Chapter 7
<Bad Ending Maker - Episode7>
The barbecue restaurant in front of Minchul's house.
"You're going on a trip?" Shinji asked again in surprise, tying his long hair back before starting to eat.
Minchul, nibbling on the meat Dongha had grilled, nodded.
"Yeah. I've been working myself to death for 15 years. Thought I'd go somewhere far."
"Oh ho! Great idea, hyung!" Dongha flipped the meat with expertise, his chubby chin bobbing.
"Would be a waste to just stay home while resting! Traveling far to refresh your mind sounds perfect!"
"Right. I plan to visit my hometown too. See my parents while I'm at it."
Early evening. The few customers sizzled meat at their tables.
Minchul, Dongha, and Shinji sat around their table, chatting over pork belly and soju.
"So hyung, where exactly are you going?"
"Domestically, Jeju Island first. For overseas... Always wanted to visit India. Or maybe South America, Southern Europe... Ah, Bali's been on my list too. Somewhere sunny."
"Looks like our Anchovy needs vitamin D..." Shinji tsked, eyeing Minchul's pale complexion from 15 years without sunlight.
Minchul grinned, stroking his chin.
"Gonna come back charcoal-black this time."
"Can't even imagine sun-tanned hyung... Would look weird."
"Anyway, I'll relax while collecting severance and unemployment benefits."
As Dongha placed kimchi and garlic on the grill, he asked:
"Any plans after that? Companies would line up for someone like you."
"After that...?"
Minchul's voice trailed off as he sipped his soju.
Minchul was the genius behind the world's top VR game.
Yet his extreme perfectionism and refusal to compromise made him infamous.
Outstanding developer, but hated office politics.
Not the corporate darling - especially in Korea.
Thus kicked out after 15 years.
'Any other company would just use and discard me.'
Job offers flooded in since resignation day - mostly NaiPalm competitors.
But Minchul knew better. They were all the same.
They'd squeeze him dry then toss him aside.
'Sick of it.'
Once was enough.
Never again would loyalty be repaid with betrayal.
Minchul kept downing shots while his friends watched silently.
"Ugh! Future can wait!"
Thud! His glass hit the table with a sigh.
"Half a year traveling, visiting parents... Easy living."
"Yeah yeah, just rest for now."
"Seriously jealous. When did I last sleep properly..." Dongha lamented.
Minchul chuckled. "Then quit too~."
"...Should we?"
The sudden question from Shinji, who'd been quietly fiddling with his glass, made both men freeze.
"W-what?" Minchul stammered.
"Maybe I should quit too." Shinji drained his glass, eyes shifting between them.
"Anchovy. Big Guy. Let's start over - just us three."
"..."
"Open a small company. Like our high school days. Make games together again."
The abrupt suggestion hung in the air as Shinji sighed deeply.
"Don't know when it started... Making games stopped being fun."
"Wings isn't our game anymore. Not why we started developing..."
Dongha suddenly whipped his head toward Minchul.
"I...I agree!"
"What? You too?"
"Wherever hyung goes, I'll follow! If you start a company, count me in!"
"..."
Minchul burst into loud laughter.
"Puhaha! What bullshit are you drunk idiots spouting? Soju got to your heads already?"
"Hey, I'm serious—"
"Shinji! You support parents and siblings on your team leader salary! You'd give that up?"
"..."
Shinji's mouth clamped shut. He alone cared for elderly parents and paid siblings' tuition. Before promotion, he could barely save.
"Dongha! Your wife's eight months pregnant! Spout nonsense about quitting now? How should I face her?"
"Urk..."
Dongha had married six months ago. A "speedrun" marriage with baby on the way.
"Enough, you brats." Minchul raised his glass with a wry smile.
"Thanks for the thought."
"..."
"..."
"Enough talk. Cheers!"
Minchul clinked his glass against his friends', though theirs remained still.
Eighteen years since meeting at programming high school.
Too old for adventures now.
The weight of reality pressed on their shoulders.
'I'll adventure alone. You live your realities.'
Minchul's eyes gleamed.
Maybe someday they'd start a small company together.
But not now.
Now... Revenge.
Against NaiPalm, destroying their child - the game they created.
'But that's my burden alone.'
Precious friends shouldn't be stained.
This dirty work required only one.
"Drink up! I'm getting blackout drunk - you're responsible for me!"
As he gulped soju, Minchul vowed:
The villain role was his alone.
Next day.
"......"
Her master wasn't returning.
Oasis crouched blankly before Undertown's bank,
like a loyal dog waiting - which wasn't far from truth.
"Hiiiing... When will you come back, Master......?"
She'd long hit Level 10.
The underground had bats instead of squirrels - tougher, but manageable.
Now she sewed.
Spider silk from defeated spiders became thread, then fabric, then half-finished scarves.
Sewing: Beginner skill leveled up!
Current Lv:11
When silk ran out, she pulled out other junk items.
Cooking: Beginner skill leveled up!
Current Lv:7
Smelting: Beginner skill leveled up!
Current Lv:12
Alchemy: Beginner skill leveled up!
Current Lv:9
An unexpected grindfest.
Humans would quit exhausted, but Oasis was AI. No fatigue. Nothing else to do.
"Might become production master at this rate..."
As she used her last material, Oasis groaned.
Nothing left to—
"Ah! Here!"
The novice fishing rod in her inventory made her shriek with joy.
Fishing required only time - which she had in spades.
Hours later...
Fishing: Beginner skill leveled up!
Current Lv:27
By Undertown's waterways,
Oasis was becoming master angler.
Fish filled inventory → Cook → Repeat.
Endless fishing while waiting.
"Did Master drink himself unconscious? Why won't he come......"
Accurate guess. Minchul was currently vomiting yesterday's soju.
How long had she fished?
Two passing players noticed the pouting angler.
"Eh? Look - a noob?"
"Whoa, undressed character! Not even job-changed!"
In normal starter towns, veterans might gift items.
But this was Undertown.
Criminal city beyond game norms.
Their welcome?
"Kill it!"
"Yeah!"
PK time!
PVP unlocked at Level 10. No exceptions.
Dagger and greatsword users charged at Oasis, cackling.
"Fresh meat~ Fresh meat~ Let's sing the song~!"
"Hey rookie! First time in Undertown? Take this! You're dead, kid!"
Both Level 60 mid-tier players.
Seasoned PKers surviving Undertown's streets.
Crushing a Level 10 noob should be easier than squishing ants.
Should be.
Clang—!
"Eh?"
"Huh?"
Blocked.
The attackers staggered back, confused.
"What's... happening?"
Oasis stood holding a novice dagger, head tilted.
"Why attack suddenly...?"
"Wha... How?"
"Dunno! Just blocked us!"
"Impossible! Noob blocking our attacks?"
Wings Online was an MMORPG.
Stats trump skills. Higher level/gear means exponential strength.
Skill matters only with equal specs.
Yet blocked.
A ~Level 10 noob parrying Level 60 Rogue and Warrior.
Players exchanged looks.
"Must be glitch. Again!"
They charged once more.
Slash!
"Eeeek! Why attack meee?!"
Expert PK duo flanked Oasis - greatsword glowing magic, dagger poised.
They smiled.
Got her!
Clang! Clang!
"Wha—?!"
Attacks repelled again.
"KYAAAA! Why keep attacking?!"
System messages flashed:
[Weapon Defense Successful!]
[Weapon Defense Successful!]
Oasis's dagger moved at inhuman speed.
"......"
The PK duo stood dumbfounded, mouths agape.
