Love Games
Translator: She.Wee
——
Chapter 2
[Guild] Star: Wow, look at the guts of this guy… Seriously, look he really did send his number.
[Guild] Star: Is that really his actual number?
[Guild] BugMan: Whoa…
[Guild] Star: Meowie, could you please call to see if it’s really Cheon Noeul? Please, I beg you
[Guild] Neutaaaa: You call him yourself -ㅅ-
[Guild] Star: Ugh
[Guild] PeaPea: Are they really meeting up? LOL I want to see it. But I might have to work overtime next week. Manager Park will kill me.
[Guild] Star: [Breaking News] Manager Park is very healthy….
[Guild] PeaPea: …?
[Guild] Neutaaaa: Ugh, only I don’t have Manager Park. I’m jealous of you, PeaPea.
[Guild] PeaPea: Are you challenging me to a fight….
[Guild] Star: LOL
Before the number got lost in the flood of guild chat, Kyung-soo quickly dialed the number Cheon Noel had sent him on his phone. At that moment, the PvP session ended, and a victory screen popped up. Both characters were sent back to the hunting grounds.
[Whisper] Cheon Noeul: Hahaha, where should we meet? When are we meeting?
“What the hell….”
He seriously wants to meet up? Flustered, Kyung-soo typed ‘??’ into the chat but hesitated to send it.
[Whisper] Cheon Noeul: By the way, can I call you hyung (older brother) now?
From the moment they first met, Cheon Noel had wanted to call Kyung-soo “hyung.” He had asked to meet several times, but Kyung-soo had always refused. He didn’t even drop formalities with guild members he’d known for years, partly because of the unofficial guild rule against close-knit friendships. So, Cheon Noel calling him “hyung” didn’t make sense. His fixation on the term suggested he was just a kid, and considering how he often misunderstood things and lacked social cues, Kyung-soo thought he might actually be an elementary school student.
[Whisper] MeowieMeowMeow: No;
[Whisper] Cheon Noeul: Aww C’mon
[Whisper] Cheon Noeul: I have a lot of free time. When should we meet?ㅇㅅㅇ
[Whisper] Cheon Noeul: By the way, how old are you? Third grade?
If “third grade” was “hyung” to him, he definitely was a kid. Was he in even lower grades? Kyung-soo realized he’d been seriously irritated by an elementary school kid and felt his head go blank.
[Guild] Star: How old is Cheon Noel? It’d be hilarious if he turned out to be an elementary schooler LOL.
Facing this embarrassing reality, Kyung-soo couldn’t laugh.
[Whisper] Cheon Noeul: Is it you texting me now, Nyang?ㅠㅠ
Considering Cheon Noeul’s notoriety, it was likely. Kyung-soo felt a bit of sympathy for him. Was he too harsh on an elementary school kid? Maybe he was too childish. …The Galaxy Sword might drop if he farmed all day tomorrow. Thinking that, he felt a bit better.
[Whisper] MeowieMeowMeow: Don’t reply to the texts. It’s not me.
[Whisper] Cheon Noel: Okayㅇㅅㅇ!
[Whisper] MeowieMeowMeow: About the fight….
[Whisper] Cheon Noel: Yesㅎㅎ
[Whisper] MeowieMeowMeow: It was a mistake; I have no intention of meeting you, so relax ^_^
Instead of his usual quick response, Cheon Noeul was silent for a while. He was probably relieved.
[Guild] PeaPea: This shitty game should die~ There’s literally no content
[Guild] MeowieMeowMeow: I agree
[Guild] PeaPea: How can there be only one limited item drop per day? This event is so unbalanced, and not even fun ^_^
Despite complaining about the lack of content, the guild member was a heavy gamer with over 10% guild contribution.
[Guild] MeowieMeowMeow: That’s how it is with shitty games, so boring
Kyung-soo was no different. Both had consumed all the game’s content and lost objectivity, constantly criticizing the GM for not providing more.
