Chapter 160
Chapter 160
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: The Grizzly
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The woman in the cat suit, Viet, couldn't understand Lee Si-woo.
That scruffy-looking brat was obviously an NPC.
But to empathize with some AI from a virtual world, or whatever it was, and step in to help?
Si-woo's pathetic sanctimony was ridiculous, and it grated on her nerves.
Viet sneered at Lee Si-woo.
“Hey, frog-boy. Tired of living? Or has that ridiculous suit made you think you’re invincible? What? We’ll see who regrets it? Hey, you’re interfering with us, your fellow rescue team members, for a brat like that. Do you seriously think that’s the right thing to do?”
“If you're a rescue team, you should act like one. It's not normal for grown adults to pressure a child, is it?”
Viet hated people like him.
The kind who stick their noses in other people's business when they can't even take care of themselves.
Idiots who meddle without knowing their place.
She was sick of it.
“Oh, is that so? And? You want to fight us here?”
“If necessary.”
At Si-woo’s attitude, so straightforward it seemed foolish, Viet let out a low laugh and spread her hand.
Long, sharp claws extended from her five fingers.
“Interesting. Fine, let’s see. Who will be the one to regret this.”
Montreal stopped Viet, who looked ready to pounce on Si-woo at any moment.
“Viet, stop. We can’t cause a disturbance, not when things are already so chaotic. And Mr. Eric, I must ask. This child holds a clue regarding my missing colleague. I don’t intend to harm him, so I would appreciate it if you gave us a moment to question him.”
At Montreal's words, the young Si-woo flared up and shouted.
“I already told you! A specter took your friend! I don’t know anything else!”
Montreal shot back in a cold voice.
“We’ll see if that’s true. Listen, kid. We have someone on our team with an aptitude for ‘interrogation.’ If you cooperate just a little, not only will we believe your story, but we’ll also secure as much salt and silver as you said.”
The ominous word ‘interrogation’ made the young Si-woo shake his head frantically.
“No way. And salt and silver? Don’t bother securing it. Damn it, did you think I told you for my own good? I told you because I was worried you’d all get into trouble. No! Just forget about the salt and silver now. Just stay here like idiots and see what happens! Fools!”
As the young Si-woo spoke tauntingly, sticking his tongue out, Viet’s temper flared and she jabbed a finger at him.
“You little brat. You keep running that mouth and I might just have to sew it shut.”
“Go ahead and try if you think you can. Not that I’d just stand here and take it like a punching bag.”
“Wow, this little bastard. He really doesn’t know his place. I oughta just…”
“Oughta just what? All you do is talk a big game, old lady.”
“Old lady? Old laaaady?!”
Lee Si-woo stepped in front of Viet, who was bickering with the young Si-woo like a child.
“That’s enough. And Mr. Montreal, I’m sorry, but if this child doesn't want to be interrogated, then that’s the end of it.”
At this point, it was the young Si-woo who couldn’t understand Lee Si-woo.
He had no idea what connection this man in the frog suit had to him, or why on earth he was standing up for him.
And Montreal was thinking the same thing.
“I thought it was a reasonable proposal. And I believed I was being considerate enough of you, Mr. Eric. But this won't do. You’re acting strange. The way you're protecting that kid, the way you're not sharing information… So, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. You’re a very unpleasant person to be around, Mr. Eric.”
At a time when mysterious disappearances were happening.
Being told to leave the police station, the only safe zone, was tantamount to a death sentence.
Especially with night about to fall.
However, Lee Si-woo answered without a hint of hesitation.
“Understood. We’ll leave.”
Luktator sighed and grumbled.
“Sigh, looks like we’ll be sleeping on the streets tonight. Why must I endure such hardship at my age?”
“I’m sorry, elder. I have no excuse.”
“No excuse? Kid, save the empty words. I’ve known for a while that you do as you please.”
Lee Si-woo shrugged and said with a cheeky grin.
