Chapter 25: A Small Confession on a Frozen Lake

Crushing four years of unrequited love in a single afternoon left a lingering bitterness that followed me even into the game. No matter how many monsters I planned to slay, the memory of my disastrous encounter with Na Eun-hyeok wouldn’t leave my mind.

As if hearing the sighs echoing in my soul, Sephiroth spoke up.

“What’s up with you?”

“What do you mean?”

“You look like you’re in a sh*tty mood.”

“Are you the type of person who actually cares about things like that?”

“I’m just worried you’ll mess up your controls because you’re busy brooding over whatever’s bothering you.”

Of course. There was no way Sephiroth would actually care about my feelings unless it interfered with the game. We had only known each other for three days, but I already had a faith in his personality that bordered on absolute certainty.

“Did you run into someone you hate?”

“Mmm… more like someone I find difficult to deal with.”

Like a blind man stumbling onto a prize, Sephiroth had hit remarkably close to the truth. I didn’t hate Na Eun-hyeok; I just found him difficult because I liked him too much.

“Did you get into a fight?”

“No. Nothing like that. I just… avoided the situation.”

“Really? It wasn’t that the other person offended you?”

“No. Not particularly…”

Sephiroth was being unusually nosy today. Half of me wondered if I really looked that pathetic, while the other half wondered why this jerk was suddenly pretending to care about my personal life.

“Anyway, I’ll make sure not to mess up my controls.”

“Fine. That’s all that matters.”

His response was a bit delayed, but Sephiroth nodded as if satisfied. It wasn’t really a matter for him to “accept” anyway. Since he didn’t care about my inner thoughts, as long as my gameplay was solid, he was fine.

My head was a mess.

The place Sephiroth led me to for the Hidden Quest was called Lake Deya.

Located a bit east of the Orc village, it was a map known for poor hunting efficiency. Consequently, the people here were usually split into two categories: those trying to clear a quest and leave as quickly as possible, and those gathering low-level materials. We were definitely the former.

The area around Lake Deya was a winter wonderland. My footsteps made a crisp crunch-crunch sound on the white snow. Sephiroth’s footprints beside mine were much larger, likely due to his heavy armor. Every time the wind blew, snowflakes clinging to the trees drifted down, and frozen monsters moved at a sluggish pace.

It was a beautiful winter scene.

The sharply frozen lake looked like a deep blue sapphire dusted with silver powder. Every time the light hit the surface, it sparkled in shifting hues. I caught a glimpse of my face reflected in the deep ice—slightly altered by the game, but essentially me. Beside my reflection stood that pitch-black armor.

“It’s peaceful.”

Whenever I saw Zelpia’s stunning landscapes, I understood why YouTubers who did nothing but film the scenery were so popular. The mysterious, beautiful natural sights—realistic yet otherworldly—captured the eye. Even I, who usually had no interest in scenery, was impressed.

Near the frozen shore sat a large rock with a flat top, perfect for sitting. Even though my legs didn’t actually hurt in virtual reality, I felt like sitting down.

As I brushed the snow off the rock to sit, Sephiroth, who had been staring silently at the lake, spoke up.

“I’m actually troubled by something right now.”

“Troubled about whether to burn this place down or not?”

“Why are you so violent?”

Excuse me? I don’t think I’m the one who should be hearing that from you.

I had analyzed Sephiroth’s mind and offered the answer I thought would appeal to him most, but apparently, I was wrong. I shut my mouth, annoyed at being lectured on violence by him.

“Aren’t you curious?”

“Is it just another creative way to screw over the developers?”

“Not at all. What do you take me for?”

“Your infamy is legendary.”

At my words, Sephiroth let out a huffing sound. He was laughing.

I’d had a feeling ever since he mentioned being “troubled,” but it seemed Sephiroth really didn’t have any friends. Why else would he pour his heart out to someone he’d known for only three days in a game? He must have nowhere else to turn.

Thinking about it made me feel a bit sorry for him. Maybe he became obsessed with the game because he had no one to play with? Maybe he went around slaughtering people because he didn’t know how to socialize? Or maybe he was venting the frustration of being bullied…

Fine, he’s like a kid. I can at least listen to one worry.

