novelraw Chapter 76 : Chapter 76
Chapter 76 : Chapter 76
Chapter 76 Ryu Jin-seong (4)
Intimidation.
It is a simple word consisting of only a few characters, but the reality is not simple at all.
Using mana to project intimidation from a higher-ranked player to a lower-ranked one is a technique that requires extremely delicate control.
In short, the better one is at handling mana, the more effective this intimidation becomes.
Furthermore, the difference in skill between the player projecting the intimidation and the one receiving it is also incredibly important.
‘To put it simply, this is what it means.’
The more distinct the level difference, the more massive the effect of the intimidation.
And am I not currently receiving such intimidation from Ryu Jin-seong, a man who stands at what could be called the pinnacle?
As a result, tens of thousands of thoughts repeated the cycle of appearing and disappearing in my mind for a short time, but there was one thought that would not fade.
‘It is too different.’
Theory and reality are different.
I had always thought about it in my head, and I believed I had truly realized it, but I was gravely mistaken.
I could tell that it had merely been my own arrogance.
‘I did not expect the sense of intimidation to be at this level...’
In the novel, this intimidation was recorded not as a talent, but as a technique that utilized only mana.
That was why I had always told myself to respond well whenever I met a high-ranking player, but the reality was far too different.
It made sense, considering that I was currently having a hard time just making eye contact.
‘...Damn it.’
I do not know why Ryu Jin-seong is projecting such intimidation.
It could simply be a test, or perhaps it is just a form of entertainment.
However, that kind of thing was not important to me right now.
‘I thought I had grown quite a bit, yet I am still at this level...’
Whatever the reason, the fact was that I was currently being swayed by that intimidation like a flickering candle in the wind.
That was what mattered.
To think I am being swayed to this extent when I claimed I would protect the heroes I admire. A sense of helplessness washed over me like a wave, but at the same time, a feeling of frustration swirled within me.
“Ugh...”
I clearly came here with the lighthearted intention of participating in club activities, yet before I knew it, I was resisting the intimidation of a hero-rank player.
It is truly ironic, but on the other hand, it is a good opportunity.
If I am to live in this world, is this not something I will inevitably experience one day?
It was better to experience it safely like this rather than having my first experience while risking my life against an enemy.
Therefore, I chose to endure it by facing Ryu Jin-seong's intimidation head-on without giving up.
“Father, you are going too far.”
Just as I was finally starting to find my pace after some time had passed, Ryu Jin-oh's clear words reached my ears.
The moment those words were spoken, the heavy pressure that Ryu Jin-seong had been sending vanished without a trace.
It was as if it had never been there in the first place.
“He is your guest, but he is also my friend and guest.”
“......”
“Please show proper etiquette.”
I thought Ryu Jin-oh would stop at throwing out a single sentence because he could not bear to watch any longer, but he spat out words that were sharper than expected toward Ryu Jin-seong.
He spoke in a way that made me wonder if it was really okay for him to talk to his father like that.
‘I am grateful, but...’
Is this not a bit dangerous?
It was true that I was deeply moved by the fact that the noble Ryu Jin-oh called me a friend, but it was also true that I was worried.
No matter if he is his father, is it really okay to speak to Ryu Jin-seong like that?
‘I cannot judge recklessly because I do not know what the relationship between those two is like.’
In the novel, there was only the part where Ryu Jin-oh spoke in front of the grave after Ryu Jin-seong's death.
That meant I did not know whether Ryu Jin-seong and Ryu Jin-oh had a close relationship during his lifetime.
Of course, some people might think that a father and son would naturally have a strong bond.
However...
‘There is no guarantee that is the case.’
Furthermore, consider the personality that Ryu Jin-oh usually displays.
It was very difficult to get the feeling that they would have been close, regardless of their blood relation.
However, I soon realized that my worries were unnecessary.
“Oh dear, I got too excited because my son said he brought his friends. I am sorry.”
Ryu Jin-seong immediately offered words of apology to Ryu Jin-oh and us without any particular sign of offense.
It seemed that, contrary to my concerns, the relationship between this father and son was closer than I thought.
“No, it is fine. It could happen.”
Anyway, that is that, and this is this.
Now that Ryu Jin-seong had humbled himself and apologized, how could I just stand there?
I immediately signaled to Ryu Jin-seong that it was alright.
Since Kim Su-hyeok and Oh Jin-eon also seemed to be fine, it should be okay to say this much.
‘Neither of them looks particularly displeased.’
Ryu Jin-seong surely went easy on them as well, but looking at their complexions, there did not seem to be any issues.
First of all, Kim Su-hyeok was showing his usual beaming smile as if that level of intimidation was nothing, just like a protagonist.
And as for Oh Jin-eon...
‘Hmm, I am not sure.’
He was not the type to reveal much on his face to begin with, so it was hard to know for certain... but he was probably fine.
Even though he was slightly overshadowed by the people around him, he was still someone at the top of the rankings.
That must be why he did not make any other expression at my words.
Ryu Jin-seong nodded as if he liked my response and spoke to us.
“Is that so? Thank you for saying that for now, even if you might not feel that way on the inside.”
“......”
“Still, please understand that this could be a great help to you later.”
He was right.
As I mentioned earlier, having the chance to experience this safely was a very precious opportunity.
By the way, did Ryu Jin-seong project that intimidation onto us with that in mind?
I heard that the top-tier players all have a screw loose somewhere, but I began to think that this man might be unexpectedly decent.
Well, even so, it would be impossible to fully understand the person named Ryu Jin-seong through this one incident alone.
