Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: The Extra's Traits Are Way Too OP
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"Agree."
1. The comment with the most likes in Chapter 5
2. The comment with the most dislikes in Chapter 6
3. (Information not yet available) comment
'Eh? What's this?'
A list of comments suddenly popped up, some of them obscured from view.
I stared blankly at the description for a moment.
'What the hell could make all the info hidden like this?'
Could the comment itself be a spoiler?
Comments couldn't be read until you checked them anyway.
To uncover whatever secret it held, I boldly selected option 3.
'Huh?'
I gasped without realizing it.
I reflexively looked up at the problem in front of me.
【A is B, but A is not B.】
It was like the comment was straight-up giving away the answer.
But how?
'Aren't the comments I can see based on the original story?'
Since an extra like me survived, the story must have changed.
Naturally, there'd be no reason for this answer to be in the comments.
That said, just to entertain the one-in-a-million chance:
What if they killed the boss early in the original too,
and the exact same quiz appeared,
and some smart reader posted the answer?
Out of countless comments,
the one I picked right now happens to be the answer?
'That doesn't make sense logically...'
Of course, talking about logic at this point was pretty ridiculous itself.
Probability-wise, it was impossible.
Above all, this comment's info was hidden unlike the others.
Maybe this skill hid something I didn't know about.
"Ji-hoon, aren't you thinking too hard?"
"Hm?"
Hye-na asked worriedly from beside me.
I must have had a super serious look on my face.
"Did you find a clue?"
Lee Yoo-ri looked at me and asked.
I pretended to ponder for a bit before answering.
"Ah, how about this? Lee Yoo-ri is a woman, but Lee Yoo-ri is not a woman."
Thwack!
I got kicked in the shin.
No way this strength is from a girl.
"Ahem! Ahem! Just kidding. How about this? This sentence is the first line, but this sentence is not the first line."
The two blinked for a moment.
Then their faces lit up with realization.
"Oh."
"Whoa, Ji-hoon, you're a genius!"
Hye-na's eyes went wide with admiration,
and even Lee Yoo-ri let out a light whistle.
It pricked my conscience a little.
But 'Comment Check' was still my ability.
"So, is this the answer?"
"Grr! Regrettably, I have to accept it as the correct answer! Congratulations on solving the quiz!"
As the boss door opened, I got some unknown buff too.
No, the real problem was not knowing what it even was.
"Phew, as expected of someone rushing ahead of the story. This buff normally costs 3000 Coins. Total loss for me, nyang."
Eh? Was this buff that amazing?
For real?
"Anyway, thanks for using my services, nyang! Hope we meet in the main quest, nyang!"
With that, the cat vanished.
Anyway, the boss room we wanted was open now. Should be fine.
"Shall we open it?"
"Yeah!"
We opened the rooftop door.
The moment we stepped in, a message appeared before our eyes.
'Determining the boss type?'
Yoo-ri had said bosses differed per zone.
Was this the reason?
'Anyway, hope it's not too dangerous.'
Thankfully, we had the overwhelmingly powerful protagonist here.
I wasn't too worried.
[Error! Cannot read challenger's info!]
[Retrying info scan!]
[Error! Cannot read challenger's info!]
[Retrying info scan!]
[Error! Cannot read challenger's info!]
[Retrying info sc...a...n...]
[ErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorError!!!! @#@#$@$^&&#$@#]
'........What the hell is this?'
The same message repeated frantically,
and now noise was creeping in.
"Hey, does the boss stage always do this?"
"......No, this is new to me too."
Tension crept into Yoo-ri's voice.
I gripped my baseball bat tighter for no reason.
I could feel it instinctively.
Something was wrong.
[Cannot read info due to system error.]
[Adjusting difficulty to maximum considering challenger's uniqueness.]
[Lunatic Difficulty]
[This zone's boss is 'Moss Zombie'.]
No time to process it.
A grotesque zombie burst out in the middle of the rooftop.
It looked almost like an insect pupa.
On its back, wings several times its body size were folded up wrinkly.
-Shrieeeek!
It glared at us for a second,
then a massive wing unfurled from its back.
'Moth?'
A creepy pattern like a moth's.
The black thing seemed to watch us intently.
Obviously not just for show.
Alerts rang in my ears.
'Mental attack? Nullified?'
As I puzzled over the message,
a noise came from behind.
I turned to see Hye-na collapsed on the ground.
"Hye-na!"
"I, I'm sorry... Gah... Gah... Urk."
It wasn't just collapsing.
Her eyes lost focus, drool flowed from her mouth.
Her muscles twitched like she was seizing.
'Is this the mental attack effect?'
A power that literally shattered the mind.
So I was fine because 'Metafiction' blocked it?
"Ugh! Of all things..."
Lee Yoo-ri was affected too.
She clutched her head with one hand, staggering in pain.
"Hey, you okay? Snap out of it!"
"Don't worry. I won't go down from this."
She was bluffing hard,
but her legs shook just the same.
Impressive she was still standing.
'And I'm totally fine, huh.'
I knew 'Metafiction' wasn't ordinary,
but blocking a boss's mental attack? Wow.
"Hoo! Mental attacks paralyze the target. Tricky to handle, but no aftereffects once the boss is dead."
So Hye-na would be fine after crashing like this.
Small mercies.
Yoo-ri continued with effort.
"Tch, this guy shouldn't appear at this level. What the hell happened."
My lips went dry.
I couldn't shake the thought it was because of me.
'Maybe I'm an anomaly in this world.'
An extra from the novel,
who peeks at the readers' comments.
Not normal no matter how you slice it.
From the world's view, maybe like a virus.
'Whatever. Like I care.'
