SIDE STORY 12

SIDE STORY 12

SIDE STORY – TO EARTH (5)

Kang Jin-ho.

A 29-year-old man who retired in his twenties and chose to live the life of a recluse right before he turned 20. The best word to describe him would be ‘retired’, and the worst one would be ‘unemployed.’

His hobby was making fun of Yellow Storm, and his skill was making fun of Yellow Storm.

He definitely was not like this before.

Before retirement, the hobbies and skills of Kang Jin-ho were more on the bloody side.

Six years had passed, but he still possessed excellent skills though it was a bit less than back then.

But six years was by no means a short time.

His own skills might have been maintained by habitual training, but the mental ‘cure’ of continuous peace and Yellow Storm caused many changes in his mind.

‘That’s me.’

Jude knew Kang Jin-ho well.

Although 18 years had passed since he was reincarnated, it was only three years ago since he recalled the memories of Kang Jin-ho.

The memories of humans were definitely not perfect as three years was enough for memories to fade, but Jude was Jude.

He clearly remembered what he was like at that time.

‘He’s a little different from the current me.’

Several things had changed during his reincarnation.

The numerous things that happened as he grew up as Jude had caused some changes to his personality.

And most importantly was Cordelia.

Jude had Cordelia, but Kang Jin-ho did not have Cordelia.

Yellow Storm – that is, Hong Yoo Hee, definitely existed, but the value of Cordelia to him, and the value of Hong Yoo Hee to Kang Jin-ho were different in many ways.

‘He didn’t even know that she was a woman.’

He did not know her sex or even her age.

He would certainly know if he wanted to.

Since Kang Jin-ho and Norfolk had been fighting for 6 years, the indirect information he had heard during those six years was enough to profile Norfolk and their character.

But Kang Jin-ho did not purposely do that.

He was someone who profiled even the NPCs he met in the game, but did not do that for Norfolk.

When he was playing with Norfolk, he even deliberately emptied his mind.

‘Anyway, what is clear is that Kang Jin-ho will have a lot of doubts.’

Jude could roughly guess on what would happen if Cordelia and Hong Yoo Hee would meet.

After all, Hong Yoo Hee who had a sharp intuition would surely ask this:

“But how does Cordelia know that?”

Then Cordelia would respond like this:

“I know because it’s a dream!”

There was no logic to be found – no, there was logic, but it was very poor. So it was an answer that would solve all other questions, and Hong Yoo Hee would probably be like this:

“Wow! I see!”

She would say ‘It must be because it’s a dream!’

In a dream, rational thinking was difficult to achieve.

What would normally be thought of as nonsense would be common sense, and one tended to accept that.

An example would be what Jude had read in a book before.

“In my dream, I saw ducks lying on their belly with their heads down the ground. I then thought. Ducks indeed sleep like that. This is not a dream but reality!”

(T/N: Ducks mostly sleep floating on water or lying down on land with their heads resting on their back.)

And Hong Yoo Hee would most likely not care about other ‘trivial things’ as she would probably be excited of the fact that her favorite character, Cordelia, appeared in front of her.

‘She’ll probably be busy fangirling over Cordelia.’

She would hug Cordelia, hold hands and jump together, or lie on the lap of Cordelia and ask Cordelia to clean her ears.

‘Well…’

He smiled as he thought of Yellow Storm and Hong Yoo Hee jumping around while holding hands.

He thought it would be a cute and lovely sight.

But his thought was short-lived.

Jude focused on the main topic again.

‘But that won’t work on Kang Jin-ho.’

Perhaps if Jude appeared and told him about Norfolk, Kang Jin-ho would respond like this:

“This dream is mine, and the materials in my dreams all come from my mind. In other words, everything you say is just a delusion I have that is created by the materials on my mind.”

Kang Jin-ho obviously could not think rationally in his dreams, so it was possible that he would listen to the words of Jude just like how he listened to Alexei, but Jude did not think that would happen.

Because he also had beastly senses, though not as good as Cordelia.

So saying that he knew Norfolk well because it was a dream was something that would not work.

A different kind of persuasion was needed then.

‘Think about the victory conditions.’

Their ultimate goal was to make Kang Jin-ho and Hong Yoo Hee fall in love with each other, but that was the final goal. The current goal was different.

‘The current goal is to make Kang Jin-ho go to the offline meeting.’

In other words, there was no need to increase the favorability of Norfolk by enumerating her good points.

‘I just have to make him want to go to the offline meeting.’

