Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: The Worn-Out Mansion
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The three of them entered the mansion. The sound of the front gate opening was chilling. They passed through the desolate garden and stood before the entrance door.
"...This place really has a killer vibe."
"Yeah."
Naltorri and Bom Bomi stared up at the mansion in a daze.
[Whoa, super creepy, the atmosphere is insane]
[It's even worse with no one else around]
[Come to think of it, I haven't seen a single person. Feels just like the opening of a horror movie]
"Ah, that's because this Worn-Out Mansion is an independent field. The moment you enter the gate, each player or party gets assigned their own instance. Plus, the extra boss isn't very popular. Lots of people skip it because it's tough, and even those who try can't visit often due to level and attempt limits."
Naltorri kindly answered the viewers' questions. Bom Bomi said something similar to her own audience.
Creak!
Yuseong opened the mansion door. The interior came into view. It wasn't much different from the exterior—no, it was even more damp and terrifying. Naltorri and Bom Bomi swallowed hard.
As Yuseong stepped inside, they stuck right behind him like they were clinging to his back.
[LOL cowards]
[Just ask him to carry you lol]
Naltorri and Bom Bomi ignored the chat.
"Do you know where the extra boss is, Yuseong?"
There were no monsters inside the mansion, but it was so vast that some people wasted time wandering without finding the boss.
But that didn't apply to Yuseong.
"I do."
【Take the left fork ahead.】
Following the strategy guide's advice, he strode through the mansion without hesitation.
Various noises echoed inside: whistling wind, creaking floors, and occasional loud 'thuds' from worn doors opening and closing in the breeze.
They say sound design has a huge impact on the quality of horror movies or games. The three—no, the two—realized that fact all too clearly.
"I'd rather there were monsters."
"Agreed."
At least visible monsters could be fought.
Naltorri and Bom Bomi scanned their surroundings with uneasy glances, then simultaneously looked at Yuseong's back.
"Yuseong doesn't seem scared at all."
"Yeah. Doesn't even look like he's forcing it. Guess you need nerves of steel to reach that level of skill."
The two murmured in admiration. As they thought, Yuseong wasn't particularly fazed by the mansion.
The buildings in his real life made this ruin look tame by comparison. So naturally, he wasn't about to get spooked now.
'Why do I have to come to dumps like this even in the game?'
When there wasn't enough pretty, beautiful stuff to see as it was.
That was the extent of his complaints.
Yuseong's confident steps finally stopped before a door.
It was the one connected to the boss room.
The door was so decrepit it was off-putting to even touch. Yet Yuseong placed his hand on it without hesitation.
But it didn't open right away.
"Anyone want to go first?"
Naltorri and Bom Bomi exchanged glances. Naltorri nodded.
"I'll go first."
"You sure? Wouldn't it be better to watch Yuseong's fight first?"
Bom Bomi suggested, but Naltorri shook his head.
"Yuseong's fights are on another level. Trying to mimic him might just mess up my own instincts."
[That's probably smart]
[Little bird following the stork gets its legs torn off]
[For real lol]
The viewers agreed with Naltorri.
As he stepped forward, Yuseong took a step back.
"Then I'll be off."
With a tense, stiffened face, Naltorri opened the door.
The room beyond was quite spacious. Like the rest of the mansion, it was filthy and rundown.
But there was one difference.
A large chair sat against the wall opposite the entrance. A skeleton perched atop it.
[Owner of the Worn-Out Mansion]
[Always looks so creepy no matter how many times]
Reactions flooded the chat. But Naltorri didn't glance at it. His body fully entered the room.
Thud!
The door closed on its own, blocking the room's interior and Naltorri from view.
"He's in."
[How long will he last?]
[10 Minutes]
[That long?]
[5 Minutes Then]
[Still long?]
[1 Minute]
[That long?]
<LOLOLOL>
<lol>
Bom Bomi's viewers didn't seem to expect much from Naltorri.
She felt the same. But she couldn't laugh along with them. They weren't close; Naltorri was basically a stranger.
"Let's see how Naltorri fights first."
Bom Bomi pulled up her system window and fiddled with it. A large screen appeared before her, showing Naltorri's figure.
It was a feature for party extra boss runs, letting you watch the party member tackling the boss.
"Come here, Yuseong. Let's watch together."
She invited Yuseong, who had been standing there blankly after sending Naltorri in first. He approached the screen without protest.
'He's a really unique guy.'
Basically curt, brusque, and unfriendly, but he answered questions well and granted requests without fuss.
'Doesn't even act like it's for the stream.'
If it were, he'd at least crack a smile on that stone face.
