Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Raoul's Inheritance
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"That guy. Still pulling the same crap lately?"
"Who are you talking about?"
"You know, that lunatic from Moretti Village who was screaming he couldn't log out."
GM Dane.
Ko Jun-cheol, the team leader of the Second Management Team, set down his coffee mug and scanned the dozens of monitors as he asked.
"Ah... I was just about to bring it up. That guy's log records show he actually logged out not long ago."
"What? For real?"
"Yeah. Check this out. Right after he met with you, boss, there's a logout record."
Ko Jun-cheol hurriedly looked at the monitor in response to his subordinate's answer.
"That little shit... After all that bullshit, he gave up once he got nothing out of it, huh?"
"Looks like it. Now that we've confirmed he can log out, it's a done deal. Honestly, at this point, we could even push for compensation..."
His subordinate spoke in an excited tone.
"But we've got our own user data glitches to worry about. Better to let this slide quietly."
"Probably."
He let out a low tsk with a sigh at his subordinate's reply.
"What's wrong?"
"We reported this guy to Director Han last time, remember?"
"Yeah. With the data issues, we had to loop in the dev team."
"Dev team called yesterday. Director Han's picking someone to monitor this guy solo."
"What? Solo? They planning 24/7 surveillance or something? We've got the logout record now—no big deal."
"Who knows."
"They pulling from management? Man... Whoever it is, overtime's guaranteed."
"No idea. Director Han's issuing the orders himself—could be internal or external. Just keep it in mind. No spreading rumors."
"Got it."
Ko Jun-cheol patted his subordinate's shoulder lightly and headed back to his office.
'Director Han issuing direct orders...'
He took a sip of his coffee, letting it flow into his mouth as he pondered.
'He's not the type to move without reason... What if there's actually a real problem with the game?'
The autonomous AI [Ethan].
The title of self-evolving AI sounded like it held infinite potential, but it was a double-edged sword fraught with danger.
'Rumors say it was developed for space exploration or something...'
Project A-a.
The unknown realm of space.
Research to prove the existence of countless dimensions there.
It had made waves at the time, but the project halted abruptly, and the story faded into obscurity.
Few might still remember the project... but even fewer knew [Ethan] was created for it.
'Whatever. True or not, it's not my concern.'
What mattered to Ko Jun-cheol wasn't how [Ethan] was made, but keeping [Evil Tail] running smoothly.
'As long as that psycho stays quiet, we're good.'
The guy claimed an abandoned address was his home, insisted a fake resident ID was his—pure nonsense.
'Even demanded to see a family that doesn't exist...'
Thinking of Woojin gave him a throbbing headache.
"Ugh! At least we've got proof he logged out now. No other issues should pop up."
He shuddered in disgust and opened the office door.
"What in the world is going on...?"
Woojin stared blankly at Raoul's sword lying on the floor.
'If it wasn't a dream but reality, that makes even less sense.'
If the otherworld he'd visited was real?
This was no different from bringing a real-world item into the game.
'Should I call a GM?'
He reached for the admin call button but shook his head.
'No. Even if they check, nothing good comes from it. They might just confiscate the item with some excuse.'
He was already on their bad side.
And he no longer planned to rely solely on them.
'How did I even log out?'
How did he return?
Everything was still a mystery.
"I have to figure it out myself."
Until now, he'd thought he was just trapped in the game.
A program glitch, he'd believed.
But now, his situation had reached a turning point.
'An otherworld identical to the game.'
A secret even the admins didn't know.
It was miraculous.
Maybe because he'd faced death?
He didn't collapse in tears like before.
His mind cooled sharply instead.
'I've shed enough tears, begged enough.'
If the otherworld he'd endured was real, this was no mere game issue.
'Not something police or admins can fix.'
Only him.
Slap!
He slapped his cheeks hard enough to jolt his senses.
"No matter what... I'll go back."
He gripped Raoul's sword from the floor.
What to do now?
The answer might be simpler than expected.
This was a game, and all players shared one goal.
The same in the otherworld, no doubt.
"Getting stronger."
He still didn't know how to return to reality.
But if the future he'd seen there unfolded here... A level 10 warrior who couldn't log out could do nothing.
'The notifications are working fine.'
Meaning items from the otherworld applied here.
'At least they can't cry hack or illegal.'
Woojin carefully pressed confirm.
▶ You gain great enlightenment.
▶ This is a superior essence.
▶ Cannot fully absorb at current grade.
▶ Raise grade via quests. -Minimum: Complete B-grade or higher quests (0/3)
▶ Some traits are restricted.
Memories flooded into his mind.
A flood of notifications poured in, matching those memories.
"Dragon Heaven..."
Even in the game, Raoul's memories seeped into him like melting away.
"...Insane."
In [Evil Tail], traits were rarer than skills.
'You need specific conditions or quests, but known ones were mostly cooking or crafting related.'
But his?
All tied to hunting and survival.
And each one's performance was jaw-droppingly powerful.
"Ha... Haha."
Woojin let out an involuntary laugh.
'...No way?'
A sudden thought struck him.
'Gear from the otherworld applied here. Then...'
"Status window."
Woojin clenched his fist unconsciously upon checking his status.
All starting characters in [Evil Tail] had base stats of 10.
'5 points at creation, plus 5 per level-up.'
A level 10 player's total was 110.
But his? 230.
Double a same-level player.
Point-wise, comparable to level 30.
The reason was simple.
The total rose due to the bonus values in parentheses next to each stat.
'The runes consumed in the otherworld.'
They'd applied here too.
Obviously, raising stats got harder per level.
'This gap will only grow stronger over time.'
"Wasn't for nothing."
Woojin smiled bitterly at his stats.
Pulling an all-nighter hunting gray wolves had paid off.
'Raoul...'
He recalled Raoul's final moments.
'Is this really the end?'
Shing.
He quietly drew the sword from its sheath.
'Not sure if a nobody like me deserves your swordsmanship...'
What thoughts crossed Raoul's mind, handing over his beloved blade on death's door?
No way he'd pass his life's mastery to a mere level 10 warrior.
"What I can do for you..."
Woojin murmured lowly, as if to Raoul.
"...Is become someone worthy of this swordsmanship."
Inherited Skill: Dragon Heaven (龍天)
▶ The unfinished mastery realized by dragon hunter Raoul after slaying 3 dragons.
Whoosh!
Airflow from the blade enveloped his body.
"...Kuh?"
Sudden, tearing muscle pain surged.
"Gahhh...!!!"
[Evil Tail] emphasized realism, but it was a game.
No one wanted pain.
Pain sensitivity could drop to 2% max.
With limbs severed or broken routinely, it was essential.
Woojin had it too.
So what was this pain...?
'Even with reduction, this much...'
Impossible to imagine full force.
The pain vanished instantly with the notification.
"Hah... Hah..."
As pain faded, blood flowed briskly through his body, bringing refreshment.
Crackle... Crackle!
Faint sparks danced along the blade he held.
"...!!"
Startled, he sheathed it hurriedly.
"Close... call."
He glanced around.
Fortunately, no one paid attention.
"Ha... Haha..."
The tingling in his sword hand.
Woojin clenched and unclenched it, committing the sensation to memory.
The Labyrinth Tower's 100th floor in the otherworld.
'Clearing it brings miracles.'
If the otherworld was real...
Raoul's words would be too.
'I must return there.'
Clearing the 100th might lead back to reality.
He could use game skills there.
'Meaning skills learned here work there too.'
Like runes applying here.
'Even if I could go now, too weak for floor 100.'
Before returning, he needed strength—in the game this time.
"Lots to do now."
His eyes gleamed as he clenched his fist.