Chapter 88

What? Why isn’t he moving?

Miu stayed exactly where he was, staring at Yeonhoo.

Really staring.

Yeonhoo tilted his head.

Ah! Does he want me to say hi first?

He remembered Miu confessing yesterday that he was sensitive and shy. Well, someone with that kind of personality might be embarrassed to speak first...

[(CH03) Miu: You’re logged in? Once you are, get a read on things and report back quickly.]

[(CH03) Miu: I’m here watching a Siege War.]

[(CH03) Miu: Checking the core’s location.]

[(CH03) 0momo0: UhIjustloggedinon]

[(CH03) Miu: Hurry.]

[(CH03) 0momo0: Okay!!]

...That had to be it, right?

Well! I’m always good at saying hello!

In any case, Yeonhoo was never shy around Miu, so of course he could greet him first.

(CH03) 0momo0: Hi!!

The moment he cheerfully greeted him, a reply came back.

(CH03) Miu: Hehe, hello.

(CH03) Miu: You logged in really early today.

(CH03) Miu: Aren’t you tired?

(CH03) Miu: Shouldn’t you sleep more?

The messages were warmer than usual, and there were more of them too.

It was very different from the Miu Yeonhoo had known until now, but so what?

Yeonhoo had felt a strange sense of dissonance since yesterday, but he merely hummed to himself, deciding that good was good, and sent a reply.

(CH03) 0momo0: No!! I slept really well, so I woke up early.

(CH03) Miu: That’s a relief.

(CH03) 0momo0: Why did you log in so early? It looked like you went to sleep late yesterday.

(CH03) Miu: Ah... I just woke up early too.

(CH03) Miu: But what are you planning to do today?

(CH03) 0momo0: Huh????

(CH03) Miu: Didn’t you log in early because you had something to do?

Yeonhoo had not made any specific plans.

He had only logged in out of habit.

Now that he thought about it, he had been too busy doing whatever Miu told him to and helping Miu find the spy. But being told to do whatever he wanted from now on only made him feel more lost.

What am I really supposed to do?

It felt as though the tutorial had suddenly disappeared.

After pondering it for a moment, Yeonhoo typed into the chat.

(CH03) 0momo0: Right, what should I do?

(CH03) 0momo0: Should I just track the alliance members’ movements or something??

It seemed familiar and comfortable to keep doing what he had been doing.

Yeonhoo checked the list of alliance members currently online and continued typing.

(CH03) 0momo0: Or is there anything you need me to do?

(CH03) 0momo0: Isn’t there anywhere holding a Siege War today? Somewhere under attack????

(CH03) Miu: Nonononononono.

(CH03) Miu: No.

(CH03) 0momo0: Huh?? Why?? Don’t we have to do it eventually anyway??

(CH03) Miu: I can do it.

(CH03) Miu: You should rest, Momo.

(CH03) 0momo0: No, no! You have a lot to do tracking down <VITA>!! I can do it! I’ve done this so much now that I’m really good at figuring out routes.

(CH03) Miu: No, I have plenty of time. I’ll do it.

For some reason, Miu kept firmly stopping Yeonhoo.

But there was no reason for Yeonhoo to rest while Miu, who was so busy, did all the work.

(CH03) 0momo0: Is it because you don’t trust me?ㅠㅠ I’m really good at it now...

(CH03) Miu: No, you’re doing so well, Momo.

(CH03) Miu: Really. You’re doing amazingly well. Whenever I read the reports you send me, I can only be impressed. I keep wondering how a person can be this smart.

(CH03) 0momo0: Wow, that’s a relief!! Hehehe.

(CH03) Miu: Hehe...;;

(CH03) Miu: I was really just asking because I was curious.

(CH03) Miu: I wanted to help if there was anything you needed.

(CH03) 0momo0: Oh, really????

Yeonhoo cautiously read Miu’s mood.

He seemed to be in a good mood today. He was sweet and kind.

Then now was the perfect time.

(CH03) 0momo0: I only need you, hehe..!

Yeonhoo was a Miyoung-crazed guy who never let an opportunity pass him by.

That did not mean he was incapable of learning, either.

He gets embarrassed easily, so he’ll probably say something right away, right?

Yeonhoo already knew what kind of reaction to expect.

