Pouring Rain and Forbidden Disciples
Shwaaaah—!
“Whoa, it's really pouring.”
“This is the worst I've ever seen.”
The three stepped out of the tavern, sighing at the downpour as they started walking. It was like a hole had opened in the sky. Far worse than when Leon had arrived.
-No way, for real?;
-Weather system totally bugged, right?
-This is annoying as hell for hunting;
-Why even implement landslides?
The viewers experiencing this “virtual reality” were suffering in all sorts of ways too.
On the other hand, Kang Hanbit—who had been waiting for this weather—nodded in satisfaction.
Perfect timing to move out.
The entrance to the Whirlwind Tower appeared in the mountains near the capital. It wasn't a literal door, but they had to reach that spot to enter. Leaving some buffer time meant heading out now.
“Let's head outside.”
Kang Hanbit moved toward the city gates with the other two. But then—
“Wait a sec!”
Someone blocked their path.
“……?”
A young boy and girl stood right in front of them. Their faces were eerily similar, which felt oddly intriguing.
“Huh?”
As the distance closed, their name tags popped up. Names he remembered well.
[Haneul]
[Noeul]
No way…….
The sibling players discovered by an employee at Lee Minho's company. She had sky-blue hair like her name, and he had a faint orange hue. They'd each learned spirit skills, so the names were etched in his memory.
But to run into them like this, right in front of him.
“Should I just say hi straight up?”
“Please don't come on so strong.”
The siblings bantered as they approached. Stopping a few steps away, they bowed deeply.
“Hi! I'm Haneul, the slightly younger twin sister!”
“Hello. I'm Noeul, the older twin brother. Sorry to show up out of nowhere.”
-??
-Twins?
-Why are kids here?
-Nah, can't be over 36 (male).
-Voices sound like kids tho?
-Info: RP doesn't allow voice modulation.
The chat exploded with questions at the sudden appearance of the kids.
Kang Hanbit was just as puzzled.
I figured we'd cross paths eventually…….
Players who sought him out usually had an agenda. Age wouldn't change that much.
“Hey. What's up?”
He leaned down slightly to meet their eyes.
The twins' eyes widened a bit, then they turned and whispered.
“He's using polite speech?”
“That's why I said to approach more carefully.”
Their debate cut through the rain without a hint of secrecy.
Kang Hanbit crouched lower. “Talk casually?”
“Yeah, sure!”
“That'd be great, thanks.”
The twins clearly wanted casual talk. No harm in that.
“So, why'd you come find me?”
“Actually, we……”
“Take us as your disciples!”
-Disciples?
-Outta nowhere?
-Get in line, kiddos.
-Waiting list is 100k long here.
The brother started explaining, but the sister jumped straight to the punchline. Despite the contrast, the key word was “disciples.”
“Sorry, no disciples.”
“Huh? Why? Some scouting guy said we're super talented! We even learned Wind Swordsmanship from Grandpa Asla!”
Haneul poured out her plea at the instant rejection.
Noeul, watching her, bowed his head. “Sorry. We weren't gonna bring up disciples right away—we wanted to ask about joining DD Studio first.”
“Our company?”
“Yeah. Any chance for a test run or something?”
The twin brother stayed calm, but at 16, his eyes betrayed his impatience.
“That's up to our boss, but you're not getting in.”
“W-We learned a bunch of spirit skills watching your streams. We cleared episodes almost like you did. No other players have……”
“I know. You're definitely talented. But the second you mentioned disciples, it was an automatic no.”
“Ah……”
Noeul looked stunned at the firm refusal.
But Kang Hanbit felt a pang in his chest too.
“I'm curious what you've learned, but we'll meet again someday. Join a good guild or company when they reach out.”
“W-Wait!”
Ignoring Noeul's cry, Kang Hanbit walked on. Haneul, who seemed ready to throw a fit, just stared after him in the pouring rain.
“Didn't expect such a flat-out rejection.”
Kim Jaeha asked cautiously from behind. Kang Hanbit's vibe was off.
“They had talent and potential that could help DD Studio too…… There must be a reason.”
Avant-garde voiced his curiosity as well.
But he couldn't put that reason into words.
Shwaaaah—
Past memories flickered in the relentless rain. The urge to kill crept up again.
……No disciples. Ever.
In the isekai world, Kang Hanbit had one disciple. A girl whose name literally meant “sunlight,” perfectly fitting. Talented, kind-hearted, skilled in every way—no flaws.
And he couldn't protect her in the end.
‘Master…… Don't cry. Even if eons pass, I'll find you again and become your disciple.’
Dying in agony, she smiled faintly and said that. Kang Hanbit, clutching her blood-soaked hand, could only weep.
‘This time, I'll save you for sure.’
In the next cycle, unable to find Erport, he took her as disciple again, pouring everything into training her. He risked death to grow stronger himself.
But she died again.
‘Why! Why won't it work!’
