Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Off to Steal Again Today
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The second-anniversary event had managed to garner a massive amount of attention from the player base even before the official trailer had been released. This particular celebration, which the community had affectionately nicknamed "Find the Odd Pierrot Out," took place within the expansive grounds of Agas Land. The event lasted for a full three hours and eventually wrapped up with the final rankings being determined for each specific zone across the park.
Agas Land was a masterpiece of digital engineering that perfectly recreated the atmosphere of a real-world amusement park, and the players were now free to enjoy the field for an entire week without any entry fees. While some players cheered at the news of a free amusement park, others lamented that a single week was far too short a time to experience everything the park had to offer. Despite the mixed feelings on the duration, the festive afterparty was in full swing as friends and lovers flocked to the rides.
On the other side of the digital world, the community boards for Agas were buzzing with intense discussions regarding the event rankings for each zone. The reactions ranged from pure joy to bitter jealousy as players shared their results with the world.
While the player base exhibited a diverse range of reactions, the most significant buzz was centered around the F-43 zone, which was the area where the legendary players Dorothy and Leon had been competing. The released rankings for that zone sent a shockwave through the entire community that was far more intense than any other news.
The debate began to heat up as players speculated on the identity of the mysterious individual who had crushed the world-class competition for the first-place spot. Interest deepened by the minute, and news articles began to drop online at lightning speeds as reporters sniffed out a potential scoop. Even major broadcasting outlets were starting to cover the anomaly, and the story spread across the internet like an uncontrollable wildfire.
Meanwhile, the man at the center of all this chaos was currently suffering through a series of increasingly terrifying amusement park rides, completely unaware of his newfound global fame.
"That was absolutely incredible! I had so much fun on that last ride!" Rabbit exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with an excitement that was a stark contrast to her usual timid self. It appeared that beneath her shy exterior lay a total thrill-seeker who knew how to truly enjoy a rush of adrenaline.
Deer had been aware of this side of her friend for some time, but right now, her primary concern was not Rabbit's enthusiasm. It was the third member of their party: her real-life older brother, Seokwoo, known in-game as Luke.
'He has always been incredibly weak when it comes to rides and fast movements that he isn't in control of,' she thought, looking at his pale face. He was drenched in a cold sweat, and his eyes had a lifeless quality to them that suggested he was reaching his absolute limit. He looked dangerously ill at a glance, and Deer felt a pang of guilt for letting him push himself this far.
She realized that Luke likely had no idea that Rabbit was such a ride-hardy individual, and he was currently looking at the girl as if she were some kind of tireless monster. Deer decided that it was time to change the subject before her brother actually collapsed from the mental trauma of the rollercoasters.
"Oh, that reminds me, Haneul," Deer said, turning to Rabbit. "Since we are all gaming together with my brother today, would you like to go and run a dungeon?"
"A dungeon?" Rabbit asked, her interest piqued.
"Yes! This city is literally called the City of Dungeons, after all. There must be dozens of fun and challenging ones nearby that we could tackle as a team."
Rabbit seemed to space out for a moment, glancing between Deer and Luke to gauge their reactions. Eventually, she gave a shy nod of agreement, and Deer could see that the suggestion had successfully hooked her. Luke's color seemed to return to his face in a flash, and he shot his sister a look of profound gratitude.
"Then, before we head to the dungeon, how about we go on just one last ride together?" Rabbit murmured excitedly, causing Luke to flinch in pure terror at the suggestion.
Luke stood by the central fountain in the city plaza, watching the crowds of people milling about. He had visited the interior of Jermi once before, and he felt an overwhelming sense of relief to finally be freed from the hellish environment of Agas Land.
'I am finally back in a place that makes sense,' he thought, clenching his fist in joy. 'If it hadn't been for Mira’s presence, I would have forced myself to log out hours ago just to escape those rides.'
He sighed deeply, wondering why he was so pathologically weak to amusement park attractions when he could parkour across the tops of skyscrapers without a hint of fear. As he waited for Deer and Rabbit to arrive, he finally took notice of the system messages that had been piling up in his notifications.
Luke allowed himself a satisfied smirk. He had nailed it. He had taken first place in a zone that contained two of the most famous players in the game, all by utilizing a method that was exclusive to his unique class. No one could have guessed that the event items could be stolen from others to build a massive collection.
Thanks to the frantic activity during the event, his skill proficiency had shot up significantly, and the steady stream of experience points had already bumped his character level to 65. It felt as though there was nothing his thievery couldn't handle, from collecting rare items to accelerating his own growth. He was already looking forward to the first-place rewards, which were undoubtedly going to be something special.
"Brother!"
"I am so sorry, did we keep you waiting for too long?"
Deer and Rabbit arrived right on cue, and Luke greeted them with a smile. "No, I just got here myself. So, are we ready to hit a dungeon?"
"Absolutely!" Rabbit cheered.
"In that case, there is no need to go very far. This city didn't get its name for nothing; follow me, and I will act as your guide to the best spots," Luke said, beginning to lead them through the streets based on his old memories.
"Um, Seokwoo... have you been to this city before?" Rabbit asked cautiously, her question causing Luke to flinch. "You sound so incredibly familiar with the layout and the history of this place."
Luke realized he had forgotten that Rabbit didn't know he was a veteran second-year player. Only Mira knew the truth of his past as the "Worst Criminal in History" and his subsequent reclassification as a thief. He hadn't even told his sister the full story yet, but he knew he needed to gloss over the details to avoid any unnecessary complications.
As if reading his mind, Mira stepped in to lay the groundwork. "Oh, that's right! I meant to mention this while we were with my brother—it's perfect timing!" She helped Luke frame his knowledge as the result of "restarting" a character for specific reasons, allowing him to admit his veteran status without revealing his true identity.
"So you are actually a rerolled character? I had no idea," Rabbit said, her reaction surprisingly positive. "I knew it! That explains why you were so knowledgeable during the carriage escort and why you seem to study so much from the strategy videos!"
Luke took comfort in the fact that his explanation had been accepted without suspicion, and he led them toward the outskirts of the city where the dungeons were most concentrated. As they walked, the crowds of players grew thicker, as many others were heading to the hunting grounds after the conclusion of the anniversary event.
"We are almost there," Luke said, pointing toward a specific area up ahead. "This isn't just called the City of Dungeons because there are a few nearby; it is because of the sheer density of the entrances."
Just as they were about to reach the clearing, a rustling sound erupted from the nearby bushes. Something burst out into the path directly in front of them, catching the entire group by surprise.
"Is that... a Poco?" Rabbit whispered, her eyes wide as she looked at the creature.