Chapter 140
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: Mom's Windfall and Hwarang's Obsession
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Mom fiddled with the envelope, her face full of disbelief.
"Hoon, are you sure it's okay for me to take this...?"
A check for 100 million won inside the envelope.
Her hands trembled at the unimaginable sum.
"Yes. It's fine to accept it."
With so many users enjoying New World, gold and cash were flying around every month with a bang!
Naturally, the earnings from a named guild like Hoyoung were beyond imagination.
Having helped propel them from the top ranks with a two-step leap in guild ranking, this amount was a perfectly reasonable reward.
"Goodness... What on earth am I supposed to do with this?"
"What do you mean? Just deposit it in the bank or buy whatever you've been wanting."
"Even so, getting 100 million won just for participating in one event feels too burdensome."
Mom kept refusing, but Yeo Sun-woo had practically forced it into her hands.
"If it's too much for you, Mom, you can always give it back."
It was a fair amount of money, but if she didn't want it, I had no intention of making her take it.
"No... I don't really mean to give it back..."
But Mom was one of those people who went weak in the face of money.
Of coursewho in the world would return a 100-million-won performance bonus just because it felt burdensome?
"Then take it easy and accept it. And if there's anything you've wanted to buy, go ahead and get it with this."
Jeong Hoon placed the envelope firmly in Mom's hands.
Mom jumped in surprise and waved her hands frantically.
"What's gotten into you? I already took mine."
"I know. But isn't 200 million better than 100?"
"What about you, then?"
"I'm fine without it."
Honestly, I had no greed for money.
I could always exchange gold earned from enhancements, and whenever I needed items, I could just ask Hoyoungso I didn't need cash.
"Still, I can't take yours."
"Huh?"
"Son, you earned that through your own efforts. I have no desire to take it from you."
"..."
"I'm happy, you know. That I get to play the game and have fun with my son."
"Mom..."
Weeeng-
My smartphone rang at that touching moment.
"Who on earth...?"
Yeo Min-ji
The caller was Yeo Min-ji.
Had something happened?
"Go ahead and answer it. It's fine."
With Mom's permission, Jeong Hoon excused himself and went to his room.
"Yes, hello?"
Jeong Hoon! You're at home right now, right?
"Yes. What's up?"
Lee Hwarang came to Hoyoung!
"Lee Hwarang?"
Yeah. I don't know why, but he's looking for you.
The reason was obvious.
When he shot an arrow at Lee Ji-seok, the Guardian Knight.
I'd expected Lee Hwarang to catch on when he saw the black flames rising.
"Just leave him be. I'm busy todayplanning a date with Mom."
...Okay! I'll tell him to keep waiting then! He'll probably get tired and leave on his own, right?
Yeo Min-ji caught on quick.
"Yes. Thanks."
Sure thing. Have a great date with your mom.
"Thanks."
The call ended.
When I returned to the living room, Mom was still fiddling with the 100-million-won check in the envelope.
'She must really like it.'
Of coursewho gets to touch a 100-million-won check every day?
Maybe I should make some money too?
Jeong Hoon approached Mom.
"Mom."
"Oh, son. Call over already?"
Mom gave an awkward smile as she slipped the check back into the envelope.
"Yeah. Anyway, we're going on a date today!"
"A date?"
Lee Hwarang was in a foul mood.
"When the hell is he coming?"
He hadn't even entered the Hoyoung guild building and was holed up at the inn outside, waiting for Jeong Hoon.
'I'm sorry, but the guild member you're looking for is not available.'
'So tell him the Divine Archer of Shinwa Guild is here and to log in right now!'
'I'm sorry, but that's not possible. Please come back later.'
'Haa...'
As Lee Hwarang's anger boiled over, Park Jin-hyuk hurriedly intervened.
'Haha, sorry about that. We can wait nearby, right?'
'Yes... That's fine.'
'Got it! We'll do that then. Hwarang, let's go.'
'Hey! Let go! Why won't they just pass on the message!'
This could turn into real trouble with Hoyoung.
Park Jin-hyuk struggled to drag Lee Hwarang into the inn.
Six hours had passed since then.
No word from Hoyoung.
"Maybe he hasn't logged in yet?"
"...That fucking bastard. I blasted the announcement so loud, and he's ignoring me completely? First thing when I see him, I'm smashing his head in."
"Hey... Calm down. It's not yours anyway."
"Why isn't it mine? Don't you rememberwith that, I'd complete the Red Dragon full set?"
"Sure, but the weapon was found by a user named Hoon first. Ownership naturally goes to him."
"That's why I'm offering to buy it. Whatever price he names, I'll match it."
"...Let's drop it."
Lee Hwarang was usually pretty sharp.
But when things didn't go his way or emotions ran high, he turned into this hopeless mess.
Jeong Hoon logged in a week later.
It wasn't just a one-day date; they'd gone on a full trip.
Having been stuck in the capsule playing the game, it was a chance to loosen up his stiff body and change his mood.
"I'm here."
The moment he showed up at Hoyoung, guild members swarmed him.
He and his mom had become huge celebrities in the guild after the survival event first round.
"Hoon!"
"Welcome back!"
"It's true you're Honey No. 1?!"
"Wow... My first big NewTuber!"
"Can I appear on NewTube next time too?"
Hold on.
This was what she meant by convincing them?
Jeong Hoon shot Yeo Min-ji a look.
She whistled and looked away.
'She said she'd convince the guild... This was it?'
It took forever to shake off the guild members.
And that wasn't all.
"You're late. You need to get through those enhancement requests quick."
Yuna, Hoyoung's enchanter, approached and handed over a list of requests.
"Enhancement requests?"
