Even if I Make It Roughly, Ex-rank Items Continue to Accumulate - Chapter 25

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Even Hastily Made Ones Keep Stacking Up as EX-Rank (25)

He’s the Same Kind as Me

“Guh, guhhhk!”

The rushing mana began to strangle the YouTuber’s throat. The blazingly hot energy carried cold anger within it.

“Truly, truly laughable deception indeed.”

“Guhp! Wh-what’s suddenly…! Damn it, let go of this!”

The YouTuber grabbed at his own neck. Even so, with bloodshot eyes, he continued spewing curses.

“Guh, guh… guhhhh…”

Strength gradually drained from his struggling legs. At this rate, his life would be in danger. Just as Lee Si-hyeok was about to step forward.

Suddenly, Cha Yu-rim’s mana writhed as if annoyed.

“Hmph, how pathetic.”

Thud! The YouTuber’s body was thrown down.

“Ugh… my, my back…”

At the same time, tremendous commotion arose around them.

“Wow… I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

“He’s completely outmatched.”

Snow Flame Empress Cha Yu-rim.

One of South Korea’s A-rank Hunters, and a Great Mage who wielded ice and fire simultaneously.

And there was something rather peculiar about her.

Namely, that she visited this GateTech Expo every year without fail.

As a genuine ‘Visitor’, not as a tester.

“…”

And as far as Lee Si-hyeok knew, this time period was usually when Cha Yu-rim entered the Indie Booth area.

How did he know that?

 

『Eyes that Pierce the Essence』

[An ability you originally possessed. You have exceptional insight in observing all objects and living beings.]

 

It was thanks to this ability he had possessed even before Awakening. Observation skills taken to the extreme.

‘And I’ve also visited the Expo every year just like her.’

In other words, Lee Si-hyeok had been observing Cha Yu-rim at the Expo Venue for a long time. Nearly 10 years now?

Of course, to her, he was probably just some passerby.

It wasn’t observation with any particular intent.

It’s just… Velvet Robe, long Pointed Hat, Ribbon Necktie. She wasn’t even cosplaying, yet she wandered around in such bizarre attire every time – it would be strange not to notice.

Well, anyway, thanks to that, Lee Si-hyeok could predict her movements so accurately.

“Boss, is this why you tried to stop me?”

“Yeah.”

“I see…”

After giving Isaac a casual response to his admiration, he lowered his gaze and looked around.

The YouTuber and Cha Yu-rim were still in a standoff.

Behind them, conversations among the Visitors could still be heard.

“Hey, but when did she start standing in line with us? Did you see the Snow Flame Empress while we were queuing?”

“No. She seemed to be hiding her presence with mana. Probably nobody noticed.”

“Huh…”

“Why though? Doesn’t she usually not do that?”

That was something Lee Si-hyeok was curious about too.

Usually, Cha Yu-rim showed no difference from other Visitors at this Expo. Meaning she had never hidden her presence before.

So why did she do it at Lee Si-hyeok’s Booth?

‘…Don’t tell me she wanted to make a cool entrance?’

Cha Yu-rim seemed to have noticed the YouTuber’s antics long ago.

Yet she stayed hidden and then suddenly appeared with a dramatic flourish, drawing everyone’s attention – perhaps she was waiting for the perfect moment to make the coolest possible entrance…

‘No way, surely not.’

Lee Si-hyeok shook his head.

That’s too much of a leap. Even though Cha Yu-rim was originally famous for her bizarre concept, he believed it wouldn’t go that far.

“How long do you plan to lie there?”

Cha Yu-rim looked down at the YouTuber with cold eyes as she spoke.

The YouTuber flinched and slowly got up.

“Shi-shit… Why are you suddenly doing this?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

“I don’t know! Does being strong make everything okay?! Does being A-rank make everything okay! You, you damn bitch, this is all caught on Camera. You know?!”

“Hmph.”

“You’re screwed! Just wait. I’ll edit this brilliantly and upload it…”

The YouTuber’s words cut off abruptly.