But she soon dropped the thought. No need to overanalyze someone she'd only met twice.
It was enough that he wasn't the type to make the awkward atmosphere worse.
In the footage, Naltorri slowly approached the Owner of the Worn-Out Mansion. Once he was within range, the undead rose from its seat.
It wore a tattered cloak over white bones, ragged enough to pass for burlap.
In its hand was a greatsword. The blade was chipped in places, but it still looked plenty capable of smashing things.
"Here we go."
No sooner had Bom Bomi spoken than Naltorri launched himself forward. He raised his sword high and brought it down on the boss.
"Using a skill right off the bat."
Bom Bomi commentated for her viewers.
Yuseong perked up at the mention of a skill.
He still hadn't learned any skills himself, so this was his first time seeing one.
'Strategy guide, what's that skill?'
【It's Heavy Strike. Boosts damage.】
But it didn't seem very effective. The boss easily blocked Naltorri's attack. As it swung its arm, a purple aura flickered around it and faded.
"That's Aura of Negation. Lowers the stats of enemies in range."
Sure enough, Naltorri's movements slowed noticeably.
"A level 10 boss using Aura of Negation."
Bom Bomi let out a faint sigh.
"But Naltorri used Wind Step too. It's countering the aura as much as possible. Of course, the skill difference means it's not fully negated."
'Wind Step?'
【A skill that boosts agility for a set time.】
Bom Bomi's explanations continued. Yuseong had pegged her as less talented at streaming than Naltorri, but she was still a streamer through and through—her commentary was pretty engaging.
Proof was that even Yuseong, who had been focused solely on the Owner of the Worn-Out Mansion, was listening closely.
But her broadcast didn't last long.
Naltorri started strong, pressuring the boss and building momentum. But he got chipped away by the boss's greatsword—swung with brutal weight and speed—and his HP drained until he game overed in seconds.
After Naltorri fell, the footage cut off with the boss stowing its greatsword.
Then Naltorri reappeared in front of the door.
"...Lost."
He knelt, hunching over in disappointment.
"If I'd just attacked a bit more..."
He muttered nonsense.
[Wait, was that alien radio static from Andromeda I just saw?]
[Naltorri off with the delusions again]
[Wanna bet chicken on another round?]
"No!"
He vehemently rejected the chicken bet mention, straightened up, and said awkwardly.
"Haha, as you saw, I failed by a razor-thin margin."
"You're really sticking to that story."
Bom Bomi said in disbelief.
"No, really, it was paper-thin..."
"Yeah, yeah. Let's check how much HP Naltorri shaved off the boss."
She summoned a window again and tinkered with the system. Unlike some games, Arc didn't show HP directly—you checked combat logs after fights.
[The goal was 10%, right?]
[Not even 5%, let alone 10%]
[He said he'd buy chicken if he didn't hit 10%]
"I never said I'd buy chicken! Come on, drop the chicken already!"
While Naltorri bickered with his viewers, the results appeared. He, Yuseong—even everyone craned to see the extra boss's remaining HP.
The HP bar was bright red with barely any empty space.
"About 4% down."
"4... 4%..."
Naltorri's face twitched. He tried to hold it together, but his deep disappointment showed through.
[LOLOL as expected, under 5%]
[Not even close to 10%]
[That paper's pretty thick lol]
[Time to buy the chicken then]
"I said no chicken!"
After tussling with the viewers a bit, Naltorri eyed Bom Bomi slyly. She flinched—it looked like a demon dragging her to hell.
"Your turn now, Bom Bomi? Come on in. It's fine. Not scary at all. Dying to the extra boss doesn't cost XP or drop items anyway. You just respawn at the door like I did."
"O-of course I'll challenge it, but why does that sound so shady coming from you?"
"Hahaha, shady? I've lived my whole life by honesty and fairness. As someone who's faced the Owner of the Worn-Out Mansion, I'm just trying to ease your worries."
But his expression didn't match his words at all.
[Water ghost. Ugly water ghost]
[Can't suffer alone lololol]
"Come on, in you go."
Bom Bomi grimaced at Naltorri's urging. But she had to tackle the boss eventually.
"F-fine. Stop nagging."
She positioned herself at the boss room door, keeping distance from Naltorri. She took a deep breath, gripped her staff tight.
"Here I go!"
She opened the door. The scene inside was identical. As she stepped in, the door shut automatically behind her.
"Now, let's see Bom Bomi's skills."
[LOL don't hype it up]
[What a cartoonishly petty guy lolol]
"What? I'm just wishing Bom Bomi the best of luck."
He brazenly said it, then activated the footage like she had. In it, Bom Bomi approached the boss slowly, staff aimed forward.