Pick Me Up Infinite Gacha! - P.M.U Chapter 245: Stop Playing So Much (6) (Part 2)

Things will get busy again.

The break is over.

Five-star promotions, class change, and missions beyond the 50th floor are waiting for me.

I recalled Pria, slicing through enemies with her shining sword.

Behind her, tens of thousands of mercenaries were cheering. A massive force had rallied behind a girl who once had no power. Civil wars were breaking out across the continent as factions aligned with princes and princesses clashed.

And my role will be to assist Pria in leading the war to victory.

And to drive out the mysterious enemies that once destroyed Townia.

‘There’s also the matter of the outside.’

Anytng, who just reached the 50th floor, had become a desirable target for PVP users.

In my experience, this is the point when the pressure from top masters starts. One of their goals was probably me. After all, Anytng had been bragging that she had a top-tier prospect under her wing. Until now, they had approached Anytng through whispers, but the situation had changed.

Just thinking about it gives me a headache.

I chuckled and tightened my cloak.

After tying my belt with the sword sheath and a small pouch, I was ready to leave. With no other belongings except my armor, weapons, and horse statue, my preparations were complete.

I stood up and pushed in the chair.

As I left the room, a message popped up.

[Dispatch End Notification]

[Your friend, ‘Anytng’s’ hero, ‘Han (★★★★)’ has completed his dispatch. Compliment your hero for their hard work!]

[※Notice!]

[The airship ‘Lucette’ from ‘Townia’ requests to dock. Since your master’s waiting room lacks a ‘Dimensional Rift,’ the airship will dock outside. Will you accept?]

[Yes (Select) / No]

They’re letting me go smoothly.

If things had gone poorly, Jinho-Jang might have tried to stop me from returning, forcing Anytng into a corner. Using those guys turned out to be the right move.

I stepped out into the square.

The three of them were nowhere in sight.

By now, they were probably enjoying a feast in the dormitory lobby.

Jinho-Jang had bought a set meal from the gift shop and laid it out. After eating only potatoes for three meals a day, they were finally tasting proper food. They were probably busy stuffing themselves.

‘Did I come through the warehouse?’

I opened the door to the warehouse wide.

As expected, a blue light was flickering beyond the display stand.

I started walking toward it.

“Wait! Where are you going?”

A hurried voice echoed in my ears.

When I turned around, Kardia was catching her breath, having rushed over.

“I’ve been looking for you for a while. We saved a portion for you.”

“There’s no need. You can have it all.”

“But where are you going?”

“I told you already. I’m going back.”

“Ah, I thought that was a joke. Like a test? If we pass, you’ll fight alongside us… or something?”

Kardia smiled bashfully.

I chuckled in disbelief.

“Why would I joke about that? I don’t mess around. Like I said, I’m from somewhere else, and now I’m going back there.”

“So, it wasn’t a joke…”

“Yeah, kid. This is where it ends.”

“Wait, forever? Like, we’ll never meet again?”

“Never. Forever.”

“That’s a bit of an issue…”

Kardia scratched her cheek, looking troubled.

What a funny kid. Wasn’t she the one talking about burying herself here when we first met?

“There’s some paper in the desk drawer. You can follow what’s written there to take care of yourselves. If you follow the instructions carefully, you won’t die in some ridiculous way.”

I turned my back to Kardia and started walking toward the swirling dimensional vortex.

“Aren’t you going to say goodbye to the other two?”

Why should I?

I can’t stand clingy farewells. They’d probably be happy that I’m leaving anyway.

“Is it really true? We’ll never meet again? Never ever? For real? For real, for real, for real, for real…”

…This kid.

I looked back.

Kardia, with a determined look on her face, put on the rabbit ear headband.

“Niko niko ni! From my heart into your heart I–”

“Stop it right now before I throw up.”

“…Heeing.”

I sighed deeply.

What a nuisance, all the way to the end. I knew I should’ve snuck out quietly.

“Oh, by the way, you never even told us your name. That’s pretty rude, don’t you think?”

“Townia’s Han Israt.”

“Is that your name?”

“Got a problem with it?”

“N-no, nothing. I’ll remember it. So, does that mean we can meet again?”

“That’s up to you.”

If Jinho-Jang can catch up to Anytng’s progress, that is.

“Well then, that’s all I need!”

“Good.”

“See you later, Han oppa.”

I smiled bitterly and began walking again.

As I stepped into the dimensional vortex, a blinding light enveloped my vision.

And just like that, my dispatch ended.

‘….’

On the 4th floor of the Townia waiting room, in the mansion of the 1st party, I found myself deep in thought.

“As expected, 396 is the front-runner.”

I placed number 396 at the front of the display shelf.

Number 396 had undergone a total of six modifications, my proudest creation.

It seemed like a perfect candidate to lead the cavalry…

“But something feels lacking, don’t you think?”

<They all look the same to me. What’s lacking?>

Goo Goo Con stared at me as if I was saying something absurd.

I frowned.

‘The same? Are you kidding?’

Number 396’s front right leg is tilted precisely 17.3 degrees. It took me five hours of tweaking to find the perfect angle.

Knowing that how could you say it’s the same as the others?

‘Hmm.’

Should I choose number 396 as the leader or not?

It feels like choosing between black bean noodles and spicy seafood soup. No clear answer is coming to mind.

Just like the conversation happening upstairs.

wlsghWkd> Why is there no voice? Doesn’t that seem strange to you?

Anytng> Why would that be strange?

wlsghWkd> If there’s no voice, what’s the point?

Anytng> ???

Jinho-Jang was babbling nonsense again.

Even after I returned, the two of them would occasionally have exchanges like this in chat.

Anytng> But hey, you haven’t quit yet. I guess you’re enjoying it?

wlsghWkd> I don’t know.

Anytng> What do you mean you don’t know? I can tell just by looking. The more you play, the more there is to do, so keep going. Don’t give up just because it gets hard in the middle. If you work hard enough, you can do it without spending money.

wlsghWkd> By the way, does that hero, Han, have any skins?

Anytng> What skins?

wlsghWkd> If you put on a skin, it seems like you can change the gender?

Apparently, Leon’s crossdressing has become so convincing that it’s confusing even Jinho-Jang.

There’s no skin system in this game, though. I shrugged and continued examining number 396.

In any case, it seems like Jinho-Jang has finally started taking Pick Me Up seriously.

Judging from the screenshot he sent to Anytng, it looks like he’s put together a decent party. He even seems to be using male heroes now. The only surprising thing is that Leon is still cross-dressing.

Also, Anytng’s playtime has been increasing day by day.

‘She still has a real life to take care of, doesn’t she?’

You can’t just hold your phone all day, 24/7.

Even if it’s to earn money for microtransactions, there needs to be a balance between life and gaming.

Gaming should be in moderation.

About 16 hours a day should be just right.

‘You’re the one.’

I picked up statue number 437.

Number 396 lacked the majesty I was looking for.

With its left hind leg bent at a 3.7-degree angle, number 437 seemed far more fitting to lead.

Hyung_Otaku

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!

•