FBPP C20

Chapter 20

010-xxxx-xxxx

It was seriously annoying. In the end, Ji-han made the call. The dial tone rang briefly, and then the other person picked up. It was Tae-hyun.

• “Oh. Ji-han, what’s this? You’re the one calling first for once.”
  “Hyung, I got into a car accident and they’re asking for a repair estimate.” 
• “Huh? An accident? Hey, are you okay? Where are you?” 

There was the sound of things clattering vividly beyond the speaker.

“It didn’t happen today. I’m fine. It’s just a scratch, but he keeps pestering me for a quote.”

• “Hey! Of course you have to get it! Why didn’t you contact me first? And don’t tell me you gave him your number?”
  “I just thought he’d let it go.” 
• “Why the hell would you give him your number! You’re killing me here. Do you know how many people sell celebrity numbers for cash?”
  “Well, it didn’t seem like that. He looked like some kind of athlete, and I’ve got his number too.” 
• “Athletes aren’t all the same, idiot! What if he’s playing some trick?” 

Tae-hyun let out an exasperated noise, knocking on something. Ji-han was just as frustrated. He wasn’t a kid—did Tae-hyun really think Ji-han would stupidly hand over his number to some random stranger?

“I’ve seen him at the gym, and he was even at the broadcasting station. He’s not some shady guy.”

• “Is that so? You don’t even know who he is?” 

Ji-han’s voice carried irritation, and Tae-hyun’s tone shrank back.

“How would I know? Anyway, just get me an estimate for the car repair. I’ll settle it and be done with it.”

Ji-han found an unexpected way to screw over AkashaPhilban because of the megaphone spam flooding the chat.

[Server] Hwangsanbeol (6CH): Hanorinorae <<< Netkama warning @@@@@@
[Server] Hwangsanbeol (6CH): Hanorinorae <<< Netkama warning @@@@@@
[Server] Hwangsanbeol (6CH): Hanorinorae <<< Netkama warning @@@@@@
[Server] BabjamddongZenox (18CH): Enough with the spam. What’s there to brag about? Handing out items and carrying just because she’s wearing a skirt?
[Server] Hwangsanbeol (6CH): Hanorinorae <<< Netkama warning @@@@@@
[Server] SpearVsShield (2CH): For real, it’s disgusting. I’d rather die. You don’t even know her face, and you still want to do that?
[Server] LightningFastFist (17CH): If you want to meet girls, do it in real life. Seriously. What, the game can’t function without queen-bee Netkamas?
[Server] Hwangsanbeol (6CH): Hanorinorae <<< Netkama warning @@@@@@

Netkama. Queen bee.

It was a term often seen in RPGs, referring to people who pretended to be female players and leeched items or boosts off high-level, high-spec male users through something akin to online dating. The reverse case existed too, but the majority targeted men.

So did that mean there were none in AOS-style games like Zenox?

Not as rampant as in RPGs, but they still existed. And since they abused the duo system to climb ranks, the quality was just as bad. Especially considering that RPGs had more female players while this genre was distinctly male-dominated, victims were plentiful.

But Ji-han wasn’t suddenly going to forget his history of cursing like a mad dog and start Netkama roleplay with AkashaPhilban as if he had dementia.

He’d briefly thought about it—but it was revolting. He had a dick; what business did he have pretending to be a woman?

So instead, he decided to go with an overly affectionate meta. Acting like an “older brother” might make his skin crawl and his stomach turn, but if it was just “hyung,” he could grit his teeth and endure it. Would it hurt his pride? AkashaPhilban had been getting under his skin for ages. If he could scratch that bastard’s pride even a little, it was worth it.

If he could scam the whole world with his polished public persona, why couldn’t he scam this lunatic?

[Whisper] To AkashaPhilban: Hyung ㅎㅎㅎ

“Uwegh, fuck!!”

Just sending one word made his entire body shiver. He’d finally swallowed his pride and sent it, but no reply came. Was he AFK? That bastard barely logged in, and when he did, he was AFK half the time.

If you’re not even going to play, just turn the damn game off. What, saving electricity is too hard?

[Whisper] To AkashaPhilban: Hyungㅎㅎㅎㅎ why aren’t you answering?

You piece of shit.

[Whisper] To AkashaPhilban: Hyung, you were throwing fits at me earlier, but now you’re AFK?ㅎㅎㅎㅎ

[Whisper] AkashaPhilban: ?

He was just cycling through avatar colors when a reply finally came—thirty minutes later.

[Whisper] To AkashaPhilban: Hyungㅎㅎ Why do you always leave the game on, not even queuing for ranked, just sitting there?ㅎㅎ I thought you died and was about to set up a funeralㅎ
[Whisper] AkashaPhilban: lol? You crazy?
[Whisper] To AkashaPhilban: Well, you do drive me crazyㅎㅎㅎ

“Uwehhh.”

Fuck, well—AkashaPhilban did drive him crazy. That was true. But why did this feel so gross? Hold it in, Seo Ji-han. You’ve smiled through worse, even through racist bullshit, haven’t you?

