Chapter 128
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: Observation Experiment Record (1)
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A newly appeared rift was, in other words, the launch of a brand-new dungeon.
Think about it.
In a monetized seasonal game that's not even single-player, what happens every time a new rift—new content—drops?
The answer is simple.
Day by day, the difficulty ramps up exponentially to squeeze more cash out of players.
Unlike the old rifts treated as mere "mines" for farming magic stones, new rifts are core content driving the main story.
It's not just waves of tough, high-damage monsters. This is when all sorts of bullshit mechanics start popping up based on the rift's color, theme, and background.
Sentient high-level beasts that backstab players or hand out quests.
Rifts with rules mimicking domain expansions.
Elements that hard-counter specific playstyles—like blocking melee dealers from even approaching or nullifying certain elemental magic.
An unstable new rift was a site of pure frustration mixed with insane dopamine rushes when you succeeded.
"But it's a game, so dopamine makes sense. In reality? Just fucking hell."
That said, it wasn't entirely without reliable info.
Dominant Evil was a shitty gacha game, but surprisingly friendly to low-spenders.
It had a very unique "level scaling" system, rare in this genre.
Meaning, the rift's internal difficulty adjusted in real-time to match the average combat power of the entrant or party.
In other words, scrubs got scrub-level threats, while veterans faced near-death veteran threats.
A perfectly rational system—no unnecessary risks.
Of course... this assumed all the game's mechanics carried over perfectly to this fucked-up world I lived in. So far, they had lined up, so I'd trust my knowledge this time too.
"If entering later or now makes no difference, better to dive in now and farm some honey."
I made up my mind.
Knowing it was doomed to fail anyway, I'd dodge risky missions, rack up safe achievements, and call it a day.
"Aira."
"Yes, Master."
"Prepare the exploration team paperwork too."
"...Understood. No objections. As you wish, Master."
She accepted my decision like an obedient secretary, without a hint of pushback.
Good. Time to get moving.
I stood from my seat, about to leave the lab, when—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The door rattled as if it might shatter, the sound echoing through the entire lab.
"Seraphina again?"
Days of this pounding, and now today too.
Fuck, that bitch.
With an irritated scowl, I headed to the door.
"Quit pounding already, you psycho bi—... Huh?"
It wasn't Seraphina standing there.
A petite girl, clutching a bottle of booze, perched on a shiny metal orb, staring up at me.
Masha Leoshika, elder of the Maker Sect.
"......"
"......"
Fuck, I'm screwed.
I urgently screamed inwardly at Aira, standing blankly behind me.
Dismiss!
No matter that she was a clone—I couldn't let Masha see her disciple and traitor.
Confirming her shrink into a tiny wooden doll and drop, I swallowed a mental sigh and plastered on an innocent, clueless face.
"Ahaha, long time no see, Elder."
"...Elder?"
Masha tilted her head.
"Why's my little bro calling his big sis so formally?"
Oh. Right then, it hit me again.
She was still under my hypnosis.
"Still not worn off? That's impressive."
The girl puffed her cheeks like a chipmunk and chugged from her bottle.
She looked like a drunken kid.
On the other hand, relief washed over me. Her demeanor suggested she hadn't seen me fucking the other clones in the lab that day.
If she had, she wouldn't be this docile. She'd have blown my head off on sight...
She set the bottle down and shot me a reproachful glare.
"Forgot our promise to drink together? Do you know how long I waited?"
"W-Well, you see..."
"If you don't wanna, just say no. Am I that scary?"
Even her complaints sounded like whining.
I scratched my head and bullshitted an excuse.
"N-No, how could I forget? I've just been busy... I was gonna head over today. For real."
Her face lit up instantly.
Like she'd never sulked, she beamed and beckoned me.
"For real? Good call, little bro! No backing out today!"
She patted the spot next to her on the metal orb.
"Hop on, quick!"
"Uh, okay..."
As I hesitated, she grabbed my arm and yanked—strength belying her tiny frame.
I ended up aboard as she guided. The orb wobbled, then smoothly lifted into the air.
"Hold on tight, little bro!"
Despite her shout, it cruised at a leisurely pace.
Gliding down the hall inward.
We soon arrived at her personal lab.
Long time since I'd been here, and the vibe was totally different.
The room reeked even more of booze, shelves packed with new rare bottles.
"What do ya think? Saved these special for our binge."
She puffed out her tiny chest proudly.