[Whisper] Cheon Noeul: Relax? Me? LOL
[Whisper] Cheon Noeul: Who were you trying to send it to if not me??
[Whisper] Cheon Noeul: Is someone bullying you? Who is it?
[Whisper] Cheon Noeul: So are you going to fight them too? LOL
Cheon Noel spoke without using his usual emoticons. If he had to name someone bullying him, it was Cheon Noel, an elementary school kid. Dealing with him was pointless. Feeling proud of his patience, Kyung-soo read through the guild chat until his expression froze.
[Guild] PeaPea: Oh right LOL, remember the Galaxy Sword drop the other day?
[Guild] Neutaaaa: Oh, that snake guy picked it up? I saw that LOL, he was so happy, throwing money around.
[Guild] Star: So, did you pick up the money?
[Guild] neutaaaa: Yeah, 1000 bells.
[Guild] Star: 1000 bells? Haha, can’t even blow your nose with that…
[Guild] Peapea: Haha, but that guy broke a rock in the forest area with that and got a 4-type legendary item license.
[Guild] Star: What?!
[Guild] MeowieMeowMeow: ?
[Guild] Bugwings: Wow, that actually drops!
[Guild] KidneyMouse: Wow;
Overwhelmed with greed for items, Kyung-soo’s vision blurred.
“What… A legendary item? How much is that worth?”
[Guild] Star: It’s priceless, really… Last I heard, it was over 3 billion but no one’s selling it. ʕ´• ᴥ•̥`ʔ
“…….”
[Whisper] Cheon Noeul: Why aren’t you talking, Meow? Is someone bothering you?ㅇㅅㅇ
Cheon Noeul, wielding the event item Galaxy Sword he had picked up earlier, swung it wildly at Kyung-soo’s character.
[Whisper] Cheon Noeul: Just tell me the name of the person bothering you!ㅜㅅㅜ
That damn bastard! A legendary item from the Galaxy Sword? And it got stolen by that newbie who just had his first job change?
[Guild] MeowieMeowMeow: Ah, fuck… my Galaxy Sword
[Guild] Peapea: That’s Cheon Noeul talking, who’s gone mad over the legendary item
[Guild] Star: It’s Cheon Noeul Galaxy Sword now! Haha
[Guild] MeowieMeowMeow: ?
[Guild] Star: Sorry, sorry
[Guild] neutaaaa: Hahahahahahaha
[Guild] Peapea: Hahahahahahaha
[Guild] MeowieMeowMeow: A… Ah… Ahhhh…
[Guild] MeowieMeowMeow: That was mine, damn it!!
Kyung-soo’s vision went red. He didn’t care if they were elementary kids; he was going to meet this guy and make sure he never followed him again. After a face-to-face confrontation, if he kept following him… he’d deal with it then. Any thoughts of leniency flipped instantly.
[Whisper] MeowieMeowMeow: Where do you live? Lol
[Whisper] Cheon Noeul: Uh…
[Whisper] Cheon Noeul: Wow, I’m at Lulu PC Cafe right now ༎ຶ‿༎ຶ
Thrilled, Cheon Noeul even gave him the name of his neighborhood and the nearest station. Shockingly, it was less than a 20-minute walk away.
[Whisper] MeowieMeowMeow: Clean your neck, lol
[Whisper] Cheon Noeul: Yes!ㅇㅅㅇ!!!!!
They agreed to meet this Friday in front of the movie theater. But why isn’t he here?
Kyung-soo shook nervously, scrutinizing each person nearby. A couple in uniforms from a neighboring school, a middle-aged couple exuding an affair vibe, a bored cinema employee cleaning the floor, a fat guy who seemed intent on finishing his popcorn before the movie started. And… who is that?
A guy stood against the wall, filming with his phone. Even from a distance, he was quite good-looking, with a serious expression. His light-colored hair made people glance as they passed by.
What is he, a delinquent? The uniform he wore was from a school known for strict rules. If his hair was dyed like that, it spoke volumes.
“Why is Cheon Noeul here?”
“I don’t know.”
