SRPG | Chapter 3.1

Lee Hwanyoung’s life was simple and predictable.

If you had to put it into words, it would be something like: “An introverted homebody office worker’s life in its purest form.”

Wake up, go to work, do the job, and clock out.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

No unnecessary detours after work—just a straight path back home.

Dinner with friends? Drinks with coworkers? That kind of stuff was for extroverted, outdoor-loving types. For a true homebody, home was always priority number one.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“Home really is the best.”

Just like any other day, Hwanyoung headed straight home after work.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

As soon as he stepped through the front door, he stripped off his clothes and headed straight into the bathroom to shower. Afterward, he slipped into comfortable loungewear, then made his way to the kitchen, pulling out two packs of frozen fried rice from the freezer and dumping them into a frying pan.

While the rice was heating up, he rushed over to his computer and turned it on.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

The familiar whirr of the system booting up filled the room.

Hwanyoung finished plating his meal by drawing a round, chubby bear on top of the fried rice with ketchup. He grabbed a drink, placed everything neatly onto a tray, and admired his perfect recreation of a PC bang-style dinner.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Taking the entire tray with him, he placed it right in front of his computer monitor. The loading screen was still in progress.

As soon as the loading bar reached 100%, the character selection screen appeared.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

His most recently used character—a vampire—stared back at him from the screen, its crimson eyes glowing ominously.

<System: Welcome to Aeer Online.>

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Hwanyoung’s vampire stood before Orta, the special job-class character exclusive to vampires.

As he looked at his character—now fully advanced to its third promotion—he found himself recalling the past week.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

***

After Hyoppang officially (or unofficially?) handed Gudok over to Hwanyoung, Gudok started following him around openly, like a duckling trailing its mother.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Hwanyoung tried to push Gudok away, saying, “Be honest, what’s so fun about watching a newbie level up? Master, you should go out and explore the wider world, find your own entertainment.” But Gudok refused to budge.

[Party] Gudok: Gudok can’t leave Aeer Online…

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Instead, Gudok explained why he couldn’t “fly away.”

[Party] Gudok: Actually, Gudok is a captured fish… (›´-`‹ )
[Party] lIlllIIl: I never captured you, Master…
[Party] lIlllIIl: Master, I sincerely support your freedom.
[Party] lIlllIIl: Please, venture out into the greater world and spread your attention-seeking talents to other games!

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Good things were meant to be shared.

And this was definitely not just a case of “If I’m going down, you’re coming with me.”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Hwanyoung genuinely wished for Gudok to expand his gaming horizons.

[Party] Gudok: I’m not talking about you, Slave-nim! (>д<)
[Party] Gudok: The one who captured Gudok is someone else!!!

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Who?

Before Hwanyoung could even ask, Gudok took the lead in the conversation.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

[Party] Gudok: That person is… drum roll please!
[Party] Gudok: Dugudugudugudugu! (Tension-building drum sounds)
[Party] lIlllIIl: Hyoppang-nim?

If you were talking about someone who “captures” others in the game, the most obvious candidate was the Guild Master. Because, well… guild masters literally existed to control, recruit, and torment guild members.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

…That sounds a little twisted, but it’s not entirely wrong.

There was even a meme in Aeer Online comparing guild masters to Pokémon trainers—as in, they “catch wild users” and force them into their guilds.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Besides, Hyoppang had already banned Gudok from his usual “slave bread” antics.

Logically speaking, the only person who could be “holding Gudok captive” was Hyoppang.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Though, in Hyoppang’s case, it’s less about capturing and more about just outright owning the guy…

[Party] Gudok: NO!! (>д<)
[Party] Gudok: Hyoppang can’t suppress Kim Gudok!! Gudok is stronger than Hyoppang!! Gudok’s combat power is the highest in the guild!!!
[Party] Gudok: Gudok isn’t avoiding ‘slave bread’ because of Hyoppang! Gudok is just holding back on his own!!
[Party] Gudok: Because Gudok is strong!!!
[Party] Gudok: Right now, Gudok is restraining his power!!! If Gudok unleashed his full strength, all of Aeer’s world would kneel before him!!!

