'Buff benefits? I didn't see a separate notice about a hot-time event.'
But Juwon knew. It had only been four days since he couldn't log in because he was raiding a Gate, but four days was more than enough time for all sorts of events to be held and for the next one to be prepared.
In particular, the game he enjoyed was famous for not just working its users like cattle, but for wringing them dry.
Its catchphrase was 'A fantastic story in the palm of my hand,' but among users, it was known as 'A crazy billing story in my wallet.'
There was a time when three events ran simultaneously for a day, forcing him to keep his phone in his hand for 24 hours straight. He had also experienced an insane schedule where the next event started the moment he could finally catch his breath after a ranking event ended.
Recalling those times, Juwon tried to estimate how many diamonds it would take to cover his current absence, but soon gave up on the calculation.
'...Why think when playing a crappy game? You just play. Aren't there any new max-tier packages? I'll buy that first, and then buy the other packages as I go. How many diamonds do I have left... Right, if I start calculating efficiency, I can't spend money.'
After all, what he had in abundance was money, and what he lacked in inverse proportion was time. Sometimes he was rolling around in Gates without even time to spend money, so he had to spend it when he could.
Didn't he have to spend money to prevent the moment when 'the game I was playing went under and when I checked later, the service was terminated'? Juwon had to be satisfied with the fact that it was at least a mobile game, so he could carry it around and spend money on it.
Juwon soothed himself with that thought and entered the event guide page that his mailbox directed him to.
[(Notice)(Limited) May 8th Buff Benefit Event Information]
[Hello, Ability User!
This is the GM System of <Fantastic Ability Battle: Espers>, guiding you to a fantasy world you can always dream of!
You must have been surprised by the sudden mail. ^^
It's none other than our desire to guide 'InvisibleRedPhoenixIsCrying'-nim to the fantasy world with better benefits~!
Nourished by your abundant love and interest, and with a heart full, so very full of gratitude...!
On May 8th, starting at 16:00, we will provide a very special buff benefit to 'InvisibleRedPhoenixIsCrying'-nim!]
'...Special benefits?'
Juwon, a heavy spender whose spending power exceeded the top 10%, naturally concluded that this special benefit was a cash-spending privilege for heavy spenders. The reason his spending power was in the top 10% and not the top 1% was purely due to a lack of time to grind for diamonds, not because his spending power fell short.
'What's gotten into them, this crappy game.'
The game one plays is, by law, not a 'God-tier game' but a 'crappy game.' Juwon, who had poured a huge amount of money into such a crappy game, thought this as he read the guide page.
[Step-by-Step Benefit Event!
To receive a ve~ry special buff benefit, please participate in the quest!
After participating in the quest, a special buff benefit will be provided upon completion ♥]
[If you wish to participate in the quest, please check the consent box below!]
[□ I agree to receive messages from the GM System and provide information for marketing participation for this event.]
[*This event may be canceled due to our company's circumstances.]
But you don't call a perfectly fine game a crappy game for no reason. There was a good reason for it. They never just gave out buff benefit events. Right, a crappy game will be a crappy game.
Thinking this, Juwon let out an inward sigh and pressed the 'Participate in Event' button and the message consent button. And then...
[Downloading the GM System's guide for quest participation!]
"Huh??"
[The quest for 'InvisibleRedPhoenixIsCrying'-nim is~!]
[A ♥Heart-pounding, Flutter-filled♥ Esper Story]
What Juwon was faced with, on the event page of a mobile RPG, was a pink, pastel-toned title logo and interface reminiscent of a heart-pounding dating simulation game.
The game I was playing was an RPG. Suddenly, the genre has changed.
[Step 1 ♥ Make Eye Contact with Him]
...What's a 'him,' who is he? Huh?
Juwon very seriously wondered if this game's server had been hacked.
Or maybe today wasn't May 8th, but April 1st? The event page was so unfamiliar and strange that he would have believed it if they said it was a rerun of an April Fool's event.
Perhaps to match the event concept, the main NPC of his faction was depicted in heavy armor, cheeks flushed red, making a hand heart. Seeing the illustration, Juwon felt a sense of dismay.
[Step 1 ♥ Success Reward!]
[Upon success in Quest Step 1, the debuff on user 'InvisibleRedPhoenixIsCrying' will be removed!]
[Upon success in Quest Step 1, the conditions for Quest Step 2 will be unlocked!]
...A debuff? Just as Juwon was wondering, his phone buzzed and an app push notification popped up on the screen.
[This push notification is sent exclusively to user 'InvisibleRedPhoenixIsCrying' who has agreed to receive messages and participate in marketing.]
[Push messages will continue to be provided for steady buff benefits and successful quest completion!]
