Chapter 157

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Translated by Jinmu
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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“Oh, you’re here?”

A quiet, unmanned cafe situated a short distance away from home.

As he arrived there, Lee Min-ho welcomed Han-bit.

“Did you come straight away?”

“It’s not that far from the office. But it’s really quiet here, isn’t it?”

He spoke while looking around the surroundings.

A structure like a room with many partitions, and a place with no people at this time of day.

It was a cafe he looked up out of consideration for Luna, whose face was well-known.

Han-bit, who ordered a beverage, came to the seat and sat down.

“Your expression has improved.”

“Really? Is it because I resigned?”

Lee Min-ho spoke while scratching his cheek as if embarrassed.

Well, just escaping from beneath that team leader would drop his stress index significantly.

“But how did you come out so early? Unlike me, you were a full-time employee.”

“I thought of your story, so I went to meet the Executive Managing Director in person. I waited a long time in front of the elevator, and my hands were shaking entirely.”

Han-bit’s resignation process was all shared with Lee Min-ho.

It seemed he gathered up his courage after contemplating repeatedly.

“You did well. It’s a relief at least that person was there.”

“I’m saying.”

The two people sharing a conversation while sympathizing.

The topic gradually moved to the main point.

“You mentioned the work you’re doing now is RP Gear development right? How did you end up entering a startup?”

“When I was preparing to change jobs, there was a lecture hosted by the government so I went to listen. A developer from a company named Core came out as an instructor there, and I caught his eye while throwing questions recklessly. Then I received a job offer to a company that person made.”

Lee Min-ho added words saying it was half luck.

Looking at his expression, he seemed to be considerably satisfied.

Just like when he dug into the Gear at his house, he is a person who shows tremendous enthusiasm in areas he has an interest in.

“The research progressing in the company right now is contents regarding the true nature of RP.”

“True nature?”

As he asked back the subtle word, Lee Min-ho nodded his head.

He tried to pull out data from his bag.

It was then.

“Shall I avoid the seat?”

A familiar voice heard from the invisible table next to them.

Along with the ensuing footsteps, what revealed its appearance was Luna.

“…Luna-ssi?”

It was strange for her to be here.

Since there was still over an hour left until the appointment.

“Why did you come already?”

“I couldn’t sleep so I came to look around the neighborhood too. But I ended up falling asleep lying face down on the table.”

Luna let out a small yawn while covering her mouth.

It seemed she had been progressing through the Ifrit episode non-stop since dawn.

“If you’re talking about something important, I’ll go out and take a walk for a bit. Since it’s quiet I can hear the conversation really well.”

An unmanned cafe and a store with no customers too, the conversation delivery power was too good.

Luna, who recognized Black Dragon’s voice half-asleep.

Because the conversation topic seemed somewhat important, eavesdropping secretly weighed on her mind.

“Shall we just converse together?”

Han-bit immediately asked her.

“Is that okay though?”

“It’s not up to contents to hide after all. What do you think, hyung?”

“No……. Is that person really Luna? The youngest daughter of the Yeonhwa Chairman?”

Lee Min-ho, leaning his body, asked in a small voice.

To that extent, Luna was a person known even to ordinary people, not just RP players.

“Hello. I am the youngest daughter of the Yeonhwa Chairman, may I join?”

Whether she heard those words, Luna reacted as if accustomed to it.

Lee Min-ho popping up from his seat let out a flustered voice.

“Ah, please have a seat.”

“Thank you.”

She sat down in the seat next to Han-bit.

And then she turned her gaze to the data placed on the table.

“I didn’t mishear it after all.”

The topic called RP Gear seen amidst data full of specialized terms.

It was an important element to her as well, being an Advance Party member.

“So, what is that true nature of RP from before?”

Han-bit carried on the conversation from earlier again.

Lee Min-ho, pulling out a pen from his bag, spoke while drawing underlines on the data.

“The game called Record Project was publicly revealed, and the existence called Gear was spread to the world. It’s a known fact that miraculous machine gives direct influence to the brain. It’s perfectly coordinating an incredibly complex neural network. It’s not even close with modern technology.”

Research regarding the Gear that progressed globally.

It was a result obtained by analyzing the brains of the people currently playing.

Even though it is in full swing even now, it was ultimately only at the level of scratching the surface of the technology the game company revealed.

