LS 42

− “Uh… I think it should be fine! Even if customers come in, it’s not something I really need to worry about… and there aren’t usually many this time of day.”

“Alright. Let’s go find that NPC, Myeonghan, first.”

− “Okay!”

“We’ve been on this quest for quite a while now.”

− “I know, right…? But since this is the final one, I’m kind of excited. I saw Noodle and Tando showing off the couple avatar last time! It was like, a super cool uniform or something? I really wanted it.”

Knockoff’s usually slow voice started picking up speed. He must’ve really wanted it.

Dohee bit his lip and let it go again to keep from smiling.

Every time he smiled, the guy thought he was mocking him, it was kind of upsetting. Someone might think he was some kind of jerk.

“We’re getting it today too, so we can wear it. Wanna dye it together?”

− “…Dye it?”

“Yeah. Gotta dye the new avatar when you get it. Those SoGod devs have no taste, it looks way better with a dye job than the default.”

− “Uh… but I, um, don’t really know how to do that…”

Yeah. He figured.

Dohee wasn’t even surprised anymore.

This was the same guy who thought some weird shop avatar looked decent and picked one of the default presets to make his character. If he had known how to dye properly, that would’ve been more shocking.

Dohee calmly began explaining.

“Didn’t think you would. Just do what I say. I’ll give you all the dye codes.”

− “Codes?”

“Yeah, when you dye you can enter color codes directly.”

− “Whoa… AssaGo-nim, your character and avatars are always so pretty and cool. I don’t really have any, uh, aesthetic sense or anything like that…”

Yeah. That much is obvious.

“It’s just ‘cause I’m really into it.”

As they chatted, the two wandered near the marketplace looking for the house with the orange door. They talked way more than they would’ve through text.

It had been a while since they used GameTalk, but it really was convenient in its own way.

− “Um…”

“Yeah?”

− “Uh, I… I don’t know if it’s okay to ask something like this…”

“What is it?”

− “Well… you said you dropped out of college, right?”

“Yeah.”

− “Was it like, uh… what’s the word… arts college? Design school? You kind of seem like you’d go to one…”

“Oh. It was a design school. Fashion design major. I dropped out after one semester in freshman year.”

− “Whoa, really!? Wow…”

Knockoff actually sounded impressed. Cute guy. Dohee couldn’t help but ask in return.

“What about you?”

− “Ah, me?”

“I told you mine, so now it’s your turn.”

− “Ah…! I’m studying sociology.”

Dohee blinked as he parked his character in front of the house with the orange door they’d finally found.

It… actually kind of suited him.

“Fits you.”

− “Really!? I’ve been told it doesn’t suit me a lot…”

“Why?”

− “Just… they say I don’t look the type. That I seem more like a sports major or someone in the arts or something. But I don’t really get what that’s supposed to mean… It’s not like majors have a certain look or anything.”

Sports or arts major?

The image Dohee had of Knockoff in his head started to shift a bit.

Those stereotypes, what someone “looks” like they’d study, were usually built from dumb assumptions anyway.

Thinking about Knockoff’s big build and height, he was over 187cm, Dohee figured that might be why people said that.

“Yeah, there’s no such thing as a major that suits how someone looks.”

Though I have always been told I look like I’d go to art school.

As they chatted about all sorts of things, the two of them finally decided to knock on the door of the house with the orange door.

It was the final step of the couple avatar event at last.

“Interact and accept the quest.”

− “Okay!”

He sure answers diligently.

Dohee let out a faint smile and knocked on the orange door.

Soon, a child who appeared to be the NPC opened the door, and a quest popup appeared.

Final Proof! – Myeonghan’s Request

? This is the final quest of the “Couple Avatar Event.”

Talk to NPC “Myeonghan” and listen to his small request.

! Note

▷ You must have the “Small, Sparkling Brooch” given by Clara to proceed.

Dohee and Knockoff spoke to Myeonghan.

[NPC] Myeonghan: Welcome, adventurers. I’ve been waiting for you. Are you ready to hear what I have to say?

YES / NO

When they clicked YES, Myeonghan began to speak.

[NPC] Myeonghan: Hello, adventurers AssaGo and GOingSupporter187. I’ve heard you’ve traveled all over Yubriel together, helping many people.

There’s something I’d like to ask of you. It’s not a very difficult request. Not long ago, my parents passed away, and I held a funeral for them.

They were truly close, and I was their only child. They gave me so much love, I can’t even describe how happy those days were.

