I decided to go out and opened my wardrobe door.
I carelessly rummaged through the outdoor clothes I wouldn't normally even glance at.
Since I was going to an offline fight, there was no reason to dress up, so I just threw on the black hoodie that was on top and some jeans.
I shoved my wallet into my pants pocket and turned the doorknob.
-Click.
"Oh my."
I came face to face with Ha-eun, who had her ear pressed against my door.
She jumped back in surprise.
"Oppa, you're going out? What's the occasion?"
Ha-eun's eyes busily scanned my outfit up and down.
"It's something. Get out of the way."
I waved my hand and headed toward the entrance, but she stuck to me like a leech.
"It's not something important, right? You don't have an Osaka trip today either."
"Yeah, it's just personal business."
"Personal business?"
Ha-eun's eyebrows twitched dramatically.
"What personal business does Oppa have? You just play games in your room all day."
"Ah, seriously. Just let me go."
"You're not going somewhere to cause trouble, are you?"
My sister stared at me with narrowed eyes, her suspicions not fully resolved.
"Trouble, my ass. Stop being nosy and go look at your elf photos."
"Hmm... Fine."
I slipped on my shoes and unlocked the door.
"Come home early! We're ordering pizza for dinner!"
I lightly ignored my sister's shout from behind me.
I closed the front door and pressed the elevator button.
1:30 PM.
I wrapped Mana around my entire body and shot up into the sky in one burst.
I cut through the air toward Incheon Bupyeong Station, indifferently looking down at the scenery below.
There's plenty of time before the meeting.
Yesterday I'd lost my reason and impulsively arranged an offline fight.
But when I woke up this morning, a deep sense of reality hit me.
At thirty-two years old, getting into an offline fight over a game spot dispute.
And against some online kid I didn't even know.
Even thinking about it myself, it was so pathetic that a hollow laugh escaped me.
'Can't I just not go?'
That rational thought briefly crossed my mind.
But when I remembered yesterday's terrible public shaming, my insides started boiling again.
If you challenge someone to an offline fight and don't show up, you're a coward.
If you do show up, you're an idiot who actually went.
A situation where I was screwed from the start.
But if I'm going to be an idiot either way—whether I win or lose—I'd rather be an idiot who won.
At least I could shut that kid's annoying mouth for good.
I lightly stepped onto the rooftop of a commercial building near Bupyeong Station.
Thanks to the Perception-Obscuring Field, I didn't need to worry about people's attention.
I went down the emergency stairs and entered the entrance leading to the underground shopping center.
Stale air mixed with the smell of people.
Seeing the place packed with people already made me feel drained.
I dodged people here and there as I headed toward the fountain in the underground shopping center—my destination.
The meeting place was easy to spot from a distance.
People were gathered in small groups around the circular fountain, but finding my offline fight target wasn't too difficult.
A group of what looked like male high school students noisily chattering in one corner of the fountain.
I hid behind a pillar, perked up my ears, and focused on their conversation.
"Hey, you think that bastard's really gonna show up?"
The big guy who seemed to be the group's leader snorted.
"Ah, I dunno. If he doesn't show, let's just go to a PC room."
The scrawny guy next to him, who'd been staring at his smartphone, grumbled.
Looks like that anchovy-looking guy is my offline fight target.
"Ah, fuck. What the hell are we doing here on a weekend because of this asshole?"
"Hey, you guys were all for it yesterday when we killed him together."
The scrawny guy protested as if wronged.
"Ah, that's 'cause you asked us to help with the kill-stealing. But an offline fight is different!"
"Right, fuck. Yesterday was hilarious though."
They giggled among themselves, making yesterday's incident their entertainment.
Game talk, kill-stealing, and an offline fight.
That's for sure.
That damn group of kids is my offline fight target.
I called him a kid because he acted like one, but I didn't think he'd actually be a high schooler.
Another wave of deep reality washed over my spine.
What am I even doing here dealing with children?
I wanted to turn around and go home right away.
But the innocent blanket I'd kicked all night in anger flashed before my eyes.
Hold it in.
As an adult, I'll just give them a stern lecture and go home.
-Thud, thud.
I deliberately made my sneaker soles scrape loudly as I walked out from behind the pillar.
At the heavy footsteps, the high school group turned their heads in unison.
I walked right up to them and stopped.
"What's with this shorty?"
The big guy looked down at me and frowned.
Instead of answering, I let out a deep sigh.
"Kids, attention."
I lightly snapped my fingers and released the Perception-Obscuring Field.
The hazy disguise peeled away in one layer, and my brilliant silver hair instantly sparkled under the lights.
I swept over them indifferently with my red eyes.
The kids' expressions froze like a paused video.
"Huh...?"
"Wha, wha, wha."
They all started making monkey sounds in unison.
"Hey, hey, hey! Is this for real?"
"Holy shit! Is it really you? Are you really Hunter Kang Tae-ho?!"
"Crazy!"
I could feel the gazes of passersby turning toward us, so I needed to finish this quickly and leave.
I nodded indifferently.
"Yeah, it's really me."
I pointed precisely at the scrawny guy.
"The bastard who interfered with my hunting and acted cocky. Which one are you?"
At my question, the scrawny guy's face turned white, and the group that had been acting tough just moments ago scattered like the parting of the Red Sea.
The scrawny guy, now unable to go anywhere among his friends, awkwardly stepped forward.
"I-It's me..."
