# Chapter 18
“Uh, well, I mean, isn’t it… isn’t it a bit too early?”
“Hm?”
Trying not to be fooled by those innocent eyes that pretended to know nothing, Wonyoung continued.
“Let’s… take it slow. There were some surprising things today. I’m so overwhelmed I don’t even feel hungry. You must be tired too, you should go home and rest.”
“Is that so… I suppose you’re right…”
“And, oh right. I haven’t given you my contact info yet, have I? Give me your phone.”
After all, Baek Heegang was currently the most promising character to pursue. If he already had that unpleasant Taerim’s contact information, he couldn’t leave out Heegang.
Wonyoung called his own number using Heegang’s phone, then returned it.
“Call me when you have time. I’m unemployed right now anyway.”
“Huh?”
“We can meet again. Today isn’t the only day. We can see each other plenty of times in the future.”
‘Though I’ll consider going to your place maybe in 10 years.’
Unable to hear Wonyoung’s inner thoughts, Heegang lightly pinched his cheek and sighed.
“I knew you’d say something like that.”
‘Did I… just get my cheek pinched?’
Shocked by the fact that he had been pinched on the cheek like a child, a mission completion notification appeared before Wonyoung’s eyes.
‘It’s completed? Then what was the ??? part? Was it really the police?’
While thinking about the mission content, Wonyoung once again missed something very important that Heegang said.
“You’re right, we’ll have plenty of opportunities in the future.”
That one seemingly meaningful sentence.
Eventually, Wonyoung arrived safely at home with his chastity intact. As he got out of the car, Heegang also stepped out.
“Go inside then, Rae.”
“Y-yeah, you too.”
Almost saying “yeah” but quickly changing his words, Wonyoung waved goodbye without any lingering feelings and went inside. But just before the door closed, Heegang spoke up.
“Rae.”
“Yes?”
“I’m a bit relieved about today’s events, but don’t get involved with trash like gangsters.”
“…What?”
“If things seem dangerous, I’ll step in, but you’re such a good-hearted person.”
“What do you mean…”
Wonyoung was about to protest at this sudden remark, but Heegang cut him off.
“Do as I say. Got it?”
“…”
Was it his imagination that the perfect smile seemed somehow twisted? As Wonyoung was staring at Heegang, wondering about this, the vibration of a phone broke the strange silence.
“Ah, it’s the company. I should go. Get inside safely.”
“…Okay, you too.”
Wonyoung turned and closed the door. Soon, the sound of the car engine gradually faded away.
‘Is he talking about today’s events?’
While showering and thinking about Heegang’s final words, Wonyoung’s gaze suddenly fell on the BL books sitting in a corner. That naturally made him think of someone.
‘Ki Siyeon.’
…No way.
“It can’t be.”
How would Baek Heegang know about Ki Siyeon? Wonyoung dismissed it as unimportant and lay down on his bed, trying to forget the vaguely uneasy feeling.
* * *
A pure white space. Wonyoung looked around, feeling an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.
‘Why am I here?’
He felt like he’d been to a place like this before. Just as he was thinking that, a glowing orb suddenly appeared.
“Player! Congratulations on successfully completing the prologue!”
Seeing the System, Wonyoung finally remembered everything and made a sour face. He was still in the midst of this terrible game.
The System floated around him and asked “Are you crying?” and almost got hit.
“Don’t worry too much, Player! Despite everything, you successfully completed the prologue! Now the main story of ‘Is Being Abangsu Also a Sin?’ begins! Isn’t that thrilling?”
Thrilling, my ass. But Wonyoung no longer got upset over small things. He just let out a rather long sigh.
“I know. This isn’t just a simple nightmare, and I have to seduce those lunatics.”
The realist Heo Wonyoung had somewhat accepted this reality. For his eagerly desired return home, he ultimately had to play along with this game. That was the lesson he had learned through the bizarre experiences since entering this game.
However, before playing along with the game, there were things he absolutely needed to confirm. Wonyoung asked the glowing orb:
“System-ssi. What is the age rating for this game?”
For some reason, the System smirked at that question (it didn’t actually have facial features, but somehow it seemed that way).
“Our ‘Is Being Abangsu Also a Sin?’ aims for moral and ethical gameplay based on social norms.”
“Don’t beat around the bush. You must have an official rating. Just tell me straight.”
