He Is That Guy

The place Kim Daeseok mentioned was a small island called Peroco, located at the edge of the second continent, in front of a lighthouse. I had already unlocked it during the main quest, so I teleported there instantly.
[Global] DrinkWaterPlz: Hello there.
[Global] soeso: Interview time, let’s go.
The character standing next to Daeseok greeted me. She was a female avatar dressed in shining white armor with a massive shield strapped to her back. Above her name floated a crown icon along with the guild name EveningGlow.

The interview that followed was casual but thorough, just as I expected. The vice guild master of EveningGlow asked about my age, military status, whether I could use voice chat, and if I’d join their messaging group chat. Lastly, she asked about my class.
[Party] DrinkWaterPlz: So you’ve completed your first class change, right? Ru Mage?
[Party] jeojolryeoyo: That’s right.
[Party] DrinkWaterPlz: …You’re planning to go Dark Mage, aren’t you?
At that point, I could tell exactly what she was thinking. But there wasn’t any point in lying.

[Party] jeojolryeoyo: Yeah, I’m going Dark Mage.
[Party] DrinkWaterPlz: Hmm…
As soon as I answered honestly, the atmosphere chilled. I understood, though. A new class often meant players were just messing around with alts or trying something trendy before dropping it. She probably assumed I was one of them.
Daeseok must have noticed it too, because for the first time during the interview, he jumped in.

[Party] soeso: Water-noona.
[Party] soeso: He’s not the type to play for a week and quit, I swear T_T
[Party] soeso: You trust me, right?
God, what a cringey way to vouch for me. Still, he was the only one speaking in my defense, so I let him talk.
[Party] soeso: This guy’s a full-on gaming addict.
[Party] soeso: Took him, what, ten days to hit level 200?

[Party] DrinkWaterPlz: Oh really?
[Party] DrinkWaterPlz: That’s not easy for a newbie.
[Party] soeso: Right?! He’s the real deal, lol
She seemed intrigued. Good. Keep going.
[Party] DrinkWaterPlz: So your mechanics must be solid.
[Party] DrinkWaterPlz: Still, Dark Mage is a tough class.
[Party] soeso: His control is insane, seriously.
[Party] soeso: He was Grandmaster in HOL, the AOS game.
[Party] soeso: Not a one-time fluke either—he hits GM every season.

[Party] DrinkWaterPlz: Grandmaster? You play HOL?
[Party] jeojolryeoyo: I quit a few months ago.
The chilly mood vanished. The vice guild master relaxed and began to show signs of genuine interest—not romantic, but the kind of appreciation a true gamer has for someone with legit skill.
[Party] DrinkWaterPlz: Okay, sounds good.
[Party] DrinkWaterPlz: Let’s get you in and do a two-week trial period.
[Party] DrinkWaterPlz: I’ll send the guild request. Just write that you’ve completed the interview with me and confirm it.

As soon as she said it, a guild invitation popped up in the middle of my screen. I typed the message she suggested, submitted the form, and within seconds, the guild tag appeared over my name.
Not bad.
I opened the guild window. The master, vice master, and other members were listed in full.
Yoo Chae [Away]
DrinkWaterPlz [Online]
Let’sTripleJump [Online]
Hwaseoun [Online]
TheHunter [Online]
ParkSeungjin99 [Online]

(And more…)
[Party] DrinkWaterPlz: As you can see in the guild list, we usually have about 70 people online at any time.
[Party] DrinkWaterPlz: The youngest is 18, but most of us are adults.
[Party] DrinkWaterPlz: I’ll send invites to the Discord and group chat by tonight.
She rattled off the info quickly, and then posted a welcome message in the guild chat.

[Guild] DrinkWaterPlz: We’ve got a new member—please welcome jeojolryeoyo~
[Guild] ParkSeungjin99: Whoa hey hey~
[Guild] Hwaseoun: Hihi~ nice to meet you!
[Guild] LaggingLikeHell: Hello!!
[Guild] Let’sTripleJump: Oh, you’re not someone’s alt? Welcome~
[Guild] Haerun: Thought you were an alt too lol. Oh right, we are recruiting now. Hi hi~
[Guild] jeojolryeoyo: Nice to meet you all.
I stared at the flood of greetings, a little overwhelmed.
It had been a while since I’d joined a guild or clan. I was going to need some time to adjust.

