Chapter 17: Intermission

Meanwhile, on Earth.

In a short span of time, unprecedented news was sweeping across the globe.

Our World – KR Server

[Breaking News] Dragon emerges from the pyramid, currently engaged in combat with fighter jets in the sky…]

– Huh…? A dragon?

Did I hear that right? 

What on earth is going on?

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[Breaking News) Dragon banished into space. Current status under observation…]

– Kya

As expected of the Association, I can finally relax.

.

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[Breaking News) Eclipse appears. Location: Space. Government declares a state of emergency in case of unforeseen events.]

– What the hell? 

– Why are there so many breaking news in one day?

– Huh? Space?

– Why are you out there?

[Black hole formation discovered tens of light-years away in space. Astronomers say, “There were no precursors.” Suspected cause: Eclipse.]

What the hell is this?

(Capture of Eclipse’s Phase 2 skill)

Was it really in space?

And looking at that, it seems like it used that insane Phase 2 skill.

So it’s true that it can use all the skills from the game?

If this keeps up, forget about reaching the boss area, I’ll suffocate before I even get there.

How the hell are we supposed to beat this broken boss?

– Well… it’s disappointing.’

– Hey, this is our story.

– What the hell?

– Anyway, with what’s happening, the martial artists and fantasy folks are filtered out.

(What do martial artists even do? Kon!)

– Now there’s even a Kon. LOL.

– Do you want to get hit by Taesan Apjeong? 

– That one bastard.

– Shouldn’t the Association just give up on this raid?

We couldn’t even beat it in the game, how are we supposed to do it now?

[What is this?]

The Association just released a photo?

(A photo taken from the mothership, showing the battle between the dragon and Eclipse)

So that black hole was created during the fight between the dragon banished into space and Eclipse?

After the black hole formed, the dragon was declared unobservable, so it’s almost certain.

Is this scale for real?

– Seriously.

– The level of the fight between the dragon and Eclipse is insane. It’s like the battle of the strongest in the world.

It seems like Eclipse completely dominated.

– Please, if you’re going to fight, do it far away in space… or better yet, just don’t come at all.

– Wait, this is actually good. Didn’t Eclipse take care of both Gigantes and the dragon? Seems like it’s doing a better job than the Association.

Come here! I’ll hug you and snuggle you!

Eclipse, destroy Earth and send this guy packing first.

– How did they even take that photo? It looks like it was taken right on the spot.

The Association head who banished the dragon into space took it. 

He’s on his way back now.

…Will he make it back alive? 

The Korean Association – it’s not like they’re invincible, right?

“Huh? Look, a portal is opening!”

Seoul Plaza.

Among the dozens of hunters waiting, someone shouted.

In response, the blue-haired woman sharpening her sword, Isul, looked up at the sky.

A pristine white mothership slowly tore through the void and entered.

Despite having been at the scene of the battle, the mothership remained spotless, and Isul sighed in relief.

‘Thank goodness they made it back safely.’

The news of Eclipse’s appearance in the vastness of space.

Fearing the worst, we had gathered hunters here, but it seems it was just a false alarm.

Isul sheathed her sword and walked forward to greet the white-haired woman descending from the mothership.

***

As the portal opened, the sights of Seoul slowly came into view.

The scenery I had missed so much while in space.

Yet, Baek Ayun’s gaze wasn’t on the outside of the mothership, but on a certain corner inside.

There should have been traces of someone there, but for some reason, there was no warmth at all.

No, rather, a chilling cold filled that spot as Baek Ayun looked at it, closed her eyes, and slumped down.

“Sigh…”

Was it because the tension had eased?

Or was it because there was more to think about now?

Baek Ayun exhaled deeply, recalling the girl who had just vanished.

‘Eclipse…’

In the midst of hastily operating the mothership, a youthful voice echoed from behind.

At the same time, a pale white hand slowly reached out towards her.

And its owner was none other than the 7th boss of Another World.

Aria Eclipse.

