I Became a Raid Boss

Viewers watching Joanie’s broadcast.

And there was a recent buzz going around among those interested, even if they weren’t watching the broadcast.

[Kana-chan, how strong is she?]

I somewhat know she’s super strong, but how strong exactly?

[Comments]

– Why doesn’t your age show in the text?

Actually, it was a bit misleading to say it was recent.

Kana’s strength had been a topic of discussion since way back when she was known as the Gravekeeper.

On the flip side, it’s been a while, but it’s still an interesting topic enough to catch people’s attention.

And during that time, the opinions changed countless times.

“To be honest, the Gravekeeper’s pattern is pretty lame. What boss is that easy to make?”

She’s strong, but it feels harder because Demonics made it difficult; in terms of raw strength, there are many NPCs stronger than the Gravekeeper.

Some even compared her to bosses that had already been beaten and turned into farming grind raids.

The benefits of the system benefited the water rocket.

That was the initial reaction.

However, when Kana’s hood was removed and she slaughtered the Empire’s knights in just two strikes…

[What the hell, you said water rocket?]

Since when did a water rocket become a hydrogen bomb???

If you shoot two water rockets, a whole country would disappear, damn it;;;

[Comments]

– Huh…? It was definitely a water rocket, though…?

– I’m going to buy a water rocket making kit right now, lol

┗No, don’t do that;

┗Hey, are you planning to start World War III?

People recognized that Kana wasn’t just a beneficiary of system perks.

Of course, that strength was also due to how Demonics designed it, but isn’t it the same for other NPCs?

Naturally, people’s curiosity grew.

Even Yuki, considered the strongest among players, couldn’t hold up against the Empire’s knights.

But just how strong is the extraordinary genius girl knight Kana, who can make those knights tremble in fear and beg for their lives?

When people learned about Kana’s background, there was some noise but no major change.

“What?! She was the leader of the Crimson Aegis from the destroyed kingdom Grasis?!”

…And so what, nerd?

Even if you present a glorious business card to Earthlings, who aren’t even Grasis or Silia people, they wouldn’t understand.

If it’s the Empire’s knights who could make even birds fall, it’d be tough for Earthlings to comprehend the strength of a kingdom that has already perished.

So, saying she was the leader of a kingdom’s top knight order should mean she was somewhat impressive.

That was the level of recognition.

But Kana shattered people’s perceptions once again.

By defeating a 78-level interdimensional beast.

Who could have imagined seeing the gigantic wolf, bigger than a building, crumple at the feet of a small girl?

If that were easy, there would be no need to separate weight classes in sports like boxing or wrestling.

Even in a world of swords and magic, the basic premise that a bigger size generally wins doesn’t change.

Players avoid fighting big monsters like ogres or golems for a reason.

Yet Kana, with her small frame, took down an interdimensional beast enormous enough to block out the sky.

…How?

With just one sword.

That day, among the players watching the broadcast…

Those who chose the lonely path of adventure wielding their swords as companions and winds as friends couldn’t hold back their tears.

How long had it been since they were mocked as sword nubs by filthy archers and mages?

They didn’t know that their safe spot to deal damage existed because knights were blocking the front!

And other melee fighters using different weapons didn’t understand them either.

While it’s often said that the sword is a versatile weapon, that only applies to trained warriors with a certain skill level.

For most Earthlings, who have never truly wielded a weapon, that’s not the case.

In terms of efficiency, it’s better to stab with a spear or smash with an axe than swing a sword, so the perception of swords has lowered.

Still, many chose the path of the knight—

Among players, knights were more often called “aggro shuttle swords” than swordsmen.

To them, Kana’s existence felt like a Bible.

A testament that their path wasn’t wrong.

At the end of the path they tread, a brilliant light awaits.

Countless sword nubs…

No,

Swordsmen were enchanted by the figure of the small girl.

In fact, some even put down other weapons to take up a sword, as Kana’s influence spread profoundly.

However, separate from that, players’ curiosity still remained unresolved.

The level system was a tool for players to estimate strength.

Like some NPCs, Kana’s level wasn’t visible, so they couldn’t ascertain her exact level, but seeing her effortlessly take down a 78-level monster without showing signs of fatigue, it was clear it had to be much higher.

“Could she be stronger than the Empire’s emperor?”

“Isn’t it possible that not every emperor is strong? The empire’s swords could be stronger than the emperor…”

“Rumor has it that the Grand Chief of the Elves from the Great Forest is that strong.”

“Yeah~ but you know, just one breath attack from a dragon and it’d be roasted new~”

“Has she lost her mind?”

That Kana was strong was now a fact nobody could deny, and only the question of ‘just how strong?’ remained.

And people knew through experience.

The most efficient way to resolve a question was to just ask the person directly.

“Kana~”

“…?!”

Kana’s pink hair, which had been lazily sprawled, stood on end.

In an instant, she shifted into guard mode, ready to strike at any moment, causing Da-eun to scratch her head.

‘…Was that a bit much?’

Da-eun herself thought the tone she used was too soft.

So sweet it was almost cringe-worthy.

After their honest conversation, even though Kana became a bit lovey-dovey, it seemed Da-eun found it hard to digest her voice.

“Cough cough.”

Blushing slightly, Da-eun cleared her throat.

And she spoke to Kana, who was still watching her closely without dropping her guard.

“Kana, how strong are you?”

The question that popped out of nowhere caught Kana off guard, blinking blankly.

