I had heard various stories from the users. The number of survivors totaled around 80. As expected, they had split into two factions.
One was the group that had received information from Garlic, and the other was the group that had survived on their own without any shared intel.
“This is seriously pissing me off. Do you know how much profit I helped generate? And Kimchi Artisan went over to their side?”
Apparently, the user known as “Kimchi Artisan,” famous for running the best fresh kimchi restaurant in Shadow Castle, had firmly allied himself with Garlic’s group.
“So we won’t get to eat his secret recipes anymore?”
“Guess we’ll have to chew on sweet potatoes like we did today.”
The sweet potatoes the players had painstakingly roasted were dry and chalky.
It was a moment when they deeply missed Kimchi Artisan. With his high-level cooking skill, even if he just tossed a sweet potato onto the fire, it would come out perfectly moist and tender.
Losing access to his magical touch in the kitchen was a true shame—but thankfully, there were plenty of skilled skeleton chefs within the castle.
“We’re broke. Should we just boil some grass?”
But not everyone could afford the talents of a skeleton chef. Their fees were on a whole different level.
When instant noodles cost 20,000 won, there was nothing more to say.
“Yeo Woo-rim, it’s time you revealed your class. We’ve all done it. If you can’t be honest with us, we’ll have to consider you an enemy.”
We’d eaten enough to feel a little full, so I figured this was their cue for a confession session. I pretended to wipe the crumbs from my mouth and stalled for time.
“Are you really a marriage broker?”
“……”
I had once claimed that my job was a matchmaking consultant and that I was currently helping Kessler find his partner. I’d said it while standing on the gallows, no less.
An obvious lie no one would buy. But I couldn’t very well admit that I was actually a thief.
Even if they let the stealing slide, the moment they knew I was a Thief, it was clear they’d shove me into Garlic’s camp to steal supplies for them. I could see it coming a mile away.
“For now… yes, that’s true.”
“Then match the best couple among us. You should be able to do that much.”
“My proficiency is still at the beginner level. I’m currently devoting all my energy to finding a match for Kessler.”
“But you must have some intuition, some feel from experience, if you’re really a broker.”
All the users stared at me, expectant. I swallowed hard and pulled up every bit of information I had passively picked up in passing.
There’s that saying about how people who look alike tend to feel more attracted to each other, right?
“I’ll match this man… with that woman over there. Just from the look of it, their compatibility is off the charts.”
I randomly pointed at two users with similarly fishy eyes and mouths. The atmosphere immediately turned ice-cold.
The woman’s brow furrowed sharply, and in that moment, I sensed I’d made a critical mistake.
“What’s this about me and my mom’s son?”
“Ew, I hate him more than anything.”
I bit my lip. Wait… they’re siblings? Out of everyone, I picked siblings?
“You’re faking the whole marriage broker thing, aren’t you?”
I had no choice now. It was time to confess that I was really a thief.
“I’m actually…”
I was about to mix an apology into my confession when it happened.
[The couple matching probability between the two individuals is 0.00000000%.]
What the hell?
A notification popped up urgently. Even worse, it was set to public mode so everyone else could see it too.
……
The system had acted on its own. It was desperately trying to save me. Was it really okay for it to just fake data like this?
[Yeo Woo-rim has made the result tag public.
The couple matching probability between the two individuals is 0.00000000%.]
Everyone who saw the notification blinked wide-eyed.
“Huh? I think he’s legit a marriage broker.”
“No way. Can you match us too? There’s all sorts of wild classes in this game…”
[The couple matching probability between the two individuals is 14.2%.]
“Can you check us too, please?”
[The couple matching probability between the two individuals is 78.2%.]
“Whoa, insane.”
“That’s enough. You’ll drain your stamina if you waste energy using that skill too much.”
I waved them off with a half-assed excuse. Even the system seemed to be spitting out random numbers at this point—if this kept up, someone would eventually notice the con.
“Sorry for doubting you, Yeo Woo-rim.”
“Oh, no worries. It’s understandable.”
“I mean it. But can you also tell us something like… the probability of me getting married?”
‘I should’ve just confessed to being a Thief…’
Somehow, this had only created more annoying problems.
***
After finishing the survivor survey, I headed straight for Kessler’s room.
“Baby Fox.”
As if he’d timed it perfectly, Kessler stood up the moment I arrived and smiled warmly the instant he saw me.
“Where’ve you been?”
“Just out playing around.”
As I sat down at the window table, Kessler scooted over and sat right next to me.
