Chapter 39: The Hidden Field and the Wandering Merchant

-New Field and the Wandering Merchant

The elimination of the pests lingering around the house was finally complete.

As her stealth and assassination techniques reached a satisfactory level, the next phase began.

[New VTuber BJ]
[Mukeon Geomgyeok has started streaming.]
[Game – Half-Yokai Valley (Simiral Co.)]
[Playtime: 02:05:07]
[Streaming Duration: 00:00:01]

Once again, Hae Eung Eung assumed the persona of Mukeon Geomgyeok.

[Hidden Field Boss: Defeat of the Yokai Immortal Complete]
[Achievements]
[Defeat the Hidden Boss Yokai Immortal. (Completed)]
[Clear the field within the time limit. (Completed)]
[Stop the swampification of the Great Forest. (Completed)]

[Sweep Rank: SSS]
[Subjugation Rank: SSS]
[Challenge Rank: SSS]
[Overall Rank: 9★/3★ (+600%)]

[MORE THAN PERFECT]
[The base difficulty of the next field has been maximized.]
[The probability of special events occurring has increased.]

The broadcast began with a record-breaking clear result.

The moment the virtual “door” to the stream opened, viewers flooded into the chat room like a tidal wave.

–Mom, we’re saved! It’s no longer cold!
–LOL, finally back after a full month break!
–Monthly streams? Frustrating!
–Sensei, the viewers clearly aren’t disciplined enough. Take a two-month break next time!
–You crazy? Then you can’t watch either.
–We, the Suicide Bombing Devotees of Mukeon Geomgyeok, fully support your pest extermination streams. Salute! ^^
–Look at these fanatics blowing up their stockpile of jokes after a 30-day dry spell, LOL.

Even amid the chaos of fanatical viewers claiming to be her “suicide bombers,” Mukeon Geomgyeok remained her usual self.

Completely oblivious to the existence of the chat, she briefly observed the place where the Face-Stealing Spider Lord had vanished before heading toward the branching paths leading to the next field.

However, something about the options for the next field seemed unusual.

【Beyond the Great Forest】
[The scene unfolding before you is…]
[1. An impassable dead-end.]
[2. A side path leading to the rear of the crumbled fortress.]

Originally, the options should have read:

【Beyond the Great Forest】
[The scene unfolding before you is…]
[1. A collapsing cave.]
[2. A side path leading to the rear of the crumbled fortress.]

The previously considered “impassable dead-end” now appeared as a new option—a collapsing cave—just for Mukeon Geomgyeok.

The viewers quickly realized why.

–Wow, clearing the Great Forest within the time limit unlocked a new field?
–Wait, this field existed all along?
–WHAT?! A new map revealed for the first time in 10 years!
–Props to the game devs for keeping this hidden with zero leaks for a decade, LOL.
–Honestly, both the game company and Mukeon Geomgyeok are incredible for pulling this off.

The developer, Simiral Co., was renowned for creating masterpieces. Yet, they were equally infamous for shrouding their games in secrecy.

Their titles were notorious for being packed with hidden features. In fact, even five years after the game’s launch, only 85% of its content had been uncovered, as officially disclosed.

Most of these secrets catered to Awakened players, designed for difficulty levels that regular players couldn’t even touch.

For the average gamer, these hidden elements were tantalizing but unattainable treasures.

But now, Mukeon Geomgyeok had pulled one of those elusive treasures—the impassable path at the end of the Great Forest—right into the open.

–A true legend at work.
–Sure, she streams once a month, but she’s insane when she does.
–She doesn’t interact with us? Whatever.
–She’s the king of silent playstyle? Who cares.
–Wait a second, when you list it all, her flaws are kind of overwhelming.

Even though her sporadic streams lacked announcements or interactions, the thrilling gameplay,

immersive narrative, and gripping combat still kept her audience hooked.

–?
–What?
–What’s going on?
–Did I just see a hallucination?
–Who are you? What have you done with Mukeon Geomgyeok?

Before entering the collapsing cave, Mukeon Geomgyeok suddenly turned toward the camera and flashed a “V” sign with her fingers—a reaction clearly aimed at the audience.

The unexpected and oddly cheerful gesture left her viewers in stunned silence.

“Why the reaction?”

“What’s with that awkward and shy V-sign?”

“Is this part of a mission?”

“Nope, there’s no such mission.”

“Then why is she suddenly doing that?”

“No one knows, LOL.”

The reason behind Mukeon Geomgyeok’s random reactions was a mystery to everyone except herself.

Previously, after an incident where passersby recognized her on the streets, Hae Eung Eung had arrived at a half-baked realization.

She believed her records had been uploaded to a competitive ranking system—a belief that was both somewhat true and slightly mistaken.

‘The way I’m playing right now might appear as a silhouette to someone watching, right?’

Imagining her silhouette displayed before aspiring challengers filled her with a mischievous thrill.

‘The privilege of being number one is annoying those who come after you.’

In this one-sided relationship—where others could see her but she couldn’t see them—Hae Eung Eung found a selfish sense of satisfaction.

This wasn’t her first rodeo with such tactics.

Twenty years ago, she had been similarly vexed in a racing game when the top scorer taunted challengers by opening their car door,

stepping out, and mockingly flailing their arms in celebration.

Even after two decades spent honing her martial skills in Murim and returning to modern society, the memory of that irritating silhouette was still fresh.

‘If they see how relaxed I am, the players lagging behind will get so annoyed!’

