Chapter 12: Seohyun’s Intervention and the Unexpected Guild Offer

Episode 12

<‘Blood Wolf’ activates ‘Curse of Malice’.>

The wolf’s blood-red fur glowed so brightly it almost stung the eyes. Without hesitation, it sank its teeth into WiFiFiFi’s hawk.
Just losing a single wing sent WiFiFiFi crashing to the ground, and the hawk he’d summoned dissolved into smoke.

<The summon ‘Red Hawk’ has vanished.>

Seohyun dealt with the situation in seconds.
Blood Wolf still prowling in circles, he strode up beside MachoKing, who was still bleeding. As always, the red-haired hunter didn’t look even a little tired.

[Whisper] Seohyun: don’t just stand there, self-heal

While the wolf circled them protectively, Kyungheon pulled a potion from storage.

<HP +300 recovered.>

[Whisper] MachoKing: but

[Whisper] MachoKing: I still can’t move

[Whisper] Seohyun: hold on

<You have received Antidote x6 from ‘Seohyun’.>

[Whisper] Seohyun: just use two

Kyungheon obediently used the antidotes.

<Poison status has been removed.>

As soon as MachoKing’s status returned to normal, Seohyun blurred forward toward WiFiFiFi.
With his insane movement speed, the two were suddenly face-to-face, practically locked in place.

Still holding him in front of him, Seohyun gave instructions quickly.

[Whisper] Seohyun: if he gets distance

[Whisper] Seohyun: he’ll use a return stone to teleport out

[Whisper] Seohyun: go stand behind him

[Whisper] MachoKing: ok

[Whisper] MachoKing: but

[Whisper] MachoKing: I feel like you could solo him tho

The chat fell silent for a second—
Then two lines appeared.

[Whisper] Seohyun: watch and learn

[Whisper] Seohyun: seriously, learn

Sure enough, once MachoKing cut off the escape route, WiFiFiFi visibly panicked.
Looked like Seohyun’s guess was right—he really was planning to run.

Then Seohyun went in.

Both were melee classes, but the difference in timing, precision, and reaction speed was laughably unfair. Kyungheon watched from the front row as a hunter beat the absolute hell out of a swordsman.

He typed cautiously:

[Whisper] MachoKing: aren’t you using any skills?

[Whisper] Seohyun: nope

He could beat him with basic attacks alone.
Kyungheon couldn’t help but admire him a bit—

But then WiFiFiFi suddenly flipped over Seohyun and slashed him across the waist.

A notification popped up that made Kyungheon go hollow inside.

<HP -1>

WiFiFiFi froze, sword in hand, staring at Seohyun.

[Local] WiFiFiFi: what ARE you??

[Local] WiFiFiFi: your gear is broken OP????

[Local] WiFiFiFi: how the hell does it hit for -1????

He demanded Seohyun’s level. Given that he’d used an actual skill—not a basic attack—it should have dealt at least -10.
A -1 meant: You did no real damage. The game is being polite.

While WiFiFiFi stood there trying to evaluate Seohyun’s gear, Kyungheon realized Seohyun’s attention was no longer on the fight.

His eyes were fixed somewhere else—
And that was when the chat exploded.

[Local] Seohyun: your username is ugly as hell

[Local] Seohyun: you’re that piece of shit who bullies newbies right?

[Local] Seohyun: because of you I—

[Local] Seohyun: picked up something I shouldn’t have you f*ing bastard**

At the line “picked up something I shouldn’t have,” Kyungheon glanced at MachoKing nervously.
…No. It couldn’t be. No way.

<Ancient Destroyer ‘Seohyun’ uses the skill ‘Critical Shot’.>

In the blink of an eye, Seohyun appeared behind WiFiFiFi.

WiFiFiFi, already mentally broken, didn’t even try to resist.
He stood there and took the hit.