I had no idea where all that bravado from hiding behind a monitor and hurling insults had gone.
Standing before me was just an underdeveloped kid.
"U-Um... Tae-ho hyung. It's not like that..."
"Hyung, my ass. You cursed at me yesterday."
"Th-That was because I didn't know it was you, hyung... Some elementary schooler kept whining about spots..."
His words trailed off.
His friends nearby had already pulled out their phones and were busy filming this incredible scene.
By tomorrow, every community would probably be flooded with posts titled "Kang Tae-ho Shows Up for Offline Fight at Bupyeong Station Fountain."
Just thinking about it gave me a headache.
I sighed and tapped his waist.
"Hey, come here."
I dragged him to a corner of the fountain and gave him a short, firm lecture.
Games are meant to be enjoyed, not to bully others, live in reality—all the typical nagging.
But it's different when it's coming from me.
He clasped his hands together like a student listening to the principal's speech and kept nodding.
"I'm sorry! I won't do it again!"
"Good, if you understand. Now take down that post."
I finished the lecture and turned to leave, but the high school group surrounded me.
Their eyes were sparkling even more brightly than before.
"U-Um, Tae-ho hyung!"
"What now?"
"We're really fans! Could you please play one game with us?"
"Are you crazy? Why would I play with you guys?"
"Please! We'll play without that asshole! We'll pay for the PC room!"
They started clinging to me almost pleadingly.
Sigh.
If I just lectured them and coldly walked away, I'd be no different from some old man lecturing kids.
Since I was already out, I decided to humor them and change my mood.
"I'll pay for the PC room. Follow me."
"Wooow!"
The high schoolers' cheers filled the underground shopping center.
And so I became a street boss leading four high schoolers toward a nearby PC room.
A large PC room near Bupyeong Station.
As soon as I entered, the part-timer's eyes bulged like they'd pop out.
I tried to activate the Perception-Obscuring Field again but realized it was already too late and just gave up.
"Whoa, it's Kang Tae-ho!"
"This is insane. Kang Tae-ho showed up at a Bupyeong PC room!"
The rumor spread instantly, and a crowd swarmed around me.
I sat down at the seat the high schoolers guided me to with an indifferent expression.
"Hey, log in."
"Yes! Hyung!"
They moved busily as if receiving some great honor.
I partied up with them for about an hour and swept through hunting grounds.
It was quite satisfying to see those guild bastards who'd tormented me yesterday constantly posting apologies in the in-game chat.
[Hyung, we're sorry! We committed a mortal sin!]
[We deleted the comments! Please forgive us!]
"What a bunch."
I snorted and blocked all their whispers.
After finishing the game and leaving the PC room, it was already evening.
I took the kids to a nearby burger place and ordered set menus for everyone.
"Here, eat. After you eat, go home and study."
"Wow! A burger bought by Tae-ho hyung!"
"I'm not throwing away this burger wrapper—I'm keeping it as a family heirloom!"
The kids were so moved they were almost tearing up as they stuffed burgers into their mouths.
After taking a few verification photos they desperately requested, I was finally able to escape.
When I got home and came out after showering, my body felt like it weighed a ton.
As expected, going out isn't for me.
While drying my hair, I habitually logged into the game community.
As expected, the forum was already in ruins.
[Title: Story of Almost Getting into an Offline Fight with Kang Tae-ho at Bupyeong Station Today (Proof Included)]
The post contained photos the high schoolers had taken along with a detailed description of me lecturing the kids.
ㄴ Holy shit lol he actually went?
ㄴ Kang Tae-ho's mentality lol what a good sport.
ㄴ That kid should probably quit the game now lol
ㄴ But is this Tae-ho hyung's nickname? (Screenshot)
My character's nickname and server information were being shared everywhere.
An ominous feeling crept over me.
I hurriedly logged into the game.
-Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
As soon as I logged in, whispers and friend requests poured in.
The bottom left of the screen was scrolling up too fast to read.
[Hyung, I'm the guy from the PC room earlier!]
[Tae-ho-nim, would you consider joining our guild?]
[Hyung, I'm a fan! Could you give me some gold?]
The hunting ground I was in was already packed with users.
Dozens of users rushed in and started slashing before monsters even spawned.
"Ah, I'm screwed."
Forget hunting—I could barely even move my character.
Beyond kill-stealing, the users surrounding me made it impossible to even see monsters.
Just then, my door burst open.
"Oh my, our hero finally arrived?"
A voice full of mockery.
Ha-eun came in, shoving her smartphone screen in my face.
"Hey, get out."
"Oppa, you went out for an offline fight?"
Ha-eun started rolling on the floor, clutching her stomach and giggling.
"This is hilarious! Kang Tae-ho made an offline fight appointment with high schoolers?"
"Shut up. Won't you leave?"
"Wow, does your mental age really follow your body? You became 140cm and your brain became elementary school level too?"
When she tried to pat my head, I threw a pillow at her.
"I said get out."
"Oh my, scary. Are you mad? This would go viral on Neotube, seriously."
Ha-eun kept mocking me as she left the room with that annoying attitude.
Her laughter echoed through the hallway beyond the closed door for a long time.
I stared blankly at the chaotic hunting ground on my monitor again.
My fault is great.
I should've just held it in.
Why did I fall for those kids' provocation and suggest an offline fight?
"Haah..."
A deep sigh escaped naturally.
I might have to look for a different game starting tomorrow.
