Chapter 69

Theo looked utterly dumbfounded. Shouldn’t they have been focusing on the battle? Why on earth had someone been recording another person’s back in the middle of it?

“Luckily, it didn’t leak to the public. Looks like they’ve just been passing it around among themselves in secret. Still, it somehow made its way to me.”

“What kind of bastards took it?”

“Nothing special—just regular players.”

“Can we stop it from spreading?”

“At the guild level, sure. But it’s already been shared under the table… I can’t pinpoint exactly how far it’s gone or who has it. If someone’s keeping quiet and just holding onto it, there’s no way to know—or take it away.”

Theo frowned slightly. Strangers—people he didn’t even know—were secretly keeping a picture of Blaine’s bare back. The thought made him feel sick.

“I plan to reach out to every guild we can contact that’s connected to the people who have it and put some pressure on them. Aslan said he’ll help too. Nothing to worry about.”

Father said that as she brushed off her pants and stood up. Theo followed her with his eyes and awkwardly got to his feet as well.

“You’re leaving already?”

“Yeah. I’ve got a dungeon appointment in the morning.”

Without hesitation, Father headed for the door. Theo followed behind, as if to see her off.

Holanghee’s gaze trailed after their departing backs, and once the two were gone, she turned her attention to Blaine.

“Sweetie, after what happened, don’t you think it’s time to take that outfit off? Or at least change into something less revealing…”

“……”

Blaine looked completely deflated. He’d worn it hoping Theo would notice him, but all it brought was unwanted attention and trouble. He hated that someone else had seen him like that—and he hated even more that it caused problems for Theo and the guild.

He pressed his lips into a thin line and looked ready to nod, but before he could, Noquia spoke up sharply.

“Why should he take it off?”

Both Holanghee and Blaine turned to her. Blaine looked confused, while Holanghee frowned as if asking what nonsense she was spouting.

“Look at the situation. Hidden cameras, stalkers—it’s chaos. If we don’t want to make it worse, he needs to change.”

“Getting caught on camera and having people come to look means he’s too damn attractive, doesn’t it?”

“…Huh?”

“…Sorry, what?”

“Listen, Blaine. The more you walk around showing your back, the more worked up Theo’s going to get.”

“……”

“Right now, he’s got that older-brother mindset—you know, wants to protect the precious youngest and keep them safe. If you refuse to take that outfit off, he’ll probably start sticking to your side like a bodyguard.”

“Think about it. Theo by your side, twenty-four seven, three hundred sixty-five days a year. Even if he sees you like a sibling, being glued to a walking bombshell like you? No one stays indifferent to that forever.”

“…?”

Blaine blinked in confusion, while Holanghee, who’d been resting her chin on her hand in thought, finally said, “Affection.”

“Exactly! Wouldn’t that kind of closeness stir up feelings? So instead of hiding, now’s the time to be bold about it. If I were you, I’d throw that cloak off entirely. He already reacts when he sees your back—imagine what’ll happen if you show a bit more. He’ll lose his mind.”

Flustered, Blaine fumbled to pull his cloak tighter around himself.

“Still… I didn’t think so many people would see it. It’s… kind of embarrassing.”

“Now you’re embarrassed? Come on—what, is there something wrong with your body? Your face? With your stats, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s all in your head. Sure, your character’s base model was made off me, but it’s still just an avatar. It’s not even your real body, so what’s the big deal? Just own it. Even those scrawny guys in real life bulk up through customization and strut around shirtless like they’re proud of it. Why should someone who actually looks good be the one hiding?”

“……”

Blaine hesitated, his eyes flicking toward Holanghee as if seeking a more rational opinion. He trusted her to be the voice of reason here.

Unfortunately, even she had already fallen under the false prophet’s spell.

Moments later, Theo returned after seeing Father off. He immediately told Blaine to change clothes, as if it were only natural. But Blaine pressed his lips tight and shook his head.

Theo froze in surprise, eyes widening. Then, as disbelief shifted into frustration, his tone rose. Blaine clutched his cloak and slipped behind Noquia and Holanghee for cover, while the two of them stood their ground, defending and shielding him fiercely.

Both women exchanged glances that said the same thing—convincing Theo was going to be tough. They braced for a long battle.

