The Player Who Stands Above All

Chapter 127

Even around the time Lee Shin was humming a tune and making a list of the items he had obtained from [Dawn], the world's time flowed equally for everyone.

"Hey, don't you think the appearance of dungeons lately is a bit strange?"

"Hmm, I do feel that way a little."

Players, while spending the same day as yesterday, began to feel a sense of unease that something was changing.

"Don't you think the speed at which dungeons are increasing lately is getting faster and faster?"

"No, I'm telling you, the dungeons are being copied!"

As if they were dividing, the number of dungeons appearing in the world began to increase more and more.

Most people felt a sense of crisis seeing this, but Players were not included in that majority.

"It's a good thing for us, isn't it? Before, it was hard to clear a boss room because there weren't enough dungeons, but these days, we can clear a lot of boss rooms."

"That's true. It's also easier to hunt than before because there aren't many people in the dungeons."

"Money is being copied?!"

For Players, the news that the number of dungeons had increased was no different from the news that they could earn more money.

On top of that, after the Player Association temporarily lifted the restrictions on Players' dungeon clearing, Players literally began to hunt dungeons as they came.

At that, the Players' market once again began to draw a steep growth curve.

But there was something different from before.

"Phew, I wonder when I'll be able to challenge a LV.3 dungeon."

"Tell me about it. If I had known, I should have worked harder on leveling up in the Pantheon."

"Sigh, and then some strange guy appeared for the quest."

Slowly, a difference began to emerge among the Players.

Not all Players are the same.

In the Pantheon, there were Players who were satisfied with LV.2 and did not go up.

They began to stagnate, blocked by quests.

And so, just as it had happened in the future Cheon Yuhwa had seen, the filtering of Players was taking place, little by little.

But it wasn't all negative news.

Around the time Lee Shin was organizing items in the basement.

-Based on our investigations so far, we have come to the conclusion that we can sufficiently harmonize with the demi-humans. Therefore, we will allow entry into the World Dungeon for those who have signed the contract…

The Korean Player Association announced to the world that it would open the World Dungeon to the public.

Many countries expressed concern over this decision.

They shook their heads, evaluating it as an imprudent decision and an extremely hasty judgment.

Of course, the Korean government originally had no intention of announcing things this quickly.

They had originally planned to announce it to the public after at least a week of in-depth conversation, but…

"Now is the best timing. Make it happen no matter what."

Cheon Yuhwa mobilized all the manpower, financial power, and authority she had to move up that time.

After hearing about the things Lee Shin had done in Japan and the protests happening there, she had realized it was an opportunity to get what she wanted without getting her hands dirty.

In fact, after Korea made this announcement, the Japanese protesters' demonstrations intensified, asking why Korea was allowed through but they weren't, and Cheon Yuhwa drank a celebratory caramel macchiato that day.

The public's evaluation was not too bad either.

Of course, there were people who expressed concern, but most people showed deep curiosity rather than concern.

For reference, just because one received a contract regarding passage into the World Dungeon, a so-called pass, didn't mean they could enter any dungeon.

Basically, they had to choose one of the three dungeons that had appeared in Korea.

In other words, it meant they could only meet one race among elves, dwarves, and tiger beastkin.

It didn't end with the choice either.

The demi-humans had agreed to accept interaction with humans from the Korean government, but they had attached one condition.

The exact same condition, as if they had exchanged opinions in advance.

-Although it is temporary, this is the place where our clan is. Therefore, we will only allow qualified guests into our village.

At that, the Korean government thought for a moment and then accepted.

It was a matter with no risk for the government.

If they said there would be a screening inside because the demi-humans had set this condition, no one would blame the government.

On top of that, since the demi-humans said they would screen the people who came in themselves, there would be no headache of screening, and no strange rumors would arise.

It was a desirable thing in many ways.

The government also did not want a conflict with the demi-humans.

And so, people entered the World Dungeon under the management of the Player Association and came face to face with the demi-humans.

Most of them failed the condition set by the demi-humans, but they got to see the demi-humans in person, and they wrote about their experiences on the internet.

-Elves are amazing! Although I failed their screening, I'm satisfied just by seeing them and can pass on peacefully!

-Dwarves are amazing! Totally cute! I was thinking of a bushy-bearded old man, but it's the complete opposite!

-Beastkin are amazing! They have tiger ears on their heads and a tiger tail! They have a tiger tail!

As the message boards began to be flooded with such posts, the internet heated up as if it would explode with people's interest.

As the situation flowed like that, it became difficult for other countries to just say that demi-humans were dangerous, and an atmosphere of approaching demi-humans in a friendly manner was created.

Just as a certain regressor had wished.

***

Eun Yeonwoo's method of getting close showed its amazing effect again today.

"So when I first met him, he was setting all sorts of moods, so I thought he was a guy with a huge backstory, you know?"

"Hyung-nim is strangely good at that kind of acting."

At some point, Eun Yeonwoo and Beta had even dropped the formalities and were excitedly tearing Lee Shin down.

"I know! It was all an act! And you know what he said when I later asked him why he acted like that?"

"Hmm… Because he was bored? Because it seemed fun?"

"Yes! I was so dumbfounded when I heard that…"

"Hyung-nim is severely self-centered."

As Eun Yeonwoo appropriately played along, Beta began to complain about her situation until now.

