Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: The Betrayal
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Chapter 24
It was over. Meteor looked at Moonlight Starlight.
"The strategy session promise is fulfilled now, right?"
"Yes. Thank you so much for all your hard work, Meteor."
"Heading back to town?"
The dungeon clear was done, but if Moonlight Starlight wanted to return to town, Meteor was willing to escort him that far.
The Meteor from his first login would never have considered such a thing.
But his experiences with the streamer NPCs he'd teamed up with so far, combined with the strategy guide's spot-on advice, had taught him the basics of dealing with people.
Of course, a big part of it was knowing he needed to get along with streamer NPCs to boost his visibility.
"No. I still have some business here."
"I see."
He had zero interest in what that business was.
"Alright then."
"Yes, let's meet again if we get the chance."
Meteor turned to head back to town.
'Should I carry more ammo next time?'
The sword in his hand felt awkward compared to his gun. It would cost more, but he had no choice if he wanted to prepare for situations like this.
"Oh, Meteor, wait a sec."
Moonlight Starlight suddenly called out to him. Did he still have unfinished business after all?
"What's up?"
"Uh, well..."
Moonlight Starlight jogged lightly up to Meteor.
"It's embarrassing to ask, but..."
He trailed off, looking like he was about to request something else. Then, in an instant, he thrust his sword at Meteor. A sudden ambush.
With his agility maxed out, Moonlight Starlight's blade closed in on Meteor in a flash.
But Meteor twisted his upper body to dodge, and the attack missed.
Meteor took a few steps back.
"You dodged it."
Moonlight Starlight grumbled regretfully at his sword slicing empty air. His polite, respectful demeanor from moments ago was gone.
"What is this?"
Meteor asked.
"Look at you, staying cool in a spot like this. As expected from the guy who took down consecutive extra bosses, huh?"
Then he shouted into the air.
"Come out already!"
Footsteps echoed from down the passage. Meteor narrowed his eyes and turned his head.
Two figures emerged from the tunnel.
"Kukuku, you idiot! You ambush him from that range and can't even scratch his HP?"
A heavily armored warrior carrying a thick shield and a massive greatsword sneered at Moonlight Starlight.
"You really are useless."
A mage in robes, staff in hand, piled on.
Moonlight Starlight jeered back, clearly unhappy with the trash talk aimed at him.
"Shut up. Let's see how much better you two do."
Anyone could tell these newcomers were Moonlight Starlight's acquaintances. And they weren't exactly friendly.
'Strategy guide. What's this?'
【It looks like other players are being hostile toward you.】
'Hostile? Is this some kind of event or quest?'
【No. It's just a personal dispute between players.】
A personal dispute? He'd thought this game had a unique concept, but apparently he'd been a bit off the mark.
'No, I should have expected it.'
Given how realistically the other NPCs acted like real people, it wasn't strange for so-called "bad guys" to exist.
'But are these guys really the villains?'
The types who sparked incidents in the books he'd read—people Meteor, who had zero experience with relationships let alone witnessing them, saw as straight out of stories. He eyed them with genuine curiosity.
But Moonlight Starlight and his crew interpreted that look differently.
"Hey, hey, cat got your tongue? The great extra-boss slayer scared or something?"
"Nah, don't be ridiculous. He's obviously running simulations in his head on how to deal with scrubs like us."
"And we'll go flying, right?"
"You got it!"
The heavily armored warrior and mage cackled.
"...Care to explain?"
Meteor asked Moonlight Starlight.
"Our famous friend here has the skills but zero street smarts, it seems. What else? We set you up."
The word "trap" rubbed Meteor the wrong way. To him, traps were for beasts. He'd nearly died from a few himself, so he didn't have fond feelings toward the concept.
But this wasn't like a beast's trap to snag prey. No matter how he thought about it, he doubted they planned to eat his flesh.
"Why?"
"To teach fearless geniuses like you the bitter taste of the world and a bit of humility? Call it volunteer work."
"Bullshit."
"Damn right."
The heavily armored warrior and mage jeered. Moonlight Starlight shrugged and spoke again.
"Just 'cause a hotshot like you is annoying."
He said it without a shred of shame. The heavily armored warrior and mage pointed at him, laughing their asses off. Moonlight Starlight grinned too.
"Hotshot, huh?"
"Gonna play the oblivious genius card? This guy's even more annoying. Gives us more reason to kill you."
Moonlight Starlight quickly moved to join the heavily armored warrior and mage. Meteor watched silently.
"That guy's got no clue about combat basics, right?"
The heavily armored warrior said in disbelief. The standard move when enemies are separated is to attack and prevent or delay their regroup.
"Like he'd split up after smashing two extra bosses. He's got no options. Plan's working—he's out of ammo. No matter how skilled he is, what can he do without bullets?"
"For real?"
