◈ Episode 32

It was a topic that couldn't be overlooked.

Kim Yi-hyeon sat up straight to listen. As the atmosphere began to get serious, Roscoe waved his hand.

"Oh, that was a bad way of speaking. It doesn't mean that there is a direct problem with me. I don't get along with other players at all, so there's no need to worry about any scandals breaking out."

It was a bit unfortunate to hear. It seemed like he hadn't made a single friend while playing in the league.

"As you know, Miss Asterique is doing quite well these days. I wonder when the winning streak will end, and the audience is also increasing. I tend to watch the audience's reactions during the game. The league is all about entertainment, after all."

"Oh. Now you definitely look like a manager."

"Both you and I are having a hard time, so I should do my part too. Anyway, everything is going well…."

Roscoe continued, scratching his beard.

"I started seeing some cheap guys in the audience. Men and women, their ages ranged from 20s to 50s."

"Audience? Are you acting up or something?"

"That's not true. He just watched the game silently and then left. He didn't have any companions, so at first I thought he was just a spectator who came alone."

"So far, it doesn't seem like there are any problems."

"...That's why I said that. I thought it might be a fluke. Even to me, it seemed like a pointless nitpick, so I tried to change my mind several times. Then, when the next match started, I thought about it again."

My face was stiff with doubt and worry.

"They're not the kind of people who just want to enjoy the game. They watch all of Miss Asterique's games, but their expressions never change. It's like they have no interest in the game at all."

Roscoe stroked his forearm as if he was feeling creepy. To Kim I-hyeon, who didn't know the details of the situation, it seemed like an exaggerated gesture.

But it couldn't be taken lightly.

"Is it possible that it's someone from the sponsor's side?"

"I already asked the other managers. They said it was a face they'd never seen before. They heard people say they were jealous of me because I became so popular that I had stalkers."

He clicked his tongue in annoyance. Roscoe then summarized the story.

"I have nothing more to tell you. I just came here because I thought I should let you know before something happens. Why, you know, my brother cherishes Miss Asterike so much."

"I do save money, but… not to that extent."

"No, that's not true. It's nonsense that won't even make sense."

Kim Yi-hyeon felt awkward for no reason at the sight of her snorting. She answered as she thought of it, but why was she so cold-hearted?

"Well, it doesn't seem like there's that kind of feeling between a man and a woman. That's why it seems like we have a closer bond."

It wasn't a completely wrong statement.

Isn't it common? Users who show affection by calling game characters their daughter or son. The feelings Kim Yi-hyun currently has for Asterike are not much different from that.

Kim Yi-hyeon accepted it with a laugh. He didn't have the heart to try hard to deny it, but he didn't want to drag the topic out either.

"Anyway, I understand. I'll look into it too."

"Phew, thank you. I feel a little better now."

Roscoe let out a deep sigh as he answered seriously. He leaned back on the chair with a much more relaxed expression.

"As expected, you are someone I can rely on, no matter what."

… … Wasn't the afterword unnecessary?

* * *

Same day.

At night, Kim Yi-hyeon went out into the street. Even though it was the time when the date would soon change, the lights on the street were still on.

Rather, it was a lively neighborhood at night. Clubs and bars with flashing electronic displays. Staggering drunks and waiters at adult entertainment establishments soliciting customers… … .

It was a world I had never been to before. I think I went to Hongdae's club street once before I went to the military. I don't remember thinking it was noisy.

'It doesn't seem like it'll get any better even now.'

I prefer to rest comfortably alone rather than go out for a wild night out. The reason I came out on the street today wasn't to enjoy the nightlife.

'Honestly, I don't trust Roscoe's intuition.'

There was a time when Roscoe mistook Kim Hyun for a mafia member. Not long ago, he was a regular employee who had been in his third year of military service.

'At that time, I did induce some things, but… I guess I should say that I have a strong confirmation bias. It seems that once an impression is made, it doesn't easily go away.'