Originally, Beta had no intention of going this far, but perhaps because she felt she didn't need to hide anything, the words came out comfortably.

On top of that…

"By the way, where do they sell this side dish?"

"That? I made it."

The few beers and side dishes Eun Yeonwoo had given her to eat had softly melted Beta's heart.

"No, so when we were on the boat, he just slept! And besides…!"

"Ah, I know. The reason I came to this house is because Hyung-nim…!"

"I know! And when we were wandering around in Japan last time…!"

While the two's relationship was getting better through badmouthing Lee Shin.

"Then do you call Hyung 'Smile'?"

"Yes, because it was 'Smile' when we first met. Do you call Smile 'Hyung'?"

"That's right. I received a lot of help, he's older than me, and I've known him for a long time."

Lee Hyunseok and Alpha were also having a conversation of their own.

But the two's conversation was heating up in a different direction from Eun Yeonwoo and Beta's.

"Smile personally taught me dual swordsmanship."

"I received a weapon from Hyung."

"…He even patted my head."

"…I live in the same house."

Neither of them had a proper family.

Lee Hyunseok had lived with his younger sister since he was young, and Alpha had lived with Beta and Joker.

Perhaps because of that, both of them, after receiving help from Lee Shin, were drawn to his charisma and felt a feeling similar to paternal affection for him.

Therefore, right now, the two of them did not particularly like each other.

To draw a comparison, it was a strange feeling like seeing a child you didn't know at all suddenly call your father 'dad' after your father remarried.

While Eun Yeonwoo and Beta, and Lee Hyunseok and Alpha were divided and having a heated conversation.

"I'm home. Oppa, I'm on vacation from today…?"

Lee Hyunyoung, who had finished school, arrived.

Lee Hyunyoung, who was excited at the thought of enjoying her upcoming vacation after finishing the closing ceremony, was startled as soon as she entered the house.

Putting aside the fact that her older brothers were having a drinking party in broad daylight, it was because there were guests she had never seen before in the house, and female guests at that.

And beautiful ones at that!

Lee Hyunyoung's eyes turned slightly sullen, and she looked at Eun Yeonwoo with eyes that demanded an explanation.

"They're guests Hyung-nim brought. We're just doing this to get a little closer."

Eun Yeonwoo roughly explained the situation and then quickly brought up another topic to divert Lee Hyunyoung's attention.

"For reference, I'm the one complaining about Hyung-nim, and that side is the one bragging about who's closer to Hyung-nim."

Dododo-

Lee Hyunyoung, who heard Eun Yeonwoo's words, threw her bag at the entrance and, without hesitation, went to where Lee Hyunseok and Alpha were and sat next to Lee Hyunseok.

At that, Beta looked at Eun Yeonwoo with an expression of disbelief.

"Is she the same too?"

"I guess so. She denies it herself, but from the side, she's quite a severe case too."

"…The world has gone mad."

Beta pondered why Lee Shin was so popular, but it was difficult to find an answer.

At that, Eun Yeonwoo, who was sipping his beer, chuckled and said.

"Well, those two owe Hyung-nim quite a lot. And that Hyung-nim has a charm that draws people in in strange ways."

"…That's true."

Beta also acknowledged that part.

She didn't know if he was a good guy or a bad guy, but he had a charm that drew people in.

While they were talking among themselves and the atmosphere was ripening, and the sun was beginning to set.

"It seems you've gotten closer than I thought."

Lee Shin, who had entered the World Dungeon, returned.

"Hm? What. You're here too?"

"It's been a while, Oppa!"

At Lee Hyunyoung's reaction, Lee Shin tilted his head as if it were strange.

"Didn't you used to call me 'ahjussi'?"

Wince-!

At those words, Lee Hyunyoung stiffened awkwardly.

In fact, because of her pride, she had used the word 'ahjussi' more than 'oppa'.

Lee Shin flicked the stiffened Lee Hyunyoung's forehead and went to where Eun Yeonwoo was.

"Well, I'm relieved that you seem to be getting along. Then the trip starts tomorrow, so you guys play among yourselves today and come back."

"Huh? A trip? Are we going on a trip?"

"I wonder? I don't know either."

Lee Shin, listening to Lee Hyunseok and Lee Hyunyoung's chatter with one ear and letting it out the other, threw a card to Eun Yeonwoo.

"Aren't you going?"

"I have other things to do."

"…Alright."

Eun Yeonwoo looked at Lee Shin for a moment and then got up from his seat obediently, saying.

"We might come back late at night because we're having so much fun, so don't disturb us."

Pfft-

"Yeah, have fun."

Just as Lee Shin said that and was about to wave his hand and go up to his room.

Kkuuk-

"Hm? Do you have something to say?"

Alpha grabbed Lee Shin's sleeve.

"…Alpha?"

"…No."

Alpha hesitated for a moment and then said in a small voice.

"My name isn't Alpha anymore."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"My name is…"

-We used this name as a pledge to surely get our revenge. So let's make a new name now.

It was what Joker had said.

After that, Alpha had continuously pondered her new name, but she couldn't decide easily.

But now, it seemed she could decide.

"Lee Sieun. My name is Lee Sieun."

A person who was always full of confidence, strangely multi-talented, sometimes kind, and always helped her.

This name was taken from that person's name.

(End of Chapter)