[Party] DrinkWaterPlz: I’m 27, by the way. Female.
[Party] DrinkWaterPlz: Just call me Water—feel free to ask anything.
She must’ve sensed my nerves, because her tone turned more relaxed, trying to put me at ease. I responded accordingly.
[Party] jeojolryeoyo: You’re three years older than me, so I’ll speak politely but call you noona, lol.
[Party] jeojolryeoyo: Feel free to talk casually.
[Party] DrinkWaterPlz: Lol, sounds good. That’s easier for me anyway.

Even with just a short chat, I could tell she was a good person. This wasn’t a bad start at all. Good guild vibes, too.
I was smiling in satisfaction when I saw a familiar name pop up in the guild chat.
[Guild] Yoo Chae: Is Water {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} around right now?
[Guild] DrinkWaterPlz: Why?

The guild master had returned from AFK. As the new guy, should I go out of my way to greet him? I'd just been welcomed—wouldn’t that be overkill?
[Guild] Haerun: Guess he’s thirsty and looking for Water, lol.
[Guild] ParkSeungjin99: I got water too, lmao.
[Guild] SpicyCrabPlz: Please stop.
[Guild] Yoo Chae: Do you still have the Athero Seeds you said you stored in your pet?
Ignoring the jokes, the guild master went straight to business. Water summoned her pet and rummaged through it before replying.

[Guild] DrinkWaterPlz: Yeah, still got ’em.
[Guild] DrinkWaterPlz: If you need them, I’m at Peroco Lighthouse.
[Guild] Yoo Chae: K.
[Guild] ParkSeungjin99: Can I come too, Water? Just finished the last raid run.
[Guild] Let’sTripleJump: Me too, me too. I’m in.
[Guild] MeLostInHunt: Looking for 2 more for Firelord raid. Channel 8 by :20.
[Guild] Haerun: Wait, isn’t Water with the new guy? I’m coming too!
[Guild] DrinkWaterPlz: Yeah, brought the newbie here.
[Global] Yoo Chae: Newbie?
That reply came in the global chat. He must’ve used fast travel, because before I knew it, a male character with the name was standing right behind me.

Black hair, red eyes, a black cloak covering only his left arm, and a dazzling golden chain wrapped around his waist. From the color, it looked like +9 gear.
+9? That kind of enhancement goes for insane prices.
Well, he was the master of the top guild. Figures he’d be geared like that.

[Global] DrinkWaterPlz: Didn’t you check guild chat?
[Global] DrinkWaterPlz: This is jeojolryeoyo, our new member. He’s 24, male~
[Global] Yoo Chae: ?
I wasn’t sure if this was the moment to speak up. My hands hovered over the keyboard in hesitation, and then—
After a long silence following that single question mark, the guild master typed something I never could’ve imagined.

[Global] Yoo Chae: I don’t like the nickname.
[Global] Yoo Chae: Don’t want him. lol
“…What?”
I blinked, thinking I’d misread. What the hell did this guy just say?

[Global] DrinkWaterPlz: The hell is wrong with you?
Thankfully, Water said what I was thinking. A confused Daeseok sent me a whisper.
[Whisper] soeso: What the hell? Why’s he acting like that?
[Whisper] soeso: You got history with this guy or something?
[Whisper] jeojolryeoyo: Would I?

While the three of us sat dumbfounded, the guild master kept going like he couldn’t care less.
[Global] Yoo Chae: I said I don’t like the name.
[Global] DrinkWaterPlz: So what, you lunatic??
[Global] Yoo Chae: Kick him.
[Global] Yoo Chae: And who gave you permission to recruit someone?
[Global] DrinkWaterPlz: You literally told me yesterday to do whatever I want. Are you for real?
Even through a character model, I could feel Water glancing at me apologetically, caught in a ridiculous bind. My temples throbbed. I leaned back in my chair.

[Global] Let’sTripleJump: Yoohoo, I’m here~
[Global] Haerun: Your adorable Haerunie has arrived~ ><
[Global] ParkSeungjin99: ???
[Global] ParkSeungjin99: My eyes. Why the sudden cringe spam?
As if things weren’t already chaotic enough, more guild members who said they’d drop by started showing up. Then the guild master turned to me directly.
[Global] Yoo Chae: If you want to stay in the guild, change your name.
[Global] Yoo Chae: If not, leave.
[Global] Yoo Chae: I’ll even cover the name change fee. lol

[Global] Haerun: ??
[Global] ParkSeungjin99: What’s going on??
[Global] DrinkWaterPlz: My blood pressure is spiking—
“Hah…”
Something in me snapped. I let out a short laugh, grabbed my trembling mouse hand, and opened settings.

Unchecked the profanity filter I’d left on out of laziness, then calmly typed:
[Global] jeojolryeoyo: Go fuck yourself, you bastard.