119 – Nymphs Love Spacetime Typhoon! #3
“The Coris wants to play games with the Nymph sisters…!”
“This Inoi also looks forward to it…!”
The arcade machine in our yard was a mechanical snail 3. Originally, it was mechanical snail 2, but it was upgraded to 3. However, just because 2 upgraded to 3 didn’t mean that a two-player game became a three-player game.
The three Nymphs who often came to play in the yard made it inevitable that one person had to watch from the back. The Nymphs were very disappointed about that.
The decision to play together as three was clear.
That was the PC Bang.
“I wonder if it will be okay.”
It was my first time bringing the Nymphs to a PC Bang. I also used a coupon given by Lee Jin-A.
“It seems difficult to care for the Nymphs all by myself. Jin-A, you have to help.”
Lee Jin-A was usually taking care of Coris at home. It meant that she could help, no matter what silly actions the Nymphs might take. However, she raised one eyebrow and spoke to me lightly, as if giving me a little jab.
“Why are you using a coupon for something so trivial? Of course, I’ll accept it.”
Swoosh.
Lee Jin-A tucked the ticket into her pocket. Anyway, feeling that way, we all hopped onto an old truck and headed toward the city with a clatter-clatter.
Which PC Bang should we go to?
After pondering for a while, Jin-A said, “I know a good place.” and led us there without consultation.
The PC Bang we arrived at was very dark and secluded. It felt like the nightmare of being bullied by older sisters from back then was coming back to life. It was a place where fearsome delinquents seemed to be lurking.
“It’s quiet and good here. Even past 10 PM, they don’t check for minors. Isn’t that nice?”
Jin-A somehow added that testimony with great enthusiasm. However, it was indeed quiet, and almost empty.
With the latest specifications for PCs being gleaming and trendy food & cafes becoming the norm in the current PC Bang market, this quiet and dim location was quite rare to see for a long time.
Clap, clap-.
At the counter, a part-timer chewing on Balloon Gum had her legs rested heavily on the register. She had a neatly cut bob hairstyle, but her eyes were slightly scary as they were forced upwards.
It felt like I might have been bullied if I were in middle school. I had a good sense for detecting potential muggers who might rob me.
“Oh-. Jin-A. What’s going on.”
The part-timer recognized Jin-A and pretended to know her.
“You brought a whole bunch of kids along. Is this your first outing since graduation? Are you running away again today?”
“What are you talking about? How old do you think I am to run away?”
Lee Min-ji wasn’t just a part-timer; she was Jin-A’s friend and the daughter of the store owner. After all, as the owner’s daughter, she must have the privilege to put her feet on the counter!
Swoosh.
Min-ji’s sharp and pretentious eyes looked at me. Then she lightly exclaimed, “O-.” and seemed amazed before grabbing Jin-A’s side.
“Is this your boyfriend? Lucky you! Jin-A has been popular with handsome older boys since forever, but she’s never given anyone a chance. I was wondering who she was saving herself for.”
Lee Jin-A’s friend, Min-ji, chuckled. Jin-A gave Min-ji’s side a light poke.
“Stop your nonsense; we’re going inside.”
Clang, clang-.
Three Nymphs went inside.
As diverse as their hair colors were, Min-ji’s eyes sparkled with various hues.
It must have been a surprise to see the Nymphs. Inoi quickly grabbed a seat in front.
“This Inoi has learned how to turn on a computer from the owner of the house…! I’m sure it’s definitely about pressing this big button here…!”
Voom-.
As the computer powered on, Inoi stood up with glee, puffing out her chest.
“No other Nymphs can turn on a computer as skillfully as this Inoi…! This Inoi is truly the master of computer activation among the Nymphs…!”
“Hey, Inoi, could you turn on Coris’s computer too…!”
Swoosh.
Inoi and Coris sat side by side. The daughter of the PC Bang’s owner, Min-ji, seemed amazed at the sight.
“How cute. They’re Nymphs, right? I saw an animal farm. It was really funny.”
As Min-ji laughed, Illinois also sat down. Soon, Illinois spoke up.
“I, Illinois, like this computer the best…! I choose this computer…! The counter is right there, and it’s stuffed with money…!”
Illinois chose the counter PC. She seemed fond of the counter PC because it was filled with bills and coins, making it a wise choice.
However, unfortunately, she couldn’t sit at the counter PC.
“Why are you taking away my rights…? This action contradicts the Nymph Rights Charter that I signed with George from Washington…! I request you to call my lawyer…!”
The Nymphs hurriedly settled in that manner. Jin-A and I sat on either side of the Nymphs.
To explain, it was something like this.
Haildo-Inoi-Coris-Illinois-Jin-A.
So what should we do now?
I thought about what game to let the Nymphs play.
“Do you want to play a cart game? It’s a car racing game. It’s easy and fun.”
Driving games were simple enough for kids to play. It was also good for multiple players. However, it seemed like Inoi had a game in mind already.
“This Inoi wants to play a game called Heroes of the Storm…! There was an island called Hyos nearby where I used to live…!”
Hyos Island.
After searching it, I found that it really was near Greece. It appeared that Inoi had lived near it.
“This is truly a Nymph-friendly game…! This Coris wants to try this Nymph-friendly game as well…!”
