Chapter 13. Promotion (Part 2)

Editor: Cherish

Kang Yu had drunk half a liter of beer when his body began to shiver.

The beer soothed his body like moisture being absorbed into earth after a long drought.

'Yes, this is it!' He bobbed his head up and down to express how delicious it tasted.

Chicken and beer.

It was the best combination he'd only dreamed of having in Hell.

— Is it good?

— Yes. It's perfect.

— Hmm? — Han Sol squinted at Kang Yu eating the chicken and continued with a slightly offended voice: — Even better than my kimchi jjigae? —

She knew it was unreasonable to feel jealous.

But her emotions were buzzing as she watched Kang Yu gulp down the chicken in such a hurry.

— It's… — There was uncertainty in Kang Yu's eyes.

The chicken or kimchi jjigae.

He couldn't choose between them.

— Your kimchi jjigae, of course, tastes better… — Kang Yu uttered after much consideration.

Chicken may be delicious, but it couldn't overwhelm his passionate love for kimchi jjigae.

— Hmm. Really? — Han Sol became satisfied at Kang Yu's answer. She smiled inconspicuously. — Kang Yu, you're a little weird. —

During the fight with Tae Hyun, she thought he was rude, even predatory.

Normally, he behaved calmly and impartially.

And when he ate, he looked like a little innocent child.

'Strange,' she couldn't find another word.

It was hard for her to hide her interest in Kang Yu.

— Kang Yu… Do you have any friends or family?

She thought about meeting the people around Kang Yu and listening to stories about him.

Kang Yu quietly took a sip of beer.

— I don't.

— What?

— I have no friends or family.

He'd spent his whole life alone.

His parents had abandoned him at birth, and after he left the orphanage, he'd been so busy that he couldn't even think about friends.

In those difficult moments, the only reason to continue living was to eat delicious food.

But at some point, even before he went to Hell, food stopped bringing him pleasure. That was when he decided to commit suicide.

— In that case, then, at the level E Gate…

— One day. — Kang Yu cut her off and calmly looked Han Sol in the eyes.— One day, I'll explain everything. —

It was too soon to tell her everything now. Besides, his story would be hard to believe, and Kang Yu had no desire to tell it now.

— Yes… Okay. — Han Sol smiled sadly and nodded. — Kang Yu, I'll believe you.—

— Thank you. — He nodded, took out an envelope from his pocket and gave it to Han Sol.

— Is that…?

— It's the money left over from buying my phone. It's about 300,000 won.

— Why do you need…

— First, I'm staying at your house. You can consider it rent.

— Oh, no! I can't accept this! — Han Sol waved her head vigorously.

She already owed him her life, and she couldn't possibly accept money from him under the pretext of living expenses.

— Basic Player education is expensive. It seems difficult for you to pay for it.

— But…

— Don't think about it, just take it. Besides, I get to eat your delicious food every day. Consider it as food expense, then, if not rent.

Objectively speaking, Han Sol's cooking skills are amazing.

If there weren't enough ingredients, she wouldn't be able to develop her skills, which Kang Yu wouldn't be happy about.

— Thank you, Kang Yu.

It seemed like she was ready to cry when she finally accepted the envelope.

She was worried that it would be very hard to gather money this month, so the envelope Kang Yu offered could be compared to the long-awaited rain during the drought.

— Then, once I buy the meat, I'll make an even better kimchi jjigae tomorrow. It will taste even better.— Han Sol smiled gently and put the envelope in her bag.

— Ooh! — When kimchi jjigae was mentioned, Kang Yu's eyes shone.

They weren't just words to him, they were words that stirred his very soul.

Kang Yu's body shuddered and he clenched his hands into fists.

As expected, Han Sol was just like an angel. Delicious kimchi jjigae every day.

'Let's spend our whole lives together!'

Kang Yu's consciousness painted a colorful flower garden. And among the flowers, Han Sol was there, with white wings and a clear smile. And next to it, there was kimchi jjigae blossoming.

What an ironic situation: a demon dreaming of an angel and kimchi jjigae.

If she knew what was going on in his head now, she would definitely be shocked by such chaotic thoughts.

— Oh, by the way, Han Sol.

— Oh, yeah?

— Isn't there a Level D Gate around here?

— Hmm… there are some, — replied the girl, thinking of their whereabouts.

— What kind of monsters are there?

— I've never been there, but they say it's where the Lizardmen live.

