Chapter 70
Chapter 70
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 70
>Chapter Title: A Sudden Windfall
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Chapter 70
Back in Demlock's heyday, even the most renowned miners were pulling in about ten million won a month. That was huge.
Do-hyun himself had never exceeded two million back then.
'Earning that in a single day.'
No wonder they called it a god game.
He'd heard plenty that the money top players raked in from God Ose couldn't be dismissed as mere "gaming" cash. He'd even anticipated this kind of payout when he scored those items.
Still, actually seeing it hit him like it wasn't real.
Really? Sixteen million won? Just from one auction house run?
[Funds deposited to linked account.]
[Balance: 16,894,670 won]
"Ah."
The balance glaring back from his account snapped him into reality, drawing a gasp from Do-hyun.
'Sixteen million won... What could I even do with this?'
It had taken him a year and a half of scrimping to save 450,000 won for a used capsule.
With this, he could drop cash on a top-tier capsule, no problem.
And that wasn't all. A bit more, and he could afford a decent compact car.
'And this is still at low levels.'
Sure, he'd cheesed it with the underground raid. And gotten lucky.
Monsters in a hidden field no one knew about just happened to drop near-graduation gear for Raven.
That sparked one immediate thought.
'Man, should I have farmed it a little longer?'
He'd thought it'd be enough at the time, but now it felt like a missed opportunity.
He should've stripped it clean for a full month...
Nah. He'd basically been force-warped out, so it was an act of God.
Pushing down the growing ache in his gut, Do-hyun shook his head.
What was done was done. No point bellyaching now.
'No biggie. Plenty more money to make ahead. Think of it as an investment.'
Either way, he'd netted sixteen million in a single day at this stage.
In RPGs, gear only got pricier at higher levels, so the opportunities would only grow.
Even if another goldmine like that didn't pop up, he wasn't worried.
'With Eyes of Truth, what's there to fear?'
Do-hyun had the ultimate cheat trait on his side.
He couldn't hold back a grin, chuckling to himself.
"What's with the creepy smile?"
"Heh heh... Huh?"
He looked up at the familiar voice.
There stood Hyun-ah, peering in through the cracked door with a look of disgust.
"..."
Do-hyun schooled his face into stern neutrality, like nothing happened.
Hyun-ah let out a scoff, clearly exasperated, but he ignored her and asked flatly.
"What."
"...Nothing. Mom says come eat."
"Eat?"
"Yeah. Was gonna leave you be since you're gaming, but you timed it perfectly. Were you lurking or what? Anyway, I told you. I'm out."
Do-hyun blinked blankly for a second, then his eyes sharpened.
He shot to his feet and blurted.
"Hey, hold up. Have you eaten?"
"Nope? I'm about to."
"Mom too?"
"...Yeah? Why?"
Hyun-ah eyed him warily at his sudden shift in energy.
*What's he on about now?*
She knew that look. Quiet most days, but whenever something clicked, he'd get that face.
And it'd always lead to something random, leaving her on edge.
Sure, he'd mellowed out lately, but she still remembered as kids, shopping with the family, when he fixated on some cop-chase show on a department store TV and vanished to hide. Took two hours to find him.
'He got an earful after that and shaped up...'
Old habits die hard, though.
Even as an adult, he'd fixate and do something off-the-wall plenty.
Sometimes it worked out great. Sometimes not. Her mind raced.
'What could grab him at dinner? The food? Some new recipe?'
She flashed back to him dragging her to the mart after bingeing some weird cooking anime, ranting about "food wars" or whatever.
He'd whipped up something fancy... and it wasn't half bad.
But who knew this time? She wasn't chancing it over Mom's tried-and-true cooking.
'Better turn it down.'
Decision made, she opened her mouth with a cynical smirk.
"Perfect. Get ready. We're eating out."
"Whatever you're scheming, count me ou— Wait, what?"
"Out to eat. My treat."
Maybe it was too normal. Or just caught her off guard.
Hyun-ah's face went blank. Then she snapped to.
"...You? Where'd you get the money?"
"Got it, duh. Tons of it."
"Suddenly? Fine, what're we eating?"
Do-hyun smirked and dropped it cool as ice.
"Bro's buying beef."
"What?"
"Hanwoo, even."
"What!?"
Eyes bulging, hand clamped over her mouth, Hyun-ah bolted out the door.
"Mom! Mom!! Don't clear the table! Put it back, quick!"
"What the—? What's gotten into her? Look at her putting dishes away. At least she tidies up after eating for once."
"Got it, just get ready! Bro's treating to beef! Hanwoo!"
"Huh? Begging for beef? Quit the nonsense and come eat."
"No, he's treating us!"
Do-hyun leisurely changed clothes, listening to the mother-daughter chaos outside.
Coat on, cap pulled low, a faint smile played on his face.
Beef was truth, after all.
* * *
"Whoa, that hit the spot. Their beef's the best."
"Been ages since Mom ate that good. Thanks, son. You sure you didn't stretch?"
