Episode 345
Was he just checking his condition at that time, or did he know he would wake up?
When Taehyun came out of the capsule, many people were watching.
“Player Kim Tae-hyun. Are you okay?”
The white-haired man who came next to me asked.
He was the head of the intensive care unit at Healer and the only one in New Korea who had an S-level license.
Taehyun nodded and looked around.
“There are a lot of people.”
“Because a matter is a matter.”
As a man who has seen countless deaths.
He answered calmly and checked the status.
Meanwhile, a man who appeared to be a subordinate bit the gathered people.
“I don’t know what skill you used, but… “All the monster tissues that made up the body were restored to their original state.”
After confirming that there was nothing wrong with the chart, the treatment director spoke carefully.
Taehyun only then looked at his body.
Unlike before I lost consciousness.
It had human arms and legs, not those of a monster.
The muscles were also nicely placed, so there seemed to be no need to worry about a drop in stats.
“Mental fatigue was a problem, but recovery didn’t take as long as I thought. As expected, the body of a SS-rank player is… .”
I felt something strange in the treatment director’s words.
“How much time has passed since I came back?”
“One month and two days. When I first arrived, I was in a vegetative state… .”
“… … .”
I could no longer listen to what the treatment director said.
A month?
It seemed to be an aftereffect of the anti-aircraft summons.
Although it was an imaginary world, after summoning two Archdukes, he summoned four more and even went berserk.
Before, I thought it was normal for me to faint, but now that I think about it, it was a miracle that my brain didn’t burn out.
“Elder Bang Chae-su and Guild Leader Yoo Ah-young… “No, are other people okay?”
“Convergence Strategy Director Bang Chae-su was discharged 20 days ago, and Guild Director Yoo Ah-young was discharged 15 days ago. Association president Ji Jin-hee, guild leader Kwon Kang-hyeok, guild leader Kwak Si-yang, and players Park Seong-jin and Im A-young also received treatment from the saint and are leading their normal lives as of a month ago. Since everyone is busy… .”
There was a sigh of relief at the director’s words.
At that time, a man approached the manager.
It was the healer who had bitten the people gathered a little while ago.
“The president of the association, Ji Jin-hee, is said to be coming.”
“Gosh, the treatment room is going to be noisy.”
He sighed and said, knowing how much Ji Jin-hee cared for Tae-hyeon.
just as expected.
thud. thud. thud. thud.
A sound like a wild animal was heard from afar.
After a while.
Suddenly.
“Taehyun-kun!!”
Ji Jin-hee, who seemed twice as big as before, opened the door and appeared.
“Long time no see. President of the Association.”
Taehyun welcomed him with an awkward smile.
* * *
Contrary to the treatment director’s words that I should still rest, my physical condition was lighter than ever.
This is because the fatigue that cannot be resolved with potions or scrolls has been recovered in the intensive care unit over the past month.
Because of this, Ji Jin-hee and Tae-hyeon were able to talk alone for the first time in a long time.
Grumble.
Ji Jin-hee poured an unknown tea in front of Tae-hyeon.
“Drink. “It was brewed with cubic herb made by refining the magic power of Hydra hundreds of times.”
Hydra herbal tea.
It was a tea bag made using the corpse of a hydra that had the ability to regenerate.
Healing potions and fatigue potions, of course.
Because it gives a feeling of mental comfort, it was popular among wealthy people and named players in his past life about three years before Taehyun’s return.
‘Has this product already been developed?’
Not even two years have passed since Taehyun returned.
The same things are happening as if 12 years had already passed.
The problem is that the scale of what happened behind the scenes is bigger than expected.
‘I need to come to my senses.’
As in the case of Gorper, if you make a mistake, you can cause harm to others.
From the moment you enter the deepest level, the danger is unknown.
“Taehyun. “There are many things I want to ask you.”
“sorry.”
