Hiding a House in the Apocalypse-Chapter 105.2: Stay (2)

Honestly, I can do anything. Anything at all.

With the Live! Replay feature, I could savor the enthusiastic reactions from that day, or I could use VivaBot to do some prep work before the true Viva! Apocalypse! emperor makes his return.

But still, it’s best to handle things directly.

SKELTON2: (True Skeleton) Did everyone watch my miraculous live stream?

The protagonist of the monumental live broadcast has returned to the board.

I’m sure a flood of admiration and countless handshake requests are waiting for me.

I sipped on a caffeinated drink, letting the comments trickle in for a moment.

Alright, time to check the comments.

Let’s see what Viva! Apocalypse! board members have to say about me, Park Gyu.

There are probably more foreigners than Koreans.

Viva! Apocalypse! has an automatic translation system even for Maya, but as usual with machines, it doesn’t provide perfect translations.

Words with double meanings or phrases that hold symbolic # Nоvеlight # significance in specific countries don’t always get translated correctly.

Well, those minor flaws can be fixed by reading the context and making the adjustments myself.

Sitting in front of the monitor, I checked the monumental return post of SKELTON.

SKELTON2: (True Skeleton) Did everyone watch my miraculous live stream?

“?”

I tilted my head.

Is Viva! Apocalypse! broken?

Or am I dreaming right now?

It’s not a dream.

I can still feel the distinct beat of my heart at this very moment.

“...”

Could it be that my post got buried?

The post-refresh rate didn’t seem that high.

Maybe our board friends are tired, so I kindly reposted the same comeback message.

SKELTON2: (True Skeleton) Last week, how was my live stream? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

“...”

This time, I refreshed the post every second and kept checking how many comments were added.

Click, click, click, click, click...

After refreshing about 300 times, I discovered that not a single comment had been posted on my post.

“?”

What’s going on?

What on earth happened?

Wasn’t I the star of that live broadcast, with everyone going crazy for it?

Could it be that Unicorn lied to me?

That doesn’t make sense.

If she had intended to lie, she wouldn’t have given me a satellite internet device like this.

I spotted someone I knew on the board.

mmmmmmmmm: Ahhh... My live stream was thousands of times more environmentally friendly and warm in its healing vibe than TwelveSquare’s live stream...

It’s that guy, M, wandering around the board like a rain-soaked dog.

I decided to send him a message.

SKELTON2: Hey, M.

Message from mmmmmmmmm: Who?

SKELTON2: It’s me. SKELTON.

Message from mmmmmmmmm: ?

SKELTON2: ?

Message from mmmmmmmmm: You’re not SKELTON. The account is different.

Has he already checked my account details?

He really is a board oldbie with good fundamentals.

SKELTON2: I am that SKELTON. The one who guided artillery strikes from your rooftop.

Message from mmmmmmmmm: Huh?

Message from mmmmmmmmm: Is it really you, SKELTON? What’s up with that account? Did you pick up an obelisk somewhere?

SKELTON2: Long story. Anyway, I’m currently unable to use my original equipment, so I’m connecting through different devices.

No time or need to explain the whole situation.

The important thing is one thing.

I need to reclaim the glory that SKELTON rightfully deserves.

SKELTON2: Last week’s live stream. That was definitely my work, but no one even knows it was me, right?

Message from mmmmmmmmm: What? TwelveSquare was you?

SKELTON2: What’s TwelveSquare?

Message from mmmmmmmmm: 12 squared. 144. You know, Melon Mask named it TwelveSquare because of Anonymous144.

Is that it?

So that’s why the unfamiliar name TwelveSquare popped up?

TwelveSquare. Not a bad nickname, but I am SKELTON.

SKELTON is meaningful because it’s SKELTON, no need for other nicknames.

Looking at the monitor, I spoke to M.

SKELTON2: I am TwelveSquare. Unfortunately, after that battle, rain leaked in and ruined the computer.

Message from mmmmmmmmm: Hmmmm...

SKELTON2: It’s really me. Didn’t you see me in person?

Message from mmmmmmmmm: I did see you, but I didn’t think you’d be flying around like that.

SKELTON2: Anyway, I’ve got no one else to talk to. Help me out.

Message from mmmmmmmmm: (Captain M, puzzled) What do you need help with?

SKELTON2: I want you to tell everyone that I’m TwelveSquare.