We should've just been student and elder.
Nothing more, nothing less. But our relationship got wrecked by the "hypnosis toy gun" she made, now sleeping in my expanded pouch.
Originally her backup weapon against a potential original Aira assault.
Who knew the creator herself would be extremely susceptible to hypnosis?
After that incident, Masha Leoshika had the absurd belief injected: "I'm super tight with Kang Ihyeon, like big sis-little bro."
I fiddled unconsciously with the gun in my pocket.
One shot left...
Lost in thought, she thrust a glass at me with a grin. Clear amber liquid inside.
"Here, drink up! Bottoms up!"
"...Cheers."
I took it reflexively and sipped.
Hm, pretty good tas—
It wasn't!
"Kek, kek! Hack, ptui!"
A burning booze blast hit my throat, flooding my mouth with a fishy stench so thick it was nauseating.
Night flower scent.
Top smell men hate.
What the hell is this off-tasting shit?!
"Ugh, what is this booze...? Oof...!"
"Puhuhu, nasty taste, huh? Heh, night flower brew, special for you."
"Huh? What do you...!"
The mirth vanished from Masha's face. Her eyes turned icy cold.
"Daring to turn the sacred Maker Sect lab into your filthy fuck-den, and not even telling your big sis, trying to play me?"
"Ah...?"
"Got anything more to say?"
...So she was just pretending not to know.
A chill ran up my spine at her words.
That day, drowning the lounge in pussy juice all day to claim Yuyeong.
The booze bottle by the lab door.
I'd assumed she was too wasted to peek inside and forgot.
Turns out she'd been sharpening her knife all this time.
"S-Sorry, big sis!"
I bowed my head flat there.
She huffed and grabbed her bottle again.
"Little bro, I get you're at that horny age, but ease up. I went to grab our promised drinks that day and... ugh, mortifying. Couldn't unsee it. Know how shocked I was? I've kept quiet to avoid sect gossip, but you never even visited once! Was gonna let it slide, but gotta address it now."
Masha Leoshika's lecture kicked off—and dragged way longer and duller than expected.
"Research is sacred, little bro. Creating from nothing, probing life's mysteries—in such a place, how could you do something so vulgar? I know you made them, but don't they take life forms too? Legally fine maybe, but research ethics exist."
I let her nagging go in one ear and out the other.
My mind was full of the cold toy gun's feel in my pocket.
"Should I... use it now?"
Honestly, perfect timing.
Prime chance to end this endless scolding.
The marathon lecture finally wrapped. She sighed wearily and turned to the shelves.
"Eh, talking's pointless. Fine! Let's booze. Something strong today..."
The moment her back turned.
I didn't hesitate.
Pulled the palm-sized hypnosis toy gun from my pocket. Fired the last light bullet at her round nape.
Pfht!
A small, crisp sound, and the blue projectile hit true.
I injected mentally:
"What I did in the lab wasn't vulgar at all. Essential process to check clone impregnation viability. No ethics violation. Should be encouraged for humanity's survival..."
I rambled whatever came to mind.
Key point: everything I did was fine.
Tense, I watched for effect.
But she showed zero change before or after.
Just pondering which booze from the shelf.
Fuck, failed?
Or delayed effect?
While I puzzled, she returned with two bottles, set a glass before me.
"Here, drink. Let's go all night!"
"Y-Yes...!"
Flustered, I took her pour and drank.
Harsh liquor burned down.
Thus began the inexplicable binge.
We downed glasses in silence.
Only clinking glasses and gulps filled the room. Awkward quiet stretched.
After some drinks, I couldn't hold back and probed her.
To test the hypnosis.
"Um... big sis."
"What?"
"About... what happened in the lab. Was I really wrong? Wasn't it... important research for humanity's survival?"
She stared at me glass in hand, then looked baffled.
"Little bro, what're you on about?"
"Huh?"
"I wasn't scolding your 'important research.'"
"Th-Then what?"
She slammed her glass down in exasperation.
"Why didn't you call your big sis for such crucial testing?! I was right there! Controlling variables, securing objective data—that's paramount! But you solo it, no records, half-assed? Proper researcher attitude?"
...What?
I blanked, unsure what I heard.
"You said something about research ethics..."
"Heh, listen up, little bro."
Masha puffed her chest proudly.
"I'm an elder—if I observe, no ethics issue!"
This woman was spouting utter adult nonsense.