Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Oh, Happy Day!
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***
- Professor: Of course I have to leave it behind.
- Soy Sauce Gaybar: ??? Are you insane?
- Deer Drug Please: There's a limit to jokes, Professor.
- Jokasss: Shut up and devote yourself fully to clinging to Troll Sis. Now.
No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn't think of a way to shake off this headstrong troll, so I tried consulting the community chat window. And that's when all this chaos erupted.
'No way, are these guys in their right minds?
Should I really drag a 4-meter plains troll deeper into the city?'
Surprisingly, most responses to that question were 'YES.'
- Professor: Guys, even if you're used to thinking with your dicks instead of your heads like some third evolution of humanity, let's think rationally for a sec.
That's a troll! A troll! Sure, it's a bit tamed now, but it still smacks its lips at the sight of humans!
And you're saying I should call it my companion and drag it into the city?
Do you guys like gore? Get off on imagining my body getting quartered and fifth-ed by the guards?
- Jokasss: Professor, why's your thinking so narrow-minded?
It's not a monster, it's a companion! And right now, the tank position you need the most up front!
Hey, look at your condition. Legs that wobble even at full sprint, arms that fountain blood from a mere brush with a twig, joints that can't even handle your own strength!
You're total dead weight right now! Bottom of the barrel in this world!
And you're gonna kick away a powerhouse that rolls right to you? Just 'cause it's a troll?
Professor, racism is evil! Evil!
- Speed Wagon: Eh, I think the premise itself is off.
Low chance of Notum joining as a real asset. The second you hit the city, all the lies come out anyway, right? The group that originally trained and fed Notum is probably there too.
I dunno how Notum ended up liking you, but in a situation where it's unlikely to stick as useful firepower, starting off with a bad impression in the city is a losing deal.
Plus, it's not like what you guys expect with heat cycles or whatever. Plains trolls turn red on their backs and bellies during mating season. Usually carry their young on their shoulders, from what I know.
- Deer Drug Please: Teacher, teacher's words are all correct.
Rational and logical! You're all right!
But are we watching this for academic research or some grand noble purpose?
Nah! We're here for fun!
Hey fuck, look at that! Those massive tits! That affectionate gaze! That sturdy body! The epitome of a strong woman!
Notum is exactly, literally, a woman who can 'carry you on her shoulders'!
After the world went to shit, everyone—men and women—learned to spray submachine guns like pros, right?
Strong women aren't some twisted fetish anymore! This is mainstream!
Kids? Even better! Friends turn into bros, bros into dads! Maternal love is the classic start!! Push forward, Professor! Capture her heart!
- Gunpowder and Blood: Talk of boosting firepower, so I'll chime in. Raw combat power matters, but sustaining it matters more. From a logistics view, Notum's a fail. A horse's worth of meat a day? How's penniless Professor supposed to supply that?
- Holy: Um..... why are you all suddenly like this?
- Take a Look: Ignore 'em. Internets always burn on dumb shit till the 'your mom-' lines start flying.
Whoa, brutal. The chat was now swarming with jargon, heating up even more. I just wanted advice on which way to go since it's a stream.....
Both sides had merit.
My combat power shortage was beyond critical— I could die any second. Even a princess locked in a tower wandering into a back-alley underworld might outlast me. In that sense, recruiting Notum as a companion was a brilliant fix. That size, that face, those gleaming fangs. Walking violence. She could handle pickpockets, street thugs, even shady merchants trying to rip you off at the city gates.
The downside? As I said, the friendship built on lies with Notum could shatter anytime. The moment truth outs, those beefy arms smash my skull.
Balanced so far. One more thing. Slim chance, but real possibility: Notum developing romantic feelings for me.
Can't rule it out.
Why'd GG survive to post-WW3? Servers hauled deep underground somewhere to dodge lawsuits. An illegal game running dark under the radar.
No brakes in a game like that.
Just look at companion character stats with super suspicious 'affection' meters.
Bottom line: If Notum goes into heat for real, I'm done.
Dragged to an aroused troll's turf for worse than game over.
That must never, ever happen. Plenty of viewers seem to hope for it, though.... True apocalypse fans. Degenerates.
***
Anyway, decision made. Too risky to bring Notum, so leave her behind.
Sweating buckets, I broached the topic with her awkwardly.
'Um, listen....'
'Gruu?'
'Time to part ways.... I wanna go alone now....'
'Groo. Rock nest close. Understand words. Take little big human there.'
'No, see, that was the mission Iron Human trusted me with, right?
If Iron Human hears you took me to the castle—rock nest— he'll think I failed. Right? I'd be a failure in our group!'
'Gruu.... Lone wolf from pack.... dies sad. Humans live in groups.....'
'Yes! Exactly! So let me down now, and wait quietly in the forest?'
'Uu.... independence.... interfere, grows weak.....'
Her last words were hard to parse, but anyway, Notum let me go. Problem was, the moment she turned, purple smoke effect burst with a system message.
Boom-
[Info Update: Failed to recruit Hero Unit / Notum as companion.]
“Hero Unit? She was?”
