by Park Saenal
“…?”
Yura’s lonely eyes that lost their light turned to the LCD screen, only for her to freeze. The name of the caller displayed on the LCD was Shin Youngwoo, not her grandfather. It was someone she never had private contact with even though they knew each other for more than four years. A cold man who sometimes seemed full of affection but was usually heartless.
“…”
Yura hesitated to accept the call. It was likely that her mood would become worse if she accepted the call from Grid in such a difficult situation. There was only one reason why Grid would be calling. He called whenever he needed Yura’s help.
‘Now I’m not in a position to help Youngwoo-ssi.’
A person to depend on. Just as she felt like this toward Grid, she wanted Grid to feel the same way toward her. Yura previously helped Grid with such a heart and planned to continue in the future. However, now she wasn’t sure she could be any help.
Two days, no, just one. She needed one day to organize her mind.
…This was what Yura thought.
“…Hello?” Nevertheless, she accepted the call. It was purely because she wanted to hear Grid’s voice. It was a languid but powerful voice. Once she heard this voice, she felt a bit more energetic. Then…
-Are you okay?
Grid’s voice was heard again. It was gentle, unlike his usual self.
“…”
Yura’s cold voice started to heat up. She realized that her hand started to tremble the moment she felt this warmth. The only person she could depend on in this world was Grid.
-Tell me what is going on.
“What do you want me to say?”
-You are having a hard time. Don’t keep acting. You didn’t look good today.
“…I didn’t look good?”
Since she started comforting her father, Yura knew that she acted well. However, both Damian and Grid noticed something.
‘Father…’ Yura was filled with emotion. She felt sorry toward her father who passed away while knowing that his daughter was acting. How unhappy and sad was her father when he realized that his young daughter was worried about him?
Grid’s voice entered the ears of the crying Yura. It was a voice overflowing with latent power.
-I want to help you. No, I will help you. Say something. What can I do?
“…Thank you.” Yura could feel it. Grid had the same heart as her. They had such a relationship. They trusted each other and wanted to help each other. Yet there were some things that couldn’t be helped. For example, right now.
“Youngwoo-ssi.”
-Yes?
“I will quit the game.”
-…Huh?
“Thank you for everything.”
***
-I will quit the game!
This was once voted the number one phrase that parents wanted to hear from their child. Excessive gaming could ruin a person’s life. There was a time when family members and friends would welcome it if someone said they were quitting the game. Now five years had passed since Satisfy was released and it was quite different.
Satisfy meant wealth, honor and even power. It was a time when parents encouraged their children to play Satisfy and Grid was the one who helped this age come about. That’s why it was a shock. Grid couldn’t accept Yura quitting the game. Putting aside personal relationships, Yura was a member of the Overgeared Guild and one of the greatest powers in the Overgeared Kingdom. It would be a big problem if she quit the game.
“Ah…” Grid’s mind became blank as he remembered an article that caused an uproar in South Korea a few years back. Yura was the granddaughter of the Daejin Group’s chairman. At the time, the chairman stated that he would bring his granddaughter into the company soon.
Grid remembered Lauel making a fuss about this news. He was worried that if Yura entered the company, she would have less time to play the game.
“…It will become reality.”
It was even in the worst form. Why? What should he do? Grid’s overloaded brain suddenly stopped. He belatedly recalled Yura’s reassuring words to Lauel after the interview.
‘Didn’t she say… she didn’t want to enter the company?’
First, it was necessary to confirm it. Grid called Yura back and asked two questions. “Are you entering the company? Is that what you want?”
-…….
There was no answer. This was enough for Grid. Grid pressed the end call button and typed something in the search bar. Once the last character finished, he found a message from Daejin Motors.
(I couldn’t get in touch with you so I am leaving a message. Please become a new luxury brand model for Daejin Motors. I would like to meet and have a talk with you. Please call me back.
-Daejin Motors Public Relations Team Manager Choi Jingoo)
“Hello? Is this Choi Jingoo? I am Grid. Yes, yes. I will review it positively. Instead, please give me the contact details of the chairman.”
The king of a kingdom and a legendary blacksmith. Grid held astronomical wealth and power. He was about to exert enormous influence in the real world’s political and financial circles.
***
“What? Grid?” Chairman Lee Jinmyung of the Daejin Group was surprised. Grid had refrained from appearing on CFs and broadcasts for the past two years. He wasn’t someone who would move for money anymore. Due to his status as a king, he was more obsessed with honor than money. Rather than expose himself to the media and consume his image, he focused on building up achievements in Satisfy.
Now he contacted the chairman to become a model for Daejin Motors. It was an unexpected chance! This was a golden chance to promote Daejin Motor’s luxury brand to the whole world.
‘But…’
There was something that was on Lee Jinmyung’s mind. Grid wouldn’t want to talk to him for a one-sided reason. This was also shortly after Yura’s loss in PvP.
