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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
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Perhaps unfamiliar with typing on an outdated input device like a keyboard, his typing speed was very slow.
It was only natural.
There was a significant gap between that and the cyberpunk technology that allowed inputting desired content with just thoughts and eye movements.
I was only able to type quickly because I was used to it from my memories of Korea.
Even considering Julia, BunnyPrincess, who typed in short bursts and slowly, this was to be expected.
I could feel his determination as he painstakingly continued typing at that slow speed.
The heart of a senior trying to give me accurate information.
Even though I wasn’t actually a junior.
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): Of course, that applies to people around Shooting Star too. A bounty? Naturally, it’s normal not to place one. ]
This person suddenly became talkative.
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): Every organization that’s ever placed a bounty on Shooting Star herself, or people around her, has disappeared. ]
[ RealMageHere(Warrior): Why? ]
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): Why? Because Shooting Star came crashing down and destroyed them all. Don’t you know her nickname is Shooting Star because everything around her disappears when she falls? ]
Ah. I thought her nickname was because she appeared like a comet.
I didn’t know there was a hidden meaning of her obliterating everyone, like a literal “shooting star.”
This sounded more accurate.
The testimony of someone from the underworld made it even more credible.
Wait, but then why was my name still up there?
I had just seen my name clearly listed.
[ RealMageHere(Warrior): I saw it earlier. There was a bounty on someone I knew as Shooting Star’s companion. ]
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): Huh? Wait a minute. ]
His character, after typing that, started moving.
He entered the bulletin board to check what I was talking about.
And after a very short time,
His paused typing resumed.
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): lolololol There are still idiots like that lolol ]
[ RealMageHere(Warrior): ? ]
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): Don’t worry too much about it. Well, it’s something that happens to those who don’t look before they leap. ]
I was getting used to his blunt responses.
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): lol Look again. Looks like Shooting Star has already fallen. ]
I clicked the bulletin board again at his words.
…….
This was real.
The bounty post with my name, which had been there just a moment ago, had vanished without a trace.
How strange.
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The other person continued speaking rapidly.
His typing speed was definitely faster than before.
Was it a hidden keyboard warrior talent?
Or was he just amused by the news of Shooting Star falling?
Anyway, it was fast.
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): Those idiots lolol As you can see, you have to be sharp to survive in this world. Especially a newbie like you. ]
[ RealMageHere(Warrior): Thank you for the kind advice, sensei ;; ]
Wasn’t this a top 3% personality in Neon City?
Even compared to the people around me.
This was comparable to Drek, the kindest person I knew.
Such rare kindness in Neon City.
I couldn’t understand how someone with such a personality could survive in the underworld.
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): But… ]
Then, His character stopped again.
This time, he seemed to have a question about me.
Did he figure out my identity?
No.
My acting in the chat was perfect.
Then what was it?
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): How… did you change the job next to your ID, and how did you dress your character? ]
He was just a newbie.
[ RealMageHere(Warrior): Ah. That’s… ]
I couldn’t resist a fresh newbie.
I guided him with the most detailed explanations and kindest words I could muster.
[ RealMageHere(Warrior): Press the M key to open the map. ]
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): Where’s that? ]
[ RealMageHere(Warrior): If you look closely below the outdated input device, you’ll find it. ]
[ RealMageHere(Warrior): I recommend the Warrior class. You can wipe everything out in one shot. ]
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): Really? Well, if you’re a man, you gotta be a Warrior. ]
[ RealMageHere(Warrior): As expected of sensei! You absolutely shouldn’t choose classes like Archer or Magician! ]
After some time, the brainwashing… I mean, the kind tutorial was over.
The other person’s character jumped a few times in place using the jump key I taught him.
I was very pleased.
[ RealMageHere(Warrior): That’s how you do it. As I mentioned before, you can level up by hunting outside the village. ]
[ P2034871140(Unemployed): Huh. I thought it was just a game in name. It has various systems like a real game. Thanks for letting me know. ]
[ RealMageHere(Warrior): Don’t mention it. Haha. ]
I successfully recruited a newbie to the dying game (which wasn’t a game).
It was a trash game with no content, so I was going to quit… but as the saying goes, even if the world ends tomorrow, plant an apple tree.
I, too, planted a seed of hope today.
I watched his character disappear from the screen.
Once his character was completely gone, I clicked the bulletin board again to check the contents.
It was real, even on a second look.
The bounty post with my name, which had definitely been there, was gone.
What was with this timing?
I hadn’t seen it wrong, it was just strange.
“Shooting Star has fallen, huh…”
[Calculating based on the database. Probability of the other party’s statement being true… 98%.]
It made sense even if it was 100%, not 98%.
I thought I should contact Catherine.
A message… no.
If I sent a message, I’d probably get a hologram call like before (with Julia).
It was better to call her directly.
I closed the game and used the visual interface to call Catherine.
A short melody played.
The genre was Modern Rock.
Before the lyrics even started, Catherine quickly answered.
Her face, half surprised and half delighted, appeared through the hologram.
[What? Hello?]
“Hey, Catherine.”
And then.
[Bang! Bang!!]
[Kill that bitch!!]
What?
I felt a sense of déjà vu, like I was seeing the same scene as before.
No, it wasn’t déjà vu, it was reality.
What were you doing?
But just like with Julia, Catherine’s expression in the hologram was incredibly peaceful.
She looked like she was just out for a stroll.
“Judging by the sounds, you seem busy.”
[No, not at all. I’m not busy at all. If you hang up, I’m coming over.]
[Blow it up!!]
[Booooom!!!]
Hmm.
You seem pretty busy…
Since she said she wasn’t busy, I continued the call without hanging up.
It was definitely not because I was intimidated by her threat to come over.
“You’re on a mission?”
[Not a mission, just something I had to take care of. It’s nothing to worry about.]
[Aaaargh!!!]
[A monster, a monster…!]
But no matter how much she insisted she wasn’t busy, it didn’t seem like a good time to continue the conversation.
“…I just called because I was thinking about you.”
[Wow, you’re actually calling me first.]
[H-help me…]
…Um, noona.
There are strange voices interrupting.
“Anyway, see you at home later.”
[…Tsk, fine. See you at home later then.]
“Yeah, take care.”
[I told you not to take that job! I don’t wanna die—]
Click.
The call ended. Or rather, I hung up.
I felt like I’d have bad dreams.
…Hmm.
Definitely.
It was appropriate to describe this as “Shooting Star has fallen.”
And one thing was for sure: I had to spend a lot of time with Catherine today.
With that in mind, I waited for Catherine to return home.
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“Are you guys even friends? Shiun, Catherine, neither of you ever visit even though I’ve asked you to come over so many times. Especially Shiun, you said you’d come when I called, right? If we make plans, you should at least show your face!”
Another one of our friends and companions, Drek, came to visit.
Even nice people get angry sometimes.
This was one of those times.
…But, honestly, Drek’s place was… too far to visit just because we made plans.
“I’m sorry! I was too lazy to go!”
I apologized frankly. It was an apology, anyway.
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