A Veteran of Infinite Buffs - Chapter 73

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 73

-You can come out now.

The first person to arrive at my house was Eden.
A truly considerate person who would visit all this way with just a single message that I needed help.
“I apologize for the sudden contact. Thank you so much for coming all this way.”
“I determined that my assistance was necessary. And Miss Cha Eun-kyung has come along as well.”
“What?”
Cha Eun-kyung was in the back seat of the vehicle.
The surprising fact here was that there was almost no difference between her real appearance and her game character’s design.
I found myself once again realizing just how little interest I had in celebrities.
“Whose child is this?”
“Pardon?”
Now that I thought about it, I’d omitted many explanations when speaking with Eden.
While rescuing the child in the game, I’d somehow ended up rescuing them in reality as well.
So all I’d said was that I needed help.
“I’m asking whose child this is.”
“I don’t know the details either. Apparently, they were confined in the Child Welfare Facility and possess quite exceptional talent. I ended up rescuing them by chance.”
I told them the truth—everything I knew.
For some reason, it felt like I should.
Her expression had looked rather dangerous, after all.
“Talent?”
“Yes. They can craft Legendary-grade items.”
Cha Eun-kyung pondered for a moment, then her expression softened.
“Legendary-grade items can be crafted by skilled artisans too. Even if the child has a promising future, this seems excessive.”
“I didn’t want this either. It was something China aggressively pursued. But this child produces Legendary items at a mass-production level. If I don’t provide them with solid backing, they’ll continue to be exploited.”
“…I don’t like this.”
Of course, the child didn’t produce Legendary items every single time they crafted.
There were ordinary dolls and masterpiece dolls as well.
But the high ratio of Legendary to masterpiece items, combined with the fact that a corporate chairman was actively trying to utilize them, proved the child’s exceptional nature.
If I didn’t look after them, they would definitely continue to be exploited.
“Still, this is a situation I created. I need to do my best to see it through to the end.”
“You’re adopting them?”
“Yes.”
It wouldn’t be easy, but I’d already made up my mind.
Besides, I could now afford to choose a decent living environment—not high-end, but respectable—and my income had become substantial enough that I even met the conditions for single-parent adoption.
At the very least, I could take responsibility for one child.
“Do you know the procedure?”
“Roughly. And I’ve arranged to receive help with the adoption process as well.”
“Hmm?”
Moreover, an unexpected ally extended her hand to me.
It was Bella.
During our whispered conversation, I learned Bella’s occupation, and surprisingly, she wasn’t a full-time gamer.
Despite her young age—early thirties—she held the title of Foundation director.
Furthermore, she’d promised to fully support the adoption procedures.
“Is there anyone besides you?”
“Yes. There’s someone from the Lumiere Guild named Bella who has a connection with me.”
“Baek Seo-hyun?”
“Pardon?”
“Bella from Lumiere. That’s Baek Seo-hyun.”
“Ah….”
I hadn’t learned Bella’s real name yet.
I’d only searched for the Foundation she operated and confirmed it was a real organization.
But if the information came from Cha Eun-kyung, it would be true.
It seemed there was some connection between the two of them.
“How peculiar.”
“Yes?”
Cha Eun-kyung ended with that cryptic remark and called someone.
“….”
The call didn’t connect.
Cha Eun-kyung’s atmosphere grew even colder.
What kind of relationship did they have?
Would it be alright to accept help from both of them?
While the fact that I had two powerful allies remained unchanged, an inexplicable sense of unease crept over me.
“I’ve arranged to meet Bella at Incheon Port.”
“….”
In moments like this, I think it’s best to do as Eden would.
Stay silent.
As Cha Eun-kyung’s dedicated bodyguard, he’d likely have the right answer.

