Chapter 84
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: The Imperfect City
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Hoyoung Guild Training Ground.
Yeo Min-ji took a deep breath before unfolding her footwork.
She then began relentlessly striking the scarecrow in front of her with Wind Fist.
You've struck the same spot repeatedly. Critical hit! The Scarecrow Doll's HP has decreased by 5!
With the critical hit triggering, combos and accumulated damage built up rapidly.
Wind Fist progressed swiftly through Forms 2, 3, and 4, followed by a barrage of Annihilation Fist and Fire Fist.
Only after a long while did Yeo Min-ji finally wrap up her training.
Having moved nonstop for hours, her body was drenched in sweat.
"Wow... You're amazing."
One of the guild members watching from the control room approached with a towel and handed it to Yeo Min-ji.
"Amazing? I'm still a long way off."
Yeo Min-ji couldn't accept the praise.
The fist technique Jeong Hoon had shown her earlier.
That perfect balance had left her feeling hollow, envious, and jealous all at once.
She had prided herself on her own brilliant talent, but it had been utterly shattered.
At the same time, a burning desire to catch up to him enveloped her.
"I-is that so? But it's a level 400 scarecrow..."
The guild member glanced at the scarecrow.
The once pristine scarecrow was now completely smashed, leaving only scraps behind.
Considering she'd generated three just today, it was an astonishing display of power.
"More importantly, what about Mother?"
"Mother? Oh! She just finished hunting and logged out."
"I see. I'd better hurry."
Yeo Min-ji quickly tidied up and headed outside.
Learning fist techniques from Jeong Hoon was one thing, but after joining the guild, she'd grown close to Lee Na-yeon at a rapid pace. They now met offline for coffee, chatting about New World.
It had become a new pastime outside of training.
"Miss! I have a report!"
"A report?"
"Yes."
She was about to log out when Team Leader Park In-tae walked in, forcing her to delay.
Judging by his expression, it seemed like a serious matter.
Yeo Min-ji asked in a grave tone.
"Go ahead."
"Several guild members have gone missing!"
"Missing?"
Her eyes narrowed at the word.
"Yes. They didn't log out. They're still logged in, but their locations aren't registering at all. Whispers go unanswered."
"...Give me the list."
"Yes."
Yeo Min-ji slowly scanned the list Park In-tae handed her.
They had vanished after clearing the Lv. 139 Prunum Dungeon.
The dungeon was now cleared, and intel indicated another party was tackling it.
So where had they gone?
"Rohais Territory."
Rohais Territory, like Autobahn, was one of the territories frequented by level 100-150 players.
Located in the southern Merhen Kingdom, Rohais was less popular than Autobahn but offered solid leveling spots, making it well-liked among users.
"Yes."
"...We'll head out right now. Let's go."
Tea time with Mother would have to wait.
An imperfectly implemented city.
"You! stranger how here?"
The NPC approached Jeong Hoon, speaking in an incomprehensible language.
A stranger had entered the city, piquing his curiosity.
'He's asking how a stranger got in here.'
Jeong Hoon cleverly pieced it together.
A question mark blinked above the NPC's head.
A thoroughly glitched one, its color unrecognizable.
Quest: (
-Restriction: !
-Reward: !!
-Description: (
It was insane.
The quest details were utterly illegible.
He knew the reward from Maximus, but how the hell had that guy progressed this?
It was still mind-boggling.
There was no option to decline, though.
Jeong Hoon accepted the quest immediately.
"Thank. If not you!, no one would help me!."
Thanks.
He's saying if not for you, no one would have helped me.
"Um... Hyungnim? Maybe we should just head back?"
Kim Bong-gu, terrified, tugged at Jeong Hoon's sleeve.
Aaack! Where are you touching my body? Let go?!
Muk-ho freaked out.
"No way. And I'm not your hyungnim."
Even at face value, the guy looked older. Hyungnim, my ass.
"Come on, if you're handsomer and stronger than me, you're hyungnim!"
It was Kim Bong-gu's survival strategy.
If he couldn't escape Jeong Hoon no matter what, buttering him up to build rapport was the best bet.
"Do whatever."
Flattery wouldn't erase his past misdeeds.
Jeong Hoon still planned to squeeze every last drop of blood from Kim Bong-gu.
Unaware, Kim Bong-gu clenched his fist, thinking his flattery had worked.
Jeong Hoon summoned Michael and gave orders.
"Michael, scout the area."
"Here?"
"Yeah. Hunt any suspicious ones you see."
"Understood."
Michael used necromancy to summon spirits and headed off.
"Let's go."
Jeong Hoon spoke to the NPC.
"Follow me."
The NPC turned and headed toward the city center.
The center was also poorly implemented, riddled with sinkholes.
The bottoms were pitch black, revealing nothing.
"Ugh!"
Midway, Kim Bong-gu nearly fell into a sinkhole.
Fortunately, Jeong Hoon grabbed his arm and pulled him up, averting disaster.
