Ranker's Return

“What is moderation? It’s over if we can’t drink today, you jerk.”

“That’s right. Think about what you did on your leave. Now you’re saying things like this?”

“Right, right. That’s right. It is true that tadpoles never remember. You drank all night long on your leave and got a hangover. Then you drank again the next night. You did, you did.”

Yeongchan and the two soldiers stared at Hyeonu with blurred eyes and attacked at the same time.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Did I ask you to drink back then? The one between you guys asked me to drink,” Hyeonu replied with a dumbfounded expression. It was true that his leave was filled with alcohol, but it was all due to Yeongchan. Hyeonu added, “Drinking because you fought with your girlfriend. Drinking because you broke up. Yes, it is good to drink. So why did your leave days have to coincide with mine?”

His leave dates from the army were around the same dates as Yeongchan’s. Yeongchan would inevitably go out with a day or two difference from when Hyeonu went out.

“It is about being considerate to other friends. It will be hard if they meet me and then have to meet you. It is a time when everyone is busy. Meeting together saves time. How good is that?” Yeongchan answered shamelessly.

“That’s right. It is better to see you all at once than to see you separately.”

“It is true about being busy. University students are busy.”

The two soldiers sided with Yeongchan. They were already out of their minds due to being drunk. It was clear that they wouldn’t remember this conversation tomorrow.

“Yes, let’s say that is the case.” Hyeonu shook his head. He couldn’t communicate with drunkards.

At this moment, Hyeonu naturally got an excuse to end the conversation with the three of them. The smartphone in Hyeonu’s pocket vibrated loudly.

“Hey, drink in moderation. I’ll take this phone call.” Hyeonu left the three of them in the living room and went into his room. He didn’t look at the name on the smartphone’s screen and immediately answered the call, “Hello?”

Hyeonu had also drunk a lot of alcohol and was just as out of his mind.

-Hello? Brother?

The voice he heard over the phone was young. It was also speaking in English, not Korean.

‘Mason?’

“Mason? What’s going on that you are calling me late at night?”

Hyeonu was pleased to hear Mason’s voice for the first time in a long time.

‘It’s nighttime?’ Mason cocked his head for a moment at Hyeonu’s words. It was morning in New York where he was located—only a few hours after the sun had risen.

-Late at night? Ah, it is nighttime in South Korea right now.

Then he immediately remembered that Hyeonu was in Seoul, not New York.

-Brother, it is nothing much. Are you busy? Mason asked cautiously. It was because he didn’t know the details of Hyeonu’s situation. Mason was no different from most people.

‘Honestly, I don’t know if there is anyone who knows...’

In Mason’s opinion, the only ones who might know Hyeonu’s current situation were Yeongchan, who lived with Hyeonu, or Jin Sijong, who was known to be closest to him.

“Busy?” Hyeonu was the one who tilted his head this time. It was due to the sudden phone call and Mason’s question about being busy.

‘What’s going on?’

Every time this question appeared, it meant the person wanted to meet him or needed his help.

“I’m not that busy. I have a lot of time. No, it isn’t a lot. I have around three or four days. Why?” Hyeonu talked gibberish. He was drunk, and his mind couldn’t work properly.

-If you aren’t busy, please come to New York.

Hyeonu was surprised at Mason’s words to come to New York and questioned it, “New York? Why New York?”

It felt like he was sobering up.

-I think I have to go back to school now, so I am going to call people and have a party. I wanted you to come.

The reason Mason invited Hyeonu was nothing other than this. It was a type of retirement ceremony. Mason wasn’t quitting Arena completely, but he couldn’t play it all day long like he was doing now. He had achieved his wish of becoming a professional gamer, so he had to focus on his studies and the other things he was supposed to do.

This was the promise Mason had originally made to his father.

“Really? Then of course, I’ll go. When are you holding it?”

Hyeonu immediately recognized the situation based on Mason’s words. It was inevitable since this was what Mason talked about the most, apart from being a pro gamer, after entering Crescent Moon. The certainty of Hyeonu knowing what was going on with Mason was as strong as the fact that Hyeonu was a man.

-The day after tomorrow. I’m just going to do it quickly. Some people won’t be able to come once the league starts.

Mason’s party would be held in two days. It couldn’t be helped. There were pro gamers among the people he would invite. They didn’t have time to party once the Spring League began. In order to call as many people as possible, it was best to do it now when the league had yet to start.

“I understand. I’ll be right there tomorrow.” Hyeonu nodded without hesitation.

He even prepared to book a plane ticket right away.

Just then, Mason spoke as if anticipating Hyeonu’s actions: -Brother, you’re already thinking about buying a ticket, aren’t you?

“Uh? How did you know? I was just looking at tickets.” Hyeonu shook his head from side to side in surprise and looked around. He wondered if Mason was watching him.

-I’ll send you a chartered plane, so come comfortably. What should I do when I have planes to play with? I need to use them at times like this, Mason said with a laugh.

The chartered plane wasn’t his, but it was possible to use it at will.

“Okay, I’ll contact you tomorrow for more details.”

