“Oh dear, I need to get going. It’s been a while since I’ve been in Seoul, and I’m meeting a friend tonight. It was so great seeing everyone today.”
“Yes! We… um… We were really glad to see you too! The whiskey was amazing! Guntak-nim, you’re the best! Thanks a lot! Oh, what was that? The 30…? No, 40… Oh, that’s right, 30-year-old one. Where do you get that? Yena-nim really liked it.”
“… Our dear Ark-nim, please take good care of the treasurer. Let’s meet again next time! The mafia game sounded fun, let’s play it together.”
“Yes, have a safe trip home! What’s everyone else going to do? It’s only 10 PM, but those with plans tomorrow should head back early…”
“Isn’t it a pity to go home already? It’s hard for everyone to meet up like this offline.”
“I agree!”
“Hmm… to sober up, how about grabbing a beer?”
“Uh… yes?”
“You really should have a personal interpreter with you. Beer sounds good, but… let me look for a place. There should be plenty nearby, but a quieter spot would be nice.”
“Oh, yes! I, um, I found one already. I had a feeling we’d end with beer!”
“As expected from my dear student. I’ll give you a praise sticker next time. But remember, something other than beer can be the last drink.”
“Yes, teacher!”
“I’m a bit worried about drinking more… Are you sure you’re okay, Ahri?”
“Yes!”
It was a chaotic time. As it often happens at drinking parties, the initial awkwardness and caution had long disappeared. Everyone was quite inebriated by now. Even Revan, who seemed to be restraining himself, had eventually indulged in the second round, and now his face was flushed.
They headed to the izakaya StarPork had found beforehand. Leading the group with heightened energy, StarPork pointed the direction with an elevated hand, her cautious whispers about not being noticeable forgotten.
‘Will Ahri be okay? Who got her that drunk?’
Ark glanced at Lee Yena walking beside her with suspicion. She thought it was bad to doubt people, but when it came to Lee Yena, it was irresponsible not to.
Lee Yena, who had been quietly staring ahead, slowly turned her head. Perhaps she felt Ark’s gaze.
Her eyes, which seemed to pull you in if you weren’t careful, coldly met Ark’s. Her skin was still utterly pale, as if it were translucent, despite all the alcohol she had consumed.
If it weren’t for her vibrantly red lips, Ark would have worried she was ill. Her face was so pale that it seemed translucent.
The color was so pretty that Ark tried to inquire about the product, only to be told it was just lip balm. It had left her quite surprised. If it had been anyone other than Lee Yena, she would have assumed it was an obvious lie to avoid sharing beauty tips.
‘It’s because it’s Lee Yena…’
Her lethargic gaze and slightly parted then closed enigmatic lips.
What was she trying to say? If she had something to say, it would be nice if she would just say it. Maybe if a keyboard was brought, GetDevoured’s personality would awake and speak comfortably.
Meeting Lee Yena in person always had an unreal, almost otherworldly feeling — like she could disappear any moment. Someone who seemed to need to be held tightly, lest she turn to mist and vanish—
Was it the alcohol? Her imagination kept spiraling. Or maybe it was the oversized white shirt that had a neutral feeling. It almost made it look like she had just woken up at a boyfriend’s house and thrown on whatever she found…
‘Get a grip, Kim Jinhee. You’re losing it. Get a boyfriend. Seriously. Not having one for this long…’
“Jinhee.”
The voice was so skillfully timed that it could have disrupted her train of thought on purpose.
“Yes, yes?”
“Could I ask you for a favor later?”
At the mention of the word “favor”.
Ark suddenly recalled the time when she had required the right to counter-kick back when she only knew Lee Yena as GetDevoured. A thought flashed through her mind—to not answer hastily and to first ask what sort of favor it was.
“Yes? Yes, of course.”
Nevertheless, entranced, she nodded her head in agreement. Yeah. That was just a joke back then. What harm could it do? She thought.
* * * *
“Cheers!”
The lively sound of clinking glasses echoed. She swept her hair back and brought the almost overflowing beer to her mouth.
She thought she should probably cut her hair soon. Showering was taking longer, and drying her hair was becoming a hassle. If she cut it short… would Lee Yeri faint?
Considering the situation now, StarPork would likely be the one more shocked.
StarPork, who had sat beside her as soon as they arrived at the izakaya, had been combing, braiding, and playing with her hair for the past 10 minutes. It was the result of an offhanded agreement when she asked if she could touch it. Truly a self-inflicted situation.
But it was ticklish… and above all, wasn’t it a bit much for others to see? Although she couldn’t say it outright, she could feel the glances of Revan and Gorabox frequently turning toward her. The server who brought their beer had even openly stared before leaving.
Unable to endure it any longer, she finally told her to stop. StarPork then hung her head dejectedly and sipped her beer with a sorrowful look on her face.
Was it wrong of her to retract permission after giving it? She never expected it to take so long.
It felt like a hard-to-please younger sister clinging to her. It was unbelievable that they were the same age.
“This World Series will definitely be won by GP! Ah, our Orthodox is so skilled! He’ll dominate by an overwhelming margin!”
“…That hyung would be thrilled to hear that. I’ll pass it on next time.”
Whether it was because of the connection formed through KoK or not, as the beer flowed, their conversation naturally drifted toward KoK.
