Episode 220 Amsa Station (2)
* * *
While waiting for Jo Jin-ho, who hadn't arrived yet
, Sang-hyun sat in the middle of the training ground with Shin Tae-ri and shared an isotonic drink.
“I’m trying not to worry too much about winning or losing anymore. It feels like a belated mental victory, though.”
“I also endured every moment with maximum strength and concentration. I responded as if my life depended on it.”
“I think it’s because of my competitive spirit. If I don’t bring someone to their knees with skill, they won’t be forgotten.”
“I also tend to get angry first when I show a weak point or crumble helplessly to someone.”
“Anyway, you’ve grown again in the meantime, Sang-hyun.”
“Your attacks have become sharper, too, Tae-ri. If I hadn’t had enough skills, I would have been taken down properly.”
“Would I have…?” Shin Tae-ri
trailed off, running her hand through her hair.
Perhaps because her hair was wet with sweat, the way it swayed looked sexy.
As always, sparring with Shin Tae-ri always gave him plenty to think about.
Because of her style of pushing things to the extreme, Sang-hyun could never let his guard down.
Since it was her instinct to find a weakness and strike at any chance, he had to grit his teeth and block her.
Consequently, he could clearly see which parts appeared as vulnerabilities in the eyes of others.
In a way, Shin Tae-ri was a very grateful person who helped him find his weaknesses. This
was because she was sincere in every moment of their sparring. Since
she sought out a weakness capable of killing her opponent in that moment, her attacks were naturally bound to be meaningful.
That is why Sang-hyun decided that he should continue sparring with her whenever he had the chance, something he had neglected lately.
It is surprisingly difficult to build a relationship where one can sincerely identify areas for improvement like this.
A short while later,
Jo Jin-ho arrived, and the conversation began regarding the Amsa Station Rift, which was also the purpose of today's meeting. Sang-hyun wondered
how to bring it up naturally, but he just blurted it out boldly. It
was because, no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't come up with a way to package the situation convincingly.
He said that as he happened to pass Amsa Station, he felt an indescribable sense of unease.
It was a feeling as if a rift were about to form. He stated that even though it might sound far-fetched, that was the feeling he had.
“We do have detection equipment at our guild. I think it is worth taking a look at at least once.”
“Rifts can appear anytime, anywhere. It’s not like the Association scans the entire country.”
Surprisingly, Jo Jin-ho and Shin Tae-ri did not dismiss Sang-hyun’s words as nonsense but listened to him seriously. They
didn’t just accept his words as mere banter; they listened actively, judging them to be meaningful.
“Thank you. I can’t help but be sensitive about rifts, either. There was the recent rift incident at Jamsil Station, after all.”
Sang-hyun recalled that memory. It was
a memory he couldn’t help but recall, even if he didn’t want to, because it involved Park Jung-min.
If a rift is not dealt with decisively in the early stages, it clearly leads to catastrophic casualties.
Conversely, if contained firmly in the early stages, significant gains can be made without any damage.
This is because a rift is inherently an imperfect place, yet simultaneously a field of unpredictable rewards.
“Coincidentally, neither Taeri nor I have any separate plans for today or tomorrow. Shall we go together?”
“That sounds like a good idea. It really is a time off, after all. It is a vacation in its own way.”
“I’m worried you two might be doing something unnecessary when you’re on vacation.”
“I’m a workaholic by nature, so I hate just sitting around even on vacation. Taeri has been on vacation for a few days now. But look at her, completely absorbed in training. Haha.”
Giving up even their break time, they were faithful to their respective tasks.
It seemed they hadn’t risen to their current positions for nothing. With talent combined with effort, growth was inevitable.
“Then I’ll leave it to you. It’s just a hypothetical scenario, but… what do you plan to do if a rift appears?”
Sanghyun asked slyly. It
was partly because he was greedy for the rift, but also because he couldn’t decide for himself whether or not to dispose of it.
Usually, ownership reverts to the state once a rift is cleared, but the problem lies in the timing of its initial discovery.
At that point, it has become an unwritten rule to implicitly acknowledge the discoverer’s first attack.
Sanghyun pointed this out precisely.
It was essentially asking whether the three of them should attempt the raid, or if the Eden Guild should unleash its full power.
“What are your thoughts, Sang-hyun?”
Jo Jin-ho asked back.
It didn’t seem necessary to hide his true feelings here under the guise of humility.
Even if he said something different from what he truly felt, the two of them would figure it out anyway. There was no need to look ridiculous.
“For now, I’d like the three of us to explore the area. It won’t be too late to devise a countermeasure afterward.”
As he spoke, he realized that they had never gone into a dungeon together as a trio like this before.
Although they had been in the same space during the Battle of Gaeseong, they had each taken different routes.
“Alright. Let’s do that.”
“Oppa, I’ll borrow the equipment. I’ve borrowed it a few times out of curiosity.”
“Really?”
“I didn’t tell you because it seemed like a bad habit. I often look around to see if there are any rifts.”
Jo Jin-ho, who had flinched at Shin Tae-ri’s words, soon nodded.
In Sang-hyun’s eyes, it seemed less like a bad habit and more like Shin Tae-ri had unpleasant memories related to rifts.
He didn’t want to ask her directly. Usually, such habits stem from bad experiences.
Losing a loved one, or senselessly losing a precious connection. In other words, they originate from trauma.
“Right. Then, let’s have Tae-ri borrow it, and shall we wait outside?”
Sang-hyun nodded at Jo Jin-ho’s suggestion. This was the moment the Rift Exploration Team (?) was formed.
* * *
Some time later.
The three began their search, following the route they had decided on while coming from Exit 1 of Amsa Station.
