Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Cliffside Courage Training
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Suddenly, Lee Yoo-hyun turned all enthusiastic, saying he'd work hard, so I hung him off the cliff.
It was to build up his courage.
This guy, Lee Yoo-hyun, came from a civilian background, so his guts were about the size of a mouse turd.
We were heading soon to a hunting ground where you could level up from 50 to 100, but the terrain was rough, and one wrong move could mean plummeting to your death.
I got scared he'd puke his guts out like during the Lerming run, so I figured I'd toughen him up starting now.
“Uwaaaah! Uwaaaah!”
Lee Yoo-hyun screamed as he peered down into the ravine. Whether he was checking the dungeon's mood or not, he didn't beg me to stop.
Dun lounged on the beach bed he'd brought, sipping orange juice through his sunglasses. He'd even gotten a pair for Dogpoo and put them on him.
Dogpoo looked thirsty too, so Dun let him guzzle a few sips.
More intense training, he says. Who's gonna stop him. While Dun relaxed, he racked his brain for a way to make Lee Yoo-hyun suffer, settling on courage training.
“But how long do I have to do this?!”
“Until you’ve got the balls to cut the rope yourself and land safely in the hunting ground.”
The difference between civilians and hunters is boldness. That’s why it’s hard for regular folks to become hunters later in life—they’re too full of fear. They hesitate when there’s an opening, sacrificing their bodies instead, and end up costing countless lives.
If he’s gonna risk his neck in dungeon gates for real, he needs to stay calm no matter the situation. It’s a necessary step.
Not because it was a hassle to fight him directly. Dun slurped more orange juice.
Screams echoed from below. Lee Yoo-hyun yelled until he passed out, woke up, yelled again, repeat.
“Still alive?”
“…….”
At some point, Lee Yoo-hyun’s voice stopped. Dun lowered his sunglasses slightly and lifted his head a bit.
“Lee Yoo-hyun?”
Worried he might’ve fallen, Dun shoved a hand in his pocket and approached.
Lee Yoo-hyun had cut the rope and was silently plummeting down the cliff. Even as he fell, he was crafting landing gear.
Looks like he’d already overcome his fear. Dun hadn’t planned to head to the next hunting ground until he could do it solo.
The next hunting ground was right at the base of the cliff.
Sunglasses-wearing Dogpoo crawled up onto Dun’s head, slinking along.
[Secret……. Yoo-hyun……. Killed it…….]
“No need for secrets. I didn’t kill him. He’ll survive on his own.”
Dogpoo looked a little disappointed.
“What’s with that face.”
[Heehee……. Gone……]
Dogpoo changed the subject.
|Open Chatroom Open at Dawn VER.P.NULL
Before heading to the high-level hunting ground, Dun had to run an errand for Rihaowel.
While Lee Yoo-hyun survived solo in the hunting ground below, Dun planned to knock out the errand quick and return.
Swing by Selk Academy, deliver wooden swords to the swordsmanship club professor, then sell some items—even just a few—from the high-level hunting ground. That was Dun’s first plan.
Dun was finally ready to make some money.
Raising monsters he could command as limbs would take funds, and it was about time to pay back the people around him.
If the future unfolded as Dun knew it, he could lure in some useful contacts with items and cash, bend them to his will.
‘There was a player with a strong power-weakening ability, right…….’
Who was it again.
Dun headed toward the academy, scratching his head. It was so long ago, the memory teased at the edge.
Lost in thought, he arrived at Selk Academy. The guard uncle at the grand entrance greeted him.
“Dun! Here for Rihaowel’s errand again?”
“Yeah, protective enchanted swords for the swordsmanship club kids.”
Pointing to the box Dogpoo held, the guard uncle’s eyes widened.
“You’re not thinking of bringing a monster inside the school, are you?”
“Nah, he’s safe. I tamed him good.”
“Sorry, but even tamed, a former slime monster—no guarantee it won’t harm students. Can’t let it in.”
Denied entry for the slime, Dun pouted. Just in case, he’d prepared a glass jar, so he stuffed the slime in and spoke up.
“How about if I carry him in this jar?”
“Hmm…….”
The guard pondered, then nodded.
“Keep it out of sight from others.”
“You got it~”
He’d delivered here so often, he was tight with the guard uncle. Grinning at the flexible guy who waved him through the gate, Dun strolled inside.
Carrying the sword box, Dun wandered the academy grounds.
Kids his age played everywhere. These seemingly ordinary brats were all diamond-spoon, gold-spoon heirs. Rumor had it even imperial family members came from here.
“Hey, the delivery kid’s back.”
“……Should we talk to him?”
He visited so often for deliveries that tons of students recognized him.
Spotting another group, Dun nodded in greeting.
“!!!”
Their faces flushed red, and Dun raised an eyebrow. Guess he was pretty popular-looking here.
Not just students knew him. Players here on quests approached too.
“Aren’t you that Jammin NPC…… no, the village kid? What’re you doing here?”
