The Guild Member Next Door is a novel series by 허니트랩 which began in 2021 which is complete at four novels, in addition to two side stories. Story details include online avatars, and past recollections of what transpired as the characters engage in the real world and online. The series has been adapted into an ongoing manhwa with chapters across two seasons. The manhwa is written by Honeytrap and illustrated by Bijak, then was released in 2023. It has been released in English under the title of Virtual Strangers.
Synopsis[]
Novel[]
In the MMORPG game known as ‘Illusion,’ a newcomer named neutaaaa (Lee Yeo-woon) would like to join a guild yet is unexpectedly attacked by Ji9star (Yoon Ji-gu). Before the shock of this attack even wears off, Ji9star suddenly changes his attitude then asks neutaaaa to accept his apology. He even proses they become a couple. There is the question: "Earthstar(Ji9star) do you like me?"
In the real world, Yeo-woon unexpectedly meets an irate male neighbor after moving to a new home upon getting a job.
There is Ji9star and Neutaaaa, then Yoon Ji-gu and Lee Yeo-woon. The conflicting connection between them can have any end.
Manhwa[]
After an incident of stalking, Yoon Ji-gu finds himself wary of strangers. Accordingly, when a strange new man moves in next door, Yoon immediately assumes the worst. Namely, that it: "Looks like there's a pervert living next door..."
Unknown to himself however, Lee Yeo-woon is just a regular guy who is looking to gain a job and also enjoy his free time. That is, until he finds himself dealing with an antisocial neighbor.
While real-life misunderstandings intensify, Lee and Yoon have been teaming up in their favorite online game without knowing who the real life person is behind the game character. Online, they form an unexpected duo. In logging into these new adventures, they are full of hysterical mix-ups, complete with a distrustful tsundere, plus an unwitting flirt who has a heart of gold.
Characters[]
Lee Yeo-woon[]
Neutaaaa’s Avatar (1)
Neutaaaa’s Avatar (2)
Aggrieved by the heat at work, Lee Yeo-woon's attention turns to an online game. After work, Yeo-woon claims to swim, though for the most part he is committed to games having had an interest in them since an early age. Having been employed at ATB company for a year, Lee Yeo-woon is 28[1]. His hobby is playing MMORPGs, though he does not speak of this at work as he anticipates nagging about how youngsters should go into the real world. Against meeting with Yoon Jigu, he feels online relationships should stay online.
Character Article: Lee Yeo-woon[]
Yoon Ji-gu[]
Ji9star’s avatar
Calling Lee Yeo-woon "Honey" online, Yoon Ji-gu comments that they are a couple. Yoon Ji-gu has concluded that Lee Yeo-woon is annoyed because he has realized how much he adores him. As Ji9star he accused Lee Yeo-woon of being an alt of someone who was following him so resorted to having people kill the avatar. Due to the misunderstanding, his rank was lowered and he seeks Lee Yeo-woon to clear this up, although Yoon Ji-gu sought to have Lee Yeo-woon lie and say he was stalking him. Confronted with this, Yoon Jigu resorts to have his avatar use a vast amount of weddings ring as a sincere display, something he prefers to saying he is sorry. Ji9star's obnoxious behaviour is derided by group members. In the real world, Yoon Ji-gu enjoys looking after cats and works in a cafe.
Captain Poseidon[]
Capt. Poseidon's avatar
The guild master of Poseidon Guild. In the game, they had contacted neutaaaa regarding Ji9star's disrespect towards him the other day. They stated that they should have intervened even though they were absent. The captain details how someone had previously infiltrated their guild and spread fake rumors online, doxxed the guild, and shared personal information. They believe Ji9star became quite sensitive because of this. Despite this background, Ji9star's behaviour was not justified and they had him make amends to neutaaaa.
Halloween Eggplant’s avatar
Halloween Eggplant[]
The vice guild master of the Poseidon Guild. True to their name, their avatar incorporates aubergine themes to their costume. Halloween Eggplant was invited into neutaaaa's party by Cockwoash to help him level up for the Spring couples event and ended up witnessing neutaaaa proposing a break-up to Ji9star the moment he joined alongside Pwince Pea, making him laugh uncontrollably. When neutaaaa was finally accepted into Poseidon Guild, Halloween Eggplant played a prank on Ji9star by lowering his guild rank after he expressed his dissatisfaction regarding neutaaaa joining and was berated by Captain Poseidon.
Pwince Pea[]
Pwince Pea’s avatar
Similar to the other Poseidon guild members, they joined in laughing at what Ji9star brought on himself. Pwince Pea was also invited into neutaaaa's party by Cockwoash to help him level up for the Spring couples event and ended up witnessing neutaaaa proposing a break-up to Ji9star alongside Halloween Eggplant, saying that there's a catastrophe as soon as they joined and that Ji9star and neutaaaa's relationship was like a contract romance drama.