“No. Even though he belongs to the association, if it weren’t for Taehyun, there’s no telling what kind of state New Korea would have been in today. That is why independent activities are allowed.”
Some of the top rankers from each country are allowed to engage in independent activities with permission from the association.
However, none of them were guaranteed the level of autonomy that Taehyeon had.
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This is because their individual power could not surpass the power of the association.
Conversely, in Taehyun’s case, it was not strange for him to return his player license at any time.
A being more suited to the symbolic meaning of national power than anyone else.
The existence of Kim Tae-hyun is both brute force and symbolic.
He has become a figure that the association cannot afford to miss.
Of course, it was the same for Taehyun.
‘There are limits to what an individual can do.’
Sometimes organizations such as guilds or associations.
Or there may be times when help from the state is needed.
Considering the battles that would occur at the deepest level in the future, national-level support was essential.
“I had no intention of hiding it.”
I had many dreams in a capsule in the intensive care unit.
I unconsciously thought a lot and organized it well.
“I have someone to call from now on.”
Taehyun mentioned several people’s names.
We will be sharing many things in the future.
‘Secret friend.’
* * *
Because quite a few people had gathered, the meeting had been moved to a conference room within the association.
“This brings us all together.”
Ji Jin-hee said while looking at the people seated in the conference room.
Including him, the head of the players’ association.
Koh Tae-wook, head of the Future Strategic Planning Department.
Park Seong-jin, head of the association’s security department.
Abyss Team 5 Team Leader Lim A-young.
Bang Chae-su, Head of Convergence Strategy Department.
Onsaemiro guild leader Kwon Kang-hyuk.
Kwak Si-yang, leader of the Magicians Guild.
Alchemist Guild Leader Seo Sang-ik.
Night Walker Guild Leader Yoo Ah-young.
Kim Jong-ho, director of Doje Corporation.
They all had ties to Taehyun and were helping Jinhee Ji in important positions.
While some people held the same positions as when they first met Taehyun, there were others who had changed significantly.
They were mainly players belonging to the association, showing that the association had grown in size through repeated reforms.
Taehyun stood up and bowed his head to them.
“First of all, I want to say I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault…” My fault for overconfiding my abilities… .”
“It’s not your fault.”
Go Tae-wook blocked Bang Chae-soo’s words.
“Brother. Being a player means risking your life. “No one here resents my brother’s ‘exploration.’”
Kwon Kang-hyuk corrected all of their actions as part of the exploration process.
As a player representing New Korea, he also knows that being at the forefront is not simply due to a sense of publicness.
“Taehyun. “This is not a place to receive an apology.”
“Cluck. “If you don’t take that level of risk, you can’t be called a player.”
Ji Jin-hee and Kim Jong-ho gave strength to Kwon Kang-hyuk’s words.
“More than that. It looks like an explanation is needed, player Kim Tae-hyun. What were you doing there? .”
Kwak Si-yang, who had been lost in thought the whole time, asked.
While Taehyun was in the intensive care unit, he asked Yoo Ah-young for an explanation, but he refused to answer, saying he would listen when he wakes up.
Other people had similar thoughts.
I couldn’t even guess how on earth Taehyun ended up in such a place.
“I think I should first tell you about the deepest part of the Abyss.”
Taehyun mentioned the difference between the deepest level and the deepest level that he understood.
The biggest difference was the level of the resident monsters.
If the ones you see in the deepest areas are S-class monsters, you can frequently encounter SS-class monsters in the deepest areas.
“It’s SS grade… Then, those who are said to be the highest species… ?”
“There aren’t many known entities yet, so the World Players’ Association hasn’t specified a proper grade… “The majority of them should be rated at least SS+ or SSS.”
Sighs erupted from everywhere.
It made me realize how far behind humans were in terms of power.
Taehyun didn’t care and continued talking.
“Among them, there are those that are said to be the highest species.”
The monsters that Taehyeon gathered under the Grand Duke. Among them, some well-known species are mentioned.
