The busy motions of the hands slowed down.

Primarily because most bellies were filled, resulting in a cessation of additional food orders.

Crack!

Jinhyuk stretched himself out, relieving his stiff body.

I guess thats enough cooking for now.

It was time to address the hunger that began to gnaw once more.

And, while at it, to strike up some conversation with his hard-working comrades.

As he made his way past the trolls and inside, he caught sight of a few familiar faces.

Hyung!

Oppa!

With the flush of alcohol coloring their cheeks, Itaemin and Yuyeonhwa waved excitedly.

Over here! Come this way.

Theresa moved to make some space at the edge of their gathering.

Everyone seemed safe, which was a relief.

Except for one.

Except for the sulky-faced leech sitting apart.

Hey, Im here. You hear me? I said Im here!

Still acting as if I dont exist.

It was almost as if my presence had been completely erased from his mind.

Is it because I made those kids from the Central Plains work like dogs? Or because I had them recite the lines I wrote down for them?

This damn!

Chunyuseongs pupils dilated rapidly.

Finally, a response.

A grown man shouldnt get so bent out of shape over something like that. Thanks to you, the job went smoothly.

Do you have any idea how embarrassing it was? Reciting those mortifying lines, I cant even lift my head in shame!

Chunyuseong raised his voice, his chest heaving with agitation.

Even a few trolls turned around, startled by the commotionit was clear he was pretty worked up.

But really.

Yep. Im well aware.

Jinhyuk nodded calmly.

Who does he think hes dealing with anyway?

Embarrassment? Shame? Pride?

Ive compiled enough of those in my Naver Cloud to last a lifetime.

From The Sunset Melancholy to Colonel Timo, my past is riddled with countless cringe-worthy memories.

If I could walk around with just a trench coat and a cigar in tow without fear, what could possibly scare me now?

Damn.

Despite feeling somewhat sad after mentioning it, Jinhyuk brushed the emotion aside.

Fine. Its my mistake for even mentioning pride or honor. I was foolish.

Ahem.

Praiseit is not!

Chunyuseong ground his teeth.

Always on the receiving end, he must have had a lot pent up inside.

Indeed, it might be time to give him a break.

I was generally planning to avoid indulging in male welfare, but there are times when it must be used.

As one of the external directors of Veteran Corporation, it was crucial not to foster any ill will within the company.

Hoo. Alright, I get it. Youve worked hard enough, so Ill grant you one wish. Tell me, what do you want?

One wish?

Yes.

As Jinhyuk gave a confirming nod, Chunyuseong stood up as if nothing needed to be said, his sword already poised in front of him.

So this is what they mean by a chilling sword point.

Why bother asking? Right now, draw your weapon.

Hey you, thickheaded fool. We nearly killed each other fighting just moments ago, and now you want to fight again? Besides, wasnt the thing you really wanted to win against me in front of lots of people?

Take a good look around.

Where do you see many people here?

Amidst this troll-filled situation, the outcome of any battle would be nothing more than scars.

We could post the battle as a video, but thats not what Chunyuseong would want.

Like the duel we had before at the ball. Hed prefer a proper stage with an audience, thats for sure.

Jinhyuk delved into Chunyuseongs psyche at that thought.

Chunyuseong lowered his sword slightly.

Then, whats your proposal?

Dueling doesnt always have to be a life or death match, does it?

Were not in the Roman Colosseum.

A bloody fight isnt the only measure of ability.

A different method for competition?

Thats right. For instance Ah! How about a hunting contest? Since well need to eat tomorrow anyway, the person who catches the stronger, larger prey wins. How about that?

Fine. This time Ill prove that Im superior.

Chunyuseong nodded, his eyes blazing with determinationhe seemed completely changed from moments ago.

Hyung Yuseong. Considering youre likely to go through all that trouble only to lose, how about you just give up?

Yeah. Oppa, you cant win against Jinhyuk oppa.

Itaemin and Yuyeonhwa, who had evidently become informal with him at some point, each gave Chunyuseong their piece of advice.

Mr. Yuseong. Do your best.

On the other hand, Theresa tightly clenched a fist, sending a message of encouragement.

Watching this heartwarming scene, I couldnt help feeling a certain warmth in my heart.

Jinhyuk smiled with what could only be described as a dad smile.

Just so you know, the most suitable and strong prey in the 7th stratum is mostly found in the sea. The sea creatures might be tricky to catch, but they taste phenomenal.

The Sea Dragon Taitelos.

With a length exceeding 10 meters and a vicious nature, this creature was a much-loved delicacy among veterans for its resilient and chewy flesh, akin to a fresh eels.

No need for the advice. Im well aware of such details.

Of course. The magnificent Sword Saint wouldnt be ignorant of such things.

Keep laughing. I will be the one to catch the biggest sea dragon.

As Jinhyuk smirked, Chunyuseong activated his skill.

[Chunyuseong has activated Lv7 Protective Strong Qi ().]

A faint light enshrouded his entire body.

Normally, Protective Strong Qi would be used to defend against enemys attacks, but Chunyuseongs version could also protect the body from water pressure and store a small amount of oxygen.

With those capabilities, he was equipped for underwater activity.

Without hesitation, Chunyuseong plunged into the water.

Splash!

