'Is Seo Chaeyoon coming later?'
'Yeah.'
'Oh, I look so disheveled right now. I'll stop by the salon before I go.'
'You should've been more diligent. I went to the company's hair salon this morning.'
'With that face?'
'...'
– Even Seokyoung's guild leader and vice guild leader are still like this about Seo Chaeyoon… Oh, look! Seo Chaeyoon is touching his forehead.
– Who is he talking to on the phone?
– It's probably Kwon Jihan. Watch, Kwon Jihan probably upset our Seo Chaeyoon. Oh wait, Yoon Seo and Kwon Jihan are close… hmm.
Just as Yoon Seo was wondering if he should tell them that they were the cause of Seo Chaeyoon's frustration, Sticky Rice suddenly appeared right in front of him. Kwon Jihan rolled down the window.
"Hey, you good-looking hyung, get in."
Yoon Seo approached, phone still pressed to his ear. He hesitated before opening the passenger door and then turned around, waving.
– Seo Chaeyoon just waved at usssss!
– Whoa! What was that? Was there someone behind us? Oh, this is insane. I'm so glad we were in the right place at the right time!
A wave of excitement broke out, and the call was cut off.
Kwon Jihan, always quick to pick up on things, didn't need an explanation to understand what had just happened.
"If the people from The Guild of Leaves find out you're Seo Chaeyoon, they'll literally pass out."
"You think so too?"
At first, Yoon Seo hadn't revealed his identity as a joke, but now he was starting to get worried they might actually lose it when they found out for real.
"Still, you can't hide it forever. You should start dropping hints, like in MyamNyamYam's Love in Han River."
Hints, huh…
Just as he was thinking about how to drop a hint, a call came through again, as if they had just regained their senses.
– Oh, Yoon Seo. Did the call get cut off?
"You hung up on me."
– Did I? Anyway, just now, Seo Chaeyoon waved at us! There must've been someone behind us, but it really felt like it was aimed directly at us!
– It really felt like he was greeting us! So friendly. I'm definitely writing about this in my journal today. Gotta change my status message and post it on social media.
Yoon Seo calmly replied.
"Oh, that? Seo Chaeyoon was definitely waving at you two."
– Huh?
"A car stopped in front of Seo Chaeyoon, right?"
– Yeah, the one with Kwon Jihan in it."
"I was sitting in the backseat. I told Seo Chaeyoon that you two were fans and asked him to wave at you."
– Whaaaat? Really?
"Yeah, Seo Chaeyoon and I are really close. You could say we're almost like one person."
– I didn't know you were that close!
At that moment, Kwon Jihan tapped Yoon Seo's shoulder.
"Hyung, are you heading home today?"
"No. Let's go to your place today."
"Okay. Sticky Rice, you heard that. Go."
After their short conversation, Yoon Seo focused back on the phone, but all he could hear was silence.
"…Team leader?"
– ....
"Team Leader Park Youngbum, Goh Heewon?"
– ....
Even after calling their names, the two stayed stunned for a while. Then, awkwardly, they said, 'Ah, right… must be nice to be close with both Kwon Jihan and Seo Chaeyoon,' before hanging up. Yoon Seo was left confused, while Kwon Jihan had a curious smile on his face.
It wasn't until later that Yoon Seo realized the silence between them implied they were thinking, 'Yoon Seo, Kwon Jihan, and Seo Chaeyoon… could the three of them be in some sort of romantic relationship…?'
When rumors spread that the three were dating, Park Youngbum and Goh Heewon fully believed it. No matter how much Yoon Seo denied it, they just nodded kindly, saying, 'You don't have to hide it from us,' and 'We live in the open era of the grand space opera,' which made Yoon Seo so frustrated that he ended up revealing his identity as Seo Chaeyoon.
And when Park Youngbum and Goh Heewon were carried away in an ambulance…
That would happen much later.
***
The next day, after Sticky Rice was done with its maintenance, Kwon Jihan and Yoon Seo ate spicy pork ribs and then entered a D-rank Green Dungeon.
After quickly defeating the boss, they stood at the exit portal and asked the blessing gods.
"Do we really have to drink every drop of the status immunity elixir? Can't we leave a few drops for research, or would that make it ineffective?"
The God of Life seems troubled.
The God of Death says they can't answer.
"Why can't you answer?"
The God of Life explains that two-way communication is only for awakened ones with certain traits like prophets.
The God of Death nods in agreement.
"What? After all the talking you've done with us…"
Unlike the confused Yoon Seo, Kwon Jihan crossed his arms with a curious expression.
"I've always wondered… why do the gods send us so many messages? Is it because we're good-looking?"
The God of Life says it's because of their love for their juniors and for the universe.
"Ah, so we've been marked as future godly juniors. Now it makes sense."
