chapter 10. Friends

“Hurry up and fight!”

Even though the captain of the Pirate s.h.i.+p yelled, the Pirates continued to watch in awe while drooling with their mouth hanging open.

“Oh, We want to avert our eyes but….we cannot look anywhere else.”

“She’s so pretty. Ah, If i have a girlfriend like that too I would live my life to invite her on a daily basis. Khuck! On board the Pirate s.h.i.+p where you only see guys, even seeing a female puffer fish would make one happy.”

“Its not just the pretty face, its the overall figure. That perfect beauty. If only I could list her as a my friend…”

Even from the distance the Sailors and the Pirates could see Hwaryeong’s face as if it right in front of them. One of Dancer’s ability is to attract the attention of the enemy. Part of Hwaryeong’s collarbone was visible through the cotton, one cannot help but to be engrossed in it to the point where it was as if they could hear the sound of her breath.

The older men were literally frozen due to the temptation of Hwaryeong"s dance.

“I need to watch her, even if my wife will hit me or kill me!”

A sense of urgency could be felt. The people outside the range of Hwaryeong’s dance, who were not stupefied, broke out into a violent battle.

“UwAhhhhhhhhh!”

“Kill the sea monster!”

A Pirate s.h.i.+p rammed a squid like sea monster that resembled a Kraken with the front of their s.h.i.+p.

Kaooooooooooo!

Enraged, the kraken stretched out and wrapped its tentacles around the Pirate s.h.i.+p and squeezed it with force.

“Charge! Charge!”

The Pirates climbed aboard the tentacles of the kraken and brandished their swords. The kraken continued to fight while swimming, even as parts of it’s body that was cut, fell into the sea.

The sailing s.h.i.+ps converged together towards the Ghost s.h.i.+ps, the cries of the Undead did not stop at the sea. The Pirates even boarded onto the s.h.i.+p that Weed was on.

“I don’t care what happens to the rest of the war. We must capture Weed.”

“Kehehehe, We are going to become the heroes that caught Weed. What should we do with the item that drops?”

“Find the s.h.i.+p’s captain. Let’s sneak up on him so that he won’t notice us.”

The Pirates approached Weed stealthily while he was engaged in fights. There was no way that Weed did not see them. After all, This was the home of excellent items, especially during battles!

‘They are wearing a cheap Pirate coat. The only good items are the boots and the belts, that were limited to levels over 300.’

Belts are generally not items that are often dropped. As the Pirates often boarded and plundered other s.h.i.+ps for loot, they did not wear as good of an equipment compared to the Navy Knights.

‘Even If I sell them, I probably won"t get much out of it.’

The Pirate equipments were not even good enough to save them. Weed completely ignored them and continued to focus on his fight.

“Keuhahahaha! Give me all your health & mana and die. Hmm, I get vulnerable when I use health & mana drain, but there is n.o.body who is a threat to me, so it’s fine.”

A poor performance by Weed.

He wanted to wipe them all out once the Pirates got closer. But when the Pirates were sneaking in closer to his back, there was another person blocking their path.

This whole time Seo Yoon has been circling near Weed, when she saw Pirates coming towards him she drew her sword.

“Tch. We’ve been discovered.”

“Kill her!”

Seo Yoon confronted the oncoming Pirates, by silently wielding her sword.

“.....”

Seo Yoon cut down all the Pirates without even feeling sorry for them.

Weed looked out of the corner of his eyes at the woman who was considered as pretty reliable.

Even though there was a strong girl protecting him, He disliked missing the chance to get rid of the twelve Pirates personally

‘She is a sensitive girl with a soft corner in her heart and...in her own way she’s taking good care of me.’

Just when he was quietly praising her, Seo Yoon bent down to pick up the items that dropped from the Pirates.

Boots and belts!

Some Pirates even dropped Emeralds and handcrafted jewelry, that appeared to be from an aristocratic family.

“So that’s the case.”

Weed was so annoyed that he couldn’t speak.

