MAX 6

It was a little past 9:00 PM when Han Jiho logged back into the game.

He had finished his workout around 7:30 PM, but he happened to run into an acquaintance and ended up going to a cafe. After chatting for a bit, time had somehow slipped away past 8:00 PM.

By the time he got home, showered, and came out, it was already after 9:00 PM.

After shaking out his wet hair, Han Jiho naturally turned on his computer and suddenly remembered cogus2, whom he had forgotten about. Seeing the Echo of Eternity icon on his desktop brought back the chat from cogus2, who had asked to see him again.

However, he was already an hour later than the time he had mentioned to cogus2.

‘Man, no way…’

Come to think of it, he felt like they had mentioned meeting up back then.

‘He probably just said it to be polite.’

Even though they hadn’t set a clear appointment, a corner of his heart felt uncomfortable. He was almost hoping that cogus2 wouldn’t be logged in.

But contrary to Han Jiho’s expectations, as soon as he logged into the game:

[Whisper] cogus2: 98-nim!

[Whisper] cogus2: Hi hi!

A whisper flew in from cogus2 instantly. He didn’t know how long the guy had been logged in, but seeing how he messaged immediately, it was clear he had been waiting.

[Whisper] HanJiHo98: Hello lolol

[Whisper] cogus2: Did you get back safely from your workout? lol

[Whisper] HanJiHo98: Yes haha

[Whisper] HanJiHo98: Did you have a good dinner too, 2-nim? lolol

[Whisper] cogus2: Yup lol. I just finished eating and was waiting for you, 98-nim.

It was confirmation from cogus2.

[Whisper] HanJiHo98: Ah..

[Whisper] HanJiHo98: I’m sorry. Something came up suddenly ㅠㅠㅠ

[Whisper] cogus2: It’s okay, it’s okay lol. I was running a raid on my main character anyway lol.

[Whisper] HanJiHo98: Ah, I see haha.

A raid on his main. Just as he expected, cogus2 was already part of a clan.

‘…I kind of want to try it once.’

Despite his loss of interest, Han Jiho thought that for a moment and sniffled. Perhaps because he hadn’t fully dried his hair, his nose kept running.

While he was grabbing a tissue to wipe his nose, a chat from cogus2 popped up.

[Whisper] cogus2: Then let’s go do quests right away lol

[Whisper] HanJiHo98: Ah, yes yes. Go go go.

Right. He wasn’t even at the right level, so what raid?

For now, leveling up by clearing quests was the priority. Raids, which were said to be only for max-level veterans, were not a tree he could climb yet.

And so, he leveled up while frantically clearing quests with cogus2. Han Jiho’s level was now 27. Since the max level was 100, he still had a long way to go.

[Party] HanJiHo98: I’m going to go grab some water for a second.

[Party] cogus2: Okay lol.

Taking advantage of being at a base for sorting, Han Jiho stood up. It was because he was thirsty.

Soon, while he was sitting back down after filling his tumbler with water, a chat from cogus2 went up at the perfect time.

[Party] cogus2: 98-nim

[Party] cogus2: My clan members suddenly called for me ㅠㅠ

[Party] cogus2: Ah

[Party] cogus2: If you’re okay with it, would you like to try ES too, 98-nim?

ES? What was 그게?

[Party] HanJiHo98: What is ES?

[Party] cogus2: Ah lol sorry sorry

[Party] cogus2: It stands for Energy Spike

[Party] cogus2: Like Gen-Po, you divide into teams and fight

[Party] cogus2: It’s not hard. It’s just a game where the team with the higher score wins.

[Party] cogus2: Would you like to try it together, 98-nim?

[Party] HanJiHo98: Ahhh haha.

Only then did Han Jiho nod in understanding.

Energy Spike was one of the game modes he had seen on MeTube. It was a game where the team that collected the most “Energy Spikes”—which appeared all over the map while killing enemies or dodging attacks—would win.

The tempo seemed much faster compared to Xeno-Force, but who was Han Jiho? Wasn’t he the god of FPS games, called a living legend? Something like that was no problem at all.

[Party] cogus2: ES is really fun.

[Party] cogus2: It does depend on your weapons a bit, though.

[Party] cogus2: I’ll give you a weapon lol. I have a lot of weapons.

[Party] cogus2: There’s one spot open, so it’d be perfect if you came, 98-nim.

Han Jiho let out a silent laugh at Chaehyun’s chat. It seemed like he really wanted him to come.

[Party] HanJiHo98: lolol okay.

[Party] HanJiHo98: You don’t have to give me a weapon.

[Party] HanJiHo98: Then go go go.

[Party] cogus2: hhhhhhh okay hh.

[Party] cogus2: I’ll come on my main and send you a party invite. Wait a sec, wait wait.

With that, cogus2 left the party and logged out. A moment later, while Han Jiho was putting his accumulated stat points into Vitality, a friend request flew in from a familiar nickname. It was about 5 minutes later.

cogus has sent a friend request.

