Pioneer Land (5)

[Title: Finishing up Housing ٩( ‘ω’ )و]

[‘Elderin’ is streaming.]

A wooden house with sunlight coming in.

Elderin was organizing a bookshelf in an old but warm-looking interior.

She slightly tilted the last book and laid a beige fabric next to the bookshelf.

Soon, a contented smile appeared on her lips.

“Look. Even though it’s nothing special, doesn’t it make a big difference? These details… Hm? There are a lot of people today. Is it a special day?”

She calmly checked the chat window.

Most of the people who had gathered, far more than usual, were talking about Gawol.

Occasionally, there were also mentions of Soolbbang.

The relationship between those two and Elderin was crystal clear.

Soon, the chat window started to fill with requests to talk about the offline meeting.

Now, all of a sudden?

It was a bit bewildering, but she didn’t think too deeply about it.

It was something that happened occasionally. A topic unearthed from somewhere belatedly raising its head.

“Talk about the offline meeting. Come to think of it, I didn’t go into detail, did I? Since I was almost done anyway, shall we talk about it now?”

The library in her memory opened.

In fact, that place was not only Elderin and Gawol’s first meeting but also where she first met Soolbbang.

Just because they were fellow streamers, there was no need to meet in reality.

Soolbbang looked more normal than expected.

Perhaps because of his clown image, there were rumors about him being bald or extremely ugly.

For all that, he was just an ordinary-looking young man.

– My world just collapsed

– So Soolbbang isn’t bald, isn’t an old man, and isn’t a pot-bellied old man with a hypnosis app?

– That can’t be

– What have I been watching all this time?

– No, it’s a lie, right? No, it’s a lie, right? No, it’s a lie, right?

I knew it, but his image is seriously bad.

How did that oppa end up like this?

While giggling, a good idea came to Elderin.

A pre-taken photo appeared on the broadcast screen.

It was a red wig that looked like it should be used for cosplay.

“You know, I was going to gift him this wig because everyone kept saying things? But I just brought it back.”

– You’re the worst

– Do you eat takoyaki spicy? Is that chili powder?

– LOLOLOLOLOL

– So what about Gawol?

– Asked about Gawol for the 6974th time

Although she talked about Soolbbang, most viewers were curious about Gawol.

If she kept it completely secret, the chat window would be filled with burning emojis (fire-fire-fire).

It should be okay to reveal a little bit as long as it’s not disrespectful.

So, where should the limit be?

She had no intention of revealing the face, but it seemed okay to mention that she’s pretty.

After all, that was just Elderin’s personal opinion.

But was she too eager?

“D… Ahem! I almost made a mistake. I should be careful. Anyway, when you meet Gawol, you’ll all be surprised!”

She tapped her lips that almost unconsciously called her ‘Da-eun’.

Fortunately, she didn’t say anything that would cause problems.

– SoIsGawolPretty?SoIsGawolPretty?SoIsGawolPretty?SoIsGawolPretty?SoIsGawolPretty?

– Soolbbang said Gawol is really young-looking

– (Blocked chat: Did you sleep with Gawol?)

– Soolbbang: Elderin was rubbing Gawol’s cheek all day

“He even said things like that?”

The problem was that she didn’t know how much the viewers already knew.

Well, her broadcast was a bit late.

The offline meeting was a few days before the patch. And now it’s after the temporary maintenance has ended.

Although it wasn’t intentionally delayed, Soolbbang must have been bombarded with questions instead of her.

If she had known this would happen, she should have watched Soolbbang’s broadcast beforehand.

Thinking the issue was over and being careless became a mistake.

“Well, first of all. Gawol is pretty. I’m not just saying it, she’s really pretty. Honestly, to the point where I felt jealous. She could have been a celebrity or idol.”

– Ah bullshit

– This one says everyone she meets is pretty or handsome

– Ah lol, Soolbbang said he was okay too, how can we believe that

“I’m telling you it’s true. You don’t believe me, how can I convince you?”

– We don’t believe words! Pictures! Bring pictures!

– They said they took selfies together

– Show us the pictures

– Elderin, reveal the truth

– The fact that she’s ugly is nononononono

“Pictures? I do have a few that we took together… Wait a moment. I saved them.”

– Oh?

– Is something big coming?

Fingers moving as if adjusting the interface.

Even the chat that was flooding in like a tidal wave momentarily regained composure.

In anticipation, a blacked-out photo appeared on the screen.

And the moment Elderin revealed the photo with a grin.

A burst of laughter erupted as if she was dying of joy.

The revealed photo showed Elderin hugging Gawol’s shoulder.

The silver-haired, red-eyed assassin that people commonly know was slightly covering her face as if embarrassed.

