LG Chapter 37

Translator: SheWee

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Chapter 37

Kyungsoo placed his hand on the Enter key and stared at Noeul’s monitor. Noeul, having resurrected in the game, rummaged through his inventory and double-clicked on the Romantic Ring item.

> “Would you like to use the Romantic Ring (One-time use)? Once used, the item will be automatically destroyed.”

When the item-use confirmation window popped up, Noeul’s expression softened a bit. Kyungsoo glanced at him with an amused look, and as Noeul clicked the mouse, Kyungsoo simultaneously pressed Enter.

> “This couple status is already established. You cannot use this item.”

“Huh?”

The ring item wasn’t applied. When the window covering their characters disappeared, they could see what had been hidden beneath it.

> [Global] PoseidonCaptain: ??

> [Global] Seolyeong: …????

It turned out that GreenAppleCheong had offered a ring a little earlier, and the timing had aligned perfectly, causing Noeul’s proposal to be overridden. As a result, even though Noeul’s character knelt down to propose, the action was abruptly canceled.

> [Global] GodControlCheolsu: LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

> [Global] Hamster: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

> [Global] Neutaaaa: Love and War LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL what even—

> [Global] GreenAppleCheong: Sunset-nim, I’m so sorry! I acted first, LOL T_T

> [Global] SpadeQueen: Oh no, y’all better run! LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

> [Global] Aslen: Logging off before things explode;

> [Global] StarryTail: LOLOLOLOL omg T_T

> [Global] VibrantGreenEnergy: LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL what is happening?

> [Global] Seolyeong: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL you’re so fucked.

Due to the game’s mechanics to prevent abuse of the couple system, it wasn’t possible to dissolve a couple status for at least a week. Before confronting why someone had proposed to him in the first place, Noeul buried his face in his hands, visibly dejected. His shoulders trembled slightly.

…Could it be?

“Are you… crying?”

“……”

No response. Interpreting the silence as affirmation, Kyungsoo frowned awkwardly.

“Hey, why are you crying over something like this?”

Kyungsoo pulled his chair closer to Noeul and placed a hand on his shoulder to try and move his hands away. But before he could react, Noeul suddenly lunged forward, hugging Kyungsoo tightly and burying his face into his shoulder.

“……”

“……”

Well. Guess this really mattered to you.

Kyungsoo, lifting his arms hesitantly, patted Noeul’s back awkwardly before gently stroking it.

“Don’t cry. I’ll fix this somehow.”

“……”

Even the faint sound of Noeul’s breathing by his ear felt pitiful. But apart from that, Kyungsoo also heard typing sounds from behind him.

Tack. Tack-tack. Tap-tap.

“……”

“……”

Tap. Tap-tap. Tack-tack-tack.

Kyungsoo carefully freed one arm from Noeul’s hold and turned his head. On the chat input window, nonsensical strings of consonants and vowels filled the space, forming gibberish.

He deleted all of Noeul’s errant keystrokes and logged him out. Then he pushed the keyboard far away from Noeul’s reach.

Noeul let out a weak smile, but his eyes were devoid of any humor, looking almost eerie. Kyungsoo, feeling defensive, began to babble excuses.

“Look, I didn’t know someone else would propose at the exact same time.”

“…I guess I should’ve checked the mail first. What a terrible way to get revenge….”

Kyungsoo reluctantly agreed. The mail sent by GreenAppleCheong probably outlined the entire setup for today’s events.

“Once the week passes, you can break it off, so don’t be too upset.”

“…A whole week?”

“……”

Tears began pooling in Noeul’s eyes. Clearly, delaying something he’d been anticipating so much by an entire week was devastating. Kyungsoo, who was utterly clueless when it came to comforting others, felt cornered.

“Why are you, a grown man, crying so much over this?”