[Whisper] AkashaPhilban: You drunk? Just stop and go to bed.
[Whisper] To AkashaPhilban: Hyung, you always snap at me like you’ve got rabies, and now this?ㅎㅎㅎ
[Whisper] AkashaPhilban: So now you’re doing a bit? I always knew you weren’t normal, but this is next-level lol
[Whisper] To AkashaPhilban: Hyung, there’s no one in the world like you, reallyㅎㅎ

Seventy percent truth, that. There really weren’t many freaks on earth as uniquely twisted as AkashaPhilban.

[Whisper] To AkashaPhilban: Hyung, I decided to be nice to you, no matter what. Even if you act like a bastard, I’ll just think, “Well, that’s my hyung, he deserves to be torn apart,” and let it goㅎ
[Whisper] AkashaPhilban: lol you’re trying too hard.

That didn’t work? Was he aiming wrong? Normally, wouldn’t another guy clinging on like this come across as creepy?

Unless… was this bastard bi? Or gay?

[Whisper] To AkashaPhilban: Hyung, carry meㅎㅎㅋㅋ

He didn’t want to get involved, but if he was determined to get under this bastard’s skin, then duoing wasn’t a bad idea. For all his personality flaws, AkashaPhilban’s ability as a tank/support was on a tier rarely seen at their level. Queueing together would mean more wins, and Ji-han could still needle him. Two birds, one stone.

But AkashaPhilban didn’t answer.

“How the hell do you send a party invite?”

He’d never duoed before and didn’t even know how. After fumbling through the guild menu for a while, he finally found the party invite button and began spamming it like mad.

[Whisper] To AkashaPhilban: Hyung, accept itㅎㅎ Once I hit Diamond, our duo will be impossible. We fought like dogs before, but that’s fate, so let’s go, hyung**
[Whisper] AkashaPhilban: Knock it off.

Party invite. Party invite. Party invite. Party invite. Party invite. Party invite.

[Whisper] To AkashaPhilban: Accept it, fucker. Either log off or accept the damn party.

Party invite. Party invite. Party invite. Party invite. Party invite. Party invite.

AkashaPhilban has joined the party.

[Whisper] To AkashaPhilban: Oh, you cameㅋㅋ Guess you hate logging off, huh? But why’s your tier still that trashy rank, hyungㅎㅎ
[Whisper] AkashaPhilban: You think adding “ㅎㅎ” changes anything? You’re out of your mind. You’re still not leaving the guild? lol
[Whisper] To AkashaPhilban: Why would I leave? You’re the one who keeps picking fights, why should I go?
[Whisper] AkashaPhilban: It’s a miracle you haven’t been banned with that attitude.

He had been banned. That’s why he’d met this asshole in the first place and gone through this hell.

Ji-han cursed internally, then raised his brows at the next message.

[Whisper] AkashaPhilban: The fact you lasted three years is impressive lol. Staying the same that long? That’s something. Grow up already.
[Whisper] To AkashaPhilban: Three years, huh? Looks like you really are schizophrenic. Want me to recommend a famous psych ward nearby, hyung?
[Whisper] AkashaPhilban: Talking to you rots my eyes. Can’t you speak without swearing? lol

What the hell? Who was the one who always started fights, twisting words, and picking at him?

From the very first meeting, it was like that. That bastard was the one who first banned the character he said not to ban. Ji-han had cursed in frustration, sure, but after the ban-pick phase, he hadn’t gone out of his way to pick fights.

It was AkashaPhilban, this random guy from God knows where, who’d started by telling him to quit the game. Every encounter after, Ji-han had only snapped back in disgust, but the one who always picked the first fight was AkashaPhilban.

Ji-han had only ever responded to provocation. What, was he supposed to be some saint, turning the other cheek like, “Water is water, and AkashaPhilban is a lunatic,” and let it slide?

Maybe pianist Seo Ji-han would have. But Han Ji-han-jang, or Jinihanijihani, would not.

[Whisper] To AkashaPhilban: Hyung, looks like you’ve got schizophrenia and dementia. Seriously, go to the hospital. Wasn’t it you who started this whole shitstorm by banning that champ, hyungㅎㅎ
[Whisper] AkashaPhilban: And you forgot all the crap you pulled before that? lol The dementia’s yours. Don’t twist things to make yourself the victim. Just quit already. You’re still playing? Pathetic.
[Whisper] To AkashaPhilban: lololololololololol Three years??? Three years???? Whoever that bastard was you met back then, I’ll make it more fun for you nowㅎㅎㅎ

He was confident. He’d been called a mad dog countless times when matched as Han Ji-han-jang. Even someone who avoided communities knew who that nickname referred to.

Ji-han pressed the queue button. Of course, his position was locked to melee DPS.

Waiting for party member’s acceptance.

[Whisper] To AkashaPhilban: Accept it, hyung. Look after your melee carry guildmate. We’ve fought like dogs—let’s see it throughㅎㅎㅎ

You messed with the wrong guy, bastard.