Quest Grind and Lunar New Year Reunion
During breaks to recover MP or HP, Mu-hyuk crafted gear. When hunger dropped, he cooked.
He steadily used his skills, and after taking down around 200 Katar, he finally savored the thrill of a skill level-up for the first time in ages.
Powerful Arrow Shot level has increased.
Damage increased by 10%.
Mu-hyuk reveled in the slightly higher damage as he massacred more Katar.
Katar Defeated (298/300)
Katar Defeated (299/300)
Just one left.
Wind Step
Storm
He dashed through the slowed world and sliced the Katar's neck.
-450 Damage
-810 Additional Damage
Did it have barely any HP left?
The Katar's head flew off.
"300 down. Done."
He'd cleared one request in just seven hours.
That made 29 total.
Just 11 more to go.
The problem was the remaining two requests in the Yabbe Mountains were tricky.
350 Bengal Tribe members on the mid-slope. He could neutralize their stealth with mud, but they were five levels higher than Katar.
Plus, they had a mix of warriors, archers, and mages, making them tougher to handle.
If Katar took seven hours, the 350 Bengals would take at least ten.
And the undead monsters at the peak were even harder than the Bengals.
Already dead, they felt no pain and fought ferociously.
They wielded spears, making them hard to approach, and their iron shafts blocked close-range attacks.
Of course, overwhelming them with numbers would win eventually, but it would take longer, which made him impatient.
"Bengal Tribe next?"
"Yeah."
"It's 11 p.m. now... "
"Call it here for today?"
"Yeah."
They logged out and returned to their real lives.
The next day.
They logged in early in the morning and headed straight to the mid-slope to hunt Bengals.
Once again, ample MP let Mu-hyuk move aggressively, speeding up the hunt.
Storm
Powerful Arrow Shot
The Bengal Tribe mage struck by the arrow let out a shriek.
Kieeeek!
It vanished soon after, but the mud let him track its movements.
Wind Step
Cleaving the air, he charged and attacked.
The sensation traveling up his arm wasn't pleasant, but it confirmed solid damage, so he couldn't hate it outright.
Slash.
He circled endlessly, slashing away.
Meanwhile, the skeletons moved naturally.
Armor Archers and Bone Bows pinned down Bengal archers, while Enhanced Bones and Bone Swords held the edge against two warriors.
"Haaap!"
Sung Min-woo overwhelmed two warriors too.
Experience gained.
Bengal Tribe Member Defeated (7/350)
At that moment, Mu-hyuk took down a Bengal mage.
After that, things went smoothly.
He suppressed two archers and four warriors.
*
It took a full day to clear the 350 Bengal Tribe members, and another day plus two hours for the undead at the peak.
Three requests took over three days.
They descended the mountains and mounted Skeleton Warhorses at the entrance.
Ten minutes to the village, then Warp Gate to the Weibra Empire, straight to the mercenary guild.
They turned in the three requests and picked up three more.
"Phew, 31 cleared now?"
"Yeah, nine left."
"Time remaining..."
"Eleven days. But Lunar New Year messes it up."
"Oh, right. Damn, forgot about that."
"No choice. Here's the plan."
"What?"
"Cut back on sleep starting today."
"Ugh...!"
"Lunar New Year's in four days. If we go to the countryside, I might not log in for at least two days. So we need at least five more requests done before then."
"Five? Gasp."
Just thinking about it made his body shiver.
"We're turning into shut-ins."
"No choice."
"Sigh, fine."
They mounted the warhorses for the next requests.
"Good thing we have these guys."
At the new hunting ground, they fought monsters.
Four days.
Truly grueling time passed.
"Hah, huff. I-is it... done?"
"Yeah..."
Both stared at each other with hollow eyes.
February 17th, 3 a.m.
Goal achieved.
36 requests complete.
Four left.
Seven days remained, but minus Lunar New Year, five days. Maybe four.
It was tight, but this was the limit.
"S-see you after Lunar New Year rest."
"Yeah..."
They logged out almost simultaneously.
That morning, 8 a.m.
"Mm..."
He woke to the alarm. Less sleep than usual left him tired, but manageable.
Half-asleep, he got up, stretched, grabbed a cool glass of water from the fridge.
"Ahh."
Showered, dressed neatly, and headed to his parents' place.
In the BMW, of course.
"You're here?"
His mother welcomed Mu-hyuk.
"Yeah. All set?"
"Just waiting on Ji-yeon."
"Figures she's slow."
After ten minutes in the living room, Kang Ji-yeon finally appeared, ready.
"Mom, Dad. Let's go!"
"Alright, heading out."
Parents took Dad's car.
Kang Ji-yeon hopped in Mu-hyuk's.
"Why here?"
"It's a new car!"
"So?"
"Super comfy. Come on, let's roll!"
He felt like her personal chauffeur, but couldn't kick her out.
"Sigh."
Engine hummed smoothly.
Vrooom.
"Go, go!"
Ignoring her chatter, he followed his father's car.
"Whoa, this is nice."
"It is."
"So smooth. Great ride."
An hour later, ignoring her, they arrived at Grandma's in the countryside. Plenty of cars already there.
"Everyone's here already."
"Whoa, really!"
Mu-hyuk parked, and Kang Ji-yeon bolted out.
