BBQ Revelations and Drunken Drama

“You expect me to care?”

“Can’t you listen seriously, even a bit?”

Nope.
Holding a full soju glass, I gave a sour look.
You dragged me out in this cold for *that*?

Just that?
Despite his serious face, it’s just him sucking at PVP and getting owned.
What’s with the vibe?

Youngyoon chugged and refilled repeatedly.
Tch, he’s gonna pass out.

“They added an arena ranking system, so I thought I’d climb… but I keep matching this guy and losing…”

“He’s probably better than you.”

“No way… I can’t lose to *that* guy!”

Maybe it’s because I haven’t eaten, but the soju wasn’t sitting well.
Setting my glass down, I endured Youngyoon’s endless whining-disguised-as-gossip.

Forget it, let’s grill.
I’m hungry.

“I’m so pissed, moping over losing to that toxic jerk. It’s humiliating…”

“Just ignore him.”

“He keeps running his mouth! Not me, *him*!”

“Uh-huh, sure.”

“He even PK’d our guild newbie once! So I went to confront him!”

Yeah, okay.
But… this sounds familiar.
Flipping sizzling meat, my face twitched.

Not just familiar—I *lived* this.
Unaware of my crumpled expression, Youngyoon rambled on.
Chill, or you’ll get sick.

“Ughhh! Met him in the arena today too! People’s toxicity doesn’t change. He trash-talks like crazy!”

“Hey, quick question.”

“What?”

I picked up a piece of meat with tongs and cut it.
The juicy meat hit the grill, its savory aroma tempting.

“You Transparent?”

“Whoa, how’d you know my username?”

“I’m done.”

Korea’s small, but *this* small?
Of all people, Youngyoon’s Transparent?
The low-IQ guy who got bodied in 1v1 PVP by a Berserker, dragged his guild to fight, and got obliterated by PatchNote’s AoE?

“Too transparent, like a crystal bead.”

“How do you know? Did I tell you?”

“Why do I know?”

Didn’t want to know.
I moved the meat to a plate for Youngyoon before it burned.
Sorry for killing you so much.
Should’ve said it was you—I’d have gone easier.
He always bragged at school about being a pro gamer, so I thought he was good.

“First time I’ve wanted to fight someone IRL.”

“Why? What’d you do?”

Well, I PK’d your newbie and crushed you.
Multiple times.

Youngyoon tilted his head, pouring more soju, clueless.
How’s he surviving this harsh world with no awareness?

Feeling pity, I looked at him.
I was about to say I’m SoonToDie, but seeing him grin innocently, I couldn’t be that cruel.

“Hey, drink some. Why’re you holding back?”

“Empty stomach, it’s rough.”

“We’re young! Empty stomach’s nothing! Drink!”

Why’s my stomach your call?
Weak drinker chugging like that—what’s he banking on?

Drunk and red-faced, Youngyoon ranted, unaware I’m SoonToDie.
Technically, with me here, it’s front-gossip.

“There’s this crazy guy who PKs Gunners! He killed our newbie, so I confronted him, and he taunted me! *He* started it!”

“Got it.”

“So I faced him in the arena, but he’s hacking! Everyone says no, but it’s hacks! How else does a slow Berserker beat a Duelist?!”

“Got it.”

“Must be a 40-something whale! Well… he sounds young, but plays like an old dude. How old is he?”

“Got it.”

“How can he kill newbies? Just because they’re a Gunner! That’s too much!”

“Got it.”

Your newbies are like preschoolers to you, huh?
Anyone gaming on a PC has some sense.
Smirking faintly, I listened to his front-gossip.

He’s got a lot pent up against me.
Better keep it hidden.

IRL, I’d lose 10/10 fights against Youngyoon.
I’m a beast in-game, but IRL, I’m frail—probably lose to a middle schooler.

“Is it worth getting that mad?”

“What? He PK’d a newbie! Of course I’m mad!”

“But PKs don’t lose you anything.”

PKs are bad manners, but this game’s PK system has no real loss or gain.
Other games dock EXP or drop items, but *Freesia*?

Just gear durability loss and a trip back to town.
That’s why I PK’d freely.
If there were real losses, I’d have been more than just flamed on the boards.

“Well… true, but it’s about feelings. A clueless newbie got killed for being a Gunner! How scary’s that?”

“Yeah… put the bottle down. You might crack someone’s skull.”

“Our newbie’s scared, what do I do?! If they quit… I haven’t shown them *Freesia*’s true charm!”

Why do veterans treat newbies like kids by a river?

If I were a newbie, I’d be annoyed being babied.
Youngyoon grilled with one hand, ranted with the other, and cursed nonstop.

“Before the year ends, I’ll crush that guy! I need your help!”

“Suddenly? Why me?”

“You’re good at games. Wanna play *Freesia* together?”

“You crazy?”

He doesn’t know I’m SoonToDie or even that I play *Freesia*.
Laughing in disbelief, he chugged soju and sighed deeply.

“Ughhh… *hic*… You said you’re good at games. *Freesia*’s nothing for you, right?”

“What do you want… I mean, got it.”

“Help me train… *hic*… I’ll fund all your gear!”

“My gear’s better than… got it.”

“I’ll beat that jerk! Humiliate him!”

“Transparent talking big… got it.”

Good thing he doesn’t listen when drunk—my real thoughts slipped out.
Watching him place grilled meat on my plate, I felt bad.

Shouldn’t have used the level-1 cancel combo…
Transparent, I’ll teach you the Duelist combo.

“So, he said… my intelligence is cheap! He said that!”

“Yeah, lower your voice. You’re bothering the restaurant.”

“I’m not loud!”

“Yeah, it’s damn loud, so quiet down.”

“His username’s so… funny! SoonToDie! Hilarious, right? I’ll make him live up to it soon!”

“Yeah, got it. Looking forward to it.”

Stop blowing the bottle-horn.
Customers and staff are whispering and staring—embarrassing.

Unable to take it, I tried grabbing the bottle, got smacked, and fell to the cold floor, laughing hollowly.
Why’s he a dog when drunk?
Bark, growl, you mutt—live like a human.

—

(6) *Guild War*

(1)

Youngyoon got blackout drunk, ranting nonsense.
Leaving him, I called a nearby classmate to pick him up.
He balked but came after my relentless begging.

“Part of me wants to leave him to live in this trash heap.”

“He’d die in this weather…”

“That’s why I called you.”

Shrugging, my classmate sighed and took Youngyoon.
Waving lightly, I headed home.

Man, it’s cold.
Youngyoon’s heavy—hope they managed.

“They’re close, it’ll be fine.”

Or not.

—