Chapter 18: Blocked, Blurred, and Begging for Unblock

Chapter 18

The hand swinging the cursor moved without hesitation.

<YES.>

<‘Seo-Hyeon’ has been blocked.>

<The block can be lifted in one week. Blocked users will no longer appear on your server.>

At the same time, Seo-Hyeon’s image on the screen began to blur. No matter the reason, blocked users fade from the view of the blocker. Only Seo-Hyeon’s red hair remained faintly in Kyungheon’s sight. The once noisy chat fell silent instantly. Moreover, in the chat history between Kyungheon and Seo-Hyeon, a notification appeared: <‘Machoking’ has left the server.>

Having committed an irreversible act, Machoking—standing on the edge of the river Jordan—turned his back to the now-blurred Seo-Hyeon and began walking. His destination: the guild master, LA Gongdaenam.

[Guild] LA Gongdaenam: Uh, Macho?

Since Kyungheon had blocked Seo-Hyeon, even the guild chat messages from her were invisible. Having erased her presence, he had no way of knowing her reaction, but he could predict that she was undoubtedly causing a scene. That much didn’t require seeing.

[Guild] Machoking: Guild master, I—

[Guild] LA Gongdaenam: Wait a moment, Macho

[Guild] LA Gongdaenam: The guild chat is moving too fast

[Guild] LA Gongdaenam: I’ll whisper you instead

As Kyungheon expected, Gongdaenam abandoned the guild chat and sent a private message.

[Whisper] LA Gongdaenam: Macho, what’s going on?

[Whisper] LA Gongdaenam: Right now, in our guild chat—

[Whisper] LA Gongdaenam: Things I can’t even bring myself to say

[Whisper] LA Gongdaenam: Are being posted

[Whisper] Machoking: Is it that bad?

[Whisper] LA Gongdaenam: I’ve never seen—

[Whisper] LA Gongdaenam: Such unheard-of swearing in my life

Next to Machoking, a red blur flitted back and forth wildly, asserting its presence. Blocked Seo-Hyeon was causing chaos right beside him, but Kyungheon ignored her completely.

[Whisper] Machoking: 010-3030-

[Whisper] LA Gongdaenam: Macho?

Kyungheon quickly finished typing the rest of the numbers and replied to the puzzled Gongdaenam.

[Whisper] Machoking: From today

[Whisper] Machoking: If you want to apologize properly

[Whisper] Machoking: Tell her to contact this number

[Whisper] LA Gongdaenam: Macho, you could just Discord her

Concerned about Kyungheon’s personal info, Gongdaenam tried to stop him, but Kyungheon replied briefly that it was fine. Pushing complex thoughts aside, he kept typing.

[Whisper] Machoking: If it’s not an apology, I’m never logging back in

But Gongdaenam sensed something off. Soon, red-text messages began to scroll rapidly in his chat, echoing Gongdaenam’s anxious state.

[Whisper] LA Gongdaenam: Wait

[Whisper] LA Gongdaenam: Macho, hold on

[Whisper] Machoking: Sorry for the commotion

[Whisper] LA Gongdaenam: Don’t leave

<Do you want to leave the server?>

<May your day also be filled with dreams, hope, and blessings!>

“…Damn, that was scary.”

Without looking back, he left the server and shut down his computer completely.

On the darkened screen, Kyungheon wiped the beads of sweat on his forehead with the back of his hand, catching his breath. Damn, that was close. He muttered, got up, and walked to the fridge. He pulled two ice cubes from the freezer and stuffed them into his mouth.

Even as his hair stood on end, Kyungheon chewed the ice diligently, recalling the recent events and exhaling deeply. Have I really been this nervous lately? He popped another ice cube into his mouth and muttered,

“Good thing they didn’t take my stuff.”

Truly a relief.

A week later.

Since the incident, Kyungheon hadn’t logged into Odin’s Edge even once, and there had been no contact from Seo-Hyeon, who must have received Gongdaenam’s forwarded number. Today, he glanced at his quiet phone and yawned slowly.

Whether she contacted him or not, it was a problem either way. He couldn’t say which would be more advantageous. If she did, what would he say? If not, he’d never be able to enter the server again. And if she logged in without contacting him first, Machoking’s future looked grim.

What if a blocked Seo-Hyeon rallied guild members to hunt him down as soon as he logged in? Had she put a bounty on his head over the server speaker? That seemed like her personality.

Kyungheon frowned, contemplating the worst-case scenario, and muttered,

“Still, she’s not trying to take back what she got unfairly.”

I’d gone along with that damn personality all this time.

Kyungheon zipped up his black coat against the chilly night, forcing his tired eyes open. He had been trapped in this narrow car for five hours, finishing team paperwork until six, eating dinner barely, and finally leaving.

