Chapter 242 - Misunderstanding
"Please, a box of Marlboro Red."
Beep!
"That will be 4,500 won, sir. Thank you. Have a good day!"
Min Do-hoon energetically greeted the customer who had just bought a pack of cigarettes and left.
The customer seemed a bit bewildered.
And the reason for his overly cheerful demeanor was none other than a revelation about the value of life.
Ding-dong.
Just then, someone who could be considered the reason for Min Do-hoon's life entered: his daughter, with a disgruntled expression on her face.
"Dad? Did you come to help again?"
"Dad, can't you stop working at the store? It's dangerous these days..."
"Again with that? You really take after your mother with your sermons."
"Don't ignore me."
"It's our daughter's task to take care of us. And if things get rough, we even have Black Scythe."
"How is Black Scythe going to take care of us? He's been so busy lately."
"Well, I don't expect such a prominent figure to come to our convenience store."
Min Juri almost mentioned her connection with Black Scythe but restrained herself. She wasn't really close to him, and it seemed unfair to leverage her position.
"Anyway, just listen to what I say! How long will you keep this up? The surrounding stores have already turned into unmanned convenience stores. We should also switch for safety, or sell the business and retire at home. With the money I've earned so far, it's more than enough for retirement."
What used to be a concern about lack of money was a thing of the past. Just with the money Min Juri had earned selling items as a player, she had around 200 million won. She had already paid off all the family debts and had enough for daily expenses. Plus, she still had a diamond valued at 300 million won given to her by Ryu Min. Although she hadn't sold it yet.
Even if she didn't work at the convenience store, she had enough to live on.
But her father, Min Dohoon, wouldn't listen.
"Preparing for retirement. Are you trying to make me feel like an old man? I'm barely in my 50s. We should work while we can."
"Ah, you're so stubborn."
Min Juri knew how stubborn her father could be, so she could do nothing but sigh and show her frustration.
At least the situation had improved a lot lately.
Most of the players in the country were friendly members of the Church of the Four Gods, and thanks to the CPF and Black Scythe, the crime rate had significantly decreased.
Min Juri, now dressed in the convenience store uniform, pushed her father inside.
"Go and rest inside. I'll take care of things now."
"No, it's only been a few hours since I arrived. I'll stay a bit longer."
"Still, rest. At your age, your body must be tired."
"Are you trying to treat me like an old man? I'm still full of energy. If you want, you could cast one of those blessings that give vigor. That would give me energy all over my body."
"Blessings aren't everything. They just make you feel good, that's all."
"Well, I'm fine so just you rest. I've just recovered from chronic fatigue syndrome, you know?"
"Don't worry about me, worry about your father."
"How can I not worry in this situation?"
Perhaps because she remembered her daughter's situation, risking her life playing?
Min Juri's expression turned somber.
"Haven't you been having a hard time lately?"
"Hmm, what's hard about it? After all, I'm someone who has survived for 14 months."
"Still, there are 6 rounds left. What will happen in the future...?"
How could he understand his daughter's feelings while she herself was suffering so much?
A long sigh escaped Min Juri's lips.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't say sad things in front of my daughter, being her father."
"No, it's okay. I'm fine. I have trustworthy comrades and I've accumulated experience, so I have nothing to worry about."
"Do you know what your father does every first of the month? He prays all night, asking the gods to bring our daughter back safe and sound. Please, pray for it too."
"You have to ask someone to pray... After all, it was God who put us in this situation."
"Who knows. Maybe they'll consider my sincere prayers and show compassion just for our daughter."
Min Juri fell silent, knowing what her father felt.
"That's why every moment with my daughter is precious, and I cherish it. All I want is to spend more time with her while I can."
"What are you saying? Do you think I'm on my deathbed? Who's going to die?"
Min Juri wiped her tears and spoke with determination.
"I'll survive until round 20. I'll fulfill my wish, for sure."
"What wish are you going to make?"
"That's a secret."
Min Juri smiled mysteriously and put on her gloves before heading out.
"Is it time to receive the supplies? I'll go."
"Min Juri, your father is going through..."
"Don't worry. Did you forget? Did you forget that father is a player who can even break walls?"
Min Juri, with a radiant expression, left. But as soon as she left, her expression changed, as if she were worried about something.
"Will I really be able to survive until round 20?"
Somehow, she had made it to round 14.
It couldn't be denied that she had been lucky.
Not being an aggressive class, she had managed to survive until now as a buffer.
"It's all thanks to my comrades."
It was thanks to the comrades she trusted and relied on that she had made it this far.
Among them, those who had supported her the most were Ryu Min and Black Scythe.
"If it weren't for them, maybe I would already be dust..."
Suddenly, she had the idea of wanting to be a supporting force for them too.
After thinking carefully, she came up with an idea.
"Wait, Black Scythe has the option to choose the information for the next round as a special reward, right?"
Is it really necessary to forgo a personal reward to choose the information?
After all, there's Ryu Min, who is a prophet.
