The Player Who Stands Above All

Chapter 194

Nyamnyam-

Baekhyun sat on the long desk, chewing on caramel popcorn, and watched Lee Shin and Cheon Yuhwa having a power struggle.

'In most comics, when a scene like this comes out, sparks fly from the center where their gazes meet, but that was real. No, it seems even more flashy now.'

While Baekhyun was having such silly thoughts and looking at the two, Uriel sat next to him and snatched a handful of popcorn.

"It's so intense just watching. What if they end up fighting?"

"Well, in a situation like this, the one who rushes in first loses, so it probably won't turn into a real fight."

Baekhyun said that and slyly moved the popcorn container to the opposite side of Uriel.

"That's right, it won't turn into a fight. But the atmosphere will become extremely tense~"

Then, this time, Arachne appeared from somewhere and snatched a handful of Baekhyun's popcorn, and Baekhyun looked at the bottom of the popcorn container with sad eyes.

"But looking at it like this, don't they look similar, starting from the way they smile teasingly?"

"Uhm, if you listen to their personalities and thoughts, they seem to be complete opposites… but looking at them like that, it does seem like they get along well."

"Well, whether you like it or not, the more you clash, the more affection you develop, so it could be."

Baekhyun, Uriel, and Arachne chatted, watching the two as if they were spectators, a step away.

The appearance of the others was not much different from the three.

Rather than focusing on Lee Shin, they were focusing on resting and spending their own time.

Cheon Yuhwa, even while watching them, did not particularly give them any attention.

Because they had only come here after being tempted by Cheon Yuhwa's words to come and watch for fun, as there was something interesting going on.

On top of that, Cheon Yuhwa could be satisfied enough with the fact that they were here, acting as a deterrent that prevented Lee Shin from running away.

"I'm planning on making the rest of the deal here, is that okay?"

"Do as you please. You're going to tell everyone yourself later anyway, so there's no need to hide it from these guys… Hmm? Ah, no. Wait a minute."

Lee Shin, who was talking, stopped as if he had remembered something and was lost in thought.

Seeing that, Cheon Yuhwa frowned slightly.

Because after Lee Shin showed such a reaction, unexpected words always came out.

And like Cheon Yuhwa's ominous premonition, it was the same this time.

"Since it's come to this, let's have them participate in this deal too."

"You mean let them ask if they have anything they're curious about?"

"Uh, then is it okay for us to join in?"

At Arachne's question, Lee Shin nodded his head.

"There's no reason why not. Well, I'm not forcing you, so if you don't have anything to ask, you don't have to. I just said it because I thought this would be less boring than just watching."

"Well, it's certainly less boring to have a conversation, no matter what it is, than just sitting still, right?"

Baekhyun gave Arachne a look from the side, but she just smiled and completely ignored his signal.

"Of course, I'll receive a price for your questions too. It's one item I want per question, so it would be good to think carefully before asking."

Lee Shin said, looking at all of them with greedy eyes.

It was not the eye of someone looking at a person, but the eye of someone looking at a goose that lays golden eggs.

"Hyung, is credit possible?"

"Of course not. If you don't have money, borrow an item from Crowley and pay with that."

"You're openly dragging me in without even asking for my consent. What are you going to do if I refuse that proposal?"

At Crowley's displeased words, Lee Shin smiled and said.

"Come on, it's an opportunity to use the great power of the Ten Kings with just one item. There's no way a quick-witted guy like you would refuse such a good proposal."

At Lee Shin's words, Crowley clicked his tongue, but that was all.

Because, as Lee Shin had said, Crowley had already finished the calculation that it would be more profitable to accept this proposal from the moment he first heard it.

While Lee Shin was looking at the new stage he had created with satisfaction, Cheon Yuhwa said.

"Have you finished cleaning up?"

"Thanks to you waiting."

"Then the deal starts now."

Simultaneously with Cheon Yuhwa saying that, a magic circle began to shine on the floor.

"What's this?"

"A magic circle that tells me whether you're lying or not."

"What, you made something like this too?"

"Of course. If I hadn't, what would I believe in your words and make a deal like this?"

At Cheon Yuhwa's cold words, Lee Shin made a playful sad face.

"That's too much. To prepare something like this because you can't trust your partner."

"If you were me, could you trust you?"

"No, even if I were me, I couldn't trust me."

At Cheon Yuhwa's blatant words, Lee Shin chuckled and shook his head.

"Ahem! For your information, I, the beautiful witch, made this magic circle! I guarantee its performance, but I made it in a hurry, so it's fragile, so please use it carefully."

Simultaneously with Oz saying that with a smile, something flew towards Lee Shin's face.

Lee Shin caught it with a nonchalant face and checked it.

Looking at it, it was a bundle of papers with a list of the items in the [Meister] guild.

"One is an item setting that matches the stats you showed me, and the other is a list of the items our guild has. That should be enough, right?"