It was because of the suddenly louder murmuring from the Visitors.

“…Wait, Camera? Editing? Don’t tell me you were secretly filming?”

“Whoa.”

“Come to think of it, that person…”

“I think I’ve seen him somewhere?”

Only then did the YouTuber realize his slip of the tongue. He frantically waved his hands in denial.

“No, no. I didn’t mean I did that, I meant it was caught on CCTV…”

However, the Visitors’ reaction was sharp.

“Right. Something felt off. The Booth kept malfunctioning since earlier, but that didn’t seem normal.”

“That’s true. There were no problems at all before that person came.”

“W-wait! I misspoke…!”

The YouTuber’s legs trembled.

“Wow… it’s true, it’s him. He comes right up when I search YouTube.”

“Damn, we almost got an innocent person in trouble.”

“So that operator responded kindly even though it wasn’t his fault? What is he, Buddha or something…”

“True, it didn’t make sense for the Snow Flame Empress to suddenly attack a civilian either. Did you see her entrance? Damn, that was epic.”

“…Hmm.”

At that moment, for some reason, a satisfied expression crossed Cha Yu-rim’s face.

Why is she like that? Lee Si-hyeok glanced at her briefly, then began watching the unfolding situation.

Ahem! Cha Yu-rim composed her expression and opened her mouth.

“There’s no need to intervene further.”

She slowly walked toward the panicked YouTuber.

“I wondered what would happen if you spoke lies with that cunning tongue, but you’ve fallen into the mire by yourself. Truly incomparably stupid.”

“Grgh…!”

“How unfortunate. Really.”

Murmuring thus, she extended her hand. Her fingertips pointed toward the Monitor inside the Booth.

“Originally, I was going to personally point out your wrongs.”

The gazes of people who had been watching with bated breath turned simultaneously.

“Th-that…!”

“It was real.”

There, a Video was playing on repeat.

A Video that captured everything the YouTuber had done in the Secret Room. It had all been recorded by the Surveillance Camera that Lee Si-hyeok had installed in preparation for any possible situation.

“Hmm.”

While everyone was surprised, Cha Yu-rim glanced at Lee Si-hyeok.

That screen had definitely been playing a different Video until just now.

But from the moment Cha Yu-rim stepped forward, that Pale Artist had quickly switched the Video.

‘…What a clever fellow.’

Did he predict everything about how she would act?

‘I thought the Indie Booth would be nothing special.’

Cha Yu-rim’s eyes curved as she let out an expectant nasal sound, then moved her mana.

Then mana bursting with fierce momentum flew toward the YouTuber.

“Uh, uhhhhh…!”

Crack.

The camera was instantly shattered to pieces.

As sparks flew and camera debris fell, the surrounding visitors gasped in shock.

Lee Si-hyeok shrugged his shoulders.

‘This is what you call killing two birds with one stone.’

The YouTuber’s appearance was close to an unexpected situation.

However, the moment Lee Si-hyeok confirmed through 『Eyes that Pierce the Essence』 that Cha Yu-rim was behind him, he immediately modified his plan.

He was already planning to use her to draw more people’s attention, and with this kind of incident added on top, it would be the icing on the cake.

Successful indeed. Lee Si-hyeok smiled with satisfaction and pressed a button on the table.

“What’s happening!”

Soon after, security personnel arrived. People stepped aside like the parting of the Red Sea.

The agents looked back and forth between the sprawled YouTuber and the triumphant Cha Yu-rim for a while, then approached Lee Si-hyeok.

They figured neither of those two would be reasonable to talk to. It was certainly a judgment befitting experienced agents.

Lee Si-hyeok briefly explained what happened, and the agents nodded in understanding before dragging the YouTuber away.

Well, in principle they should take Cha Yu-rim too, but they seemed to have that much flexibility.

“Let go of me! Let go! What did I do wrong!”

“Please come along quietly.”

“Shit, fucking hell! Chronos bastards!”

But the YouTuber didn’t stop talking until the very moment he was dragged away. He even mentioned Chronos by name. He had more guts than imagined.

