Chapter 21
Chapter 21
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 21
>Chapter Title: Shield Supreme, Real Name Choi Jung-hoo
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 21
>Chapter 21.
>Shield Supreme, real name Choi Jung-hoo.
>Age 23.
>He was treated like a fossil for returning to school as a veteran after military service, but it didn't matter.
>He had his childhood friends Mi-gan Thickhead and Yubin-pung... no, Kim Woo-jin and Yoo Bin.
They had been together from childhood through middle school and high school, and even though they parted ways in college, their friendship never changed.
>They kept in steady contact and naturally met up to hang out.
>Their hobbies were similar, and even though they were always roasting each other, they never had any major fights, which made it possible.
>One of those hobbies was gaming.
Even with VR games trending, their quality wasn't great yet, so PC games still had high demand, splitting gamers into VR and PC camps.
>And their 12 years of friendship weren't in vain—Choi Jung-hoo and Kim Woo-jin were both in the PC camp.
>Yoo Bin didn't like games, so when they met, they'd do other things, but at home, they always enjoyed PC games with Kim Woo-jin.
"God Ose is hot these days. Wanna try it?"
>"No way. Games are best when they're classics. And isn't that one a luck-based trash fest? Sounds like it'd just stress me out."
>"You've got money."
>"God Ose is on another scale. And you gonna ditch your guild and shop? Hurry up and join for raids."
God Ose was famous enough to spark curiosity now and then, but PC games were too familiar, and with all they'd built up, it was hard to drop them.
>"And honestly, if we start God Ose, Yoo Bin's gonna flip out."
>"Yeah, fair point."
Even now, with Yoo Bin jealous about them hanging out without her, playing God Ose?
>Unlike PC games, sessions were basically five hours minimum, and contact would be spotty, so she'd feel totally left out.
>If Yoo Bin played games, it'd solve everything...
>But after trying Legend of League, getting flamed, and having her mentality shattered, she was done with games.
"You guys know God Ose, right?"
>"God Ose? Of course."
>"Who doesn't know God Ose these days? If you don't, you're a spy."
But then Yoo Bin brought up the game first.
>Maybe she'd gotten interested lately? With a faint hope, Choi Jung-hoo asked without thinking.
>"Why? You wanna try it?"
>"Huh, her? She hates games. She's just asking. And even if she tried, she'd quit after like two hours, right? Her reflexes suck."
>"......"
>"And we've invited her a ton. She always skips out, and when we actually call her to play, she bails."
Kim Woo-jin immediately scoffed and trashed her harshly, so Choi Jung-hoo quietly backed away.
>It was a scene they saw all the time, and now was about the time for a punch or kick to fly.
>But what was this?
>"......"
Yoo Bin didn't react at all.
>Kim Woo-jin, who had instinctively braced for defense, froze.
>Then he looked at her with a 'no way' expression. Yoo Bin, feeling guilty for no reason, started babbling.
>"No, it's not that... I heard God Ose isn't just a game, it's like another culture? There's tons to do and see... And some guild videos looked like movies, super cool..."
>"Whoa?"
>"Argh, whatever! Just play it with me once, like a taste!"
That was why the three of them started God Ose.
>And the moment they finished the tutorial.
>"Wow! Wow! Wow...!"
>"Insane! Epic!"
Yoo Bin and Kim Woo-jin went nuts.
>Yoo Bin kept cheering with sparkling eyes, asking if this was really a game, while Kim Woo-jin berated himself for wasting time on trash games instead of this.
>So what about Choi Jung-hoo?
>'...How much is in the bank?'
He immediately checked his wallet.
>He dropped 14 million won confidently to pull a Hero God.
>His friends had pulled decent gods and useful traits too, so in their bracket, was there any better party?
>He even thought that.
>"Everyone, read this guide thoroughly. It's important, so read it multiple times. Especially Yoo Bin, since it's your first time—ask if anything's unclear."
>"Okay, got it."
>"Man, that habit again. Kinda bugs me 'cause you sound like a theory nerd... but this time, I approve."
He'd even studied the guide multiple times.
>For newbies, it was top-tier prep.
>"Wait, hold up. Why are we all ranged?"
>"? When have you ever seen me do melee?"
>"......Hitting stuff directly feels kinda iffy. And I wanna try magic."
>"Ugh... hang on, lemme find someone quick."
That was the reason.
>They didn't bother spending time finding a proper melee DPS.
>No death penalties anyway, and they just wanted to start hunting ASAP, so grab anyone.
>But the one they grabbed was a bit unusual.
>-Kaiser LV1
>'Huh? Kaiser? Rings a bell... Oh, right. That Demlock #1. Must be a fan.'
At first, it was just intriguing.
>Someone still liked that forgotten guy.
>Choi Jung-hoo didn't know much about Kaiser anyway.
>Nah, he just wasn't interested.
>Top player in a trash game like Demlock? VR games held no appeal.
>If God Ose hadn't blown up and overshadowed everything, he'd never have heard the name.
>'Is he really that great?'
Whenever people hyped Kaiser, that question always popped up.
>#1 rank? Higher clear than Extinction?
>Sure, but that was ancient history.
>VR and full-dive VR were different beasts, and today's Extinction wasn't the same.
>That's why Kaiser hadn't started.
>And sure enough, the name faded fast.
>'But running into a fan like this.'
Meeting one on the exact day he started God Ose? Wild.
>Of course, that was it.
>No deeper interest.
>He just needed a melee DPS until they graduated beginner city.
>They were newbies too, so no huge skill expectations.
>Everyone in Ard fumbled their way through.
>'Wait, how's he this good at fighting?'
