Chapter 75: Starlight World (8)

Five days had passed since the opening day.

‘Starlight World’s’ heat showed no signs of cooling down.

As new streamers steadily flowed in, the server’s ecosystem, which had just begun to bud, was changing daily, becoming more complex and vibrant.

The craving for Stella, the subtle formation of relationships with NPCs, the fervor for exploring undiscovered, unknown regions.

Everything was flowing as I intended, or even beyond.

The world within the monitor seemed to be writhing and creating stories on its own, as if alive.

‘Is it about time for the next step?’

I smiled with satisfaction and began to review the update plans.

However, as is often the case in the world, things don’t always go according to plan.

Tiring-

[Operator Call] Solar: Operator-nim, please help!

‘What is it this time.’

Frowning out of habit, I checked the call notification.

This call was from Yoonsol.

I brought her broadcast screen up on the main monitor.

The Starlight members were still in a party of three.

Their hunting ground was deep within the ‘Whispering Woods’, in the ‘Shadow Marsh’, an area filled with a gloomy aura.

It was a region the development team had put considerable effort into.

It wasn’t just that the monsters were strong; the entire area was set to have persistent debuff effects or special environmental gimmicks.

It was a device to encourage party play and strategic item use.

On the screen, Rinne was taking hits from a ‘Swamp Monster’ with her giant shield raised, while Ajung moved like a shadow, aiming for the monster’s back.

Yoonsol was frantically casting heals and buffs from the rear, responsible for the party’s lifeline.

[Kraaaaargh!]

The Swamp Monster let out a disgusting roar and shot sticky black slime at Jungyeon.

Jungyeon’s character, hit squarely before she could dodge, had an ominous skull-shaped icon appear above it.

[Ugh, what’s this debuff? Is it a curse? Why is my health draining so fast?]

Jungyeon’s health bar began to decrease noticeably.

It was a curse-type debuff, far more lethal than simple poison.

[Unni! I’ll cast Cleanse on you!]

Yoonsol quickly shouted and cast a cleanse skill on Rinne.

A white beam of light enveloped Rinne’s body, but the skull icon didn’t disappear.

[Huh? Huh? Why isn’t it being removed?]

Bewilderment crept into Yoonsol’s voice.

[Solar-ya, again! If you don’t remove it quickly, I’m going to die!]

Jungyeon shouted urgently, barely blocking the monster’s attack with her shield.

Yoonsol used the cleanse skill again with trembling hands, but it still had no effect.

The curse of the ‘Shadow Marsh’ was set so that it couldn’t be removed with a normal cleanse skill.

A special purification item or a higher-tier cleanse skill was required.

In short, they had come completely unprepared, without any prior study.

[Oh, what do we do? It’s still not coming off! I think it’s a bug!]

[What? A bug? No, really, at this timing?]

[Um, Operator-nim? If you’re there, could you please check this? The skill isn’t applying!]

Eventually, Yoonsol called me with her characteristic cautious tone.

It even sounded like there was a hint of tears in her voice.

‘It’s not a bug. If you just calm down and look, you’ll find out.’

I clicked my tongue and placed my fingers on the keyboard.

[Whisper] Zelnaga: Not a bug.

Yoonsol tensed up at the sudden whisper and looked at the chat.

[Whisper] Zelnaga: The curse in this marsh can’t be removed with a normal cleanse. You need to use a special item or a higher-tier skill. Like the ‘Dew of Purification’ in Solar-nim’s inventory.

“What? Dew of Purification?”

Yoonsol frantically opened her inventory with a bewildered expression.

Her eyes widened as she checked the item list.

She saw a teardrop-shaped item she had coincidentally obtained from a trash mob earlier, an item whose description she hadn’t even read properly.

[Dew of Purification: Clear dew imbued with the power to purify the murky energy of the Shadow Marsh.]

[Oh, it’s really here?]

Yoonsol hurriedly handed the item to Jungyeon, who then used it.

As the clear dew enveloped Jungyeon’s character, the skull icon that had been tormenting her finally faded away.

[Wow! The debuff is gone! I’m alive! Thanks, Solar-ya!]

Jungyeon let out a sigh of relief.

[Phew, thank goodness. But when did you get an item like that?]

Ajung also clutched her chest in relief.

Having overcome the crisis, the party regained its stability and worked together to finish off the remaining Swamp Monster.

[Whisper] Zelnaga: From now on, please read the area characteristics and item descriptions carefully. If you call me like this again, you’ll be in biiig trouble, okay?

I added one last warning remark and was about to close her broadcast window.

[Yes! Yes! Thank you, Operator-nim! Thanks for the explanation!]

Yoonsol’s urgent and sincere words of gratitude brushed past my ears.

Well, she’s cute, so she’s forgiven.

---

“Haaah, I’m really gonna die.”

The void left by the noisy game sounds was filled with ragged breathing and low groans.

