What Do You Think about Living With a Gaming Addict Girlfriend and Having Pure Love?

Chapter 7: Park Da-Hye (5)

—–CROW—– 

“I don’t think I mentioned selling gold…”

I didn’t.

I said I played games, but I didn’t say a word about gold farming.

I thought I was dropping a hint, but Park Da-Hye, instead of becoming suspicious, started reviewing what she had said.

And then she came to a remarkable conclusion.

“Did you read my mind again? Wow… I know it’s obviously ridiculous, but I think I’m starting to believe it.”

“It’s true. It’s my secret, so don’t tell anyone.”

“I’m not stupid…”

“It’s true.”

“Really?”

How can someone be this oblivious?

The whispers in the residence, the hints I’ve dropped here, I even gave you my business card!

I’m Kwon Sung-Hyeon.

It’s not that common a name, is it?

Should I try one more time?

“Park Da-Hye. Since I told you my secret, can’t you tell me yours?”

“What secret? I don’t have any.”

“About KwonSungHyeonFighter.”

“What about Sung-Hyeon?”

“I’m interested because he has the same name as me. What kind of person is he?”

But what was this?

Kwon Sung-Hyeon.

As soon as she heard my name, Park Da-Hye’s face softened.

“Come to think of it, you have the same name as him… Heehee, you want to know about Sung-Hyeon, right?”

Then, with a dreamy smile, as if reminiscing about a cherished memory, she said,

“Sung-Hyeon… he’s a really special person. You wouldn’t understand, Assistant Manager.”

Gulp.

This wasn’t my intention.

I had a strong feeling I’d made a mistake.

I just asked jokingly before revealing my identity.

If she said something bad about me, I was going to react dramatically and turn it into a funny situation.

But why are you making that face?

When you talk with such a serious expression, it feels like I’m secretly reading someone’s diary.

Oh well.

According to common sense, I should stop here.

It’s rude to eavesdrop on someone’s opinion of you under the guise of anonymity.

Let’s be an adult, reveal my name, and apologize for deceiving her.

But.

“Hmm… where should I start… Ah, Sung-Hyeon… he’s a really strange guy.”

Saying it like that makes me curious.

“In what way? In the gameplay videos, he seems very cool, intelligent, and level-headed.”

“Heehee, I don’t mean strange in a bad way. Sung-Hyeon never asks me anything about myself. Not my real name, where I live, or what I do. He probably doesn’t even know I’m a woman.”

“That’s a bit much, isn’t it?”

That was a mechanical response.

It’s not a big deal at all.  It’s understandable!

Billion Saga and KimPokDaughter are so precious to me.

I just tried to keep reality and Billion Saga completely separate.

Because I know that real-life relationships can’t be that strong.

I chose to seal it away rather than drag it into reality and risk shattering it.

But, come to think of it, I do feel a little sorry.

From KimPokDaughter’s perspective, I must have seemed like a very detached person.

I should have at least asked her name.

But Park Da-Hye’s expression showed no sign of disappointment or resentment.

Quite the opposite, in fact.

“Heehee, that’s what’s good about it.”

“It’s not that he’s not interested in you, is it?”

“No, no. Sung-Hyeon is very interested in me. He always looks for me first when going into dungeons, he only brags to me when he gets good items, he asks me what I did every day, and he compliments me a lot, even for trivial things.”

That’s true.

You’re the only person I look for when I’m playing Billion Saga.

“He sounds like a good friend, but I don’t understand why it’s good that he doesn’t ask anything. I think I’d be hurt.”

“That’s because… Sung-Hyeon doesn’t care if I’m an orphan or poor.”

That’s a given, silly.

Why do you have to be rich? What’s wrong with not having parents?

I abandoned my own parents myself.

“Sung-Hyeon doesn’t ask anything about my real life, and he doesn’t expect anything. Just being me is enough.”

Right.

Just knowing you’re in Billion Saga gives me strength.

You understand well.

But why do *you* like it?

*I* sought *you* out because *I* needed you. How did that benefit *you*?

Park Da-Hye’s eyes, which had been fixed on mine, now drifted into space.

A faint smile played on her lips.

She continued speaking with that expression.

Probably trying to explain her true feelings, even if it meant searching her heart completely.

And I’m the idiot eavesdropping.

But,

Even though I know I’m an idiot,

I can’t stop now.

I want to hear everything she has to say.

Even if it earns me her resentment later.

“You see… I’m so grateful for that.”

“When I’m with Sung-Hyeon, I don’t have to try to change, and I don’t have to choose nice words to impress him.”

“I just have to be myself, and Sung-Hyeon will come to me.”

“It makes me feel like I’m a worthwhile person. Even though I’m just a game addict who can’t do anything.”

Hold on, let me interrupt.

That’s not true.

“No, you’re a wonderful person.”

“Heehee, Assistant Manager, I know you’re trying to be nice, but I’m really a nobody.”

That’s not true at all.

