Chapter 68: 1st Players Convention (3)

I tried remembering everything I knew about the Typhoon, Jo Sunghyun.

'Someone who defeated the Sword Empress Shin Yeonseo in a one-on-one… and the only formal magic class Player.'

As his name suggested, Sunghyun was a mage who used wind.

'His talent plates haven't completely opened yet, and…'

In the early days of Playing, it was inevitable that magic classes were overshadowed by close-combat classes. Mages were very weak in the early period, and their starting difficulty was extremely high. But if they succeeded and made it big, they had incredible killing power and destructive force.

'At least in the beginning, he's no match for Kim Taechun.'

Before I regressed, it was commonly known that Taechun purposefully picked a fight with Sunghyun at this time. Taechun never said from his own mouth why, but people were pretty sure that was the case.

'There's a high chance it's a quest from the courage-lover.'

The Brown Bear Kim Taechun's contracted guardian was none other than the 'Courageous Lion King'. As one might expect from the Courageous Lion King's personality, he often issued quests that went along the lines of 'Show your courage', and Taechun carried out such quests faithfully. He also had an aptitude for it.

'Just as planned, I will make Sunghyun my ally.'

Only then could I safely get through this day and make things happen the way I wanted. While I was thinking, I briefly met Taechun in the eyes.

[Eye of Perception recognizes some weak hostility.]

I couldn't suppress a smirk. Weak hostility, huh. He wasn't at the point of being able to exude bloodthirst yet. At most, he could only let out 'hostility'.

'I've been caught on your radar, you say?'

Right now, what Taechun wanted was to be in the position of a predator who could show their courage. That meant his victim couldn't be much weaker than him, nor could they be much stronger.

'If he looked at me… that means I look like the best target out of our party, I suppose.'

Good, that was excellent.

'For now, Yeonseo's been underestimated.'

Yeonseo was too delicate a girl… at least on the outside.

'Needless to say, Sunhwa has been as well.'

In all actuality, gender or age weren't all that big an issue when it came to Playing, as long as you were in your early 20s or younger, since all your talent plates would be open at that point. However, the current Taechun wouldn't think that way, so the potential targets were narrowed down to Yoohyun, Sung-gu, and me.

'And out of the three of us, I look like the easiest target.'

Eye of Perception made me very certain of that. He hadn't picked a fight with me, but if Sunghyun hadn't shown up right at this moment, he would have jumped at any opportunity to make trouble with me.

Summary: Self-Proclaimed Predator Seeking Prey

That self-proclaimed predator had found his prey, a perfect prey called Jo Sunghyun.

* * *

Even as Senia streamed the situation unfolding before her, she found it difficult to believe. She recalled what Hyukjin had said to her last night.

–Suppose there's a guy who wants to draw attention. The easiest way to do so is to fight someone. It's simple and easy to make that happen, and it's the sort of material that Guardians like.

That, Senia could agree with. There were always one or two Players like that, after all.

–If they pick a fight with someone, the target won't be too strong or too weak.

Senia was seeing that with her own two eyes right now. The Player called Kim Taechun purposefully picked a fight with the Player called Jo Sunghyun.

"Oi. If you hit someone, you should apologize."

–And suppose again that Choi Sung-gu was watching; he wouldn't be able to let it go. He's got a pretty strong sense of justice, as well as a fiery temperament.

Senia continued to stream the situation. After glaring at Kim Taechun, Jo Sunghyun simply turned around. Taechun yelled, "Oi, you little shit. Stop right there."

–Then in the end, Sung-gu and that person would clash.

The situation you have cooked up is quite detailed. The longer you spend describing this situation, the less likely it'll happen.

And yet, Sung-gu really did step forward.

"Hey! What are you doing with this kid!"

–It's a really good situation, don't you think? The sort of situation Guardians will also find amusing.

–Is it not a product of excessive imagination?

Even for a Precognitive Dream user, Senia thought it was too fictitious.

–You already agreed to make the bet, so hear me out all the way.

–Go ahead. I will listen.

And how were things turning out? It was all happening like Hyukjin said yesterday.

–If it gets to that point, the picture will almost be complete.

Taechun would pick a fight with Sunghyun, and Sung-gu would jump in the middle, unable to simply watch.

–Then what'll happen next is the guy's Streamer will get involved. Their Player made the opportunity, so the Intermediate Administrator has to fan the flames, right?

–...

–If I were an Intermediate Administrator, I would absolutely open a PVP zone.

Sure enough—

[A PVP Zone has been declared.]

With that appeared a humanoid figure with the head of a rhinoceros. Senia's wingtips trembled. Even though she was streaming, she couldn't take her eyes off Kim Hyukjin.

Hyukjin knew that Percy would declare a PVP zone. In a PVP zone, you couldn't die, even if you were killed. It was a field with a built-in 'revival' function.

[A PVP Zone has been declared.]

[In the current field, pain will be registered.]

[When the PVP request is made and accepted, the PVP match will begin.]

'Of the types of PVP fields, pain exists in this one.'

This was a field where pain could be felt. You wouldn't die, but you would feel the pain of death in its totality.

