Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: The Heavenly Demon's Visit
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Recent hottest streamer at Baehae Entertainment? That had to be Lee Soo-hyuk.
He was a player overflowing with talent to the point where it was baffling why he'd even become a streamer in the first place, and at the same time, he possessed both buzz and undeniable star power.
One of Baehae Entertainment's representative streamers.
That was Lee Soo-hyuk's current position as a streamer.
"Already the fifth day."
As such, John Tail couldn't help but worry about streamer Lee Soo-hyuk's health and mental state.
"Taking a break from streaming without any reason at all. Sure, streamer Lee Soo-hyuk isn't the type to get shaken by something like that anyway. But shouldn't we at least know why?"
-What do you mean?
"Why he's shaken. Or if he's even shaken at all, or just taking a short break."
In the end, John Tail contacted Unhyang. He was worried about Lee Soo-hyuk, who hadn't streamed or given any updates for five straight days.
In this industry, he'd seen plenty of streamers who got drunk on fleeting success, slacked off on streaming, and dove headfirst into partying and entertainment.
John Tail didn't worry about those types.
There was no need to.
They were the kind who peaked there anyway. They didn't have the vessel or the ability to climb higher.
But Lee Soo-hyuk was different.
"Just one month from preliminaries to finals. And five days have already passed."
This was something that never would have happened with the usual Lee Soo-hyuk.
"Up until now, streamer Lee Soo-hyuk has spent every moment streaming or testing, without rest. As if something was chasing right behind him."
This was a crucial time for him. Especially now, when his stock was at an all-time high.
Lee Soo-hyuk wasn't just a player who was good at fighting. From what John Tail had gauged, he was sharper than anyone.
He had to know the importance of this period and wouldn't waste a single minute or second.
"A break at a time like this, of all times."
It wasn't about nitpicking the company's losses from the hiatus.
As mentioned earlier, Lee Soo-hyuk's position was too solid to be shaken by a few missed streams, and he was far too outstanding a streamer to grill over something like that.
The issue was his condition.
"Something's happened. I have a gut feeling."
Injury? Burnout? Or something even more profound?
It didn't matter which. As long as it was something he could recover from.
His worries were chaining together one after another when...
-Don't worry. He'll be back starting tomorrow.
"Tomorrow?"
-Yes. It's what Soo-hyuk said himself, so he'll definitely keep his word.
John Tail blinked at Unhyang's response.
Had he been worrying needlessly? Maybe he'd been acting like he knew everything about Lee Soo-hyuk just because he'd known him early on.
-Don't worry too much. He's just taking a short breather.
Right. Everyone needs a pause sometimes.
Lee Soo-hyuk's pause had just come unexpectedly at this moment.
"I've been too impatient."
Only then did John Tail realize his own shortsightedness.
The sudden five-day hiatus without notice. The vague unease. Add in his overconfidence that he knew Lee Soo-hyuk inside out.
All those layers had made it feel like Lee Soo-hyuk had taken a massive hit.
"Got it. Let him rest well, then. And please make an announcement."
"Ugh, such a nag."
Unhyang grumbled after her call with John Tail. She was in the tea room of the most expensive and luxurious suite on the 7th floor.
-I haven't hung up yet.
"Yeah. That was meant for you to hear. I'm hanging up now."
-You brat, but I'm still your boss...
Beep.
The call cut off ruthlessly, as if there was no need to hear more.
Lee Soo-hyuk, who had been listening to the conversation from across the table, asked,
"Is that okay?"
"Hm? What?"
"He's still your boss at work."
"Is he? Now that you mention it, yeah, I guess."
As if she'd never even considered it, she pouted and tilted her head.
Then, nom, she brought a fork loaded with cake to her mouth.
It was a mystery why she loved sweets so much, and how she ate them every day without gaining weight.
Lee Soo-hyuk, who rarely touched sweets himself, glanced at the table overflowing with desserts.
These flashy desserts, the sparkling luxurious suite—they were all courtesy of Unhyang's wallet.
"When you're feeling down, nothing beats sweets."
Unhyang's cheeks bulged with cake, her expression lending perfect credibility to her words.
"Try some. How can you not eat something this delicious?"
"Is it okay?"
"What?"
"This suite. It can't be cheap."
It was a suite so luxurious even he hadn't stayed in one more than a few times in his previous life. Just one night could cost thousands—maybe even tens of thousands—of points.
No matter how big Baehae Entertainment was, they wouldn't comp a place like this every day.
Meaning, this was all coming out of Unhyang's own pocket.
"That again?"
"Well, I..."
"If you're suggesting we split the bill, no. That discussion's over."
Lee Soo-hyuk was troubled by her firm refusal. He appreciated the kindness, but it was too much—he worried about her finances.
On the other hand, it was intriguing.
"Is it the wealth of the Divine Lotus Castle?"
As if reading his thoughts, Unhyang began her explanation.
"The pay here's better than I expected. Plus, I had quite a bit of points saved up from before."
"Was it obvious?"
