Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Another Veteran Player - Free Final Part
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In Survival Life, they use microphones.
But that doesn't mean you can hear other users' voices.
It employs a unique method of converting voice input into text.
IDs aren't displayed either, so unless a user speaks up, there's no way to tell who they are.
The devs seem keen on preserving the concept of players as anonymous survivors.
Patches nudged things that way too, so early on, users stuck to the concept pretty well.
A user who hunted and chatted with me today could kill me tomorrow.
How chilling is that?
...
But as time wore on, the server's vibe shifted.
As users evolved into veterans, they began customizing their avatars to stand out—their cosmetics, in other words.
Even without an ID, one look at the cosmetic and you know who it is.
Take Bunny Duo: he always ran a bald male character in a bunny girl cosmetic.
Bunny Man, since it's a guy.
At first, everyone averted their eyes from his repulsive look.
"But eventually, everyone ended up in just undies..."
They say nothing's scarier than getting used to it.
Before long, veterans started copying Bunny Duo.
Punching monsters bare-fisted became common, with items dismissed as luxuries.
Bunny Duo, the trendsetter of veteran fashion, had one catchphrase he yelled a lot.
Sex.
No clue why.
Just strips naked and hollers "Sex."
Duck Down Quack smacking him for being crass was everyday routine.
And now that guy had opened the auction house for the first time...
"Leveling this fast means his trait's no joke."
Bunny Duo had the longest playtime after me.
Probably over 5,000 hours.
So what killer trait does he have?
"...Dangerous."
I started typing in the comments but stopped.
Judging by the speed, Bunny Duo's got a combat trait for sure.
Over level 15 means three additional effects tacked on.
Whatever they are, it's obvious current me couldn't take him.
"We partied in Survival Life, but..."
No guarantee it'd be the same in reality.
I have zero idea who he is IRL or what his personality's like.
"Doesn't seem like that psycho vibe is an act."
Let's probe a little.
I tapped the comments and used voice-to-text.
I kept the auction house up while handling chores.
Lately, I'd gotten hooked on smoked trout.
Lessons from survival manuals and Mityube downloads.
Too tough to whip up a smoker right away, so starting simple.
"Sticks in a triangle here..."
Hang the salted trout, drape the tarp—voilà, a Native American-style tipi.
Looks a bit rickety, but it's traditional, so worth a shot.
Hauled the sturdiest wood I could find; fingers crossed.
Stuffed kindling underneath and lit it up.
Crackle crackle.
"Ugh, my map."
Smoke too acrid—had to bail elsewhere.
But can't look away either; what a hassle.
Cold smoking like this demands holding steady temps for hours.
Trial and error to nail the duration.
If it flops, switch methods, swap woods, whatever.
...
Watching this with Dingo, I felt like a caveman.
Out there right now, folks battling zombies...
They couldn't dream of smoked trout; rations for every meal.
"Gotta be grateful, huh?"
Dingo scratched his neck with a hind leg.
Over the next few hours, I juggled chores alongside the smoking.
Pulled it out—color was wild.
"...This edible?"
Salted and smoked for hours; turned pitch black.
Gotta peel the skin and eat the inside...
Scraped the exterior with my mithril knife, revealing tasty red flesh.
"Huh-huh, huff."
I blew on it and took a bite of the smoked trout.
"Krr..."
Smoky? Fiery yet rich and juicy flavors melted in.
Tasted like regret without a shot of soju.
But holding off today.
Dingo looked ready to chomp my hand if no trout.
"Too salty... have this instead."
Handed him grilled trout; he scarfed it down.
Belly full of trout, I checked the auction—someone'd commented.
Strange feeling.
In Survival Life, we all talked casually like equals.
Yet Bunny Duo gushed with joy, mentioning he was in Seoul.
If Bunny Duo blamed me here, I'd cut contact.
But his reaction floored me.
First person to get my heart.
Such a trait existed?
Couldn't even imagine what matched mine, but revival?
Manly as ever, he spilled the add-ons too.
Is this dude seriously just in undies?
Multiple deaths might've rattled him.
Elemental resist means this scorching sun's nothing.