Even as I said it, I honestly didn’t trust it.

Would a guy like M, who’s been treated like a half-idiot for so long, make any real impact with that?

Thinking back, I realized I was asking the wrong person.

The one I should ask is someone else entirely.

It’s VivaBot, the eyewitness to my live stream and the admin of our board.

Message from mmmmmmmmm: Alright, I’ll do it. Since it’s the guy everyone thought was dead, I’ll fulfill this small wish.

SKELTON2: Nah, it’s fine. Just do your thing.

Talking to M, I realized how powerful habits can be.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Even while having a genuine conversation with M, my fingers and eyes were instinctively searching for an emoticon somewhere on the screen.

There’s no way there would be any emoticons on our board, though.

For the record, Melon Mask is an extreme emoticon-hater.

Well, the time I spent as “Kelton” must have meant something.

Looking back, it didn’t take long for me to become a “superstar” on the massive Red Archive board, a name everyone recognizes, and a “superstar” who has both lovers and haters.

It’s nice playing the superstar role on a younger crowd’s board, but I know that our board fits me better.

After leaving M behind, I sent a message to VivaBot.

“...”

Tap, tap, tap.

SKELTON2: Admin.

SKELTON2: It’s me, SKELTON.

SKELTON2: The machine has changed, so I’m greeting you with another account. If you want confirmation, I can send you a photo anytime.

When asking for a favor, I need to show the utmost politeness.

I, Park Gyu, am not someone without flexibility.

VivaBot responded to my message around 9 PM, US West Coast time.

VIVA_BOT014: Huh?

VIVA_BOT014: Who is this?

VivaBot answered.

Is she really that dense?

I explained the situation, and yet she’s asking again.

My expression faltered, but I kept calm and sent a composed message.

SKELTON2: Didn’t I tell you? I’m SKELTON.

VIVA_BOT014: No, you’re not the original SKELTON, nor the former SKELTON. You’ve got three machines?

VIVA_BOT014: ?

VIVA_BOT014: Wait...

SKELTON2: Ah, no. I’m not stealing anyone’s equipment. I told you, I’m in Jeju.

VIVA_BOT014: Oh, right. Jeju is under the Republic of Korea, right?

SKELTON2: Yes, that’s right.

VIVA_BOT014: I remember the Republic of Korea ordered 1,000 obelisks before the war. Production delays meant only about 100 were delivered, though.

SKELTON2: That must have been the batch.

Why is she beating around the bush like this?

Does she lack emotion?

Anyone could tell what I’m trying to say.

I took a deep breath to calm my growing impatience and typed again, clearly.

Tap, tap, tap.

SKELTON2: How was the live stream?

VIVA_BOT014: It was the best! I even sent a DM on my phone! Melon Mask himself watched and nearly fell off his chair!

SKELTON2: Haha...

As expected.

Looks like my wholehearted performance stole the heart of even the ruthless VivaBot, not to mention the morally bankrupt Melon Mask.

Of course, what I want has always been the same from the beginning.

The proper reward for my achievements.

In other words, becoming a legend beyond just a named status.

That’s where SKELTON truly belongs.

SKELTON2: By the way.

VIVA_BOT014: Yes, SKELTON!

SKELTON2: I put my life on the line for that live stream, yet somehow, no one even knows my name. They’re all shouting TwelveSquare? A meaningless name, but the true identity of TwelveSquare is none other than me.

VIVA_BOT014: Right?

SKELTON2: So what I’m asking from you, Admin, is...

I swallowed nervously.

At the same time, I felt a slight dissatisfaction.

Why do I have to say this out loud?

It’s obvious, isn’t it?

SKELTON2: (Skeleton's Request) So, what I’m saying is...

As I tried to move my heavy words onto the keyboard with a bitter smile...

VIVA_BOT014: You want me to make an official announcement that you’re TwelveSquare, right?

“!”

That’s it.

This is what I wanted.

Hah, this VivaBot...

Does she already know everything?

Though she’s as lazy as a sloth, I’ve already figured out that she has the cunning of a fox.

With a smile on my face, I nodded as if VivaBot were right in front of me and typed my response.

SKELTON2: Yes, that’s it.

Let’s go.

To the rightful throne I belong.

Once hailed as "Professor" and awarded the Golden Fleece, Park Gyu isn’t meant to mingle with the likes of FoxGame or DongtanMom.