Both the sea monsters and the living sculptures were involved in a fierce close combat in an artillery battle.

Although many of The Ghost s.h.i.+ps sank, The price was heavy, as numerous wars.h.i.+ps and Pirates s.h.i.+ps also went under.

The sight of the Drinpelts’s Pirate alliance locked in a deathly struggle with Weed’s Undead was a sight to behold.

“Kekekeke. I want to drink some Lime juice! My throat feels really dry.”

From the cries of the Undead, one of the Pirates instinctively took out a lime juice and gave it to him.

The Undead swallowed loudly as if he drank the juice.

“Did that work? I even gave you a drink so can you go back to your own s.h.i.+p now.”

However the Undead once again started fighting with even more vigor.

“My thirst has finally been quenched, now it’s time to kill you. Ohehhehehe!”

As they fought mindlessly with one another, they acc.u.mulated heavy physical damage with each fight.

Weed thought that he had partic.i.p.ated in too many large scale battles recently.

“I just want to live a long and simple life, but there are no days to rest.”

Therefore, he had no intention of being a hero.

I just want live comfortably by getting good rewards while doing several quests and hunting!

The war that’s been going on since dawn seems to be near it’s end, as the artillery fire reduced showing the declining state of the User’s stamina.

Doung! Doung! Doung! Doung! (drum roll sound)

In the rain, the navy fleet of an immortal legion adorned by a fluttering flag with a screaming skull came towards them from the sea.

The battles.h.i.+ps fired a volley of cannons at Haven Kingdom’s fleet and the Pirate s.h.i.+ps.

“What the h.e.l.l is that?”

Drinpelt was dumbfounded.

As far as he knew, in the open sea, only trade cities and Kingdoms owned battles.h.i.+ps.

But dozens of battles.h.i.+ps with armed fleet suddenly appeared before them!

With their excellent eyesight they saw the Undead that were lined up on the deck.

Zombies, Ghouls, Burning Skeletons, Lesser Undead along with Witches and Death Knight, there were even Archmages and Dullahans.

They started casting black magic towards the Haven Kingdom’s fleet and the Pirate s.h.i.+ps.

“That’s the flag of the Immortal Legion that Weed had to deal with!”

“What the, why would they attack us? Isn’t it normal to attack Weed, against whom they hold a grudge.”

Both Drinpelt’s fleet and Pirate’s felt completely overwhelmed.

Even when they haven’t done anything wrong to the Undead yet, for them to have gathered their strongest naval power against them.

Weed was also uncomfortable in many ways. He had many interlaced ill-fated relations.h.i.+ps with the Immortal Legions.

“With my own hands I lead to the eternal rest of Lich s.h.i.+re. During that time, with the help of Orcs and Dark Elves I defeated many Immortal Legions, I even summoned Bar Khan to fight against the Embinyu Church...”

The Immortal Legions were neither friendly nor enemies.

The fleet consisted a total of 45 black sliver battles.h.i.+ps! They were similar level to Drinpelt’s s.h.i.+p of the line battles.h.i.+p, It had tremendous amount of firepower. (s.h.i.+p of the line is a type of naval battles.h.i.+p constructed in 17th to 19th century to take part in the naval tactic known as line of battle.)

In addition, lined up on the deck were the Undead that were usually not easy to deal with.

Weed, who had previously fought with the Immortal Legions, knew full well about how powerful they were.

“Even if there were no Necromancers it would still be difficult to deal with the Immortal Legions.”

It was ridiculous to fight the Immortal Legion when they were not prepared to fight.

There was a possibility that one of the Ghost s.h.i.+ps from his fleet might not follow his orders and attack the Immortal Legion.

Although Bingryong, Phoenix, and the living sculpture did not attack, they were ordered to check them out.

The Immortal Legion that brought over their wars.h.i.+ps struck first with cannons and magic at Drinpelt and Griffith’s battles.h.i.+p.