"Yes, this is more than enough."

Lee Shin, who had said that, quickly checked the list and then tore off a piece of paper and held it out to Crowley.

"I'll buy a hundred of each type of throwing spear written here. Ah, I'm buying this with my own money, so it's not included in the deal."

"…Are you really planning on starting a war somewhere?"

Crowley, who had checked the list of items, said with a queasy expression.

"If it were something as cute as a war, there would be no need to buy such things."

At Lee Shin's words, Crowley thought for a moment and then nodded his head.

"Tsk, I guess there's no choice."

"I'm counting on you."

Crowley, watching Lee Shin check the items on the list after saying that, slightly curled up his lips and said in a mischievous voice.

"It's good that you're checking carefully, but I don't know if you need to look at it when you can't even be sure if you can get everything I've picked out. I don't think you have that much information."

"It's the opposite. To find out what I know, the things written here are not enough."

Crowley thought that Lee Shin was provoking him, but he soon realized that wasn't the case.

Because Lee Shin didn't seem to have any particular interest in Crowley's reaction, as if his words from a moment ago were sincere.

"Hmm, I've seen it all."

Lee Shin, who had muttered that, looked at Oz with his eyes.

At that, Oz smiled seductively and activated the magic circle below.

"Now, then, what should I ask first? Are you thinking of asking what I'm planning first?"

Lee Shin, who had confirmed that the magic circle was moving properly, opened his mouth in an exaggerated tone, as if acting in a play.

"If not that, how about information about the secret of the dungeon that so many people have been curious about but have never been able to find out?"

"Huh?"

"What did you say?"

"Uhm?"

At Lee Shin's words, the three mages looked at him with wide, rabbit-like eyes, but Lee Shin just ignored their words with a strange smile.

"If not that, are you curious about the identity of the enemy who attacked us and created the current world?"

At Lee Shin's words, the eyes of everyone in the room began to slowly widen.

"If not that, then information about the protagonist who created the player system? Or why the world suddenly regressed and you came back?"

Lee Shin said, looking at Cheon Yuhwa's face, which was agape and unable to close, as if he were enjoying it.

"Ask me anything. I finished preparing to answer a long time ago."

The moment Lee Shin finished his words.

"…It's, it's true."

Oz declared in a small, trembling voice that Lee Shin's words were true.

◎ ◎ ◎

"…How do you know those things?"

Cheon Yuhwa's cold voice echoed in the room.

Although her tone was calm, everyone in the room knew that it was a mask.

Because the aura, influenced by her emotions, was being fiercely emitted from around her, disturbing the conference room.

Watching that, Lee Shin said with a wide, genuinely amused smile.

"Is that your first question?"

"You…! Hah…"

Cheon Yuhwa, who had seen Lee Shin's wide smile, bit her lip.

Her emotions had become intense at the thought that she could know the things she had been so curious about for a long time, but seeing that annoying face of Lee Shin, her head reflexively cooled down.

It was a reflex action created by experiencing countless times that acting emotionally in front of Lee Shin would only get her thoroughly beaten.

Watching Cheon Yuhwa quickly regain her composure, Lee Shin was amazed.

"You calmed down faster than I thought. I thought you might hit me a few times."

"If I could make you listen by hitting you, I would, but if I hit you even once, you'll hold onto it and not let go."

Cheon Yuhwa said that and looked around.

And seeing the nine faces shining with curiosity, she let out a small sigh.

'I've really been had.'

The reason Cheon Yuhwa had gathered the Ten Kings was also to extract the information Lee Shin had more efficiently.

It was the thought that if they put their heads together on one problem, they could find out more things.

But everyone who had heard Lee Shin's words a little while ago had become curious in their own way.

If Cheon Yuhwa were the only one who could ask questions, she could somehow organize the flow of the questions, but in a situation like this, it was impossible since Lee Shin would not just watch.

Naturally, various questions came and went in Cheon Yuhwa's mind, and the thought of Lee Shin getting numerous items and smiling made her feel bad.

Cheon Yuhwa, clicking her tongue at the annoyance that filled her head, opened her mouth to at least organize the minimum.

"How about we go around clockwise one by one and ask, and if you don't have anything to ask, you can pass?"

"Y, yes."

"That would be good."

At Cheon Yuhwa's words, the three from the mage side agreed in a hurried voice, and the others also nodded their heads slightly in agreement.

In the organized atmosphere, Cheon Yuhwa slowly opened her mouth.

"Alright, first question. Where did you get this information?"

"I got it by catching a spy who came to Earth. I'll take the [Ring of Heavenly Punishment]."

At Lee Shin's words, Cheon Yuhwa frowned and threw a pair of bracelets with her aura-induced telekinesis.

Catching them, Lee Shin smiled with satisfaction.

It was time for item farming.

(End of Chapter)