Chapter 172
Around the time Yor's Extermination Squad defeated Sitri
News of victory also rang out from the group Chae-rin and Haneul belonged to. They, too, had exterminated their Demon without much trouble. Given that they had more Personnel to begin with, it was, in a way, an expected outcome.
They hadn't done a live broadcast, but it seemed they had recorded it. A few days later, Buer's Extermination Video was uploaded to YouTube by numerous Streamers. Naturally, Chae-rin Yu was among them.
People checked the uploaded video with faint anticipation.
[Aaaargh! Don't come this way! Don't roll over here!]
[That crazy bastard is rolling through the air too!]
The video they watched... was practically a mess. Everyone was running around frantically, trying to catch the windmill-like Demon.
In the video, the Demon of Movement Buer never stopped, sometimes even rolling through the air. Its presence was quite imposing, with a creature larger than a house rolling around like that.
Occasionally, it would even roll directly towards the Extermination Squad. Each time, the Extermination Squad had no choice but to scatter in panic, which was quite amusing to watch.
Of course, it must have been serious for those involved, but for the viewers watching, it felt like a slapstick comedy.
[What are those guys doing lololol][They're practically crying and snotting lolol][They'll probably piss themselves too lololol][Whoa there][If something that gross was rolling around like that, I'd be scared shitless too lol]
Honestly, it was far from a grand battle, but it was entertaining, so people liked it. When Buer's lion-like head was stabbed, it was even a little cool.
However, public sentiment regarding Sitri's side wasn't very good...
There was no video uploaded in the first place. Demon Extermination or not, entertainment is important to users.
If they couldn't participate themselves, at least a video should have been uploaded for vicarious satisfaction. Demon Extermination was the main content of [Demon's Saga].
But the only Otherworlder who went along this time was Hanbyeol Shin. No matter how long they waited, no video was uploaded, so they couldn't help but get angry from a Viewers' perspective.
What's the point of catching it if you can't even watch?
Of course, Hanbyeol also had an excuse. That was because all the recorded combat footage contained only scenes that would get demonetized.
No matter how much *Mosaic* was applied, the skin tones wouldn't disappear. Even Sitri, who was the Boss, had such an outfit. She couldn't easily upload it even if she wanted to.
[It's fine even with full Mosaic, just upload it!]
[You have to tell us what happened...]
[At least tell us the story, please T_T]
Therefore, viewers visited her Personal Cafe and pleaded for her to at least tell the story...
[I'm not feeling well, so I'm taking a Temporary Stream Hiatus.]
Hanbyeol simply posted this one notice and then went on a Temporary Stream Hiatus.
Ugh, this bitch, seriously lolol What did you do there?! Just tell us that! Did this bastard seriously masturbate in the middle of the Village or something? lolol
Thanks to this, the Viewers' public sentiment was ablaze, but Hanbyeol Shin had no time to care about such things.
The disgraceful act she committed a few days ago was still vivid in her mind.
As she lay blankly on her bed, the events from the Village a few days ago replayed themselves.
*Whine, whine, Master, punish me, whine, whine...*
“Aaaaargh!!!”
Wham! Wham!
Feeling an intense wave of embarrassment, she punched the doll she was holding...
There's a common saying, “embarrassing past”. Simply put, it's a term for past events one wishes to forget.
It's usually created when one confesses in front of the entire school, or when one gets completely drunk and vomits on a crush.
And ordinary people... couldn't help but have an “embarrassing past”.
Humans are imperfect beings, and unless it's a Second Life, they're bound to make mistakes. Everyone has at least one “embarrassing past” due to their own mistakes.
Of course, the pain felt by the person involved is indescribable. And Hanbyeol, who recently acquired an “embarrassing past”, was also experiencing considerable pain.
Every time the incident with Yor came to mind, she wanted to kill her past self!
Even if she was caught up in the mood and not in her right mind, thinking about the things she blurted out to Yor, she felt like hanging herself right then and there. She was having a major reality check about what she had done in the game.
She thought with half-dead eyes as she thrashed around, punching the doll for a long time.
*What do I do now...?*
She had been avoiding him for days just because it was so utterly embarrassing. But she couldn't keep this up forever. Unless she planned to cut ties completely, she would have to meet him someday.
But the real reason she couldn't go see him was... she was afraid Yor might cut ties with *her* instead.
