Translator: rainbowturtle
Editor: LD & Jyazen
âIs it here? The name seems to be correct.â
[Choi Jisu]
Knock knock knock.
Hyeonu knocked on the door after confirming the name on his smartphone matched the name on the room.
âWho is it? Come in.â A young voice could be heard from inside the room.
Hyeonu carefully opened the door and entered.
âWho is it?âThere was a little girl who sounded as young as her voice.
âHello? Iâm called Gang Hyeonu. Um... Is your father here? Iâm here to see your father...â
The girl replied to Hyeonu with a happy expression as if nothing was going on, âHeâll be here soon. He went to the convenience store for a while.â
âReally? By the way, what are you doing now?â
Unlike other girls her age, Choi Jisu was fiddling with a laptop. âI was wearing an Arena video. I like this type of thing.â
âShouldnât someone your age like cartoons or something?â
âNo, I like Arena better.âChoi Jisu shook her head at Hyeonuâs words.
The disease that Choi Jisu was suffering from meant it was a luxury to even walk. It was painful just taking one step. Thus, all she could do was sit and watch things. It was Arena that caught Choi Jisuâs eyes. Filled with fierce battles and brilliant magic, Arena showed Choi Jisu a new world. Then âheâ appeared. A man who fought more magnificently than anyone else, Alley Leaderâhe was Choi Jisuâs idol.
At this time, someone opened the door of the hospital room and entered. It was Choi Jisuâs father, Choi Yoon. Choi Yoon finished his business as quickly as possible and returned to the hospital room for the sake of his waiting daughter. However, it wasnât just his daughter who was waiting in the hospital room. There was someone else waiting for him. It wasnât someone he knew. He didnât know a young man who dressed like this.
âWho are you?â Choi Yoon opened his mouth and questioned the mysterious man.
âAre you Choi Yoon? I came here because I have something to talk to you about. Can you give me a moment?â Hyeonu, the mysterious man, said politely to Choi Yoon.
âWhat is this...â Choi Yoon was dumbfounded but decided to listen to the story first. He didnât know what this person wanted to say, but he didnât have any money. All he had left was his precious daughter.
âYes, if it is just a little bit... Jisu, wait a minute. Iâll talk to this person for a moment.â
Hyeonu and Choi Yoon left the hospital room. Both of them had stiff faces.
âI donât know why you came, but I donât have anything.â
Hyeonu watched Choi Yoon who spoke such words. He watched with an expression that wondered what this person was saying.
âHuh? Iâm not such a person,âHyeonu said with a flustered expression.
Then it was Choi Yoon who became so flustered that he stuttered.âTh-Then why...?â
âDid you not apply for Alley Leader Academy? Iâm here to talk about it.â
âWhat do you mean? Perhaps...?â
âYes, it is as you think. Choi Yoon has been chosen as the second student. I couldnât help choosing such a desperate story.â
âThank you. Thank you. Sob...â Choi Yoon fell to his knees and sobbed upon hearing Hyeonuâs words.
âAh, I havenât finished speaking yet...â Hyeonu scratched his head in embarrassment as he glanced at Choi Yoon, who didnât give him time to speak.âIâm not finished yet...â
âThank you, thank you very much.âChoi Yoon repeatedly said thank you without listening to Hyeonu. The kneeling Choi Yoon soon stood up and glanced at Hyeonu.âIt is my daughterâs wish. It is why I watched Alley Leaderâs stream. Additionally, her enjoyment comes from watching me play.â
Therefore, he desired to play a bit better. He wanted to fulfill his daughterâs wishes. The two factors combined resulted in him applying for Hyeonuâs academy.
âThe result of Nikeâs investigation shows that Jisuâs disease can be treated. It just costs a lot of money. Do you know this?â Hyeonu saw Choi Yoonâs expression darken and realized this person mightâve already known.
âI know this, but the cost of the surgery... It is ridiculously expensive. In the first place, the surgery is only available in the United States. I canât...âChoi Yoon had barely calmed down, and now he started to sob again.
âAfter hearing Choi Yoonâs story, a sponsor appeared. They said they will support the cost of the surgery.â
âReally? Is that true?â Choi Yoon grabbed Hyeonuâs hand. It was unbelievable. Someone who would support the cost of the expensive surgery had appeared. Something he only saw on TV was happening to himself.
âIâm here to tell you this. The detailed schedule will be coordinated by phone and email.â
Hyeonu felt burdened by Choi Yoonâs attitude. He hadnât accepted Choi Yoon as a student to be treated like this. It wasnât an intentional part of the plan for Alley Leader Academy that Hyeonu would sponsor the costs of surgery for Choi Yoonâs daughter. That was just his own mind. Yes, it was just a whim of the moment.
âThen Iâll see you next time.â
Hyeonu exited the hospital like someone was chasing him.
***
âYouâre late. Did something happen?â
âIâm sorry. There was a situation... I ended up meeting Your Majesty separately from my master.âHyeonu bowed his head and paid homage to Emperor Alexander. Currently, Hyeonu was in the imperial palace. To be precise, it was in the great hall with the emperor.
