Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost
8. Birthday cake smash and bonus (4)
Baek Ho-gun turned towards me with a chilly face and stared at me.
Just receiving this gaze made me feel as if the indoor temperature dropped a few degrees.
“I’ll handle that. So step aside.”
This is the third time I met Baek Ho-gun in this world, but it was the first time I heard him speak.
It was such a voice!
Clang!
Baek Ho-gun swang the White Fang of the Thunder Clouds Breaker to push aside the claws of the Trainer category Ung and then striked towards his neck.
Trainer Ung raised his claws wrapped in black fog to deflect the great sword’s trajectory and grinned.
“That great sword, that spirit! I know you! Baek-ho!”
That Ung’s voice. I remembered hearing it before.
‘It’s that madman who made the fucking shitshow broadcast[1] during the entrance exam!’
Baek Ho-gun and the Ung jumped between falling floors, columns and fragments, exchanging attacks.
The black and white battle continued to be visible even through Red Lightning and dust.
At glance, the combat skills of the two seemed equal.
The Ung broke into an ear-splitting, gleeful laughter as he stepped back, shouting:
“Hahaha, seems like the words that you became the Prisoner of the Divine Realm are indeed true! Is this all there is to the rumored strength of the mythical category? Pathetic!”
Baek-ho had the Heavenly God’s Wrath put on him and became the Prisoner of the Divine Realm.
It was true that because he received all kinds of debuffs, at the present moment he couldn’t use more than 10% of his power.
“As expected, ‘Their’[2] words were true. Hahaha! There is nothing to fear from the Ho tribe!”
Their? Who were They?
While I entertained such questions, the Trainer Ung flicked the finger of one of his hands and summoned two demonic pets at the same time.
The Ung flicked his finger a few more times.
However, as the majority of the bulk was sent out as the Chaser group, it seemed that there were only two family members remaining.
The Ung chewed a bit on his lips as he sent a signal. Then the synthetic demonic beast wrapped in the black fog ran towards Beak-ho.
Uwwaaa!
Baek-ho looked at the demonic beasts with indifferent gaze and spoke with a voice without warmth.
“You dare to bring such monsters to the Divine Realm.”
Paaa—.
Baek Ho-gun swung the White Fang of the Thunder Cloud Breaker, which emitted dazzling light towards the Enemies.
Swish!
When the flash disappeared, the two demonic pets were split in half without even a chance to leave with the last death scream.
It was a ridiculously strong and clean light slash.
Trainer Ung clicked his tongue.
“Tsk…!”
“I guess you forget that Heavenly God didn’t forgive you.”
Baek Ho-gun calmly said as he looked up into the sky.
Because the rooftop’s collapse progressed quite a bit, I could catch a glimpse of the sky filled with dark clouds.
“Heavenly God, I ask for permission.”
Finishing those words, brilliant light flickered in the center of Baek Ho-gun’s forehead.
When the brightness of the light reached its highest peak, Baek Ho-gun retrieved the White Fang of the Thunder Cloud Breaker.
The moment when the Trainer Ung opened his eyes wide, seeing Baek Ho-gun retrieving his weapon.
Chaaa—.
The Trainer Ung’s arms disappeared.
I saw completely nothing.
Even the preparation movement.
The attack happened in the instant.
“Ahhhh! Aaaaaaaahh! My, my arms!”
Chuck–!
Baek Ho-gun swung the great sword again and then the Ung’s fallen arms completely lost their shape. They turned into a bloody mess.
The great sword with a black-red handle Baek Ho-gun was currently holding in his hand was called Bear Hunting Claw.
5 thousand years ago, it was a weapon wielded exclusively to hunt the Ung tribe when the Ho tribe and the Ung tribe fought over supremacy on the Korean Peninsula.
The Bear Hunting Claw was used only to cut the Ung tribe.
‘As expected from my best main playable character…!’
It was true that Baek Ho-gun’s power was sealed by Heavenly God, but Heavenly God felt more anger towards the Ung tribe than Baek Ho-gun.
Before Baek Ho-gun’s power was sealed…
He asked that when facing the Ung tribe, the Wrath was withdrawn. Heavenly God allowed it.
‘In the confrontation with the Ung tribe, Baek Ho-gun was nothing but invincible.’
In the game there were stories or quests where the Ung tribe appeared as opponents and Baek Ho-gun could be chosen.
In every one of those times, Baek Ho-gun wasn’t a recommended playable character, he was a must playable character.
“You aren’t even in the legendary category. When were you given that life? Thousand years ago? Hundred years ago?”
“Kuuuuk. Kuaaak. My, my children disappeared. Aaaaaah…!”
The Trainer Ung was completely deranged.
He likely made demonic pet beasts obey by a medium sealed in his hand.
