BOORH 47

Chapter 47………………

NyangMeong admitted that his wrist hurt, but said he was just managing with pain relief patches and it wasn’t serious enough to visit an oriental clinic. After that chat, everyone kept teasing Jankyeong, saying that once he hit his 30s, he’d end up being more of an old man than NyangMeong.

I suddenly wondered if Hwanseong was also joining the new 6-man raid.

[Party] Sunya: Hwanseong, are you also joining the new raid? hehe

The guild chat was moving too fast, so I asked separately in the party window.

[Party] Hwanseong: Honestly, I really don’t want to, but I think I have to.

From what I knew, the 6-man raid required one tank, one healer, and four DPS to enter. The guild was overflowing with DPS, but tanks and healers were scarce.

“Even if NyangMeong goes as tank, if Hwanseong the healer doesn’t go, then the raid can’t even start.”

There were only two healers in the guild: Hwanseong and someone called Soonjong Warrior, nicknamed Soonjong. But since Soonjong hadn’t logged in at all lately, that left Hwanseong with no choice but to participate.

Now that I thought about it—if NyangMeong is a guy… Haeseong already went to the military, which means that the one I thought was an “old man,” Soonjong, must have actually been the only female guild member before I joined.

Haha… This guild really keeps turning out to be different from my first impression.

[Guild] Kim Sookyi: Let’s just go do the 6-man raid already!! Don’t tell me NyangMeong is secretly enjoying everyone begging like thisㅡㅡ?

[Guild] NyangMeong: Oh, busted? ヾ(｡>﹏<｡)ﾉﾞ

[Guild] Kim Sookyi: ♡♡

The guild chat was still noisy, trying to convince NyangMeong to join the new raid. If only I were a skilled tank, the guild members would’ve had more options…

But since I struggled even in the Blue Canyon dungeon, I quickly gave up on that thought and focused on progressing my main quest.

Except… maybe it was my imagination, but at some point, Hwanseong’s movements as he followed me during the quest started seeming strange. To be exact, ever since I had asked about Isidore earlier.

At first, I thought it was just me imagining things.

[Party] Sunya: …Hwanseong?

[Party] Hwanseong: Yeah, yeah, I’m right here.

[Party] Sunya: Are you doing that on purpose?

[Party] Hwanseong: Doing what?

Even though he said that…

“Why does he keep standing in front of Isidore?”

I frowned slightly and kept watching him.

To progress the quest, I had to approach Isidore and click him. But every time, Hwanseong would position himself between me and Isidore, blocking me—like he absolutely wouldn’t let me near him.

“No way… is he actually jealous of a game character…?”

Normally, he’d just stand beside my character or a little behind. This was the first time he’d acted like this. What was funny was that he didn’t do it with any other NPCs—only with Isidore.

“Wow…”

A dumbfounded laugh slipped out of me. Once again, I was reminded of just how deeply committed he was to this “concept.”

He was acting so obviously, yet still pretending innocence—maybe even out of embarrassment at his own behavior.

And then, for some reason, a mischievous impulse welled up in me. Normally I’d never tease like this, but since his “concept” was so extreme, I wanted to poke at it a little.

[Party] Sunya: You know… at first I didn’t realize it, but the more I see Isidore, the cooler he seemsㅠㅠ…

[Party] Sunya: Don’t you think he’s the best-looking priest character? hehe

That little joke clearly hit some nerve.

[Party] Hwanseong: ……

[Party] Hwanseong: What did you just say?

[Party] Hwanseong: That four-eyed bastard♡♡

I’d heard Hwanseong curse before, but never in this kind of raw, aggressive way—more like Sookyi did.

Then he started swinging his weapon at Isidore. Of course, it did no damage, but the motions looked less like attacking and more like beating him up.

[Party] Hwanseong: I’ll scratch those glasses to shreds with my sword.

“……”

His reaction was way more intense than I expected. Not just smudging or dirtying the glasses, but destroying them beyond repair… Which basically meant killing the character.

I never thought it’d get to this point. At most, I expected him to say something like, “Really…?”

Even though Isidore was unharmed, in my eyes it looked like his glasses were cracking as he begged for mercy.

