why are you here?”

“Me? I’m working part-time. I deliver in the evenings.”

“Then why did you take off your shoes? You have to go deliver more.”

“I’m planning to finish up here and rest today. Do you have more beer?”

I finally understood why Rovan hadn’t logged into the game. But why was he driving such an expensive car while working as a delivery driver? And Rovan was already tearing open the packaging of the chicken I had paid for. He even unhesitatingly drank the beer I had set aside to drink.

“Ahhh. Chicken and beer, the best.”

“Are you eating again after finishing my lunchbox that you took earlier?”

“I get hungry quickly. Come sit down quickly.”

If I hadn’t been able to sell my Relax skill today, I wouldn’t have shared a meal with this guy. While I was getting a side plate, Rovan was already tearing into a chicken leg.

Yeah, well. It’s only natural to share one by one. I got up to get another can of beer. As I closed the refrigerator door and approached, Rovan was holding the last chicken leg and taking a bite.

“Hey! You have no conscience! How can you eat two chicken legs?”

“Chicken legs aren’t even given to family.”

“Am I your family?”

Speaking of chicken legs reminded me of when we ate baeksuk. Back then, Jun had placed both chicken legs on my plate. I should have eaten chicken with Jun, not Rovan. Maybe I should have told him to come over when he said he was coming.

“Eat that and go. Take that with you on your way out. I was going to sell it on the used market, but I just didn’t have the courage. I thought about giving it to a friend, but then I thought, maybe not.”

“Why? Use it. I’ll give it to you as a gift.”

“No. It’s bad luck.”

“Are you perhaps impotent? Or is it insensitivity, something like that?”

Rovan, with his mouth smeared with sauce, asked innocently. When I didn’t answer, dumbfounded, he started explaining about the adult products he sells.

He said that it’s a problem if one has no sexual desire at such a young age, and that one must satisfy the three basic human desires to be happy, speaking like a life mentor.

I kept my eyes on the TV and let his words wash over me. Rovan, whether I listened or not, started a long monologue about how he had them all in series. I just drank my beer and, with the will to eat, gave only dry answers like ‘No,’ ‘Uh,’ ‘No.’

One might get discouraged if the other party responds indifferently, but he showed no signs of it. Finally, Rovan waved his hand in front of my face, distracting my gaze towards the TV. I glanced at him with annoyance.

“Ah, come on! Let me watch TV.”

“Have you ever used an Anus?”

“Anus? What’s that?”

“Coo… It seems our Yuduseon has only walked the path of righteousness.”

“Ah! Come to think of it, how do you know my name? You wrote my name clearly on the delivery slip too, didn’t you?”

“That’s something you can find out by just rummaging through a mailbox, so don’t be surprised by something so trivial.”

Then Rovan said, “More importantly, I’ll tell you something more surprising,” and continued his explanation about that Anus thing.

In the end, it was a male masturbation device. Male masturbation devices are all pretty similar, aren’t they? What’s so different?

However, Rovan raved about that Anus thing, confidently stating that he had awakened to his second sex with it. I wasn’t the type to be easily swayed, but he kept going on about how it was not of this world’s orgasm, and that I would be his savior, so I couldn’t help but be curious.

“To die without knowing this is like living only half a life. How about it? Want one?”

“…How much is it?”

I wondered how poorly it was selling that he was trying to sell it to a neighbor, and asked if it was cheap, thinking I might buy one.

“Around 30,000 won?”

“It’s cheaper than I thought.”

After his lengthy explanation, I thought it would be more expensive than the adult products he delivered to my house earlier. But 30,000 won, well. It wasn’t a big deal, considering I was ripped off 30,000 won by a kid.

“You can choose between beginner, intermediate, or advanced. But looking at you… Hmm, since it’s your first time, you should go with the beginner model, right? The perineum TAB type will be the standard model, and the main body will have rib-like texture with pleasure stripes. Of course, the smallest size.”

Standard rib, beginner. I had no idea what he was talking about, but fine, I’d buy one to shut him up. Otherwise, it seemed like he would list all the adult products he sells all night.

The chicken we were supposed to eat alone was quickly finished by the two of us. I thought he might deliver again, and decided not to order chicken from here anymore. I wiped my hands with the wet wipes that came with the delivery.

“Ah, that was delicious. Since I got free chicken, I’ll give you a lot of service.”

“Okay.”

Since we had finished eating, there shouldn’t have been anything more to say, but Rovan didn’t go home and sat on the sofa as if he were a roommate. I took out my laptop, which I had placed under the coffee table earlier, and put it up. I logged into the game site and clicked the icon for items on sale.

“Aren’t you leaving?”

“I don’t have much to do.”

Sighing, I stared at the laptop screen, hoping he would leave when he got tired. I clicked around and checked, but strangely, there was no deposit record anywhere. My sales post was still there.

“Huh? That’s weird. Why isn’t it showing?”

As I scratched my head and muttered to myself, Rovan, who was holding the remote, got off the sofa and sat next to me.

“What is it?”

“Uh. I sold an item.”

“What? A BP item?”

“Yeah. I sold it on Item Bye Bye, and I even got a deposit text, but it says there are no items being traded.”

“Let me see.”

Rovan turned the laptop towards him and looked at it in the same order I had clicked. Then Rovan tilted his head, saying, “Huh?”

“This post saying you’re selling a Relax Scroll, right?”

“Right. That’s why I received a 3 million won deposit earlier.”

“No, there’s no deposit.”

Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine, as if I were covered in goosebumps.

What could that possibly mean? Could it be that I hadn’t refreshed the page? I repeatedly pressed F5. But the screen remained in the same state as before. As I stared blankly at the screen, Rovan moved closer and pressed me.

“You got a text message on your phone?”

“Uh… Uh, this.”

With trembling hands, I showed Rovan my phone screen. Rovan looked back and forth between it and the laptop monitor, then scoffed.

“You didn’t actually hand over the item just based on the text, did you?”

“……”

“Is this your first time trading items? You have to check on the website. The money isn’t deposited directly into your account.”

“……No, the text from Item Bye Bye… The person who received it was right in front of my eyes, and they… flashed…”

“Flashed what?”

“That skill… They used it right in front of me…”

Rovan laughed, incredulous, asking if people still fell for such scams. I had assumed it was deposited on the site because I received a text, so I had done so…

This wasn’t the time to dwell on it. I called Kang Chungman, with whom I had exchanged messages earlier. However, it said it was an unregistered number. I tried again, but it was the same. He must have been using a dual number, just like me. To scam me like this!

I had scoffed while watching TV, thinking, Who falls for voice phishing?* Well, here was one such person. It was me.

I tore at my hair, wondering if I should go to the police cyber investigation unit, and typed ‘item scam,’ ‘how to catch a scammer,’ etc., into the search bar, but my anger flared up again, and I closed the laptop. Then, I clutched my head and lamented.

“Ugh. I’m an idiot. A complete idiot.”

Rovan took my phone again and was slowly examining the messages. As I was blaming myself, an unexpected remark came from beside me.

“Yuduseon… is Kind Touch?”

“……”

A chill ran down my spine for a different reason. Thinking back, I remembered telling Kang Chungman my character name in our messages. The part where he asked if he should give it to the Goddess character.

I slowly raised my head and glanced around. Rovan… Moment was still looking back and forth between my phone screen and me. It was too late to deny it.

“Huh? You’re really Kind Touch?”

“……I didn’t mean to deceive you on purpose.”

“Ha, seriously. Hey! Isn’t this fate? Destiny?”

He clearly misunderstood the meaning of destiny and bad fate. Rovan, saying it was nice to meet me, tried to hug me with both arms, but I grabbed his wrists and held on, preventing him from closing his arms.

“How could you do that?”

“I want to ask you the same thing. I don’t know what my life will bring either.”

“Even so, we’ve even kissed, so we should at least hug, right?”

“I’m not in the mood for that right now.”

Rovan grabbed my shoulders and shook me, scanning my body up and down and saying how the atmosphere is the same between game characters and reality.

Rovan, still excited by the reunion, grabbed my cheeks with both hands and tried to kiss me, saying he was glad to see me. I pushed his forehead with my palm, resisting as much as possible. When Rovan’s head snapped back, he finally gave up on kissing me.

“Cold-hearted.”

“Don’t confuse the game with reality. Even if I’m a Guide there, I’m just an ordinary man here.”

“I know you’re a man. But, even though it’s not in the game, I’m still drawn to you. In the game, it was because of the charm stat.”

“Are you gay?”

“I’m not strictly gay, but I’m not picky about who I’m with.”

Even as he said that, Rovan smiled with satisfaction. Maybe it was because he was built like Shut Up, but when he came close and pressed his body against mine, I felt incredibly small.

Still, being the same gender, I could resist with strength, so there was no sense of discomfort like in the game. In the game, Shut Up and Moment had such high stats that even pushing with all my might didn’t budge them.

But, the Moment I was facing now was a person in a blue tracksuit. There was no need to be scared at all. After our dramatic reunion, we got back to the main topic. Rovan placed his phone on the coffee table and asked more seriously.

“Dajeong, you know the name of the person who used Relax, right? Can’t we just catch that guy and rough him up?”

“Ah, right. There was that method.”

I didn’t know who Kang Chung-man was, but I could meet the character who was called a goddess and used him. Now that the number was gone, that was the only way.

“Rovan, help me out. Like you said, help me catch that Kang Chung-man from that goddess!”

“Even if we catch him, getting it back is unlikely.”I feel like I’ll get anger disease if I just let this happen. Just help me, whatever it takes.”

“Okay! Then, in exchange for helping, can I teach you how to use Aneros myself?”

Even though I didn’t know what Aneros was, I figured adult toys were all the same, so I nodded. At my words, Rovan licked his lips with his tongue. Even though he should have felt full after finishing the chicken, his action just now was like a starving beast.

However, I didn’t have the mental capacity to check such subtle emotional changes. Rovan sank back into the sofa and started tapping on his phone.

“Her name is Goddess?”

“Yeah. We must have been close. That’s why she bought that expensive order form, right?”

“Could she be this person?”

On Rovan’s phone screen, her character appeared. She looked different from how she did today, but her face and hair color were the same.

“Yeah! Yeah. That’s her.”

“Hmm. She’s someone who receives tributes from everywhere.”

“Tributes?”

“Yeah. There are more than a few people who offer items to her, saying she’s pretty in real life too.”

“Why would they do that?”

“Well, they say she gives them a Link in order of who offers the most tributes.”

When I asked how he knew so much, Rovan shoved his phone at me again. Then he asked if I didn’t use SNS, and if I had moved from a mountain village. “You know how to use the internet, right?” he said, then looked at the laptop from earlier and shook his head.

“Maybe it would have been better if I didn’t know how to use the internet. Then I wouldn’t have been scammed…”

“I’m going to die. Stop it. And, someone said SNS is a waste of time.”

“That someone probably has a personal assistant who takes care of everything even if they don’t use SNS. Anyway, Goddess? Come to think of it, Dajeong, you seem like the type to get easily extorted. Did you ever run errands for people at school?”

“No.”

I didn’t say that I did it recently, not in school. Even if I did, he wouldn’t know Jun… Since I didn’t answer, he didn’t ask further and moved on.

Rovan, who had been swiping through the screen with his thumb, seemed to have grasped the situation and stood up. In the meantime, I turned on the laptop again and searched for online item scams on Knowledge On.

There were precedents recognized as fraud, and it was recommended to file a civil lawsuit for unjust enrichment… Should I sue Goddess? Or should I catch that Kang Chung-man… The important thing was proof that I had handed it over to Goddess.

Ah! Why didn’t I take a screenshot when I handed it over? I had diligently taken screenshots when returning Elsumban to Shut Up, but I didn’t do it at that crucial moment. My reason had flown away in the excitement of 3 million won being deposited.

As I clutched my head in despair again, Rovan, who had been sitting on the sofa, suddenly stood up.

“I’m going to leave now. I’ll contact you after work tomorrow. You know my number, right? If not, look at that delivery box.”

“…It’ll be hard to get it back, won’t it?”

“Hmm… You’ll have to get it back with other items.”

As he put on his shoes to leave, I followed him out. When he asked if I was seeing him off, I replied as if the world had ended, saying I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight and needed to drink soju.

Even as we rode the elevator down together, Rovan was enjoying having a new target. He kept looking through Goddess’s SNS. As he carefully read the comments, he excitedly said he might be able to find out who Kang Chung-man was.

Didn’t people always say humans loved watching fights and disasters the most? One more thing has been added. Watching someone else get scammed and suffer is also popcorn-worthy.

“Anyway, I’ll contact you tomorrow!”

Rovan waved lightly at me as I walked towards the convenience store and then went to the motorcycle parked at the entrance. He lightly started off, leaving the helmet he had worn earlier in the front basket.

I had never been to the apartment convenience store twice in one day before, but today was the day. Earlier I bought a lunchbox, and now I came out with 3 bottles of soju. I picked up some string cheese to eat as a snack, but then thought, what kind of snack is this for me, and just left. I decided to just eat and die.

Even though my tomorrow-self warned me not to drink too much on a weekday, today’s me couldn’t be overcome. I entered the house and sat in front of the sofa. Drinking one bottle of alcohol without any snacks made me drunk quickly.

“Ah, this… Just go die.”

As I cursed myself and finished two bottles, something other than being scammed felt more profound. I should have just stayed home even if I couldn’t find a job. Then I would have been a leisurely unemployed person with my severance pay…

And when I drank the last of the 3 bottles, I couldn’t think of anything. My vision spun, and the whole world was shaking. Getting up and walking to the bedroom felt long and arduous. The floor seemed to surge up and hit my forehead.

Since when has Korea had such severe earthquakes? I thought, this is the end of the world, as my eyes closed. But, as they closed, I heard Jun’s voice in my ear.

‘Hyung…’

I was the one who was wronged, but I didn’t know why he sounded sadder.

“What, why is the door locked?”

As usual, I parked my black sports car in front of the real estate office and got out. I tried to open the door of Duseon’s office because I had something to tell him, but it wouldn’t open.

I looked inside Duseon’s office, which was closed with the lights off. It was locked earlier, and it was still the same. Puzzled, I called him. But after a long ring, it went to voicemail, and I couldn’t reach him.

Just then, the owner of the adjacent hardware store came out to sweep the front of his shop and our eyes met. I hadn’t seen him much except for a few times when I ran errands for my parents, who were regular customers.

I just slightly bowed my head to greet him, and the hardware store owner raised one hand and shyly returned the greeting. As I peered inside again, the hardware store owner approached me.

“What, do you have business at the real estate office?”

“Yes. But it seems they’re out.”

“It’s not that they’re out, it looks like they’re not open at all.”

I glanced at my watch; it was past 11 AM. I replied that I understood and turned to go to my building.

Ever since I suddenly saw ‘Hyung’ in the game yesterday, I needed Duseon’s help. I needed someone’s control, and I desperately needed a cornerstone to hold me.

The dust that had settled on the floor was blown away by the wind, clouding my mind. If I stayed still, the dust would accumulate again, but it wouldn’t disappear. I wanted to find a new sanctuary, not a dusty room. However, it was uncertain whether my heart would actually move.

“Hey, building owner.”

Just then, Namgung Bin waved and approached, greeting me. In his free hand, he held two lattes with plenty of whipped cream, in a takeout bag.

The 6th floor was still undergoing interior work, so the construction noise was quite loud. Because of that, I often went out in the afternoon. Well, considering that, it was difficult to complain about the inconvenience.

“What, tenant.”

“Want one?”

“No thanks.”

“I bought two to give to Duseon-ssi, but why isn’t he open today?”

“How should I know?”

“Should I call him?”

I wondered how he knew Duseon’s personal contact number, and saw him pressing the numbers on the phone number written on the corner of the opposite sign.

Even though we had a lease agreement, Duseon wasn’t just mine. I couldn’t stop him from calling. Thinking he wouldn’t answer anyway, I turned to go into the building, but I heard Bin’s voice from behind, “Hello?”

“Duseon-ssi, why aren’t you opening the real estate office today? Ah… okay. No, it’s nothing….”

As I approached, Bin covered the receiver part of his phone with his hand and moved a little further away.

“Don’t hang up, let me talk to him too.”

Bin completely ignored my request as I extended my hand and continued to talk to Duseon in a sympathetic tone. Just as he was about to hang up saying, “Oh, then you should rest, see you tomorrow,” I quickly snatched him.

“Hyung! …What, you hung up.”

Annoyance welled up, and Bin stared at me expressionlessly. Then he took one of the lattes he had, put a straw in it, took a sip, and asked back, “Hyung?”

“Why is Duseon-ssi ‘Hyung’? Didn’t you call him Yudu-ssi?”

“Mind your own business.”

“I can’t. We’re neighbors.”

It was absurd. Seeing my displeased expression, Bin took another sip of coffee.

“You know, with lattes, neighbors who get to know each other become like family.”

