The Player Who Stands Above All

Chapter 139

Lee Shin, after moving the spear materials and some impressive-looking weapons from Mairiph's warehouse to the blacksmith's shop next to his house, came out of the World Dungeon.

Since he had erased his presence using the mysteries of the Flame Leaf Return Art, there were no people who bothered to talk to him.

Thanks to that, Lee Shin, who was comfortably sitting on a bench, began to ponder what to do with the three days that had suddenly opened up.

'Three days is a bit ambiguous to do anything. Shall I just sit around and read novels for the first time in a while? It's been a while since I've read, so I'm probably behind, so it seems like a good way to pass the time.'

Tuk-

Just as Lee Shin was pondering how to spend his suddenly acquired free time, something caught on his hand as he was scratching his neck.

Lee Shin felt something catch on his fingertips, remembered something he had forgotten, and his face lit up.

"Ah, right, I had this. I completely forgot because I didn't feel anything even when I was wearing it."

Right now, a black choker boasting a subtle luster was wrapped around Lee Shin's neck.

Outwardly, it looked like it was made of rubber and seemed uncomfortable, but unlike its appearance, it boasted a feeling of wearing nothing at all, so it was not uncomfortable at all.

Of course, if it were just a comfortable accessory, this choker would not have been on Lee Shin's neck.

Woong-

When he infused his internal energy into the choker, a hologram with a feeling similar to yet different from a system message appeared before Lee Shin's eyes.

'Seeing the world map as a hologram feels strange. It feels like I'm enjoying sci-fi, not fantasy.'

Lee Shin rolled his eyes while having various thoughts.

'Let's see… I'm pretty sure this blue is where I can teleport, and the gold is where those guys are.'

Lee Shin recalled the explanation Crowley had given him and looked at the world map.

Lee Shin looked at the blue light filling the China area for a moment, then looked at the golden dots scattered on the map one by one.

"It seems I can spend the three days more fruitfully than I thought."

If he had his way, he would have left right away, but Lee Shin decided to sit on the bench and wait for a while.

Because there was something he had to do before he left.

***

"…Hyunyoung, are you okay?"

"…"

"Hyunyoung?"

"Huh, ah! Oppa, what did you say?"

Lee Hyunyoung, who had been walking with dazed eyes, came to her senses at Lee Hyunseok's hand tapping her shoulder.

"Are you very tired?"

"Ah… I'm fine, I'm fine. There's no problem, so don't worry so much."

Lee Hyunyoung forced a smile and said.

But despite Lee Hyunyoung's efforts, the people around her, including Lee Hyunseok, were not fooled in the slightest.

Because they knew that what Lee Hyunyoung was saying was a lie.

Just by looking at her, they could tell what state Lee Hyunyoung was in and what she was thinking.

Because everyone present had just gone through the same experience.

"…I'm tired."

Lee Sieun muttered weakly with eyes that were more sunken than a few hours ago.

It was a small remark that could be called a whisper, but it represented the feelings of everyone present.

Lee Jieun nodded her head at Lee Sieun's words and grumbled in an exhausted voice, as if annoyed.

"Craftsmen should just move their hands, why do they talk so much…"

They were able to find the dwarves with Mairiph's introduction.

The dwarves they met were, as Mairiph had said, craftsmen of outstanding skill who were engrossed in one weapon and moving towards their goal.

However, the problem was…

-Hoo, is that so, is that so, this is great.

They were so engrossed in their field that when a topic related to that field came up, they talked too much.

'Just listening to them, I felt like my soul was leaving my body.'

Lee Hyunyoung had experienced a similar person at school once.

People who were usually quiet, but when a topic about their favorite field came up, they would jump in with all their might and pour out their knowledge indiscriminately.

'Severe weapon otakus. And their voices were kids' voices, so it hurt my ears more and was more annoying.'

-Huh? You're not a martial artist? You're a mage looking for a weapon for self-defense, is that okay? Ahaha, a grown-up worrying about useless things. A weapon is something made for the weak to defeat the strong. In other words, the weapon I'm making now is the true weapon. In that sense, even if the strongest swordsman were in front of me, I would give you my weapon. That is the path of the craftsman I am pursuing…

"Ugh!"

"What, what's wrong?!"

As Lee Hyunyoung suddenly gagged, Lee Hyunseok was surprised and supported her.

"No… it's nothing. I just remembered what I was tormented with a moment ago."

"I-I see."

It was a statement too absurd to accept and move on, but Lee Hyunseok could understand Lee Hyunyoung.

Because Lee Hyunseok also felt as if the dwarves' chattering voices were ringing in his ears right now.

'If I hadn't changed the subject and run away, I would definitely still be tormented.'

Thinking that, goosebumps rose on Lee Hyunseok's back and arms.

Clap, clap-

As the atmosphere became too subdued, Eun Yeonwoo, who had experience dealing with numerous difficult customers through various part-time jobs, clapped his hands to pull them together.

"Still, it's a relief. At least everyone here succeeded in getting their own weapon."

"Of course. If it were my usual personality, I would have run out right away, but I came here after being tormented because of the weapon."

At Lee Jieun's blatant words, everyone gave a bitter smile but did not deny it.

The reason they had listened to the dwarves' stories until they became so haggard was because they had seen the weapons the dwarves had made with their own two eyes.

Weapons that boasted a majesty incomparable to those sold outside.

Because they had seen that, they had suppressed their annoyance and catered to the dwarves' whims.

Couldn't they just go to another dwarf?

The best blacksmiths in this field, guaranteed by the master of the dwarf clan, were them.

There was no fool among them who would abandon the first place for a little convenience and go to the second.

And they couldn't ask Lee Shin to solve it either.

Although Lee Shin had shown them favor, he wasn't so benevolent as to bring them something without any effort on their part.