“It’s just that… two of my parents’ keepsakes have gone missing. I think I might’ve lost them while moving, or maybe someone even stole them. It was my mother’s ring and my father’s scarf that disappeared. Could you help me look for them? Here, I’ve made a list of where I used to live before I moved, the places I go to often, and some people I suspect.

They were left to me by my parents, so I really want to find them. If you can help me recover them, I’ll make sure to repay you. Please, I’m counting on you!”

Accept / Decline

! Note

▷ When you complete the ‘Myeonghan’s Request’ quest, you’ll receive the Couple Avatar Set along with the ‘Guardian of Love’ title.

After clicking the accept button, Dohee spoke.

“You got the quest?”

— …

But for some reason, there was no reply. Dohee called out again.

“Knockoff?”

— “Ah… uh, yes! I got it.”

“What was that? I couldn’t hear you.”

— “No, it’s nothing. I was just… thinking for a moment.”

Maybe he got absorbed reading the quest text. Dohee continued without much thought.

“Didn’t know they’d give a title too.”

— “Yeah…”

There was no energy in Knockoff’s voice. Dohee frowned a little. What’s with the mood?

“What’s wrong? Why do you sound so down all of a sudden?”

— “It’s just… Myeonghan’s situation is really sad. He looks so young still.”

The tension in Dohee’s brow instantly eased. Oh, he’s just getting too into the story again.

“You really like the game’s story, huh.”

— “Ah… yeah. The main story’s good, but even these side quests and event quests feel like they’re actually well made.”

“You get emotionally invested really easily too.”

— “Uh, yeah… do I?”

“Yeah.”

— “Sorry if it bothered you.”

“Why are you always apologizing for everything? You didn’t even do anything wrong.”

Dohee could hear a faint chuckle through the earphones. That finally put his mind at ease.

“Is it okay if we finish this quest tomorrow?”

— “Ah, yeah yeah! You said you had plans.”

“Yeah. I’ll probably be online by dawn, though.”

— “Then let’s do it when you log on!”

“Aren’t you curious what my plans are?”

— “Uh… I am a little, but… would it be okay if I asked?”

“That’s kind of surprising.”

— “Huh?”

“I mean, I usually don’t really care what others think. It’s just funny you’re asking so politely.”

— “Ah… is it? I’m just, uh… kind of a timid person by nature…”

That made Dohee laugh a little without meaning to.

Yeah, that was obvious even without saying it. He swallowed the words instead.

“I’m going to Yeohoo and Yeojin’s place tomorrow. Did I tell you they’re my cousins?”

— “Oh? That’s right! The other guild members told me. That’s so cool… Yeohoo and Yeojin are twins, right?”

“Yeah. Got anything else you’ve been curious about but were too shy to ask?”

— “Then… uh… that time…”

“That time?”

— “When you were drinking. The day it snowed for the first time.”

“Yeah.”

— “Um… did you drink with a friend? You seemed really out of it, so… I was kind of surprised when you called. I got worried too… and when you didn’t come online, I was a little, uh…”

“A little?”

— “A little disappointed, maybe…! Ah! But not like, I’m not saying you had to come online to play with me or anything! I didn’t mean it like that. Just, uh… we see each other almost every day, so it wasn’t really that I was disappointed, just…”

His words started coming out faster and more jumbled. He was flustered and rambling.

Dohee, who’d been quietly listening, let out a soft snort.

So basically, he was a little sad Dohee didn’t log on that night because he’d been out drinking with someone else.

Why couldn’t he just say that directly?

“You were sad I didn’t show up because you wanted to see me, and wondered who I was out drinking with, right?”

— “Yeah! Uh–wait, no! I didn’t mean it in a bad way!”

“What’s bad about it?”

— “Ah… It’s just that you have so many friends and you’re always busy, and I’m just… always bothering you, tagging along, always stuck to your side… So I don’t really feel like I’m close enough to you to say something like I was disappointed or anything…”

That suddenly annoyed Dohee. He let out a long hum through his nose, then spoke.

“We’re not close?”

— “…Huh?”

“I’m asking if you think we’re not close. I thought we were pretty close. Guess I was wrong?”

— “Ah! Uh, no! That’s not what I meant! I mean… you have a lot of friends, so I thought maybe… I mean, I do think we’re kind of… close.”

“Pretty close.”

— “Huh? Yeah! I thought we were pretty close… but maybe you didn’t feel that way, so… I’m sorry.”