“How did you know that I wasn't dead?” Park Muyeol asked with curious eyes and I simply shrugged.
“Is there anything I don't know?”
“Bah. You are pretending to be handsome.”
Park Muyeol smiled at me. Then he held the wooden stick in one hand and slowly closed his eyes. A golden aura wove around his body. Park Muyeol started recalling old memories. They weren't his memories. They were the old myths and legends from Hercules' memories. The golden aura around his body scattered like smoke and started to take a shape.
'...What trial will be reproduced?'
I watched the scene and thought of Hercules' abilities. The first thing that came to mind was the ability of a half-human, half-G.o.d. One a day, Hercules rose from the dead and became invincible for 30 seconds. Just like right now. James' bullet hit Park Muyeol's head, causing it to tilt.
However, Park Muyeol just looked back at James. James' mouth dropped open at the sight.
“No, this... is it a bug?”
And this person, Park Muyeol, simply wielded his wooden sword. An intangible energy flew out a rapid pace toward James and exploded. James escaped and approached Damian. “Isn't this a bug?”
“......”
Damian just watched Park Muyeol without moving. He didn't know why, but Damian was feeling an unknown sense of crisis. It was due to Damian's unique stat, 'Sixth Sense.' His Sixth Sense was saying that Park Muyeol was more dangerous than Choi Chuntaek.
'It is a bit dangerous.'
Just then, a cloud of poisonous gas arrived nearby. Now there were 15 minutes remaining. Additionally, it wasn't just poisonous gas that was approaching.
“Brother, you are alive.”
It was Zhen Sulong and the Chinese team, who seemed familiar with the South Korean team for some reason.
“Grandfather Choi Chuntaek~? You are here. You have cheated me this entire time. Won't you be cut by my scythe?”
Reina of Russia seemed to have bad feelings for the South Korean team for some reason.
“Wuhahaha! All our guild members are here! It has been a while. Reina! Date me!”
"Shut up, you baldie! You are constantly causing scandals!”
There was Fabian of Italy and Reinhardt of Germany. There was also the Argentinean panther called the Arabs' rival, Gabriel. They arrived one after another. Damian scanned them and his eyes widened.
“There is no Torres?”
I answered his question from the front, “If you're talking about that water worm, I knocked him down.”
Damian looked at me with surprise. At the same time, the image of a lion formed behind Park Muyeol. I smiled when I saw it.
'...It is Nemea's Lion. it isn't bad.'
Then a message arrived in front of everyone present.
[The constellation skill 'Twelve Trials' will be activated!]
[From now on, the field will reproduce the trial of Nemea's Lion.']
[The user 'Park Muyeol' won't die for 12 minutes unless he is choked.]
I triggered Keen Insight and declared to everyone, “You can't take us down easily.”
“Crazy guy. Stop talking nonsense. My ears are going to scab over.”
Park Muyeol opened his closed eyes and swung his wooden sword crazily in all directions. A tremendous wave of sword energies swallowed everyone up.
* * *
At the same time.
At the top of Union headquarters, Lee Geonmyeong was being treated by his doctor, Kim Sungkook. Lee Geonmyeong didn't show the slightest movement despite receiving an injection in his forearm. Kim Sungkook saw this and thought that Lee Geonmyeong seemed to no longer have any nostalgia for this world.
“Chairman-nim, it is dangerous to overdo it. It is hard to endure with just painkillers.”
“...Um.”
Lee Geonmyeong felt the throbbing pain from his chest and felt that human life was truly fleeting. Simultaneously, the desire to live from the depths of his heart. He once again thought it would be great if he could turn back time to meet his wife again and apologize for preventing her from dying.
“Doctor Kim, how much longer can I live?”
“......”
“Tell me honestly.”
Kim Sungkook closed his eyes and decided to speak candidly. That way, the old hero in front of him would struggle to live longer. Lee Geonmyeong was a great man who would be recorded in the history books.
“Six months, no, a year. If I do my best, you will be able to hold on for a year.”
Therefore, Kim Sungkook did his best to treat Lee Geonmyeong. This person might be terminally ill, but Kim Sungkook didn't give up. He was filled with the mission to take responsibility for the world's greatest man. It was a matter of pride for Kim Sungkook.
“...I see. One year.” Lee Geonmyeong sat on the sofa, leaned back, and closed his eyes. He said quietly, “You can go.”
“...Yes. Chairman-nim, rest well.”
Creak.
Kim Sungkook quietly closed the door of the chairman's office and Lee Geonmyeong opened his eyes. He was thinking. One year. It was both short and long. However, it was a bit too tight to complete his grand plan.
“I have to move the plan ahead a little bit.”
