Translator: rainbowturtle
Editor: LD & Jyazen
âWhat is this...?â Reinaâs face reddened; her embarrassment was evident. Who could take this situation calmly and accept it? This was a situation where a ring was extended as a gift.
âWhat? Are you dating?â
âWhat? Is it like that??â
âWhen did you start dating? Was it a long time ago?â
The other players made a fuss, chattering noisily like middle-aged women talking non-stop. They were like a living rumor generator.
âYou will know once you check it. It is an item that will help Reina.â Hyeonu reached out to Reina without worrying about the other playersâ jokes.
âYes...â Reina carefully picked up the ring. It matched her white complexion very well.
âItem Information.â
[Tears of Yongsal Mountain]
[A ring made of precious stones containing the essence of Yongsal Mountain.
It is also a ring that symbolizes the Yongsal Sect.
Rating: Epic
Restrictions: One who has learned the Yongsal Ice Martial Art.
Effect: All stats +30, magic power is increased by 3%, skill power increased by 3%.]
Reinaâs eyes widened. She alternated between looking at Hyeonu and the ring over and over with wide eyes.
âIs this really for me...?â Reina asked.
âIt is a gift. Right, donât you need this as well?â Hyeonu said, once again placing his hand in the inventory and then emerging with a book.âYou will be able to wear that ring with this.â
Hyeonu was holding out a skill book. It was the skill book for learning the Yongsal Ice Martial Art, which was needed to wear Tears of Yongsal Mountain. Hyeonu had obtained both items by defeating Nam Jun, the 32nd group leader of the Secret Camp and the leader of the Yongsal Sect.
âIn any case, the only person around me who can use it is Reina.â
Just like the Mysterious Sky Demonic Art, the Yongsal Ice Martial Art had a fixed attribute effect. Moreover, it was the ice attribute. Hyeonu didnât know anyone else who could use it properly. There were people who would use the skillbook if Hyeonu gave it to them, but they had already progressed too far to change their attribute.
âThis should be considered as Reinaâs luck.â
She was lucky to be connected with Hyeonu, that she was here, and that her class was related to the ice attribute. Everything was related to luck.
âThink of it as my sincerity for todayâs matter. I hope you can accept it.âThis time, Hyeonu put the book in Reinaâs hand.
âThen see you next time, Reina. I hope youâll be able to get your territory soon.â Hyeonu finished talking and left.
Even after Hyeonu disappeared, Reina stood blankly while holding the two items Hyeonu had handed over to her.
âWhat is that?â
âWhat is the ring? What is the item?â
âWhat is the real relationship between the two of you?â
The chatter had begun again. After listening to the players for a long time, Reina suddenly moved. She put the two items in her inventory and disappeared. Then she had logged out.
The players remaining cocked their heads as a group. âWhy did Reina do that?â
***
After disappearing, Hyeonu who hadnât received PT at the gum in a long time sat in his massage chair. He had a few hours of spare time now that he had killed Nam Jun.
âThe remaining five will be handled by the emperor. Iâll go to Chen Long.â
Nevertheless, it didnât mean Hyeonu was resting without thinking. He thought unwaveringly about what he should do after accessing Arena. How should he prepare for the Pro League? What about the other clubs? He kept thinking about the future. His body was resting, but his mind kept moving.
Hyeonu had just entered a very relaxed state when his smartphone vibrated with a loud sound. His arm slowly moved through the air, groping about for a long time before finally making contact with his smartphone.
âWho is it?â
Hyeonu barely pushed open his eyelids, and the screen of the smartphone filled his vision.
-Hyeonu, come to the hospital.It was a short but meaningful message from his mother.
âHuh?!â
Hyeonuâs eyes widened. All the sleepiness that had filled his face disappeared. He shot up with an urgent look and quickly ran to his room.
âKey, key, key!â
Hyeonu reached for a black car key ring that was well placed on the side of his desk, but he couldnât grasp it like he usually did because his hands were trembling and covered in sweat. Finally, Hyeonu picked up the keyring and ran out.
âHey! Where are you going?â Yeongchan shouted.
Yet Hyeonu ignored Yeongchan like he hadnât heard anything.
âWhy is it so slow?â
Hyeonu felt like the elevator was coming even slower today. Unable to keep his hands still, he kept moving them, repeatedly pressing the button that was already pressed and knocking on the door of the elevator that wouldnât open.
Dding-! The elevator doors soon opened. Hyeonu quickly got into the elevator and pressed the B1 button. The speed of the descent was fast. It could even be called instant in comparison to the time he spent waiting for the elevator.
Finally, the elevator stopped, and Hyeonu began running again, only coming to a stop once he arrived at a red car with smooth curves. He got into the car and started it. A short time later, the Panamera exited the parking lot with a loud exhaust sound.
***
âMom!â
Upon arriving at the hospital room, Hyeonu cried out and walked to his mother. Hyeonu had never called her âMomâ once since he turned 20. Instead, he always called her âMotherâ and used honorifics. Nevertheless, now wasnât the time to be concerned about that.
âHyeonu, youâre here?â
âWhat did you mean by your text? Do you think Father will wake up?â
âIn fact, it has been a while. His fingers will move occasionally. The doctor said it is a sign of recovery.â
âFather...â Hyeonu stared sadly at his father, who was still lying in bed.
