"h.e.l.lo, I am Cha Jincheol." 

This person was Jincheol? He was quite tall and had well-defined facial features. Anyone would say that he was handsome. Based on the bow he was holding, his cla.s.s seemed to be an archer. Well, that was it.

"Grandfather, this is Jincheol oppa. I recently met him on an expedition to Windia."

Mido introduced him to me. He wasn't a senior at her school. By the way, why was he staring at me? "Is there something on my face?"

"Ah, no. I'm sorry. I'm just a bit fl.u.s.tered to actually see you..."

"You know me?" Did this person know my ident.i.ty?

"Uh... I mean that this is the first time I've seen an older person here. Haha."

He scratched the back of his head.

...This was what he meant.

"In any case, it is nice to meet you. The cooking will soon be finished." I led him to the soup.

Cha Jincheol looked at it with a surprised expression. "Y-You are a chef?"

"Yes."

"How can you be a chef...?"

What was he talking about? "I can't be a chef?"

"No! It is just too unexpected..." Cha Jincheol looked fl.u.s.tered. He somehow seemed dissatisfied that I was a chef.

I made a disapproving look and pointed to a rock. "Sit down."

"Yes, sit down, Oppa." 

Oppa...? Oppa? I saw Mido's friendly expression toward him and felt even more feverish. I couldn't give my daughter to this bad person. Yes, absolutely.

Mido exclaimed, "Wow, the soup smells really good. As expected, Grandfather's cooking is excellent. Bbyong-♡ Bbyong-♡" [1]

Mido threw finger hearts at me with both hands. I was recently told that this was trendy. I threw the same finger hearts back at her. "Bbyong bbyong ♡"

[The first apostle, 'Prometheus,' is disgusted by the excessive affection.]

This b.a.s.t.a.r.d. He was a dog who ruined the atmosphere. I coughed and checked the soup again. "It's almost finished."

I stirred the pot slightly with a ladle.

Ttiring~

[Pure! Kobold Potato Soup]

[It is a dish where the first impression is different from the end impression.

The first impression might not be good but a kobold gives high quality ingredients.

The end impression of this soup made with kobold meat and potatoes will be huge.

-Star Taste: ☆☆☆

-Expiration Date: Three days.

-Health Recovery: 150. Magic Power Recovery: 150. 

Efficacy: Damage dealt to kobolds will increase by 10% for 30 minutes.

Magic power recovery will increase by 20% for 30 minutes. 

Health recovery will increase by 10% for one hour.]

"Wow~ I think this is also very tasty!"

"Really? Keke."

"I want to eat!"

"Understood. Just wait a moment." I left her behind, pulled a bowl out of the bag and filled it with soup. It was a familiar soup but this serving contained more meat than usual. In fact, there was more meat than soup in the bowl of soup I served Mido.

"Grandfather, eat more meat. You always give me so much." 

"Eat meat to become stronger." Perhaps this was the heart of all grandfathers for their grandchildren. What was the use in old people like us gaining strength from eating it? It had to be given to young people.

"Che, this is virtual reality. Still, Grandfather is the best. Bbyong bbyong ♡"

"I'm also bbyong bbyong ♡"

[The first apostle, 'Prometheus,' is vomiting out the ssanghwa tea.]

Why was he telling me that he was vomiting? I frowned and scooped soup into my own bowl. Then I looked at the seated Cha Jincheol. Tsk, I needed to feed him. I wanted to beat him up and drive him away. The scene where Mido called him oppa wouldn't leave my mind. I wanted to poison the soup but it was too late.

...It couldn't be helped. I gave him a bowl of soup. Of course, there was barely any meat in it. Cha Jincheol stared at the soup for a moment before stammering, "T-Thank you. Haha..."

Then Mido spoke, "Ah, Oppa. You have no meat? Would you like some of mine?"

Mido saw his bowl of soup and gave him some meat. d.a.m.n, I hadn't expected this... I glared at him with blazing eyes. Cha Jincheol sweated as his eyes met mine. "W-What are you...?"

"...It's nothing. Accept it." Mido insisted.

"Ah, I'll eat well." He was a polite guy. Cha Jincheol was drinking the soup only to suddenly open his mouth, "Excuse me, Elder."

"...?"

"I have something to say to you personally. Can you talk quietly together for a moment?"

What nonsense was this?

[The first apostle, 'Prometheus,' wonders what he has to talk about.]

"Oppa, why do you want to talk to my grandfather all of a sudden?"

"It's a secret. I'll let you know later."

"Hrmm. Now I'm even more curious." Mido had a sharp expression.

I was lost in thought for a moment. What exactly did he want to say? I remembered the morning drama I saw a few days ago. The chairman of a large corporation had a granddaughter called 'Park Pyeonggang,' his one and only relative. A young man called Kang Ondal came to the house asking for his granddaughter. Surely this wasn't coming true?

'Give me your granddaughter. Please accept me as a grandson.'

Call me Father-in-law... no, not Father-in-law. In any case, many thoughts were revolving around my mind. 

Then Cha Jincheol said, "Elder, I'm certain you'll like it."

I wondered, "I will like it...?"

"Yes, it is also a good thing for Mido."

My mind was becoming more complicated. This person really wanted my Mido...!!

