When he was a student, Han Kiseok had bangs that slightly covered his eyebrows and often adopted a chic, chilly expression. When one actually talked to him or hung out with him, the man was unexpectedly funny.

Furthermore, in the past, I had often seen him wearing a uniform. So, rather than welcome, I felt that he looked unfamiliar. Instead of a school uniform, he was dressed in plain but luxurious clothes His hairstylewith bangs brushed upframed a soft, smiling expression Everything went well together, but this didnt feel like the Han Kiseok I knew.

In addition, his body frame was definitely larger than I remembered. He didnt gain weight; rather, it felt like he had bulked up from exercise.

Its really awkward.

That guys appearance alone drove in how much time had passed since we last met.

However, Han Kiseok didnt seem to share my sense of discomfort; he quickly approached me with a smile. Then, reaching out, he lightly shook my hand. Its really good to see you. You didnt change at all.

RReally?

He smiled kindly again; I couldnt tell if his cryptic words were a compliment or an insult. His smile had become more natural than in the past; it seemed as if he had many good experiences under his belt. I was suddenly struck by the realization that this man had lived a good life.

I also should have worked out

By comparison, I had been working myself to the bone before I met Seo Dawon 1 There was probably a shadowfrom the hardships of lifethat still lingered around the planes of my face.

I brushed my hand across my face for no discernable reason and followed Han Kiseok to the seats he had reserved in advance. It wasnt by the emergency stairway that Kim Olim had told me about, but the seats were on a pretty, 2nd-floor terrace overlooking a panoramic view of the east side of the hub. It was rather flashy and colorful for two men, but unable to refuse, I sat my butt down on the seat that Han Kiseok had pulled out.

Choi Lee-kyung looks a little shy.

Dawon-ie hyung, what are you going to do? It seems like Lee-kyung-ies heart is wavering

The greater issue, though, were my servant bastardsthey speculated on my every move while watching us from behind.

In particular, Jung Garam seemed excited as he chattered away. Instead of reacting, I kicked Garam-ie in the calf, but my foot ached as if I had kicked a wooden pole. I gave up. When I saw Jung Garams cheekily laugh, I had to restrain myself from wanting to punch his face.

Would you like to order? A waiter said.

What would you like to eat? Han Kiseok asked.

Uh an Iced Americano for me.

Ill have the same.

Fortunately, Han Kiseok did not notice anything out of the ordinary. He simply looked at me until our drinks arrived. Then, he opened his mouth. How have you been?

Uh Even though I knew that I should answer properly, I couldnt think of a good pretense, so I momentarily hesitated.

I must have looked troubled to Han Kiseok; he gave me an indulgent smile and gently said, Im not trying to interrogate you. Im merely curious.

Ah Well, Ivebeen well. Nothing special happened

Is that your servant?

Huh? Yeah

It looks cute.

He looked at Lackey, the skeleton, and called it cute. In reality, Han Kiseok was the first person to tell me that Lackey was cute, so my mood was uplifted. Looking at the skeleton clinging to my side, I stroked its skull. I-Isnt it? Its like a total kid.

[Clack clack?]

I was a little unfamiliar with the Necromancer class, so I searched up information on it. I wondered if they dealt with ghouls or zombies.

Ahh For my level, thats a bit too much After speaking, I realized I probably shouldnt needlessly emphasize my incompetence, so I trailed off at the end of my sentences.

Fortunately, Han Kiseok moved onto another subject without asking further about my stats. Its been a while since you became a User.

Hm?I suppose? Its been over a year, I think

I thought youd contact me during that time.

Ah At a loss due to the tone of slight disappointment, I scratched at my cheek and avoided his gaze.

At that time, Han Kiseok hadnt given me a clear answer, but I picked up on his true feelings From Han Kiseoks perspective, he may have wondered why someone who had always worked hard to gain his affection wouldnt bother to contact him. He might have even forgotten all that he had said about me. So, perhaps that was why he contacted me first

Im sorry. I havent thought about you until you contacted me. So, seeing no need to complicate matters, I apologized sincerely.

The two Americanos youve ordered have arrived.

Thank you I said to the waiter.

However, Han Kiseoks expression contorted strangely when he heard my apology A little like he had slightly frozen Of course, when our eyes met, that expression disappeared quickly.

Han Kiseok looked at me without even touching his drink; at my sidelong glance, he asked me something else, Then, do you get along with anyone in the hub? A fixed group or something?

Hm?

