Chapter 58
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Glitch
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Rich monster.
A monster that yields a ton of loot when killed.
In games, there's always that one monster with killer drop rates that players farm nonstop.
Rich monsters generally fall into two categories. The first drops heaps of junk items for steady income.
The second has low drop rates but spits out pricey gear—jackpot if luck's on your side.
Kobolds were the former.
Farm 'em steadily for solid sales!
Yoon Young decided to camp out in this hunting ground and massacre every kobold in sight.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
"Kyaak!"
"Kyaak...."
"Kuek...!"
Party hunting definitely sped up kills, even if experience was a bit light.
Inventory piling up with junk items.
[Silver Ore]
[Gold Ore]
'Whoa. Gold ore drops too?'
Inventory filled up before he knew it, so he stuffed his backpack with ore.
They hunted straight through till dusk.
Skill Points +2 acquired.
Level hit 11 before he knew it.
'Skill points 2?'
One per level up to 10, now two starting at 11.
Probably two up to 20, three from 30.
'Makes sense. Levels get harder, same points would suck.'
Yoon Young figured.
Leveled up, call it for today.
New spot was solid.
Even in a four-man party, experience piled up fast.
"Haa... haa."
Amael looked beat, stamina drained from the long hunt.
Yoon Young scooped her to his side and kneaded her squishy cheek.
Squish squish.
So soft.
Even rolling in the rough hunting ground, it felt moist and plush, fresh from a shower and lotion.
"Head back?"
"Yesss...! Worked super hard today~."
Ha, so cute.
Back before nightfall, sold all loot except essentials.
The haul was nuts.
'What? Why so pricey?'
Gold and silver ore fetched way more than expected.
After dumping everything, inventory held one gold coin and fifty-five silver.
'This buys out the whole shop.'
Armor was a sure equip now.
Prime chance to skyrocket defense!
'See? Perfectly designed.'
Fierce winds howling through Lüssen Gorge.
Stepping in needed more than NPC aid—high defense too.
Farm here, gear up proper from the shop.
'Alright... Weapon's forging. Shop raid for armor!'
Found the dwarf blacksmith NPC, opened the armor shop.
'New stock already?'
[Apprentice Knight's Leather Armor]
Sale Price: Plain Silver Coin x90
Yoon Young scanned the shop.
New gear cost more than old stuff, but defense was leagues better.
'Not breaking the bank.'
Grab the full Apprentice Knight leather set.
And so the grind began.
Days of kobold slaughter, stacking coin, swapping gear, hoarding mats.
Then.
NPC Amael's favorability has reached a sufficient level. 'Dating Request' now available.
"Huh?"
Popped up mid-hunt.
Dating request...
Confess and date?
For real? With Amael?
'Visual novel much?'
Curiosity killed the hunt—rushed back to the village.
[Dating Request]
'It really exists?'
Suuuuck...
Yoon Young pondered.
New feature—gotta try.
No reason to hold back.
'But still...'
Yoon Young had a pure side.
Shouldn't confession come after really knowing each other?
He'd seen it all already.
But that's different.
'Amael's cute, perfect. Marriage would be bliss.'
Liking her made him hesitate more.
She was pure, devout believer type.
Rejection would crush her.
NPC anyway, why fret? Sounds gay, but...
Live here once, you'd get it.
Yoon Young saw NPCs as full people with souls.
Defense mechanism, maybe.
He knew it was escapism.
But a world where only he had sentience? Too unreal to swallow.
So he treated them with real affection and heart.
Sure, when pissed: [Soulless NPC...!] tease away—but that's separate.
Anyway, he was sincere. Deep in.
Had to be.
'Nervous, but let's go.'
Grab!
Yoon Young clasped Amael's hand, heart pounding.
Shiver.
Kisses and sex daily, butt fondles routine—yet hand-holding quakes him.
Ironic, but real.
"Hey, Amael. Y'know..."
Hit [Dating Request].
Blank prompt appeared.
[ ]
Input confession line?
'What to say?'
Pondered, blanked.
Do everything possible first, then confess.
[Praise]
"Hearing that from you gives me strength, Adventurer!"
[Praise]
"I-I'll keep trying hard!"
[Hug]
"E-Embarrassing... but warm..."
Want proper gift, hit temple, dropped two gold on a Blessing Stone.
"Whoa...! A Blessing Stone? Every priest dreams of this... You give it to me? You're amazing, Adventurer...! I'll treasure it..."
[Amael seems to treasure your gift...]
[Favorability ▲▲]
'There we go!'
Her touched expression, beaming smile.
Gave him certainty.
She'd accept.
Opened her info window again, clicked [Dating Application].
Confession...
[Hey Amael, I think I see you as special, more than anyone else... Wanna date me?]
Short and sweet. Three seconds pass.
Amael blanked.
Then her face boiled red like a kettle.
"Eh...? S-Special... You mean date? Be lovers...?! I didn't mishear...?"
[You didn't mishear]
Her face burned brighter.
"I-I knew you saw me special, but not this much!! D-Date? With you, Adventurer... My lover...?"
Amael fidgeted, restless.
Happy? Shocked by confession?
From his side, palms slick with sweat.
Bow!
"P-Please take care of me...!"
Blushing hard, averted eyes, twiddled fingers.
"I always thought you were cool... If linking with a man, someone like you... I'm lacking, but as your girlfriend from now on... please!"
NPC Amael has become your lover!
"Urk."
Yoon Young clutched his heart.
Too cute. Too precious.
What even is this creature.
Good the church didn't ban dating.
'Am I allowed to feel this for... something not even human, unknown if sentient?'
Forced negativity... but his brain exploded with dopamine, thrill, pure joy.
[About Lovers]
[Fulfill conditions and get dating request accepted to form a lover relationship with an NPC.]
[Unlocks 'Affection Expression' command in conversation to adjust NPC mood.]
[Recruit lover NPC as companion: If mood 'Good' or better, gain extra stat boosts.]
'Oh. Not just dating—recruit as companion, stat ups too?'
Affection expression, huh.
Yoon Young licked his lips.
'Drooling already.'
Had to test now.
[Kiss]
[Hug]
[Hold Hands]
[Confirm Love]
Confirm love first...?
Squeeze.
[I love you.]
"...I love you too."
Wow... so good.
Heart just tingling all over.
Can't describe better than 'good.'
Falling for an anime girl feels like this...?
[Hold Hands]
Grab.
[Warm hand heat spreads...]
No denying—the skin warmth in his hand was real.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
Amael's heartbeat clear as day.
She really emotionless?
With body this hot.
Face this flushed.
Just... a finely crafted fake?
Hands linked, he hugged, ran [Kiss] too.
He pursed lips; she hesitated, then tiptoed in for a peck, clinging.
"Auuu..."
Face burning, hands cup cheeks, body wriggling nonstop.
Watching her, tempted to pounce right then.
That's when.
NPC Amael's favorability upgraded to Stage 5.
"Huh?"
Stage 5 out of nowhere!
What happens at 5? He spaced out wondering.
Pop!
World plunged to pitch black, like midnight blackout.
Light returned.
Crackle—crackle—
Cute Amael shattered into jagged polygons, scattering everywhere.
Lurch...
"Urk!?"
Ground underfoot wobbled like wet paper.
Distant NPC glitched in noise, approached—then zipped away.
"Good morningggggooooogoooo~."
"..."
What the hell.
What's happening?
—Glitch.
Voice stabbed his mind amid chaos.
Yoon Young whipped around on instinct.