— Lizardmen… are creatures that appear in fantasy novels.

'I should try to go tomorrow,' Kang Yu thought, so he continued:

— Do you have any information about Lizardmen? What are their habits or weaknesses?

If it was a D-level monster, you can't go without preparation.

He was confident in his abilities, but this was not the time to brag.

When overconfident, the body relaxes, and inattention becomes more dangerous than any knife.

Kang Yu, when he thought he was weak, had been able to put the vigilance of thousands of demons to sleep and then kill them.

If he had no information about a demon, there was nothing he could do. It would be better to know his enemy well.

— Their weak spot is fire. And… I hear they're sensitive to the voices.

— Voices?

— Yes. Since they can barely see, they survive on hearing. That's why the parties that go to the Lizard are as quiet as they can be and end the hunt pretty quickly.

— Haha, that's really useful information.

'Besides, their weakness is fire.' Kang Yu could use one of his Powers thanks to the released Magi.

'It seems like the hunt will not be difficult.' He thought about collecting as many stones as he did today and smiled.

— Didn't you buy any weapons or uniforms? — She thought he was a high-class player, but his appearance didn't match the level.

— I don't have any need for anything at the moment/ — The most common weapon for him was a black blade. And for defense, he's got over a dozen Powers to spare.

He'd probably spend less Magi with his gear and it'd be more efficient, but he wasn't fighting hard enough to use anything else now.

'I can buy later.' First he wanted to stabilize his position by selling the mana stones. And then he would buy some equipment.

For now, it was important for him to raise the level.

'I should get rank 3 as soon as possible and check if the power sealing my Man Ma Jung is really weakening.'

For other Players, it takes about two to three months to reach Rank 3, and with special forces of low levels, about six. Kang Yu wasn't happy with that option.

He was already on a different level than the other players.

'Tomorrow I'll have a lizard grill.' Kang Yu continued to munch on chicken legs, eyes shimmering.

— Hmm…

— What is it?

— I was wondering what the lizard grill would taste like.

Han Sol looked at the guy questioningly.

'I really want to try it.' He'd have to cut off the Lizard's tail.

Kang Yu finished his glass of beer and called the waitress.

— Woman, bring more beer.

***

— Have a good hunt, Kang Yu.

— And you have a good training.

— Ha, I'll soon get two ranks and be a good Player, like you! — Han Sol answered cheerfully, clenching her fists.

'That's right, Angel.' Kang Yu looked at Han Sol, feeling at peace.

— Well, it's time.

Kang Yu, who received a salesman's certificate, could now demand to upgrade his class.

Thanks to that destroying the hobgoblin boss's hideout alone, he was able to get a D-level certificate.

— Rank 2 Supper has been found. A man with a special strength of class C is needed.

— Welcome to the party, we will help you get to rank 3 quickly!

— Experienced robber! Let me join your party, please!

There were much more people in front of the Level D Gate than there were in front of the Level E Gate.

This was because after completing the first training, the Players immediately received a Level D certificate.

But, of course, for those who had just been promoted to 2nd rank, hunting at a level D Gate was not an easy task. Because they didn't have the fighting skills.

That's why there are plenty of people in front of a Level D Gate to rip off newcomers.

But Kang Yu wasn't interested.

— Someone take me, a robber, into a party already! — There was a guy screaming as hard as he could, advertising himself to get into a party.

Kang Yu looked at him with sympathy and walked the other way.

He had no intentions to help that guy, and he was definitely not going to invite him.

— Look. — Someone called Kang Yu as he was about to enter the gate after passing his ID check

Kang Yu turned around. There was a young man with a dagger in front of him. Behind him, there were four other Players.

'He looks like Dae Su.' If so, he could be a good guy.

— Yes? What can I do for you?

— I think you're new, and you're not wearing any items either. Would you like to join the party? — The guy's face was covered in pimples, but he smiled nicely asking the question.

— Brother, we're going to help you level up yourself safely. — There was a very beautiful girl among the four Players who winked at Kang Yu.

If he had just returned to Earth, he would have followed that girl immediately. But now he already lives with Han Sol, whose appearance is comparable to that of a model.

That's why Kang Yu was determined:

— Thank you, I'm not interested.

— Ah, wait!

Kang Yu coldly ignored them and went to the gate.

When he walked in, the look on the face of the guy who tried to grab him changed.

— What an ignorant person. — His eyes shone with anger as he glared in the direction Kang Yu left.