“…I thought the rumour that my granddaughter is his lover was nonsense.” Lee Jinmyung had thoroughly investigated the scandal between Grid and Yura. He was greatly disappointed when he found out it was just groundless rumours. Now he thought it might be true. “Let him know my contact details. No, no. It is better to contact him from my side. It would be good to have a relationship with the Overgeared King.”
Let’s hear what was going on. Lee Jinmyung thought about it and called Grid. “Is this Shin Youngwoo? I am Lee Jinmyung, the chairman of Daejin.”
-Give me your granddaughter.
“…!!”
Chairman Lee Jinmyung jumped up from his seat at the words. His head was working at a tremendous pace that was worthy of the leader of a large company. He placed the value of Yura as his successor against giving Yura to Grid and thoroughly calculated it. The calculations were done quickly. Grid’s value and potential were too big.
“When should I set the date?”
***
-When should I set the date?
Grid clicked his tongue at the reply.
‘He is an impatient old man.’
They hadn’t even written the contract yet and he already wanted to set the date to shoot the CF? Well, it meant he was greedy. Yura would probably be allowed to continue playing the game.
“The date… I will leave that to you. Chairman-nim made the concession first so I will do my best.”
-Haha! You are going to leave the wedding to me? As expected of a hero who leads the era!
“..Wedding?”
Grid felt a chill because of the ridiculous word that emerged. Other people kept misunderstanding him as they pleased. Grid used his many experiences to realize that this situation was wrong.
“Wait a moment. You seem to have misunderstood something.”
-Misunderstood?
“I don’t mean that I will marry her. I’m just asking you not to take Yura.”
-…That doesn’t make any sense.
“I will sign a long-term contract with your company.”
He felt Chairman Lee Jinmyung flinch
over the receiver. The chairman hesitated for a moment. Unfortunately, that hesitation ended quickly.
-…Aren’t you being somewhat arrogant? Your value this year isn’t as good as it is last year. This year you aren’t attending the National Competition so your value has fallen. I don’t know about last year but I’m not willing to let go of my granddaughter for the you of this year.
“If—”
-…?
“If I raise my value one step further in this year’s National Competition, will you positively think about it?”
-I suppose. However, aren’t you absent from this year’s National Competition? It is already irreversible.
“Demon King.”
-Demon King?
“I am the Demon King.”
-…!!
Chairman Lee Jinmyung was so surprised that he couldn’t breathe. Grid continued without being aware of the chairman’s red face and suffering.
“I will win the Demon King Subjugation event and then reveal my identity.”
-…!!
He wasn’t given a chance to breathe. Chairman Lee Jinmyung crossed halfway to the Jordan River.
Chapter 949
The Overgeared Kingdom—it was still a small country in Satisfy, but when compared to Earth, it was larger than Japan. After the so-called ‘Hexetia crisis’, the population increased sharply and the economy boomed as they monopolized the blacksmithing market.
By the way, the owner of this country was a single player—Overgeared King Grid. As a king, he could exert power over tens of millions of people with one word or monopolize the resources distributed throughout the kingdom. It was possible for him to convert all the proceeds of the kingdom into cash in reality. This was the wealth of a nation.
The more time that passed, the more wealth Grid obtained.
The Daejin Group, which was 7th in the South Korean business circles, might become a shining star thanks to Grid. It was unconditionally good to be in a partnership with Grid. If Grid became the face of Daejin, he would imprint the name into the minds of billions of people. He would also be able to solidify Daejin’s position on the international stage. In the end, it was a huge opportunity from the standpoint of the Daejin Group.
Chairman Lee Jinmyung barely recovered his dizzy spirit and replied to Grid, “…Understood. I will accept your offer. If you win in the Demon King subjugation event, I will sign a long-term contract with you and let Yura go.”
He calculated that he didn’t need to be obsessed with Yura if he could establish a partnership between Grid and Daejin. If he needed a blood relative, his second daughter’s child still remained. He might be a person without the surname of Lee, but blood was still blood. Lee Jinmyung could make concessions about the surname if he had the halo called ‘Grid.’ Chairman Lee Jinmyung made a decision, and his heart became lighter.
“By the way…” He grinned at Daejin’s bright future while asking Grid the most important question, “What is your relationship with Yura?”
Grid wouldn’t go this far if they were just friends or colleagues. Chairman Lee Jinmyung was convinced that Grid and Yura were lovers like the rumor claimed or else Grid wouldn’t come this far. Well, he wasn’t advocating his bloodline, but his granddaughter was the most beautiful person in the world. Additionally, she was smart and virtuous. Any man would definitely like her.
The chairman was smiling like a snake when he heard Grid’s reply.
-Well. I rely a lot on Yuram, but I don’t know if she feels the same toward me.
“Rely on her…?”
-Once inside the game, Yura’s strength is a great help. In reality, I don’t have a good social life. I received a lot of advice from Yura about the media and tax matters.
“And?”
-Huh?
“Is that the end?”
-Yes…
“Wasn’t there a scandal between the two of you? I heard that my granddaughter stayed at your house for a while?”