Jude did not lie to Cordelia.

Kang Jin-ho thought of the girl next door, Hong Yoo Hee, as a cute and pretty girl, but did not look at her as someone from the opposite sex.

Because he had never been so depraved to think of a girl, whom he had first seen in middle school, as someone from the opposite sex.

He had seen Hong Yoo Hee grow up for six years since then, so even now that she had become an adult, he could only perceive her as just the cute girl next door.

But what if he found out that the grown-up girl next door was actually Norfolk?

What if he found out that Norfolk was actually a cute and lovely girl?

Moreover, the girl was Cordelia who was bound by fate with Jude.

He would clearly fall in love with Cordelia – that is, Hong Yoo Hee, like what happened to Jude.

‘They just need to meet.’

As long as an opportunity was created, they would do well on their own after that.

Jude had an evil smile that would look confident and cool in the eyes of Cordelia, and thought about the next thing.

‘Then how should I deliver the message?’

The messenger was as important as the message.

Unlike Cordelia, he could not appear in the form of Jude, a character from Legend of Heroes.

A more effective messenger was needed.

Jude pondered for a moment, and as always, he came up with an answer.

***

Kang Jin-ho opened his eyes.

He was familiar to this room, but it was not in the bedroom he had been sleeping and waking up in for the past six years.

Another room.

A spacious, colorful, and messy room filled with various souvenirs collected from all over the world.

As mentioned earlier, Kang Jin-ho was familiar to this room.

The room belonged to Alexei.

“Alexei?”

Kang Jin-ho called out the name of the person sitting with back turned. A chessboard was on the desk the person was facing.

“It’s been a while.”

As the person spun around, the expected face appeared.

Alexei.

He had a lot of surnames and most of it were fake, so no knew his real surname. But if what Alexei had said was true, he never truly had a surname because Alexei himself did not know his real surname in the first place, so he was just called ‘Alexei.’

Kang Jin-ho recognized that this was a dream due to his random thoughts.

He was not the kind of person to have such thoughts.

Moreover, Alexei was dead.

When the Alexei in front of him said ‘It’s been a while,’ it became clear to Kang Jin-ho that this was a dream.

If he was simply recalling the past, Alexei would not have used the expression ‘It’s been a while.’

The person in the form of Alexei spoke.

“I know what you’re thinking. Yes, this is your dream. I am Alexei, but not really Alexei. I am the Alexei created by your memories.”

It was clearly a lie.

Jude just took the form of Alexei through magic.

But Kang Jin-ho did not think of that possibility.

In his dream had appeared an Alexei who said that he was a fake Alexei created from the memories of Kang Jin-ho.

Kang Jin-ho was not also likely to think of fantasy elements like magic.

Perhaps Kang Jin-how would think like this now:

‘It makes sense.’

The Kang Jin-ho trained by Alexei had a habit of analyzing everything with reason.

Alexei appeared in his dream.

He was clearly not the real Alexei. He was just an Alexei based on the memories of Kang Jin-ho.

That explanation was reasonable.

But he was still Kang Jin-ho.

He knew that he was in a dream, but instead of immediately relaxing, he looked straight at Jude in the form of Alexei and asked.

“Why are you a fake Alexei?”

“Kang Jin-ho, this is a dream. It’s hard to discuss logic in dreams. You also had a lot of irrational dreams when you were young, right? You were so excited to see Natasha’s naked body that you accidentally saw in the night pool and then had a dirty drea-”

“Stop. You’re really a person in my dream.”

Because he had never told anyone about that.

Kang Jin-ho blushed a little and struggled with shame, but Jude continued to speak while feeling embarrassed too.

“Yeah, so this is a dream. Don’t be too logical.”

“But even then… it’s strange. You’re speaking too logically.”

You’re talking logically about not thinking logically in a dream.

Kang Jin-ho could not avoid thinking rationally.

“That’s why this is your dream, Kang Jin-ho, and not anyone else. Isn’t this dream just like you?”

“Well…”

Kang Jin-ho remained silent for a moment.

He remembered the time when he dreamt of Natasha, an older woman who was kind to him in the past, and that it was not logical back then.

Because what happened in that dream was truly irrational.

However, Kang Jin-ho decided to move on for now because he was too embarrassed to mention the incident at that time.

“Anyway, what’s going on? Why did I unconsciously want to see Alexei?”

“You missed me. You always thought of Alexei’s teachings whenever you have a problem.”

He did not deny the words of Alexei.

