Chapter 169 - Gaming Buddy
Ryu Min found Joo Sung-taek with Hwang Yong-min's face.
With the tracking skill, it wasn't difficult to pursue him.
"Again?"
"You, you, you idiot... Kuk!"
Joo Sung-taek, who was pushed inward by Ryu Min's kick, quickly got into position.
'Curse of terror.'
Even though he cast the terror spell while opening his eyes.
[The opponent has resisted fear.]
[You failed to cast the curse of terror.]
It was as useless as before.
"Don't be too scared. I just came to talk."
Thud-
Ryu Min closed the front door and smirked ironically.
But Joo Sung-taek's attitude, which even in that state looked mocking and disdainful, couldn't help but anger him.
"You're talking nonsense! Talk? You're the guy who said he'd kill me if we ever met again!"
"Oh, are you hurt by the words I said? I'm sorry. But let's face it, you were the one who attacked first in the sect. Isn't that so?"
"That's damn... Kuk!"
When he kicked him again, Joo Sung-taek rolled on the floor of the room.
"Since before, you've only been complaining about others. Despite being treated like that in the church, you still haven't regained your senses."
Joo Sung-taek was in a difficult situation to change.
Even for a killer who had killed dozens of people before becoming a player, he couldn't expect much more.
'I can't let him survive just because he has good stats. Better to eliminate any unknown variables.'
Looking at Joo Sung-taek, who looked at him as if he were going to kill him, Ryu Min thought he did well to follow him.
"All right. I'll give you the chance to get revenge."
"What?"
Ryu Min, who didn't respond anymore, manipulated the system window in the air.
Finally, an unknown message appeared before Joo Sung-taek's eyes.
[The opponent has challenged 'Dungsters' to a duel.]
[Duel type ▶ Non-lethal simple duel]
[Opponent's victory condition ▶ Touching 100 times]
['Dungsters' victory condition ▶ Touch at least one hair]
[In case of victory ▶ The loser becomes a lifelong slave, serving and obeying the winner]
[Opponent's penalty ▶ Prohibition of using equipment and skills]
['Dungsters' penalty ▶ None]
[Would you accept the duel under these conditions? Y/N]
"What is this?"
When Joo Sung-taek, who was experiencing a duel challenge for the first time, showed his confusion, Ryu Min explained kindly.
He had to accept the challenge to force his action.
"It's the duel function. It's simple. If you touch even a hair of mine, you win. On the other hand, if I touch your body 100 times, I win. The loser submits as a slave to the winner. What do you think? Simple, right?"
"Do I win if I touch at least once?"
"Yes. In return, I won't use equipment or skills."
Joo Sung-taek, who checked the system window again, hesitated.
'Can you treat that bastard like a slave just by touching a hair or something?'
It was a completely useless bet.
The problem was whether it would be carried out or not.
"Do you really accept a duel under these conditions?"
"Do you doubt that?"
"How can I trust that you won't break the promise?"
"How? Stupid. The system enforces it as if it were a sovereign authority."
"...."
Joo Sung-taek fell silent.
Seeing that even the system window appeared, it seemed reliable.
There also seemed to be a chance of winning.
'Even if he's a wizard, I won't be able to touch him while he touches me 100 times, right?'
The game ends with just a touch of fear.
Of course, I've never experienced resisting, although there are many ways.
"You can even take advantage of the corpse explosion if things go wrong, there are many options."
It's not just that my intelligence has increased because I'm from the class that uses magic.
I've also invested in strength and agility, as I often find myself in melee combat or have to flee.
Even if he's quick, I was sure I could touch him at least once.
"What do you think? Will you do it or talk?"
"Why are you suddenly making me this offer?"
"What else could it be?"
Ryu Min chuckled ironically.
"Out of pity."
"What?"
"Because it's pathetic to see someone who keeps fighting without skill. I'm giving you a chance, even giving you penalties. Didn't you know?"
"..."
"That guy who says he raised his intelligence, but his head doesn't work. The head isn't just for decoration. Tsk tsk."
"That bastard..."
Feeling humiliated at being mocked in this way, being in second or third place in the region's ranking.
It was embarrassing.
"So, what are you going to do? Will you do it or talk?"
"Let's do it, you damn idiot."
[The duel has been confirmed.]
[In 10 seconds, the showdown between the two will begin.]
The angry Joo Sung-taek cursed under his breath.
He didn't even know that the chance of winning was close to zero.
"So I've gained another slave with this."
The corner of Ryu Min's mouth cruelly lifted.
---------------
With a 22% decrease in the world population, the economy staggered.
The world became terrifying to go out because of the players.
Streets became deserted, and small traders complained of a decrease in sales.
But the gaming industry was the hardest hit, as the main audience for gaming content was in the age group of 15 to 29.
"While other games are losing players, it seems that popular games are not failing as they continue to offer services."
It was lucky for Ryu Won, who had nothing to do at home.
Now he could play the games he always wanted to try.
"But after playing for several months, even games are getting tiresome."
After spending over nine months at home, playing like a hermit, he was now getting tired and bored.
"I know this sounds spoiled compared to before. But it really is exhausting..."
Even eating takeout three times a day at first was enjoyable, but it became unbearable.
What he could bear was the presence of his brother and his gaming friends.
"I can't make friends in real life, so I should at least make friends in games."
He was lucky to find good friends in the game.
They always responded well, never complained, and had gaming skills.
When he played with that friend on stressful days, even when he felt depressed, the stress eased.
It was different from the school friends who bullied and teased him.
Although he was only an online friend, Ryu Won thought he was a true friend.
At least until they met in person.
"Are you Ryu Won?"
"Yes, are you Tae Wan?"
