15
Chapter 15
"Ugh...."
July 29th, 10:00 AM. Parang woke up.
It was because she had dreamed of that day for the first time in a while.
"Haa...."
Her head throbbed. This never happened no matter how much she slept normally.
It must be because of that dream. Parang staggered and drank a cup of cold water.
Glug- glug-
"Phew...."
Drinking the cool water made her feel a bit better.
Suddenly, the calendar hanging on the opposite wall caught her eye.
Certainly, unlike before when she focused on playing and eating, Parang had become busy in an instant.
Parang brought a marker and scribbled down her schedule on the calendar.
First, heading to Hong Kong. She had to visit Xiao and get the item.
When she got back, she had to discuss collaboration with Hunter Shin Yuna, and drop by the orphanage once.
After that, it was Sunday. In the afternoon she had to go meet the Hunter Association, and the World Government in the evening. But could she really go to this?
Considering the relationship between the two, it wasn't exactly a negotiated arrangement. It was more likely they were forcing Parang to choose one over the other.
How could they be on such bad terms when their roots were the same. According to rumors going around, they even occasionally sent assassins to each other.
If it were up to her, she wouldn't want to go to either. But they were such shady folks.
Well, it was true that she leaned more toward the Association side where she had acquaintances.
Since she owed Manager Choi so much.
Anyway, after going to the Association, there was an interview on Tuesday.
She was really incredibly busy.
At this rate, when was she supposed to stream again.
"Hmm?"
Come to think of it, it wasn't completely impossible.
Parang was quick to make decisions. She immediately called Yuna.
"Hello? Ah, I planned the next stream like this...."
"Then maybe we can try it this way...."
A few exchanges went back and forth, and click. The call ended.
After a little while, a file was sent to Parang's Cellphone.
GodUna.exe
She ran it and installed it on her cellphone. Pressing the cute fish-shaped icon app revealed buttons for starting, ending, muting, and blacking out the screen.
Now she could control the Broadcasting Equipment in Yuna's studio with Parang's cellphone.
Since cellphones don't work 4km below, she'd have to be careful from there on, though.
Parang packed various things and jumped into the sea.
She didn't need to pack her passport. Anyway, under the World Government, the global village is one, we are the world.
They don't do immigration checks when going from Seoul to Incheon, after all.
And a little while later, the internet turned upside down.
[ What is up with Yoo Parang's stream title? ]
[ Author: Byeoleunha ]
(A captured Screen of Parang's stream. It simply says 'Swimming to Hong Kong'.)
??????Hong?????Kong????You say??????
- What?
- 20,000 percent chance it's 'Let's go to Hong Kong'
└ 50,000 percent chance it's 'Let's swim while we are at it'
└ It's scary because it seems like she really did that
She really did.
#
[LIVE – Swimming to Hong Kong]
- What?
All the viewers related to that chat. Because that was exactly what they wanted to say.
"What?"
Excuse me?
Question marks endlessly filled the Chat Window.
- No, what do you mean Hong Kong
- Where is this
- Why did the last stream end like that
- Teacher, I really need an Artifact...
It was a total mess. Parang also frowned.
No, begging for an Artifact even here?
There wasn't just one, but many. It took up almost 70 percent of the chat.
Actually, it was a fact Parang didn't know, but the atmosphere was similar when her first stream started. She just couldn't see it because she was too nervous.
Yuna and the broadcast team had thoroughly banned the guys begging while sharing their long-winded sob stories.
But Parang didn't know how to do that. So she just gave a stern warning.
"It's no use talking to me about Artifacts. Anyone who mentions Artifacts after this will have their ID noted down and be completely excluded from the raffle."
Being in the water, her confidence pierced the sky.
Then, a brief Silence to let the situation settle.
After waiting a moment, all talk of Artifacts completely vanished from the Chat Window.
Satisfied. Parang continued the stream.
- Teacher, what on earth do you mean by Hong Kong?
- And where is this place??
"I'm heading to Hong Kong because I have an acquaintance to meet there, and here is the sea off Pohang City. I will be swimming from here to Hong Kong, and the stream will end as soon as I arrive."
- Summary: "Let's go to Hong Kong?"
- LOL
The Viewers had now entered a state of just enjoying the ride. They just accepted it.
- So what are you showing us today?
Her shoulders straightened again. What was she going to show?
Obviously, something incredibly awesome. It was time to return as Yoo Parang, the ruthless Monster Fish slayer.
"There are three Objets on the way to Hong Kong that need to be checked periodically. There's a high probability that dangerous Monster Fish have settled there, so I plan to hunt them."
- 'Gangmolip' donated 6000 won! -
[ What if they aren't there? Won't you just end up swimming the whole time? ]
"They are definitely there. In the Monster Fish Zone where there is almost no ground or structures, an Objet is the only space a Monster Fish can settle. You can assume that while there are Monster Fish without an Objet, there are no Objets without a Monster Fish."
Parang whipped out a Map in front of her. It was something she hastily drew at home to use for the stream.
- What's with the Map quality
- Why is it so shoddy
"I drew it myself."
