I followed Yuchae and, sure enough, the scroll appeared. Thanks to that, I was able to quickly gather the remaining five and complete the adventure quest.
"..."
Even though I had finally finished the quest I had been working on in my spare time, I still didn't feel good.
Before logging into Zenoris at home, I was still suspicious that Chae Yujeong and Yuchae might be the same person.
But now… I don't know anymore.
While I was meeting Chae Yujeong at the wedding, Yuchae was participating in a raid and event in Zenoris. Just like she had told me in advance, she knew all the scroll spawn locations too.
Knowing that made it hard to blindly believe my own suspicions.
Of course… it's possible someone else was playing the game on her behalf while she attended the wedding. Someone could've taken control of Yuchae's character, chatted with the guild members, joined raids, and memorized the scroll spawn points I needed…
'Wait, am I really supposed to consider that possibility?'
Who the hell am I for her to go through all that trouble just to deceive me? Is this even realistically possible?
[Party] Yuchae: Since you got all the scrolls now,
[Party] Yuchae: Let's do the quest to get the Elf's Ring next, oppa.
[Party] Yuchae: You only need to collect 5 for that one, so it'll be quick ㅎㅅㅎ
[Party] Yuchae: The reward is super awesome too!!
[Party] Yuchae: Oppa?
[Party] ImSoSleepy: Ah, sorry
[Party] ImSoSleepy: Got distracted for a sec
Holding my throbbing forehead, I missed her messages while groaning in pain. I replied as casually as I could.
[Party] ImSoSleepy: yeah
[Party] ImSoSleepy: I was planning to do that one anyway
[Party] ImSoSleepy: Is the location randomized too?
[Party] Yuchae: Nope!
[Party] Yuchae: The distance is kinda far though
[Party] Yuchae: But the locations are fixed
[Party] ImSoSleepy: I guess I should start by getting the quest from the NPC then
[Party] Yuchae: Are you busy, oppa?
[Party] Yuchae: Ride my pet
[Party] Yuchae: I'll take you to the NPC >ㅡ<♥
I frowned and gave a bitter smile at Yuchae's message—she sounded exactly like usual.
[Party] ImSoSleepy: Thanks if you could do that
[Party] ImSoSleepy: I think I need to look at some homework real quick
[Party] Yuchae: …..
[Party] Yuchae: Hop on!
Not being able to concentrate on the game at all, I lied and asked for her help, which she accepted without hesitation.
As I mounted the pet Yuchae summoned, the scenery on the screen changed—she must've used a continent transfer item. I left it running and sent a private message to that bastard SaChin, just like I had with Haeren.
[ImSoSleepy: SaChin-nim]
[ImSoSleepy: You got a sec?]
[HuntingmeCrazy: yeah?]
[HuntingmeCrazy: Whoa, what's up with you suddenly messaging me?]
[ImSoSleepy: lololol]
[ImSoSleepy: I just wanted to ask something]
[HuntingmeCrazy: What is it?]
[ImSoSleepy: Did you do the Red Dragon raid earlier by any chance?]
[HuntingmeCrazy: whoa]
[HuntingmeCrazy: How'd you know??]
[ImSoSleepy: Yuchae was there too, right?]
[HuntingmeCrazy: whoa...]
[HuntingmeCrazy: You're scary, man]
[ImSoSleepy: How was she? Yuchae, I mean.]
[HuntingmeCrazy: How was she...?]
[ImSoSleepy: Did she feel different or say anything she usually wouldn't?]
[HuntingmeCrazy: ??]
[ImSoSleepy: Like… did she seem like a different person or anything like that]
[HuntingmeCrazy: ???]
[HuntingmeCrazy: Nah, not really?]
[HuntingmeCrazy: Guild leader didn't chat that much]
[HuntingmeCrazy: But she's always like that lol]
[HuntingmeCrazy: She didn't seem like a different person or anything]
[ImSoSleepy: Really?]
[HuntingmeCrazy: Yeah]
[HuntingmeCrazy: Why?]
[HuntingmeCrazy: Something going on?]
[ImSoSleepy: Nah, it's nothing]
[ImSoSleepy: Anyway, thanks]
[HuntingmeCrazy: ok ok]
His answer wasn't much different from Haeren's.
Of course, chat messages in a game can easily be faked, so I wasn't going to blindly trust it… but it was awkward to keep interrogating other guild members any further.
"…This is driving me nuts."
According to the guild members, the Chae Yujeong I met at the wedding wasn't Yuchae. But the identical name, the similar voice… it's all too suspicious. I honestly have no idea what's going on anymore.
After racking my brain for a while, I finally let out a deep sigh. It didn't seem like I'd be able to keep playing today. Maybe it was because of everything weighing on my mind, but I was feeling kind of tired.
[Party] ImSoSleepy: Kim Yuchae
[Party] Yuchae: Yes?
[Party] ImSoSleepy: Sorry, I think I'm going to stop here for today
[Party] ImSoSleepy: I'm too tired to focus
As our characters were riding together down a forest path, Yuchae sent a crying face emote in response to my message.
