Reunion (12)
Hyun-soo gripped his father's hand tighter without realizing it.
The words still echoed vividly in his ears.
Someone had been in the forge that day.
His father pulled him into a tighter embrace and spoke.
'I only half-heard it in my drowsy state, but that one word he muttered... it stuck with me.'
Buried in his father's arms, Hyun-soo learned what that word was.
'He definitely mentioned Ares.'
That meant the incident was tied to someone—or something—connected to Ares.
The problem was, there was no other information.
But his father's words about becoming a king burned even brighter in his mind.
Whether that man was an Ares insider,
or after something linked to Ares,
or had just casually dropped the name,
one thing was certain.
"I'll climb to the top and make sure no one touches me again. No—I'll make them pay."
The world's first user king.
That power would more than suffice.
'What's the value of a single kingdom in Ares?')
He recalled estimating it once on a show called 'Just for Fun.'
Even the smallest nation in Ares was worth over 30 billion won.
And that was in Korean currency—imagine the in-game wealth.
'Hyun's Forge is about to get a territory too.'
Territory development funds were needed.
Hyun-soo realized he was still swamped.
He gazed at his father, lying there.
"Don't worry, Dad. I won't let anger consume my life."
Hyun-soo flashed a small smile.
It was as if he could hear his father's voice.
'That's my boy. Keep living joyfully like that.'
Living joyfully. That would be his top priority.
Leaving the hospital room, Hyun-soo sat at the bus stop.
He now understood Ares.
And what would come after the continental war.
Advertisements.
'This time, it'll be different.'
Most offers so far had been like those for indie streamers.
But now?
'Corporate ads are coming.'
Hyun-soo checked Hyun's Forge's message inbox for the first time in ages.
'Wait, over 30,000 messages...?'
He searched for "ad."
About 500 ad messages popped up.
-Hello, this is the ad team leader from Crown...
There were even stamina potion ads.
They wanted something like, 'After taking this, my energy surges while crafting!'
Another one.
"Wait, why is a cosmetics ad coming to me...?"
Maybe dabbing cushion on the forge anvil without smudging?
But these weren't the ads Hyun-soo wanted.
Not ones where he promoted for pay.
He wanted ads that benefited him.
'Should I hold off?'
Just getting these offers made his heart race.
But they didn't match what he had in mind.
Then.
New message has arrived.
[Pinned to the top.]
'Pinned to the top?'
Peering at his smartphone, Hyun-soo tilted his head.
A message pinned at the top?
Something flashed in his mind.
The forge was a special Ares-exclusive system.
Meaning, a pinned message might be from the game's developer, Purum Corp.
He checked the content—and his eyes widened.
'Holy...!'
There it was: the exact ad he wanted.
One that maximized benefits for both him and Hyun's Forge, not just the company.
***
The continental war's backdrop was server integration.
Ares player nations were split by continent.
As year five approached, users craved more content.
Server integration offered fresh experiences.
Prep work came in two phases.
First: continental wars per nation.
Korea vs. China had ended; now America vs. Russia raged.
All would wrap in a month.
Immediately after: phase two.
"Featuring Hyun in the server integration teaser? Brilliant idea."
Releasing a teaser trailer.
Update hits, servers merge.
Teaser announces it.
Purum Corp's global branch heads met at HQ.
The woman who spoke: Ayaka, Japanese, head of global PR.
The others didn't object.
It was Ares creator CEO Lee Se-jin and top branch head John from America.
"It's natural to feature the hottest player worldwide."
"Big expectations for this teaser, Ayaka."
All eyes on Ayaka.
Her competence was proven.
She'd handle the teaser from start to finish.
Her Japanese team's visuals were magical.
Japan: land of comics, now videos too.
Ayaka learned in Hollywood as a teen, rose to PR team lead in her mid-20s.
Most Ares global teasers were her team's work.
Decision made, her first task:
"Contract with Hyun first."
Meeting adjourned.
Ayaka sent the contract whisper to Hyun's Forge.