Moving around haphazardly meant we might only visit the places we were supposed to go and miss the ones we weren't. So
, we planned a route centered around Amsa Station to avoid any overlap while ensuring we didn't miss anything .
As expected, nothing happened for the first hour. One
might expect to feel bored or listless, but Jo Jin-ho and Shin Tae-ri wandered around chatting happily, as if they were out for a rare outing.
Sang-hyun naturally blended in with them, sometimes talking about daily life and other times about the guild.
Eventually, the conversation naturally flowed into the story of the recent death match.
Jo Jin-ho said,
“According to the information we’ve gathered… well, it’s probably closer to a rumor than actual information. Anyway, it seems Joo Eun-hye got absolutely chewed out after Ma Dong-ho died last time.”
Joo Eun-hye.
She was a debuffer player ranked fourth, second only to Ma Dong-ho.
“I suppose that’s to be expected since she essentially brought shame to the guild. And she probably egged them on from behind.”
Sang-hyun bit his lip.
It doesn't seem like he did anything particularly worthy of incurring the Sun Guild's wrath, so why were their intentions so twisted?
Of course, it is true that Sang-hyun was close to the Eden Guild. He was even close to their key executives.
But if that makes him such a petty player to hate and resent them, just how narrow-minded must he be?
Of course, thinking this way wouldn't change their twisted hearts.
Sang-hyun had already decided that the Sun Guild would become his enemy from the moment he killed Ma Dong-ho. He also realized
that he had formed an irreversible, bitter feud with Joo Eun-hye, who was deeply involved in this matter. It
was unfair,
but since he couldn't just foolishly let himself be killed by Ma Dong-ho, he fought with all his might and won.
Shin Tae-ri added,
"Joo Eun-hye might step forward to take revenge herself. Of course, she wouldn't go alone."
Due to the structural nature of a debuffer, it is difficult for them to kill on their own.
However, if one can wield just one decent 'sword' well, a debuffer is fatal to the one being attacked. It is
because one can destroy every possible defensive mechanism and then attack while the target is significantly weakened.
There is a reason the famous sayings "debuffer above buffer" and "debuffer above tank" exist. This
is because debuff skills are lethal, as they can ultimately chip away at everything that is fortified.
Sang-hyun replied,
"I was prepared for this. But I can't just let myself die, can I? To live, I have to kill. I will keep it simple." It has
always been that way.
He never tried to kill anyone without reason, but conversely, he punished those who tried to kill him.
Tori and Nietzsche (Park Jung-min), who are likely already in the afterlife, are prime examples.
If Joo Eun-hye wants to follow in the footsteps of her senior(?) who departed before her, she should do so anytime.
Just then.
"Huh?"
Shin Tae-ri reached forward with a finger as if she had spotted someone. Jo Jin-ho flinched just as startled.
'Sword Saint Jung Hee-sun.'
Sang-hyun recognized her, too.
He also saw a man standing right beside her, glaring with eyes that looked like they would devour the whole world.
Jung Yoon-hak. He is Jung Hee-sun's irreplaceable confidant and a bodyguard willing to lay down his life for her.
“Wow! Am I seeing three popular people like this here? This picture is somehow incredibly beautiful.”
Jung Hee-sun waves her hand vigorously in greeting.
Judging by her expression, she seemed to be acquainted with Shin Tae-ri and Jo Jin-ho.
Although she was a first-time acquaintance to Sang-hyun, he felt as though they had known each other for a very long time due to his memories of a past life.
“Did you say your name is Shin Sang-hyun? I really enjoyed watching your recent death match video! You were awesome!”
Jung Hee-sun extends her hand for a handshake. She had
only exchanged greetings with Shin Tae-ri and Jo Jin-ho through eye contact, and did not seem to shake hands warmly.
In reality, Jo Jin-ho and Shin Tae-ri's expressions were far from pleasant. It was
a look of familiarity, yet one that suggested they had no desire to associate with her. A subtle nuance of contempt was visible.
“Nice to meet you. It is an honor to meet the Prosecutor Player I respect right here in person.”
As Sang-hyun greeted Jung Hee-sun, he found himself wondering if he could lie this well.
To be honest, he didn't know much about Jung Hee-sun.
Looking back on his past life, she was the most opportunistic of the top five prosecutors.
Her sense of good and evil was ambiguous, and she was quite passionate about managing her reputation and fame.
If necessary, she would not hesitate to mobilize reporters close to her to inflate the bubble of positive stories or bring down scandals.
“I am actually the one who should be honored! I hope you grow more quickly and break the mold that is currently rigid! You keep rehashing the same names like bone broth, constantly talking about the ‘Top 5 Prosecutors’ and whatnot.”
It sounded like a complaint, but if you looked between the lines, it was self-praise. After all, it was just a way of emphasizing his own status.
As she was the least skilled among the five named prosecutors, she was also a tangible goal for Sang-hyun.
Sang-hyun answered simply,
“I will do my best.”
Perhaps because he answered humbly throughout
, Jung Hee-sun seemed to feel good for no reason, leaving him with a piece of advice that struck deeply right from their first meeting.
“You wouldn’t want to make too many enemies. There are more players who don’t welcome the growth of a latecomer than those who do.”
“…….”
Was she referring to another player? Or was she speaking indirectly about her own inner thoughts?
Sang-hyun let out a chuckle at her enigmatic advice. He
had never made an enemy.
It was simply that those who wanted to be enemies somehow fabricated reasons to force a connection.
His first meeting with Dokgo Yoon hadn't been pleasant, and was his encounter with Jung Hee-sun going to unfold in the same way?
