***
"Jinwoo Oppa..."
Kim Seoyeon was trying to stop him from behind with a flustered expression, but even that was a pretense. I knew that the 'fluster' etched on her face wasn't because the man had stepped forward. It was a fluster regarding the lie she had just uttered.
Honestly, it was absurd. It wasn't like we had parted on good terms, but did she really have to treat a former lover like a 'stalker' and badmouth him?
'She’s making me lose even the last bit of affection I had.'
I felt as if even the memories that were once good were deteriorating. Looking back, I thought about how pathetically I had lived. And the guy who believed her and stepped forward wasn't normal, either. They were two of a kind. There was no better match made in heaven.
"Excuse me. I've been listening and listening, and what kind of nonsense are you talking about?"
At that moment, Kim Hana stepped forward. She jumped up from her seat with fire in her eyes. The man, Jung Jinwoo, let out a smirk.
"Who are you? Are you acting as his lover for money?"
"What did you say?"
"How much did you get? Judging by your looks, about 500,000 won? I guess he overexerted himself while earning a monthly salary of 2.3 million. I'll give you double, so why don't you learn to distinguish where to cut in and where not to?"
He even knew the specific number of 2.3 million. It seemed Kim Seoyeon had opened up about everything regarding me. Not the good things, but mainly the bad things. It was the moment five years of memories were thrown into the gutter.
"…I personally reserved this restaurant, and I’m treating him because I received help from him. You shouldn't just say whatever comes out of your mouth..."
"Four times as much? Is 2 million won enough?"
Jung Jinwoo took out his wallet from his pocket and held out a bundle of 50,000 won bills. At that, Kim Hana showed a look of utter disgust, as if she were looking at rotten filth.
"What kind of bastard is this?"
"This kind of bastard?"
"Yes, this kind of bastard. Is money everything? You’re barely even human. Just where did you grow up to become such a wretched person at your age?"
"……This bitch is crazy."
Jung Jinwoo’s expression hardened as he raised his hand. An ordinary person would have just made a gesture, but Jung Jinwoo didn't stop there and swung his arm. In the instant Kim Hana instinctively squeezed her eyes shut—
Grab!
When I snatched Jung Jinwoo’s wrist, his eyebrows shot up slightly.
"Ha, look at him acting like a man just because he feels like it."
"Let’s go outside and talk."
"There's no need to go outside or anything. Get on your knees and apologize first—Huk?!"
Grip!
Jung Jinwoo, who was continuing to speak, suddenly snapped to his senses. It was because a pain that felt like his bones were breaking suddenly flowed through his wrist.
'W-what? Why is this guy’s strength so high?'
It wasn't the grip strength of an ordinary person. He wondered how many people on Earth possessed this much grip strength. However, as far as Jung Jinwoo knew, Park Hyunmyeong was a guy who stayed far away from exercise. A pathetic life spent only in his room playing games unless he was at work, home, or on a date. There was no way such a guy would have professionally trained his grip strength.
Then, could it be?
'A Player?'
Was he a Player who had synchronized using a Fragment of Broken Golden Rule? No, that couldn't be. If one synchronized as a Player, they would become their character within the game of Pangenia. However, the Park Hyunmyeong before his eyes was just Park Hyunmyeong. That meant he was born with this much grip strength, which made even less sense.
"Do you feel like going outside to talk now?"
"You punk..."
Shaking his released wrist, Jung Jinwoo frowned deeply. Did he feel like going outside to talk? Not a chance.
'You picked a fight with the wrong person.'
He could endure everything else, but he couldn't stand being pushed back by such a wretched guy. Park Hyunmyeong and himself were people of different calibers and classes. If he showed even a slight hint of yielding to such a guy, there would be nothing more embarrassing.
At that moment, waves of golden light began to swirl around Jung Jinwoo’s entire body. Jung Jinwoo was a Player. By using a Fragment of Broken Golden Rule, it was possible to synchronize with reality. Once he became a warrior of Pangenia, he would gain transcendence that even a thousand ordinary people couldn't overcome. No matter how strong one’s grip strength was, they were still just an ordinary person. It was impossible to defeat him while he was synchronized.
Jung Jinwoo showed a meaningful smile.
'I'll make you beg for forgiveness.'
His smile didn't fade at the thought of forcing him to his knees and making him apologize. The world had changed, anyway. From now on, the Players would lead the world. They were already in a situation where they were praised as Dimension Warriors. Who would hold it against him for neutralizing just one ordinary person?
"W-what is that?"
"It's a Dimension Warrior!"
"Transformation? Did he really transform?"
The people who saw Jung Jinwoo’s changed appearance began to murmur. Blue hair. A sturdy, muscular body. He looked like a true warrior holding a spear. Currently, there were fewer than a hundred known Dimension Warriors in Korea. Jung Jinwoo was not one of them, but everyone was dazed by the appearance of such a rare existence. It was literally the appearance of a hero!