Fire blazed forth on the battles.h.i.+ps that sank due to the sh.e.l.ling!

The fight that The Immortal legion started has been going on for the past 2 hours ended when both the Drinpelt’s and Griffith’s fleet retreated from the battle.

They could still restart the battle since half of them were still near the others still in battle, but now it was not possible to catch Weed anymore.

Once they all withdrew, the war completely stopped.

As the sound of the deafening cannon fire entirely diminished, the flags.h.i.+p of the Immortal Legion approached Weed.

The Ghost s.h.i.+ps parted through the middle and a path was cleared.

It was not because of Weed’s orders, some of the Undead were so afraid that they avoided the Immortal Legions.

That’s how dreadful, the Undead fear their seniors.

“Hmmm.”

Despite the long battle Weed’s mind was processing very fast.

‘I want to live at all cost. But if I were to die it needs to be with very minimal damage.’

The odds of him getting out of this situation alive was like finding a winning lottery ticket on the side of the road.

Hwaryeong stopped dancing, and all the attention was now on Weed’s s.h.i.+p.

As he was standing at the bow while it was rocking, Weed projected a very strong Death Aura.

If it was on land, he could have chickened out on his responsibility and ran away, but this was on the sea.

‘Seeing as they haven’t directly started attacking us, there might be a possibility of having a minimum amount of dialogue with them. Maybe now that I am in a same Undead state as them, they might look over me right?’

In the midst of the battlefield, Wyverns and Bingryong were steadily collecting the items that were left out.

His Talrock’s armour, equipments and treasures were left with Golden Bird, Silver Bird, and Yellowy so now he was penniless! Weed muttered with his yellow teeth.

‘Its fine if I die. 2 times or 3 times I can catch up by doing 2x or even 3x more grinding. The Immortal Legion! I will surely get my revenge.’

If the Immortal Legion kills him, he will get his revenge later.

‘5 years, no...i’ll see you in 20 years. By then I’ll have an enormous amount of levels and I will have my revenge.’

There is no time limit for revenge!

Weed waited on the bow with his chest proudly open and his shoulders pulled back. In any case he did not want to fight with the Legions of Undead.

Even though his level is much higher than before there was no chance to do it alone, even if he uses his friends and a bunch of subordinates they will all still take an enormous amount of damage.

If all the Living Sculptures were to die, there really won’t be anything left, he didn’t take such a dangerous risk.

‘I’ll die for those guys so only kill me.’

In his heart he became solid in his resolution, even in front of the Immortal Legion he didn’t even feel a little bit of inferiority.

On his face and in his eyes, the Immortal Legion were not worth anything to him, he arrogantly gave off the impression that he had the authority and charisma to easily stomp them out and die from him.

-Everyone leave here. Step back and wait where Yellowy is. Bingryong and Wyverns land and protect Yellowy and others and make sure that what happened to Geumini won"t happen again..

As the battles.h.i.+p stopped close by to Weed, an Undead human that looks like a reptilian frogman stepped out.

The 3 Mad Sharks of Becky Ninh, the navy knights, and even the large Pirate’s body stiffen Due to the appearance of Has.h.i.+lsa.

Weed’s Fighting Spirit was high enough, so there were no effect.

‘The necklace of Ellekaye, it is a treasure necklace that still seeks for its frozen owner. Contained in the Magician Guild’s treasure book, it clearly states that the item’s attack skill scope and effect increases by 35%. And supposedly the Mana consumption is also reduced by a half. The one that he is also holding is the Kingdoms Knights magic sword. Even if you do say it’s a magic sword, just the necklace is over level 600.’

If you look it at in a certain way, the reason that Bar Khan can not exercise his full ability must be due to his heart being pierced with a sword! Just by identifying the item in his mind he felt more comfortable.

‘Come and attack. I am not afraid to die. If he’s at that level, even I will die quickly.’

Even Weed couldn’t identify most of the items that Has.h.i.+lsa was wearing.