The frustrated tone had the opposite effect, as Noeul looked even more fragile. Was this not the right approach? Sometimes, Noeul’s sensitivity could be bewildering. After some contemplation, Kyungsoo cautiously asked:

“…What can I do to make you stop crying?”

Noeul, who had been sulking, lifted his head. His sorrowful gaze met Kyungsoo’s, and the whispered reply made him regret his question.

“Anything?”

“…Yeah, anything.”

With that, Noeul leaned closer, resting his head against Kyungsoo’s shoulder, inhaling and exhaling quietly.

Was this really so upsetting? But if something as small as this could provide solace, then Kyungsoo decided it was fine to stay like this. He patted Noeul’s back clumsily, attempting to console him.

—

Seeing someone typically buoyant and carefree suddenly so deflated made Kyungsoo feel uneasy. Normally, Noeul did most of the talking while Kyungsoo listened, but today, the roles were reversed.

Noticing that Noeul seemed too dispirited to engage in anything, Kyungsoo forcibly shut down the laptop. Fetching a glass of cold water, he pressed it against Noeul’s face to cheer him up. Conversations steered towards mundane topics as Kyungsoo tried to distract him.

Although Noeul responded occasionally and even smiled faintly, he remained subdued, unable to fully shake off his earlier disappointment.

“Hyung.”

“Huh?”

Startled by Noeul calling him, Kyungsoo stopped mid-sentence. Without a hint of playfulness, Noeul lowered his gaze and murmured:

“You said earlier… that I could ask for anything, and you’d do it.”

“I did.”

“Can you stay over tonight?”

Kyungsoo hesitated, unable to immediately agree. Tomorrow was a school day, and the last time he stayed over, it hadn’t gone smoothly.

“You won’t?” Noeul asked, his tone almost pleading. “I don’t want to be alone….”

Ah, screw it.

“Fine.”

As long as nothing regrettable happened in his sleep, it should be fine. Seeing Noeul so downcast, Kyungsoo couldn’t bear the thought of leaving him to mope in his room alone.

Taking the spare clothes Noeul handed him, Kyungsoo entered the bathroom. Waiting for the water to warm up, he stared blankly at the fogged mirror. Tracing an apple shape with his finger, he washed it away under the showerhead.

What kind of grudge did GreenAppleCheong have against Noeul? Or had Noeul somehow caused trouble behind Kyungsoo’s back…?

Naturally, if Kyungsoo asked Noeul directly, he could have received a clear answer. However, since the cause of Noeul’s moodiness was tied to GreenAppleCheong, Kyungsoo hesitated to broach the subject. While both GreenAppleCheong and Cheon Noeul were strangers to Kyungsoo, it was undeniable that he cared more about Noeul than about someone whose face he had never even seen.

“Ah! You scared me.”

Startled, Kyungsoo clutched his chest as he almost bumped into Noeul, who was standing right outside the bathroom door.

“If you don’t dry your hair properly, you’ll catch a cold.”

“I told you, I don’t catch colds…”

Roughly toweling his damp hair as he stepped out of the bathroom, Kyungsoo found himself being pushed right back in by Noeul.

The loud hum of the hairdryer filled the space as warm air blew. Through the mirror, Kyungsoo caught a glimpse of Noeul’s face, his lips slightly parted as he meticulously ran his fingers through Kyungsoo’s hair.

Somehow, Kyungsoo felt a strange fondness growing toward Noeul. Maybe it was the kind of attachment that develops from repeated irritation—affection born of familiarity. But the ease with which Noeul fit into his life now was unsettling.

Kyungsoo’s gaze accidentally locked with Noeul’s reflection in the mirror. Caught mid-action, Noeul met his eyes and smiled, his gaze softening. Embarrassed, Kyungsoo quickly averted his eyes. Why does a guy smile so delicately like that? A shiver ran down his spine.

The night outside was pitch-black, and the quiet version of Cheon Noeul felt unfamiliar. Without turning off all the lights, Noeul lay down first. The orange glow of the bedside lamp reminded Kyungsoo of that night, making him reluctant to lie down on the bed.

