The Chicken Legend's Game Becomes Reality - Chapter 76

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 76
“I’ll check outside.”
Lee Do-jin vaulted over the railing and landed lightly, sprinting toward the First Floor exit before pushing through the door.
Baek Hee-an and I rushed after him, racing down the stairs.
[The Gray Barrier]
As time passes, the zone is forcibly sealed and contracts. Leaving the zone incurs a penalty.
Or so it was supposed to be.
Crash!
‘What the hell.’
It wasn’t a barrier—it was a wall.
After tapping it several times, Lee Do-jin spoke.
“It’s not just a graphical wall. It seems the entire Seoul Station was sealed when the Gate opened.”
If I thought of this as a game, it wouldn’t be so serious.
‘But if the NPCs are real people….’
According to the tournament rules, the Gray Barrier would continue to contract.
Beyond the intensifying battles between Players, the NPCs would be gradually forced into danger zones.
Boom!
Just then, a red light flashed from the passage near the storage lockers in the corner of the First Floor.
‘Jeong Si-do!’
The overall rankings had changed.
1st place: Murderous Intent Si-do.
“!”
Baek Hee-an, who had been staring at the gray wall, immediately turned and started running.
I chased after him, as did Lee Do-jin.
“Could you ask the viewers? If this situation is real, there would be chaos outside too.”
I immediately spoke while looking at the broadcast camera position.
“Viewers, can you hear me? Is something happening outside right now?”
The chat window churned rapidly.
One pixelated image stood out, repeating insistently.
■■■: 　■■■
■■■: ■　　　■
■■■: ■　　　■
■■■: 　■■■
Damn it.
A reality I wanted to deny, yet rendered with unwelcome clarity.
“Don’t tell me the NPCs are… real people? No, right? Tell me they’re not.”
■■■: 　■■■
■■■: ■　　　■
■■■: ■　　　■
■■■: 　■■■
Damn it.
“What are you talking about?”
“…Both are circles.”
“….”
“That’s right.”
Lee Do-jin, running right beside me, went rigid.
After a brief silence, he spoke.
“The NPCs were far too realistic from the start. Some even handed me autograph papers the moment combat began.”
My head spun.
“So this is actually happening right now at Seoul Station….”
“Yes. It seems the entire Seoul Station has been swallowed into some kind of space. Ever since the Gate opened, I suspect real people have been trapped inside the station, not NPCs.”
A real Gate had opened at Seoul Station, monsters were killing people, and Players appeared visible to human eyes.
Players couldn’t touch people, but we could kill monsters.
‘The people….’
The 2nd and 3rd floors were littered with collapsed bodies.
My stomach twisted slightly.
‘Insane.’
If I hadn’t instinctively saved the Child NPC, this would have been a real disaster.
‘Ha. I saved my own sanity.’
If this was true, Hwang Beom-young, who’d just died and logged out, would be catching his breath right now.
‘And probably rushing toward Seoul Station.’
Judging by the chaos in the chat, people were definitely watching the tournament and struggling to enter from outside.
‘Can’t even log out. The only way is to end the tournament.’
Players scattered throughout the venue began appearing one by one in the escalator area on the First Floor.
Then.
[Constellation Dieunggeut Sseulmeul has donated 2,000 coins.]
Constellation Diel Guther Smelt has been forcibly removed.
Bzzt—
“?!”
A message flickered faintly before me, then vanished in an instant.
Could it be.
I turned off the broadcast camera for a moment.
I quietly sent Lee Do-jin ahead, who was lost in serious thought, then muttered softly.
“Coin Market?”
And there it was.
A familiar system window with a faint digital overlay, different from reality.
[Coin Market]
“!!!”
A conviction stronger than ever thrilled through me.
Hunter Awakening (20,000C)
1 Billion Won in Cash (5,000C)
Pass Anything (3,000C)
Strength Enhancement Level 1 (300C)
Ideal Body Shape Level 1 (300C)
Beautiful Face Level 1 (300C)
Clear and Transparent Skin Level 1 (200C)
1cm Height Growth (200C)
1kg Weight Loss (100C)
Fatigue Completely Gone (50C)
….
It was the exact same main recommendation list from the Coin Market I’d seen in reality—not a single character out of place.
Except it was blurry.
It was even digitized like an NPC.
‘…This really is reality.’
With this, I was certain that this space was simply reality.
This space where the game tournament was currently taking place was undoubtedly overlapping with Seoul Station in reality.
* * *
“Hnngh….”
“Shh.”
Se-yeon covered her mouth and stifled her cry.
Beside her, her boyfriend Min-woo wrapped his trembling arms tightly around Se-yeon’s shoulders.
“It’s okay. There are Hunters outside. The most renowned Rankers from across the country are all gathered here. Even if they don’t realize this is reality, they won’t want to miss out on points.”
