Chapter 15

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 15

Chapter Title: Leaving Runein (3)

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While Seo-hwa was logged out, dozens of players gathered at the Runein Village docks.

"As expected, good materials make the work go smoothly."

At the center of it all, Adin hummed cheerfully as he repaired the ferry boat.

"It's the boat, right?"

"Something's up with it."

Sensing it might be a hidden quest, a few players approached Adin and struck up a conversation.

"What a pain. The boat isn't fixed yet."

But they got no real response from him.

"It really seems like something's there."

"...No clue at all."

"Do we talk to him after the boat's done?"

The players watched Adin, never suspecting someone had already completed the quest.

A few headed off to level up, but most stuck around to watch him finish the boat.

"All done. Now we just need to set sail."

The moment it was complete, players rushed toward Adin.

"Me first!"

"Out of my way!"

But Adin responded coldly.

"You got a ticket?"

"Ticket?"

"No ticket, get off."

Those without tickets were chased away from the dock by Adin.

"Where do you even get a ticket?"

The players gazed longingly at the ferry boat.

While Seo-hwa had been diligently leveling up after her coincidental chat with Adin and eating the fish, Runein Village was suddenly flooded with tutorial completers.

Unlike her, most players had scoured every corner of the Ariant World map from the start.

Their goal: a way to hidden or new zones.

After it was revealed that leaving Runein Village and the forest led to level 200 monster habitats impassable for now, the ferry boat at the docks drew the most suspicion.

'Maybe it takes you to a new zone?'

But.

"Scram. Scram. And you, scram too."

Adin guarded the dock and boat with an irritated voice.

"Want on the boat? Get a ticket."

No matter how much they puzzled over needing a ticket, the players couldn't figure it out.

Some even turned to crowd wisdom on internet communities.

The ferry boat at the docks heated up the communities for a bit, but no answers emerged, and the stalemate dragged on for hours.

Attempts to talk to Adin or force their way onto the boat all failed, leaving players half-resigned, huddled near the dock staring at the sea.

"Should we just go level up first?"

"Feels like a clue's just around the corner..."

In that moment, one player approached the dockside.

"So cute."

"Wanna pet her."

Red hair drawing all eyes, with cat ears and a tail—an adorable sight.

"A streamer?"

Seeing the girl seemingly chat with the air, players easily ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠guessed she was streaming.

Most Ariant World streamers looked like that, after all.

A couple checked her stream out of curiosity, but most shrugged indifferently.

Their focus was on the unsolved ferry, not some unknown streamer.

So hardly anyone cared when the girl went to talk to Adin.

"We've tried that already."

"Pointless attempt."

Adin stood firm no matter coaxing or threats.

No way a streamer would be different.

"I'm here..."

But the players who'd dismissed her were soon stunned.

"...Thought I'd die of boredom waiting."

Adin's reaction to the girl was totally different from theirs.

"What?"

"Different response?"

In an instant, dozens of eyes locked on her.

Ignoring the growing buzz, the girl calmly pulled a wooden plaque from her pocket and handed it to Adin.

And just like that, Adin let her on the ferry.

Players gawked as he raised the sail and the boat departed.

The answer they'd hunted for hours had just appeared.

Shock was brief; they sprang into action.

"Hey, she's a streamer, right?"

"How'd she do it?"

"She gave him some wooden plaque?"

"How do you get the wooden plaque?!"

They flooded the internet with what they'd seen.

Ariant World communities ignited with news of someone boarding the ferry.

With almost no level 4 players yet and discussions just starting on Forest Giant strategies, rumors of a solo player heading to a new zone drew massive attention.

"The ferry player is a streamer?"

Many couldn't resist logging into Abyss to find her stream.

This was how Cheisi's viewer count broke into the triple digits.

'...Not a bug, right?'

Cheisi, a newbie streamer clueless about Ariant World or Abyss connections, panicked at the sudden surge.

'Viewbot?'

She even suspected it was a bot program to inflate viewers.

'But chat says no.'

Viewbots couldn't chat, and activity was clearly real, so she dismissed it.

She didn't know why, but no need to dwell.

'Just stream like normal.'

Adin stood on the ferry and reached toward the sky.

"Hm. Wind's from this direction... should take two hours to arrive."