The practice room looked as if a war had just been waged there.

The figures of three people were strewn carelessly across the wide practice room floor.

The choreography for ‘Polaris’, the title track of their first full album ‘Constellation’, was of unprecedented difficulty.

It wasn’t just that the movements were difficult; complex transitions between members and rapid formation changes continued ceaselessly.

“Ah, seriously, this part! Turning while facing Jungyeon unni! My feet keep getting tangled…”

Ajung groaned, sprawled out on the floor like a starfish.

Beside her, Jungyeon also nodded.

“Me too. Especially at the end, jumping and immediately transitioning to the next formation. The landing is consistently unstable.”

“I still get confused with the choreography order for the chorus part.”

Yoonsol, who was squatting in a corner drinking water, muttered in a small voice.

Her slumped shoulders looked particularly pitiful.

“Ugh, still, we have to do it. We said we’d do it ourselves without dance doubles.”

Jungyeon said, massaging her own shoulder.

She tried her best to put on a bright expression, befitting a leader.

“Alright, fighting! But did you hear Sol hitting that high note earlier? Total goosebumps! Yesterday during recording, she was on the verge of tears saying it was hard, when did she practice so much?”

Ajung shot up and looked at Yoonsol with sparkling eyes.

“Huh? Ah, no, I’m still far from good. The harmony part still doesn’t match with Jungyeon unni either.”

Yoonsol waved her hands, her face flushing red.

“Hey, still, it’s really amazing. The concept of this album is a milestone we’re showing to the fans. Sol is leading us well in line with that.”

Jungyeon playfully pinched Yoonsol’s cheek.

“This album really needs to do well. The fans’ expectations are huge, and also… the President invested a lot, you know.”

Ajung suddenly said with a serious expression.

The playful atmosphere from moments ago slightly subsided.

“That’s right. He’s pouring a ton of money into ‘Starlight World’ too… We have to show them what we’ve got here.”

Jungyeon also nodded.

“Since it’s our first full album. To ‘Star Cluster’, to the President, and to ourselves, let’s not be ashamed. Let’s create the absolute best stage!”

“Yes!”

“Alright!”

The three of them looked into each other’s eyes and clenched their fists.

Amidst their exhaustion, a fiery determination welled up once again.

In front of the practice room, I, who had been about to enter but missed the timing and witnessed the scene, felt like I had eavesdropped on something I shouldn’t have.

‘I’m just stopping by on my way through.’

Taking a deep breath, I muttered as if making an excuse to myself and knocked on the practice room door.

Knock, knock-

Standing in front of the practice room door, I knocked lightly.

The laughter that had been coming from inside momentarily stopped.

“Yes?”

Jungyeon’s voice was heard.

I opened the door slightly and stepped inside.

“Ah, President-nim?”

The three of them, in sweat-soaked practice clothes, looked at me simultaneously with surprised eyes.

I feigned indifference and quickly scanned the interior of the practice room.

A mixture of stuffy heat, the smell of sweat, and the faint sound of music.

“Why do you all look so miserable?”

As I spoke bluntly, the members’ expressions momentarily stiffened.

Ah, was that too much like I was pointing fingers?

“Ah, no, sir! We’re fine!”

Jungyeon quickly corrected her posture and replied.

“You looked tired, so I bought something.”

I said no more and pushed the cart I had placed behind me inside.

From all sorts of fruits to cool sports drinks and snacks, and even several boxes of pear and bellflower root extract I had thoughtfully brought for the members’ throat conditions.

As the cart stopped beside the table, the members’ eyes widened.

“Eat while you practice. You might collapse otherwise.”

That was all I had to say.

I immediately turned and headed towards the door.

“Huh? P-President-nim! Um, thank you?”

“Kya! Our President is the best!”

“Wait a minute, President-nim! If you buy this much, how are we supposed to eat it all!”

Yoonsol and Ajung’s words of thanks mixed with Jungyeon’s nagging, but I paid no heed.

I hurriedly closed the practice room door and exited the hallway.

It’s just a natural investment.

To get the best results, you have to provide the best environment.

The elevator doors opened silently.

Stepping inside, I pressed the close button.

―Wow! What is this, President-nim! Mango! Even pear and bellflower root extract?

―Awesome! This is so touching! President is the best!

―He’s just a total tsundere, a tsundere. Always so shy. Look now, he just gives us things and then runs away as soon as we say thank you. If it weren’t for his occasional Jjanggu-like antics, he’d be the best, really.

Faintly, the lively voices from inside the practice room lingered in my ears through the closing gap of the doors.

I tried hard to ignore my flushing face, maintained a blank expression, and headed home.

―Alright, then! Let’s eat what the President bought us, cheer up, and go through it just one more time before we leave!

Talking sh*t about the president behind his back?

Just you wait.

Ajung (Virtual Thief Version)

Rinne (Virtual Warrior Version)

Solar (Virtual Priest Version)