Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: A Deal Struck
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Lee Yoo-hyun's eyes widened at Seol Do-yoon's threat, staring blankly before blinking hard once.
"...So that's how it was."
He nearly bristled but paused, stroking his chin in thought.
Rather than betrayal, he first understood the wall and sense of alienation he'd felt from Seol Do-yoon.
Considering the circumstances, it was a pretty logical threat and persuasion process.
To secure safety, they'd only chased solid justifications.
Seol Do-yoon was the type of kid he could never quite figure out, always tricky, but seeing her lay it bare like this brought understanding—and calm.
"Still, it's a relief you didn't hand it over to the Association President. Thanks for diverting it. I'll help out as hard as I can, so Do-yoon, keep guarding those documents, okay?"
Lee Yoo-hyun smiled warmly, patting Seol Do-yoon and Lee Sae-byeok's heads. Seol Do-yoon looked up, smiled back, and gently brushed his hand away.
"That's some positive reverse psychology."
"What, so you're saying you'll obediently risk your life tanking? Why?"
Lee Sae-byeok propped her chin on her hand, gazing intently at Lee Yoo-hyun.
"You okay getting quietly offed someday? What about your little sister? Fine leaving her behind and dying?"
"My little sister Ra-hee is tough. If I die, she'll cry a bit, but she'll live strong on the life insurance, fangirling away."
"You two really have a close sibling bond, huh?"
Lee Yoo-hyun chuckled and nodded.
His life was built on affection. Warm parents, warm little sister.
There had been that unfortunate accident, but relatives had warmly taken him in and supported him back to his feet.
Even when everyone hit hard times, juggling part-time jobs and getting tangled with the Association, thinking they couldn't go further—dungeon kids and Association kids had helped.
Even dying now, it was a blessed life. Having grown up showered in love, he just wanted to give to these kids who clearly reeked of deprivation.
But saying it straight wouldn't land well.
"Let's negotiate instead of one-sided threats. And drop the corny sympathy crap."
He knew it'd cause backlash if said outright, so Lee Yoo-hyun phrased it their way.
People took affection differently.
These kids hadn't properly known warmth or bonds since birth. In this shallow relationship, sweet words would only scar deeper or provoke fierce rejection. Their expectations for sentiment, loyalty, or love were way behind.
"I know you two are incredibly capable. You'd protect Ra-hee way better than I could. I'll stake my life helping you both—so can you protect Ra-hee?"
"......"
It was easier to take than expected. He'd braced for teary head-pats and hand-holds leading to sappy sentiment.
Lee Sae-byeok and Seol Do-yoon fixed their gazes on Lee Yoo-hyun. For the first time, his eyes held a grown-up's warm concern and care.
"......"
"......"
Seol Do-yoon and Lee Sae-byeok exchanged glances briefly.
When mild-mannered trash-talker Seol Do-yoon stayed mum, Lee Sae-byeok broke the silence with a爽快 laugh.
"Wha—talk about not being just any kindergarten teacher. You sure know how to run your mouth at your level, Seol Do-yoon. Doesn't flinch at family threats—tough opponent."
Lee Sae-byeok snarked at the thoughtful Seol Do-yoon before burrowing under the covers.
"Whatever, you decide. Doesn't matter to me. But if you've got orders, give 'em separate. That uncle feels too real—scary."
She was the type who grew attached way too easily. Not like Seon A-rim, impossible to stick around without bonding.
He'd pegged him as the type flashing easy candy-coating for quick favor, showing off as the good guy—but nope.
She absolutely didn't want to get close to that uncle. Hope, expectations, happy delusions—they were shackles.
Yet paradoxically, that sliver of hope for a better future kept making her help Seol Do-yoon.
Watching Lee Sae-byeok turn away and fall asleep, Seol Do-yoon pondered.
Truth was, the dilemma's direction was already set. Seol Do-yoon walked over, placing a hand on Lee Yoo-hyun's shoulder.
"For now, pull an all-nighter and finish the game update. Can you handle the capsule update too? More Awakeners and inflows to the Association will make the organization more transparent."
Seol Do-yoon asked with a now-relaxed expression.
Wheeling brains under surveillance with limited people and space was tougher than acting freely in the unsupervised Nina Pinnta simulation.
Finishing capsule updates quick would get Association kids diving in for Awakening.
"Got it. Thanks for trusting me."
"...I'll do my best too."
Seol Do-yoon sipped warm tea from the tumbler and smiled brightly.
"What exactly do you want, Do-yoon?"
At Lee Yoo-hyun's question, Seol Do-yoon blinked. Her gaze flicked briefly to the sleeping Lee Sae-byeok in the distance, then back to Lee Yoo-hyun.
"First, take down Association President Kim Woo-sung along with the Abyss Project."
* * *
[Updating settings. 60%]
Dun floated the system window and tossed a small pebble, catching it again. His own power control practice. Helped subtly.
'Lee Yoo-hyun succeeded in second Awakening, tweaking the simulation server, huh.'
Lying on the general store ceiling, Dun gazed at the sky. After crossing to this world and going through so much, he'd nearly forgotten his past life—but big events resurfacing brought memories fresh.