Se-yeon nodded at his perfectly rational words.
The two of them were crammed into the deepest corner of the restroom—the cleaning supply room—hiding.
First Floor of Seoul Station.
A narrow, dark passage with storage lockers filling the walls.
On an ordinary weekend, this space would have been bustling with people stuffing their belongings into the lockers, but now it was as silent and dark as a tomb.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
“…!”
Heavy footsteps echoed all the way into the restroom at the end of the passage.
They weren’t just ordinary footsteps.
Screeeech!
The sound of metal lockers crumpling mixed with screams, followed by something being dragged across the floor.
“Ugh?! Hnngh!”
Tears streamed down Se-yeon’s face.
Min-woo swallowed hard.
‘How could this happen? It’s my fault. I’m the one who suggested we come here….’
When they first arrived at Seoul Station after hearing about the tournament, this place had been a festival ground.
An hour ago.
[Did you see this?]
[https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Li7ja1i0hKVQ]
[I heard there is a God of Fighters game competition held at Seoul Station right now? LOL]
[God Opal fans are going crazy]
It felt like all of Korea was stirring with excitement.
This wasn’t just any gaming tournament—it was a virtual reality combat game featuring nearly every renowned domestic Hunter.
[Really?! Seoul Station is so close!]
[Let’s go see Chicken!]
I had no idea when they’d constructed such a massive hologram field inside Seoul Station.
The astounding news that famous Hunters’ tournament could be watched live from the venue drew crowds of spectators.
Gasps of wonder and cheers echoed throughout the station.
“The technology is insane. How is this even possible?”
“Wow. They’re really fighting well.”
“Woooow.”
“Dad, look at this! They’re so tall!”
“Whoa! The popcorn’s spilling everywhere!”
Game characters I’d only seen on YouTube materialized before me in reality.
The hologram avatars were enormous.
Baseball, soccer—most tournaments are meant to be watched from a distance, but this one allowed spectators to watch from inside the arena itself.
It was an exhilarating experience.
“Where did Chicken go? Huh? Chicken’s broadcast is on!”
“What? The broadcast is live during the tournament?”
“Looks like it? The background shows the First Floor! Let’s head down! Wait—they’re going to the basement!”
Dazzling skill effects unfolded before my eyes, and Korea’s celebrated Hunters engaged in thrilling combat.
It was truly exhilarating.
Until the Gate opened.
Boom!
“…What was that sound?”
“Is that an earthquake?”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Someone screamed loudly.
“Run! Hurry! A Gate has opened on the Second Floor!”
Until the first screams erupted from the Second Floor, the people on the First Floor stood frozen in disbelief.
“A Gate? Isn’t that part of the show?”
“It’s not part of the—”
Crash!
The man who’d been shouting was struck by a monster’s fist and plummeted over the railing.
Kyaaaah!
A pool of blood formed on the floor.
Seoul Station, where crowds had been steadily gathering in festive celebration, transformed into hell in that instant.
“The broadcast cut out!”
“…What?”
“Wow, there’s no Wi-Fi and no signal. It’s like being inside a Gate! We need to get out of here fast!”
Se-yeon, who had been watching the broadcast, urgently grabbed Min-woo and pulled him along.
Fortunately, at that moment they were standing very close to the First Floor exit.
But they couldn’t leave.
Bang! Bang bang!
“Why aren’t we getting out?!”
“We can’t!”
“The outside is blocked!”
“What’s going on? Outside is….”
“Gray.”
Nothing was visible.
The Seoul Square Building that should have been visible through the transparent glass door was nowhere to be seen.
‘The map—no, the path has disappeared!’
A dull gray wall, as if the game graphics had frozen mid-loading.
This was the phenomenon that occurred in expanding-map games when a player tried to enter an area that hadn’t been created yet.
“What is this?! Why won’t it open?!”
“Help us! Is anyone out there?! Please open the door!”
Bang bang!
No matter how much they pounded, it was useless.
Min-woo, who had played many games, took Se-yeon’s hand and changed direction.
“Oh, oppa where are you going?!”
“The path is blocked! The Gate will keep opening! We need to hide somewhere safe until the tournament ends!”
Hearing his words, the people around them exchanged glances and hesitantly stepped back.
Then.
“A Hunter! There’s a Hunter!”
“Please help us, Hunter!”
An elderly woman tried to grab the arm of a Hunter passing by at that moment, but the Player was not a physical being—a hologram.
She couldn’t touch him.
“We’re trapped here! The door won’t open!”
This time it was the child’s father.
As if answering that desperation, one Hunter glanced at them with a somewhat uncomfortable expression.
But the Player following behind struck that Hunter’s back with a thwack.
Discomfort turned to embarrassment.
The two game avatars quickly passed through the crowd and moved on.
“….”
“….”
A heavy silence fell over the venue.

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