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[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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Chapter 133
3.
Clink!
The sound of glasses clinking echoed as the alcohol in them sloshed slightly.
Seonghyun looked at his glass, downed it in one gulp, and then looked at the friend in front of him.
Lee Geondong, a close friend since middle school, also downed the alcohol in his glass in one go, just like Seonghyun.
“Keuheuk, that’s good.”
“Yeah, it’s nice drinking after such a long time.”
As Seonghyun also remarked that it was quite good…
Lee Geondong looked at Seonghyun as if finding him quite strange and said.
“That’s what I’m saying. So, come out more often.”
At Lee Geondong’s words, Seonghyun let out a slight laugh and said.
“I do come out when you call.”
“Hmm, that’s true, right? Anyway, thanks for congratulating me on my discharge~”
“Yeah, yeah, my treat.”
“Oh?! Then can I get the gabeurisal? It’s seriously damn delicious.”
[TL/N: gabeurisal is pork skirt meat]
“Sure, sure.”
It’s his friend’s discharge celebration.
He could afford it.
Seonghyun thought so, placed an additional order, and clinked glasses with Lee Geondong again.
Various topics came up, but naturally…
The hottest topic these days was bound to come up.
Isn't it always the case that when guys gather, game talk is inevitable?
It was the same for Lee Geondong and Seonghyun.
Seonghyun usually wasn't good at games.
But this time was an exception.
“Wow, I had no idea you were that Seonghyun. That’s really amazing. Right, your sister was a national kendo representative, wasn’t she? The one who even went to the world championships?”
“Yeah, she was.”
“Hmm, I don’t think you had much athletic talent though……”
Lee Geondong said, reminiscing about their school days.
Seonghyun also smiled faintly.
Indeed, during his school days, he had virtually no athletic sense.
He was basically just a bookworm who only focused a bit on studying.
So, for him to show such talent in Eternal World was indeed surprising.
Well, still.
“Anyway, congratulations! Seriously!”
Lee Geondong congratulated him sincerely.
Just having talent in Eternal World was a significant thing.
At his friend’s congratulations, Seonghyun also felt a bit strange and expressed his thanks with a toast.
“Kya, I’m jealous. Hasn’t your life totally bloomed?”
“Hmm, I guess so.”
“I’ve been playing a bit too, but seeing as I haven’t even been able to join a guild yet, I guess I don’t have any talent, right?”
At the sudden remark, Seonghyun tilted his head.
He knew this guy was playing.
But it seemed he was playing quite seriously.
This made him feel a bit sorry.
As Seonghyun looked at Lee Geondong with that apologetic gaze…
Lee Geondong smirked and said.
“This jerk, don’t give me that pitying look!?”
“Well, I do feel a bit sorry.”
“Nah, it’s fine. I tried to get into it early on but dropped it. Now, I’m just in casual play mode.”
To break the suddenly awkward mood…
Lee Geondong took the initiative, clinked glasses, and said.
“Anyway, I’m planning to look into video editing now.”
“Editing?”
Seonghyun tilted his head slightly at Lee Geondong’s words.
Wasn’t this guy a business administration major?
Video editing, all of a sudden?
As Seonghyun showed such a reaction, thinking it rather unexpected…
Lee Geondong smirked as if he understood.
Well, he had never mentioned it.
He said, as if understanding why Seonghyun would react that way.
“Yeah, I didn’t tell you guys, but ahem, I actually streamed E-World a bit.”
“Oh??? Really???”
It was the first time he had ever heard this story.
As Seonghyun showed considerable interest…
Lee Geondong, perhaps feeling a bit sheepish, sipped his drink.
“Ahem-hem, well, it just kind of happened. When you do E-World, video revenue is the main thing, isn’t it? Even if I wasn’t at the level of selling live tickets, I uploaded videos to try and make a living before I went to the military.”
“Wow. I seriously had no idea.”
For Seonghyun, who usually had a stoic reaction to most things, to react like this…
It meant he was quite surprised.
Lee Geondong, knowing this, continued, though still a bit sheepish.
“But even though the views increased when I uploaded videos, I felt a limit, you know? Should I say that because I lacked a natural flair, the amount I had to edit kept increasing? As I did that, I realized I might actually have a talent for editing. When I touched up other MTube-ers’ videos, their views just exploded.”
“Ooh.”
“It seems you do have a talent for it.”
If that was the case, it certainly seemed like he had talent.
Well, Seonghyun didn't know much about it.
Anyway, seizing the opportunity, Seonghyun brought it up.
“Then, could you edit my videos later too?”
“Oh!? I’d be more than happy to!!!”
“Our guild doesn’t really have any specific contract for that. They said it’s okay to just make the videos and send them. So, if you edit them, I think I can just send them to the guild.”