Not like I was some pushover who'd apologize and die.
Whatever adversity was in front of me, didn't matter.
I'd survive.
"Is that all its attacks?"
I gripped the bat tighter.
No matter what the boss could do,
our job stayed the same.
"No, not just that... But why are you fine?"
"Guess my mental fortitude's top-notch. Anyway, not the time for that, right?"
Yoo-ri's lips twitched, then she nodded.
She knew now wasn't for questions.
"That was just the start. The real attack's coming soon."
"Real attack?"
No sooner said,
than a second wing rose from the zombie's back.
A human-head-sized insect popped out.
'Cockroach?!'
Antennae twitching, they swarmed like a tidal wave.
I ground my teeth without thinking.
"Makes you almost envy folks just reading this."
"Careful. Their jaws can crush bone."
Yoo-ri raised her sword into stance.
This wasn't her usual simple swings.
If I wasn't mistaken, red energy clung to the blade.
Like a wuxia master.
"Hup!"
Her swing kicked up a gust.
Dozens of bugs exploded at once.
".......Impressive."
I figured the protagonist had more up her sleeve,
but not this much hidden power.
And that in her mentally wrecked state.
How strong at full power?
"Urk!"
But after one swing, Yoo-ri slumped to the ground.
A bug lunged at the opening.
-Pow!
My bat swing burst it apart.
Easier than the zombie.
"Hey, you pass out after one swing, what gives?!"
"Shut up, it's not that bad."
Yoo-ri gritted her teeth and stood.
Bluffing to the end.
Sweat pouring like a shower.
"Mental attacks that scary?"
"They keep stimulating traumas. Just brought up past life memories."
"Must be some nasty memories!"
Bugs kept pouring even now.
We fought back-to-back, swinging weapons.
Thanks to Yoo-ri's slash earlier,
their momentum had dropped a lot.
Still plenty left, though.
"Damn, haven't even reached the boss, how many bugs do we gotta kill?!"
"Kill 'em all, it'll just spit more."
".......No joke."
Almost wished for a zombie wave.
At least that had an end.
'Hoo, this thing's body ain't normal either.'
Pale face, head shaking like shaking off memories.
Looked ready to drop any second.
"This won't end! No more big moves like before?"
".......Got one, but need prep time now."
Meaning no gap with bugs swarming?
I clicked my tongue.
"Get behind me then!"
"What?"
Yoo-ri stared wide-eyed.
That surprising?
"I'll cover you, do whatever! I'll buy time."
"........"
"I know you think I'm weak! But we'll all die like this! Gotta try something!"
I didn't exactly trust Yoo-ri.
But I knew we couldn't clear without her.
I stepped forward fully.
Shielding Yoo-ri behind me.
Yoo-ri went quiet a moment.
Then her voice carried a hint of longing.
"...Haven't been protected by anyone since that day."
Yoo-ri gripped her sword two-handed.
Face set in resolve.
"Hold for 1 minute."
"Too long, cut it in half!"
Yoo-ri inhaled deeply.
Then dropped to one knee.
I swung the bat wide, scattering bugs around.
'How'd I end up fighting a monster like this!'
I bashed another bug, thinking that.
Fighting solo drove home how amazing Yoo-ri was.
Breath up to my throat.
Legs and arms screaming.
But no stopping.
If I did, bugs hit Yoo-ri,
and we'd all die.
But the boss was prepping its next move.
The big wing twitched.
"Don't wanna get sliced? Move."
Her voice came from behind then.
I dove sideways on reflex.
Yoo-ri swung straight ahead.
Less swordsmanship, more storm.
"Kraaaah!!"
The flying attack shredded blocking bugs,
and sliced off the distant zombie's wing.
Creepy bugs rained down,
boss zombie screamed in agony.
Hard to believe it was done with a sword.
An utterly insane sight.
Attack canceled message followed.
Worth all the hardship!
"Whoa, awesome! Just kill that guy now!"
"Ha, now you get i..."
But Yoo-ri's words didn't finish.
-Thud.
She collapsed sideways.
Face flushed red, blood trickled from her ears.
"Yoo-ri? Hey, you okay?"
"Quiet... Urk..."
Still conscious, but couldn't rise.
That attack drained her completely.
Couldn't fight right now no matter what.
Needed to buy time.
"Damn. Too heavy a burden for an extra."
One wing gone, still a boss.
Could I handle it solo?
As I turned,
"Kraaaaa!"
The boss zombie's belly swelled huge.
Purple liquid sprayed from its mouth.
Threatening sight,
but not aimed at me.
Target was Yoo-ri, who cut its wing.
I could still dodge.
'.......But if Yoo-ri takes that hit, what happens?'
Her body's not normal.
Poison in that state? Even protagonist dies.
That's the issue.
What happens to this novel if the protagonist dies?
Does it keep going?
Or end there?
'Plus, story gets messed up without her.'
It wouldn't stop there.
If Yoo-ri dies here, how do we kill the boss?
Me swinging my bat forever?
Doubtful.
'Whichever has higher survival odds...'
Decision was quick.
I stepped in front of Yoo-ri, shielding her.
"Gah!"
Blocked the flying poison with my body.
If we were doomed anyway,
better just me in danger.
'Ah, damn. Guess I can only hope for an antidote as boss reward.'
I gritted my teeth, praying for a miracle.
Sure, I'd collapse like this... but...
Collapse but...
Hm, poison spreading slower than expected.
'......'
.....Huh? Why am I fine?
As if answering my doubt,
a message window appeared.
.......Devourer's Essence absorbed the poison?
Before I could snap out of it,
something hot stirred inside me.
A new message popped up.