Hyeonu frowned when he poked out his head and saw the scene in the living room. He was no longer in a situation where he could speak to Mason.

-I understand, Brother. I’ll be waiting. Mason nodded and ended the call.

In any case, he already said everything he needed to say. There was no reason to keep talking on the phone when he’d heard the answer.

“Understood.” Hyeonu hung up and quickly walked into the living room.

“Ah, these guys are real jerks!” Hyeonu yelled when he saw the scene in the living room. The living room was a mess. It was several times worse than before Hyeonu entered his room to talk on the phone. Snacks were lying on the ground, and the smell of alcohol struck his nose like alcohol had been spilled.

Hyeonu sighed loudly and woke up Yeongchan and his friends. However, they wouldn’t wake up no matter what Hyeonu did. This was too much even if they were dead drunk. Eventually, Hyeonu gave up waking them and moved them one by one.

“Just wait and see what happens tomorrow.”

Of course, he didn’t forget to curse them.

***

Once it became morning, Hyeonu quickly left the officetel with a suitcase he had packed in advance. He thought it was better to go to the United States earlier than to argue with them.

‘I am the only one who will lose if we fight.’

A black sedan was waiting for Hyeonu outside. It was the taxi that he had called in advance. Hyeonu loaded his suitcase into the taxi and collapsed onto the back seat.

‘I need to send a message before sleeping.’

He immediately sent a message to Mason saying that he would arrive at the airport in half an hour. Hyeonu sent the message, closed his eyes, and immediately fell asleep.

“We’ve arrived.” The taxi driver woke up Hyeonu.

“I will pay with this.” Hyeonu paid for the taxi and got out while sleepily rubbing his eyes. Then he dragged the suitcase the taxi driver handed him into the airport.

Someone approached the moment Hyeonu entered the airport. It wasn’t one person but two.

“You came. Aren’t you late?”

“I thought you were going to come earlier, but you came in a more leisurely manner?”

Kim Seokjung and Gang Junggu waved to Hyeonu with one hand while carrying a sports bag in their other hand.

“Hyung-nims, why are you here?” Hyeonu was so surprised that he let go of his suitcase.

The appearance of Kim Seokjung and Gang Junggu was that shocking to him.

‘How did they get here?’

Hyeonu’s trip to the United States was decided on a call with Mason last night. He only booked a taxi when he lay down to sleep. Then he contacted Mason after getting in the taxi. There was no time for it to be leaked. Even so, Kim Seokjung and Gang Junggu appeared like they knew it and greeted Hyeonu. It was impossible.

“If you want to go to the United States, you would have to go today. We were waiting.” Gang Junggu grabbed Hyeonu’s rolling suitcase.

“Since when have you been waiting?” Hyeonu asked with an energetic expression.

“Three in the morning? I liked the sauna in the basement. I had a good time there.”

Hyeonu noticed where the information leaked from based on Gang Junggu’s answer. “Did Mason tell you?”

It was Mason. He was the only person Hyeonu contacted before coming to the airport. If it wasn’t for Mason, Kim Seokjung and Gang Junggu would’ve never been present in time for his arrival at the airport.

“We have to ride the chartered plane together. What is the difference between you going alone or the three or us flying together? In any case, it is free.” Kim Seokjung smiled and wrapped an arm around Hyeonu’s shoulder.

Hyeonu smiled and nodded. There was nothing wrong with Kim Seokjung’s words. It made sense. In fact, the current meeting was a surprise, but it wasn’t something that shouldn’t have happened.

“That’s right, Hyung-nim. Let’s go quickly. It takes more than just an hour or two to get there. Won’t it be a waste if we spend more time here?” Hyeonu smiled, put a hand on Kim Seokjung’s shoulder, and started walking.

Kim Seokjung also smiled and moved along with Hyeonu.

***

Mason’s invitation didn’t just go to Hyeonu, Kim Seokjung, and Gang Junggu. It naturally went to those he played with in Crescent Moon as well as people that Mason knew personally. Most of them were professional gamers and celebrities he knew in Arena.

In the first place, Mason was a ranker and a member of New World. He couldn’t have bad connections.

A player from the New York Warriors approached Reina and asked, “Reina, are you going tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow? Where are you going tomorrow? Is there a meeting?” Reina muttered while biting a piece of bread.

“Mason is holding a party tomorrow. I heard he is inviting all his acquaintances because he is returning to his original profession.”

At Reina’s unaware expression, the New York Warriors player explained about the party hosted by Mason.

“Let’s see... We’re not that close.” Reina had an uneasy expression on her face. She knew Mason, but it was too much to say they were close. It was to the extent of just meeting each other—only that much.

The player nodded gently. “Really? So you aren’t going?”

Reina wasn’t the type of person who enjoyed hanging out with others. It made sense when she said she wasn’t going.

“I’m sure Crescent Moon and New World will definitely come this time, right? It has been a long time,” the player muttered as he went back to his seat.

Reina’s expression changed in an instant when she heard that. “I’ll go as well. I practiced so much that I want to get some air.”