Even though she was under Sitri's influence, she tried to pounce on a *man* in the middle of the night, after all. She was even stopped midway.
Even though it wasn't Reality, just imagining how he would react, having felt sexual humiliation... already filled her with dread.
Ha, he's just a game character anyway, why am I hesitating so much? I should just go, apologize properly, and get it over with.
She just needed to go as a strong woman and apologize confidently. She suddenly stood up, trembling for a long time, and thought that.
The worries of the past few days had, in fact, instilled courage in her.
With a resolute heart, she stood before her VR Capsule.
“...”
But that was only for a moment. Soon after, she was back on her bed.
I'll go next week. Next week...
It seemed she still needed more time to mentally prepare before going.
*
“Look at this! Isn't it amazing?”
Swoosh.
An excited Chae-rin Yu walked aimlessly, then suddenly climbed the Cave wall.
She moved as if her soles had magnets attached. In her smiling hands was a small windmill made of lion hide.
A few days after Sitri's Extermination. After a long time, she came to see me, showing off something like that. Honestly, it was worth showing off. Even I, watching it, found it quite amazing.
Even *Spiderman* from my previous life couldn't climb walls with just two feet like that. Feeling intrigued, I asked her.
“Did you get that during the Demon Extermination this time?”
“Yes! Maybe it was because Buer was so big. There were so many items that dropped this time!”
She said there were dozens of them. It wasn't enough for the entire Extermination Squad to take, but it was plenty for the Top-tier Adventurers who contributed significantly. Fortunately, she had contributed enough to obtain an item like this.
As you can see, its ability allows one to walk where there is no path. It can be used to walk on steep walls like that, or even on the Void if enough mana is infused.
“Of course, it's not all-powerful. It's rechargeable, but it takes a long time to charge and consumes a huge amount of mana. Especially in the Void, just one step drains all your mana... maybe because it's a mass-produced item...?”
Chae-rin said this, but she still seemed happy.
Utility aside, Demon Items are quite valuable.
Their quantity is small to begin with, and they've never been released on the market. For her, an Otherworlder, simply possessing it would be a source of pride.
“By the way, Yor?”
As I watched with a hint of envy, Chae-rin asked me. In a way, I was the one who had the most items dropped by Demons. I hadn't really used it, but the item Beled dropped last time was still on my wrist as a bracelet.
So she probably thought I would have collected an item this time too.
But this time, I shook my head. Unfortunately, the mirror Sitri dropped was taken by the Priests.
Since I landed the final blow, there was a high chance it would have come to me. Those Priests took it without question, claiming the potential for misuse was too great. And it was understandable, as the mirror's ability was exactly as I had imagined.
+[Mirror of Charm]
It gradually amplifies the lust of the Opponent who looks into this mirror. If the Opponent engages in Sexual Experience after looking into the mirror, the Opponent's mind will be eroded.
It was a simple yet terrifying item. It was almost on par with a Hypnosis App appearing in reality. Of course, there were differences if you looked closely, but regardless, such an item couldn't be given to an individual.
There was too much room for misuse by those with dark intentions. Similarly, it couldn't be given to Knights either. They might even use it for political gain. The Order was the most trustworthy, so the Priests took it with the purpose of sealing it so no one could use it.
Still, it's a good thing I got to examine it myself once.
Unfortunately, Sitri was also not my Blood Origin. Seeing its high libido, I thought there was a good chance, but it was a bust this time again.
In essence, this Extermination was just about watching some *lewd acts* in the Village and almost crossing the line with Hanbyeol Shin.
Still, I got a hefty reward.
I decided to just let it go, thinking I had increased my assets a bit. I was just passing the time, chatting casually with Chae-rin Yu.
“...Hmm?”
Suddenly, a person entered the Cave. It was a face I hadn't seen in quite a while. Hanbyeol Shin, who hadn't shown her face for days, finally appeared.
I casually waved at her. It was my way of showing welcome, but she still seemed quite intimidated, as if lost in thought. Unable to meet my gaze, she hesitantly approached me.
“...Um.”
Then, uncharacteristically timidly, she spoke.
“I... came because I have something to say...”
It wasn't clear if she was speaking to me or Chae-rin Yu. She kept glancing between me and Chae-rin. She probably felt awkward talking about “that sort of thing” with a third party present.
A moment of silence fell within the Cave.
“?”
Chae-rin merely tilted her head, as if completely bewildered.