GBAS 31

“See you again!”

As Hyunwoo left the post office, the talking owl’s farewell being the last thing he heard, grand yet lively background music began to flow in his ears.

The Murcia North Post Office building was situated on the edge of the basin, at the starting point of a hill, overlooking the central plains. Perhaps because of the high altitude, even from just three or four steps up, the medieval city alleys could be seen at a single glance. Hyunwoo looked around at the street filled with people.

The bustling street was truly a magnificent sight. It had always been a crowded place, but with the news of a large-scale update, many users had returned, adding to its vibrancy.

His eyes taking in a tall tower a short distance from the alley, Hyunwoo descended the steps and blended into the crowd.

[All] Move : Buying all junk items from old/new kits @@@Mail C.O.D. welcome@ @@Large quantities up for discussion<<Move>> whisper/message me@@@

[All] pawpaw : Buying enhancement stones at 7 each, buying in bulk. Mail me.

[All] StrongStapler : new kit >>> Angel’s Blood-Red Wings <<< Urgently buying. Paying more than market price!!!!!

Countless messages about buying and selling something scrolled by as he walked, letting his body go with the flow of the crowd.

Hyunwoo, who had been walking while skimming the messages with his eyes, came to a sudden halt in front of a certain building. He lifted his head, his gaze landing on a small sign hanging above.

This is it. Passing the armorsmith on the right and turning the corner revealed a dark alley. A narrow path, barely wide enough for two people to squeeze past each other. Its end connected to the town’s central square.

Hiding himself at the end of the alley, Hyunwoo took a deep breath before peeking his head out.

“……”

A giant, roofed stage was set up at the front of the central square. Designed in the Rococo style, it seemed only natural for actors in fluffy wigs or voluminous dresses to appear on it, and indeed, medieval-style plays performed by NPCs were held here every day at 2 PM and 6 PM.

But now, the person filling that stage was just one. Baek Jooin.

Spotting Baek Jooin standing with his back to the audience, and the people gathered in front of him, Hyunwoo’s eyes quickly darted around. When did so many people show up? The group of women, which at a glance seemed to number over a hundred, were fans of Baek Jooin who had been consistently attending his performances for two years now.

[Say] Mawwster : Omgㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

[Say] 1over : You look amazing today too!!!!!

God knows where they got those from. Among the crowd, there were even pickets with Jooin’s name written on them, bobbing up and down.

Screeeech-!

With an unpleasant noise, large speakers befitting the stage’s size rose up on either side of Jooin. It seemed he was getting ready to perform.

[Say] InstantPai : Ah;;

[Say] InstantPai : I told you not to stand on top of me, I can’t see

Behind the people fighting for the front row of the fence, passersby began to gather one by one.

As Jooin, having finished his preparations, turned around and strode to the front of the stage, a wave of tension swept through the audience. Looking as awkward as ever despite performing daily for two years, he sheepishly glanced around before bowing his head, and a gasp erupted from his fans.

[Say] Jooin : I’ll begin now.

Yes! The voices of many rang out as one.

As Jooin, with a calm expression, turned and stepped onto the slightly raised circular platform in the center of the stage, the lights came on, and the performance began.

♩♫♪♪♩♫♪♪

Layered over the sounds of the drums, bass, and keyboard was Jooin’s sharp yet smooth guitar playing. Even from a distance, the sound waves caused the metal armor he wore to vibrate. Hyunwoo couldn’t take his eyes off Jooin on the stage.

At the song’s climax, when the guitar solo began, cheers erupted from among the fans.

[Say] InstantPai : Ah omg

[Say] Itsanerror : Aaaahhhhhhㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

At that, a gauge that had appeared on the left side of the stage shot up. The bright yellow gauge showed the performer’s score, and Baek Jooin’s gauge was already nearing 700 points.

Although one could earn performance points while practicing alone or during party hunts, due to the nature of the class, the more one held official performances on stage, the more people listened to those performances, and the more enthusiastic their reactions were, the greater the bonus points awarded.

These scores were ranked, and every day, the bards from 1st to 10th place were awarded performance points from 10 to 1, respectively. The points collected this way could be exchanged for bard-exclusive titles.