It was a bad temperament, in terms of information. If Roscoe's worries turned out to be unfounded, it wouldn't be the least bit strange.

But I needed to check it out for myself.

'I don't know what will happen here in the future.'

It has been a long time since the Scenario derailed. With the Legion driven out, the future of Cilicia has become uncertain.

'There's still a long way to go until the next main episode.'

If things had gone as planned, the Legion would have taken over Cilicia and used it as a forward base and stronghold, and would have begun to operate in earnest. The Legion's ideas would have spread widely across the continent, and those who agreed with it would have gathered one by one in Cilicia.

And only after half a year, the main episode 3 begins. It is as if it is the calm before a storm, but then civil war, war between countries, and various other incidents rage like a raging storm.

'The Legion won't stay still either, so one of them will explode. I don't know what will happen to Cilicia.'

The Legion might invade again. A criminal organization operating in the underworld might suddenly start a civil war.

Just because you have time doesn't mean you can just relax. You have to be alert to everything.

'Should I start from here?'

The electronic sign with the store name on it glowed a soft green light. Shreve. A pub that also served as a place for immigrants to exchange information.

That's what I heard. Kim Lee-hyun glanced at the passersby and then went inside the store.

After looking around a bit and asking people questions, I left. I went around to similar establishments, ordering drinks each out of courtesy.

And it was at the fourth tavern I visited.

"―Yeah, it was awesome. I thought I was already dead back then. No, if it weren't for that Pecatum, I would've really died. I still dream about it. It was fucking hell there."

At that moment, a pleasant sound was heard. Kim Yi-hyeon looked at the table as he passed by.

A man with a flushed complexion, perhaps because he was drunk. Three people sitting with the man, but their attire is clearly different. All three are wearing hoods over their heads, so you can't even see the side of their faces.

I sat down nearby to listen in on the conversation. The other guests were also listening in, so no one looked at Kim I-hyeon suspiciously.

"..., ...?"

"What? I don't know, all we heard was that they were a mob. They felt different from the Outlaws, but who would have cared then? They were all spoiled by that weird smoke."

The man appeared to be a bounty hunter who had fought in the defense of Cilicia. He seemed to have given up on keeping secrets, but that was not his concern.

The events of that time were already well known, and Asteriske became quite famous thanks to the talk of the surviving bounty hunters and mercenaries.

The problem is not the man, but the three in the hood. The surroundings were so noisy that I couldn't hear their voices. They were speaking quietly to begin with.

"That Pecatum? I told you, it was amazing. I used to think Pecatums weren't worth fighting for, but now I feel safe just by looking at its horns."

".... ...."

"Okay, do you think I'll believe you just because you say a hundred words? Even I don't believe you. If you're really curious, go and see for yourself. I found out he's a second-division league player, so I've been going to every game lately."

The man giggled, saying he was now a huge fan. From then on, he just kept repeating the same thing. If you want to know more, pay to watch the game.

He was surprisingly a loyal fan. The three people who were listening thought that there would be no more nutritious stories to tell, so they didn't ask any more questions.

"Okay, have a nice day. Thanks for the drinks."

After a while, they left.

Kim Lee-hyun also got up. He followed her out of the bar, keeping a small distance between them.

'… … I've really done everything.'

At the age of 26, I was doing things I had never done before, even as a joke, like stalking people I had never even met.

What's even more ridiculous is that the thought of 'I have to follow them' naturally occurred to me. I even thought that I should wear a hood myself, because I might have seen their faces in the tavern.

How did a person end up like this? Well, it must be because he got stuck in Polaris.

Contrary to their complicated minds, their legs moved steadily. They did not go inside but continued walking down the street.

As we walked, the road became narrower and darker.

The noise of the bustling streets gradually faded away. The silence that had settled here was different from the comfortable silence that Kim I-hyeon enjoyed, and gave off an eerie atmosphere.

My steps became more cautious. And then, after passing through an alley I didn't even know how many times.

"...."

