I Login Alone

“I’d like to experiment in a nearby dungeon with these low-level potions as soon as possible.”

“Let’s do that later. There’s something more important than that right now.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

Jung Si-woo’s gaze turned to other furniture in the resting place. There were three things left, the training camp, the explorer, and the door, but the training camp was literally for training, so he was passing that for now…

[Explorer Lv2 – enables navigation of dungeons within a 50-kilometer radius by consuming beads stored in the resting place. It is possible to navigate the path of intruders.]

Not only had the radius of search expanded, but it also had the ability to find the “pathway of intruders.” Jung Si-woo felt like he knew roughly what that meant.

‘Monsters who worship the unknown God, it is the path to their original world.’

Jung Si-woo has already experienced a different world through that last quest. It was the process of testing Jung Si-woo and showing the way for him to move forward. Of course, it was a lie if he said that he wasn’t scared. The rest of the world was full of things he didn’t know, including odd environments, high-density mana, the level of monsters, and the voice of the strange woman he heard before losing his sanity.

But that’s why Jung Si-woo thought he needed to find it. It was a job transfer he needed to do. Didn’t he become a destroyer to destroy everything that made him upset? Perhaps the level-up of the explorer was prepared for the moment when he transferred jobs.

“Of course, I don’t know where the passage appears.”

“The former altar may not always appear.”

“Anyway, the course of action has been set. So now…”

All they had to do is get out of there. His eyes turned to the entrance, the only level 3 furniture in the resting place. Once again, a message floated over his retina.

[Door LV3 – Exiting door. You can use beads to enter the nearest dungeon. You can get the same result by using the key to the resting place. You can select to enter three places that you are familiar with.]

“The notification stopped me at this exquisite timing.”

Jung Si-woo mumbled and opened the door. Although restrictions had been imposed, the point was that he can now go out where he wanted through this door. He didn’t have to hope that there would be an Ant Cave dungeon that led to the ground anymore!

“I’m a little sad that I can’t compete with the sea monsters right now.”

“Let’s put it off until we’re free to work underwater.”

“Hmph.”

The designation of the exit could be set in advance. Jung Si-woo chose the place he was most familiar with, near the house, and finished designating the exit. Then, he finally looked around the resting place. The training camp remained lingering in his mind, and he wanted to take a look at the kitchen, but it wouldn’t be too late to do that after meeting Lee Seo-hee. He nodded and tried to leave the door holding Soo Ah-rin and Yong Se-ha in his arms as they returned to mini size…but.

“Oh, I want to take a shower first.”

“Oops.”

The group belatedly remembered that they weren’t going out into the sea. When they came out the door in a vacant lot near their house, the unusually hot sun welcomed them.

“I think I’m going to live now.”

“Whooooooo.”

“I thought I’d be stuck in that resting place for months, Hyeong-nim.”

The three opened their arms and enjoyed the sunshine. It was fortunate that there was no fear of being caught by passers-by because he had the key to the resting place. No, come to think of it…

“There’s no one passing by…?”

After getting some sunlight, Jung Si-woo looked around and muttered. Of course, it was a residential area, but there were several apartment complexes near there and a restaurant in front of them, so it was a place where people could be seen walking about. But now, the streets were quiet, like they erased the people from the landscape.

“Since the Mt. Seorak incident, the atmosphere has naturally changed. I think there have been some similar cases in other countries.”

Soo Ah-rin said, lifting Jung Si-woo’s smartphone with both hands. Without having to watch the news, just by glancing at the bulletin board of the community site, they could feel the atmosphere that was covering Korea and the world now. Perhaps it would be this kind of atmosphere until the players who started the training process finished the test dungeon, and the power of the Earthlings was greatly strengthened.

“Let’s contact Seo-hee first.”

Jung Si-woo texted Lee Seo-hee, receiving a reply instantly. Surprisingly, she was already waiting at the cafe near his house. It was fortunate that the exit was set near the house. She reacted so quickly because it was Jung Si-woo. Soo Ah-rin didn’t like her attitude, as she acted like she knew Jung Si-woo so well!

“Uh, ughhhhhh.”

“Are you afraid you’ll get caught? I’m sure you’ll be fine because you guys got a lot better hiding.”

“Well, yes. She won’t find out…”

Soo Ah-rin could only make a subtle response to Jung Si-woo, who still failed to grasp the point properly. He grinned and embraced Soo Ah-rin and Yong Se-ha.

“Okay, let’s go see what happens.”

Fortunately, there were quite a few people on the roadside. Even if monsters appear on the ground, society couldn’t stop because of them. Jung Si-woo murmured as he looked at the people passing by.

“Everyone doesn’t look so good…or was it like this before?”

“Stop saying things like there’s no hope for this country.”

There were more people in the café, but they wouldn’t be safe from monsters just because they were inside a building. Jung Si-woo looked inside the cafe, thinking it was a joke. Finding Lee Seo-hee wasn’t that hard. She had enough beauty to catch people’s attention. If you chased where the men’s eyes were headed, you could find her. As expected, a bobbed-haired woman was seen sitting by the window. The neat black hair and white calm blouse looked impressive.

“Long time no see.”

“Si-woo!”

When Jung Si-woo approached and greeted her, Lee Seo-hee jumped up and welcomed him. Other men around him were clicking their tongues in response. Jung Si-woo laughed, thinking this was expected. But Lee Seo-hee was a bit embarrassed when she saw Jung Si-woo. She looked like a knight that realized the enemy appeared when she was preparing for a battle.

“You, you’re alone?”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“No…nothing. Hmm, I see.”