“Looking at the various ongoing research, a fundamental doubt arose. A doubt whether this was really created with the power of humans. Even if it doesn’t make sense, it’s a technology to the extent that it’d rather be more persuasive saying a God made it.”

“…….”

Han-bit, who heard that speculation, lost his words momentarily.

There are many times when giving metaphors borrowing the name of God, but the weight was different if it’s RP.

Even more so because it’s Han-bit who had faced the Goddess, he couldn’t refute it even a bit.

“It’s interesting.”

Luna reacted as if it was intriguing.

She, examining the data scattered with specialized terms, threw one question.

“Then is this adaptability also chosen by God? It seems like a figure measuring how suitable the physical body and mental spirit are for RP.”

“What you said is correct. Since it was verified by collating all elements where the brain’s activities are activated. I’m wondering if it might not be closer to an innate talent.”

Han-bit also knew of the concept called adaptability.

Because it was content he heard through the Executive Managing Director.

“This is data expressed in figures.”

Lee Min-ho pulled out and showed data looking like a chart.

The name Black Dragon was also there.

“Since there aren’t many samples, please look at it lightly. The average adaptability figure is 200 for normal players, and 5,000 for the Advance Party. But here. It says Black Dragon has a ridiculous figure of 300,000 right?”

“…….”

The exact same number he heard from the Executive Managing Director.

It was not that difficult to guess that the reason lay in Regression, Possession, and Reincarnation.

“Looking at Black Dragon-ssi play, it’s not simply just strange. Since it’s a part unrelated to the character’s specs.”

Luna accepted the result without being overly surprised.

The popular perception about Black Dragon is that he’s the only person who read the original novel.

People are only focusing on that, but Luna fundamentally felt that something was different.

Should she say the explanation is somewhat insufficient to simply be an area of innateness too.

“Please look at this once as well.”

Lee Min-ho pulled out a few photos appearing like screenshots within RP.

The figures visible were a young-looking boy and girl.

Looking at their similar faces they seemed to be siblings.

“Isn’t this the skill Black Dragon-ssi uses?”

Luna examining the photos pointed to the younger girl.

Han-bit was also in a state of having realized it already.

“Indeed.”

Han-bit’s eyes peering into one of the photos opened a bit largely.

A younger girl holding a long sword unsuited for her body.

On the sword that girl swung, a vivid blade of wind was flying out.

‘Just what is this again?’

The younger boy’s side was an appearance of caressing a sparkling light.

It’s not seen well concealed by the tree, but this is definitely a spirit.

“Who are they?”

“Our side’s employee took it in the forest on the outskirts of Ifrit. They’re middle school 3rd-year kids, was their name Haneul and No-eul?”

“Middle school 3rd years?”

He only thought their characters were like that, but they were actually young players.

As he was quietly examining the photos, Lee Min-ho brought out words again.

“He said they only made their IDs upon release and started a while back. The game itself is a first for them too. I also don’t know in detail but, if twins are to the extent of learning these skills, wouldn’t there be something genetic as well?”

“…You’re right.”

Leaving aside age, it is not ordinary that both twins got in touch with spirits.

Does the actual physical body really determine something just like in the other world.

“Can you contact these players?”

“No, he said they simply parted ways like that. So I told him to look for them just in case but…. I don’t know how it’ll turn out.”

Lee Min-ho making a regrettable expression saying he missed a good opportunity.

He is gradually becoming the eyes of a researcher.

It would be better to look into those twins within the game.

“Anyway if it’s really an area that left the hands of humans, wouldn’t the research also become meaningless?”

Han-bit, who couldn’t reveal the truth of the Goddess, showed simple worry.

Then Lee Min-ho spoke forming a smile.

“If it left the hands of humans it has more value to research. There’s also a saying that mental power is important right. Perhaps we might be able to create a gap in the innateness theory. We haven’t even dug into the chip inside the gear yet.”

The small chip inside the gear where the word Edlen was discovered.

He suspects it’s probably connected with the private areas, but it was still something unknown.

“Since you said mental power I just thought of it. Luna-ssi, how was it when you wore the mask yesterday?”

“The mask?”

“Yes. As I knew of it, losing control of the body was a given matter.”

As he brought out the doubt that arose, Luna retraced her memories for a moment.

And then she spoke with a slightly subtle expression.

