Chapter 66 : Choi Na-yeon

After two days of relentless effort, Curry screamed into the void, celebrating his Grandmaster achievement.

It was loud enough to make me wonder if a noise complaint might be on its way.

Curry let out a deep breath, releasing all the emotions that had built up during the challenge.

“Congratulations on reaching Grandmaster, Curry!”

“Phew… It’s all thanks to you, Barcode.”

Seeing Curry genuinely overjoyed made me feel happy too.

“So, that’s the end of the King of the Ladder stream? That’s a shame.”

“Ah, yes, really. Such a shame! Truly!”

[Doesn’t look like he’s upset at all.]

[Why would he be? He was treated like a punching bag s*ave.]

[First time seeing Curry this happy.]

[The guy’s full, living his best life.]

[If it were me, I’d have thrown the last game and extended the collab by a day, LOL.]

Curry glanced at the chat and, without hesitation, flipped off the camera.

“Your opinions don’t matter! I’m ending the stream now!”

With his restraint gone, Curry abruptly shut down the broadcast.

Normally, he would play music before ending the stream, but this time was different.

“Now then…”

As the time to part ways approached, I thought about the stalker who was likely waiting outside.

How should I deal with them?

While mulling it over, I set my phone down in the corner of the desk and spoke quietly.

“This collab was a lot of fun, Curry.”

“Ah, I had fun too, thanks to you, Barcode.”

“Hm… really?”

“Haha…”

Curry laughed awkwardly, avoiding my gaze.

I could have pressed him further, but I wasn’t in the mood.

Going home and falling asleep now would’ve made for a perfect day, but…

There was still one thing left to take care of.

After gathering my belongings, I headed to the door.

“I’ll see you out.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Then…”

Stare.

“…I suppose it’s only proper to see you off.”

Curry and I walked together toward where I’d confront the stalker.

We took the elevator down and made our way to the front gate.

“It’s cold out. Take care on your way home, Barcode.”

“Are you worried about me? Hehe.”

“Ahem. I’ll be heading back now.”

Curry, visibly exhausted, let out a yawn as he returned to his apartment.

Once I confirmed he had boarded the elevator, I pulled out the tools I’d prepared from my bag.

I slipped the stun gun into the spacious inner pocket of my coat and fixed an action camera onto my jacket’s upper pocket.

After pressing the record button, I also started the recorder in my other pocket.

Though the action camera could capture sound, I didn’t want to risk unforeseen issues.

This time, I was determined to deal with the stalker thoroughly, leaving no room for error.

Once everything was set, I headed toward the front gate.

The apartment complex wasn’t too dark, even late at night, but there were still places where the streetlights didn’t reach.

As I stayed alert and moved forward, I soon arrived near the gate.

Step, step.

The sound of footsteps came from the direction of the recycling area.

It was undoubtedly a person.

I turned toward the source of the noise and saw someone.

A figure dressed in a black hoodie and mask was staring straight at me.

Though the dim light obscured their features, their unsettling gaze was all too clear.

They didn’t seem like someone with good intentions.

Step, step.

And then—

The stalker steadily approached me, and I was certain it was them.

Even so, I didn’t run.

There was no reason for me to flee. Besides, the distance between us had already narrowed enough that running would only result in being caught.

The stalker seemed puzzled by my lack of reaction but didn’t stop their advance.

I wanted to use the stun gun right away and knock them unconscious, but the timing wasn’t right yet.

“Why aren’t you running, noona?”

“…”

“Ah, I get it! You’ve fallen for me at first sight, haven’t you? If not, why else would you just stand there? Am I right?”

“What nonsense are you spouting, you psycho?”

My words were laced with contempt, and the stalker’s expression twisted.

Even though their mask obscured most of their face, their narrowed, now scrunched-up eyes were enough to give it away.

“Psycho? Do you know how much I like you? I’m a way better match for you than that Curry jerk.”

“Pfft.”

I stayed silent and let the stalker ramble on, curious to see just how insane they were.

But when they claimed they were better than Curry, I couldn’t help but let out a derisive laugh.

“Listen carefully. Curry is leagues better than a cowardly, pathetic loser like you who hides behind a mask and hoodie. Comparing you to Curry is an insult to him.”

“…What did you say?”

My scathing words changed the stalker’s demeanor entirely.

“What? What did you just say? What did you call me?”

“I think about you all the time, and yet you—how can you say something so cruel to me?”

“Sigh… No, this is all my fault. Once I teach you the joys of being a woman, you’ll surely come to love me too.”

“Looks like you’ve got the order wrong.”

The stalker muttered incomprehensible nonsense before reaching out a hand toward me.

Though I was itching to grab the stun gun in my pocket and end this, I held back.

If I wanted to utterly destroy this trash’s life, I needed more evidence.

“Come with me.”

The stalker grabbed my wrist, their hand brushing deliberately along the side.

From the smug crescent of their narrowed eyes, it was clear they’d done it on purpose.

Deciding I had enough evidence, I pulled out the stun gun from my pocket.

