086. 2nd Division Player and 3rd Division Player
I had used relics in the international league a few times before returning, but this was the first time I felt this sensation.
‘What’s the difference?’
I couldn’t tell exactly right now.
However, it felt like the relic that was previously worn around the neck had been filled with mana due to Lee Geun-taek’s actions.
I felt a surge of mana, as if I could create some kind of supernatural ability at any moment.
And as expected,
‘You can see the power in those piercing eyes?’
I didn’t see it when I received it before… Suddenly?
It was clearly different from other relics I had used before the regression.
[Relic: Command of Silence]
– Puts the opponent in a state of silence for a certain period of time.
‘Silence… …?’
Although it was an ability worthy of its name, I was skeptical as to whether it would be of much use right away.
But that was only for a moment, as a sudden, brilliant idea completely changed my mind 180 degrees.
‘This might be… … .’
It could really be a fraudulent artifact.
Perhaps even more so than the relic that shoots out things like cosmic destruction rays.
I think the day when I will use this relic will not be too far away.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
***
As the awards ceremony ended, the noisy party atmosphere from earlier came back to life.
Of course, it seemed like things were different before the awards ceremony and Lee Geun-taek’s speech.
In addition, unlike before the awards ceremony started, all the hunters who were going to attend were already inside the venue, so the interaction among the hunters was even more lively.
It was the same at our table.
Gilhan Lee meets and talks with former PER colleagues who have moved to other teams.
Yoon Han-gyeol sets out to find a friend he worked with in [Hunters – The Next Generation].
Everyone was meeting other Hunter players they were connected to in some way or another, or finding new players to interact with.
‘I remember the regression transfer vividly… ‘
I could see the seat where Kang Jun-hyeok was sitting. It was a table literally packed with people.
I laughed when I thought of Kang Jun-hyeok busily greeting people one by one there.
Originally, that was where I was sitting, so I know a little bit what it feels like.
Maybe this is the only time I can afford to relax at a party.
After this season, we will probably be promoted to the first division.
While I was enjoying the atmosphere for a while, a group of people approached PER’s table.
“Player Lee Chang-hyun. How are you?”
The voice I heard was none other than Joara’s. I thought she would speak informally to me, but
But maybe it’s because this is our first time meeting privately.
Anyway, honestly, I was a little happy.
[Hunters – The Next Generation] There was a time when I thought he didn’t like me and thought he was a bit weird, but I guess as time goes by, you start to hate him.
“Of course. Are you enjoying the party?”
“Me? I’ve come here so many times that I don’t have anything to enjoy. It’s up to Chang-Hyeon to enjoy it.”
Joara laughed heartily, wondering what was good about it. Did this person drink alcohol too?
“… … ? But who is behind Judge Jo Ara… … ?”
There was something peeking out from behind Joara.
“Ah. This kid. It’s Minsol. He’s not a bad kid, but he’s a little shy. And just call him Joara, player, comfortably. What about the judges? It’s all over now.”
Lee Min-sol? I think he’s the guy who followed us around while we were training our kids last time.
Well, I guess the guys I don’t remember are fine.
“And… … I’m sorry. About the judges.”
Joara looked up and let out a bitter laugh.
“What can I say about a talent that even Chairman Lee Geun-taek acknowledged? I guess I lacked the ability to see things.
At that time, I thought Chang-Hyeon was good at tricks, so I made the games a bit more difficult to make him fail… … .”
Of course, watching the broadcast, it seemed like they were a bit negative about my play, but I wondered if they really went that far.
‘But if you look at it objectively, the interview and the document review were both done rather rashly.’
But the difference between then and now is that it is proven through skill.
In this game, skill is everything.
“Junhyuk too… … He’s quite picky about people. I’ll be looking forward to the future, Changhyun. I just wanted to say sorry today.”
“Honestly, I didn’t really care. I don’t think you need to worry too much about it.”
Well, it’s okay now.
In the midst of such a warm atmosphere, Lee Min-sol, who had taken over Jo Ara’s side, asked me while poking fun at me.
“By the way, how did you do it?”
“… … ?”
“That, Chairman Lee Geun-taek, that is.”
Ah. An apple is an apple, so that’s what you came here for. When I looked around, Joara seemed curious too.
“I’m sure we’re not the only ones who are curious. The only connection we have is that we faced each other once in [Hunters – The Next Generation]. How did you manage to capture Chairman Lee Geun-taek’s heart?”
Um… … It seems like there was some misunderstanding.
In the first place, I met Chairman Lee Geun-taek quite a few times after that, and looking back, there were many interesting behind-the-scenes stories between the two of us that were not known.
‘During the audition program, I said that it wasn’t the chairman picking me, but me picking the chairman.’
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Was that all? In the end, I also received PER, received advice from Lee Geun-taek, received a love call, and was introduced to Lee Geun-taek’s connections.
Looking back, I realized that handing over the relics wasn’t all that sudden.
But the after story is the after story.
It is enough for the parties involved to know.
And those are just the details, the essence is clear and simple.
“It’s obvious. The reason Chairman Lee Geun-taek, a first-generation hunter, liked me was because of my skills. That’s all. What else could be different?”
