Chapter 1
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Sudden Retirement
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"...I think it's time for me to quit Go."
The genius Go professional Yi Ho-chang had suddenly announced his retirement.
The reporters gathered in the press room were so shocked by the abrupt statement that none of them could close their gaping mouths.
In the brief silence that followed, Yi Ho-chang continued speaking.
"This wasn't a snap decision. It's something I've agonized over for more than a year."
One of the reporters asked him,
"Why? Why? Is there some reason...?"
"Because it's no longer fun."
Simply because it wasn't fun anymore, he wanted to retire?
Only then did the crowd finally exhale their held breaths and begin murmuring in astonishment.
But Yi Ho-chang paid no heed to their reactions and pressed on.
"I even beat the supercomputer... And aside from that, I've never lost a single game of Go in my entire life. Now, even boredom has set in. There's no thrill left. That's why I'm retiring. I'm turning twenty-nine this year, so it's not too late to set off on a journey to find new joys. I figure I'll wander through life at a leisurely pace."
He had debuted as a professional at the tender age of twelve.
Right after, he entered the Rong Clan Cup, won it outright, rose to ninth dan, and achieved All Titles Holder status in just three years.
The next year, he boldly claimed the Grand Slam as well.
Some argued that if not for his procrastinating nature, he could have done it right from his debut.
After that, he earned nicknames like National Hand and Eternal Emperor, single-handedly elevating Korean Go to the top of the world.
A few flustered reporters fired off questions at Yi Ho-chang's bombshell remarks.
"What about the upcoming Dragon Star Match between Korea, China, and Japan?"
"That's for the younger players to handle now. I don't think it's my concern anymore."
"But Ikeda, the prodigy they call a divine child in Japan..."
"No interest."
Yi Ho-chang dismissed it curtly, as if he didn't want to hear it.
Then, he slowly bowed his head and began to step away from the podium.
He had said everything he wanted to say; now it was just time to head home.
"Well then, I'll be going ahead."
Polite in tone.
Yet laced with a stern warning underneath.
No one dared stop Yi Ho-chang because of it.
Everyone stared blankly at his retreating figure as he descended the stage.
"Huh? Wha—?"
Suddenly, he felt his center of gravity pitch forward.
His foot had tangled.
It had caught on the long microphone cord.
But by the time he realized it...
Crack!
The return of the ill-fated groom.
Yi Ho-chang, the twenty-nine-year-old genius Go master hailed as the absolute sovereign of the game and National Hand.
The reporters who had anticipated his performance in the Dragon Star Match and headlined it as such could only print his obituary in stunned disbelief.
"Gasp!"
Yi Ho-chang bolted upright, drenched in cold sweat like a man escaping a nightmare.
What met his eyes was darkness.
Where am I?
I clearly...
That's when the memory hit him: tripping over the mic cord and tumbling off the stage.
He had lost consciousness. So, was this a hospital?
"H-Hello?"
He called out belatedly, raising his voice.
But no echo returned.
"Hello?"
He raised it louder.
Still nothing.
Then Yi Ho-chang noticed the dirt crumbling in his grip.
'Dirt?'
What was this dirt doing here?
Yi Ho-chang looked around.
Utter darkness.
Then, far off, he spotted a single point of light.
Yi Ho-chang rose and headed toward it.
Groping along the wall in pitch black where he couldn't even see his next step.
Finally reaching the glow, his pupils adjusted to the light, and he could make out his surroundings.
"This is..."
A paradise untouched by the world?
That's what it seemed at first glance.
Bizarre rock formations amid lush mountains and forests, a vast sky visible through deep valleys.
A world apart, truly breathtaking.
So beautiful.
But...
'Where the hell am I?'
Beautiful was beautiful, bewildering was bewildering.
One thing was clear: not a hospital.
Then, in the distance, Yi Ho-chang spotted a gnarled pine tree with two old men seated beneath it.
Something lay between them, and they stared at it intently.
What was that?
Drawn like a magnet, Yi Ho-chang approached.
He had a mountain of questions.
But as the elders came into clearer view, he couldn't help furrowing his brow.
White hair and long white beards.
One bald, the other with a full head of hair.
It wasn't just their looks.
Their attire was straight out of a historical drama—ancient robes, no less. And they were playing Go.
'A historical drama set?'
No film crew in sight, though.
Yi Ho-chang hesitated a moment before sidling up to the elders.
He'd pretend to know them and ask questions then.
But they wouldn't glance his way.
So he waited.
Conveniently, they were playing Go, so Yi Ho-chang peered at the board.
Thus, he spectated their game.
But...
'Why can't they escape from there?'
Who was Black and who was White was obvious from the stones beside them.
The bald elder held Black, and Yi Ho-chang could guess why.
To his eyes, the bald elder was an amateur.
No surprise—he was agonizing over an easy escape move.
After watching another ten minutes or so, Yi Ho-chang finally couldn't hold back and spoke up casually.
"Um... could I ask you something?"
At his question, the two elders jumped in surprise and turned to him.
"Wh-What?"
"Who are you?"
They seemed genuinely startled, so Yi Ho-chang replied politely.
