『Ahriyaaa』
『Are you coming tomorrow?』
『Of course!!!! 😠』
『I even made some banners』
『(photo)』
『(photo)』
『(photo)』
『How do you like them??』
『Ah』
『Hmm』
『Pretty serious』
『I made five!』
『I’ll give you one too 🥰』
『Not being a logger yourself is the best, no loggers allowed』
『(photo)』
『How about this one???』
『Well』
『Actually』
『I contacted you to tone down Yena a bit……』
『Even if she participates, she should stay a bit in the background』
『Huh??』
『Why……?』
『There’s also the issue with Yena’s personal information』
『People think it’s a fan meeting』
『Meanwhile, she’s seriously preparing for a solo protest……』
『Uh』
『It’ll definitely look like a serious protest, right??』
‘……Is there a sinister aura flowing through the rogue?’
The harmless girl who once reminded them of a squirrel seemed to have disappeared. StarPork, Ahri, sent several pictures of protest placards that one would only see in the news.
For some reason, it felt like an unmistakable signal that there was no turning back.
Given the situation, there was no choice but to go early. Go early, and maybe turn it into a fun and lively event……persuade them with some charm.
Fans of ‘Ark’ would definitely show up, and special autograph papers would be prepared for them. When asked if she had enough of her own, she confidently claimed that as a broadcaster specialized in gathering a mobile audience, she wouldn’t have any fans coming for her.
The notion that the fans coming just to see Yena would be hundreds or perhaps thousands of times more didn’t even cross her mind. Jinhee still couldn’t comprehend why Yena undervalued herself so much—but what could she do?
There was a saying: just as the one who loves more loses the fight, the one who worries more loses it too.
Jinhee made one last check of her baggage. A large pair of sunglasses, a mask, and a hat that could be worn deeply over the head. All of it was prepared for Yena. It was just in case Yena came unprepared.
‘Should I bring a helmet…’
In the worst-case scenario, she thought she could just put the helmet on Yena first thing when they met.
‘How many people could really gather? Considering the starting time is announced as 12 o’clock, there might be a few curious people showing up around 11:30… It’s not realistic for a lot of people to come on a weekday. Besides, if she hides her face, it’ll be hard to recognize her…’
Thinking like that, there seemed to be nothing major to worry about.
‘Hiding her face…’
Despite those thoughts, an inexplicable sense of unease lingered.
* * * *
『GP Orthodox: Revan』
『GP Orthodox: Are you broadcasting? Busy?』
『Revan: No, I’m not!』
『Revan: What’s up?』
『GP Orthodox: It’s nothing really』
『GP Orthodox: Just wondering if you’re going to that protest tomorrow』
(Revan is typing a message…)
『Revan: Yes, unfortunately』
『Revan: I am going』
『Revan: I couldn’t stop them, so I’ll at least need to suppress it』
『GP Orthodox: I see』
『GP Orthodox: I have something to ask about that』
『Revan: Yes, hyung』
『GP Orthodox: Is it really a protest?』
『GP Orthodox: Our youngest is fighting for leave to go to that. It’s off-season, so obviously leave will be granted』
『GP Orthodox: But if it’s really a protest against the game company, a pro gamer going would be crazy』
『GP Orthodox: If it’s just a concept and actually a fan meeting, I think it could narrowly get approved』
(Revan is typing a message…)
『Revan: Please consider it a protest』
『GP Orthodox: Oh dear…』
『GP Orthodox: I’m glad I asked』
『GP Orthodox: Honestly, I couldn’t believe it either』
(Revan is typing a message…)
『GP Orthodox: But is GetDevoured really coming?』
『Revan: I don’t know.』
『Revan: Really.』
It was an honest answer. He truly didn’t know. Whether she was coming or not. If it were Lee Yena, it wouldn’t have been strange for her to hide, saying that a true rogue knows how to disappear.
Or perhaps she could just turn on a broadcast from home and ask either him or Ark to relay the scene.
She was the type of person who wouldn’t give a definite reply even when asked if she would show up at the after-party.
‘Thinking that way, it does mean she’s coming this time, too. Seeing her face after a long time wouldn’t be bad-‘
Shihoon’s hand reached for his phone. At some point, whenever thoughts like these crossed his mind, he instinctively accessed the chatroom where Lee Yena’s messages remained.
Pressing down on the screen – the most recent message he received, ‘A lot of fans are going to come, so I’ll prepare autographs. I even bought an axe-shaped stamp’, greeted him.
It certainly implied she was coming herself, but still… It was difficult to see it as the behavior of someone genuinely pushing for such an event.
Just a few days ago, she had contacted him out of the blue to play some bizarre retro game in multiplayer…
While Revan, Shihoon sighed deeply, discourse notifications started popping up rapidly from the corner of his monitor.
