◈ Episode 040

3 months.

During that time, Kim Lee-hyun focused on building up his inner strength. It was a peaceful but not boring time. There was plenty to do.

Personally, I fixed my shooting stance, which was once criticized as being too tall. I also learned some simple tips for stealth from Ghost.

It was decided that Bryce would be in charge of Dustborne's Cilicia branch. The handover process, including getting to know Kavek, was already complete.

Sometimes, when manpower was needed, I would join in on the work. Even then, I tried to stay out of the way and follow Bryce's orders.

I was prepared to leave the city without any problems at any time. The last remaining matters were also now being sorted out.

― The winner is, yes! Asterike! By winning points in the last game, we finished the first season in third place.

― Actually, I didn't have high expectations at first. Why, they were so popular? They were famous in the lower leagues, but they were just struggling once they got promoted.

- Yes, that's right. In fact, that player has also suffered defeats several times.

― But! It has been completely different since the match against Aluminum. The recent record is 21 wins out of 21 matches! He has even shown an overwhelming performance in every match.

Today was the last day of the league season. Even though it's the end, the new season starts in less than a week.

The league's performance is determined twice a year. In that sense, Asterique's actions were certainly unconventional.

- He is also a controversial player. He was promoted mid-season and had additional points applied from the lower leagues.

― But! No matter what anyone says, it doesn't matter. This system was created in the first place in hopes of producing such stars.

― That's right. If there were no mid-season promotions, it would take a year and a half for a rookie to get to the first division. Who would want that?

― Look at that bright expression! It's a charm that you can't feel from the so-called league officials. It's bound to be a great audience draw.

The stands were packed to the brim. It was a huge gap. It felt like only yesterday that I had been to a sparse fourth-division stadium.

However, the official seats were still deserted. Kim Yi-hyeon and Rosco. Dustborn members enjoying their vacation and Leila completely absorbed in the tour of Cilicia… … .

They were all familiar faces. Other than that, there were only medical staff hired separately.

"In the end, we didn't sign a sponsorship contract."

"There were so many companies making offers that it was overwhelming. There must be even more now. But Miss Asterique."

"why?"

"After hearing about the contract period, he refused them all. He said that since he doesn't have any equipment of his own, he doesn't need to be sponsored."

"What was it like?"

"It was just the industry standard. Some companies suggested as little as one year. But, well, even that seemed long to you."

Roscoe glanced at Kim Yi-hyeon. He knew Asterike's feelings well. He must have been afraid that Kim Yi-hyeon might leave him behind.

"I think you tend to not say what you need to say."

"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"

"I've seen it before, so I have a rough idea. You didn't come to Cilicia specifically for the money or the environment, did you?"

Kim Lee-hyun has a purpose. His actions are rooted in a clear sense of purpose.

Until he suddenly said he wanted to start a company, I thought he had a strong desire for success. But I soon realized that it was just a step.

It was as if they were racing towards a certain destination. To some, it might seem brilliant, but to Roscoe, it was breathtaking to watch.

"I mean, I like Cilicia. It's free, and full of the sounds of people. This bustling city suits me."

"...."

"I'm grateful that you brought me here. I've made a lot of acquaintances, so I'll be able to make some money doing something. When I have free time, I'll go sightseeing in Gyeonggi Province sometimes."

Kim Yi-hyeon looked at Roscoe without saying anything. Then Roscoe patted his shoulder and told him not to look at him so disgustingly.

"You take good care of your young lady. I'm sure you know better than me, but even though she looks bright, she has a dangerous personality. I need a gentleman just like you."

"I can't help but rely on you."

When I tried to shake the trigger, Roscoe was sitting there with a stern expression. The man who had once said with his own mouth that he could rely on me was sitting there like that.

"...I'm saying that you need someone to hold you tight. When you're feeling frustrated and alone, you need to tell them to stop talking nonsense and follow you."

"Is that right?"

"It's a bit harsh, but what can I do? The world isn't a flower garden, is it? It won't help if I try to comfort you one by one. You don't get along with me either."