"Well... I tripped and hurt myself earlier, and when I came to, I was here. Is this a hospital by chance? Or maybe a historical drama set?"
"Historical drama? Press conference? What nonsense are you spouting?"
"This is Immortal Assembly Valley—a place ordinary folks like you could never enter. Did you perhaps achieve Immortal Ascension?"
"Immortal Ascension? You mean like in Aesop's Fables?"
"...What's this Aesop's Fables?"
The two were utterly baffled and hurriedly conferred with each other.
Yi Ho-chang couldn't make heads or tails of their words.
It sounded like Korean, but the vocabulary was all brand new to him.
Bored, he glanced back at the ongoing game.
His gaze had been fixed on one spot for a while.
Black stones on the left side.
Save those, and Black turns the tables.
After waiting a bit, Yi Ho-chang feigned ignorance and asked,
"Sorry to interrupt... but why did you place that Black stone there?"
"Hm? You play Go too? Placing Black there is obviously... Huh?"
That was the moment.
The bald elder suddenly realized something.
Only then did he notice his blunder.
"Oh dear, nearly botched it."
"What are you doing?! Heo Yu, taking advice like that?!"
"Ahem, Jin Hyeop. You should've said something sooner. Thanks anyway."
As Heo Yu recovered from his mistake, Jin Hyeop scowled at Yi Ho-chang.
"Argh! Now I see—you're one twisted by fate! That's why you're giving advice."
"Come now, why act like a child?"
"That punk flipped a game I was winning! Now he's turning my insides too!"
"How's that the young man's fault? Someone who hasn't even ascended ending up in Immortal Assembly Valley? Clearly a blunder by the Reapers."
Reapers?
Did that mean he was dead?
Shocked, Yi Ho-chang asked,
"A blunder by the Reapers? So you're saying I died?"
"We'd have to check the ledgers of the dead for that. Enough—now scram."
"I don't even know where I am, and you're telling me to leave just like that...?"
"That's your problem. Why should I care?"
Jin Hyeop seemed thoroughly peeved, and Yi Ho-chang narrowed his eyes.
Then a good idea struck.
"Elder, how about a game of Betting Go with me?"
"Betting?"
"Yes. If I win, send me back to the world I came from."
"And if I win?"
"I'll vanish from your sight right then and there."
"Ho... tempting offer."
As expected.
Go players, especially elders, rarely refused a bet.
Yi Ho-chang was confident.
No matter the opponent—he was Yi Ho-chang.
Soon, their game began.
"Alright, let's start."
"Yes, sir."
Jin Hyeop yielded First Move, so Yi Ho-chang's Placement kicked off the first game.
However.
"Hah..."
"I win by one point."
"I know! Again!"
"I've already won the bet, haven't I? I just want to go home now."
"Heh heh, he's right, Jin Hyeop. Why push a bet the opponent doesn't want?"
"Stay out of it, amateur!"
Flushing red at that, Jin Hyeop suddenly had a bright idea and made a new proposal.
"Fine, two more games. If you still win, I'll not only send you back to the mortal world but give you a priceless gift everyone covets."
"That sounds fine..."
"Just do it!"
"A-Alright."
With the elder at his limit, Yi Ho-chang reluctantly agreed.
Refusing might mean never getting home.
Thus, the second game began.
But Yi Ho-chang won again.
"Again!"
The final game.
Yi Ho-chang victorious once more.
Jin Hyeop's face was beet red, while Heo Yu clutched his sides, laughing uncontrollably.
"Damn punk."
Jin Hyeop muttered under his breath.
But to Yi Ho-chang, it sounded like praise.
In fair competition, be it Go or games, nothing beat an opponent's curses and rage as the ultimate compliment.
Yi Ho-chang ventured cautiously,
"Elder, then I'll be..."
"I know! I get it! Can't stand the sight of you—follow that path straight ahead. You'll arrive on your own."
"What about the gift?"
"You'll see when you get there."
Doubting Jin Hyeop, Yi Ho-chang glanced at Heo Yu, who wiped laughing tears and nodded.
"The fellow's foul-tempered but no liar—trust him. Safe travels. Thanks to you, I learned something too."
"No, no. Farewell."
Fearing another odd offer, Yi Ho-chang quickly stood and hurried off.
Following the path Jin Hyeop indicated, suddenly his vision flickered, and the world brightened.
Splash!
Cold water suddenly soaked him head to toe, flooding his nose and mouth, snapping him awake.
Opening his eyes, he saw children surrounding him.
The chubby one, seemingly the leader, stood with arms crossed, looking smug.
"Finally awake, huh?"
"Wh-What...?"
Yi Ho-chang was flustered.
Where was this?
Looking around, he saw building-like structures—not Immortal Assembly Valley.
But definitely not the modern world either.
Panicking, Yi Ho-chang asked,
"Wh-Where is this?"
"This punk's spouting ridiculous lies? Hey, don't you beggars know not to beg in someone else's turf?"
"Beggars? Begging?"
"Still playing dumb!"
The furious kid yanked Yi Ho-chang up and swung a fist.
Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Yi Ho-chang was shocked.
He had never fought anyone in his life.
Yet...
'Why's it so slow?'
The kid's punch looked like it was in slow motion.