So Kang Jin-ho stared at the face of Alexei in silence again.

Jude spoke.

“Anyway, the situation has been messed up, so like Alexei, I won’t tell you what you want to hear from Alexei. I’ll talk to you about something different.”

“Something different?”

“Yes, another topic. It’s about your life these days.”

“What’s wrong with my life?”

“Isn’t 6 years too long for being unemployed?”

Kang Jin-ho felt his conscience being pricked, and even the speaking Jude had his conscience pricked.

They were strangers now, but the two were originally one if you looked back.

“It has been six years since you’ve retired. And all you’ve done in those six years is playing a game in the corner of your room, making fun of someone on the other side of the monitor whose identity you do not know – maybe they’re even younger than you. I don’t know what the real Alexei will say when he sees you like this. And… Kang Jin-ho, you also subconsciously think of that. The fact that I have appeared in this dream is proof of that.”

It was definitely made up.

But Kang Jin-ho sighed and held back his groan, and Jude in the form of Alexei continued to speak.

“I’m not saying you should do what you used to do. Frankly, you don’t have to work since you have enough money to spend for your entire life. But I don’t want you to be confined to a corner of the room like you are now. Youth is not eternal. Now that you’ve retired, it’s good for you to live like an ordinary person. Meet people, talk to them, and if given a chance, try dating. It would be nice if you could make new friends.”

“If it’s friends-”

“Not internet friends. I am essentially you, so I also know your misery.”

The two were silent for a while, and Kang Jin-ho opened his mouth again.

“Did I… want to be in a relationship?”

To the point where I created a person in my dream to give me a sermon like this?

“You’re a man too. How many times have you had naughty dreams…”

“Stop.”

“Yes, so be thankful that I didn’t show up as Natasha.”

Kang Jin-ho swallowed a groan again at the words of Alexei, but was not actually offended.

It was only once that he had a naughty dream with Natasha.

In fact, the naughty dreams of Kang Jin-ho, or the so-called nightmares, were a bit strange.

There was always a woman with red hair close to pink.

His memory was always blurry when he woke up, so he could not remember her face, but he clearly recalled the color of her hair.

‘Come to think of it, it slightly resembles the hair color of Norfolk’s Cordelia.’

Kang Jin-ho was immersed in his thoughts for a moment and soon raised his head.

“So do I have to go out and date someone? Or participate in club activities?”

“That’s not bad. But I don’t mean you should do it right now. If you ever had an offline meeting, not online, don’t refuse it.”

And Jude paused for a few seconds.

He bit his lips a few times before continuing.

“Go and talk to people. Don’t be afraid to make new friends. The surrounding environment has changed. There is no one shooting at you anymore, and no one is shooting at someone close to you. You no longer have to shoot. If you find it difficult to make friends with completely new people, try interacting with those you’ve already been close to online.”

That was enough.

Any more was counterproductive.

“Kang Jin-ho. Do not run away.”

After finishing his last request, Jude escaped from the dream of Kang Jin-ho.

And a few seconds later.

“Fwoo.”

After getting out of the lingering things he felt in the dream, Jude took a long breath and looked around.

He saw Cordelia smiling as though she had a very pleasant dream – no, she was definitely having fun in the dream of Hong Yoo Hee.

Kang Jin-ho did not know yet, but Jude knew.

The woman with red hair close to pink who often appeared in his dreams since childhood.

She now had pink hair due to becoming an angel.

Jude smiled again and pressed his lips to the forehead of Cordelia who was asleep.

He caressed the cheek of Cordelia, hoping that Kang Jin-ho would also meet his own Cordelia.

***

The next afternoon.

Kang Jin-ho was looking at the monitor and felt troubled.

Romantic Cat: Do you all want to meet offline?

Those words suddenly appeared in the chat room.

Kang Jin-ho would have usually left right away with various excuses, but it was different this time.

‘Kang Jin-ho. Do not run away.’

Alexei.

He had said that in the dream.

Moreover, there was one more reason why he could not easily run.

Yellow Storm: Yes, yes. I like that. I’ll go.

Yellow Storm was there.

The unknown existence that had given Kang Jin-ho the strength to live for the past six years would have their identity revealed in reality.

‘My dream was very helpful.’

He had healed his PTSD by making fun of someone whose name, age, or sex was unknown to him for 6 years.

It seemed like something amazing, but it was seriously pathetic.

‘Besides, I’m almost certain that they’re younger than me.’

He did not profile them consciously, but there were still things he noticed naturally.

