Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: 66. Monster Park (1)
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Foxgames: I've been waiting so long. It's finally open!
The masterpiece online game from Foxgames, Monster Park, had finally launched.
I never thought a text-based game like that would catch on.
Instead of playing it, I figured it was worth more to read an extra book or learn a new farming or construction technique from Ant Wiki.
I recalled what a psychiatrist from before the war had said.
People who are a bit out of touch with society often delusionally assume that if they hate something, everyone else must hate it too.
"......"
That's the message that popped up in front of me when I logged in leisurely after finishing my daily chores.
Over 53,000 people were grinding away at endless refreshes, enduring the agony just to play that lump of text.
People's obsession with online games—a vanished form of entertainment—was terrifying.
It seemed they craved a game where they could hunt and level up "together with others," no matter the form.
"Vicarious satisfaction, probably."
I chatted with Dajeong via communicator for the first time in a while.
"Even if reality's a dumpster fire, doesn't it feel good to see your online self level up and grow stronger? And if you can turn that online power into real-world gains? Perfect."
"......Hm."
"SKELTON's never played online games, right?"
"Yeah."
"Figured as much. So what did you do for fun before the war?"
"Dunno."
I didn't really have the concept of "play."
Rest existed, but it was purely recharging for combat. Pure leisure play? Almost never.
"Beatboxing?"
"That damn beatboxing."
We're friends, but we don't talk much.
Few times, and never long—unspoken rule.
We'd cover one topic quickly and log off.
Normally, we'd end the comms here.
But today, Defender sis seemed eager to keep talking.
"Haa."
Her sigh came through the speaker.
She wanted me to ask, but per our rules, I stayed silent.
"SKELTON."
"Yeah."
"No girlfriend, right?"
"Should I?"
"Let me rephrase. Never had one?"
"Nope."
"Don't you find me appealing?"
"What answer you want?"
"Sometimes when I look at you......"
Dajeong's voice trembled like she was horrified.
"SKELTON... you're kinda... different from normal people."
"Not something I wanna hear from you guys."
"Fair. Still, don't you ever wanna meet a girl and live all lovey-dovey?"
"Dunno. Everyone probably has those thoughts."
"No girl you like?"
A girl I like.
Oddly, Nahyuin's face flashed briefly before my eyes.
"None."
"What about me?"
"Trouble brewing there lately?"
People acting out of character usually means a bad environmental change.
"Haa. Sharp as ever. Seriously."
Defender sis sighed.
"Oppa brought that mustached perv, Heo Jongcheol."
"Heo Jongcheol? The nuke guy?"
"I begged him not to, but he took him in anyway. Right now that fucker's spouting bullshit. What? 'Public education ruined this country? Everyone getting educated wrecked the world!' That crap."
"......Tough break."
"SKELTON. That earlier stuff was a joke. Wanna play the game later?"
"Game?"
"The one Foxgames made."
"I'll think about it."
Not bragging, but Foxgames gifted me a special account.
Haven't logged in yet due to server issues, but apparently it's a unique account—better perks than others.
Pearls before swine, huh.
Ironic for a non-gamer like me.
Anyway, the guy who gave Park Gyu this special account was rampaging on the board right now.
"......"
What was he planning?
Did he sense his own fate?
Maybe he knew his pathetic death was coming and was lashing out. But nah.
His wild thrashing screamed ignorance of his doom.
Unexpectedly, change came fast.
......
......
Monster Park reopened.
Thanks to help from that anonymous board user.
Crude, unfinished, regressed in every way compared to pre-war standards—but users didn't care about pretty characters, epic backgrounds, or flashy graphics.
They'd grabbed avatars to move in a virtual world, starting adventures they'd never dared before.
Our Viva! Apocalypse! Korean board instantly morphed into a "Monster Park" board.
......
......
That's what popped up with one refresh.
A massive torrent.
Anonymous1523 was nothing in it.
No use rampaging, bragging, or raging.
Whatever he posted got buried under dozens of game threads, racking up 0 views and pushed to oblivion.
Anonymous1532 howled silently in rage but soon vanished, realizing he couldn't even get minimal attention.
A somewhat anticlimactic exit for the toxic user who'd terrorized the board daily since appearing.
All I did was follow the link in Foxgames' message and log in.
Starting with a dev interview? Sure enough, a familiar nickname popped up in the black-background, crude-text game world.
"......"
First thought: What's the difference from the board?
A bit bewildered, I replied board-style.
Foxgames called a timeout.
Quite a while later, he returned.
The favor was straight out of Hong Gildong.
Like a son unable to call his father "father," SKELTON couldn't use "SKELTON" for his account.
There was a reason.
And so I got the special account from Foxgames and logged into the game.
Tap tap
East.
Tap tap
Cat mutation attacks.
Tap tap
Status window.
"......Hm."
Not fun.
Or rather, I couldn't grasp where the fun was supposed to be.
Never played or enjoyed online games.
Not the type to get swept up just because others like it.
Staring blankly at the screen, Dajeong messaged.
"SKELTON. Playing Monster Park? Add me as friend—gimme your account."
"Tried a bit. Not fun."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Probably quitting."
"Lend me your account ID then? For warehouse char."
"......"
"SKELTON? Why silent?"
"Well, that's a bit."
"SKELTON......"
Hated by Dajeong, but my late parents drilled it: Don't lend accounts or bank info, even to parents.
Anyway, that was my last login.
Super account ditched in under a day.
My choice, predictable.
But an unexpected snag: Skipping hot Monster Park isolated me from the board mainstream.
Like Anonymous1532.
Inevitable.
Unstoppable flow.
Everyone plays, everyone talks games.
No more daily joys, stories, serialized gems from users who'd comforted me for 3 years.
Board might recover post-hype, but current momentum? Hard to say.
"......"
Alienation? Discontent? Some vague disappointment I messaged Rebecca.
"Hey. Rebecca. When you coming? Or not? Decide. Winter's knocking."
"SKELTON, Mom's gaming."
Soo replied.
"What? What game?"
Bad feeling. Soo sighed bitterly.
"Monster Park."
"......Right."
"Gonna take a while. Mom's hooked."
"Got it. Soo. Call if anything."
"Yeah. SKELTON. Juicy next time."
"OK."
Logged off Soo, eyes back to board.
......
......
Endless posts I couldn't vibe with.
Scroll scroll—
Stoic face hunting readable stuff. Nothing.
"......"
First time.
True isolation on this board.
Fate's a bitch.
Right as I stopped scrolling, a kindred spirit appeared like destiny.
Whim: Bookmarked Anonymous1532.
Why? Dunno.
Sole guy not posting games? Alerts for his posts.
Alerts came soon.
Multiple.
Seeing that, I pictured the man beyond the monitor.
Pale face, healthy. No wrinkles.
Arrogant features.
But maybe he's scrolling blankly too, soul-empty eyes craving distraction for his void.