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Jo Euishin had never really realized how bad he had it with his playable characters until Baek Hogun burped after drinking a can of soda right next to him.
To some, burps should be gross. To several, burps should be normal. But at that moment, to Jo Euishin, it was like a whole new world had exploded into being in his mind and he stared as Baek Hogun opened and drank another can of soda from the outdoor vending machine that he had bought earlier. There were now two cans between them on the bench.
Jo Euishin watched avidly from the peripheral vision of his eye as he slowly drank his own can of soda.
Baek Hogun burped? The greatest martial artist, warrior of the Tiger tribe, mythical being, last main playable character of the game he played for ten years- that stoic, legendary, amazing (but also oftentimes a bastard) Baek Hogun burped? What Jo Euishin would have given for that trivia knowledge in his previous world when he had been playing the game? For that new expression, avatar appearance, information-
Jo Euishin's mind burst into much noise even though he didn't like Baek Hogun as much as he did before because apparently, Baek Hogun could read his mind and Baek Hogun often did so arrogantly-
Baek Hogun burped, and Jo Euishin was there to see it, hear it a second time.
It was different this time. A new expression! Last time, his burp was more quiet and casual, but this time the arrogant bastard that was definitely reading his mind had done so in an arrogant manner and widely opened his mouth like a powerful yawning tiger-
Baek Hogun chuckled as he reached for his third can.
It was over too fast. Jo Euishin wanted to observe more. He wanted to hear more versions. How could he get the White Tiger to burp more besides him without outright saying anything (even if he could hear his thoughts and hear this right now)?
Should Jo Euishin offer to buy more soda for him?
"I'm not that interested in soda. Wine is better." Baek Hogun, who was currently in the appearance of a high school student, said. Shameless Tiger.
Jo Euishin frowned as he considered that hint that Baek Hogun wouldn't drink soda without any reason anymore. Then what reason should he give...
Jo Euishin looked at the soda cans that Baek Hogun had bought and realized that they were the exact same soda brand that Jo Euishin had once modeled for in his previous world. Back when Jo Euishin used to model as a former chess prodigy and junior world chess champion.
Jo Euishin didn't play chess anymore and certainly didn't want to model anymore, not liking the attention, but if he modeled for that company again and got a box of complementary soda to share with Baek Hogun, would Baek Hogun be interested in helping him finish the gift...
"I'll consider it."
He would!
Jo Euishin weighed his dislike for modeling and attention with his desire to see this new side of Baek Hogun a little more on the scale in his mind.
Of course, anything with his playable characters won.
It was always a worthy sacrifice to do anything for them.
Baek Hogun chuckled as Jo Euishin looked up the company information in this world and how he might approach it. To Jo Euishin's surprise, he already had an offer in his inbox; Jo Euishin had just ignored it and forgotten it like the other model for advertising offers. Had Baek Hogun noticed and remembered it instead and wanted Jo Euishin to do it?
Baek Hogun was smart, as expected of his playable character...
Jo Euishin looked at the email with a complicated feeling before reminding himself of the end goal and deciding that it would be worth it.
He replied back to the soda company email.
-
Weeks Later
"Jo Euishin. If you wanted to model, then why not model for my company?" Hwangho asked. "Why a soda company?" Hwangho asked in bewilderment as the commercial played in the background to the audience of the Tiger tribe members living at Hwangho's mansion. "Not that it's bad..." Hwangho added, not wanting to discourage this behavior that he very much wanted to encourage.
Meanwhile, Eunho's descendants were watching the commercial that they had recorded again and again on the TV.
Jo Euishin stubbornly ignored all of that to drink his can of soda. He ignored how the company had apparently put his face on the soda can as well.
Hwangho looked a bit exasperated at Jo Euishin, who was ignoring everything despite having chosen to do a soda company ad out of his own free will, until-
BURP.
"Baekho! That's very rude-" Hwangho said at the loud burp that interrupted his thoughts. He turned his head to Baek Hogun, fortunately missing Jo Euishin who had been watching out of the corner of his eyes.
Baek Hogun smirked, ignoring Hwangho who was scolding him and lecturing him on propriety.
Of course, when Eunho's descendants burped after drinking from the many boxes of soda that the soda company had gifted Jo Euishin, Hwangho said nothing to the children. Instead, Hwangho smiled at them in amusement at their burps and the giggles that they had afterwards. Like Jo Euishin was happily watching as the kids enjoyed themselves and laughed over Baek Hogun's and their burps. And then Jeokho's burp. And Kim Shinrok's little burp and subsequent blush of embarrassment.
It wasn't just his playable characters? Did he have a thing for burps? Maybe he should bring a box of soda to the class kids at school the next day... He had enough cans to give to everyone he knew.
And if he didn't, the soda company had emailed him this morning about another offer to model at their company.
He didn't like modeling, but maybe if it was for just one company, he wouldn't mind doing it more often.
Just a little more.
(To see everyone's smiles and burps.)