Chapter 156
Chapter 156
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 156
>Chapter Title: The Dream City, Pratel
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>"Huh? What'd you say?"
>"No, I mean, his skills are insane."
>"Yeah, totally. A ton of my friends are huge Kaiser fans. Some even joined the Kaiser Church? Honorary members, they said."
>"My God…"
>……Vowing once more never to let it slip, Do-hyun pulled out his phone.
>Just as Hyun-ah said, NewTube was in absolute chaos.
>-Wow, dodging the second phase completely. Is that even human?
>-Hey, why isn't he getting hit by any CC? Is Kaiser a hero trait or something?
>└Then what's up with Weapon Master? Ignoring AoE damage too?
>└No clue? Unique ability or some other item?
>└So he's the tenth hero? Insane…
>-Crazy… The guys in Sargis watched this live? So damn jealous!!
>-Third phase gives me chills… They really made that impossible to clear, right?
>└And Kaiser cleared it?
>└Kaiser, he's a god. You idiot.
>└…Yeah, true.
>-Clinging on desperately till the end, chills… Rain makes the atmosphere insane.
>-Kaiser, he's a god! Kaiser, he's a god! Kaiser, he's a god!
>└Kaiser punch! Kaiser punch! Kaiser punch! Kaiser punch!
>-Holy shiiiit!! God Kaiser! Goddamn!
>Every refresh brought a flood of insane comments.
>In less than 30 minutes, replies had already surpassed 5,000, and views were over 3 million.
>Even accounting for God of Savior's release and NewTube's boom, it was an unbelievable pace.
>-Wow, the city lord's speech is touching…
>-Why does the city lord look so frail? ㅠㅠㅠ Is that the same guy from the speech?
>-That's why he never showed his face…
>-So the quest was to cure the city lord's illness?
>-His achievements aren't just one or two. No wonder the score was so high.
>└But 6,000 points? Isn't that ridiculous lololol How do you even get that?
>The Sargis city lord video was the same.
>Different vibe from the Lawless Challenge video that rivaled baseball stadium crowds, but views were already over 1.5 million.
>Watching the posts explode made Do-hyun's head spin, so he turned off his phone.
>"Where's your brother? He was making money before, so I figured he's doing well."
>"Me? Uh… I just got to Brion."
>"For real? That's a bummer. Wait, no? You've been in Delrock forever, so you've probably seen Kaiser tons."
>"Yeah. Sick of him by now."
>"Wow… That's huge. I gotta watch him live next time I'm there."
>Do-hyun half-listened and mumbled replies, then stood from his chair. Hyun-ah tilted her head.
>"Huh? Done already?"
>"…Not hungry."
>"No way… You leaving food behind?"
>"Heading out for a workout."
>She stared in disbelief as he dumped barely half his usual portion. Do-hyun hated wasting food too, but he couldn't help it.
>His stomach felt queasy.
>He scratched his head as he left the house.
>'What do I do about the aftermath?'
>He'd accidentally dropped a power bomb without meaning to.
>Not like he planned to hide it forever.
>It'd come out eventually—maybe just rip the band-aid off now? But the fallout made him hesitate.
>Do-hyun sighed.
>'Whatever. Time for a workout.'
>He'd leave it to future him.
>* * *
>[Logging into God of Savior.]
>[Welcome to Paradise of Adventure. Enjoy your adventure.]
>Same messages as always.
>Night passed, day broke, and Do-hyun deeply inhaled the fresh forest air, so different from yesterday.
>'This is it.'
>The cleaner, more invigorating air than the modern world filled his lungs vividly.
>He always felt it, but first logging into God Ose made the air feel different—like entering another world, stirring his sense of adventure.
>No wonder it was called Paradise of Adventure.
>-Owner, welcome back.
>-You've arrived, my lord.
>-Lijalija!
>The guardians greeted him as always.
>[Guardian 'Jihard Black's loyalty has increased.]
>[Guardian 'Jihard Black's loyalty has increased.]
>[Loyalty: 69 / 100]
>[Your relationship with the guardian is intimate.]
>'Came up again this time.'
>Loyalty was high enough now for the "intimate" message.
>Even entering and leaving the Guardian Room didn't boost it as much as before.
>[Loyalty: MAX]
>[Loyalty: MAX]
>'No need to mention these two.'
>They said loyalty could drop even after maxing, but these two's personalities were so loyal, he'd never seen it dip.
>-Hmm!
>Charlie even came back from the Guardian Room somehow more dignified and devoted.
>-Lijalija.
>"Yeah, yeah."
>Do-hyun patted Eliza's happy-looking head and started walking.
>-Leaving right away?
>"Yep."
>He grinned at Jihard, who pressed close asking.
>He headed straight for the warp gate.
