Chapter 62
Chapter 62
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Exploding Fame and First Steps Outside
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Even today, conversations about Arc were buzzing across the internet.
Amid the usual focus on high-level players who always drew the spotlight, news about one player rocked every community.
It was the story of Yuseong taking down an extra boss once again.
Those who first heard the news were amazed.
Thanks to his consecutive extra boss subjugations and the war with the Hers Guild, even people who weren't paying attention had at least heard Yuseong's name and feats in passing.
So when word spread that he'd subjugated another extra boss, even the indifferent reacted with something like, "Oh, him? He got another one? Impressive."
But this extra boss subjugation wasn't so simple.
《Records Set by Yuseong in This Extra Boss Subjugation》
*6 Consecutive Extra Boss Subjugations
*Extra Boss Subjugation with a 4-Level Difference
*3 Consecutive Extra Boss Subjugations in One Day
*3 Consecutive Subjugations of the Same Extra Boss
└ For real?
└ No way I can believe this.
└└ If this is legit, he's beyond human.
└└ It's up on Yuseong's channel. Go check it.
Yuseong's channel was already exploding in popularity as his fame grew. People flocked there to verify these unbelievable feats that words alone couldn't convince them of. As a result, the channel grew exponentially.
The reactions from those who watched the videos were unanimous.
Shock.
Most people couldn't even dream of taking down a single extra boss, let alone set records like these, so Yuseong's achievements didn't seem humanly possible.
-Is that an existing record? Isn't it really a world first?
-I looked it up, and there is a 5-consecutive extra boss subjugation. But nothing else like this. And no one's ever done all that at once.
-So yeah, world firsts, right?
-Yeah.
-What a madman.
-The funny part is he didn't even do it to set records.
-Saw that and cracked up. He says goblin hunting's tough with all the people around, so he switches to extra bosses—what kind of mindset is that?
-If you can take down extra bosses, that's just easier. If you're capable of it, anyway.
-Even funnier is after setting all those records, his reaction is just a straight-up "Yasss!" with no bullshit.
-And buying three black breads with his earnings was the cherry on top.
-In short, insanely skilled and hilarious guy.
-Gotta watch his streams from now on.
More and more people started taking an interest in Yuseong.
* * *
Yuseong had no idea his online buzz was exploding, having finished his quest and logged out of the game.
Of course, he could indirectly sense it from his skyrocketing notoriety stat. But not right now.
Yuseong had returned to the other world. Once again, he'd been summoned to that same room.
This world's air was always so fragrant. Yuseong opened the door and headed down to the living room.
[Welcome back.]
The strategy guide greeted him from the TV screen. Yuseong nodded once and turned his head.
The front door leading outside came into view.
[Heading out?]
"Yeah."
This was his third visit, but he'd never once stepped foot outside. Today, he planned to change that.
That's why he didn't even glance at the fridge stuffed with tantalizing food.
[Then please take the earbuds in front of the TV.]
An arrow appeared on the screen, pointing to make it easy to find.
Yuseong picked up the earbud case.
He opened the lid. Inside was a single tiny earbud that wouldn't be too noticeable once inserted.
[These allow you to talk to me. I can assist you outside through them.]
"Oh?"
Yuseong perked up.
No matter what world this was, it had to be better than his trashy one back home—but it was still unknown to him. The strategy guide's advice would surely be a big help.
Yuseong slipped the earbud into his ear.
[Can you hear me?]
The voice came through.
[If you can, let me hear your voice.]
"Yeah, loud and clear."
[Bidirectional communication confirmed. We'll continue via earbuds from now on.]
The TV screen went dark.
"Guess I can head out now?"
[May I ask the purpose of today's outing first?]
"Purpose?"
[Simply viewing the scenery, meeting people from this world, heading to a nearby population center—tell me what you want, and I can give more tailored advice.]
"Does the purpose change what I need to do?"
[Yes.]
"Right now, I just want to look around the area."
He wanted to savor real nature, not Arc's programmed fake version.
[In that case, no special preparations needed. The area is uninhabited, all private property belonging to you, so no passersby. Feel free to explore.]
"Private property? All this land is mine?"
[Yes.]
The clean, luxurious house alone was surprising enough, but the surrounding land too? That made him even more eager to explore.
Yuseong walked to the front door. He placed his hand on the knob, took a deep breath, and pulled it open.
Whoosh!
Outside air rushed in. Yuseong truly felt it.
The view from the window unfolded before him exactly as seen. But everyone knows experiencing it with your body beats just looking.
Yuseong stepped out onto the porch.