I stared at the monitor, a little excited, waiting for the good news to rise.

A sentence appeared in my mind.

VIVA_BOT014: No.

“?”

For a brief moment, my vision blurred.

I experienced something I hadn’t even felt during a fight with the Exequator type.

Because of a sudden stiffness, my reply was delayed.

SKELTON2: ?

SKELTON2: What do you mean no?

SKELTON2: Wasn’t that a live stream I risked my life for? Why, exactly, would that be...?

VIVA_BOT014: It’s all for you, SKELTON.

SKELTON2: ?

SKELTON2: For me?

VIVA_BOT014: Yes.

VIVA_BOT014: (VivaBot’s stance) The moment you’re recognized as TwelveSquare, I can already imagine what you’re going to do next, and it’s not pretty.

SKELTON2: (Skeleton’s frustration) What do you mean?

VIVA_BOT014: Think back to when you wore the armband. You remember how arrogant and reckless you were. I could actually see the people around you falling apart in real-time.

SKELTON2: I didn’t have anyone like that around me!

VIVA_BOT014: No, think with your hand on your heart. Seriously. SKELTON. Not many people left already, but if you act like you did before...

SKELTON2: (Skeleton, almost in tears)

VIVA_BOT014: ...Ha. Anyway, more importantly, TwelveSquare has now become a legendary presence, not only in VivaBot’s circle but also in NecroCity of North America.

SKELTON2: Huh?

VIVA_BOT014: What I mean is, while you’ve been away, you’ve become a living legend.

When I read that, I couldn’t help but pull my hands away from the keyboard.

A legend?

This wasn’t the kind of legend I had expected to become.

I pulled my hands off the keyboard, turning my attention to VivaBot’s words flashing on the monitor.

VIVA_BOT014: Right now, in North America, anyone who has access to the net or is connected through a net-based system knows TwelveSquare. A regular human, not an Awakened, fighting an army on their own, facing off against human enemies and monsters, and bringing them down.

VIVA_BOT014: Yes. Right now, SKELTON, you are the "hero" of American comics. Of course, there are people stronger than you, but they are not purely human. They all carry the same waves as monsters.

VIVA_BOT014: But you, SKELTON, are different. You’re not an Awakened, an alien existence. You’re a "pure human". Despite that, you proved human potential in your live stream. Do you realize how impactful that was to ordinary people?

“...”

I had completely forgotten.

One of the internet’s functions is its global reach.

Without realizing it, I, Park Gyu, had become famous.

And that too, in the blink of an eye.

VIVA_BOT014: How disappointing would it be for the people who saw hope in TwelveSquare if the great hero starts doing strange things on the board?

SKELTON2: I’m not doing anything strange.

VIVA_BOT014: No, you will. I’ve been managing communities for years. 100% you’ll do something weird, shattering people’s illusions.

SKELTON2: ...

VIVA_BOT014: I understand that you’re disappointed, but I’ll give you some power.

SKELTON2: Power?

VIVA_BOT014: I’m thinking of giving you admin-like authority. Not as much as mine, but a role as a sub-admin. You’re beyond just our board now, SKELTON. You’re a legend on a global scale!

Looking at the situation, I figured this was all she was offering.

VivaBot had already made up her mind.

There’s nothing I can say to change it.

“...”

Tap, tap, tap.

SKELTON2: Understood.

I didn’t want to accept it, but for now, it was the only choice.

However, I wouldn’t hide my dissatisfaction either.

SKELTON2: But...

This chapter is updat𝓮d by freēnovelkiss.com.

VIVA_BOT014: ?

SKELTON2: I could go somewhere else.

VIVA_BOT014: Huh?

SKELTON2: There are other massive communities besides Viva! Apocalypse!.

What I’m saying is, SKELTON could be active there.

SKELTON2: Viva! Apocalypse! might lose me as a user forever.

This isn’t a threat.

I have another platform to operate on—the Red Archive board.

VivaBot needs to think carefully about this.

With that in mind, I waited for VivaBot’s next response.

VIVA_BOT014: Go ahead.

“?”

Does she mean it?

As I typed “Okay” at lightning speed, I heard a knock on the door.

“Are you in?”

As soon as I heard that voice, I instinctively closed the internet window.

“It’s me.”

It was Na Hye-in.