Chapter 78

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“I might be late.”

Immediately taking the subway after getting off work, Han-bit headed toward Jongno 3-ga Station in Seoul.

He had contacted Yeon-woo and Avant-garde beforehand and even set a meeting place.

“Hyung.”

Stepping out of the exit, Yeon-woo was there waiting.

“I told you to go to a cafe.”

“I got here right on time, that’s why. But have you checked the community?”

“Why now? Did something happen?”

“Just look at this.”

Yeon-woo handed him his smartphone.

A list of posts sprawled across the screen.

The contents of each one varied greatly.

However, what mattered was something else entirely.

It’s an uncharted mountain west of Ifrit, and a cave that wasn’t there before has formed.

Isn’t this the private area?

– Oh.

– This is it.

– What’s inside?

└ I tried going in, but it was blocked.

└ Isn’t it just a newly generated terrain?

└ There’s a weird symbol inside for that to be the case.

└ Take a picture and post it.

└ Go look for yourself if you’re so pissed.

“A cave?”

The content of the posts, which had basically turned into a coliseum, was equally puzzling to Han-bit.

“You don’t know what it is either, Hyung?”

“I don’t.”

Han-bit shook his head.

It was truly a terrain he didn’t recognize, but a thought came to mind.

‘Is it really the private area?’

Even after 55 regressions, he couldn’t possibly memorize every minor terrain detail.

But if it was located in an easily accessible area like that, he would clearly remember its structure.

Judging from the circumstances, it was highly likely to be the private area.

“Looks like we’ll have to head there once we log in. Let’s head to the cafe for now.”

The two went to a cafe near the subway exit.

At the innermost partitioned seat, a man in a suit was sitting.

“Mr. Avant-garde?”

“Ah, you’re here. Please, have a seat first.”

Avant-garde jumped up from his seat to welcome them.

Once everyone was seated, he pointed to the tablet attached to the side of the table and said.

“It’s getting to feel like we’ve seen each other quite frequently. How about we order first? Since I invited you today, I’ll treat you to the meal completely.”

“Thank you. I’ll take a strawberry smoothie.”

“Ah, I’ll have a choco frappé.”

After they had ordered like that, Avant-garde looked at the two and asked.

“Have you seen the information concerning the private area that came out? It was a location even I had never seen before.”

“Yes. Given the situation, I think there is a high probability that it’s the private area.”

“I thought so as well. Then does that mean you don’t even need to use the compass you earned as a perk?”

“Hmm.”

At that question, Han-bit fell into thought momentarily.

He continued to check the community, but there was still no one who had entered the private area.

In that case, the possibilities were twofold.

One scenario was where the private area was a totally different place.

The other was that the cave was indeed the entrance, but an entirely different procedure to enter existed.

Han-bit figured that no matter which case it was, the problem would be solved once he used the compass.

“For now, let’s head to that cave first. I’ll make a decision there.”

“Understood. We need to reach Ifrit today as well, so we’ll have to move busily.”

Avant-garde wore an utterly thrilled expression.

In the meantime, their drinks arrived, and they conversed over their beverages.

“But Loafer-nim, are you alright? I’ve heard the startup process is quite complex.”

“To be honest, I’m not going to be logging into the game anymore. I’ll officially start starting today. Mostly related to video clips for Black Dragon’s channel though.”

“Ah, is that so. Then you won’t be broadcasting anymore?”

“I won’t stream directly for a while, and it seems I’ll be working in a managerial role.”

Having passed his father’s scrutiny, Yeon-woo founded the company straight away.

Operating a company was his original dream.

And his goal was to properly assist Han-bit, who would become the main streamer.

“It’s a shame we can’t play together anymore, but congratulations. While you accompany Black Dragon-nim, I will help out with whatever I can.”

“Thank you. Since you have a lot of experience, please teach me a lot about broadcasting. Not that I’ll be listening that well anyway.”

The conversation between the two progressed smoothly.

Han-bit, who had been watching them with a bewildered look, threw out a question.

“So how exactly are you going to do a joint broadcast?”

“Fundamentally, the focal point is Black Dragon-nim. You can proceed with the story, and if there is anything else you wish to show us, you are welcome to do so. After all, whatever you do, it will be different from a common player.”

“Mr. Avant-garde, you mentioned that you never cleared a single episode, right?”

“That was up until yesterday, but today, that isn’t the case.”

“Pardon?”

At his weird response, an odd look appeared on Han-bit’s face.

Whereupon Avant-garde placed his smartphone on the table.

“I already was pushing through the story before the reset message even surfaced, all while watching Black Dragon-nim’s broadcast. As a result, I completed the main quest late this afternoon. I still lack a great deal, but I was deeply moved to know that I could finally reach an unaltered conclusion.”

[Achievement: Path of Truth Walker achieved.]

The reward message that popped up on the screen.

Compared to Han-bit, it was half the level, and there weren’t things like perks.

But Avant-garde clearly rejoiced deeply with all his heart.

Even though he referenced his broadcast, he genuinely admired his arrival at an unblemished conclusion.

“You said you stopped halfway through Edlen’s story, right?”