The hard stone pavement sent a firm tingle up from his toes. As he stepped fully outside, he was completely out of the house.
Deep breath.
Same world, but the air inside and out felt distinctly different. Whether it was his imagination didn't matter. It didn't detract from the moment's thrill.
Yuseong left the stone path. Beside it stretched a wide lawn. He walked on the soft grass.
"Huh?"
Looking down, Yuseong let out an exclamation and crouched immediately.
Black things scurried across the green grass.
'These are... uh... ants! Ants!'
Creatures from books, said to exist before the world's end. Not beasts. Not monsters.
Despite their tiny size, they bustled about industriously. Just watching made his heart race.
'This is the real world!'
Arc was an astonishingly realistic game, but still just a game. Staring at the lawn doesn't make ants appear.
The tiny insects' vigorous life activities were endlessly fascinating. But Yuseong stood up. He only had an hour. He couldn't spend it all on ants, no matter how wondrous.
Yuseong wandered the surroundings. The more he did, the more he witnessed the real world's beauty that Arc couldn't match.
'This is what overflowing vitality really means.'
More overwhelming than Arc, sharper than faded photos or illustrations from his imagination.
[Time's up.]
Yuseong sighed regretfully at the strategy guide's voice in his ear.
Before leaving, he'd estimated the return time roughly and asked to be notified. Return was imminent.
'Still, gotta do what I came for.'
This trip wasn't just for enjoyment. Yuseong hurried back to the house.
He opened the fridge, full of food containers as always.
He grabbed whatever he could, filling both hands. He wedged bottle caps of water and drinks between his fingers.
Then he waited.
Soon, the familiar sensation passed over him. Suddenly, Yuseong was back in his hideout.
Deep disappointment settled on his face.
'As expected.'
Not a single food container, bottle of water, or drink remained in his hands. The earbud he'd worn was gone too.
Yuseong sighed heavily.
'I figured.'
He looked down at his feet. His gun and exosuit lay scattered there.
This time, Yuseong had tested if he could bring items to the other world. Before going, he'd donned the exosuit, grabbed his gun, and even worn his backpack.
But upon arrival, he'd worn only dirty, worn-out clothes.
'So I can't transport items after all.'
No need to despair early, though.
'If notoriety rises and the purchase window updates, who knows.'
Moving between worlds or live-streaming—absurd "products" sold in that window. Why not one for carrying items across worlds?
The answer lay in Arc, as always.
* * *
As Yuseong resolved to refocus on Arc, new developments were stirring there.
Yuseong's feats had skyrocketed his fame daily, but it was mostly among low-level players.
His own level was low, and he'd been active in low-level zones.
So while most recognized an amazing newbie, few high-level players showed direct interest.
But as time passed, high-level players began paying attention one by one.
Overwhelming physical prowess no one could deny. Combat sense perfectly utilizing it. And strategic skill that cornered the overwhelmingly stronger Hers Guild step by step using surroundings until they surrendered.
It seemed only a matter of time before he reached high-level zones.
Most high-level players' reaction? Wariness.
Arc dominated all sports and much of the culture market. High-level players reaped massive benefits from it.
A new high-level contender wasn't welcome news.
A rival's emergence.
Not just any rival—a threatening one smashing records from low levels upward.
Many high-level players boasted physical prowess, but none dared claim superiority over Yuseong.
How could they, when he crushed the toughest low-level extra bosses one after another?
Naturally, their gazes toward him weren't kind.
"Shouldn't we keep that bastard in check?"
"What if he comes up here and steals quests we were first to clear?"
Kicking away ladders happens in every era, every field—no surprise such opinions surfaced.
But they were just opinions; no one acted yet. The gap between Yuseong and them was still huge.
Few thought to interfere directly.
Most high-level players just kept grinding for more Arc content today.
Some approached Yuseong's existence differently, though.
"How about it? He's plenty strong enough, right?"
"Level's too low. Even accounting for his physicals boosting combat power beyond his level, his actual level's even lower."
"We can just bus him. Or not even— with his skill, a little support and he'll level up fast to high-level zones."
"Still too early. Exact level unknown, but just over 30, right? That's when real leveling stalls hit. Who knows how long to reach us. And we're not slacking, so it'll take longer."
"That's why move now. No matter how skilled, few major guilds are acting yet. Stocks buy low for profit."
"So how much did you make on stocks?"
"Spare me the sore spot. I see potential here."
"Yeah, you say that every time you get bagheld on a peak."
Many guilds began discussing recruiting Yuseong, including a few top-tier giants he'd want.