Chapter 33
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 33
Chapter Title Emergency Mission Clear Condition Overwhelming Victory
The clear condition for the emergency mission overwhelming victory.
There was no way to know exactly what level that meant.
All I could think was to maximize the efficiency of this body and get the basketball into the hoop.
Karis!
Catching Yu Minhas pass, I fired off a nonstop threepointer.
Rebound, rebound!
We cant do it with Big Bro Karis here!
Grabbing the rebound after it bounced off the rim.
Cant you let me through just once? This is embarrassing, man.
Afraid thats not happening.
Even blocking Kang Siyoons dribble drive with a simple body checkit all happened so naturally.
Karis von Waldens body had always excelled in these physical battles to begin with.
But in this situation, with the status ailment ignited, those abilities seemed amplified even further.
It was an incredible sensation.
Commands from my brain transmitted to my muscles instantly.
My body moved ahead of my eyes even registering.
I easily nailed another threepointer and caught my breath.
I never felt this sensation even in the game.
I wanted to sort through all these events related to the emergency mission, but first, I had to finish this game.
The score was already up by nearly 20 points, but the Otherworldly Being status ailment still hadnt lifted.
So, with no time for stray thoughts, I kept bombing away with shots.
Im done.
IIIm too scared to keep going!
About 10 minutes later.
Kang Siyoon and Heo Yubin, completely drained of fighting spirit, collapsed onto the floor, sweating bullets.
Its only been 15 minutes since the game started.
Minha, wanna try holding out against him for 15 minutes?
Ahha.
Yu Minha, spinning the basketball on his finger, glanced at me and grinned brightly.
Got it right away!
Dont even talk about it. Humanely speaking, youve gotta let a guy shoot sometimes. Every three I take gets blocked, every layup gets blocked. What kind of normal person is that?
Siyoon hyung, you have no idea. Imagine jumping for a rebound under the basket at the same time as Big Bro Karis.
Sorry, no can do.
Why are you putting me through this trial?!
While they vented their frustrations about me, I quietly pulled up the system window again.
Honestly, this wasnt just overwhelmingit was a total demolition.
You have met the clear condition for the Emergent Mission. Status ailment released.
Fortunately, the mission clear message greeted me.
The blinking Otherworldly Being at the bottom of the status window returned to normal.
The boiling heat surging through my body vanished in an instant.
My head cleared, and the faint headache from the rampaging memories disappeared too.
Phew
I let out a sigh of relief.
Sitting on the bench for a moment, I tried to organize the situation so far.
The original owner of this body, Karis von Walden, could awaken at any moment. The warning signs I felt today were a flood of memories from Grand Quest Saga and a momentary headache. When the crown princes ego awakens, a mission to release the status ailment is given, and fulfilling it lifts the ailment immediately.
I clenched and unclenched my fist repeatedly, recalling that blazing sensation from before.
When the status ailment triggers, Karis von Waldens physical stats rise abnormally. Just like stepping into the game itself.
I ran through the circumstances in my head a couple more times.
Id pieced together everything I could grasp at this point.
But there were still lingering concerns.
I have zero info on when, where, or what triggers this status ailment. I only know it happens when the crown princes mind awakensno trigger factors or anything. And above all
I glanced at Kang Siyoon and Heo Yubin, flapping their clothes to cool off their sweat.
Even if I was pushing hard to clear the emergency mission, something felt offmore than that. Like a hotter desire rising from deep inside.
It was a heat Id definitely felt somewhere before.
The final chapter of Grand Quest Saga. The day I led the empires legions against the Demon Kings castle to topple him.
The battle frenzy that had gripped me while cutting down countless demon kings minions came rushing back unbidden.
I stared at my stillclenched fist.
Imaginary droplets of blood beaded on the transparently pale skin.
If my suspicion is right, then during the status ailment, the crown princes mind doesnt just affect the bodyit influences my thoughts too.
Karis von Walden from Grand Quest Saga, who craved only battle and victory.
The crown princes ego, forged in that crucible, could surge forth at any time.
Even if that moment was on stage, interacting with fans, or midinterview.
A chill ran down my spine in an instant.
My legs trembled at the thought of such an absurd scenario unfolding.
Stay calm. Its all part of the system, so there has to be a way to resolve it.
I shook my head a few times, forcing cool reason back in.
Rightmy system was the same type handled by the God of Grand Quest Saga.