"Two hours?"

Cheisi doubted her ears.

"Yeah, about two hours. Expecting something from the ferry?"

He was right.

Cheisi rode a ferry boat—yellowish wood, not too small but not large either.

It inspired zero confidence.

'It's a game, that's why I boarded.'

How could a ferry cross the ocean?

In reality, she'd have bolted at the idea.

"No sinking worries is enough."

"...True."

Cheisi pondered.

"What to do for two hours..."

Chat with viewers about the sea view?

Spot birds or fish?

'At least people to talk to is nice.'

Cheisi sprawled like drying squid, chatting lazily with viewers.

"Here."

Then Adin handed her a fishing rod.

"Bored? Fish with this."

With the rod came a book.

"Attack power boost?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

A sudden chance to raise a stat.

Cheisi perked up eagerly.

Attack 10—worth five levels. Not full on completion, but tempting.

Opening the guidebook showed gray silhouettes of fish.

Flipping pages, she found one filled in.

"Tasty one..."

The very fish she'd devoured. Recalling its mild flavor made her mouth water.

After brief fishing instructions from Adin, Cheisi cast the line.

Splash.

The hook rippled the calm surface.

Soon, she reeled in.

A tiny fish trailed the hook.

"Got one!"

VR made fishing easy.

Cheisi removed the wriggling silver fish resembling a cutlassfish, with minuscule fins.

One silhouette filled.

Gazing at the fresh catch, Cheisi popped it in her mouth.

Irresistible urge.

"...Eat it raw?"

Adin was flustered, but she kept munching.

Nom nom.

"Sweet and salty."

Unexpected zing—VR-exclusive flavor.

Tasting it fueled her drive.

The sea was a snack pantry for a cat.

Cheisi fished frantically.

As live fish piled on deck, Adin brought an empty wooden tub.

The tub filled gradually.

Guidebook progressed; her satisfaction grew.

Then.

"...Urk."

A strong foe tugged the line fiercely.

Cheisi held her breath, wrestling it.

"Reeled...!"

Suddenly, her body lifted.

The pull yanked her—and the rod—into the sea.

Splash!

As she swam out from the big splash, something grabbed her collar.

"...Huh?"

A black snake with fins.

Snap.

The snake that dragged her now gaped wide at her.

"...H-Huh?!"

Dozens of teeth and a red tongue flicking—Cheisi recoiled as it seemed to swallow her.

But the sea serpent licked her hair with its tongue.

Lick.

"...Eh?"

Lick lick.

Drenched in saliva, it placed her back on the ferry.

Stunned Cheisi watched the sea serpent swim peacefully nearby, its dozens-of-meters black body undulating gracefully.

Cheisi checked its info.

First Legendary rarity. Level and EXP unviewable.

The serpent just circled the boat idly.

"...Y-Yeah? Seems like a good monster?"

Legendary or not, no hostility—even rescued her from the sea.

As Cheisi deemed it friendly, the circling serpent suddenly leaped.

Over the boat, tail extended.

Toward the fish-filled tub.

"M-My fish!!!"

Cheisi lunged to protect it, too late. Distracted by the leap, her reflexes failed.

The serpent snatched the tub with its tail.

'It was circling for this...'

Betrayed, her tail stiffened sharply. But done was done.

Flicking its tail, it launched the tub skyward; fish rained down.

It perfectly caught and devoured them all.

Then retrieved the empty tub, flicked it back aboard.

Thud, clunk!

Empty.

Her hard-earned catch vanished instantly.

Cheisi stared dumbly at the serpent.

It formed a heart with its long body for her.

Like saying thanks for the meal.

"...Mocking me?!"

She lost it.

Drawing her dagger, she tried vaulting the bow—but Adin stopped her.

"Calm down, calm..."

As he restrained her dive impulse, the serpent elegantly vanished beneath the waves.

"My fish..."

Eyes wide, nose cut off right in front of her—Cheisi stared blankly where it submerged.

Dazed by the laughter-filled chat, Cheisi steeled herself.

"...It's fine. I'll catch more."

Rod remained. Guidebook incomplete—refish. She'd guard this time.

But Adin ruined it.

"Sorry for interrupting, but... we're here."

A port loomed ahead.

The "long" two hours had flown by.