So, when we played games together or streamed, it wasn’t that different from usual.
To be exact, when conversing through chat, Banye answered me like usual and acted in a way that didn’t make me feel any particular sense of discord.
[Guild][Banyecredit] Banye-ssi behind you!
[Guild][Aang] ok
Tap tap, tap tap.
But that was all. Even when we were in the same room, Banye didn’t give me a single word, let alone a glance.
Of course, he didn’t usually affectionately talk to me either, but still…… I definitely felt an atmosphere that was different from that.
‘It’s awkward……’
Since we’re each just staring holes into our own screens, it’s like we came to a PC room…….
Of course, if I gave in to this atmosphere here and spoke to Banye first, and Banye accepted it, the atmosphere might lighten up again.
However, then…….
‘I’ll be assigning meaning to Banye’s every action by myself again, digging myself into a hole…… It’s obvious. Haah, I don’t want that.’
Rather than repeating this vicious cycle, wouldn’t it be better for both of us to keep some distance from now on?
While I was worrying about this and that, Banye had already finished the dungeon.
I reflexively greeted him.
[Guild][Banyecredit] Good work Banye-ssi!
[Guild][Aang] gw
Unlike in chat, reality was still silent.
Slide.
Then Banye smoothly got up from his seat as if to leave, and I flinched but didn’t turn to look at Banye.
The sound of the door opening was heard, and only after he left the room did I let out the sigh I’d been holding.
“Haah……”
Then I released the tension I’d been holding in my back for no reason, and slumped over the desk limply, pressing my cheek against it.
“……”
What should I do in a situation like this?
‘Should I ask Nanneomukeoeyeowo-ssi once……’
I did feel like I was relying too much on Nanneomukeoeyeowo recently…… But each time, Nanneomukeoeyeowo told me not to think that way, saying he liked listening to stories.
He’s a kind person. So I decided to try talking to him about today’s worries too.
‘Before that.’
I looked back, wondering if Banye might come back in. The door was quiet, and there was no sign of Banye coming back in.
More than anything, recently after we’d become cold with each other, he only ran the dungeons we needed to run in the game, and once he went into his room he didn’t come out, so after leaving like this, there was no chance of running into him for several hours.
I became gloomy again at that thought, but anyway, I opened a 1:1 chat window with Nanneomukeoeyeowo.
[Aang] Nanneomukeoeyeowo-ssi you there
[Nanneomukeoeyeowo] I’m here lol
[Nanneomukeoeyeowo] What’s up?
And Nanneomukeoeyeowo immediately answered me today too.
I was very glad to see him like that.
[Aang] Ha…
[Aang] A friend is acting annoying lately what should I do…
So I immediately got to the point. At my words, Nanneomukeoeyeowo laughed [lololol] then asked [How is your friend acting?].
I was about to explain every little detail, but I hesitated as reality hit me a bit.
Fortunately, Nanneomukeoeyeowo was a good person who understood my feelings. Instead of urging me to speak, he just suggested we play a game together.
He also coaxed me into doing voice chat together.
“It’s been a while since we did this together, Discord.”
“Yeah……”
“Which dungeons do you have left for Banyecredit?”
“I…… don’t think I’ve been to Rose Garden?”
“Then let’s start with Rose Garden?”
I formed a party with Nanneomukeoeyeowo and ran through Rose Garden.
The boss of Rose Garden, which could be called the prototype of Lilith, was a beautiful female boss monster who used a thorn vine whip.
Still, these days I could clear Rose Garden without dying, so Nanneomukeoeyeowo and I chatted leisurely while slowly running the dungeon.
“You’ve been doing mainly buffer lately, but you haven’t lost your touch with attacks. But why do you only do buffer?”
“……Because Banye told me to do buffer.”
“Ah. Um…… From what I see, you’re good at attacking too, so how about suggesting you run as a duo?”
“It’s not the kind of atmosphere to say that, lately……”
I only said that much and let out a long sigh. Since it was an unintentional sigh, I was a bit surprised too.
After a brief silence, Nanneomukeoeyeowo said to me.
“How about trying to have a conversation? It’s good to accommodate Banye-nim, but……”
“……No.”
