“Welcome.”
The convenience store, mirroring its surroundings, was lively and chaotic.
Among the drunken patrons, Soobin—better known as ‘Bread Lover’—experienced a first today: a sense of relief.
Though far from a place of healing, it was, for the moment, the only spot where he could let his guard down.
—
As the atmosphere thickened, he left the diner, muttering something about “chocolate milk being the ultimate rule after drinking.”
It wasn’t that the seat was uncomfortable or unpleasant. His racing heart simply demanded a moment to calm down.
—
Da-eun absentmindedly sucked on her spoon, lost in thought. Her blissful, carefree smile—as if she was unaware of her own expression—faded…
—
‘No. Stop being ridiculous, Soobin. What kind of impression are you making in front of someone you just met?’
Even worse—this person was none other than Gawol.
He couldn’t accept how his heart wildly fluttered just seeing her.
—
In the gaming world, Gawol was infamous—a random calamity with no apparent reason or logic. A malevolent force that every PVP-focused streamer dreaded encountering at least once.
Lately, though, their interactions had turned strangely sticky, as if her aura twisted deeper with an unsettling warmth.
Her unnerving presence left Soobin with a mix of impressions.
Especially after she’d targeted him repeatedly. If it weren’t for Elderlyn, he might not have become so entwined with her.
But now, he couldn’t simply hate her.
—
Make no mistake, it wasn’t just her appearance.
—
“Cute… Da-eun? No, that’s not right… I’m not cute…”
“Puuh, this is delicious. Thank you.”
“It’s been so long since I’ve smiled like this…”
“Why are you teasing me all of a sudden…? Hu… Hm…”
—
During the finals, the hand that had scratched her neck until it bled red. Though the audio didn’t record her exact words, her lips had muttered something with a dark expression. That level of instability—even someone oblivious like him could notice—had made him feel some empathy.
—
Had that pitiful face of hers been the one clawing at her own neck? The Gawol Soobin saw today laughed easily, was swept up in the mood instantly, found joy in trivialities, and cried like a little child.
Da-eun was a girl who, though initially shy, desperately sought the touch of others.
—
Her story was unknown. He couldn’t, or rather shouldn’t ask. Even if Gawol had committed wrongdoings, those who disliked her weren’t necessarily in the wrong.
—
But somewhere in the world, such people exist. Those who cannot even voice “help” but resort to wielding a blade. Those who cut their own hands on their own blade, thankful they are not truly alone despite facing cruel stares.
—
Am I overthinking this? Soobin sighed. He placed five chocolate milks, along with a few other items, on the counter.
—
“Can I pay for these?”
“Yes, that’ll be 13,950 won. Any points or cashback you’d like to use?”
“No, just regular payment.”
“Wait, why not use mine?”
“Huh? Oh, sure. I didn’t realize you were here.”
—
An unexpected voice broke his train of thought midway through the payment. Startled, Soobin trembled but quickly regained control.
—
The distinct, soft intonation revealed exactly who it was.
—
Her intoxication flushed her already pale, pristine skin with a blush. She appeared more beautiful than anyone he’d ever seen, yet her expression seemed precarious and poignant. Tears still lingered beneath her lashes, even as her lips curled into a gentle smile.
—
It was Gawol. No, it was Da-eun.
—
“I was about to leave, but decided to just stay.”
“Heh, sorry. I was bullied for crying.”
“That’s not something you should apologize for. It’s my fault.”
“Yeah, it is. Your fault.”
—
Her argumentative style was eerily similar to the in-game dialogue. And the laugh that followed—playful, cheerful—was unmistakably hers. Though her figure resembled the game character, her face, though similar, somehow had a different aura.
—
The proximity made the subtle, pleasant scent of her presence even more noticeable. Even mingled with alcohol, it was distinct and comforting. Da-eun, in her modest outfit, still managed to exude a captivating allure.
—
It was astonishing—not just surprising but miraculous—how one person could resemble a game character so closely.
—
But there were more differences between Gawol and Da-eun.
—
“You could walk faster if you wanted. I can keep up.”
“Nah, let’s take it slow. Helps the hangover.”
“Okay.”