Jung Jinwoo’s shoulders rose as high as the sky.
"Kneel, you punk."
Jung Jinwoo was relaxed. Although the duration of the Golden Rule was a waste, it was an opportunity like no other—to completely erase that Park Hyunmyeong from Kim Seoyeon’s eyes. However, that smile did not last long.
Rumble!
'……An earthquake?'
At that moment, the ground suddenly began to shake, and cracks began to appear in the building. That wasn't the only anomaly.
"M-monster!"
"Aaaah!!"
Giant pillbugs. Pillbugs about 1 meter in size with sharp teeth rose from the underground, piercing through the surface. They were monsters that shouldn't exist on Earth. However, the appearance was familiar.
'Chidworms! Is it an Erosion?'
Erosion had begun again. Jung Jinwoo clenched his fists.
'They're just Level 2 monsters.'
No matter how many Level 2 Chidworms there were, they were just pillbugs in the end. Their speed was slow, and their aggression was low. In fact, the Chidworms had only come up to the surface and were not actually attacking humans.
However, a monster in itself was something that caused fear. People were screaming in a state of chaos.
"You... consider yourself lucky."
Since the Erosion had started, Park Hyunmyeong was not the problem. Jung Jinwoo stepped forward without missing the opportunity. Because this was a golden opportunity to become a hero.
"Everyone! Please be at ease! I, Jung Jinwoo, will protect you!"
How many people had risen to stardom overnight during the previous Giant Mantis attack? There was no rule saying Jung Jinwoo couldn't become a true hero.
Slash!
He thrust his spear straight into a Chidworm. The Chidworm’s outer skin split, and it exploded on the spot. Mucus was scattered everywhere, but Jung Jinwoo did not stop. There were four Chidworms that had come up inside the restaurant. Jung Jinwoo, who had disposed of the four in an instant, spun his spear, took a stance, and looked around with a relaxed face.
Click! Click!
People, without exception, held up their phones to capture Jung Jinwoo’s appearance on camera.
'This is it.'
Jung Jinwoo cheered inwardly. This was it. Now, once the video was uploaded, he would become an overnight star the next day. Just imagining it made him feel naturally satisfied.
Rumble!
However, the Erosion and invasion did not end. Chidworms began to crawl in from the outside as well. A massive number of Chidworms crowded in.
"These insect bastards..."
The numbers were high, but it was better this way. It was an opportunity to show his heroic side to the whole world. He must have caught several more Chidworms that were crowding into the entrance.
- "…Who killed my children?"
Something other than a Chidworm entered.
A Chid Mamba.
A monster with the appearance of a fat human on the outer skin of a Chidworm! Seeing that being appear while scattering a toxic mist, Jung Jinwoo’s expression froze in an instant.
'Why is the Main Raid Boss here?'
The Giant Mantis was also a Field Raid Boss. However, the Chid Mamba was on a different level from a Field Raid Boss. It was a Main Raid Boss that required at least 10 people to attack, like the Hydragon. But it was of a higher grade than the Hydragon.
"Ah..."
Jung Jinwoo’s entire body froze. The Chidworm mucus had turned into a neurotoxin due to the Chid Mamba’s skill, bringing paralysis to Jung Jinwoo’s body. The Chid Mamba glared as it looked at the dead Chidworms.
- "My poor children. That human killed you all, though you were innocent."
"Aaaaah..."
Drip, drip.
As the Chid Mamba approached within reach, the urine Jung Jinwoo had leaked flowed down his legs and onto the floor. He would die. If he stayed still like this, he would die. But his body wouldn't move. The Chid Mamba’s hand stroked Jung Jinwoo’s cheek. Jung Jinwoo, trapped in the toxic mist, trembled and his eyes rolled back.
And then.
"I'll kill you all! You monster bastards!"
Hallucinations occurred. Jung Jinwoo began to attack the people while swinging his spear.
"R-run away!"
"W-why are you suddenly doing this!"
Chaos ensued. In Jung Jinwoo’s eyes, humans appeared as Chidworms. Soon, Jung Jinwoo’s eyes turned toward Kim Hana. In an instant, fear struck Kim Hana’s eyes.
'Ah...'
Jung Jinwoo was not in his right mind. She had seen many people who were not in their right minds, but the current Jung Jinwoo was top-tier among them. A gaze crazed with slaughter. Her feet felt as if they were stuck to the floor and wouldn't move.
"Hehe, hehehehe!"
It was madness. He was nothing but a madman.
Patter, patter, patter!
Jung Jinwoo, holding his spear, began to run crazily toward Kim Hana.
"Die!"
Kim Hana squeezed her eyes shut.
And then.
Shred!
Thud!