‘I thought I was dead for sure.’

But.

What followed was something I never expected.

Tap-

“Pfft, relax, unnie.”

After tapping her forehead, the girl walked away.

As I cautiously opened my eyes, I saw the girl smiling brightly, her eyes curved like crescent moons.

“White unnie… I want to paint you black…”

Darkness, like an abyss, began to rise from the girl’s hand.

Gulp. 

The sound of swallowing instinctively.

But the girl just laughed playfully.

“There’s something more important. Can you do me a favor?”

‘…A favor?’

What? Wasn’t she going to kill me?

The girl’s words were incomprehensible.

Baek Ayun’s mind, frozen in place, began to race as she looked at the girl in front of her.

In the mothership’s window, where only the girl was visible, memories of Eclipse flashed by.

‘A mischievous and cruel personality. Acts on whims and interests.’

Unlike other bosses, she can be reasoned with.

If I play my cards right, I might be able to get out of this alive.

A thread of hope.

Baek Ayun’s eyes darted around nervously.

“…..”

And as if interpreting Baek Ayun’s silence in her own way, the girl made a slightly disappointed expression.

“Hmm… I even caught a lizard for you…”

As if disappointed, the girl poked Baek Ayun’s cheek.

And at that moment.

The white-haired woman’s thoughts came to a halt.

“Eek…”

A chilling coldness spread throughout her body.

As their eyes met, a dark afterglow was visible within the girl’s smiling eyes.

Baek Ayun’s rapidly spinning mind came to an abrupt stop.

“Okay, no, okay.”

“Okay, unnie.”

The pitch-black darkness once again filled the room.

The flashing red warning lights lost their glow, and the mothership’s alarms fell silent.

‘Ah…’

Did I take too long?

The same phenomenon as when the dragon roared.

As Baek Ayun was about to give up and close her eyes.

Thud. 

Something wrapped around her neck.

Touching it, she felt something like a collar.

‘Is this… the seal from the pyramid? No, something even stronger…’

And.

As if she had appeared behind her in an instant, the girl’s figure began to fade.

‘…She’s not going to kill me?’

At the same time.

“Huh…?”

“This

A gift! And-” 

[Emergency! Abnormal contact detected. Immediate action required.]

[Mothership damage rate 44%… Mothership damage rate 22%…13%…1%…0%]

As the ship’s status quickly displayed, somehow, the debris scattered in space began to magnetically reattach itself, repairing the ship.

From the early days of VR games, most hunters would think of this ship as a symbol before thinking of themselves.

With that level of damage, I thought it was beyond repair, but…

If this were a game, not only would the ship not be repaired, but it would have been scrapped along with me into the black hole, right?

Baek Ayun looked at the pitch-black girl with questioning eyes.

“Hehe, what I want to ask is…”

The girl’s request, flowing through her round eyes, was something Baek Ayun had never expected.

She quickly reached out, but the girl had long since disappeared.

And now.

‘What on earth was she thinking…’

Sssk-

As she bowed her head, the sound of the arriving mothership landing reached her ears.

“Association Head! Are you alright?”

“Where is Eclipse now-“

The sound of hunters rushing over could be heard.

Baek Ayun ended her reminiscence and let out a complicated sigh before answering.

“Yes, I’ve returned safely. And Eclipse…”

A moment of silence.

Recalling the pitch-black girl whose intentions were completely incomprehensible.

Baek Ayun continued her paused answer.

“Eclipse has vanished back into the depths of space. But judging by the direction she disappeared, she won’t be a threat to Earth-“

In the game, at least, we could predict her.

But the pitch-black girl I saw in reality was far too enigmatic for me.

***

And meanwhile.

The pitch-black girl who still lingers in Baek Ayun’s mind.

“Hehe, ah, I love it.”

A room far larger than before.

In one corner, buried in the blankets of the bed, the pitch-black girl let out a soft laugh.

“After all, everyone needs a home. My sweet home… I missed it.”

