Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Chapter 6 Player (4)
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- Kj: Three days ago, we filled up with ten Koreans and ran our first mission. Three died at the mission site, and the other three were so badly injured we called 119 and sent them straight to the hospital.
- Kj: Then 111 showed up talking about protective custody or whatever and took them all away. 111 is the NIS.
- Kj: But starting the next day, no more comments from them.
- Kj: Community just updated, so I tried adding the remaining code names as friends to that post where we were trading secret comments. It says deceased Player. Hold on. Grabbing a screenshot.
The custom order feature let him capture status windows, inventories—even the community.
He could upload them to the auction tab too.
‘Now that there’s a gifting function, he could just send them over.’
Sure enough, a gift notification soon popped up under Kj’s name.
A few image files. I examined them closely.
‘Players taken by the NIS... dead.’
The death messages were for Assa, Sleep Mask, and Lotto—three of them.
It matched the records from the mission completion list.
Their last comments had mentioned the NIS too.
And they’d talked about meeting other Players there.
Still, I couldn’t take Kj’s word based on a few screenshots alone.
‘Could be a con job cooked up with the NIS.’
Scammers were everywhere.
But if it was true?
‘I need to move even more carefully.’
Good thing I’d reached out to Kj.
- Kj: No proof it was them... but we’re saying to lay low among ourselves for now.
- K: Thx for the heads-up.
- Kj: No biggie. Hey, you hear about that guy in Gwanak-gu killing animals lately?
- K: Saw the news. No clue who.
- Kj: Gotta be a Player, right?
- K: Prolly. Timing’s too perfect.
- Kj: Wasn’t it the day after our tutorial ended?
- K: Yeah. Thx anyway. Mind sharing if you hear more?
- Kj: Duh! But in return, can you give me some tips? Looked like I was mooching so I held off asking, but I’m desperate. Really don’t wanna die. Scared shitless of getting dragged off again—can’t even sleep.
This wasn’t him asking for basic info anyone would pick up eventually.
He’d gone into detail about the NIS, even with screenshots.
‘He wants something in return.’
Maybe even that line about entering with ten and coming out with seven was just to play on sympathy.
Hell, making a code name so close to mine from the start? Calculated.
More likely to catch my eye than some random word.
‘The way he led with an apology in his first message...’
All to disarm me before starting the conversation?
I replayed Kj’s actions and let out a smirk.
‘Not a total idiot.’
Every move showed he knew how to think ahead.
Our chats looked like casual bonding over being Korean in this game—pointless chit-chat.
But looking closer, subtle motives peeked through bit by bit.
Guess I’d been on high alert expecting him to want something.
Didn’t bother me.
I’d approached him first because I wanted something too.
No need to agonize.
‘If the NIS thing’s legit, I’ll take what I can get and ghost.’
My fingers moved easily.
- K: Got Mana Operation?
- Kj: That 500-mana one in the skill tab? Nah, don’t have enough mana yet.
Anyone who’d entered a mission site would know the monster absorption and purification patterns.
I decided to share other info.
- K: Don’t buy it. Might vary person to person, but you can learn it solo.
- Kj: ????
Mana Operation goes for 500 mana in the shop.
Buying it at full price in level 1 range? Tough sell.
‘Probably there as a lifeline for talentless scrubs.’
In my view, level 1 was for building the body—too early to burn mana on skills.
‘Benchmark’s probably the fox monster.’
1,000 mana to forge a body that can crush it with raw strength.
Then level 2: start gearing up proper.
Stock up on skills, weapons, potions from the shop.
Level 3 after that.
‘Real hunting kicks off there.’
Just look at the exploding monster counts.
In that setup, basic Mana Operation costing 500?
You need it right from level 1 hell, but it’s overpriced.
Felt like a last resort to me.
‘If all else fails, grab this.’
System set it up so you could learn skills without the crutch—high chance it works.
Mana Detection and Invisibility? Too complex solo.
But Mana Operation? Basic enough to self-teach.
- K: Far as I can tell, mana becomes noticeable once you hit 50. 130 should be plenty. Focus on sensing mana first, then try moving it inside you like circulating energy. Should pop up in your skill tab.
- K: Acquisition rate’s personal, obvs. Guy I know took a month to learn Mana Operation.
- Kj: A month?