Covered by a blanket, Noeul lifted his head and stared at Kyungsoo intently, as if urging him to join him. Kyungsoo reluctantly sat down on the edge of the bed and lay down with his back to Noeul. The silent room was filled only with the sound of breathing.

After a long moment of silence, Noeul cautiously spoke.

“Hyung, before we break the couple bond… can you not log into Berserker for a while?”

“Huh?”

“If you do, that guy’s going to message you. Even if you block whispers, he can use the couple chat. That’s not okay… Hyung belongs to me.”

“Why do you keep saying I’m yours? I told you to stop imagining things.”

“…It’s annoying. I really hate that guy. I really, really do.”

The irritation in his voice was unmistakable. It was the first time Kyungsoo had heard Noeul express such genuine dislike for someone, and it felt oddly unfamiliar.

“……Why did the developers make the couple system so stupid?” Kyungsoo muttered. Accepting a couple request took mere seconds, but dissolving it required waiting a whole week. Sure, the reasoning behind the system was to prevent abuse, but at this moment, no justification felt acceptable.

Noticing that Noeul had gone quiet again, Kyungsoo, still lying with his back to him, hesitated for a moment before turning over to glance at him. Their eyes unintentionally met, and now Kyungsoo found himself lying face-to-face with Noeul.

Noeul blinked at him with an unreadable expression. It wasn’t as though Noeul’s request was unreasonable, and even Kyungsoo had been caught off guard by today’s events. Becoming a couple out of the blue—it wasn’t planned and left him feeling baffled. After letting out a sigh, Kyungsoo spoke.

“Fine. Honestly, I feel uncomfortable with GreenAppleCheong too.”

Noeul’s tightly pressed lips slowly parted.

“So…?”

“For now, I’ll just log in with my alternate account.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“…What?”

“Are you doing it because I asked you to?” Noeul asked, his eyes wide with surprise, as if he hadn’t expected Kyungsoo to agree. Kyungsoo was taken aback by the reaction.

“…What’s with you? You’re the one who asked me not to use my main account. Now you’re acting all surprised.” Kyungsoo frowned, annoyed.

“I didn’t think you’d actually listen to me,” Noeul admitted with a sheepish smile. The way he smiled, sweet and innocent like dissolved sugar in water, was strangely endearing.

“I’m happy! I really don’t want you and that guy crossing paths anymore.”

…I can’t believe this day has come. To think Cheon Noeul could ever seem endearing to him—he must’ve been exhausted out of his mind.

“Go to sleep.”

Kyungsoo turned away again, but Noeul quickly sat up and pressed his shoulder down, preventing him from turning over.

“What are you doing?!” Kyungsoo yelped, startled. His gaze darted between Noeul’s hand on his shoulder and his determined face.

“I left the light on for a reason. I want to look at you before falling asleep. If the direction bothers you, switch places with me.”

Noeul’s brazen declaration left Kyungsoo dumbfounded.

“You’ve really lost all shame, haven’t you?”

“Is that a problem?”

“Not really…”

“Since you’re sleeping over, can’t you indulge me a little? It’s not like it’ll wear you out.”

“I have a habit of hugging something when I sleep…”

“Then hug m—!”

Kyungsoo quickly clamped his hand over Noeul’s mouth, cutting him off mid-sentence.

Now that Noeul’s mood seemed to have improved, he started spouting nonsense. Kyungsoo clamped a hand over Noeul’s mouth. However, Noeul effortlessly removed Kyungsoo’s hand and said,

“I’ve been thinking about something for a while now. Should I try joining Doom?”

“…What?”

“You know, I’ve done it before. Since they recruit constantly because of their high turnover, it’s easy to infiltrate the guild. Want to come with me?”

“Why would I…? If you want to go, go by yourself.”