“Stop messing around and finish the construction quickly.”

“What does interior construction have to do with Duseon-ssi?”

I hated seeing his mouth slurping so annoyingly, so I forcibly pulled the straw from his lips and threw it on the floor.

“You call us neighbors? Even so, you’re just a stranger.”

“…Me? You don’t know anything.”

Bin chuckled and shook his head. Then he took out a spare straw he had brought in the takeout bag and put it back in the latte.

“You know, people should always have spares like this, just in case. Right? Just in case.”

As he slurped, he saw my hand lift slightly and stepped back. Although he said that, the straw he was holding was the last one, so he was being careful. Bin, perhaps embarrassed, just shrugged and slipped into the building.

I took out my phone again and touched Duseon’s contact. Then I tried to call, but my pride wouldn’t allow it. Even in this kind of relationship, I wouldn’t bend my pride. This is why finding an ordinary partner was difficult. I thought my life was fundamentally flawed.

While others functioned well, like gears meshing with each other, I seemed unable to connect with others, like I never even started. No matter how much the other person tried, my heart wouldn’t move, and we couldn’t align.

I needed something that could turn me around, even if it was forced. I glared at Duseon’s number on the screen, getting angry. No, why does he answer that guy’s calls but not mine? Is it enough to just put a leash on me? He’s not acting like the owner.

“Should I just bite him?”

Perhaps I said that too loudly, because the owner who was rummaging through some tteokbokki nearby quickly went back inside his store.

I walked over to my car, which was parked like a trademark in front of Duseon’s real estate office. I opened the car door to get in, and saw cigarette butts dropped on the floor.

“Why the hell are people smoking here?”

I stomped on the cigarette butts on the floor again with my foot and impatiently opened the driver’s side door. The black car started smoothly.

Next to the place where only the loud roar of the car’s exhaust remained, the hardware store was in full operation. The hardware store owner came out again to arrange items outside. Just then, an elderly gentleman approached him, hands clasped behind his back.

“Please fix this. It doesn’t make any sound.”

What he handed over was a karaoke microphone. At this point, I wondered if I should change the sign from hardware store to electronics repair shop. When I turned it on, it didn’t work, so I asked if the batteries were dead. The grandfather said it was the same even after changing them.

“Let me see.”

Just in case, I opened the battery compartment. As expected, when I inserted the batteries with the + and – directions reversed, the microphone lit up with a loud sound.

“You inserted the batteries incorrectly.”

“The letters are small, how can I see them?”

It wasn’t even worth charging for repairs. I just told him to go home carefully, but the grandfather pointed to a box on the floor nearby.

“Isn’t that from here?”

Come to think of it, it looked similar to the box I saw a few days ago. It was a delivery box, so there was nothing special about it. I carefully picked up the box. The recipient was clearly stated as the adjacent real estate office.

“Did he not take it in then?”

Thinking he might lose it, I decided to give it to him when he came, so I took it inside the hardware store.

Someone was hammering inside my head. My brain felt like it was undergoing tectonic shifts, splitting into pieces. As I barely managed to open my eyes, I saw the bathroom threshold in front of me.

I had suffered from a hangover all night. I would throw up and then feel nauseous again. The last thing I remembered was drinking sugar water because I didn’t have honey.

“I’m… dying…”

Groaning, I turned over from my prone position, and felt something sticky on my palm. I looked and saw… sand.

‘Sand?’

I managed to prop myself up halfway and touched the area, and then… Oh my god. A whole bag of sugar was scattered on the floor. It seemed I had ripped the bag open to make sugar water yesterday and dropped it. Moreover, since I had stepped on it and walked around, it was spread all over the place up to where I was lying. It was understandable to mistake it for sand. Because it was brown sugar.

“Ha…”

I didn’t have the energy to clean it up, so I lay back down.

I wish I had a house elf. How nice would it be if a house elf cleaned all this up and made me bean sprout soup to soothe my stomach? It wasn’t the time to laugh, but I let out a silly chuckle. Then, remembering yesterday’s events, tears started to well up again.

“Ah… I shouldn’t cry. If I cry, Santa Claus, no, my head will hurt even more…”

This is the downside of rote learning. If you ask any random Korean person why they shouldn’t cry, 99% will instinctively say that. Even my mother, who never gave me presents on Christmas, might say that.

Yes, it was easier to think that the Relax skill wasn’t mine in the first place. But… how could I have been so foolishly scammed?

Bin called earlier, and I found my phone lying on the floor. I crawled like I was in a military training exercise to pick it up and hang up. Wondering if there were any calls from customers, I held my phone again and looked at it.

There were missed calls, most of them from Jun. What could he have had so much to say since morning? I was annoyed, but I didn’t have the strength to question it now.

I put my phone down somewhere on the floor where there wasn’t any sugar and lay down like a corpse again. Drinking straight soju had ruined my stomach. I wondered if it would have been better if it was the yak-bo-moon-ju or deodeok-ju that Jun brought, maybe I should ask for some next time we meet, to drink when I’m this upset…

Bang bang bang—!

This wasn’t a sound in my head.

Bang bang bang—! Ding dong—. Ding dong—.

As the sound of knocking on the door entered my ear canal, it felt like it struck my brain. I didn’t know who it was, but I really wanted to kill them. I’m enduring it now due to my hangover, but on a day when my condition improves, I’ll…

Ding dong—. Bang bang—!

“Dajeong! I know you didn’t come to work today!”

It was him, as expected.

In this situation, how much would be considered justifiable homicide? Would it be recognized as self-defense? If I said he shook my brain, and that’s why I acted impulsively, would that work? I crawled on all fours.

Because of the continuous banging, I couldn’t ignore it any longer. If I listened a little longer, I felt like I would want to tear my own head off. Crawling on all fours, I finally reached the front door and punched the door that was banging loudly, bang!* The loud knocking stopped abruptly.

“Dajeong.”

Rovan was calling me kindly, unlike before. I wanted to argue why he left the name Yuduseon aside and called me Dajeong, but I didn’t have the energy now.

“……come here, please.”

“Am I really leaving? I brought information about the person who scammed me yesterday?”

Right, that’s right. I was scammed out of 3 million won yesterday.

This wasn’t the time to be crawling on the floor like an animal. With a headache like someone was hitting my head with a hammer, I couldn’t get up from my prone position. I barely reached out and pressed the door lock release button. This was the best I could do.

Ttiriric—.

With the unlocking sound, the door opened, and I saw Rovan’s bare feet and slippers on the floor. I thought it would be cool if my face touched the marble of the entryway as my body collapsed. But what touched my face wasn’t the cool floor, but a chest where I could hear my heart pounding.

“Just hugging you?”

Rovan hugged me, but he dragged me towards the living room sofa, my legs barely touching the floor. As I was dragged, the sugar scattered on the floor now stretched all the way to the living room floor.

“Ah, what is this on your soles? Is it sand? Did you eat dirt?”

Rovan, who was brushing the sand off his soles with his hand, clicked his tongue when he saw the kitchen floor, the cause of it. He let out a hollow laugh, knowing without seeing what kind of struggle had made the sugar that way all night.

The cushion usually placed on the sofa touched the back of my head. As the cushion lifted my head a bit, my headache seemed to ease.

“Ugh……, ugh.”

“I got it.”

Rovan, who understood me perfectly, took out a cordless vacuum cleaner and started cleaning the sugar off the floor. Then, after saying he was going out for a bit, the surroundings became quiet.

When I briefly fell asleep and woke up, there was the spicy smell of bean sprout soup. The bean sprout soup my mom made was a sure cure for hangovers. It was really nice being with Mom…

“Get up, that’s enough.”

When I opened my eyes to a gruff male voice, it wasn’t the ceiling of my house in the countryside, but my new apartment. I wondered if the smell was also a dream, but the smell of bean sprout soup was wafting through the entire kitchen.

“Eat this first, then go wash your face and sit down.”

At first, I wondered who it was? But as his face became clearer, the blue tracksuit stood out, and I recognized him instantly.

Rovan handed me a hangover relief pill and a drink. I memorized the names of both medications, thinking I should buy them in advance next time. Then, I slowly got up and checked my condition. Indeed, after sleeping again, my head felt much clearer.

I went to the bathroom, washed my face, and looked at my reflection in the mirror.

“……Huh?”

There was a lump on my forehead. At first, I thought the mirror was cheap and distorted the image, but when I touched it directly, something was bulging on my forehead. Like in a cartoon.

I wiped the water off my face with a towel and came out. Since there was no separate dining table, I saw Rovan carrying the bowl of bean sprout soup to the coffee table.

“Sit.”

Touching the lump on my forehead, I sat next to him.

“You don’t have much side dishes at home, do you? Do you mostly order delivery?”

“Yeah. It’s a hassle to throw food away when I live alone. What about the kimchi? We don’t have kimchi at my place.”

“I brought it from home.”

Steam rose from the bean sprout soup, which looked spicy just by looking at the red pepper powder. I picked up the slightly warm bowl and just slurped the broth, and it felt like a highway opened from my esophagus to my stomach, clearing me out refreshingly.

“Kyah— Rovan, you should open a hangover soup restaurant instead of selling adult toys. It’s as good as my mom’s.”

“It can’t be helped. My family has been selling jokbal for generations, so I can make bean sprout soup with my eyes closed.”

“Jokbal place, and why bean sprout soup?”

“It’s served as a basic side dish. Thanks to me, customers who would drink one bottle of soju ended up drinking two. If you think about it, it’s all thanks to me that they became regulars, but my mom scolds me for not cooking the jokbal well. ……But, you ask questions and then don’t listen?”

Regardless of what Rovan said, I finished the entire bowl of bean sprout soup and stood up. Then I went to the pot and started serving myself another bowl.

“Mix rice in it too.”

“My stomach hasn’t quite settled yet. I’ll calm it down with the broth first. But, you really cooked it well.”

Sitting back down at the coffee table, I ate it with a spoon this time, nodding and saying it was delicious again. Rovan just rested his chin on his hand and watched me.

“If you like it that much, how about me?”

“Don’t say weird things.”

“What’s weird? We kissed in the game. Why don’t you like it?”

“Yeah, I don’t like it.”

“Shut Up is okay, but I’m not? Who is Shut Up? Rumor has it he’s a really weak guy.”

In the meantime, my stomach had mostly settled, and I mixed rice into the soup, eating his words along with it. I focused only on eating without answering, but he kept asking about Shut Up, so I gave a perfunctory answer out of annoyance.

“No, he looks exactly the same.”

“Like me?”

And why was the kimchi so well-mixed, making me so impressed. I put a mouthful of rice in my mouth and nodded vaguely. As my hand kept reaching for the kimchi, Rovan said it was also freshly made by himself and asked about Shut Up again.

“You must actually meet him. Then, is he perhaps…?”

“Who?”

“The one you call ‘Jjuni’ on your phone.”

The bean sprouts were long, and as I picked up a few strands with my chopsticks to put them in my mouth, my strength gave out, and they fell back into the soup with a hoodook. And I hadn’t realized it while eating, but I had just confessed to having a close relationship with Shut Up in real life. Come to think of it, Rovan was quite sharp.

“……Did you answer the phone?”

“I answered because it was so noisy. He asked what you were doing. So I said you were passed out drunk.”

“And? Did he say much……, nothing?”

“I said plenty. I told him Yuduseon needs to sleep, so don’t call. So he asked me what our relationship was. So I said we see each other day and night—”

“Hey! Why would you say that to him! You could have just said we’re neighbors!”

Some rice grains flew out of my mouth. One of them splattered on Rovan’s clothes, but he picked it off and put it back into my mouth as I was sputtering.

“Why are you so angry? Are you two dating? No way, is Jjuni Shut Up?”

“We’re not dating, and Jjuni isn’t Shut Up.”

“No? I thought Dajeong was like that because you two had such a close Link in the game. Remember? In that cabin, you two were just…”

“Stop it while I’m eating. It’s not like that.”

Rovan chuckled, saying we’d have to see if it was like that or not. Seeing his annoying smile, I should have put down my spoon and stopped eating, but my appetite didn’t seem to have any such intention.

As I mixed more rice and the broth disappeared, Rovan stood up, scooped some broth into a small bowl, and poured it for me. He poured water into a cup and placed it next to me, telling me to eat slowly.

The time was nearing 2 PM. My hangover was gradually subsiding, and my headache seemed to be disappearing, but the upsetting events of yesterday came back to mind, and my migraine was getting heavier.

I worried that something in my brain might break, and I’d become an idiot for a moment. Seeing that I had almost finished my meal, Rovan handed me his phone.

“Look. It’s that goddess’s SNS from yesterday.”

“It’s just a black screen, what am I supposed to see?”

“Under the comment ‘If you need anything else besides Relax, let me know. I’ll get it for you, oppa,’ the goddess replied with a thank you. This guy must be Kang Chungman!”

Although the content made me suspicious, the name seemed far from Kang Chungman. ‘Candy Boy’? Rovan, who had moved closer, was so close to me that our cheeks were almost touching. Instinctively, I pulled my face away to the opposite side he was leaning towards.

Rovan tapped the phone screen I was holding with his index finger and went into Candy Boy’s SNS. There wasn’t much on his posts.

“It’s circumstantial, but it’s worth digging into.”

“How?”

“If you’re a man, you have to send a message you can’t ignore.”

Rovan wrote, ‘Pheromone perfume that seduces women, aphrodisiac that enlarges men’s private parts, device to improve compatibility in bed, Aneros, 50 percent special sale for registered members.’ He then added the shopping mall address and customer service number and sent a DM.

‘Aneros…….’

I had forgotten. Rovan told me to buy it, and I said I’d buy one, but if it’s listed as bait, is it something many men would like?

“If even one of these doesn’t hook them, they’re not a man.”

“If even one of these hooks them, aren’t they a sucker?”

“This guy is a sucker, so he’ll be hooked.”

If Kang Chungman registered as a member and I could get his real number, I planned to contact him. If he ordered something and I could find out his address, that would be even better.

“Haaa……. I won’t let this go.”

Rovan stood by the kitchen sink and grabbed a scrub pad to do the dishes. It wasn’t that he was being generous by doing the dishes, but it seemed like an instinct. Cooking soup, preparing rice, and washing dishes looked as natural as flowing water.

He felt like a guest, yet not like a guest. Before I knew it, Rovan finished washing the dishes and approached me, wiping the water off his hands.

Ding dong—.

“Huh?”

At that moment, the doorbell rang, and I looked towards the front door. It was a weekday afternoon, and there was no one expected to visit at this hour. I thought maybe it was someone coming to deliver good news, so I decided to ignore it.

Ding dong—.

But the doorbell rang again. Wondering what it was, I looked at the intercom screen and froze for a moment.

“……Ah, no. Why is he here.”

“Is this Jjuni?”

Rovan, who had approached me, asked again as he looked at the screen together.

How did Jjuni get to my house? I looked at Rovan with a questioning gaze. He said he had told him to come, and that he had arrived quickly, and approached the front door instead of me, the owner.

Realizing the situation a step too late, I tried to grab Rovan, but it was already too late. He pressed the front door lock and opened the door. I stood there awkwardly, frozen.

As Jun took a step into the open doorway, my thoughts stopped as if time had frozen. Now, I felt like, ‘Whatever happens, happens.’ Still, I didn’t let go of the last thread of hope. That nothing would happen…

Jun took off his shoes without a word and placed something down near the entrance. Then, passing Rovan, who was standing by the door, he walked straight towards me. With slow, long strides, he stood in front of me in just a few steps.

Looking up, I saw Jun nod towards Rovan behind him.

“What is it?”

This wasn’t like being caught cheating. I needed to clear my dazed mind. I had to be clear-headed.

“Mmm. This is Rovan, my neighbor.”

At my introduction, Rovan approached. He then stood between us and extended his hand towards Jun.

“Nice to meet you.”

Even though Rovan offered a handshake, Jun just stared at his hand, completely ignoring Rovan as if he didn’t exist. Jun ignored Rovan’s outstretched hand and came close to me again.

I saw Jun raise his hand. Startled by the sudden physical contact, I flinched, but his cool fingers poked somewhere on my forehead.

“Ouch!”

“What happened here too?”

He poked the lump on my forehead precisely and asked. I hid it, fearing I’d be ignored even more if I told the truth.

“I must have bumped into something while half-asleep.”

At my answer, Jun glanced around my house. Seeing nowhere I could have hit my head, he looked down at me with suspicious eyes.

“Why didn’t you answer my call?”

“I didn’t have the presence of mind to answer.”

“How much did you drink to be like this? You still smell of alcohol.”

I kept my mouth shut, afraid I’d smell of alcohol if I opened it. Seemingly displeased with my silent standing, Jun scolded me, asking how much I’d drunk to pass out, and if I was in my right mind. My head was still ringing from his scolding, perhaps because the hangover hadn’t fully cleared.

“Jjuni, stop nagging. I have a headache…”

As I touched one side of my head, Rovan, who had been listening to our conversation, butted in between us again.

