“Our department has a lot of people. It’ll probably take some time, hyung-nim.”
“How long?”
“Generously, 2 weeks.”
He’d have to hack the school server to find out all his classmates’ class schedules, then run around on foot to confirm them directly. For Pyeonghwa, who wanted to cut ties with him as soon as possible, 2 weeks was far too long.
“That’s fine. That much.”
“Yes. Then can I go now…?”
“Go.”
“Yes. Then I wish you victory, hyung-nim!”
Pyeonghwa, who bent his waist 90 degrees and greeted him crisply, immediately turned around and fled with a clattering noise. Even as his legs gave out and he staggered, he didn’t stop walking.
‘Funny bastard.’
The leave of absence application that flew toward him, the name ‘Noh Pyeonghwa’ written there was the same as a boy who remained in Dohae’s memory.
An immature and cocky little brat who came into a Gate saying he wanted to awaken. The moment he confirmed the face, wondering if it could be that child, Dohae unconsciously let out a deflated laugh.
Three years was long enough for that tiny child to become an adult, but unfortunately, it didn’t seem to be enough for the baby fat to disappear.
Even though his bone structure had become distinctly masculine, perhaps because of his plump cheeks, he didn’t seem to have changed at all. Even the way he spouted out what he had to say with a frightened face was exactly the same.
‘He wanted to awaken so badly, so I guess he finally did.’
He was a guy who whined and begged that he got dizzy when he used his power, but now he seemed fine even right in front of him. Since the awakening rate was rising every year, it wasn’t surprising.
‘I was worried about having to go find Yoon Gyeom again, but this worked out well. That bastard feels uncomfortable because I saw him when he was young…’
After Pax’s first broadcast, Dohae made an appointment with Yoon Gyeom through Byun Taehui. Byun Taehui had overlapping active periods with Yoon Gyeom and called each other hyung and dongsaeng, but for Dohae, who had a large age gap, the S-rank Gate from 9 years ago was his first and last meeting with him. Considering what happened there, it could be uncomfortable, but Yoon Gyeom readily came out to meet Dohae.
—Haha. Back then, maybe because it was puberty, you were so edgy, but now you seem more mature than me.
The words Yoon Gyeom said with a good-natured laugh were enough to touch Dohae’s nerves.
At fifteen years old, the Gate he entered for the first time following Do Jeongwang was an S-rank Gate where half the raid died or got injured. The Dohae of that time couldn’t perform perfectly like now. He just gritted his teeth and pretended to be a good little kid to survive.
No matter how strong a Constellation he’d contracted with, how much could a child with no real combat experience accomplish in a Gate? In the beginning, he was at a level where it was fortunate if he wasn’t a burden. As a result, Dohae couldn’t perfectly hide his sensitive personality.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, the person who stuck right next to him trying to take care of this and that was Yoon Gyeom. Dohae found Yoon Gyeom, who had witnessed his weak and clumsy days, uncomfortable.
The bastard who even got his leg cut off doing stupid shit in that Gate, fuck, who’s he calling pubescent? Contrary to his harsh inner thoughts, Dohae folded his eyes prettily and smiled gently.
—Because a lot of time has passed.
—Yeah, right. But what’s this about? Taehui said you had something important to tell me.
—Pax.
—Pax?
—I heard you know who he is.
—…Why? Don’t tell me, because of malicious comments?
Yoon Gyeom’s energy became subtly sharp as if guarding against Dohae. It was energy far deeper and more refined than when he was an active Hunter.
Dohae inwardly sneered. Wherever he’d been rolling around, he was still the same pathetic bastard.
—No. Rather than that, I’ve recently become interested in that friend.
—Interest, what kind…?
—I’m thinking of raising him as a Hunter. On my team.
—…
Yoon Gyeom’s face was colored with dismay. To think there was someone in the Hunter industry who recognized Pyeonghwa’s genius. He’d been relieved because everyone in the gaming side was criticizing Pax while watching Golden Ball’s reaction.
And of all people, the one showing interest was Do Dohae. Joining his team as the Dojeon Guild successor meant his future life would be wide open. It would make Luckys’ recruitment offer look shabby.
—Haha… Dohae. I’ve got my eye on him too, so I can’t tell you. I want to make Pax a player on my team.
—Player… you mean pro gamer?
—Yeah. I was lucky enough to become a pro team coach this time. Here, here’s my business card.
Yoon Gyeom’s business card had the team name Luckys written on it. Dohae, who had no interest in games, had never heard of the place.
—Actually, I made a recruitment offer right after the last match… but got rejected. Flat out.
—What was the reason for rejection?
—He said he’s entering college this time and has a dream. He wants to be department representative, join clubs, and do things like that.
