LG Chapter 30

Translator: She.Wee

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Chapter 30

As soon as the results of the Siege Battle came out, a flag with the guild emblem was hoisted on the roof of the Isis Spire. As they say, “losers stay silent,” and the Doom guild scattered as soon as the game ended.

[Whisper] GreenAppleCheong: Congratulations! ^0^♡

“……”

Maybe it was because of that strange conversation earlier, but GreenAppleCheong’s words started to sound like the voice of a burly man. The cute emoticons no longer looked adorable—instead, they felt terrifying. Kyungsoo quickly replied with a brief “thx thx” and decided to ignore the messages she kept sending.

[Whisper] Sunset: Hyung

“……”

Suddenly, “Hyung”?

“What’s with this crazy bastard?”

After staring at the single character Sunset had sent for a while, Kyungsoo frowned and typed back, “Me?” Just then, as if he had a sixth sense about the game ending, Cheon Noeul called him.

“Oh, right. We just finished. I’ll get dressed and head out.”

– …Hyung.

“Hey, where do you want to meet? Have you eaten?”

– No, I haven’t eaten yet, but…

“Then let’s eat first when we meet. I’m starving.”

– Hyung, wait a sec. I have something to say…

“To me? What do you want to say?”

– I already told you earlier.

Earlier? Kyungsoo furrowed his brow, remembering the message Noeul hadn’t read. Besides that, they hadn’t spoken today.

“What?”

There was no reply, only the sound of typing.

[Whisper] Sunset: I have something to confess T_T

“……”

Kyungsoo looked back and forth between his dim phone screen and his monitor, tilting his head.

– Sorry for not saying it sooner. It’s not like I didn’t want to…

“…What is it? Just tell me.”

He narrowed his eyes and spoke calmly. After hesitating and mumbling for a moment, Noeul whispered in a small voice.

– Hyung, I’m Sunset.

“……”

In the quiet room, only Kyungsoo’s breathing and the in-game BGM filled the silence. Kyungsoo blinked slowly, trying to stay calm. Sunset was bouncing on the spot, as if declaring, “Yes, it’s me.” For a moment, his mind went blank, unable to process the information.

You’re Sunset? Cheon Noeul is Sunset…

“…Oh. Really?”

– ……

“I see.”

In response to his plain answer, Noeul fell silent on the other end, seemingly speechless. Kyungsoo glanced around, as if searching for something, then asked softly.

“So, where are you right now?”

– W-why aren’t you surprised?

“Should I be? Why are you acting weird even when I believe you?”

– So you don’t believe me?

“I do.”

– Just wait a second.

Then, there was the sound of a few mouse clicks. Soon, the sound of summoning a legendary pet could be heard both through the phone and his speakers.

‘Meow Meow♡’

A black cat pet appeared next to Sunset. It was one of the legendary pets. Meow Meow♡ stretched, opening its tiny mouth for a yawn, revealing sharp little fangs before closing them again. Meow Meow♡ circled around ThousandSunsets♡, then flopped down beside him and started nodding off. ThousandSunsets♡ just blinked his beady black eyes calmly.

[Global] Ji9star: Whoa, Sunset… Legendary pet?????

[Global] SnowGlitter: LOL at the pet name HAHA LOLOLOLOL

[Global] neutaaaa: Ah OMG LOLOLOLOL

[Global] SpadeQueen: This pet name is insane LOLOLOLOL

– Did you see it?

“……”

Yeah, I saw it, you jerk. Kyungsoo’s lips twitched as they curled up. He had one more reason to strangle this guy.

– I didn’t mean to deceive you, you know, it’s… a long story. Last year…

The longer they stayed on the call, the greater the chance he’d escape. Kyungsoo cut him off in a calm voice.

“No, just come out. I’m starving.”

– …Are you mad?

“Listen to my voice. Do I sound mad?”

– Nope!

No, but you’re dead meat.

Kyungsoo casually threw on a jacket, calmly answering Noeul’s chattering to reassure him. After ending the call by saying he’d be in the restroom, he pocketed his phone and swung open the shoe cabinet.

“Where’s that hammer…”

*

Five minutes before the arranged time, Noeul was sitting on a park bench, craning his neck to look around and occasionally checking his phone. Behind him, Kyungsoo watched quietly, fiddling with a baseball bat.

Noeul glanced at his phone, smiling brightly, and even hummed a tune as he tapped his feet. He looked completely carefree, not realizing what was coming. The way he appeared so blissfully unaware made him look utterly insignificant.

So this little pest was Sunset? That pipsqueak who’d die a hundred times a day, fall off cliffs when told to climb up, and get killed just by brushing against a snail—that Cheon Noeul who was as fragile as a paper doll? It was obvious he had no idea. So it had all been an act.

“……”

How adorable. Kyungsoo decided he’d get his revenge. His shoulders shook silently as he chuckled.

A while ago, overcome with rage, the moment Kyungsoo had flung open his front door, hammer in hand, he had locked eyes with his neighbor. As soon as he saw the man’s bewildered expression, sanity returned, and he gently placed the hammer back down. Even in his mind, the image of himself chasing after Noeul with a hammer was too horrifying. He hadn’t actually intended to smash Noeul’s head in, and he didn’t want to step foot in a police station just yet. He’d planned to scare the guy a bit, and when he started crying, he’d make him confess. So, he had grabbed a cute little baseball bat he found in the corner of his room

Should he sprint over and grab him by the neck? Or sneak up quietly and call his name? As he contemplated how best to catch him off guard, he met Noeul’s gaze.

“Hyung, you’re he—”

Noeul beamed, his face brighter than the sun, and lifted a hand in greeting. But he didn’t even finish his sentence before his gaze dropped. His cheerful expression drained away at the sight of the baseball bat in Kyungsoo’s hand.

