NOVEL NEXT chapter 78
“You don’t have to drive me back.”
As I carried one of the packed boxes to the car, I said that offhandedly. Chae Yu-jeong followed behind me with another box, grinning from ear to ear.
“I was going to the team house anyway to drop my stuff off. And it’s late—how could I just let you go alone?”
“It’s seven-thirty.”
“It’s dark outside. It’s dangerous!”
“……”
Is he out of his mind?
Sure, the days were shorter now, so it did look like the middle of the night already. But calling seven-thirty dangerous? That was a first.
I’m a perfectly healthy guy in my twenties who’s already done his military service.
“Don’t ever say that to anyone else.”
“Why would I say something like that to anyone but you, hyung?”
“…Just drive.”
“Yes, sir.”
The car rolled out of the underground parking lot and past the apartment complex.
Even while driving, Chae Yu-jeong kept sneaking glances at me in the passenger seat. When the light turned red, he finally spoke.
“Hyung, I really had a good time today.”
“Can’t imagine why.”
“Well…”
His voice went stiff and careful.
“Can we hang out again next week?”
I’d been replaying that moment when Yu Chae’s message came in and sorting everything out in my head. His question made me turn toward him.
Focused on the road, he still looked visibly tense from the side.
“What’s so fun about spending time with me that you keep wanting to hang out?”
“Of course it’s fun. Just getting to talk with you like this makes me really happy.”
Hearing him say that without hesitation left me with a weird feeling.
How the hell does he say stuff like that to another guy so easily? It’s honestly impressive every time.
“I don’t know how you feel, hyung, but…”
“I…”
Spending time with him wasn’t bad. But it didn’t mean anything special either. The only reason I’d kept agreeing to meet him was because of Yu Chae.
But now things had changed. Once I got home and talked to Yu Chae tonight, I’d clear up the last question and could finally stop doubting either of them.
So… I had no reason to keep meeting Chae Yu-jeong.
‘What am I even supposed to say?’
Saying flat-out that I didn’t want to meet again would be too blunt for the mood.
Annoyed, I looked out the window at the streetlights flashing by and grabbed for an excuse.
“Not sure. Exams are coming up soon, so I don’t know how things’ll go.”
“Exams? So you’ll be really busy?”
“Lots of projects, and now tests on top of that. I’ll basically be living at school.”
His shoulders, which had been stiff, slumped immediately at my half-rejection.
“I’d be fine even if it’s just for an hour or two…”
“I’ve got to cut down my mealtime just to keep up with assignments and prep. Remember when I called you about that interview? I was working late at the studio then.”
“Ah…”
He looked like a drenched puppy—eyes downcast, hesitant. I pretended not to see it.
Doesn’t matter how pathetic he looks; no is no. I’m not about to dig myself into another mess out of sympathy.
Just like last time, he stopped near the convenience store. He got out and followed me around to the trunk.
“Thanks for the ride.”
“Um, hyung.”
“Then, about getting food together… would you maybe spare some time once in a while?”
It hadn’t even been twenty minutes since I’d decided no, but seeing him so deflated made me hesitate.
“…Once in a while.”
Guess I have to. When I think about it, he paid for that beef before, and for delivery today too.
If I ghost after freeloading twice, that’d make me trash. Better to buy him a meal once or twice, then fade out.
“Yeah. That’s enough for me.”
He forced a smile and stepped back.
“Take care, hyung. I’ll get going too.”
“Yeah. Drive safe.”
“Okay.”
After our brief goodbye, I turned my back first and headed home.
Walking down the narrow street under the yellow streetlights, I frowned and finally ran a hand through my hair in frustration.
“This is driving me nuts.”
Why the hell did he smile like that? What’s so great about eating with me that he looked genuinely disappointed?
“Ha… forget it. Forget it.”
I exhaled a long sigh and pushed his face out of my head. I needed to focus on Yu Chae now.
After getting home and showering, I logged into Xenorise.
The first thing I did was check if Yu Chae was online. As expected, he was already logged in.
