The Strongest in the Game by Dominating Monster - Chapter 47

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

Monster Domination: Game’s Strongest Episode 47

 

“Puhehe! No, hyung. Does this really make sense?”

 

“I know, right. So this is how it turns out.”

 

Near my parents’ house, at a quiet bar.

 

Yu Baekjin and Oh Taejun sat facing each other, letting out hollow laughs as if reality was more surreal than fiction.

 

Since they hadn’t expected to fulfill their promise to have a drink this quickly, and in reality at that, the two kept bursting into chuckles.

 

“Oh. I didn’t take away your precious time, did I? It must have been a while since you saw your parents.”

 

Theorn, no, Oh Taejun was quite a respectful man in reality too.

 

He spoke each word carefully and poured drinks politely with both hands.

 

“No. I wanted to talk with you too. And I wanted to say thank you.”

 

“Thank you?”

 

“My parents talked about you a lot. They said you and your parents help them out a lot.”

 

“Ah. It’s not like that. Neighbors naturally help each other, don’t they? Your parents are so good to us too.”

 

Oh Taejun waved his hands dismissively and smiled awkwardly.

 

However, since I had already heard stories from my parents, I knew well that this was modesty born from embarrassment.

 

My parents had developed deep distrust in people after being severely scammed by an acquaintance.

 

Having received an expensive life lesson, the two didn’t easily trust or praise others.

 

The fact that those two spoke so highly of him meant that Taejun had really been good to my parents.

 

And that fact was also the biggest reason I was willing to share drinks with Taejun.

 

Actually meeting him face to face, Taejun was just as pure-hearted and likeable in reality as he was in the game.

 

His speech patterns and behavior were polite in a way that was unusual for kids these days.

 

However, after a drink or two, he became a bit more loose.

 

“Wow. Hyung. But the more I look at you, you’re really handsome. I thought you did amazing customization in the game, but your real-life appearance was just overpowered.”

 

Taejun, who had been examining my face from various angles, burst out with sincere admiration.

 

“Tsk. Does it look a lot like the game?”

 

I knew it was a compliment, but it bothered me, so I clicked my tongue briefly.

 

“Hmm. Not really? It’s not very similar, just the feeling a little? If a stranger saw you, they wouldn’t recognize you right away.”

 

“But you recognized me.”

 

“I’m such a big fan of yours, hyung, and I’ve heard so many stories about you from your mother.”

 

“Stories about me?”

 

“Yes. That she has a handsome son who’s also good at studying. He used to be an archery athlete and was good enough to participate in national team selections. While listening to all that, somehow Kairen hyung kept coming to mind. Ah, Kairen hyung in reality would be exactly like this lady’s son. But when I first saw you today, you really did have a bit of that face? So I ended up muttering without realizing it.”

 

From his lengthy explanation, I could vividly picture my mother constantly bragging about her son, and it brought a smile to my face.

 

“But hyung, how did you know it was me?”

 

“I’m similar. Your build, face, and feeling.”

 

“Huh? Isn’t my real face much better though?”

 

At his innocent question as he pointed to his own face with his finger, I couldn’t bring myself to say it was six of one and half a dozen of the other, so I just held out my drink.

 

Taejun clinked glasses with a wronged expression.

 

“But… I deliberately made my customization terrible…”

 

I chuckled at him making a sad face.

 

“Ah. Right. Hyung. Did you see the New World patch notes this time? Wow. Thanks to you, archers are celebrating like they achieved independence or something.”

 

“Huh? What do you mean?”

 

“In the next patch, archers are getting buffed. Well, it’s not a performance buff, but they’re lowering the difficulty a bit. Originally, archers had higher difficulty compared to other classes.”

 

“Ah. I think I saw that. But why is that because of me?”

 

I had definitely seen that story in the next patch notes I read on the train coming down.

 

However, since it wasn’t important content, I had just skimmed over it.

 

“Hehe. Isn’t it all because many users started playing archers after seeing you, hyung? Archer influx increased and complaints grew too, so the game company made balance adjustments.”

