Chapter 41
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Rival?
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"Likes already at 200,000?"
The next day, Han Minguk looked stunned while eating breakfast. Hyun-ah, who had brought it up, wore a smug expression on her face. 200,000. It was an insanely huge number just from hearing it. And all that had happened overnight.
"That's wild. How the hell did so many people even find out about our team and hit like?"
Minguk asked as he tore his homemade fried egg in half.
"The Chosun Ilbo broadcasted it, right? Turns out it blew up overseas too."
"...Overseas? How did they even see the broadcast?"
"Hero Tube exists, you know."
With something like that, even people on the opposite side of the globe could access GGW info. Throughout breakfast, Hyun-ah kept chattering on.
But it was all just rehashing how insanely popular GGW and he himself had become, dressed up in different words. Still, there were a few new tidbits.
"I'm that popular? Me? To Western girls?"
"Duh. It's total chaos out there!"
Minguk felt a bit dazed at Hyun-ah's excited outburst. Western girls liking him...? It sounded like a joke.
To sum it up, interest in male heroes was the same domestically and abroad: fanatical. Plus, the ethereal charm exuded by awakened Eastern male heroes had already spawned hordes of fangirl fans in the West.
In the midst of that, the Chosun Ilbo interview spread like wildfire, turning Minguk into one of the world's spotlighted male heroes.
"I knew male heroes were rare, but... isn't that still around 400 worldwide?"
Out of 400, they liked him? An Eastern guy at that? Minguk tilted his head in confusion.
"Easterners make up only about 50 of them."
"There are ten just in Korea, and only 50 total Easterners? That's so few?"
Considering population ratios, it was surprisingly low. What about China, Japan, Southeast Asia?
"That's why girls call our country blessed. Oh man, this fried egg is killer today. Guys just do it different."
It was news to him, but the way she said it so casually meant those rumors were real. But Hyun-ah wasn't done.
"Our hero roster sucks overall, but we've got a ton of male heroes. Other countries are jealous. Especially the Japanese—they only have two."
"No talent, but we win on looks and stamina? Something like that?"
But the reason people fixated on Minguk wasn't just because he was a male hero. Even with so few worldwide—nearly 400—he was a newbie just starting out.
Compared to veterans, his name recognition was worlds apart.
Yet among the tiny pool of male heroes, Minguk was one of the rare true actives: diving into dungeons, battling Hordes of Darkness monsters. As raid leader, no less.
[I want to see Han Minguk the Raid Leader's raid footage! Bless me with your grace!]
[How do I join GGW?]
[I want to hear a male hero leading! Please! Please!]
Fans who learned this bombarded Hyun-ah's account managing 'GGW's Diary' with requests for Minguk's raid videos. He was the world's first male hero raid-leading a team.
"So the promo team's editing videos, we'll review together, and if no issues, we'll upload strategy footage too. They'll ask your permission soon."
"Which dungeon?"
"Giant's Mini Battlefield, obviously. Only one's we can use for video."
Minguk had cleared three under Rose Shield's name, but two featured Grade 3 specials. Breakfast over, curiosity hit about the comments.
Likes: 262,155
As a senior male hero, I'm proud you chose the risky path. But raid leader? Your judgment seems off. Rose Shield...? Anyway, grow hard.
"Who's this guy?"
Checking SNS via Hyun-ah, Minguk gawked at the top comment. Not praise, not insult—just pure condescension.
'Judgment? Wasting my clan choice? Who posts that openly on public SNS?'
Even more absurd: agreements piled up below. Role model senior caring for juniors? Minguk would've been better off in his clan? Ridiculous.
Some called out over-the-top behavior, but shield-bearers jumped in for comment wars.
"Kim Sung-cheol of Memoria. 4th-year healer hero, active in 2nd Army. Known 5-star rank, was Korea's youngest male hero till you passed the raid qual exam."
Famous guy? Hyun-ah answered instantly. Same class as a healer soured Minguk's mood.
"5-star... How's his skill?"
"Decent. Public hero logs show 【B-1】 clears. 5-star means he took down a Grade 5 special too."
"Raid leader? Healer lead?"
"Nah, standard healer. Rare for male, though."
Minguk snorted as Hyun-ah answered via Hero Pad search. 【B-1】? Not impressive. B-difficulty, not even 1st Army.
Of course, huge gap from his current level. But closable. Seeing his grim face, Hyun-ah consoled.
"Ignore crap like that. Probably Memoria trying to poach—bashing Rose Shield to lure you to higher-ranked them."
"Poach? With this?"
"Yeah. 'Wasted choice' digs Rose Shield. Come to superior Memoria, right?"
More like insulting his raid leader chops...
Recent buzz and same-class rivalry fueling jealousy? It oozed from the comment.
"...Tch."
1st-year vs. 4th-year gap obvious, yet petty mind games...
Minguk was plenty satisfied with current Rose Shield. No 10-man raid yet—no clan switch thoughts.
Especially not splitting from main tank Oh Hyun-ah. Cohabiting aside, her talent shone in top raids.
Even without cartel, Kim So-jung and Jung Ye-rin were solid dealers. Choi Yuna needed work... but her task execution and judgment were top-notch.
Everyone hitting 2-star and auction shopping upgraded Team GGW's power.
Still, Minguk picked 'Ice Queen – Anisa' for next raid. Test new gear, give adaptation time—taming it. Mana Crystals were always welcome bonuses.
'Then 【B-8】 difficulty dungeon.'
Grade 4 monsters, stronger than prior Grade 3s. He'd researched differences online.
Tricky patterns aside, averages just meant more HP/attack, slightly complex fights. Dungeons lengthened with difficulty. Boss-wise, easy Grade 4s fell short of 'Flame Leg – Ifrit'. Ifrit was that brutal— one slip meant wipe, heavy healer load.
'Gear makes Grade 4s doable.'
With boosted power, Grade 4s seemed feasible.
"No slacking, though. Today's about familiarizing with new gear, gauging improvements."
Before 'Ice Queen – Anisa', Minguk said sternly. One lapse dooms the raid—heroes' ancient adage. All nodded.
"Combat start! Tank! Go!!!"
Hyun-ah charged on order. Teammates formed up. Anisa's assault began: ice spear, as expected.
Bam!
The azure spear slammed Hyun-ah's shield. Normally a scream and recoil. But Heavy Defense activated, she barely budged. Damage halved from before.
The gap stunned even Minguk.
"Items are king!"
Hyun-ah readjusted, yelling. Heroes chase ranks/gear for this revelation.
"Beads at 8 o'clock! I got it!"
"1 o'clock! Mobility on cooldown! Yuna, help!!!"
Multiple clears meant familiarity with Anisa's patterns. No need for Minguk's micromanaging—team handled autonomously.
He didn't nitpick; thinking mid-fight built top-raid prowess. But misjudges or pattern snags got his rapid-fire leads.
"Haaap!"
Yuna loaded mana into new bow. Target: Anisa. Her condensed arrow pierced shoulder. So-jung leaped with a shout, slashing diagonally with greatsword.
Shwaaa!!!
Dark monster or not, direct mana hit barely fazed Anisa. Enraged, she instinctively swung at biggest threat: Hyun-ah.
But dealers lit up excited.
"D-did you see that damage?!"
"Gear carry!"
High Gear Score hit dealers hardest. More mana per shot—each blow packed way more punch.
Tank crises rarer, Anisa's HP drain faster. Clear time slashed.
Used to need 10+ ice beads to down her; now, eighth bead and she clung to ~1% HP.