It’s possible to say that all the items were unique treasures, anyone can guess Hals.h.i.+lsa’s strength is formidable! But Weed arrogantly began talking to him first.

“Has.h.i.+lsa, You came to find me for a reason, What did you want to talk to me about?”

Of course Has.h.i.+lsa could not manage and control the whole Immortal Legion Fleet alone.

Yet, Weed continued to talk with a cold tone while emitting the Death Aura.

Even if he were about to die, he still had the chance to say his last words and even ask questions.

Isn’t this what being a men is all about.

One of the important motto of being a Dark gamer was that even if one was to get attacked by a dragon they had to stay attentive so they can collect as many items before they are killed.

Has.h.i.+lsa raised one of his arms to his chest and slightly bowed forward.

“I give you my greetings. The reason I am here is to let you know that Sir Bar Khan Demoph is calling for you.”

A heavy hearted predicament! Weed was even popular with the monsters, this was something he did not want.

Weed rolled his eyes as he asked Has.h.i.+lsa.

“Did he come here too?”

“…No, he did not come.”

Even if Bar Khan didn’t come, it still wasn’t a joyful situation.

If it was just Has.h.i.+lsa, Weed would have been able to kill him.

Having a big level deference toward Has.h.i.+lsa made it difficult to avoid him and he made him feel like he had a duty to continue to converse with him.

Also there are often a lot of boss level monsters that have their own back stories.

Rather than trying to blindly fight, it was necessary to speak and learn as much as you can.

‘They may even let me live. I’m even using honorifics right now.’

However he can not just believe in just that, there is a possibility that Has.h.i.+lsa could transform into a weak personality, and use honorifics to weaker individuals.

Weed put on a rotten smile on his lips.

“Really? Then, are you not here to attack me?”

He asked an important question right from the start.

All of a sudden, an idea brushed his mind.

‘Ah, by any chance?’

He was currently in a Lich form.

Of course, It didn’t make sense to his fellow colleagues when he suddenly started getting unlimited respect from a senior Undead.

But when he sculpted his Lich’s sculpture to transform his appearance, it was modelled after s.h.i.+re. Even though right now he wasn’t even wearing any of s.h.i.+re’s equipment.

‘Huhu, I don’t think it is possible. Even if one accidentally see me as a Lich, how is it possible for them to be that confused.’

However Weed’s imagination was proven to be true by Has.h.i.+lsa’s next words..

“How can you think that I can attack Bar Khan’s protege s.h.i.+re?”

“.....”

“Sir s.h.i.+re, Bar Khan is urgently looking for you.”

Weed’s skull face turned askew. To come this far he could not pretend that he didn’t know any such Lich.

“Right now I’m a little busy so I’ll come later.”

He only told him that he will go to Bar Khan so that they could hear exactly what they wanted to hear!

Being called to the monster legion is a huge headache.

“Sir s.h.i.+re, you are an important apprentice of Bar Khan, so you must come to Bar Khan’s calling. Sir s.h.i.+re, I can personally give 120 days for you to come and join him, I hope its enough time.”

‘How can they do something so underhanded to me.’

He wasn’t even given the chance to politely refuse.

While Weed was still complaining about it, Has.h.i.+lsa started speaking again.

“Then I shall leave first and head towards Bar Khan. I’ll see you there, Sir s.h.i.+re.”

Weed wanted him out of there as soon as possible

“I get it, so leave.”

He wanted to curse furiously at them, but he was in a situation where he would not dare to open his mouth.

There are people that are level 200 or higher that go around showing off their strength.

But Weed, who was close to level 400 is even now constantly being entangled with high profile monsters.

This time, Bar Khan must be planning to trample all the Kingdoms

Weed felt that it was his fate.

‘Just my rotten luck. There probably aren"t any other users in Versailles that has to go through all this just like me.’

But the people who were watching him, like always had a different idea.

‘Weed got another bada.s.s Quest again.’