In that instant, the stalker smacked my wrist, and I dropped the stun gun.

Their gaze shifted briefly to the fallen device before returning to me.

“You shouldn’t play with dangerous toys like that. What kind of punishment should I give a naughty girl like you?”

“Shut up.”

“Tsk, tsk… Seems like I’ll have to take this further.”

The stalker dragged me into a dark corner, out of the reach of the streetlights.

Pushing me against the wall, they let out a chilling laugh.

“It’s time for us to have a heart-to-heart. Aren’t you excited?”

I pretended to give up, lowering my head as though in despair.

Their hand grazed my jacket, slowly moving downward.

The moment the cold air touched my skin, I acted.

I pulled a second stun gun from my other pocket and jammed it into the stalker’s neck.

Zzzzt!

The stalker convulsed and collapsed to the ground.

Finally having subdued the stalker, I adjusted my jacket, which had slipped slightly out of place.

But before I could finish, hurried footsteps approached from a distance.

I paused, abandoning my attempt to fix my jacket.

Instead, I crouched down in front of the fallen stalker, pretending to catch my breath as if exhausted.

“Barcode!”

“Haa… Haa…”

Curry rushed over as soon as he saw me crouched on the ground.

After checking on me, his gaze shifted to the unconscious stalker.

“This worthless piece of trash…”

In Curry’s hand was the stun gun I’d dropped earlier.

If he had that, it meant he’d witnessed the moment I was dragged off by the stalker.

Otherwise, there’d be no reason for Curry to explode with anger at the sight of the fallen stalker.

“Barcode, are you okay?”

“Yes… I’m fine.”

“Phew… I should’ve escorted you home.”

“This isn’t your fault, Curry. More importantly, can you call the police?”

At my weary request, Curry immediately pulled out his smartphone and called the police.

“Do you know this person? Any personal connection?”

“I don’t know him personally, but he’s the same guy who followed our housekeeper before.”

“What? This scum was hanging around your house? What about the police? How long has this been going on?”

“Since after the fan meeting… We reported him to the police, but he was released without charges.”

“What the hell? A stalker like this was let go without charges?”

Seeing Curry genuinely enraged on my behalf stirred an odd feeling inside me.

Knowing he was this upset for my sake brought an unexpected smile to my lips.

But smiling in a situation like this felt out of place, so I quickly masked my expression.

Not long after, the police arrived.

Curry and I went to the station, while the unconscious stalker was taken to the hospital.

At the police station with Barcode, Curry worked to suppress his simmering anger.

Thanks to Barcode’s preparedness, there was irrefutable evidence.

The video from her action camera and the audio recordings of their conversation were solid proof.

Because of her capable handling of the situation, Curry had no need to step in, so he quietly listened as the officer spoke.

“With the footage and recordings Ms. Choi Nayeon provided, it’s more than enough…”

But when the officer mentioned a name, Curry felt his mind grind to a halt.

The person the officer was addressing was Barcode.

And he’d just called her “Choi Nayeon.”

Barcode’s real name was Choi Nayeon.

The malicious sniper’s username was NayeonQueen.

During the collaborative stream, the sniper’s interference had briefly shaken his suspicions, but he’d ultimately dismissed them.

Now that he knew Barcode’s real name was Choi Nayeon, however, the doubts he’d buried resurfaced.

Could it be mere coincidence that Barcode’s name was Nayeon?

His head spun.

Already fatigued from the grueling stream, being confronted with this hard-to-accept truth made his head throb painfully.

He couldn’t listen to their conversation anymore.

Barcode and the flower shop owner were the same person.

Barcode and NayeonQueen were not the same person.

But Barcode’s real name was Choi Nayeon.

Nayeon was a common name, but was it really just a coincidence?

Lost in endless contemplation, Curry eventually came to his senses.

By then, he and Barcode were already outside the police station.

“Thank you, Curry,” she said, flashing a soft smile.

Was that smile genuine? Or was it fake?

He doubted everything about her.

“Curry?”

When he didn’t respond, she stepped closer.

Her worried expression seemed to ask if something was wrong.

For someone who had just experienced a stalker incident, she was far too composed.

She should be the one needing comfort, yet she was concerned about him.

But if all of this was an act—if it was all fake—

Her calm demeanor and even her worry for him would make sense.

“Barcode.”

“Yes?”

“You’re NayeonQueen, aren’t you?”

She remained silent.

He had asked the question with resolve, but her response—or lack thereof—made him feel like a fool.

If she had just lied, even blatantly, and said she wasn’t NayeonQueen…

He would have believed her.

But why? Why wouldn’t she deny it?

She had vehemently denied it during the collaborative stream.

So why now, of all times?

He waited for her to speak.

If she gave him even one word of denial, no matter how late,the unbearable headache plaguing him would fade.

But all he received was a heavy silence and a cryptic smile.

He couldn’t understand why she would smile in such a situation.

He was so drained that even standing was difficult.

As he turned to leave, her voice stopped him.

“When should we start our virtual marriage?”

Ignoring her question, Curry trudged away, his steps heavy.