Hearing the name again made Kyung-soo consider that Cheon Noeul might not just be a nickname. Following the girls’ glances, he saw the serious-looking guy. He scanned the surroundings as if searching for someone, then stared at his phone with a disappointed look.
…No way. Kyung-soo’s eyes twitched as he dialed Cheon Noeul number with ‘*23#’ to block his caller ID.
– Hello?
“…….”
Hiding behind a pillar, Kyung-soo listened as Cheon Noeul answered. The guy in front of him moved his lips, and a deep, pleasant voice came through the phone. Cheon Noeul was his real name.
– Is this Meow?
“You’ve got the wrong number.”
– It’s Meow, right? Are you here?
“No!”
Panicking, Kyung-soo hung up. His vision blurred. He couldn’t believe it. He wasn’t an elementary kid but a high schooler? This made no sense! Cheon Noeul called out, “Meow! Meow!” The girls who had whispered about him earlier covered their mouths in shock.
“Did he just say Meow?”
“Is he a cat? That’s so cute…”
Cute?
The girls squealed with excitement, but Kyung-soo shivered in disgust. Hearing a guy say “Meow” in real life made his skin crawl. The guild members called him “Cheon Noeul” and “Meow” for a long time. It had been a while, and it was horrifying.
Kyung-soo, who had planned to beat up an elementary kid, was now face-to-face with a grown guy and felt his resolve waver. What now? They were supposed to meet here…
“He’s been like that for an hour. I didn’t expect him to still be here. Should we just ask who he’s waiting for?”
“If you’re curious, go ask.”
“Me? I’m not that close with him.”
He’s been waiting for an hour? Kyung-soo glanced at his phone’s clock. It had only been 10 minutes past the agreed time. He’d been waiting for an hour… for him?
After a moment of hesitation, Kyung-soo searched for guides on how to confront someone in real life.
‘Hello! Let me answer your question lol. As someone known as the “Iron Fist of Jorye-dong,” let me share my expertise. First, confronting someone in real life means fighting them in real life. To beat someone who’s annoying you in a game, it’s simple. Just follow my steps. ^.^
Skimming through tons of useless posts, Kyung-soo found a seemingly credible answer and read on.
‘First, gather about five friends. People who are annoying in games usually don’t have friends. Your social prowess will overwhelm them, ensuring your victory.^^’
Something felt off.
‘If they still glare at you, clench your fist. Holding an eraser or stone makes your punch harder. One punch to the nose and they won’t be able to fight back. If you make them bleed, even better.^^’
“……”
‘Then use your friends to beat them up. Aim for the groin… Kick them between the legs. It’ll daze them. If it’s a girl, sorry… I haven’t fought a girl before (despite my tough demeanor, I’m a gentleman). Then grab their collar and say, with authority:
“Hey, play the game right.-_-v”
And Boom… GAME… OVER…!
I used to take on 40 people at once in real-life fights. I was the one. That day, the whole neighborhood saw a storm because of me -_- Please vote for my answer.
2004.01.27.’
[T/N: Lol wtf]
“……”
No wonder it seemed odd; it was a post from the early 2000s. Kyung-soo was just a kid back then. Real-life confrontations were for those with experience, not someone like Kyung-soo, who’d never even been to an offline meeting. If Cheon Noeul said “Meow” one more time, Kyung-soo might bite his tongue and die. He was dead serious.
…He decided to go home. Just as he sighed and turned away, he bumped into a strange pillar and stiffened.
“Meow.”
“……”
“Meow?”
Cheon Noeul tilted his head and smiled brightly. Kyung-soo wanted to die. He instinctively bit his tongue, but not hard enough to kill.
———-
Star: How did it go, Meow? Was it today???
Star: Did you meet Cheon Noeul?
Seeing the word “Meow” in the guild chat made Kyung-soo shiver.
MeowieMeowMeow: Oh, I forgot….
Kyung-soo lied without thinking.