"Update's done, so the real thing's coming soon."
Day to reunite with Abyss crew was near.
Post-Nina Pinnta sim update came game capsule update; Association President trying to control even inside sim—Lee Yoo-hyun sweet-talked him well, delaying it to 1-2 years after hunter capsule update, as he recalled.
'Wonder what it'll feel like reuniting.'
Tossing and catching the pebble absently, Dun flung it sideways.
Whoosh, thunk!
The fast-flying pebble pierced the monster surveilling him from a tree.
Dead monster's items clattered to the ground.
"Ah, f*ck, daaaaang! Epic item dropped from the sky outta nowhere!"
"It fell right on my head! Let's PK for ownership—fair game!"
"Logging out~~"
Players were rowdy as ever today. Louder than usual, actually. Spotting the update progress status window, word spread; curiosity about changes drew crowds swarming.
Squawk, screeeeech.
Players shrieked monstrous cries, brawling each other.
Chaos, pure chaos.
Dun plugged his ears with fingers.
Genesis Village as start town made it extra crowded and noisy.
Zero manners for NPCs. Manners. Recalling his player days, he only remembered puking—but he'd kept manners, sorta.
Truth: he caused nuisances too. Just less, since logins were spotty.
"Heard about the herbs by the general store? Wanna snag some? Pretty good stuff."
Swish, splat!
Stealing now? Dun snatched and hurled a pebble.
[Quikyu133's Inventory]
A pebble flew from nowhere, skewering 'Quikyu133.' Players spotting the inventory swarmed like it was manna, looting everything.
Dun smirked pityingly at the ant-hill players swarming the items.
'What changed post-update again.'
Dun rolled on the roof.
Major update added NPC settings, plus minor protection mode making age-restricted game all-ages. Huge controversy before, but post-update, complaints vanished—he remembered that.
Sim details post-update didn't come clear.
Rare game capsule nausea sufferers existed; he was one, so couldn't play long—regret.
If only good stuff happened in-game, he'd endured nausea, but weird job change and bad luck streaks meant more real gates than Nina Pinnta dungeons.
[Too... sun too strong... Poopy evaporating... Too...]
"Evaporating makes you steam poop?"
Dun draped his outer shirt over Poopy to block sun.
[Heehee... cooler now...]
"Yeah, yeah. C'mere if you love me."
Dun hugged Poopy. Cool under the shirt. Rubbing his face on Poopy's plump body, it sang cute xylophone tunes.
Dun dozed off quick; Poopy carried him wriggling to his room.
Placing Dun on the bed, Poopy wriggled into his arms and slept too.
* * *
Update dragged all day, finishing around night.
[Update complete. NPC system window generated.]
[Update complete. View update notes?]
Alert popped up.
Mid-bath, Dun paused shampooing, frowning.
"NPC system window—what's that."
Dun pulled up the new system window. Parchment floated mid-air, text inscribed.
{Record Parchment}
{Oracle paper descends. May this distributed virtual paper enable smooth exchanges with adventurers.}
{1. Role Check}
{2. Info Check}
{3. Growth with Adventurers}
{4. Pigeon Notes (78)}
{5. Request Setup}
{6. Friend Management}
{7. Adventurer Dictionary}
...
Parchment brimmed with options. Felt different from players' system windows.
Dun tapped 'Role Check.'
{Select a role! View recommendations?}
"Yeah."
Approval unfurled parchment before him with a long list.
{Mystical Kid of Rihaoel General Store - Dun}
{1. Item Merchant for Skilled Adventurers}
{2. Swordsmanship Instructor for Skilled Adventurers}
{3. Hidden Golden Connection}
{4. Power-Hiding Dungeon Helper}
{Choose one only}
"What the heck."
Suddenly, Dun recalled system's past pitch after teaching Lee Yoo-hyun swordplay: become 'Swordsmanship Tutorial NPC'?
Next update, Willy got designated 'Swordsmanship Tutorial NPC'—something like that.
"Gotta check what Uncle Willy's up to before picking."
Dun checked other menus besides Role.
"Info Check."
{Dun (self-set name)}
{Level: 999}
Simpler than usual, but like info window.
"Info window."
Dun compared info window and parchment side-by-side. Minor word/format diffs aside, similar.
3. Growth with Adventurers resembled party invites.
4 was notes.
Name-setting sucked hard though.
"Request Setup?"
Fresh one. Dun opened quest setup.
{1. One-on-One Request}
{2. One-to-Many Request}
{3. Large-Scale Request}
{4. Targeted Request}
{5. Urgent Request}
Requests... quests?
Till now, Dun issued quests to players via mere thought, no setup. This seemed to log and list what he'd done.
"This parchment for all NPCs?"
If so, power-NPCs like him would sprout everywhere. Sucks sharing the perk.
{Friend Request (13)}
{Pigeon Notes (87)}
13 friend requests, 87 notes piled.
Dun was half-sure. Rolled out to nearly all NPCs.
{Received friend request from Primavera!}
{Dun: Quit note-bombing, you psycho.}