Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Surrounded Upon Login
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[Chapter 38]
“Who are you people? Why are you following me?”
“I’m just so thrilled, can I get one hug, just once?”
“Absolutely not!”
No sooner had he logged into the game than he ran into trouble. He’d stepped out to look for that kid, figuring Dun would be waiting in the dungeon, but a crowd of other players came swarming after him. In particular, the one with the username MochibolTV was the most persistent in tailing him.
Mochibol sent the ‘Shared Eye’ he’d bought with money saved up to become a Ninafinta game streamer floating a bit closer to Yoo-hyun.
The massive eye blinked as it broadcast Yoo-hyun’s image onto Mochibol’s stream screen.
“Look at this! All these people have been waiting for Yuhyun bro! How’s it feel?”
“They’re waiting for me?”
- Wow he’s handsome af
- Chibol-ching lololol
- But lol Yoo-hyun doesn’t even recognize Chibol?
- Who the heck is this guy anyway
- Woo~ yeah baby~~
- That’s how long they’ve been waiting~
Mochibol and the ragtag group who’d joined the fun—Yoo-hyun comeback endurance squad—had him surrounded. Mochibol pulled up the stream chat window and showed it to the bewildered Yoo-hyun standing there. The chat was scrolling down so fast it was a blur.
“Ah~ the man of the hour himself, Yuhyun bro. Care to introduce yourself?”
“Why am I the center of attention?”
Yoo-hyun asked as he slowly backed away from the crowd.
“Mochibol here said he’d been sitting right in this spot ever since you logged out, waiting for you.”
Another player jumped in to answer Yoo-hyun’s question while Mochibol pondered how to explain the situation.
“No way... why would you... do something like that...”
Shock and wariness flickered in Yoo-hyun’s eyes. He crossed his arms over his chest protectively and braced to bolt.
He was starting to get genuinely scared.
“Yuhyun bro, I’m not some weirdo, so don’t back away in fear and just answer me... Agh!”
Yoo-hyun swiftly conjured a net trap and hurled it over Mochibol and the crowd. Those caught in the sudden trap flailed around tangled up inside it.
“Hey, wait! Yuhyun bro! After waiting this long, at least give me a bit more YouTube content before you go!”
Mochibol stretched out his hand, gazing wistfully at the trending star slipping away.
He’d planned to keep him around until Dun showed up, peppering him with questions for an interview, but that chance had flown the coop.
Mochibol clicked his tongue and pulled the item Dun had given him from his pocket: the [Normal] Stone of Resonance.
Breaking this would let Dun know Yoo-hyun was back. Mochibol crushed it in his fist.
As he started prying his way out of the net, the people around him began murmuring. Everyone’s eyes fixed on one spot. Sensing something off, Mochibol turned toward where the stares converged.
Awooooooo—!
A monstrous roar suddenly ripped through the air. The moment it echoed in his ears, the system window blared noisily.
[Raiculin’s roar reduces morale.]
[Heat spreads through the hunting ground. Movement slows.]
“Hey!!! No idea where it came from, but it’s a boss mob!! Watch out!!”
“Raiculin? Anyone got info on Raiculin??”
“C-c-crazy, it’s level 350!! Who the hell’s gonna kill that? Don’t engage—run!”
“Hang on, is that someone riding on top of the monster?”
Dust storms whipped up with the monster’s arrival, forcing everyone to squint for a better look.
The crowd spotted a small child riding on Raiculin’s back.
The hood was pulled low over their face, hiding it from view. The name tag above their head was obscured by the dust as well.
“Isn’t that Yoo-hyun nuts? He’s ignoring the boss monster and running straight at it?”
“Chibol, you said you’d been waiting forever. Know why he’s acting like that?”
Those who’d stuck around for the Mochibol endurance challenge stared in stunned silence.
“No clue. Honestly, I just met the guy today too.”
“What kinda bullshit is that?”
Chaos erupted from the boss monster’s sudden appearance, but only Yoo-hyun kept fleeing consistently—from the group, straight toward the level 350 boss.
Mochibol knew it instinctively. The person riding that massive jaguar-like beast was Dun.