“…Chronos? Chronos Industry?”

“Did I mishear that just now?”

“Why is Chronos suddenly coming up?”

Though people couldn’t understand the connection.

Lee Si-hyeok dusted off his hands and returned to his position.

‘That should be enough.’

Now it was time to move to the next stage.

He took a letter envelope from the booth and immediately handed it to Cha Yu-rim. The YouTuber was one thing, but he had no intention of delaying his original plan.

“Sorry for the long wait.”

“It’s fine.”

“Thank you for your understanding. You can start the experience once you open the envelope.”

“Give it here.”

Cha Yu-rim opened the envelope while glancing at Lee Si-hyeok.

His face was calm as if nothing had happened, despite experiencing something close to an incident.

“Hmm.”

Curiosity flickered in her eyes.

 

* * *

 

Clunk.

Following the hologram’s guidance, Cha Yu-rim entered the secret room to start the experience.

As someone who participated in the expo every year, Cha Yu-rim visited every single booth without exception.

She was famous for always leaving an ‘evaluation’ of the booths after finishing the experience.

How the booth design was, what level the artifacts were, what parts were shoddy… She left such evaluations openly in front of everyone.

‘And people film that and upload it as short-form videos.’

Because they got good view counts. Her way of speaking was quite unique, and her evaluations were honest yet quite professional, making them appealing.

Anyway, her evaluations were mainly divided into two categories.

Corporate booths and indie booths.

First, video titles for corporate booths were like this:

 

[The reason why Seol Yeom Yeoje cried for 10 seconds in front of the booth ㄷㄷㄷ]

 

Of course, she didn’t actually shed tears.

On the other hand, indie booth titles mostly went like this:

 

[‘Never want to see this again’ Cha Yurim’s legendary harsh review of trash indie booth ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

 

Well, Lee Si-hyeok understood to some extent. Compared to corporate booths, indie booths were mostly pathetically inadequate.

Moreover, Cha Yu-rim was an A-rank Hunter. Ordinary things wouldn’t satisfy her.

The plan Lee Si-hyeok came up with was exactly this:

‘What if I break that common sense and receive high praise from Cha Yu-rim?’

It could be called the ‘underdog’s rebellion.’

If Lee Si-hyeok’s booth received high praise from that picky Cha Yu-rim, people’s attention would naturally be drawn to it.

Then that interest would naturally carry over to tomorrow’s Stage Zero, and when Lee Si-hyeok revealed his identity, an even more explosive reaction would burst forth.

It was all to steal away the spotlight destined for Chronos.

A kind of build-up.

‘She’s proceeding.’

Lee Si-hyeok watched the interior while waiting for her to come out.

She was rapidly progressing through the experience, passing through the ‘Selector’ with Hollow Trace, then the ‘Corridor of Echoes’ and ‘Fusion Experiment Zone.’

However, she would pause intermittently, narrow her eyes, and look around.

Seeing this, even if others didn’t know, Lee Si-hyeok could tell.

‘She’s analyzing the design.’

The debate over ‘why Cha Yu-rim visits the expo every year’ had been ongoing for a long time.

Why would someone of her caliber come to the expo? And as a regular visitor at that. If she wanted, she could easily get a tester position or take on private commissions.

But Lee Si-hyeok realized the reason the moment he first saw Cha Yu-rim.

“…”

His gaze turned toward Cha Yu-rim’s waist.

There was a small badge-like item hanging there.

 

[‘Theodore Kraus’ Special Invitation Exhibition Limited Edition Badge]

 

Theodore Kraus, Germany’s S-rank Crafting Type awakener.

It was limited edition goods that the Association briefly sold when he, called the leader of the crafting field, once visited Korea.

It was a rare item that would make artifact enthusiasts go crazy.

Theodore himself was considered a legend in the crafting field, and since it was limited edition, less than 50 were made.

But…

She not only knew about those goods that most ordinary people didn’t even know existed, but even possessed them?

The meaning was simple.

‘…Cha Yu-rim is the same type as me.’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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