Miyamoto's 27th Death
Miyamoto knew he was being watched by mercenaries, so he moved with utmost caution.
He had hired scouts exceptional at reconnaissance to locate his watchers and operatives skilled in diversion to draw their eyes elsewhere.
He no longer placed bounties on Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo. The fees had skyrocketed with each failed attempt.
Honestly, at this point, he doubted mercenaries could even take them down. So he focused solely on concealing himself, evading their gaze.
If worst came to worst, he'd start over in some remote spot where he'd never be found. But first, he had to deal with the watchers.
Find them, no matter what.
Don't worry.
The mercenaries sprang into action.
Miyamoto waited in the empire's central plaza.
Thud.
Places like this were safer. Hiding in some deserted alley could mean instant annihilation if he ran into those two.
Better a plaza guarded by watchmen. No player, no matter how skilled, would dare attempt PK here.
Try it, and the guards would drag you to prison. Dodge and run? Not possible. The guards' levels still vastly outstripped any player's.
No user could outrun a determined guard pursuit.
Not even Mu-hyuk.
Hoo.
Safety secured, but Miyamoto's face remained deeply furrowed.
Snippets of player chatter echoed from all sides, grating on his ears.
That guy?
Yeah, Hayaku Guild Master.
How does a whole guild get wiped by just two guys?
You haven't seen the video?
Nah, not yet.
Watch it, and you won't say that. Those two are insanely strong.
Still...
This was mild.
What a loser.
Got wrecked by two people.
Humiliating.
Scoffing players, their pitiful stares worse than the unwanted attention from strangers.
But he didn't bow his head. Instead, he squared his shoulders and met their eyes. Those who locked gazes flinched and looked away.
Trash.
He clenched his fist tight.
Someday... someday...!
He vowed it wouldn't end like this.
Then the mercenary arrived.
Found them.
R-Really?
Yes. Lured them away, so move now.
Got it.
Miyamoto quickened his pace.
Even at the warp gate, he scanned his surroundings meticulously.
...To the village.
Understood.
Upon arrival, Miyamoto opened his eyes and smiled faintly.
Truly remote.
Hardly any players around.
Here, then...
He thought he was safe from death at last. But one fact escaped him: Mu-hyuk had doubled the mercenaries for tighter surveillance.
Good.
Elated, Miyamoto froze as the warp gate hummed to life. He scowled at the two figures who emerged, mouth agape.
Y-You...!
Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo.
Swish.
Mu-hyuk closed in, unleashing a barrage.
Kugh!
Miyamoto blocked desperately, trying to flee, but nothing outmatched Mu-hyuk. His HP drained agonizingly slow. Logout loomed again, tormenting him.
Stop, please, enough!
Mu-hyuk's sword pierced his gaping mouth.
A critical hit landed.
-HP → 0
Grk.
HP hit zero; his vision faded.
Miyamoto's 17th death.
Mentally shattered, he lay in the capsule out of habit. Logging in, he stared blankly at the sky.
A day, two days.
Endless hours in Wakan Empire's plaza, focus returning to his eyes.
Swish.
He rose and headed to the hunting grounds.
How much time passed?
He reappeared.
No fight left in him.
...
They approached and attacked as he watched passively.
You have been logged out.
You cannot log in for 24 hours.
His 25th death.
Yet a smile crept across Miyamoto's lips.
Finally...!
He'd heard it clearly at the end.
-Shall we stop now?
-Yeah.
Their voices, conversing.
Next day.
Logging in relieved, Miyamoto prepared his comeback earnestly.
Yeah, it's over now.
His fractured mind began to heal.
A fresh start.
Ready, he headed out to hunt.
One hour, two.
Time passed without their appearance. Freedom from those demons at last, chills racing from toes to scalp. Savoring it, he suddenly stiffened.
Wh-What...!
Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo again.
Look at you, all prepped up.
B-But...
But what?
You said you were done!
Oh, you really heard that.
