Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Spiders and Hate Comments Depend on How You Use Them (3)
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Everything has that first time—hesitant and tense.
Starting school. The college entrance exam or enlistment.
Your first day on the job after an interview.
And it goes all the way to dating, marriage, and childbirth.
There are countless first experiences that freeze people solid.
Even on a personal level, that's how it is.
But what if this is the first time for an entire field—or even all of human history?
What if an unprecedented event hits you in a completely unpredictable way?
Of course you'd be shocked and freeze up.
Anyone would.
'What the hell do I do?'
So, yeah, I forgot my pro gamer instincts and froze too.
I've already changed classes to Voodoo Sorcerer, and I've watched my severance pay and future prospects crash harder than Hunter Association stocks during an owl blue dump.
I'm pretty used to unprecedented shocks by now.
Humans are creatures of adaptation, after all.
"...Gasp!"
I'd been thinking that to myself, but apparently it was all delusion.
I'd spaced out so hard I forgot to even say anything until the message popped up. Fuck, that startled me.
Still, isn't this a extenuating circumstance?
Expecting cool-headedness in this situation is asking too much.
The boss of the Absolute Defense Line: that insane defending skeleton.
A monster that only drops bones for gear materials even when killed.
This broke-ass skeleton looking exactly as empty-headed as it appears drops an unheard-of item?
'What do I do? Hide it? Play it off?'
I fell into a dilemma I never wanted.
But fortunately—or unfortunately—my worries didn't last long.
Even with the chat ban lifted, sharp-eyed viewers had spotted the drop item.
'...Damn. Guess I gotta go straight at it.'
I hesitated, but it was already too late to hide anyway.
Still, I picked up the drop item like I had no idea.
"Who knows. Looks like... some kind of ornament?"
Shh-.
The little ghost held the item up to the camera.
A rusty, menacing chunk of iron scrap.
Right then, a sponsor message popped up on screen.
From Hunter Hundred Ghosts Dojo, in a panic.
Oh, as expected from a senior. Nice ad-lib skills.
Real pro at hyping the mood.
'Right. Since it's out, better to reveal it big.'
Half-ass hiding prime bait like this would be a mistake.
Better to tease for next stream's hype.
Just like Hundred Ghosts Dojo spotted it, and I confirmed.
This drop item's identity was none other than a key.
So concise it's hard to parse!
But one thing was clear.
Opening this door would reveal a new gate.
'The Sealed Tower is 100% a chain gate.'
An all-new, unheard-of kind too.
Going public would draw insane attention.
Viewers seemed to think the same.
Chain gate.
A gate discovered inside another gate.
'Like the next map in a game.'
Most chain gates share backgrounds.
Often connections between mobs too.
How do I know? Don't underestimate science.
Soil analysis tells you quick.
Or blatant similarities show up.
'In slang terms, same worldline.'
But chain gates' infamy came from elsewhere.
High rewards.
And even higher difficulty.
That's what made chain gates infamous.
I worried inwardly but outwardly tilted my head blankly and innocently.
"A key to a chain gate, you say?"
What the—this guy's scary. He doing it on purpose?
Feels like he's genuinely freaking out from curiosity.
'Nah, no way. Probably hyping the mood.'
Senior's carry and favor was sky-high.
Thanks a ton, senpai...!
"Got it. Let's give it a try."
"Me getting taxidermied and preserved forever? Humanity's blessing."
Whoosh-! The little ghosts moved the key.
If I had mana left, I'd summon zombies too.
Dungeon traps or walls are like buildings.
But the dead end at the dungeon's edge, where you can't go further, is the gate's twisted inner space.
Smashing that wall means smashing space itself!
'No way that's possible.'
If it was, why bother clearing gates?
Just smash the gate from outside.
'Only two ways to remove a gate.'
Enter and destroy the dungeon core.
Or wait for time-out auto-dissipate.
'Core's either boss monster or specific item.'
Last gate, Ghost Girl's Mansion, boss was the core.
That's why it vanished quick after I killed the boss mob.
'Time-out is gate vanishing after time passes.'
Can't leave monsters inside then.
If gate collapses with mobs in, they escape dungeon.
Monsters breaking free from gates!
That's a dungeon break.
'A door no one's opened. Even more exciting.'
I couldn't even imagine what's inside.
'Heh heh heh heh. God bless. Free bait just rains from heaven?'
This time Queen Elizabeth. Next, chain gate.
My channel's content never dries up. This that Old Testament Great Flood or whatever.
Clack!
Satisfying lock-open sound!
'It opened!'
My face lit up uncontrollably.
The little ghosts grunted, pushing the door open.
"...Huh?"
But the instant I saw inside.
My smile vanished in a flash.
Creeeak... Thud!
I had the ghosts shut the door again.
I cleared my throat dramatically and spoke to the cam.
"...Ahem. It opened anyway. Uh... do I have to show you inside?"
Yeo-guy? The fuck. I'm Jeong.
But exactly the answer I wanted. Thanks very much.
I made a sad face and spoke pitifully.
"Keep my promise? Th-that mindset that promises must be kept is just prejudice, no?"
"Yes, yes. Got it. Really disappointing, but yeah, promises to viewers gotta be kept."
Fooled 'em. Such innocents.
Wiped the sad act clean, blooming smile.
"You remember I said I'd end stream at 9?"
"What time is it now?"
Too bad. Time's up. I shouted brightly.
"Aww, so disappointing!! But promises are promises! Look forward to chain gate clear next stream! That's it from your beloved streamer, see you again!"
Click!!
Dumped my lines and cut the stream.
I knew it wasn't a great ending, but no choice.
"...Whew."
I hesitantly peeked inside the door again.
"Holy fucking shit."
A thick curse slipped out automatically.
The Sealed Tower gate's layout was that horrific.
"Squeeee-!!"
A tower soaring like the 63 Building, no windows or entrance.
Lion-sized vampire bats swarming around it.
'No entrance means no stairs up either.'
I'm ex-S-rank guild camera crew, after all.
Cleared plenty riding the bus.
So I intuited this gate's gimmick.
'Climb the walls? A 100m tower with blood bats everywhere?'
Break through trash mobs to reach the top, fight boss.
No foothold on the tower, how to climb?
Figure it out yourself.
"...Kuaaaaaah!! How the fuck do you clear this!!"
My scream echoed long through the master bedroom.