Chapter 158
Translator: penny
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: The Sealed Door
A burning building comes into view. Yuseong stares at it. A profoundly wistful gaze. His heart, unshaken even by the gloomy refugee camp or the chaotic streets of Ludeart city, ripples like waves.
To him, the building holds such deep meaning, and now it's crumbling.
"The shop where black bread was two pieces for one gold..."
[Lmao No Way That's Insane]
[Do people really stare at bakeries that wistfully? lol]
[Leaving all the other half-price shops and fixating on the bakery lololol]
Yuseong lets out a deep sigh and turns away.
"Looks like the half-price compensation is over, as expected."
The bakery isn't the only thing ablaze. The shops he frequented often and even the Alchemist Guild are all engulfed in flames.
Since items in the refugee camp are no longer half-price but full price, the half-price deal is done.
He shoots down charging vampires and presses toward the Lord's Castle. Midway, he encounters a few players.
"Hold that bastard down tight!"
"Come on, hurry it up! When else are we gonna hunt a demon like this?"
"It's a hunting ground with demons! Plus knights and vampires for great efficiency! Other guilds will definitely try to monopolize it, so we gotta farm it hard before that!"
Unlike the players who died to the sudden change and complained to Yuseong, these ones are actively exploiting the situation.
"Whoa, it's Yuseong!"
"Huh?"
Having taken down their targeted demon, they spot Yuseong. They grin widely and wave.
"Thanks to you, we're farming a prime spot!"
"Keep pushing that linked quest!"
Yuseong waves back at them.
"Some people like it, huh."
[It's got demons]
[How much entry fee would that guild charge if they monopolized it?]
[They might seal it off for guild members only?]
Yuseong frowns.
'I didn't think of monopolization.'
If some guild steps up to claim this hunting ground, it'll be a headache. He might end up clashing with a guild over it. With the linked quest in full swing, he can't just abandon the place.
'Can't hunt leisurely anymore.'
Better to take down the lord as fast as possible and wrap up the quest.
* * *
To speed up his hunting, Yuseong takes a bit more risk in taking down monsters. Potions deplete faster as a result.
He stops crafting bullets and potions. With time now critical, he can't spare even that.
The cost shows in his expenses.
Buying bullets and potions isn't a huge burden for Yuseong now, but he isn't thrilled about the rising costs.
'To save money, I need to finish the quest faster.'
Yuseong passes through the city and enters the castle.
Fortunately, the mobs inside match those in the city.
'Still a bit tough, though.'
Yuseong's level is still low for this hunting ground. Plus, he's not shying away from risks to save time.
'Just one more level. One level, then challenge it.'
Other players would need serious time investment for that one level, but Yuseong figures he can manage it today with a little more effort.
Bang!
He shoots a charging knight. While doing so, he checks the vampire fighting the knight. The battlefield has changed, altering Yuseong's style slightly, but the basics remain.
Aim for mutual destruction between the two factions and pick off the remnants. He continues hunting like this for a while.
The awaited level-up arrives.
'Let's go!'
Time to move.
"I'm heading to take down the lord now."
[Finally!]
[Quest completion is close!]
Yuseong's linked quest, with its nonstop new developments, is already the top draw on Ark.
Viewership for his stream has shattered records. Naturally, people are buzzing about the lord's subjugation, presumed to be the quest's final boss.
And what comes after.
[What happens after taking down the lord?]
[Another new quest?]
[Wonder what'll happen to the city monsters]
[Will the demons stick around? Or disappear?]
As viewers flood the chat with questions.
[But the place where we met the lord before has no lord now]
[Yeah, everyone who rushed in to kill him first failed]
[There's one door in the castle that won't open. Probably there, people guess]
'Some folks already tried, huh.'
Yuseong broadcasts nearly all info on his current quest. It's no surprise others want to beat him to it.
'Pointless, though.'
But no need to stage a fake visit to the old room—good news.
"Guess I should head to that unopenable door then."
Yuseong pretends to take cues from viewers and heads there.
After a long corridor, a massive door appears. A few players are gathered in front.
