Chapter 162

"You had a younger brother?"

Cecilia looked at me with surprised eyes.

I nodded. It was a fabrication thrown together on the fly, but it was the most appropriate choice.

Because a younger sibling was the only relationship the jealous Cecilia would ever tolerate.

She had been separated from her own younger sister a long time ago.

That forced separation had left a deep scar on Cecilia, leaving her with a tendency to become somewhat obsessive toward those she cherished.

That was why she hated it in the game whenever I built camaraderie with the other journalists.

But I figured she would overlook a brother.

Besides, I couldn’t think of any other word that started with the same syllable.

Anyway, it was the best lie for now, but the aftermath was the problem.

Je Hyeon-oh folded his wings and landed slowly.

With a metallic clatter, the wings retracted and disappeared into his crow-themed hoodie.

Cecilia watched Je Hyeon-oh as he slowly approached me, her eyes still filled with wariness.

To be fair, he did look suspicious....

As always, Je Hyeon-oh was an outlier to the rules of the Trial.

He was the only one wearing the Crow set instead of the standard hoodie provided by the Trial.

His all-black attire from head to toe blended strangely well with the back alleys of Hyper-Eden.

’Come to think of it, he said it would take an hour.’

He had said it might take an hour or more to reach the broadcasting station, so he probably just came straight here.

But at this rate, it felt like he had practically followed me immediately.

I wondered if he had flown here instead of moving through the containers.

While I was lost in thought for a moment, Je Hyeon-oh walked up to me.

I hurriedly scrambled to make excuses to Cecilia.

"He’s a brother I grew up with in an orphanage since we were kids."

added that even though we weren’t blood-related, we were like real brothers, but Cecilia still looked suspicious.

Honestly, it was probably because no one would look at Je Hyeon-oh and see him as my younger brother.

While Cecilia scanned Je Hyeon-oh with a sharp gaze, I sent a tearful message.

I sent a long, detailed explanation stating that she was an important NPC and that she wouldn’t accept any relationship other than that of a sibling.

Je Hyeon-oh looked at me.

I was on edge, fearing I might be punished by that metallic hand at any moment.

Then, an unbelievable sound came out.

"Hyung."

My mouth dropped open instinctively.

I thought I had misheard. It made no sense otherwise.

Leaving me frozen in shock, Je Hyeon-oh tilted his head slightly to the side. A slow question followed.

"What are you doing here?"

I was the one who created this situation, but this was not easy.

The limit of my imagination was that Je Hyeon-oh would simply stay quiet and do nothing.

I never expected him to play along so actively.

But if I hesitated any longer, Cecilia wouldn’t drop her suspicion.

She was still holding the pulse gun in her hand.

I barely managed to squeeze out an answer.

"I... I was meeting a friend..."

Even my voice cracked.

Such a reversal of hierarchy.

I felt like I’d have to grovel before Je Hyeon-oh later.

Since the milk was already spilled, I quickly told Cecilia about the Captains as well.

When I revealed that we were four siblings from the orphanage, a deep frown creased Cecilia’s brow.

"You’re the eldest..?"

When I answered yes, she narrowed her eyes for a moment, reacting as if she couldn’t understand it at all.

"Chestnut. Why on earth would you put your younger siblings through the danger of being journalists? Tell them to stay home and rest comfortably."

Then, she put her arm around my shoulder and smiled brightly.

"You only need me."

Her touch as she lightly pinched my cheek was full of affection. I was about to smile back unconsciously when...

A deep, rough voice spat out a short phrase.

"And me hyung?"

I felt like not only my words but my very breath was being choked off.

When my response was delayed, Je Hyeon-oh muttered, his metallic hand clinking slowly.

"Hyung is just wandering around as he pleases.... Not even taking care of his brother.."

The younger brother was on the verge of splitting the older brother open with his metallic hand.

I answered rapidly.

"No way! We always have to stay together!"

At that, the lights flickered on in his pitch-black goggles.

^^

Having barely resolved the situation, I looked back at Cecilia and realized one thing belatedly.

There were three of us, but both of them had been staring only at me this whole time.

With an awkward smile, I called out to Cecilia.

"Noona.."

When I looked up at her with pleading eyes, Cecilia rolled her eyes displeasedly.

She placed one hand on her hip and spoke.

"Fine. We can’t keep talking in the middle of the street, so let’s go to the base first."

Since Stringers from all over the city would be searching for me, it wasn’t good to stay outside in this state.

I agreed with her, but moving to the base was the biggest problem.

