Chapter 8. Aftermath (2)
Chapter 8. Aftermath (2)
"...Phew. May I ask you one thing? Yeom?"
"Yes. Go ahead."
"How much of the Ancient Booklet series have you played, Yeom?"
"I'm 28 now. I played 7 when I was in middle school. It was really fun. Unfortunately, I could only watch the story for the previous series."
"Hoo. You're quite the core fan. Then it's worth listening to. Why we did what we did."
Michael took a sip of the tea placed on the conference table.
"Keu. Even in virtual reality, it tastes good. Anyway. The reason we did that is because we wanted to release a perfect game."
"Well. That's true. Michael."
"Ugh. The development team was so stubborn..."
The development staff member and the PR staff member next to him spoke up.
"Actually, production didn't need to take 15 years. But not long after Ancient Booklet 7 came out, rumors started circulating. That you could enjoy games in virtual reality."
"...You're talking about Illusion."
"That's right, Yeom. Upon hearing that, I secretly investigated to grasp the truth of the rumors and confirmed it was true. So, even before Illusion released their capsule, we received some preliminary information for game development. It was to create a game exclusively for the capsule."
In fact, at the same time Illusion launched, several famous franchise games released virtual reality games linked to the capsule. And those games hit the jackpot in tandem with the virtual reality boom.
"We wanted to release it quickly too. But we decided that since it came to this, let's release it properly. The prospects for the capsule looked that good. And in reality, it's been a huge hit so far."
This time, the development staff member spoke up.
"We weren't slacking off. On the contrary, we struggled to add a bunch of miscellaneous events and split the story into multiple branches. We even added realism to NPCs using AI. Also, the Hard Mode that Yeom is enjoying is one of them."
Michael spoke again.
"Hard Mode was like us shouting for people to recognize our efforts. That we prepared this much. To recognize it. But for two months, no one could enter! Well, we expected that. But then, Yeom appeared."
This time, the PR team staff member spoke up.
"We were really grateful, Yeom. Thanks to you, our hard work in promoting it paid off."
Gahyeon felt it.
That these people really just did it because they loved games. The wait until now felt slightly comforted.
"Well, of course. There were difficulties with production costs and investment. We also lacked talent because we were busy with other game productions."
Implying that there were more complicated, adult circumstances, Michael sighed and shook his head.
"Anyway. Now! Then. Hurry up and sign, Yeom. Hehe. The romance story with Lunance will be uploaded as a special feature!"
Comfort retracted.
"Ugh...."
One day after the broadcast ended and the contract with Michael was finished in the middle.
Gahyeon had been sleeping the whole time during the break.
Come to think of it, he had played Ancient Booklet for over 7 hours. Moreover, the enemies he faced were all formidable.
According to Roland Wiki, the continent's 3 strongest, Darhan and Mar Svius.
Even Zarin Savas, Mar Svius's right-hand man, and Gabras Abisius, Talian's friend.
It was no exaggeration to say that Gahyeon's glass body was being drained. Time passed the morning and it was 2 PM.
Someone visited Gahyeon's house.
"Oh my! Mother! I'm here!"
"Oh? You're here? Gahyeon is sleeping in his room."
"Understood!"
Someone opened the bedroom door and threw their body onto Gahyeon's bed.
"Keuheok! You bastard!"
"Hahaha! I have arrived!"
Gahyeon, having thrown Suhan and slammed him to the floor, immediately applied a grappling technique.
"Uaaaaah! Surrender! Surrender! When did you learn grappling!"
"I learned it to kill you, you asshole!"
Suhan's surrender was immediate.
A moment later, Suhan sat on a chair and Gahyeon sat on the bed.
"What's up?"
"My mom and dad said they want to see you, so come over for a meal."
"Your place? It's been a while since I've been to Hannam-dong."
Suhan is a silver spoon. A diamond silver spoon at that.
If not for that incident in elementary school, Gahyeon probably wouldn't have had a connection either.