That purple effect signals big negatives: quest fail, bad branch, something gone wrong.
- Jokasss: Mom says obey and pie falls in your sleep, right? What'd mom say?
- Soy Sauce Gaybar: Ha, for real. Ask for tips 'cause game looks brutal, and you kick 'em away.
- Take a Look: I know most Hero Units, was there one like that? Anyone know?
- Speed Wagon: Just checked. Community has posts on Notum.
- Take a Look: O, famous?
- Speed Wagon: Kinda. Not as Hero Unit, but free money farm. Talking troll occasionally in Lordric North woods—catch and sell to circus or arena for early gold rush. No Hero Unit info anywhere, so probably unlocks at high affection for companion option.
- Soy Sauce Gaybar: For real? So Professor's the first to uncover Notum as Hero Unit?
- Take a Look: And the first to boot the newly discovered Hero Unit.
- Deer Drug Please: Aigo, thought it was a shitbox and kicked it—turns out it's a Porsche~
- Speed Wagon: Found more. Notum guide says combat same as regular plains troll. Sells fast at city slave market. Not top-tier Hero quality.
Times of chaos birth heroes. GG's seven worlds all teeter on ruin's edge, swarming with them.
Called 'Hero Units.' Game's so brutal, solo growth can't clear all events. Main clear strat: recruit as many Hero Units as companions.
The Notum I just sent packing in that companion event branch? One of those starry heroes.
“Tch. Shame. Figured she was special. Didn't think Hero Unit.”
- Jokasss: Forgettaboutit. Lingering on the departed ain't manly.
- Gunpowder and Blood: Hero Unit or not, reality don't change. Even if planning to recruit, can't now—lacks capacity.
“....No choice. Gotta grow fast. Can't grab every chance that passes.”
Deep down cursing this useless character again, I headed for the towering gates at road's end.
***
Ding-!
Ouch!
Ding-! Ding-!
Throb! Throb!
“Argh fuck! Hey! Chat off! System! Chat off!"
Twenty minutes post-Notum, I reached the gates. As walls neared, plain emptiness filled with sights, but these damn eyes scanned wildly against my will, triggering Mental Fragility nonstop!
[Info Update - Curiosity: Your curiosity about the world overflows. Perception +1 / Sparkling Gaze: You who understands beauty! You scrutinize all visible things, striving to remember their beauty. Perception +1]
“What the hell.... why's it chaining like this!”
Even traits I liked turned sour. Perception boosts observation, spotting hidden stuff or dangers—great stat. But paired with Mental Fragility....
-Zap!
“Gahhh! Annoying! Gross! Gonna lose it!”
Everything floods in, instantly filling the Mental Fragility gauge! No focus, can't even think with eyes open!
“Whew, whew. Clear out the irritants first. Status? All manual confirm except Info Updates. Chat off too. Check occasionally."
Did that, squeezed eyes shut—finally escaped Mental Fragility irritation.
'knew it'd be hardcore, but not this bad. Beyond imagination. No clue how to handle this character.'
Still, ex-ranker with a starter plan.
Initial build: 'Memorize-specialized Mage.' Mages tough to level, need mental imagery casting in dazed state, with -3 focus from Mental Fragility—standard mage impossible.
So, no-cast Memorize-line mage.
Freed from Mental Fragility, leverages Mana Aptitude, shields cover Glass Body somewhat.
'But no good mage towers near Lordric North. Closest is water-affinity one, far from Memorize.'
“Sssp- Ugh.... hurts. Total trash character....”
Head throbbed endlessly, body screamed too.
Bare feet: soles peeled raw, blood pooling squishy. Heard Glass Body worst trait, but not this bad. Excruciating sting. Trek east to Blue Line mage hubs with this? Dead for sure. No bandits needed—bleed out walking.
“....City first. Can't do shit till patching this meat. Register F-Rank Merc at least, odd jobs to upgrade body bit by bit. Iron Skin spellbook how much? 4k silver? Inn dishwash pays 5 silver post-food/board. Nah. Any decent dojos left in Turan now? World 2 had plenty. Worst case, park at dojo, grind years. 'Path of Malaka' combat breaths with extra durability, or Zhengxue Gate's Steel Blood skill—civilian toughness secured. Nice, hope in sight. City'll have solutions!
Eyes closed, mind churning—plan shaped up. Lips quirked unconsciously.
Yeah, face it. Game's fun. Hardship conquered yields insane achievement rush. Head-to-toe 'I'm doing it' vibe.
'Alright, so far just shaking bad luck. Real start's city entry!'
Resolve fired, slowly opened eyes, reset systems,
Throooob!
- Soy Sauce Gaybar: You cockyyyy!!! Open the gate!!! Bang bang bang!! Bang!
- Holy: This.... chat's off, right?
- Speed Wagon: Yup. Gray player name means not viewing chat.
- Highway Nacho Man: Communication void! Stream reform! Awaken, Professor! Resign!
Zap! Throb-!
“Fucking shit game.”
Mental Fragility hit, instant cynicism. Better ditch hopes of sane month one.
***
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