NM 11

Chapter 11

Hye-yeon realized what she had just done a moment too late and let out an awkward laugh. Mayor Fabnet gave her a side-eye that wasn’t exactly hostile, then resumed speaking.

“Right. Anyway, when would we ever get a joyful day like this again? So I was thinking… it’s been a while since we had a proper feast…”

Before he could finish, Hye-yeon pulled something out of her inventory. It was the combat rabbit she had hunted earlier with help from Kingsmaker, who said it would be easier to carry everything together.

She proudly held it out.

“Good timing! I just so happened to prepare rabbits like this.”

Fabnet looked pleased.

“What a thoughtful outsider you are!”

“And I also brought—ta-da!—a wild boar!”

“What a remarkable young lady! Hey! Prepare the fire!”

At his command, a roasting site was quickly set up in the village square to cook the wild boar whole. As a reward, Hye-yeon received soft white bread.

By the time they were done preparing the feast, the sunset sky had turned into night. Hye-yeon was given a perfectly grilled portion of boar meat. It looked delicious, placed neatly on a clean leaf.

Sitting near the fire, she watched the glossy oil shimmer over the meat and swallowed hard in anticipation.

That was when Fabnet approached her, holding a sheet of paper.

“Now that I think about it, you’re an outsider. You’ll be leaving this village soon, won’t you?”

“Yes. I should head out tomorrow to change my class.”

“Right, right. So I prepared something for you.”

Ah—right. The boar meat belonged to the mayor.

Hye-yeon reluctantly offered him her portion.

“You haven’t eaten yet, have you, sir? I was raised with proper respect for elders. The tastiest food should go to the oldest person in the village—the mayor!”

“You truly are… I’m moved! I’d adopt you as my granddaughter if I could!”

Fabnet was overjoyed. How materialistic.

He happily devoured the boar meat while Hye-yeon smacked her lips in disappointment.

After finishing his meal, Fabnet tucked one document away and handed her another.

“A talented young outsider like you will surely do well no matter what you choose! Move forward while considering many possibilities!”

His lips still glistened with grease.

[<Fabnet’s Special Recommendation Letter>
A special recommendation letter that allows more diverse class choices than a normal one. Go to the city of Evilon and choose your profession.]

His attitude was frankly shameless, but it was still a pleasant ending. Bi-yeon and Hawa were also happily eating roasted boar.

Watching the two children across the flickering firelight, Hye-yeon felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around. Kingsmaker was gesturing to her quietly.

She followed her away from the villagers.

“You’re heading straight to the city, right?”

“Yes. I was planning to leave tomorrow.”

“Hmm… if you don’t mind, how about we go tonight instead? It’s better in many ways than traveling during the day.”

“…?”

Was this another hidden quest?

Hye-yeon decided to trust the veteran player’s judgment again. She considered saying goodbye to the children, but Kingsmaker shook her head.

“In Nol Village, people don’t say farewell. There are too many travelers, and it’s too sad to repeat. This is a place you pass through, not stay in.”

“…I see.”

“Parting greetings would only hurt the people here.”

Kingsmaker gently urged her forward with a quiet smile. Hye-yeon glanced back one last time at the children, but she did not say goodbye.

They left the village quietly, unnoticed by anyone.

The wind blew as if seeing them off. The rustling grass sounded almost like a serpent.

So Hye-yeon didn’t see it.

Bi-yeon staring blankly toward the Canary Forest.

And that the next players who came after her would again and again be asked to find Bi-yeon’s lost apple.

The village chief Fabnet’s granddaughter Bi-yeon would repeatedly ask stranded outsiders to find it.

Days when the apple returned would be joyful. Days when it didn’t would be sorrowful. And Fabnet would continue asking adventurers to create “special days” for the village.

Because they were alive—they should laugh, eat, and make noise.

Community Bulletin Board

[Title: Seriously??]

Is this game insane? That “no-invincible” guy and “fake Voldi,” why are they fighting in the newbie village?? What if they scare the new players??

Honestly, these guys should be permanently removed from newbie support roles.

• lol

• No no, our fake Voldi cried and returned to the creation zone today, don’t roast him too hard

• Why was he crying? Didn’t he leave with a newbie??

• The newbie got stolen

  • HOW do you even lose a newbie

  • Who kidnaps newbies with no shame

• That’s so sad lol

  • lol he’s more pitiful than the kid who speaks no language

• Why are there so many newbie-obsessed psychos anyway

• Wasn’t the newbie today the one who tamed the fox quest unicorn Ethte?

  • A newbie got Ethte?? economy is ruined

• Newbies are precious, let’s raise them gently and log them out nicely

  • ???