[Opt-out is not provided.]
...It's a hack. This has to be a hack.
With a strange expression, Juwon pressed and held the power button to turn off and restart his phone, thinking that it was about time to get a new one.
Like a modern phone, it turned back on in less than 30 seconds. But immediately after, the phone screen was filled with push notifications from <Fantastic Ability Battle: Espers>.
[Step 1 ♥ Make Eye Contact with Him]
[Step 1 ♥ Complete it and get the quest reward!]
[Step 1 ♥ Make Eye Contact with Him]
[Step 1 ♥ Complete it and get the quest reward!]
"...What is this."
"Huh, Maknae. What's wrong?"
"Ah. It's just..."
The leader of Team 1, who had been busy holding his phone and sending texts here and there, looked at Juwon with a worried expression.
"I think my phone has been hacked."
"Hacked? What, did you install something weird?"
"No. That's not it... Would you mind taking a look."
I didn't install anything weird, I just agreed to a weird consent form on a weird event page... Juwon swallowed those words deep inside and handed his phone to the team leader instead.
"Huh? I don't see anything. Just a black screen?"
"...Pardon?"
Juwon checked his phone again, wondering if he had accidentally pressed the power button while handing it over. But contrary to the team leader's words, the phone screen was still filled with app push notifications. Looking at them now, the hearts were becoming terrifying.
"You, you can't see this?"
"Yeah. What, are you weak from exhaustion or something? Seeing things?"
"...No, sir. I am hungry, though."
Juwon sensed that something was not right. This was...
'It hasn't even been that long since I came out of a Gate raid, and it's an absolute power, of all things...!!'
He had raided the Gate, the suddenly appearing AA-rank Gate was resolved well, so he thought he could finally get a good rest for a while.
But for an absolute power, like Gate energy, to appear from such an unexpected place. It was the same unsettling feeling as coming out after carefully separating the whites and colors for laundry, only to be faced with three pairs of socks that you realized too late you had to wash.
As Juwon's expression turned serious, the team leader asked worriedly.
"What's wrong? Is something really the matter?"
"It's nothing, sir. I think I saw it wrong."
"...Right. You scared me, I thought something was wrong. Be careful, things get complicated if your phone gets hacked."
"Yes. I'll let you know right away if anything happens."
Juwon's phone vibrated again.
[Step 1 ♥ Make Eye Contact with Him]
[Step 1 ♥ Complete it and get the quest reward!]
[Step 1 ♥ Make Eye Contact with Him]
[Step 1 ♥ Complete it and get the quest reward!]
Stop it, you crazy bastard!!
Juwon pressed the endlessly pouring push notifications. After wrestling with it for what felt like dozens of times, the messages that seemed like they would continue until the phone battery died finally stopped.
Juwon wiped his dry face with one hand and opened his calendar app. Unless a sudden high-rank Gate appeared, he was on vacation for the time being.
Juwon decided to go to the guild headquarters to report 'this situation' of a game-related error, and to get a health check-up while he was at it.
And so, an appointment was registered in Juwon's calendar.
***
"Wonwoo-ssi must be hungry, let's go quickly."
"Th-th... that would be great. Haha. I'm sorry. I guess I was really hungry."
All Wonwoo had eaten were two pieces of chicken before getting on the subway, and that amount was far too meager compared to everything he had been through so far. Besides, his Europe Baguette gift coupon was gone, so his empty stomach needed to be soothed with a hearty meal.
"...Not at all. It's not something for you to be sorry about, Wonwoo-ssi. Then, as you said, please go ahead. I will join you as soon as I finish my work. I'm not particularly picky about anything, so please feel free to decide on a place you both want to go and let me know."
As he spoke, Yonghyun took out a business card case from his breast pocket and handed a card to Wonwoo.
"You can contact me at this number."
"Oh, I don't have a business card..."
"It's alright. Then please contact me after you've moved."
Yonghyun gave a nod to Wonwoo and Jinho in turn, and with a gaze dripping with reluctance, he left the container house.
Shin Yonghyun, Gate Management Department. As he was saving the number while looking at the business card, stylishly engraved with silver foil on a blue background, Yonghyun's job offer from the Agency came to mind again.
'...Mmm, let's not think about it. Monopolies are all pointless.'
Thinking words that the System would have cheered 'That's right! Oppose monopolies!' for, Wonwoo nodded his head.
"Ah, Wonwoo-ssi. Would you accept my business card too?"
"Gasp, of course. I should be the one saying thank you for accepting it."
And just like that, the phone numbers of two S-rank Espers were saved in Wonwoo's phone.
It was a moment that made his past despair of 'How on earth can I meet S-rank Espers, four of them at that!' feel futile.