Chapter 4: A Misunderstanding and a God

“What’s this?”

I was dumbfounded by their audacity, but I was also curious why Ban-ye was so boldly whispering to me.

So, I asked them their purpose.

[Whisper][Ah-ang] What is it? Why are you whispering to me?

Then, Ban-ye asked for my location.

[Whisper][Ban-ye] Where are you?

[Whisper][Ah-ang] Why?

[Whisper][Ban-ye] Aren’t you going to take the 22.5 billion?

“…What?”

While I was stunned by the unexpected words, Ban-ye sent another whisper as if exasperated.

[Whisper][Ban-ye] Didn’t you see the mail?

[Whisper][Ban-ye] I waited for an hour in Janggyeong, but you didn’t come, so I couldn’t return the money.

[Whisper][Ah-ang] Mail?

“Huh? Are they talking about that mail?”

While I was momentarily speechless with confusion, Ban-ye, as if waiting for this moment, rapidly poured out their words.

[Whisper][Ban-ye] I wrote in the mail that there seemed to be a misunderstanding.

[Whisper][Ban-ye] And that day,

[Whisper][Ban-ye] I logged out right after the trade and didn’t realize I’d given you less money. I had put most of my gold in storage and didn’t check what I had on my character. I’m sorry about that, but

[Whisper][Ban-ye] You had time to immediately post about it on the forums lol, but you couldn’t send me a mail?

After saying that, Ban-ye suddenly sent me a friend request. And I reflexively pressed enter, accepting it.

Ban-ye continued speaking to me through the friend chat.

[Friend][Ban-ye] I’m in Channel 3.

[Friend][Ban-ye] I’ll be right there.

[Friend][Ah-ang] ;;;

I just typed [;;] then scrolled up with my mouse wheel to reread what Ban-ye had said. So, I was mistaken? They really intended to return the money?

“But why did they bring their entire guild to Janggyeong…?”

Weren’t they trying to intimidate me with numbers?

I bit my nails and hesitantly typed on the keyboard.

[Friend][Ah-ang] I actually went to Janggyeong, but

[Friend][Ban-ye] ?

[Friend][Ah-ang] You brought your entire guild,

[Friend][Ah-ang] so I was too scared to show up ㅡㅡ;;sorry

I thought I was being honest… but Ban-ye’s reaction was one of disbelief.

[Friend][Ban-ye] What are you talking about?

[Friend][Ban-ye] Lol?

[Friend][Ban-ye] I didn’t bring them.

[Friend][Ban-ye] You posted on the forums,

[Friend][Ban-ye] and those idiots got excited and came to watch.

[Friend][Ah-ang] ?

Ban-ye called their guild members idiots and, as if fed up, abruptly ended the conversation with a [Whatever]. Then, within seconds, they actually appeared in front of me.

With friends registered, you could see each other’s locations, and they seemed to have used that to find me.

[Friend][Ban-ye] What are you doing? Let’s trade.

Ban-ye approached HellTour, who was still standing next to me, and swung their staff towards my character. Since I was in conversation with an NPC and couldn’t trade with them, it was a silent pressure to hurry up and trade.

I felt apologetic for misunderstanding Ban-ye and felt the need to explain my current situation.

So, I carefully said,

[Friend][Ah-ang] I’m sorry;; I thought you were a scammer.

Ban-ye responded sullenly, even after hearing my apology.

[Friend][Ban-ye] Delete the post.

[Friend][Ah-ang] I already deleted it yesterday. I’m really sad.

Even after I said I had deleted it, Ban-ye urged me on as if pressed for time.

[Friend][Ban-ye] I know, so let’s trade.

[Friend][Ban-ye] Why does it keep saying I can’t trade with you?

I explained my current predicament.

[Friend][Ah-ang] I’m hiding from HellTour right now ;;

[Friend][Ban-ye] ?

[Friend][Ban-ye] What happened?

[Friend][Ah-ang] HellTour gave me a carry, but

[Friend][Ah-ang] No,

[Friend][Ah-ang] It’s so unfair… I’m really upset.

[Friend][Ah-ang] I was looking for a CR carry,

[Friend][Ah-ang] for 8 million per run,

[Friend][Ah-ang] and I said I needed crafting materials, paid upfront for one run, and agreed on three runs.

After typing all that out, I felt a bit awkward, as if I was tattling to Ban-ye.

However, Ban-ye showed no such signs; rather, they started to listen with interest.

[Friend][Ban-ye] Okay

[Friend][Ban-ye] And?

Encouraged by their response, I continued.

[Friend][Ah-ang] But they kept killing all the monsters before I could attack.

[Friend][Ah-ang] So, I said I’d only do one run, and

[Friend][Ah-ang] they keep demanding I pay for all three,

[Friend][Ah-ang] and spamming me with trade requests, so

[Friend][Ah-ang] I’ve been pretending to be AFK here…. I’m so tired. Just keeping the NPC dialogue open.

[Friend][Ban-ye] Oh

Even after hearing everything, Ban-ye didn’t take sides, but they seemed to grasp the situation.

They said curtly,

[Friend][Ban-ye] Hold on

“….!”

My heart pounded as I stared intently at Ban-ye’s character.

