Chapter 28: Cloudy Days and Persistent Gifts

5: A Simple Thank You

After devouring the parfait and honey bread, I headed to the PC café with my friends, no big incidents.

Luckily, I didn’t ruin any games today and even pulled off some smooth wins. My skills are visibly improving. Heh.

Back home, after an early dinner, the sun dips below the horizon. I trudge to my bed, flop down, and since it’s dark…

“Ugh.”

I pass out.

The next day, I fire up the RPG again.

I got too much stuff to quit after just one day…

A login notification pops up, followed by a flood of handshake requests in the chat.

—BekGoe: River-nim, you’re here? lol
—vlwmrlaqkq: River-nim’s on!
—vlwmrlaqkq: Hi haha
—ZlJohnBishopZlJohn: Yo

They didn’t even greet me last time.

Still, it’s only polite to return a greeting. I type back.

—Riverflow: Hi

Time to tackle daily quests, then weekly ones, and retry yesterday’s failed boss raid. That’s today’s to-do list.

Perfect.

Not sure why this game feels like a job… Maybe that’s why it’s dying.

As I plan, someone pings me in the chat.

—YayongYengYong: Hi, River-nim! ^^
—Riverflow: Hi

YayongYengYong—Yayong for short.

Yesterday, they were the center of guild chat. For some reason, today it’s me.

They barely glanced at me yesterday, so this sudden attention reminds me of that ominous question mark. Feels uneasy. But it’s just a gut feeling—can’t judge someone based on that.

As I ponder, Yayong continues.

—YayongYengYong: Heard you’re a girl like me! lol
—Riverflow: Yup
—YayongYengYong: It’s fate we met—wanna be friends? haha

“Uh, hmm.”

Does revealing my gender cause this much of a stir? People who ignored me are suddenly so friendly.

I was a guy… Feels like I’m deceiving them. But I can’t exactly tell random gamers my life story.

Technically, I am a girl now, so it’s not lying. Just… doesn’t sit right with me.

Anyway.

I’ve been thinking too long. I quickly type a reply.

—Riverflow: Sure
—YayongYengYong: Yay, thanks, River-nim! ><
—YayongYengYong: How old are you?
—Riverflow: 21
—YayongYengYong: Oh, 21! haha
—YayongYengYong: I’m 20, a freshman! lol

Asking my age right away, huh?

No wonder they were the guild’s focal point yesterday—Yayong’s super sociable. Probably?

Freshman, huh? Nice time of life.

… Not that I’m far past that myself.

Enough chit-chat. Time for daily quests.

Daily quests are usually tough for newbies, so people team up—either with other newbies to struggle or with veterans for a carry.

But not for me. The gear I got yesterday makes my stats way overpowered for my level.

I could’ve gone with a couple of people, but with my specs, soloing’s easy.

Still!

These games are fun with others. If I solo everything, I’ll get bored and jump to another game.

Sure, I’m only playing now because I got so much stuff, but if I’m doing it, I might as well have fun.

With that in mind, I type.

—Riverflow: Anyone for dailies?

The chat explodes instantly.

—vlwmrlaqkq: Invite me pls haha
—BekGoe: River-nim, wanna do it together?
—ZlJohnBishopZlJohn: Oh shit, there’s a cockroach in my houseㅜ

There’s some random chat in there, but whatever. I invite them, and just as we’re about to head out, Yayong chimes in.

—YayongYengYong: River-nim, I’ll join too! haha

No reason to say no. I invite Yayong, confirm no one else is coming, and we head out for dailies.

Pop pop pop!

Slimes burst helplessly under my merciless blade. With that, a Clear! message pops up, and the daily quest is done.

As expected, my overpowered stats made it a breeze. With three extra people, I could’ve done it with my eyes closed.

Yup. This is how games should be.

This game’s difficulty balance is weird, though. Daily quests shouldn’t be that hard for newbies.

—BekGoe: Good job haha
—vlwmrlaqkw: Nice work lol
—Riverflow: Good job

A wave of “good job” messages. I add mine.

And, predictably, BekGoe follows up.

—BekGoe: River-nim, I got a [Divine Heart+9] this time—

His message is cut off by another.

—YayongYengYong: Good job, River-nim! ^^
—YayongYengYong: You’re so good at this game…
—YayongYengYong: Dailies are so hard for me ㅠㅠ

Yayong’s messages flood in, pushing BekGoe’s up like leaves in a storm. He doesn’t find a chance to continue.

Dailies are hard, huh?

I rest my chin on my hand, tapping my lips, thinking.

Doesn’t Yayong have decent specs? From what I saw yesterday, they got a ton of stuff.

Guess difficulty feels different for everyone. I’m used to games, but others might not be.

—Riverflow: No big deal
—Riverflow: I just play a lot

As I type, Yayong cuts in again.

—YayongYengYong: Oh, you play a lot! haha
—YayongYengYong: I’m not good at games since I don’t play much ㅠㅠ
—YayongYengYong: I spend my time playing piano, so I don’t have much for games ㅠㅠ
—BekGoe: Whoa, you play piano, Yayong-nim?
—YayongYengYong: Yup.. haha, not well though
—BekGoe: Bet you look super pretty playing piano…

The conversation shifts to them.

Whatever, doesn’t matter.

Piano, huh?

I’ve lived a life far from instruments, but I touched a piano once.

Back in first grade, for some reason I can’t recall, I went to a piano academy.

Ding ding, do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do.

I played the basics for a few days before quitting. Still, it’s a fun memory. How often do you get to touch a piano?

That was also when I learned I have zero talent for arts or sports.

Ahem.

Time to tackle that boss we failed yesterday.

—Riverflow: Hard Durandal, need help, 1/5

The moment I post, the chat explodes.

—BekGoe: Invite me, River-nim! haha
—ZlJohnBishopZlJohn: Same party as yesterday?
—vlwmrlaqkq: Invite me too, River-nim
—KimParakSae: Invite pls
—ZlJohnBishopZlJohn: Wait, why’s everyone in but me?
—ZlJohnBishopZlJohn: Invite me too

KimParakSae’s there too. I thought they were offline since they were quiet.

I invite everyone, and unintentionally, it’s the same party as yesterday. That’s actually good—familiar teammates should sync well.

I open Discord and join the same voice channel as yesterday.

Ding!

BekGoe’s voice greets me instantly.

<Aww, River-nim’s here. Hehe.>

That same oily voice makes me grimace, but I force my face to relax.

No need to frown over a voice.

“Uh, hi.”

<Oh, River-nim. I forgot to give you something earlier. Hehe, want it?>

“Uh, yeah. Thanks…”

BekGoe tries to give me the item Yayong’s chat buried earlier. Like yesterday, it’s another pricey piece forced into my hands.

My combat power spikes again, but I’m uneasy.

Why do they keep giving me stuff?

It’s partly my fault for not refusing clearly, but… isn’t this too much? It’s a one-time trade item, so I can’t even return it.

Feeling like quitting is getting further away, I start the boss raid.

Today’s raid ends in another close failure, just like yesterday. As I shut down the game to head to the PC café to meet friends…

—YayongYengYong: Anyone for Durandal? ㅠㅠ
—BekGoe: Sorry, used my tries
—vlwmrlaqkw: Me too…

The same déjà vu from yesterday hits, along with that vague menacing vibe.

—YayongYengYong: Aw, no choice then…

The next message seems normal enough.

The sky is extra cloudy as I head to meet my friends.