[System: Dungeon duration has ended.]
[In 10 seconds, you will be forcibly moved to ‘Elysium Plaza’.]
“W-wait! I’m not ready yet…!”
Doyeong shouted urgently, but the system was merciless. The screen flickered white.
Swoosh—Bang!
The moment the loading bar hit 100%, Doyeong’s monitor screamed.
Wheeeeeeeng-!
The CPU cooler spun wildly. The screen started freezing, then completely stalled.
Elysium Plaza. The gathering square where all the server’s users convened.
In the middle of it, two people suddenly dropped, freshly marked with the ignominious nickname ‘Zero-Won Couple’ by the server announcement.
[FPS: 3]
“Ah… no way…”
Frozen on the screen, Doyeong had to endure the terror of the chat window wildly scrolling.
[General] Gelato: Wow, they appeared!! Zero-Won Couple!!!
[General] New York Heart: Oppa!!! Who’s that beggar? Just ditch him right now!!!
[General] Kichis: Huh, what’s that? They have something connected on their wrists?
[General] ASDF: Crazy… Red Chain? No doubt about it. Zero must’ve been obsessively clingy?
[General] Awakening Shukang: Whoa, awesome lol. Their names are 0 and Won. Fate? But why is the partner a rabbit wearing overalls lol
[General] Passing Mom: Look at the rabbit’s gear lol Holding a hoe. Looks like Zero went on rural volunteer work.
Hundreds of users wrapped around them in layers, gleefully watching. The graphics card seemed about to burn from overload.
Then it hit. A heavy pressure tightening Doyeong’s lower abdomen.
Was it from the tension dropping or the sudden situation change? The bodily urge he’d been holding back suddenly surged like a burst dam. The crowd around was scary, but the greater danger was the risk of his dignity being wrecked.
“Ugh…”
Doyeong twisted in his chair, crossing his legs. Still, game manners had to be kept.
[Party] Won: Hey. I gotta pee.
With trembling hands, Doyeong typed. The lag made his words appear one keystroke late. Whether knowing or not about Doyeong’s desperation, 0 typed back in sync.
[Party] 0: No.
[Party] Won: It’s urgent. Will your company take responsibility if my bladder bursts?
Crossing his legs, Doyeong typed desperately. Meanwhile, 0 casually waved to surrounding users and responded.
[Party] 0: Sir. Do you see my character? The entire server is watching me right now.
0’s character turned toward Doyeong amidst the crowd. He pointed at the users surrounding them.
[Party] 0: Don’t you see the look in those hyenas’ eyes?
[Party] 0: What if someone PKs you and kills you while you’re in the bathroom? They’d slaughter you instantly even in town.
Users nearby were indeed seen drawing blades.
[General] Patient Service: Guys, can I hit that rabbit once? Testing its defense.
[General] Neowunya: Go go, if you hit him, I’ll join too.
0’s words weren’t excuses. This place was a lawless zone.
[Party] 0: What do you want me to do, leave my post and get attacked? No way.
[Party] Won: Then you want me to pee right here?
[Party] Won: Listen carefully. If I pee here, the embarrassing one is me…
[Party] Won: But the one dragging a piss-pet around is you. It’s your precious ‘pride’ that’ll be shattered.
0’s fingers stopped at Doyeong’s logically sound threat. After a moment of thought, 0 chuckled and turned on his mic.
“Wow… you really never miss a beat, hyung.”
His voice was languid and sticky, with a twisted sort of enjoyment beneath it.
“Fine. Go do your thing. But…”
0’s voice dropped a tone.
“Leave the door open when you go.”
[Party] Won: ……Are you crazy?
“I have to keep an eye on you. See if you run or not.”
[Party] Won: Are you nuts?
“Don’t turn off your headset. Keep the sound on. I want to hear everything – flushing, clothes, all to feel safe.”
[Party] Won: ……You’re insane.
“Why? Embarrassed?”
0 clicked his tongue.
“I blew 30 million won on this dungeon entry ticket, but you’re too stingy to open up one little privacy?”
[Party] Won: ….
“Do the math. See which one’s cheaper.”
Biting his lip, Doyeong stayed silent. The other player was striking exactly where Doyeong couldn’t say no. But he couldn’t take it anymore either. Doyeong ripped off his headset and tossed it harshly onto the desk.
[Party] Won: …Fine. Listen up, listen. You pervert.