Kim Yi-hyeon licked his lips. What on earth do you think of people? However, he was at a loss for words to refute, so he didn't find fault.

At that moment, my eyes met with Asterike's. Blood was flowing down from her cheek where the blade had grazed her, but she was smiling like a child.

'I don't think it will hurt.'

The cities in Polaris that have developed civilization have medical technology that is superior to that of modern times. Cilicia, where dangerous sports such as leagues are popular, is even more so.

Kim Hyun-ah responded by waving her cheering stick. Next to her, Leila cheered, and Chelsea burst into tears.

"Why is that girl crying all of a sudden?"

"I heard you bet 50 million."

"To the other person?"

"No, to Asterike."

Roscoe tilted his head.

"Then why?"

"Well, I guess it's good enough to cry."

"Well… that's hard to understand."

"It's better to live without knowing."

It was an ordinary afternoon.

* * *

It cannot be said for certain that top-ranked players are necessarily talented. Although it is not a common case, sometimes untalented players also make it to the rankings.

Since it is useless to the incompetent, the solution given as a product is sometimes replaced with credit. This means that rather than selling it on the black market, it is better to take it in money from the beginning.

Of course, Asterike received the solution. However, unlike Kim I-hyeon, he did not inject it right away. He just stared at the flask.

"...Hyun, I think I'll be okay."

"what."

"Hyeon can just take it."

"I already wrote it."

"You can just use it twice, right?"

"Me?"

It was impossible in terms of the game system. If it were possible to use it repeatedly, the agent's performance would go through the roof.

I felt a little embarrassed for a moment, then shook my head.

'Because I don't know what side effects there might be.'

There may be a problem, and maybe even the possibility of spells being blocked.

I don't have the confidence to survive with an incompetent body. Greed ruins the body. I calmed my curiosity by thinking of Chelsea, a slave to materialism.

'I understand why there's a fuss.'

Even without that, Asterike had trouble controlling her spells. She seemed afraid that using the solution would cause her spells to completely go out of control.

"It's probably going in a different direction than what you're thinking."

'Spell Enhancement' is a kind of balance patch. Usually, if the agent's performance is too good, useless options are given. If the agent's performance is weak, valuable options are given.

'Even that was well received by Ast.'

Attack power and skill duration remain the same. Instead, the rate at which damage is inflicted on allies when using the 2nd skill is significantly reduced.

In other words, controllability is increased. Although it is still unknown how helpful it will be in reality.

"Anyway, close your eyes and stab me."

"If you close your eyes, you can't stab me?"

"...Ah, so frustrating. Give me your arm."

As I approached the seat next to me, Asterike rolled up her sleeves.

'If you're going to be this obedient, do it yourself.'

In the midst of all this nonsense, Asterike's face suddenly caught my eye. She looked somewhat satisfied… The corners of her lips were slightly raised. She looked strangely happy.

… … I didn't point it out. It was a waste of time to argue. I injected the blood vessels that were clearly visible on the pure white skin.

It was a very delicate task to do for someone else. I was very careful to insert the needle so that Asterike wouldn't squirm.

After safely emptying the flask, Kim Yi-Hyeon let out a useless, tired sigh.

"it's over."

"Huh? Already?"

"I really had my eyes closed."

"Yeah. I felt strange when I looked at it."

Of course, the very idea of ​​putting a needle into my body would be awkward. There's no way Pecatum would get a vaccination or anything.

"But… I don't know. What changed?"

"Well, it's not as bad as you thought, is it?"

Nod nod.

Asterike shook her head up and down. Without seeing the agent records, it would be difficult to notice the change right away.

It was okay. Kim Yi-hyeon returned to the seat opposite Asterike and laid down on the sofa. For some reason, he felt like his strength was draining away.

'This is the end.'

All business in Cilicia has been completed. The matter of connecting the Lab and the Council has also been resolved.

"Now all we have to do is set a date."

"Are you leaving Cilicia?"

Even though he cut off the beginning and the end and spoke as if he was talking to himself, he was able to get the topic of conversation. As Roscoe said, he seemed to have been paying attention to it as usual.