“We haven’t received an official rating, Player.”
“What does that mean… Ah, is it in beta testing?”
The System nodded. Wonyoung frowned. It seemed this arrogant orb had no intention of confessing honestly. But then the System added something unexpected.
“Beta testing is meant to catch game bugs, but it’s also to hear players’ opinions and improve the game.”
Wonyoung paused at those words. According to the System, the game’s age rating could change based on player feedback. If so…
‘Perhaps the game’s age rating… hasn’t been decided yet.’
If he played it in a wholesome manner, it could be rated 7+, or even for all ages. Maybe the game itself worked that way.
Having reached a positive conclusion by running his optimism circuits at full power, Wonyoung was about to rejoice but stopped. He couldn’t figure out the System’s true intentions in giving him this advantageous information.
‘There’s no way this orb would help me.’
“So, Player.”
As expected, watching the System begin to speak as if it had been waiting for this moment, Wonyoung guessed it wanted something. Then the System made a sudden statement.
“Could you stop calling me all the time?”
When Wonyoung looked at it as if asking “what are you talking about,” it continued.
“I have absolutely no control over the game’s progression. Changing choices or modifying dialogue is beyond my authority. I can’t help you with those aspects at all, so please stop seeking me out like you’re calling 911 every time something happens.”
Wonyoung felt momentarily embarrassed by the torrent of words. Had he really called for it that much? But that feeling quickly gave way to rising anger at who had put him in this situation.
“What do you mean you’re not helpful, System-ssi? Every time a choice appears, beating up System-ssi might make me feel a bit better.”
At Wonyoung’s sneering remark, the System subtly increased the distance between them.
“If that’s the case, you definitely won’t be seeing me anymore…?”
“Tsk.”
In the end, it was Wonyoung who had more to lose. He reached an agreement with the System: it would always appear when called, as long as Wonyoung promised not to hit it and not to call it too frequently.
“Now then, shall we dive into the bittersweet story with the three men?”
“What? No, suddenly?”
Wonyoung was taken aback by the System’s abrupt attempt to send him back into the game, but the System was insistent.
“Shout it out! CUTE LOVE START!”
“…”
“The game won’t start unless you say the slogan!”
After silently glaring at the System for a moment, Wonyoung sighed. This too was part of playing along with the game.
“Just think about going home, Heo Wonyoung.”
This might be the last time he could mutter in his original speaking style. Trying not to forget his precious true self, Wonyoung opened his mouth.
“Cu…”
Cu… Cu… After stammering “cu cu,” Wonyoung irritably stomped his foot once.
Why did they make such a slogan? Imagining delivering a flaming kick to the game developer’s face, Wonyoung finally shouted:
“CUTE LOVE START!”
Immediately, his vision began to turn white. But in the midst of this, the System muttered “Oops” and a notification window suddenly appeared before Wonyoung’s fading vision.
[Prologue completion reward has been given.]
[Reward: ───]
Then Wonyoung’s consciousness was cut off.
* * *
“Aaaah!”
Opening his eyes, Wonyoung screamed at the face right in front of him and backed away, hitting his head on the bed’s headboard.
“Wow, are you okay? That must hurt.”
A face pretty enough to put most idols to shame smiled at Wonyoung. It was Ki Siyeon. Wonyoung floundered in shock before finally asking:
“Why are… you here?”
“Hmm, to see you, hyung?”
“…”
So he came silently while someone was sleeping and stayed quietly beside him until he woke up? Isn’t that just criminal?
“No, how did you get in? The key?”
“You slept without locking your door. That’s dangerous. You might get eaten up by someone like me.”
“What? I didn’t lock the door?”
“Would I have unlocked it?”
“…”
It seemed highly suspicious that he hadn’t locked the door, but it also seemed unlikely that Siyeon could have entered by any other means. More than how Siyeon got in, though, there was something else bothering Wonyoung.
“W-well, setting that aside, why are you…”
“Why what?”
“L-like that?”
“Ah.”
Seeing Wonyoung’s reddened face, Siyeon grinned and said:
“You mean, why am I naked?”
Trying not to look at the large flesh-colored mass of muscle, Wonyoung nodded. Siyeon had removed his top. It was truly a ferocious body that didn’t match his face, no matter when you saw it.
