After that, Dohae steadily exchanged messages with 404NotPax to dig up his personal information.
404NotPax was so talkative that sending one message would get three or four replies, but he turned defensive when it came to questions related to his personal information.
All he found out was the age of nineteen. Even that couldn’t be confirmed as fact.
[I said I’d send you a gift? Give me your address while I’m asking nicely]
[404NotPax: I don’t think we’re that close yet tho…]
[Fuck, we’ve been in contact for a whole month]
[404NotPax: The reply gaps are long so that’s why…?]
[Hah.. I can’t look at my phone when I’m working]
[404NotPax: Mmm… But ten hours is a bit too much…]
[404NotPax: My hands get itchy so I keep wanting to say bad things about DdoDdoHae…]
[404NotPax: If noona replies quickly I can hold back…><]
Whenever the contact gap grew long, 404NotPax would go back to posting malicious comments on the internet. Each time that happened, Haedo would fall ill. Dohae had no choice but to continue mandatory contact with him while pretending to be a woman.
Every time this gloomy malicious commenter called him noona, goosebumps rose all over, but he soon got used to that too.
At first, with nothing particular to say, he used 404NotPax like a memo pad—woke up and ate, exercised, wore what color clothes… Then occasionally vented when stressed, and when in a good mood, generously responded to his words.
‘Does this bastard have no pride?’
404NotPax was a strange guy. Even when Dohae acted like Jekyll and Hyde, he wagged his tail calling him noona, noona.
That didn’t mean he was docile though. He had a talent for making people angry with everything he said, and Dohae almost threw his phone several times.
About a month more passed like that. 404NotPax suddenly confessed to the virtual woman ‘DdoHae’ whose face he’d never seen.
[404NotPax: What do I do… I… I like noona so much…]
[404NotPax: More than friends… you know?ㅎ]
[404NotPax: Turns out a bold woman is my ideal type♡]
Pervert Hui’s words were right. 404NotPax was a stupid loser bastard who’d fall head over heels if a woman just treated him a little well.
What would his reaction be if he found out the woman he liked was the Do Dohae he so detested? Dohae suggested meeting him with a mischievous face. He’d give an answer to the confession when they met.
[404NotPax: Huh?ㅎ Meeting is a bit…ㅎ]
Unlike expected, 404NotPax didn’t go any further. Even after that, he suggested meeting dozens of times but was rejected every time.
Now it became a matter of pride. Dohae continued contact with him with the mindset of let’s see if you win or I win.
After interrogation, he found out he was a hikikomori. Since he was thorough enough to never mention his name or where he lived even by mistake, it was important to somehow drag him out of the house.
[If you’re nineteen, you’ll go to university next year]
[404NotPax: Yeah.. but I’m not going to university.. I don’t have anything I want to do either..ㅠ]
[Where are there people who do things because they want to? I don’t want to work either]
[404NotPax: No..ㅜ Noona and I are different.. I’m a kid who can’t do anything..ㅠ]
[Don’t whine without even trying]
[404NotPax: Hiiiiing]
The young punk was so negative and defeatist that Dohae started correcting his rotten head Sparta-style.
It felt unsettling that he was gradually becoming excessively dependent, but when he succeeded in getting him to take the college entrance exam not long after, it felt like the goal was right before his eyes.
404NotPax kept his mouth firmly shut about which university and which department he was applying to. Dohae endured, drawing the character for patience three times.
[Virtual Reality Department!! Noona I’m so so sorry for not keeping my promiseㅠㅠ I tried to hold back but I got accepted to Korea University and my hands are trembling and I can’t stand itㅠㅠ But you know I’ve improved a lot lately thanks to noona right?? When I go to university I’ll really really live properly!!♡♡]
Finally caught his tail. Korea University Virtual Reality Department? A vicious smile spread across Dohae’s beautiful face as he looked down at his phone.
*
“I swear. I, Noh Pyeonghwa, will not spew precious comments anymore…!”
A shut-in hikikomori in the corner of his room and a hopeless malicious commenter, Noh Pyeonghwa.
The moment Pyeonghwa decided to become a new person for her, the Constellation he’d so desired came to him.
<You have become the contractor of the Constellation of Division and Conflict, Agreon.>
“Wah… Wahaha…! Me too, me too…! I’ve finally awakened! Awakeeened!”
