Chapter 201

1.

The monsters that appeared in the Forest Labyrinth included the common snake, bat, and spider-type monsters, as well as monsters that only appeared in the forest.

Among them, the strongest type of monster was a beast-type monster with green fur that walked on four legs but boasted a much larger physique when it stood on two: the Green Leaf Battle Bear.

“Keoheo-eong!”

When it stood on its hind legs and swung its threatening front paws, most users would be torn to shreds.

In front of such a Battle Bear, Seonghyun casually strolled, preparing to test his new skill.

As if recognizing that Seonghyun was a powerful opponent, the creature charged at him with its full strength from the start.

And the speed of the Green Leaf Battle Bear charging on all fours was considerable.

At a glance, it was fast enough to create the illusion that it had appeared in front of him in an instant.

However, as if he could see it all clearly, Seonghyun raised a single index finger.

Then, as he used the skill in a posture like firing a gun, a single drop of blood, redder than a ruby, popped out.

“Kwoheo-eo-eong!!!”

The Green Leaf Battle Bear did not know what would happen when it saw the red blood, but it sensed something was amiss and charged forward.

Just as it charged even faster, appeared before Seonghyun, and was about to swing its threatening paws, what had been just a drop of blood transformed into a red blade, grew in size, and flew towards the Green Leaf Battle Bear.

The red drop of blood had become a sharp blade.

The enlarged red blade cut deeply into the Green Leaf Battle Bear's chest.

Kagagagaga---!!!

A sound like cutting steel rang out.

A long gash was left on the Green Leaf Battle Bear's chest, and the charging creature could not withstand the force and was pushed back, its two legs carving deep furrows in the ground.

Chijijijijijik!

The red blade eventually cut a long gash across the Green Leaf Battle Bear's chest, but it stopped there.

Blood flowed from between the split wound of the Green Leaf Battle Bear.

However, as if it were still fine, it tried to charge again.

But in that moment, it felt its head spin.

Was it because of the bleeding?

No way.

Before it realized it, the creature discovered another red blade had formed in front of it and tried to dodge, but it was already too late.

The second effect of 『Crimson Demise』.

If the skill caster's health is full, it deals additional damage.

That effect triggered now.

The Green Leaf Battle Bear desperately tried to block, but the red blade rushed towards it like a grim reaper, and the blade tore into the already deep wound once more.

Puuuuuk!!!

“Keoheong-heong-heong-heong!!!”

The Green Leaf Battle Bear groaned in pain.

And in that moment, the lush green color of the creature's fur turned blackish.

As the creature, poisoned by Blood Poison, writhed in agony, Seonghyun snapped his fingers.

He made the poison inside its body explode.

Pooooof.

The Green Leaf Battle Bear went limp.

Just like that, a message appeared saying that Seonghyun had gained experience.

[You have acquired experience.]

『Crimson Demise』.

Although its performance was a bit lacking compared to Seonghyun's other Almighty-rank attack skills, it was quite useful when combined with 『Blood Poison』.

Besides this, it seemed like a very good combo could be created if he completed his build with the other skills and the Tome of Blood.

“It’s pretty good.”

In the end, as long as he was satisfied, that's all that mattered.

Through the recent large-scale event and his 3rd Class Advancement, he had grown considerably.

Both in terms of skills and stats.

‘Let's see.’

【Status Window】

『Seonghyun』

『Lv 157』

『Class』

→『Overlord』

『Titles』

→『Monarch (Legendary)』… and 45 others.

『Stats』

→《Strength: 242(186+56)》《Agility: 267(205+62)》

《Stamina: 267(205+62)》《Intelligence: 605(465+140)》

《Wisdom: 605(465+140)》《Spirit: 133(120+13)》

《Dexterity: 8(7+1)》

『Additional Stats』

→《5》

They were stats that were unbelievable no matter when he looked at them.

To the point where he wondered if the total could really be this high.