"We finally meet. Nice to meet you. This damn idiot here."
Before he could be surprised by the sudden insult, Tae Wan hugged him.
There was a typical bully smell.
"Why are you like this, Tae Wan...?"
"Damn idiot. Don't speak to me informally. I'm two years older than you, damn it."
"What? In the game, we're clearly the same age..."
"It's just a lie to get close to you. For now, follow me. Let's go somewhere quiet."
Tae Wan, with a malicious laugh, led Ryu Won.
He tried to resist, but it was impossible.
The burden on his shoulders felt like carrying a rock.
"Oh, wait a moment. Are you a player, older than me by two years, right?"
Yes, a player.
And not just any player, but a veteran who has survived until round 10.
Gulp-
The tension exceeded surprise.
The danger of a player was greater than that of a common thug.
By his actions, it seemed he had negative feelings towards Ryu Won.
"Oh... I should have stayed home, as my brother said."
But it was too late for regrets.
Ryu Won was dragged by someone he trusted as a friend.
Despite looking around on the way, even in broad daylight, there seemed to be no one to ask for help.
"Come in, kid."
Facing Ryu Won, pushed from behind, there was not a cybercafe but a dead-end alley.
What did he plan to do in this place, where thugs could lurk?
He didn't even want to think about it.
"Why, why are you doing this, Tae Wan?"
"Kid, you still treat me informally, even though I'm two years older than you! And damn it, don't call me by my name so casually. Because it annoys me."
"Why, why are you doing this...?"
Slap!
His vision flickered as his head turned.
His cheek swelled and blood dripped from his nose.
"This damn kid wants me to kill him. While I was looking out for you, you kept playing with fire, saying you were having fun while I suffered."
"...."
"Don't you understand yet? This kid still doesn't understand the situation."
Although Tae Wan's mouth smiled, his eyes were terrifyingly open.
Eyes that truly wanted to kill.
"Hey, do you know Tae Gyu?"
"Tae Gyu? Who's...?"
"I'm talking about Bang Tae-gyu, damn idiot. Don't you remember? My younger brother, who ended up in the hospital after you and your friends beat him up nine months ago, you damn son of a bitch."
"Oh."
He remembered.
It hadn't been that long, but he had forgotten.
The thug who had ruined his school days.
His name was Bang Tae-gyu.
"Looking at your eyes, it seems you're starting to remember. I'm Bang Tae-wan, Bang Tae-gyu's brother."
"...."
"Do you know how much I've suffered trying to find you? I searched detective agencies and asked around everywhere, but I couldn't find you. There isn't even a photo of you to use the tracking skill. Damn it, do you know how much I suffered? Luckily, I was able to discover your game ID. In the end, we ended up meeting this way."
"So all the being friends thing was a lie..."
"It was all an act, kid. To find you outside of the game. But you know? This damn kid always hides when I tell him to meet in person. Damn it!"
Now he understood.
He wasn't a gaming friend or anything like that.
He was just a thug who strategically approached to avenge his brother.
"Your brother's name was Ryu Min, right? Is that guy living well? After breaking my little brother's fingers and arm, is he living well?"
"......"
"Don't tell me he's already dead, right? I've been waiting for the day of revenge. Huh? Answer, damn it."
"......"
Ryu Won pressed his lips as if sealing something, even an invisible zipper.
'I'll never be able to talk about my brother...'
Zap!
Until blood splattered as his jaw turned.
"Hey."
Bang Tae-wan looked at him with a terrifying gaze.
"Aren't you going to speak? Do you underestimate me? Do you think this is a joke?"
Zap!
The head turned to the other side.
Blood was oozing from tightly pressed lips.
"Speak. Is your brother alive or not? If you don't speak, am I going to hit you again?"
"He, he's dead..."
"Dead?"
Ryu Won nodded, feigning a shameless expression.
To prevent his brother from suffering, the only choice was to say he was dead.
"Well, unless you're a prodigy like me, you wouldn't have survived until round 10 anyway."
Bang Tae-wan, who was shaking his head as if considering something, finally showed a pensive face.
"Alright, what now? I planned to lure my idiot brother using your presence and kill him, but if he's already dead... is the revenge over?"
Ryu Won felt relieved seeing that apparently they had given up on revenge.
But only for a moment.
"There's no other choice. Without my brother, I'll have to kill you."
"What, what?"
"Surprised? If your brother did something wrong, the punishment must fall on you instead of him. Don't you know the collective responsibility system?"
By targeting Ryu Won instead of his brother, Bang Tae-wan was puzzled.
"If by chance you're lying, say it now. Is your brother alive, right? Did you say he was dead just to protect him? Hmm?"
"......"
"Aren't you going to speak? Then, you'll have to die in place of your brother. I'll do exactly what was done to my brother, breaking your fingers and arms before breaking your neck. Got it?"
"......"
"So speak. Where is that guy called Ryu Min?"
"My, my brother is already..."
"The bastard keeps lying till the end."
Bang Tae-wan's face was cruelly twisted.
"I have no intentions of speaking yet, alright. I'll break your fingers and then listen to your answer again."
"Oh, what are you doing here?"
The soft voice made Bang Tae-wan turn his head.
A woman with a malicious smile was looking at him.
"Damn it. Leave without saying anything."
"I'm not asking you, am I?"
"What?"
Just as Bang Tae-wan was puzzled and about to get angry.
The woman's eyes flashed pink.
Then, Bang Tae-wan suddenly dropped his arms as if he were a soulless doll.
'What's going on?'
Ryu Won, who was wearing a perplexed expression, couldn't help but feel bewildered at the woman's question.
"Are you alright, master?"
'Master?'
Speaking as if she knew who he was, she even addressed herself as "master".
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