 

“Come on. That’s not it.”

 

Since he was talking as if countless figure skating prospects had emerged following a figure skating queen, I waved my hands dismissively.

 

Even though I was getting a lot of attention lately, it wasn’t to that extent.

 

“No way, hyung. It really is to that extent. Even among people around me, there are so many users who want to raise archer alts because of you.”

 

Oh Taejun ordered another beer and continued speaking.

 

“Actually, archers are kind of a romantic class in games, aren’t they? There were probably quite a few users who wanted to play them but gave up because of the difficulty, right? Me included.”

 

“You too?”

 

Theorn, Johan.

 

When I asked in surprise that even he, who had skillfully raised two tank characters, had dreamed of being an archer, Taejun nodded shyly.

 

“Yes. Actually, when I played online games before, I always only raised archers. When New World first came out, I naturally started with an archer too. But…”

 

Taejun smiled faintly and scratched his cheek.

 

“Wow. I had no talent and it was really difficult. I couldn’t even get out of Beginner Village, so I gave up and raised a tank instead. Still, I always had a romantic notion about archers, and then you appeared during the Goblin Army, hyung.”

 

His eyes sparkled as he recalled the past.

 

“Wow… You were so cool. You were perfectly recreating the ideal I had dreamed of. I became a fan the moment I saw you.”

 

“So that’s why you approached me so warmly first during this subjugation?”

 

“That’s right. Oh. When someone you admire is right in front of you, you have to go talk to them at least. You probably don’t know how much of an honor it is for me to be having drinks with you like this, hyung.”

 

Such tremendous praise heard right in front of me.

 

Though embarrassing, I was grateful and held out my glass.

 

The glasses clinked with a cheerful sound.

 

A drinking session with a stranger after a long time.

 

It wasn’t bad at all.

 

* * *

 

“Be careful going up. Contact us when you arrive.”

 

The next day.

 

After having lunch together and finishing preparations to leave, my parents came out to the front door with reluctant faces.

 

“Geez. If you came after such a long time, you should drink with dad, but what’s this about suddenly going out with the neighbor’s son?”

 

Was he that disappointed about not having a drink with his son whom he met after a long time?

 

Father’s lament that had continued since morning lasted until the farewell.

 

“Sorry. He was such a welcome face that I couldn’t not drink with him.”

 

“Isn’t dad welcome?”

 

“Honey! Stop it! What’s so great about that stuff that you absolutely must drink it with your son?”

 

“It’s because you won’t drink with me!”

 

Father protested quietly, but turned his head away at mother’s cold stare.

 

“Hurry and go. You’ll be late for the train.”

 

“Right. Did you pack all the side dishes?”

 

At father’s question, I lifted up the shopping bags full in both hands.

 

Seasoned vegetables, dried squid strips, kimchi, and so on.

 

Side dishes overflowing with love.

 

It was uncertain whether I could eat them all before they spoiled.

 

“I’m really going now. Contact me if anything happens. Oh, if you can’t reach me, ask Taejun for help.”

 

Last night. I had become sworn brothers with Taejun who got quite drunk.

 

The pure-hearted and reliable bear-like man had earnestly asked me not to worry about my parents with slurred pronunciation.

 

“Alright. Don’t worry about your parents and hurry up and go.”

 

“I won’t go far.”

 

“I’m leaving.”

 

Until the moment I got on the elevator.

 

The two people who had been watching their son soon let out wistful smiles when the elevator doors closed.

 

“Sigh. He should stay just one more day.”

 

“He’s busy. Preparing to return to school and earning money. It’s something that he came down like this.”

 

Yu Baekjin’s father, Yu Junseok, patted his wife’s drooping shoulders.

 

“Yes… Sigh. I have no appetite since our son left. Let’s just skip dinner tonight.”

 

“…Why me too?”

 

Yu Junseok’s eyes widened as dinner suddenly disappeared, but he lowered his gaze under his wife Kang Hyeonsuk’s stare.

