GBAS 62

At first, he prayed that the number referred to a student ID. A learned person, passionate about studying, reigning as a living fossil—something like one of those legendary sunbaes.

However, Hyunwoo’s hopes were brutally crushed.

‘You’re the first person to ask me this hehe’

‘I’m 12!’

At the cheerful reply, his mind, which had gone for a walk far, far away, slowly returned.

“…If he’s 12, that’s almost a full zodiac cycle apart.”

Muttering to himself, Hyunwoo glanced over the Counseling Center’s lecture notes that he had diligently copied into his notepad, then shook his head.

He was ashamed of his not-so-distant-past self. Although he had lived nearly twice as long, he was the one who was shortsighted. It was only right to break away from such a rigid way of thinking. Right, right. Absolutely.

Once a teacher, always a teacher. No matter how young he was, someone who had given him such a great lesson was more than qualified to be revered as a teacher.

After slipping three ice choco latte coupons into the pocket of the baby teacher who had to go to math academy, Hyunwoo came out and took off the sackcloth he had been wearing.

“Hoo.”

Then, rolling up the fabric that was dragging on the floor to put it away, he used the spare moments to review the lecture notes with his eyes.

The ending was baffling, but he had gained a lot.

👾🎮

Cheers erupted as always.

‘…Hoo.’

Having played the final note of the final song of today’s performance, Jooin lifted his head. And he looked at the crowd gathered before him.

“…”

Jooin’s gaze, which had lingered on them for a while, moved to the performance score gauge displayed on the right side of the stage.

The gauge, which usually would have been full and overflowing by the middle of the performance, now barely sloshed below the 80% mark. He had somewhat expected this result due to the noticeably smaller crowd, but it still didn’t feel good.

Ever since he decided to focus solely on music, he had lived without paying attention to things like rankings or scores. Yet, this place alone consistently stimulated his competitive spirit.

The top-tier Bard title, ‘Headliner’. How hard had he worked to get it.

To rack up points, he had even postponed ensemble practices and immersed himself in the game. He’d even gotten an earful from Cheon Namyeong when he visited his house. Given the experience he had built up, the title wasn’t one to leave him over a mere slump in skill like this, but…

Mulling over the past, Jooin muttered to himself.

‘Whatever. It’s just a game. It doesn’t matter.’

Even if he were to lose the title, there was already no one who could match him in terms of in-game performance proficiency. The stats gained from equipping the title could be compensated for in other ways. It wouldn’t affect his ability to carry the party.

Even as he told himself not to care too much, a hint of irritation crept into his hands as he packed up his things.

Jooin handed the spot over to the user waiting for the next turn and took one step, then another, down from the stage. It was then.

[General] HoneyButter : Mr. Jooin !

A familiar character popped out from the unusually small crowd gathered there.

[General] Jooin : Ah

[General] HoneyButter : You were the best of the best today too !

The person who had attended every day since he started performing had been absent for a few days, so he thought maybe she wasn’t coming anymore, but it seemed that wasn’t the case. For some reason, he felt a sense of relief.

[General] Jooin : Hello

Facing the brightly smiling face, Jooin gave a brief nod in greeting, then nodded to the others standing around her.

In the meantime, HoneyButter, who had prepared today’s gift, stretched both arms out toward Jooin and offered him an item.

[General] HoneyButter : Please accept this !

Was she conscious of the rumors floating around these days? For once, the usual gaudily decorated box was nowhere to be seen. He always refused anyway, but it had been a hassle because she would pester him until he took it, so he thought this was for the better.

A yellow envelope tied with a ribbon fluttered before Jooin’s eyes. As Jooin was staring at it, about to open his mouth to say something…

[General] Jeonguk-noye-jarang : Hey hey!

Jeon Hyunwoo cut in.

Since when had this guy been watching? Appearing from somewhere, Hyunwoo stood blocking the space between him and HoneyButter. As Jooin tried to recall the seemingly familiar position, Hyunwoo spoke.

[General] Jeonguk-noye-jarang : Hyung, are you collecting performance fees right now?

[General] Jooin : What?

Having blurted out a topic everyone was avoiding, Hyunwoo continued with an unconcerned face.

[General] Jeonguk-noye-jarang : I mean, that’s what the rumors say. That you’re seducing the people who gather here to collect money from them

[General] Jeonguk-noye-jarang : And if they don’t have money, you tell them to rip someone off or whatever to get it

[General] Jeonguk-noye-jarang : Isn’t that right?