- K: Traits speed it up, but doable without. Don’t waste mana buying it just cuz it takes time. And don’t even think of tackling stuff without it relying on numbers. Better slow and steady than blow precious mana. Once you get Mana Operation, drill materialization next. You’ll suffer clearing level 2 without it.
- Kj: Materialization? Wtf’s that? A skill too?
- K: Just what I call it. Sub-function of Mana Operation? Pull mana outside your body—shows as red haze. Coat your body or weapon in it, boosts attack power. That’s the idea.
- K: That’s the tips for levels 1 and 2.
- Kj: ...Thx. Seriously, thx so much.
- K: NIS info was clutch, thx.
- Kj: I’ll repay this favor.
Favor—one word, and my chest stirred.
I shoved the feeling down and typed.
- K: Skip repaying favors. Just keep quiet that I’m Korean.
- Kj: Obvs! I’m loyal to hyung forever!
Seemed sharp enough—no big worries short-term.
He’d keep his mouth shut to milk me for more info.
I’d heard he’d already formed a party.
Knew that when I said it.
All I want from him? Don’t blab about me in community like John.
That’s it.
- Kj: Luv u! Mwah mwah! NIS updates, I gotchu! Trust only me!
Love my ass. I sent a casual reply with a wry grin.
Closed the chat window, stood, and activated Invisibility.
Pocketed the butterfly for Mana Detection and slipped through alleys for a bit.
My face grew grim.
‘Already six.’
Plenty hiding between buildings.
Couldn’t miss them—the butterfly nabbed every mana signature nearby.
They must’ve set up while I recovered mana on the rooftop.
‘Stakeout?’
Caught my breath, cycled Mana Operation, activated Sensory Expansion.
Razor-sharp senses picked up what normals would miss.
‘...Gunpowder.’
That acrid bitterness after fireworks.
I mulled it over. Does catching an animal killer need guns?
‘Cops might carry live rounds...’
Gut screamed no. Smell too thick.
And way too many people for the incident’s scale.
‘D-day today, looks like.’
Didn’t matter who they belonged to.
Key point: if the perp showed to kill today, high odds of capture.
‘Tail the cops, observe more... or if it’s gov or NIS direct, scout their base this time?’
State intel agency—no address online.
Naegok-dong supposedly, but never verified. Could be fake.
They’d need vehicles for transport. Hop on top, follow.
‘Mana’s good.’
Invisibility solo? Two hours easy.
Calmly sorted my thoughts and passed the stakeout spots.
“Yaaaooow!”
A bloodcurdling shriek echoed from afar.
‘Cat?’
Definite cat yowl. Guess tonight’s victim was feline.
Uncanny timing, like they’d planned it.
Heard it enough times to know.
Last desperate cry before death.
I kicked off an outdoor AC unit on the building wall and leaped up.
A couple bounds to the rooftop. Then sprinted along the railing.
Mana Detection pinged a huge blob soon. Three, four times normal size.
No brainer. Player.
I’d half-expected it—no shock.
But chasing the mana led to a shadow scaling the wall. Nearly barked a curse out loud.
‘Fuck.’
Disturbing, sure. But I wasn’t jumping in yet.
Then my sharpened hearing caught the click.
Gunpowder thick in the air, weapon cocking, mana closing in.
Teeth ground on reflex.
“Got him!”
“Third floor!”
“Surround it!”
People burst from the alley between buildings, hitting the scene.
All gripping guns.
Live ammo in central Seoul. Who saw that coming.
Three Players reportedly dead after NIS contact.
Ethan forced at gunpoint post-mission to measure body changes.
The stories tangled, and I vaulted off the roof, landing on an outdoor unit outside.
Snagged the climber mid-wall.
“G-Gone!”
Contact allowed Invisibility overlay—I wrapped him in mana fast.
“Mmph!”
Simultaneously clamped his mouth before he could yell.
By then, rage boiled in my gut.
Blood-smeared hands.
Height barely to my chest.
Boyish face, hair a wild mess uncombed.
Eyes red-rimmed, soaked with tears.
‘Goddamn System.’
Black hoodie crusted in cat fur. Looked about twelve.
“Don’t stand around—search!”
“Nothing!”
“Not far—move!”
Seeing them refuse to lower weapons? No way I’d ditch the kid.
Slinging him over my shoulder, I slipped away.
Goddamn System