Pyeonghwa, unable to properly check the Constellation’s epithet of ‘Division and Conflict,’ raised both arms high into the sky and let out a strange cry.
“Yessss! Now I can play games toooo!”
Pyeonghwa imagined himself making a splendid debut as a pro gamer. What would that materialistic woman who brightened up at the mention of being a Korea University student react if he became a pro gamer?
She might tell him to stamp the marriage registration form right away! Pyeonghwa twisted his body while counting his chickens before they hatched.
“Ehehe… Noona, just wait 2 years for me.”
Pyeonghwa grinned foolishly and pressed a kiss—chu—on the phone screen where he’d been exchanging messages with her.
He firmly resolved that after splendidly achieving both transferring to Korea University and his pro debut, he would publicly propose to her.
“First I need to buy equipment.”
Pyeonghwa sat in front of his computer and searched for <Last On> dedicated VR equipment. Since the price range was too high for individuals to purchase, the game company provided rental services. Pyeonghwa shrewdly took advantage of the university student discount and applied for a 24-month rental.
Next was clothes shopping. He needed preparation to go outside. Since he’d grown over 20cm from when he first shut himself in the house, none of his outdoor clothes fit. Pyeonghwa filled his shopping cart with clothes, bags, and shoes with an excited face.
“…But what was the Constellation’s name again. Aggro-something? Aggro-bug?”
Only after the sunlight outside the window changed to a dusky sunset glow did he remember that he hadn’t checked what was actually important.
It seemed like it was Aggro-something, but since it was a Constellation he’d never encountered in his life, his brain seemed to have auto-skipped it.
“It’s not like I’m going to become a Hunter anyway. As long as it’s not malicious.”
Whether it was Aggro-guy or bug or shit, it didn’t matter. Anyway, in the game, Awakeners’ stats are adjusted to similar levels.
Skills were more important. Even if it was a crappy skill, he was confident he could utilize it 200%, but since three skills could be registered per match, he hoped to at least have that many.
“Status window! Kuuh…!”
Pyeonghwa exclaimed the words he’d so wanted to say and was moved once again. A crackling hologram window immediately appeared before his eyes.
<Main Quest: World Peace!>
He wanted to open the status window to check his awakening skills, but completely unexpected words were written inside the hologram.
“If it’s a quest…”
Constellations only give something without compensation when making a contract. After that, one had to complete quests and receive rewards.
Receiving a quest from a Constellation was proof that the Constellation had a lot of interest in their contractor.
“Yes, total profit!”
Quests could yield substantial rewards upon success, but the penalty for failure was also considerable. Since they usually asked the contractor’s intention in advance, if it seemed difficult, one could just refuse.
Pyeonghwa casually tapped the system window. With an effect like turning a page, quest details appeared in succession.
<Aah! Destruction is right around the corner. (ToT)~~~
Collect Aggro Points to protect world peace!( •̀ ω •́ )✧
Time remaining until destruction: 364d 23:59:59
Upon success: Wish fulfillment
Upon failure: World destruction
Would you like to proceed with the tutorial? Yes / Nod>
Pyeonghwa blinked with a bewildered face. What’s world destruction, and what are Aggro Points…
Ugh, I’ll pass on annoying things. Pyeonghwa stretched out his index finger and pressed the button labeled ‘No.’
“Crazy! That’s not No!”
After pressing it and looking carefully, it said ‘Nod.’ He didn’t know what ‘Nod’ meant, but Pyeonghwa sensed he was fucked.
Ah, this bastard’s malicious. The moment he realized that fact, all the text in the system window disappeared.
<10, 9, 8, 7…>
The number 10 appeared in the center of the empty screen and began decreasing rapidly.
“Wait! Cancel, cancel it!”
Pyeonghwa flailed his arms to get rid of the system window. His arms passed through the hologram with crackling sounds, but the numbers didn’t disappear.
<3, 2, 1. Starting the tutorial!>
“Shi…!”
His vision flickered.
“‘Does this bastard have no pride?’
404NotPax was a strange guy. Even when Dohae acted like Jekyll and Hyde, he wagged his tail calling him noona, noona.“ when pyeonghwa falls he falls for one person only and it really doesn’t matter what they’re like. he promised he’d never fall again so TT he’ll take anything. also. lololol pyeonghwa met his match