Otherworld Constellation Gallery
Chapter 3
It actually happened. This is clearly suicidal behavior no matter how you look at it. My palm gets damp with sweat. Afraid I might drop the frying pan, I gripped it tightly and took a rough breath.
And soon I spotted the ghoul. The ghoul that had fallen not far away seemed to sense my presence as our eyes met. The horrible-looking ghoul began to stagger toward me.
‘Damn…’
It’s humanoid, but that’s definitely not a human. Its skin is rotted and decayed, cracked in places, and the damp sewer stench pierces my nose. And every time it opens its mouth, bluish drool drips between its sharp teeth.
The ghoul has that rusty dagger I saw earlier in its hand. According to what I saw in the gallery earlier, it was supposed to be weak, but… honestly, it’s so terrifying.
‘Do I really have to do this?’
‘Should I run back home now?’
‘Can’t I just lock the windows, bolt the doors, and endure whatever happens outside?’
But before I could think further, the constellations’ words came to mind. If what they said is true, that hiding is the best option, but even that would get me killed quickly?
If this level-hunting thing or whatever is really possible, I need to seize this opportunity when it’s supposedly the easiest.
I took a deep breath and exhaled again.
Given that something really did happen at the time they mentioned, running away would only lead to more serious trouble.
I need to get used to fighting physically and gain experience facing monsters, even now.
“Come on, you bastard!”
I urged myself on with a shout and ground my foot against the floor.
The ghoul approaching with creaking knees was suddenly just a few steps away. I gripped my weapon firmly and stared ahead.
‘They said it’s achievable if you’ve got guts. Get it together.’
While I was thinking this, the ghoul swung its dagger. The trajectory of the swinging blade cut through the air. It looked even more horrific up close.
A strange raspy sound came from its decayed, mushy mouth.
‘Damn… Am I frozen with fear?’
The ghoul’s movements weren’t particularly threatening and were somewhat slow, but I found it difficult to react quickly.
“Die!”
I swung the frying pan in a surprise attack. The swinging frying pan hit its head.
‘Got it…!’
But it seemed not to feel pain, only staggered before immediately attempting a counterattack.
‘What the hell?! I thought hitting its head would finish it!’
There’s no time to be shocked.
Dodging the slow ghoul’s attack, I struck again. The sensation of bones breaking transmitted through my fingertips.
Along with the dull sensation, my arm also tingled. No, saying it just tingled doesn’t quite…
‘B-blood? I’m bleeding?’
Did I get cut by that damn rusty dagger? When? What if I get infected? Could I get tetanus?
‘They said it would be easy! You bastards!’
But I can’t retreat. I mustered my strength again and delivered a final blow.
My weapon struck the ghoul’s head hard.
BANG!
The ghoul stepped back, lost its balance, and collapsed to the ground.
After convulsing a few times, it completely stopped moving.
“…HUFF, HUFF. So it did have some stamina?”
I panted, placing my hands on the ground.
‘This is awful. What kind of game is this….?’
That’s when it happened. A translucent window appeared before my eyes.
[Achievement <First Hunter> unlocked!]
[You have defeated a monster for the first time.]
[Reward: 1 Random Skill, 10,000 Gold]
I swallowed hard.
‘Is this what they call a First Kill or whatever?’
Thank goodness. I’m the first. Then, a new line was added right below.
[Ghoul (Low-level) Defeat Reward: 10 Gold acquired]
Wait, 10 gold? I checked with a bewildered feeling. 10 gold for defeating one ghoul, but 10,000 gold as a first kill reward? Does that make sense?
‘That’s amazing?’
I don’t know what to use gold for, but I just got money equivalent to killing a thousand ghouls at once. And a random skill? Is it a technique that activates randomly? Like Metronome in Pokémon?
More importantly, I just got the First Kill. But why are these guys so quiet?
[First Kill appeared!][386]
[When is that idiot going to unlock the random skill?][45]
[Contract pending][24]
[Didn’t I tell you? These 99ers don’t know how to use the status window lol][174]
[This dimension is so boring ][3]
[Title: Didn’t I tell you? These 99ers don’t know how to use the status window lol] What’s the point of getting First Kill?lol If they’re slow to learn how to use it, they’ll quickly get overtaken by newbies despite getting First Kill .
ㄴA meathead got the First Kill.
ㄴLooking at this mess, this dimension will end early.
ㄴWaited a thousand years for matching and this is what I get?
[Title: Predictions for what will happen because of idiots who don’t know how to open the status window]
- This dimension will adapt slowly due to the year.
- Early awakeners won’t matter much because of this.
- Those who awaken later but figure out how to use the status window quickly will surpass in growth.