“Man, thanks a lot, seriously. This will build up my portfolio too, so it’s actually great, really.”
“It’s no big deal.”
At Seonghyun’s words, Lee Geondong seemed genuinely moved and thanked him.
Between friends, this much was a given.
Why was he being so thankful?
Seonghyun felt a bit embarrassed for no reason and just held out his glass.
As if to say, since it’s come to this, do a good job.
Lee Geondong also smirked at the offered glass and clinked his against Seonghyun’s.
Sharing drinks, the long-overdue night deepened.
Then, they talked about their school days.
Or talked about games, and the two of them chatted for a long time, emptying their glasses.
4.
Haven't you ever woken up in bed and wondered why you still smell of alcohol?
That was Seonghyun right now.
“Hoo.”
He let out a sigh.
Even that seemed to carry the scent of alcohol.
At least he didn't have a hangover, so it wasn't too unpleasant.
It seemed he had drunk a moderate amount, as his stomach wasn't particularly upset, and he got up right away.
‘I should wash up quickly and get out.’
As he went to take a shower…
His mother, Lee Nakyeong, smiled faintly and said.
“Son~ Are you up?”
“Yes. I’m up. You’re up early, aren’t you?”
“Hoho, housewives are meant to wake up early~ Especially if they have a son who drank a lot yesterday~”
“Ahem.”
Feeling a bit pricked by his mother Lee Nakyeong’s playful teasing, Seonghyun cleared his throat.
In any case, as the fragrant smell of soup wafted through the air…
Seonghyun sniffed it and then…
“Is that by any chance bean sprout soup?”
“I added dried pollack too, so it’ll be refreshing~”
“Wow.”
“Wash up and come eat. It’s not quite ready yet.”
“Okay!”
He had drunk alcohol after a long time.
And to have dried pollack and bean sprout soup the morning after…
Where else would one find such a luxury?
Seonghyun took a refreshing shower and came out.
He had a satisfying, refreshing hangover cure.
In between, his older sister, Yoo Mina, glared at him for a bit.
But since he hadn't done anything wrong…
He didn't pay it much mind.
Anyway, after that hearty hangover meal, he went straight back into his capsule.
It was the behavior of a typical game addict.
But for Seonghyun, this was his job.
[Welcome to Eternal World, another world, an eternal world.]
[May good fortune be with player 『Seonghyun』.]
As Seonghyun, having logged in, looked around…
It was still the desolate Dune Wild Trail.
He still hadn't reached the required level.
So, it was only natural.
Still, he really didn't have much further to go now.
‘Was it 118?’
Just two more stages now.
Two stages left.
He thought he might level up again if he swept through another place like the Demon's Realm.
But finding another place like that wasn't easy either.
For now, he decided he should wander around and explore the vicinity.
Rustle, rustle, rustle.
With that thought, Seonghyun immediately opened the gate to the Netherworld and summoned his retainers.
For combat, Fiora and Leonik.
For transportation, Anemor.
And for scouting, Nocturnium.
With just these, scouting was no concern.
-Chuuuung!!! Have you summoned me!!!
-Th-Thank you f-for ca-calling me, Lo-Lord.
“I shall always be your strength.”
-Piaeeeeeee!
All four who were summoned expressed their gratitude to Seonghyun.
It was now no different from a daily morning greeting he received.
In any case, Seonghyun climbed onto Anemor.
Behind him, the other retainers also mounted.
Anemor was large enough for everyone to ride on its back.
Thus, with everyone aboard, they flew swiftly around the area.
“Hmmm.”
Nocturnium did its best to scout the surroundings, while Leonik and Fiora remained vigilant.
Anemor, of course, was flying expertly.
At a moderate speed, so as not to miss anything during the search.
In this situation, Seonghyun leisurely looked down from Anemor's back and thought.
‘Herding mobs for hunting is also good, but wouldn’t it be nice if a Hidden Field like the Hall of Knights appeared……’
It was quite a shameless thought.
But wasn't it something anyone might think of?
It wasn't that he was genuinely wishing for it, more like a "wouldn't it be nice if~" kind of feeling.
It would be great if Nocturnium could search for such Hidden Fields or dungeons.
Unfortunately, it couldn't.
Nocturnium, being ultimately a spirit of the Dark Castle, found it difficult to detect hidden spaces.
Well, just being able to scout where many monsters were in the vicinity was impressive enough.
But it was a little disappointing.
Just then.
Nocturnium tilted its head as if something was strange.
“Lord, there is a human nearby.”
“……A human?”
An NPC?
Why would that be?
As Seonghyun looked at Nocturnium with such an expression…
“It is traveling alone. It does not have the aura of a stranger, like you, Lord.”
