Even after deciding to go along with Seo Jeongyeon’s plan, that didn’t mean everything was settled.
Right now, all I knew was the outline—create new characters and get into Another. What we’d do after getting in, how we’d act, or how we’d gather proof against the impostor posing as Heunjeok—I hadn’t heard any of that yet.
As if he already knew what I was thinking, Seo Jeongyeon stopped smiling and continued.
“Getting to max level and joining the guild safely is just the baseline. What matters is everything after that. We have almost no information about the impostor, so gathering that comes first. After that… I’m planning to find an opportunity to bring Another down.”
“…What? Wait. Bring it down? You’re talking about taking out the entire guild?”
“Of course. Otherwise there’s no solution. Don’t tell me you’re expecting something naive, like the impostor apologizing and disappearing?”
“……”
Yeah, sorry for being that naive.
Still… abandoning a guild that had been built up for a year because of some shameless bastards like this felt like too much. That was a guild that had fought neck and neck with us for first place on the server.
“Let me rephrase,” he said, watching me for a moment before continuing in a much softer voice.
“Saving the guild will probably be difficult. They’ve prepared thoroughly—enough to copy everything from my character’s outfit and equipment to the way I talk.”
“I get what you mean.”
“It’s just my assumption. It might turn out differently. If we meet the impostor in person, we’ll probably get a clearer picture.”
“What are you going to do after we get into the guild?”
“We’ll have to get along with the members to some extent.”
“You couldn’t even do that when you were guild master. You think you’ll suddenly start now?”
“Which is why,” he said with a faint smile, leaning slightly closer, “Do Haejun… do you have someone you can trust?”
“Where’s this coming from?”
“Well, like you said, I’m not exactly the sociable type. And you’re not exactly warm and friendly either. Wouldn’t it be better to bring along at least one person who can actually get close to Another’s members?”
“…That sounded like a jab.”
“No way.”
Yeah, sure.
Still, his suggestion wasn’t bad. We needed to blend in with their guild to gather information, after all.
‘Someone a bit slick, good at reading the room… and trustworthy.’
Maha was out—he had to stay and run the guild in my place.
That left…
‘GoodWeather or Yeoyeorang would work. Assuming they agree.’
There were others, but those two had been with the guild the longest after Maha, and I interacted with them often enough to trust them.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Good. Then let’s stop here for today since it’s late… are you busy tomorrow?”
“You want to meet again tomorrow?”
“Wouldn’t it be better to talk about the rest in person? You’ll need time to organize your thoughts too. And more importantly…”
Seo Jeongyeon met my eyes, the corners of his lips curving gently.
“You want to confirm for yourself whether I’m really that Heunjeok, don’t you?”
“…If I say yes, can you prove it?”
“Of course.”
He answered instantly, like he’d been waiting for that question.
Was he planning to take me to a PC café and show me?
“Then come to the café where I work tomorrow. After 8 PM. I get off at 8:30.”
“Got it.”
He agreed easily.
The way he adjusted to my schedule made me suddenly curious.
Come to think of it… what does this guy even do?
He always came to the café in the middle of the day. Freelancer? Hard to believe he was unemployed—he always had a laptop and was working on something.
‘Doesn’t feel like a college student either.’
He looked around my age, but his presence didn’t match that of a student at all.
Why am I even wondering about this?
I shook off the pointless thoughts and stood up.
“If we’re done, I’m heading out. See you at the café tomorrow.”
“Want me to walk you home? If you’re scared going alone.”
“Are you insane…?”
I turned away in disgust, only to hear him laughing behind me.
God, he’s annoying.
***
Ding—
The bell chimed as a new customer entered the café.
As always, neatly dressed and put together, Seo Jeongyeon walked straight up to the counter.
“I made it on time, right?”
I checked the clock. 7:50 PM.
On time? Why the hell are you here already?
“Would you like to order?”
I asked flatly.
Seo Jeongyeon blinked, then tilted his head.
