Chapter 169
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 169
Chapter Title: Game Friend
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Ryu Min, wearing Hwang Yong-min's face, tracked down Joo Seong-tak.
Thanks to his Tracking skill, it wasn't hard to follow the trail.
"Sending another one?"
"You, you son of a... Gah!"
Joo Seong-tak tumbled into the house from Ryu Min's kick and scrambled to his feet.
‘Curse of Fear!’
He glared with bulging eyes, trying to inflict fear.
But just like before...
[The target has resisted Fear.]
[Failed to apply Curse of Fear.]
It was pointless.
"Don't be so scared. I just came to talk."
Thud.
Ryu Min closed the front door and smirked.
But to Joo Seong-tak, even that looked like mockery and ridicule. He couldn't help but bristle.
"What bullshit! Talk? You said you'd kill me if we met again!"
"Aw, did my words hurt that bad? Sorry. But at the temple, you attacked me first out of nowhere, right? Admit it."
"That was fuck, you made me like this... Gah!"
Another kick sent Joo Seong-tak rolling across the living room floor.
"You've been blaming everyone else from the start. You got wrecked at the temple and still haven't learned your lesson."
Joo Seong-tak wasn't about to turn over a new leaf.
What could you expect from a murderer who'd already killed dozens before even becoming a Player?
‘Kept him alive because of his useful traits, but it's not working out. Better eliminate any potential variables.’
Seeing Joo Seong-tak glaring at him like he wanted to kill him, Ryu Min knew he'd been right to follow.
"Alright. I'll give you a shot at revenge."
"What?"
Ryu Min ignored him and manipulated the system window in the air.
Soon, a message appeared before Joo Seong-tak's eyes—one he'd never seen before.
[The player before you has challenged 'Dumb Idiots' to a duel.]
[Duel Type ▶ Non-Lethal Sparring]
[Opponent's Win Condition ▶ Touch 100 times]
[Dumb Idiots' Win Condition ▶ Touch even a single hair]
[Winner's Reward ▶ Loser becomes a slave, obeying the winner as master for life]
[Opponent's Penalty ▶ No equipment or skills allowed]
[Dumb Idiots' Penalty ▶ None]
[Accept the duel under these conditions? Y/N]
"What the hell is this?"
Joo Seong-tak stared blankly—he'd never gotten a duel request before. Ryu Min kindly explained.
The guy had to accept for the system to enforce it.
"It's a duel feature. Simple stuff. If you touch me even once, you win. If I touch your body 100 times, I win. Loser obeys the winner like a slave. Sound easy?"
"If I touch you even once, I win?"
"Yeah. And I won't use any gear or skills."
Joo Seong-tak checked the system window again and pondered.
‘If I can just touch a hair or whatever, I can make that bastard my slave?’
It was a total no-brainer bet.
The only issue was whether it would actually happen.
"You're really dueling me under these terms?"
"Can't you see that?"
"How do I trust you? You might break the promise."
"How could I? Idiot. The system forces compliance, like ownership rights."
"......"
Joo Seong-tak fell silent.
A system window had popped up, so it seemed legit.
And he had a real chance.
‘Even as a mage type, no way I can't touch him once while he touches me 100 times.’
One Curse of Fear and the game was over.
He'd never succeeded before, but whatever.
‘Worst case, I can use Corpse Explosion. Plenty of options.’
Just because he was a magic class didn't mean he'd only invested in Intelligence.
Melee fights and escapes happened plenty, so he'd put some points into Strength and Agility too.
No matter how fast the guy was, Joo Seong-tak was confident he could land one touch.
"So? You in or out?"
"Why suddenly offer me this?"
"What else?"
Ryu Min let out a scoff.
"'Cause I pity you."
"What?"
"You're so pathetic, flailing around with no skill. So I'm giving you a shot—even handicapping myself. Didn't you get that?"
"......"
"Some guy who thinks he's smart, and your brain's still this slow. What a waste of a head. Tsk tsk."
‘That fucking bastard...’
He, who'd climbed to 2nd and 3rd in the zone rankings, getting ridiculed like this.
It was humiliating.
"So, you doing it or not?"
"Let's do it, you fucker."
[The duel has been accepted.]
[Duel begins in 10 seconds.]
Pissed off, Joo Seong-tak bit the bait hard.
With no clue it was a fight he had next to zero chance of winning.
‘One more slave added to the collection.’
Ryu Min's lips curled into a cruel smile.
* * *
With 22% of the world's population wiped out, the economy was in shambles.
The outside world felt too dangerous to venture into because of Players.
Streets emptied out, and small business owners wailed about lost revenue.
But the hardest hit was the gaming industry.
Most of its users fell in the 15-29 age bracket.
‘Guess popular games don't die that easily. Still in service.’
Even as user bases halved and other games shuttered, the famous AOS title held steady at number one.
A stroke of luck for Ryu Won, stuck at home with nothing to do.
He could finally binge all the games he'd always wanted to try.
‘But even games get old after a few months.’
Nine months holed up like a shut-in, gaming nonstop—it had gone from boring to outright tedious.
‘I know it's luxurious compared to before. But it's really wearing on me...’
Delivery food for every meal was fun at first, but not anymore.
What kept him going was his brother and his gaming buddy.
‘Can't make friends in real life, so might as well in-game.’
He and his game friend clicked perfectly.
The guy humored everything, never got mad, and was actually skilled.
Even on days when cabin fever made him gloomy, gaming with him melted the stress away.
Unlike the classmates who'd bullied and isolated him.