"Yeah. You... gotta do enhancements, right?"
"...You've decided to tease me, huh."
"I wanted to congratulate you, but this is punishment for logging in so late."
Yuna smirked and snatched the list back.
After the event ended, Jeong Hoon and Lee Na-yeon had logged out immediately.
Since Yeo Sun-woo's reward was offline, it had been ages since he'd logged in.
"By the way, are you meeting Lee Hwarang?"
Yeo Min-ji sidled up and whispered.
"Where's that guy now?"
"Probably checked into the inn outside Hoyoung guild."
"What a clingy creep."
"Right? What did you even do to make him obsess over you like this?"
"No idea. Can't I report him for stalking?"
"Afraid not..."
"I see. I was hoping to send him packing for good."
"...So you are gonna meet him?"
"Hmm. If I don't, he'll just keep chasing me... Guess I have to."
Jeong Hoon had logged in today specifically to meet Lee Hwarang.
'Time to troll him a bit.'
The guy was probably losing his mind over that one Red Dragon Bone Bow.
Trolling him in this state would deal massive damage.
"Alright, I'll call him in. Safer here than outside."
"Yes."
The meeting spot was set.
Lee Hwarang's face was properly rotten.
"Long time no see? We've met before, right?"
For reference, Jeong Hoon and Lee Hwarang were acquaintances.
Previously, in Edenhark, he'd sold him a 30-gold Rare-grade Receive Bow for 300 gold.
"Yeah. How's that Receive Bow you bought treating you?"
Jeong Hoon nodded with a sly grin.
"Haha... The Receive Bow? You teasing me even here?"
Lee Hwarang forced a smile at Jeong Hoon across the table.
It was so fake it was comical; Jeong Hoon barely held back a laugh.
Jeong Hoon slowly got to business.
"First, tell me why you came looking for me."
"...The bow. Not that fake one from beforea real one. Hand it over."
Lee Hwarang's eyes burned with intensity.
"Fake bow? Didn't you already buy the Receive Bow I got back then?"
Lee Hwarang clenched his fist hard.
Memories of that time must be flooding back.
So what?
"...You have another bow, don't you?"
"Hmm, another bow?"
Jeong Hoon played dumb to the end.
"The Red Dragon Bone Bow... You have it."
Finally, Lee Hwarang uttered "Red Dragon Bone Bow."
But Jeong Hoon no longer had that item.
It had already been upgraded into Anima.
"Sorry, but I don't have that bow."
"Hah, you used black flames and now claim it's not the Red Dragon Bone Bow?"
Black flames were one of the special abilities on "Red Dragon weapons."
"It's true. I don't have the Red Dragon Bone Bow. If that's what you were after, you came to the wrong guy."
Bang!
Lee Hwarang slammed his head on the table.
"Can't you sell it to me? I'll pay whatever!"
His face was desperate.
If he struck out again, he'd have to launch another massive searchwho knew when he'd get another lead?
But Jeong Hoon was cold.
"Don't make me repeat myself. I don't have the Red Dragon Bone Bow."
"...Then show me. What weapon produced those black flames?"
"Huh? Why should I?"
Jeong Hoon tilted his head, and Lee Hwarang's expression twisted slowly.
"...What do you want? What'll it take to see the item?"
"Hmm... 100,000 gold. Pay up now, and I'll show it. Assuming, of course, that the item is not for sale."
100,000 gold was 1 billion won.
1 billion just to glimpse an item.
Lee Hwarang's patience hit its limit.
"Hah... Not for sale? You think I don't know the only weapon with a black flame activation option is the Red Dragon Bone Bow?"
"Why are you so sure? There could be a few more weapons with black flame options."
"Hah, cut the bullshit!"
Lee Hwarang's eyes went fully feral as his patience snapped.
Whoa, dude! Look at him snap! That guy's insane!
'Insane guys have no cure. Best to dodge.'
Muk-ho and Anima freaked out.
"Hey! Stop! This is Hoyoung!"
Park Jin-hyuk rushed to restrain him, but Lee Hwarang was already charging at Jeong Hoon.
His close-combat skills were said to be top-notch too, and sure enough, a bow was in his hands.
One of his favorites: the Tempest Bow.
'Bow Slash, huh.'
The bow's tip was sharp as a sword blade.
'Bow Slash' was a skill that swung it like a sword for a massive cleave.
Whoosh-
Crunch!
A heavy impact echoed through the guild headquarters, followed by smoke from mana discharge.
Yeo Min-ji and Park In-tae, waiting outside, burst in at the sound.
"Damn... That bastard finally did it."
Park Jin-hyuk covered his face with his hands and sighed.
He'd gone and caused an incident.
Even if provoked, killing a guild member inside the guild?
And it was Hoyoung.
This was a massive headache.
"You crazy psycho, what the hell are you doing!"
Yeo Min-ji charged in and slammed her fist into Lee Hwarang's side.
"Urk!"
He grunted and staggered back from the heavy blow.
"Repeat after me: 'I'm dead today.' You dare barge into Hoyoung and attack our guild member?"
Yeo Min-ji glared at Lee Hwarang with an icy expression.
"You'll need to explain yourself clearly. Unless you want war."
Park In-tae warned Park Jin-hyuk in a cold tone too.
"I'm sorry... We'll explain, and compensate..."
Park Jin-hyuk's words cut off.
Twang!
An arrow shot out, embedding precisely in Lee Hwarang's shoulder.
"Grk!"
Lee Hwarang let out a short groan.
"No whining... You struck first, didn't you?"
Park Jin-hyuk's eyes widened slowly.
Jeong Hoon was walking out from the smoking spot.
Perfectly unscathed.