“Yes. Speaking to all the NPCs, I was fortunate to have experienced déjà vu. It was a bit challenging, but thanks to Black Dragon-nim, I managed to lead it onto a proper trajectory.”

“That’s even more amazing. In any case, it’s good that you are able to accompany us to Ifrit. The issue is.”

Trouble settled into Han-bit’s mind again.

There are several objectives in Ifrit, but there is one he can’t solve alone.

It is an important subject intertwined with the episode.

“I suppose it won’t just be the two of us holding this conversation.”

“Is there someone else?”

In response to Avant-garde’s inquiry, Han-bit rose from his seat.

Drinking the remaining beverage, he picked up his smartphone and said.

“Let’s go fetch Mr. Kim Jae-ha.”

***

“Did you think about it?”

“All that’s left is the final decision. I don’t think there will be any major issue with the funds.”

At Han-bit’s question, Yeon-woo nodded.

Discussions regarding scouting Kim Jae-ha occurred occasionally.

Since it was Yeon-woo who had to pay his salary, his decision was important.

“But didn’t you say you couldn’t reach him?”

“I got a late response. He said he’ll at least arrive by 6:30, but there has been no word from him.”

An answer arrived at dawn from the formerly silent Kim Jae-ha.

Somehow they managed to make an appointment, but the time was already past 7:30.

“It brings me back to the old days. No doubt his usual get-off-work hour must have been 6.”

Walking together, Avant-garde said with a distant look on his face.

He stated that up until 3 years ago he used to be an ordinary office worker working at a company.

“Taeyul Company… is this way.”

Taking the lead, Yeon-woo sought the path hither and thither.

And around the time they arrived at a street nearly 10 minutes away from the station.

Loud shouting could be heard.

“Hey, Kim Jae-ha. Who the fuck do you think you are trying to crawl over me.”

A building bearing the name Taeyul Company.

At the entrance stairs below it, a middle-aged man was shrieking at someone.

The exhausted-looking man called Kim Jae-ha raised his voice somewhat pitifully.

“I didn’t mean to crawl over you. Didn’t I tell you multiple times that we needed to bid. Had you at least reported it to the boss.”

“Results speak, you don’t realize results matter? Who knew there was some crazy bastard who would pour 100 million into an Essence of Earth worth ten million. You should have persuaded me properly.”

“Corporations, streamers, and solo players alike were all competing to connect strings somehow. I caught onto that atmosphere and submitted the report in advance. That was what you ignored, manager.”

“This guy is a complete lunatic. Even before the auction, getting Black Dragon into your pocket was your job. Do you comprehend?”

Listening to the conversation, Han-bit roughly got a feel for the situation.

It was the same for the other two who listened together.

“That’s about your auction, isn’t it, Hyung?”

“It seems Mr. Kim Jae-ha suggested a bid. The way things are going seems roughly discernible.”

Those eyeing Black Dragon’s auction as an opportunity weren’t few.

If there was a person who judged faster than Luna, they likely would have gotten in touch with that side.

Kim Jae-ha’s prediction was precise.

“You’re a guy who should only do free labor. If money gets involved, you’ll just ruin the company’s affairs. No, wait, there’s not even much more to ruin than before, right?”

“Even then I clearly warned you it would be perilous. And this time, it was something we had to do unconditionally.”

“Hey.”

Thud.

The manager struck Kim Jae-ha’s chest with his fist.

“Don’t delude yourself. You’re just a bastard who sucks at his job. Making you do work that requires no expense is instead of clearing your desk. You have absolutely no tact, too.”

“…….”

The endless torrent of criticism falling down consecutively lodged itself deep into Han-bit’s ears as well.

And the manager even let slip a matter that he shouldn’t have brought up.

“Don’t your wife and kid know you are acting like this in the company? Act in a way they won’t feel ashamed of. Okay? If you’re incompetent, at least do what you’re told to do well.”

“…Why do you mess with my family?”

“Oho, want to hit me? You going to untie those fists?”

Kim Jae-ha’s spontaneously clenched fists trembled slightly.

The reason he held it back even still was likely because of his family.

‘Are all companies made of places like this.’

The team leader’s face naturally popped up.

Down to using his family members to talk smack, it was an exact copy.

Re-experiencing the humiliation from such an individual, Kim Jae-ha reflected himself onto his senior Lee Min-ho and himself.

“If you can’t even accept your superior’s advice, how the hell are you going to take care of your family properly? You’re going to rot in that spot for the rest of your life. It’s because of me that garbage like you was even kept,what the?”

A person caught the arm of the manager spouting curses.

Raising his head, he locked eyes with Han-bit.

“Who the fuck is this bastard? You won’t let go?”

“Who the fuck are you?”

“Wow, this guy has no home training at all. Who acts like that to a senior,argh.”

As he continued his sentence, the manager’s expression distorted.

It was due to an enormous pain washing over his arm.

Crack.

Applying light pressure to his fingers, Han-bit crushed the manager’s arm.

He knew all too well where to apply how much pressure to make it excruciating.

“Acting your age makes you an adult. Those are my mother’s words.”