That meant items or quests to release the status ailment would surely come.
No need to panic or rush.
Hows that feel, Minha? Revenge enough?
Feels like I got my protagonist spot stolen, but Im satisfied! My shots went in pretty well!
Good to hear. My legs are jellyI couldnt go another round.
Ah, too bad. I was confident in oneonone and wanted to go against you, Siyoon hyung.
The guys, catching their breath, chatted idly while chugging water.
The game had started because of Yu Minhas thirst for revenge, but I wondered if Id gone overboard.
I had passed to him pretty often, though.
And, to be brutally honest, Yu Minha didnt have a high shooting success rate.
Just a friend who loved basketball and comics but wasnt much of an athlete.
No different from how hed been in name tag ripping.
So, whats next on the schedule?
We did some physical stuff, so time to chill! How about a comic cafe? We could check out my alltime faves togetheritd be so fun!
I get why you wanted to get close to Karis.
Kang Siyoon and I locked eyes perfectly.
Hmm. Ones a web novel nut, the others a comics maniac.
Exactly! I was so shocked when Karis said he liked webtoons and web novels.
Kid looks like hed never be into that, so its even more surprising, right?
Totally! And Yubin knows this stuff too, so now weve got even more to talk about. Right, Yubin?
Heo Yubin, whod looked completely wiped out, startled at his name.
The water bottle in his hand dropped straight onto the court.
Uh, uh? Yyeah.
So, comic cafe for a break is the best choice. I was planning a full binge on Slam Dunk today! After that final match scene, the tears just
Once Yu Minha got going, everyone knew there was no stopping him.
Heo Yubin, halfzoned out, just mumbled Yeah, yeah, while Kang Siyoon burst into his hearty laugh for some reason and patted my back.
Looks like youre stuck handling this.
My eardrums wont survive the day again.
Before we knew it, the sky had darkened.
How much did we even eat?
I never imagined you could get dakgangjeong at a comic cafe.
Gotta skip dinner for sure
Wed spent nearly four hours at the comic cafe.
As promised, Yu Minhas favorite bingewatch went down, and the lucky member dragged along was, unsurprisingly, me.
I wondered if Id miscast my character, but once I started reading, it hooked me more than expected, and soon I was into it too.
Heo Yubin, whod seemed the most drained, sprawled out comfortably once he cracked open a volume, reading with shocking focus like he was at home.
Kang Siyoon targeted the food more than the comics, polishing off three plates of dakgangjeong solo.
If were skipping dinner, what now?
No idea about anything else, but lets head somewhere less crowded first.
Agreed.
As Kang Siyoon said, once evening hit, the streets near the busy district filled with people.
Even with masks and hats, the bigger the crowd, the easier it was to stand out.
Worse, in this throng, these accessories might even raise suspicions about our identities.
Fans would know this was the break period for Idol Training Simulation.
So, call it here for today?
Yeah, lets hang again sometime.
It, it was fun.
Whoa!
We all turned to Heo Yubin in unison.
Under the spotlight of attention, he buffered again.
Uhuhugh.
Yubin spoke in banmal first! Im so moved right now!
Wwell, were friends now, so formal speech would be weird
It was real progress.
I patted Heo Yubins shoulder and checked his status window.
No change in the hikikomori status ailment.
If Heo Yubin hangs out with more peers like this, his shy personality should naturally improve.
After spending the day together, my hunch about Yu Minha proved spot on.
Chatty and overly passionate, sure, but fundamentally not a bad guy at all.
This only made me more curious about Baek Sihwas comment.
Oh, right.
Checking his phone calendar, Kang Siyoon snapped his fingers.
You all know episode 3 drops this Friday, right? The team battle stuff. Lets watch it together.
Love watching together!
Ccan I really join? Weve only hung out one day.
Cmon, dont be like that. Borrowing Kariss words a bitweve already bumped bodies, havent we?
Dont say it so proudly out of your own mouth.
Even the most normallooking one was just as offkilter.
Seeing Kang Siyoons sparkling eyes, I instinctively knew where this was headed.
Watch together doesnt mean the auditorium in the dorms, does it.
Of course not!
Siyoon, Yubin, Minhayoure all out visiting parents at your family homes, so no empty spaces there.
Right?
Meaning the only empty spot is where well have to meet.
I pulled out my phone and grinned.
Ill send the address, so find your way over.