The Game of the Greatest Black Mage

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]

Chapter 132

0.

Pshhhhhaaaa.

As the sound of hissing steam echoed…

Seonghyun stepped out of the capsule.

He wasn't soaked in sweat today like when he was training in the Hall of Knights.

But he looked similarly tired.

After playing the game for a long time…

It was only natural to feel fatigued.

“Hoo.”

Lightly stretching his body, Seonghyun came out.

Then, as if he had forgotten something, Seonghyun thought.

‘I didn’t send the video.’

It wasn’t a raid, so he hadn’t requested a live stream.

But wasn’t the video of the Demon’s Realm invasion pretty good too?

So, he sent the video file to Rapid, no, to Ahn Yoojin.

These days, you could send files directly from the capsule.

After conveniently sending the video…

Seonghyun lightly sent Ahn Yoojin a text message.

He briefly texted that it was a video of the Demon’s Realm invasion and then went out to the living room.

Having played the game for so long, he was feeling peckish and went to get something to eat.

Just then, his mother, Lee Nakyeong, emerged from the master bedroom, all dressed up.

What’s going on?

As Seonghyun thought that…

His mother, Lee Nakyeong, spoke as if glad to see him out.

“Oh, Seonghyun-ah, Mom and Dad have to go out. Want to come with us~?”

“Huh?”

Is it another one of those married couples' gatherings?

The thought of Kwon's Restaurant from last time made his mouth water.

But the memory of meeting Kim Chegeon, whose real name was Clara, surfaced, and his appetite waned a bit.

“Hmm, no. I think I’ll just rest today.”

“Oh, really? Then let Mina know too.”

Now that he knew a bit more…

It seemed his father’s work was indeed busy.

As his mother, Lee Nakyeong, hurried out like that…

Seonghyun, wondering if he should order something to eat, checked an app on his phone.

‘Hmm.’

Delivery.

It’s tasty, but…

Eating it at home.

It didn’t appeal to him.

He had been home for so long because of the Hall of Knights.

Should he say he wanted a change of scenery?

‘Should I go out to eat?’

Come to think of it, a friend had contacted him a few days ago saying he had been discharged from the military.

Not a university friend, but a friend since middle school.

He had been thinking of meeting up with him once.

Meeting up with him now seemed like a good idea.

With that thought, Seonghyun made the call.

The phone was answered after only a few rings.

[Oh!? Yoo Seonghyun! What’s up?]

“Heard you got discharged. We should grab a meal or something.”

[Meal? A meeeaaal??? I don’t go out unless it’s for drinks.]

This guy never changes.

Seonghyun thought so, nodded, and said.

“Alright, let’s get drinks then.”

[Oh? What’s the occasion? Okay, okay, then let’s meet at the three-way intersection in 10 minutes.]

“Got it.”

Seonghyun said that and ended the call.

Yep, this is how phone calls with friends should be.

Thinking that, Seonghyun considered quickly washing up before going out.

But then he thought, did he really need to for this guy? So, he just threw on some clothes and headed out.

Indeed, when guys meet up, this was the unwritten rule.

Even though he didn't shower just now, he had showered after lunch earlier, so he looked presentable.

Moreover, thanks to Seonghyun’s handsome features, even though he dressed casually, he looked quite stylish.

As Seonghyun left like that…

A little later, his older sister, Yoo Mina, opened her capsule and came out.

“Huh? Mom? Dad? Seonghyun-ah?”

And there she was, scratching her cheek in the empty, hollow house.

Why is no one home?

1.

Those whose arrogance pierces the sky are not as easily broken as one might think.

If one possesses that much self-importance, it’s highly likely that ability forms its foundation.

Usually, they only break when they meet someone far superior.

But for Takamiya Kyou, the story was a bit different.

Overwhelming talent.

In Eternal World, it was a talent that allowed no others to follow—unrivaled.

If one had to compare, wouldn't it take someone at the level of the current Single Rankers to even be a match for Kyou?

He possessed talent that could make one think that.

Talent that justified arrogance piercing the heavens.

Simultaneously, he was blessed with a disposition that didn’t neglect effort despite such talent, so Kyou’s arrogance rarely crumbled.

