Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Chapter 1 - Meteor #3
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“Kwaaang!”
The kobold, its leg buckling from the low kick, let out a shrill cry. At that moment, Lee Yun-ho launched his next attack without a second thought.
It wasn’t a move born from deliberation in his mind but an automatic motion, as if honed over countless hours of practice.
*Thwack!*
The punch flowed seamlessly from the low kick, slamming into the kobold’s chest.
The creature, already weakened in the legs, collapsed flat on its back. Lee Yun-ho mounted it and swung his fist again.
His target wasn’t the head but the chest—specifically, the area where the heart should be.
*Boom!*
The fist plunged into the chest.
The sensation and sound of shattering bone reverberated through his knuckles.
“Kahk….”
The kobold convulsed once, let out a piercing groan, and stuck out its tongue long.
It was definitely dead.
[Acquired a small amount of combat data.]
[Accumulate combat data to enhance Master’s combat and physical abilities.]
Breathing heavily, Lee Yun-ho heard Integra’s voice.
The lingering sensation in his fist was gruesome, but whether due to the circumstances or because it was a monster and not a person, he didn’t feel the horrific, eerie disgust he’d read about in novels.
All he felt was the stark realization of having defeated an enemy and survived.
“Haa.”
Lee Yun-ho cleared his mind for a moment and regulated his breathing.
[Master, are you alright?]
At Integra’s voice, laced with concern, Luther nodded slowly and rose to his feet.
Integra’s voice continued.
[Master, that was an excellent fight.]
[Even with the combat program installed, it’s not easy to utilize it so immediately, like you did.]
[It seems Master has a talent for combat.]
Lee Yun-ho gave an awkward smile at the praise delivered in her gentle tone, and Integra let out a soft chuckle.
‘Is it because the data was reset?’
Compared to her demeanor in the original game—Star Savior—she seemed much warmer now.
If anything, she felt more human.
‘Either way, it’s really happening.’
The combat program installation.
In Star Savior, Luther Lightseeker could instantly learn new techniques by installing various combat programs in his mind, and Lee Yun-ho was no different.
‘It was one of the abilities I was truly jealous of.’
As Integra said, utilizing it right away was tough, but simply installing the program granted the skills of a seasoned expert.
‘Anything besides bare-handed combat?’
Just as Lee Yun-ho was about to ask, Integra spoke first.
[Master, I recommend securing the possessions of the kobold-like alien lifeform.]
[There might be useful items.]
Nodding at Integra’s reasonable suggestion, Lee Yun-ho focused on the kobold’s corpse.
Its death pose, tongue lolling out, was gruesome, but he spotted a pouch at its waist.
“Phew… alright.”
Taking a deep breath, Lee Yun-ho steeled himself and began rummaging through the kobold’s body.
“First, the dagger… Oh, bomb fruits.”
From the pouch at the kobold’s waist came two blue fruits about 3 cm in diameter.
True to their name, they exploded when thrown. They lacked real destructive power but had a startling effect, making them quite useful in the early game.
[Master, do you know what these are?]
[If this isn’t your first visit to this planet, could you provide additional information?]
Lee Yun-ho paused at Integra’s question but soon shook his head.
“I don’t know much. Just… some knowledge in my head. My memories feel all jumbled up.”
Saying he knew it well from a game he loved would be too risky.
He couldn’t predict Integra’s reaction.
[Understood.]
[I’ll assume you’re experiencing mild memory impairment.]
“Yeah.”
Whether because Integra was in her reset state or because she trusted her master, Lee Yun-ho, she accepted it readily.
‘Talk about the game later.’
Once he understood the current situation and Integra better.
With his mind made up, Lee Yun-ho resumed walking.
Kobolds sometimes acted alone but usually traveled in packs.
Running into a group would be disastrous, so he had to keep moving.
“Integra, can we continue that earlier conversation?”
[About the spaceship?]
[I apologize. My detection range is extremely limited right now.]
[I could pick up the ship’s signal once nearby, but it’s impossible at the moment.]
Finding the spaceship immediately was out of the question.
But Luther didn’t despair; instead, he thought positively.
‘If I grow the nanomachine, Integra’s functions will recover too. It’s not now, but eventually.’
In Star Savior, Luther Lightseeker piloted various spaceships.
The early small fighter, Light Sword.
The mid-game 30-meter medium battleship, Light Seeker.
‘And finally, the Lost Ship Mistilteinn.’
Mistilteinn in particular was the pinnacle of Lost Technology, built not with the Galactic Federation’s tech from Star Savior’s setting but with that of the ‘Forerunners,’ and its power was immense.
‘Even just the Light Sword would let me wipe out Jogres packs single-handedly.’
Lost in imagination, Lee Yun-ho found himself smiling unconsciously, anticipation building.
[Master, mild manic symptoms are suspected.]
[Grinning to yourself after crash-landing on an unknown planet looks suspicious to anyone.]