Ryu Won considered him a true friend, online or not.
Until they met offline.
"You're Ryu Won, right?"
"Yeah, you're Tae-wan?"
"Finally met ya. Nice to see you, you fucking bastard."
Before he could react to the sudden curse, Tae-wan slung an arm around his shoulders.
He reeked of typical thug.
"W-Why are you doing this, Tae-wan...?"
"You fuck. Don't use casual speech. I'm two years older, asshole."
"What? In-game, you said we were the same age..."
"That was a lie to get close to you. Come on, follow me. Let's find somewhere quiet."
Tae-wan grinned sleazily and dragged him along.
Ryu Won tried to pull away, but it was impossible.
The guy's grip was insane—like a boulder on his shoulder.
‘W-Wait, if he's two years older... a Player?’
A Player.
A veteran who'd survived ten rounds.
Gulp.
Tension overrode his shock.
Players were more dangerous than regular crooks.
And his actions suggested bad blood.
‘Damn... bro was right. Should've stayed home.’
Too late for regrets.
Ryu Won was dragged off by the guy he'd thought was a friend.
He scanned the street for help, but even in broad daylight, no one was around.
"Get in, punk."
Pushed from behind, Ryu Won faced not a PC bang, but a dead-end alley.
The kind where thugs smoked—what did they plan here?
He didn't want to think about it.
"W-Why are you doing this, T-Tae-wan?"
"Punk still using casual after I said I'm your elder? And don't say my name like that, fuck. Annoys me."
"W-What the hell is this about...?"
Slap!
His vision flashed white as his head snapped to the side.
His cheek swelled, and blood trickled from his nose.
"You wanna die, fucker? I played nice, sucked up to you, and you still think we're buddies?"
"......"
"Why? You really don't know? Makes sense—I acted my ass off. Held back the urge to rip you and your bro apart."
"My... bro?"
He'd mentioned having a brother in-game, but never details.
Never introduced him either.
No connection meant no grudge-worthy beef.
"What did our bro do...?"
"Heh heh, you still clueless."
Tae-wan smiled, but his eyes blazed murderously.
He really wanted to kill.
"Hey, you know Tae-gyu."
"Tae-gyu? Who's that...?"
"Bang Tae-gyu, you fuck. Ring any bells? Same class as you—the kid your bro beat into the hospital nine months ago, asshole!"
"Oh."
He remembered.
Not that long ago, but he'd forgotten.
The bully who'd made his school life hell.
That guy's name was Bang Tae-gyu.
"Look in your eyes—you remember. I'm his bro, Bang Tae-wan."
"......"
"You have no idea how hard I looked for you. Hired detectives, tried everything—nothing. If I had a face or photo, I could've used Tracking, but fuck, no luck. Least I got your game ID. Worked out in the end."
"So all that being friendly was..."
"All an act, punk. To meet you offline. But you kept flaking hard. Every time I suggested meeting, 'too dangerous, can't leave the house.' Fuck."
Now it clicked.
He wasn't a game friend or anything.
Just a thug who'd cozied up for revenge on his brother.
"Your bro's Ryu Min, right? That fucker living good? Broke my lil' bro's fingers and arm—living the high life?"
"......"
"Not dead already, I hope? Been waiting forever for payback. Huh? Answer me, fucker."
"......"
Ryu Won clamped his mouth shut like it was zipped.
‘Can't say a word about bro...’
Slap!
Not until his jaw twisted and blood sprayed.
"Hey."
Bang Tae-wan glared with terrifying eyes.
"Not talking? Think I'm a pushover? A joke?"
Slap!
His head whipped the other way.
Blood leaked from his bitten lip.
"Answer. Is your bro alive? Talk, or I hit again."
"H-He's... dead..."
"Dead?"
Ryu Won faked a sullen nod.
Only way to shield his brother.
"Figures. Not some prodigy like me—no way he survives ten rounds."
Bang Tae-wan nodded like it made sense, then frowned in thought.
"So what now? Was gonna lure your bro out with you and kill him, but if he's dead... revenge down the drain?"
Ryu Won relaxed inwardly as he seemed to drop it.
But only for a moment.
"No choice. Bro's gone, so you die instead."
"W-Wha?"
"What, surprised? Bro fucked up? Lil' bro pays the price. Don't know blood guilt?"
The target shifting to him threw Ryu Won into panic.
"If it's a lie, fess up now. Bro's alive, right? Covering for him with bullshit? Yeah?"
"......"
"Not talking? Then die for him. Think I can't? Gonna snap your fingers and arm like my bro got, then break your neck. Got it?"
"......"
"So spill. Where's this Ryu Min fucker."
"O-Our bro is..."
A faint sigh escaped Ryu Won's trembling lips.
"Already... dead..."
"Punk lying to the end."
Bang Tae-wan's face twisted viciously.
"Still not talking, huh? Fine. Start with the fingers—ask again after."
"N-No...!"
As he grabbed Ryu Won's finger to snap it...
"What are you doing here?"
Bang Tae-wan whipped around at the girlish voice.
Some girl was eyeing them with an irritating smirk.
"Fuck off, bitch. Mind your business."
"Not asking you, fuckhead?"
"What?"
Stunned, Bang Tae-wan started to rage—
But pink light gleamed in the girl's eyes.
Suddenly, he went limp like a soulless doll, arms dangling.
‘What just happened?’
Ryu Won blinked in confusion, then froze at her next words.
"You alright, young master?"
‘Y-Young master?’
She spoke like she knew him.