Especially since he had gained 200 additional stats from 『Blood Monarch』 this time. It felt even more so.

At this point, the increase in Intelligence and Wisdom seemed to be higher than the Strength, Agility, and Stamina he had gained from the Hall of Knights.

Still, Seonghyun seemed a little disappointed.

‘Isn't there a Hall of Mages somewhere?’

He had a thought completely devoid of conscience, but even he seemed to think it was a bit much, and he smirked and shook his head.

Anyway.

‘Level 160 is still far away.’

After the quest ended, he had sent Helena and Fiora into the labyrinth to hunt on their own.

Even though experience was constantly coming in, his level showed no signs of rising.

He had managed to get to 157 thanks to the quest he had just done, but raising the remaining levels would not be easy.

It didn't seem like it would happen in a day or two unless he got another good quest.

If it proved to be too difficult.

“I should ask Branch Manager Penelope if there are any quests.”

‘Since it's the Over Palace, won't they give me something?’

Having thought that far, Seonghyun decided it was time to log off and summoned Helena and Fiora, who were hunting in the labyrinth.

Not long after, Helena and Fiora, who had been hunting in another area, approached.

The two returned, looking puzzled by Seonghyun's summons.

They had been hunting for quite a while, and they had finished the large-scale event and the Unique-rank linked quest after that. It was about time to log off.

“It's about time to go back, isn't it?”

Helena noticed at once and asked.

Seonghyun nodded.

“Yeah, see you tomorrow.”

“Today was fun too, thanks to our Seonghyun.”

-G-Go back safely.

After sending the two back to the Netherworld, Seonghyun also logged out.

[The eternal world, E-World, will be waiting for you.]

He looked at the now-familiar message and stepped out of the capsule.

‘Phew.’

He was now on his 20th day since starting E-World.

It hadn't been that long, but to think he would get this hooked.

When his sister first introduced him to the capsule, he never thought it would turn out like this.

Seonghyun smirked, came out, and feeling a little sticky, thought about taking a shower.

While doing so, he naturally checked his phone and saw several messages.

A few emails from the Rapid Guild and a few messages from Lee Geondong.

Besides those, there were messages on KakaoTalk.

They were mostly from group chats, so he decided to only check the personal messages.

There was a message from Lee Geondong saying his editing work was done for the day and that he would buy him a meal tomorrow.

‘Is he planning to buy that meal he promised today?’

Thinking it wasn't a bad idea, Seonghyun smirked and also checked the email from the Rapid Guild.

It was about some additional adjustments, the contract, and that the contract fee had been deposited.

The adjustments and additional conditions were very good. He didn't read them very meticulously, though.

But even Seonghyun could tell they were incredible conditions.

‘Paying the taxes for me is really amazing.’

To think they would handle tax management and even pay the taxes. He thought the benefits were really good.

And since it said the additional contract fee and the live stream and video payments had also been processed, he deliberately didn't look at the amount written in the additional contract.

Wouldn't it spoil the fun to look beforehand?

So, Seonghyun opened his banking app to check how much had come in.

And he looked at the deposited amount.

『Deposit-[Rapid Guild]-51,194,851,000 Won』

“??????”

An incomprehensible amount was displayed.

‘Wait a minute.’

Didn't it say additional contract fee and settlement payment?

‘What is this?’

For a moment, Seonghyun wondered if it was a bug and checked again.

He checked the deposit details.

When there was no change, he even checked the balance.

[Nara Bank]

『Balance: 53,218,529,720 Won』

“…?”

‘Is this for real?’

‘50 billion won?’

For a moment, Seonghyun's mind went blank.

This much money, and it was the post-tax amount?

It felt like his mind was collapsing, but on the other hand, it was an amount that made sense.

The star players of E-World.

Seonghyun was one of those star players.

Although he had only just reached the level of what was called an intermediate player, it was a foregone conclusion that he would become a ranker.

And hadn't the status of E-World's star players become similar to that of global sports stars?