- Conclusion) This is a situation where rushing into contracts will screw you over.
ㄴIt’s so frustrating, someone please send a revelation about how to view the status window.
ㄴDo it yourself, idiot.
ㄴSorry, I’m a baby constellation with deity rank.
[Title: Upvote if you think it’s fortunate that an idiot got the First Kill.
ㄴLol it’s more fair that this moron got it than another constellation eating it up.
ㄴTrue.
ㄴTrue.
ㄴHope he can’t unlock the skill until the server shuts down .
ㄴI agree but he’s so damn frustrating I want to kill him.
The posts scrolled by too quickly to read properly. Was this something for the constellations to get so excited about? Is getting the First Kill that impressive?
Well, it must be. Even though I don’t understand what’s what, being the first to kill a monster must have significant meaning. The rewards seem substantial too.
[Title: But there’s something strange about the First Hunter] What is he staring at so intensely?
ㄴIf it’s not the status window, what is this idiot looking at so intently?
ㄴSeriously, what is it?He’s really concentrating on thin air .
ㄴStatus window? Or shop?
ㄴWe would see the status window or shop too.
ㄴAre you a newbie?
ㄴNewbie gay, except for things like gold holdings, we can at least know what they’re looking at
‘……Huh?’
A chill ran down my spine. Thinking about it, the constellations are paying attention. They said I shouldn’t get caught browsing the constellation gallery as a human, I almost screwed up.
‘But it seems the constellations can’t see what I’m doing.’
Still, won’t they get suspicious if I keep staring into space and concentrating? But I can’t give up lurking in the gallery when it’s directly linked to survival. It’s a dilemma.
[Title: Did someone already send a contract?] Looking at how intently he’s reading, it seems like he’s reading a contract .
ㄴThat makes sense since we can’t see contracts being offered.
ㄴNo, what idiot would send a contract before even unlocking the skill? Can they handle the consequences?
ㄴHigh risk, high return, I guess.
ㄴContracts appear automatically, so someone should send a contract specifying how to view the status window so we can see what skill he got.
ㄴDo it yourself, idiot.
ㄴWhat if he accepts it?
ㄴHe’s got good stamina at least, should send a contract.
ㄴTypical of people who say this. They never send one themselves lol.
ㄴI’ll wait to see the skill before sending.
My lips dried up completely. So that’s how it is, apparently.
‘Fortunately, they don’t even dream that I’m spying on their gallery.’
More importantly, contracts? The contracts sent by the constellations appear automatically? I haven’t received anything? I wasn’t reading a contract as the constellations thought, but could I somehow use this situation to my advantage?
‘Besides… they talked like contracts would pour in, but I haven’t received a single one?’
Should I check that reward skill I got earlier, as the constellations suggested? If the random skill isn’t a skill that activates randomly, am I just thick-headed?
‘Let me check it quickly.’
Status window. It felt awkward to say out loud this term I’d only seen in fiction. But aren’t unrealistic things already happening before my eyes? To survive in this situation, adaptation comes first. I quietly opened my mouth as if whispering.
“…Status window.”
A blue window appeared in the air. As I’d been feeling all along, it didn’t feel like an electronic screen, but had a more mysterious atmosphere. Like the discomfort of a concept that shouldn’t exist in reality being forcibly infused. But I had no time to dwell on such impressions.
[Title: Breaking news: The idiot opened the status window] He knows how to use the status window? It’s funny that he says it out loud when he could do it mentally, but that’s not the important part.
ㄴDidn’t I say Korean gamers would lower the bar?
ㄴWho was it that said he’d never unlock the skill?
ㄴFlutter.
ㄴIdiots, is this really that surprising?
ㄴGuys calm down, he hasn’t unlocked the skill yet.
ㄴCan’t calm down.
ㄴAll this fuss over opening a status window, damn lol.
ㄴThink about the year, idiot.
What? You can open and close it mentally too? Ah, this is really confusing. Anyway, what’s important now is my reward. I checked the reward list on the status window.
[Random Skill Acquired (Unused)]
I took a breath and slowly exhaled. Then I reached out and clicked on the random skill. The status window changed, and instead of the random skill, a single skill remained clearly visible. At that moment, the constellation gallery exploded.
[Wow lol that actually appeared lol][142]
[Info) Don’t send contracts rashly][273]
[What what what skill is it????? I couldn’t see][24]
[Damn is it too late to send now?][43]
[Newbie urgent!!!! Is that a broken skill????][5]
[I already sent a contract, idiots ][13]
[Hey idiot, quickly accept the contract ][80]
I was dumbfounded. What is this? Suddenly, contracts started pouring in.
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