Chapter 107

Chapter 107
The Dentist offered a brief and straightforward reply to the inquiry.

Several messages had reached him, as expected.

Lacking sufficient seating, the Dentist settled onto the floor rug directly across from us.

None of those requests had been accepted by him.

Every other participant’s outreach had been deliberately ignored, raising the natural question of why.

Living in total ignorance about this environment, known as Safety Zone, made caution necessary. Previous experience with video games was nonexistent, yet common sense dictated that naive newcomers were easy targets everywhere. Understanding too little about the mechanics to spot a potential scam by another user made solo survival the safest temporary strategy.

Such determination in a rookie to face challenges alone seemed almost admirable, aside from the fact that a friend request had been sent to me almost instantly.

Raising that contradiction would have meant giving away the identity of Dopamine Addict right away.

No other participants were present around here besides him, or so he believed.

The Dentist was apparently the sole individual who selected Candy. That made sense, considering seasoned Safety Zone veterans would have completely overlooked something as insignificant as a piece of candy.

Guidance regarding Character Inspection would be provided first.

Confusion marked his face as he asked what that meant.

Directing him to observe me while speaking the phrase aloud cleared up the instructions.

Following the prompt without a trace of self-consciousness, the Dentist uttered Character Inspection while my gaze monitored his changing facial expressions moment by moment. Han Yeo-bom remained seated close beside me, gripping his mug with both hands, his expression bright with eager curiosity as he watched every reaction cross the Dentist’s features.

Uttering the name Dopamine Addict brought visible hesitation.

Obvious cognitive dissonance showed clearly in his demeanor.

Doubt surfaced as he questioned whether the person before him was truly the legendary zone-clearing player known far and wide as a hedonist.

Affirmation was given immediately.

Yet his own Character Inspection registry clearly identified him by that moniker.

Confirmation was restated, signifying that the hedonistic clearer of the full zone stood right before him.

Speechless and stunned, the Dentist needed a gentle push to regain his composure.

A reminder was offered about the prior invitation to visit my territory once the Candy Zone trial was conquered, which explained the rescue mission and its underlying purpose.

An outright denial burst forth loudly from the Dentist.

The sudden volume startled even Han Yeo-bom, who had been watching with detached amusement.

Frustration prompted him to ask why shouting was suddenly necessary.

Disbelief poured out as he argued that a respected senior would never act like a self-absorbed sociopath who treated individuals poorly.

That criticism stung quite deeply.

According to his perspective, the upperclassman he remembered was a quiet, austere figure unable to walk past a struggling classmate without intervening.

Listening quietly until then, Han Yeo-bom voiced shared confusion over the identity being discussed.

Agreement was expressed silently.

Could that really have been the impression left back at school?

That seemed completely implausible.

Misconceptions regarding my true character ran deeply in the Dentist’s mind, making a proper correction necessary.

The impression held about me was clearly mistaken.

A query followed asking if he had truly misunderstood.

Affirmation was provided along with a subtle, wry smile.

Fellow participants frequently labeled my behavior as sociopathic.

Shock registered clearly on Han Yeo-bom’s face while the Dentist looked as though everything finally clicked into place.

Understanding seemed to wash over him completely as he assumed everyone else had simply misjudged the situation.

Nodding along allowed the narrative to flow naturally as if it were absolute truth.

Since casual observers only witnessed brief snippets and labeled me a hedonist, public chat rooms had been abandoned entirely, fitting the description of a quiet, compassionate ascetic devoted to helping those in need.

Expressions of deep awe escaped simultaneously from Han Yeo-bom and Luna, though their reactions were deliberately disregarded.

My arrival ahead of the Second Apocalypse stemmed from the assumption that he would be completely lost without guidance, and witnessing his unfamiliarity with Character Inspection confirmed the trip was worthwhile, making me wish an earlier intervention had occurred given how difficult things had been for him.

Deep emotional appreciation reflected in the Dentist’s gaze, while Luna and Han Yeo-bom pointedly turned their attention elsewhere.

A hesitant question followed regarding whether any lingering memories of him remained in my mind.

An honest negative response caused the Dentist’s enthusiasm to deflate instantly, leaving me genuinely curious about our past connection despite pressing matters taking precedence.

A hypothetical inquiry was posed next.

Inquiry was met with eager readiness.

If logging out became an option, what actions would follow?

Before the sentence could fully conclude, the front door of the Dentist’s residence flew open violently as a rough-looking bandit strode inside.

Recognizing those features took no effort at all, as this was the very NPC displayed prominently across the giant login interface of the Safety Zone—Argon, the ruler of Candy Zone.

Slowly sweeping his gaze across the room, Argon locked eyes directly with me while his expression turned frigid.

Orders were barked demanding our immediate departure from the territory, labeling us wretched entities.

Thick brown locks and a rugged beard framed a jawline accented by deep furrows across his forehead, confirming his identity as Argon, master and dominant non-player character of the Candy Zone.