“Don’t scold him too much. There’s a reason.”

“What reason?”

“That’s—”

I pushed Rovan hard to stop him from answering, cutting him off. Rovan, pushed by my sudden shove, stumbled into the bathroom. I told him to take care of business while he was in there and closed the bathroom door.

‘Wow…….’

It was a truly explosive situation. If I told him I was scammed out of Relax, my playing Blood Planet might be revealed. I had even lied to Jun, saying I didn’t know about such games, so if I said I was scammed while trading high-priced skills for cash, it would surely lead to a huge misunderstanding. Especially since he was the one who gave me the high-priced skills…

Furthermore, Rovan would proudly introduce himself as a ranker or something, calling himself Moment, and then it would only be a matter of time before I was exposed as Kind Touch. The fortunate thing was that Rovan was really doing something in the bathroom; I could hear the sound of water.

“What reason?”

Jun’s low voice came from behind me, where I had let out a sigh of relief. Turning to face him, I saw that he looked quite displeased.

“Ah, well… it’s nothing much.”

“Why are you telling him and not me?”

“I have my privacy too, do I have to tell you everything? You said I was the one playing the master role.”

As I counter-attacked, claiming the role of master, Jun hesitated for a moment. He looked like he realized he was overstepping if he asked any more. He sighed, calming his anger.

“Why are you still standing? Let’s sit and talk.”

“S-shall we?”

Just then, Rovan came out of the bathroom and spoke casually to us, who were still standing, “Let’s do that,” and I gestured to the sofa for Jun.

Our sofa was a three-seater, but it was just right for two adults. I sat on the sofa first, and Jun sat next to me. Rovan, who obviously expected to sit on the floor, seemed to be provoked and tried hard to squeeze between us.

Jun, showing no intention of yielding, pushed Rovan with his shoulder, but Rovan, who was also well-built, didn’t back down. The damage was entirely on me, sitting at the end. In the end, I moved to sit on the floor.

They sat close to each end, looking down at me. It felt like an interrogation. Jun, tapping his fingers on the sofa armrest, asked me, pointing at Rovan.

“Hyung. I don’t know what your personal matter is, but am I less reliable than him?”

“Why are you bringing me up? Maybe you’re not trustworthy.”

“Third party, stay out.”

“I’m not a third party. I’m an ally. Right?”

It was a ticking time bomb. Putting the two of them together caused constant sparks. It was a situation where an explosion could happen at any moment. Jun, annoyed by Rovan, looked at me and proposed.

“Hyung, choose.”

“Choose what?”

“Me, or him?”

What kind of situation was this? What was I supposed to choose?

Rovan also looked at Jun as if he didn’t understand what he was saying. Jun demanded that I choose one of them to leave the house immediately. At his words, Rovan also started to taunt me, saying he didn’t want to be with him.

“Yeah. Choose which one of us leaves.”

Honestly, I wished they would both leave…

But both were necessary figures in my real life. One was the person who would catch the scammer, and the other was the person who held my livelihood.

I looked at Jun, thinking he might leave if I ordered him to. He glared at me as if he would kill me. Cold sweat broke out, but it wasn’t from the hangover subsiding. As I wiped the sweat from my forehead, my head grew heavier. When it’s hard to answer, it’s best to avoid the situation.

“Ah……. My head.”

I lay down on the floor for no reason. I put my arm over my face and groaned as if I were dying. I couldn’t see their reactions with my eyes closed, but neither of them said anything and just left me be. I added more to my act with more groans.

“Ugh……. My head feels like it’s splitting. Both of you, stop it……. I need to rest.”

I was truly a genius.

As I pretended to be in pain, holding my head, I heard someone stand up. Ah, I thought they were leaving, and I was happy, but Rovan reached out to me.

“Then, go rest on the bed. Don’t just lie here.”

As soon as Rovan grabbed my arm, Jun approached, grabbed his wrist, and yanked it away forcefully.

“Don’t touch him.”

Then Jun tried to help me up like Rovan, but this time Rovan grabbed Jun’s wrist.

“Let go.”

“I don’t want to.”

Even as Jun swung his arm, Rovan desperately tried not to let go.

“This bastard, is he crazy?”

“Yeah, he is. Then, what about you? Are you even a man? Can’t even shake off a hand?”

Jun cursed in a low voice and swung his arm violently. As Rovan’s hand came free, he grabbed Jun’s opposite wrist and started to drag again.

“What are you trying to do?”

“Why? Try to shake me off again. You can’t, right?”

Hearing Jun’s curses and Rovan’s taunting voice, I could no longer lie there and watch. They were now resorting to physical force. Jun swung his arm roughly one more time, pulling Rovan’s hand away.

It would have been good if it ended there, but this time Jun grabbed Rovan by the collar and yanked him towards him. I couldn’t lie there any longer and jumped up.

“Hey, hey, hey! Stop! Stop!”

I had been a sick person lying down, about to die just moments ago, but now I was trying to talk them out of it.

“Junie, let go!”

Fortunately, Rovan hadn’t lost his composure even while his collar was being grabbed. However, their expressions looked as if they were about to throw punches at any moment.

“Let go!”

When I commanded Jun once more, he finally released his grip.

The blue tracksuit seemed to be made of a stretchy material, as the fabric was bunched up where Jun had grabbed it. I smoothed it out with my hands, telling them both to calm down. Jun and Rovan still looked at each other like enemy soldiers in a standoff.

A drastic measure was needed. I looked at them alternately and urged them sternly.

“Then, only one of you will stay to clean my house, and the one who doesn’t will leave.”

I added that condition with my own selfish intentions, thinking I might as well send both of them away. The house was already a mess, with sugar granules scattered on the floor. I wanted to clear the air in the house just as I would ventilate it.

For a moment, Rovan scowled at the mention of cleaning.

“I hate cleaning…”

He really seemed to dislike it, as Rovan declared he was leaving and walked towards the entrance without hesitation. As he left, I told him I enjoyed the bean sprout soup, and he said he’d bring kimchi again next time before putting on his shoes and leaving.

Ttiriric—.

Now, only the two of us were left. I couldn’t tell if Jun had stayed to actually clean or out of spite. His expression hadn’t changed.

But one thing was certain. It wasn’t the expression of a victor. After Rovan left, I told Jun honestly.

“I only said that because I was worried you two would fight, so you don’t have to. I’ll do it.”

“It’s fine. Hyung must be tired, so rest.”

“I can do it later.”

“The floor is dirty. I’ll do it while I’m here.”

I tried to stop Jun, saying it was okay, but he threw his jacket on the sofa, rolled up his sleeves, and glared at me.

“By the way, you see that guy day and night, huh? Looks good, doesn’t it?”

I started to feel uncomfortable under his curt gaze. He was the one who had suddenly shown up, yet I didn’t know why I was hesitating.

“We just get along because we’re neighbors, that’s all.”

“…Ha, just neighbors? Am I less than ‘just neighbors’?”

“Why are you comparing….”

Jun, who had been looking at me, suddenly went to the entrance. He then picked up a plastic bag from in front of the door and handed it to me.

Surprised by Jun’s appearance, I didn’t know what he had brought, but as soon as I received it, I knew. When I opened the bag, it contained drinks and medicine good for hangovers. And a honey water drink, too.

“Thanks. I’ll keep it and drink it.”

“Next time, don’t drink like that. I was worried.”

“…You were worried about me?”

Jun’s brow furrowed slightly at my surprised expression. Why are you looking at me like that? Did I ask you to worry? Why are you doing something you don’t usually do?

But, come to think of it, he seemed to be worried about me as a slave, because I was his master. Right, we were playing a role-playing game.

“By the way, is this what you came to give me?”

“Yeah. And, Hyung.”

“Yes?”

Jun took another step closer and pressed his lips right next to my ear.

“I don’t like it when Hyung relies on someone else. Got it?”

His lips brushed lightly against my earlobe. Perhaps because it was mixed with a sigh, his hot breath seeped into my ear, making it sound even more suggestive.

“Honestly, I don’t really…”

“Simply put, if something like this happens, contact me first. That’s what we contracted for, isn’t it?”

“You mean I can call you anytime?”

“Whenever Hyung can handle it.”

I roughly understood what Jun meant. Just as he had called me to run errands, I was supposed to call Jun to ask him to do things. He seemed angry because I wasn’t asking him for errands.

It was difficult. I had never ordered anyone around before, so asking someone to do something felt burdensome, and I didn’t feel the need to do so. It felt like someone who had never owned a dog before had picked one up. How to house-train it, what food to feed it, how much to walk it.

‘What if the dog bites or growls?’

I looked around. Would it really be okay to ask Jun to do something? Although Rovan had cleaned up the sugar, he had done a sloppy job, and I could still feel sugar under my feet.

“Juna, for now, please vacuum.”

Jun chuckled at my command. Yes, it was absurd. He could have just refused.

But as soon as Jun heard the order, he started moving. I just sat on the sofa, watching the robot named Jun carry out the command. He went to get the cordless vacuum cleaner stored in the veranda, but then he saw the pile of laundry in the washing machine and started a load.

‘Hmm? He’s more useful than I thought?’

But it had been a close call earlier. If Jun had found out my true identity in the game, I would have been at his mercy in both reality and the game. Especially since we had already had sex in the game, it made me even more uneasy.

I expected Jun to complain while cleaning, but he was surprisingly calm as he moved. He looked so natural, like a roommate living in my house. Seeing him move, I felt I couldn’t just sit there, so I went into the bathroom and grabbed a cleaning brush. As I scrubbed the bathroom floor, a laugh escaped me at the unexpected deep cleaning.

“Hyung, why is there so much sugar on the floor?”

Looking out from my seat on the bathroom stool, Jun asked as he passed the spot where the sugar had spilled earlier. I loudly replied, “I spilled it trying to make sugar water,” and the bathroom echoed. Then I saw him shake his head slowly. I could imagine him tutting and muttering to himself about how pathetic it was.

Jun was cleaning the area more meticulously. I saw him take the doormat in front of the sink out to the veranda to shake it off. After scrubbing the floor with the brush, he was cleaning the showerhead and faucet when Jun called me from the door, “Hyung!”

“Yes?”

“Could you wet this for me?”

Did we have something like this in my house?

It was a mop that someone, either Sang-cheol or Hanwoo, had bought during a housewarming party long ago. They bought it at the mart near the apartment entrance, and it was a buy-one-get-one deal, so I kept one and someone else took the other. I had only roughly wiped the floor with old towels, and hadn’t thought of cleaning the whole thing with a mop.

I was truly a dirty and lazy person. But now, a house fairy had appeared. I wrung out the microfiber cloth and threw it to Jun. He snatched it with one hand and skillfully attached it to the mop.

“You look like you’ve done this before?”

“Don’t you need to do this much to live in such a big house?”

“Why? You could just hire an after-construction cleaning service.”

“It’s a hassle to have housekeepers come over. I also don’t like people touching my things.”

He must have been wearing socks earlier, but Jun was now barefoot. After finishing the bathroom cleaning, he straightened his back. His lower back ached from crouching so much.

This was due to lack of exercise. It was fortunate that I had walked around to show the house to guests; otherwise, my joints would have been cracking.

I dried my wet feet with a towel and came out to see the living room and kitchen. The windows were wide open, letting in a refreshing breeze. The kitchen floor, which had turned into a desert yesterday due to the sugar, was spotless, not a speck of dust in sight.

Looking around the empty living room, I searched for Jun. Turning my head towards the sound, I saw him tidying up around the bed with the vacuum cleaner. There was nothing hidden under the bed, so I had no qualms about him rummaging around.

“Junie, just do a rough job.”

But as Jun cleaned a corner of the bed, he stood up and came out holding something. It was a sock and a pair of underwear that had been shoved somewhere under the bed. They were covered in gray dust from how long they had been there.

“Is that Hyung’s underwear? You have unique taste. Do you wear thongs or something?”

“No. I don’t wear those…”

I didn’t add that I had bought some but never worn them.

What Jun was holding was one of the “Gae-gi” series I had bought because of the underwear thief incident. It wasn’t a thong, but it had an unusually small amount of fabric in the back. I had thought it was ordinary because it was leopard print, which I usually wore, but it kept getting stuck between my butt cheeks while I slept, so I had taken it off in my sleep. It must have gotten stuck somewhere in the headboard.

However, Jun took it to the bathroom. He turned on the sink water, lathered it with soap, and started washing it by hand.

“Ju, Junie. I’ll do that.”

I could only see his profile as my gaze was directed towards the sink, but I saw the corner of his lips slightly curl up at the sound of me calling him “Junie.” It was a situation where he should have been upset about being ordered around, but he looked as happy as a child playing house.

Indeed, the underwear with its scanty fabric in the back seemed difficult for Jun’s two hands to handle. Jun crumpled the underwear with one hand to rinse out the foam. After rinsing off the soap, he unfolded the underwear to show me, and I quickly stepped in and snatched it.

“Th-thanks.”

“Hyung, were the panties in that delivery box also… yours, right?”

As he turned to leave, his words felt like they had grabbed my back. I had never told him about the past, but he spoke as if he knew everything. The similar patterns were the cause.

My used underwear with semen on it.

If someone had bought new underwear and sent it, it could be one-sided, but the fact that it was underwear I had worn implied a lot. It meant the sender was someone deeply connected to me, or someone I had known for a long time. The latter was closer, but that was from the perspective of the pervert who sent it; I didn’t know the recipient.

“…Yes. I should find them and warn them not to do that.”

“Isn’t that what that guy wants?”

“To warn them?”

“No. For Hyung to be obsessed with that guy, to look for him.”

As I pondered, a wet sock was thrown. Moving to catch it, my thoughts about him were cut short.

Standing by the bathroom door, Jun approached me.

“Get out. I need to use the restroom.”

As I stepped back, the bathroom door slammed shut in front of me.

I took the wet underwear to the small room and turned on the dehumidifier, hanging them on the drying rack. I considered buying a dryer, but since I was only staying for a short while before moving, I didn’t want to increase my appliances.

♩♬♪—.

A melody signaled that the laundry was done. The apartment wasn’t well soundproofed; if I opened the veranda door, I could hear the washing machine from the upstairs neighbor. Once, I heard the laundry completion melody and went out, but it wasn’t ours. It seemed the upstairs neighbor used the same washing machine.

However, this time, the sound was coming from our washing machine. An hour had passed while I was cleaning, and the timing was perfect.

I took out the tangled laundry and brought it to the small room, dumping it on the floor. As I shook them out and started hanging them, Jun also came over and began hanging them with me.

“Go and rest. I’ll do it.”

“No. Let’s do it together.”

Since I lived alone, I didn’t have much laundry, so I finished hanging it quickly. Jun shook out the underwear, chuckling.

“Let’s respect your taste.”

“Who’s complaining?”

Jun looked at the various patterns with admiration, saying, “Hyung, you’re more wild than I thought. Is this the Animal Kingdom? What animal is this?”

“Is this a cheetah?”

“It’s a leopard.”

“This one is a leopard too?”

“That’s a jaguar. Hey, just hang them. Don’t ask.”

Jun hung the three animal-patterned underwear side-by-side and stood in front of them, stroking his chin. He was tilting his head, wondering about the difference, so I kindly explained.

“If it’s just dots like this, it’s a cheetah. If it has a black outline like this, it’s a leopard. If it has leopard-like spots with a dot in the middle, it’s a jaguar.”

“Hmm… Interesting. But if the three fought, who would win?”

“…Search it up.”

For some reason, Jun examined the animal patterns with an intrigued gaze. In reality, few people would choose underwear based on patterns like I did. Well, for someone who always wore black or neutral colors, these vibrant patterns must have seemed novel.

It was a small house, so there wasn’t much to clean, but I still felt like taking a shower after moving my body and breaking a light sweat. I had also sweated quite a bit from the hangover this morning.

“Rest. I’m going to take a shower.”

Jun straightened his rolled-up sleeves and sat on the sofa. Glancing at him, I went into the bathroom, took off my clothes, and wet my body.

‘Ah.’

Then, I suddenly remembered yesterday. While drinking, I had put the access device in a box and placed it in the utility room, saying, “If I play Blood Planet again, I’m a son of a bitch.”

If the access device had been under the living room table as usual, Jun would have asked if I was playing Blood Planet, right? Ugh, I shivered at the thought. I was already coming to my house as he pleased; I didn’t want to be caught in the game too.

After finishing my shower, I felt refreshed down to my core. It was still before dinner, so I could take a nap and then eat.

But, ah…

I hadn’t brought clothes to change into. And I couldn’t wear clothes that still had sweat on them. In the end, I figured, since we were both men, what was the big deal, and loosely covered my lower body with a towel. The small room was right next door, so I could dash in quickly.

Hearing the TV sound from beyond the bathroom door, it was obvious Jun was focused on the TV. There was a high chance I wouldn’t be noticed if I went out like this.

Click—.