"Not at all."
Home now, Do-hyun flashed a casual grin at the women's cheerful thanks.
No bluff. Twenty thousand won?
With sixteen million-plus still in the bank, it barely registered.
"But seriously, where'd the cash come from? You just got out of service. Got a gig?"
Hyun-ah piped up, belly full and curiosity piqued.
"Been gaming lately."
"Gaming? God Ose? You made bank off that?"
"Pretty much."
"No way? You've only been at it three days. That add up?"
"Lucked into a gear set drop and sold it. Prices are on another level from Demlock days."
"Even so... I'm high-level myself, and this feels off."
She hadn't hit max, but level 71 was solid.
Several times Do-hyun's level, yet her earnings were zilch—expenses were the real killer.
No wonder it didn't click.
"You're not me. This was my job back then. Pro level."
"Ugh, wipe that smug look. It's annoying."
Hyun-ah scowled at his cocky vibe.
No comeback handy, so she just pouted.
She didn't know he was the undisputed rank one, but he'd sunk into gaming, started giving parents allowance, buying gifts now and then.
Sure, that was Demlock's golden early days. When it tanked, he was back to getting handouts...
'Guess he's got the talent. Why not me, though? Siblings and all.'
Whatever.
Free meal was a win.
Suited the gaming nerd, too.
And God Ose blurred the line between game and job these days, so talent there was a blessing.
"Our boy's got game skills, huh~."
"Blowing up big time."
"Ugh. When I have kids, humility first lesson."
"Yeah. Like me, master of modesty."
"Why is he like this."
Even Chae Mi-sook, who'd lived through gaming-as-disease era, beamed warmly.
Watching her kids banter, she cut in.
"So, I can look forward to more, son?"
"Oh, absolutely, Lady Chae. Name it."
"Always talk... Sounds like things are going well, so no need to spoil us—just save up. You blew through pro earnings last time, ended up broke. Games crash anytime, so stash while it's good. So..."
Her tender tone flipped to nag-fest in a blink.
Do-hyun and Hyun-ah halted their bickering, exchanging glances.
'...I'm out. Great food.'
'Don't you dare. No.'
'Fighting.'
Hyun-ah bailed despite his pleading eyes, leaving Do-hyun to endure ten more minutes of lecture before escaping.
Finally in his room, he sighed.
"Whew, Mom worries too much."
Fair points, though. Hard to argue.
He had blown it all when times were good...
Not that he was reckless by nature. This time, he'd manage smart.
Click.
Do-hyun sank into his desk chair out of habit and booted the PC.
Demlock days had wired him—homepage loaded first, no thought needed.
"Lemme see, any news today... Huh?"
Scrolling lightly, he froze in shock.
[The King's Return! All About Kaiser...]
[Kaiser, His Legendary Feats.]
[Annihilation VS Kaiser—Who Wins?]
"...What the hell?"
The whole site was Kaiser overload.
Worlds away from this morning, a memory clicked.
"Oh, right. Graduation ranking."
Raven graduation had bumped him to number one.
Every God Ose player online would've seen the alert. This buzz was inevitable.
'Even I know that score's insane.'
First-ever S-rank.
Puzzle solved, he figured he'd check the posts. Scrolling on, his face softened.
-Kaiser oppa, huge fan. (KlutzKlutz)
-Why'd you take so long? Nearly died waiting.
-Where'd all the "Kaiser washed up" haters go? Annihilation's the king? Nah, snatched first in one go.
-Still, just one city. City rank ain't pure power rank. Anni's ahead in feats and skill right now.
Seeing folks remember and cheer him up swelled his chest a bit.
Sure, haters and doubters lurked, but whatever.
Can't win 'em all.
"Feels like Demlock days."
Back then, top rankers shone, but he'd surged late.
Plenty of their fans hated on him. He was always proving himself.
But he did, and claimed first.
"No different this time."
Months off then, year-and-a-half now—but so what?
He had hidden pieces and skills to bridge any gap.
Brushing past posts unfazed...
"...Huh?"
One weird title caught his eye.
[Top 100 Guilds? Bring it! Ugh... Fell for Kaiser's Overwhelming Ambition.]
[Author: Haks Cider]
Honestly, even for Kaiser, year-and-a-half off? Figured he was washed.
Pros who hiatus can't match old form, y'know.
Expected big hype, big choke under pressure... Nope. Nabbed Raven #1 on return. Shivers.
But even then, I figured guild invite was lock.
Spotlight that hot means rejection turns everyone hostile.
Plus, solo life's tough now...
My bad—faith lacking.
Guild? Compromise from necessity?
Not for our God Kaiser bro. Top 100? They're under my heel—why join?
Straight-up ignores 'em, solos like it's nothing!
True alpha male, right?
"...What is this even saying?"
Not a word sank in.
Top 100 Guilds? Recruitment? Beef?
The hell?
"Oh."
Even dazed, his instincts screamed.
Something... something was brewing.