"If Ryu Min can obtain information about the next round, Black Scythe could also choose a different reward."
By sharing information among themselves, they could choose different rewards, which would be beneficial even for Black Scythe.
"But why don't they do it that way? Why don't they coordinate their opinions? Or maybe their relationship isn't as good as it seems...?"
Thinking about it, it could be true.
Ryu Min, who had been indifferent even when suggested to join the Church, still hadn't joined.
And Black Scythe had been choosing information about the next round as a reward for his prophecy...
"Looking at it that way, it seems like their relationship isn't that good..."
Could there have been some issue between them?
"Maybe I can help."
Resolve the desired relationship between them?
When Min Juri came to that conclusion, she sent a message to Ryu Min.
["Ryu Min, do you have time to talk today?"]
--------------
After finishing her work and returning home, Min Juri just aimlessly stared at her phone.
"......"
She waited all day for a message, but she didn't receive a reply.
He didn't even respond to her calls.
"What could be happening?"
With worry, she put on her coat.
Remembering having visited Ryu Min's house before, she put on her shoes.
"Dad, I'm going to see a friend."
"Isn't it a boy?"
"And what if it's a boy!? He's my friend!"
"Oh, a boy. I see. Come back soon."
Though he seemed to misunderstand with a subtle smile, Min Juri didn't feel the need to explain.
After all, he was someone she had liked for a long time.
"I'll be back soon. Don't have dinner without me."
Min Juri, embarrassed, went out and took a taxi to Ryu Min's apartment.
The Forest Gallery residential complex, worth around 9 billion.
A year ago, it was worth around 7 billion, but due to increasing insecurity, the price skyrocketed.
"Stop here, please. Thank you."
Min Juri got out of the taxi and walked to the lobby.
Her finger paused momentarily before pressing the call button.
"What floor was it on?"
She remembered the building but not the apartment number.
Amidst her confusion, she heard a saving voice.
"Miss Min Juri?"
"Oh, is it actress Seo Arin?"
Turning around, she saw Seo Arin casually dressed with a cap, holding a bag with the GS24 logo in one hand.
"What are you doing here?"
"Well... I came to see a friend, but I don't remember his apartment number."
"A friend... by any chance, the prophet?"
"Oh, you knew?"
"I heard they were friends."
With that said, Seo Arin opened the door with her keycard.
"What a coincidence. I also wanted to ask something to the prophet. Let's go together."
"Thank you."
The two entered and greeted the security guard before heading to the elevator.
Buzz...
Was she worried about the prolonged silence?
Min Juri broke the ice with a smile.
"I've also heard something. That Ryu Min moved to the floor above..."
"Oh, yeah. Strangely, the prophet moved to the downstairs apartment. He used to exchange sweets with his younger brother... but we never got to try them. They looked so delicious."
"Oh, does he live with his brother?"
She remembered seeing Ryu Min's younger brother when she followed him out of curiosity once.
After that, she didn't directly ask about their family relationship for fear it might be delicate.
"He has a brother who's 4 years younger. You probably knew... right?"
"I didn't know..."
Since they had never publicly met, she pretended not to know.
"Well, what luck. It'll be a bit awkward, but I'll introduce you personally. I've come to the prophet's house several times, so I know his younger brother."
"You've come... several times?"
Min Juri, imagining a female celebrity suddenly showing up at the neighbor's house, especially at the house of the man she liked, began to feel a tinge of jealousy.
"Why are you like this?"
"Oh, it's nothing."
The "ding" sound echoed as the elevator stopped on the 43rd floor.
Both got out and headed to Ryu Min's house.
After ringing the doorbell and waiting, Ryu Won, with a nervous expression, opened the door.
"Miss Seo Arin?"
"And who's beside you?"
"She's a friend of Ryu Min."
At that moment, Min Juri came out smiling.
"Are you Ryu Min's younger brother? Nice to meet you, I'm Min Juri, Ryu Min's classmate."
"Oh, hi."
"By any chance, is Ryu Min inside? I want to talk to him if he's..."
"My older brother is not home right now."
"He's not? Do you know where he went? He hasn't responded to any calls..."
"Well, that's..."
Ryu Won, hesitant, couldn't lie and told the truth.
"He went to Japan to see his girlfriend."
"Girlfriend?"
"Lately, he's been going to Japan frequently to see his Japanese girlfriend."
"Oh, even the prophet who seemed so innocent has a girlfriend. What world is this?"
Seo Arin laughed at this unknown information, but only for a moment.
She looked to the side and was surprised.
Min Juri was staring into space with a desolate expression.
"Why... why are you like this, Min Juri?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Just that... he had a girlfriend... and she was Japanese..."
Min Juri murmured and left without saying goodbye.
"Are you going? Well, then I'll leave too."
"Yes, it was nice to meet you!"
Ryu Won smiled ironically as he watched the front door close.
"What did I do wrong?" he thought.
---
(Up to '45' more ch4pt3rs)
Publication of up to 6 weekly ch4pters, thank you.