Chapter : 07
Constellation Game [Laika]
While I had briefly spaced out, the number of viewers, which had climbed to nine, suddenly dropped to just five.
The only saving grace was that a constellation named “Wandering Goblin”—who had entered first—kept me grounded.
└ But why aren’t you answering my question?
- Oh, you were asking where I’m going?
└ Yeah. At level 9, shouldn’t you be hunting here?
Thanks to that, I could continue my conversation with the constellations.
- Uh… well, yes, but I do have a specific destination.
As we talked, two more people left…
[‘Returning Butterfly Mask’ has disconnected.]
[‘Triple-Living Ranker’ has disconnected.]
[ON Air: ☺ 3]
Even so, there wasn’t much I could do.
It hurt a little to see potential sponsors leaving… but instinctively, I knew that trying to do anything would backfire since I didn’t even know what the constellations liked.
So, I silently thanked the Wandering Goblin for talking to me and continued my task—heading toward the Shadow Canyon to hunt wolves.
└ Destination? It’s dangerous to go further from here.
- Really? What’s dangerous about it?
Suddenly, a constellation with a strange nickname—who hadn’t said a word until now—jumped in.
└ Eh, what’s dangerous? It’s just the wolf zone.
And in the next moment, my eyes widened again.
[‘Rogue 2nd Throne’ has donated 30 LP.]
Crazy. 30 LP? At this rate, my teeth might rot…
└ You’re going to Shadow Canyon, right?
Whew. Maybe because I just made 400,000 won as soon as I logged in, my heart was racing.
But I had no time to zone out. I had to answer quickly so as not to upset the constellation.
- Yup. I was on my way there.
The constellation’s next words came.
└ There’s an epic monster called the Moonshadow Wolf that spawns there. Have you heard of it?
Of course I have.
Hmm…
Honestly, it’s more than just “heard of.”
That guy is one of my favorite monsters in this early field area. It drops tier-2 equipment occasionally and, if I’m extremely lucky, even tier-3 gear. I’ve hunted it countless times.
It was even on my list to hunt today. So I replied without thinking…
- Hm…? Moonshadow Wolf? Yeah, I know it.
└ Well, that makes this conversation easier.
I really didn’t expect the conversation to go like this.
└ If you kill it within an hour, how about 100 LP?
- What do you mean by that…?
└ You haven’t even figured out the mission yet, have you? lol
At that moment, when the next system message popped up… I was so happy I almost did a backflip.
[‘Rogue 2nd Throne’ has registered a new mission.]
〓〓〓〓〓〓〓〓〓〓〓〓〓〓
Moonshadow Wolf Hunt
Type: Mission
Difficulty: ??
Clear Conditions:
- Defeat Moonshadow Wolf (Lv15) [Epic]
Time Limit:
- 00:60:00
Reward: 100 LP
〓〓〓〓〓〓〓〓〓〓〓〓〓〓
100 LP? Is this for real…?
[Do you accept the mission?]
Faced with such an unprecedented reward, I didn’t even hesitate.
- Accept!! Accept it!!!
A million won being donated like this… if I hesitate and the constellation changes their mind, that’d be a huge loss.
[‘Moonshadow Wolf Hunt’ mission accepted.]
[Honor increases by 1 upon mission success.]
[Honor decreases by 1 upon mission failure.]
The Moonshadow Wolf is a level-15 epic monster.
So yes, it’s strong—but as the constellation said… this is still just a weak wolf zone.
The probability of me failing this mission is practically zero.
They probably gave me this mission because they didn’t know I’m a veteran player…
‘Still… is the Moonshadow Wolf really that tough?’
Even without being a beta tester, a level-15 epic monster is definitely something I could handle one way or another.
For example, by trapping it in the field…
Well, yes. Considering my equipment and assuming a normal level-9 newbie, it might indeed be challenging. Thinking back to my first playthrough, it would likely be a bit tough at first—but they probably want to see me struggle.
While I was thinking that, the chat suddenly filled with countless messages. Even though, besides the 2nd Throne who gave me the mission, there were only two viewers left.
└ ?
└ ???
└ ??
└ Are you crazy, host?
└ You’re actually accepting this? lolol
Uh… the Moonshadow Wolf is definitely the same white wolf I know, right?
Moonshadow Wolf (Lv15) [Epic]
No matter how I think about it, it’s the same one.
The level matches exactly, and it’s epic. In Laika, there’s no other epic monster with the same name.
└ 2nd Throne, you’re really evil lol
└ Lol host, you know the Moonshadow Wolf, right? Lol, you do, right?
Uh…
Even the mission info clearly states it’s a level-15 epic monster.
No doubt, it’s the same one I know.
“Uh… hmm…”
I really don’t understand why they’re reacting this way. I just need to go and beat it.
└ Not my fault? It’s the mission receiver’s fault lol
Sure, it’s my fault if there’s one at all.
└ I was about to leave because it was boring, but now I’m kind of interested?
Yes, exactly, constellation. Want me to make you some money too?
└ Host, if you succeed at this mission, I’ll give the next mission lol
Clearly, the remaining three constellations know what they’re doing.
As a streamer, I had to live up to expectations.
[Leaving ‘Forest of Beginnings’]
[Entering ‘Shadow Canyon’]
[A nightfall energy blankets the area.]