I cautiously opened the bathroom door and stepped my wet feet onto the mat. I just needed to wipe them and go straight into the small room, but I subtly glanced forward and saw Jun looking at me with his laptop open.

Not flustered by his gaze, I slowly placed the rest of my feet on the mat, wiped them dry, and turned towards the small room. During that time, Jun closed his laptop screen.

Based on his appearance, I didn’t feel much discomfort, as I was different from Jun’s type. I just thought he was looking at me casually, seeing a smaller, thinner male body.

As I entered the small room and looked for clothes to change into, the towel slipped down. Well, since I was alone in this room, I didn’t think much of it and looked for clothes to change into while naked.

My parents’ house had an abundance of old t-shirts and shorts, but since I hadn’t brought them when I moved, clothes to wear at home were scarce. I decided I should bring some rags next time I went down, and picked out a t-shirt. Then, I started rummaging for underwear, wondering what to wear, when the door suddenly burst open.

“Hyung!”

“Hey! Why are you opening the door like that!”

“I was curious if you had any more panties.”

I, who was naked from the waist down like a teddy bear, pulled the t-shirt down as much as possible to cover my midsection. But before I could even cover myself, Jun seemed to have seen it all, his eyebrows rising slightly.

“You’re more… down there than I thought.”

“…Yeah. Okay, I get it, now get out.”

Anticipating what Jun was about to say, I quickly ushered him out of the room. Then, I locked the door and continued searching the drawers. Why is he so curious about my underwear, as if they’re that special? A man’s genitals are all the same.

I found a pair of underwear with a pattern that would represent my feelings. I put on a tiger-patterned pair and steeled myself. I put on plain gray sweatpants and left the room.

The clock on the living room wall showed 4:30. It was too early for dinner. I left the room and approached where Jun was sitting.

Jun was sitting on the sofa, flipping through a delivery food menu. His long fingers moved flexibly as he turned the pages, holding them between his fingers and flipping back and forth. It was evident he was contemplating what to eat.

My body felt heavy and drowsy after showering. I wanted to go straight to the bedroom and sleep, but I felt I should ask for permission from Jun, who was a guest.

“I’m sorry, but I’m going to take a nap. If you’re hungry, order something, or if you have urgent business, feel free to leave.”

“I’m not particularly hungry.”

Saying I understood, I went to the bedroom and buried my tired body in the bed. As the soft duvet touched my face, sleep came easily. It was a godsend that I hadn’t entered the bedroom with sugar-covered clothes yesterday.

It was rude to fall asleep while a guest was in the living room, but my body desperately needed rest. My usual limit was one bottle of soju, but I had drunk three, so it was natural to be bedridden. I was gradually falling into a deep sleep, my consciousness fading.

At the edge of my fading senses, one side of the bed seemed to lift slightly, and I felt someone stroking my back.

“…Uh?”

Stirring slightly, I turned over from my stomach. Annoyed by being touched while sleeping, I mumbled to Jun in my sleep to leave me alone so I could sleep.

However, Jun sat closer to me and looked down. Through my slightly open eyes, I saw Jun gazing at me intently. His bangs weren’t this long, but because he was leaning over, they seemed quite long. His darkened eyelids, shadowed, glistened slightly from his gaze.

“Aren’t you going to give me a reward?”

“Re… ward?”

I blinked and repeated his words.

A reward. A reward, yes. Coincidentally, Jun was sitting on my left, so I casually placed my left hand on his thigh. Then, as if telling him to do as he pleased, I simply closed my eyes and left it there carelessly.

But Jun flicked my hand off his thigh.

“Not this.”

I pulled my hand back, belatedly asking, “What?” If he didn’t like my left hand, was it my right? I turned to face Jun and offered my right hand.

“Here.”

“I don’t really like this.”

Fine, then don’t, I thought, lying down with a hint of annoyance. I ignored the piercing gaze from above.

The bed was cozy enough, and my body felt languid, perfect conditions for a nap. As I breathed evenly, my consciousness drifted further, and I sank deeper into sleep.

‘…If I buy him something delicious when he wakes up, that should be enough. That’s how I can compensate him.’

While I was making a private compromise in my dream, the bed jolted. It seemed Jun, who had only been sitting on the edge, had climbed onto the bed entirely. I tried hard not to pay attention, but as he sat on my waist, his weight made me frown.

“Hey… get… off. You’re heavy.”

“If the master doesn’t provide food, I have to find it myself.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the back of my t-shirt was roughly pulled up. I could no longer ignore the situation due to sleep. Even if I wanted to push him off, my hands wouldn’t bend backward, and I couldn’t easily turn over because Jun was sitting on me.

“What, what is this? Don’t. What are you doing?”

As if to soothe my flustered self, Jun lightly traced the center of my back with his finger. He applied pressure to his fingertips as if drawing a musical staff. Where his fingers passed, my skin began to itch from within. As I twisted my body slightly in resistance, Jun coaxed me in a languid voice.

“If you stay still, it’ll be over soon.”

Suddenly, something moist and warm touched the area along my spine.

Slurp.

Ah…!

Jun was kissing my back. When he licked and sucked my fingers, I could have dismissed it as a dog licking me, but the soft sensation on my back was unmistakably human.

No. I should not have brushed it off so lightly, even when he was licking my fingers.

“It tickles!”

Jun pressed down on my flailing hands from behind. Then, he pressed his lips firmly against various parts of my back, kissing and unkissing. With each smack of his lips, I flinched, and short, broken laughter and warm breath touched my back.

When his lips, which had been touching me intermittently, finally fell away, I felt relieved. But then, one spot was suddenly bitten fiercely.

“Ah! It hurts, hic…”

It stung so much that I thought he might have actually torn off a piece of my flesh. Even after Jun removed his mouth, the area around it felt numb. Though I couldn’t see it, I was sure a clear bite mark had been left.

“This is because Hyung did something wrong. Do you understand?”

I wanted to ask what I had done wrong, but I gave up, knowing a normal answer wouldn’t come. He slowly licked the stinging area with his tongue, as if applying medicine. The strange, ticklish sensation spread from my lower back throughout my entire body.

“Ugh, this is weird… Stop! Stop it!”

Jun leaned his upper body forward further and extended his tongue, licking all the way down my spine. As the sensation moved upwards, a shiver traveled to the top of my head.

When his tongue touched the nape of my neck, I instinctively tensed, my shoulders tightening. Fortunately, the intimacy seemed confined to my back, as his body didn’t press further onto my upper body. He then pressed his lips firmly against the base of my neck.

After his lips lingered for a moment, Jun lowered his face until it was close to my left cheek. In that position, my entire body was pinned down by him.

“Hyung, can you feel it?”

Because of the tickling on my back, I couldn’t notice any changes in Jun’s body.

What he bit was not about my body’s condition, but about his lower body pressed against my buttocks. Jun pressed his center against me again, as if to remind me of it. I thought my buttocks had moved when I resisted, but it was hard to do that now. I didn’t want to stimulate that area.

Jun rubbed his crotch against the space between my buttocks. If my pants were to come off now, the next situation would be exactly like in the game, and I felt dizzy. Even if it was only slightly hard.

“Junie. This compensation is enough, isn’t it? Get off now.”

Is it because he’s gay? He’s not exactly my ideal type, yet he’s licking my back and getting aroused. Is he someone who gets turned on just by skin contact?

“Hey! You’re not listening!”

“…I’ll listen.”

The body that had been restraining me suddenly loosened. The weight that had been pressing down on me disappeared, and my hands, which had been pressed white, regained their color. I flexed my fingers to help circulation.

Jun got off me and stood beside the bed. I glared at him with resentment, then looked away again when I saw the bulge in his pants.

“If what you want is more than this… I can’t handle it.”

“I… I can’t be with anyone but you, Hyung.”

“What can’t you be with? You were hanging out with that card thief just a few days ago.”

“I don’t get hard for guys like that.”

I laughed foolishly and pointed at his bulge with both hands, saying, “Ta-da!” It seemed like there would be no such surprise.

“Wow, congratulations. This is practically as good as being hard. Isn’t that enough? What’s the problem?”

“It’s not properly erect.”

“What? It’s this big! No way!”

“Want to see more closely?”

Jun started to undo his pants buckle. “No, it’s fine,” I said, stopping him. Jun obediently stopped what he was doing.

‘…I’m confused. So confused.’

My mind, which had been drifting towards sleep, was now wide awake, as if I’d just taken an ice-cold shower.

The spot he bit still ached, and the recent events kept replaying in my mind. I tried to rub the spot he bit, but it was in an awkward position and I couldn’t reach it.

Then, Jun, tilting his head slightly, watched me for a moment before quietly leaving the bedroom.

‘Still, he stopped when I told him to. That’s a relief.’

Is it a blessing in disguise that I’m the master in our contract? Or is it the opposite? I shouldn’t have gotten involved with him in the first place.

Thinking about where it all started, I remembered how I first called him to the real estate office, claiming he scratched my car, and then offered to be his errand boy.

“I’m the culprit.”

And what about in the game? If I hadn’t picked up Shut Up’s Elsumban, we wouldn’t have gotten involved. I ignored the warning that I should never get involved and crossed the police line.

“Sigh…”

Come to think of it, in the past, his obsession intensified after I bought him sexy underwear to provoke him, when he was just a panty thief.

Everything I did seemed to escalate things. Thinking about my involvement with Rovan, I should have just stayed out of it after watching the parking dispute back then.

As past events flashed through my mind like a film, it seemed I hadn’t developed alcoholic dementia yet. I remembered the mistakes particularly clearly.

Click.

As I was thinking, the bathroom door opened, and I quickly lay down, pulling the blanket over my head.

I hadn’t sorted out my thoughts yet, and I didn’t know how to act around Jun. I wondered if I should be angry, but then I remembered hearing about his parents’ recent passing and the image of him standing sadly, calling someone “Hyung,” and I couldn’t bring myself to be harsh.

Moreover, he had cleaned the house thoroughly today. Would it be too mean to complain about him kissing my back? No, wasn’t I being too naive? What if he, being gay, had truly harbored ill intentions and attacked me—

“Hyung.”

I was supposed to be pretending to sleep, but hearing his voice during my thoughts made me jump. He must have noticed my body stiffen because the blanket was thin.

“I’m leaving now. I wanted to have dinner together, but something came up.”

It was too embarrassing to answer aloud, so I just stuck my hand out from under the blanket and waved it slightly. Then, as I tried to pull my hand back under the covers, he caught it.

“See me off. You’re not asleep.”

“Huh? Uh…”

Pretending to sleep seemed impossible now, so I got up obediently.

As we went to the entrance, Jun started putting on his shoes. Even though we weren’t making eye contact, I felt awkward and just stared at the shoe rack.

“I’m leaving.”

“…Yeah, bye.”

As Jun said goodbye and stepped out the door, I reached out to close the entrance door.

But his body slipped through my outstretched arm. Our cheeks touched, and our bodies pressed together. Jun wrapped his arms around me as if I were a teddy bear. It was just our body heat touching, but it felt as cozy and stable as the bed.

It was a hug filled with warmth rather than any ulterior motive. The lonely feelings of almost dying alone that morning, the moments of my self-esteem plummeting after being scammed—it all felt like sinking into soft down. Perhaps because he was big, it felt good to be held.

Slowly, I raised my hand and gently stroked the back of Jun’s head. It was a purely reflexive action, but it conveyed a bond stronger than words.

Soon, Jun carefully pulled away, and we finally made eye contact. I expected to meet the gaze of a fierce predator, but instead, I saw a docile dog blinking its eyes.

“Go safely, and see you tomorrow.”

“You too, sleep well. Don’t call anyone else besides me.”

“Okay.”

I watched Jun open the door and leave. His dark silhouette disappeared from the entrance along with the shadow.

Leaving the silent entrance, I went to the bathroom and took off my t-shirt. I looked in the mirror at the spot Jun had bitten, and indeed, clear bite marks remained. It was red and swollen, and I wondered if it would bruise. There were also red marks all over, like mosquito bites. Thinking that all of them were from his lips kissing and smacking, my face felt hot.

Earlier, I had wanted to take a nap while looking at the refreshed state of my home, but now, Jun’s intimacy had completely chased away my sleepiness.

And even after Jun disappeared from my sight, I thought I would forget about it, but even that evening, the events of the day, the hug at the entrance, kept coming back to me.

Just like the kiss marks left on my back, it felt like Jun had left his mark all over my mind.

[Then come over to Duwon’s place.]

“Okay. I’ll call you when I’m leaving.”

I had planned to have dinner with Duseon today, but a friend was enlisting, so we were gathering. I hadn’t realized it was today until Duseon called while I was washing my hands at his house.

The friend who was enlisting was a guild member named ‘Ipdae.’ His name was Lee Duwon. He was a long-time friend of Sangjung, who was active as ‘Human.’

When I arrived at Duwon’s house, I saw many familiar faces. As I sat down, Sangjung offered me a drink, but I refused. I just picked at the food that had been prepared when Duwon looked at me.

“Hey, when are you guys enlisting?”

Duwon looked back and forth between Sangjung and me. Unlike Sangjung, who seemed to think they’d enlist when the time came, I said I’d go as soon as possible. I didn’t want to train under someone like you.

“Huh? Then what happens to Dajeong Hyung? If the three of us go to the military.”

I had planned to enlist either this year or early next year, but I suddenly realized that if three out of the four guild members enlisted, Dajeong would be left alone. And currently, we were at war with the guys from . That meant they intended to eliminate Dajeong.

“We can just have him withdraw before we enlist.”

“Jun-ah, you must really like Dajeong Hyung, huh? Meet him. You never know.”

Sangjung acted like he knew Dajeong well after hunting with him once. He said he might be the type you’d like. The remark that he felt similar to the Hyung I used to live with bothered me.

My friends knew I was gay. The reason I, the only gay person here, could get along naturally with my friends was partly because we’d known each other since childhood, but also because they were friends who could safely introduce me to girlfriends. Since we’d never like the same woman, our friendship was bound to be strong.

And one more thing.

“Jun-ah, I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Look into this for me. Someone is sending weird DMs to my girlfriend. See if it’s someone from the same school.”

I lightly nodded after looking at the SNS ID sent to my phone. It wasn’t a difficult request. The reason such requests were natural was that my friends knew what I did.

I was a hacker.

In high school, I had won the Code Gate Junior International Hacking Defense Competition held in Korea, and my advancement to the finals was confirmed. I was preparing for the world competition, and after that, I planned to enroll at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in the United States.

My life was smooth, like a well-paved road.

Until that incident.

With my study abroad confirmed and only high school graduation remaining, my parents suddenly died in an accident. Losing my parents, who I thought would always be my strong support, in an instant, made life meaningless.

The cause of the accident was also unfair. A truck driver had driven under the influence and crossed the center line. My parents died at the scene, and the truck driver died after two days in the ICU.

I wanted to blame someone, but the truck driver was already dead. Since the perpetrator was dead, there was no longer any legal recourse as the right to prosecute had expired. The advice from those around me that I could receive compensation through a civil lawsuit offered no comfort.

With no one to confide in, I decided to seek revenge on the deceased truck driver’s surviving family. I vowed to crush them using every means at my disposal.

When I went to a dilapidated container, a man who seemed a few years older than me came out. Before I could even introduce myself, he knelt before me and bowed his head.

The surviving son of the deceased truck driver.

Hyung.

He must have secretly come to my parents’ funeral. That’s why he knew my face. I wanted to stomp on his head and crush it right then and there.

However, I didn’t.

It wasn’t because of his tears falling onto my hand. It wasn’t because of his dilapidated house and shabby appearance. It wasn’t because of his sincere tone. It was simply like chasing an empty plastic bag blowing in the wind; I didn’t want to do anything.

I thought what I was chasing had some substance, but it was just a rustling black plastic bag. Something that was meaningless whether torn, crumpled, or thrown away.

In the end, I turned and walked away, leaving him kneeling. I didn’t know the way back home from there, but as I walked aimlessly, I found a familiar path, the direction of my home.

I didn’t think he was following me. I walked, and when I got tired, I sat on a staircase somewhere and rested, then walked again. As I walked, the bright surroundings grew dark, and then began to brighten again.

The damp breath from the morning air quickly dried up as I entered the house. This house, devoid of any life, pulled me into a deep darkness like a sinkhole.

I couldn’t even turn my head towards the right-hand door. I didn’t have the courage to sort through my parents’ belongings. Needing a place to lie down, I collapsed on the living room sofa. I thought I had closed the door when I came in, but just before I fell asleep, I heard the sound of the door lock.

‘I’m home.’

I fell asleep, thinking that to myself.

After how long did I sleep? The blanket on top of me was removed.

“Aren’t you eating?”

The blinds were clearly drawn, but someone had pulled them up completely. Sunlight shot directly into my eyes, forcing me to squint. Standing against the light, someone was asking me a question. After a moment, as my eyes adjusted to the light, his figure became clear.

The truck driver’s son.