Joy bubbled up in Mochibol as he sprang to his feet and took off running.
“Yubaa~ Sorry everyone! Something urgent came up, so stream ends here for today!”
-?
- Dude right when it’s getting good
-???
- Nooooo ㅠㅠ
-no
The chat exploded in protest against the abrupt end, but Mochibol was resolute. He stowed the ‘Shared Eye’ back in his inventory and sprinted toward Dun.
“Dun! Take me with you!”
Afraid of losing Dun, Mochibol snatched a thick wooden plank from the ground and hopped on.
“Earth Transformation!”
[Earth Transformation activates.]
The ground beneath Mochibol’s feet rose up. The elevated earth carried the plank—and Mochibol on top—forward.
Originally an attack skill, it could double as rapid transit with something buoyant like a thick plank to ride the waves.
Mochibol gripped the stick ends with both hands and leaned forward to keep his balance.
The closer he got to the monster, the clearer the small child’s form became.
Red eyes with sharply upturned corners came into view.
He’d been skeptical about someone riding such a fearsome monster, but yep—it was Dun.
Dun scooped up Yoo-hyun and tossed him onto Raiculin’s back.
“Dun, sir! Look at me! Just glance my way!!”
Dun, who’d just climbed back onto Raiculin to take off, turned at the desperate shout.
There stood Mochibol, looking rather disheveled.
And behind him, a horde of people charging fiercely.
They’d been too scared at first to approach Raiculin, but spotting the rider had piqued their curiosity, turning pursuit into a frenzy.
“What’s with that creepy mob?”
He’d felt a twinge of unease when he’d turned on the stream, but not like this.
Dun frowned and stroked Raiculin’s head. Raiculin growled pleasantly at the touch.
“Raiculin, kick up some more dust storms. Time to go.”
“I! Me!”
“Oh, and Raiculin. Gotta bring that one too. The yellow curly-haired one over there.”
[Got it.]
Urged by Dun to hurry, Raiculin wrapped its tail around Mochibol and lifted him before dashing off.
“Gahhh!”
Mochibol dangled precariously from Raiculin’s tail. Not only did his vision flip upside down, the tail whipped him up and down wildly. Dizzy, he screamed at the top of his lungs.
[Raiculin’s tail grip reduces HP.]
“Huh? H-hey! Dun! Thanks for the ride, but I’m dying! My health’s dropping!”
“You’ll arrive before you die.”
“Aaah, Duuun!”
* * *
Once they’d fled to a spot the players couldn’t track, Dun dropped the near-dead Mochibol to the ground.
“Ugh...... I can’t even ride a broom yet......”
Sprawled on the floor, Mochibol heaved deep breaths, body trembling. Dun hopped down from Raiculin’s back and tossed a recovery potion from Rihaowel’s general store near Mochibol.
Yoo-hyun took a moment to gaze at Dun, whom he hadn’t seen in ages. As expected, he looked much the same as last time. Though his hair and height seemed a tad longer now.
“Dun, it’s been forever.”
Yoo-hyun approached and greeted him. Dun, who’d been petting Raiculin’s head, looked up at Yoo-hyun.
He couldn’t tell the state of Dun’s real body since this was his in-game avatar, but his expression seemed relaxed—no worries in sight.
Guess nothing major happened.
Dun scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. He’d been a bit bummed, wondering if his interference as a wildcard had gotten Yoo-hyun killed.
Lately, he’d been thinking the world he’d returned to and intervened in might differ from—or match—the one he knew, so he’d been on edge.
He nodded vaguely at the “long time no see,” about to ask “You okay?” or “What happened?” but swallowed the words, rolling his eyes instead.
“Uh, anyway, let’s go level up some more.”
“Yeah, sure. We should.”
Yoo-hyun smiled at Dun’s gruff suggestion.
“But you’re not gonna ask what I’ve been up to?”
“You handled it fine on your own, right?”
“No heart. Show a little more concern.”
Dun let out a hollow chuckle at Yoo-hyun’s absurd reply.
“What’ve you been doing till now?”
