Chapter 125: The mission fee was too big to refuse

The rotating giant windmill blades were spinning intimidatingly in front of Spring and Fall.

It looked slow from a distance, but standing right in front of the windmill, it felt much faster than expected.

“So… we have to jump through the gaps between those windmill blades?”

“Looks like it? I don’t see any other way.”

Spring, mouth agape heh-, stared blankly at the rotating windmill blades.

‘Can… the avatars even pass through that?’

“Press the jump key when I give the signal. Got it?”

“Yes, unnie.”

Fall took a deep breath and waited for the timing.

One, two.

And… three.

“Now!”

In time with Fall’s voice, both avatars leaped simultaneously.

Having jumped, fallen, and rolled together for several hours already, their timing was impeccably matched.

…The problem was, when Fall jumped forward.

Spring ended up jumping in place.

“Huh?!”

As a result, Fall, right in front of the windmill, couldn’t move further due to the rope tied to her ankle and fell straight down.

Spring, too, followed Fall and fell.

“Bomaaaah!! I told you to jump when I give the signal!!”

“I pressed the jump key! I did!”

“What’s the point of just pressing the jump key?! You should have jumped forward!!”

[Seasons_Summer has donated 1,000 won]

[Oof LOLOLOL Awwwww LOLOLOL SpringSpring is legendary LOLOLOL]

[Astra_Cherry has donated 1,000 won]

[Wow LOL That looks fun LOL Summer, shall we play that game together too?]

[Astra_Cherry has donated 1,000 won]

[…Summer hoobae? Why no answer?]

[Seasons_Summer has donated 1,000 won]

[My sky-like sunbaenim, I’m truly sorry, but inspiration for a song suddenly struck me, so it will be difficult to play games for the time being]

[-Astra_Cherry: Hey!!]

[-Instant cut-off LOL]

[-‘Quick Judgment’]

[-Ah LOL If Cherry played that, they’d be falling all day long LOL]

---

After repeating the desperate struggle with the windmill countless times.

Spring and Fall finally managed to reach the next section.

Having overcome numerous adversities and hardships, the appearance of the two had completely changed.

Spring, who initially trembled and screamed at even small obstacles.

After repeating the return to Pallet Town countless times, a certain transcendent aura could be felt from her expression.

Now, she doesn’t even close her eyes when falling.

With blank, unfocused eyes, she’s self-reflecting on why she couldn’t overcome the obstacle this time.

Having fallen so much, she had become desensitized.

Jina’s goal of making Spring accustomed to the feeling of floating had achieved some results.

…Though the method seems a bit drastic for a cure, anyway.

Meanwhile, Fall’s stamina was gradually hitting rock bottom.

Her initial energetic and bright demeanor was gone, replaced by frequent pauses to catch her breath.

She was still smiling brightly, but unfortunately, her avatar was made by Jina, so a hint of fatigue subtly lingered at the edge of her smile.

It was understandable that she was tired. She had ramped up her energy from the very start of the broadcast.

It was thanks to Fall, who had trained through VR fitness, that she lasted this long.

“Huaah… What’s next now?”

Fall muttered in an exhausted voice, looking at the next obstacle.

What lay before the two was a narrow, long tightrope bridge.

The rope, precariously swaying between two giant pillars, was so narrow that only one avatar foot could fit on it.

“Bom, this… we have to go… slowly…”

Fall’s voice was serious, unlike before.

Spring also nodded slowly with a stern expression.

Being naturally timid and often called a coward, Spring listens better than anyone to words of caution.

Like that, the two swallowed dryly kkolkak-, then tapped the controller buttons in short bursts, stepping onto the tightrope.

As the two moved slowly and cautiously, step by step, the viewers also became cautious along with them.

[-This part looks tough…]

[-Fall’s concentration seems to be at rock bottom, is she okay?]

[-Let’s clear it now…!]

Although not physically beside her, Spring too could feel Fall’s breathing becoming slightly ragged.

While she herself had fallen countless times, this unnie had never once gotten annoyed, always smiling and pulling her up.

That unnie was now running out of strength.

‘No more trolling!’

At that moment, Fall’s avatar began to shake slightly.

It was a minor mistake stemming from small fatigue.

“Uh…? Uh uh uh…!”

It was instantaneous.

Fall’s body, having lost balance, tilted to one side and swayed.

At this, screams erupted from the chat window.

[-No!]

[-Hold onnnn!!]

[-Kraaaak!]

The viewers, who initially prayed for them to fall, started cheering them on as the broadcast time lengthened and they saw the two gradually becoming exhausted.

Just at the moment Fall was about to fall, rendering everyone’s wishes futile.