He stood there, looking at me, as if he were in his own home.

“You haven’t eaten anything for two days, it seems…”

“Get lost.”

There was a prisoner in my house whom I hadn’t captured. And a prisoner who had persistently followed the path I had taken. As he spoke, I think I just ignored him, saying things like “Shut up” and “Get lost.” My voice was hoarse from not even drinking water. His voice grew louder, but my ears were becoming numb.

Was I going to sink like this? Then I would feel at peace. He blocked that train of thought. My neck was grabbed firmly, and I was pulled out of the water.

“Eat!!! Now!!”

My numb ears gradually regained their hearing with his shout. He pulled my blinking face closer and shouted louder.

“Get up!! I can’t stand seeing you lying down anymore, so wash up right now!”

He was clearly smaller than me. When he knelt before me, bowing his head so low it almost touched the floor, I thought he could fit into a small bundle.

Yet, he easily dragged me towards the bathroom. I entered like a paper doll, led by him, and he stripped off the clothes I had been wearing for days. I didn’t even feel ashamed about having my clothes taken off by someone else.

As he pushed me towards the sink and slapped my back to make me wash my face, a tone of annoyance escaped me. Hearing an emotional word from my lethargic self, he laughed so loud that it echoed in the bathroom.

“You’re dying, but you’re wincing from one slap? Wash your face. I’ll run you a bath.”

Although I wasn’t pleased, once my hands got wet, I automatically washed them. As I washed my face and shaved, I thought deeply and realized his tone had changed. The tone that had been pleading and persuading had become commanding.

But, should I say it was more comfortable? After my parents’ accident, I just blinked like a cursor on a black screen, doing nothing. Until someone entered a command.

But now, he was entering a command for me. I just had to move as he told me to. Moving without sadness or joy, without any emotion, was somewhat comfortable. It’s fine to call it escapism. Still, I was living.

Living with him like that, I gradually regained my vitality and often joked with friends. Perhaps because I wasn’t someone who was bright from the start, my friends didn’t notice my change.

Around that time, I slowly began to rely on Hyung like family.

No. He became my subject, not my family.

Hyung had said something once. He said he couldn’t just leave me sitting alone at the funeral. He promised he would take care of me. Hyung hugged me, took care of me, and scolded me without hesitation, like a younger brother.

“Juna, you are not alone.”

Having no siblings, I naturally followed him and relied on him. But, I wish it had stopped there. Another feeling began to sprout towards Hyung.

I had never thought about wanting attention, whether from the opposite sex or the same sex, but with this Hyung, I wanted his attention and wanted him to become obsessed with me.

It must have been from then on that I masturbated while thinking of Hyung. Like a hand gripping its own, I wished Hyung would control me more strongly. However, Hyung only saw me as a younger brother.

“Hyung. Stay by my side, always.”

I remember Hyung’s smile, which was faint. I thought that smile meant affirmation. That he would, and that he would continue to be with me like he had for the past year.

But, did Hyung know?

That my heart was no longer as transparent as before.

The hugs, which had been habitual, gradually decreased, and the days of waking up in the same bed after watching TV disappeared. Hyung’s meddling, where he would barge into the bathroom to give me a back rub like brothers do, turned cold, and he didn’t even pat my butt while calling me Junie anymore.

Hyung no longer touched me.

“…Hyung?”

Then one day, Hyung disappeared without a trace. He had clearly said goodnight and slept in my room, but his bedroom was neatly tidied when I went to see it in the morning.

On the bed was a note with a short message. Without even a word of “take care,” it was just a single sentence asking me to forget him. I felt betrayed. It hurt my pride that he had been by my side merely out of pity.

For a while, I searched for Hyung like crazy. I tried to find out his personal information and trace his whereabouts, but nothing came up. His last registered address was the container where I first met him. Of course, there was nothing there. It was as if someone was telling me that the person I met was a fiction that never existed in the first place.

On the other hand, I thought that the prisoner confined in my house had become free, and in that sense, it was a happy ending in its own way.

So, to give Hyung freedom, I decided to forget everything. I thought it was for the best for Hyung, and the last thing I could do for him.

Perhaps because my emotions had dulled from parting with my parents, I accepted parting with Hyung naturally. After that, I met new people and lived as usual.

But, was it because of my monotonous life?

At some point, I gradually lost my ability to get an erection. The hospital prescribed medication for psychogenic erectile dysfunction, but I stopped taking it after a few doses. It didn’t solve the problem.

My life felt empty, like I was at a dead end. Just as another emptiness began to engulf my life, I met him.

‘Yuduseon.’

They say there are no coincidences in the world. Just like how I met Hyung.

While playing Blood Planet as usual, I got entangled with a strange newbie Guide. He boldly demanded to be my Partner in exchange for returning my ring, and we automatically became Partners with a game-first matching rate of 91 percent.

After revealing my personal information in the game, I also tried to track Kind Touch’s number. Even with just a phone number, by hacking the SS7 (Signaling System 7) mobile network, I could track their location, eavesdrop on calls, and view messages exchanged.

I only looked out of curiosity because I didn’t want to just reveal my own information, but it was him. Yuduseon. It was hard not to recognize him since his in-game voice was exactly the same as his real voice. I almost blurted out, “Hey, you’re the real estate guy, aren’t you?” but stopped myself. His reactions were becoming increasingly amusing.

I looked at the darkened real estate office and then at the sofa area. I remembered his trembling hands as he wrote down my number when I handed it to him before, asking him to look it up. He was so cute.

The number Duseon exchanged with me in the game was his main number. He used a dual number when contacting me, his building owner. I also received real estate calls on my dual number.

At first, I just watched him because it was fun and cute, but after that day, my feelings towards him changed slightly. The Link I had with Duseon in the game was on a different level compared to when I was with others. I wanted to maintain that kind of relationship, and I hid the fact that I knew his identity, fearing he might run away.

In reality, except for the time Duseon told me not to litter when we first met, he didn’t show any signs of trying to control me. Even when I provoked him with errands, he remained the same. That was a bit disappointing, but it was different in the game.

In the game, I liked that he cursed at me and offered a reasonable amount of resistance. I wanted Duseon to reveal his true colors and command me. He knew my home address, and I had even threatened him playfully by looking him up with his number, so he couldn’t possibly not know I was Shut Up.

Moreover, in the game, Shut Up didn’t need to obey his commands like Seomun Jun in reality. I proposed a Master-Servant Relationship to bind him, but sometimes I wanted to receive more than the rewards he gave.

As long as he didn’t know, it was fine for me.

Duwon’s girlfriend came over to my place, so I naturally excused myself with my other friends. On the way home, I dropped Sangjung off and then parked my car in front of Duseon’s real estate office. I turned off the engine and slowly opened the driver’s side door to get out.

I returned home late in the evening. As usual, I parked in front of Duseon’s real estate office and closed the car door.

Someone was lurking around Duseon’s office, saw me, and turned to run. Judging by his running form and his back, he was a young man with a fairly well-balanced physique. He looked suspicious at first glance, so I tried to chase him, but there were no boxes around the office.

“Is that not him?”

I stopped walking, watching the man run to the end of the alley. For a moment, as if from running after him, a sigh escaped my lips.

I walked out from between the dark buildings towards my building. It was late at night, so not many shops were open. A bar sign cast a hazy light from a distance. My shadow stretched long on the ground under the streetlight.

“I look forward to seeing how long you’ll keep hiding, Hyung.”

“Ah, Koreans really run on rice.”

After a hearty breakfast, my body felt light. There was a lot of bean sprout soup left that Rovan had made yesterday, so I ate it with instant rice, and for side dishes, I had the fresh kimchi Rovan brought.

I wondered if it tasted good because I ate it while hungover, but that wasn’t it. Rovan’s cooking was superb. I seriously considered whether I should buy his kimchi while riding the bus. Then, I remembered why I had drunk so much, and a sense of melancholy washed over me like Monday blues.

“When you’re feeling down, have coffee.”

I headed to a fast-food restaurant to find some energy with caffeine. The americano here is as hot as lava, yet it has a comforting, addictive richness.

“One hot americano, please.”

As I received my coffee at the counter and was about to leave, I saw a familiar face enter.

The junk dealer. No, a real estate agent from the neighborhood. He was about to pass me by but then stepped back and greeted me. I responded perfunctorily and tried to leave, but he suddenly followed and called me back.

“Excuse me, about the… building owner.”

“Yes?”

He looked at me with curious eyes, asking who I was referring to. He pointed directly at Jun, the building owner across the street.

“I haven’t seen him much lately. You have his contact information, right?”

I don’t recall. Jun only contacted me through his dual number. I speculated that Jun had likely blocked his number. Especially since he had threatened to “poke” Shut Up back then.

“Our CEO can’t get him on the phone, and even calling the office number gets no response.”

As expected.

“Really? I haven’t spoken to him much lately either.”

“Oh, come on… Why are you saying that? I saw President Seomun Jun walking with a client the day before yesterday.”

“Ah, I haven’t received any contact since then either.”

“It’s a local business, let’s not monopolize it, shall we? We should all eat well and live well together. If I bring a studio apartment client, can you show them the 13-story building behind you?”

“I’ll have to see about that.”

He said, “See!” and patted my shoulder. He then taunted me, asking if I was managing the rental of that building too, saying, “Wow, President Dajeong Real Estate will be rich soon.”

‘You bastard. You think you’ll get rich brokering monthly rents forever? You need to broker the whole building.’

He tapped my arm holding the hot coffee, so I couldn’t help but tense up. I naturally moved the coffee to my other hand and just replied, “Yes.”

Seeing that his expression suggested he was still doing well, it was clear the junk dealer hadn’t been robbed. Since Jun didn’t know I played games, I couldn’t ask him when he would deal with the junk dealer. However, it was clear it wouldn’t be long.

Vrrrm. Vrrrm.

Just then, I felt a vibration from my back pocket. It was the client who had looked at the studio apartment the other day. They had said they would sign the contract that day but never showed up.

“Um, I’ll be going now.”

I said goodbye to him and left the fast-food restaurant. As soon as I answered the phone, I heard the client’s disappointed tone.

[President, I went yesterday when you weren’t there and came back empty-handed.]

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t feeling well yesterday. You’re signing today, right?”

[Yes. I’ll be there between 10 and 11 AM.]

After telling the client “okay,” I was about to put the phone back in my pocket when it rang again.

This time it was Jun. I couldn’t answer immediately because a car entered the drive-thru (DT) entrance as I was passing by. After safely getting onto the sidewalk, I pressed the call button belatedly.

“Uh, hello?”

[Where are you? Not opening today either?]

“I’m walking now.”

It was hard to concentrate on the call because of the cars coming and going in the alley. As I walked, I had to step aside for cars coming from behind, and when I started walking again, another car followed closely. Walking was also inconvenient due to the cars parked on both sides of the alley. Honk! Startled by the horn, I turned around and missed what Jun said.

‘Ah, I need to tell him that.’

Then, it suddenly occurred to me, remembering my call with the client just now, so I told him to come to the office between 10 and 11 today. To sign the contract.

However, I heard no response. Puzzled, I pulled the phone away from my ear and looked down at the screen. It just showed the call ended, with no indication of when it had hung up.

“Why would he hang up without saying anything?”

Grumbling, I put my phone in my pocket and started to walk, but my arm was grabbed from behind.

“Haa, I told you I could see you.”

“…Huh? When?”

It was Jun.

While we were talking, another car passed by. We tried to step aside, but it was a delivery truck, and there wasn’t enough space to move. Jun unhesitatingly pulled me close, pressing his body against mine. I raised my hands above my head, worried the hot coffee might spill on him.

‘What is this first thing in the morning…’

After one car passed, I tried to push away Jun’s chest, with which I was pressed close, but more cars came one after another. Jun was so close that his chin was almost touching my forehead, and I could feel his breath on my cheek.

As I turned my head, I looked closely at Jun’s chin. He had shaved so cleanly that he looked like someone who never grew a beard. Even his peach fuzz was visible, reminding me again that he was 5 years younger than me. However, perhaps because of the mature skin scent so close to me, the peach fuzz didn’t seem entirely innocent.

When the cars had all passed, Jun and I naturally moved apart. As I slowly turned around, he approached and snatched my coffee.

“Thanks for the drink.”

He took a sip as if accustomed to it, even though it was still hot, and walked ahead. As the alley widened, I could naturally match his stride.

Then, I idly looked around behind and to the sides. I wondered if anyone was looking at us with that kind of gaze again. Well, this was also part of business, so there was no problem with me monopolizing Jun.

As we walked together towards the real estate office, I saw the hardware store owner opening his shop. I nodded and greeted him first, and Jun also greeted the hardware store owner along with me.

The hardware store owner waved as he brought out his merchandise to the display stand. Then, he called me back as I was about to enter the shop.

“Here, take this. It was at the door again.”

“…When?”

“The day before yesterday. I saw it when I was closing up shop, so I brought it inside in case you lost it.”

The day before yesterday was when I got home a little late after 7 PM, after potentially closing a studio apartment deal. I remembered that. That meant someone had intentionally left it there after I closed the real estate office.

“Yes, thank you…”

I took the package inside for now.

Jun looked down at the box without a word. Just like that time. With Jun here, I didn’t want to check it. So, I put the box under the desk without opening it. I didn’t want to see it for now, even if I threw it away later.

“Aren’t you going to open it to see what it is?”

Jun asked, sitting on the sofa and leisurely drinking his coffee.

“I know what it is, so why bother.”

“Shall I throw it away?”

“No, I’ll handle it myself. You keep an eye out sometimes in the evening. See if any strange guys pass by.”

Then, I took out the contract and the property confirmation statement that I had prepared in advance in case the client who was supposed to sign yesterday came today. I asked Jun a few more questions about the building’s facilities and put them together with the registry documents I had printed.

“Hyung. Did you return that?”

“Return what?”

“The watch.”

“Ah… Not yet. Can’t you return it? I don’t have the mental capacity to take care of anyone else right now.”

Even after explaining my situation like that, Jun pretended not to hear and just looked down at his phone.

“You said you were the owner. Then, shouldn’t you listen to the owner?”

“That was before the contract, so it doesn’t count.”

“Jjuni is very cold-hearted.”

“That’s rich coming from someone I made clean.”

Looking at the time, it was past 9:30. Jun showed no signs of leaving, seemingly intending to stay until the client who agreed to the contract arrived.

I could see his fingers busily moving, as if he was messaging someone. I didn’t think I needed to sit directly opposite him, so I returned to my desk.

I turned on the PC and checked the monthly rent and sale listings. This month, it’s moving season, so the transaction volume has increased significantly. All the properties I had my eye on were already sold.

Then, I took my eyes off the monitor and glanced at Jun. He was sitting with his legs spread comfortably, touching his phone screen with both hands.

“Junie.”

“Yeah.”

“Are you deliberately not answering the phone from President Golden Real Estate? One of their employees asked me.”

“Golden, what?”

He wasn’t listening attentively to my words, engrossed in whatever he was doing. Even as I provided various explanations, Jun remained evasive, so I blurted out in frustration,

“Why don’t you remember? The junk dealer.”

Ah, I messed up. Well, I heard it too when he was next to me, so…

Jun finally took his eyes off the screen and looked at me.

“Hyung, do you play that game too?”

“…Huh? No, what are you talking about? I’m too busy making a living to play games. I was right next to you then, remember?”

Feeling burdened by his gaze, which offered no answer, I shifted my eyes back to the monitor. Then, pretending to type diligently, I tapped the keyboard. Only an incomprehensible string of alphabets appeared on the monitor screen.

In fact, on one hand, I felt sorry for Jun, who was often bad-mouthed at real estate agent meetings. I was sure he would be brought up again at the next meeting because of this. It’s like how you can’t stand seeing even your own stray dog get hit by stones in the neighborhood, let alone be disliked.

“Just say you’re not doing it, don’t block me. Who knows? Maybe those people will sell your building for a good price later.”

“I have no intention of selling, so don’t worry.”

‘Well, who am I to worry about?’

What good would it do for a commoner to worry about the building owner? I just shut my mouth. Then, I opened the locked drawer and took out the watch Jun had asked me to return.

Then, I called the client I had spoken with that morning. They seemed to be on their way to the office, as it was noisy around them. When they said they’d arrive around 10:30, I just said okay and hung up.

“It looks like you’ll have to wait about 40 minutes. You’ll be here, right?”

“Where are you going?”

“……To do what you asked me to do.”

When I held up the box containing the watch and shook it, they complained, asking why I had to go right now. Well, it’s only natural to deal with troublesome things as quickly as possible. Besides, it looked quite expensive, so it would be a big problem if I lost it by any chance.

“Are you going to stay here? It’ll take me about 20 minutes.”

“Go ahead.”

Jun waved his hand without even looking at me.

I left the office and took the shortcut to the department store.

“Oops!”

As I turned to enter the alley, I almost bumped into someone who was looking down at their phone.

“Gosh, I’m sorry.”