“Well, it’s not like this is the first time I’ve been selfish. Alright, then, kid. Let’s go. Since we’re getting kicked out because of you, you’ll have to be responsible for our safety from now on.”
“What do you mean I’m responsible for your safety? And do you know me? Why have you been defending me this whole time? I’m grateful, but… this is a little overwhelming.”
“Be very overwhelmed. That’s why I’m doing it.”
“…Ha, this mister is a real piece of work.”
“Mister? I’m not that old.”
Viet stared in disbelief at the two of them chatting away in front of her, then shrieked.
“Hey, you bastards! If you’re gonna get out, then get out! Stop putting on a damn show in front of me!”
As if to avoid getting burned by Viet's fiery temper, Lee Si-woo took the young Si-woo and Luktator and left the police station.
As Lee Si-woo actually walked out, Viet muttered, wondering what kind of idiots they were.
“He actually left when we told him to? Does he have a death wish?”
Montreal, on the other hand, stroked his chin in thought before finally speaking.
“Viet. The salt was in the warehouse, but there was no silver, right? Hmm, was there a jewelry store near the police station?”
“Huh? Montreal, what are you talking about? You… don’t tell me you actually believe that kid’s nonsense?”
“I didn’t at first. But the way Eric was looking after that kid felt off, so I thought we should secure a little, just in case. You never know, right? What if the kid's nonsense is the truth, and Eric, knowing that, took an interest in him? Otherwise, that reaction… it doesn’t make sense.”
“Hmm… so that’s what you think. Well, it’s not a difficult task, and we have nothing to lose.”
“Let’s secure a small amount. If it has no effect, we’ve only wasted a little effort, so there’s no real loss. But if by some chance it does work, the credit will be ours. Right?”
“Alright. I’ll get on it right away. But… that Eric guy? That frog bastard. I really don’t like him… Are you just going to let him go?”
“We can’t just let him go. Viet, sorry, but I need you to do a little more work. Grizzly, the one we met before. You remember him, right?”
At the mention of Grizzly, Viet’s voice became timid, like a cat facing a puma.
“…Grizzly? Hey, isn’t that a bit harsh? That guy, he’s clearly a newbie. But Grizzly is…”
“A newbie killer.”
At Montreal’s nonchalant reply, Viet stared at him as if disappointed.
Although her first impression of Si-woo wasn't great, it was another matter entirely to think he was repulsive enough to be driven to his death.
Noticing her accusatory gaze, Montreal spoke in a bitter tone.
“Don’t look at me like that, Viet. You know how many newbies from our club we're protecting, and that Grizzly is turning a blind eye to it. Of course, who knows how long he’ll tolerate it… but sometimes he needs prey. In that sense, a troublemaker like him is a perfect target.”
“Well… I’m sure you know what you’re doing, but still, be careful when you use Grizzly. You know, right? Those psychos from Dawn aren't the kind you can control. Besides… lately, they’ve been… extremely abnormal. Suddenly going on newbie-killing sprees, seeking out and murdering people who’ve received hidden quests…”
Because of Dawn's sudden change in stance, the atmosphere of the Trial World had completely changed.
It had become heavier, more ominous.
“I know. I’ll be as careful as I can. But in that sense… Eric. That fellow was far too careless. When you come to a new environment like this, you’re supposed to act as inconspicuously as possible.”
Montreal narrowed his eyes, as if trying to gauge the limits of Lee Si-woo, who was now gone from sight.
* * *
As soon as he left the police station, the young Si-woo walked ahead with quick steps, leading the group toward a small supermarket.
There, it seemed the young Si-woo had already made some preparations; there were several sacks of salt and bags filled with powder made from ground silver.
The young Si-woo opened one of the sacks to check the salt and silver.
“I originally prepared this to help other people. But I guess I’ll have to use it all myself. Anyway… mister. Can you tell me now? Do you know me? Why did you help me?”
Lee Si-woo hesitated for a moment.
In truth, it had been something of a gamble.
He had definitely met this boy before.
Yes, at the orphanage and church in Secret Chapter 1.