First, I decided to ask him what he thought.

"Asterique, are you sure you're okay?"

"huh?"

"It'll be comfortable if you stay here. Roscoe decided to do the same. You have a mountain of fans, too. If you live like you used to, playing games, you'll be able to live a life that no one else would envy."

Kim Yi-hyeon was still wondering if there was any reason to abandon that kind of life and follow it.

Asterike's answer was surprisingly concise.

"You can do that anytime."

It seemed as if he was telling an obvious fact. At that moment, Kim Yi-hyun was overcome by a mysterious feeling. The gaze of Asterike looking at him. The appearance of 'Ast', who he thought was half a different person, overlapped.

"Hey, look at that confidence."

"Actually, I was really scared at first. Before my debut, Roscoe had shown me a first division game."

"...I don't know about this?"

"I need to do some market research. He told me not to tell Hyun-han that the tickets are expensive."

That crazy guy.

"I don't think I really noticed the game itself. There were just so many people... everyone was so focused, so I didn't even think that I could become like that..."

Asterike laughed heartily.

"Okay, that's fine. Everything Hyun said was true. You could have fought the Mafia, the League, and Metro City."

Metro City. Her smile hardened slightly when she spoke of that time.

"I killed people there. I don't remember the end very well. But still... there must have been a lot more deaths than what I saw."

"...."

"Hyun wrote me. I don't blame him. I've heard things from here and there, so now I know what happened."

Asterike wasn't completely stupid. The reporter's interview. The conversation with the Dustborn people. There were plenty of clues that could help us deduce the inside story.

It was something that someone had to do.

As Kim Lee-hyun said back then.

"From now on, give me something to 'do'. Then I'll do it. It would be nice to live without being envious of others... but that can come later."

Kim Yi-hyeon nodded silently. He was able to realize this through the current conversation. As expected, Asterike and Ast were the same, but they were different people.

She was used by the mafia to become an Asterisk in the game. She was led by Kim Yi-hyun to become the current Asterisk.

I don't know if you can call it maturity, but at least Kim Lee Hyun had some responsibility.

He took a deep breath and opened his mouth.

"What do you want to eat?"

"Anything is fine."

"Then blood…."

"Except for the pizza. I also ate meat."

"Pasta."

"I don't feel like eating noodles today."

"hmm."

That day, we ate pizza, steak, and pasta. Asterique, who hated it, ate everything in her bowl.

* * *

It's 5 a.m. and the night air hasn't cleared yet.

"You three, good morning."

"Isn't it morning?"

"Once you wake up, it's morning."

At the square near the immigration office in Cilicia, Leila welcomed Kim Ihyeon and his group.

"Yeah, yeah. Leila's right."

"You guys, you're strangely close."

"We used to go out together here and there on our days off."

"Yes. There were a lot of fun things. There was even a time when people suddenly flocked to Mr. Asterike, right?"

It was quite a strange combination. Astura and Leila are not often linked together even in secondary creations.

Their relationship wasn't bad. If it had been, they would have been depicted as bickering with each other. There was just no connection at all.

But when we actually got together, we seemed to fit well together. After all, how many weirdos in the world would have personalities that wouldn't mesh well with Leila's?

Oh, that's true.

"It's not good at all. I don't like it at all."

"yes?"

"I realized this season. I won't get anywhere if I keep betting on my children like I've been doing so far. I was at a crossroads where I had to decide whether to risk my life or not...!"

Chelsea, who was half dragged out, was shaking her hands and feet. There was no other gambling addict. A pitiful and pitiful gaze was fixed on her.

"Why, why do you all look at me like that?"

"You bow down to me next time. Leila, there's no such thing as gambling in rap, right?"

"Oh, yes. Of course. Don't worry!"

Pablo was seen keeping his mouth shut and holding back laughter. It would be embarrassing if he did this in the rap. Should I just pretend not to know then?

Anyway, it's been a problem from the beginning. Leila said awkwardly after seeing Kim Lee-hyun starting his day with a sigh.

"Shall we go?"

Cellbrox Lab.

It's time to explore the player's forces.