There was a limit to Cecilia’s teleportation ability.

The distance she could travel per day was fixed, so she couldn’t use it beyond that limit.

Since we didn’t know what might happen, it was better to save it.

It would be best to try moving to the base manually and use teleportation as a last resort if that failed.

I took off my hoodie and tried putting it over my head.

It covered me enough to hide my face, but it looked suspicious to anyone.

It was the perfect look for reporters blinded by the prospect of a scoop to pounce on.

I needed something more reliable.

I was thinking that something like CEO Cha’s cognitive-reduction mask would be great when...

Click.

The sound of an item being unequipped echoed.

Surprised, I looked at Je Hyeon-oh; he was taking off his crow goggles.

He hung the goggles on the tip of his metallic finger and held them out to me.

Cecilia spoke as if it were a great idea.

"That works! Chestnut, if you wear those, half your face will be hidden."

They were indeed the best item for hiding one’s face. However, I hesitated to take them, wondering if it was okay to use them.

As I stood there bewildered, Je Hyeon-oh gave a silent nod.

I politely received the goggles with both hands.

’Wow..!’

I only took them because of the circumstances, but I was secretly thrilled to be able to wear Je Hyeon-oh’s goggles.

On a whim, I checked the item description.

[Crow Goggles: What does the black pupil behold?]

The description for the Crow Gloves had been abstract, and the goggles were the same.

I wanted to check the item descriptions for Kwak Han-mook’s prayer beads and Mo Hae-in’s Black Moon Blade later.

Now that I had the goggles equipped, my mouth itched with curiosity.

I wanted to ask how to output emoticons, but since Cecilia was right next to me, I suppressed the urge with all my might.

The process of moving to the base was smooth.

With my face hidden by the goggles and Cecilia and Je Hyeon-oh escorting me on either side, it was very effective.

No one seemed to guess that I was the one being frantically chased.

Thanks to that, we arrived safely at the base.

"I can’t believe this!"

Cecilia screamed the moment she saw the dilapidated apartment that looked like it was on the verge of collapsing.

"’I can’t let my friend sleep in a place like this!"

Come to think of it, I had never brought Cecilia to the base in the game.

I had always visited Cecilia’s house, so this was likely the first time she realized I lived in such a place.

"Chestnut. I’ll get you a house. I’ll arrange it immediately, so let’s move."

"But I don’t want to be a burden to you, Noona.

"How could I leave you in a place like this!"

Cecilia urgently persuaded me.

Even the quiet Pudding Slime added a word.

"You must also know how to accept kindness, Roasted Chestnut."

It seemed the slime found my stay in that old apartment highly disagreeable.

After some thought, I decided to accept the help.

If it were just me, it would be one thing, but with Je Hyeon-oh and the Captains here, staying in such a poor environment felt a bit wrong.

"Thanks, Noona."

When I thanked her, Cecilia looked even happier than I was.

Just then, a beeping sound rang out. It was Cecilia’s professional pager.

Checking the alert, Cecilia frowned.

"Sigh. Of all days, today."

It was a contact from someone she had a prior engagement with.

Since it was a business partner, she said she couldn’t skip it and let out a deep sigh.

"I’lI have a house ready by tomorrow night, so let’s move then. Got it?"

Telling me to stay here for just one day and that she’d see me tomorrow, Cecilia affectionately stroked my hair.

"Ah, Noona. Can I ask one favor?"

Before we parted, I made a request that made Cecilia burst into laughter, clutching her stomach.

After seeing her off, I entered the apartment with Je Hyeon-oh.

After walking up the stairs to the 6th floor and opening the old front door, the system window notified me of the quest completion.

[You have arrived at the base!]

And a new quest appeared, telling me to begin my first coverage.

Kwak Han-mook and Mo Hae-in jumped up from their chairs to greet me.

"Goyo!"

"Trainee!"

Their faces were a chaotic mix of bewilderment and worry.

Although I had explained the situation via message on the way, it was a situation that was bound to be shocking.

I think they were even more surprised because I was wearing the Crow Goggles.

I took off the goggles, returned them to Je Hyeon-oh, and immediately apologized.

"I’m sorry because of me..."

"No, don’t apologize."

Mo Hae-in held out the newspaper she had been holding. She spoke with a slightly angry expression.

"It’s not something you did wrong."

It was the Day News...

I let out a hollow laugh upon seeing the headline.

[SCOOP! Young God Descends upon Hyper-Eden!]

The article explicitly stated that the Young God was currently in Hyper-Eden, urging Stringers to grab the scoop.

