Chapter 10.11

“I don’t know, I don’t know. I’m just gonna call him hyung. The Rossi student let go of his hands. You’re going nuts right now, aren’t you? Wow! It’s a KO!”

When he killed one of his opponent’s characters, his prospective character retreated. Sangwoo was careful for a while, then hit his opponent with a jab spam combo.

“O-oh! Challenging student, grinding your teeth, huh? What could this be as soon as the game starts?”

“He pulled a proper BnB in the fake stage. It’s unclear who’s gonna win.”

As the punching continued, Sangwoo’s character made the opponent collapse by reducing 30% of his HP.1 The remaining character was pulled forward. It had now become a real battle with no place to hide.

“Challenger, it isn’t easy. He’s good at psychological warfare.”

“It feels like our defending student is macro hacking. There’s no space to fight back! As a result, it seems like he’s going to get his 15th win!”

They exchanged several minor attacks. The opponent tried to do a left upper combo, but Sangwoo wasn’t having it, and blocked him. Sangwoo’s attempt at withdrawing was blocked in the same manner. It was a thrilling match.

When he felt edgy by being so focused, he got annoyed at his opponent shaking his legs. The knee that had been peeking out from behind the arcade gaming console had been somewhat familiar. Sangwoo almost flew into the air while staring at the knee.

He suddenly broke into cold sweat. It was a leg that he had seen a lot. It’s trembling shape was oddly familiar, where could it have been?

“I guess you’ve finished studying?”

Then, he heard a low voice. He got goosebumps all over his back. Sangwoo avoided the enemy’s reach by pushing his character into the corner of the screen, extended his neck, and looked across at him. His opponent wore a bizarre mask, but he could tell that they had made eye contact.

“You’re done with everything, and you’re out having fun, right?”

“Jang… Jaeyoung? Here… what are you do…”

Sangwoo returned to the screen and grabbed the controller, but he had already lost his composure.

“I’m asking if you’re going around playing games.”

Sangwoo’s Ed helplessly collapsed as Jaeyoung’s Lilith released the double long wave attack.

“Our Sangwoo.”

It was a fatal kick that bothered his bottom parts. It was too late to avoid.

“You seem to be very confident in your technique.”

Ed’s HP was reduced to less than half because of the mid-to-high dire kick.

“I’m really looking forward to it.”

He collapsed at Lilith’s Deathly Arrow.

The commentators were shouting something in excited voices, but Sangwoo couldn’t hear them.

return 0;

“It’s fine, really. Take it.”

“No. I don’t deserve to take it.”

Sangwoo walked slowly while hanging his head. Jihye was carrying the SuperformiconCX in her arms, but Sangwoo’s hands were empty. They had promised to each win a prize and then exchange them, but as he had failed miserably, he didn’t have the face to hold his head high.

“I’m fine, really…When would I even use this old kind of gaming console? I don’t even know how to use it.”

“Sell it online. I taught you how to sell used goods.”

“Then should I sell it to you, oppa?”

Sangwoo’s head sprung up. As expected, Jihye! He quickly concocted a simulation of the most optimal method in his head.

“Post it on the ‘Used Kingdom’ forum this evening.2 Then I’ll find your posting and contact you. Don’t sell it to someone else, and make sure to…” Sangwoo said in an excited voice.

“Oppa… are you an idiot?”

Jihye was giggling while clinging to Sangwoo’s shoulders. Sangwoo tried to avoid her by slightly moving to the side, but the girl’s hand grabbed him. After laughing for a while, Jihye placed the shopping bag with the gaming console in Sangwoo’s hands.

“Hey. What kind of transaction will be made?”

“Ah…”

“I’m not talking about money for the value of the console. Treat me to dinner tonight.”

“This costs over 100,000 won.”

“If you don’t like the conditions of this transaction, hand it back.”

Jihye held out her hand with a stern face and Sangwoo’s worries disappeared.

…………………..

Freeloader3: i’llescortyouhomeat10pmtomorrowevening

…………………..

When he thought of the message he had received the previous day, his heart was pounding while he felt something akin to motion sickness. He was supposed to have parted with Jihye and been home to get his mind prepared by now, but… the confident attitude that Sangwoo had on Friday when he met Jaeyoung had disappeared since he had theoretically mastered the process of sexual intercourse between men.

‘I can’t do this.’

I was going to apologize to Jaeyoung and retract my decision anyway, Sangwoo answered while hugging the gaming console.

“No. Let’s go get dinner.”

“Okay.”

Jihye seemed to be entertained, covering her mouth while laughing to herself.

Footnote:

1. HP stands for hit points, which is a numerical representation of a character’s health in this case.

2. Used Kingdom is a fictional used goods website, kinda like eBay.