âWell, it isnât a big deal. I heard the report. Didnât you do a great job smashing that fool?â Emperor Alexander sat on the throne and stared at Hyeonu. âI donât know if you know, but Alkylâs leader, Edward, is my brotherâthe empireâs second prince.â
The emperor was murmuring in a low voice, but it left a deep impression in Hyeonuâs ears. âHe was behind me in everythingâswordsmanship, politics. He wasnât even popular with the people of the empire. It was natural. It is the crown prince who would rise to the throne and become emperor. However, he didnât acknowledge it. Thus, he pulled out his sword at my coronation. Then I told himââ
The emperor got up.
âThere is still such a huge difference...â
Hyeonu couldnât get up. He was now close to level 200, but in front of the emperor, he was no different from a frog in front of a snake. The emperor was right before Hyeonuâs eyes, and his expression seemed like he was really enjoying it.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
ââTake it if you want. However, it wonât be easy.â After that, he hid in the south and expanded his power. I tolerated it. Isnât it interesting? There is someone who actually wants my position.âThe emperor burst out laughing. The atmosphere shook with his laughter.
He kept laughing, and Hyeonu felt like he was going to die.âCrazy! Isnât he just laughing?â
âI will reward you, but it isnât fun if I just give it to you. I know that you took a martial arts book of the East Continent. Iâll let you know where there are traces left behind by the original owner of that martial arts book.â
[A quest has been created.]
[The Emperorâs Gift[
[The emperor will give you a gift in exchange for entertaining him.
Rating: A
Conditions: Find traces somewhere in the Kanix Mountain 0/1
Reward: xxxxâs Journal.]
Hyeonu frowned when he saw the quest window in front of him and opened his mouth. The words that came out of Hyeonuâs mouth were completely unexpected to the emperor. âYour Majesty, I already have his journal.â
Thatâs right. It was the book he obtained from killing Heldâthe journal of the master of the Mysterious Sky Demonic Art.
âOhu? Did that happen? I see. One of the subordinates under Edward uses dark sword energy. That guy had the journal?â The emperor listened to Hyeonu and figured out the situation. It was the correct answer.
âThatâs right.â
âThen I have nothing to give... No, Iâll give you a title. It will be a viscount title,â the emperor said after thinking hard for a moment. He did not have any rewards for Hyeonu, but he soon came up with somethingâa title of nobility. Hyeonu was Lebronâs disciple, but he didnât have a noble title.
âHow many imperial contributions would I need to make if I wanted to become a viscount on my own?â Hyeonu couldnât judge if this compensation was good or bad. The idea of whether it was worth replacing a clue for an A+ grade quest couldnât leave Hyeonuâs mind. Then after hearing the emperorâs answer, Hyeonu was forced to nod and judge that it was better.
â200,000. You need 200,000 imperial contributions. That is assuming that you already have a baron title. In other words, you need a total of 300,000 contributions. Why? Is it a shame?â
Hyeonu shook his head. He wouldâve been troubled if he didnât already have the journal. The pressure given by a figure of 300,000 was that high.
âMy current contribution is roughly 40,000...â
He had to gain seven times his current amount to get the rank of viscount. Once he thought this, he realized it was better than getting a viscount title on his own.
âWhat about the appointment ceremony...â
The emperor interrupted, âViscount? Is it a big deal? You will be a viscount of the Yusma Empire from today.â
[You have become a viscount of the Yusma Empire.]
[The title âFirst to Become a Viscountâ has been created.]
[First to Become a Viscount]
[You are the first player to become a viscount of the Yusma Empire.
The title grows when you rise in rank.
Effect: The stat âdignityâ is created, and the damage dealt by opponents of a lower level is reduced by 20%.
Dignity: A noble dignity that overwhelms others. The dignity stat will reduce your opponentâs stats. The weaker the opponent, the more the stats are reduced. You can gain more favors from NPCs. Remaining stat points canât be added to it.]
âA stat!âHyeonu was astonished when he confirmed all the messages. He had predicted a âfirstâ title as it was clear that he was the first noble. Obviously, no one would be able to get 100,000 imperial contributions when even Hyeonu hadnât acquired it. However, he hadnât expected the effect of the title. It was the creation of the new âdignityâ stat. The effect was great. He wouldâve jumped around if the emperor werenât in front of him. This was good enough.
Hyeonu realized that he had to leave the great hall if he wanted to learn more about the dignity stat. âThen Iâll be going. I donât want to take too much of Your Majestyâs busy time.â
Hyeonu left the great hall hurriedly. The emperor just smiled.
***
After Hyeonu left, Choi Yoon got a call from an unknown number.
âHello?â
-Is this Choi Yoon?Iâm Yoon Jeongmin from Nike Entertainment Asia.Iâm calling to talk about the streaming participation schedule and the surgery schedule.
Choi Yoon realized at once this wasnât a dream.
-Choi Yoon-ssi?Can you hear me?
Choi Yoon couldnât speak due to all his excited feelings. He soon calmed down and replied, âYes, that sounds good. Please explain it. I can hear you.â
Since then, there was a one-sided explanation from Yoon Jeongmin. How long did they talk for? Looking at the watch on his wrist, Choi Yoon stopped talking after realizing how much time had passed. âIâm worried about Jisu.â
âThere is no time. Can I call you back later?â
-Of course.Please call me when you are available, and I will be happy to explain it.
Choi Yoon finally asked a question. There had been one strange thing. He was a bit curious about that man. âWas it Alley Leader who came to the hospital today?
-Thatâs right.The man who visited the hospital today was Alley Leader.