Chapter 575

〈Chapter 575〉 Part 2, Chapter 1, 05

December 25, 1999.

The people gathered to celebrate the end of a century witnessed hell.

“The Week of Blood.”

Seven colossal monsters that appeared across the globe reduced the world’s population by the billions over the span of a week leading into the year 2000.

After the appearance of the first seven beasts named after mythological creatures, dimensional gates began to appear worldwide. As if portals from another world had opened to invade Earth, monsters—

“Seongju is opening dimensional gates and sending monsters! Skipping tutorial!”

Cheongnyeon abruptly cut off the long narration. Though if you asked him to explain, he’d start with how Seongju turned Jeolpung into Penril.

“Ooh, we’ve arrived!”

Cheongnyeon, controlling Xian’s body, looked around upon entering the airport lobby. In the game setting, Gimhae International Airport was the only international airport in Korea, bustling with crowds.

“So, where do I go now? Huh? Follow the markers to gather information?”

[Understand the world and get a feel for Korea. Red markers indicate essential NPCs.]

〈Quest〉 Gather Information!

You’ve arrived in the notorious “Hell Joseon,” South Korea. Check the atmosphere with the locals at the airport.

[Reward] Command Experience 100.

It was the usual annoying NPC relay found in any game, but this NPC relay marked the beginning of just how cruel this game could be.

“There are four possible heroines here to bond with.”

Two were heroines tied to airport-specific events.

And the other one…

“Strawberry latte, please.”

Cheongnyeon immediately went to the lounge café to order a strawberry latte. Watching his bold move, I couldn’t help but sigh.

‘That’s how it starts.’

“Why strawberry latte? Because I like strawberries. You’ll see me drinking it often. From now on, I’ll only eat strawberries.”

Cheongnyeon gulped down the freshly served strawberry latte. With no way to turn the camera away from him, I knew an assassin who followed him on the same flight would find interest in this moment.

“Excuse me~”

While I was distracted, Cheongnyeon was already diligently progressing through the quest with his strawberry latte in hand.

“You’re a foreigner? …There’s no future in this country. It’d be best to return home on the next flight.”

“Thanks for the advice!”

First. The old man advising escape from Hell Joseon.

“Everyone! Come to New Seoul! Lord Light Blade will protect you!”

Second. The man in a suit urging relocation to New Seoul.

“Selling tickets to flights to America….”

Third. A young woman with a melancholic gaze trying to buy black-market tickets.

“Seoul? It doesn’t exist anymore. Heard of the 38th parallel? Now everyone calls it the 37th.”

Fourth. A sneering student.

Having gathered information from various types of people, Cheongnyeon glanced at the time. Only one red marker remained, but here the difference between veterans and newbies became glaringly clear.

Fifth. A woman holding luggage with a perplexed expression.

The brunette with shoulder-length hair and a friendly face fit the title of main heroine, looking so divine she might as well have been called a creation of the gods. Even background NPCs were chatting while glancing at her.

“What should I do…?”

The red marker pointing to this woman was all too familiar to players, someone everyone instinctively felt they should approach.

Saint—

Yuinah! Yuinah! Yuinah! Yuinah!

Cheongnyeon confidently walked toward Yuna amidst everyone shouting her name. His confident strides lacked hesitation.

“Excuse me?”

“Yes?”

Yuna was surprised when fluent Korean came out of the blonde foreigner’s mouth. Her reaction was akin to falling in love at first sight as she stared blankly at the protagonist.

‘Falling in love at first sight, indeed.’

At a low point after failing exams at the academy and feeling low self-esteem, meeting a handsome foreigner approaching kindly must feel strange yet comforting.

“I have some questions since it’s my first time in Korea.”

“Yes, yes! What would you like to know?”

Options appeared before Cheongnyeon.

“What’s ‘Hell Joseon’? Who is ‘Sun Icheol’? What happened to Seoul?”

Each question revealed aspects of Korean society, and Yuna answered objectively without bias.

“Hell Joseon, though embarrassing, refers to people spitting in my face because it’s hard to live here…”

“Sun Icheol is the current president, residing in New Seoul, a city near Daejeon…”

“Seoul…due to the ‘<Pyongyang Incident>‘ in 2012…”

“The Pyongyang Incident?”

Anyone playing the game would naturally be curious about the unique lore event. Those quick-witted could easily infer:

Ah, something big happened in Pyongyang causing Seoul to collapse, moving the capital near Daejeon.

Just as they thought something ominous was about to happen—

Beep beep beep!!

The magical gear on his wrist loudly alerted as the airport terminal windows shattered.

Tutorial combat had begun.

* * *

Very few foreigners visit Korea.

Conversely, hundreds of Koreans leave daily.

The current President Sun Icheol restricted flights citing monster threats nearby, cutting routes to prevent citizens from fleeing abroad.

“Excuse me~”

In this context, Yuna was surprised when the blonde foreign youth spoke fluent Korean, her heart sinking at his intense gaze.

Hiss.

The youth’s eyes burned like blue flames, his slightly raised smile genuinely happy.

“May I ask a question?”

“Yes, yes! Anything!”

What’s “Hell Joseon”? Why do some call Sun Icheol a dictator while others say he’s a politician of the times? What’s the state of Seoul? If Koreans are known for their kindness, why are these people trying to leave?

“That…well…”

Yuna answered objectively to avoid misunderstandings. Despite speaking fluent Korean, the youth seemed completely clueless about Korea.

“Pyongyang Incident?”

Not knowing about the 21st-century Korean Peninsula-changing “<Pyongyang Incident>” where seven S-Rank heroes died suggested he truly was an accidental visitor.

“Yes, the Pyongyang Incident. That means—”

But then, Yuna’s magical watch started sounding an emergency alarm.