On top of that, those around him even revered him.

It wasn't an easy thing to cure.

But now.

“……”

Without saying a word.

He was outside his capsule, blankly hugging his knees.

Why had he lost?

Kyou was young and arrogant.

But a frightening aspect he possessed was his habit of reviewing even the slightest mistake.

It was the same now.

“……”

The battle with the Demon King’s retainer.

Fiora’s overwhelming combat ability and talent.

He replayed them, repeating the battle countless times in his mind.

But why was it?

Unlike all other times…

Even when he replayed it, he couldn’t see it.

‘…It doesn’t come to mind.’

A scene where he wins.

He hadn't even faced the Demon King himself, but was defeated by his retainer.

He, a Stormlord, an Almighty rank class, had been defeated.

It was a splendid achievement built upon overwhelming talent.

That talent combined with one of Eternal World’s best classes!

And yet, he had lost.

Not even to another Almighty rank.

But to a retainer wielded by someone of that rank.

‘What on earth is this?’

At this point, Kyou couldn’t understand.

Was he weak?

No.

Recalling the battle itself, he was confident he could have won against even three decent Legendary rank rookies.

He had been in that good of a condition.

Yet, to have been defeated despite that meant the Demon King’s retainer was superior to him.

If so, there was only one thing Kyou had to do.

‘Let’s accept it.’

It didn’t matter if the Demon King was the same rank as him.

Or even a higher rank.

He had lost.

And quite miserably at that.

Usually, in cases of twisted pride like Kyou’s…

One would crumble completely upon defeat.

In fact, when Fiora’s sword had been at his neck…

Kyou had been floundering in despair, finding it incredibly hard to endure the defeat.

However, faced with his current self now…

Unlike before, his twisted demeanor vanished without a trace.

And only a single purpose remained.

Therefore.

‘I’m going to a guild too.’

To the Rapid Guild.

It didn’t matter what price he had to pay.

He would go to the guild where the Demon King was.

Go to the same guild as him.

And someday.

‘I will defeat the Demon King.’

Of course, before that.

‘I’ll have to beat that retainer first.’

She said she was the weakest.

So, he had to take that one down first.

2.

The life of an office worker is exhausting.

Even if you try to look for something fun to do after work…

Your energy is depleted, you don’t want to do anything, and in the end, it’s a life that just repeats home, work, home, work.

However, there was an even more exhausting life.

What kind of life, you ask?

None other than the life of a Guild Master.

Ahn Yoojin, emerging from her capsule as if she had been shot out, collapsed onto her bed with a tired face.

“Uwaaaaargh.”

Office workers at least get to rest on weekends.

But she, a Guild Master, had to work even on weekends.

She desperately wanted to rest soundly, even if just for the weekend, but that wasn't possible either.

Still, the situation had been good for a few days.

Because Seonghyun had been quiet for five days.

What about public opinion?

She could refute it and pay attention to public opinion if she wanted to.

But she deliberately chose not to.

‘That’s all money too, in the end.’

The Rapid Guild had more than enough power to change public opinion.

But wasn't that all money too?

It was good to do it if necessary.

But she knew that public opinion regarding him would turn around soon enough anyway.

She didn't want to spend money on unnecessary things.

Just as Ahn Yoojin thought she could finally get some rest…

And was lying down…

A message arrived from Seonghyun, as if from a ghost.

“Uwaaaaargh.”

Just let me rest a bit.

She wanted to say it.

But he was currently the hottest topic in the Rapid Guild.

She couldn't just ignore it.

As Ahn Yoojin checked Seonghyun’s message on her phone…

‘A video?’

A video file with a significantly large size had arrived.

Wondering what it could be, she started watching it.

The video began with an aerial shot, set against the backdrop of the Dune Wild Trail’s Demon's Realm.

As Ahn Yoojin watched the rather impressive production…

Soon, the Demon King’s legion overran the Demon's Realm.

Monsters were trampled.

They lost their lives.

The places their forces advanced were filled solely with death.

Watching another video of incredible production quality, Ahn Yoojin slowly closed her eyes.

“Haaaah.”