—Ah, college.
—I should try pushing a few more times. There’s nothing around our school except a kalguksu restaurant, so it’s only a matter of time before his fantasy shatters.
—I see. Since sunbae-nim called dibs first, I’ll back off.
Dohae pretended to back off without regret and finished the meal with Yoon Gyeom in a friendly atmosphere. As soon as Dohae, who leisurely came down to the parking lot, climbed into the driver’s seat, he hastily opened his phone.
He searched Yoon Gyeom’s alma mater on a portal site. Jangmak University Hunter Department. It was a place known as prestigious even in the Hunter industry, and there were a few graduates from there among Dohae’s team members.
Looking at the map, contour lines indicating it was a mountain valley overlapped in layers around the school. As Yoon Gyeom said, the only building nearby was a single kalguksu restaurant.
‘Fuck! Lying again? What Korea University!’
Dohae’s face twisted viciously. It wasn’t Korea University but Jangmak University. Jangmak University Virtual Reality Department. If even the department was a lie, he’d tear him apart right then and there.
It seemed like he was gradually getting a lead, but he still couldn’t be relieved. He was the type who would snap off his tail like a lizard and run away the moment he thought it was caught.
He obtained the freshman roster for Jangmak University’s Virtual Reality Department, but there were too many students to find him by name alone. It seemed he had no choice but to go to the school directly and check.
Dohae watched Pax’s broadcast every night and etched the outwardly visible physical characteristics into his eyes. The techware outfit Pax wore when gaming was tight-fitting, making it good for assessment.
Dohae memorized everything: that his waist was thinner than expected, that his posture was slightly crooked from using computers a lot, even his limb proportions. Not knowing that Pax actually went around wearing large and loose clothes, he mistakenly thought he’d recognize him at once if they met.
—I sleep around 5 after the broadcast ends, right? Wake up at 12, edit videos and stuff, and the day’s gone, you know. Shit, I’m not unemployed, I’m a full-time streamer, okay? It seems to suit me. I’m thinking of going down this path.
Dohae’s eyes, which had been dozing off using Pax’s chattering as a lullaby, snapped open. What? Full-time streamer? Going down that path? Then what about school? Dohae immediately sent Pax a message.
[Keep going to school you fucking irresponsible bastard don’t withdraw]
After the broadcast ended, a reply came saying when it comes to responsibility it’s Pax, and when it comes to Pax it’s responsibility. But he absolutely couldn’t trust this brazen bastard who habitually lied and toyed with people. Dohae constantly pressured him to diligently attend school.
Dohae rushed to Jangmak University on the date Pax said he’d go to school. But no matter how much he wandered around the building with the Virtual Reality Department lecture halls, he couldn’t see a body resembling Pax.
When he grabbed any passing student and asked, they said first-years have many general education classes, so they frequently move around to other department buildings. Moreover, everyone’s schedules were different, so there was no way to know who was taking which classes.
He was seething with anger at the complicated university system. He wanted to outright ask Pax where he was, but if he interrogated him persistently for no reason, he might run away. Dohae huffed and opened the main building’s front entrance.
At that moment, Noh Pyeonghwa’s leave of absence application flew before his eyes.
“Ah, seriously…! We’re done talking, hyung! I said I’d help. Why do you keep following me?”
Pyeonghwa, who was walking ahead, whipped around and shouted. Dohae walked with long strides without giving any answer. Why, why. Why…! Pyeonghwa backed away with a frightened face.
Thud. His retreat was blocked and there was nowhere left to run. As the huge body approached right up to his nose, the overwhelming presence was tremendous. Pyeonghwa squeezed his eyes shut and braced for the impact about to come.
“Hi, hiiik!”
“Move.”
Dohae pushed Pyeonghwa’s head, which was blocking the bus door, to the side with a swoosh. Pyeonghwa, who was pushed back a few steps, blinked his eyes as if bewildered. Dohae clicked his tongue in displeasure, tsk, and got on the bus.
“Ah shit, embarrassing.”
Pyeonghwa’s ears turned bright red. Do Dohae had only come to catch the bus, but he alone had mistakenly thought he was following him.
Pyeonghwa tried to act calm as he puffed up his cheeks and got on the bus. There weren’t many people on the bus returning to Jangmak Station.
Pyeonghwa, who was about to sit in an empty seat, made eye contact with Dohae. Why is he staring at me like that? Ah shit, does he mean for me to sit next to him… Pyeonghwa glanced at Dohae, then stealthily lowered his butt to the seat next to him.
“Fuck, there are so many seats, why sit here?”
“I’m sorry.”
Before his butt even touched the seat, an irritated curse dug deep into his ears. Pyeonghwa moved with a crab walk to the window seat across from him.