So, this amount was understandable.

But having it sitting in his own bank account was another story.

‘Is it okay to receive this much money for just playing a game?’

All he had done was have fun playing a game.

Of course, streaming was also a job, but he had enjoyed the live streams quite a bit too.

And yet, this much money.

‘…It’s more than the prize money for winning Squid Game.’

When he suddenly had that thought, it really did seem like a lot.

Well, Squid Game was a game, and E-World was a game too.

Anyway, Seonghyun thought that and chuckled hollowly.

‘What am I going to do with all this money.’

As Seonghyun was troubled by that thought, he suddenly remembered the driver's license he had gotten before going to the military and nodded.

‘Right, I should spend some money.’

It seemed like tomorrow would be a bit busy.

2.

A leisurely weekday afternoon.

The streets were nearly empty, but a young man was shivering in the cold, waiting for someone.

It was none other than Lee Geondong, waiting for Seonghyun.

It wasn't that Seonghyun was late.

There was still time until the appointment, so he was just waiting.

As Lee Geondong waited for Seonghyun, he let out a white puff of breath and muttered.

“Ssssup, ah, it's cold.”

Still, he was buying Seonghyun a meal to thank him.

He couldn't be late, so he had come out early, but if he had known it would be this cold, he wondered if he should have come out more leisurely.

Not long after, Seonghyun recognized Lee Geondong from afar and approached.

“You’re early.”

“Yeah. The guy buying a meal to say thanks can't be late.”

“Jeez, so are we going for meat?”

“Of course! And it’s beef, no less!”

“Ooh.”

He wondered why they were having beef for lunch, but he couldn't rain on the parade of someone buying him a delicious meal.

As Seonghyun nodded as if to say he was fine with it, Lee Geondong took him to a beef restaurant he had already picked out.

Unlike the cold outside, the inside was filled with a warm heat and the fragrant smell of cooking meat.

Seeing that it was crowded despite being lunchtime, it seemed to be a popular spot.

“Welcome, table for two?”

“Yes, yes.”

“You can sit wherever you’re comfortable.”

At the employee's words, Seonghyun and Lee Geondong picked an empty table and sat down.

They ordered a few types of meat and talked while they waited.

“This might be a bit random, but did you see how well the video turned out this time?”

“Ah! You were the one who made that?”

“Hehehe, of course, of course!”

“Oh.”

Seonghyun had certainly seen the video, so he could nod in agreement.

He had liked it because the quality was considerable.

And to think his friend had made it.

It felt strange in a way, but he accepted it.

Lee Geondong joked that he was treating him thanks to the bonus he got for it.

Seonghyun also smirked and nodded.

Then.

“Man, the Rapid Guild treats you really well. The pay is amazing compared to other guilds.”

“Hmm, Yoojin noona is pretty generous.”

Seonghyun had experienced it this time too, so he said as much.

Lee Geondong smirked and asked.

“So, did you buy anything with it? When you suddenly get a lot of money, you find things to spend it on, right?”

“Ah, I actually went and bought something this morning.”

“Oh? What?”

His friend was making a ton of money.

Curious about what he might have bought, Lee Geondong asked.

Seonghyun answered as if it were no big deal.

“I went and bought a car.”

“Yeah!!! Awesome! Of course, of course, buying a car after you make it big is a must. So what did you buy?”

“Me? A Matizen.”

“…???”

‘Was there a supercar called the Matizen?’

At least, not in Lee Geondong's memory.

Finding it strange, Lee Geondong asked, just in case.

“If it's a Matizen…”

“Yeah, bought it used. It was cheap. I think I got a good deal at 5 million won?”

It really was the Matiz he knew.

“…D-Don't people usually buy sports cars or something like that when they make a lot of money?”

“Huh? I heard that a used compact car is the best for a young professional just starting out.”

“…W-Well… you're not wrong.”

At the sight of the very wise young man, Seonghyun, Lee Geondong was at a loss for words.