You must have a party when you enter the dungeons. You dont have a guild

Ah After a moments silence, I recalled the names on my friend tab in the system. Theres someone named Kim Sangyoon Perhaps you know him? Hes a streamer I chose the most normal person on that list.

Kim Sangyoon? Hmm Sorry, I dont know who he is. I dont really watch User streams.

Ah, okay

I felt another difference that separated the past from the present; as students, the conversation didnt feel so awkward even when we were silent. But now, there was an unbearable awkward atmosphere as silence stretched between us.

Han Kiseok must have felt the same way; he repeatedly opened and closed his mouth, trying to say something. I stirred the blameless iced americano with a straw, careful to not make eye contact with him.

I guess hes a celebrity that only I dont know. Meanwhile, Han Kiseok must have been searching the Warrior up; he was looking at his cell phone screen. I wondered what he had read, but then I saw Kim Sangyoons profile on the screen.

Its valid to not know him if you dont watch streams. Its only been a few months since his channels popularity has shot up.

Shot up?

Yeah. It hasnt been long since his subscriber count exponentially increased Ah! Kiseok-ie, do you want to watch him too? He often does slapstick comedy To overcome this silence, I hurriedly turned on my cell phone and showed him my favorite Kim Sangyoon stream clip Han Kiseok was expressionless; it was as if he were watching some serious nature documentary.

He did not even chuckle when he saw Kim Sangyoon crumple to the ground as he was about to sit down (his chair had wheels and had moved backwards). I almost quietly laughedthe clip was still funny on a second watch

Bashful, I hurriedly took my cell phone back from Han Kiseoks hand and muttered an excuse, There are some folks that dont really understand his humor

No, its just Its fascinating that youre in a fixed party with someone like him. How did you meet him?

Ah! Thats We got closer after Sangyoon-ssi carried me

Carried you?

Mhmm First, he accepted money for that service, but Mmm Somehow we just got closer. To be exact, we became friendly through Seo Dawonstanding behind meinstigating a slave contract through violence and intimidation. We subdued the Warrior through those tactics, but I couldnt exactly be forthright with this explanation.

Instead, I tried to fabricate a moving story. Sangyoon-ssi is truly a kind person He willingly goes around the dungeons with me.

Ah Then, was Kim Sangyoon-ssi the one to first propose clearing dungeons together?

Mhmm.

How often do you go with him?

Abouttwo or three times a week? The more I talked, the stranger Han Kiseoks expression became. As if he discovered some major plothole in my explanation, he became increasingly persistent with his questions.

So you entered this Kim Sangyoon persons party?

No? We just raid togetherjust the two of us

Theres quite the level difference between the two of you. Waitjust the two of you?

It sounded like the Han Kiseok was questioning why someone like Kim Sangyoon would drag around an incompetent User like me. I crossed my arms across my chest. Yeah. It seems like he still likes me even though Im so incompetent.

Han Kiseok looked up with a startled expression after he heard my answer. Thats not what I meant Normally, at your level, its faster to raid dungeons as a party.

I also dont know why Kim Sangyoon prefers to raid with just the two of us.

I apologize. This wasnt what I intended. He apologized quite neatly, but I still felt uncomfortable.

As Choi Kyung-sik said Did Han Kiseok meet me to fulfill some ulterior motive?

His persistent interrogation was not what I expected from the Han Kiseok I remembered

Furthermore, hed listened to my situation, but he hadnt talked about himself at all. So this time, I resolved to put on an act and pretend to be interested in his life. The servants said that his girlfriend worked for a company run by Geum Miyoung, right?

S-So How are you doing these days? I asked.

Nothing special. Life is just travelling from job to house to job to house. Han Kiseok spoke as if he were living some joyless, boring life, but, as far as I knew, the man was a fairly successful User. Before I met Seo Dawon, if someone were to ask me to describe a fanciful Users life I might have imagined Han Kiseoks current lifestyle.

I didnt know if the man was showcasing his humility or merely bluffing, but Han Kiseok firmly shut his mouth tight after that answer. I took note of his attitude and, in an awkward tone, asked him another question. Mm, then Did you meet your current girlfriend at your job?

Han Kiseok, who had been looking down with his gaze focused on his coffee, slowly raised his head. Then, with a bewildered expression, he countered, Girlfriend?

Yeah?

I dont have a girlfriend?

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TL: Me and Garam sipping tea as we watch Lee-kyung miss everything Han Kiseok wants to say and Han Kiseok cringing inside.

This kind of awkwardness is somehow delicious.