With the sound of something thick being cut by something sharp, the situation came to an end. Kim Hana opened her tightly shut eyes. Then, the sight of Jung Jinwoo looking down at both of his arms in confusion entered her field of vision.
"Huh? What. Where did my arms go? Why, why is this on the floor...?"
The arms that should have been attached were gone. They had been cleanly cut off from the elbows as if paper had been sliced. Only after a long time did Jung Jinwoo realize the reality.
"M-my arms. Aaaagh! My arms!!"
He rolled on the floor and let out groans of pain. Someone had cut off both of his arms. Exactly who? Jung Jinwoo barely managed to lift his head. There stood the man who had cut off his arms. Holding a massive greatsword, with a gaze like an abyss where no emotion could be felt.
He was looking down at him as if looking at a bug. Just meeting his eyes caused a shiver. He was a destroyer. He was definitely someone who had committed slaughter in numbers incomparable to someone like himself.
"P-please... please save me."
When he begged for his life, the man turned his head and walked past. As if someone like him wasn't even worth his attention. As if he had simply cut him down because he was blocking the way... There was no disregard greater than this.
However, Jung Jinwoo couldn't do anything.
Swoosh!
The Golden Rule ended. The transformation was released, and Jung Jinwoo returned to being an ordinary human. However, the two severed arms did not return.
"Ah."
The eyes of Jung Jinwoo, who realized the reality, were dyed with despair. It was a dream. This... was definitely a dream. He had stepped forward confidently, only to leak urine and fall into a state of hallucination, attacking people. On top of that, both of his arms had been cut off. Could there be a worse catastrophe than this? He thought he could become a hero like others by tomorrow. Hope had turned into despair in an instant.
Click!
Even in this situation, there were people taking photos, people leaving videos, and even people conducting live broadcasts on social media. And all of his atrocities were contained right there.
...Right. It’s a dream. There’s no way this could be reality. When he woke up from the dream, he would be back in reality. However, no matter how much he closed and opened his eyes, the reality did not change.
✺✺✺
'A Player.'
Jung Jinwoo used a Fragment of Broken Golden Rule. It was proof that he was a Player.
【Lv. 4】
But his level was pathetic. Being a Player meant he had lived in Pangenia for at least a year. But to think his level was only 4. Did he pick so many talents like I did that the required experience points increased exponentially? However, seeing Jung Jinwoo’s movements as he hunted the Chidworms, I was certain that wasn't the case, either.
'The game and the actual situation are different. He was scared and neglected hunting.'
The reason he was stuck at Level 4 was because he was afraid of death. Not everyone would start with the Heart of the Iron-Blooded Lord like I did. Rather, Jung Jinwoo’s level was more realistic.
But it was a strange thing. By synchronizing with Randolph, I had become quite strong even in reality. On the other hand, although Jung Jinwoo was a Player, he was not much different from a normal ordinary person. Was I the strange one? Or was Jung Jinwoo particularly weak?
There were many things I was curious about, but what was certain was that Jung Jinwoo was the greatest idiot in the world. He was just happily killing the Chidworms that had suddenly popped out in large numbers. It was clear he hadn't even pushed the main quest properly, let alone hunting.
'The class itself is in a fairly high-level spearman category. He entered the rankings by obtaining the class and earned the right to log out.'
The class was a waste on him. Seeing that Jung Jinwoo logged out and used the Fragment of Broken Golden Rule, it was clear he had entered the rankings through the main quest of obtaining a class.
'…In a place where Chidworms inhabit in large numbers, there is always a Chid Mamba.'
Anyway, Chidworms have no aggression. However, they must not be killed recklessly. This is because the Chid Mamba will surely take revenge. While everyone's attention was focused on Jung Jinwoo and the Chid Mamba, I quietly moved away from my seat and used a Fragment of Broken Golden Rule in a place where there were no people. Afterward, I cut off both of Jung Jinwoo’s arms as he was attacking Kim Hana using Michaela's Sword.
- "Ooh. There’s a tasty-looking human here."
【Lv. 6】
A monster that was even stronger than the Hydragon despite being a Main Raid Boss. The Chid Mamba licked its lips while looking at me and smacked its lips. My level was now only 3. Even if I summoned the Hydragon, it would be a difficult fight. However, I didn't worry.
《 You have equipped ‘Michaela’s Armor.’ 》
《 You have equipped ‘Michaela’s Helmet.’ 》
《 The set option ‘Heavenly Dragon Human’ is activated! 》
《 You have equipped ‘Hermes’ Shoes.’ 》
《 Your stats are lower than the equipment requirements. 》
《 The ‘Tear of the Fairy Queen’ significantly lowers the equipment requirements of ‘Hermes’ Shoes.’ 》
《 You can use ‘Swiftness.’ 》
I smiled with satisfaction as I looked at the messages appearing.
'It was a good thing I raided the Secret Auction House in advance.'