Ch.66The big picture?

# 66. The Big Picture?

My days are quite regular.

This meant that my routine was almost identical from the time I woke up in the morning until I went to bed. Except for weekends and when there were Purkle Tries.

But recently, a major change occurred in this daily life.

No, it’s not quite right to call it “recent.” It wasn’t just a day or two, and calling it “recent” when it’s been weeks feels wrong because each day has been so intense.

With emotions of worry and fear.

The Captain disappeared, Cutjukyeora disappeared, Saeaex disappeared.

Even Yebeobnojeong, who had been leading those of us who remained, disappeared, and not long after, the Physical Therapist disappeared too.

No matter how baseless it might be, no matter how nonsensical it sounds, even if someone points fingers calling it delusion!

I can only see this as being caused by the game!

What did we do wrong?

Who? Why?

I couldn’t understand any of it.

So should I just stay away from the game now?

Maybe the Physical Therapist went missing because we needlessly persuaded her to log in.

Thinking about it that way, guilt rises within me.

“Ugh… regardless of all this, I still have to go to work today…”

Even if someone completely disappears from the world, the Earth keeps spinning and schools remain open.

Like that philosopher who said he would plant an apple tree even if the world were to end tomorrow, I too must teach our language and writing to the growing future generations today.

‘Ah! I’m going to be 1 minute late!’

Today I’ll need to walk a bit faster to the parking lot.

**

“You guys, what kind of stamina do you have? I’m not exactly known for having poor endurance either.”

“Well… the power of youth and levels?”

“…I’m still young too, you know.”

“Ahaha.”

After walking for a few more hours, I could also see what Saeaex had pointed to, and as expected, after about half a day’s walk, the entrance to Bjord was right before us.

“Ah. It’s good that we’ve reached the city, but even with a robe on, entering in sweatpants feels a bit awkward.”

“Just bear with it a little longer. I’ll earn money here through quests or something and buy you equipment.”

We had stuffed everything we bought from Albrant into our inventories about half a day ago to remove the Albrant smell, so what we were wearing now was either purchased in Edengard or clothes we had been wearing on ‘Earth.’

Unfortunately for everyone except Cutjukyeora, the only city before Albrant was Edengard, and when we stayed there, only Cutjukyeora was with me.

Because of that, everyone except me and Cutjukyeora was wearing robes.

“Then clothes! Buy us clothes too!”

“Clothes? Would you like the clothes here?”

“There were a lot of cute clothes here! Right, unni?”

“Yes. The designs are quite polarized, but there were many cute ones. I’m not sure what they’ll be like in reality though.”

Fashion wasn’t my area of interest, so I didn’t remember well. But seeing Yebeobnojeong and the Physical Therapist nodding in agreement, it seemed they weren’t wrong.

Well, clothes are something you can buy if you have money. As long as it’s not excessive spending, it’s fine.

“Final briefing before entering Ayord. Our Yebeobwiki will give us the details! Everyone, applause!”

“Waaah!”

*Clap clap clap clap*

“You’re all so excited. Ahem.”

Level 3.

Although we’ve overcome various crises so far, we’re still in the early-game areas. That means it’s been years since we’ve pushed through the story in this region and stayed here.

Only setting enthusiasts like me and Yebeobnojeong would remember the details.

“The Ayor are beast-folk, but it’s better to call them ‘Ayor’ to their faces. The Ayor have strong pride in their race, in a different sense from the Alb.”

Alb (Elf)

Ayor (Ayor)

Though their etymologies differ, both contain the meaning of “fairy.” If someone asks why they’re so different in both word and appearance, let’s just say it’s the difference between plant-based fairies and animal-based fairies.

Who knows. It might just be a MacGuffin, but perhaps in ancient times, the two races were actually similar or even the same race.

Anyway, Yebeobnojeong’s briefing continued.

“As you all know, Ayor and Alb don’t get along at all. According to the game lore, long ago the Ayor were driven from their homes by the Alb and lived scattered and struggling, until a legendary Ayor named ‘Radaniya’ built Ayord and finally stabilized their population. Even now, the two races frequently clash in the Ansila Mountains. Some of you might remember related quests.”

“I remember. Back then, everyone was cursing the Alb.”

The Ayord story was released after the Albrant story. People were already biased, and as Yebeobnojeong said, since the Alb were historically much more at fault, they received tremendous criticism.

Until the Ayord story came out, there was still a fanbase for the Alb, but after the story was released…

“The hatred didn’t fade; it was passed down through generations. By now, the friction between the two races has deepened to Grand Canyon levels and can’t be filled. There’s no will to do so either. So the most important point to be careful about: Never, whether intentionally or not, defend the Alb.”