However, for Da-eun, there was reason to ask.

[‘Anonymous Donor’ donated …to support! Thank you!]

[‘If you eat that nasty thing, you bark like a dog’ donated …to support! Thank you!]

[‘Yuki’ donated …to support! Thank you!]

It was because of the donations.

The messages contained in the donations were mostly similar.

They were requests to ask Kana directly.

Da-eun had seen similar messages for a long time, so she was familiar with them.

It was just that they were ambiguous enough to avoid asking outright, but today, for some reason, they were pouring in with one heart and mind.

The chat was swept up in the waves created by these donations, expressing confusion.

With the flames get so high, Da-eun found it impossible to ignore any longer.

‘…It’s not just because the money is too big to reject.’

It’s about the atmosphere, you see.

…More importantly, what’s up with that Yuki person? Is it for real?

Thinking that it could be a fake, Da-eun checked the donor named Yuki and chuckled when she realized it wasn’t a fake but the real one.

Anyway, there was a story behind Da-eun throwing a question at Kana.

However, for Kana, being suddenly asked how strong she was seemed absurd.

How can one express strength, something intangible, in words?

If only there was something to compare it to, she could explain accordingly….

‘…Comparison target?’

In that moment, Kana seemed to have an epiphany.

The girl, who had jumped off the stone she was sitting on, grabbed the sword tied at her waist, pulling it out of its sheath.

“…!”

It’s a, attack!

When Kana drew her sword, Da-eun instinctively assumed a defensive stance.

The memories ingrained from days of training had been enough to create a conditioned reflex in Da-eun’s body.

If Kana saw her, she’d probably clap her hands in delight, but Kana had no interest in Da-eun’s action.

Da-eun awkwardly lowered the sword, amidst the laughter pouring out from the chat.

“What are you doing?”

“…Wait.”

Shiiink—

As Kana drew the tip of her sword across the ground, a long line appeared.

Da-eun made a curious noise, ‘Huh?’ at this unexpected dirt play.

Well, it was cute, but….

“This is about the level of…Joanie.”

“Oh, I see?”

That’s why.

Da-eun nodded.

Seeing her nod, Kana drew another line further away.

“This is Great Sword Peep.”

“Hmm… There’s quite a difference, huh.”

“This is already much reduced.”

Kana muttered in a small voice that if it was back then, it would have been much farther than this.

Hmm… Is it really that significant? Well, Yuki is strong.

Kana wouldn’t lie about something like that.

After all, it meant she’d gotten stronger than before, so Da-eun accepted Kana’s words pleasantly.

“So what about Kana?”

“I was just about to say.”

Just as she seemed to have been waiting for those words, Kana dashed off with her sword cradled.

At first, Da-eun watched her with fondness, but as Kana kept getting smaller, to the point where she was no bigger than a fingertip, she gaped in amazement.

Kana, already small, was making herself even smaller and was seen drawing another line.

Eventually, the task completed, the little girl returned.

“…Did you see?”

Beyond her stoic expression, pride was apparent.

…Da-eun wanted to give a flick to that smug pink hair.

But laws are far away, and her fist is closer.

She could end up being sentenced to ‘1,000 training sessions’ if she pulled that off.

In this case, it would look like the child could not tolerate being teased and resorted to violence, so the law wouldn’t favor her either.

‘An internet broadcaster causing a scandal for assaulting a little girl in a digital game…’

‘Is this getting out of hand on internet broadcasts? Is this acceptable?’

-Was a headline she wanted to avoid.

Da-eun didn’t want something like that coming true, which would ruin her childhood dreams of appearing on television.

So, she forced a smile and said,

“Oh, come on~ don’t joke around, okay?”

“…Joke?”

No… not at all.

Kana wore a seriously serious face.

Da-eun’s smile faltered.

Just like how Earthlings would refer to bottom-tier mercenaries as “dung tier” and mid-tier mercenaries as “silver tier.”

There was a different name for the term “Master” that Silia people used.

It was a word meaning “daydream,” or “futile fantasy.”

That “Daydream” was the name used.

Those who threw themselves into battle all dream of becoming a Master.

However, the actual number of those who reach Master status is incredibly small.

Although the gap between Expert and Master is just one level, the difference is as vast as the sky and earth.

Players might reach that faster due to having the gods on their side, but they might still get there more quickly than Silia people.

‘Well…’

For now, it seemed like a distant reality.

Shaking her head, Kana handed a word card to Da-eun.

“…Huh?”

Da-eun, with a blank face, noticed and looked up at the word card held out before her.

Her eyes sharpened as she read what was written on it.

“What is this? Huh… Jerk? Wait, I’ve never used that word?”

Kana’s idea was that she should only learn good things!

With that one thought, she filled the word cards with proper and lovely words, but a bad word she had never used was boldly written on it.

Written in cute, crooked handwriting was the word ‘jerk.’

Kana might know that word, but she definitely didn’t know how to write in Arkish yet.

Da-eun, still sharp-eyed, glanced provocatively around her before easily pinpointing the culprit.

After all, aside from Kana and herself, there was only one other person left, and the likely culprit was avoiding eye contact with trembling feet.

Selin cleared her throat.

“Um! I’m sorry. Kana asked how to write, so I didn’t realize it and….”

“Seliiiin!”

Regardless, Kana grabbed the pen and scribbled in Granic next to the word ‘jerk.’

Scribbling ‘Joanie.’

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