The flustered person bowed quickly and hurried past. I almost dropped the watch box.

“Walk looking where you’re going.”

They say kids these days are severely addicted to their phones, but it’s not just a problem for kids. Adults are the same. Walking down the street, you can frequently see people walking while only looking at their phones.

I came out of the alley and walked towards the crosswalk to cross the street. Seeing the crosswalk with less than 10 seconds left on the green light, I walked even slower. Since my school days, I’ve always thought of myself as someone from a good family, and I never ran. If time was running out, I would rather give up crossing and walk leisurely to wait for the next signal.

Going a few minutes faster wouldn’t change my life. I was standing among the people crossing, leisurely waiting for the next signal.

“Oh? Duseon.”

At the sound of a familiar voice, I turned my head and my eyes met Bin’s, who was just crossing.

“Ah, hello.”

“Yes. Good morning. But what are you doing here?”

“I have some business at the department store.”

“Then let’s go together. I have business there too.”

“Didn’t you just come from the direction of the department store?”

“You mentioning the department store reminded me.”

He was still a human diffuser. The scent was so strong that people passing by would glance back. Of course, their gazes were directed at Bin standing next to me, not me.

“Is the construction progressing well?”

“Yes. It should be finished soon. Although there will be some additions along the way.”

“Ah, I see,” I replied. Bin offered me a coffee. When I politely refused, he asked if I was still feeling unwell from the alcohol.

His call yesterday was a bit unexpected, but my real estate office is very visible from across the street. I responded kindly, as he was just asking about my well-being as a client.

“I’m a little bit.”

Even after hearing my answer, he scanned my face slowly.

“Did you get hurt here?”

Where Bin’s fingertips touched was the area where the swelling had gone down. The protrusion had subsided, but a red mark remained, as if something had been pressed there. As I raised my hand to slightly cover my forehead, our hands brushed. A soft smile flickered across his lips.

“Haha. I got a little hurt at home. It’s nothing much.”

“You must always be careful. Come on, let’s go.”

While we were having this brief conversation, the light turned green.

Bin was like the epitome of a city man. His clothes were always neat semi-suits, and although his hair was a bit longer than other men’s, it was neatly swept back.

He looked like a model, so even without the perfume, many women would turn their heads at least once. He was attractive enough to receive attention from the opposite sex, but remembering the look in his eyes when I first met him, a fleeting thought crossed my mind: ‘Is he gay too?’

As we crossed the crosswalk and passed through the revolving doors of the department store, Bin came close. We were in that narrow space for only a moment, but it felt like his scent completely permeated me.

“Which floor are you going to, Bin?”

“Hmm, let’s take care of Duseon’s business first.”

Bin followed me with a smile, which felt a bit overwhelming. We entered the luxury store I was sent to, and Bin asked if I liked this kind of taste. Ashamed to say it was Jun’s errand, I just smiled.

I immediately went to the counter and asked the staff to call the manager. While I stood there awkwardly waiting for the manager, Bin was talking to the store staff, looking at the items displayed here and there. It seemed I was the only one who felt awkward buying things in a place like this.

“You asked for me.”

At that moment, the manager emerged from a back area that didn’t look like it had a door. He greeted me warmly, but his expression stiffened when he saw the box in my hand. He seemed to understand the purpose of my visit.

“Here, they asked me to return this.”

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

The manager extended his hand and guided me.

I signaled to Bin, who was looking at the merchandise behind me, that I’d be back in a moment. He was talking happily with a staff member and looking at items, but he immediately approached me.

“Where are you going?”

“Just to talk with this person for a moment.”

“Are you together?”

The manager’s professional smile shifted into a more personal one. It was directed at Bin, precisely. Bin, in turn, returned the same smile to the manager.

“Can I come along too?”

As he said that, Bin put his arm around my shoulder. Startled, I managed an awkward smile and twisted my upper body slightly to look up, but Bin, who had been holding my shoulder loosely, gradually tightened his grip.

Seeing the two of us so close, the manager’s smile reverted to a professional one.

“Then… let’s talk another time. I’ll take this for now.”

The manager slightly lifted the box I handed him and went back into the store. Bin watched him with a smile. And as soon as the manager disappeared, the smile on his lips vanished.

When Bin smiled, he was radiant like an angel, but when his expression turned blank, he looked like an emotionless doll. Seeing that expression, I realized how much he had been smiling at me normally.

“Now you must attend to your business, Bin. Where are you headed?”

“Thinking about it, I have something to exchange too, but I left the item at home. I’ll come another time.”

“What a wasted trip.”

“No, this was enough of a visit. Let’s go.”

Bin, who followed me like a keychain, was a bit burdensome. While matching my pace, Bin was intently looking at the items in the surrounding shop windows. Perhaps because his stride was long, he would pause briefly but quickly catch up.

Then, he stopped in front of a certain brand’s store.

“Duseon.”

“Yes?”

I had been looking straight ahead while walking, but I turned my head at his call. Bin waved me over as if to beckon me, so I approached without a word. As I got closer, he was pointing at something.

“How about this?”

Bin’s fingertip pointed to a leopard-print wallet. I usually preferred that pattern for underwear, but for a wallet, I preferred something plain.

Everyone used to mock my taste in such patterns, calling it outdated, but seeing the well-dressed Bin interested now proved that my taste wasn’t wrong.

“It’s nice, isn’t it?”

“Really? Just a moment.”

Suddenly, Bin walked into the store and pointed at the display item to a staff member.

The wallet itself didn’t look particularly special, but golden fabric was scattered around it, and next to it, a leopard model was roaring. So, even though it was just a wallet, it looked like a relic of the ages, as if it had been excavated rather than made. In fact, my attention was drawn more to the leopard standing next to it than the wallet.

“What are you looking at so intently?”

He was holding a shopping bag with a smile, as if he had just bought something.

“That leopard. It looks so real.”

“Of course it’s fake. Do you want to see a taxidermied one? I know where there’s one.”

“No. That kind of thing… it’s a bit sad, isn’t it? Taxidermied animals.”

“Why is that? It’s preserving them in their most magnificent form. It’s like they’re alive forever.”

I knew he wasn’t an animal lover. I was taken aback, not knowing how to respond to his words, and Bin, with an unreadable expression, started walking again.

And as we were about to leave the department store, Jun called. As soon as I answered, he chided me, asking when I would arrive.

“I’m on my way back after delivering it. Ah, did a customer come? I’ll be there soon.”

“Why? Is something urgent?”

“A customer came. I’ll head back first, so you take your time.”

I waved to Bin, asking for his understanding, and walked away quickly. The green light had only a few seconds left, and I ran. Normally, I would never have run.

Bin, who had been chasing after me, stopped at the crosswalk, unable to cross due to the dwindling signal. After crossing, I waved one more time towards him, standing alone on the other side, and entered the alley.

“I’m sorry. Did you wait long?”

“No, not at all.”

As I hurried to open the door to my real estate office, I saw the customer I had met earlier sitting and facing Jun. After catching my breath and greeting them, I took out a drink and offered it to the customer.

And as I was about to sit in the seat next to the customer, which looked more spacious, Jun grabbed my arm.

“Sit here.”

“Oh, thanks.”

I sat in the seat next to Jun, who had moved over slightly. As I was flipping through some documents, Jun leaned his face towards my chest. Then, moving his head from my shoulder to my face, he sniffed. He was so close that I instinctively leaned away.

“What is it?”

“Did you meet the guy from the 6th floor? Your clothes are reeking of perfume.”

“I was on my way to the department store. Bin said he had some business too, so we went together.”

“You must have been glued together.”

“Stop it. We have a customer.”

As I organized the documents and brought the ink pad from the desk, the customer looked back and forth between us.

“You two seem quite close.”

“Well, since we’re across the street, we see each other often.”

“No, I didn’t mean it like that……”

“Yes?”

As I was stamping the contract, I looked up at the customer.

However, Jun seemed to have understood the customer’s intention immediately and answered for me. For me, it wasn’t important what that meant, so I returned the ink pad to the customer so they could stamp their seal. The customer then took out their seal and stamped it, and put it back.

“So you were the CEO after all.”

“What do you mean?”

As I was checking the missing items on the contract, I looked up at the customer’s words.

“It’s enough that you know.”

And again, Jun answered for me. I couldn’t keep up with the conversation, as if they had talked a lot before I arrived. And right now, I was working, so I couldn’t afford to think about other things.

“Then the move-in date will be one week from now. The utility fees will be settled and included in your payment when you move in. And this is the document checked on the confirmation of brokerage subject, and there are no rights other than ownership, as you can see here in the registry. There are no prior mortgage liens either.”

Regarding other facilities, they were the same as the optional items listed in the contract, and I asked them to check again to ensure they were functioning normally immediately after moving in.

However, the customer listened to me indifferently. Even if I wanted to explain in more detail, the other party wasn’t interested, so I just said what was necessary. After all, they would contact me later if they had any questions.

After a brief explanation, the deposit was handed over to Jun, and the brokerage fee was deposited, concluding the transaction.

“Then, everything is done. I’ll see you on the moving day.”

I handed over the contract, the guarantee certificate, and other documents, all bundled in an L-shaped folder. I had originally wanted to get an L-shaped folder printed with my real estate office’s name, but due to a lack of initial capital, I was using one bought from a stationery store. My business card was haphazardly taped to the front of the folder.

It had become a custom in the real estate business to visit clients on their moving day with a roll of toilet paper. This business thrives on referrals, so it’s also a goal for future client acquisition, and I did it to check the house.

“Then, please go ahead.”

The customer stood up, and I stood up too, but Jun showed no sign of getting up. I opened the door and politely saw the customer off.

And while I had the door open, I opened the office door wide. It had been only a day or two since I last swept the front of the shop, but cigarette butts had already accumulated. What was more frustrating, though, was Jun’s car. Because of that car, sweeping wasn’t done properly.

“Can’t you park your car in your building’s parking lot?”

“You’ll regret it.”

“I’ll regret it?”

“That.”

Jun pointed to a refrigerated truck parked in front of the building diagonally across.

“That truck often parks here. That’s why the premium for this spot was cheap.”

“Uh… how did you know? That the premium was almost nothing?”

“When they fight loudly, how can you not hear? That’s why I’m letting you park here.”

Indeed, if such a refrigerated truck parked in front of the office, it could even block the signboard.

The yellow lines weren’t painted on this alley, so they couldn’t be forcibly towed. Each shop had blocked the front with flower pots, tires, motorcycles, etc., to prevent parking, but none of it was actually helpful.

What I could move with my own hands could easily be moved by others. In the past, if I inquired at the police box, they would at least make a call for me, but nowadays, due to privacy laws, even that wasn’t possible. So, I had nowhere to complain even if a large vehicle was parked in front of my office.

“But why don’t you park it in front of your building?”

“Ah, it collided with my car once. It was near the parking lot entrance. They must have increased my insurance rates because they repaired my car, so they don’t park near my building.”

“Is the owner of that truck as bad-tempered as you?”

“Hyung, I have a good temper.”

Okay, let’s assume that.

For now, I decided to trust Jun’s advice. It was true that when I rented the first floor of this building, the premium was almost non-existent, which had made me wonder. And when other real estate agents rented that spot, they all kept quiet. I had also often passed by, carefully observing Jun’s car parked there.

The advantage of a sports car was that its low chassis didn’t block the view of the real estate office, drawing attention and making people look at our agency one more time. It was close to aggro in a game.

Feeling that Jun might have been considerate, I didn’t say anything further and went to my PC desk. As I was checking the contract details, the mouse, which should have been in my right hand, was missing. Since it was a Bluetooth mouse, I sometimes forgot to bring it along and lost it easily. Thinking I might have dropped it under the desk again, I bent down, but something was in my left hand.

It was the Bluetooth mouse.

“Huh? Why is this over here?”

When did I put it on the left side? I muttered to myself, and Jun said he had been browsing the internet. Since I wasn’t looking at anything in particular, I just replied, “Oh, really?”

Then, clicking the mouse, I started checking what I needed to confirm, when Jun suddenly spoke.

“Don’t let strange guys into your place.”

“Strange guys?”

“That guy in the blue tracksuit. I don’t like him.”

It was truly amazing that Jun disliked Rovan even from the first meeting. They disliked each other in the game, and it was the same in reality.

However, I couldn’t heed that warning. Because Rovan had to find Kang Chung-man, get his money, or do something to him in the game.

Come to think of it, Jun didn’t seem to be playing games much lately. The calls urging me to log in, which used to be daily, had become infrequent. Yesterday, I tried logging in briefly, but my character wasn’t glowing.

Taking advantage of the lull, I wanted to visit the Blood Planet site. I peeked my head around the monitor to look at Jun. Since we were facing each other, I could clearly see what he was doing and where his gaze was directed.

‘I’ll just log in for a bit.’

The forums these days were fun just to browse. Most of the trending posts were from beginners. They complained that high-level players were invading beginner hunting grounds and slaughtering them. In response, some were protesting, asking for certain hunting grounds to be changed to safe zones.

