Translator: rainbowturtle
Editor: LD & Jyazen
Inside an office full of expensive furniture, Yoon Hyeongu was kneeling on the floor.âIâm ashamed. Iâm sorry, Boss-nim.â
In front of Yoon Hyeongu was a man who was close to being an old manâPresident Kim. He was sitting in a chair.
âWhat did you say to me?! Didnât you say you would bring them? Then what? The little brats ran away? You didnât catch them?â
At President Kimâs words, Yoon Hyeongu continued to bow his head and repeat the same words. âIâm sorry. Sorry.â
âSo what am I going to do? The association told me to choose between handing over the club or disbanding it. Iâm going to make a loss!â
It was a lie. President Kim had long since recovered the money used to acquire Big Stars due to the proxy knight actions and the unpaid salaries. The task of selling Big Stars had been in full swing. At this time, the Big Stars proxy knight scandal broke out. Therefore, it was natural for President Kim to be furious.
Yoon Hyeongu raised his head and said pathetically, âI am sending people to look into it. Iâll definitely bring them in front of you in two days.â
âThis is the last time. You should know.âPresident Kim waved his hand after his last word.
It was a sign for Yoon Hyeongu to leave. Yoon Hyeongu exited the office as quickly as if he saw a ghost.
***
Ever since Tang-Eâs second awakening, Hyeonu had been hunting the giants more easily. His movements were accelerated by Breath of the Wind, and he was now moving at a speed that the giants couldnât catch up to. Hyeonu swung his single-edged sword, leaving a black afterimage. The giantâs ankle was cut in half, and blood flowed from it.
[The ancient giant has been afflicted with the âbleedingâ abnormal state.]
After cutting one of the giantâs ankles, Hyeonu naturally turned to cut the other ankle.
[The ancient giant has been afflicted with the âfrozenâ abnormal state.]
Starting from the giantâs cut ankle, light frost started to cover one of the giantâs feet. It was the frozen effect. With its ankles cut, the giant cried out in pain, âKuooh!â
However, that was the only thing the giant could do. Giants were big. Therefore, the burden on their lower body was greater. Now that both of the giantâs ankles were cut, it was an act of suicide for the giant to move in this state.
âCrescent Moon Cut.â
Hyeonu leisurely used Crescent Moon Cut. A black crescent moon passed over the giantâs neck.
[The ancient giant has been killed.]
[Experience has been gained.]
âThe difference in speed is quite big.â
It was something he felt every time he hunted. The difference between receiving Breath of the Wind and not receiving Breath of the Wind was greater than he thought. He had confidence that he wouldnât lose to any other players with these specs, regardless of whether it was a group or individual battle.
âYou are a great warrior. I will pay tribute to your combat ability.âA giant appeared from among the lush trees at this moment.
It looked a bit different from the giants Hyeonu encountered in the past. The muscles and huge stature were the same, but there was no hostility toward Hyeonu in this giantâs body. Instead, he gave off the feeling of a neighborhood grandfather. Nevertheless, Hyeonu considered all possibilities and pulled out his single-edged sword.
âYou can put away your weapon. Iâm not here to fight you. I have a request.â
Once the giantâs words were over, a message appeared in front of Hyeonu that announced the creation of the quest.
[A quest has been created.]
[Abandoned Giants]
[The giants have rebelled against their god.
As a result, they were abandoned by their god.
Save their souls.
Rating: S-
Conditions: Defeat the giants 0/657, Mad Ruler of the Arperium 0/1.
Rewards: Experience, the giantâs holy relic.]
The giant started to explain the quest in earnest.âMy name is Chroma. I was a shaman of the Arperium, the holy land of the giants.â
âShaman?â
âNow Iâm just a bystander watching the destruction. As a shaman, I am responsible for failing to lead my clan on the right path.âChroma looked at the distant sky like he was reminiscing about the past.His face was filled with bitterness and regret.âWe were arrogant, and I was conceited. Thatâs why we rebelled against God. As a result, all giants except me were robbed of their courage, and even their wisdom was forbidden. I was stupid. I didnât know the cause.â
Chroma sighed and added a few more words, âSave my clan.â
Hyeonu nodded. It was a dungeon that had to be cleared anyway. Since it was a quest with a reward, Hyeonu welcomed it.
âI will lend you my strength.â
âThank you. Then follow me. Iâll give you a rough explanation on the method of salvation.â
Chroma led Hyeonu and Tang-E, and they climbed the mountain that was beyond the vast plains where they first appeared.
âLook over there. It is where the people who lost their place remain.â
The place that Chroma pointed to consisted of the remnants of a huge wall. Near the wall, giants often appeared.
âFloyd, the past clan chief, is at the collapsed bell tower. He was really strong. Therefore, the people believed in him and revolted. The result was disastrous.â
This time, Chromaâs huge hand was pointing at a building, which was in a much too embarrassing state to be called a bell tower. The old splendid past could not be seen, and the bell tower was now half-collapsed.