What is he saying right now?

At Hyunwoo’s words, the faces of the people gathered there filled with shock. He’s saying that right to his face? Murmurs could be heard from within the crowd.

Frowning, Jooin shook his head and said.

[General] Jooin : What are you talking about? I’ve never done that

[General] Jeonguk-noye-jarang : Well that’s a relief, then

Bringing up a sensitive topic first, only to shrug his shoulders as if it were nothing, was strangely irritating. He couldn’t figure out why this guy, who had been quiet until just last night, was suddenly acting this way.

Just then, Hyunwoo, who had been glancing at Jooin’s expression, spoke as if shouting to the people gathered around.

[General] Jeonguk-noye-jarang : Anyway, everyone, the rumors these days are nasty

[General] Jeonguk-noye-jarang : So please refrain from giving him things?

[General] Jeonguk-noye-jarang : And if you absolutely feel you must, you can go through me

At that, complaints erupted from here and there.

[General] deeppp : who are you

[General] NemoAndAnemone : fr why should we trust a stranger? lolol

Receiving the blazing glares all at once, Hyunwoo turned his back to Jooin and replied.

[General] Jeonguk-noye-jarang : I’m his manager, hehe

Facing HoneyButter, who was glaring daggers at him with an even sharper gaze than last time, Hyunwoo feigned ignorance, blinked, and asked.

[General] Jeonguk-noye-jarang : That thing

[General] Jeonguk-noye-jarang : Shall I pass it on for you?

[General] HoneyButter : Ha lol

As Hyunwoo’s index finger touched the letter, HoneyButter brushed off the paper envelope as if it were dirty and spun around. After one last look back at Hyunwoo, HoneyButter squeezed through the tightly packed crowd and disappeared into it.

After confirming that HoneyButter was completely gone, Hyunwoo turned back to Jooin.

[General] Jeonguk-noye-jarang : Hyung, this should be a bit better, right?

With his mouth shut, Jooin looked up at Hyunwoo with a slanted gaze.

It seemed Jeon Hyunwoo had been quite hurt by what he’d said that day. Whenever their eyes met, his face would crumple as if he were about to cry, and he would turn his head away, just like a sulking puppy. A young puppy, of course.

Every time he saw Jeon Hyunwoo looking at him with those droopy eyes, he would occasionally feel a pang of sympathy, but that was as far as it went. Never again did he want to be bound by a relationship that could be named, be it family or lover, and return to a life of living to meet their expectations.

‘He shouldn’t have remembered in the first place. Why did he have to get involved.’

He knew it was a trashy thing to do, to only take the body of someone who was practically dripping with affection with just their eyes. That was why he’d given him the upper hand. If he didn’t like this either, he could just leave.

But why the hell was this guy so stubbornly holding on?

Staring at the lively, slick face, Jooin clicked his tongue, tsk.

👾🎮

The sound of something meshing and turning.

The sound of metal scraping against metal.

Followed by the sound of a vibrating engine.

Soon after, a neat-toned voice was heard.

[Capsule door opening complete.]

His fixed body gently relaxed, and as he came to his senses, the glass dome covering his body slowly opened.

Sitting up, Jooin, without even opening his eyes, threw himself toward the mattress placed close beside the capsule. Plop. Lying down on the moderately firm and moderately soft mattress, Jooin looked up at the ceiling and opened his eyes.

He could feel his nerves connecting, his sense of reality gradually returning.

The capsule that ran the virtual reality game worked by connecting one’s consciousness to the system, so his memories from before and after using the capsule would often get cut off. It sounds serious when put like that, but it was just to the extent of occasionally forgetting what he had been thinking right before logging in or out.

‘Ah, hyung! Let’s go together.’

As he lay there, piecing his thoughts together while looking up at the wallpaper, which was yellowed in places from rainwater leaks during the monsoon, he was suddenly reminded of Jeon Hyunwoo, who had been annoyingly following him around right before he logged out.

What was he going to do now? And what was he going to do after that? He had followed him around as if he would follow him into a bathroom stall if the game had one, so he had logged off in a fit of pique.

What on earth had happened in the meantime to make him so clingy?

Just as he was thinking, the phone he had tucked under his pillow vibrated.