But the argument didn’t last long. Just when Theo’s anger seemed ready to explode, he swallowed it back and abruptly ended the fight.

And then—he gave up. He stopped insisting Blaine change clothes.

The three looked at each other, puzzled, but quickly decided not to push their luck. They had won, and that was enough.

“Noquia.”

At a small roadside stall nestled halfway up the Polly Mountains, Noquia looked up at the sound of her name. A tall, lean figure in black approached—Theo.

He walked over and took the seat across from her without hesitation. Noquia smiled faintly. “You came?”

Her eyes, however, were scanning the area around him.

“Don’t worry. Like you said, I came alone.”

Only then did Noquia nod in satisfaction.

“So, what’s this about? You made me come all the way out here, and without Blaine too.”

“Well, remember that talk we had about the Territorial War?”

“Oh? Yeah. You’re actually doing it?”

“Yeah, but I can’t decide on a faction. Thought I’d ask for your help.”

“Me? Wouldn’t Father or Holanghee be better for that?”

“I’m not looking to get dragged through hell by them, thanks. Besides, I’ve got my own… grand ambition.”

“What kind of crap are you spouting now?”

Noquia snickered, then ordered two beers from the stall’s NPC and handed one to him. Theo frowned and bought a skewer platter to go with it.

“What faction are you in again?”

“Cottonflower Hills. Ord.”

“Oh, that wolf one?”

“Yeah.”

“Holanghee and Father are there too, right?”

“Yeah. No point splitting up our power.”

“So I should join that one too?”

“What’s your affinity level with them?”

“Not that high yet.”

“Then you might be better off starting in a newer or lower-tier faction. Ord’s ranking is high—you’ll need a lot of reputation. Better to pick a small one first, then climb up slowly.”

“I thought about that, but low-tier factions attract low-tier players. Feels like I’d just be surrounded by losers.”

“Anyway, Territorial War caps at tier five. It’s the same no matter where you do it.”

Territorial War used Murderer Mode by default. To reduce extreme skill gaps among participants, the maximum tier was fixed at five. That meant Noquia—who was tier three—would become tier five when she joined the war.

“But the scale of fights between veterans and ragtag scrubs must be different.”

“…What were you doing while you were building that tier if not practicing for the Territorial War?”

“Systematic fights are boring.”

“That’s an accomplishment.”

“Proud of it.”

“Either way, if you’re going to Ord, increase your affinity first.”

“Hmm… affinity can be raised… what positions are there for the war?”

“Combat, Support, Escort, and Intelligence.”

Players in the Territorial War could choose among four positions: front-line Combat, rear-line Support, boss-protection Escort, and Intelligence—who infiltrated enemy ranks to gather info or sabotage from within. There was no cap on most roles, but only one player could take Intelligence.

“Hmm…”

Noquia frowned in thought for a moment, then looked up at Theo and grinned wickedly.

“You, want to team up with me?”

“What?”

“Territorial War gets boring if it’s always the same.”

“?”

Theo gave Noquia a look that said he expected trouble, but he couldn’t help listening—her idea sounded tempting.

After weighing it, Theo agreed to partner with Noquia. All that remained was for her to raise affinity.

They clinked glasses and drank the rest of the beer in one go, wishing each other luck. Noquia set down her empty cup with a satisfied “kruuh” and, rummaging through the leftover snacks, suddenly seemed to remember something and looked at Theo.

“By the way, we thought you’d force Blaine to change clothes.”

“Huh? Ah… honestly, I felt like tearing it off.”

“Then why did you let it slide?”

“Something about it felt like people had been forced into things their whole lives, and I didn’t want to add my shove. Technically he’s only been out in society for two years, but by age he’s an adult. If it’s his choice and what he wants, who am I to punish him? I’d stop him if it were harmful, but this isn’t that.”

“Oh, our Theo’s so mature.”

“……”

“Be honest—weren’t you a little sad about him showing that off?”

“……”

Theo’s gaze slipped away. Noquia covered her mouth and grinned slyly, leaning toward him to whisper.

“I could make him take more off for you.”

Theo’s eyes flickered, then steadied. Noquia felt a small victory inside, but Theo closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and shook his head.

“Don’t make him take it off. Just make a belt.”

“A belt?”

“One that straps over the cloak.”

“Will you make it?”

“Tch.”