“Heroes, eh…? Wasn’t that the name of a fancy restaurant or something…? This Illinois has been tricked all this time…! I’m suing for Nymph fraud…!”
The Nymphs were enthusiastic in various ways.
I started up “Heroes of the Storm.”
The Nymphs began with creating their IDs, but since they had a code issued for interdimensional beings, it wasn’t too difficult.
Anyway, we formed a team of five and played against the AI, and ten minutes later, Inoi said,
“It’s really boring…! I don’t get what fun humans of the 21st century find in this…!”
“This Coris thinks so too…!”
“The impact isn’t as strong as the Nymphs’ wild blows…! And the communist-friendly way of leveling up together is quite disgusting…!”
Is that so?
I thought it was fun.
Actually, I had been playing this game since its launch every day. Although I hadn’t played since Inoi came to my house.
# # #
“Meh-eh, the Nymphoster was Illinois…! Illinois has achieved victory again…! Look at the bribery skills of this Illinois who was once called a mafia…! Truly, sabotaging like crazy…!”
“This Coris didn’t know what was what, but realized that I could control these little friends with this keyboard…! It’s fascinating…!”
After various twists and turns, the PC Bang adventure came to an end. I didn’t know what the Nymphs would like, so I tried various games, and they seemed to enjoy most of them.
Especially, Inoi, who had the most interest and affection for her Nymph sisters, liked it the best.
“It was so fun…! Being with Nymph sisters made everything enjoyable…! I hope we can come again later…!”
Having gone through my school days, I didn’t know that the Nymphs would enjoy this familiar place so much.
In the future, it would be nice to take the Nymphs out again when I have time.
Feeling that way, we returned home in the truck once more.
The sun was setting softly beyond the sky—.
Kkungkkungi and Bang Bang, who had been lazily napping in the shade of the apple tree, came out to greet us.
—Kkungkkung…!
—Hioong…!
“Right, right. Have you been keeping watch? Next time, I should take you both to a pet café.”
I returned home safely and turned on the TV.
Most of the TV channels were buzzing about the successful conclusion of the meeting of S Rank Awakened Ones as they announced a major statement.
What could it be?
“They named the giant rift that appeared in the Pacific ‘Spacetime Storm’ and promised that Awakened S Rankers all over the world would cooperate to explore and breach it. We’ll connect to Cha Yura, who is on-site for an interview.”
“Well, you can see it’s a massive rift─.”
A giant rift had formed in the Pacific?
Upon seeing the footage captured on the news screen, there were clouds and whirlwinds swirling with a remarkably giant scale, being sucked in towards the center.
“Is that really a rift? What kind of scale is that, like a dragon’s ascendance? It’s definitely a natural disaster. Is that the cause of the recent global weather anomalies…?”
Lee Jin-A sat on the sofa, looking at the TV screen. Her expression seemed quite worried, and it wasn’t unreasonable to be tense about the possibility of a G Rank rift surpassing a T Rank.
At least it was fortunate that this massive storm was in the far-off Pacific and not in the middle of South Korea.
And it was also good that all the Awakened S Ranks around the world promised to work together to breach it.
“What could be inside it?”
I became curious about what was within the storm.
The largest T Rank rift ever discovered, the “Spacetime Storm.”
It made me feel slightly excited.
However—.
I still remained at B Rank.
While the S Rank Awakened Ones were doing interviews and hyping up exploration and breaching the rift, it felt a bit frustrating having to sit here safely in front of the TV.
What am I doing here!?
Pop-.
At that moment, Inoi walked up to the TV.
Inoi gazed at the storm on the screen for a while and said,
“It’s a marvelous storm…! Usually, a Nymph lives inside this kind of storm…! There must be a Nymph in there…!”
“Ah-, indeed, this Coris thinks it looks like a great storm for Nymphs to live in…!”
“Meh-eh, this Illinois completely agrees…!”
The Nymphs seemed satisfied, thinking that this fearsome storm, which made my legs shake just by watching, was excellent and beautiful.
Is it because their emotions are different?
Is it truly a terrifying maximum T Rank rift?
Or, as the Nymphs said, is it a storm suitable for Nymphs to live in?
I couldn’t quite understand various angles, but one thing was certain: I couldn’t just sit still like this.
“I must go to the rift too. Jin-A, you’re B Rank, right? Do you want to go to the rift together tomorrow?”
I needed to earn money and gather mana from the B Rank rift.
Thinking that, I registered for B Rank rift recruitment with the Awakened app alongside Jin-A.
But then, an unexpected problem occurred.
“…….”
Quite a bit of time had passed since I posted the message, yet no one appeared to chat or apply.
Originally, about 3 to 5 messages would come within an hour.
After about two hours, Jin-A said,
“It seems like we’ve been flagged. It looks like the A Rank factions have issued some sort of order. This will make it hard to find a party and will be difficult.”
Could it be because Illinois put something weird on Joo Hyun-ryun’s head?
No matter how I thought about it, ostracizing someone like this seemed a bit childish.
But, well, it was okay.
“Finding an independent B Rank that I could breach was just right. It can’t be helped. Jin-A, have you ever been to a T Rank rift? It’s a bit risky, but you just need to follow the guide.”
B Rank Awakened Ones could assist the T Rank rift team.
Coincidentally, Tsukki was in South Korea.
I sent a message to Tsukki’s TeleTalk.