Star: So boring. Now I can’t write the news;
MeowieMeowMeow: Am I just a news item to you?ㅡㅡ
Star: So disappointing… I was looking forward to changing the notice since last year… Why did you forget? So boring ಠ︵ಠ
neutaaaa: Hahahaha last year hahahahaha
Peapea: So boring. Do you know how much I was looking forward to it since this morning?ㅡㅡ No wonder Manager Park was being such a jerk, bad breath and all.
Star: Manager Park always is, haha
Peapea: True, but stillㅠ If I knew this would happen, I would’ve spat in his face.
Star: It’s not too late, do it now.
Peapea: Not possible until I win the lottery.
Star: So you’ll never spit, then….
Peapea: What are you talking about? I’m the first-prize winner this week, so I’m already gathering spit.
Star: Just swallow it.
neutaaaa: It’s such a shame you forgot….
I didn’t forget. I went out excitedly. …But when I saw him, I punched him out of sheer revulsion. The crack when my fist hit his face made everyone turn to look. Kyung-soo shouted, “I got the wrong person!” and ran away after knocking Cheon Noeul to the ground. Even now, my fist still ached from the impact. Cheon Noeul’s face must be swollen by now.
[T/N: I’m speechless (●__●)]
That evening, I was invited to help equip Star’s alt character with some weapons, but I pretended to be busy and didn’t log into the game.
Yeah, it’s time to quit gaming. A year is long enough. This stupid game isn’t doing anything good for my life anyway.
Kyung-soo resolved to become a diligent student starting the next day.
—
‘MeowieMeowMeow has logged into the game.’
[Guild] neutaaaa: ??
[Guild] Star: ???
[Guild] Star: Didn’t you say you couldn’t come online today???
[Guild] MeowieMeowMeow: Haha, finished all my busy stuff
It was a lie. I was never busy in the first place. Kyung-soo sighed, blaming himself for being so impulsive.
‘Star has invited you to a party. Do you accept?’
Not even two hours had passed since I made my resolution. On top of that, I had even bought a temporary item that increased the ‘item drop rate,’ and I couldn’t just waste a whole day of it. It was definitely not an excuse. Anyway, I had to get a Galaxy Sword before the event ended in two weeks.
“Damn you, Cheon Noeul…”
Kyung-soo teleported to another map to avoid being seen by anyone who might recognize him.
[Global] Hamster: Ah!! No way!
Three seconds after Kyung-soo vanished, Cheon Noeul’s character appeared in the same spot. Cheon Noeul moved left and right once, then stood still.
[Global] Hamster: He was just here;
[Global] Cheon Noeul: Well, he’s not here now ㅇㅅㅇ;
[Global] Hamster: You can’t be seriousㅠㅠ I swear he just disappeared!
[Global] Cheon Noeul: Well then bye~
With a flash of white light, Cheon Noeul’s character vanished. Having narrowly missed Kyung-soo, Cheon Noeul began searching all the maps again to find him. The game of hide-and-seek for the day had begun.
[Guild] Star: Meow, I just need the gauntlet and the cloak now?? Hurry up
[Guild] neutaaaa: Didn’t you get the gauntlet earlier;
[Guild] Star: It had crappy durability and no stats, so I sold it lol
[Guild] neutaaaa: ?
[Guild] neutaaaa: Oh, right, the cloak dropped earlier too
[Guild] Star: It. Needs. To. Have. Stats!
[Guild] neutaaaa: Frustrating ಠ_ಠ
Star was particularly obsessed with speed stats. He loved hopping around like a mouse, reveling in his speed. It seemed he intended to do the same with his alt character.
[Guild] MeowieMeowMeow: I don’t think I can do this today…
[Guild] Star: Meow, hang in there >.<
The word “Meow” reminded Kyung-soo of Cheon Noeul. Star laughed, asking if I had found out where Cheon Noeul was yet. I replied with a ‘no’ and entered the item shop. Random eye change coupons, hairstyle change coupons, skin tone change coupons, item lifespan renewal coupons…
Hey guys it’s SheWee!!
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