Then he quickly erased that expression.
âThere is hope.â
It was no longer a wait without any promise. Now he could have some hope.
âHave you been in the hospital these days?â Hyeonu asked his mother.
âI donât know when your father will wake up, so I naturally have to come every day,â she replied.
âYes... Still, you need to take care of your health. Have a proper health check-up. Iâll make an appointment.â
âYes, I have to be healthy.â
Hyeonu felt strong willpower emanate from his motherâs words. As the condition of Hyeonuâs father improved, many changes took place in the heart of Hyeonuâs mother.
âShe looks good.â
There was warmth in Hyeonuâs expression as he watched his mother. He felt it was nice to see her take on a different appearance, compared to how she had looked during the past days of hardship.
âHe will wake up soon. Father is a strong man,â Hyeonu affirmed.
***
When Hyeonu returned home, he immediately accessed Arena. His expression seemed relaxed as he wandered around Linakalu. In a way, this was natural. The burden weighing on Hyeonuâs back was finally relieved. Still, that wasnât all as more good news welcomed Hyeonu.
âThe emperor kept his word.â
[Leaders of the Secret Camp Killed 50/50]
The quest was 50%âno, 90% over. All that was left was to go to Chen Long, report it to him, and receive the next quest. Hyeonu carefully crossed the Samsunggaâs wall, which was several meters high. He jumped over it with light movements and ran toward the place where Chen Long was sleeping.
After running for a long while, Hyeonu arrived at Chen Longâs residence and the training ground. For some reason, Chen Long was standing on the training ground, not in the house.
âLeader!â Hyeonu whispered.
It was at such a low volume that it was hard to hear. However, it was currently the middle of the night and extremely quiet, so Hyeonuâs whisper was like a clap of thunder.
âYouâre here? How many people have been dealt with now?â Chen Long naturally greeted Hyeonu without any panic. The naturalness quickly shattered once he heard Hyeonuâs answer.
âAll 50 people have been killed,â Hyeonu said.
â50 people?â
âUnless I wanted unnecessary variables to be created, I had to hurry as things had started going wrong,â Hyeonu casually replied to Chen Longâs question.
âQuickly give me the reward and take out the next quest,â Hyeonu urged inwardly.
Chen Long was relaxed like he knew Hyeonuâs inner feelings. To be precise, he proceeded to confirm that Hyeonuâs words were true. Chen Long raised his hand and someone came running from a distance. A man dressed all in black knelt before Chen Long. Chen Long asked the man a question: âHow many leaders of the Secret Camp were killed?â
As if he had already expected it, the man answered, âAll 50 people were killed. All the people that have been killed were connected to us.â
Chen Long continued to ask questions.He was like someone who wanted to know everything from one to ten.
âHow did they die?â
â20 died due to adventurers. The other 30 seem to have been handled by the imperial family for various reasons.â
âI understand. Go back now.â Chen Long waved his hand dismissively toward the man. Shortly after the man disappeared, a message window appeared in front of Hyeonuâs eyes.
[Reported to Chen Long 50/50.]
[Kill the Secret Camp has been cleared.]
[Experience has been acquired.]
[The trust of Chen Long has been gained.]
âYou have considerable abilities. It isnât just your individual strength. Your mind works well too. You are reliable,â Chen Long praised Hyeonu with a bright expression in his eyes. However, the smile on his face wasnât a bright one but a subtle one.
âThe largest mountain has been crossed. It wonât be that hard next time. Iâm not incompetent enough to lose against those who are blind and deaf...â Chen Long paused for a moment.
Just then, a message window appeared in front of Hyeonu. This time, it wasnât a notification but a quest window.
[A quest has been created.]
[Attack the Yeokcheon Group]
[Raid and wipe out the Yeokcheon Group, who are coming back from an external mission.
Rating: S+
Conditions: Kill the Yeokcheon Group team members 0/75, kill the Yeokcheon Group team leaders 0/5 (However, the quest will fail if any of the members return to the Samsungga alive).
Rewards: Experience, Chen Longâs gift.]
âHmm... Itâs trickier than I thought?â
Hyeonuâs expression changed subtly when he saw the quest window. The new quest wasnât as easy as he thought it would be, especially to clear by himself. He would only succeed if he wiped out everyone and ensured no one escaped.
âI will have to ask for help again.â
If he couldnât do it alone, then he could do it with two people. If that didnât work, then he could increase the number to three or four. Hyeonu wasnât alone now. There were many people from whom he could ask for helpâKim Seokjung, Gang Junggu, Reina, Mascherano, Liu Shei, Yeongchan, and many more.
Even as Hyeonu thought so, Chen Long continued to speak: âI intend to shake up both the inside and outside at the same time. I am thinking of hitting Chen Tai while you wipe out the Yeokcheon Group. To be exact, I will reclaim my place in the Cheonryong Group. If that happens, the later days will flow along smoothly.â
It wasnât until he heard Chen Longâs words that Hyeonu remembered. Why exactly had Hyeonu started this quest?
âChen Tai. Yes, thereâs still him to deal with.â
Hyeonuâs revenge for the former Mysterious Sky Sect Leader remained.