Even throwing himself into battle—losing limbs—he survived. Swinging his sword at the remaining foes brought no miracle.
Next time, next cycle, I'll save her.
Vowing through blood and vomit, he met her a third time.
And tragedy strangled him again.
‘It's…… my fault.’
Facing her corpse, he resolved: Meeting him meant her death. No matter how many loops, the outcome was fixed.
So avoid her—that was the way to save her.
With that determination, through endless cycles, he never crossed paths with a disciple. He even avoided hearing names, fearing any influence.
Absolutely not.
The bitter taste of despair still lingered like sand in his heart.
No disciples. Not even the possibility.
That was his choice—even if this world was just a game.
“I'm not in a position to take responsibility for anyone yet. At 16, they'd be better off with stable support from big corps.”
-Fair point.
-But copying Black Dragon's skills? Real talent lol;
-Big corps racing to scout. Hurry up.
-So jealous fr.
-Still dueling Baldor? Respect.
-Let's just log off and die, us.
Kang Hanbit gave a fitting reply and stepped out of the capital into the rain. The twins' shadows trailed awkwardly behind in secret.
***
“These fucking bastards……!”
In a cave near the capital Radianor, Adventure A spat curses at his screen. Black Dragon's viewers kept slamming him nonstop.
“They praised my guidebook when it suited them, huh? Now it's all my fault? Brainless sheep getting stirred up!”
Adventure A had poured his isekai experience into the guidebook—omitting profitable bits, of course. Plenty for the idiots.
But these noobs who never met the Goddess judging him? His blood boiled.
“If it bugs you that much, why keep watching? Masochist?”
Lucio asked teasingly, eyeing the rain.
Adventure A clicked his tongue. “Gotta see what he's up to! And Black Dragon's screwed this time. Every choice is a bust.”
Ignoring Episode 3, heading to the capital—he even secretly met the king. An unforeseen path, but pure self-destruction.
Even rushing back to Temosa now, the escaped killer was gone. That blunder would tank the crime group and rebel probes.
Main and sub quests? All trashed.
“He'll end up relying on my guidebook. Black Dragon's luck ends here.”
Adventure A's rage cooled. He was dead certain it was a massive misstep.
“He's moving like he has a plan, though?”
Lucio noted, watching the stream. With warp crystals, returning to Temosa made sense. But Black Dragon's gaze didn't feel story-focused.
“Nah, he's panicking. Scrambling to hide his screw-up.”
Adventure A was convinced. Black Dragon's path led nowhere—just more antics to dodge failure.
“……Who're the kids?”
After watching longer, he frowned. Two young players had appeared before Black Dragon.
“They learned the same spirit skills?”
Lucio perked up too at the scene. No one had learned Wind Swordsmanship from Baldor to Asla yet.
But that girl had.
“Hah, talking disciples.”
Adventure A tsked at the dialogue. No one begged him like that. Few approached first, so the scene irked him. Maybe the cold reality of calculated ties flashing in his mind.
“Black Dragon turned 'em down. Think corps will swoop in?”
Lucio mused casually about the twins' future. Talent to follow Black Dragon's path even a bit? Big corps wouldn't pass.
“Forget the twins—Black Dragon's heading to the forest.”
Confirming the quick-moving group and direction, Adventure A turned to the cave crew.
“You guildmates follow my orders, right?”
“Brought guys who will. Use 'em however.”
Lucio shrugged. Five Nessto guildmates, all level 100+ mid-to-late, pros at player-killing and combat. Mics off, focused on commands.
“Good. Everyone, follow me.”
Adventure A strode out, emboldened. The pounding rain obscured vision slightly, but the stream stayed on—thank god.
Splash—
Trudging through mud, they soon reached the path Black Dragon's group would take.
“Kill Kim Jaeha and Avant-garde first. Black Dragon'll sense the power gap and ditch 'em to solo his goal. Track him, see what he's after, grab any gains first.”
Adventure A wouldn't fight. PK penalties aside, his rep would tank. Just direct and watch Black Dragon despair—that was his role.
“Almost there. Get ready.”
He relayed Black Dragon's position intently. Mere dozens of meters away now.
With this firepower, Jaeha and Avant-garde would drop in seconds. Then just watch Black Dragon flee for his life……
“What're you old guys doing?”
A voice came from above. Startled, Adventure A looked up.
“You……”
Through the rain, on a tree branch—a sky-blue-haired girl peered down.
The kid from Black Dragon's stream.
“Lotsa stuff by your names? Nessto Guild maybe?”
She'd spotted the red tags by the Nessto members' names.
Too late now—Adventure A barked the order.
“Kill her first.”
Whoosh—!
The Nessto crew lunged with the command. Assassins by trade, their moves were startlingly swift.
But—
Swish—!
The girl kicked off first, leaping lightly into the air. Cupping hands to her mouth, she yelled:
“Black Dragon! Nessto Guild's here!”