Chapter 103

"…You call yourself an expert, Miss?"

"Of course! The money I've lost on betting… Ahem! And the time I've invested in it."

Just because you've lost a lot of money and time doesn't make you an expert.

Lim Gayeong advised Lee Hayeon with a sigh.

"Why not just bet for Seong Jihan? You've earned a lot doing that."

"Yes, I made a lot from the Japanese victories and the Korean losses. But… I've won too much. It's about time for the Boss to lose, statistically speaking."

The initial amount Lee Hayeon had lost was considerably recovered thanks to following Seong Jihan's bets. However, as she recovered, she became more and more anxious.

"People can't keep winning like this."

How could there be an endless streak of victories in this cruel world of gambling? Even if you've boasted a 100% win rate so far, this world can turn against you at any time.

And Lee Hayeon believed that this was the time when Seong Jihan wouldn't come in first.

Buzz!

[Please bet on me again for this Top 100.]

A message from Seong Jihan rang on Lee Hayeon's smartphone.

"Boss. It's too late…"

If he was confident, he would've messaged earlier.

'Such a delayed message actually gives me more assurance.'

Having already made up her mind, Lee Hayeon sipped the remaining wine and approached the computer.

At that moment,

"Oh! Sister~ You're here?"

Yoon Seah opened the door to the guild master's room.

"Yes, Yoon Seah. What brings you here?"

"Oh, Sister. Hehe. I just felt there were still people in the guild, so I came. But, have you been drinking?"

"Yes. I had a difficult choice to make…"

Lee Hayeon, the expert when it came to making bets, said with teary eyes.

"What kind of choice?"

"Well… it's a bit awkward saying it in front of you…"

"Come on! Tell me, Sister!"

As Yoon Seah cheerfully approached, Lee Hayeon reluctantly showed her the monitor.

Her betting history, where she chose China's rising star, Heavenly Demon Wang Lin, as the first-place winner, was displayed.

"It's a secret from the Boss, right?"

"Of course~ But why did you choose Wang Lin instead of Barren?"

"Well, Barren is strong, but he seems a bit unreliable."

Perhaps it was because of his disgraceful performance during the previous Count Naseed raid.

Although Mages like Barren had the advantage in defense maps, Lee Hayeon believed that Wang Lin from China was the top candidate to win.

The odds for both were almost similar, so it wouldn't be strange if either of them ranked first.

But just the similarity itself was a humiliation for the usual Barren.

"I see~"

"Remember, it's a secret from the Boss, okay?"

"Of course, Sister. My lips are sealed!"

Yoon Seah, indicating her sealed lips, looked at Lim Gayeong.

"Sister Gayeong."

"Yes?"

Honey?

Without making a sound, Yoon Seah exaggeratedly puckered her lips.

Nod!

Lim Gayeong simply nodded in response.

"Yes. Honey."

"…What honey? What are you two signaling about?"

For some reason, it felt annoying.

When Lee Hayeon inquired, Yoon Seah casually responded.

"Oh. She said there's a tip that helps when doing weights."

"Oh, there's something like that?"

"Yes, Miss."

Lee Hayeon tilted her head in confusion.

Although she felt uneasy, if the two of them said so, it must be true.

"Okay. Make sure you learn well by watching what Gayeong does."

"Sure. Sister. Hehe."

Feeling guilty that Lee Hayeon was worried about her, Yoon Seah couldn't help but feel a bit sorry.

However, she thought,

'Please take care of it.'

Although she felt apologetic, the stakes were too high to miss out.

Yoon Seah went all in with full confidence on Seong Jihan.

"Miss, thank you always."

Lim Gayeong also bet all of her GP.

* * * * *

September 25th, 6 a.m.

"Uncle! Time for breakfast."

Seong Jihan, roused by Yoon Seah's call, was taken aback by the lavish spread on the table.

When did she even start preparing this?

The table was laden with side dishes.

Furthermore, the menu consisted mainly of Jihan's favorite dishes.

"Come on, I prepared everything you like! Just don't overeat!"

"Why are you doing this all of a sudden?"

"It's the Top 100 match today. I have to cheer you on!"

She didn't act like this during the Bronze Top 100 match.

Jihan could guess why Yoon Seah was acting like this.

"How much did you bet?"

Hehe.

Yoon Seah then showed her palm.

"50 billion?"

"Yes!"

"Sigh… Hard to believe this is the spending of a teenager."

"Come on, uncle! I heard there aren't many jackpot games like this. Because of the BattleNet betting system announcement, a lot of people are flocking, right?"

The Top 100 promotion matches were all held on the same day.

Bronze or silver matches didn't attract much attention.

Usually, interest and money poured into the higher-level matches.

However, due to a notification on the BattleNet betting site, the silver promotion match in particular was receiving the most bets of all the Top 100 promotion matches.

"Seeing how you splurged, Hayeon must've bet on someone else?"

"Yeah, sister made a different judgment with her expert view. Oh, please don't act like you knew. She told me not to tell anyone."

"Haha, I'll tease her after it ends."

Confident about the outcome, Jihan started eating.

"Speaking of which, don't you also have a promotion match?"

"Yes, thanks to you, uncle, I get to play in one in just a month."

Until the beginning of September, Yoon Seah only trained in the game to increase her stamina.

But after teaming up with Jihan, she progressed rapidly and managed to reach level 25, which allowed for promotion.

"You are the one who needs to prepare more than me. Are you ready?"