"It won't open?"
"Hold on. Looking for some secret mechanism."
"Move aside. Let me try."
"Maybe it only opens for quest holders?"
They're trying all sorts of things to open it. Then one spots Yuseong.
"Huh?"
"Why's he..."
One by one, players notice Yuseong. Ones who saw his stream and raced to kill the lord first.
Some even thought they might steal the linked quest if lucky. But seeing Yuseong, embarrassment spreads across their faces.
Not everyone, though.
"Fuck, he's already here."
[Fuck? Who the hell is that?]
[The audacity]
Viewers rage before Yuseong.
[With this many viewers watching live, and he knows Yuseong's face? Doesn't he know his face is being broadcast right now?]
[Can't stand idiots with shit personalities and even shittier brains]
The guy who scowled and cursed switches to brazenness toward Yuseong.
"Hey, can you open this?"
"Hey, hey!"
"Stop it, what are you doing!"
"You guys shut up!"
The others seem to have some conscience. But the brazen one barrels on.
Dealing with him is a time sink. Yuseong heads for the door. Can't afford delays—even a loss to the lord means retrying, so time is gold.
Fortunately, the others and even the brazen guy make way.
Yuseong places a hand on the door and pushes.
Grind!
The door that wouldn't budge for others starts opening.
"Figures, only opens for quest holders."
"Wasted effort."
Grumbling from behind. They'll give up.
But one doesn't.
Dash!
Someone charges from behind. The brazen guy. He zips past Yuseong toward the door. Or tries to.
Boom!
"Gah!"
A loud crash, and he's bounced back. Like hitting an invisible wall.
"Fuck, what the hell!"
He rubs his shocked face and yells. No pain, but startling enough.
[Lmao What Was That]
[Lol Literally Got Yeeted]
The guy, persistent, charges the entrance again. Stands at the bounce point and reaches out.
Thud!
An invisible wall blocks the entrance. He pushes with his palm. It doesn't yield. He looks like a mime.
"Fuck!"
Bang! Bang!
Slaps it, punches it, swings his sword. Nothing.
"Hey, come on, let's go."
"Anyone can see it's quest-holder only."
His buddies call. He keeps trying to break through.
"Wasted effort."
[Just give up already]
[Greedy assholes man]
Yuseong ignores him and steps forward. He catches the guy glaring.
Bang!
Sudden gunshot. Chaos hits viewers and players. Only Yuseong stays calm, gun drawn.
"What the fu—!"
The brazen guy, sword raised for a surprise attack on Yuseong, clutches his shot face and curses. Yuseong's reply: merciless bullets.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
"You fucking bastaaard!"
The guy charges Yuseong. But his combat sense is trash. Compared to Yuseong, not even rankers or Hers Guild—no, streamers he's broadcast with would outclass this guy.
Typical hack-and-slash type relying on levels and stats. His are higher than Yuseong's, but not enough against Yuseong's skill.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Sword swings and gunshots clash. But not one sword connects. Yuseong's bullets nail vitals precisely.
Soon, the guy rolls on the ground like trash dumped in a landfill.
Yuseong eyes the still-fading avatar in disbelief.
"What is with this guy?"
[Hilarious Lol]
[What A Clown]
[Sore loser cuz things didn't go his way]
[Weakling picking a fight lolol]
Viewers mock the guy who ambushed and got wrecked.
[But Yuseong's insane]
[Turned a gank into a reverse stomp]
They praise Yuseong.
Yuseong glances at players who seem like the guy's buddies. They flinch back.
"You wanna jump me too?"
"N-No, we weren't planning that."
"That guy's solo meltdown."
Yuseong nods. If they meant to attack, they'd have piled in during the fight.
They scram, not wanting trouble. The other unrelated players scatter too.
Soon, only Yuseong remains at the door.
[Quiet now]
[Get in there]
Yuseong steps inside. No invisible wall for him.
[Yup, quest-holder only]
Thud!
The door shuts. Yuseong looks ahead.
The room looks like an audience chamber. Opposite him, at the end of a long red carpet, the lord sits in a chair.