‘To be the only one to have been commissioned a quest related to the Immortal Legion once again, he is truly awesome.’

‘I’m so envious. Unlike him, we are only doing piracy to live and eat off of others.’

‘Don’t tell me that he will succeed and then throw away the Immortal Legion Quest? I’m sure that it wouldn’t just end without even meeting Bar Khan.’

Players who were of slightly higher level, changed their minds.

‘Hmm, I was thinking about killing Weed and stealing the Quest, but now, it might be better if I don’t steal it.’

‘If it’s a quest related to Immortal Legion then one might have to continually die. He might even have to die at least five or six times.’

‘I’m going to have many troubles. Here at Jigolaths I had went through quite a lot…..It’s better to just live moderately and comfortably.’

They all lost interest in Weed’s high sea adventures.

When Has.h.i.+lsa came, the Ghost s.h.i.+p that sunk rose up from the sea as if nothing happened to it.

While Drinpelt and Griffith battles.h.i.+ps were damaged badly that they could no longer continue to drag on the naval warfare.

The worst possibility was that they could lose everything, though it will be even more difficult to return back to Versailles Continent.

------------------------

After Naval Warfare concluded and it was finally time to return back to Versailles Continent with his friends. It’s gonna be a pleasant voyage.

The living sculptures divided amongst themselves into the three Ghost s.h.i.+ps. Weed, his friends, and Seo Yoon all rode on one s.h.i.+p.

“Kahem! Silver Bird come here and say h.e.l.lo.”

Peyoc, tweet, chirp. Silver Bird folded her wings and greeted them cutely.

Zephyr was using his fis.h.i.+ng rod to catch food, while Weed cooked his special seafood soup.

While they were eating their food, Hwaryeong began telling the story of their arrival when they came after the Ghost s.h.i.+p fleet.

“This taste delicious! When we saw the Immortal Legion, we were worried that we might have arrived too late….”

Their s.h.i.+p’s speed was so slow that they arrived just in the nick of time.

Irene added to the explanation.

“Now, Mermaids would always come over, thanks to Bellot singing and dancing. Zephyr also helped out a group of captive dolphins.”

Bellot sang with her voice in precise and fine tune, singing a sweet song joyfully. After gathering the Mermaids, Zephyr did not waste his bait for fis.h.i.+ng and instead he tossed and fed the dolphins making them gather.

Thanks to that, they arrived just on time.

Weed introduced his friends and Seo Yoon to each other.

They worked and hunted with her and Seechwi for a brief period in the past, so it was not like they didn’t know each other.

“....”

Seo Yoon face was like a mask, since she usually doesn’t speak with other people.

If it was not something she needed to say to Weed, it was difficult for her to talk.

After all the greetings are done, Weed spread out a cloth on the floor, that he uses when sewing.

“Come on let us begin.”

“huh?”

“Hwaryeong who won 1, 190 gold, please play the game.”

To pa.s.s time by playing Go-Stop during the voyage!

Weed proposed to Hwaryeong and Bellot, While Irene, Zephyr and Romuna exchanged glances.

‘As expected It seems he was planning to play again.’

‘that must have been his plan all along…..’

‘There can be no mistake.’

Normally, It isn’t a good idea to take sides in advance and do fraudulent gambling. But now, It was just the opposite!

They were going to satisfy Weed by losing to him. Weed even drew Seo Yoon into the game.

“Don’t just watch come over and play.”

“......”

“Do you not know how to play? I’ll show you how to play. Its easy all you need to know are a few rules.“

Weed knew the truth that Seo Yoon was rich, so he dragged her in because of his greed.

“All you need to do is to collect a lot. There are several important things having a lot of Sangpi (junk tile) is good. Its even possible to get Gw.a.n.gman (bright tile).”

They went around in circles a couple of times.

The party that was trying to lose lightly, and Weed who is trying to earn easy money from others their face was very tense as they played.

Bellot and Irene folded their tiles, while Weed, Pale, and Seo Yoon continued to played GoStop.