* * *

After a long silence, we arrived at our destination.
“I’ll finish parking and join you. Please go ahead with the young lady.”
“Yes. Thank you for driving. Let’s go, Cha Eun-kyung.”
“…Okay.”
Bella and several people who appeared to be her associates were waiting for me there.
“Hello. It’s nice to meet you in person for the first time, Bella.”
“Kael?”
For some reason, Bella didn’t spare a single glance toward Cha Eun-kyung.
They clearly knew each other.
Introductions came first, naturally.
“Yes. I’m Lee Seo-jun.”
“I’m Baek Seo-hyun. You’re quite striking in person, aren’t you?”
“You’re lovely as well, Bella.”
Bella and Baek Seo-hyun had chosen a different path than Cha Eun-kyung.
Their real-world appearances far surpassed their in-game counterparts.
“Thank you. Oh, I’ve already handled the entry procedures on my end. Is that alright?”
“Really? You can do that?”
“Of course! I pulled some strings!”
“What about the Child?”
“The Child is in a temporary container over there. I determined it would be safer inside the device, so they’re sleeping in the access terminal set up within the container.”
“Phew. That’s a relief. Are they doing okay?”
“There are signs of malnutrition, but that should improve with hospitalization. This is my personal physician, after all.”
“Hello. I’m Oh Seung-tae, the dedicated physician.”
“Ah. Hello.”
Looking around now, quite a few people were moving about in Bella’s vicinity.
They were all surely connected to Bella in some way.
Given the variety of ages, I wondered if some core members of the Lumiere Guild were mixed in.
“You don’t need to worry about identity! People working for our Foundation and core members of the Guild came to help. You know them, right? The heroes who cleared the World Quest.”
“I see.”
She must have called people she could trust.
Those who had cleared the massive hidden Quest over several months naturally exchanged this kind of assistance with ease.
“Excuse me. Issues like this should be handled quietly.”
Finally, Cha Eun-kyung opened her mouth.
It was a remark that put her at odds with Baek Seo-hyun from the start.
“Oh. Was that inappropriate?”
But Baek Seo-hyun didn’t spare Cha Eun-kyung a glance, instead asking me with a worried expression.
She was a much stronger personality than I’d expected.
“No, it’s fine. Handling this alone would be far worse than receiving reliable help. It seems I’ve received considerable assistance—how should I repay you?”
“I received some decent hunting ground information as a Quest clear reward. How about we do some party hunting together once the server maintenance ends?”
“Party hunting? But it doesn’t seem like an ordinary hunting ground. Would I be suitable?”
The reward from the world-class hidden quest completed by the Lumiere Guild was essentially a reward for all players.
The game time ratio had shifted to an astounding 10 to 1.
One hour of playtime equated to ten hours within the game—an absurd multiplier.
Moreover, the quest rewards that the Lumiere Guild received directly remained undisclosed.
Bella’s proposal constituted an extraordinarily generous gesture.
There was simply no reason to decline it.
“Of course. The Golden Fox pelt played an enormous role. Naturally, our entire guild voted in favor!”
“The Golden Fox pelt?”
“Yes. We continued progressing quests in Liam, didn’t we? The hidden boss of Liam, the Golden Fox, was the key clue.”
“Ah.”
There was indeed a connection.
With each member at ranker-level strength, this explained why they had remained continuously in Liam, the Beginner Village.
“It was actually the crucial clue. Without it, progression itself would have been blocked.”
“To think it proved so helpful. The fox pelt truly found its rightful owner.”
“Yes. That’s why I wanted to share the rewards with you, Kael, at least in some measure!”
Meanwhile, Cha Eun-kyung’s face had flushed for some reason as she began making a phone call.
“Open the premium ward right now. Yes. Yes. The child will be admitted today.”
Only then did Bella begin to react.
“Eun-kyung. The child is scheduled to be admitted to our Foundation hospital, so you don’t need to do that.”
This time, Cha Eun-kyung ignored her.
Her expression bore the satisfied look of someone who had landed a decisive blow.
“Lee Seo-jun is going hunting with me. Back off.”
“My?”
For some reason, a hunting schedule had been added, but I had no objections whatsoever.
As long as my stamina held out, I welcomed any hunting ground with guaranteed good rewards.
“Regardless of how you both know each other. Lee Seo-jun is our guild’s benefactor. He even requested help directly.”
“Same here.”
Thus, I decided to mediate the situation.
“I’m grateful to both of you. Feel free to have me hunt twice—I’ll do my best.”
“….”
“….”
With the mediation settled, the next task was to verify the child directly.
“Is it that container over there?”
“…Yes. That’s right.”
“Is there only one access device?”
“Yes, just one inside. I’d say they put considerable thought into it. Installing an access device inside a container—Mason wouldn’t have looked favorably on that.”
“Is that so?”
I became interested in the access device inside the container.
It was likely a Dimension Gate III unit.
“Would it be possible to transport the container as is? I’d like to stay nearby.”
“Oh, it’s possible, but you’d really do that for us? We’ve actually had quite a few things we needed to discuss. Right, Eun-kyung?”
“Let’s go inside.”
It was the first time I’d seen Cha Eun-kyung and Baek Seo-hyun in agreement.
There seemed to be some tension between them since earlier, so it was best to give them space.
“Of course. Please, take your time talking.”
I headed into the container where the Child was being kept.
The interior conditions weren’t bad at all.
At least it was neither cold nor hot—a comfort comparable to the environmental benefits of Golden Fox fur options.
“So this is Dimension Gate III.”
The exterior certainly differed significantly from the one at home.
Inside, a small-framed child lay sleeping peacefully.
“Hmm. Should I teach Chinese as well? I suppose Korean comes first, though.”
Perhaps it was because my heart and wallet had found some ease.
I found myself wanting to show the child only good things.
“Since they mentioned malnutrition, I’ll need to make sure they eat properly.”
Vrrrrm—
A sense of buoyancy washed over me.
The container relocation must have begun.
The precision of the groundwork was evident; the container moved smoothly with barely a tremor.
“I’ll just rest until we arrive, then.”
I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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