[All “Dark” attribute power slightly increased.]
As Rogue 2nd Throne said, Shadow Canyon is a wolf zone.
Over 90% of the monsters here are wolf-type beasts. The most common are Lv13 Gray Wolves.
My original plan was to hunt these gray wolves to reach level 12 efficiently. From level 13 onward, hunting them wouldn’t give the “Giant Slayer” title effect, so I wanted to maximize efficiency before then.
But now, priorities had changed.
I needed to find the Moonshadow Wolf as quickly as possible.
Even if wandering around would likely let me find it within an hour, I couldn’t take chances.
Why? Because there’s no way I’d waste my precious 100 LP.
Hehe. The scent of eager patrons made me grin uncontrollably. I was pumped.
“Can anyone tell me where the Moonshadow Wolf usually spawns?”
No other players were nearby, so I asked the constellations. They might know more than me.
└ lol so funny
└ This guy is serious?
└ He got the mission because he’s serious lol
The constellations laughed and added comments.
└ There are a few spawn points inside Shadow Canyon.
└ How about going up to the plateau?
└ Nah, that’s too far. You’ll waste time getting there lol
└ Haha, but this situation itself is hilarious lol
Not much helpful info, unfortunately.
“Why are you guys laughing? I’m serious!”
└ lol it’s funny because you’re serious
Now my way of referring to the constellations became “bros.”
Money talks. They were obviously richer than me, donating dozens of LP at a time.
And it seems they liked my polite attitude.
└ This guy is very polite, huh?
The one who kept saying “this guy, this guy” is Count Grape, a constellation.
He’s the only remaining constellation who hasn’t donated yet. He also promised to give me the next mission.
Getting mission money from him would be a personal sub-quest of mine.
└ By the way, it’s daytime now, so Moonshadow Wolf spawn rates are a bit lower.
└ No worries, near the bay, there’s always at least one.
Wow, they know that much detail?
└ But it’s too risky there. Honestly, asking the host to go that far is too cruel~
Listening to them, I felt a disconnect. I thought “constellations” were divine beings, but in tone, they’re just like regular players from a forum.
Consensus among players is that constellations know this game very well. I still had doubts.
‘Well, it’s been less than an hour since I started streaming.’
As I moved, a wolf sniffed its way toward me.
Hmm. Normally I avoid fights, but this time I decided to engage.
Cr-r-r!
I readied my stance, and the constellations commented in the chat.
└ Oh, host. Finally showing something?
└ lol you’re not gonna get wrecked here, right?
└ You wouldn’t have accepted the mission if you couldn’t handle regular wolves
I glanced at the chat and drew my trusty steel shovel.
Ding!
[Equipped ‘Sturdy Steel Shovel’]
Apparently, my weapon delighted the constellations.
└ WTF?
└ What’s with the shovel?
└ lololol
└ Is this guy a comedian?
└ Surprising af lol
Do constellations even have comedians as a job? I thought for a moment, then gripped the shovel tighter.
A bit nervous—it’s my first time showing combat to patrons.
Awoo-!
With determination, I swung at the charging wolf.
Tada-dat!
I dodged its attack and slashed its belly with the edge of the shovel.
Shaaak!!
[Dealt critical damage to Gray Wolf!]
[Gray Wolf is bleeding!]
Leaping into the air, I drove the shovel into its spine.
Crack!
The spine broke with an unpleasant sound.
Squeeeak-
Of course. I didn’t just jab—it was like planting the shovel in the ground with full weight.
[Dealt critical damage to Gray Wolf!]
[Gray Wolf’s movement greatly reduced!]
Not safe yet. One bite and my HP could drop. I needed to save it for the Moonshadow Wolf.
I punched its staggering belly.
Pow!
This wasn’t just a punch.
[Hit the weak point accurately!]
[Gray Wolf is stunned!]
It’s a knockout strike—likely struggling to breathe.
Now, a clean finish.
Snap!
[Dealt critical damage to Gray Wolf!]
[Gray Wolf defeated!]
Combat ended in an instant.
[Monster hunt successful.]
[Experience gained.]
As expected for a level-13 monster, experience was juicy.
Despite being level 9 with high XP requirements, I gained almost 6% from this fight.
If I hunt a few more, I might even reach level 10 before facing Moonshadow Wolf.
Hmm. I shouldn’t just avoid wolves to save time.
While looting the drops…
└ WTF?
└ What’s with the shovel?
It was the same line as before, but the tone felt different.
└ What the heck is this guy…
└ Shovel master?
└ Or is that shovel an artifact?
└ Actually, he fights pretty well
Regardless of the constellations’ reactions, I kept busy. Streaming or not, I had work to do.
[Starting ‘dissection’ on Gray Wolf’s corpse.]
[Corpse is in good condition. Success rate increased.]
The basic drop gave only a small fang, but dissection guaranteed the Gray Wolf’s pelt.
Each pelt sold for 1 LP! I couldn’t just leave it lying around.
[Progress: 0%…1%…15%…100%]
[‘Dissection’ successful!]
The constellations’ reaction to my professional behavior was odd.
└ Dissection…?
└ What’s the concept here?
└ lol a player actually took that trait?
└ How can the first trait be non-combat…?
Phew. Time to revise my opinion.
These amateur constellations clearly don’t know much about Laika.
