Chapter 138: For the Runaway Girl 3
TL/Editor: Raei
Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun
Illustrations: Posted in discord.
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Because of Han Se-ah's unexpected antics, I found myself reprimanding her.
However, this led to a crucial discovery.
The Giant Worms appeared to be attracted to the mana stones within the rock golems.
These stones might have been formed from the remains of other Giant Worms, judging by the frenzied behavior when the mana stones shattered, releasing their mana.
Typically, one would investigate the golem's mana stone at a location like the Magic Tower, to craft a lure.
Thankfully, we already had an abundance of these mana stones in our inventory, sparing us the hassle.
'I had planned to sell the mana stones at a premium, but it seems we'll end up using them all.'
The primary drawback was the rapid consumption of these mana stones.
Using the mana-laden stones by breaking them to unleash their magic was wasteful, but faster than any other method.
After making such progress, it wasn't smart to waste days in a lab creating a proper lure.
Not only was such a meticulous process out of character for Korean gamers, but it was also impractical for a streamer like Han Se-ah.
"Another one's coming!"
"Got it!"
This marked the beginning of our hunting strategy.
By crushing a mana stone at the entrance, I could draw the Giant Worm's attention.
As it pursued me, the knight-type golem, supported by my party, would swiftly deal the fatal blow.
Given the worm's weakness was its head, I wasn't crucial to the strategy.
Riding atop the knight-type golem, Katie would block the Giant Worm's advance.
Han Se-ah would then weaken its protective shell, setting up Grace to land the final hit with her explosive arrows aimed at its head.
Any debris flung by the struggling Giant Worm was effortlessly blocked by Irene's protective barrier.
A textbook example of team synergy.
-Katie's relaxed tone is so damn cute.
-She looks like a cold beauty, but when she opens her mouth...
-Once they repair the archer golem, they might be able to defeat the Giant Worm without explosive arrows.
-But with a pathway that narrow, do we really have to crawl out?
-The golem might fit height-wise lying down, but its shoulders look too wide.
Viewers cheered at this thrilling scene.
Some foreign viewers, particularly those interested in the mechs, were uneasy about how we were using the golem.
Still, most were satisfied as long as the confrontation was thrilling.
With the knight-type golem restraining the Giant Worm, even a player mage teamed with a naturally-born 3 archer could effortlessly take it down.
Many lamented that they only had an average of 2 allies.
But, honestly, that's on the lower side.
I've seen discussions suggesting that serious players aiming for the 30th floor consistently use the reset feature to get allies with higher s.
This prompted players to initiate a kind of 'reset challenge,' utilizing the reset function, which restarts the game without saving, sending them back to the start of the day.
Each evening, they'd ask the Adventurer's Guild receptionist for potential party members.
Come morning, they would revisit the guild, relying on the reset feature until they secured a 3 member or better.
The virtual reality aspect made this grind somewhat monotonous the repetitive cycle of waking at the inn and trekking to the guild but it wasn't impossible.
-After all the effort, I'm kicking off the game with a 5 Snow Witch!
[5 Snow Witch Oksana's Status Window.JPG]
[Beautiful Oksana adorned in a blue cloak.JPG]
To all the bastards who laughed at my 4 reset, look who's laughing now!
No way I'd settle for just a 4.
Haha, you finally did it!
How long was the grind?
After my day job, I'd spend roughly 6 hours just on the inn circuit.
What's this "inn circuit"?
Head to the guild, listen to adventurers, race back to the inn, and if you get under a 4, hit the reset.
Damn, is it because she's a 5? That figure under the robe impressive.
The game's been out for 3 months and you're only starting now? Crazy lol.
Gamers can be quite extreme, even in the mobile gacha game 'Heroines Chronicle'.
They are determined to begin with the highest-tier characters, some even resorting to software to automate the reset cycle for months on end.
People restart the game until they get the character they want.
This trend isn't limited to Korea. It's prevalent in Japan and even among Westerners acquainted with Korean and Japanese gacha games, thanks to extensive coverage by gaming news platforms.
...Of course, I didn't stumble upon this out of sheer boredom.
I was on the lookout for the release of another natural-born 6 character.
"Roland! No need to lure any more in! They're starting the golem repairs!"
While I had delegated most of the combat to my party members under the guise of 'gaining experience,' I was preoccupied with both luring the Giant Worm using a mana stone and surfing the web.