Lee Seo-hee smiled lightly at Jung Si-woo’s reaction. She looked like she knew something, now having a relaxed expression as if she were leading the situation. Jung Si-woo, who didn’t know about the phone conversation between Soo Ah-rin and Lee Seo-hee, just tilted his head. Soo Ah-rin was angry with Jung Si-woo and started to punch him in the chest.

“How long has it been?”

“Two years and three months.”

“Uh…”

“Do you want me to tell you the exact date?”

“No.”

Lee Seo-hee answered back to Jung Si-woo’s insensitive question, squinting her eyes. Jung Si-woo came back not knowing the specific date and was scratching his head. She smirked and pushed the coffee cup to him. It was a cafe mocha.

“Just kidding. I don’t remember the date either. I’m not that obsessed.”

“…Thank you for the drink.”

Did Jung Si-woo usually drink a cafe mocha at a cafe? Soo Ah-rin acquired one important fact, and at the same time, her hostility to Lee Seo-hee was heightened to the max. The most arrogant ex-girlfriend you could imagine! What an obsession! She was super obsessed with him! However, Lee Seo-hee didn’t know that a small angel was burning with hostility toward her in Jung Si-woo’s arms. She held an iced Americano as she turned to Jung Si-woo.

“Have you grown taller?”

“A little. You look younger?”

“It’s a player’s privilege.”

“Oh, did you have that?”

Players didn’t grow old easily. If their level went up, you could become younger. It was to restore the perfect form of human existence, the healthy and strong body of a person in their early 20s. No wonder he felt unfamiliar with himself in the mirror these days, and he felt Lee Seo-hee was gazing at him as she was drinking coffee with the same trivial thought. A smile hung around her mouth.

“Why?”

“Nothing.”

Yong Se-ha began to get annoyed. He felt like he could go up on the table and sing a song to get rid of this itchy feeling. Lee Seo-hee finally brought up the main point.

“Why aren’t you asking me?”

“If I ask you first, I think you’ll be bothered and not teach me.”

“You used to be so cute before when you’d ask things without thinking about it first.”

“Human beings grow.”

Lee Seo-hee made a bitter face at his words. But soon, she slapped himself on the cheek and opened her mouth again. She said what he needed to say, leaving aside the feelings that didn’t fade away yet.

“Actually, I’m not 100% sure about this either.”

“That’s what I was expecting.”

The next moment, Lee Seo-hee quietly tapped the table. He could feel mana spreading around them. Lee Seo-hee was definitely a player who dealt with the power of her bloodline. Jung Si-woo was surprised at her power, but he didn’t want to reveal the fact that he felt mana, so he controlled his expressions. Lee Seo-hee, who created a soundproof barrier, casually continued.

“For a long time…there’s a rumor circulating among some players. Rumor has it that monsters appearing in the dungeons of the Sky Castle believe in different gods.”

“Hmm.”

As Jung Si-woo’s eyes sparkled, Lee Seo-hee also put strength into her voice.

“Si-woo, you don’t like complicated stories. Let me start with the conclusion. Recently…as monsters appear not only in the sky but also on the ground, evidence has been found that the “gods” are real and can empower us, humans. The sign of god, the voice of god…I’ve seen and heard it. I checked with my guild.”

“So the god will turn a non-player into a player?”

“Yes, at least I believe that God exists. God told me that, too.”

Jung Si-woo was sure the moment he heard it. It was bullshit. The person who made humans into players could never be the same god that Lee Seo-hee was talking about, according to the former quest Jung Si-woo went through.

“Si-woo, you’ve always been special, right? If you become a player…I’m sure you’ll become strong really fast. You can find your place. That’s what you wanted…”

However, Lee Seo-hee, who was unaware of the truth, reached out her hand to hold Jung Si-woo’s and spoke in an open voice. There were countless emotions that she felt, but she didn’t translate them all into words.

“I’m in a place that only my guild knows. If you still want to be a player…can you be with me? I don’t have any proof, but can you trust me?”

“You told me that your guild found out about that. Will they be okay that you told me about this?”

“They’ll be okay. I’m the guild master.”

Considering that she had been a player for less than four years, she must have great talent. Her mana was also impressive, so she had to have a pretty good position.

“They’ll go crazy if they find out…”

“You’re the first and last person I’m telling this to…do I have to tell you the reason?”

“No.”

“Yes…let’s talk about it again when you’re really a player.”

No matter how insensitive you are, you could still understand what she meant. Even a fool could understand the reason for their breakup. Perhaps she thought that if Jung Si-woo became a player and found confidence, she would be able to get back together with him. Jung Si-woo wondered at that moment. He wondered if he had been bothering Lee Seo-hee because he ended their relationship. Tired of his pathetic attitude, he thought she had forgotten about him. But maybe that was the wrong judgment.

“Seo-hee, I…”

“Yes.”

Jung Si-woo’s lips became dry. Should he tell Lee Seo-hee straight out? He felt guilty for what he did in the past, but you find your lost feelings just because you become a player? If you were going to do that, he would’ve contacted her as soon as he became an underground player?

‘I think you’re the real asshole.’

Jung Si-woo didn’t say it out loud. It was because he felt the need to find out what Lee Seo-hee said about ‘God’ and the ‘Sign.’ It wasn’t too late to solve it somehow. He wanted to correct Lee Seo-hee’s illusion and then put an end to it. After all of this ended, he planned to confess the truth to her and was willing to get slapped across his face.

“Thank you, Seo-hee. I’ll trust you.”

“Okay…!”

Lee Seo-hee replied with joy. Jung Si-woo smiled vaguely, feeling a corner of his heart cringing at her smile full of pure joy.

Soo Ah-rin punched his chest again.