Spring’s expression changed instantly.

“Fall unnie!!”

Spring’s eyes seemed to flash sharply.

Then, she properly regained her balance.

“I’m holding on, so come up slowly!”

Fall’s eyes widened in surprise at Spring’s unexpected performance.

“…Who are you? You’re not Bom!”

“Ah, really unnie! Stop saying weird things and come up quickly!”

Fall quickly pressed two buttons, swinging her body back and forth like a pendulum, then used the momentum to get back onto the rope.

“Wow~ BomBom! Thanks to you, I’m saved!”

“Hehe… I was finally able to repay you once!”

Spring burst into a bashful smile at Fall’s sincere admiration.

Her chest felt warm.

When playing cooperative games, she was always the baggage, always on the receiving end of help.

Experiencing something that could be called a contribution for the first time, she felt an unknown thrill.

[-Is this the growth character BomBom?]

[-She finally realized…!]

[-Where can I buy this game 241st try]

[-Our Bom, definitely world-class ㅠㅜ]

Between the chat messages, the nicknames of streamers certified by the platform were also visible.

[-Rat: Sorry for the sudden question, but where did you get this game?]

[-Kero: This looks incredibly fun LOL]

[-HanAri: Both of you, fighting!!]

Amidst the cheers and encouragement from the chat window, Spring unknowingly clenched both fists tightly.

The reason why Spring, who is terribly bad at games, persistently enjoys them.

Is precisely because of this sense of accomplishment.

The path to the summit, now not far off, began to feel exciting for the first time.

---

Even after that, there were numerous obstacles, but they couldn’t stop Spring and Fall.

The two, now accustomed to each other’s rhythm, were able to climb upwards quite smoothly.

Spring’s growth was certainly dazzling.

Perhaps saving Fall at the tightrope section broke her shell, as she now calmly controlled her character without panicking.

And finally, the goal visible before their eyes.

Spring and Fall stepped onto the platform of the final section.

The time taken to get here was a whopping 10 hours.

Jina’s prediction that the playtime wouldn’t exceed 4 hours was completely shattered.

Still, what’s important is that they somehow made it, isn’t it?

“Unnie, finally… we’re here…!”

Before Spring’s eyes.

A golden flag signaling the final destination was fluttering.

The numerous hardships endured so far flashed by in an instant, making Spring feel inexplicably emotional.

“If it wasn’t for Fall unnie… Uuuu…!”

Spring’s voice trembled slightly.

Tiny tears also welled up in the corners of her eyes.

“Th… ugh… right…”

But Fall’s reaction was strangely lukewarm.

As if she was contemplating something.

Seeing that, Spring felt a momentary anxiety.

“F-Fall unnie… What’s wrong?”

Even at Spring’s cautious question, Fall gave no particular answer.

A brief silence flowed.

Tension began to fill the chat window as well.

[-Uh oh… Kim Fall is suspicious?]

[-Why is the mood like this…?]

At that moment, a mission suddenly appeared in Spring’s room.

[Mission!]

[Return to Pallet Town and start again!]

[Mission Reward: 100,000 won]

The amount, which was merely 100,000 won at first.

Began to rise rapidly due to suspiciously wealthy sprouts.

[Mission Reward: 3,427,000 won]

Soon, the number of digits changed.

Of course, Spring is a steadfast VTuber who doesn’t yield to the temptation of money.

“How could I fall after climbing all the way here…?! Do you know how many hours it would take to climb back up!”

It was too small an amount to persuade Spring.

Even if she had become accustomed to the feeling of floating, her 겜못스 (game-noob) trait wasn’t going anywhere.

She was also getting tired from the 10-hour continuous stream-until-clear.

And most importantly, isn’t she doing this broadcast with Fall?

She absolutely couldn’t betray Fall here for a mere(?) sum exceeding 3 million… no, now exceeding 4 million won.

However.

“Ahaha… Um… Bom?”

Fall seemed to have slightly different thoughts.

“I’m really sorry.”

“…Yes?”

Spring’s head creaked ppigeok ppigeok as it turned towards Fall.

Seeing Fall laughing awkwardly, Spring unknowingly flinched.

‘That expression, I’ve definitely seen it somewhere a lot…’

Come to think of it, Fall unnie.

Hasn’t she been glancing at one side of the screen constantly since a while ago?

“Uwaaa- My foot slippeddd-!!”

At that moment.

Without giving Spring a chance to say anything, Fall’s body tilted backward.

Soon, Fall’s bright and cheerful voice echoed through the sky.

“5 million woooon! Thank youuuuu!!”

“Fall unniieeeeeeee!!”