In front of Seo Yoon, a lot of tiles were stacked on her side. Weed and Pale had light amount of tiles stacked and they were going after the bonus, on the second rotation a hit has occurred.

And it already it came to a point where a hit was called out twice.

‘Pibak and Gw.a.n.gbak (another game term), on top of that two GO were called...’

Weed and Pale concentration were sharper than ever.

They had little amounts of tiles, while in front of Seo Yoon there were a lot.

Even the people on the side were immersed in tension, It was finally Seo Yoon’s turn.

Chak.

Chak!

As Seo Yoon took PalGong (go-stop card term), she flips the card and out came Sangpi. (another go-stop term.)

Silence fell on the group.

“Are you really going to choose to go to th...three Go?”

Weed asked with difficulty.

At this moment it concerned him more than anything else.

‘If she has a least bit of conscience she won’t possibly go to three.’

Changdong (game phrase) can earn 10 gold (1st hit is called) and one can win up to 2, 000 gold in one game (when third hit is called).

Seo Yoon nods to Weed’s question and shows him three fingers.

During the whole day Weed lost 6, 290 gold to Seo Yoon who continually wiped the board clean.

-----------------------------------------------

KMC Media relayed the Battle of Jigolaths for the whole day. Of course they had the highest rating, but it was not as big an issue as they thought.

-I already thought and expected it would be such a fight.

-Weed knocked down a Dragon while riding on top of a Wyvern. In the continent of magic, G.o.d of War slaying a group of users was a very common occurrence.

There were a lot of players that had never experienced the High Seas of the ocean, but now their interest quickly fell and everyone were now concentrating on the Central Continent.

Prestigious Guilds have waged war and conducted a series of raids.

It was a battleground between multiple territories, villages and castles.

Everybody were fiercely involved in the war and previously unknown strong players emerged one by one.

High level users from the prestigious guild were actively fighting in the dark inflicting blows to their opposition.

On the Game television station they were broadcasting it live for 24 hours in an emergency mode, Royal Road was heating up again.

---------------------------------------

“Sigh, the real Autumn is really short.”

As Lee Hyun saw the leaves falling, he was feeling uncertainty towards his tuition fees.

“For the semester to be over so soon and to be so expensive, After winter vacation pa.s.ses I’ll have to do another semester.”

He let out a sigh as he quickly walked home to rest.

They were currently in the midst of a voyage from Jigolaths to Morata, even though they were in no danger, he employed his friends who were stationed at specific position as a precaution.

“I should focus on making sculptures and make some leather robes until we arrive.”

The only person who was excited to do the grinding was Lee Hyun. However when heading back towards his house, he saw that there was a black car and people wearing suit waiting in front of his house. As he was trying to avoid them, they came forward and spoke to him.

“Excuse me, but are you Lee Hyun?”

Lee Hyun answered nonchalantly.

“Yes? And you are?”

If an incident were to occur its best to feign ignorance!

He pretended he didn’t hear any of them. But couple of the guys that were there were Seo Yoon’s bodyguards he has seen a few times before.

“We came here to discuss about what happened between you and Seo Yoon. The president is waiting, do you mind sparing a few moments?”

Lee Hyun stopped walking.

Seo Yoon’s father had called for him.

It was great and wonderful, yet strangely foreboding

He wasn’t surprised because he knew that something like this would happen one day. Which was the reason he was being nice to her.

Everytime she gave off a friendly gaze he roughly predicted that a day like today would happen.

“I see. Let’s go.”

Lee Hyun followed them.

-----------------------------------------

Accompanied by several bodyguards, they arrived in front of a luxurious Mansion with an impressive garden.

“Is this Seo Yoon’s house?”

When Lee Hyun asked, the security flinched but replied as if they didn’t think of it as a secret.

“Seo Yoon does not live here.This is a summer house that the President uses sometimes.”

This is how he met Seo Yoon Dad, President Jeong Deuk Soo.