“…I’m really exhausted.”

Just as he picked up a can of coffee rolling in the backseat, his personal phone vibrated and lit up. He set the can down and picked up the phone—notifications arriving in rapid succession. Whoever it was must be in quite a hurry. Feeling the sender’s urgency, Kyungheon’s fingers moved quickly.

Unlocking the phone, a single unexpected line appeared:

[Seo-Hyeon: Hyung]

“Hyung?”

The familiar tone and name made Kyungheon furrow his brow. Many juniors called him “Hyung,” but none so boldly without a formal greeting.

Another message followed, more direct this time:

[Seo-Hyeon: Unblock me]

It was her.

[Seo-Hyeon: Hyung]
[Seo-Hyeon: Hyung]
[Seo-Hyeon: Hyung]
[Seo-Hyeon: Hyung]
[Seo-Hyeon: Hyung]

With no answer, she seemed determined to keep calling until he responded. Kyungheon stared at the trembling phone, realizing he needed to acknowledge her existence.

[Seo-Hyeon: Hyung]
[Seo-Hyeon: Hyung]
[Seo-Hyeon: Hyung]

Ignoring her would just make her search all day, so his fingers reluctantly tapped the screen.

[윤: Why]

[Seo-Hyeon: Why?]

And the messages started flooding in like a caught mouse.

[Seo-Hyeon: I know you saw, why are you ignoring me?]
[Seo-Hyeon: Unblock me]
[Seo-Hyeon: I contacted first]
[Seo-Hyeon: You haven’t logged in at all]
[Seo-Hyeon: I even filed a missing report for you]
[Seo-Hyeon: Don’t you care about me?]
[Seo-Hyeon: Do you know how shocked I was to be blocked suddenly?]
[Seo-Hyeon: Does someone have to get hurt for you to care?]
[Seo-Hyeon: Don’t you see my emotional pain?]

Kyungheon muttered, troubled: I’ve opened Pandora’s box I shouldn’t have…

“…Even in dating, I’ve never been chased like this.”

He paused, knowing that replying carelessly now would trap him in her pace forever. Even as she complained about not eating, he couldn’t resist a small jab:

“Already playing the victim at your age, huh?”

On top of that, she had filed a missing report. He had no idea how that worked in-game, but it couldn’t be normal.

Apparently, she had humbled herself and reached out first, expecting him to respond. Kyungheon knew Seo-Hyeon’s stubborn reasoning well.

[Seo-Hyeon: I can’t eat since you blocked me]

[윤: That’s serious]

He clicked through her relentless messages, smirking at her confidence.

[Seo-Hyeon: Never happened before]
[Seo-Hyeon: Don’t even know what to do]

[윤: Well, well]

[Seo-Hyeon: You just keep teasing my pain]

[윤: Exactly]

[Seo-Hyeon: Damn you, hyung]

Kyungheon thought: She’s being insufferable. A nine-tailed fox might be hiding behind the screen.

After a moment of contemplation, he replied:

[윤: Wait]

[Seo-Hyeon: At home?]
[Seo-Hyeon: Should I unblock now?]
[Seo-Hyeon: Logging into Odin?]

Logging in? He chuckled at her familiar whining and began sending the gift codes he had stashed away. Done lazily, they erased the previous chat entirely, leaving a large barcode on her screen.

Soon, she panicked and messaged frantically:

[Seo-Hyeon: Hyung]
[Seo-Hyeon: Chicken order?]

[윤: You said you can’t eat, so dig in]

[Seo-Hyeon: No, hyung]
[Seo-Hyeon: What if I send ten chickens?]
[Seo-Hyeon: No wonder your nickname isn’t ordinary]
[Seo-Hyeon: Is this some chicken marketing in-game?]

Kyungheon quickly responded before she could make up nonsense.

[윤: I bought it for you, not for marketing]
[윤: Just eat it, I’m busy]

[Seo-Hyeon: Stop pretending you’re busy, I’m busy too]
[Seo-Hyeon: And who even asks for chicken gift codes?]
[Seo-Hyeon: I have no reason to be blocked, so why block me?]
[Seo-Hyeon: Unblock me, hyung]
[Seo-Hyeon: How long are you going to block me?]
[Seo-Hyeon: The engineer said I got scolded by you]

Not entirely wrong. Kyungheon followed her relentless messages and nodded, replying:

[윤: Seo-Hyeon, you’re not my type]

[Seo-Hyeon: Damn hyung]
[Seo-Hyeon: You’re not my type either]
[Seo-Hyeon: I’m picky about mind, virtue, and body]

[윤: Don’t swear]
[윤: My type is innocent and lively]
[윤: The kind of girl who looks great in a white T-shirt and jeans]