"Dead certain. That's why we lured him into this dungeon to begin with."
Kobolds weren't that strong individually, but they swarmed in packs, guzzling ammo.
And the final kobold wave at the end was perfect for burning through bullets. Just as Moonlight Starlight planned, Meteor had used them all up.
"Guns are inefficient anyway. Ammo's crazy expensive, hard to carry a lot. And this guy doesn't look loaded."
"True. If he had cash, he wouldn't be running around without proper armor. You're a pro at exploiting weaknesses."
"You're no different, so shut it."
"At least I'm cleaner than you."
But despite his calm words, things hadn't gone entirely to plan for Moonlight Starlight. Meteor's godlike marksmanship had minimized ammo waste.
Anyone else would've missed shots or used extra on tough kobold warriors, but Meteor landed every bullet—headshots, critical hits.
Plus, he was more prepared than expected, carrying more ammo than anticipated.
They'd even considered pulling back right before the wave ended, watching Meteor's gun blaze away, thinking the plan failed.
But barely, it succeeded. That's why Moonlight Starlight felt so smug.
"Enough chit-chat. Let's wrap this up quick—I want chicken and beer."
The heavily armored warrior said.
"I'll take pork belly and soju."
"Sweet-and-sour pork and baijiu for me."
"Yeah, yeah, everyone gets what they want."
The heavily armored warrior stepped forward, shield raised. The mage lifted his staff, and Moonlight Starlight positioned himself diagonally behind.
"Still, stay sharp. Even without attacks, that insane movement is still there."
"Don't worry. We're no slouches from other games. Levels are close. No way we three lose to a guy with no weapons, no matter his physicals."
Confidence dripped from the heavily armored warrior's voice. The mage agreed.
"We gotta make sure he doesn't run."
"Obviously."
Meteor raised his sword.
"Kukuku, not going down easy, huh?"
"Nice sword. Doesn't suit you."
"Gunner who doesn't know his place. Sell it and buy more ammo."
"Figured a physical god like you could wield a top-tier blade just fine."
After the mockery, Moonlight Starlight addressed Meteor.
"This is all being recorded, by the way? We'll plaster it online later, so try not to look too pathetic. Don't worry, we'll mosaic it. Though everyone'll know it's you anyway."
"Can't be helped when you're that famous. Own the notoriety."
With that jab, the heavily armored warrior advanced on Meteor. His massive shield loomed like a wall.
Moonlight Starlight crept along a bit behind. Green wind swirled around the mage's staff already.
Meteor watched them calmly.
Sure, he'd fallen into a trap, but he wasn't tense. No matter how realistic, it was still a game. Getting hurt or dying here didn't affect reality.
To him, who always fought with his life on the line, this was a soft scenario.
But he really was out of ammo.
'Still...'
Meteor eyed the charging enemy players.
The mage aimed his staff. A green wind arrow shot out from the tip—fast.
But Meteor twisted his body to dodge easily.
"Hraaah!"
The heavily armored warrior charged, slamming with his shield. Some skill made it glow faintly.
Meteor sidestepped largely. Moonlight Starlight, behind him, lunged with a glowing sword thrust.
Clang!
Meteor parried with his sword, then kicked Moonlight Starlight away.
Thud!
"Urk!"
Moonlight Starlight tumbled back. The heavily armored warrior blocked his path hastily. But Meteor didn't pursue. He scanned them like he was appraising.
'Manageable.'
He could handle this with just the sword—no need for a gun.
He didn't know proper swordsmanship, but it had weight and an edge—smack them with it, and damage should land, right?
Clack!
Now Meteor charged. The heavily armored warrior braced with his shield. Meteor's sword struck it.
Claaang!
The heavily armored warrior grimaced. The force behind Meteor's attack was no joke.
'As expected of a gunner.'
A crazy class that needed strength despite being ranged.
But he was stronger. The heavily armored warrior pushed with his shield and swung his sword.
They traded blows several times.
The warrior's face twisted inside his helmet. He was clearly being pushed back. He had the strength edge, but it wasn't overwhelming, and Meteor's physicals were too good.
"Fuck, what are you two doing!"
As if in response, Moonlight Starlight leaped to the warrior's side and swung at Meteor.
The shield-blocked attack halted. The heavily armored warrior caught his breath. But it was too soon to relax.
Kaaang!
"Ah, shit!"
Moonlight Starlight, clashing swords with Meteor, got repelled.
Even the heavily armored warrior struggled to match that power with his shield up. No way agility-focused Moonlight Starlight could handle it.
Of course, he had no intention of a strength contest.
He'd already been pushed back once, and even his strength-built ally couldn't overpower Meteor—Moonlight Starlight wasn't dumb enough for that.
The problem was his specialty, agility, meant to exploit gaps, but Meteor blocked everything.
'What the hell is this guy!'