He offered a seat to Lee Hyun.

“Come on in. Did you have a meal yet?”

In this situation, Lee Hyun would have usually replied to this question that he hadn’t eaten anything at all.

That was his creed.

He felt awkward eating so early as it wasn’t even 5 pm and in any case he didn"t want to embarra.s.s himself.

“Thank you but that’s okay. I already ate a lot for lunch.”

“Then we shall have some light refreshments while we speak.”

“If you have anything to say to me please say it, it’s alright.”

“Oh no, you"re not in any trouble. To me you are an important guest so don’t worry about it.”

President Jeong Deuk Soo got up and brought out some light refreshment.

“You are the best friend of my daughter Seo Yoon at the Korean National University and I also have heard that you have been going on fun adventures together in Royal Road. What kind of adventures do you mainly do?”

“I just did this and that.”

“Your adventures were even on TV shows, is it famous to that extent?”

President Jeong Deuk Soo was very interested Lee Hyun’s work.

Lee Hyun briefly told him about the Freya’s church Quest, Lich s.h.i.+re quest, and the fights he had been in.

Although President Jeong Deuk Soo had only been briefed for about 10 mins of the story, it was too vague and he was losing interest.

The only thing that Jeong Deuk Soo was thinking about was his daughter.

“Does Seo Yoon…..occasionally smile?”

“Seo Yoon does smile sometimes, but it only lasts for a brief moment.”

“I"ve recently heard that …. Seo Yoon has started to speak again. Yet, I have been told that she only speaks with you.”

“Yes.”

“What do you think of my daughter？“

Lee Hyun thought that their talk suddenly took a dangerous turn.

‘From the moment I came here this must have been what he was thinking about.’

Any parents, to be honest wants to know about the guys their daughter is meeting with.

In Lee Hyun’s case, he would show the same urgent concern when it came to his little sister.

It’s best that the guy she met was not a bad guy, it was also best to check the possible opponent to make sure he is not a player.

Lee Hyun had to take care of his younger sister since childhood, so he understood the position of a parent.

And he understand and guessed the thoughts of the President Jeong Deuk Soo feeling for his child.

It’s wasn"t much but he did knew a few things nonetheless.

“Just as you said….I see myself as her friend.”

The meaning behind Seo Yoon’s first word ‘Friend’ was ambiguous to Lee Hyun. All he could offer to her was being a friend.

“I heard my daughter relies on you a lot. Nevertheless, are you sure you don’t have any other feelings? You are after all, a man.”

“I just see her as a my friend.”

Seo Yoon is beautiful, smart and kind hearted almost to the point of being angelic.

Although he underwent such a merciless defeat in GoStop, still…..

‘She is someone who is kind to me.’

In addition, she comes from a wealthy household.

Lee Hyun thought that there was nothing that he could give her that she didn’t already have.

Since he was a child he had to face many hards.h.i.+ps.

In school, all his cla.s.smates boasted about shopping with their parents to buy shoes, and whenever they show off their clothes and toys he had to stay hunched over his desk. While he had to worry about electricity bill, water bill, and rent whenever he came home.

Now Lee Hyun doesn’t have to worry too much about the problems with living expenses, and compared to others his age, he had a considerable amount of savings on his own.

Nevertheless since he was young compared to others he went through many different experiences.

To be a male friend with her, who has everything, was no simple matter.

Even if she wishes for it. It was best to avoid it.

Seo Yoon heart has always been distant.

The distance was not something that could be easily narrowed.

“My daughter, when she was young, she experienced a trauma and for a very long time she could not speak. Only recently, since she has been with you, has she started to speak again. But she still only speaks with you… Lee Hyun”

He heard many thing he didn’t know about Seo Yoon’s life from his father.

‘She really couldn’t speak...’

For 10 years she lived closed off inside a building from the world. Seo Yoon was in a pitiable state, her families that have been seeing her become unspeakably sad.