“It really is fine, so you do not have to worry too much about it.”
“Yes. It would not be good to waste the time of young people with useless talk.”
Ryu Jin-seong said that and glanced over at us.
His gaze swept over Kim Su-hyeok, Oh Jin-eon, and then me in order.
Then, he opened his mouth toward us with a kind smile.
“You are all quite skilled; Jin-oh has made good friends.”
“......”
“You must have been in the car for a long time, so please rest for now. We can catch up on our conversation later.”
I agreed with those words and nodded.
Does being skilled make someone a good friend? The question flashed through my mind for a moment, but it was not important enough to actually ask.
However, it seemed that my thoughts did not represent everyone else's.
“Does being skilled make someone a good friend? Do you not have to get along to be good friends?”
Unlike me, who does not like useless conversation, and the usually silent Oh Jin-eon, Kim Su-hyeok immediately expressed his curiosity toward Ryu Jin-seong.
And he did so with a very innocent face.
‘That is so like Kim Su-hyeok.’
Showing such a lively side anytime and anywhere must be a talent in itself.
I had no intention of scolding him, though.
Is that not why Kim Su-hyeok is the protagonist? Besides...
‘I am curious as well.’
It was not a major issue, but it was not like I had zero curiosity.
And now that there was an opportunity to satisfy that curiosity, I had no intention of ruining the moment.
Therefore, I quietly waited for Ryu Jin-seong to continue.
And Ryu Jin-seong did not seem to dislike the question, as he spoke with a slight smile after a moment.
“I see. I did not think you would be curious about that, but it is possible.”
“Was it a useless question?”
“No. If you are curious, it is only right that you ask and receive an answer. Is that not the privilege of youth?”
Ryu Jin-seong said that and gave an answer to the question in a calm voice.
“If one is skilled, their probability of survival is high, and if their probability of survival is high, does that not make them a good friend?”
“......”
“Most players in the world would welcome a living friend more than a dead one.”
Unlike his calm voice, it was an answer that could not be heard calmly at all.
I could not help but fall into deep thought at those words, and the same was true for Kim Su-hyeok and Oh Jin-eon.
Of course, the person who spoke those words did not seem to attach much significance to them.
“Then, I shall be going now. You will not be able to rest comfortably if I am here.”
Ryu Jin-seong left the area after those final words, as if telling us to think about it for ourselves.
However, just because he had left did not mean the words he left behind had left my mind as well.
‘A living friend is better than a dead one...’
It was a statement that felt profound rather than something to be taken lightly.
It felt simple, yet for some reason, it was a statement that seemed to reveal what kind of life the man named Ryu Jin-seong had lived.
I had a feeling that the dilemma related to these words would not disappear from my mind for a while.
***
Late at night, while everyone was asleep.
I quietly moved my feet toward the railing to get some fresh air, leaving the sleeping guys behind.
“Nothing major happened, considering what I expected.”
It had already been two days since Ryu Jin-seong left after making that meaningful remark... No, wait. It is not past midnight yet, so it is probably one day.
At any rate, nothing significant had happened since then.
First, I spent some free time after having a formal conversation with Ryu Jin-seong about things like the mindset of a player for the report we had to submit for club activities.
I did things like looking around the house, taking a walk, or training.
“Still, it was not boring.”
Since coming to this world, I knew how precious ordinary moments were, so there was no room for boredom.
Rather, it would be more accurate to say it was enjoyable.
Even setting aside the fact that it was time spent with the heroes I admire, this kind of time was very precious to me.
To the point where I wanted to keep enjoying it, and to the point where I never wanted to let go.
‘Still, I cannot do that...’
The moment I let go of my goal, everything crumbles.
It is because I am running forward that I can enjoy even this brief moment of happiness.
I knew that fact all too well, which was why I could not allow myself to be intoxicated by this happiness any further.
“Man, now that I have some free time, all sorts of thoughts are coming to mind.”
Usually, I lived my life pushing my body and mind to their limits, so I did not have much time that could be called "free."
But now things are a bit different, I suppose?
I moved with some leisure because I thought there was no need to push myself to the limit while I was here, and as a result...
Stray thoughts that I usually did not have began to fill my head little by little.
Yes, for example, memories of the world I originally lived in.
‘I have not thought about it even once since I came here.’
I had no time to think, as I was weighed down by the goal of protecting the heroes and the pressure of having to increase my skills immediately.
‘Or perhaps I unconsciously refused to think about it.’
Actually, does that really matter?
The important thing was that I was currently thinking about the world I originally lived in.
‘...It is a bit ambiguous.’
Normally, it would be standard to think about wanting to go back home at this point.
However, that thought did not really occur to me.
That made sense, since I did not particularly have any lingering regrets.
‘What would happen if everything comes to an end?’
But this journey will surely come to a close one day.
If so, I was curious about what would happen after that.
Whether I would remain in this world or return to my original world.
Of course, it might be premature to think about such things at this point, but it was hard to stop a thought once it started to trail off.
‘...It is difficult, after all.’
Naturally, it is a difficult topic.
Since it is about a future that has not yet arrived, nothing like a conclusion has been decided at all.
However, it was hard to continue this thought for long.
This was because an unexpected voice from behind me erased my contemplations.
“It is late. Did you come out to catch the breeze?”
A calm voice initiated a light conversation.
However, in contrast to the voice, a pair of eyes whose depth could not be measured was staring at me.
“If you are that bored, how about having a conversation with me?”
Ryu Jin-seong, who should have been in the main building rather than here in the annex where I and the others were staying.
That man was speaking to me.