âI think it is better to save Floyd after saving the others in the clan. God mightâve taken everything away, but his subconscious instincts remain. Once Floydâs war cry spreads, they will flock to him.â
âIt is a summoning.â
Based on Chromaâs description, Hyeonu understood why Chroma encouraged him to catch the giants first and the boss monster Floyd at the end. It was a typical pattern of boss monsters. The summoning of subordinatesâit was because of this.
âIt is better to have fewer variables.â
Hyeonu decided to follow Chromaâs words. It wasnât good to have unnecessary pride. Pride could easily make him a pushover. He had never died, so he didnât want to suffer his first death.
âI understand. I will save the ordinary giants and then finally go to save Floyd. By the way... will you be able to help me?â
Chroma shook his head at Hyeonuâs question. âIâm sorry, but I have something to do. It is hard for me to help. Iâm going to ask God for forgiveness. If so, maybe God will someday feel pity for my clan and call us back.â
It was a grand statement, but in the end, it meant he wouldnât help. Hyeonu nodded with disappointment. If it wasnât for the mask, Hyeonuâs expression wouldâve been revealed to Chroma.
âItâs okay. However, it seems like it will take me some time to do it alone. It will probably be three days at the minimum?âA bit of dissatisfaction was revealed in Hyeonuâs words.
Chroma was either unaware of it or he just ignored it. âIâve waited decades for someone to save your people. In comparison to that, a period of three days isnât too long.â
Stretching out a huge hand toward Hyeonu, Chroma said, âThen please. Please save them...â
Hyeonu raised his hand and barely grabbed the giantâs little finger.âIâll try as hard as possible.â
***
Since then, Hyeonu steadily embarked on the hunt to save the giants.
[The ancient giant has been killed.]
[Experience has been acquired.]
[Giants defeated 193/657]
Tang-E had been hunting since yesterday, and Hyeonu was busy soothing such a Tang-E. âThere is still a long way to go, Tang-E.â
âHeung, letâs take a break. It has been a few hours already. Damn Master. This is exploitation. Exploitation!â Tang-Eâs anger didnât soften despite Hyeonuâs soothing.
âThen do you want to take a break in Bung Bung Island? I also have something to do.â
âUnderstood, Master dude. Then summon me later.â
Hyeonu eventually released Tang-Eâs summoning. It didnât matter if he had Tang-E anyway. Why? It was now time to stream, rather than hunt. Todayâs content wouldnât be disturbed at all even if Tang-E was absent. Of course, there were still people who told Hyeonu that they wanted to see Tang-E.
âWell, then I will show him to them for a second. Isnât it the same resting here or in that place?â
At this thought, Hyeonu prepared to log out. The time remaining until the start of his stream was around an hour and a half. It was enough time to rest.
***
Hyeonu didnât just rest though. He was busy making calls on his smartphone. Hyeonu frequently used this time to call his mother, but todayâs call wasnât to his mother.
âI called because Iâm curious. Tell me the backstory.â
-Is that so?Well, our boss liked it very much.It is the brightest Iâve seen him look in recent years.
âJamie, what do you think will happen to Big Stars? Perhaps... will they be disbanded?â
Hyeonu was currently in a call with Jamie More, the CEO of Nike Management.
-Probably not.Since the conditions for establishing a team in Arena are tricky, it will be sold instead of disbanded.According to the Korean Association, they have already found a buyer.
Jamieâs words caused Hyeonuâs eyes to widen. There was already a purchaser. Was Arena so great? Hyeonu couldnât help feeling that way.
âI see. Iâm glad it was solved nicely. By the way, was Choi Jisuâs surgery successful?â
-Oh, thatâs right.The doctors said this is the best result theyâve had for the surgery so far and she should be very healthy.Still, you really donât want to spread news of this?Journalists and people are already writing novels that are close to the truth.Iâd rather announce it myself...
âNo need. My skin isnât that thick. I canât say it with my own mouth. Then Iâll call you next time, Jamie.â
-I understand.If you have time, please come to the United States.
Hyeonu ended the call in a hurry. Regardless of whether it was Kale or Jamie, they brought up Choi Yoon and Choi Jisu every time. They wanted to make the announcement at a management level, not from the reportersâ inferences.
âHow can I announce it?â
He couldnât do it himself. It was enough for him to be a streamer called Alley Leader. Looking at the time from the clock on the wall, Hyeonu thought he should prepare for the stream and got up. Todayâs content was plain, so there was nothing to prepare for.
âArenaâs gold medalists...â
That was referring to rankers between 10,000 to 99,999. The goal today was to get a gold medal. Hyeonuâs current arena rank was approximately 320,000. Could Hyeonu, who pursued streaming as efficiently as possible, raise his ranking by 220,000 during the stream?
However, this didnât matter. He had been undefeated so far. Hyeonuâs rank would rise exponentially after a single win. Hyeonu was confident that if he fought 20 matches, he would be able to get a five-digit ranking in 15 matches. It was because he was Alley Leader who never lost.
âHello, everyone. I am Alley Leader.â
From this moment on, Hyeonu was the undefeated Alley Leader.