[Report any abnormalities immediately.]
“Y-Yeah.”
Straightening his expression under her affectionate fact-bomb, Luther scanned his surroundings as he headed east.
With two moons in the sky, he could see quite well despite the late hour.
“Oh.”
[Master?]
Ignoring Integra’s call, Lee Yun-ho approached something he spotted while passing by.
It was a fruit growing near tree roots, shaped like a green banana.
‘Paparius!’
A fruit dragon hunters in Dragon Hunter 3 loved to eat.
Eaten raw, grilled, juiced, or dried—it was versatile. It was the favorite of the protagonist siblings, Als and Alisa.
‘They were always eating it on-screen.’
Especially Alisa’s Paparius mukbang scenes as the older sister were so famous that dozens of fan edits existed.
‘And now real Paparius is right in front of me?’
Swallowing involuntarily, Lee Yun-ho carefully plucked one.
Integra warned in her gentle voice.
[Master, it’s an unfamiliar plant. Consuming it rashly could be dangerous.]
Luther hesitated at her words.
He’d seen Paparius eaten countless times in Dragon Hunter 3, but he wasn’t a human from that game now.
He was a human from Star Savior.
Paparius might be dangerous to him.
[Master?]
Instead of responding, Luther examined the Paparius seriously.
‘It’ll… be fine, right?’
It was definitely edible.
Moreover, as a combat-type homunculus, ‘Luther Lightseeker’ boasted formidable digestion.
The difference between Dragon Hunter 3 humans and Star Savior humans was unknown, but it should handle mild toxicity.
‘Yeah, let’s eat.’
It wasn’t just hunger.
To survive in Dragon Hunter 3’s world, he needed to test food compatibility.
“Integra, starting sample collection.”
[Understood. Best to consume only a small amount.]
“Yeah.”
Nodding, Luther peeled the Paparius and nibbled the edge of the white flesh inside.
A smile spread across his face unconsciously.
Sweet.
Not just sweet—deliciously so.
Devouring the small piece, Lee Yun-ho took a bigger bite and marveled again.
Chewing it released not only sweetness but excellent texture too.
[Is it that good?]
“Yeah, it’s that good.”
Finishing another Paparius for good measure, Lee Yun-ho carefully gathered the rest and pulled out the strap from the kobold’s pouch.
‘Securing food is crucial.’
Tying the bundle and slinging it over his shoulder, Lee Yun-ho stepped forward with satisfaction.
He was even more eager to reach the pioneers’ village.
But then—
[Master, I see lights.]
Integra was right.
In the distance, red and yellow lights flickered.
Even with bright moonlight, a light source stood out at night, and the hue suggested a campfire.
‘Hunters camping?’
Likely.
Only dragon hunters would dare light a fire in the Primordial Forest.
‘Tough call.’
In a game, he’d approach without hesitation, but in reality, it was different.
Dragon hunters included all sorts.
‘Let’s just get close enough.’
Anywhere but the Primordial Forest, he wouldn’t approach at all.
But here, it was different.
Lee Yun-ho knew nearly every hunter in the pioneers’ village.
‘Some were curt or unfriendly, but no crazies or murderers.’
Thus, Luther cautiously advanced toward the fire.
As the distance closed, Integra spoke gently.
[Master, life signs detected.]
[One male, one female.]
A man and a woman.
Could it be the siblings Als and Alisa?
Gulping, Luther approached the brush lit by the firelight, then took a deep breath.
‘This is first contact.’
His first meeting with someone living in Dragon Hunter 3’s world.
Suppressing his pounding heart, Lee Yun-ho stepped beyond the brush.
The scene before him:
By the campfire sat a black-haired girl and a brown-haired man.
Both had noticed his approach long ago; their eyes met as he emerged.
‘Not Als and Alisa.’
Not hunters from the pioneers’ village either.
Complete strangers.
But they didn’t seem bad.
The girl was beautifully drawn-like, and the young man beside her had a vaguely blurred but handsome face.
Luther stopped, raised his hands slightly, and said,
“I’m not a suspicious person.”
[Master, you look extremely suspicious.]
Lee Yun-ho knew it too.
Wearing a skintight black bodysuit didn’t help.
But the truly suspicious—baffling—part wasn’t the outfit.
“■■■? ■■■■?”
The brown-haired young man stood and spoke.
Lee Yun-ho couldn’t understand a word.
‘Wait, the language doesn’t work?’
It made sense upon reflection.
He was Luther Lightseeker from Star Savior; they were humans from Dragon Hunter 3.
“■■? ■■■■■■■?”
The young man spoke again, heightening Lee Yun-ho’s panic.
He’d anticipated many scenarios, but not a language barrier.
Even learning from scratch would be problematic without basics—he’d have to gesture for single words.
Fortunately, it didn’t come to that.
[Contact with an alien planet’s language established.]
[Beginning language data analysis.]
Support AI Integra.
Her voice echoed in Luther’s mind.