He sends such an amazing video.

How could she possibly rest?

She had to edit it.

Just as Ahn Yoojin got up to go to her computer…

The screen transitioned, and some strange fellow appeared.

“Huh? Isn’t this Kyou?”

As befitted the Guild Master of the 3rd ranked guild, Ahn Yoojin knew Kyou well.

Including the fact that there was a very high possibility he was an Almighty rank.

‘He met Kyou here?’

As Ahn Yoojin watched with an intrigued expression…

She wondered how Seonghyun would actually present himself.

[-Hueh?]

One of Seonghyun’s cute retainers popped out.

It was Fiora.

In the video, as she headed towards Kyou…

A lightning bird flew in between them, attempting to attack, but Fiora instantly slashed the lightning bird in two.

At the utterly unexpected sight, Ahn Yoojin’s eyes widened, and she straightened her posture.

No matter how much Kyou had thrown that as a check, a retainer just cut it down that easily?

‘What is this?’

The video continued with Fiora overwhelmingly defeating Kyou.

And at the end, Fiora, as if nothing had happened, attacking the Demon's Realm again.

It was a perfect video.

No, she had thought Kyou appearing was already a big hit.

But for Seonghyun’s subordinate, not even Seonghyun himself, to capture him like that was incredible.

And after it ended, seeing the scene where they cleared a path, knelt, and bowed their heads low towards Seonghyun, creating a path for him, Ahn Yoojin felt a thrill run through her.

‘This is insane. Insane.’

A composition like this probably wouldn't come about even if you tried to plan it intentionally.

How does he always manage to produce such things without even intending to?

Truly a talent like that of a Demon King.

The problem was.

‘But isn’t there anyone good at video editing around here?’

The issue was that there was no talent within the guild capable of handling a video of this caliber.

If there wasn't any, what could she do?

She had to do it herself.

Just as Ahn Yoojin, after watching Seonghyun’s video, was about to start editing it immediately…

She received another unexpected email.

[Subject: Guild Master, I think you need to see this.]

The sender was none other than the person in charge of HR, Luciel.

What could it be that she’d send an email this late at night?

As Ahn Yoojin immediately checked it…

She felt it was certainly warranted.

[Guild Application - Kyou.]

That Rookie Slayer, Kyou, had requested to join the guild.

What on earth was happening?

‘No, what the……’

She wanted to say something, but she couldn't.

Because Kyou’s class, as seen from the status window included in his guild application, was indeed Almighty rank.

A guild application from Kyou, who was on the wanted list of most guilds in the Dune Wild Trail.

Her head throbbed as if it would break.

This is getting bigger than expected.

No, why is everyone requesting to join the guild after being beaten by Seonghyun?

At least with Meilin or Kurosawa Ren earlier, they were individuals who could be handled cleanly, so that was fine.

“What on earth should I do with this guy?”

Kyou was a different story.

But he was an Almighty rank.

She couldn't just refuse him.

If they accepted him as well…

Their number of Almighty rank users would increase to three, just like the 2nd ranked guild.

She couldn't ignore that, so it was a headache.

If this happened, wouldn't she also have to talk with the guilds that had previously put him on their wanted lists?

The only silver lining, perhaps, was that Kyou wasn't asking for any other conditions?

Just one thing.

“Haaaaah.”

It was only to allow him to fight Seonghyun again later.

Seeing as he said to give him whatever for contract money, conditions, and salary, it seemed he was serious.

In that case, it wasn't a huge loss.

No, rather, the financial gain was much greater.

The only problem was the increased workload.

“What can I do……”

It has to be done.

Ahn Yoojin said so and sent an email to Luciel.

Telling her to approve the application and handle the other processing.

Luciel seemed quite displeased.

[Luciel: As expected…… it has to be done, right? Hoo, I'll try to manage him well.]

[Rapid: Please take care of it.]

[Luciel: Not at all. I know you're going through a lot too, Guild Master.]

Luciel even offered words of comfort she didn't usually say.

How hard must she know it would be to say such things?

Anyway, even as the weekend night deepened, Ahn Yoojin had no choice but to take on the additional work that had just landed on her.

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]