“I think I know what you expressed as a feeling of displeasure. Because the strong pressure seemingly trying to actually manipulate the body entered my head. Should I say it’s like a giant or something trying to move my limbs?”

“…But did you overcome that?”

“I couldn’t explain what it is but, I think it’s correct to view it as having shaken it off. It would be fine to view it as mental power.”

The words spat out calmly completely drifted away from common sense.

The restraint of the mask Han-bit felt in the other world was also just like a giant grabbing his limbs.

The thought of completely shaking that off was an area that stopped at just imagination.

“As it is a device functioning via the brain, I think mental power could sufficiently exert influence as well. Perhaps we might even be able to attack gaps in the game system.”

Lee Min-ho nodded his head while jotting down something.

Han-bit, who had been exchanging such stories for a moment, floated up one photo from his smartphone.

“What I wanted to show hyung is this. It’s the stone tablet that came out after subjugating the boss yesterday, but doesn’t it look like a programming language?”

“Hold on.”

Lee Min-ho zoomed in on the screen and examined the characters and patterns engraved on the stone tablet.

Due to it being considerably dense and even having scratches, it wasn’t easy to recognize properly.

“It seems a few are mixed together, but it is indeed a programming language. Do we have to run it by matching the code? This will take a bit of time though?”

“I’ll send you the photo, so please take a slow look.”

“Got it. I’ll let you know if something comes out.”

After continuing the conversation a little more, Lee Min-ho left his seat.

“The CEO of Black Dragon-ssi’s is not coming?”

“He’s actually gone overseas this time. I should just inform him well of the results.”

Yeon-woo departed for the business trip to Japan that was canceled previously.

Since he says he’s returning tomorrow, he’d just need to finish the transaction nicely.

A short while waiting while sharing trivial conversations.

The CEO of Yeonhwa Gaming appeared.

“Hey, Lee Seol-ah! If you went ahead you should have told me you were going……!”

The angry young woman met gazes with Han-bit.

She, letting out a fake cough, slowly approached while fixing her hair and held out her business card.

“Nice to meet you, Black Dragon-nim. I am the CEO of Yeonhwa Gaming, Lee Han-sol.”

“Yes, nice to meet you. Please have a seat first.”

“Thank you.”

At Han-bit who received the business card’s gesture, Lee Han-sol lightly greeted and took a seat.

Luna, who was still in the seat next to Han-bit, brought out words while tapping the table.

“Since you’re busy, how about just giving the money and leaving?”

“If you’re busy then leave. Since you’re an interference to the conversation.”

At her younger sister’s quarrel, Lee Han-sol tried to kick her out waving her hands.

“I don’t wanna?”

Luna let out a laugh and languidly stretched her body.

Lee Han-sol, watching that figure, let out a sigh and turned her gaze.

“I am sorry. Because my younger sister is in that state.”

“Not at all. Since I received a lot of help from Luna-ssi. And I also thankfully used the donations well that Yeonhwa Gaming gave.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Along with a gentle answer, she remained silent for a moment.

And then she bowed her head and continued her words.

“First I offer words of apology regarding the scouting incident. We ended up bringing displeasure due to an employee’s hasty misunderstanding.”

“Not at all. Because that was Rashten doing wrong. I don’t harbor any ill feelings toward Yeonhwa Gaming.”

“…Thank you for speaking so.”

Lee Han-sol slowly raising her head had a truly sorry expression.

Even though Han-bit himself really has no thoughts about it whatsoever.

“Then since you gave us an opportunity to meet like this, we should repay you with a transaction to your liking.”

She quickly recomposing her expression pulled out the tablet she brought.

A chart where item lists were organized was sprawled out there.

“These are the items we are selling on the exchange. They are ones 6 Advance Party members including that Luna over there, and affiliated players collected. We separated the colors according to the difficulty of acquisition.”

“…It’s tremendously a lot.”

Han-bit examining the list admired inwardly.

A massive variety of items.

What entered his eyes were materials used for the Tower of Whirlpool’s admission tickets.

“Are you purchasing RP information with these?”

“We can convert it to cash for you but, we thought this side might be better for you if you needed the items side. Because paying taxes hurts no matter how you pay it.”

“Ah.”

At the returned answer his head nodded by itself.

Lee Han-sol, watching that figure, spoke forming a smile.

“Then shall we proceed in order?”