"I was a fan for a long time. I can tell just from your eyes."
Feeling awkward, Lee Soo-hyuk finally brought a piece of cake—one he wouldn't normally touch—to his mouth.
Unhyang smiled warmly at the sight, letting out a soft "Hee-hee."
"Don't feel too bad about it. This is partly for me too, you know."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I actually have a lot riding on you."
"Riding? You mean... betting?"
He'd asked half-jokingly, but Unhyang nodded.
Considering how she'd shaken her head over Cheongryang's gambling issues multiple times, it felt absurd.
"It's different from Cheongryang."
"Obvious again?"
"You don't even try to hide your expressions."
"That's basically mind-reading."
Unhyang continued gossiping about the absent Cheongryang in response to his incredulous remark.
"The problem with her is she blows her salary on uncertain bets every time. Not like me—picking sure things, spot on."
"Cheongryang probably thought hers were sure things too."
"Betting on Schneider?"
"...That was pretty dumb."
Omar Schneider. He was the Blue Zone player who'd competed with Lee Soo-hyuk on the 3rd floor.
At the time, most players had favored Schneider's victory. Even with Lee Soo-hyuk acquiring Lightning, Schneider had spent over ten years on the 3rd floor preparing to conquer Thunder Cave—it seemed like an uphill battle.
But the result was Lee Soo-hyuk's win.
"You bet on me, then."
"Of course."
Lee Soo-hyuk chuckled at her exaggerated shoulder shrug.
Now he understood what she meant by "this is partly for me too." Sure enough, as she said, the sweets were lifting his mood a bit.
"Fatigue worn off yet?"
Unhyang asked when he'd eaten about half the cake.
Lee Soo-hyuk tilted his head briefly before nodding.
After days of nothing but rest, it was only natural.
"I wasn't that tired to begin with. As you know, in the showdown, I didn't really get hurt..."
"Not that kind of thing."
Grinning mischievously, Unhyang's face lit up with playfulness.
Lee Soo-hyuk instinctively knew exactly what she was referring to.
"...Weren't you not going to bring that up?"
"I said I wouldn't ask why."
"Isn't that the same?"
"No."
Poke.
She speared a syrup-drenched pancake with her fork.
"Sometimes people need to eat delicious food in a nice place like this, sleep as much as they want. That's how it works. You can't heal just physical fatigue, right? Invisible fatigue and wounds need healing too."
That day, Unhyang had dragged him here out of the blue.
He hadn't asked why. She'd said it first.
"Don't worry. I won't ask what's wrong."
It was uncanny.
This had never happened before. Both then and now, she seemed to see right through him.
"It's not a wound that heals this quickly, but..."
A faint smile appeared on Lee Soo-hyuk's face for the first time in five days, his mood somewhat lifted.
"I won't stay down for long."
He had a promise to keep.
One so important he absolutely couldn't break it.
And that wasn't all.
"I need to find those guys too."
Huang Gyu-seong was alive, and so was Lee Hyo-min.
That raised the possibility that Si-woo and Ye-ryeong might be alive too—not just his delusion.
"You're feeling better already."
The moment he thought of Si-woo and Ye-ryeong.
Lee Soo-hyuk flinched at Unhyang's observation, touching his face.
How was it that she seemed to understand him better than comrades he'd spent decades with? He made silly faces experimentally.
Amused, Unhyang burst into laughter.
Then.
Clatter.
The empty plates on the table began to rattle faintly.
The warm atmosphere shattered in an instant. The air grew heavy enough to choke on.
Glancing around, the other tables' guests continued chatting as if nothing had changed.
"...What is this?"
No special power was detectable. No mana of any color, no demonic energy from the demonkin, no skills.
Just someone's presence.
A familiar sensation.
An overwhelming presence he could never forget, one he'd encountered before.
"No way..."
Step.
The presence slowly approached from beyond the restaurant door.
Shiver.
Unhyang's face paled. Her tense shoulders trembled like aspen leaves.
Only two people here felt it: Lee Soo-hyuk and Unhyang.
"...Run."
Biting her lip, Unhyang forced the words out.
"He's here for me. So—"
"Wrong."
When had he arrived?
He'd seemed far away, yet now he was right behind Unhyang.
Long, dark crimson hair cascading down his back. A handsome man with a stern, aggressive gaze.
Towering over 190 cm, he refuted her words and shifted his eyes.
"I'm not here for you."
His gaze soon fixed on Lee Soo-hyuk.
"I'm here for this fledgling sparrow."
His crimson eyes pierced through Lee Soo-hyuk.
Anyone without exceptional courage might suffocate just meeting that gaze.
This body had never seen him before today, but Lee Soo-hyuk knew him well.
No.
Probably no one in this tower didn't know the man.
"...Heavenly Demon."
Heavenly Demon. The Heavenly Fiend.
The greatest shadow over Murim, belonging yet not belonging to it.
The strongest player of this era, after Lee Soo-hyuk's legend had faded, had come seeking the two of them.