>The warp only those who'd cleared the Third Trial could use—to the next city.
>[You meet the qualifications.]
>[Will you move to the Dream City Pratel?]
>[If you move to Pratel, you cannot return to Sargis.]
>'Been itching to push forward.'
>Dream City Pratel.
>Where countless users gathered, hailed as the most special city.
>Tons to do there.
>"Yes."
>No hesitation, and the message popped up.
>[Moving to the fourth city on the main continent, Dream City Pratel.]
>Blinding light, and Do-hyun and his guardians vanished.
>When he opened his eyes, a new world unfolded.
>* * *
>[You have entered the fourth city on the main continent, 'Dream City Pratel.']
>[Dream City Pratel is a city of hope where countless people gather to achieve their unfulfilled dreams.]
>[You can acquire auxiliary gear in Pratel!]
>[Tip. Protect the beauty of the lanterns.]
>"Wow…"
>Do-hyun gasped involuntarily upon opening his eyes.
>-Wow…
>-Li…ja…
>-Hoo.
>The others followed with their own exclamations.
>Jihard and Eliza gawked wide-eyed, and even Charlie couldn't tear his gaze away in astonishment.
>Anyone would react the same to the scene before them.
>A massive lake merged seamlessly with the city.
>Lakes flowed outside the city and along the streets, with NPCs ferrying tiny boats full of sightseers.
>"Come to the Hall of Arts~!"
>"Hey, you two a couple? Wanna stop by? Lots of unique date spots."
>"Wanna see my play? It's called Puppy."
>"Lantern Festival tonight. Check the boards, everyone."
>Countless cultural attractions lined the streets.
>Artworks dotted the roads, NPCs played instruments and sang between them.
>More beautiful and hopeful than any city he'd seen.
>Brion overwhelmed with sanctity, Sargis with the castle's majesty.
>Pratel sparked excitement just by stepping in.
>Plenty of users on dates too.
>So famous as a date spot that some deliberately stalled graduation and camped out.
>'So this is Pratel…'
>The title Dream City was well-earned.
>Do-hyun's eyes caught a massive castle in the distance.
>'That's where the lord lives, huh.'
>The Empire's policy: "No two kings under the same sun; none but the Emperor."
>No kingdoms in Avtaltel.
>Officially city lords, but locals called Pratel's lord king.
>'Earned that much respect.'
>Those who'd chased dreams but failed.
>He gathered them, built a city of hope. Makes sense.
>To residents, it was a kingdom, the lord their king.
>Even famous among users.
>But for a different reason.
>'Something off about him, like half-crazy.'
>Not a psycho scientist or blood-mad lunatic.
>Talks fine, works well, but seems half-unhinged. Consensus.
>A king half-mad, mechanically doing his duties.
>And residents revering him.
>Something weird, right?
>-Something's up.
>-Smells like it. Hidden Piece vibe.
>-Let's dig.
>Stirred gamers' instincts.
>Especially K-gamers'. Investigation teams formed instantly.
>Users scoured for Hidden Pieces…
>'Nothing found.'
>Residents wouldn't talk about the king.
>Showed respect but dark expressions.
>Suspicious, but no Hidden Pieces, no sudden quests, even meeting the king got nothing. Users gave up.
>"Whoa, it's Kaiser!"
>A startled shout.
>"No way… He really logs in before 10 AM every day."
>"Early bird blasts the worms, right? Duh!"
>"Should I say hi? Sick of noobs bragging about seeing Kaiser."
>Lost in thought, users had swarmed and surrounded him.
>Hesitant ones convinced by others.
>Should've moved fast on entering Pratel, but sightseeing cost him timing.
>"Heard the rumors? Mess with him, he flattens you no mercy."
>"Says he tears you apart brutally."
>"So cool… Dying to Kaiser would be an honor."
>"…You in the Kaiser Church?"
>Do-hyun chuckled dryly listening.
>'What the hell's my image?'
>Sure, he struck first and killed without mercy, but he wasn't some reckless hothead like Kkukku.
>Rumors twisted weirdly.
>Absurd, but handy.
>Fewer annoyances.
>"Plenty of days to see him, don't poke the bear."
>"True… Even Kaiser needs three months in Pratel."
>"Yeah. Get a signature when he's in a good mood."
>"But will Kaiser take first again?"
>"Doubt it. Pratel grad quests are a whole different beast."
>"Yeah… Pratel rankings say it all. Empress and Annihilation didn't even make top 10."
>"Barion at first? That says everything kekeke."
>Users chattered among themselves, clearing a path.
>Eyes followed, but no one blocked.
>Some spouted cheeky lines, but not wrong.
>Fourth Trial rankings were drastically different.
>Perennial top dogs Annihilation and Empress—the Third Trial's top before Kaiser—even failed top 10.
>Makes sense.