‘Yes, let’s meet them.’

He did not know what to do after they meet, but for now, he would meet them.

Kang Jin-ho resolved himself and placed his hands over the keyboard.

***

And three days later.

At the present.

Jude and Cordelia held each other’s hands and excitedly watched the streets of Hongdae, the place where the members of the chat room had decided to gather, and there, Kang Jin-ho and Hong Yoo Hee saw each other.

“Eh?”

The oppa next door.

Hong Yoo Hee blinked her eyes and quickly blushed in embarrassment.

She came out prettily dressed, and was seen by the oppa next door.

‘N-No. Rather than being seen…’

She had actually hoped to run into the oppa next door when she came out.

Since she had dressed up prettily, she wanted to show off.

But she never thought that she would run into him on the street like this.

‘But what happened?’

Now that she saw him, he was different from usual.

His beard was neatly shaved, and he was sleekly dressed, though not that fancy.

One would call it as semi-formal attire.

A white round collar shirt without a tie, and a light suit with a casual feel.

‘H-He’s so cool!’

He’s seriously cool! As expected of the oppa next door!

Outbo can’t even compare to him.

Yes, yes.

You can’t compare him to a bad grade schooler!

Cordelia said that Outbo is handsome too, but oppa is handsomer.

‘S-Should I greet him? Can I greet him?’

Hong Yoo Hee turned red and was at a loss on what to do, and Kang Jin-ho who saw Hong Yoo Hee was also flustered, but only for a moment.

‘She must have come out to have fun.’

Does she have a boyfriend since she’s a college student now?

It was a natural thought, but he momentarily felt as if something had stabbed one side of his chest.

What’s going on?

She’s just a cute girl next door.

“H-Hello!”

While Kang Jin-ho was hesitating for a while, the girl next door, Hong Yoo Hee, hurriedly approached him and greeted, so he greeted her back with a smile.

“Yes, hello. I guess you have an appointment?”

“Uh… yes. I’ll be meeting my friends.”

“I see. Have fun.”

“Yes.”

They should be going their way now.

When they saw each other near their houses, they would usually exchange brief greetings.

But it was strange.

The oppa next door was standing still.

The girl next door also stood motionless.

“Oh… are you going to meet them here?”

“Yes, what about oppa?”

“Yes, here too.”

“W-What a coincidence.”

“Yeah.”

It was not a very unlikely coincidence.

Because this place was popular, so people often chose it as a meeting place.

‘What kind of person is he meeting? I-Is he meeting a girl?’

Hong Yoo Hee was surprised at her own thoughts and stole a peek at the oppa next door.

The always cool and handsome oppa next door.

Perhaps he would be meeting an older woman who was very pretty and had a nice body.

‘I-I don’t like that…’

I don’t want to see that when I’ve come out to have fun for the first time.

And at that moment, Kang Jin-ho also had a thought.

‘But who is she meeting? Is it really her boyfriend?’

I don’t know why, but my stomach hurts a bit this time.

What’s going on?

And a few minutes later.

It was when Hong Yoo Hee and Kang Jin-ho were hesitating and secretly glancing at each other without taking out their cellphones.

Ting!

The surprised Hong Yoo Hee flinched at the sudden notification sound and quickly pulled out her cellphone, and Kang Jin-ho also felt a vibration and took out his cellphone.

And the two did not know, but they had looked at the same open chat room at the same time.

Romantic Cat: Something suddenly came up at work, so I don’t think I can go. I’m so sorry. I’m really sorry since I’m the host.

AAA: I’m really sorry. Uh, I was seriously going to go there. But a lot of group orders suddenly came into the store…

Cowabunga: Uh, well… I’m sorry too, but something urgent happened to me too. I’m very sorry.

Hong Yoo Hee blinked her eyes, dumbfounded at the news of their absence, and Kang Jin-ho was no different.

Yellow Storm: What? Then no one is coming?

Romantic Cat: I’m really sorry. But isn’t Outbo going too?

Outboxer009: I’m at the meeting place now.

Yellow Storm: Me too.

And that was the moment.

Hong Yoo Hee and Kang Jin-ho, who were looking at their cellphone screens, unconsciously looked at each other.

They had taken out their cellphones at the same time.

And the two had just been typing.

There were even the messages in the chat room that they had already arrived at the meeting place.

“Eh…”

“Ah…”

N-No way?!

The pupils of Hong Yoo Hee and Kang Jin-ho grew at the same time.