Lee Geonmyeong grabbed his cane and stood up from the sofa. He headed straight into the secret room next to the chairman's office. This room contained a ma.s.sive energy core that made up Union and Arkstar. He gazed at the center of the energy core that s.h.i.+mmered like a brilliant ray of suns.h.i.+ne.
“...Gaia.”
Lee Geonmyeong glanced away from the energy core to the capsule next to him. It was a capsule that was linked to such a huge energy core. Lee Geonmyeong placed his cane beside him and lay in the capsule. He moved his hand in a familiar manner and pressed the access b.u.t.ton.
Darkness came. At first glance, Lee Geonmyeong's eyes were radiating with madness. It was like the scarred eyes of a wounded beast.
* * *
Time pa.s.sed quickly.
In conclusion, the United States won the second event, Star Field. Park Muyeol and I did our best, but we were eliminated with three minutes remaining. South Korea was forced to stay in second place. The event that followed on the third day was 'Jewelry Grab.'
It was a tournament game where the team who grabbed the most gems popping out of the center won, but South Korea didn't perform well. I couldn't summon Fenrir and Park Muyeol also didn't do well because the cooldown for the Twelve Trials was one day, so we came fifth.
The fourth day arrived. The event was 'Monster Wave.' I tried pretty hard, but I didn't have a good relations.h.i.+p with this event. It was France that surprisingly won. France took advantage of the evolved immortal knight I encountered last time to take the lead with their undead army. They were able to make up for the last humiliation by taking first on the fourth day.
Second place was Great Britain since David chose a long-lasting tactic by making a maze of trees. The United States showed solid organizational skills, tactics, and above average skills to come third, and South Korea was fourth. Then it was the long-awaited fifth day. The event was 'Boss Raid.'
-Ah, really amazing! Choi Chuntaek is holding the boss in a really clever way!
-No, who would think that this strategy would work?
-This is a strategy that only chefs can do! Really amazing!
I targeted the boss monsters in a way that no one could've thought of. The boss' name was 'Chimera of Gluttony.' It had the face of a lion, the st.u.r.dy lower body of a horse, and the upper body of a dragon. The tail was made up of two giant snakes that released poison and the huge wings were as strong as steel even if they couldn't fly.
Additionally, the ma.s.sive wind pressure created a typhoon that threatened us. It was enough to fl.u.s.ter all the countries. The strength was that high. The most irritating thing was that every time it devoured the monsters summoned around it, the chimera would recover its health and become stronger. Therefore, no country succeeded in raiding it. It was the same even for the world's best, United States. However...
-Ahh! It fell! The chimera has fallen!
-This is really ridiculous! The Korean players, including Choi Chuntaek, have eventually done it!
-This is an unimaginable development! Amazing! It is really amazing.
-South Korea will beat the United States for the first time since the flag battle!
-They took the lead alone.
-As long as this continues, they can get a gold medal!
Beeeeep!
The alarm announced the end of the game and the capsule of the Korean players opened at once. Cheers poured out.
Wahhhhhhh!
“Grandfather!"
All of the Korean team members jumped toward me in a thrilled manner. Of course, the most pleasing one was Mido.
“You did it! Grandfather, you did it! The plan really worked!”
“Hahaha. Yes, yes.”
I stroked my granddaughter's head. The plan that Mido was talking about was to feed the chimera the hottest dish in the world. The chimera's ability to become stronger and recover from eating monsters was an opportunity rather than a disadvantage for me.
I threw my dishes into the monsters that the chimera ate. The moment it ate the dish. It was overwhelmed by the huge spicy taste and started to vomit. I continued to feed the Meatb.a.l.l.s of the Sun to the chimera who became weakened. Of course, the meatb.a.l.l.s needed to be suitably large in order to feed the huge chimera, so it took some time to make them. However, look. The result...
“How on earth did you think of this method? We won. We beat the United States! We are first, Grandfather! First! It is only by one point, but we are number one!”
Mido was so happy that she forgot about the reporters taking photos all around us. However, I was a bit embarra.s.sed by the reporters' gazes. It was due to the Kongsuni mask I was wearing right now.
“Um, Mido. Wait a minute.”
I managed to take off the Kongsuni mask.
“Uh, it is frustrating.”
Once again, cheers mixed with camera flashes came from everywhere.
“Groan. These d.a.m.n reporters.”
As for the reason as to why I was wearing such a mask? Let me explain. Simply put, it was money. The company that created this character came to me and offered me billions of won in advertising fees if I wore this while partic.i.p.ating in the compet.i.tion. For reference, yesterday I wore the mask of Dooly, the Little Dinosaur.
...The income was better than I thought. I slowly raised my hand toward the audience. Now I was the representative player of South Korea recognized by everyone.
[1] An animation in South Korea