The pitch black smoke was endlessly oozing out of the Ung’s armless torso.
‘He seemed to have a few screws loose from the beginning, so his blabbing isn’t that different from usual.’
Baek Ho-gun said a few more things, but Trainer Ung was only rambling and was in the state which made a conversation impossible.
Baek Ho-gun looked down at that appearance and corrected his grip on the Bear Hunting Claw.
‘Are you going to kill him?!’
I cut in between the Trainer Ung and Baek Ho-gun.
I had to fly in the air above the top pillar, which barely avoided destruction by the two Jin people during their confrontation.
“Stop. We’ll capture that guy alive.”
The building’s collapse was already finished…
Through the ceasing red lightning and dusty clouds, I could only see debris.
‘I’m sure he wouldn’t hack me up because I blocked the front.’
Baek Ho-gun glared at me who was flying above a partially destroyed pillar.
Receiving a frost-like gaze head-on, I felt as if my body froze from the inside.
The icy eyes stared at me quietly, then blinked once.
The Bear Hunting Claw disappeared from Baek Ho-gun’s hands.
Paaat—.
With the sound of hitting the wall, Jeok-ho appeared.
“Baek-ho, why are you here…!”
The moment Jeok-ho climbed the wall, he looked at Baek Ho-gun and made a shocked expression.
Why are you making such a face?
Wasn’t it Jeok-ho who called Baek Ho-gun?
“Jeok-ho, why didn’t you call me?”
“I couldn’t bear to trouble your hands…”
“So you went with the student from the Divine Realm?” [3]
Baek Ho-gun’s voice held traces of anger.
He exchanged knife-like words with Jeok-ho… Wait a moment.
Did Baek Ho-gun just recognize me as a student right now?
Why? How?
‘No, let’s leave questions for later.’
We can’t stay in this place for long.
“I was the one who called Jeok-ho.”
Baek Ho-gun’s gaze turned away from Jeok-ho and he stared at me.
The eyes held a deep rebuke.
Thankfully, he didn’t say anything else to anyone, so I spoke towards the confused Jeok-ho.
“Jeok-ho, take Choe Pyeondeuk and the Ung. Soon the Association’s Players, called by teacher Ham Geunhyeong-nim, will come. We have to finish this before that.”
“… I understand. I’ll see you later.”
There were a few variables, but today’s matter was settled.
After Jeok-ho seized fainted Choe Pyeondeuk and the crazy Ung with Red Smoke, he stood on the windowsill.
“Baek-ho, what are you going to do now?”
“I’ll move with Jo Uisin.”
Did you say Jo Uisin?
Baek Ho-gun even accurately knew my name.
I was using the Gwangrim, so how?
‘Were you observing me this entire time?’
Because from the balcony of my dormitory, I was moving with Red Smoke wrapped around me.
If he was observing me from that moment, he would know my identity.
Even if the Red Smoke could deceive others’ eyes, it couldn’t deceive the eyes of the members of the same Ho tribe.
No matter the process, it seems I’ll have to move with Baek Ho-gun.
“Okay. Let’s go.”
I descended through the dust clouds, towards the debris scattered on the ground.
Baek Ho-gun easily followed me using the Leap skill to kick off the walls.
Bip, biip—.
Using the device, I followed the signal of the transmitter put by Jeok-ho on them.
After moving towards the red dot on the hologram map, I soon saw two people, fainted among the debris.
Unlike other people covered in blood, this middle-age couple was uninjured.
‘Jeok-ho did a really excellent job.’
I should buy Jeok-ho a meal later.
With such thoughts, I kicked the two, only in their underwear, to wake up.
Puk. Puuk!
What were those two doing here to only wear underwear?
Thinking for what purpose this building was made, should I be glad they aren’t naked?
“Ooh….Oooh….”
Soon, the two people blinked their eyes and sat up.
While the two were coming back to their senses, I took off the bracelet and the watch they each wore on their left hand and ripped off the mask covering their skin underneath.
Then the black brand received by permanently expelled Players was seen.
I smiled under a crow mask as I spoke to the middle-aged couple.
“It’s our first time meeting. Lee Lena’s parents-nim.[4]”
***
As a result of Jeok-ho’s investigation, it was revealed that Lee Lena’s parents were Choe Pyeondeuk’s patrons.
They were even the VIP’s who were invited to Choe Pyeondeuk’s birthday party.
So today, I decided to hit those two with the birthday cake smash bonus.
Lee Lena’s parents, captured by the Space Art, were noisy throughout the entire flight.
I should have woken them up after arriving.
The late regrets surged.
“Boss, boss[5]. Let’s resolve it through conversation.”
“Who is your boss? Shut up.”
I was only polite during the greeting.
