The Chicken Legend's Game Becomes Reality - Chapter 57
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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 57
* * *
Jeong Hee-ji had never met Joo Hyun-soo before.
Yet the moment she spotted a woman’s face alongside Baek Hee-an on the internet, she found herself drawn to the Convenience Store—and her reasons were roughly these.
“That name Baek Hee-an kept calling whenever he drank? That’s really her?”
“…Yeah.”
Her expression was thoroughly wounded pride.
“I had a feeling, but it really is that name. Joo Hyun-soo.”
Jeong Si-do, having heard the full story from inside the car, wore an expression of utter bewilderment.
He’d known his younger sister still harbored feelings for Baek Hee-an, but he never imagined she’d become this obsessed.
Jeong Hee-ji murmured as if to herself.
“At first, I thought this Joo Hyun-soo person was a man. The name sounds kind of masculine, doesn’t it? But when Hee-an said that name, something felt off. It was so tender, like he was searching for his first love….”
“Even if the Convenience Store Part-time Worker is this Joo Hyun-soo, they couldn’t possibly be that kind of couple. You saw her face. Baek Hee-an is the type who judges women by their appearance first.”
“He’s not that kind of person.”
At Jeong Hee-ji’s firm denial, Jeong Si-do fell silent.
As someone who’d witnessed how much Hee-ji suffered because of Baek Hee-an—from the start of their relationship until now—Si-do no longer had the heart to reproach her.
‘What on earth.’
The moment Baek Hee-an crossed his mind, Si-do’s gaze turned glacial.
‘Baek Hee-an is definitely homosexual. No matter how talented he is, that’s the truth. How could he reject Hee-ji? After everything she did for him.’
This wasn’t mere infatuation—it was objective fact, the prevailing opinion that had swept through the Hunter Community at the time.
Their relationship had ended with Hee-ji suffering throughout because Baek Hee-an didn’t even particularly care for her.
Ever since, the mere sight of Baek Hee-an’s face irritated Si-do.
“What kind of relationship does she have with this Joo Hyun-soo person?”
“Just acquaintances, probably.”
“No.”
Jeong Hee-ji bit her lip.
“Honestly, I didn’t want to believe it either, but when I was dating Hee-an, he called that name so often I wanted to kill her.”
“….”
As a dangerous tone slipped from her voice, Jeong Si-do’s eyes rolled sideways.
She looked unhinged.
From his perspective, the likelihood of those two being in that kind of relationship was nonexistent, and even if it were true, there was no reason for Hee-ji to care whether they were together or not.
‘Please.’
Baek Hee-an was talented, that much was certain, but the world was vast and men were plentiful—he couldn’t fathom why his gifted younger sister remained fixated on that bastard.
The seething anger directed at his sister boomeranged directly back, striking Baek Hee-an instead.
‘It’s definitely that bastard Baek Hee-an’s fault. If you’re in a relationship, you should be faithful to one woman. Why does he call another woman’s name every time he drinks.’
Jeong Si-do’s gaze sharpened.
In any case, if he left Hee-ji alone—someone who was normally fine but occasionally acted on impulse—and she caused trouble, it would be a disaster.
He finally opened his mouth, exhaling a long sigh.
“Fine. Don’t go to that Convenience Store for a while. I’ll look into this Joo Hyun-soo person more thoroughly myself.”
* * *
The entire floor I lived on was a training ground for Hunters to condition their bodies.
Countless pieces of fitness equipment, stretching apparatus, a room with virtual reality gaming devices, and a posture practice hall with bungee cords hanging from high ceilings like those used by stuntmen.
And finally, a Training Hall equipped with the latest striking dummies I’d never seen before, where I could swing a sword freely.
True to being a Hunter’s residence, Baek Hee-an’s House had everything imaginable.
With a multi-level Penthouse layout and rooms so spacious individually, it was perfect for sword practice.
‘I’ve heard most Hunters live in houses to create spaces like this. Using a Penthouse this way… money really does make anything possible.’
As if there wasn’t enough already, one board in the Training Hall displayed the structure and schedule of the Cheongryeong Guild’s training facility.
Even if I’d monopolized the Training Hall, Baek Hee-an could still train elsewhere.
Thinking about it, I’d underestimated the Hunter life as just talent-dependent, but now that I was using the training facilities and observing things carefully, it seemed incredibly demanding.
‘I should just live as an ordinary person.’
I’d been treated as a Hunter so much that I’d even considered becoming one.
But remembering how exhausting it was to defeat the boss monster at the Gate, I definitely didn’t want to make being a Hunter my profession.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
I swung the sword like I was following along with a dance tutorial on YouTube, with Kkolkkalpi displayed in front of me.
I’d grabbed a sword from Baek Hee-an’s Armory to practice, but the Training Hall was packed with wooden swords.