—
The Gawol he knew was the fastest-moving assassin, brimming with confidence and a mischievous smile, someone who could handle anything alone.
—
But Da-eun needed him to slow down as they returned to the diner. She looked like a soul huddled by a bonfire in the cold. Da-eun seemed shy, had difficulty managing her emotions, and appeared fragile.
—
Her first visit to the diner still lingered in his mind.
The overly clean bandage contrasting starkly with her worn-out elbow pad and crutches. She claimed it was just an injury, but it was likely a lie. Unlike her in-game counterpart, Da-eun seemed a bit clumsy in the real world.
—
But that leg… that delicate leg—had it really been the one she used to strangle herself? Just thinking about it warmed Soobin’s face. He fanned himself with his hand.
—
Her soft laugh from behind tickled his ears.
—
“Are you hot?”
“A little.”
“We should’ve bought some ice cream at that convenience store. I’ll treat you, bro.”
—
What’s with the “bro” stuff? You’re not even my older brother, and you’re not a guy, at that. Soobin chuckled despite himself.
—
By the time they returned to the diner, the others were waiting. The group promptly headed to the karaoke bar. Indeed, the social butterflies among them, Sansa and Elderlyn, sang beautifully.
—
The real problem was Da-eun.
—
How could someone with such a delicate voice sing so off-key? Even with just a little rhythm, she’d sound passable. But no—her music tastes were atrocious.
—
—
—
[Category: Announcement > Patch Notes]
[Author: GM Pia]
[Title: New Season ‘Frontier’ Patch Notes]
—
Hello adventurers,
The new season, ‘Frontier,’ has been patched in.
—
—
3. Bounty System
As previously announced, changes to the Field PK system are on the way. The entire new continent will be designated as a conflict zone, greatly reducing penalties for Field PK there. Conversely, penalties on the old continent have increased. Consult the detailed information [here].
Since no formal authority has yet taken hold in this new continent, adventurers may fear a lawless area. In response, the authorities have implemented a bounty system to stabilize these frontier zones.
—
An adventurer who commits murder in the field can have a bounty placed on them for 3 days. Registration can be processed at the checkpoint in Port Zephyrion. If you eliminate a bounty-targeted adventurer, the reward is instantly added to your inventory. A bounty-hung adventurer can still hunt and kill other bounty targets, claiming their rewards.
—
—
However, let it be known:
The bounty system is not designed for your protection—it is for eliminating criminals. Do not step into the frontier if you cannot survive.
—
—
—
—
An enormous ship sailed past the “Unending Storm.” Game-wise, it had been three weeks; realistically, the voyage had lasted fifteen minutes. The ship lowered its ladder onto the makeshift port.
Having dashed to arrive right after the patch, the team touched ground in the new region.
Southwest frontier ‘Zephyrion’ felt every bit the barren wasteland the continent’s description promised.
New landscapes and people filled the area. All the facilities had that hastily-assembled look, and merchants openly gouged prices. Consumables, in particular, were outrageously expensive.
More alarming, however, was the absence of guards.
The instant the group entered the settlement, a bright red warning window appeared:
[You have entered a conflict zone.]
[Warning: You can be attacked by other adventurers outside safe zones.]
[Warning: You may lose up to 20% of your gold on death.]
—
“Hmm, this is good.”
—
Perhaps it was the stark phrasing, but the notification felt unusually cold. I dismissed it.
While some might feel unease at the warning, this situation didn’t apply to me. I’d treated regular fields like conflict zones anyway. The lost gold? That’ll just flow right into the killer’s pocket—as far as I’m concerned, this is an added reward for PKing.
With this patch, the field has turned into a literal goldmine. The bounty system will create a new source of income when fully active.
Of course, it’s only a matter of time before a bounty finds its way onto my head.
—
“Come at me if you think you can.”
—
During my initial inspection of the town, a commotion arose nearby.
A blazing fire magic illuminated the area in red light. The act was unmistakably by a player.
Stepping closer, I heard an exasperated voice rise through the chaos.
“What the hell! Who’s PKing in the village?”
“Don’t you see there are no guards around, dumbass?”
—
A magic-wielding “girl” was rampaging through the settlement, disguised in what appeared to be a mage’s costume.