Fidget.

Snuggled in the cozy blankets, her small body wriggled as she made a comfortable expression.

At the same time.

Ding!

[Hunter, Lia, confirmed. Delivery from your favorite chicken place has started. Estimated time…]

“Ah, I love this so much.”

Beep.

After two weeks of only being able to eat street food due to identity checks, I can finally order delivery again.

But now, those worries are bye-bye.

A luxurious home and a hunter ID that can be used as identification.

The two items I rightfully received from the Association head for defeating the dragon were incredibly effective.

The hunter ID even uses some SF technology for fingerprint-like verification, so no more fear of identity checks.

‘Just in case, I also gave the Association head an artifact.’

The hidden artifact that came from the dragon’s remains after banishing it into the black hole.

It seemed to have sealing properties, possibly used to seal the dragon.

But it didn’t suit me, and at the time, I thought the Association head might break his promise and bring his members, so I gave it to him.

Well, that was the plan.

It’s a bit of a stretch to try to guess what I was thinking back then, when I was closer to Eclipse than myself.

Thankfully, I made it back.

‘If I ever do something like that again…’

The memory, no, the trauma flashes by.

The memory of calling the Association head “unnie” with my own mouth.

“Ugh…”

This is now sealed.

I’ll bury it in the permafrost layer of my mind along with the memory.

As for the Association head… since it’s an item that can be turned on and off, I’ve turned off its functions for now, so it should be fine.

Sure, the collar around my neck is a bit cumbersome, but she’ll figure it out.

Anyway, now’s the time to enjoy the entertainment I’ve been missing out on.

Gigantes, the dragon… it seems like every time I move, something happens, but I’ll consider it a stroke of bad luck and enjoy my daily life.

So.

[Association, hello, Hunter. Would you like to participate in a dungeon request?]

[Hello, Hunter. Would you like to participate in the search for the 7th boss?]

[Association, Hello]

[Association, Hello Hunter. Would you like to participate?]

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[Association-Hello-]

[Little sister-Oh-]

“Block them all.”

After the dungeon incident under my previous house, the Hunter Association has been spamming me.

No, spam messages.

I didn’t have an identity, but I wasn’t short on money, so I ignored them all.

[C-rank Hunter Lia]

And no more pretending to be a little sister.

Now that I have a proper identity, the old saying that if your tail is long, it will be stepped on, is proven wrong.

I cut it off before karma could catch up.

Wriggle wriggle.

Wrapped in a blanket, I looked out the window.

Even though a dragon appeared and a black hole formed in space, people still walk the streets.

And,

Just a few days ago.

The ground was turned upside down.

And the reason is.

I looked at the huge stadium located in the direction people were heading.

“Ladies and gentlemen! Hello, haha, it’s been quite eventful lately, hasn’t it?”

“Two bosses popping up in a day, the clear sky turning black, it’s like the Earth’s writer is slapping us in the face with plot holes. If they were here, I’d give them a good spanking.”

With that opening, in the center of the stadium.

On a makeshift drone, flying in the air, the host paused and looked around at the numerous spectators.

A world where VR has become reality.

This has brought disasters like the 7 bosses and calamities, but the opposite threshold also holds true.

People can freely use game skills in this world.

Thus, entertainment has sprung up everywhere.

To lift the mood after recent events, the Association has organized a tournament.

All hunters can participate.

Costumes and masks are allowed to reflect individual styles.

“All hunters from various fields gather in one place for the largest tournament ever! Lim/Fantasy/SF, etc. You’ve been waiting! The 1st, how long has it been?”

And the winner will receive an incredible prize.

Whoa-

The cheers of countless spectators.

Encouraged, the host shouted with all his might.

“Registration is open until tomorrow afternoon! We hope for many participants, and now, let the tournament begin!”

Outside the window, the pitch-black girl, holding her hunter ID tightly, smiled brightly, as if excited.

The clear sky seemed to darken slightly for some reason.