What...?
Kidding. Just in case you overheard.
Sung Min-woo grinned.
Despair and emptiness crashed over Miyamoto.
Sorry, you've been too passive lately. No fun.
...
Speechless.
Why? Shocked?
Miyamoto stayed silent.
Fine, this is really it. Found a dungeon to raid. Last one, so go in peace.
For real...?
Yeah. But.
Sung Min-woo's face hardened.
Don't mess with us again.
O-Of course.
Good.
Miyamoto closed his eyes.
Yeah, the last one. For real.
Then the assault began.
Kaboom!
He took the full brunt; HP plummeted to zero.
You have been logged out.
You cannot log in for 24 hours.
Miyamoto's 26th death.
Next day.
He steeled himself for a new beginning.
I can do this.
His psyche was already in ruins. Holding out this long was impressive. Yet he pressed on, vowing resilience as he headed to hunt.
Quests first.
Then recruit guildmates once stronger.
Prepping...
Swish.
Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo appeared.
Been waiting.
Wh-What...!
Yesterday? Joke.
What!
Sorry. Just die.
Sung Min-woo and Mu-hyuk struck again.
Dead once more.
A ridiculous, spirit-crushing 27th death.
Hiss.
Capsule door opened; he stared blankly at the ceiling for ages.
A thought struck.
All those kill-on-sight orders he'd issued. Dozens of deaths, and if they didn't quit, more until they did. Their despair must have felt just like this.
...
Being hunted himself, he realized how agonizing it was to lose access to Illusion. It felt more real, more thrilling, another world he'd been cast from.
His mind reeled.
Meanwhile.
Once Miyamoto vanished completely.
Mu-hyuk spoke.
Let's stop.
Okay.
They'd done enough.
The final prank was just to ensure he never tried again.
If he quit now, one less worry.
Surveillance?
Thinking about it.
Keep it a bit longer? Safer.
Sure. Not too expensive.
Cool. Let's hunt. Oh, your rank?
Me? Hold on.
Mu-hyuk checked the rankings.
A significant climb.
51st now.
Whoa.
Not thrilled.
Why?
Too exposed.
Ah, yeah...
No necromancer ranked higher than Mu-hyuk. The next highest was level 115, not even top 50,000.
Thus, the necromancer who crushed Hayaku Guild was obvious.
Anyone would peg rank 51 Mu-hyuk as the culprit.
His name blazoned for all.
No big deal.
True.
As long as he didn't reveal more.
You?
Barely cracked top 30,000.
30,000th ranker. Modest, but elite—top 0.01%.
Sung Min-woo's level: 116.
Satisfied. Top 30k sounds meh, but it's elite.
Proof you're an addict.
Heh, gotta grind for the job.
Chuckling, they hastened on.
*
Sung Min-woo waved goodbye.
See ya after dinner.
Yeah.
Mu-hyuk sorted items before logout, then reviewed status for oversights. A quest caught his eye.
Kraksu's Trial
📍 Details: ?
Underground in uncharted lands.
He'd delivered a cocoon pouch from a chimera research site to mercenary guild master Kraksu.
Rewards: EXP and linked quest. Level too low then for details. Still was.
Had to visit Kraksu directly.
Soon, then.
Plan set, he logged out.
Hiss.
Out of the capsule, he prepared a meal.
Logged back in, straight to the mercenary guild.
Welcome.
Guild master in?
The master?
Yes.
Appointment?
Mu-hyuk. He'll know.
One moment.
The staffer returned, escorting him to Kraksu's office. The guild master, scanning documents, beamed.
Quick arrival.
Am I?
Yes, and...
Kraksu eyed Mu-hyuk appraisingly.
Stronger than I thought.
Good to hear.
Promising start.
Shall we pick up where we left off?
Sounds good.
Kraksu's no-nonsense style shone. Minimal pleasantries, straight to business. Mu-hyuk appreciated it, nodding expectantly.