The Player Who Stands Above All

Chapter 176

Two men were eating and smiling grimly in a corner of the restaurant.

"Hehe, we're lucky today, aren't we? To think we'd see such perfect prey in a restaurant we just happened to walk into."

"I know, right? An Asian guy traveling alone without any companions… In times like these, people will just think he was naturally eaten by a monster and died."

The brown-haired man and the yellow-haired man conversed, their eyes occasionally glancing towards a corner of the restaurant.

There, a sharp-featured Asian man with hair so vividly red it was recognizable even from a distance was eating with a wide smile on his face.

"What's with that hair? It's like he's begging to be caught."

"I glanced over a little while ago, and he even had a streak in his bangs."

"Hahaha! Is that for real! Puhahaha!"

"Kyahahahaha!"

The two men, finding something hilarious, laughed loudly and clinked their beer mugs.

As the two were chattering away and belittling Lee Shin, one of the men, due to a possibility that suddenly popped into his head, spoke cautiously, unlike his loud laughter from a moment ago.

"But hey, friend… what if that guy isn't a tourist left behind because his flight was canceled, but an incredibly strong Player?"

"Puhahaha! What? Are you chickening out now? I swear, this guy's cowardice is something else."

As the slightly flushed, blond-haired man said that, the brown-haired man waved his hands in denial, his face flushing.

"No, that's not it, I'm just saying we should be sure! Besides, with that unique hair, it's obvious he's a pretty strong Player!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. This is why you'll never make it, you idiot."

The blond man clicked his tongue openly and said.

"To think he's a strong Player just because his hair is red, to the point of causing a color change phenomenon. Listen up, even before there were Players, there was something called 'dye' in this world."

As the blond man continued to deny it, the brown-haired man spoke with a slightly dejected face.

"Still, we don't know if it's dyed or not."

"What do you mean, you don't know? I told you. I said he had a golden streak in his bangs."

The brown-haired man looked at him as if to say, 'so what?'

"Hey, you pathetic fool. Have you ever seen anyone around you with such a unique hair color change?"

"Uh… no, I haven't."

At that answer, the man nodded as if that was exactly it.

"Right, you idiot! That's the decisive proof that his hair is dyed!"

The man pointed at the red-haired man who was eating with a wide smile, a sneer on his face.

"In other words, that bastard is a fool who dyed his hair a flashy color without even knowing how the color change phenomenon works."

And the finger that had pointed at the red-haired man now pointed at the brown-haired man.

"Precisely to fool idiots like you."

"What, was that it?"

At the blond man's words, the brown-haired man glared at the red-haired man as if he had heard him being insulted.

Seeing that, the blond man laughed and added.

"And actually, I've already confirmed it. You remember that guy dropping his fork on the floor a little while ago, right?"

"Yeah. What about it?"

"Actually, I made it fall with my psychokinesis."

Grin—

The blond man smiled and began to lay out his logic to his companion.

"Of course, normally he could just ignore it. But in a situation where people are already on edge because of the damage from monsters, to be provoked so directly and just end it with a tilt of the head?"

"He's definitely a non-awakened or a guy with no real skill."

The brown-haired man was mesmerized by this and looked at the blond man with admiration.

"On top of that, the fact that he's been speaking only English since he came in shows he's a typical tourist. He perfectly fits all the conditions the boss mentioned. Do you think you can find another guy like that in a situation like this?"

"You're right, aren't you?"

With those words, they began to plan their operation, lowering their voices in earnest.

However, there was something they had overlooked.

It wasn't just one or two things, so it was a bit much to point them all out, but anyway, there was more.

'Wow, look at their plan… They're actually trying to use a kidnapping plan so typical it would be called cliché even in a movie. Well, thanks to that, it's easier for me to act.'

It was the fact that the very person they were planning to kidnap was listening to their entire conversation in Italian.

The choker Lee Shin was wearing was an item Crowley had paid special attention to, enchanted with translation magic for people who had to travel overseas.

'Well, to be precise, it's not translation but reading the will and conveying the intent, but I don't need to worry about that.'

Right now, Lee Shin was just happy that he could understand the two men's words.

'If it weren't for this, I would have missed that hilarious conversation.'

-Indeed. Those two seem to have a talent for comedy.

Honestly, there were a few crises.

It was so funny that he almost spat out his food several times while eating and ended up choking.

'Hoo, no, I have to calm down, calm down.'

Just as Lee Shin was telling himself that and drinking a glass of water.

Seuk—

The men finished checking their plan and stood up with sly smiles on their faces.

At that, Lee Shin also finished his mental preparations to play along with their shoddy plan.