- Gasp
- I think it's really well drawn
- The details are amazing
"As you can see, following this route, I'll pass by three Objets, subjugate three Deep Sea Fish, and then arrive in Hong Kong. The estimated stream time is around 24 hours."
- What, that distance?
- How far is that distance anyway
- It takes 7 hours on an Airplane. In a straight line
- Fuck, what????
- 'Lee Yonggyu' donated 4000 won! -
[ No, setting speed aside, is it even possible to swim for 24 hours? While catching Monster Fish? ]
"It is a bit tough, but it's manageable. I always take this route when going to Hong Kong."
- I told you, just enjoy it
- Is this person a Monster Fish?
- That's right~
Parang was triggered a little hard by that.
"I'll give a permanent ban to the person who just called me a Monster Fish."
- Gasp
- Yikes
- Farewell
It was the moment the first rule of Yoo Parang's stream was born.
"I'll stop the idle chat here and set off. My schedule isn't exactly open, either."
Parang lightly parted the water and moved forward.
#
2024.7.29.13:22
[Current Depth: 3319m] 🔥
Objectively speaking, the sound of Parang swimming was quite pleasant to hear.
Many reviewed that the swish, swoosh sound of cutting through the waves was like a flowing water ASMR.
Thanks to that, many Viewers kept Parang's stream on like listening to a radio. The topic, naturally, was tales of catching Monster Fish.
"...So when facing a Morpha Type Monster Fish, it's safer to maneuver behind its back. Conversely, for a Serpent Type..."
- Teacher, even if you give such advice, this lowly viewer cannot put it into practice.
"Then I guess you just shouldn't dive."
- ffffffffffff what is that black thing that just passed by fuck it's so long and wriggling wriggling wriggling wriggling
- fuck I wasn't the only one who saw it
The Monster Fish that occasionally came and went like cameos were also a delicacy. Once you descend to the 3km mark, it is harder to find things that actually have the shape of a fish.
"'I've asked for the 898259352nd time why yesterday's stream ended so suddenly.' You asked this question. The Camera battery was almost dead, so I ended the stream in a hurry. I brought the charger properly this time, so there won't be any problems."
The route Parang was currently taking bypassed all the critical points of the Pacific Ocean, acting as a so-called safe travel route for a Hunter.
As long as there were no major variables, there wouldn't be any mishaps requiring her to turn off the stream while heading to Hong Kong.
- Wasn't that an Objet just now?
Not only Monster Fish, but Objets also occasionally passed by. In fact, Objets are very common within the Monster Fish Zone. It's just that Monster Fish are even more common.
"That's right. There's probably a Monster Fish inside that one too."
- Is it okay not to hunt that one?
- It really looks incredibly out of place.
"Normally, it would be right to hunt that one down too. But since I have a long way to go right now, I'm just passing it by."
- 'aNiMotD' donated 4000 won! -
[ Then how is the one you're targeting different from those? ]
"Among the Objets, there are some that make the body of the settled Monster Fish grow. If left alone, they will grow endlessly and eventually become truly unmanageable, so I periodically kill the Monster Fish that have settled there."
- But how do you tell them apart?
"Well, they look a bit bizarre."
- How are we supposed to know if you say it like that
- But if she says it's bizarre, it really must be bizarre
- I'm getting scared
"You'll know when you see it."
- ?
What was she supposed to do when there was really no other way to explain it.
About six hours passed like that.
The Viewers were also able to understand what that meant.
"Look. I told you that you'd know when you saw it, right?"
- You're right, we do know when we see it
- That looks really fucking ominous
- I'm really terrified, can't we just skip that one, Teacher?
"No."
The Objet they faced was a 'cube'.
A perfectly square cube with a width, length, and height of 20m each.
However, faces were attached to all six sides, aligned perfectly in rows and columns.
Yes. Human faces. Exactly what you're thinking of.
Faces measuring 2m by 2m, complete with eyes, noses, mouths, ears, and even skin blemishes and pores, were packed tightly together with twenty-five on each face of the cube.
Their eye sockets were completely empty, making them even more bizarre.
"This is 'East China Sea Objet No. 1'. I didn't know what else to name it, so I just call it that."
- Makes sense
- I'm getting goosebumps, why the hell is something like that in the sea?
- Wait fuck, didn't something just pass by?
It was just as the Chat Window said. Even leaving it alone, something was clearly wriggling inside the disgustingly shaped Objet.
- Is it something like an Eel?
- I think so?
- Fuck, it's so gross
Sadly, this was nothing like an Eel.
"It's called a Macula. It might look a little gross."
It wasn't just 'a little', though.
The Macula is a Serpent Type Monster Fish that is about 60m long.
Other Serpent Type Monster Fish include the Bellua or Galecus. If they are long, flexible, and squirming, they roughly fall into this category.
Because there aren't many Scholars researching them, the classification system is a bit primitive. The current classification system is the work of Bertea Fabron.
The Macula is the most faithful to the essence of Serpent Type Monster Fish. Because its long, flexible body squirms ceaselessly.