He poured honey herb tea into a glass and slid it toward me, then poured another cup into a fresh teacup for himself. When he dropped Jewel Ice into the steaming tea, it chilled in an instant.
Sip, sip. Side by side, we drank tea as we watched the rising sun.
“Did you say you turn human every time you eat a Jewel Ice?”
“Yeah.”
“How many do you have left?”
“Hmm, I think around eight right now—ah, make that seven.”
I’d been trying to use them sparingly, but apparently they’d dwindled down quite a bit.
“Could you give me a few more?”
“I’ll give you some now. I’ve got a stash in the warehouse. Want to come with me? You must be curious about my wealth, right?”
No doubt he had a ridiculous amount. And to be precise, it wasn’t player Kessler’s fortune—it was the Shadow Lord’s.
“Kessler, do you like living in Shadow Castle?”
The notification window flickered nervously at my question, so I quickly added,
“I just meant… in terms of overall life satisfaction.”
“I like it when I’m with you.”
“So, you’re saying anywhere is fine as long as I’m there?”
“Of course. What about you, Baby Fox?”
“Same. I’d be happy even in the middle of a barren desert.”
“You still don’t get me, do you? There’s no way I’d let you end up in some godforsaken desert. Got it?”
“Yes. I can promise that, too.”
I meant it. That “anywhere” definitely didn’t include deserts.
I might not have absolute power or wealth like Kessler does here, but in the real world, I’m pretty successful too. I can make sure we eat good food, wear cool clothes… We have a house, a car—there’s no way I’d let him suffer under a blazing sun.
I’ve got enough skill to guarantee that.
“So promise you’ll go anywhere with me.”
I held out my pinky finger. When he just stared at it, I grabbed his hand and linked our fingers together myself.
[SYSTEM]: The system wishes to bear witness to this promise.
I blew away the floating pop-up. I never said the system had to butt in. Smart as it is, it clearly lacks common sense.
“Is this a proposal?”
“Something like that.”
With not a shred of hesitation in my reply, Kessler’s ears flushed red.
“…My heart’s pounding so hard right now. Feel it for yourself.”
He pulled my linked fingers to his left chest. His heart wasn’t just pounding—it was practically leaping out of his chest.
“Did you swallow a fish or something?”
“How’s yours?”
“…Hey. Don’t just casually grope my nipple.”
I let his hand wander under my shirt for a moment before gently pulling it away.
“Let’s seal the promise first.”
“If you ask me to fetch a star, I’ll stack shadow ladders across the sky using every ounce of my shadow. I swear eternal love to you.”
He brought our intertwined fingers to his lips and pressed a kiss to them.
That wasn’t quite the level of drama I was going for, but seeing him suddenly go full sincerity mode made me laugh—it was too cute.
“Whoa, did you just grow stars in your eyes?”
It was pure awe. His black eyes sparkled so brightly, they looked like entire galaxies were flowing inside them.
[System]: The Lord of Shadow Castle feels overwhelming love. The system wishes to upgrade your engagement request to a marriage.
Wait, what? I never even proposed in the first place.
[System]: The Lord of Shadow Castle disputes ‘till a hundred years’ and proposes to change it to ‘till a thousand years.’
“What the hell? What’s up with this system wording?”
[System]: The Lord of Shadow Castle disputes ‘till a thousand years’ and proposes to change it to ‘till ten thousand years.’
[System]: Marriage ‘till ten thousand years’ has been upgraded to ‘Public Declaration of Love between Kessler and Yeo Woo-rim.’ Do you accept?
“Traditionally, the guy should be the one proposing first, Baby Fox.”
“What kind of BS logic is that? So what, I’m the girl now?”
“Just know this: even though you said it first, I’ve always wanted this too. From beginning to end—my feelings have been the same.”
Kessler ignored my rebuttal and dropped yet another love confession on me.
“Was the wedding name your idea, Kessler?”
“Do you like it?”
The Love Declaration Ceremony of Kessler and Yeo Woo-rim… I stared at it quietly, and then a realization hit me.
“You remembered my name?”
Yeo Woo-rim. He couldn’t remember Jung Da-hoon’s name to save his life, so I thought he hadn’t remembered mine either—but I was wrong.
“Then why do you keep calling me Baby Fox?”
“It’s your nickname. It fits that sharp little snout of yours perfectly.”
Kessler suddenly leaned in closer.
“Come here.”
“……”
“It’s kiss time.”
Just like when I was still a fox, he pressed his lips to mine and gently closed his eyes. The sight of him savoring the moment made me instinctively close mine too.
