Chapter 148: The Final Test (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 148: The Final Test (2)
The space resembled a massive amusement park, sprawling with countless rides.
Exactly one hundred people stood within it.
They were the top one hundred players on Earth. The Administrator shouted to the crowd, his voice booming with mock enthusiasm.
"You should be proud! Even if you're still just ants, it means you're the strongest ants on this planet! Oh, except for one!"
The Administrator winked at Kang Jun-hyeok. Jun-hyeok lowered his head, stifling a dry laugh.
"Unlike the other groups, you lot are actually somewhat useful. So, I’ll give you a day of rest! There are plenty of rides here from your home planet. Enjoy yourselves and have fun! See you tomorrow!"
With that, the Administrator vanished.
Kang Jun-hyeok looked around at the various attractions.
So, this is it. My first time seeing this place in person.
In his past life, he hadn't been among the top one hundred. Although he had shown remarkable growth back then, he simply hadn't had enough time to catch up. In that timeline, Yoo Jin-ha had been the only Korean player present.
Now, Jun-hyeok stood here himself. A strange sense of sentimentality washed over him.
"…Huh?"
Meanwhile, Yoo Jin-ha was glancing back and forth between Kang Jun-hyeok and Kim Ha-young with a bewildered expression.
The top one hundred.
He had expected Kang Jun-hyeok to be included; it would have been stranger if he wasn't. But the grim-looking man beside them was an unexpected variable.
Yoo Jin-ha loved recognition, attention, and honor more than anyone. He was the type to search for his own name on community boards and smirk at the results whenever he was bored. Consequently, he possessed a wealth of information on every powerful player of note.
Yet, he knew absolutely nothing about this rugged man. He was a complete stranger.
Where did this guy come from?
"…Excuse me. May I ask your name?" Yoo Jin-ha asked cautiously.
Kim Ha-young didn't answer. With his eyes closed, he simply placed a finger over his lips, signaling for silence. Yoo Jin-ha was left speechless, blinking in confusion.
Exactly five minutes later, Kim Ha-young opened his eyes.
"Ah, my apologies. It was midnight."
Yulsir’s Second Law: The Law of Silence.
Every day at midnight, one must not make a single sound for five minutes. Kim Ha-young was faithfully upholding the law. He offered a bright smile and extended his hand.
"My name is Kim Ha-young. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Yoo Jin-ha."
"Ah, yes…" Yoo Jin-ha shook his hand hesitantly.
This guy is a nutcase, just like Kang Jun-hyeok, he concluded internally.
After the introductions, they turned their attention back to the amusement park. Kim Ha-young murmured softly, "It looks like… a giant toy set."
The park felt alien. It lacked the harmony and balance that a human architect would naturally consider. Watching it closely, Yoo Jin-ha soon realized why.
"…It’s like a simulation game."
It felt like a theme-park tycoon game—one where a child who knew nothing of physics or aesthetics had just scattered rides around at random. The eeriness of its deviation from reality sent a chill down his spine. Yoo Jin-ha rubbed the goosebumps on his arms and asked, "So, what are we supposed to do now?"
"For now, we wait."
If the information Jun-hyeok possessed was correct, a certain woman would soon gather the crowd.
Sure enough, before long, a calm voice rang out.
"It is a pleasure to meet you all."
A beautiful blonde woman approached. Yoo Jin-ha let out a soft exclamation.
"Ms. Olivia."
It was one of the world's top-tier players: Olivia Turner. She smiled warmly at Yoo Jin-ha.
"Hello, Mr. Yoo Jin-ha. It’s been a while."
She was well-acquainted with him. The top players of each nation often interacted, and since Yoo Jin-ha particularly enjoyed such high-profile gatherings, it was only natural. She shifted her gaze to the others.
"It seems the people here are the Korean players… There are three of you."
A hint of curiosity flickered across Olivia’s face. As far as she knew, Korea had no notable powerhouses other than Yoo Jin-ha.
"May I ask your names?"
"I am Kim Ha-young."
"Kang Jun-hyeok," Jun-hyeok answered calmly.
As Olivia repeated the name in her mind, her eyes widened. "Kang Jun-hyeok? Could it be…?"
"Nice to meet you, Ms. Olivia. This is the first time we’ve met in person."
Kang Jun-hyeok gave a thin smile. Olivia flinched and took a step back. Just as she was about to say something, Jun-hyeok cut her off.
"Isn't there something more important to attend to right now?"
"…Y-yes, of course." Olivia stammered, barely managing to compose herself. After taking a deep breath, she spoke to the group. "We are gathering everyone to unify our opinions and hold a discussion. I would appreciate it if you could join us at the plaza in one hour."
"Understood."
Even as she walked away, Olivia kept glancing back at Kang Jun-hyeok as if checking his mood. Yoo Jin-ha asked cautiously, "Have you met Ms. Olivia before?"
"I told you, it’s the first time I’ve seen her in person. But there is a connection."
It was a matter where Olivia had been entirely in the wrong.
* * *
An hour later, they headed to the plaza. All one hundred people were gathered there without exception. Yoo Jin-ha marveled at the sight.
"I recognize everyone here. It’s quite a spectacle."
Kang Jun-hyeok scanned the crowd. There were indeed many familiar faces. Some were people he had even cleared quests with in his previous life.
Nostalgic.
Once everyone had gathered, Olivia spoke up.