『GP Bio: Revan-hyung.』
『GP Bio: There’s a signing event before GetDevoured’s fan meeting tomorrow, right?』
『GP Bio: I’m going because I’m a fan of yours, Revan-hyung.』
『GP Bio: Explain this to Orthdox-hyung, please. It’s not a protest, just a themed fan meet.』
『Revan: I’m sorry.』
Suppressing the urge to type, “Bio doesn’t know that person well-”
Shihoon simply left an apology.
* * * *
A large square in the middle of the city.
A space where couples enjoyed leisurely dates, company workers moved busily with stern expressions, and foreigners wandered around taking in the sights without much thought.
The square was famous for frequent protests, but it was also often used for various events. After all, such a large open space in the middle of Seoul was rare. When a large crowd needed to gather, it wasn’t uncommon to think of this square.
However, usually, it was a relaxing space where people could enjoy a casual walk – and on this day, it seemed like one of those days.
The warm sunlight of the morning blended with the weather as it slowly warmed up, creating a peaceful atmosphere. The only slightly unusual thing was a slender woman going up and down a ladder, hanging up a banner.
It was a task that naturally drew some attention. While it wasn’t uncommon for various banners to be hung up and taken down, it was rare to see a young woman with long hair doing the job.
But since the work itself was relatively routine, passersby didn’t stare for long. There was no reason to focus intensely on a body covered in a thick padded jacket, especially when her face was completely obscured by a deeply worn hat and a large mask.
Having a small face meant it was easy to cover up.
As the woman, now proud of her work, looked up at the banner with gentle, curved eyes, a man and a woman emerged from a nearby café and approached her with deeply furrowed brows.
“I knew it. Why say the notice was for 12 when you start at 10?”
“Oh. You came. Thank you.”
“Of course I came… Now, let’s go home.”
“You’re asking me to act irresponsibly. This will cause controversy.”
A light conversation. The woman’s low voice seemed to strangely carry far.
“… Sure, I thought it wouldn’t work. Anyway, it’s a fan meeting! We’ve kept this hidden for so long, we should put on a strong themed fan meeting as an event. You can’t leave the place now that the banner is up, so let’s have some coffee. Pick one.”
The woman, who had brought coffee, extended her hand to offer a carrier with three cups. Two were filled with ice, and one emitted warm steam. The man, after some hesitation, nodded and took the cold drink.qwrx
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy this.”
“… Iced? What happened to your alias?”
“Actually, I like iced coffee.”
Her voice was unexpectedly resolute, as if she was confessing a deeply covert preference.
Having said that, did she unload a burden off her heart? For some reason, the woman who had straightened her posture a bit walked towards the chair placed in front of the banner, taking off her padded jacket, hat, and mask.
At that moment, it was only natural that the footsteps of the indifferent passersby all halted simultaneously.
Her face was unbelievably small, making the mask look abnormally large, with skin so white and transparent that it appeared pale. Despite the slightly drooping eyes and half-open eyelids giving her a lethargic impression, her jet-black pupils shone mysteriously.
Below that, the sharply straight nose and slightly pursed lips, which seemed a bit angry, exuded an unresistable aura just by staring straight ahead with her mouth closed.
Even with the winter morning sun as the only light source, the woman clearly shone radiantly.
“Are they filming a drama?”
“Who is she?”
“Isn’t this an idol event?”
“Rogue Revival Movement? Must be a variety show.”
“There are so many idols these days, I can’t tell who is who.”
“Isn’t she from that group? The one that released a song that goes ta-ta?”
“She looks like an actress.”
While the murmurs of the onlookers filled the plaza, puzzled by the woman who captured the attention of people within a radius of several meters just by revealing her face, she simply sat down on the chair, crossed her legs, folded her arms, and said:
“Do you feel the anger of 50 million rogue compatriots worldwide?”
Those who tried to stop her from taking off the mask flinched, and now stood frozen, staring at her in a daze.
For a few seconds, silence ensued. The surrounding murmurs subsided as some mistakenly concluded she was performing some sort of act. Occasionally, the sound of a click from a camera breaking the silence.
“…Forget about 50 million rogues; if you sit like that and claim to be sad, everyone would genuinely get angry. You’d become a traitor.”
“…I wasn’t sad. Should I say I’m sad? I’m not confident with tear-acting.”
“…I’m just making a point.”
“And you, Jinhee?”
“…You really didn’t wear any makeup usually, huh? I mean, I knew, but… wow. Seriously, wow.”
“…I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Her response was half-dazed. Still, was she satisfied?
“Thank you both for coming.”
Tinting her cheeks with a slight blush, she smiled bashfully.
“Really. Thank you… so much.”
The smile, momentarily making one forget the cold—a smile that felt like a flower blooming warmly and caressing those around—was there.
No one knew yet that it was a smile heralding a storm.