"Ugh. It's a bit burdensome. Your parents like me so much, after all..."
"Well, that's true. They treat you like their own son, not me, right?"
Suhan shrugged his shoulders.
"They like you because their own child is out playing around every single day."
"Eh. I'm allowed to do that though?"
"Damn silver spoon bastard..."
Gahyeon, saying that, is also a silver spoon in his own right.
"Let's go for now. I haven't been able to contact them properly since I was discharged. I should go this time."
"Yeah. Let's go."
Gahyeon decided to leave right away.
It was polite to stop by a department store and buy some fruit, so leaving now was perfect.
Coming out of the room, Gahyeon's mother, Ayeon, was sitting on the sofa watching TV.
"Oh my. Gahyeon. Are you up?"
"Mom. Suhan's parents asked to have a meal with me. Can I eat dinner there?"
"Of course! Could you pass on my regards? They helped when you were hospitalized, after all..."
"Really? Now I have even more reason to go."
Gahyeon's parents and Suhan's parents were quite close, just like the two's friendship. The two came out of the house and headed to where Suhan's car was parked nearby.
Unexpectedly, Suhan's car was a domestic car.
"Come to think of it, aren't you changing your car? This is a pretty old car, right? I remember your parents bought it for you when you became a college student."
"No money."
"Crazy bastard. Even though you got a cafe."
"They said they'd do it if I found a business or a job and worked. But would I do that?"
"...Sigh. Is he a crazy bastard?"
The two drove the car, arrived at the department store, bought a fruit gift set, and headed straight to Suhan's house.
Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu. It was a detached housing area where so-called rich people live.
"Hello. Mother. I'm here."
"Oh my! Isn't that our Gahyeon!"
Mrs. Yoon Gyeong-suk, who maintained a middle-aged appearance despite being over 60.
And Suhan's father, former Chairman Han Gyeong-cheol, who had a sharp mustache and was cleaning his golf clubs.
The two warmly welcomed Gahyeon.
"Our Gahyeon's face looks so gaunt! What is Ayeon doing not feeding the child..."
"Ahem. Honey, come on. Taehwan and Ayeon must have had their reasons! Let's eat quickly!"
For reference, Gahyeon's parents were a bit younger than Suhan's parents.
"Mom and Dad, seriously. He eats well! Pay attention to your own child!"
"Why would we take care of you, what's there to like! Gahyeon, who works steadily and lives diligently, is a hundred times better!"
"That's true."
"Ugh."
Suhan shook his head and sat on the living room sofa.
"It's not even mealtime yet. Let's talk a bit and then eat."
The time was only 4 o'clock.
"That's true, I suppose. Sit down quickly. Gahyeon. I'll bring some coffee."
Mrs. Yoon Gyeong-suk immediately prepared coffee.
The sound of coffee beans grinding from the coffee machine could be heard.
A moment later, coffee cups and snacks were laid out on the table in front of the living room sofa.
"Eat up. I bought them from a pretty tasty place, so they should be good."
"Thank you for the meal. Oh, and this. It's a fruit set. It felt wrong to come empty-handed."
"No! Between us, such things aren't necessary!"
Mrs. Yoon Gyeong-suk waved her hands, but soon accepted the fruit set. She placed the fruit set neatly in one corner of the kitchen and returned.
"Yes, yes. Our Gahyeon. How have you been lately?"
"Ah, me. I'm going to the hospital, and for now, I'm resting."
"Sigh! Just thinking about that day makes my heart tremble! I was so shocked when I heard you collapsed!"
Mrs. Yoon Gyeong-suk let out a deep sigh. Suhan's father, former Chairman Han Gyeong-cheol, also sighed.
"Even though I mobilized everyone I knew to get you into the best place, they couldn't find the cause. Ugh. Those quacks..."
Gahyeon scratched his head.
Since it was probably the work of the Transcendent who took him to Murim. It might have been natural that the doctors couldn't figure it out.