Whenever he said something like that, Miu caused a fuss more often than not.

Of course, even that fell within his expectations. He was confident he would not be hurt no matter what Miu said, and confident that he could fire back with something even worse.

So he waited for a response with shining eyes.

(CH03) Miu: Then would you like to take me now?

Huh...?

At first, Yeonhoo thought it was a random answer that made no sense in context.

(CH03) 0momo0: Huh?? Take what??

(CH03) Miu: Me.

Until he saw the next message.

Yeonhoo’s eyes went wide.

He reread the brief reply again and again, but nothing changed.

What is this?

It was the first time Miyoung had ever responded to his sincere feelings!

But the emotion lasted for about two seconds before questions came rushing in.

But... why isn’t he cursing at me?

Miu should have said something rough. That would have been normal.

Yet no matter how many times Yeonhoo rubbed his eyes and looked again, there was no insult.

As he could only stare blankly at the screen, thoroughly confused, Miu typed again first.

(CH03) Miu: So when are you going to take me?

(CH03) Miu: I’m waiting.

(CH03) 0momo0: I really get to take you?

(CH03) Miu: Yes.

What day is it today? Am I finally getting rewarded for following Miu around so diligently all this time?

(CH03) Miu: Who else would take me but you, Momo?

A reward... This is insane!

The corners of Yeonhoo’s mouth stretched upward.

Would getting this close eventually lead to them becoming a sweet, lovey-dovey couple?

At Miu’s affectionate attitude, a ticklish excitement bloomed inside him.

(CH03) 0momo0: Wowhh hehe.

(CH03) 0momo0: Right.

(CH03) 0momo0: Who else would take you but me?

(CH03) 0momo0: Lololhehehahahaha.

Just as he was pounding at the keyboard, unable to hide his delight—

(CH03) Miu: Lol, you’re cute.

Yeonhoo’s fingers stopped.

Cute...?

(CH03) 0momo0: Huh??? Who?

(CH03) Miu: You, Momo.

(CH03) 0momo0: Me...?

(CH03) Miu: Yes, lol.

This time, Yeonhoo did not laugh.

Even the bright smile that had filled his face moments earlier vanished.

Something is going wrong.

...Something was strange.

He had never seen Miu type messages like that to anyone else, even people Miu had known longer than Yeonhoo. And Yeonhoo could not imagine Miu thinking he was cute.

The strange dissonance continued with the next message.

(CH03) Miu: Can I go to the bathroom for a moment?

Yeonhoo’s eyes wavered at the sudden request for permission.

Of course he can go to the bathroom. Why is he asking me?

Yeonhoo might have asked every time, but Miu had never been the type to say where he was going.

Even in urgent situations, Miu would disappear without a word whenever he stepped away...

[(CH03) 0momo0: Miu, where did you go??ㅠㅠ]

[(CH03) 0momo0: I came to the coordinates you marked...]

[(CH03) 0momo0: What am I supposed to do here?]

[(CH03) 0momo0: Miu?]

[(CH03) 0momo0: What is this, a zombie WAVE?]

[(CH03) 0momo0: M]

Once, he had gone to coordinates Miu had marked without any explanation, only to suddenly encounter a zombie WAVE and run for his life.

He had only learned later that a Siege War had broken out nearby, but by then, he had already fled far away.

And now Miu was telling him where he was going in advance and asking for permission?

(CH03) Miu: I can go, right?

(CH03) Miu: Momo?

Unable to believe it, Yeonhoo nevertheless set aside his confusion for the moment and answered when Miu asked again.

(CH03) 0momo0: Huh? Of course you can go.

(CH03) Miu: Okay, I’ll be right back, hehe.

(CH03) 0momo0: Okay, okay!!!

(CH03) Miu: Lol.

But Yeonhoo’s expression still did not ease.

Miu had not only waited until seeing Yeonhoo’s reply before leaving, but he had even added a little hehe and followed it with another laugh.

Isn’t he laughing an awful lot today?

Thinking of all the years he had struggled just to get a single smile out of Miu, Yeonhoo could not take his eyes off the chat window.

What on earth was so funny?

Of course, no matter what it was, seeing Miu laugh made Yeonhoo happy...

Did he not go to the bathroom for ages and feel like bragging about it?

That was the only conclusion Yeonhoo could reach.