I flew with two people in the air, exposing them to an entire rainstorm.
“Okay, we have arrived.”
At the end of the flight, we arrived at the sole skyscraper of the Eungwang School. One of Korea’s four largest conglomerates, the Hwang Myeong Tower of the Hwang Myeong Foundation.
‘But it’s a pity it’s only the 55th floor.’
Baek Ho-gun, who flew with me, watched my actions without a word.
I raised the middle-aged couple, held by the Space Art and which looked like two drowned rats, on the rooftop railing.
On the other hand, me and Baek Ho-gun, who were protected by the Space Control’s barrier, weren’t even a little wet.
‘Once your feet touch the railing, you won’t feel like you’re flying anymore.’
Pitch black darkness.
Raging rainstorm and sometimes flashing lightning.
More than 200m above the ground.
It’ll probably be difficult to remain sane.
The middle-aged couple, blue from fear, pleaded with me:
“It was a momentary deviation. We made a mistake. We’re adults who can take responsibility for their actions. Please let us atone for our sins in some other way.”
“Yes, yes. Just let us go, please. We truly think what we did was wrong. We’re reflecting. Please forgive us just once. We also have a family. Please…”
The two who begged me were calm and their voices filled with signs of remorse, affection and reason, aroused sympathy.
With such under the table moves and cunningness, they wouldn’t even go to jail and could happily play as VIPs of the degenerated establishment in front of the school.
“Hand over your wearable device ownership.”
The two hurriedly handed over the wearable devices they wore as bracelets.
The transfer of the ownership went smoothly, and I could activate the devices without any security procedures.
The first thing to open were messages.
I searched for Lee Lena’s message log.
Ping.
The result showed up immediately.
I didn’t need to put particular effort into searching, because it was the most recent log.
They sent messages to Lee Lena every single day.
Even a few hours ago, before going to play in the decadent entertainment establishment.
‘That’s a spectacle.’
Those two were seriously rational, but that rationality used Lee Lena as a stress relief while maintaining their appearance.
The messages on the opened hologram were a sight to behold.
[Did you sell your mouth to the police and the Association? Talk. How much you received and ate, bitch]
[Don’t even call me mom from now on]
[Years my house wasted on you]
[How much money we gave to raise you, the money invested in you, how much? Something like you should have never been born]
[It’s all because of you]
[I don’t understand why something like you was born and had to make us suffer this]
Lee Lena wasn’t even treated like family.
Because they said ‘My house’ not ‘Our house’.
‘Investment… Does Lee Lena look like elderly pension to you?’
I guess they regretted money spent on Lee Lena’s growth, but money given to Choe Pyeondeuk was nothing to them.
They even used that money to play in the degenerated establishment just under the nose of the school Lee Lena attended.
‘… Lee Lena read all those messages.’
Lee Lena didn’t answer even once, but all messages were marked as read.
It seemed to be the reason why she couldn’t go to school yet.
“Isn’t Lee Lena your daughter? Why are you talking to her like this?”
When Lee Lena’s name came out, the two who pretended to be well-mannered, stiffly raised their heads, the veins standing up on their necks.
“What are you talking about other people’s family affairs, sir? You’re talking because you don’t know how arrogant and uneducated child Lee Lena is.”
“Perhaps you heard something from that damn bitch? She is a bitch that only feeds lies. Don’t believe her, sir.”
If you hate bitches, then it would be better if you shut up.
Those two people went too far.
I didn’t have the confidence to say anything without cursing them.
I guess it was impossible to give Lee Lena a harmonious family by asking for the reason for the discord and helping them resolve it.
I broke the device in my hands.
Crush.
After the hologram of the message window disappeared, the heat that raised in my head cooled down a little.
“Right, I don’t know what the situation in your house is like.”
But I knew all the effort Lee Lena in the game made to receive her parents’ love until she died.
In this world I saw with my own eyes how scared she was, just a teenager forcibly dragged into the Fantasy Auction.
I even knew the courage she plucked for me in the form of Yeom Junyeol in the midst of that.
I made a motion to activate the Space Art.
⟨Activating the active character’s skill ‘Space Art’.⟩
“You were permanently expelled from the Player’s Association, so you can’t use Gwangrims now and your skills are sealed at level 1. However, your bodies are as strong as before. Your overall statistics are high, so you may not die.”
“Ah, aaah! Help! Help us, please!”
“We were wrong!”
Lee Lena’s parents begged in fear.
They didn’t touch my heart even a little.
Lee Lena would also be scared when she stood on the dormitory’s rooftop on the first day of school.
“If you contact Lee Lena in the future, you will die.”
After those words, I pushed the two people out of the railing.
I heard screams through the storm.