I shook my head without even listening to all of his words.
A power struggle with Banye was enough for now. I felt that if we showed any more conflict of opinions, Banye might just leave the house.
Since I didn’t wish to never see him again, I was just lying low and waiting for this period to pass.
Ding.
But then, suddenly someone entered the voice chat that had only been the two of us.
Only then realizing that this was the guild members’ Discord channel and therefore others could enter, I flinched slightly in surprise and closed my mouth.
Nanneomukeoeyeowo also closed his mouth after trying to say something, and breaking through this unnatural silence, someone started a quarrel with a frivolous voice.
“Did I interrupt a good time?”
It was Anaki.
“What are you saying!”
I shouted at Anaki. Anaki giggled then asked “Where’s Banye?”
This guy and that guy, I was annoyed that they only mentioned Banye, Banye whenever they saw me, so I snapped curtly.
“I don’t know!”
“If you don’t know, who does? Then what were you guys doing?”
“We were running Rose Garden.”
Nanneomukeoeyeowo answered calmly. Hearing that, Anaki sneered.
“Rose Garden? Why would max levels go there? You were carrying Aang again.”
I wanted to strangle Anaki for being right and so annoying.
“If you’re not going to do it, be quiet!”
“Why should I do it? Banye and Nanneomukeoeyeowo are both already attending to you.”
I fumed because I didn’t like the expression “attending to.”
“We’re not! I fight too!”
“In the first place, those two don’t even need to go there, they’re going because of you. Tsk tsk…… You still don’t get it.”
But it was impossible to win with words against Anaki who was well-versed in the game and had already maxed level.
Still, I wanted to beat Anaki, so I blurted out the fact that Nanneomukeoeyeowo had told me about Anaki.
“You wore the uniform I made too!”
“……What?”
“I, it’s true! I know you put it on your alt!”
“……”
I’d said it because I didn’t want to lose, but seeing Anaki unexpectedly at a loss for words, I started to feel good.
‘Is this why Anaki goes around picking fights?’
I said triumphantly to the speechless Anaki.
“Why do you wear it in secret! Just wear it proudly!”
“……Who told you? Banye?”
“What are you saying. I saw it with my own eyes.”
“You’re lying.”
“Haha. I told him.”
“Loose-lipped bastard.”
Anaki vented his anger at Nanneomukeoeyeowo for no reason and got annoyed, but in the end he didn’t say he hadn’t worn the uniform. I found that fact funny and kept giggling.
Ding.
Then, another guild member entered.
“Hi there.”
It was Haeyam.
Since this was my first time doing Discord voice chat with Haeyam, I was a bit nervous.
But then, suddenly as soon as Haeyam came, Anaki said to me.
“I wore it because Haeyam told me to. When the sub-guild master tells you to wear it, you have to wear it, what else can I do?”
“What?”
Haeyam seemed flustered by Anaki’s ugly attack, suddenly latching onto him as soon as he arrived.
I said with a grin.
“Did Haeyam tell you to always keep it on your alt?”
“……Ah.”
At those words, Haeyam seemed to realize it was about the uniform and let out a short sigh.
From then on, I enthusiastically teased Anaki.
“Anaki-ya, if you don’t say mean things from now on, I’ll make you a black rabbit hat.”
“Fuck off.”
“You’re not saying you don’t need it.”
“Make Banye wear it.”
“……Banye wears them well though? If it’s black, he’ll still wear it.”
“Puhaha. Can’t be helped, even for Banye.”
Of course, whenever Banye’s nickname came up in between, my chest felt a bit stuffy, but still I felt like I could breathe a bit easier than before.
“But what’s Banye doing now?”
“……I don’t know.”
“He did a live stream earlier and then left.”
“He’s been streaming pretty diligently these days. Does being a streamer suit him unexpectedly?”
“Right. I thought that bastard would quit after like a week.”
However, the Banye talk that started with Haeyam’s question didn’t end. Just as I was keeping my mouth tightly shut, Anaki suddenly said something strange.
“Honestly, if he’d done it alone, he would’ve quit 100%. He quits right away if he’s even a little annoyed.”
Huh? What is he talking about?
But no one refuted Anaki’s words.