No wonder they were charging at me with such certainty and without any doubt; there was a reason.

"Lieutenant Colonel Je."

Kwak Han-mook asked Je Hyeon-oh a short question while crossing his arms.

"Were you alright?"

At a glance, it seemed like he was asking after his well-being, but the wariness underlying the question was immediately apparent.

It was because of Cecilia.

She was an NPC who showed an abnormal fondness for me, much like the butlers of the 3Clean.

Even if he had received a message from me, he couldn’t help but be suspicious.

"She’ll be fine."

Surprisingly, Je Hyeon-oh readily offered a positive opinion.

He had judged that Cecilia was a useful NPC.

Just as I was thinking it was a relief since she was essential for the true ending...

"As long as Goyo-hyung doesn’t do anything weird."

"....."

At Je Hyeon-oh’s added comment, I felt like disappearing for a moment....

Kwak Han-mook quietly clenched his fist and pressed it against his mouth.

It was clear he was suppressing a laugh.

And Mo Hae-in spoke a fatal word in an honest voice.

"Then, in front of NPCs, should we call the trainee ’Bro...’"

"No! I mean, yes, but.... That is...

I couldn’t hold back and shouted just before that title came out.

As I rambled, Kwak Han-mook finally started laughing.

I would have preferred it if he just laughed like that, but Mo Hae-ins expression was so serious that my cheeks grew hot.

I hesitated, then lowered my head deeply and answered.

"I’ll leave it to you..."

"Got it. Don’t worry. I can manage that much."

"Wow, after all that ’Hyung-nim’ talk, he really became a ’Premium Chestnut’ Hyung-nim. This is fucking insane."

Looking at Kwak Han-mook, who was collapsed over the back of the sofa and giggling uncontrollably, I tried to change the subject by bringing up the walkthrough.

"Tonight, I’m thinking of just entering the first stage and coming right back out, then proceeding with the coverage in the second stage."

Since I was getting help anyway, I had also borrowed a camera and the next piece of filming equipment from Cecilia.

I planned to pay the rental fee with the money I would earn tonight.

Mo Hae-in, who had been nudging Kwak Han-mook to stop laughing, turned to me and asked.

"Then what about the first coverage quest?"

"I plan to finish it in advance."

The first coverage quest had appeared upon arriving at the base.

The content was to go into the underground sewers and record the sound of a monster said to live there.

However, there are no monsters in the sewers. No matter how hard you struggle all night, you’ll only record the sound of the wind.

Even if you succeed in the quest, you’ll only be ridiculed on the midnight radio.

It was a piece of coverage with no real meaning that only drained your energy.

Since I had entered with the Special Task Team, I didn’t want to waste time on such a thing.

Therefore, I...

"Um... Lieutenant Colonel Je, Captain Kwak."

I decided to try active talent utilization.

"May I ask one favor?"

***

"Today’s <Spooky Sounds corner! A new Stringer has recorded an amazing sound. Listeners, this is a sound unlike anything we’ve ever heard before!"

The radio DJ shouted in a highly excited voice.

He repeatedly urged listeners to stay tuned and inserted plenty of mid-roll advertisements.

By the time the listeners’ frustration with the endless parade of ads reached its limit..

The sound finally appeared.

It was the sound of a monster that seemed to have risen from the abyss.

Between the whispering voice of the monster, an unidentified metallic clinking was mixed in, adding to the eeriness.

The moment the gloom reached its peak, the desperate scream of a victim echoed.

"Aaaagh! It’s a fucking scary monster! Aaaagh! I’m being eaten to pieces! Aaaagh!"

The horrific scream played for about 30 seconds and then stopped.

The DJ spoke in a somber voice.

"The Stringer who recorded this sound... says they lost a fellow Stringer who was with them during the coverage..!"

He set the mood for a moment with gloomy music, but quickly switched back to cheerful music and a bright voice.

"Everyone, stay tuned in memory of the fallen! The remaining 30 seconds contain even more chilling content! We’ll bring it back after the commercials!"

Click.

I turned off the radio with a satisfied smile.

"This... actually worked."

Mo Hae-in muttered as if she couldn’t believe it. Kwak Han-mook spoke, satisfied with his own acting.

"Captain Mo. Director Chestnut was fucking strict. The Lieutenant Colonel and I really suffered."

"Thank you so much."

I bowed again to Kwak Han-mook and Je Hyeon-oh.

They were the stars of the monster and victim sounds broadcast today.

I had cheated the first quest without actually doing it.