<The player ‘WiFiFiFi’ has been defeated.>

<The equipped item ‘Aden’s Battle Boots’ has been unequipped.>

A pair of boots floated above his corpse. Seohyun glanced at them.

[Whisper] Seohyun: pick it up

Kyungheon instantly clicked on the gear.

<‘MachoKing’ has obtained an item.>

Then Seohyun muttered something—just one quiet line.

Kyungheon’s eyes instinctively went to the chat.

[Whisper] Seohyun: not even a big deal

[Whisper] MachoKing: thanks

Seohyun didn’t answer at first. Then:

[Whisper] Seohyun: who are you thanking

[Whisper] MachoKing: you, dumbass

[Whisper] MachoKing: hey Seohyun, thanks

After a beat, Seohyun’s tone softened.

[Whisper] Seohyun: hyung

[Whisper] Seohyun: when’s your next login

Kyungheon rummaged through storage, wondering if he should gift something in return.
Originally he hadn’t planned on logging in again for a month…
But after getting this much help, he figured he should at least try.

[Whisper] MachoKing: I’ll work hard IRL

[Whisper] MachoKing: and log in three weeks from now

He didn’t specify a time—night shifts were unpredictable.
But Seohyun didn’t mind.

[Whisper] Seohyun: ok

[Whisper] Seohyun: see you then

[Whisper] MachoKing: ??

And without even saying goodbye, Seohyun logged out.

Kyungheon blinked.

“…Did he just leave?”

<‘Seohyun’ has logged out.>

“…He really left.”

He’d opened storage to find something nice to give him, but lost interest and closed it.
After spending a whole week glued to each other, it felt weird to suddenly be alone.
He laughed to himself, hearing Seohyun’s voice in his head claiming the spot beside him was “his.”

He was about to teleport back to town when—

A figure in silver armor hopped across the foggy swamp and waved.

[Local] LA TechBro: MachoKing-nim?

Kyungheon let out an involuntary, “Huh?”
He worried it might be another PVP ambush—but LA TechBro carried no weapons. Just armor, nothing else.

Clearly trying to show he wasn’t here to fight.

Kyungheon tilted his head.

[Local] LA TechBro: Amazing battle just now^^

[Local] LA TechBro: You’ve got impressive skill!

[Local] MachoKing: …What?

He almost choked.
Seohyun fought.
Somehow he was getting the praise.

Kyungheon sighed internally. This guy looked like the type who could talk anyone’s ears off.

He quickly opened the map, but LA TechBro had already closed the distance—close enough he looked ready to sling an arm around MachoKing.

MachoKing instinctively stepped back.

[Local] MachoKing: think you’ve got the wrong person

But LA TechBro didn’t lose confidence.

[Local] LA TechBro: perfect timing actually—we need a ranged DPS in our guild~^^

[Local] LA TechBro: think of it as donating your talent!

[Local] MachoKing: …what?

[Local] LA TechBro: how about joining us?

[Local] MachoKing: …‘us’?

A chill crept up Kyungheon’s back.
He turned the camera behind MachoKing—

Four glowing eyes stared at him from the fog.

At least two people.
His brow tightened.

His body remembered this exact kind of cold dread.

[Local] LA TechBro: everyone, come out^^

Two people stepped out of the bushes in a neat line—a female avatar and a male avatar, emerging like prisoners boarding a transport truck.

Kyungheon’s mouse drifted toward the logout button—

When all three began talking on cue like they practiced it.

[Local] KittyCat: omg that was SO f*ing cool!!**

[Local] KittyCat: (insert generic hype meme)

[Local] LA TechBro: mm yes, generic hype meme^^ what about you, 88?

[Local] Odin_88: …..yes.. I-I was unworthy

[Local] Odin_88: to witness such a glorious battle for free…..

Every line sounded like they were reading a script.

Kyungheon took a breath, then typed instead of logging out.

[Local] MachoKing: is this

[Local] MachoKing: a pyramid scheme