But this guy shattered expectations.
>No, shattered them so hard it felt like a different game.
>With combat skills unbelievable even watching live, shredding goblins—you couldn't call that newbie play. Had to be a vet with three years under his belt.
>That playstyle crushed Choi Jung-hoo's overflowing tank confidence from PC games, even if he'd never done VR.
>But up to then, it was fine.
>World's a big place, after all.
>But...
>'Isn't this too much? Even for a big world...?'
......Would any DPS ever interrupt a boss pattern with basic attacks?
>Did anyone even think to try?
>In that moment, instinct kicked in.
>'It really is Kaiser!'
The guy he thought was just a nostalgic fan was actually the throne's owner.
>Absurd, spine-tingling, but also fascinating.
>'How's the timing this perfect?'
The Kaiser who'd been MIA forever starts God Ose on the exact day he does.
>And the one he randomly chats up is Kaiser, forming their first party!
>Like stumbling into a guesthouse and dining with a retired celeb.
>And any normie's reaction to that celeb would be the same.
>'...Autograph! Get the autograph first!'
Interested or not, how often does this happen in a lifetime?
>Especially after watching Do-hyun's fights up close, feeling the chills.
>More than enough to spark fandom.
>Just as Choi Jung-hoo mustered the courage to speak—
>[You have reclaimed 1st place in Time Limit.]
>[The party's name will be registered in 1st place ranking.]
>[Shield Supreme's party has been registered.]
>-1st: Shield Supreme's party
"......Huh?"
The sudden #1 takeover wrecked his timing.
>Choi Jung-hoo had rolled in PC games enough to know exactly what this meant, what mistake he'd made.
>'We're screwed.'
That was his only thought.
>He was just thinking autograph, and now this lightning bolt?
>Even more panic since they'd started God Ose casually.
>Sure, full earnest mode post-tutorial, but he never meant to screw someone over.
>And this guy was Kaiser, of all people.
>'Maybe he was gunning for #1 this time too...!'
Rankers assembled dream teams, only attempted in peak condition.
>Thinking back, hadn't this guy optimized every step?
>'Goblin hunt, mixer, phase 2—all perfect.'
>[Kaiser's Return!]
>[Kaiser! Reclaims #1 right after starting God Ose?]
>[Who is Kaiser?]
He'd ruined a chance to shake the world again, the flashy comeback's first button.
>Do-hyun had acted casually, but coincidentally, it fueled Choi Jung-hoo's suspicions.
>'...Should I just quit?'
Sure, both just starting, but for Kaiser? Even without old glory, he'd hit Top 10 Guilds fast.
>That name alone would draw them all.
>Symbolic value, maybe even exec spot.
>Then in interviews, this comes up?
>'...Instant pariah.'
Overthinking to outsiders, but not to him.
>Just a game?
>Exactly—games amplified it.
>Unlike real life's laws, power ruled games; morals were optional with strength.
>-It's not real killing anyway, right?
>That mindset led to assassinations over grudges.
>And in God Ose? Even worse.
>'Kaiser's fans are notoriously diehard.'
For Kaiser, with thick maniac fans and stalkers?
>These dormant fans would swarm.
>How dare you steal our Kaiser's spot!?
>They could trap him in town forever.
>No need for fans—even toxic players riding the wave would vent on him.
>'There were similar cases...'
Not Time Limit, but a famous ranker lost top content to some user—every God Ose player knew the fallout.
>Even newbie Choi Jung-hoo found it in a few forum scrolls.
>'Couldn't take endless PKs, quit for good.'
Overkill? That was God Ose reality.
>Morals loose like a game, but too much real impact and cash to dismiss.
>"I'm sorry. I'll make it up somehow."
Apologize.
>Apologize first, compensate however.
>That filled his head.
>Quitting God Ose just as it hooked him? Unfair.
>And not just him.
>Rumors spread fast—Yoo Bin and Kim Woo-jin would suffer too. Couldn't let game-loving Yoo Bin quit.
>"Really sorry."
His sense of responsibility bowed his head, nearly folding at the waist. Kim Woo-jin and Yoo Bin reached out.
>They got it.
>No way they'd let him shoulder it alone.
>'We apologize too.'
Together, if blame came. That was right.
>Just as they bent in unison—
>"It's fine. You didn't do it on purpose."
>"......Pardon?"
>"No big deal. Compensation matters more."
The guy showed no hurt, regret, or resentment.
>Not annoyed or pissed.
>"It's fine, so let's head out now."
Kaiser's casual toss-off made it seem truly trivial.
>Like shrugging off finding 500 won with a buddy.
>Enough to daze Choi Jung-hoo.
>[Honor isn't chased; it follows.]
Why did that old quote pop up?
>Probably 'cause no one embodied it like this guy.
>And how many men could inspire that thought?
>"......"
All his scheming felt pointless.
>And that emptiness soon filled with something else.
>Chills, awe, relief.
>Indescribable, but it cemented his certainty.
>"......Ah."
And apparently, not just him.
>Eye contact with Kim Woo-jin and Yoo Bin.
>Their convinced eyes and blank faces mirrored his thoughts.
>Kim Woo-jin spoke first.
>"Honestly, I thought those Kaiser praise posts were overkill?"
His usual levity gone, voice stiff and faintly shaking.
>Normally he'd tease, but not now.
>They felt the same.
>"But now I get it."
>"......"
>"This is Kaiser... He's on a whole other level from us."
Choi Jung-hoo quietly thrilled.
>'...So this is what a cool back looks like.'
A silhouette that makes you want to follow... that's it.
>Always the tank, now eyeing someone else's back—odd feeling, but not bad.