"Thank you for coming. Before we begin our discussion in earnest, I would appreciate it if everyone could step forward one by one and introduce themselves for the sake of clarity."
Olivia stepped forward and placed a hand on her chest. "I am Olivia Turner. A 53rd-floor player from the United States."
She gestured to the person beside her. A man raised his hand. "Michael Smith. 51st-floor player, USA."
Following them, the others naturally began introducing themselves in order. The overall level was in the late 40s, with the exceptional ones having surpassed the 50th floor. They were truly worthy of being called the strongest players on Earth.
[ Hmph. ]
However, the Master of All Weapons sounded disappointed.
[ I felt this before, but the level of your planet is quite low. ]
Kang Jun-hyeok simply shrugged.
Due to their position, Kang Jun-hyeok’s group was at the very end of the line. About halfway through, a man with brown hair and sharp eyes raised his hand.
"Trey Dice. 59th-floor player, USA."
"Whoa."
"Mr. Trey…"
The 59th floor. He was the strongest player on Earth. The crowd erupted in murmurs of admiration.
Next, a bearded monk raised his hand. "Milarepa. 54th-floor player from Tibet."
The High Priest Milarepa. Jun-hyeok was seeing that face again. He looked at the high priest with a complicated expression. The priest looked back with a hint of curiosity but returned to his spot without much reaction.
The introductions continued until, finally, it was their turn. Yoo Jin-ha stepped forward first.
"Yoo Jin-ha. 56th-floor player from Korea."
"Oh."
"So Mr. Yoo is here too. I thought something had happened since you stepped down from all your variety shows after the second test."
"Ha, haha…" Yoo Jin-ha let out a hollow laugh.
Next was Kim Ha-young. He smiled brightly. "Kim Ha-young. A 41st-floor player from Korea, and a believer in the Great God of Law, Yulsir."
"Huh?"
"41st floor?"
The crowd stirred. Everyone here was at least in their late 40s. The 41st floor was far too low for this group. And one more thing—
"…A believer in Yulsir?"
"Yulsir? Isn't that the god from the 7th floor?"
"Is it even possible to progress that far with a contract like that?"
Amidst the confusion, Kim Ha-young quietly stepped back. Then, Kang Jun-hyeok spoke calmly.
"Kang Jun-hyeok. 30th-floor player from Korea."
"…What?"
"30th floor?"
Paradoxically, there was less noise than when Kim Ha-young had spoken. Most people tilted their heads as if they had misheard. But soon, one by one, their eyes widened as realization dawned. Gazes filled with shock turned toward him. Jun-hyeok continued composedly.
"You probably know me as the Perfect Player. It’s a pleasure to meet you."
* * *
Amidst chaos and bewilderment, the introductions concluded.
They had one day left. Since no one knew what the test would entail, they decided to rest and converse. As it was rare for so many powerhouses to gather in one place, people chatted freely.
However, the Korean players were strangely excluded. It wasn't that they were being bullied or shunned; it was simply because they were too alien.
"Mr. Yoo Jin-ha, is something wrong?"
"Ah, no. It’s nothing."
Yoo Jin-ha, who usually loved talking to others and acted like a gentle saint, was noticeably different. Like a frightened child, he was busy scanning his surroundings even in the middle of a conversation. His bizarre behavior made it difficult for others to approach him.
And Kim Ha-young was just plain weird. He was walking incessantly. A brave soul approached and spoke to him cautiously.
"Hello, Mr. Kim Ha-young."
"Ah, hello." Kim Ha-young smiled and asked, "May I ask how old you are?"
"…Uh, I’m twenty-four."
"You’re young! May I ask which month you were born in?"
"May."
Upon hearing that, Kim Ha-young closed his eyes. Then, he struck a pose like a medieval nobleman.
"I am Kim Ha-young, the Apostle of Yulsir. My lady, what is it you wish to know?"
"…Why do you keep walking around?"
"To uphold the Law, of course."
"Is that Yulsir’s Law?"
"Yes! He is the Great God of Law! Would you perhaps like to serve him as I do? If so, you are most welcome! He is currently gathering followers! You can pass after a simple test! It’s not difficult at all!"
"No, I’m fine. It was nice meeting you."
The woman left immediately. It was impossible to have a proper conversation when he only displayed fanatical faith.
And finally, there was Kang Jun-hyeok.
People were simply intimidated by him. They whispered from a distance.
"Is that him?"
"The one who got a Perfect Clear on every floor up to the 30th."
"My god. How is that even possible?"
They were all top-tier players. They knew better than anyone how difficult it was to maintain a high achievement rate while climbing the Tower. Therefore, they couldn't help but feel pure awe at Kang Jun-hyeok’s feats.
Just what had he done? What kind of methods did he use? And what kind of person was he?
They were dying of curiosity, but no one dared to approach. An existence that defied all standards naturally created a sense of distance. In the end, a crowd formed around Kang Jun-hyeok, keeping a respectful radius.
One person broke through that crowd and approached him. Kang Jun-hyeok, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them.
"…Mr. Kang Jun-hyeok."
"Ms. Olivia."
The blonde woman bit her lip as she stepped toward him. Jun-hyeok gave a small smile.
"Hello. It looks like you have something to say."
"Yes."
She took a moment to catch her breath. As if bracing herself, she bowed deeply at the waist and began to speak.