[New] ●▅▇█▇▆▅▄▇ Please make a beginner zone

[New] I’ll lie down until you make one ●▅▇█▇▆▅▇

[New] ● <―< I’ll lie down too. I’m sleepy. Beginners were indeed easy targets. Thinking about the plight of beginners, I was suddenly reminded of being scammed out of Relax. Sad memories arrive without warning, and everything I do becomes associated with it. It would be easier if I thought it wasn't mine anyway, but I felt very sorry for Jun. I searched for ‘scam’ on the server’s free board. I was hoping something about Kang Chung-man might appear. However, I didn't see any stories like mine where someone had been scammed. Most of the titles were [Administrator, this is a scam], [Paid items are a scam], [Lower the boss level, it's a scam], [Dungeon is a scam], [From today, the guide is a scam], [Goddess beauty is a scam], etc. "It's not 'sagida' but 'sagwida.'""What?""No.""Jun got up and stretched, thinking that I was talking to him, and he answered." Then I clicked on an article titled [Goddess-Like Beauty Scam]. It was written a month ago. It was indeed a praise article about the goddess character I encountered that day. I was trying to skim through and hit the back button when one of the comments caught my eye. Amid the comments of people asking to be informed about the stargram, I carefully noticed the name of the character who said they would definitely save the relaxation skill. 'Taffy vendor.What is it, wait a minute. If it's a taffy seller, then it's a licensed real estate agent belonging to the golden real estate. He was also presumed to be one of those who offered tribute to the goddess. I was just thinking that another guy like Candy Boy has been added, when suddenly a strong intuition flashed through my mind. The name 'Candy Boy' that I saw on the goddess's Instagram seemed somehow closely related to 'Yeo Jang Su'. If we reinterpret Candy Boy with our emotions, does it become a taffy vendor? That's a bit forced, but... No way, is that guy this guy? "What the hell!""Why?""Ah, no!"I could see Jun coming this way at my call. I hurriedly waved my hands and quickly closed the window. It would be difficult if he saw it. Just a little while ago, I had said that I didn't have time to play games, but I couldn't let anyone find out that I was opening a gaming site. However, since the contract had already ended, there was no more business to attend to, but Jun continued to sit on the sofa. When there were no customers, being alone felt lonely, but now that I'm constantly in the same space with Jun, this is also uncomfortable in its own way. "Hey, are you usually this free?""What..." That's right."Other than the contract made in the morning, as lunchtime approaches, not a single customer has come in." Still, when there were many guests, there were times when a call would come in asking when the guests who came to the real estate would arrive while showing the house. "Mr. Doosun.""I heard a voice calling me as the office door opened." "Huh?" Ms. Hyesun. What brings you here?"Hyesun entered the office holding a sandwich and a drink she bought from somewhere." I approached the desk where I was working, saying that I was giving this because I had received lunch earlier. She, who runs a clothing store, always has her clothes bright and new. Sometimes, when I passed in front of the store, I often saw her attending to customers inside. I was amazed that she wore different clothes every day. Today, I was wearing clothes that I had never seen before. I feel like we've been busy and haven't been able to talk, but it was nice to see you. "What is all this?""There's a new place that just opened up nearby, so I bought some." Oh right, you haven't forgotten about our appointment on Saturday, have you?"In fact, I had so much going on that I forgot." A 3 million won item flashed before my eyes and disappeared, so nothing else could catch my attention. "Ah, that's right." We promised back then. Ha ha."Yes." This Saturday by 10 AM at Samseong Station. You can come on time."But, what are you trying to do there?""I have something to show to Mr. Doosun." Let's definitely meet.” 엉거주춤 일어나 그녀가 준 샌드위치를 받고 “Ha ha."I answered foolishly with a clumsy smile." Jun was comfortably sitting on the sofa with his head leaned back, watching the scene. He quietly rolled his eyes at me, then shifted to look at Hyesun when she spoke, and then looked back at me. Since it was a seat facing Jun, I couldn't ignore his gaze as we took turns looking at each other. "Yes, yes."As Hyesun, who turned away after saying her last goodbye to me, finally noticed Jun, who had been quietly sitting. Jun lightly nodded in response to her slight nod of greeting. Although they were somewhat familiar with each other, perhaps because they were not close enough to have a conversation, they only exchanged awkward greetings. Then, before opening the door, Hyeseon greeted me again and left. Finally, Jun, who had been sitting like a stone Buddha, started to ask me questions. "Hey, are you seeing that girl?"I approached the sofa holding a sandwich. Let's leave it on the table. Jun opened the wrapping and took a bite without even asking for permission to eat. Since it will soon be lunchtime and I'm not hungry, I gave way to him. "Yes." I made a promise."Why at Samseong Station?""You said you have something to show me.""So, what are you going to show?""...Well, it must be something like a movie or a musical.""She also poured the drink she gave and placed it in front of Jun." Jun naturally picked up the drink, as if he had chewed and swallowed the words of thanks along with the sandwich. "Hyung, call me when you're done." I will come to pick you up."What are you here to pick up?""It's not far from there to your brother's house." I will give you a ride."It's okay, why would you go that far...""As I was trying to wave my hand, Jun's speed of chewing the sandwich suddenly slowed down." He just looked at me with a face devoid of laughter, yet it seemed to contain many unspoken words. Chewing and swallowing like that looked as threatening as a wild beast tearing flesh and swallowing raw meat. "...I really have to come, right?""Sometimes it seems like you forget things easily.""Huh?""Our relationship.""Ah....""Jun barely took a few bites, and the sandwich disappeared in an instant." He poured the last drop of the drink into his mouth and took out a wet wipe nearby to clean his hands. As I approached to remove the wrapping paper, Jun grabbed my wrist and stopped me. "I'll do it.""Okay.""Jun picked up the wrapping paper without hesitation again." Then, while throwing it in the trash can and seeing that it was full of garbage, he looked at me. "It's all filled up." Should I empty it?I approached with a new garbage bag from the drawer, listening to Jun's muttering. Jun was standing in front of the trash can, just staring at it. As I was trying to bend down and open the trash bag from both sides, Jun snatched it away. "I'll do it.""No." Jjuni, even if I do it..."Just." Even if I do."Hey..." Why make it so uncomfortable? Am I just supposed to watch?Jun tightly tied the bag and left. He held a tied garbage bag in one hand and firmly said, "Yes.""he/she answered." "At least do it that way when I'm next to you." If you don't like it, then quit."Hey..." Wait a moment.I stopped Jun, who was leaving with the envelope. "No way..." I shouldn't have to do role play with you when I can't even date, right?"I heard you're going to meet the girl from the next store on Saturday."” "Yes.""Did I tell you not to go?" Did you forget who the master is?” “아, That's right. I am the master.Jun was faithfully carrying out his role. Except for the expensive watch on the hand holding the garbage bag. "What kind of slave goes around doing that?"Jun, with his expressionless face, shook off the arm I had grabbed. The hand that grabbed his collar slipped away. "Today, I will only be with my brother until lunch." Are you okay?"Yeah, what."He pushed the office door open with his shoulder and walked towards his building across the street. Our building had to put garbage bags on the street, so we were only allowed to take them out in the evening. However, Jun's building has a separate area prepared near the parking lot entrance where it can be discarded at any time, which made it seem that way. Jun was looking down at his hands after throwing away the trash and was entering the building. "It's strangely uncomfortable." If you're a slave, you should look like a slave; it's uncomfortable to have someone who looks like a tyrant making you eat.I observed Jun closely against the glass wall of the office. ♩♬♪―. Just then, the office phone rang, so I hurried over to my desk. The phone number that appeared on the landline was a familiar one. "Yes." This is a friendly real estate.Hey, what are you doing? Not even answering the phone."Uh, is it Hanwoo?" I didn't receive a call.When I looked at my phone, it was off, possibly because it wasn't charged. After connecting the charging jack, I received a call again. "I guess I couldn't charge it." I usually plug it in right when I get to work, but I have some tasks to do since this morning."Relax, did you sell that?""Sigh....""In the midst of a sigh so deep it felt like the ground was sinking, the question about what Hanwoo was saying got buried." After a while without a response, Hanwoo asked if he had been scammed first. I think I answered that question while slightly choked up. Hey, are you crying?"Why are you crying?""Well, I would cry too." How much is that? There must be someone who made the deal."The transaction was made by a man, but the person who received it is a woman.""I asked how the Korean beef was scammed, and he briefly explained what happened that day." Hanwoo then asked if he could just get it from that woman and inquired about her name, to which I told him it was Goddess. Then I asked again if she was the famous guide goddess from Stargram, and when she confirmed it, she let out a wry laugh, saying that she often gets entangled with such people. "Should I report it to the police?""Even if you pass on the suspect's account number and contact information, it takes a long time to process. If you say you handed over the item after just one message, they will catch you very well."The words of the Korean beef were not wrong. The Korean beef was scammed in the second-hand world in the past and reported it, but the bank account number used for the scam had been in use for over a month. Afterwards, he was caught, but there were many victims of that scammer, and they were not able to get all their money back. There is no evidence of the item being passed. I guess I have no choice but to accept it personally."Sigh..." I understand for now. Let's break up.I couldn't keep talking about the game in a situation where I didn't know when Jun would come in. I said let's have a drink when we meet later and quickly hung up. After shifting my gaze back to the monitor, I was skimming through the posts on the free bulletin board. I looked outside, but Jun, who had gone into the building across the street, still showed no signs of coming out. In the meantime, the mobile phone had charged a bit, and it was turning on and functioning properly. It seemed that Jack was a troublemaker. It didn't make contact even with a slight touch. As soon as it was completely powered on, I saw that there were missed calls. One of the calls was from the Korean beef I had just spoken to, and the other was from an unknown number. First, charging the phone is a priority, so I placed it in a spot out of reach and organized the rental contract for Jun. Excluding the one we contracted today, there were about 5 more vacancies in that building. The room I saw at that time was clean and nice. It was definitely not a place that would be vacant, but it might have been neglected because of Jun's personality. Looking at the real estate that finalized that building contract, there were a few prime properties. And the most noticeable real estate was always Evergreen Real Estate. It was a place run by the lady boss, located across the street. Seventy percent of the transactions were done at Evergreen Real Estate, and the logo on the file binder that Jun handed over was also prominently displayed with Evergreen Real Estate. "If you have real estate to manage, do it there, why give it away."I thought I should talk about it when we meet at the next gathering. Since we talked about a lot of things in general, I couldn't have a deep conversation with anyone. As I was putting the documents I had glanced at back in, I noticed the delivery box I had left on the floor earlier. I felt bad and thought about throwing it away without opening it, and even if I did open it, it would probably just be underwear, so I was embarrassed to open it in front of Jun. Seeing that Jun still hasn't come out of the building, I placed the box on the desk to open it, but there was already a cut on the tape. This meant that Jun had opened it in advance. Earlier, when the hardware store owner gave it to me, it was fine. "Why is he/she opening this...?""As I slowly opened the box while grumbling, it wasn't panties." It was a familiar pair of sneakers. A pair that disappeared a long time ago, that was it. And as expected, semen was sprayed. I just looked down at the box and closed it again. Even if Jun saw it, it didn't matter much since he had already seen the underwear. I wanted to ask when my belongings would run out if I caught this stalker. Or. "Maybe, I might need something new." No way, is he the guy who comes and goes to the office often?I thought about how Panty Man knew the location of the real estate, and it seemed quite possible. I remembered that my mom told me that mail had come to the house because of the real estate open house. Ding―. At that moment, a message arrived on my phone, which was gradually charging. It was a shut up. Going to the building across and all I could do was have a conversation about the game. I saw the message that Jun sent. [Log in after work] I was wondering if I should log into the game and ask Shut Up for help after being scammed. I’m not sure if the candy seller is Kang Chung-man, but if by any chance it is him, then since I’m going to be taken down by Shut Up anyway, I might as well just add my spoon to the mix. After throwing away the trash, I came to the building's restroom. I washed my hands and dried them with a hand towel. Throwing away trash like this was not particularly pleasant. However, if my brother needed me and his tone changed, I could do something like this without any problem. "He is not 'hyung.'"I was fully aware of that. And now, I couldn't tell whether remembering the 'brother' I no longer miss or long for was obsession, nostalgia, or familial love. Looking back on the time when I had feelings of desire for 'him' around the time we were about to part, it seemed close to love, but it was difficult to say that it truly was. I didn't feel any desire to desperately search for or see 'hyung' at all. I just wanted someone to be by my side. If I hadn't been an import, would I have been in love with someone? I had a delusion that the disappearance of that 'brother' might have taken away my sexual desire. Did you dare to think of me and do that filthy thing? I crumpled the hand towel and threw it into the trash can along with memories of the past. Just then, the phone rang. My friend was in mourning. "Uh.""Have you overcome your addiction?"No, not yet. Trying to die at the guild hideout. Why?"You asked me to lure that taffy vendor, didn't you?" How about dinner tonight?I properly held the phone that I had been receiving with my shoulder. "I'm going." Bring one more guide with you. That's how you get deceived.I came out of the bathroom and headed towards the building entrance, where I ran into Bin. The scent of perfume that had seeped into the two lines was overwhelming. I was on a call and tried to just briefly make eye contact and pass by, but his shoes caught my eye. It was a pair of shoes that I had seen many times before. He always wore loafers or dress shoes and never wore sneakers like those. Casually keeping his gaze down, he replied to Sangjoong that they would see each other then, and hung up the phone. Then, as I was about to go outside the building, Bin turned around and called me to stop. "Can we talk for a moment?""I wasn't really inclined to, but since there was still some time left until lunch, I thought I might listen for a moment." "Just a moment.""First, I sent a message to Dusun with the shut-up number." I thought I should lower the PG before dealing with the taffy vendor in the evening. That is true, and I also wanted to do it with him. The skin of the two lines was white and soft. I liked how the skin turned a suitable shade of red when it was bitten, as it was good for the texture. I wanted to taste other parts as well, but I held back since there is plenty of time. I took the elevator up along the bin. "It seems quiet, as if the construction is all finished.""Uh, roughly." There are a few more things to do, but those are always changing."So, what are you talking about?""I became uncomfortable thinking about how close I need to be to Bin for his scent to linger on my clothes." "Let's do it in my office."I arrived on the 6th floor and entered the studio. I thought they were doing quite a big construction project, but now it looks like they have decorated it as if it were a different space. "It looks more like a set than a studio.""Well, aren't all the photos just background shots?" Sometimes I also take videos. Come here."In front of a set, filming was really taking place." While following him, I inadvertently saw the scene and stopped in my tracks. In the place where the gaze landed, a male model was posing almost naked against a chroma key backdrop. Seeing her striking a seductive pose, barely managing to cover the center, it was clear she had experience from multiple photo shoots. The filming equipment was not an ordinary camera, but professional equipment, and it was perfectly equipped with three-point lighting. "Why, do you like that model?""As I stood tall, I was standing next to 빈도, looking at the filming site." Standing far away, it might be hard to see, but as the shooting paused for a moment, the male model waved his hand towards this side. In response, Bin briefly waved his hand and grabbed my shoulder. "If you like it, say so." I will introduce you."Isn't it an ordinary shoot?""All the filming done here is special.""As Bin took a step, I followed along." As we turned back from the filming, his private office came into view. The front was glass, but blinds were drawn in the independent space. As I pushed open the glass door, a large desk came into view directly ahead, and there were a few sofas a bit further away. "Sit comfortably."” I sat comfortably on the single-seater sofa and looked around. Photos taken by Bin were hung all over one wall. There were landscapes, but many portraits. I saw travel photos and everyday photos too. “So, what did you want to say?” “Don’t you want to try modeling?” “No.” “You answered without even thinking.” Bin took a drink from the mini-fridge next to his seat and placed it in front of the table. It might have had carbonation, because a crisp sound was heard when he opened the lid. “What is it you want to say? You didn’t call me here to be a model.” “What, can’t I even joke?” His toes, crossed as he sat on the chair, were particularly bothersome. They were just ordinary white sneakers. After taking another sip of the drink, I glared at him with a crooked gaze. Bin leaned his head against the back of the chair, watching me intently. Like someone who had taken off a smiling mask, his expression held no emotion. His tone of voice had also become dry, as if he lived a life as blank and monotonous as a white sheet of paper. This must be his true nature. “Seomun Jun, I want to show you my hand.” “Why?” “I thought you’d stop and back down at some point, but you’re bothersome. I’m also curious to see how you’ll react.” Bin took out a stack of photos from a drawer. He handed me a few from the top. I took the photos he gave me. What could his hand be, I wondered as I looked, and it was a house with a yard. And then, I saw a familiar person inside. ‘…Hyung?’ In the enlarged photo, Duseon was visible in casual clothes. Some were photos of him hanging laundry, and at other times, photos of him exercising. What was certain was that he looked much younger than he did now. ‘When on earth did he take these photos?’ Suddenly, I thought of the delivery box. The speculation that he might be someone who knew Hyung for a long time. As if reading my thoughts, Bin just looked at his fingernails, waiting for my reaction. “Don’t tell me, were you the bastard who sent the panties?” “Is that all you ask? I’m disappointed.” Where did he take these photos to have only this kind of composition? Bin shrugged and fell silent again. It seemed he showed me his hand because he knew Hyung and I had a close relationship. I could guess how much Bin had lingered around Hyung’s vicinity. And that it had been for a very long time. “Why are you doing this to Hyung?” “Me? I just like him.” “Does it make sense to do that just because you like him?” At his wordplay, I threw the empty drink bottle onto the table. It was made of light plastic, so it bounced slightly before falling to the floor. “I’ve seen your hand. But you’re no match for me.” As I stood up, Bin’s expression crumpled as if he had finally decided to speak seriously. He looked like a person now. “At first, I just took them habitually. I couldn’t leave the house back then. I thought I could finally see him, but then he suddenly disappeared, so I naturally started following him. Naturally.” “That’s incredibly unnatural. Is Hyung some kind of spectacle? Why are you sending semen?” “A form of, territorial marking?” Bin showed me his hand for two reasons. Whether to deal, or to die. If I could handle him, it meant I should stay close to Hyung, and if not, I should back off. I wasn’t the only one with a past. Neither was he. For now, I sat back down. Should I show him my hand too and strike back? “Hyung and I have a Master-Servant Relationship. You don’t need an explanation, right?” “Well, simply a building owner and real estate—” “You’re more naive than I thought. It’s not that kind of wholesome relationship.” Bin, looking like he’d been hit, lowered his head slightly and let out a sigh mixed with a laugh. Then, he slowly lifted his head and brushed his hair away from his face with his hand. “Starting with a Joker, isn’t that cheating?” “I told you. You’re no match for me. Send semen or whatever you want. I’ll throw away everything I see. But, don’t approach Hyung more than necessary. Before I expose you as the pervert you are.” For the first time, Bin’s eyes held a murderous glint. I couldn’t tell if it was because I revealed my identity, or because Hyung and I had a Master-Servant Relationship. He was simply extremely sensitive and displeased, as if his territory had been invaded. Perhaps trying to appear polite, Bin forced a smile. “So, who is the master?” As expected, that was it. He was very conscious of Hyung and my relationship. “Do you think I’d tell you something so interesting?” “Don’t harm him.” “That’s up to me. I don’t need a third party’s opinion.” Rather, I felt more relieved knowing who Hyung’s stalker was. It didn’t matter how many years Bin had lingered around Hyung. I was the only one Hyung needed. Bin, as a mere stalker, couldn’t even stand confidently in front of Hyung. So, I just had to ignore such provocations. On the other hand, I felt a bit of pity that he had only stalked for years. ‘You don’t even have the courage to grasp it, so what are you boasting about.’ A laugh escaped me involuntarily. Bin, who usually smiled at the end of every sentence, didn’t laugh along with me. He stared at me expressionlessly, like a wax figure. Seeing his mouth still closed, it was game over. I tapped the armrest with my finger as if counting and stood up. Bin, looking at me as I stood, said self-deprecatingly, “Sit down, I still have more to say.” “Just say it.” “Let’s make a deal, with me.” “What?” Bin spun his chair around towards the wall and stood up. Then he touched somewhere on the wall. A small, box-like safe appeared. The thick safe door opened lightly as his hand touched it, as if it had already been open. He took out what was inside and brought it to me. It was more photos. “What is it now?” “You’ll see.” What he threw on top of Duseon’s photos was a black and white nude photo. And, a familiar face was standing there. “……What, ……you.” “You know who it is, right? Lee Hyun-soo. Your real ‘Hyung’. He’s currently living with my client. It seems he hasn’t forgotten you; he was surprised when I told him I opened a studio in this building.” “What’s your intention in showing me this?” “I can get him out and bring him to you, how about it?” “I don’t need it.” I crumpled the black and white photo with one hand. Why did Lee Hyun-soo take such a photo? Contrary to my indifferent reply, my expression grew increasingly stern. Noticing my emotional change, Bin’s expression became more relaxed. He offered, “Want a cigarette?” then, without waiting for an answer, he put one in his mouth. “Curious about what that is?” Bin exhaled smoke and kindly explained the identity of the black and white photo. “It’s a product photo.” “……Product?” Bin’s absurd words followed. Although they looked like simple profile photos, what was inside them were products. It was a mistake to think slavery had disappeared, and Lee Hyun-soo was no different. Because it was black and white, it truly looked like photos of old slaves. “If it’s about money, claim it from me.” “Lee Hyun-soo already has a master, so what? It’s not that simple. Think about it, if you go to someone walking their pet dog and offer money to buy their dog, would they give it to you?” Bin blew a long stream of smoke upwards. The smoke, which seemed to fill the ceiling, smoothly escaped through the ventilation. “So, are you willing to make an exchange with me? Yuduseon, to return him to me nicely.” He spoke as if Hyung were an object. As if Duseon or Lee Hyun-soo’s intentions didn’t matter. “If I return him to you? Well, are you going to start a life together with Hyung?” “A life together, that’s amusing.” “What if I never break up with him?” Only then did Bin regain his smile. Then, he burst out laughing as if my question was utterly ridiculous. Crushing the cigarette, he cleared his throat. Though his expression softened, the hostility in his eyes did not disappear. Rather, his smile made me feel even more disgusted. “You, aren’t you Duseon’s substitute for Lee Hyun-soo? When the real one appears, a substitute isn’t needed.” “You’re really irritating. Don’t talk about people like they’re objects.” “What you want is Lee Hyun-soo, not Yuduseon. Right? Before you leave, do you want me to pack more nude photos of Lee Hyun-soo?” CRASH! My kick shattered the glass sofa table into pieces. Fortunately, it was safety glass, so no shards scattered on the floor. Duseon’s and Hyun-soo’s photos, which had been on the table, lay scattered among the broken glass. Bin approached and, instead of the broken table, picked up the fallen photos, chiding me for taking it out on innocent pictures. I approached him, grabbed him by the collar, and warned him again. “Don’t do anything, just leave it alone!” “Hey, don’t grip so tight. I have to meet a client wearing this.” I stopped myself from hitting him and let go. Bin went to the mirror and adjusted his clothes. Then, seeing a button had fallen off his shirt, he sighed, “Haa.” “Let’s get along well, you and I. You know, it exists in manga. Equivalent exchange. Let’s both win-win.” Bin took out a new shirt from the drawer and looked at me. I warned him to stop talking nonsense, and then left the office. Bin was still smiling as he watched the door slam shut. Since the studio was mostly open-plan, it was easy to find the exit. The place where they were shooting earlier was left with only equipment, and no people were visible. Hearing voices from a little further away, it seemed they were shooting with a different background. Just then, I spotted a laptop on a small table. It was likely an employee’s laptop, and the profile of the man photographed earlier was displayed on it. I opened a web browser and entered a website address. It started with a Google address, so even if the owner of this laptop saw it later, they wouldn’t find anything suspicious. Using Google’s redirection function, the screen accessed the intended site and then returned to the Google page. In that short time, malware was installed, allowing for remote control. Fortunately, no one was around, and even if someone saw me, it would be hard to notice. I walked back towards the entrance. Then, I thought of Lee Hyun-soo from the black and white photo. Was he photographed in a place like this too? Why did he end up in such a situation? He never told me how he lived while we were together. “You, aren’t you Duseon’s substitute for Lee Hyun-soo? When the real one appears, a substitute isn’t needed.” As I rode the elevator down after leaving the studio, I thought about the question Bin had asked. I entered into that relationship with Duseon to escape Impo, but I never truly thought of myself as Lee Hyun-soo’s substitute. Because the reason Duseon’s commanding tone stimulated me was a preference stemming from my own life, and although Lee Hyun-soo was the starting point, I had no lingering feelings for him now. Seeing his avatar in the game, I momentarily lost my temper, but I felt relieved after letting it out. The desire to save Lee Hyun-soo in Bin’s proposed deal was merely compensation for the past; I had no desire to see him again. As I left the building, I looked at the real estate office across the street. It seemed a customer had arrived, as Duseon was moving between the desk and the sofa, explaining something. Then, after politely bidding farewell to the departing customer, he paused, staring at me standing there as he was about to close the door. In just a few steps, I crossed the street and followed him into the office. “Weren’t you going to wash your hands? Why are you so late—” Wanting to feel Hyung, I slipped my arms between his armpits and hugged him like a doll. His body was thin but felt cozy, and warm enough to make me drowsy if I held him for too long. “What’s wrong, suddenly?” “I need to give you a reward. I just threw out the trash.” “Ah… that’s what it was?” Only then did Hyung’s hands, which had been fumbling, touch my back. Pat, pat. I felt Hyung’s pats on my back, where my heart was. As if my heart had hands, it beat along with mine. Because of that, my heart rate quickened, even though I hadn’t been running. Without a doubt, this person was the only one I could call Hyung now. Jun, who had dragged me in, hugged me for so long I thought he might have fallen asleep like this. And why was his face so close? I gave up trying to pull my head away to the other side. He buried his face in my neck and remained motionless for a long time. Looking at the wall clock behind Jun’s back, it was already close to 1 AM. After a while of patting, my wrist started to ache. “What do you want to eat?” Jun’s arms, which had been locked like a padlock and seemed impossible to release, slowly loosened. He, who had been clinging to me like a child just moments ago, suddenly pulled away and sat coldly on the sofa, looking at his phone. “Anything.” It felt like raising a rebellious teenage son. “If anything is fine, do you want to go eat noodles? There’s a place nearby that makes delicious Chogye Guksu.” “Uh, just a moment.” As I picked up my phone from the desk to get ready to go out, a message notification sounded. What is it? I wondered, and saw it was from Shut Up. Jun was sitting in front of me, leisurely texting Dajung. Clearing my throat, I sat down and checked the message from a place where he couldn’t see me. [What time will you arrive home?] [I’ll be home around 8. I’ll log in around 9 after washing up and eating.] [Be home by 8:30.] “You son of a—” As I muttered a low curse, Jun looked up with just his eyes. “It wasn’t directed at you.” No, it was directed at you. You shameless bastard. I was annoyed that he was telling me not to eat dinner and log in. Then I remembered the last time I linked with him. When was it? It felt like almost a week. I had logged out while addicted on Tuesday, so I was curious about what happened afterward. So, I cautiously sent a message asking if he had gotten over the addiction. As expected, I got a reply immediately. [Afraid it will transfer? Don’t worry.] [You must have passed out and PG dropped completely.] [Are you sad I didn’t Link?] I glanced at Jun, who was sitting there, and was about to reply when I was startled by a shout of “Hyung!” “Aren’t you going?” “Yeah, I’m going now."Afraid it would look like I was genuinely disappointed if I didn’t reply immediately, I typed ‘f*ck you’ and pressed send." But, absurdly, I sent 'eo' next to it. ‘…Huh? That’s not right.’ Just as I was about to correct it, Jun approached and asked what I was so engrossed in, so I quickly put my phone in my back pocket. “It’s nothing. Let’s go, let’s go out.” I went out first to lock the office, but Jun stopped abruptly, looking down at his phone. Then I saw him tapping the screen. My phone in my back pocket vibrated, as if he had sent a reply. Without even checking the reply Jun had sent, I locked the office door and we headed to the noodle restaurant together. Since it was a chain, it tasted the same wherever we went, which was nice. Although summer was over, I couldn’t give up Chogye Guksu. The savory broth and white kimchi. How could they create such a flavor? As I ordered noodles and cheerfully poured water, Jun said something to me. “Hyung, do you like eating noodles that much?” “Yeah. They’re delicious.” “More than beef?” “I can’t choose.” “Then do you like me, or noodles?” “Noodles.” Jun snorted while drinking water. He couldn’t believe I answered without a second of hesitation. We weren’t the kind of people who exchanged such jokes, so I was flustered after answering. I tried to play it off as a joke, but I could imagine how much more he would have teased me if I had shown my embarrassment. We both ordered Chogye Guksu. As Jun was about to eat it plain, I handed him the vinegar and mustard. Unlike Jun, who only added mustard, I poured in only vinegar. “Add a reasonable amount of vinegar, you’ll hurt your stomach.” “Jjuni, you don’t know anything. Vinegar tastes better when you add a lot.” Regardless of Jun’s horrified expression, I was busy picking up noodles and putting them in my mouth. Yeolmu Kimchi was served as a side dish, and it paired wonderfully. As I ate some, thinking I should get more from the self-serve corner since there weren’t many left, Jun got up first and brought some. Seeing the heaping pile of Yeolmu Kimchi, I thanked him and started eating diligently again. Then, as I picked up a side dish, I looked at Jun’s bowl. The noodles were nowhere to be seen, as if he had already finished. Not wanting to keep him waiting, I quickly slurped them down, splashing some broth on my mouth. As I reached for a tissue to wipe it, Jun’s hand was faster. He gently dabbed my mouth, where the broth had splashed, with a tissue. “Eat slowly. I’m used to waiting because I eat fast.” “Oh? Uh… yeah.” I thought he would scold me for not eating sooner, but perhaps he had some decency, as he showed consideration for me. Jun stood up, saying he was going to the restroom. Taking advantage of the opportunity, I took out my phone and checked my messages. I was curious about what he had sent earlier. But as soon as I confirmed it, I regretted thinking I should have looked later. [I want to do it quickly] What was this that made the noodles in my mouth almost spill out between my parted teeth. I couldn't change it to [ㅗ] now for the person who answered so kindly. While I was contemplating, I saw Jun re-enter the store. However, he headed straight for the counter to pay. I quickly gulped down the broth and stood up. Having already been treated to chicken soup and Hanwoo, it felt a bit much to buy this too. “I’ll pay.” “No, it’s fine. Just buy dessert.” In the end, Jun paid, and we left the noodle shop. As we walked, looking for something for dessert, we spotted a fast-food restaurant. “Junie, want to go there?” “Burger again?” “No, ice cream.” Jun naturally followed me into the fast-food restaurant. I stood in front of the kiosk to order, touching the screen, when Jun stood right behind me, watching. Because of the message I had just seen, I found myself conscious of his every move. I moved slightly to the side so he could choose. Then, Jun selected a left-side menu and was looking at the sub-menu on the right. As we looked together, his right hand touched my back. “I can’t see. Come over here.” “Okay.” As I answered, I moved my body entirely away from the screen to the left. However, Jun’s left arm was holding the machine at an awkward height, blocking any escape route downwards. I remained trapped between his arms, waiting for the order to finish. Suddenly, a ticklish voice reached my right ear. “Chocolate cone?” “Yeah.” After he chose a cup-based item, he removed his hand from the kiosk. He fumbled for his card, paid, and went to the counter. Jun told me to come up to the second floor and went up ahead. Indeed, the chocolate cones here are incomparable to any other ice cream. They were the best. As soon as I got mine, I took a bite and walked towards the second-floor stairs. I saw Jun sitting at a long table by the window on the second floor. Even though it was past lunchtime, there were quite a few customers. “Junie, here. You have the one with chocolate sprinkles too.” “Thanks.” Jun folded the paper spoon and began eating his ice cream. But after a few bites, he watched me eat intently. “Hyung, is that good?” “Yeah. Want me to buy you one too?” “Just one bite.” “This one’s already been licked by me, so it’s a bit… wait, I’ll buy you another one.” Just as I was about to get up, my hand holding the ice cream was caught, and Jun’s face came closer. His mouth opened, and he bit into the part I had licked. A little chocolate smeared on the corner of Jun’s lips. He wiped the corner of his mouth with his thumb and scrunched his face, saying it was too sweet. “It’s on the other side too.” At my words, he wiped the other side the same way with his thumb and then sucked on his finger. The sound made my heart skip a beat. It was the exact same sound as when he sucked my hand in the car. ‘…Get a grip.’ Why was I falling into useless thoughts just because of that message? This is not the time for me to be like this, not now. “Hyung.” “Yeah?” “It’s on your hand.” The ice cream, which had started to melt, dripped down his thumb. As I reached for a tissue to wipe it, I saw Jun extend his hand. Instinctively, I pulled my hand, smeared with ice cream, back. Was it my hand he was trying to grab? His hand stopped in mid-air. “I’ll wipe it.” If he had caught me, he would have surely done what I had just remembered. One of my fingers would have gone into his mouth and come out. My hand felt sticky from being wiped with a dry tissue. I got up to throw away the cone part without eating it, and Jun stood up as well. “Do you hate me touching you?” “Huh?” There were still people eating around us. If I said yes to his question, I was afraid of hurting him, so I smiled and said, “There are people around.” Then, I said I was going to wash my hands and went to the restroom. Swoosh— As I turned on the water, about to put my hands under it, Jun followed me in. And, as if it were natural, he took my hand, which he had tried to grab earlier, and brought it to his mouth. His thumb finally went into his cold mouth and was sucked. “I’m not the type to leave things half-done. Finish wiping your hands and come out.” Thud. I stared blankly at the closing restroom door. My body parts are strictly for rewards, so why is he sucking on them? “You’re doing whatever you want!” As I yelled at the restroom door, someone suddenly came in. Embarrassed, I bent my head and washed my hands diligently. The person who entered glanced at me briefly and then went about their business. I quickly washed my hands and dried them with a paper towel. As I left the restroom, Jun was standing right beside me. He might have heard me talking inside, as one corner of his mouth was raised, but I pretended not to notice. “Junie, about your officetel building, didn’t Evergreen Real Estate manage that?” As we walked towards the office after leaving the fast-food restaurant, I remembered the real estate contracts I had sorted out earlier. “I entrusted it to them because they were an acquaintance of my mom’s. Why?” “Then wouldn’t it be better to keep entrusting it to them?” “What about you, Hyung? You have to make a living too. With so few customers all the time, can you afford the rent?” “If you put it so directly… wouldn’t that make me feel sad?” There was no need to save face in front of Jun, who already knew everything. I had long since put my pride aside from the moment he asked me to run an errand during our first meeting. As we walked side-by-side, we heard an exclamation of admiration from behind us. “Wow, you two are going together again!” It was the junk dealer. The guy who might have scammed me out of my Relax skill. He seemed even more annoying than before. “Aren’t you two being too affectionate? Let’s be affectionate together. President Seomun Jun isn’t answering his phone at all. You have my business card, right?” “I don’t know.” “Oh, why are you like that? Then I guess I have to give you another one.” He was about to take out his personal business card from his pocket but realized it was empty and winced. In a hurry, he took out a card with only the office’s main phone number and personally put it in Jun’s pocket. “Please make sure to answer if you call this number. Well then, have a good day.” I thought his retreating back, having said everything he wanted to say alone, was quite admirable. To be in sales, that kind of sociability and nerve are essential. If it were me, I would have just awkwardly handed over a business card to a customer like Jun, who responded coldly, and stammered. However, Jun reached into his pocket, glanced at the business card, and flicked it away with his fingers. “Hey! What are you doing just throwing it on the street.” He flicked it so well, I thought it was a shuriken. I picked up the business card that had fallen to the ground after hitting the building wall. I thought I might put it in my business card holder if Jun didn’t want it. The business card design was quite refreshing, and I was looking at it, thinking I should make mine like this next time, when my expression stiffened upon seeing the representative’s name below the company name. …No, why is this name appearing here? ‘Kang Chung-man.’ The junk dealer was an affiliated real estate agent at Golden Real Estate, and Kang Chung-man was its CEO. The outline of the culprit was gradually becoming clearer. I stared at the business card, my face frozen in surprise. Seeing that I wasn’t following, Jun turned back. “What?” “Ah, no. I was just curious how much a business card like this costs. Haha. Let’s go.” I put the business card in my pocket and followed him. As we walked, all I could think about was the Relax transaction scam. Was the junk dealer scamming people using his boss’s name? It made some sense. It’s unlikely for a scammer to reveal their real name. Should I mention the junk dealer to Shut Up when I log into the game today? Honestly, I think it would be better to just say the guy scammed me out of my Relax skill. Since Shut Up is already looking for the junk dealer, I just need to add my piece. This seemed the most natural approach. However, I needed proof. Was the junk dealer really the one who was supposed to give Relax to the goddess that day? While pondering if there was a way to arrange a meeting with all three parties, my shoulders were suddenly grabbed, and my body was turned. “Where are you going? This is the office.” Jun looked down at me with a look of exasperation. Then he said he was leaving and went to his car. “Oh, okay. See you,” was my reply, lost in the sound of his car driving away. As expected, there were many cigarette butts where the car had been. Since I was stepping on them with my tires, I couldn’t sweep them. Taking advantage of the empty space, I took a broom out of the office. As if clearing my head, I swept up the cigarette butts I hadn’t cleaned for days, and felt a little refreshed. To be continued in Vol. 3