[Server] RooftopRadish: Did anyone see the latest update?
[Server] CuteKitty: First clear, holy crap.
[Whisper] hera: Congrats on the clear!
[Whisper] AutumnBaseballTeam: Congrats on the first clear~~~
[Whisper] StrongestGuardian: Hyung, how do we get to the second boss?
[Whisper] NobleCat: Congrats on the first clear!
[Whisper] VictoryFairy: Congrats!!!
[Whisper] PurpleSteamedPotato: Whoo!
The moment the server message popped up, a flood of congratulations and questions poured in. Cha Sa-yoon quickly closed the rapidly scrolling chat tab and placed his hands on the keyboard.
[Guild] Chasa: Anyone for loot?
[Guild] Swakkoong: Someone wake up the frog already.
[Guild] furple: On the phone.
Frog: Tsk, yeah, yeah, I picked up the call… huh? What?
A dazed voice echoed through voice chat—it seemed they had fallen asleep with their headset still on. A moment later, there was a loud crash, followed by a dramatic yell:
“UWOAHHHH!”
[Guild] Freedeal: Frog, sit down.
[Guild] GegulGegulFrog: Yes, sir. (ㅇ.ㅇ)
[Guild] Oath’s Vow: Dropping it now.
Oath’s Vow, standing a fair distance away from the platform, began walking forward at an agonizingly slow pace. Their speed could only be compared to that of a turtle or perhaps a crawling caterpillar, yet no one dared to complain.
[‘furple’ offers divine worship to the Box of Darkness.]
[‘Freedeal’ makes a wish upon the Box of Darkness.]
[‘Shokrates’ shyly presents a bouquet to the Box of Darkness.]
Everyone was too busy channeling their own personal superstitions to the fullest.
“I hope a dagger drops.”
“I hope you get a staff, hyung.”
Sa-yoon and Shin-jae spoke at the same time, each wishing for the other’s weapon. As their hands clasped together, they naturally formed the shape of a prayer.
[Guild] Oath’s Vow: A sword dropped, for now.
“You’re kidding me.”
Sa-yoon held his breath and squeezed the large hands in his grasp even tighter. There were two classes that used swords: the Blade Master, who wielded twin blades and a greatsword, and the Hunter, who used daggers.
[Guild] GegulGegulFrog: Buddha, God, Allah…
[Guild] GegulGegulFrog: If I win, I swear I’ll set up an offering table.
[Guild] Oath’s Vow: LOL
[Guild] Swakkoong: Pretty sure none of those gods are into offering tables?
[Guild] GegulGegulFrog: I’ll take whatever blessing I can get. TT_TT
And then, just as the dice rolled—Sa-yoon shot up from his seat, cheering, and pulled Shin-jae into a tight hug.
[‘GegulGegulFrog’ rolled a 79.]
[‘Freedeal’ rolled a 33.]
[‘Oath’s Vow’ rolled a 47.]
[‘Killer’ rolled a 69.]
[‘Chasa’ rolled a 77.]
[‘GegulGegulFrog’ has obtained <Dark Lord’s Shadow Dagger>.]
As expected, all hell broke loose. Chasa and Killer practically moved in sync, charging toward the poisonous frog like a three-legged race.
[Guild] GegulGegulFrog: What if I just place it on top of my weapon slot and slam my fist down? Maybe it’ll register.
[Guild] Freedeal: What is this, a smartphone?
[Guild] Swakkoong: Bro lost the sword and lost his mind…
[Guild] Killer: Hand it over.
[Guild] GegulGegulFrog: ㅜㅜㅜㅜ
[Guild] furple: You got it? How are the stats?
[Guild] Shokrates: I wanna see what it looks like.
[Guild] Swakkoong: Hurry up and equip it.
Killer took the dagger and clicked on the newly acquired weapon in their inventory. A dark aura pulsed from it, swallowing the golden glow of the previous weapon. In its place, a dagger with a pitch-black blade radiated an ominous energy.
“This is insane.”
Sa-yoon zoomed in to the max, carefully inspecting the red gemstone embedded in the center. Then, after finally checking the stats, he let out a whistle. The developers had clearly designed this weapon with the intent of milking the Underworld Dungeon for at least six more months.
While the rest of the guild crowded around Killer, Chasa quietly slipped away and approached the frog, who was sprawled on the ground, sobbing alone.
[Guild] Chasa: Frog, get up.
[Guild] GegulGegulFrog: In the end, you’re the only warm-hearted guild master who cares about me… TTTTTTT
[Guild] Chasa: We need to take a screenshot for the first clear.
[Guild] Shokrates: LOL, cold as hell.
[Guild] Swakkoong: So much for a warm-hearted guild master.
Finally, they took a group photo at the magic circle where they first started. Only then did the reality of their first clear sink in.
[Guild] GegulGegulFrog: Alright guys, I’m off to bed. For real this time. Byeee~
[General guild member ‘GegulGegulFrog’ has logged out.]