• That guild called “No Insa Has Personality” is obviously behind it

  • where is that guild?

  • those newbie-addicted freaks again huh

• ✧ guild recruitment open ✧ “Pure Romance Guild” ✧

  • Do you accept newbies?

  • NOPE NOPE GO BACK GO BACK

Real World

After finishing her in-game adventure and stepping out of her room, Baek Hee-jun barely survived what felt like a 23 m/s flying kick to the face from reality.

Feeling his life was in danger, he quickly made a deal before his sister finished draining his remaining HP.

“I’ll give you gear if you hit level 100! Gold too! Put that down! That’s not it! MOM! MOM!!”

Their mother, heating soup, didn’t even turn around.

Only after promising gear, gold, enhancement materials, and miscellaneous items if Hye-yeon reached level 100 did he escape death.

Satisfied with the negotiation, Hye-yeon put down the electric fly swatter she had been holding.

They ended up sitting down for a peaceful late dinner.

“So… you didn’t say you wouldn’t play. Did you enjoy it?”

“Not bad.”

While speaking, Hye-yeon shoved rice into her mouth.

She had left Nol Village and headed to Evilon, the city where she could change classes, just as Kingsmaker advised.

Kingsmaker had added her as a friend and logged out, saying she’d help again tomorrow. Hye-yeon also logged out shortly after, after a very eventful day.

And immediately upon returning to reality, she delivered a flying kick to Baek Hee-jun.

“What exactly did you do?”

“Desert fox quest → Nol village → Bi-yeon’s apple quest → rabbits and boars → Fabnet’s recommendation → city arrival…”

“….”

“I’m going to start class advancement in the city tomorrow.”

He was genuinely impressed.

The fox quest alone could take up to three days if unlucky, yet she cleared it in one day and even found hidden content.

“Mom… your daughter might actually have gaming talent.”

“One gamer in the family is enough. Hye-yeon, you took a break from school, but don’t just play games—study too, get certifications—”

He shut up when he saw Hye-yeon’s mind was already on class selection.

Free City Evilon

[Free City <Evilon>
A city of peace and harmony where various professions can be obtained. A cradle for stranded outsiders and one of their main settlements, where interaction between residents and outsiders is most active. Evilon will always be a place they can return to.]

[Safety: Bad (?) / Population: chaotic / Specialty: raw crystals, gems, wild grape trees / Development: very high]

Hye-yeon read the description carefully and stepped through the gate with a pounding heart.

The guard examined Fabnet’s recommendation letter and let her pass.

“May you not be tainted, young outsider.”

“…?”

What a strange farewell.

Feeling uneasy, Hye-yeon moved forward—only to find Evilon breathtakingly beautiful.

A massive fountain at the gate was surrounded by crowds. Compared to Nol Village, the city was dazzling and overwhelmingly advanced.

As she stood there unsure what to do, someone approached.

Hye-yeon, slightly wary at first, relaxed when she saw the simple clothing—it was an NPC.

“Hello, outsider. Is this your first time in Evilon?”

“Yes!”

“I see! My name is Ray. I’m from Evilon’s Administrative District. My job is to help first-time visitors not get lost.”

As he finished speaking, a quest window appeared.

[Evion Visit Log: A choice for those unsure what to do! Don’t worry, the Administrative District will guide you perfectly!
“No regrets! You too? Me too!”]

[Quest condition: Follow the Evilon guide / Complete sub-quest <Evilon Inquiry>]

[Reward: Full map of the land of knowledge <Cydron>, detailed map of Evilon
(Failure: you will not receive Evilon’s detailed map)]

Hye-yeon accepted immediately.

Ray clapped happily.

“You won’t regret this decision.”

He raised a flag, and a carriage appeared. It had no horses—just a sightseeing carriage.

When Hye-yeon boarded, Ray clapped again, and clouds gathered to pull the carriage.

“Wow…!”

Seated beside her, Ray smiled.

“This fountain is called the Fountain of Peace…”

“Die—!”

BOOM!

Before he could finish, the paved road exploded.

“…Wow?”

While Hye-yeon reacted blankly, people were already brawling around the fountain.

Security arrived and dragged them away.

“A minor disturbance! Let’s continue. That building over there is the Temple of Peace…”

“The administrative staff is hiding their strength!”

A man suddenly jumped into the carriage swinging a massive sword.

Ray blocked it with his flag and kicked him away.

“I will return, Ray!”

The armored man flew off dramatically.

Hye-yeon stared at Ray in confusion.

Ray calmly fixed his collar.

“Now then, let’s proceed to the artisan district…”

“…Yes.”

Hye-yeon seriously considered getting off the carriage right then.