'Besides, I've already received a lot from ahjussi, so I can't ask him to help with something like this.'

Lee Hyunyoung thought that and secretly clenched her two fists.

Lee Hyunyoung was waiting, imagining the day she would repay this debt to Lee Shin someday while continuing to improve her skills like this.

Tabak- Tabak-

"Let's just get out of here quickly. I'm so tired."

"I'm tired…"

"When we get out, we should get a room and take a shower first."

They moved their steps quickly and went out of the dungeon.

The moment they came out of the dungeon.

"Ah, you're here? You're later than I thought. Oh? You look a little haggard. Did something difficult happen inside?"

Lee Shin, who was sitting on a bench in a relaxed posture, greeted them, shaking the chicken leg he was eating.

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

As if by agreement, they stealthily rolled their eyes.

Next to Lee Shin, there were three empty chicken boxes, as if he had just finished eating.

On top of that, Lee Shin's greasy lips were curved in a wide smile, as if to tease them.

Pajik-

The moment they confirmed that, they felt the brake inside them break and rushed towards Lee Shin.

And Lee Shin, as always, lightly moved his feet, dodged all of their attacks, and sneered at them.

***

"Tsk, it seems you have something to say again, what is it?"

Eun Yeonwoo, who had excitedly swung his fist at Lee Shin, clicked his tongue softly and asked, as if annoyed.

He hadn't landed a single blow on Lee Shin yet, but he had no choice but to stop because he was starting to feel the eyes of the people around him.

Well, more than that, the reason he stopped was because his annoyance was not disappearing but growing larger because Lee Shin was only dodging his attacks.

"Oh, was it obvious?"

"You're making it as obvious as a kid about to pull a prank, how can I not know?"

At Eun Yeonwoo's crooked words, the four who were catching their breath also nodded their heads.

Even Lee Hyunyoung and Lee Sieun, who would usually subtly take Lee Shin's side, were now attacking him with their cheeks puffed out.

Not that Lee Shin cared, though.

"It's nothing much, I'm just planning on going somewhere from now on. So you guys take care of yourselves in the meantime."

"Where are you going this time?"

It was a sudden statement, but considering Lee Shin's usual behavior, it wasn't that new, so Eun Yeonwoo just let it pass.

But at Lee Shin's next words, even Eun Yeonwoo couldn't help but widen his eyes.

"I'm going to China for a bit."

"…Is that a place you can just go to for a bit? No, more than that, what are you going to do about your passport…"

"Ah, that's fine. I'm planning on hiding my identity with a mask and then entering illegally via teleport."

At Lee Shin's words, everyone who had widened their eyes in surprise looked at him with eyes that said, 'Right, this was the kind of person he was…'

If someone else had said it, it would have sounded like a ridiculous joke, but coming from Lee Shin's mouth, it was hard to dismiss it as a joke.

"Sigh."

Eun Yeonwoo, who knew from several experiences that he would only get tired if he argued, decided to just let it go.

"But Hyung, why are you going to China?"

But Lee Hyunseok couldn't stand his curiosity and asked Lee Shin.

"Hmm, it's a bit complicated to explain. To put it simply, there are these guys called the [Black Dragon Society] there, and I'm trying to catch them before the dungeon break happens."

"…Smile, can I go too?"

Lee Sieun asked, staring at Lee Shin.

At that, Lee Shin smiled and shook his head.

"I can roughly guess what you're thinking, but I'm not going to deal with them properly like with [Dawn]. It's more like lending a hand."

"Still…"

"In the first place, only I can use this."

As Lee Shin said, tapping the choker around his neck, only then did Lee Sieun nod her head with a sullen face.

"But is it okay? I heard that unlike [Dawn], the [Black Dragon Society] is spread all over the country."

"Huh? How do you know that?"

Lee Shin looked at Eun Yeonwoo with a surprised face.

At that, Eun Yeonwoo said nonchalantly.

"I asked Jaehyun."

"…You exchanged phone numbers with him too?"

Lee Shin asked, recalling Cheon Yuhwa's secretary.

"We're friends, of course."

"You and him?"

At Lee Shin's dumbfounded face, Eun Yeonwoo, whose annoyance had subsided a little, said with a smile.

"I got close to him by answering his continuous phone calls asking what Hyung-nim was doing. Now he even shares some information with me."

"Hah…"

At Lee Shin's low laugh, Eun Yeonwoo responded with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Well, if you know, the explanation will be easier. There's something I said I'd help Cheon Yuhwa with a long time ago. So I'm going to help her a bit."

"Well, I understand."

Although he was a little curious, Eun Yeonwoo just suppressed that curiosity.

Unlike Lee Shin, Eun Yeonwoo had no desire to get involved in any unnecessary incidents.

"And after I deal with the [Black Dragon Society], there are people I'm going to meet as well."

"That's the main thing, isn't it."

"I guess so."

Lee Shin smiled softly and got up from his seat.

"See you later then."

Woong-

Lee Shin, who had left those words, turned into a white halo of light a moment later and disappeared from that spot.

And about 30 minutes after that.

-An unidentified Player has half-destroyed the Forbidden City in China. The Chinese government is furious and will do its best to capture the terrorist who committed this act…

News that someone had half-destroyed the Forbidden City flowed from the TV.

While everyone was wondering about the culprit's face.

Eun Yeonwoo, Lee Hyunseok, Lee Hyunyoung, Lee Sieun, and Lee Jieun could instinctively tell.

That it was Lee Shin who had done it.

While the world was in chaos over the sudden incident.

"Hello, nice to meet you."

"Who are you to be so familiar with such a suspicious appearance?"

In a remote mountain, Lee Shin was facing a woman with sharp eyes, dark purple hair, and gloves of the same color as her hair.

(End of Chapter)