[Say] Jooin : This is the last song for today.

Before he knew it, the last song had begun. Just before starting to play, Jooin glanced to his right and smirked, causing another uproar below the stage. The yellow energy trapped within the already full gauge writhed, with nowhere to go.

He seemed to be in good condition today. Judging by the way he’d occasionally glance at the stage and let a smile slip out mid-performance.

In contrast to the dazzling Baek Jooin on stage, Hyunwoo, standing far back below the stage in the damp, dark, narrow crevice of the alley, wore a thoroughly crooked expression.

The object at the end of Hyunwoo’s gaze was the group of girl fans who couldn’t take their eyes off Jooin.

[Say] sk8er : You’re coming tomorrow too, right?

[Say] CouqueDasse : Today was seriously amazingㅠㅠㅠ

[Say] Henji : What time are you coming tomorrow?!

[Say] bushinthegarden : Can’t you play one more after the last song??

“……”

What is this fierce emotion burning up from the depths of my chest?

‘…So annoying.‘

Something must have definitely gone wrong with his head that day. Otherwise, it made no sense for these emotions, which had nothing to do with him, to well up so suddenly.

Hyunwoo, lost in thought as he gnawed on his lips, scrunched up his face. A sudden surge of irritation made his hand, which was gripping the wall, tighten.

Although he tacked a question mark onto the end of his thought, Hyunwoo knew very well what his emotion was. This was, without a doubt, jealousy.

Jealousy. He was the cool type who lived by the thought that if you want something, you take it, and if you can’t, it was never yours to begin with. But what in the world was this disgraceful behavior…

The brick crumbs falling from his fingertips pulled Hyunwoo from his reverie, and he let out a deep sigh.

“…In all my life.”

Even the target of his jealousy was strange. A man should rightfully be envious of that Baek Jooin, who was receiving all the attention from the women. But why was he envious of those people down there with their sparkling eyes?

Just then, a question flashed through Hyunwoo’s mind.

Wait a second.

What did I just say. That I want him? Me? Baek Jooin?

“No way.”

There’s no way.

The moment the dazed Hyunwoo shook his head, a huge roar of applause erupted from the front of the stage. Startled, Hyunwoo lifted his head and looked at the stage.

While he was distracted by other thoughts, the performance had already ended. As Jooin, who had finished tidying up and giving his thanks, was about to step down from the stage, the crowd shifted greatly, following his every move.

“…Agh, no way.”

As Hyunwoo, leaning against the wall, blankly stared at the friendly scene, someone suddenly popped out from the crowd that had gathered in a circle around Jooin.

“Huh?”

At the appearance of a familiar figure, Hyunwoo’s eyes widened.

[Say] HoneyButter : Jooin-nim!

At the end of two hands stretched out towards Jooin was a thick envelope. As Jooin carefully accepted the letter thrust right under his nose, the character with long blonde hair jumped up and down in joy.

[Say] HoneyButter : Your performance today was so amazing!

[Say] HoneyButter : You totally killed it!

[Say] HoneyButter : Right? >ㅇ<

Finishing her words, HoneyButter swayed her shoulders from side to side as if embarrassed. The ribbon tied in her hair and the voluminous, layered skirt above her knees fluttered in the wind.

Hyunwoo’s brow furrowed deeply as he watched the scene.

‘She’s still at it.’

He knew well, having once practically lived as Baek Jooin’s manager. That woman, who still looked familiar even after more than a year, was one of the fans who had been persistently chasing after Jooin since a long, long time ago, around when the open beta had just started.

The reason he remembered her so clearly, despite there being not a few long-time fans, was probably because the way she looked at him was so fierce it felt strange.

[Say] HoneyButter : Oh, right!

[Say] HoneyButter : I had something to give you, just a moment >ㅇ<

Speaking in a cute voice, HoneyButter bounced, and a large gift box appeared in her hands. As if to make sure he wouldn’t forget that the gift was from her, it was lavishly wrapped in a ribbon of the same pale yellow color that adorned her entire body.

Paying no mind to the expressions of those surrounding them, HoneyButter approached Jooin and held out the gift, saying.