[Party] Yuchae: Oppa, are you sick?
[Party] ImSoSleepy: No, not sick
[Party] ImSoSleepy: I just need a bit of rest
[Party] ImSoSleepy: Let's play tomorrow
[Party] Yuchae: ....
[Party] Yuchae: That's fine…
[Party] Yuchae: Don't get sick, oppa!
[Party] ImSoSleepy: lol I told you I'm not sick
I undid a couple buttons of my shirt, which was buttoned all the way to the top. Since I launched the game the moment I got home, I hadn't even washed up yet. What was I even doing?
[Party] ImSoSleepy: I'm off
[Party] ImSoSleepy: Have fun
[Party] Yuchae: Oppa
[Party] Yuchae: Wait a second
[Party] ImSoSleepy: ?
Yuchae suddenly called out, stopping me. She hesitated, then cautiously asked:
[Party] Yuchae: Um…
[Party] Yuchae: About last time
[Party] Yuchae: When you asked for my number…
[Party] ImSoSleepy: ?
[Party] Yuchae: Is it okay if I give it to you now?
[Party] ImSoSleepy: What?
Truly startled, I couldn't hide my surprise as I quickly typed back.
[Party] ImSoSleepy: You're saying you'll give it to me?
[Party] ImSoSleepy: Now?
[Party] Yuchae: Y-Yeah
[Party] Yuchae: Is that not okay?
[Party] Yuchae: Is it too late?
[Party] ImSoSleepy: You're really going to give me…
[Party] ImSoSleepy: your phone number?
[Party] Yuchae: O.O?
[Party] Yuchae: You don't like that?
[Party] Yuchae: You don't want it?
[Party] ImSoSleepy: No, that's not it
My hand froze on the keyboard.
She's giving me her phone number? Then what about the number I got from Chae Yujeong?
My head was now completely filled with confusion.
Chae Yujeong and Yuchae. Could it be that they really…
…aren't the same person after all?
"What do you think?"
"Hmm…"
Before afternoon classes started, I used the spare time to visit the campus café with Kim Daeseok and told him what had happened on Saturday.
Since it was an unresolved issue, I wasn't sure if I should talk about it, but I just couldn't trust myself to objectively judge the situation alone.
After sipping on his iced chocolate drink, Kim Daeseok blinked and finally spoke.
"Sounds like they're different people to me."
"What? Why?"
"Why do you think? You said the guild master was online during the wedding ceremony, right?"
"Maybe she asked someone to play for her."
"Someone who just agreed to help would go through a raid, participate in an event, and memorize scroll spawn points for her? That's not help—that's practically a paid gig."
"Well…"
"And you said the phone numbers are different too."
"She could have two numbers."
At my counterargument, Kim Daeseok gave a half-hearted shrug.
"Dude, if she went that far just to deceive you, maybe we should just let her win."
"What the hell kind of logic is that?"
"I mean, the effort's impressive, isn't it?"
This jerk—talking so freely since it's not his problem.
"Sure, the real name and nickname are similar, and even the voices sound alike—that's suspicious. But to be honest, the nickname Yuchae is pretty common. It's a popular name in games. And male voices? They all kind of sound the same."
"They're also the same age."
"Plenty of 23-year-old guys play games, man."
"I'm telling you, it's not something you can just conclude so easily."
Frustrated, I downed my iced Americano without a straw.
Kim Daeseok scratched his forehead, leaned back in his chair, and spoke.
"Look, if I went through what you did, I'd probably be confused and suspicious too… but knowing she's a pro Hiore player just makes it feel unrealistic. Would she even have time for other games?"
"...."
"What was it again—Hiore has a match history site, right? You could check that."
"I already did."
Chae Yujeong had continued playing Hiore even after I quit. Though she'd stopped participating in tournaments since last year's world championship, she was still a pro.
More importantly, pro players usually practice in private scrims with other teams, known as "scrims," so their official records don't show everything.
I opened my phone's messenger app. Both Chae Yujeong and Yuchae were now on my contact list, side by side.
[Yuchae: Oppa, oppa]
[Yuchae: Eat this]
[Yuchae: You can't get sick.. (emoji)]
[Yuchae has sent you a gift coupon.]
[Yujihan: ?]
[Yujihan: I don't need it]
[Yujihan: You eat it]
[Gift coupon was declined.]
[Yuchae: ...]
That message came in right after I logged off yesterday. Along with an emoji of a teary brown puppy, she had sent me a digital porridge coupon, which honestly left me speechless.
Even after saving the phone number, her name on messenger still showed up as her in-game nickname—not her real name. I guess she didn't want to reveal anything more personal than her number.
"If you're that hung up about it, why not meet Chae Yujeong one more time? She might be easier to figure out than Yuchae."
As I frowned at my phone screen, Kim Daeseok, maybe sensing my troubled look, added that suggestion. I gave a bitter nod and slipped my phone back into my pocket.
"That's the plan."
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