“Awakening succeeded. Just got checked out. All thanks to you—seriously grateful.”
Ah, figures. He’d suspected, and it was true.
He’d figured awakening was due soon, and it lined up perfectly.
Dun grimaced, embarrassed by the thanks.
“If you die and your account gets deleted, the soul contract screws me over too. Manage yourself.”
“Got it, got it.”
Yoo-hyun chuckled softly, watching Dun’s eyes dart around, unable to focus.
“But Dun, do you know what’s going on? Why everyone’s calling my name and waiting, why this loner me’s suddenly Mr. Popular, all that. And what’s with the level 350 terrifying monster you rode in on......”
Yoo-hyun finally unleashed the questions he’d held back, deeming greetings first since it’d been so long.
Dun scowled at the barrage.
“Ah, basically, what happened while you were gone?”
“Basically, you didn’t show, so I told that adventurer Mochibol over there to wait here till you did. Turns out the waiting itself went viral or something.”
Ahh. So that’s what happened. The weird situation finally clicked.
“And that super-strong-looking monster?”
“Ended up raising it somehow. Wasn’t this OP originally, but after some training, it got nuts.”
“How’d you train it?”
Dun bent down and gripped a fairly large, solid rock.
“Fetch!”
Whoosh—bang!
The stone shattered the sound barrier, slicing through the sky with a rip. Clouds around it split wide open.
Raiculin had to catch it before it broke, so it launched off the ground before Dun even finished speaking.
Raiculin’s flaming fur blazed brighter than usual as it soared, glowing vividly.
“Whoa......”
Raiculin landed swiftly, shook off the flames, and dropped the rock fragments at Dun’s feet.
[Couldn’t bring it intact. I’ll do better next time.]
“Yeah, step it up.”
Dun reached out and scratched Raiculin’s chin. It purred, swishing its tail.
Its stats had shot up after one go. Monsters under Dun’s control grew way faster than normals, making it possible.
“Raiculin’s insanely fast—fun to ride. My supersonic car.”
“You know all the terms.”
Raiculin, sensing praise for its speed, puffed out its chest proudly.
[Vroom vroom!]
The arrogant ‘vroom vroom’ from such an imposing beast felt hilariously off. The scene was comedy gold.
Dun whispered in Yoo-hyun’s ear, who was stifling a laugh.
“Told it ‘vroom vroom’ is the cool roar of awesome beings.”
“Ahh, gotcha.”
“Stupid mutt’s cocky as hell, but kinda cute sometimes.”
Dun and Yoo-hyun giggled at Raiculin sitting tall and proud.
[Why are you two snickering at me?]
Dun scratched its chin again.
“Just sharing compliments. Said you’re cool.”
[Right. I’m the strongest and coolest.]
“Yeah, yeah.”
[......For real?]
Raiculin’s tail wagged furiously, thrilled at Dun’s rare admission.
As they watched the spinning tail in fascination, footsteps approached.
Mochibol, fully recovered, staggered up to Dun.
“Dun....... Free me......”
Mid-chat with Raiculin, Dun recalled he hadn’t rewarded Mochibol yet upon hearing the dying voice.
Character was fine after the potion, but his spirit looked wrecked.
“Now....... finally......”
“Here, your reward.”
Mochibol is free.
Dun pulled out the prepared [Unique] Sage’s Staff and tossed it to him.
Mochibol caught it and quickly opened the item info.
[Unique] Sage’s Staff
Description: Mystical staff used by a legendary sage. While held, boosts Intelligence stat by 50% with no level restriction. Greatly increases magic comprehension.
[New stat unlocked: Wisdom.]
“Wooooah!”
“Whoa, scared me. Don’t yell.”
Mochibol hugged the staff tight and whipped around to Dun.
“You’re the real......!”
A 50% Intelligence boost was insane enough, but a rare stat on top?
“My light!!!!”
He hoisted Dun up in a bear hug. Looked ready to plant a kiss.
Yoo-hyun jolted in horror and rushed to intervene.
But a fist flew first.
[MochibolTV has died.]
Dead in a flash.