Ch.107Someone’s Memory(T)++
by fnovelpia
# 107. Someone’s Memory(T)++
I thought it was just a passing encounter.
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Oh]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : StubbornBackdoor]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Meeting you again]
Once.
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : StubbornBackdoor?]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Hi there!]
Twice.
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : ?????]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Wow]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : What a coincidence]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Hi Backdoor!]
Three times.
I never added them as a friend. We weren’t acquaintances. Yet after that party quest, we met three more times.
This game has vast maps and numerous regions. We weren’t even in one of those rare party quest areas. What are the odds of randomly meeting someone four times, including the party quest?
I’m not an idiot.
This person with the ridiculous username definitely wants something from me.
[StubbornBackdoor : Excuse me]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Yes?]
[StubbornBackdoor : If you have something to say, just say it]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Not really?]
[StubbornBackdoor : ???]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : I was just happy to see you and saying hello?]
[StubbornBackdoor : That doesn’t make sense]
[StubbornBackdoor : How could we meet 4 times]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Couldn’t it just happen?]
What’s this? They’re not even playing word games.
I silently mounted my ride.
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Wait!]
That’s more like it.
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Hehey]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : You’re quite impatient]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : I was concerned seeing you pacing back and forth in front of the quest area]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : So I’ve been watching you]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Satisfied?]
[StubbornBackdoor : Why?]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Well]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Because I want to team up with you?]
[StubbornBackdoor : No thanks]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : To commemorate our 3rd, no, 4th meeting, just listen a bit longer!]
They were persistent.
Even when I coldly ignored them and left, they kept chattering away in whispers.
The next day, somehow knowing where I was, they were already there dancing. It was unbelievable.
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Looking at your quest progress, I figured you’d be around here]
[StubbornBackdoor : …why]
[StubbornBackdoor : Why are you doing this to me]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Together]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : I want to enjoy the game with you]
[StubbornBackdoor : But WHY!]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : I’m gathering people like you]
[StubbornBackdoor : People like me?]
VERITAS
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Truth, reality.]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : I’m trying to form a raid group that will be the truth and reality regardless of what others say]
[StubbornBackdoor : What does that even mean]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : High-ranked players with bad reputations due to misunderstandings]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : High-ranked players who can’t join fixed raid groups for various reasons]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : High-ranked players who want to climb higher, enjoy the game at a higher level, but don’t have the right conditions]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : In my humble opinion]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : You seem to fall into the third category]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : If you join my raid group]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : You won’t regret it]
[StubbornBackdoor : …so this was recruitment]
Their dedication was impressive.
They must have spent days working toward this moment.
Still, I don’t want to.
I don’t have good memories of belonging somewhere.
Besides, whether in reality or games… relationships are meant to be fleeting.
If you get close, you get hurt.
If you don’t want to get hurt, don’t get close.
Therefore, I don’t form deep connections.
[StubbornBackdoor : I]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : A final refuge created by those who don’t belong]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : That’s the kind of raid group I want to create]
“A final refuge created by those who don’t belong…?”
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : That’s my proposal]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : I won’t force you]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : I won’t bother you anymore]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : If you’re interested]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Send me a whisper]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : I’ll keep the DPS position open for you]
After being so clingy, they’re just going to disappear so coolly?
Sigh…
I.
I am.
Absolutely not.
[StubbornBackdoor : Besides you and me]
It’s not that I want to join that raid group.
[StubbornBackdoor : Who else is in it?]
I’m just curious about who these “people like me” are and what that even means.
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Perfect timing]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : We’re gathered at the guild hall]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Want to come talk in person?]
[StubbornBackdoor : To get to the guild hall]
[StubbornBackdoor : I need to join first]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Just join for now]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : You can leave later if you want]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Haha]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint has invited you to guild ‘VERITAS’.]
[Accept invitation?]
So.
“This better not be a lie.”
[You have accepted the invitation.]
[You have become a member of ‘VERITAS’.]
[RitualisticPath : Ah]
[RitualisticPath : So this is the ranger]
[RitualisticPath : You said you’d bring?]
[RitualisticPath : Hmm]
[RitualisticPath : Not bad]
[WaterKnowsTheAnswer : Ooooh! A newbie!]
[WaterKnowsTheAnswer : Welcome!!!]
[PhysicalTherapist : Welcome]
[PhysicalTherapist : I’m guessing you fell for our acting guild leader’s sweet talk]
[PhysicalTherapist : We’re in the same boat, nice to meet you]
“What the…”
Wait, why is my joining this raid group being treated as a done deal?
I couldn’t bring myself to argue in the guild chat. Instead, I sent a whisper to the guild leader.
[StubbornBackdoor : This isn’t what we discussed!]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : ???]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : They’re just greeting you and chatting, that’s all?]
[StubbornBackdoor : Why am I a new member here!]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Come on]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Don’t worry about the small stuff]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : They’re all kind, good people who know how to respect each other]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : You won’t feel uncomfortable]
[StubbornBackdoor : No]
[StubbornBackdoor : What I mean is]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : 3 days]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Just stay for 3 days]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : After that, leave or stay]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : I won’t care either way]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Won’t try to keep you or whisper you]
[JoanOfArcIsASaint : Deal?]
Somehow, I feel like I’m being drawn in, but…
[WaterKnowsTheAnswer : Oh my god]
[WaterKnowsTheAnswer : Look at Backdoor’s mount!! Isn’t that, isn’t that the one?]
[RitualisticPath : That one]
[RitualisticPath : Should be limited to 20 per server]
[RitualisticPath : I’ve only seen images of it]
[RitualisticPath : First time seeing it in person]
[WaterKnowsTheAnswer : Amazing!!!]
[WaterKnowsTheAnswer : Backdoor! How did you get it? Tell us!]
[PhysicalTherapist : Can I take a screenshot?]
“…I guess 3 days isn’t too much to ask.”
Those 3 days became 1 year.
Neither I nor the guild leader.
Ever mentioned this incident, as everything progressed so naturally.
**
“Your growth is complete and your legs are fully restored, so no more surgeries are needed. Just focus on rehabilitation training. Arang, you’re familiar with rehab, but this time will be a bit different…”
The doctor’s words weren’t registering. Something else kept bothering me.
I nodded vaguely, and after the nurse left the room.
Lying down, I habitually checked my smartphone, but still no new messages.
‘Not just in the group chat, but nowhere.’
Do I even have real friends? At most, just the VERITAS raid members. But they’ve all disappeared.
I’m alone again.
It’s familiar, but I still hate it.
‘Right. VERITAS was no exception after all.’
In that year, though I never revealed I was a woman, I grew so attached to VERITAS that I found myself unconsciously seeking comfort from them.
They must have their reasons, but when people disappear without a word, the one left behind can’t help but feel… abandoned.
– No. Let’s wait a little longer.
– More lingering attachment? Don’t you know the more you cling, the greater the disappointment and pain?
– Still… this might be my last connection.
– What good is that! Right now, I’m alone!
I opened the app linked to the game.
All raid members were offline, of course.
Should I leave or stay, leave or stay, leave or stay, leave or stay, leave or stay, do it or not, do it or not, do it or not…
The scale in my heart tipped gradually toward leaving.
Cutting ties before getting hurt deeper.
That’s what I’ve always done.
“[Thank you for everything.]”
Though it probably won’t reach them, I left a final message for the guild leader who had given me such enjoyable times.
Now I just needed to click leave and confirm, but then…
[JoanOfArcIsASaint has invited StubbornBackdoor.]
[Accept invitation?]
……………?????
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