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Gudok’s chat messages grew thicker, heavier.

Even the usual emoticons disappeared, as if he was typing with grim determination.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

This… was what people called “getting scratched.”

But Hwanyoung decided not to point that out.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

A slave’s duty was to protect their master’s fragile ego, after all.

[Party] Gudok: Right now, Gudok is a suppressed powerhouse!!!
[Party] Gudok: If Gudok releases his strength, the entire Nix Server will be destroyed!!!
[Party] Gudok: I’m serious! Really! Truly! Absolutely!
[Party] lIlllIIl: Ah… yes… Understood, Master…
[Party] lIlllIIl: Congratulations on being so strong, Master…
[Party] Gudok: I knew Slave-nim would understand!!!!! (๑>ω<๑) Gudok is strong!! (๑>ω<๑)

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

So, in conclusion… the one who “captured Gudok” wasn’t Hyoppang.
Then… who was it?

[Party] Gudok: The person who captured Gudok—the strong, handsome, rich, elegant, noble, and kind Protector of Aeer—is…!
[Party] Gudok: JEFF MATTHIS!!!

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Jeff Matthis.

That was the lead PD (Producer-Director) of Aeer Online.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

So, basically, what Gudok was saying was—

“He’s just addicted to the game, huh.”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Was Aeer Online really that good?

No way. It wasn’t a total trash game, but it wasn’t exactly “so fun I can’t quit” level either…

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

[Party] Gudok: So Gudok has no choice but to stay… (›´-`‹ )
[Party] Gudok: But right now, Gudok can’t do slave bread, avatar bread, or gear bread…
[Party] Gudok: (If I try even one of those, Hyoppang said he’d burn my computer. So don’t tell me to just do it anyway. Hyoppang knows where I live. ㅠㅠ)

Gudok’s chat messages thickened once again.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“So… it is Hyoppang holding him captive.”

[Party] Gudok: Anyway!!
[Party] Gudok: That’s why Gudok is going to follow Slave-nim around!!! (๑>ω<๑) (๑>ω<๑)
[Party] Gudok: The guild people only ever talk about the Geras raid! It’s soooo boring!!!
[Party] lIlllIIl: Oh, right.
[Party] lIlllIIl: Speaking of that, Hyoppang-nim actually asked for my opinion recently.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The Geras Raid was set to update in about a week.

Apparently, the Golden Spoon Ability Users guild had been obsessing over analyzing every teaser video and boss pattern in preparation. Even Hyoppang had personally asked Hwanyoung for his opinion.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

A proper veteran’s perspective, he said.

[Party] Gudok: Slave-nim, you played without me again… (›´-‹ )*
[Party] lIlllIIl: It wasn’t playing, just a brief discussion.
[Party] Gudok: Don’t talk to Hyoppang (›´-‹ )
[Party] Gudok: Hyoppang is a bad person who keeps locking Gudok up in a prison.
[Party] lIlllIIl: To be fair, Master, you kinda brought that on yourself…
[Party] Gudok: (ꐦ ¯−¯)

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Hwanyoung swiftly changed the subject.

[Party] lIlllIIl: Anyway,
[Party] lIlllIIl: Hyoppang-nim said thanks for my input and
[Party] lIlllIIl: offered to help me until I complete my third promotion.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

[Party] Gudok: Hyoppang? (・_・)
[Party] lIlllIIl: Yes.
[Party] Gudok: Why Hyoppang?! Of all people!!! When Slave-nim has such a cool, strong, reliable, kind, and upstanding Gudok right here?!?!?!
[Party] Gudok: Use Gudok!!! Gudok is BORED because he can’t even do slave bread!!! (>д<)

Oh, don’t worry, that’s exactly what I was planning.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Hwanyoung smirked as he reeled in his baited hook. The fish on the other end was big, solid, and struggling just as expected.

[Party] lIlllIIl: I was waiting for those very words, Master.
[Party] lIlllIIl: As you know, my real job is in education planning.
[Party] lIlllIIl: Allow me to demonstrate the planning skills I’ve honed through my professional experience.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

In short, he had already mapped out a perfect leveling route.