Progress came quickly.
Whenever there was a part I wasn’t satisfied with, he’d correct my form a few times.
I was diligently mimicking Park Awkward’s sword dance—his swordplay was as beautiful as a celebrity’s—when a question suddenly occurred to me.
“Hey, Constellation. But where did that sword technique come from?”
⟦”Just do it for now.”⟧
“Fine.”
Truth be told, I wasn’t that curious.
The sweat pouring down my entire body felt too refreshing and good.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
The sound of the sword swinging clung pleasantly to my ears.
Though my body was heavy with excess fat, my incredible strength made moving feel like I’d returned to my days of serious training.
‘Come to think of it, aside from gym sessions and that alley fight, when was the last time I properly trained and honed something?’
I’d mindlessly followed along without thinking, losing track of how much time had passed.
Park Awkward stopped moving.
⟦”Tch. I knew you were stubborn, but you haven’t asked to rest even once.”⟧
“?”
Even though my breathing was getting ragged and sweat was pouring like rain, it didn’t feel like the right time to stop yet.
I lowered the sword and was startled.
‘Why are my limbs trembling like this? Am I going to die from muscle soreness tomorrow?’
Intoxicated by the high of training after so long, my mind was crystal clear, but my body clearly wasn’t.
Kkolkkalpi spoke.
⟦”Now try striking.”⟧
I walked toward the striking dummies lined up on one side of the Training Hall.
There were striking dummies similar to swords, full-body striking mannequins for thrusting, and rubber scarecrows.
I chose the rubber scarecrow, which looked the easiest.
Bang!
Feedback came flying back immediately.
⟦”You’re putting too much force into it. You’re so conscious of not being able to use your legs that you’re trying to finish it all at once.”⟧
“You’re right.”
⟦”No matter how high your strength is, if you swing the sword like that, you’ll tire quickly. Your stamina isn’t infinite. Even in the Game, if you exert that much force, your response time will lag.”⟧
Confusion bloomed in my mind.
The gap between reality with physical disability and the Game without it.
Bang!
I knew the feeling of releasing force and letting it flow when my legs were free.
⟦”Good. Keep up that pace.”⟧
Tap-tap-tap!
As I struck repeatedly, building momentum, my legs suddenly weighed on my mind.
I’d nearly died at the Gate too.
“Well, yeah. I’m training to win the Game tournament anyway. But wouldn’t it be better to do separate training with my real legs in mind?”
⟦”What are you talking about? We’re going to fix it anyway. Train as if you’re in perfect condition.”⟧
Thump.
“….”
My heart trembled as an indescribable emotion surged through me.
Hopeful yet anxious.
Certainly, when I first learned about the Panacea at the Coin Market, it felt incredibly thrilling and desperate.
With my balance at zero coins, treatment felt as distant as buying a house.
“Hey.”
⟦”What?”⟧
“Can you really fix my legs? You got your account suspended. You’ll have to coordinate with other Constellations again and proceed with the tournament, but how are we supposed to win against those top-ranked players and earn coins?”
Park Awkward stared at me with those unnecessarily beautiful blue eyes.
⟦”Hmph. I thought you didn’t care, but you do. They’re competent enough to be worth something, so do your best. At least you won’t fail from lacking skill.”⟧
For some reason, my mood improved.
Then he continued.
⟦”And once you reach the one-on-one matches, you’ll earn 50,000 coins easily. The one-on-one matches are the real highlight of the tournament. Later, you’ll have so many coins you won’t know what to do with them.”⟧
I really hope that’s true.
In that moment of desperation, a brilliant idea flashed through my mind like lightning.
“Hey Park Awkward, or rather, Constellation. You said you have a ton of coins. Is that real, not a bluff? Are you like a tycoon in human terms?”
⟦”A tycoon? That’s not enough to compare me. Add emperor or god to that. But why are you suddenly asking? It’s not like you suddenly developed awe for me.”⟧
“Yeah, Park King God Emperor Tycoon.”
⟦”…Ahem!”⟧
He really likes that.
There’s a reason I hype up Park Awkward like this.
“Bet your coins on my victory in this battle royale. You said I couldn’t bet on myself starting from the main tournament, but now that we’re not in a Fair state anymore, I can, right?”
⟦”!”⟧
Kkolkkalpi’s eyes widened.
My eyes widen as I realize what I’ve been missing, rolling them side to side before finally looking at him.
⟦”There’s nothing you can’t bet, but do you have confidence in winning the tournament?”⟧
“Of course not.”
⟦”…?”⟧
“I’ll bet anyway. You said that winning when the odds are against you is a real jackpot, right? It’s not a one-on-one match anymore, and my main Constellation has changed too, but I’m going to hit that jackpot once.”
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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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