"Grandma!"
He watched her dash off, then shut off the engine and got out. Relatives poured out of the house.
Grandma, aunt, uncle, great-uncle, cousins, nieces, nephews. Drawn by the car noise.
Long time no see—joy surged. A natural smile crept onto Mu-hyuk's face.
Greeting them, Grandma hugged him and patted his back.
"Aigoo, my little poop puppy."
"Still calling me that?"
"Of course."
"You been well?"
"Too healthy—it's a problem, you rascal."
He greeted the others.
"Hello."
"Hey, been a while."
Cousins especially lit up—they'd always been close.
"Bro! Long time, right?"
"Oppa, you good?"
"We chat sometimes."
"Pfft, phone ain't the same as face-to-face."
"Haha, yeah. You guys good?"
"We're good too."
Chatting, they headed inside.
Seated in the living room, the elders asked.
"Hey, Mu-hyuk."
"Yes, Uncle?"
"New car?"
"Yeah."
"Ho, things going well?"
"Uh, well..."
Pondering how to explain, his father, Kang Seon-woo, cut in simply.
"He's playing Illusion."
"Huh?"
"Our boy's in Illusion."
"Illusion?"
"Pretty high level, apparently."
Mu-hyuk smiled awkwardly.
Would the mood sour?
Surprisingly, it warmed up. Uncle, great-uncle, even Aunt perked up, ears twitching, eyes gleaming.
"Oh, Mu-hyuk. What's your level?"
Aunt asked smiling.
Cousins piled on.
"Whoa, bro plays Illusion? Me too!"
"Oppa, I'm level 30!"
"Haha..."
Sudden attention drew laughs.
Uncle cleared his throat.
"Ahem. So, level?"
"80."
Eyes widened.
"80...?"
"Whoa, Oppa, 80?"
"Bro, for real?"
"Yeah."
Answering Uncle first, then cousins.
"Real."
"Awesome!"
Uncle coughed again.
"Ahem."
Cousins quieted.
"That's ranker level, right?"
"Yes."
"Whoa, impressive."
Everyone dreams of it once.
VR games.
"If only they'd come in my lifetime."
Elders too.
They'd dreamed of such futures in youth, battered by reality. The thrill of "VR game" hit hard.
Having seen society, they knew better: how elite top players in that vast world truly shone.
"Help me out later?"
"Of course."
"Thanks!"
Older folks often obsess more over games.
Back in mobile boom days, companies ran events targeting middle-aged wallets—their spending decided games' fates.
"Gotta brag when I get home."
"Me too. My nephew's a ranker."
Fortunately, no negativity.
Except one.
"You grown-ups still gaming?!"
"It's not just any game."
"It is!"
Grandma smacked Uncle's back.
"Oof! Mom!"
"Quiet. Eaten breakfast?"
"No."
Glare at Uncle, then to Mu-hyuk and cousins—face softened like clouds.
"Aigoo, my babies hungry?"
"Yeah, starving, Grandma!"
"Me too!"
"Okay, okay. Food coming right up."
Grandma rose, followed by Aunt, another aunt, and Mu-hyuk's mother, Lee Hye-yeon.
"Mom, let me help."
"It's fine."
"No, I insist."
While elders prepped in the kitchen, Mu-hyuk endured cousin pestering.
"Oppa, Oppa!"
"Bro, talk over there!"
But he felt great.
Next day.
Around 11 a.m., call from Sung Min-woo.
"Hello?"
(At Grandma's?)
"Yeah. What's up?"
(Uh, well...)
Deflated tone.
(Got caught.)
"Caught?"
(Playing Illusion. Parents found out.)
"Ah..."
(Stuck home a few days.)
"Subjugation squad?"
(Probably not...)
Sigh hit his eardrum.
(Sigh, sorry. Tough soloing quests too.)
Solo would be rough, honestly.
Couldn't say it.
"No big deal, don't worry. You okay?"
(I'll talk it out.)
"Rest up for Lunar New Year, call later."
(Okay, bye.)
"Yeah."
Mu-hyuk tsked after hanging up.
Hope it's fine.
Sung Min-woo's parents were conservative.
Worried, but nothing he could do.
"Oppa!"
"Bro!"
"Uh, yeah?"
"What're you doing? Come play!"
"Yeah, okay."
No time to dwell—cousins dragged him off.
"Bro, this real?"
Younger cousin showed his phone.
"What?"
"This. Unexplored subjugation squad blowing up."
"Oh, that."
"You joining?"
"Probably."
Mu-hyuk eyed the screen.
The user's gripe made sense.
Tough, yeah.
Mu-hyuk struggled too.
Partly 'cause duo.
But nearly done.
Sung Min-woo out made it harder, but focusing on hunts after heading home tomorrow might squeak it out. Shut-in style again, though.
"Everyone, lunch!"
Grandma's voice called.
They gathered for the meal.
Then packed for maternal grandparents'.
"See you next time."
"Bye, Mom."
"Rest well."
Grandma stroked Kang Ji-yeon and Mu-hyuk's hands.
"Drive safe."
"We will."
"Okay, okay."
Two hours later.
"Aigoo, you're here!"
Many relatives welcomed him there too—another fun day. Next day, post-lunch, Mu-hyuk headed home.