"I'm fine now. Except for a lack of stamina, perhaps because I was in a coma for two months."
"Take good care of your body. How about it? Should I prepare some health food for you?"
"No. No. It's okay. I'll just accept the thought."
"As expected, Gahyeon, you have good character! Ugh. Your friend should learn a thing or two!"
"Dad! Why bring me into this!"
"Quiet. Home security guard."
"...No, how do you know that word?"
"Hmm. I see what I need to see."
"Hahaha!"
Gahyeon laughed at Suhan's humiliation.
As expected, this house felt just as cozy as Gahyeon's home.
"If Suhan were a girl, I would have sent him to Gahyeon a long time ago... Ugh... Cut off your penis!"
"No. I am 100% a man. Father."
"You only call me father when it's disadvantageous to you. You rascal."
Former Chairman Han Gyeong-cheol clicked his tongue while looking at Suhan for a moment. And then, he threw a somewhat random question at Gahyeon.
"Hmm... Gahyeon. Have you thought about what you're going to do in the future? Do you plan to go back to the company?"
"Uh... well. Actually."
Gahyeon hesitated slightly. He was a bit worried about what to say to former Chairman Han Gyeong-cheol in front of him.
"Is something the matter?"
At those words, Suhan quickly interjected.
"Dad. He's doing that these days. Streaming. Nutuber."
"Hmm? Then the company...?"
"Ah. That is. I'm doing it as a side job while resting. But this... I'm starting to worry about whether I should make it my main job..."
"Huh? You're making it your main job? You said you were doing it as a side job."
"That's because the streaming I did last time was quite fun."
The battle with Gabras Abisius and Mar Svius.
Sura felt significant fun from that battle. And his heart was gradually leaning towards it.
"Hmm... Is that so."
Former Chairman Han Gyeong-cheol stroked his chin for a moment and then opened his mouth towards Gahyeon.
"...What is your main content?"
"...I sometimes forget that Dad is in his 70s."
"You rascal. The fields I oversaw included virtual reality. Do you think I wouldn't know that?"
While the father and son were talking, Gahyeon hesitated for a moment.
Then he answered immediately.
"It's a skill-based broadcast. I show overwhelming game skills to attract people's attention."
"...Hmm."
Former Chairman Han Gyeong-cheol is doubtful. Because he also knows Gahyeon's original swordsmanship skills well. Gahyeon sighed inwardly and said to him.
"Actually... after waking up from the coma, my swordsmanship skills improved like crazy. To the point where most people aren't even a match for me."
"...Is that true."
"...Yes."
At his words, the doubt on former Chairman Han Gyeong-cheol's and Mrs. Yoon Gyeong-suk's faces deepens.
Suhan immediately grasped the atmosphere, turned on the TV, played Nutube, and showed Gahyeon's swordsmanship video on Silas Nutube.
About 30 minutes of confrontation. The swordsmanship duel between Sura and Runans Abervich ended.
Suhan's parents, who watched the duel to the end, looked at Gahyeon again.
Former Chairman Han Gyeong-cheol had an expression of disbelief.
"I can't believe it. But since the evidence is right in front of me..."
Gahyeon expected this reaction.
Certainly. They would think so.
However, the next reaction was quite different from Gahyeon's expectation.
"Do you feel relieved, Gahyeon?"
"...Yes? Yes..."
"Then that's enough. Even if it's God's prank. Whatever it is. You have tried hard enough. Think of it as your efforts being rewarded, even now."
Former Chairman Han Gyeong-cheol patted Gahyeon's shoulder.
"That's good. Indeed. If it's Gahyeon, you naturally have the right to that."
Gahyeon's heart softens at former Chairman Han Gyeong-cheol's benevolent smile.
"Dad, are you crying? Here. Tissue, Dad."
"I'm not crying! You rascal!"
Former Chairman Han Gyeong-cheol, while saying that, still takes the tissue.