“Mom’s errand.”
Plenty of players were shocked, thinking he was just a village-only NPC who kept popping up everywhere.
Dun nodded casually back at the surprised players.
He knew the academy layout inside out, so he easily reached the swordsmanship club room. Clanging sword clashes echoed from afar.
He knocked a few times. “Come in,” came approval, so Dun entered.
“Rihaowel’s order!”
The teacher-looking guy clapped, welcoming Dun.
The kids mid-spar all turned to stare. Dun just wanted to drop it off and nap on the academy lawn.
He handed the enchanted swords to the teacher and held out his hand for payment.
“100 units.”
“Here. Say hi to Rihaowel.”
The teacher placed a gold coin worth 100 units in Dun’s hand.
Asking to pass on regards while handing over the money, his flushed, embarrassed face rubbed Dun the wrong way.
Feeling queasy, Dun pocketed the coins and scowled.
Nodding vaguely that he got it, Dun headed for the door.
Except for one person catching his eye.
Those grating pink eyes sparkled, fixed on him. Her standout looks made her stick out like a sore thumb among the kids.
That creepy smiling bastard was the princess he’d seen before.
‘Her again?’
Princess Prim’s mouth twitched into a grin.
Sticking around felt like he’d ignore everyone and pick a fight with her, so he bolted from the room. Couldn’t ruin Rihaowel’s client.
Leaving the building, Dun climbed his favorite hill and flopped down. Perfect sunlight, soft grass.
Lying here, he loved the earthy scent.
Dun pulled out the jar from his belt. Trapped inside, Dogpoo’s squished face screamed frustration.
“I’ll let you out, Dogpoo. But stay out of the jar—no wandering.”
Uncorking it, Dogpoo basked in the breeze, singing a bright tune.
Dun closed his eyes, enjoying Dogpoo’s pleasant song.
* * *
Something kept poking his cheek. Not painful, but annoying.
“Ugh……. Stop…….”
He swatted sleepily, hearing a low chuckle.
Moments later, another poke.
“I said stop!”
Dun hated being touched while sleeping and bolted up yelling.
Opening his eyes, an unwelcome face filled his view.
“Sleeping on the street, Dun.”
Prim held a thin twig, smiling prettily. She’d been prodding his face with it.
He wondered how she knew his name, but figured her princess status meant some background check.
No clue why, though.
“Don’t mess with me when I’m sleeping.”
Dun snatched the twig, crushed it to powder, and blew it away.
Turning his back, curling up, closing his eyes—she circled around and loomed over his face again.
“Hmm. Do you know who I am?”
“Nope.”
“The empire’s princess, Primavera.”
So what.
Dun snorted and shut his eyes to sleep.
“A princess scamming coin from commoners. Real magnanimous of the nation’s royalty.”
“Oh, you remembered me?”
“Dunno. Give back the silver, maybe I will.”
“No silver, just gold.”
“Gimme gold then. I’ll forgive you.”
“Nah.”
“What. Not joking around. If you’ve got no business, scram. Princess this, that.”
Waving her off to get lost—Dun wanted no entanglement. Peeved at being called “princess whatever” like he didn’t matter, Prim’s eyebrow twitched.
“Know there’s a law for insulting royalty?”
“Royalty or whatever. If you jail every commoner paying taxes for ‘insult,’ who’d you rule? Politicians get trashed in the shadows by design.”
“Just toss your face-spitting ass in jail—no big loss, right?”
Of course she wouldn’t, but Prim provoked him anyway.
Dun, figuring he’d bust out and raze the palace if jailed, didn’t flinch.
Hanging or beheading wouldn’t work either.
“Jail me then. Just don’t wake me.”
Dun closed his eyes again; Prim rustled on, unwilling to quit. He tried ignoring, but it grated.
Soon, a cold, familiar blob plopped on his face, choking him.
Prim had yanked Dogpoo from the jar and dropped him on Dun’s face.
“You little…….”
Fury peaked; Dun grabbed the princess’s collar. Pleased with his reaction, Prim smirked.
But only Prim liked it.
Her stealthy escorts drew blades, pressing at Dun’s throat.
“Her Highness spared you out of fondness—don’t push it!”
“Too insolent for a brat, Your Highness.”
The guards, who’d watched quietly, now threatened the collar-grabber.
“Oh, playing it like that?”
Tightening his grip on her collar, Dun triggered several emergency quests.
In a flash, players teleported near him.
“Uwak, we ported right?”
“Coords spot-on. But what’s the sitch?”
“Oh! Dunu~”
The summoned ones scanned around, piecing it together.
All high-level players, their gear flashy: flaming staff, massive serrated sword, etc.
Quest was “Demoralize the Princess,” so they shoved those threats at her and the knights’ throats.
“Whoa…….”
Prim gawked at the gleaming weapons and strong adventurers, even touching a blade.
Her guards, stunned by the reversal, gaped.