Dimensional gate warning. Large-scale emergence of C-Rank or lower monsters.

Location: Gimhae Airport runway. Estimated invasion of the terminal by numerous monsters…

Crash crash crash!!

Windows shattered as hordes of monsters poured in. Yuna quickly pulled out a collapsible staff hidden in her coat pocket. The youth watched a 1-meter-long fanged dog with gleaming eyes.

“Wow, a real Hell Chihuahua. Is that…E-Rank?”

“It’s dangerous here! Run away!”

Yuna pointed to the exit with a serious face, but the youth firmly shook his head.

“How can I run leaving you behind?”

“But I’m a hero! Well, a trainee hero!”

Yuna pulled out her wallet. Seeing her student ID, the youth’s eyes widened.

“Born in ’05? You’re 21? Wow, I thought you were a teenager.”

“No! Look at the ID not my age! It’s a Hero Academy student ID! Korean Hero Academy!!”

Yuna grabbed his wrist and ran despite his surprise. Hell Chihuahuas and other E-D Rank monsters were already rampaging inside.

“It’s dangerous here! Run!”

“Hmm, I’m fine. Important places like airports will surely attract heroes soon.”

“That’s only true in America. This is Hell Joseon…it’s dangerous!”

Yuna swung her staff forward. A golden magical arrow shot from the tip, embedding itself in the forehead of a Hell Chihuahua leaping from the ceiling.

Scream!!

The Hell Chihuahua writhed in pain. Though clearly hurt, blood on its teeth hinted at sinister deeds.

“Oh no…”

Yuna panicked. Her hastily fired magic didn’t kill the beast.

“Oh no…”

“Excuse me, Yuna.”

Yuna shivered hearing the calm voice behind her. The youth casually held what looked like a bathroom mop.

“Heroes will likely take about ten minutes to arrive, right?”

“Ye, yes?”

“Let’s survive until then.”

The youth muttered something incomprehensible, blocking Yuna’s front.

* * *

[Dang, what’s our jungler doing? Enemy jungler’s ganking top!]

[…Sir! Emergency! Emergency!]

[Shut up! Handle it yourselves!]

Cutscene transition.

The B-Rank hero responsible for airport security failed to respond promptly due to unknown reasons.

<Tutorial!> Survive ten minutes with Hero Academy trainee ‘Yuinah’!

# Clear Condition: Survive for 10 minutes without dying.

# No penalties for failure.

# Reward: Command Experience 100.

Various tutorial windows popped up for Cheongnyeon. Internally, I was surprised by the DLC’s slight changes.

‘Really fighting?’

Originally, the protagonist only commanded allies from behind. Yet somehow, Cheongnyeon wielded what seemed like a prepared mop in front of Yuna.

[Does the original DLC involve frontline fighting? For an E-Rank guy?]

Nope, not fighting lol.

Just…Mr. Husband showing off in front of Yuna haha.

(Whispering)

I checked Cheongnyeon’s data while he ran with Yuna’s hand. Was there any stat bonus?

<Sian.w.Hibiscus.>

Combat Power: E (5/99)

Magic Power: E (Unawakened)

[Last Commander]: Seems the player must master combat skills themselves?

[Ah, Hibiscus… I understand the backstory, but with these stats?]

First time playing DLC?

Combat Power 5? Trash…

In tutorials, damage dealt is always zero lol.

[Looks like I’ll die in the tutorial.]

Monsters killing unpowered humans takes as much effort as unwrapping a triangle rice cake.

Even national athletes unable to awaken magic power usually last three minutes against E-Rank monsters before dying. How can an ordinary E-Rank person fight?

[Monsters…]

* * *

“Yuna, duck!”

“Yes, yes!”

Cheongnyeon and Yuna skillfully evaded charging monsters. Cheongnyeon’s attacks dealt no damage, so he aimed for the Hell Chihuahua’s eyes with his mop.

“Where are you going!”

Snarl!

As Cheongnyeon jabbed, the Hell Chihuahua instinctively dodged. Any living creature reacts when vital spots are threatened.

“Yuna, now!”

“Yes!”

Through Cheongnyeon’s armpit, Yuna’s staff extended, launching a golden arrow at the Hell Chihuahua.

Thud!

The magical arrow knocked out the Hell Chihuahua’s teeth like husking corn. Cheongnyeon deftly flicked the fallen teeth with his mop.

Pow!

The sharp tooth fragment embedded into the Hell Chihuahua’s jaw, briefly stopping its movement.

“Yuna, excuse me.”

“Yes?”

Plop. Cheongnyeon dropped the mop, approached Yuna from behind, and overlapped his hands in a bear hug.

“Yuna, just channel magic into the staff!”

“W-Wait, hiik?!”

Before Yuna could protest, Cheongnyeon tightly gripped her hand and thrust the staff.

Pooch!

The blunt staff tip pierced the Hell Chihuahua’s forehead. The beast collapsed with bulging eyes. Stunned, Yuna watched the E-Rank monster fall.

“What…what was that?”

“Let’s survive. Together.”

Cheongnyeon whispered into Yuna’s ear.

“While we’re surviving…how about capturing these guys and saving people?”

Yuna gripped her staff tightly in response.

<Notification> Yuinah’s affection increased by 1!

?????? How are we supposed to capture them???!!

Crazy tutorial mode activated lol Stats haven’t even unlocked yet lol

Starting as a hunter but beating monsters with a mop dkdk

[…Don’t you have class? Follow it.]

I smiled internally watching Cheongnyeon enthusiastically enjoying the tutorial. The in-game Baek Cheonghwa was a blonde Western male, but the real-life Cheongnyeon was a woman wearing VR gear.

[She’s…a god.]

Not lying at all.