[Guild] Drink Some Water: hi~
[Guild] TheHunter: wow insider Jeo’s here T_T
[Guild] Marinated Crab, Slurp: hello hello
[Guild] Mocha Bread: yo
[Guild] DoraHeeImnida: hi Jeo hehe
[Guild] Jeo Jolryeoyo: hey hey
[Guild] Jeo Jolryeoyo: why am I an insider now?
[Guild] TheHunter: weekend evening login? obvious reasons sigh…
[Guild] Hunting Madman: agreed lol you should grind since morning like me hahaha
[Guild] ManaOing-nam: impressive, sir hehe
[Guild] Yu Chae: Hyyyung >_<
[Guild] Haereun: hey hey
[Guild] Jeo Jolryeoyo: hey
[Yu Chae: hyung hyung]
[Yu Chae: are you home?]
He noticed I’d logged in and sent me a DM right away. I ignored it for the moment and messaged Haereun.
[Jeo Jolryeoyo: Haereun]
[Haereun: yep?]
[Jeo Jolryeoyo: asked before too but—]
[Jeo Jolryeoyo: do you know what time Yu Chae logged in today?]
[Haereun: ??? lmao]
[Haereun: what kinda bet is this? lol]
[Jeo Jolryeoyo: it’s important -_-]
[Haereun: hahaha]
Still laughing, he gave me an answer.
[Haereun: I overslept so I logged in late afternoon]
[Haereun: guildmaster was already on]
[Haereun: dunno the exact time tho]
[Jeo Jolryeoyo: been on nonstop since then?]
[Haereun: hmm]
[Haereun: looked like he was doing something with Water earlier]
[Haereun: I was busy grinding quests so not sure]
[Haereun: but he didn’t log out]
[Jeo Jolryeoyo: got it]
[Jeo Jolryeoyo: thanks]
[Haereun: lol np]
[Haereun: seriously what are you two up to o_o]
[Haereun: tell me later okay]
[Haereun: I’ll die of curiosity if you don’t]
[Jeo Jolryeoyo: haha]
[Jeo Jolryeoyo: fine, later]
I had zero intention of explaining anything, but I told him sure for now. Then I messaged Yu Chae back.
[Jeo Jolryeoyo: obviously home]
[Jeo Jolryeoyo: wanna hop on Discord?]
[Yu Chae: y-yes]
[Yu Chae: yes yes yes!!]
[Yu Chae: wannaaa]
[Jeo Jolryeoyo: go go]
I exhaled slowly, put on my headset, and opened Discord.
For the past month, I’d basically been wasting my time. Trying to collect proof without tipping off either of them that I suspected anything—just dragging it out for nothing.
‘Should’ve done this from the start.’
If I had, I wouldn’t have spent over a month in this weird tension. Even if Yu Chae got disappointed or angry, I should’ve just asked him directly and apologized after.
“Hyung, hi!”
“Hey.”
He joined the voice channel with that same bright tone.
“I saw you called earlier… that was you, right?”
“Yeah, that was me.”
“Sorry. I don’t check my phone much when I’m gaming… You said you’d be busy today, so I didn’t think you’d call.”
“It’s fine.”
“Okay! So, what did you want to talk about?”
At least he opened the door for me. I cleared my throat.
“There’s something I’ve wanted to ask for a while.”
“Something to ask?”
“I’d like an honest answer.”
“What is it?”
His voice stayed perfectly calm, just curious.
“Do you remember when I first joined Twilight Guild? You picked a fight with me. Said you hated my handle.”
“Ah… yeah. I remember.”
“I still don’t get that.”
That had been the core reason I started doubting him—and Chae Yu-jeong.
“When you heard I used to be Grandmaster in Hiore, your attitude changed.”
“……”
“I figured it was because my Hiore handle and my Xenorise handle were the same. That’s why you suddenly changed your tone. Was I right?”
Silence fell—cold and long. I didn’t rush him, just waited.
“Hmm…”
Finally, after a long pause, Yu Chae spoke, voice troubled.
“I get what you’re trying to say, hyung. But that wasn’t the reason I misunderstood.”
“…Then what was?”
“Actually… I’d already met someone using the name ‘Jeo ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) Jolryeoyo’ in another game.”
What?
“Before I started Xenorise, I played an FPS for a while—and I ran into a toxic player using that same handle.”