And so began her petty antics.

Flash a V-sign while walking.

Turn back and make another V-sign.

Wave a casual V-sign just because.

She continued making these seemingly random gestures like a high school girl snapping pictures for social media.

The result?

[RichOppa donated 100,000 KRW!]
Mukeon Geomgyeok’s V-sign is truly a rarity.

[SecretFriend donated 50,000 KRW!]
This is the first reaction we’ve ever seen, and it’s… this?

[What’sWithTheV donated 50,000 KRW!]
Why does she keep doing the V-sign? It’s cute, but I’m so confused.

Her playful gestures led to an outpouring of donations, delighting her viewers.

For the first time ever, the uncommunicative streamer had made an effort to “interact” with her audience—even if it was through something as simple as a V-sign.

And the viewers couldn’t have been happier.

[2DaHye donated 10,000 KRW!]
Turns out, I like this kind of stuff.

–Of course, DaHye’s into this. She won’t do couple streams but swoons over a V-sign, LOL.

–Mukeon Geomgyeok seducing fans with just one V-sign. Incredible.

–That’s one flirtatious V, I’ll give her that.

Amid the lively atmosphere, the story mode for the newly unlocked field commenced.

[Story Mode]

As Mukeon Geomgyeok exited the cave on the other side, a thunderous sound echoed behind her.

The cave collapsed, sealing off the path she had just traversed.

[The cave nestled deep within the Great Forest.]
[Only accessible through the Cave of Consciousness, it leads to an alternate realm.]
[Here, ash replaces sand and soil.]
[All traces of natural energy have been drained, leaving no room for life to thrive.]
[This is a land of death and destruction.]
[The homeland of yokai, abandoned sanctuaries of old.]

[Indeed, this is none other than the infamous Yokai Realm.]
[The quickest path to the underworld, and possibly your journey’s end.]

The grave warnings marked the beginning of a perilous new field—one unlike any Mukeon Geomgyeok had encountered before.

As the fourth field of her journey unfolded, the viewers couldn’t hold back their shock.

–This place existed?

–Where even is this?

–It’s probably the yokai’s homeland they sometimes mention.

–Oh my god, why are you even here?

–Can’t you just turn back?

–Nope, the cave collapsed. No turning back now.

–She’s screwed.

–Mukeon Geomgyeok MK2, it’s your time to shine. I never thought I’d see you again!

The viewers quickly realized how dire the situation was.

The Yokai Realm was notorious for being far deadlier than the Great Forest. It was practically a graveyard for anyone who entered willingly.

Having played Half-Yokai Valley before, many viewers knew the grim reputation of this realm, and they couldn’t hide their panic.

–Even the yokai in this game are from the Yokai Realm.

–Wow, she’s really in deep trouble now.

–So this is the field where bosses roam freely like normal mobs?

Every step could summon a yokai.

Field bosses might appear as common enemies.

She had ventured into an unexplored, supernatural hellscape.

In the hopeless and desolate Yokai Realm, where even the thought of immediate suicide wouldn’t seem unusual,

Mukeon Geomgyeok pressed forward without hesitation, despite having no prior information about the area.

She simply played the game as she always did, undeterred by the ominous surroundings.

–LOL, she’s not even scared.

–Our streamer is the definition of “man among men.”

–A true sigma female moment.

–Does this person not feel fear?

–Your character is about to get wrecked, and yet we’re the only ones panicking!

–LOL, other streams have the streamer freaking out while viewers have fun. Here, it’s the opposite.

–She’s such a small streamer she probably doesn’t even know how to mitigate synchronization penalties after dying.

–If she suffers post-death penalties, it wouldn’t be surprising if she disappears for six months.

–Wow, so if she dies, the stream dies too? Is this what they call a roguelike broadcast?

–“Roguelike streamer,” LOL.

With each step, Mukeon Geomgyeok felt the peculiar sensation of ash either crunching underfoot or sinking beneath her weight.

Like a child visiting the beach for the first time, she relished every moment, savoring the novelty of the unfamiliar terrain.

Then, an odd sound reached her ears.

Dyoong, dyoong, dyoong…

“What is that noise?”

Changing her pace and shifting her center of gravity, Mukeon Geomgyeok moved silently, tracking the sound like a predator hunting its prey.

Finally, she reached the top of an ash-covered hill, and an unexpected scene unfolded before her.

“Dyoong, dyoong~ dyoong, dyoong, dyoong~”

A girl with two horns protruding from her forehead and blue skin was digging through the ash, muttering in a sing-song voice.

She picked up shiny objects and stuffed them into a large sack.

Suddenly, the girl looked up, tilting her head curiously at Mukeon Geomgyeok.

[Huh? A human? What are you doing here?]

Her reaction was unlike any half-yokai or yokai Mukeon Geomgyeok had encountered before.

If anything, she resembled a non-aggressive monster, similar to a young insectoid yokai that displayed curiosity rather than hostility.

–Huh? Isn’t that an NPC merchant?

–That’s the wandering trader!

Holy sht!*

–Isn’t that the one who scavenges weapons from ruined fortresses?

–Yeah, she’s technically an NPC that loots cleared fields for salvage.

–Dyoong Dyoong has entered the chat.

–OMG, she’s ridiculously cute.

The NPC was none other than one of the few player-friendly characters in Half-Yokai Valley: the wandering trader, essential for buying and selling items to progress through the game.