Such harsh dismissal coming straight from Argon caught us completely off guard.

Remaining seated while trying to process the situation, Han Yeo-bom and I kept our expressions entirely neutral and unreadable.

A demand for clarification left the Dentist’s lips as he stood up abruptly, though Argon answered without a moment of hesitation.

Reiteration of our supposed wretchedness accompanied another command to vacate the premises immediately.

Realizing the insult was entirely intentional, Han Yeo-bom and I rose to our feet as well, while the Dentist confronted Argon with rising fury.

Reminders were shouted concerning how our group had saved lives and supplied food, making such disrespectful treatment toward guests utterly unacceptable.

Voice levels climbed steadily, yet Argon’s posture remained completely rigid.

Conversations with the locals had informed him of the dark-haired, dark-eyed youth responsible for the rescue.

Indignation drove the Dentist to question why those who aided the zone were being banished.

Pointing directly at me, Argon declared that the black-haired youth understood the reasoning better than anyone else.

Confusion left me completely baffled regarding why Argon viewed us as adversaries until he beckoned with a crooked finger.

Summoning the wretched youth for a private conversation was his sole demand.

Silence was maintained as uncertainty lingered over why I was being singled out, yet compliance felt natural until Han Yeo-bom grabbed my sleeve.

Warnings were issued against following someone whose intentions remained entirely unknown.

Sarcastic remarks regarding genuine concern were met with an admission that despite my outrageous nature, worry was inevitable.

Affectionate exasperation prompted me to detach Han Yeo-bom’s grip and transfer his hand onto the Dentist instead, deriving quiet amusement from their mutual expressions of disgust before stepping forward to face Argon directly.

Readiness was indicated without hesitation.

Perhaps influenced by my immediate compliance, Argon scrutinized me with visible distrust while his glance drifted toward Luna peering out from my pocket, prompting me to hand her over to Han Yeo-bom before returning a steady look to Argon, who finally jerked his chin toward the exit and limped out of the dwelling.

Physical impairment was instantly recalled.

Following closely behind at a relaxed pace, a direct inquiry was posed.

Before the sentence ended, Argon anticipated the question regarding whether only my presence was requested.

That indeed formed part of the curiosity.

The primary question remained why repeated insults labeling me wretched were being used.

Appearance alone justified the description, according to his reply.

Astonishment prompted thoughts of potential prejudice.

While pondering that bizarre statement, Argon threw backward a totally unexpected remark.

Inquiry was made concerning my relationship with Hayden.

Stepping inside Argon’s dwelling revealed a stark contrast to the cozy interior of the Dentist’s home, featuring sparse furnishings, unlit lamps, and dark, gloomy surroundings illuminated solely by sunlight piercing through pine needles outside.

Orders to speak were issued immediately.

Seated across a circular wooden table, Argon pinned me with a piercing gaze while repeating the question about my ties to Hayden.

Familiarity with Hayden on Argon’s part was now undeniable.

Despite avatar designs closely resembling actual appearance, looking nearly identical to Commander Hayden seemed a stretch, especially since having dark hair and eyes shouldn’t automatically link anyone to him.

Acknowledging parentage openly carried no protective benefits nor hidden risks, leading to a direct response.

Inquiry was raised regarding how our paths crossed.

Confirmation of paternity produced no shock from Argon, who merely pressed forward relentlessly.

Confirmation of identity as Heydam was demanded next.

Even the specific name of the commander’s offspring was known to him, indicating either a deep prior acquaintance or widespread recognition across other zones.

Affirmation was offered, though confusion remained regarding their history together.

Describing their background interaction as a prolonged and ugly entanglement shed light on the complicated dynamics.

Player relations received frequent attention in the Safety Zone, whereas communications between zone authorities rarely surfaced in public lore, which only noted historical trade agreements and past alliances, meaning regional boundaries failed to restrict travel entirely and allowed leaders to cross paths frequently.

Characterizing their history as an ugly entanglement implied a level of complexity far exceeding standard diplomacy, reminding me of background details describing Commander Hayden as an immigrant from an alternate zone, prompting a direct question about whether he originated from this specific territory.

A swift denial dismissed the possibility of Hayden belonging to the Candy Zone.

Such traits, statistics, and personality profiles could never originate from local stock.

Advice was given to consult my father regarding their troubled past, coupled with a renewed demand to evacuate the area immediately should familial ties prove genuine.

Hostility appeared rooted entirely in past grievances with my father, though holding a personal grudge against a successor seemed uncharacteristic for a local non-player character.

Denial of responsibility for my father’s actions was met with a glare and a reference to striking physical similarities.

Accusations followed regarding dishonesty directed toward the innocent youth.

Puzzlement showed on my face.

Leaning forward with elbows planted firmly on the wooden surface, Argon pressed closer.

Knowledge of my true identity as Heydam Goodman, heir to the Cola Area commander, led to a demand for an explanation regarding why I pretended to be a senior figure to the Saint of the Christmas Forest.