The mere thought of it was so repulsive that Kyungsoo shuddered.

“I feel wronged that some random guy managed to take you away from me… That spot belongs to me. And so do you.”

“I’ve told you over and over—I don’t like you. Stop making ownership claims and take them somewhere else.”

Kyungsoo pushed the overly clingy Noeul aside and tugged the blanket up to his chin. Despite the rebuke, Noeul remained silent for a moment before mumbling softly under his breath,

“Then stop being so kind…”

Unnecessary kindness is criminal. Noeul muttered petulantly, as though complaining.

“Shut up.”

“Weren’t you trying to comfort me earlier? Why the sudden change?”

“Go to sleep.”

“Can you comfort me just a bit more? Please? I want to hear your voice, or maybe even get another hug, like before…”

“If you keep talking, I’ll kick you out. Do you want to sleep outside?”

“…”

Kyungsoo gestured indifferently toward the door. Only then did Noeul finally zip his mouth shut. With the noise subsiding, Kyungsoo closed his eyes, relieved. Just as he began to drift between sleep and wakefulness, he felt Noeul’s hand covering the back of his own. Too tired to care, he left it there.

When morning came, Kyungsoo woke up in the exact spot where he had fallen asleep. Noeul, seemingly in an even better mood than usual, was practically bouncing with excitement.

Curiously enough, his body wasn’t turned awkwardly, nor was he clinging to anything—or anyone—while sleeping.

—

After PE class, Kyungsoo stopped by the snack shop instead of heading straight back to the classroom. With an ice cream stick in his mouth, he waited for his friend to heat up some bread. Meanwhile, a group seated nearby was chatting loudly about something Kyungsoo had no interest in.

Apparently, someone in the group had kissed a friend at the library in a fit of passion the previous day. It was an utterly trivial story. Once they left the shop, Suyeong muttered cynically,

“What a load of crap. That asshole already fucking answered his own question by saying that he kissed his ‘friend’ and didn’t think it was gross. He’s totally dating her within a week. I’ll bet two packs of dumplings on it.”

“Yoon Doha, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Still not dating that girl? They’ve dragged it out for a fucking long time.”

“Why would it be gross? A kiss is just a kiss. Nothing more.”

Kyungsoo responded casually, earning a cracker tossed at his head from Suyeong, who exclaimed,

“You asshole. That wasn’t just a friend. It was obviously a romantic situation. Could you kiss a friend?”

“What the fuck? Friends can kiss too, can’t they?”

Kyungsoo shrugged. After all, in some countries, even strangers exchanged kisses as greetings. Why would it be strange for friends to share a kiss? It wasn’t like they had sex—it was just lips touching for a moment.

“…What’s with those looks?”

When he lifted his head, three pairs of eyes were staring at him.

“This asshole’s gotta be one of the worst among all the assholes.”

“What? Did I say anything wrong?”

“Yeah, you totally fucking did.”

Suyeong flung another cracker, which Kyungsoo caught and tossed back.

“A kiss makes it obvious they’re not just friends.”

Taeyeol, who had been quietly listening, chimed in to support Suyeong. See you asshole? Told you! Suyeong gleefully ramped up his teasing, accusing Kyungsoo of being a moral degenerate.

Kyungsoo just couldn’t understand what the big deal was. Making such a fuss over a kiss seemed ridiculous.

“Are you like this because you’ve never kissed anyone?”

“You son of a—!”

“Ha, I knew it. You haven’t.”

“Hey! Then would you kiss me?”

Kyungsoo’s voice grew so loud that people at nearby tables glanced over.

“Eugh.”

“Suyeong, Kyungsoo’s about to puke because of you.”

The stick of the ice cream he was holding pressed awkwardly against the back of his tongue, causing him to gag. Suyeong, seemingly delighted, started cursing Kyungsoo, calling him a worthless piece of trash.

“What did I even do…?”

“Still, puking is a bit much, you asshole!”

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