Accept | Decline

It was cogus2—no, cogus—who had returned with his main character.

As soon as he hit the accept button, a party invite flew in from him. When he hit the accept button for that as well, the chat window—which had previously only contained cogus2—began to fill up noisily.

has joined the party.

[Party] WrigglingDdorak: Hello~~~~

[Party] JunkCollectionMaster: Whoa, it’s a newbie.

[Party] EchoThief: What? A newbie?

[Party] HanJiHo98: Hello haha.

[Party] 1Jiho: Oh my god.

[Party] 1Jiho: Daebak.

[Party] EchoThief: Sniff~~~~~~~

[Party] EchoThief: Exhale~~~~~~~~

[Party] JunkCollectionMaster: He’s smelling a newbie again.

[Party] EchoThief: Sniff~~~~

[Party] EchoThief: Exhale~~~~~~

[Party] WrigglingDdorak: Seriously, stop it ㅡㅡ

[Party] 1Jiho: It’s Han Jiho!!!!!!

Han Jiho’s expression froze at 1Jiho’s chat, which shouted his name amidst the rowdy messages. For a moment, he was so surprised his heart felt like it was dropping.

‘…No way.’

There was no way. Recognizing that he was Han Jiho just by looking at his nickname? That was impossible. The only person who knew he was playing this game was Seo Jaeyoon. He hadn’t even mentioned it to anyone else.

Meanwhile, the chat continued.

[Party] 1Jiho: 98-nim, you have quite a rare name lolhh.

[Party] 1Jiho: Ah, I should have just done it like that too ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

[Party] 1Jiho: That looks prettier ㅠㅠㅠㅠ I want to make a new alt account.

[Party] HanJiHo98: Haha.. yes?

[Party] EchoThief: Hey, stop it, you otaku bastard. You’re scaring the newbie.

[Party] WrigglingDdorak: Are you one to talk? You were the one sniffing the newbie.

Han Jiho’s face, as he looked at the monitor, was filled with confusion. It was because he couldn’t understand what 1Jiho was talking about at all.

Then, he began to understand the situation somewhat from JunkCollectionMaster’s words.

[Party] JunkCollectionMaster: Are you a fan of Han Jiho too, 98-nim? lol

“Ah…”

1Jiho hadn’t realized he was the real Han Jiho. He had simply reacted to the name “Han Jiho” as a fan.

Only then did his heart, which had been racing in surprise, start to find its proper rhythm. Looking again, 1Jiho’s nickname was also a variation of Han Jiho.

‘I’m not a fan, I’m the real person.’

Han Jiho, swallowing words he couldn’t say, just let out an awkward laugh. He had never imagined he would encounter a situation like this.

[Party] 1Jiho: As expected lolol. You know what’s up lolol.

[Party] 1Jiho: Ha, I wonder what our King-God-Shining-Jiho-hyung is doing right now ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ I miss him ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

[Party] EchoThief: He’s probably eating and resting.

‘I’m not. I’m playing a game with you right now.’

Swallowing the words he couldn’t say as usual, Han Jiho watched their chat. Surprising stories were flowing out.

[Party] WrigglingDdorak: Looking at him, he seems like a Han Jiho collector too lol.

[Party] WrigglingDdorak: Wasn’t it him who scouted No. 1? lolol

[Party] EchoThief: lolol Yup, correct.

[Party] EchoThief: That guy is a Han Jiho superfan.

[Party] WrigglingDdorak: Ah, for real?

[Party] JunkCollectionMaster: Yup. A crazy fking otaku for Han Jiho.

[Party] cogus: ?

[Party] JunkCollectionMaster: …is what the Clan Leader said.

[Party] JunkCollectionMaster: Not my words;;

[Party] EchoThief: Junk, you’re pathetic.

[Party] JunkCollectionMaster: No, really;;

[Party] 1Jiho: Chaehyun-hyung, just admit it now. It’s pathetic.

[Party] cogus: lol Okay.

[Party] EchoThief: Ohhhhhhh~~~~~~~~~~

[Party] WrigglingDdorak: Is this a public proposal?

[Party] EchoThief: How can it be a proposal when there’s no one to accept it? lolol

What on earth was this about?

Han Jiho’s head spun at the conversation flowing frantically.

Who was “that guy” referring to, and what was a “fking otaku”?

In the midst of that chaotic conversation, a whisper arrived from cogus, who had been silent for a moment.

[Whisper] cogus: I’m sorry ㅠㅠ It’s a bit hectic, isn’t it?

[Whisper] HanJiHo98: lol It’s okay.

[Whisper] HanJiHo98: But who is the Vice-Clan Leader?

[Whisper] cogus: hh

[Whisper] cogus: Me.

[Whisper] HanJiHo98: Ah…

[Whisper] HanJiHo98: Really?

The expression on Han Jiho’s face, which had been typing with a gentle smile, slowly froze.

cogus was the Vice-Clan Leader.

If so, that meant the “crazy fking otaku” for him was cogus…?