 

“Ahem. Well, I’ll just cook some ramen or something.”

 

“But honey.”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“Our son. That condition of his is probably still the same, right?”

 

“…It probably is.”

 

With the front door closed, the two smiled bitterly.

 

“Maybe we should have taken him to the hospital back then.”

 

“What are you talking about? Don’t you remember what we discussed back then? Do you know what would have happened if we took him to the hospital!”

 

At Yu Junseok’s strong outburst, Kang Hyeonsuk let out a deep sigh.

 

The ability to communicate with animals.

 

Yu Baekjin thought he had hidden it thoroughly.

 

But there were no secrets a child could keep from their parents.

 

* * *

 

When he arrived home, it was already 4 PM.

 

Despite not having recovered from the fatigue of the long journey, Yu Baekjin immediately entered the VR Capsule.

 

Even though he had finished the subjugation order and the raid, there were still mountains of things to do.

 

The immediate tasks before him were three.

 

Visit the Lord to receive his reward.

 

Replenish the Territory’s food supplies.

 

And clear the Quest related to Rookie.

 

Kairen decided to tackle the easiest one first – visiting the Lord.

 

“Oh. That person is the Adventurer named Kairen who played a major role in this subjugation order.”

 

“I heard rumors that he’s an incredible Archer?”

 

“He actually defeated the Minotaur.”

 

Upon arriving at the Castle, familiar yet unfamiliar murmurs reached his ears.

 

While he was used to Users’ gazes, the NPCs’ attention was new.

 

Perhaps due to being ranked first in contribution, their gazes were filled with obvious favor.

 

Even when entering the Inner Castle, the Guards opened the way without any particular restrictions.

 

“Oh! Kairen!”

 

And as soon as he entered, he saw a familiar face.

 

Allen, looking perfectly fine as if all his injuries had healed, spread his arms wide and hurried over.

 

“I told you to hurry, so why are you coming so late!”

 

At the brief scolding that greeted him, he was about to bow his head lightly, but Allen grabbed his arm and led him forward.

 

“Never mind. Since you’re here now, it’s a blessing! Come. Hurry up. The Lord is waiting.”

 

He was led by Allen’s somewhat urgent touch.

 

Throughout being dragged along, the Inner Castle of Gania Castle he observed was below expectations.

 

Compared to the Black Giant Castle, it was smaller in scale.

 

The size of the Castle Wall, the Inner Castle’s Hall.

 

Even the Royal Throne where the Lord sat.

 

Everything left something to be desired compared to the Black Giant Castle.

 

Well, I am a Monster Lord after all, so it wouldn’t make sense if it was similar to just some Lord, not even a king.

 

As he was shrugging his shoulders with rising professional pride.

 

Allen gently pressed down on his shoulder.

 

Led by his hand to kneel on one knee, the Lord rose from his seat and slowly approached.

 

“Yes. Sir Allen. Is this Man the Adventurer you spoke of?”

 

“Yes, Lord. From what I observed throughout the last subjugation order, I can confidently say there is no talent comparable to this Adventurer.”

 

Allen answered with a confident voice.

 

“Adventurer Kairen. Rise.”

 

At the Lord’s instruction, he stood and looked at his face.

 

Only then did he notice the Lord’s expression.

 

Great worry and concern cast deep shadows across his face.

 

With a face as if the world was about to end, the Lord opened his mouth.

 

“I… have a request to earnestly ask of you. Would you please hear me out?”

 

“…Excuse me?”

 

I came here to receive a reward, but what’s this about?

 

As he tilted his head at the incomprehensible situation.

 

A golden alarm appeared before his eyes.

 

[The Lord of Gania’s Treasure (Hidden Quest) begins!]

 

“If you… if you would grant my request…”

 

The Lord’s voice trembled so much it was hard to believe he was a monarch ruling an entire Territory.

 

“Even if the whole world turns against you, I alone will stand by your side.”

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