“If you want to talk, go ahead.”

Sephiroth trudged over toward the rock. I watched his large footsteps leave deep imprints in the snow.

“There’s someone I’m curious about lately, but I think they hate me.”

Relationship counseling? I thought, nodding at a topic that felt completely mismatched with that massive black plate armor.

“Why would they?”

Because your personality is trash…

“Why do you think?”

“I don’t know.”

Sephiroth was incredibly brazen.

“I don’t know how you act in real life, but if you act even remotely like you do here, it’s only natural they wouldn’t like you.”

“That’s not it.”

“What isn’t?”

“Everyone usually likes me.”

…Toxic personality and a narcissist? I didn’t know who this person was, but I could perfectly understand why they’d hate him.

Despite being a gaming acquaintance of only three days, I felt pity—pity for Sephiroth, but even more for the poor soul who had to deal with his “advances.” I spoke to him with total sincerity.

“Delusion is free, but don’t think like that in front of them. It’s hard enough even if you treat them perfectly, so why act so high and mighty?”

“So you’re saying I just have to be nice to them?”

“No, you have to be nice while reading the room. If you overdo it, they might find it burdensome.”

“Hmm.”

“Besides, if you like someone, isn’t being nice to them common sense?”

“I don’t like them. I’m just curious.”

“That is liking them.”

Is it? I heard Sephiroth mutter. I was going to add a few more words of wisdom, but I stopped myself.

Listen to me, acting like a dating expert. In reality, I had just fumbled a golden opportunity because I was too busy malfunctioning in front of my crush.

“Whatever. Don’t mind me. I’m not good at dating either.”

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

His casual question made the bridge of my nose sting. A girlfriend? I was currently doing a “look-but-don’t-touch” kind of love that made even talking difficult. Maybe it was because of the mess I’d made today, but I was feeling unnecessarily sentimental.

“No. Unrequited love.”

The words slipped out with a sigh, and only then did I realize: Sephiroth must have felt this same release when he shared his worry with me.

Some relationships were meaningful precisely because they were fleeting. My connection with Sephiroth was one that would snap the moment I stepped out of this capsule. Because of that, I could share my deepest thoughts. It was a story we could both hear and then simply forget.

I also realized it anew:

I am in love.

The truth I couldn’t even confess to Seong-jin or Gyu-tae took a clear shape the moment it became spoken words. My gaze toward Na Eun-hyeok held feelings that would never be delivered. I gave those words to the mysterious person in the black armor, treating him like a bamboo forest where I could shout my secrets.

“So there is someone you like?”

Sephiroth’s voice trailed off with a subtle, strange nuance, but I brushed it off as my imagination.

“Yeah.”

“Who?”

“A friend from college.”

I figured it was okay to say that much. It wasn’t like I was the only college student in the world with a crush. My love was heavy, but for that reason, I could only load it onto a light relationship—onto this black suit of armor that could see only itself.

“A college friend,” Sephiroth repeated, as if chewing over the words. Then he asked, “What kind of person are they?”

“Just… you know.”

I started to speak, but suddenly snapped back to my senses. What was the point of describing Na Eun-hyeok to Sephiroth? I’d vented enough. Venting should be done at home with a drink, not by holding onto some kid in a game.

“Never mind. What’s the point of explaining this pathetic stuff? Let’s just clear the quest.”

I felt Sephiroth’s gaze lingering on me, but I ignored it and walked ahead. Why did that jerk have to start talking about his worries? He almost got me to open up about my whole love life. Embarrassed, I stomped my feet in the snow, blaming Sephiroth for the slip-up.

“Fine. Let’s do the quest.”

A beat late, Sephiroth stood up.

“So, why do you think the quest location is here?” I asked, standing before the frozen Lake Deya. Our shadows stretched out side-by-side on the light-scattering ice.

“If you keep following the main quest line, a sub-quest eventually appears. It’s about the Orcs, Slugs, and Lions going to war.”

“Because of that tutorial stuff?”

“Yeah,” Sephiroth nodded.