[Guild] Swakkoong: I’m out too. Dead tired.
[General guild member ‘Swakkoong’ has logged out.]
They had started at midnight, and when Sa-yoon checked the time, it was already 7 AM. Nineteen hours. It had taken them nineteen hours just to kill three bosses? He massaged his stiff neck and clicked his tongue.
Maybe with practice, they could clear it in under an hour. That thought was still lingering in his mind when a large, warm hand landed on the back of his neck, gently kneading and releasing in a soothing rhythm. The heat from it made his eyelids grow heavy.
[Guild] Swakkoong: Who’s gonna post the proof?
[Guild] Oath’s Vow: LOL, I gotta get ready for work.
[Guild] Chasa: It’s Saturday today. You’re working?
[Guild] Oath’s Vow: Took half a day off for this.
[Guild] furple: Damn.
[Guild] Freedeal: That’s some real corporate insanity.
[Guild] Swakkoong: Anyway, I’m out. Bye.
The guild members quickly logged off one by one. After 19 hours, even their PCs finally got some rest.
I’ll think about everything after I sleep.
As soon as he stepped out of the shower, the thrill of clearing the dungeon faded, replaced by sheer exhaustion.
“Ahh… I can finally live again.”
The moment he collapsed onto the soft bedding, a deep groan escaped his lips. Shin-jae, who had come in a beat later, slipped an arm under Sa-yoon’s head and pulled him close. Their hearts pressed together, thudding in sync. Sa-yoon closed his eyes.
Darkness swallowed him instantly.
***
By the time he woke up, it was already midday. He groggily reached out to the side, only to jolt upright. The space beside him was cold.
Right then, the door creaked open, and Shin-jae walked in.
“Hyung, wanna sleep more?”
Still dazed, Sa-yoon sat on the bed, blinking as Shin-jae handed him a cup of warm water.
“No… I should get up.”
Taking slow sips, he stole glances at Shin-jae. Was it because he was young? Even after pulling an all-nighter, Shin-jae looked perfectly fine.
We stayed up together, but why the hell is his face still glowing? I should steal Cha Hye-yoon’s skincare when I get home.
Not that he even knew what kind of product it was. With that pointless resolve, he drained his glass and finally started waking up.
After a late lunch, they took a walk around the neighborhood. As they circled the familiar streets, an unmistakable sight came into view—the playground where Shin-jae had sat, drenched in rain, crying his heart out.
Back then, he’d been curled up on that very bench, all alone.
It was eerily quiet now. Maybe it was because the area wasn’t well-maintained, or maybe it was just the early winter air, but the empty scenery felt stark.
So he really sat here alone all that time…
A vivid image of Shin-jae’s devastated face surfaced in Sa-yoon’s mind, making his chest ache. Without thinking, he pressed his thumb firmly into Shin-jae’s palm. When he glanced sideways, he was met with innocent, wide eyes staring straight at him.
Acting on impulse, he leaned in and kissed him.
Shin-jae, already slightly flushed, turned an even deeper shade of red. Earlier, his cheeks had been as soft as flower petals—now, they were as red as a cherry tomato.
Is it too cold? I can’t have him catching a cold. We should head back soon.
Just then, something icy landed on the bridge of his nose. He rubbed it away with his fingers, feeling it melt into cold water.
“Oh, it’s snowing.”
The first snowfall had arrived without a sound. He held out his palm, watching weightless flakes drift down and dissolve on his skin.
“I’m happy I got to see the first snow with you, hyung.”
As Shin-jae shyly spoke, watching the snowflakes fall, a strange warmth bubbled up in Sa-yoon’s chest.
A kid who could be this happy just by watching snow—what the hell did people do to him?
“I’ll make you happy.”
At the sudden declaration, Shin-jae’s eyes widened before he broke into a soft, radiant smile.
“Okay.”
A smile as gentle as melting snow.
***
After spending a while outside watching the snowfall, they returned home and put on a movie. It seemed like the early wake-up was catching up to him—halfway through, Shin-jae started nodding off.
Sa-yoon coaxed him into bed and, once he was settled, sat down at his desktop. He wanted to check if anyone had posted the first clear screenshot.
“…No one uploaded it?”
Now that he thought about it, when Swakkoong had asked earlier, no one had actually agreed to post it. Everyone had been so sleep-deprived at the time that they must’ve just assumed someone else would take care of it.
Even the normally lively voice channel was completely dead.
Guess I’ll do it.
With that, Sa-yoon clicked the post button.
***
[Cygnus] First-ever server-wide clear of the Underworld Lands.
(screenshot.PNG)
First clear confirmation.
***
Just as he finished typing—
Bzzt.
The silent voice chat app buzzed to life.
Swakkoong: Someone just posted saying Mandarin got the first clear.
Swakkoong: (link)