“To me you are a benefactor. So I have prepared a reward for you. I know this is not remuneration for all that you have done but take this and continue to be Seo Yoon’s best friend and I shall reward you again. Please continue to help heal my daughter’s wound. But beyond that, it would be difficult so I hope you understand.”

President Jeong Deuk Soo put a white envelope next to the teacup.

“I have heard that you have a lot of things to pay for so I have put money in it.”

Lee Hyun raised his head and made eye contact with President Jeong Deuk Soo after he looked at the envelope.

“I’m sorry I can not take this. The reason why Seo Yoon is able to talk is because of her own will. I have done nothing for her.”

“Its not a small amount….. it should help you in your current situation.”

“This is not because of my pride.”

Lee Hyun started thinking about this month expenses.

Living expenses and food cost, his younger sister’s insurance and savings.

Also his grandmother’s hospital bill that he needs to pay continually.

A chronic arthritis, and her treatment for cancer had decrease her vitality making her weak.

During the hospitalization and rehab for a few months, he had hang out with other elderly people.

His growth of his thoughts and speech he learned from sitting in the corner of the market talking with people.

Even though he could go home, there was a bit of treatment and ongoing management to do at the hospital so he stayed.

Every month the amount of money that needs to be paid was a lot, Lee Hyun continued to earn more money through Royal Road.

“Money….is really a precious things. I think that one does not need to stand up for his pride for money. It’s true that I need a lot of money for my family. However I can provide my family with the money that I have earned.”

If it was in Royal Road, he would have deliberately rejected. Just so he could extort much more money!

However in reality he did not want to receive such money. He could provide for his family with his own power. If it was for this reason, he could achieve anything.

The secretary standing next to President Jeong Deuk s...o...b..gan to talk.

“This is the money that the president is giving. Think of if as a token of grat.i.tude for all the things that you have done till now.”

“I can not receive this because I think of Seo Yoon as a friend.”

“What?”

“I do not want to earn money by selling my friends.h.i.+p. As a friend, you are there to help when they go through difficult times and I also think that one should not expect anything in return.”

If he was to receive the money, it would have been an immense help to him.

He knew the suffering of being in debt for a long time. He did not want to feed his family by the money earned through selling his friends.h.i.+p.

Lee Hyun thought to himself.

‘The one thing I know is how to earn money.’

President Jeong Deuk Soo did not have any more advice.

“My belief in you, young man is strong. From now on please help Seo Yoon not to get hurt anymore.”

“I’ll try my best.”

After Lee Hyun finished his conversation, he got up from his seat. He followed the bodyguards out of the villa, and looked back at the impressive house owned by Seo Yoon’s father.

Seo Yoon’s father only presented him the money to clarify his motives.

Even though it was a meeting that left a bad taste, he was envious of the fact that she still had her parents.

Since the first time they met, his existence was ignored. Then he created the Freya’s Sculpture that resembled her, which the people were in awe of. She was a type of person with a redoubtable worth you only watch and protect from a distance.

‘Its must have been a single 10 million won. It’s a good thing that I have not taken it. From now on I’m going to commit myself to do more hunting and grinding to make up the money I just turned down.’

President Jeong Deuk Soo drank from his wine gla.s.s.

“The impression that I got from him was he is a good man. In order to heal Seo Yoon"s heart, I can see that he is the best person to do it. Still to turn down 1 billion won …. was the report that he needed money wrong?”

-----------------------------------------

Powerful forces has been expanding their territory quickly throughout the Versailles Continent.

Since it has been a long time, Hermes Guild’s master, Raphael was welcoming his guest happily.

”Its been a while since we split ways in the Sky City Lavias. Why have you come back now?”

“I have just been wandering here and there. I did various adventures and hunts”

“Welcome back. There are lots of people who, if they knew, would be happy that you are back.”

Dain put down her staff and sat on the chair.

Since the beginning of Royal Road, the core players of Hermes Guild, Raphael and many others who have hunted together were all present now.