“Formal speech?”
“You’re a customer right now.”
Unless I’d gotten permission from the boss like I did with Im Sohee last time, I didn’t want to make it obvious we knew each other in front of other people.
He gave me a strange look before turning to the menu.
“I’ve got time to kill, so I should order something. Do Haejun.”
“What.”
“What’s the most annoying thing to make here?”
…What kind of question is that?
Before I could stop myself, I answered.
“Obviously the choux cream mango frappuccino… wait. Don’t tell me—”
Ignoring my horror, Seo Jeongyeon smiled brightly.
“I’ll take a choux cream mango frappuccino.”
“Cut the bullshit. You hate sweet stuff!”
I snapped under my breath.
He widened his eyes innocently.
“Oh? Are you speaking casually to me? I’m a customer, you know.”
You little—
My grip tightened. The forced smile on my lips trembled.
“…Understood. One choux cream mango frappuccino.”
“Aren’t you giving me a buzzer?”
“I’ll bring it to you. Personally.”
He just shrugged and headed to his usual seat.
I glared at his back before turning to the freezer for ice.
‘Never calling him here again.’
I should’ve just suggested meeting somewhere else. I’d briefly forgotten how twisted his personality was. I’d dealt with him for a year in-game—now I was dealing with him in real life too, and it was driving me insane.
My hands moved more aggressively as irritation built up. I slapped together the drink roughly, topping it with mango and choux cream in the most half-assed way possible.
Even I could tell it looked terrible.
Taking advantage of the boss stepping away for a moment, I carried the finished drink over.
Thud!
I set it down hard enough to make the table shake.
“Your order is ready, sir.”
“Bringing it personally too. You’re working hard.”
“I take customer service very seriously.”
I bent slightly and lowered my voice so only he could hear.
“Hey. When I’m about to get off, leave first. Wait in the alley next to the building. I’ll change and come out right away.”
“Why? We can just leave together.”
“I’m not dealing with the headache of being seen walking out hand-in-hand with a regular customer. Got it?”
“I wasn’t planning to hold your hand, but… alright, alright.”
I shot him a look that clearly said don’t push it, and he backed off immediately.
As expected, his instincts were sharp.
Right then, the bell rang again as another customer entered.
Hoping he’d actually listen for once, I hurried back to the counter.
Time passed quickly.
At 8:20, Seo Jeongyeon came up to return his cup after cleaning his table.
“Hang in there for the last stretch.”
With a deliberately irritating farewell—knowing full well I got off in ten minutes—he left the café first.
Only then did I notice the empty cup.
‘He finished it?’
It wasn’t even a small drink. There was no way he could’ve finished that so quickly. And with both choux cream and mango, it had to be pretty sweet.
Did it actually taste that good?
I couldn’t figure him out at all.
After cleaning the cup, I changed and clocked out right on time.
“Good work today, Haejun.”
“Thanks. I’ll head out first.”
Leaving the boss to close up as usual, I stepped outside.
8:27.
‘Where is he?’
I looked around the alley beside the café when a faint smell of cigarette smoke drifted over.
Turning toward it, I spotted Seo Jeongyeon leaning against the wall, a cigarette in his mouth as he scrolled through his phone.
He noticed me a moment later and put out the half-smoked cigarette.
“You’re done early. Thought you’d come out closer to 8:30.”
“You smoke?”
I hadn’t even expected him to drink, let alone smoke.
He dropped the extinguished cigarette into a portable ashtray and replied casually.
“Of course I do. I’m an adult. What about you? You don’t smoke?”
“Why would I? It’s bad for your health.”
“Ah…”
He let out a hollow little sound and looked at me again with that same strange gaze.
“That’s surprising. I thought you’d definitely be the type to smoke. You look kind of…”
“What about the way I look?”
“Nothing. Anyway, if there’s nothing else to do here, should we get going?”
So he just says whatever he wants and changes the subject?
Still, I wasn’t interested in dragging it out either, so I nodded.