Cockwoash[]
Cockwoash’s avatar
A level 235 healer member of the Poseidon Guild. They joined neutaaaa's party to help him with his class advancement alongside Ji9star and MeowieMeowMeow. After Ji9star asked why Halloween Eggplant and Pwince Pea joined the party out of nowhere, they stated that they only invited them to watch Ji9star and neutaaaa's 'couple's fight', telling them they might've forgotten that MeowieMeowMeow and them are also in the party. Cockwoash can be seen joining neutaaaa's party and helping him many times throughout the story as a healer.
MeowieMeowMeow[]
Meowie's avatar
A lower level (180) explorer member of the Poseidon Guild who fires artillery shots. Spoken to by neutaaaa, he answers Night Spears were originally tanks so they should have high defense, it's just that Ji9star disregarded that and went all in on speed. Stating that Neu (Lee Yeo-woon's abbreviated avatar name) can have all the items, MeowieMeowMeow also praised him for leveling up fast. MeowieMeowMeow changed his class from Wolfist to Valkyrie during his 4th class advancement a few days before the Guild Battle against the Strawberry Jam Guild and is berated by the other guild members as Valkyrie is known as the worst class in the game due to its difficult control and trash performance. His real name is Kim Kyungsoo. He also has a novel featuring him and Sunset, the guild master of Melody Guild, as the main characters, called Love Games, a novel also written by 허니트랩, released in 2019.
Sunset[]
Sunset's avatar
A wizard-type player with the class of Moon Fairy and the guild master of Melody Guild. Alongside Ji9star, Sunset had also been banned from chatting during the day of the Guild Battle between Poseidon and Melody. A member of the Melody Guild by the name of QueenOfSpades helped with interpreting the actions of both of them into words. During the Guild Battle, neutaaaa exclaims that Moon Fairy is a wizard-type class and is weak to those with the hero class, making him attack Sunset. Later on, Sunset declared neutaaaa as a target after reviving back to life. Sunset kept trying to kill neutaaaa over and over every time he revives, but fortunately, half of the time, his attacks were unsuccessful due to Ji9star sticking by neutaaaa's side and helping him. His real name is Cheon Noeul, and has a novel featuring him and MeowieMeowMeow, called Love Games, which is also written by 허니트랩, released in 2019
Motsuena[]
Motsuena's avatar
Neutaaaa met Motsuena when he first joined the Strawberry Jam Guild. Motsuena thinks neutaaaa is a girl, persistently calling him 'Noona' throughout the game even when neutaaaa had already told him that he was not a girl, but instead a guy and to stop calling him the nickname. During the Guild Battle between the Strawberry Jam Guild and Poseidon Guild, Motsuena started a live stream and asked neutaaaa if he would accept his friend request after the battle but as his boyfriend in front of his 200 viewers, shocking him.
Seon Yong[]
Working in the same office as Lee Yeo-woon, In the group chat, Seon Yong shares a craving for pizza.
Jeong Sehyung[]
Angered at work, Jeong Sehyung vents in the group chat how he is supposed to be finish a task in a day.
Assistant Manager[]
Under the impression that Lee Yeo-woon is seeing someone, he had his suspicions (incorrectly) confirmed after viewing messages Lee Yeo-woon received which appeared romantic in nature.
Kim Yongchae[]
The recruiting manager for ATB, who informed Lee Yeo-woon that he had qualified for the interview of the job that he would go on to acquire.
Story[]
Mid-Summer, Lee Yeo-woon is in an office with a broken air conditioner. Checking the office group chat, Lee Yeo-woon finds Seon Yong and Jeong Sehyung discussing matters. Then checking a game, Lee Yeo-woon's online avatar is asked to make a bet, in which the loser grants a wish. In the office, Lee Yeo-woon is asked what he does after work and is suspected of having a lover. In actuality, Lee Yeo-woon enjoys playing MMORPGs. Messages from his game pop up on the office computer, yet for Lee Yeo-woon's embarrassment they are seen as those from a lover.
Aware that who he plays with is a guy, Lee Yeo-woon regards Yoon Ji-gu as someone younger than him that he met online. Cautious of meeting someone he has never seen, Lee Yeo-woon wonders what if he is a convicted felon or part of a cult. As they speak online, Lee Yeo-woon shares that the air conditioner repairman has arrived. Lee Yeo-woon considers how his entanglement with the one nicknamed "Seller" began one year ago during Summer.[2]
Images[]
.jpg "Lee Yeo-woon (2).jpg (79 KB)")
References[]
Wiki Link[]
- An overview article on the entire series, Create the The Guild Member Next Door Wiki! for total coverage details!