“Gorper. What you have met is the highest level of the demon race. Among them, it is a great evil that can be said to be comparable to the existence of the Archduke.”
“The great devil… .”
In the quiet conference room, only Ji Jin-hee’s mumbling could be heard.
Half of the players here are people who have encountered Gorper and been on the verge of death.
“I have one question.”
Park Seong-jin, who could not meet Gorper, opened his mouth.
“I don’t think exploring the deepest depths is simply your mission as a player?”
Players are people too.
Unless you have multiple lives and are a psychopath.
Death cannot help but be feared.
Taehyun is the number one player in the world.
It is risky to explore the deepest layer alone without proper power.
Park Seong-jin is curious about the reason for such an unreasonable move.
“There is someone who can help.”
Except Yoo Ah-young.
The eyes of people looking at Taehyun were full of questions.
“If you are talking about Guild Leader Yoo Ah-young… .”
That is not enough.
This is when Park Seong-jin tried to say that.
“This is the Archduke.”
Taehyun opened his mouth first.
For a moment, everyone’s faces froze, as if time had stopped.
“… … !!”
“what… .”
“Contractually, it is difficult to tell you who it is. But one thing is certain: with the help of the Archduke, we can travel to and from the deepest level.”
“It’s dangerous!!”
Ji Jin-hee shouted.
I have dealt with monsters and demons my whole life.
This is because he does not know how dangerous it is to join hands with a monster stronger than himself and how it will end.
“It is not a matter that can be decided so easily.”
“For whatever reason!! “If he’s at the level of an archduke, he can take Taehyeon’s life at any time!!”
“Chairman of the Association, please listen to Taehyun’s story.”
Go Tae-wook, who calmed Ji Jin-hee down, made eye contact with Tae-hyeon.
It meant to continue.
“Some of you here probably know. There are currently eight Archdukes identified. Isn’t it strange? Even if a single SSS-level monster appears, the destruction of the country must be mentioned, so why do beings called Archdukes not appear here? As a result, it is not that it does not appear, but that it cannot appear.”
The sound of swallowing was heard everywhere.
The seriousness of the situation behind the exploration of the deepest layer was recognized.
Taehyun mentioned ‘turf war’ and ‘the law of the Abyss’.
Although information about the king was missing, there was no problem conveying the message.
“If that law is solved… .”
“Higher-order gate breaks can occur without restrictions… ?”
“SSS level breaks occur simultaneously… .”
“f*ck… Wow, this is crazy… .”
Despite the disbelief on their faces, they all knew it was true.
Because those words came from none other than Taehyun’s mouth.
“Once the turf war is over, the archdukes will begin to look for ways to break the law in earnest.”
“A way to break that limitation. “Maybe the monsters won’t be able to find it?”
Taehyun shook his head at Lim Ah-young’s hopeful opinion.
“The level of monsters that appear through gate breaks is gradually increasing. It also means that someone among the Archdukes has found a way to loosen the restrictions.”
“… … .”
“So the way to solve the ‘Law of the Abyss’ is at the deepest level?”
Kim Jong-ho, who had been listening quietly, asked as if summarizing the situation.
Half are right and half are wrong.
“I’m not sure either. “It’s just a fact I found out while tracking down Kassim Zort and Min Ji-hong.”
“Kasim Jort… !!”
“Min Ji-hong… .”
“No way, with demons… ?”
“you’re right. There is also an archduke behind them.”
A sigh broke out.
Those vicious demons were holding hands with the Archduke.
Only then did I understand why the players had not been able to catch it even if they had worked together to chase it.
“As long as these guys are alive, you will have to keep in mind the possibility that an unprecedented gate break will occur.”
“How can we help you?”
Ji Jin-hee asked.
This was the question Taehyun had been waiting for.
I said the things I had been thinking about all along.
While maintaining the ‘Law of the Abyss’.
How to control constraints.
“Before the gate break. “I will hit the player first from here.”