In other words, it was a screenshot taken in the game.

To be precise, it was a commemorative photo taken after party hunting.

– Are you crazy?

– LOLOLOLOLOL

– (fire-fire-fire-fire-fire)

– I want to strangle you

The chat window became much more aggressive than usual.

While guessing that many of Soolbbang’s viewers must have flowed in.

She thought that if Gawol were to stream, she would be dealing with viewers like these.

Da-eun in reality was gentle and sweet, but Gawol in the game was quite a troublemaker.

She hoped there wouldn’t be anything to hurt her sensitive heart.

Especially female streamers tend to be easily embroiled in controversies.

From unicorns whose horns hurt at the slightest thing, to malicious viewers who immediately imagine marriage from the slightest interaction.

It would certainly be a difficult ordeal.

Elderin smiled while hiding her inner thoughts.

“What can I do? How can I just show a photo that she doesn’t want to reveal? Just believe me~”

Personally, she had many worries.

It was like seeing a younger sibling who shouldn’t be left alone.

She had felt that way for a while, but recently the image had solidified even more.

The Da-eun she met in person seemed quite unstable.

Although she seemed to enjoy herself at the offline meeting, even that appearance looked to Elderin like a child left by the water’s edge.

After all, children can smile even until they fall into the water.

Moreover, mental instability wasn’t the only concern.

Assassin Gawol’s gameplay was admirable as a gamer.

But when evaluating those flashy movements as a ‘woman’, well.

There were times when it felt embarrassing.

If she starts personal broadcasting someday, she’ll need to pay attention to postures and camera angles.

Just in case, she should bring it up next time they meet.

If embarrassing photos circulate due to a mistake, it would stay in people’s minds for quite a while.

“About touching her cheek… Gawol’s body is extremely soft. My little sister used to be like that too.”

– ?

– That’s too erotic

– (Blocked chat: Lecherously touching soft, chewy, fluffy skin…)

“No! That’s not what I meant! I meant her skin is just like a baby’s. And her cheek fat. The cheek fat was soft. Oh, I can’t explain properly.”

Just as she was about to salvage the situation that almost heated up again.

A donation that arrived a beat late appeared in Elderin’s eyes.

「GymnasticsNongNongPangPang donated 30,000 won」

「So you mean this body was that soft?」

「(Attached photo)」

The uploaded photo was Gawol’s I-challenge.

Elderin’s common sense collapsed at the pose that was beyond embarrassing and reached the level of shocking.

It felt like her thoughts completely stopped from the shock and horror.

Elderin closed her eyes tightly, then opened them again, only to be frustrated by the unchanged reality.

She could only ask with a trembling voice.

“W-why is she posing like that…?”

* * *

[Author: Anonymous (439.127)]

[Title: Elderin “I kept touching Gawol’s body because it was soft”]

[Author: Anonymous (439.127)]

[Title: Elderin “I did it because she’s like my little sister”]

[Author: Anonymous (439.127)]

[Title: Elderin “I squished and kneaded her cheek fat”]

(This post has been deleted.)

* * *

After replenishing sleep and logging in at the agreed time with party members.

Although I clearly came in earlier than the promised time, everyone was already gathered.

The atmosphere was not ordinary.

Uncle Dulgul was sheepishly scratching his head, Elderin was hesitating.

Soolbbang was in the middle of bowing his head deeply in front of Sansae.

And the gazes focusing on me as soon as I logged in were…

Okay, I understand the situation.

I’m quite quick-witted, you know.

I obediently took a spot next to Soolbbang and bowed my head.

Hands modestly folded over the stomach.

No need to kneel down, right?

“……”

Sansae’s stern gaze turns towards me.

Actually, it wasn’t that stern.

It might be different in reality, but here Sansae was just a cute halfling bard.

Still, since I’m being scolded now, I didn’t show it.

If we caused trouble together, we should be scolded together.

That’s the code of brotherhood among men.

Sansae stared at me for a while, then burst into laughter.

“You won’t do it again, right?”

“Of course not.”

“Be careful. Even if it’s in a game, hearts can still be hurt.”

“Yes……”

A part of my mind also thought like this.

Should I be scolded when I didn’t harm anyone else?

But I was happy that someone was scolding me for my own good.

So, although it might be a bit impure, I listened to the nagging with a joyful heart.

Fortunately, the punishment time didn’t last long.

It seemed Sansae started talking out of concern, but didn’t intend to push too hard.

She did say a few more words to Soolbbang, asking why he didn’t stop me earlier.

This conversation was wrapped up with Uncle Dulgul mediating.

We had something to do right away.

[The dungeon ‘Ancient Minotaur Habitat’ is now open.]

It was our first dungeon exploration in the new continent.