NOVEL NEXT Chapter 161
Leore came back after another emergency maintenance.
I was about to test if I was really blocked this time when a notice popped up in front of me again.
But this notice wasn’t for all users.
[To Arang…]
The message was that the settings of the access device couldn’t be changed for user safety, and that Leore couldn’t change them either.
[For Arang’s safety, please refrain from intentionally destabilizing your body to force a reset. Thank you.]
In short, it was saying that while they couldn’t technically block it, they were asking me not to use it for my own safety.
“Ugh. They’re just asking me to hold back, not to never use it… So I can use it only in an emergency.”
Like a finishing move!
==
No matter how fun the content is, if you keep doing it, you’ll eventually get bored.
That’s why game companies periodically change or add content.
So I decided to go check out the main story that I’d been neglecting.
I hadn’t done it yet because there wasn’t a proper faction war content, but it seemed like it was time for an update, so I figured I’d do it while I was at it.
The last main quest I did was choosing one of four factions to join.
After that, there were quests for each faction, but I had been neglecting them.
Each faction has a dedicated map with its manager. I teleported to that map.
The temple floating in the middle of space is breathtakingly beautiful every time I see it.
The large pillars and the light from space illuminating the temple created an atmosphere that made me feel intoxicated as I looked around. Then, a voice full of holiness reached my ears.
“Welcome, Arang. It’s been a while.”
The owner of the voice was the manager of the fourth world, standing gracefully in the center of the temple. The manager, named Dohtan, spread her hands toward me, revealing her ample chest.
Among the other managers, Dohtan seemed the oldest.
Not in a bad way, but in a way that made her seem truly alluring and elegant.
And whether it was intentional or not, her name, Dohtan, and her outfit—a dress that clung tightly to her body—enhanced her sexiness.
“Aren’t you coming…?”
Dohtan lowered her head slightly, looking disappointed and sad as she slowly lowered her hands. I was taken aback.
‘Does she usually say that?’
This map is for the main quest and is a key map, so it’s used individually by each user, just like when viewing the story.
That’s why the dialogue and situations are fixed to ensure consistency for each user.
But I’ve never seen this reaction before.
Usually, when you come to this map, the manager only says, “Welcome, Arang,” or “Welcome, Arang. It’s been a while,” and then says nothing until you accept the quest.
I thought the outstretched hands were just a gesture of welcome.
But suddenly, Dohtan was acting disappointed, asking why I wasn’t coming.
‘Honestly, the NPCs in Leore don’t feel like AI at all.’
I think Dohtan’s behavior changed because of the new season updates.
‘But is it okay to have physical contact with an NPC…?’
This isn’t a 19+ game; it’s a 15+ game, and even between users, friends, or married users in the game, physical contact triggers a warning. It’s considered quite risky.
Swoosh.
Dohtan stretched her hands toward me again.
‘Well, if the NPC allowed it, it should be fine, right?’
Thinking that if it wasn’t okay, Leore would send a warning, I hugged Dohtan.
The warmth of her chest and the comforting feeling that you can’t get from a real person was strange.
Ding.
[[Fourth World Manager] You have been appointed as Dohtan’s Apostle.]
“Huh? Whaaaat!?”
“Please take care of me, Arang.”
Dohtan hugged me tightly.
I was stunned by the notification that I had suddenly been appointed as an Apostle.
[You have obtained the title of Apostle of the Fourth World Manager.]
Apostles exist one per faction, and when wearing the Apostle title and outfit, you can earn additional faction points.
[You have obtained the Apostle Outfit of the Fourth World Manager.]
This is a special outfit made with Dohtan’s love.
There was no mention of Apostles on galleries, Reddit, or fan cafes. That means I’m the first…
Is there some condition?
There’s no quest or anything, so it’s a bit surprising to suddenly become one, but I’m excited to be the first to tell people about it.
After being appointed as Dohtan’s Apostle, I received the main quest.
[Identify Hostile Factions]
Contact the First World Manager 0/1
Contact the Second World Manager 0/1
Contact the Third World Manager 0/1
“Please don’t let your guard down. You must return safely.”
“Understood.”
As soon as I finished talking with Dohtan, I went to the guild house, took a screenshot of the Apostle title, and proudly posted it on the fan cafe.
“Oh, right. The Apostle outfit.”
I remembered the Apostle outfit I received along with the title.
[Apostle Outfit of the Fourth World Manager]
Wearing it with the title will give you additional faction points when the update comes, so I’ll definitely have to wear it later.
“This must be different for each manager, right? Oh, it’s definitely a bit risqué because it’s the Apostle outfit.”
I immediately tried on the Apostle outfit.
==
Pinkubelly sighed in relief after reading the verdict and placed the document on the desk before walking to the bed.
The conclusion of Gamha-view, who had hurt her heart for so long, brought her a sense of peace she hadn’t felt in a long time.
With a lighter heart than ever, Pinkubelly put on the access device and logged into Leore.
Her vision turned pitch black, and soon her senses returned one by one as a large building appeared before her.
The guild house that Arang had personally designed and decorated with the guild members felt more comforting than her own home or the hospital room she was staying in.
As Pinkubelly entered the guild house and was about to go to her room, she heard a rustling sound from the bed in the corner, followed by a loud thud.
Thinking no one was there, she turned around at the sudden noise and saw none other than Arang.
Arang grabbed the door to Pinkubelly’s room, which was about to close.
“Ar…!?”
Pinkubelly tried to say Arang’s name but was too shocked by her appearance to speak.
Arang, happy to see Pinkubelly in the game after so long, ran toward her with a joyful expression.
But Pinkubelly couldn’t do the same.
Because Arang’s appearance was too dangerous.
Pinkubelly had thought the Assassin Outfit was risky, but Arang’s current look was even more so.
‘Wh-what, what is th-that!?’
The outfit was so minimal it could hardly be called clothing.
If you could even call it clothing, it didn’t cover Arang’s sides at all.
It looked like someone had taken scissors and cut the sides of a dress.
‘Is this even allowed in a 15+ game!? I mean, it covers the essentials, but still…!’
The open sides revealed Arang’s armpits, ribs, and the string of her panties tied around her hips, looking like it could come undone with the slightest touch.
Of course, this was a virtual world, so that wouldn’t happen, but to Pinkubelly, the outfit looked scandalous and inappropriate.
“Pinkubelly unnie, what’s wrong? Gasp… Did something happen with that jerk!?”
Arang asked with a worried expression.
‘Did something happen!?’ That’s what Pinkubelly wanted to ask Arang.
What’s with this outfit? She had never seen anything like it in Leore, and she wondered how and why Arang got it.
She knew Arang lacked a sense of danger compared to other girls her age.
She knew Arang casually brought up real-life meetups when getting close to her or others, but she didn’t realize it went this far.
“Arang, what is this!?”
Pinkubelly, who usually didn’t care about Confucian ideals or the idea that women should be modest or cover their skin, couldn’t help but say something to Arang.
“Where did you get such a scandalous costume!? Arang, you shouldn’t wear this!”
Arang tilted her head and looked down at herself. It was a bit risqué, but it was a design you’d expect in an RPG game, so it didn’t seem that scandalous.
Compared to the Assassin Outfit, she thought the Apostle Outfit was similarly revealing.
“It’s not that scandalous.”
Arang tilted her head and moved her body to check her appearance, while Pinkubelly sighed and covered her face with her hand.
“Sigh…”