It was a fact he had learned from investigating both of them. During the 1st National Competition, his granddaughter had stayed overnight at Grid’s house. Grid’s confused voice rang out, -A-At the time, nothing happened. Yura was too drunk and I was forced to bring her home to sleep. My parents were at home. Nothing happened, really.
“….!!” Lee Jinmyung squeezed the phone in his hand. It was an obvious manifestation of his rage.
Was Grid someone with bad eyes? It was a part the chairman wasn’t satisfied with and hadn’t included in his calculations. However, he had no thought of going back on his promise. Grid’s value was too great, even if he had some defects.
“Sigh… Well, I understand. Then I wish you luck. The moment you reveal your identity as the Demon King, there will be a flood of articles about your contract with Daejin. However, please keep one thing in mind. You shouldn’t expose your identity until the dramatic reveal.”
-That’s also what I want.
The first step was done correctly. The details of the contract could be worked out after the Demon King subjugation.
***
“You have worked hard.”
“It’s too bad.”
“What is with the terrible congratulations? What’s wrong with a silver medal? This is second in the world, second. Wow~ you are really cool.”
“I’m not saying a silver medal is bad. It is just disappointing compared to Yura’s abilities.”
“That’s right. She could’ve won the gold medal.”
Inside the South Korean team’s waiting room, her colleagues welcomed Yura’s return after PvP ended. Getting second in PvP was a feat that only a few people among billions could achieve, yet the team members were comforting instead of congratulating Yura. It showed how much they acknowledged her.
“You can aim for it next time,” Peak Sword told her. “There will be another chance next year and the year after. Then you will get first place. Isn’t that right?”
That was right. However, Yura didn’t have the luxury to do so. She could no longer exist as a player. Yura couldn’t answer and only smiled bitterly.
[The Demon King subjugation event will start in 20 minutes.]
[All 400 participants, please move to the private waiting room.]
[I will say it once again. The Demon King subjugation event will start in…]
An announcement rang out. It was about the Demon King subjugation event—the biggest issue of this year’s National Competition. This was a new event that required 400 rankers to cooperate instead of competing. It was clear that the degree of difficulty was frightening and the degree of attention it received from the world was extremely high, especially after the Demon King’s appearance event. In fact, it could be said that everyone on this earth was waiting for the Demon King subjugation event.
“T-Then I’ll be going!”
“Yura, get some rest. I can’t be as outstanding as you, but I will try my best to show a good performance.”
“Can I win a gold medal?”
Coke, Peak Sword, and Eat Spicy Jokbal—the Korean representatives participating in the Demon King subjugation left for the waiting room. When she saw the nervous Coke, Yura felt sorry toward him. In order to conclude the rematch with Kraugel, she had taken part in drawing the sword and the siege war. She had wanted to prove her potential to her grandfather by beating Kraugel.
Yura was uncomfortable because she seemed to have placed a huge burden on Coke due to her own desires. While Yura was making a dark expression, someone placed a hand on her shoulder. It was a hanbok-clad woman, Viola. “You are really kind. Don’t you care about everything?”
“I’m not kind. I’m selfish.”
“No, you are kind. You have been fighting alone since the 1st National Competition while other Korean rankers turned away. You’ve done enough. There is no need to carry everything alone. Now, it is natural to become greedy. Why should you feel guilty? My Lady, how can you be pure and spotless?”
“…”
Yura became a bit m
ore relaxed. She had done enough.
These brief words comforted her. Yes, she could take a break now. Yura soothed her mind. Then her phone rang. She thought it was her grandfather, but the name floating on the screen was once again ‘Shin Youngwoo’.
“…Hello?”
-Keep watching until the end.
“What do you mean?”
-The Demon King subjugation event.
“…?”
-There will be someone fighting to protect you.
“Huh?”
-Then I’m going. See you next time.
“Hello? Hello! Youngwoo-ssi!” She shouted, but it was no use. He had already hung up. Yura’s trembling eyes shifted toward the monitor.
***
The stage of the Demon King subjugation was slowly revealed. It was a castle surrounded by a circular wall.
『 There are four gates to the north, south, east, and west. The gatekeepers guarding each gate are the four heavenly kings. 』
The castle was large, and the scale of the gates was also enormous. It was over 20 meters high and nearly 40 meters wide. The gates would never open until the four heavenly kings fell.
『 The 400 participants must defeat the four heavenly kings in groups of 100. Once all four kings have fallen and the gates opened, they will have access to the corridor leading to the Demon King’s room. 』
『 Must they split up? Can’t the 400 people move in one group to defeat the four heavenly kings one by one? 』
『 It isn’t possible. Each gate is classified as an instant dungeon, and the dungeon is restricted to 100 people. 』
『 Hmmm… What happens if one of the four gates fail to be attacked? 』
『 Another party should take over instead. 』
『 Then does that mean the party members who failed will be disqualified? 』
『 No. They will be left as dead and resurrected once the gate is opened. 』
『 So, there is no disqualification unless all four parties are wiped out? Then all 400 players will fight against the Demon King? 』