“Neutrality isn’t an option either. It’s best not to mention them at all, but if they do come up, criticize them without fail. Curse them as if they were the enemies who killed your parents. Call them the worst bastards in the world.”

I added strongly, just in case.

“And unless you’re conversing, don’t maintain eye contact for more than three seconds, and don’t stare at their tails. The former might be seen as a challenge, and the latter is flirting.”

“In blunt terms, it’s like picking a fight or teasing them.”

“But they might do that to us too, right? Picking fights with unfamiliar different races. What do we do then?”

I couldn’t argue that it wouldn’t happen.

Later on, it was revealed that the Ayor also had cultures that were quite difficult for humans to accept, which led to some reevaluation.

“Positively speaking, they’re boisterous friends who don’t care much for formalities and are cheerful.”

“Negatively speaking, they’re like beasts. Literally.”

Why would beast-folk be called beast-folk? The character for “beast” is in the name.

There were many beast-folk living among humans and quite a few mixed-bloods, but Ayord is a city of beast-folk.

While the entire race might not be xenophobic, it was definitely a city where one needed to be careful about behavior.

“Don’t casually mention Ayor-specific features like fur or ears. It’s almost like commenting on someone’s appearance, and especially for different races like us, it’s even more taboo. And…”

Yebeobnojeong, who had been briefing smoothly, trailed off for the first time.

“What is it?”

“Though my sources are just in-game settings and NPC dialogues, the Ayor are quite… open compared to other races.”

“Open?”

“For unmarried men and women.”

“Ah…?”

Saeaex tilted her head sideways and then froze.

“The Ayor think they are the most beautiful and magnificent, but judging by the number of Ayor mixed-bloods, their sense of beauty isn’t completely different from ours.”

“So, we might receive a lot of flirting?”

“…Yes.”

Yebeobnojeong nodded glumly at the Physical Therapist’s direct question.

“Usually, a firm rejection would suffice, but judging by your expression, it doesn’t end that easily?”

“Ayor courtship is described as persistent. There were side quests about this too.”

“Really? How persistent?”

“There were two cases: one where a woman got so fed up that she knocked the man down.”

Everyone’s gaze briefly rested on Saeaex. She grinned and casually took out her axe, swinging it around.

“And the other?”

“When someone acknowledges their partner. Ayor have clear concepts of chastity.”

Excuse me, party members.

If you suddenly stare at me like that… wait a minute.

I understand Cutjukyeora and Saeaex, but why Yebeobnojeong and the Physical Therapist too?

‘This is just a guessing game, right? Mob psychology? They’re looking at me because those two like me, so they’re following along? That’s it, right?’

Just as I was about to speak, Yebeobnojeong cut in sharply.

“Since I wasn’t in Albrant, let me ask: Seyeon, Yuri, how does the xenophobia in the game compare to what you actually experienced?”

“It was very similar.”

“Why even ask? If it weren’t for oppa, I would have been in real trouble.”

At that, Yebeobnojeong shrugged and looked at me.

“Therefore, judging that the Ayor here are very similar to those in the game, I propose we establish a preemptive strategy for the highly likely ‘involuntary contact with Ayor of the opposite sex.’ Otherwise, it’s going to be a huge headache.”

Isn’t this basically asking for a commitment in advance?

Resolve it with force like Saeaex?

That’s only possible because she’s Saeaex.

So the remaining option is…

“By the way, the reverse case also exists. Sunghyun wouldn’t have overlooked that, right?”

“…Huh?”

“What do you mean ‘huh’? Why do you think only men would hit on women? Women hit on men too. You should remember that if you’ve completed all the quests.”

While I was truly trying to recall something I had overlooked, a chilling and fierce aura emanated from somewhere. I turned my head with a start to find Cutjukyeora and Saeaex glaring at me with serious expressions.

“No, guys? If you look at me like that, I’ll be too scared to sleep.”

“Captain.”

“Oppa.”

“Y-yes. Go ahead.”

What’s with those expressions and voices? Why so scary?

Guys.

I haven’t done anything yet?

“I trust you, oppa, I really do. I trust you more than myself, but…”

“Captain…”

Regardless, the two of them, with completely hardened expressions, attached themselves to my left and right arms, locking them firmly with their own.

“It’s just that I can’t trust these furry strangers we’re about to meet. You understand, right?”

“It’s for your safety, Captain. We’ll protect you.”

I silently appealed to Yebeobnojeong and the Physical Therapist for help with my eyes.

However.

“It’s decided.”

“Where should I attach myself? The back?”

“W-wait. This is an act, right? It’s just acting, right? It’s just a hypothetical scenario Subin mentioned. I don’t even have the kind of face that would attract Ayor…”

“Be quiet!”

“Ack!”

**

‘Thank you, Subin unni!’

‘Unni…!’

‘Sigh…’

‘Hmm. This is fun.’