He flung the door wide and dashed to the bathroom. With a bang, the bathroom door hit the wall.
A moment later. The raw, unmistakable sound of water trickling filled the room.
On the screen, 0’s character leaned on its hand. At the same time, 0’s owner curled a smirk on his lips.
“Sounds are… pretty explicit.”
0 rested his chin and savored the noise leaking from the headset.
“You’re defenseless, sir.”
Having finished his emergency mission, Doyeong hurriedly put his headset on again.
Thankfully, 0 had stayed put, surrounded by a crowd of users, waiting for him.
[Party] Won: …I’m back.
[Party] 0: That was fast. Did you wash your hands?
[Party] Won: Shut up. Just move fast. Too many people, lagging hard.
He meant it. The number of characters around was so huge the noise from the rig sounded like a plane preparing for takeoff. Every time the chat scrolled up, he felt dizzy. His head throbbed, breathing came quick.
Do I still have the energy to play…?
Shouldn’t I just go home and stomp on this?
The verbal abuse he’d dreamt about and relived was flashing before his eyes again. Even knowing these aren’t real conversations happening now, his body trembled.
Fortunately, 0 got up without argument.
[Party] 0: Okay. I’ll teleport to the guild hideout. Follow me.
A blue magic circle appeared around 0’s character. Doyeong’s character, linked by the shackles, stepped onto it.
Vwoooosh—Tap!
But instead of moving, the magic circle shattered with a hollow sound.
[System Error: Party member ‘Won’ has not discovered the ‘Waypoint’ in this area.]
[Cannot move.]
“……Sigh.”
0’s deep sigh echoed through the headset.
“Right. You’re a broke loser with nothing.”
[Party] Won: ….
“You don’t even have the map unlocked, no money, no gear… You really just brought your body.”
[Party] Won: …Sorry.
“Can’t be helped. We’ll have to walk. It’s just a bit to the guild hideout entrance.”
0 took the lead. Doyeong hurriedly right-clicked 0’s character and clicked [Follow].
The problem was that ‘bit’ meant walking down a runway lined with thousands of watching players.
[General] MyGodMyGod: Wow, they’re moving!
[General] DoThisNotThat: Follow! Follow!
As 0 moved, hundreds of users filling the plaza swelled like a tide.
[General] JooMen: Oppa! Put shackles on me too! Please!
[General] StrangeMrWeird: Hey, stop blocking the way —_—
[General] MindBody: Hey rabbit. Be honest. How much did you pay for this account?
[General] HonestlyIDontKnow: Did you catch Zero’s weakness? Blackmail? Or his mom and dad? Lol
The chat was full of snide mockery beyond curiosity. Users deliberately blocked Doyeong’s character, sprayed flashy skills to obscure vision.
Flash! Bang!
Every time a skill’s effect exploded in front of him, the screen stuttered.
“Ugh…”
Breathing hitched. The characters on screen seemed to be getting closer.
“Hah… huff…”
Biting his lip, Doyeong clenched the mouse. He wanted to run, log out, hide under the blanket. But the shackles forbid it.
Then.
“…Sir?”
0’s voice pierced through the headset. The playful tone from before was gone.
“Why’s your breathing like that?”
Doyeong startled and covered his mouth.
Shoot. He’d rushed to the bathroom and hadn’t turned off his mic. His irregular, ragged breathing traveled perfectly through the high-end headset to 0.
“Sir, are you okay? Hey, Won.”
0 called again, but Doyeong couldn’t respond. His throat felt tight.
On screen, users continuously poked and tapped Doyeong’s character as they passed. It felt as if he was being hit for real.
“Ugh…”
As Doyeong lowered his head to collapse onto the desk.
Kuuuuung―!
On screen, 0’s character suddenly halted. Behind him, a colossal pillar of light surged, overwhelming the plaza’s noise.
[Skill Cast: Summon – ‘Heavenly Sovereign’]
With a scream that pierced eardrums, a massive shadow engulfed the users.
A huge golden-maned dragon appeared. The one and only legendary rank mount on the server.
With a powerful flap of its gigantic wings, surrounding users were pushed back with cries of shock. Forced space was secured.
“Ride.”
0’s decisive voice sounded.
[System: ‘0’ has requested a 2-person mount.]
While Doyeong stared blankly at the screen, 0 spoke again.