But would that connection from back then still hold now that Chapter 2 had begun?
And would this boy, after nearly seven or eight years had passed by this world’s standards, still remember him?
But the hesitation was brief.
Lee Si-woo spoke without delay.
“It’s been a while.”
“A while? Huh? So you really do know me?”
Lee Si-woo shrugged.
“You’ve never seen my face, so you wouldn’t know me, but she might.”
The young Si-woo tilted his head, looking back and forth between Si-woo and Luktator.
Luktator smacked her lips and pressed her suit watch. The rat helmet disappeared, revealing her face.
When the cute face of the incredibly skilled girl he had seen long ago was revealed, the young Si-woo let out a cry that was almost a cheer.
“Ah! I know who you are! You’re the guy and that girl from the orphanage who left me and Yun there, right?! Now that I think about it, I think I saw you at the church once, too… Huh? But that’s weird. Why haven’t you aged at all? And… that weird rat-like suit, that was yours, wasn’t it? Oh, right, I never saw your face, did I?”
There was no way Si-woo would have shown his face.
He couldn't know what would happen if he revealed his face to the young Si-woo, who would gradually become his spitting image.
Lee Si-woo said in a calm voice.
“You must have a lot of questions, but let’s put them aside for now. If this specter you mentioned exists, this place will become dangerous soon.”
“…You believe me?”
As soon as he realized Si-woo's identity, the clever kid immediately dropped the 'mister' and addressed him more familiarly.
Pleased by his attitude, Lee Si-woo said in a tone laced with amusement.
“I’d rather trust you, who acted so calmly at such a young age back at the orphanage, than those fools I just met today. Don’t you think?”
“Hehe, you have a point.”
“Alright, then let’s get started. First, how do we use this salt and silver powder?”
“You need to sprinkle a line of salt under all the entrances to the supermarket. Think of it as creating a sort of barrier. As for the silver powder, if we fail to stop the specters from entering, we can throw it to repel them or coat our weapons with it to fight back.”
“Hmm, I think I get the gist of how to do it…”
*Thud!*
Just then, the door to the small supermarket was thrown open violently, and a burly man entered.
He had the build and impression of a mountain bandit.
He was Tumor, the owner of the infamous Grizzly suit and a member of Dawn.
He immediately asked Lee Si-woo.
“When did you enter the Trial World?”
Inside the frog helmet, Lee Si-woo’s eyebrow twitched.
Even he couldn’t fathom this uninvited guest’s intentions.
However, something felt off, so Si-woo didn't answer truthfully.
“Well now. It’s a bit surprising to be asked so suddenly, but it’s not a hard question to answer… I think it’s been about half a year.”
With so many people searching for the one who opened the Secret Chapter these days, there was no way Si-woo would openly admit he had just recently entered the Trial World. Tumor tilted his head at the answer.
It was completely different from the information Montreal had given him.
“Montreal told me you were a first-timer.”
“Ah, I am a first-timer. I just lived as a vagrant for a while. After all, the Trial World isn’t an easy place to adapt to, is it?”
But Tumor wasn't naive enough to fall for Si-woo’s little trick.
“Hmm, we can check to find out.”
Tumor pointed an upgraded version of a scanner at Lee Si-woo.
Soon, the date Si-woo entered the Trial World appeared on the scanner, and Tumor’s eyes gleamed.
He felt there was something unusual about Si-woo’s record, which was shorter than anyone he had seen recently.
Tumor asked.
“Who… are you? How does someone who’s been in the Trial World for such a short time have a suit? Don’t tell me, are you the one who opened the Secret Chapter?”
Lee Si-woo replied with a brazen voice.
“Of course not. I’ve been in the Trial World for over half a year. How else would I have a suit?”
As Si-woo continued to play dumb, Tumor nodded his head and said.
“I suppose it doesn’t matter. Whether you opened the Secret Chapter or not… I still have a duty to kill you.”
With those words, Tumor, now fully covered in the Grizzly suit, charged at Lee Si-woo.