"Why're you messing with the Player I'm streaming, huh?"

Percy didn't have much respect for humans. He only saw them as ways to make money.

"Trash like you needs to be swept away."

The current Sung-gu was no match for Percy. To spur on this situation, Percy would leave Sung-gu half dead, clearing the way for Taechun to show as much courage as he wanted to the terrified Players.

'So now—'

Hyukjin glanced behind him, urging Senia to make her entrance.

"Intermediate Administrator Percy. It appears that you are about to use coercive force on a Player. Am I correct?"

"And who the hell are you?"

Percy spat onto the ground.

Szzzz–!

His green saliva steamed on the ground. The Players gathered nearby whispered amongst each other.

"Wh-What's happening?"

"Shh. Be quiet. You could get killed if an Intermediate Administrator looks at you wrong."

"Shh, shh. Let's just watch from afar."

Senia was not shaken. She continued to speak, uncowed. "I, too, know the unwritten law that Intermediate Administrators should not greatly interfere in each other's matters."

"Then what's with this ridiculous interference?! Move aside. I need to proceed with my content."

"However, this is an issue related to the absolute Commandments of the System. Why are you trying to use coercive force on a Player without justified reason?"

Hyukjin found himself smiling. It looked like Senia regretted not having been able to say anything in front of Neptune last time. She had learned and grown quite a lot. As a Streamer, she was still a greenling, but it did feel like she went up quite a few levels.

"Is that something you need to know?"

"Yes. Player Choi Sung-gu is one of the Players I am focusing on."

"..."

Hyukjin didn't know how long Senia had been focusing on Sung-gu, but Percy would have no comeback for that. Well done, Senia.

Senia would block any Intermediate Administrator interference. The PVP zone was established, and Percy wouldn't be able to jump forward and usher things along. That was Senia's role—to make sure that thugs like Percy wouldn't be able to screw around.

The Guardians were probably watching this situation, too.

'The Courageous Lion King must be watching right now.'

Now then. The picture was all finished. The Courageous Lion King was a courage-addled courage-lover who wanted to see the 'courage' of Players. Thanks to Senia stepping forward, Percy could no longer give the situation a strong push. In such a situation, I knew what the Courageous Lion King would do.

'He'll definitely give Taechun a quest, telling him to fight with me, since the PVP zone is already established and it's a good opportunity.'

[Feeling strong 'competitive spirit' through Eye of Perception.]

The 'Courageous Lion King' was egging Taechun on to fight me, offering the weaker Player some kind of support at the same time.

Senia's wingtips trembled nonstop. Everything was happening so precisely according to Hyukjin's words that she would believe it if someone told her he had written the plot.

–When that happens, Taechun will be impatient to have a PVP match with me.

Player Kim Taechun first started by picking a fight with Jo Sunghyun, then Choi Sung-gu. With all these eyes around them, it wouldn't be easy to make trouble with him, someone just sitting quietly on the sidelines.

–So then, Percy will switch his focus to you, since he needs to get me involved somehow.

In fact, Senia hadn't put much importance on Hyukjin's words yesterday. Even if he was a Precognitive Dream user, she thought he wouldn't be able to see in such detail. The only thing she was concerned about was what she should demand when she won the bet.

"Then is that Choi Sung-gu guy your exclusively contracted Player?"

"That is not the case."

"Who's your exclusively contracted Player then?"

"My exclusively contracted Player is…"

Senia's gaze moved towards Hyukjin. She didn't state him by name, but her look was answer enough.

–Afterwards, he'll request a PVP match with me.

Kim Taechun grinned, rubbing his tattooed arms. He had the habit of doing that when he was getting ready for a fight. In the meantime, Percy said to Senia, "Fine, then. It can't be helped since you're bringing up the Commandments and all. As this guy's exclusively contracted Intermediate Administrator, I request a PVP match with your exclusively contracted Player."

Senia was silent for a moment.

–What do you think? Of my hypothesis?

She recalled how Hyukjin said those words last night, grinning. She nearly got goosebumps.

"What's wrong? Scared? Scared your Player will die miserably in front of all the Guardians? Huh?"

Percy snickered. Senia wasn't affected much by his sneering.

'From the beginning… to the end.'

To Senia, it felt… like Hyukjin had predicted—no, designed— this situation from beginning to end. It was a little terrifying now.

'Everything is happening as Player Kim Hyukjin predicted.'

How could this be? It felt to her that everything was in the palm of Hyukjin's hand.

'He read the situation in this much detail… based merely on the preposition that there'll be a crazy Player and a crazy Intermediate Administrator here today.'

Kim Hyukjin was still weak. But his insight alone was unmatched. Senia had always known this, but she could be 100% sure of it today.

'In the entire world, throughout all of history, there's no Player with such a talent.'

Hyukjin was a genius among geniuses. She could only acknowledge that he was a genius who went far beyond the realm of geniuses.

Did Percy and Taechun have any idea that their actions were all in line with Hyukjin's blueprint and picture?

Yesterday, Hyukjin said the following to her:

–If something like that happens… this is what you need to do.

Senia decided to act exactly as Hyukjin said.

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