Tuk—

"Huh?"

As the two men were passing by Lee Shin, the brown-haired man suddenly bent down, pretended to pick up a banknote he was holding from the floor, placed his hand on Lee Shin's shoulder, and spoke.

"Hey, friend! Is this money on the floor yours by any chance?"

"No, it seems someone else dropped it."

Lee Shin, forcing himself to act, saw the man trying to check his body with magic and found it so pathetic and amusing that he shook his head with a light smile.

"Really? Then I guess I'm in luck."

At Lee Shin's words, the brown-haired man laughed loudly, put the money in his pocket, took his hand off Lee Shin's shoulder, and walked out of the restaurant.

Once outside, the two men giggled at the success of their plan.

"See, I was right, wasn't I? That guy didn't even notice you planted a detection spell on his shoulder."

"And when I touched his body, I checked a little, and I didn't feel any special energy inside him! That guy is the best!"

"What, you didn't make a mistake and fail to notice, or he didn't hide it, right?"

"Of course not! The only way that guy could escape my detection magic is if there's a huge level difference between us!"

The two chattered away, celebrating their victory in advance, and began to move as planned.

"Alright, that spell lasts for a day, so let's wait for the night as planned and then kidnap him. If he enters a deserted alley in the meantime, we can move faster."

"Haha, I hope the opportunity comes as soon as possible."

"…Puhuhuhuhu."

As the two disappeared, Lee Shin burst into the laughter he had been holding back.

'Ah~ what should I do? I've destroyed organizations and all, but this is the first time I've been invited like this.'

-This is certainly something to marvel at. It wouldn't be bad to commemorate it.

And Lee Shin, who had become the prey of the two, laughed and chatted with Irehgue, contemplating how to move to get kidnapped more easily and which method would be the most fun.

It was a toy that had rolled in when he was bored.

He had no intention of letting it go easily and wanted to play with it as much as possible and enjoy it.

It was the moment when his utterly boring tour of Italy became lively.

***

Bbadeuk-!

Addeuk-!

"Hoo-uk, no matter what happens today, I'm definitely catching that bastard… Hoo-uk, I swear, even if I have to blow up the hotel, I will catch him…"

"Hah, I'll never let him go… Hah, I'll definitely catch that bastard and bring him… Hah, I'll really catch that bastard and make him wish he were dead…"

The two men gasped for breath and looked at the temple far away in the forest.

"Hmm, I expected something very natural since it's an Italian forest, but there's nothing particularly special."

There, Lee Shin was looking around with a wide smile on his face.

However, unlike the two who were panting heavily, Lee Shin was walking through the forest briskly.

It was a difference created because Lee Shin had gone up the mountain on a vehicle driven by a guide, while the other two had used their own two legs.

Still, just as the two thought they would have some time to rest since they had just reached the top.

"Well then, shall we go to another place!"

Lee Shin moved to the next location without any hesitation.

Addeudeudeuk-!!!

Bbadeudeudeuk-!!!

Watching Lee Shin, the two men followed him, grinding their teeth so hard it was a wonder they didn't break.

Seeing Lee Shin walking away with small steps while eating ice cream he had bought from a street vendor on the way made their blood boil.

"Damn it! Why is your magic's range so short! Are you kidding me right now!"

"Do you think it's easy to attach a spell in such a short time?! Shut up and move quickly! The sun has set, so he'll be trying to go back soon, and we have to seize that opportunity."

The two bickered but moved their feet, trying their best not to lose Lee Shin.

The problem was that it would be difficult to find the next prey if they lost him, but the two also wanted to get revenge on Lee Shin for causing them this much pain.

Pfft—

Listening to the two grinding their teeth, Lee Shin chuckled.

'Ah, I feel like the stress that has been piling up without me knowing is completely disappearing. Is this what they call healing?'

He wanted to enjoy this healing by wandering around a little more, but it was time to end it.

'Well, it feels like the main event is just starting, though.'

Lee Shin, contemplating how to play from now on, swallowed the chocolate ice cream he was eating in one bite.

Then he slowly walked to a nearby taxi stand.

However, perhaps because it was rush hour, the taxi stand was crowded with people.

"Hey~"

As Lee Shin stood still with his arms crossed, as if contemplating what to do, someone called out to him from afar.

'It's like the fish is biting the moment I cast the line.'

Lee Shin suppressed his bursting laughter, then turned his head to look in the direction the voice came from.

"Hah, are you trying to catch a taxi by any chance?"

There, the brown-haired man, out of breath, was speaking to Lee Shin with a forced smile.

(End of Chapter)