Waves rippled briefly before settling.

Chunyuseong had vanished into the depths in an instant.

Arent you going in, Jinhyuk?

Theresa tilted her head, watching.

In a hunting contest, time was of the essence.

The quicker the move, the better the prey and position secured.

This was mere common sense.

Unless

If it came to participating in the contest.

Hm. Lets just let that guy win this round. Ill concede.

Jinhyuk shrugged nonchalantly.

What?

I admit defeat.

Why bother freezing to death for this? Jump in there?

Especially at the thought of battling sea monsters in saltwaterdefinitely not on my wish list.

You mean to say, this was your plan all along? To leave Chunyuseong to hunt alone?

I just fancied some eel, its great for recovering vigor. And since he wins the contest as well, isnt this a win-win?

What ahollow victory, though?

Perhaps so.

But.

Its a fact of life that you cant have it all. Since hes learned that valuable lesson, he should be thanking me. Ahem. Anyway, the water is awfully deep and blue. Just looking at it makes you feel bone-chillingly cold.

Jinhyuk clucked his tongue, gazing at the lake.

And then.

The faces of everyone watching Jinhyuk contorted with horror and shock.

-As expected No, this is just like him.

-You fool Yuseong. Thats why I told you not to accept his challenges. Why cant you learn to give up after being crushed every time?

-Mr. Yuseong. Keep your spirits up. Ive been tricked a few times myself. Just give up, its easier.

-For the first time, I actually pity the human race. The vampire would cry out of pity in this case.

Though their thoughts varied, one thing was common in everyones minds:

If the devil himself were among the living, hed be standing right before their eyes.

Delicious eel grilled so fine~ Yummy eel grilled so fine~ On Sundays, the Sword Saint turns to a chef.

While Chunyuseong diligently fetched his game, Jinhyuk sat cozily next to a warm campfire.

Warming his body, he wore the most contented smile in the world.

The trial tower community was, as ever, in a war for the attention of countless people.

[Worlds first to conquer the 5th floors Clockwork Labyrinth.]

[A history lesson in the tower with the handsome ranker from the Breming Guild.]

[#Rank1 #OlympusGuild #OneOfTheTop7Guilds #PurpleGrade_Relics]

Provocative titles.

Taunting thumbnails.

Risky related searches.

Everyone seemed desperate to edge the boundaries for more views.

It was a given.

In a market saturated with content, sensationalism was essential for survival.

And Baekjinho from the Dangun Guild had prepared a secret weapon, a new video bound to stand out in this fierce competition

a battle against a hidden named monster on the 7th floor.

The raid against Ice Drake was intensely chilling, but nonetheless, Dangun Guilds first attack team succeeded in the hunt.

Consuming the drakes heart would now significantly boost their resistance to cold.

Well be the first to clear the 7th floor. Finally, we can shake off the king-of-no-realm stigma.

Satisfaction curled Baekjinhos lips.

His heart pounded with anticipation and excitement.

You did work really hard.

Ha ha. It was deadly tough, but it all ended well, thankfully.

We succeeded because were us. Any other guild would have been annihilated before even approaching the drake.

Of course. Others didnt even know such a place existed, I bet 99% of them.

The other team members applauded, congratulating each other for their efforts.

How are the reactions so far?

Baekjinho asked cautiously.

One man with multiple screens laughed lightly.

Hyung, you worry too much. When will you let go of your needless fears?

Quit nagging and just tell meis it good or bad?

If I had a penny for every time I repeated myself, Id be rich. Its skyrocketing, obviously.

A hidden monster and Dangun Guildinevitably, a hot issue that would ascend the rankings effortlessly.

The response in the community was more than hotit was explosive.

-Yasuo+Yone: Wow, there was such a place on the 7th floor?

-Seems like Thanos: I saw it for the first time too. Looks like a hidden route, classic Dangun.

-Line9985: Look at the coordination of the attack team. They move like a well-oiled machine.

-Mochi Welsh Corgi: Agreed. Theres a reason why they have so many subscribers.

Boom. There was no other word for it.

The rapid-fire comments, tens with every passing second, were overwhelming to the eyes.

Good.

Only upon seeing those dazzling metrics did Baekjinho finally relax his stiff expression.

This kind of reaction could predict nothing but massive success.

What about Jang Eunseok? Any contact?

Cut off for a few hours now. Perhaps he entered some cave or coniferous forest, or a snowstorm could have hit. You know how the 7th floor is notorious for poor communication, right?

Hmm

Dont worry too much. That guys not someone whos taken down easily.

Yeah, thats true.

Baekjinho nodded as though he agreed.

At that moment.

Ding!

A new video popped up in the trial tower community.

[Hall of Fame has been updated with a new video.]

Everyones pupils shook with surprise.

It was inevitable.

Such an update wasnt ordinaryit was a video for the Hall of Fame!

Hyung!

I know! Im watching it too!

The swiftly usurped top spot.

An anticipated shift in viewers toward new prey was palpable.

Damn it! Who the hell decided to throw a spanner in the works at a time like this?!

Baekjinho roared like a madman.

But as he viewed the following status window, all he could do was gasp.

[The rights owner of this video is a Korean player, Kang Jinhyuk.]

Baekjinho felt his world collapsing around him.