Pick Me Up!

Chapter 242: Stop Playing So Much (3) (1)

I sat down in the plaza of the waiting room and chatted with Kardia.

Well, I sat, and she just kept talking non-stop. Kardia didn’t hold back, even telling me all sorts of things about her personal life that I didn’t ask for.

‘Annoying.’

Jinho-Jang still seemed to have the game on without playing it.

What a waste of battery.

“So, where are you from, mister?”

“Townia.”

“Townia? Never heard of that place.”

“Of course you didn’t. It doesn’t exist in your world. I’m from another world. I’m only here for a short while before I return.”

I smirked and continued.

“It means I’m not your ally. Don’t forget that.”

“Oh, so…”

“There are tens of millions of places like this one. I just started before you, that’s all.”

“I don’t really understand. There are tens of millions of places like this?”

Kardia looked around the plaza, clearly confused. Well, there wasn’t much I could do to help her understand. Explaining it would only make her head spin even more.

‘I’ll just watch for now.’

I unsheathed Bifrost from its scabbard.

Crackle! As soon as I touched the blade to the ground, crimson lightning sparked violently from it.

[※ Alert!]

[Authorization requested.]

Bifrost itself was a manifestation of interference power, and Iselle had added some extra measures. If this were a newly created beginner’s account…

Ding!

[Master, the hero is awaiting your command!]

A holographic window popped up on the right side of my vision. It was Jinho-Jang’s control screen. His security was practically non-existent due to his low level, making it easy to hack into with basic skills.

I ignored Kardia, who was staring at me with a blank expression, and returned Bifrost to its scabbard.

“You said you received a revelation from a goddess?”

“Oh, yes! She said that if I want to return home, I need to save Ram with the help of my allies.”

“I see.”

At least a four-star, then.

Jinho-Jang seemed to have incredible luck.

I clicked my tongue and sat back down on the ground. Kardia kept pestering me about what I had just done, but I remained silent.

It wasn’t until two hours later that Jinho-Jang finally started moving.

When he was back to the game, Jinho-Jang immediately went to the mission tab.

Creak.

The door that connected to the rift in space-time opened wide.

Kardia, who had been chattering like a sparrow, turned her attention to it.

“That’s the signal! I’m off, mister.”

“…”

“But… Are you really not coming?”

“I can’t go even if I wanted to.”

“Right! I’ll be back soon!”

After energetically replying, Kardia straightened her clothes and dashed into the rift.

The door in the center of the plaza closed silently.

‘Going solo up to the fourth floor?’

This guy wasn’t just a casual player; he was beyond clueless.

He hadn’t even used his summoning tickets for premium summons or even free ones.

No items, no facilities built, and he only sent the basic hero out on missions.

Once Jinho-Jang finished his commands, he went back into a long period of inactivity.

I sighed.

‘…’

I drew Bifrost once again.

Placing the blade on the ground, crimson lightning sparked up once more.

But this time, it wasn’t for hacking. Once the current was strong enough, I grasped the hilt with both hands and plunged the blade deep into the ground.

Crackle!

[Whaaa!]

A small girl appeared, bursting out of the air with stardust surrounding her.

Iselle collapsed onto the ground, twitching uncontrollably.

[Hold… holding on… hold ooonnn!]

After writhing around and shouting nonsense, Iselle sprang to her feet.

She glared at me with sharp eyes.

[What the heck?! I was in the middle of the perfect selling point!]

Her hair was a mess like a bird’s nest, and she was carrying a black plastic box at her waist.

Smoke drifted out from the edges of the box.

[Wait a second!]

Suddenly, Iselle opened the lid of the plastic box.

Inside were a bunch of rectangular components connected by wires. I quickly realized it was a miniature graphics card.

[Why isn’t the fan spinning? Is it… broken? No way! It’s broken?!]

“…”

[Noooo! My Freedom XY-46!]

Iselle collapsed to the ground, shaking her head in despair.

[You monster! You broke my Freedom XY-46!]

Beep.

A warning sound came from the wristwatch she was wearing as she glared at me.

[Oh no, it’s almost trading time… Just you wait! Once I escape from here, you’re done for!]

“…”

[This is…!]

I grabbed Iselle by the back of her neck before she could run off somewhere, causing her to fall to the ground once again.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

In the past, I had to watch as Iselle disappeared after saying whatever she wanted, but not anymore.

“Isn’t this account under your care? Don’t you think you’re being a bit negligent? I came to help, and yet you don’t even show up.”

[Oh, right. They did say someone would be sent.]

Iselle blinked at me blankly, then closed her eyes.

[Go back.]

“Hmm?”

[Just go back. This place is finished anyway. Can’t you tell? The master has no intention of playing the game. That guy has Pick Me Up open while he’s playing another game!]

Playing another game?

I looked up.

The sky was sparkling, but the control screen still hadn’t moved.

[If he really wanted to play, he shouldn’t have installed it in the first place. And here I am, a top graduate from the Fairy School, reduced to scrounging for coins…]

Iselle looked like she was about to cry.

[Anyway! Don’t bother me! I need to earn money and escape this place! And I’ll make you pay for wrecking my Freedom XY-46! Now if you’ll excuse me…]

I tripped Iselle as she tried to run away, and she fell face-first into the plaza floor.

[Ack!]

“We’re not done talking.”

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!