When I first met you in Billion Saga…

You were the cool adventurer who grabbed my clumsy hand and fearlessly charged into the maze.

I lived there for eight years just to see your back.

“Anyway, that’s how it is. You wouldn’t understand, Assistant Manager, but to me, Sung-Hyeon is… how should I put it… um…”

Park Da-Hye hesitated, unable to continue.

It seemed like she couldn’t find the right words.

But this is strange.

Why do I feel like I know the word she wants to say?

“A resting place, a haven, a refuge, a home, a hometown… it’s somewhere around there.”

“Oh… Oh! That’s right! How did you know?  Those are all the words I was thinking…”

“I told you, I can read minds.”

“Wow.  Assistant Manager, do you… really have superpowers? No… you must be joking… It’s so… *sniffle*… amazing… *sob*… *wails*…”

I knew her emotions changed quickly, but this was… overwhelming.

A single tear rolled down Park Da-Hye’s flushed cheek, and then the tears poured down like rain.

Honestly, I don’t know why she’s crying.

*I’m* the one who wants to cry.

A resting place, a haven, a refuge, a home, a hometown.

You gave me all of that.

Right now…

Just knowing that you felt the same way makes me want to cry so much.

But I’m too old to be bawling in a barbecue restaurant.

PokDaughter.

I’m sorry I misunderstood earlier and thought you sold the figure.

You were cherishing our memories like One Piece, not like a mere treasure.

“I… I never thought… *sob*… I’d be understood… *wails*…”

Park Da-Hye cried uncontrollably, like an AI that had lost control of itself, until her face was a mess of tears and snot.

I should give her some tissues, but that would be like encouraging her to cry more…

This is better.

“Stop crying and eat this.”

“Uh-huh… *sob*…”

I put a piece of meat in her mouth, and she chewed it obediently, even while crying.

Maybe I should have ordered another serving.

Her tears didn’t stop for a while.

Even after the restaurant owner kindly moved us to a corner table.

Everyone was looking at us as they passed by, and I felt like the bad guy.

No, am I the bad guy?

“Are you feeling a little better now?”

“Yes… *sniffle*… This is so embarrassing. I’ll stop crying now.”

And you know what? Seeing Park Da-Hye cry changed my mind.

I need to retract one of my earlier regrets.

Asking Park Da-Hye to dinner.

Was that a stupid mistake?

No.

It was the right thing to do.

If I hadn’t talked to her, Park Da-Hye would have stood in front of me, smiling as if everything was fine, with no one to confide in.

Not as Park Da-Hye, the person, but as KimPokDaughter, the Priest of Billion Saga.

Eating only instant noodles and convenience store lunchboxes.

Trapped in that residence.

In front of me.

Park Da-Hye broke down the wall of reality and opened her heart to me.

So now, I will stop running and do my part.

Running away from a comrade in need is not what KwonSungHyeonFighter does.

Even if it means dying first and getting cursed at, rushing into danger to save a comrade is the essence of KwonSungHyeonFighter.

So.

Even if I get cursed at, I have to go save her now.

I want to interfere in your life, as Kwon Sung-Hyeon of reality.

Now it’s time to bring KwonSungHyeonFighter into the real world.

Let’s steel our resolve.

“Park Da-Hye. I’m sorry.”

“Huh?  What are you suddenly apologizing for?  Whoa, I didn’t cry because of you, Assistant Manager.  Well, I did cry because of you, but in a good way… I just felt… something…”

“I know. I’m not apologizing because you cried, but because of my own guilt.”

“What lie did you tell?”

“I can’t read minds.”

“Puhahaha, Assistant Manager, I told you I’m not stupid.  Of course, I know that.”

“There’s more. Actually, I’ve told a lot of lies, but I’m only apologizing for one of them.”

“…What is it?”

“I play Billion Saga.”

“Wow! Really? I had a feeling. You knew my ranking, and you have the figure. And we clicked right away, so I knew it! You don’t have to apologize at all.  Tell me your ID! Let’s become friends.”

“I can’t.”

As soon as I said that, Park Da-Hye’s eyebrows furrowed again.

She was grinning, then sobbing, then excited, and now she’s shocked.

“Ah… you’re a solo player. Hehe, it can’t be helped. Everyone has their own style.  It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not that I’m rejecting you, but I can’t add you because of the system. Billion Saga doesn’t allow duplicate friend requests.”

“I don’t really understand what that means, but you don’t have to explain. If you can’t, you can’t.”

“You’re great, Park Da-Hye, but… you seem a little clueless.”

“Ugh…!  No, I’m not! I’m super perceptive! I figured out what you were thinking, Assistant Manager! It’s really okay if you don’t add me!”

“I can’t add you because we’re already friends.”

“So… I don’t really… understand…”

“What’s my name?”

“Assistant Manager Kwon Sung-Hyeon!”

“Who’s the first person on your friend list, PokDaughter?”

“KwonSungHyeonFighter.”

“That’s me.”

* * *

—–CROW—– 

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