“What do you think, Yena-nim? Which team do you think will win?”
“Well, I don’t really know much about professional teams…”
Oh, this grilled cod is delicious. StarPork sure knows how to pick a restaurant. As a gesture of appreciation, she picked a piece and placed it on StarPork’s plate, who promptly transferred it to her mouth like a squirrel.
They say nothing soothes a sulking woman like good food. She resembled a puppy, smiling innocently as if she had never been unhappy.
“Really? But you watch the professional league, don’t you? Or do you not watch it at all?”
“Hmm… I used to watch it sometimes. But nowadays, I don’t really know which teams are out there.”
She picked up a piece of tuna tataki and handed it to StarPork, who accepted it with a bright smile. It felt like feeding a bird. What should she give her next?
“Come on, the teams haven’t changed that much since the professional league started…”
“And besides, rogues aren’t in the professional league. I’d rather watch a solid Dodat broadcast during that time.”
“…You’re something else. Why do you like rogues so much? Here I thought you might like an assassin concept, but you don’t exclusively play that build either.”
“It’s not that I like rogues. Rogues are just good.”
“I shouldn’t have even asked.”
The logger, who had been engaging in unnecessary chatter, received a task that would be grueling for him. Even his manner of dress and stubbornly picking at his dried snacks with chopsticks suggested a rather meticulous personality. I couldn’t help but wonder how he would manage to eat it.
Seeing his flustered expression somehow eased my mood a bit. Taking it a step further, I added steamed abalone with the shell still attached and grilled eel, abundant with tiny bones, onto his plate. The meat too—oh, this looks well-cooked. I’ll give this to Ark.
Oh, right. Ark.
* * * *
『Author: Anonymous』
『Title: Did GetDevoured go to the after-party?』
『Ark said there would be an after-party for the 5-man Rogue Team today.
She didn’t mention whether GetDevoured was coming.』
– I think she didn’t go.
– If she had gone, Ark would have mentioned it. She loves drawing attention with that kind of thing.
– Maybe she didn’t say anything because she doesn’t want GetDevoured’s identity exposed.
– True, it could be risky for her if her identity gets out.
『Author: Anonymous』
『Title: GetDevoured, please confirm you’re at home』
『Please say you didn’t go to the after-party…
If you get caught in Guntak’s snares as he subtly places his car keys on the table, hinting if you’d like a ride in his Ferrari, you’ll end up riding something else all night long…
Please just be at home like usual, doing your Rogue Revival Movement activities…』
– It’s like the number of idiots skyrocketed after The Rogue, or is it just my imagination?
– Guntak is a married man, you fool.
– Why are there so many people who aren’t afraid of lawsuits?
– Lawsuits are less scary than GetDevoured’s purity being lost…
– You totally deserve to be sued.
『Author: Anonymous』
『Title: ???: Ah! Oh, no. No, please…!』
『???: I won’t do it, rogue, please don’t, rogue, stop…!』
– Die.
– Oh…this one got some reaction here, huh.
– You too, just die.
– These people are more vile than overt harassers.
– Such is the fate of online personas. If she revealed her face, people like these would vanish.
『Author: ArkGetDevouredDevoured』
『Title: The Chatroom Manager Needs to Take Control』
『I know you hate managing and moderating, but seriously, now there’s too many people crossing the line.
While they might hold back a little in the chat, on the forum or WeTogether, there are a bunch of folks who really deserve a lawsuit.』
– First, put your hand on your chest and take a look at your own ID.
– ㄴ It’s meant purely, I swear.
– ㄴㄴ Are you really that dumb…?
– Didn’t you mention hiring new managers recently?
– ㄴ That was for GetDevoured’s side, and they haven’t even picked anyone yet.
– ㄴㄴ It’s been over two weeks since that was brought up, still no updates?
– ㄴㄴ Yeah, nothing has been mentioned on the streams.
– This is why catering to a male-dominated audience is such a tough job.
– ㄴ That’s just because you haven’t seen female-dominated ones.
– ㄴㄴ Seriously, those places are actually the abyss…
– ㄴㄴ Come back after you’ve read the hardcore fanfics of “Revan x Dodat” that made it to the best posts on the Revan fan forum three times over.
– ㄴㄴ That was seriously something; no way Dodat would make those sounds.
– ㄴㄴ How do you know that… teacher?
『Author: ReformedGwangjil』
『Title: Instead of Writing Filthy Posts, how About Another Round of Rogue?』
『(Screenshot of match record)
This is truly the way to honor her.
Anyone with complaints, come to the underground.
I’ll slice your throat with a dagger.』
– Damn, this guy’s rogue skills have improved a lot LOLOLOL
– ㄴ Is this… the power of love?
– You’ve become a really cool idiot, ReformedGwangjil…
– By any chance, do you play The Rogue too?
– ㄴ I bought it but still finding it a bit tough.
– ㄴㄴ Seriously, you bought it? LOLOLOL LOLOLOL LOLOLOL, what an idiot LOLOLOL LOL
– ㄴㄴ It supports multiplayer… we might end up playing it together someday, who knows.
– ㄴㄴ Why don’t you practice an instrument or something? Heard you singing.
– ㄴㄴ Should I?