***
Me and Baek Ho-gun moved to the place where we promised to meet with Jeok-ho.
The place promised with Jeok-ho was Eungwang School’s Silver Shadow Building. The 4th Gwangrim Research Building, located in the Eungwang School’s Research Zone.
‘It seems that the 4th Gwangrim Research Building was a disguise and is Jeok-ho’s private building.’
The Silver Shadow Building’s description never showed up in the game, but in the setting book, it was mentioned to be used by Jeok-ho.
While we waited for the elevator after passing through the main door, Baek Ho-gun who didn’t say a word this entire time, suddenly spoke up:
“Why did you use that item on them?”
When Lee Lena’s parents were falling, I used the item ‘Wing powder of lesser wind spirit’, which I gave Maeng Hyodon before, on them around the 5th floor.
‘But I deliberately missed the timing to increase the damage.’
They were also veteran players before they were expelled.
They probably mobilized all their skills downgraded to the level 1 and experiences to protect themselves as they fell.
The two’s bodies were almost smashed to bits, but they didn’t die.
“Because they may die if they are discovered too late. If they die or become crippled, the daughter will suffer.”
I didn’t want to make young Lee Lena take care of the crippled or become a chief mourner.
“You’re weak[6]…”
Baek Ho-gun said something like this, but in spite of it, his eyes contained warmth.
It was a rare occurrence even in the game, for the frost-like white tiger to make such eyes.
He didn’t express it himself throughout the game, but it was a reaction of Baek Ho-gun who loved this world and humans.
But since when Baek Ho-gun had been following me?
“Since when have you been observing me?”
“From the beginning.”
From the beginning?
By chance, were you observing Jeok-ho at first and then followed him?
Ding.
Me and Baek Ho-gun entered the elevator, which arrived in the Silver Shadow Building’s lobby.
“Let me do it.”
As Jeok-ho informed me beforehand, I tried to operate the elevator’s buttons to go on the hidden floor, however Baek Ho-gun reached out his hand first.
After he pressed the buttons in the order you would never use in the ordinary elevator, we quietly started moving.
1st underground floor.
2nd underground floor.
3rd underground floor.
Nothing.
The elevator gradually moved down without a floor indication.
Then the door opened.
“I waited for you. Baekho-nim. Jo Uisin-gun.”
The one to welcome me and Baek Ho-gun wasn’t Jeok-ho.
It wasn’t even the other Ho tribe member.
The being I couldn’t imagine.
“Kim Sinrok…!”
The 1st year class 1 homeroom teacher and the Wings Club advisor.
The supervisor, who had almost died during the entrance practical exam.
That Kim Sinrok.
*~*~*
[1] Fucking shitshow broadcast – So the raws’ description was literally something like: ‘the broadcast of the noise made on typhoid fever’. To act like a patient with typhoid fever is korean slang/idiom to say that someone’s behavior is really fucked up. I’m afraid English isn’t such a colorful language, so I could only express it through a lot of curses… This translator is very sad.
[2] Their – The actual translation would be: ‘That Person’ / ‘That One’, spoken with high respect. Now the word ‘그분’ doesn’t specify what gender the person is, it could be translated as both ‘he’ or ‘she’. That means characters on Jo Uisin’s side don’t have information about ‘that person’ gender. Therefore, I’ll be using ‘they’ to refer to the dark mastermind when it’s Jo Uisin or his allies’ perspective. (You may see ‘that guy’ used as a disparaging expression though, but please treat ‘guy’ as gender-neutral here). Second thing is why I’m capitalizing it, that’s because as I mentioned it’s a highly respectful pronoun. Therefore, whenever ‘그분’ is used or a similar pronoun I’ll be capitalizing it.
[3] About the conversation between Jeok-ho and Baek-ho. – It’s worth noting that Jeok-ho is speaking formally and politely to Baek-ho, but Baek-ho is speaking to Jeok-ho casually. On an additional note, Jo Uisin is speaking to Jeok-ho politely, and Jeok-ho does the same, but Jo Uisin and Baek-ho both speak to each other informally.
[4] “It’s our first time meeting. Lee Lena’s parents-nim.” – It’s the only moment when Jo Uisin speaks to them formally and addresses them as ‘parents-nim’. Later in narration and when speaking to them, he will use the informal tone and call them just ‘parents’.
[5] Boss, boss – It’s ‘Teacher, teacher’ in raws (which makes it much more funny, but oh well, english). Teacher-nim can also be used in Korean as Sir, Ma’am, etc. It’s just how you respectfully call someone when you don’t know them.
[6] You’re weak… – In the meaning of ‘tender, weak-hearted, soft’.
Translator’s note: Jeok-ho during this entire chapter: “Do you two know each other? Did you have an argument? Why are you glaring at each other?”
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