Season 4: Chapter 115. Iron Rain (1)
Anyone watching could tell that Almond’s Survival Craft stream had been running unusually long.
[Almond streams longer when the game isn’t combat-heavy]
[Surprisingly, Survival Craft really suits Almond.jpg]
[Guess nuts boy actually likes Survival Craft?]
[Could he actually do a full-day stream?!]
Some viewers even began to hope for a ten-hour all-day stream. For big streamers, hitting ten hours was nothing unusual. However, Almond rarely did that because his health never allowed it.
“I’ll be back after lunch.” He ended the stream to go eat.
— ?
— ??
— Why end the stream just to eat?
— He’s not coming back lol
Streamer Garden erupted in protest.
[What was that logout, Almond?!]
[I was having so much fun since morning... guess I’ll sleep now]
[The Knights really have a strict lunch break lol]
Most thought the lunch was just an excuse, and that he wouldn’t return.
***
Some regretted his sudden absence, but Zelo grinned.
“As expected, the heavens help those who help themselves.”
— Damn, turning this into an opportunity lol
— Stuff like this really happens hahaha
— Insane
Zelo had been hiding and waiting near Sweet Radish’s house for his chance. Even if one or two knights left, it would’ve been worth trying. Fortunately, the entire group had left. This was divine intervention, and divine chances only favored the prepared. Zelo was prepared.
“Mr. Zelo, did you make the bombs?”
“Yes. And you made the sign, Choco Shroom?”
“Of course.”
Clack.
Choco Shroom held it up.
[The Nonghyup does not forget. The Nonghyup does not forgive.]
Anyone who saw this brutal message would think the Nonghyup was behind this act. The timing was perfect too. Black Tea had just turned her back on the Nonghyup to join the Knights.
“Shall we?”
“W-Wait, let me check one last time.”
Choco Shroom peeked over the bushes at the house.
‘It’s empty.’
No one was inside. It was clear. Still, she double-checked.
“Bombs bypass interference, right? There aren’t any red-name penalties?”
“Of course, I even confirmed with the admins.”
“So even if it kills, there aren’t any penalties?”
“Exactly. The bomb is doing the destruction, not us.”
“Wow... Mr. Zelo, this plan is genius.”
“Ehehehe. Well, I wouldn’t call it genius...”
— Zelo clowning again lol
— Dude is over the moon cause a girl praised him
— Simp Zelo
In high spirits, Zelo handed her the detonator to trigger the bomb.
“Choco Shroom, as the demolition expert, this honor is yours.”
“M-Me? Really?” Her eyes widened. She loved detonations more than anyone.
“Yes. For the occasion, make it fiery.”
“Wow... yes! You set it. I’ll press it!”
“Deal.”
— Stop flirting and just plant the bomb
— Are we watching a romcom now? Lol
— Hurry tf up
— In movies, people always die when they waste time chatting
The viewers pressed them.
“Tsk. No need to rush. Lunch will take at least an hour.” Zelo scolded them while donning a steel helmet and disabling his name tag.
If anyone witnessed this, his identity would remain hidden. The setup had to scream that this was the Nonghyup’s work.
“Here we go.” He carried the bomb to the door and strapped it in place.
Clunk.
“This works from a pretty good distance,” he explained as he set it. “So we can plant it slowly, get a solid alibi, and then detonate it.”
“Oooh... amazing.”
— Maybe Miner is actually worth picking?
— Not Miner, terrorist lol
— All that mining paid off hahaha
— He sounds like a repair guy explaining a boiler install lmao
The bomb was meant for safe detonations deep in mines, but Zelo twisted its use for terrorism.
“Huh? What the...?”
Creak.
He tugged slightly at the door, and it swung open.
— ?
— What
— The door is unlocked? Lol
— Huh??
Zelo blinked. He hadn’t expected it to be unlocked. Really, who in the Knights would imagine someone sneaking in with a bomb when they stepped out for lunch? Cheese Village was still quite peaceful.
“What the hell? They’re so sloppy.”
“The door is open?” Choco Shroom came closer.
“Yeah, it’s just wide open.”
“Oooh. Should we... take a peek inside, then?” She giggled half-jokingly, but that was enough.
‘She said we...’
The instinct of a man eager to impress a woman ignited.
“Ahem. Why not? I’ll go in.”
“W-Wait, seriously? Mr. Zelo!” Choco Shroom whispered frantically to stop him, but he had already stepped inside.