"Hey. Aren't you crying too?"
"I'm not crying?"
"Tough guy. You're really not crying."
Suhan's eyes were actually sparkling.
Dinner was grand.
Because Mrs. Yoon Gyeong-suk showed off her skills for the first time in a while.
Gahyeon had to empty his rice bowl three times.
Afterwards, they gathered in the living room again to talk.
Gahyeon said he earned some revenue by receiving donations while broadcasting, and former Chairman Han Gyeong-cheol's eyes subtly lit up.
Former Chairman Han Gyeong-cheol, who had been listening to Gahyeon's story for a while, looked at Suhan and Gahyeon alternately.
"Gahyeon. May I ask you one favor?"
"Yes? Yes. Of course."
Former Chairman Han Gyeong-cheol pointed at Suhan with his finger.
"That one. While you're doing your side job. Take him and use him."
"Yes?"
Suhan's face stiffened.
"You rascal! Stop playing and get to work! How long are you going to hold out without working!"
"No! Dad!"
"I will not accept any counterarguments."
"No, I have Nutube and a cafe? That's working..."
"The cafe is practically left to the manager. And for Nutube, is there anything other than showing off your mom's and my genes?"
"Just in time, Gahyeon says he's doing something new, so go work under him and get a salary!"
Recently, former Chairman Han Gyeong-cheol's sighs have increased while looking at Suhan. Thinking about how his older sisters have settled into the company and are working hard, and what to do with that youngest one.
In the midst of that, Gahyeon's words about trying something new caught his attention.
'Tsk. It's a side job.'
Gahyeon, who is appealing that it's a side job, at least in his mind, in the meantime.
Meanwhile, former Chairman Han Gyeong-cheol's words continue.
"I ask you. Gahyeon. That one. He graduated from Seoul National University and is smart, but he doesn't think to use it, sigh..."
"Uh... It would be good for me if Suhan helps, but..."
An 800,000-subscriber Nutuber who also knows about streaming. It would be good for Gahyeon if Suhan helped in earnest.
"Then I ask you. Above all, I feel at ease if you, Gahyeon, are next to that guy who looks like he's going to cause trouble."
"Actually, that's the purpose, right Dad? You're doing this because you think I'll listen to Gahyeon well, so he'll stop me if I do something strange, right?"
"Ahem."
Former Chairman Han Gyeong-cheol's true intentions were discovered.
"Gahyeon. Please take care of him."
"Ah... yes. I'll watch over Suhan so he doesn't cause trouble."
"If you don't do it properly, know that I'll take back the Nutube and the cafe."
"Oh my god."
Suhan eventually knelt down.
Thus, Gahyeon picked up an SSS-rank manager who rolled in.
"If you ever feel like doing it in earnest, I'll help. Since Su-yeong and Su-jin would know that field too... Do you have their numbers?"
Han Su-yeong and Han Su-jin. They were the eldest and second daughters of the Han family, respectively.
Suhan was the third and youngest.
"Yes. Of course I do."
"Since I'm retired now, they would know better. I'll tell them separately."
The two were each occupying a position in former Chairman Han Gyeong-cheol's company and leading it.
"...Are they doing well? Both of them?"
"They're doing well enough. But they won't get married, sigh... Well. They're kids who will take care of themselves, so I don't really worry about it."
Su-yeong and Su-jin were twins and were 4 years older than Gahyeon.
Suhan was relatively the youngest.
"I should contact them once. I haven't been able to contact them since I woke up from the coma..."
"That's a good idea."
Former Chairman Han Gyeong-cheol nodded and grinned, then glared at Suhan.
"I'll say it again, if you don't work properly, know that I'll take back the Nutube and the cafe. Help Gahyeon and work!"
"Ughhh...!"
Suhan's body completely collapsed.
Meanwhile, former Chairman Han Gyeong-cheol, who saw that, sighed.
"Sigh. To think that the one who came out because I wanted to see my son is that guy..."