A gun barrel suddenly appeared in front of his eyes. A male-looking monster with a physique not much different from Kim Yi-hyeon's, thrust the gun at Kim Yi-hyeon's head.

Crunch.

At the same time, Kim Yi-hyeon cocked the hammer of his pistol. The barrel of the old-fashioned, half-cocked revolver [Webbly Mark] touched the monster's abdomen.

"I think it would be better to put it down first."

In a standoff where they were aiming at each other, Kim Yi-hyeon opened his mouth. He suddenly remembered a memory. For the first time in his life, he had been threatened with a gun.

It was a recent event. Not only were there no cobwebs, but the dust hadn't even piled up yet. But compared to then, I wasn't that scared.

"There's a friend looking this way. He has bright eyes and light hands."

The opponent remained silent. Kim Yi-hyeon continued speaking, keeping a wary eye on the two behind him.

"Don't you believe me? I can show you an example. That thing over there, that long pole thing, it'll be easy to hit it..."

"wait a minute."

For a moment, I thought the tone sounded familiar.

Of the three, the one with the smallest build stepped forward. The monster lowered the barrel of his comrade's gun with his own hands, then took off the hood he was wearing.

"―Is this voice by any chance Mr. Hyun?"

Kim Lee-hyun opened his eyes wide. He was surprised by the unexpected encounter, but he checked the other person's appearance with his eyes without any gaps.

"Mr. Hyun. Are you right?"

The expression on his face clearly showed his delight, as if he was already certain. His eyes stared straight at the other person. He even called him Mr. Hyun.

It was Leila just like in my memories.

'Isn't this a disguise?'

Only after reaching a conclusion did Kim Yi-Hyeon take the gun out of his hand. Likewise, he lowered his hood and turned his gaze to the man who had been aiming at him.

"Since Leila is here, is this Pablo?"

"...I'm surprised. Why are you here?"

"That's what I'm going to say."

Pablo and Ghost showed their faces one by one. Unlike Leila, the two looked more embarrassed than happy to be reunited.

"Ghost, it's been a while. You're still as big as ever."

"I never thought I'd run into you in a place like this."

When I first extended my hand, Ghost took it. After shaking it once, Ghost let out a bewildered voice without even answering.

"You… aren't the same. You've changed a lot."

Kim Yi-hyeon answered with a faint smile instead of words. Just from that, Ghost could tell that Kim Yi-hyeon had gone through many hardships during the short period of time they had not met.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have changed this much. The person who felt the change the most was Pawel, with whom he had briefly engaged in a war of nerves.

Since when had Pavel's palms been covered in sweat? He wiped his hands on his pants so that Kim Yi-hyun wouldn't see them.

'It's amazing what Leila found out.'

Now I definitely recognize it as Kim Yi-Hyeon. If Leila hadn't come forward, I might not have noticed it at all.

The atmosphere was different from the start.

The previously precarious and dangerous appearance that seemed to be pushing something has disappeared. What has filled that empty space?

At least it was a different kind of warmth than Leila had. Not the rough side of a vagabond. It was colder, sharper, and more refined.

Kim Yi-hyeon's eyes turned to Pablo.

"By the way, you need to fix your bad habits."

"what?"

"Pointing guns at people out of the blue. I guess that's the case everywhere, but it's especially bad in Cilicia."

"...That thing you were holding was a toy?"

"What am I?"

Kim Yi-hyeon shrugged his shoulders, showing his empty hands. Pablo just laughed in vain. His shameless attitude seemed to have gotten worse than before.

The playful words blew away the tense atmosphere. Only then could Leila breathe a sigh of relief.

"Mr. Hyun, when did you come to Cilicia?"

"It's been a few months, but just wait."

Kim Yi-hyeon, who held out his palm and told me to wait, touched his ear. A small voice like noise flowed out from the communicator stuck in his ear hole.

At that moment, Ghost was able to realize one more fact. The warning that 'there is a friend watching this way' was not an empty boast.

"Come with me. Let's move from our seats."