“……”

Kyungsoo smiled reassuringly, though to Noeul, it probably looked more like a grim reaper’s grin. Swallowing nervously, Noeul backed away and then suddenly bolted.

“Hey! Where are you going?”

“I’m sorry!!”

Even though Kyungsoo had smiled, it wasn’t enough to reassure him. Clutching the bat tightly, Kyungsoo chased after him. Noeul was quick like a mountain hare, but Kyungsoo prided himself on his stamina. People out enjoying the rare sunny sunday gawked at the sight of Noeul sprinting along the trail and a bat-wielding Kyungsoo hot on his heels.

“I’m really sorry!”

“Oh, you know what you did wrong? Say it!”

“I’ll tell you everything, I promise!”

“Don’t need it!!”

“Please stop chasing me with that—”

In the chilly air, the constant running made it feel stifling. His lungs ached, and his side began to hurt. Noeul’s pace slowed, too. So close yet just out of reach, Kyungsoo’s fingers tingled with frustration.

Kyungsoo threw the bat at Noeul, and it hit the back of his head.

Thud!

Noeul’s legs buckled as he lost balance. The baseball bat had done its job, now lying forgotten.

“Argh!”

“Got you, you jerk!”

“Nooo!!”

Kyungsoo tackled Noeul as he fell, grabbing his hair and pinning him down. Wiping his sweat with his sleeve, Kyungsoo looked down at a very pale, tightly shut-eyed Noeul.

Just as Kyungsoo had pinned Noeul, a cop intervened. He hadn’t even noticed anyone following them. The officer approached Noeul, asking with concern.

“Are you alright?”

“…I’m fine. Just please let go of my hyung.”

“Huh?”

“I said, don’t hold his hands.”

Noeul grumbled back. His eyes were fixed on Kyungsoo’s wrist, which was bound by another policeman. He was getting nervous because he thought this crazy bastard might lash out at the cops. The cop let go of Kyungsoo. As soon as Kyungsoo was free, he rolled his eyes and came up with an excuse.

“We were playing tag!”

“Tag? With a weapon, you say?”

The taller of the two cops scoffed, holding up the baseball bat.

“I heard high school kids these days are scary….”

“Don’t even get me started. It’s different from our time.”

“It’s not a weapon….”

Kyungsoo muttered, looking at the baseball bat that had rolled far away. It was a kid’s toy compared to the hammer he had first tried to bring out.

“Actually, it’s a birthday punch.”

“There he goes with his excuses again.”

“It’s not an excuse. Right? I haven’t even hit him yet!”

“You did…”

Noeul muttered, rubbing the back of his head. When Kyungsoo glared at him, he quickly shut his mouth.

“Yet?”

“Tsk…. I heard school violence is a serious problem in the world these days…. In hyungad daylight like this….”

“School violence?” Kyungsoo’s mouth dropped open in shock. He was genuinely wronged here — after all, it was Cheon Noeul who had started everything, not him.

“No, no! That’s not it! Hey, what are you doing? It’s true! It’s your birthday today, isn’t it?”

“…My birthday?”

Noeul asked back, his face showing genuine confusion. Kyungsoo’s lips, which he had forced into a smile, were trembling slightly with desperation. Noeul blinked innocently and asked again.

“Uh… Hyung, what day is it today?”

“It’s December 1st. It’s your birthday!”

“Wow. Really. It is…my birthday!”

“Hey, you little punk, happy birthday!”

Kyungsoo pulled Noeul into a dramatic hug, letting out a short sigh under his breath. The two police officers scolded them, telling them not to pull this kind of prank again, before finally leaving, occasionally glancing back at the two.

“…You really shouldn’t consider acting as a career.”

Kyungsoo, drained, collapsed right onto the grass.

“Neither should you, Hyung.”

“I was at least a little better.”

“No, you weren’t. You were weird, too.”

When Kyungsoo looked up at him with a look that seemed to ask, “What do you want me to do?”, Noeul was busily fixing his hair. Meanwhile, Noeul’s own bangs were clinging messily to his white forehead, not realizing he should probably fix his own hair first.

“Stop it.”

When Kyungsoo slapped his hand away, Noeul looked down, disappointed, with a gloomy expression. The look on his face made Kyungsoo feel like trash.

“Are you okay?”

“Do I look okay?”

Kyungsoo snapped back sharply on purpose. Noeul, looking like a scolded puppy with drooping ears, answered quietly.

“No…”

“Why’d you run, then? Ugh, my stomach hurts.”

“…I thought I’d die if I got hit. I was ready to take one hit, but I didn’t think you’d come out carrying a weapon…”

Kyungsoo blinked before replying sarcastically.

“Drama queen. What kind of weapon is this? I almost brought out a hammer, but I held back.”

“A…hammer…”

Noeul bit his lower lip and started glancing nervously at Kyungsoo. In retrospect, it was a very wise choice to bring a bat instead of a hammer. If he’d actually thrown a hammer, Noeul’s head would probably have split open, and Kyungsoo would’ve definitely been caught.

Thinking back, Noeul had been so quiet in the beginning, but as time passed, he started talking more and even joking around. And at some point, he began showing signs of goodwill toward him, even earning the nickname “clinger.” It made Kyungsoo feel like hitting him one more time wouldn’t even be enough to ease his frustration. He figured it was simply the “preservation law of lunatics” — if Cheon Noeul, the weirdo, wasn’t around, some other strange person would just appear.

“I thought it was multiple weirdos, but it was just one weirdo all along…”

As Kyungsoo muttered in resignation, he noticed Noeul’s knee in his line of sight. There was a red stain spreading on his jeans. Absentmindedly he pressed down on Noeul’s knee, which made Noeul wince in pain and furrow his brows.

“Ow, that hurts.”

“…”