[Party] Sunya: I was just joking, hehe…

But even then, Hwanseong didn’t stop his furious assault.

[Party] Hwanseong: Who are you to get his attention?

Whack! Whack!

[Party] Hwanseong: Just a damn four-eyes.

Whack! Whack!

“……”

If I’d known he’d react like this, I would never have made that joke.

[Party] Sunya: B-but of course, the best priest is you, Hwanseong, you know that hehe…

[Party] Sunya: Isidore kinda lacks charm anyway…

I quickly typed something to calm him down. Thankfully, it worked—Hwanseong stopped pounding on Isidore and turned toward me.

[Party] Hwanseong: Really? ///

The shift was so jarring it was almost terrifying—seconds ago, he’d been glaring with fury, now he was blushing shyly. If I really had liked Isidore the way other female players did…

“Please… just stay as a character I don’t find appealing…”

But Hwanseong didn’t stop there—he even used shy emotes right in front of my character.

[Party] Hwanseong: I really am better than him, right?

[Party] Hwanseong: Right?

[Party] Hwanseong: Hm?

He was clearly being bashful, yet every word gave me chills.

When I didn’t answer, struck silent by the unease creeping over me, he suddenly froze. Just standing in his idle pose looked like he was glaring.

And then, again—

Whack! Whack!

[Party] Hwanseong: I seeㅠ… It was just empty wordsㅠ

Acting all pitiful, he resumed beating Isidore.

[Guild] Issah Hyung: You’re really gonna go, right -ㅅ-? No backing out with excuses like your back, wrist, eyes, or age -ㅂ-

[Guild] NyangMeong: Ha! Please. You think I’d lie to a kid a dozen years younger than me?

[Guild] NyangMeong: A real man, NyangMeong, keeps his word.

[Guild] Issah Hyung: You’ve done it more than once, that’s why I’m asking ㅡ.,ㅡ;;

While I was sweating and trying to stop Hwanseong from hitting Isidore, it looked like NyangMeong finally agreed to join the new raid.

As guild leader and raid leader, Jankyeong had been worried about where to find a tank who could handle both Hwanseong and Sookyi’s personalities, so this was a relief.

With the tank sorted, next came the healer. Hwanseong had said he’d go, but his attitude was so reluctant that Jankyeong asked again just to be sure.

[Guild] Jankyeong: No backing out last-minute, Hwanseong^^!!

[Guild] Hwanseong: I said I’m going. But if Soonjong-noona shows up, then I’m out.

[Guild] Jankyeong: Got it, final roster confirmed^^ Soonjong’s never coming anyway lol

And so the full 6-man raid team was set. DPS would be Jankyeong, Sookyi, Cheonma, and Yuchan, while Hoe would sit out to work on achievements.

Then Cheonma suddenly raised a question.

[Guild] Cheonma: But if Great Hero Hwanseong is raiding, what about Little Hero Sunya?

“…Huh?”

Come to think of it… From what I heard in the group chat, they were aiming for “first clear” again this time. I wasn’t sure what exactly that meant, but apparently it required grinding the raid all day without sleep until it was cleared.

“That means I’d have to play without Hwanseong…?”

I realized I’d gotten so used to having him trail me everywhere that the thought of playing alone felt unsettling.

“I hadn’t even considered playing solo…”

[Guild] Hwanseong: That’s why I don’t want to go.

[Guild] Hoe: Ahhh, I was wondering why a raid maniac didn’t want to join, but now it makes sense. So how did the guild leader convince him?

[Guild] Hwanseong: Said he’d kick me from the guild if I refused^^

[Guild] Hoe: fkn insaneㅋㅋㅋㅋ

[Guild] Kim Sookyi: ♡♡ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

[Guild] NyangMeong: (b˙◁˙ )b

I’d thought he just didn’t want to go because it was a hassle, but the truth was he didn’t want to be separated from me. I wasn’t sure if I should feel touched or… not.

Jankyeong later admitted that if this were the old Hwanseong, he wouldn’t have dared to bluff about kicking him—since he’d probably have left without hesitation. But now, with “insurance,” he could exercise his authority as raid leader without fear.

Of course, the so-called “insurance” was basically a hostage.

And that hostage was… me.