Grace's lively voice resonated from the corridor.
She approached quickly, her steps light and nimble typical of a scout, and clutched my arm.
She appeared awestruck by the sight of the autonomous mechanical arm repairing the golem.
Especially because that golem she's looking at is the archer-type one she'll be operating.
We'd been using the golem's magic stone to attract the Giant Worm, and our knight-type golem played the role of exterminating them.
As we took down more and more Giant Worms, mana pooled in the hangar, progressively activating different facilities.
Through this, our knight-type golem, having shown signs of wear and tear from numerous skirmishes, underwent repairs.
Simultaneously, the previously broken archer-type golem was repaired.
If you look at just this part, it feels more like an SF mechanic game than a fantasy one.
-If this is what's at the 30th floor, wonder what's above?"
-We live in the age of BB Games. We live in the age of BB Games.
-When I grow up, I want to be a mecha pilot.
-So, where can I get a mecha pilot's bodysuit?
-I'm not sure about others, but please put our Snow Witch in a bodysuit. Please.
With the sturdy knight-type golem defending the front and the colossal archer-type golem firing projectiles more reminiscent of siege equipment than arrows, our progress accelerated.
It unleashed 3m-long steel bolts at staggering velocities, effortlessly penetrating the Giant Worm's mouth.
The rate at which the giant worms are dying now exceeds the speed at which I'm luring them, resulting in a disturbing mound of their remains in a corner of the vacant clearing.
"Could those two golems be a mage golem and a priest golem?"
"Are those kind of golems even possible?"
"Considering they're from another world, it might just be possible."
Though the rock golem mana stones' consumption rate, which served as fuel, has doubled, Han Se-ah and Irene remain idle.
They chat, eyes on the two yet-to-be-fixed golems.
The odor emanating from the decaying Giant Worms was becoming unbearable.
Fortunately, the workshop, separated by a wall, shielded us from the nauseating aroma of their bodily fluids.
While I checked the internet while luring the worms, Grace and Katie were riding the golems to handle them.
Irene chatted away with Han Se-ah, who was entertaining the viewers on her stream.
"This one's relatively large, but considering its proportions, it's probably using a dagger, right?"
"This golem only has a shield. Guess mage and priest golems was a stretch."
The repaired golems turned out as follows: a knight-type golem brandishing a longsword, an archer-type golem equipped with an imposing steel longbow, a rogue-type golem clutching twin daggers, and a tank-type golem carrying a shield as vast as the hangar's entrance.
Clearly, even in this world, it's impossible to forge golems with the capabilities of mages or priests.
At that moment, a metallic female voice echoed.
"Message from Golem Hangar B-301F."
"Warning, anomalies detected at Golem Hangar B-301F."
"An abnormal mana leak has been confirmed from B-301F."
The voice rang out, clearly indicating progression in the quest.
Those who had boarded the four golems, trying out their movements, turned their heads, gazing into the depths of the hangar.
"Warning, threat of explosion due to abnormal mana leakage."
"Warning, risk of structural failure due to mana explosion."
"Golem pilots are urgently advised to address the situation."
A massive secret door, big enough for a golem to walk through, began to creak open.
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Raei Translations
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Beautiful pilots, rideable golems, colossal monsters, looming explosions, and a secret opening.
Viewer enthusiasm was reignited by the quest narrative teeming with fantastical elements.
The chat bubbled and boiled, like an active volcano.
From confessions about their attraction to the women controlling the golems to mecha enthusiasts having serious debates about the differences in the golems' design.
From viewers eagerly speculating about the boss monster to those debating the probability of Han Se-ah's explosive demise - the chat was alive with speculation.
"How is it, Irene? Can you move the golem well?"
"Yes, yes! Holding the shield and walking was a little awkward, but it moves more naturally than I thought."
Han Se-ah was in the rogue-type golem with a dagger, while Irene was piloting the tank-type golem with a shield.
And I had positioned myself atop the spacious shoulder armor of the tank-type golem.
We brought all four golems in case anything unexpected showed up.
Among us, the least adept at physical movement was Irene.
Grace and Katie naturally had good physical abilities.
Han Se-ah was also known for her fitness content, so her motor skills were pretty good.
Though she was looking at me disappointedly as I perched atop the golem piloted by Irene.
We proceeded through the suddenly discovered secret passage toward an unknown area labeled B-301F.
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