“My guess is that if there’s iron gear, it’ll be kept in here.”
Thunk.
With that, Choco Shroom crossed the line too. “O-Oh my god, he really went in... What do I do?!”
“It’s fine. The door was open. They won’t kill us for this.”
Creak.
Zelo opened a chest without hesitation.
— ?
— Empty lol
— Why would it be there? hahaha
The living room chest contained nothing of value. It only had farming seeds, useful but unsellable.
“It has to be somewhere...” Zelo pushed deeper inside. “Feels like it’d be in Almond’s room.”
He felt sure of it since iron gear weighed a ton. It was too heavy to carry while fighting. Almond wouldn’t roam around burdened like that. Even Zelo dumped all his iron ore into his own storage before coming here.
‘This must be it.’
He spotted the largest, grandest room.
Creak.
He opened the door. Inside, several large chests lined the walls.
— Gasp — Is this it? — I’m shaking lol
Zelo slipped inside and opened the chest. There it was.
— Whoa...
— Insane
— No way
— This is real???
Just as he had guessed, the chest was packed with iron gear.
“H-Holy...” Choco Shroom felt so stunned that she could hardly breathe.
Zelo frowned in disbelief. “How... How does he have this much?”
He had never once seen Almond in the mines, so where did all these finished iron sets come from? Zelo picked up a piece and inspected it.
Choco Shroom shifted nervously, eyes darting around. “M-Mr. Zelo... are we even allowed to touch that?”
“We’re just... looking.” As Zelo examined it, something felt off. “Why are they all worn out?”
“Huh?”
“They’re not new. They’re not freshly crafted... It’s like...”
Then, he noticed it. Some of the armor still had dried and crusted bloodstains.
“These... look like they were taken from corpses.”
— Holy shit!
— WTF lol
— This is terrifying
— A killer’s stash room
Choco Shroom couldn’t even imagine such a thing and offered a hopeful theory. “M-Maybe... maybe there are monsters that wear armor?”
Zelo tilted his head. “Could be...”
They couldn’t recall that they had seen those very same armored monsters before, deep in the mines. One day, they could even become those monsters themselves.
Thud.
A sudden sound echoed somewhere in the house. Both their spines went cold.
‘W-Was that...’
‘Someone’s here?’
Sweet Radish’s house was supposed to be empty, but the noise grew clearer through the walls.
“No, I’m not streaming. I have a lunch appointment. Just thought I’d leave a note... huh? No, I’m not collecting money...”
‘No way.’
The voice belonged to Almond. He had come back.
Zelo froze, his legs locked in place. Even the chat felt like it had slowed down.
— Oh god
— He’s back
— Nooo
— D:
Tap. Tap.
Footsteps approached, but it was impossible to tell where Almond was headed.
“L-Let’s just hide in here. He’s not coming into this room, right?”
“Y-Yeah.”
They ducked into Almond’s room. Surely he’d just do what he came for and leave.
“Huh? Why’s the door open?”
Almond had noticed his door being opened.
‘Shit.’
Zelo pressed a hand to his forehead.
— LMAO they’re dead
— He knows
— He’s coming...
— Just fight already!
— What if you detonate the bomb when he’s at the door??
— This is over...
Zelo hesitated to detonate the bomb with Almond nearby. They couldn’t see his exact position. If they missed, it would be game over.
“Well, I left the note, so I’ll head out.”
Zelo felt relieved.
Almond hadn’t suspected much and left again.
“Phew...”
The duo collapsed onto the floor together.
“T-That was way too close.” Zelo rose again while breathing heavily and opened the chest once more. “After all that... I’m taking some.”
“Y-Yeah, of course.”
Clack, clack, clack.
Zelo started shoveling iron gear into his inventory.
“M-Mr. Zelo! Give me some too. You’ll slow down!” Choco Shroom joined him and snatched up the items like mad.
The two of them lost themselves in a frenzy.
Thud.
The empty chest now slammed shut.
“L-Let’s run!”
“Hahaha! Jackpot!”
They laughed uncontrollably, high on the adrenaline.
Whoosh.
A figure appeared at the entrance.
“My grandma always said to double-check the fire before leaving. Even if I trust the servants, I should lock my own chest before... Huh?”
Almond had come back.
— ???
— Oh no hahahaha
— They’re screwed
— This is it
— Today is the end of Zelo...
Zelo, Choco Shroom, and Almond all made eye contact.
— LOOOOOOL
— Dead
— Insane
— Ahahaha
— He’s done for