It isn't doing so by its own will, however. Because it poured all its muscles into its oral cavity, the part that acts as its body has no muscles. It's essentially a Pouch.
So it just clearly shows its body being swept away and swaying back and forth by the water currents.
- 'Sky Letter' donated 25000 won! -
[ I get it, so please do something about it quickly, Teacher. I think I just made eye contact with it. Please, h-hurry ]
"No. I still have things left to explain. Besides, the Macula doesn't even have eyes because it detects its prey through vibrations."
- Can't you explain while fighting it, Teacher, please
"If you insist that much...."
Parang clicked her tongue as if it was a shame.
Certainly, just as the Viewer said, the Macula looked gross no matter where it settled.
Living basically inside an empty space with many Holes, the Macula has a habit of ceaselessly finding and entering nearby Holes.
And unfortunately for the Viewers, the Holes the Macula ceaselessly went in and out of were the seven orifices of the faces situated on the cube.
Going into a mouth and coming out of an ear hole on the left face, then going back into an eye socket on the upper face.
The way it rode over from Hole to Hole, squirming and squelching as if it were sewing, was nothing short of revolting.
"Well, but it might get even grosser once I start fighting."
- Excuse me?
- No, wait a minute
- ???
Before the Viewers could even express their doubts, Parang slipped right into the mouth of the face in front of her.
Inside the Objet, narrow passages intertwined here and there, twisting like a maze.
The only light was the Flashlight Parang had turned on. Furthermore, strange gurgling sounds accompanied by the vibrations of something huge crawling about echoed from beyond the walls.
It was enough to give someone claustrophobia even if they never had it.
The frequency of messages appearing in the Chat Window noticeably decreased.
- Shiver
Scared reactions popped up sparsely. The rest of the Viewers were probably frozen in fear, or couldn't handle it and turned off the stream.
It meant Parang's plan was a success. At least the people who couldn't handle it and left the stream would recall today's image whenever they tried to go into the sea.
However, Parang had no intention of stopping here.
Gurgle-
Parang created a single air bubble,
Pop-
and burst it.
A faint vibration.
Then, in an instant, the gurgling vibrations echoing throughout the Objet stopped.
A silence devoid of any sound.
Parang also knew what that silence meant.
The creature was pinpointing her location.
It probably wouldn't take long.
And about 3 seconds later.
Rumble!!!
-----!!!!
Making a sound similar to a screech, something started crawling toward Parang at a terrifying speed from the other side of the passage.
Something suddenly popped out from beyond the dark passage.
- Kyaaaaaaak
- What the fuck is that
- Ah crazy fuckkk
The Macula has no head or eyes.
It only has a mouth on its long snake-like body.
Parang turned the Camera backward to face the Macula, then started swimming along the passage.
"Hmm, can you see it well? It's much better to explain the Macula's mouth while you're looking directly at it."
- I can see it fine
- Ah I can't take this either bye fuck
- This is my limit too, it's too gross to watch.
The Macula was chasing Parang while completely filling the passage that was about 1m in diameter. It bent its body accordingly wherever the passage turned up, down, left, or right.
"As I explained earlier, the Macula prefers environments with 'many Holes and an empty space inside'. However, since Objets of that form are very rare, unless it's a massive entity like that, they usually burrow into the bodies of other Monster Fish and live inside them."
Parang continued to swim along the narrow passage. There were passages blocked by the Macula's body in between, and forks in the road, but she easily navigated her way through the passages as if she knew the way.
"For that purpose, the Macula's mouth is well-suited for burrowing into tough Scales or a Carapace."
The Macula looked just like a long Pouch. Inside its empty, round mouth, there were no Teeth, only dark red flesh could be seen, and around the outside of its mouth, sharp L-shaped Teeth were growing in a circle like Spider legs.
"It embeds those Teeth into the skin of another Monster Fish, then cuts off the flesh and puts it into its mouth. It turns the body of a Monster Fish into its home that way. You can mainly see them inside whales of enormous size."
- fuck fuck is this the time to explain it's right behind you
- Ah fuck what is that inside its mouth fuck
Just as they said, the Macula had now approached right behind Parang.
Since the Camera also had a Flashlight, the Viewers could clearly look inside the Macula with that light.
It was as if they had become dentists.
The dark red flesh squelched, and the Lumps of Meat and Mucus stuck inside sloshed along with it.
A sight no different from a gross-out image. The number of Viewers had also decreased by nearly half before she knew it.
Still, it was 23,000 people.
- It's most surprising that she hasn't gotten banned
- Didn't Cylo try to ban her but turned off the stream instead
"Hmm, a ban...."
Parang also found it a bit questionable. Getting banned from streaming was definitely something she hadn't considered.
Well, she could think about it later. She felt like she had shown enough of the Macula.
"Everyone, did you have a good time with the Macula?"
- Do you think so
- Yes we had a really fucking good time ^_^
- Teacher tell us your home address
- She's enjoying this, right?
- Seems like she streams just for the fun of teasing the Viewers
"No way. How could I do that to my precious Viewers."
The corners of Parang's mouth reached her ears.