[Party] lIlllIIl: Let’s go, Master.
[Party] Gudok: Wung! (✧∇✧)

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Right on cue, Eco Cup Discount’s alt character joined the leveling party.

[Party] Eco Cup Extra Shot: Looks like Vampire-nim has been playing this game for a long time.
[Party] Eco Cup Extra Shot: I checked out the leveling route you made…
[Party] Eco Cup Extra Shot: And honestly? LOL. This isn’t just a guide—you should be the one writing the actual game guides.
[Party] lIlllIIl: Thank you for the compliment. ㅎㅎ

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Eco Cup Extra Shot (a white goat beastman) was the alt of Eco Cup Discount (a black goat beastman).

Unlike Discount, who was a debuffer black magician, Extra Shot was a healer white magician.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Their appearances were total opposites too—while Discount was a black goat beastman, Extra Shot was a white goat beastman.

As Extra Shot healed the party, he casually added:

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

[Party] Eco Cup Extra Shot: You know, when Gudok leveled up, it was a total disaster. LOL.
[Party] Gudok: ??? Wung? (・_・)?
[Party] Eco Cup Extra Shot: First, he got all mopey because randoms in his public party weren’t playing how he wanted.
[Party] Eco Cup Extra Shot: Then, he rage-quit and went full tryhard mode—grinding EXP in the arena until he hit max level.
[Party] lIlllIIl: Wait… You max-leveled through arena EXP?
[Party] Eco Cup Extra Shot: Yeah. No exaggeration. He actually hit max level just by grinding arena matches. LOL.
[Party] Eco Cup Extra Shot: I seriously thought he’d lost his mind at the time. LOL.

So he gathered up that measly amount of EXP, little by little, until he reached max level?
No wonder he ended up addicted to his slave bread antics.
Hwanyoung felt genuine admiration.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

[Party] Eco Cup Extra Shot: And to top it off, Kim Gudok doesn’t even have an alt character. LOL. Says it’s too much effort to raise one.
[Party] Eco Cup Extra Shot: Thank god Aeer Online doesn’t have a max-level character buff system. If it did, Gudok would be the weakest in the guild. LOL.
[Party] Eco Cup Extra Shot: Though, honestly, he’s still the weakest even now. LOL.
[Party] Gudok: ?
[Party] Gudok: ^^?

In response, Gudok—who had been wiping out monsters—suddenly hurled a red rose at Eco Cup Extra Shot.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Of course, since they were in the same party, there was no actual damage… but still.

Wait. Hold on.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

You don’t attack the healer.

How does he expect to clear a dungeon without a healer?

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Master, did you temporarily lose your mind?!

Hwanyoung immediately tried to stage a coup.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

[Party] lIlllIIl: Master.
[Party] Gudok: (✧∇✧)?
[Party] lIlllIIl: You must not attack the healer. Not even with flowers. ㅡㅡ
[Party] Gudok: (✧∇✧)…..??
[Party] lIlllIIl: Healers are a precious resource, essential for the smooth operation of Aeer Online.
[Party] lIlllIIl: When Eco Cup was a black magician, I honestly didn’t care whether he lived or died.
[Party] lIlllIIl: But right now, he’s a healer.
[Party] lIlllIIl: And healers are valuable. You must cherish them.
[Party] Eco Cup Extra Shot: Wait, what? That kinda sounds like a compliment… but why don’t I feel good about it? LOL… Weird…
[Party] Gudok: Wait, so… I can’t hit the healer? (・_・)

Can you? No.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Wait. Can he?

Now that he thought about it, Gudok would probably survive just fine even without a healer.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

He had the kind of ridiculous survival skills that made him fit the “last man standing” archetype.

Sigh.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

See, being too skilled wasn’t always a good thing.

If you weren’t careful, you’d forget how to function as part of a team.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Hwanyoung stood his ground and disciplined his master.

No.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Stop.

Gudok, come here.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

You must befriend the healer.