LS 59

What does it mean to be kind?

The dictionary defines it as someone who’s warm-hearted or affectionate. Baek Dohee had never once thought of himself as warm-hearted. He wasn’t exactly the kind of person people called cold-hearted either–no one ever exclaimed, “You heartless bastard!”–but still, in all his life, no one, not even his cousin Yeohoo, had ever called him kind. That alone showed how far removed that word was from him.

If anything, the word “kind” suited Kwon Moonhyuk much better.

He empathized even with NPCs in the game, putting effort into helping with their quests. He admired the scenery crafted from nothing but code, took his time examining every virtual flower and animal, and found beauty and charm in each of them.

Baek Dohee, who had been a hardcore gamer for what could be considered a long time, had never met anyone quite like Moonhyuk. Not even close. So when someone like that called him kind, it left him speechless. He laughed in disbelief every five minutes.

When had he started liking this guy? When had he become the kind of person who could be mistaken as kind by someone else? After realizing his feelings, he couldn’t even tell where it had all begun.

At first, it was just pity. Moonhyuk was a struggling supporter who seemed likely to quit the game, so Dohee paid attention. Then, since Moonhyuk knew nothing, Dohee taught him everything, one step at a time. Before he realized it, he found himself waiting for him to log in. Eventually, he gave him his GameTalk ID to match playtimes, called him while drunk on impulse, started wishing their time together would last longer, and bought gifts without thinking. Now, he found himself simply… wanting to see him.

It had snuck up on him so naturally that, by the time he realized it, it was already too late.

– AssaGo-nim! I just arrived in Denme!

“Hold on. Let me just buy one more potion material.”

– Okay, okay! Take your time! Wow… this is so cool.

“What is?”

– Ah… remember last time we stopped by the capital for our avatar quest? I think that was the only time I passed through Denme. Now that I’m actually here, it feels so magical.

“The map is pretty nice.”

Wherever Baek Dohee’s feelings were headed, the two of them were currently playing through the support hidden class quest “Birth of the Spirit” in Denme.

After Moonhyuk hit level 125, Dohee had waited all day for him to log on.

The quest “Birth of the Spirit,” only available to level 125 supports, was lengthy. It took a whopping 12 hours to complete if you didn’t skip any of the story, and even speed-skipping took at least 11 hours. Still, the skill reward was necessary for Demon Hunter raids, so the sooner Moonhyuk finished, the better. Timing was everything in activating the skill, so it was worth practicing in advance.

Though the quest was mostly solo dungeons, party members could still help by clearing mobs. Dohee had taken the regular airship to Denme instead of using his limited friend teleport scrolls, saving them for truly urgent situations while babysitting Knockoff.

“Aren’t you tired today?”

– Oh! A really interesting customer came in today!

They were chatting on GameTalk while playing. Dohee asked about work, and Moonhyuk’s voice instantly lifted. He usually had a slightly husky tone that hovered between low and mid-range. When he was gloomy, it dropped; when excited, it rose. Dohee liked talking to him because he could feel his mood so clearly.

“Who was it?”

– Um… how do I describe it… one of those long balloons? You know, the kind you twist into shapes?

“Like balloon animals? Dogs, hearts, that sort of thing.”

– Yeah! That’s it! Apparently, that’s their job, they do that at events.

“Did you ask them that?”

– Huh? Oh, no! They just came up to the desk and asked if I wanted a balloon puppy!

“And?”

– Well… I was pretty flustered, but when I asked what it was, they just made it right then and there.

“Was it good?”

– Huh? What?

The moment Dohee asked that, he smacked his own forehead. What the hell, Baek Dohee. What kind of absurd jealousy is that?

“Never mind.”

– Oh… the balloon? I was actually a bit scared…

“Scared? Of the balloon?”

– No, um… it was so thin and twisted together like that, I felt like it might pop.

“If you squeezed it too hard?”

– Yeah, yeah!

Dohee imagined Moonhyuk holding a balloon puppy and chuckled. With those big hands, it probably would be scary. From what he remembered, Moonhyuk’s hands were at least a joint bigger than his own, and Dohee didn’t have small hands himself.

“So?”

– Oh! But I brought it home safely. My hands were so cold, I ended up tucking it in my jacket… but I think it deflated a bit, and that’s kinda sad.

The image of Moonhyuk cradling a balloon puppy in his jacket cracked Dohee up. When Moonhyuk heard him laughing, his voice turned sheepish.

– Should I show you…?

“Oh god. What, the balloon?”

– Yeah…

“Go ahead.”

A moment later, a GameTalk message pinged. Moonhyuk had sent a photo. Dohee, now on his PC, opened the chat and burst out laughing again. The balloon dog really was slightly deflated at the end.

“I feel dizzy.”

– Do you have a headache!?

“Not like that.”

– Come to think of it, AssaGo-nim, you say you’re dizzy a lot… Do you have anemia? Have you been to the doctor? Maybe… iron? Would iron help? Or vitamins…?

Dohee closed his eyes. This guy’s insane. Absolutely dizzying.

“I’m fine…”

– That’s good… don’t get sick.

Better not say anything.

“Thanks.”

– Did you get off the airship!?

“Yeah, I’m on my way to where you are.”

– I’m waiting by the NPC!

“Okay. And don’t follow strangers offering candy.”

– What the–! I’m twenty-seven, you know.

“I know~”

– You’re younger than me, though…

“Didn’t you say you didn’t like being called hyung?”

– Uh… yeah… it’s not that I hate it, but…

“But?”

– Just… it’s a little scary…

“What, you think someone’s gonna eat you? It’s just a word.”

Dohee navigated his character toward Moonhyuk, grumbling as he went. Seriously, everything scares this guy. Not that Dohee actually wanted to call him hyung, he didn’t care much about age gaps, and everyone in the guild spoke informally anyway. Still, he felt like teasing.

– Maybe… once we’re closer! I-I mean–not that we’re not close now!

Moonhyuk’s panicked voice was hilarious and adorable. Dohee chuckled and quickly moved his character toward where Moonhyuk was waiting. He was standing at the edge of a cliff, admiring the view of Denmue, unaware that Dohee was right behind him.

“Aren’t we already close?”

– Y-yeah! Totally! We are!

“So we are?”

– It’s just… we haven’t met in person yet, so calling me hyung feels… um… awkward?

Calling him hyung without ever meeting face-to-face felt awkward, huh. Dohee placed his character right behind Moonhyuk’s. Moonhyuk finally turned around and gasped when he saw him.

– Whoa, you scared me! You should’ve said something…

Hmph. Is that so?

Dohee silently stared at his monitor. Poor Moonhyuk’s character looked like it was about to melt under his gaze.

– Shall we go!? Uh, did you do the hidden quest at 125 too? Where do Dark Assassins do it? Did it take long for that character too? This one supposedly takes twelve hours… if it’s too boring, you can totally leave–

“Hey.”

Decision made.

Dohee cut him off mid-ramble.

– Huh? Yeah?

“Wanna meet up?”

– Yeah. Wait–what!? L-like… in real life? You mean, me and you? Not in the game?

“Yeah. We live in the same neighborhood, don’t we? We’ll have to do a Demon Hunter raid together at my place anyway.”

– Ah… well, yeah, true…

“You said you don’t have a PC.”

– Right…

“Then how about grabbing a meal together first?”

– Uh…

He was practically hyperventilating. Dohee calmly adjusted his earbuds.

“Wanna have a meal with me, hyung?”