Then, Ban-ye suddenly swung their staff and hit HellTour on the head. Of course, since we weren’t in a combat zone, the staff simply passed through HellTour, but it was enough to look like they were picking a fight.

Furthermore, Ban-ye called out to HellTour casually in the global chat.

[Ban-ye] HellTour

After a short pause, HellTour replied.

[HellTour] Yes?

[Ban-ye] I need a carry,

[Ban-ye] and I think you’d be perfect. What do you say?

[HellTour] ?

[Ban-ye] I’m short on gold these days,

[Ban-ye] so I’ll pay 8 million per CR run.

[HellTour] ?

[Ban-ye] Pay up front.

[HellTour] Why do you keep sending trade requests…?

[Ban-ye] I said pay up front. Haha

HellTour kept responding with question marks at Ban-ye’s words and eventually disappeared from my sight.

Ban-ye swung their staff around where HellTour had been standing and then asked me,

[Friend][Ban-ye] Did HellTour whisper you?

[Friend][Ah-ang] No?

[Friend][Ban-ye] Then let’s trade.

“Wow…”

I was impressed by how perfectly Ban-ye had driven HellTour away.

“So… so cool…”

I hurriedly traded with them.

Ban-ye put up exactly 22.5 billion. I was so happy to have the money back and touched by Ban-ye’s help that I added a small 1,004 gold to the trade window. Ban-ye seemed to have noticed it, responding with a [lol].

As soon as the trade was over, I clung to Ban-ye.

[Friend][Ah-ang] Hey hey

[Friend][Ah-ang] Can we stay friends?

[Friend][Ban-ye] Later

[Friend][Ah-ang]  Please?

[Friend][Ban-ye] Why?

[Friend][Ah-ang] I like you…

[Friend][Ban-ye] After posting about me as a scammer on the forums? lol

[Friend][Ah-ang] I deleted it..I regret it.

I fawned over Ban-ye and rushed to the mailbox. I generously sent them 99 [Resurrection Scrolls], a gift anyone would appreciate.

Ban-ye seemed to have received the gift, replying with [LOL].

[Friend][Ban-ye] Is this a friend fee?

[Friend][Ah-ang] Yes!

[Friend][Ban-ye] Okay, I’ll be your friend for a month.

However, Ban-ye was tough. They took 99 scrolls and only offered a month of friendship.

I thought Ban-ye was a highway robber, but somehow, it felt like the kind of audacity that suited their charisma. So, even though I was crying inside, I accepted.

Then, it occurred to me that Ban-ye was probably a high-ranker.

So, I asked immediately.

[Friend][Ah-ang] What’s your rank?

[Friend][Ban-ye] What do you think?

[Friend][Ah-ang] Please tell me — I can’t see it because your info is private, and it’s making me really frustrated.

After my incessant whining, Ban-ye relented and told me, sounding annoyed.

[Friend][Ban-ye] 3rd

“Whoa, insane…”

I was awestruck, as it was the first time I had seen someone with a single-digit rank.

[Friend][Ah-ang] Really 3rd?

[Friend][Ban-ye] I just made my info public. Check it out.

At their nonchalant words, I immediately rushed to the official website and searched for Ban-ye in the ranking window. As they said, their nickname appeared, and next to it, the dazzling “Rank 3” was displayed.

My guess was right!

Overwhelmed with emotion, I typed,

[Friend][Ah-ang] I’m actually friends with a single-digit ranker?

[Friend][Ban-ye] LOL

Ban-ye burst out laughing, as if finding it incredibly amusing.

[Friend][Ah-ang] Holy sh*t, is this a dream?

While I was making a fuss, Ban-ye, without a second thought, used a [Summoning Scroll] right next to me and went somewhere else.

[TL Note: [Summoning Scroll] here = an item that lets the player quickly move to another place.]

I wanted to talk to Ban-ye more, so I desperately called out to them in the friend chat. But Ban-ye didn’t reply.

Anxious, I whispered to them.

[Whisper][Ah-ang] Ban-ye

[Whisper][Ah-ang] Ban-ye

[Whisper][Ban-ye] ?

[Whisper][Ah-ang] Where are you going?

[Whisper][Ban-ye] Hunting.

[Whisper][Ah-ang] Stay and play with me a bit more, please…

[Whisper][Ban-ye] Doing what?

How do you play with a Rank 3 player? What are the options?

I typed whatever came to mind.

[Whisper][Ah-ang] Carry me in CR.

[Whisper][Ban-ye] No thanks.

[Whisper][Ah-ang] Aw

[Whisper][Ban-ye] What?

Ban-ye seemed disgusted, but after I called out to them every 3 seconds, they finally came back to me after about 15 minutes.

[Whisper][Ban-ye] Party invite

I hurriedly invited Ban-ye to the party.

Ban-ye accepted and, without a word, stood in front of the CR entrance.

Their movements seemed somewhat annoyed, but I was ecstatic. A party with a Rank 3 player! They would surely show off some amazing damage dealing.

It was like a dream.

[Party][Ah-ang] Thank you so, so much!

[Party][Ban-ye] Sigh… Of course. Consider yourself honored. Haha

Ban-ye responded curtly to my gratitude and entered the dungeon. I followed behind them.

And…

“Wow… This is insane…”

That day, I saw a god.