Jo Ara and Lee Min-sol looked visibly disappointed, as if the answer was not what they had expected.
“Player Chang-Hyeon, don’t misunderstand me. I think he is quite talented. But there are also seniors like me, Lee Min-Seok, and Kang Jun-Hyeok… … .”
“You might be able to do better than me right now.”
‘That’s because it’s not even at full bloom level yet, and its status hasn’t even finished growing yet.’
“By the way, have you ever thought about Jo Ara? If Chairman Lee Geun-taek were a player, where would he look?”
“… … .”
Perhaps because the answer was too obvious, Joara didn’t answer.
It goes without saying that if Lee Geun-taek had been a player, he would have been fighting for a world ranking, not just the number one position in Korea.
And since Joara had experience in the international league, she knew well the level of players ranked in the world league.
“What the chairman is looking at is not the present, but the future. Well, that’s what I think. If he were looking at his current abilities, he would have looked at Kang Jun-hyeok more…”
“Future power… ….”
Joara muttered. On the other hand, Lee Minsol continued speaking as if he was still not satisfied.
“But, I guess it’s okay to have high expectations for you. But now the chairman is giving his relic to someone who’s just moved up to the second division.
If you fall down in the second half, even the chairman’s reputation will be tarnished. Isn’t there another reason?”
That part was certainly true.
From Chairman Lee Geun-taek’s perspective, it was unnecessary and amounted to providing an excuse for noise.
“Well, I don’t know about that. But I think that was also the Chairman’s intention.”
It could be a certainty, or it could be a provocation, like, I’ll see if you can continue to uphold your reputation as the heir to my legacy.
Anything will do.
***
Even after Joara and Lee Minsol left, I often ran into other hunters.
The guys I went on an audition program with. And the guys I briefly ran into in Part 3, etc.
“You’re Lee Chang-hyun, right? Wow. I had a feeling you’d become this famous when you played in the 3rd division last time.”
“Hey, let’s buy a meal together later. Tell me about the 3rd division league story. Aside from me, there were a lot of people from my audition program who wanted to see you. Come see me sometime.”
The Hunter from Part 3, whose memories I had vaguely forgotten, also approached me, and I was able to see some of the players I had auditioned with for the first time in a long time.
It felt like memories from after the regression were coming back to me.
But the sentimentality is short-lived.
‘Are you too caught up in the atmosphere… … .’
I got up from my seat and looked around the banquet hall to see what everyone else was doing.
Hunters wandering around the buffet area, wondering if they started eating after the awards ceremony was over.
And hunters who enjoy analog arcade games together on one side.
‘That’s… … ?’
Among them, the corner that caught the eye and had the most people was the [Hunter Comprehensive Simulation] machine.
People were gathering around and making bets to raise the excitement, as if they were afraid someone might say they were a hunter.
“Lee Min-seok! He’s breaking Kang Jun-hyeok’s record! His speed is unbelievable! Ah… … Kang Jun-hyeok. Is this how you lose?”
What we are doing is none other than a neutral monster time attack.
The rule was simple: whoever could quickly defeat a designated large AI neutral monster with equipment of a designated grade would win.
“He finished with such clean swordsmanship that it’s hard to believe he’s a player who’s had a break! Lee Min-seok. 3 minutes and 29 seconds! He won by 13.259 seconds!”
“Waaaaaaah!!!!”
Lee Min-seok came out sweating profusely and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Kang Jun-hyeok, who appeared next to him, also looked exhausted.
“I still can’t beat you, senior. Really.”
“But this time, I had the advantage in terms of the event. I guess experience is important.”
Lee Min-seok smiled and answered Kang Jun-hyeok.
Then, as if he had noticed me, he looked in my direction and spoke.
“Oh. Is Changhyun interested too?”
“Well… … it looks fun.”
“It won’t be easy.”
Lee Min-seok smiled brightly.
“During this promotion, there were hardly any neutral monsters on the map… … I only got a taste of it during the audition program. Fighting people and fighting monsters are completely different.”
“Hmm. Really? That would be fun though.”
That’s true. The approach has to be completely different, and since each individual has different characteristics, it requires a lot of knowledge as much as dealing with different swordsmanship techniques.
This is also the most difficult part for a 3rd division player going up to the 2nd division for the first time.
So, even though Lee Min-seok liked me on the audition program, it’s natural to be worried.
‘Of course, the thing that Lee Min-seok is worried about won’t happen.’
With those thoughts in mind, I was about to try moving my body against a monster for the first time in a long while.
“Senior Lee Min-seok is right. Anyway, this is why rookies can’t do it.
“I don’t even know what a neutral monster looks like or how to catch it, but since there are so many people around, I thought I’d give it a try.”
“Come to think of it, didn’t you say that Ji-hoo and I were going to make a bet this time?”
“No, I’m fine. As a senior, I think it’s right to step aside so that my junior can broaden his horizons.
Or how about you teach him kindly once? As a senior in the second division.”
The person named Ji-hu smiled meaningfully and said.
“Hey. You’re not going to say no now, are you?”
Well, I was just trying to warm up when it seemed like those guys who knew how to self-destruct showed up.
fantasy,