“Not a stranger?”
An NPC, not a user, traveling alone?
That certainly was a bit strange.
It felt like there was a suspicious air about it.
Perhaps it was the scent of a quest?
He didn't have much else to do besides hunting anyway.
Seonghyun spoke, sounding intrigued.
“Then, let’s head over there.”
He didn't know who this NPC was.
But for them to be traveling alone in this perilous Dune Wild Trail was definitely strange.
As Seonghyun spoke, Anemor immediately nodded its head as if in understanding and headed in the direction Nocturnium had indicated.
It wasn't too far away.
Thanks to Anemor’s high speed, they arrived straight away.
There, a human-shaped figure was indeed traversing this desolate place all alone.
“Oh?”
Seeing the mark above its head.
It was genuinely an NPC, not a user.
Smelling the thick scent of a quest…
Seonghyun smiled and descended to the ground.
He sent Anemor to the Netherworld and used Fiora’s ability to make the other three completely invisible.
He descended stealthily and subtly approached the vicinity of the NPC so as not to startle it.
And then.
As soon as it saw Seonghyun, it approached him, openly showing delight.
“Oh!? Are you by any chance an outsider traveler?”
“Pardon? Ah. Yes, I am.”
“Ooh, what a pleasant surprise!!!”
Seonghyun felt an unidentifiable suspiciousness at this display.
Being this happy to see him was suspicious, but he thought it could be plausible.
The truly suspicious point wasn’t that, but the fact that despite Seonghyun appearing suddenly, the NPC wasn't wary nor did it seem to find Seonghyun suspicious.
To see someone who should be the most guarded against in the Dune Wild Trail and still act pleased?
Something was strange.
For now, harboring such suspicions, Seonghyun observed the NPC.
“Haha, my apologies for the late introduction. I am called Ireumi Eops.”
“Ah, nice to meet you. I am Seonghyun.”
“Oooh!? Is that so? You seem to overflow with dignity somehow. Are you perhaps a noble?”
“……Ah?”
Could it be because of the Knight rank?
He was told he would receive good treatment and a warm welcome.
Seonghyun’s wariness lessened slightly, thinking it might be due to that effect.
Still, he wondered if it was something to be this overjoyed about.
But for now, since it could be the rank effect…
“I am not a noble, merely a knight.”
“Oooh!? Aren’t knights also nobles!? Goodness, what a surprise!”
“Ahaha, not at all.”
“Goodness, so humble too.”
“Ahem. Thank you.”
“If you have the time, would you perhaps be able to visit our village?”
“Your village?”
As that topic came up…
Seonghyun asked back, sounding slightly puzzled.
At that.
“Actually, our village is in trouble due to monsters, so we have been searching for outsider travelers or adventurers who could help us.”
At those words, a system message suddenly popped up before Seonghyun’s eyes.
[NPC Ireumi Eops is in trouble.]
[He is requesting your assistance.]
[Will you accept?]
[Yes / No]
[Accepting will generate a quest.]
A quest window that popped up suddenly.
It was a little strange.
‘Does it usually appear this easily?’
He found it a bit odd that a quest would appear just like that.
However, Seonghyun had rarely done normal quests.
He expressed a moment of doubt, then quickly shook his head.
It could happen.
Actually, wouldn't it be fun even if this was a trap?
A trap set by an NPC.
That could also be a special event.
Seonghyun accepted immediately.
“Of course. Isn’t this a world where we help each other live?”
“Ah! Thank you so much! Sir Seonghyun!!”
As Ireumi spoke and expressed his gratitude…
The quest window appeared.
[Quest, 『Village in Trouble』, has been generated.]
『Village in Trouble』
→《Hidden-Linked》
→NPC Ireumi Eops wanders the dangerous Dune Wild Trail alone.
He says he is traveling here and there, searching for outsiders or travelers who can save his village.
Although he seems suspicious somehow…
On the outside, he appeared to be a truly simple person, so you accept his request.
However, despite accepting the request, you look at NPC Ireumi suspiciously.
For such a simple person to be wandering the harsh Dune Wild Trail alone…
It seems something is off, but you can't quite pinpoint it right now.
For now, you decide to go with him to the village where he lives.
→Restriction: A user wandering the Dune Wild Trail alone.
→Reward: Leads to the next quest.
The quest window also seemed somewhat suspicious.
Seonghyun, smiling as if amused, shook hands with Ireumi and decided to go to that village.
‘This is interesting.’
He hadn't done many quests himself.
But a quest like this was certainly unique.
Wouldn't it be worth trying at least once?
Whatever he’s hiding…
‘I’ll have to uncover it.’
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[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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