***
At the bus stop, Hyun-soo was stunned.
As expected: from Purum Corp.
Hello, this is Ayaka, head of Purum Corp's global PR team. I have a proposal for Hyun, the first Legend. Regarding the upcoming server integration, Purum Corp is preparing a teaser trailer...
'Teaser? Teaser trailer?'
Hyun-soo was shocked. A global integration teaser featuring him.
'My face broadcast worldwide?'
He truly felt the first Legend's weight.
He read it all.
His heart pounded.
He replied via whisper.
Contract first.
Quick response.
Tomorrow, 2 PM at Korea Hotel. Does that work?
Hyun-soo locked it in.
Ayaka added:
We couldn't find any videos of you, which is a shame. If you have footage or mad movies, bring them—much appreciated.
Hyun-soo told the guild.
Hyun-soo tilted his head.
'Sudden guns and bullets?'
***
"Even the first Legend's no different."
Ayaka recalled yesterday.
Whisper sent, instant contract meet-up.
That's why she smiled.
"So naive."
Pre-shoot priority: contract.
She'd said 2 PM next day at Korea Hotel on purpose.
Elites would sense: 'Too soon?'
Time to prepare.
But Hyun-soo accepted outright.
'Well... most are like that.'
Ayaka smirked.
As global PR head, she'd met countless people.
Many rankers.
Stats said rankers averaged 14 hours daily play.
Isolated by effort.
Contracts favored Purum.
She'd price Hyun's fairly—her job.
Another thought:
'Wonder what real Hyun looks like?'
She knew from high-rankers.
'Ares hides the truth.'
Avatar customization limited.
Weight tweaks possible.
Real vs. in-game differed.
Lightning rankers: poor self-care.
Post-fame crash diets common.
Purum staff prioritized image.
"Team lead, ready."
Team waited for contract prep.
Ayaka wryly smiled.
Elites vs. gamer: easy win.
'Too easy.'
She headed out.
Meanwhile.
VIP-exclusive Hermes VVIP room.
The store owner: Hanseong Group's youngest, Lee Tae-ha.
Clerk Kim Min-hee, prepped suit to size per his order, blushed at the emerging youth.
'What...?'
VVIP veteran, but this thrill was new.
Tall; suit fit perfectly.
Not clothes on body—body sculpting clothes.
Broad shoulders, lean build, neat hair.
She stared blankly.
He spoke.
"How's my ammo?"
"Pardon? Ammo?"
Sudden bullets?
"Oh, gamer talk. Sorry."
"No worries, haha."
Then:
"Gotta get my gun now. Thanks for everything."
Kim Min-hee thought as he left:
"Wow... real life's way hotter?"
She joined Hyun's fan cafe that day.
***
Dad's car? Hyun-soo hopped in a taxi, familiar phrase.
Not perfect yet. Just turning 24.
Lucky: great people filled his gaps.
Arriving for Tae-ha's "dad car": shock.
Tae-ha flipped switch.
Whoooosh—
"W-Wait, this is dad's car favor?"
Hyun-soo panicked.
30 top luxury cars lined up.
"Yep. Hate it? Mom's car option too."
"Mom's... car?"
"Next showroom over. Mom's got like 15."
"...?"
Hyun-soo picked one.
"Best dad car. Might get you in trouble driving off, but real dad's cars come with scoldings."
"...?"
Beep—
Key fob: engine roared.
Vroom—!
"Rolls-Royce Black Pearl Edition, 30-unit limited."
"How much?"
"About 3.5 billion? Hop in."
Hyun-soo felt the moment.
Slid into driver's seat stylishly.
Imagined cruising.
"Why no go?"
"No license."
"...?"
Tae-ha flustered at fatal flaw.
"With my personal driver."
Hyun-soo took the "chairman seat."
Car hit road, drawing stares.
Car forum Dreamboard lit with sightings.
Anyway: soldier armed with perfect gun and ammo—no, nuke.
Destination: Korea Hotel.