"It's just a Gangnam Area 3 promotion match. You are more important, uncle."

Thanks to Jihan, Yoon Seah was able to level up quickly, but she wasn't lacking in real battle experience.

With the gift of 'Late Bloomer', she could play the game twice a day, giving her as much combat experience as an average bronze player.

Equipped with rare stat perseverance and excellent gear, it was a sure thing that she wouldn't fail in her promotion match.

"Speaking of which, 'Late Bloomer'… wasn't it said that it gets upgraded after playing 50 games on BattleNet?"

[Gift – Late Bloomer (Rank-F – Participate 50 times in the game to upgrade)]

The upgrade conditions for Late Bloomer, found through Hermes's Monocle.

For Yoon Seah, who had played twice daily from day one, the 25th day would be her 50th game.

"Yes, but today is a promotion match, so I can't play twice. It's a shame."

"So, it'll upgrade when you reach silver."

"That's right. Anyway…"

Yoon Seah, not worried about her promotion match at all, folded her hands in request to Jihan.

"Uncle, really, don't worry about me! Eat well and please, please secure 1st place! Got it?"

"Sigh… Thank you. Thanks."

50 billion, she bet on this?

Jihan chuckled and picked up a piece of beef with his chopsticks.

His hand movements, while picking side dishes, became faster, eventually blurring out of Yoon Seah's sight.

The food on the dining table disappeared in an instant, and Yoon Seah became worried for no reason.

"Ah… Uncle, don't eat so quickly! What will you do if you get sick?"

"What do you mean get sick? You prepared a feast worth 50 billion won, of course, I have to eat it all."

With swift eating sounds.

In less than 10 minutes, after finishing all the food and wiping his mouth, Seong Jihan said,

"Ah, I'll be summoned soon. I'll secure the 1st place and come back."

Waving his hand to Yoon Seah, he disappeared into the game.

"Ah, seriously…! He should've left some for me!"

Yoon Seah looked at the dining table with a dumbfounded expression.

The plates, which were full of food, were now completely empty.

"Sigh… I should just have a protein shake."

She was too exhausted to cook again after preparing all those side dishes.

She quickly made a protein shake and began preparing for her promotion match.

Of course,

'First, I need to watch Uncle's match.'

* * * * *

September 25th, 7 am.

[The Top 100 Silver Promotion Match begins.]

Aligned with the World League 1st place, New York League's timing, the Top 100 Promotion Match began.

This monthly event, unlike usual times,

– The September Top 100 Promotion Match…! It will start soon! This time, it will start one day earlier, exclusively for Silver!

For Silver, the schedule was advanced by a day.

On Channel 0, worldwide,

American BattleNet commentators and casters who were given the privilege of broadcasting due to being the World League 1st place, were chatting.

– Christopher! I heard you rushed here from Hawaii.

– Yes! I lost a day of my vacation! If it wasn't for Mr. Seong, I would still be in Hawaii! Even adjusting the schedule… Incredible, really!

– Oh, who exactly is Mr. Seong that he managed to change the schedule?

– Ha! Are you pretending not to know? Among the viewers watching right now, is there anyone who doesn't know Mr. Seong?

– There might be! For those who suddenly turned on Channel 0 and were surprised to see the promotion match starting, can you explain?

Even though Seong Jihan's fame had spread worldwide over the past month,

The caster still asked Christopher to explain for those who might not know him.

– Mr. Seong, his full name is Seong Jihan, a great player from Korea!

With that, Christopher's praise began.

He never missed a 1st place in any game.

He defeated the Marquis Nashid, won against Diamond players while being in Silver.

Having the unique stats 'Force' and 'Martial Power', he never wore any special armor except for weapons.

Because…

– He hasn't been hit even once!

– Oh, Christopher, compared to the last time you commented, you seem to have become a fan!

– Hahaha! After watching his gameplay, you can't help but become a fan! He is truly the most promising player in the world!

– I agree. A month ago, if I heard such words, I would've said America has its Barren… but now, I must admit. Seong Jihan is currently the most powerful Silver player!

On Channel 0, watched by people all over the world,

The caster and commentator repeatedly praised Seong Jihan.

The atmosphere was significantly different from a month ago.

The overwhelming achievements that Seong Jihan accomplished in that time were the reason.

– Is it because he's so powerful that even the system, the very BattleNet system, intervened?

– They changed the schedule, changed the map. They adjusted the balance to be unfavorable to Seong!

– Haha, thanks to that, I lost a day of my vacation!

The commentators then began analyzing the map to be used for this promotion match.

– This map is a special defense map… 'The Tomb of the Raided Conqueror.'

– The Tomb of the Raided Conqueror! Isn't this used as a dungeon map? Players usually raid it, right?

– Yes, most got gold bars converted to GP there.

– So this time, players are defending against tomb raiders?

In response to the caster's question, the commentator displayed data he received from the BattleNet system.

– Yes… that's right! However, the scale of the tomb raiders is the problem!

– Who are these tomb raiders that you speak of so gravely?

– A massive Undead Alliance from space. They're called 'Kill the King!'

– Kill the King? Why such a name for an Undead Alliance?

– I don't know! I'm not familiar with cosmic affairs!

Kill the King.

The viewers were puzzled by this unfamiliar name and the odd naming of the Undead Alliance.

'… Why are they already here?'

In-game, Seong Jihan frowned as he looked at the mission description that appeared before him.