"I don't understand. This conversation was two-way just now. We asked, and you answered. So what's the criteria for this?"
The blessing gods all fell silent, as if they had made a pact.
Just as Yoon Seo was about to raise his fist to the sky in frustration…
Peeeep.
Riceball, who had been flying around the dungeon, flew over and perched on his finger.
Peeep?
Seeing Riceball tilt its head, asking if it was being called, Yoon Seo's anger melted away. Every time Riceball's soft, fluffy feathers brushed against his finger, all of his anger, frustration, hatred, and sadness seemed to dissolve like cotton candy in water.
"Riceball, you can fly around some more. We still have time before the exit."
Peep!
As if it had flown enough, Riceball plopped down onto Yoon Seo's finger and started grooming its feathers. It was truly adorable.
"Let's just leave. It doesn't seem like they're going to answer anyway."
The God of Life looks discouraged.
"I'm not angry."
The God of Life pouts and turns away.
"Why are you pouting? If anyone should be upset, it's me."
The God of Life feels sad.
Yoon Seo swallowed a sigh and spoke.
"I'm sorry if I asked too much. I know how much you've helped us. I'm always grateful to you."
The God of Life feels happy.
The God of Life turns back to face you.
Thankfully, the god was easy to deal with.
The God of Love pretends to feel discouraged.
The God of Love subtly turns away.
The God of Love acts as if they're feeling down.
The most effective way to comfort the God of Love was through physical affection with Kwon Jihan, but since physical contact was prohibited for now, Yoon Seo tried a different approach.
"Kwon Jihan. I love you."
"…What am I supposed to do? My heart still flutters even at that kind of business-like 'I love you,' so I must be seriously sick."
Just as Yoon Seo hesitated, wondering if the God of Death would pretend to pout as well, another message appeared.
The God of Death dislikes soft and gentle atmospheres.
The God of Death waves their hand, signaling them to leave quickly.
Since Yoon Seo was also immune to such soft and gentle vibes, he gratefully left the dungeon.
As they traveled to the hospital where Hong Euiyoon was admitted, Yoon Seo mulled over the elixir—whether to drink it all or leave a small amount.
Kwon Jihan's stance was firm.
"What's there to think about? Just drink it all."
"But if even a drop could be used for research, imagine how much it could benefit humanity."
"Hyung, I don't know how to say this, but right now you sound totally selfless and righteous."
Yoon Seo frowned deeply.
"The 'humanity' I'm referring to only includes the good people. I don't even consider bad people part of it."
"Sure you don't."
"What's with that tone? It's like you're talking to some hero who's in denial…"
"You've got it wrong. I know very well that you're not some righteous hero. Too well, actually—that's the problem."
Kwon Jihan gave a small laugh before continuing.
"I'm willing to bet that the potion-making team, and the 'good humanity' you want to help, would all prefer if Seo Chaeyoon drank every single drop of that status immunity elixir. Let's be sure, hyung. Don't leave any room for uncertainty."
As always, Kwon Jihan only ever made sense.
When Yoon Seo nodded in agreement, Kwon Jihan clenched his fist.
"Tonight at 2 a.m."
"Okay."
"Prepare to not sleep."
"You too."
Kwon Jihan groaned, lowering his head as if in pain. Around this time, they would normally be wrapped up in each other, lips meeting, only for Riceball to interfere with their antics. But today, neither of them touched the other. Both were holding back, preparing for the final battle.
***
The hospital where Hong Euiyoon was admitted had a main building for non-awakened individuals and an annex for awakened ones.
Since Seo Chaeyoon had boldly announced his visit the day before, a crowd had gathered in the main building, eager to catch a glimpse.
Though Yoon Seo, disguised as Seo Chaeyoon, planned to skip the main building and head straight for the annex, Kwon Jihan mentioned, 'There are some kids here I've sponsored for surgery,' so they decided to make a brief stop.
"Wow, it's Kwon Jihan!"
"Uncle Seo Chaeyoon is here!"
"Amazing! He really came!"
"Riceball is so cute!"
The children rushed towards the two of them. The adults wanted to join in, but couldn't, so they stood back, watching from a distance as the kids in patient gowns crowded around.
Peep!
"Riceball is really cute. So tiny and round."
"I want a Riceball too."
"I asked my mom for one, but she keeps saying no."
"Hyung, where did you get Riceball?"
"Seo Chaeyoon Hunter, can I touch your hand?"
"Uncle, my mom says she loves you."
"My dad says if Seo Chaeyoon pats my head, I'll get better."
When Yoon Seo patted one child's head, the other children stared, then began crowding around, all offering their heads.
Yoon Seo was reminded of the alien children who once asked him to tie their hair ribbons.
Children really are the same everywhere.