"Watch your step unless you want to become a dimensional wanderer."
It meant getting trapped in a dimension, drifting endlessly.
Kim Bong-gu's face drained of color.
"Is that really a thing?"
"Yeah."
"...Whew, almost kissed New World goodbye forever."
Getting dimension-locked prevented logout fixes.
Relogging just respawned you there.
No more New World, essentially.
"Here."
The NPC stopped at a building slightly off-center.
Ascending to its roof revealed a horrific sight.
'Too many monsters.'
The center crawled with countless monsters.
An unknown barrier confined them, like sardines in a can.
'He wants them cleared out?'
The NPC nodded.
"Clear! then treasure! for you."
"He'll give treasure?"
Nod.
Simple request.
Jeong Hoon nocked an arrow right there.
'I really almost died back then.'
He recalled his chat with Maximus.
'Almost died?'
'Yeah. Thought it'd be easywipe 'em all at once since they were trapped. But... it was a trick.'
'Trick?'
'The barrier drops when a user gets close.'
Unaware, Maximus had approached, unleashing nearly 2,000 monsters. He died multiple times on the spot.
Relogging dumped him at the cliff base.
Jeong Hoon released the string.
Pew-shooook!
The arrow pierced a monster's head precisely.
'True to a bug city, the barrier only works on monsters.'
A strategy learned after four deaths.
Maximus's friend sniped from range, maximizing kills, while Maximus handled the rest in melee for the clear.
Thanks to that, Jeong Hoon could casually snipe with his bow.
Clumped up, they were easy targets.
Pew-shooook!
"!!"
The head-shot monster wailed and vanished.
Jeong Hoon relentlessly drew and released.
Arrows rained down.
Level up.
All stats 1.
Bonus stat 1 granted.
Wiping that horde pushed Jeong Hoon to level 137.
One bug city run netted 33 levels.
"Done?"
Jeong Hoon turned to the NPC.
The NPC gaped, speechless.
"Tru! ly amazi."
The NPC grabbed Jeong Hoon's hand, eyes welling up.
But it wasn't over.
An exclamation mark still blinked above his head.
'Now the boss.'
Obviously, skipping the boss meant the center would refill soon.
Boss kill to end the quest.
Just then, two spirits approached Jeong Hoon.
"This way."
Taming Michael let him hear them.
Jeong Hoon nodded and followed to a spot away from the cityan underground bunker.
Unlike the city, the bunker was perfectly implemented.
"Where's this...?"
Kim Bong-gu groaned.
He desperately wanted out of this eerie place.
Only after Jeong Hoon finished, though.
"Master! You're here!"
Michael came rushing out.
"Yeah. The boss?"
"Inside!"
The boss hid on that building's rooftop.
Lv. 150 Anomalous Existence
Level aside, it wore a deep black robe.
Its distinct form marked it as no ordinary foe.
"Barrier from ?"
Its words were still gibberish.
Boss or not, defying New World's system was impossible.
"I'll end you quick."
Jeong Hoon drew his string.
"!!"
It spat nonsense and raised its staff.
Anomalous Existence uses '!!'.
The air grew murky and red-tinged.
Heat surged, body burning up.
"Urk!"
"!."
Kim Bong-gu groaned lowly; the accompanying NPC screamed.
"I'll handle it!"
"No, it's fine. Take the others out."
Jeong Hoon healed them and deployed Black Field.
Space warped and shattered like glass.
"Got it!"
Michael hustled Kim Bong-gu and the NPC outside.
"Round two?"
Jeong Hoon drew and released.
Pew-shooook!
Arrow away.
Anomalous Existence uses ''.
But it vanished before hitting.
"What? Why's that?"
Anima on Jeong Hoon's shoulder looked baffled.
"Knows space-time twists."
Jeong Hoon stayed calm.
He'd faced this type before.
Still impressive for level 150.
'Magic Missile.'
Jeong Hoon conjured Magic Missiles for the first time in ages.
Epic-grade now allowed up to six, each with 50cm radius.
'Go.'
Targeting the Anomalous Existence, they launched.
But they too vanished one by one.
Seizing the gap, Jeong Hoon dashed in with movement technique.
"!!."
Blue eyes beneath the robe twitched.
Exactly.
Twisting space-time required skill activation, leaving close range vulnerable after repeated distant uses.
Delay from nulling the Missiles.
Jeong Hoon smashed Myeongwang Fist Technique into its face.
Pow!
"!"
It screamed and flew back.
Jeong Hoon pummeled relentlessly.
Unable to endure, the Anomalous Existence vanished.
Level up.
All stats 1.
Bonus stat 1 granted.
Massive EXP bumped him to 138.
"Done."
Damn, now I can't test it! Take a few hits at least!
"Not into getting hit."
Jeong Hoon collected the dropped crystal.
! Magic Stone
Perfect.
Elixir and now the magic stone.
He'd successfully hijacked every opportunity meant for Maximus.