"Ah, really. Oppa, what is it? Can't you tell me?"

"No, I'll let you know later."

The alarm bells rang in my head as the two of them exchanged words. I had to stop it. Stop it! I sneaked out the poison of the spider king. Then I told Cha Jincheol, "I think you've eaten all the soup."

"No, there is still a bit more left..."

"Give it to me." Cha Jincheol's bowl with plenty of meat was forcibly taken away. 

I secretly squeeze the bag of poison while gritting my teeth. This bad guy. Eat it and go to h.e.l.l. I squeezed out all of it without leaving a single drop behind. A smile like a devil appeared on my face.

[The first apostle, 'Prometheus,' is giggling and watching with excitement.]

"Now, eat a lot."

"Thank you. I'll eat it well."

I had a good smile on my face but inwardly, it was different. There was already a demon growing inside me.

The moment that Cha Jincheol put the soup in his mouth...

"Oof?!"

Clang!

Suddenly, he dropped the bowl and fell to his side. I swallowed the complaints in my heart. Huhu. There was no need to destroy the evidence.

"Oppa! What's wrong?"

Mido was shaking his body but his eyes were on me. Cha Jincheol opened his mouth, "Uh..."

These were his last words.

[The user 'Deadeye' has died.]

* * *

A capsule door opened in the lonely silence. This was a capsule room dedicated to the Union staff. It was the place where Cha Jincheol connected to play the game.

"No, why poison me...?" He couldn't understand. It was clear that the grandfather had poisoned him. It was due to the message he received.

[You have been poisoned by the Giant Spider King's venom.]

[It is very poisonous. You will die if you don't detoxify it in 10 seconds.]

The Giant Spider King. He was convinced thanks to this. Mido's grandfather was the man he was looking for. The hero of Mulan and now Wolf Mask. Cha Jincheol didn't confirm the ID but he was certain. It was because this poison could only be obtained by those who hunted the Giant Spider King.

"No, why poison me... Ah, really. Haha." Cha Jincheol continued to laugh at the outrageous situation. Poison. It seemed that Mido's grandfather misunderstood him. Cha Jincheol shook his head and emerged from the capsule. He walked to Yoo Minseok's office.

Knock knock!

"Come in." Yoo Minseok's voice was heard and he opened the door. He looked up and smiled at Cha Jincheol. "You have been playing the game for the last few days. Is your mood better?"

"It is."

Yoo Minseok smiled and asked, "You suddenly looked for me. Does this mean you found him?"

"Yes, I found him."

"How did it go? Will he partic.i.p.ate in the national team trials for the Challenge League?

"No."

"What...? Really? Didn't you mention the rewards?"

"No."

"What? Are you kidding? You are just..." Yoo Minseok made a playful knife motion with his hand and Cha Jincheol burst out laughing. "Why are you laughing? Was I that funny?"

"Haha. No, it's not that. I'm just reminded of what happened before."

"What? What's going on?" Yoo Minseok c.o.c.ked his head and wondered.

"I was poisoned."

"Eh? By who...?"

"The elder."

"...Crazy guy. It doesn't make sense. Did you pick up something from the side of the road and eat it?"

"It isn't like that. The elder is a chef."

"What...? Your words are nonsense. Did you eat something bad?"

'I didn't believe it either.'

It was hard for himself to believe, let alone his brother-in-law.

"It is true. I saw it with my own eyes. If you don't believe it, I'll go to the capsule and get my game record."

"...He is really a chef?"

"Yes."

"......" Yoo Minseok didn't say anything for a while. Then he opened his mouth again, "Crazy. How can a chef be so strong? Is it the power of a Star Fruit?"

"Maybe, I think so. There isn't a heroic cla.s.s among what we planned with that ability."

"That is true. He isn't even level 50 so the Star Fruit must be amazing. What type of powers did he gain?"

"We'll find out eventually. Then I'll get some rest first."

"Yes, you've worked hard, Jincheol." 

Cha Jincheol closed the door and thought, 'I'll tell Mido tomorrow that I want to meet her grandfather.'

* * *

Meanwhile, Mido was bewildered. "Grandfather, why did Jincheol oppa die suddenly?" She was killing the incoming familiars and helium slime. 

I put on a pretense. "Who knows? I don't know."

[The first apostle, 'Prometheus,' is grabbing his belly at your lies.]

"Grandfather, you didn't put anything in the food?"

"How can that be? You ate it as well."

"Yes..." Mido glanced at me with suspicious eyes but quickly shook it off. "Ah, what was the reason? I'll have to ask when he logs in tomorrow."

...Ah, I hadn't thought about that. I had done it because of my personality but I was worried about the future. Mido would be disappointed if that Jincheol told her the truth. What should I do? Should I kill him as soon as he logged in? I drew up plans in my head.

Then I heard Mido cry out, "Ah! I forgot! I'm supposed to broadcast today!"

"Broadcast?"

Mido manipulated something and a small window opened. Suddenly, she started talking to it. I watched in a bewildered manner.

"h.e.l.lo, everyone! It is the Arkstar creator, Mido~! I'm going to introduce you to my grandfather today."

It was the moment when my YouTube debut was imminent.

[1] Cute way of speaking