Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: National Team Selection
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The selection tournament to pick the national representatives for the opening match of the National Confrontation.
Like every country, the National Confrontation was a national event, so the qualifier to choose those reps was always a huge hit.
Well, that popularity had cooled off a bit lately, but this year was different.
Because this time, Shin-hyeok had declared he was joining.
In fact, he'd said he'd go beyond the opening match and compete in the main tournament, ramping up the hype even more.
So the public tuned in with hopes that this time it'd be different.
"What... the... fuck..."
Every last one of them could only gape in shock and curse.
Anyone who'd watched even one or two of Shin-hyeok's streams knew he had power way beyond his tier.
But his raw strength aside, eyes always got pulled to the side attractions.
And who could blame them? The guy was holding way too much.
Myth Group chaebol heir.
Owner of Myth Forge.
Master of Paracelsus.
Any one of those was insane on its own, but all in one guy's hands? No wonder fair assessments were tough.
Especially since the superstar had as many haters as fans, plenty questioned his actual skills.
You know, gear carry excuses and such.
But Shin-hyeok proved himself in the qualifier packed with Platinum vets who'd been grinding forever.
His fight with Tarkan had been epic, sure, but haters claimed since it was just a monster, he'd flop against real players. That got shot down hard.
Especially since...
Shin-hyeok had already scrapped with players before. Diamond-tier ones, at that. Haters' claims sank even faster.
They whined it was just once, pure luck—but this proved otherwise.
Still, not everyone was worry-free.
Because Shin-hyeok had deliberately swept the old national teamers and slotted in rookies like Su-ah.
A few were Gold-tier like her, so the worries were fair.
But those worries vanished quick.
"I'll handle the growth of everyone on the national team for the opening match. As long as I'm around, Korea might lose battles, but we'll win the war."
Choi Shin-hyeok.
He'd declared he'd take responsibility for every player's growth in the opening match squad.
After Shin-hyeok's declaration.
Su-ah bolted over to him in shock.
"Shin-hyeok, you serious? I know you're strong, but growth is different! You ever trained other players?"
"Yeah."
"Right, of course not—wait, you have?"
Su-ah was about to chew him out for never having taught anyone, but froze at the unexpected answer.
Of course, not in this timeline.
'Trained tons before regression.'
Shin-hyeok had taught players pre-regression.
Back when he was the Infinite Emperor, sole Challenger of the integrated league.
No one on Earth could match his martial prowess.
Even setting aside Challenger-level stats.
The Magic Emperor, master of all spells.
The Weapon Emperor, master of all arms.
Both were his disciples.
So teaching? No issue.
But not all problems solved.
"What about stats? You exploded thanks to wrecking Dimension Arena, but us normies can't keep up. Talk to Noona Hyo-rin for some elixirs?"
"That's one way. Actually gonna do it. Don't need top-shelf stuff anyway—mid-tier elixirs are fine from the alchemists getting rekt under Hyo-rin."
"Elixir effects max out at once or twice though. Not enough for real growth..."
"True. Real growth comes from Dimension Arena. Or hardcore training."
"Sigh, so we're back to square one. What's the plan?"
The core issue: real growth.
Player power hinged on skills and traits, but stats were fundamental.
With Shin-hyeok's OP kit, experience? No sweat. But if easy, he wouldn't be this hyped.
Stats mattered. With ~3 months to National Confrontation, filling them was key.
Paracelsus elixirs, Shin-hyeok's skill spars? Great, but no stat fixes.
Couldn't proxy-game for them.
Shin-hyeok shrugged it off.
"Just hand physical training to physical training pros."
"Hiring specialist trainers? Solid. But good ones are all in superpowers, right? How? Myth connections?"
"Kinda Myth-related, and yeah, I know 'em."
He knew a trainer as expert as himself in conditioning.
Su-ah's face twisted weirdly as she yelped.
"Huh? They exist?! Why no intro? Gah, scared of Han Su-ah's growth, Choi Shin-hyeok?!"
"What're you on about."
Snap!
"Ow!"
Light knuckle-rap to the crown, shoulder shrug.
"You know 'em. Seen 'em plenty."
"...Who? Hidden cam? This that Truman Show? Gasp! Han Su-ah Show? Knew it! No way you were that good alone—ow! Stop hitting!"
"Hold up. Grabbing 'em now."
Shut down her flailing again.
Shin-hyeok set off to recruit the world's top physical trainer.
Shin-hyeok's destination for the trainer? None other than...
"Oh, bro's here? Early for once. Been too busy to even see your face."
Home.
Shin-woo tilted his head but welcomed him.
Shin-hyeok's skyrocketing status meant rare home visits—hence the surprise.
To Shin-woo, big bro was great.
No sibling rivalry; Shin-hyeok always looked out.
Inevitable.
Cast out by the Myth family, they were each other's only real kin.
Anyway, greetings done.
Shin-woo headed to his room for exam prep.
"Shin-woo. School okay?"
"Huh? Random."
"Just asking."
"Eh, it's alright. Wasn't always... thanks to you."
Shin-hyeok stopped him for casual chat.
School life shift? Obviously Shin-hyeok's doing.
Bro rising to Korea's top player boosted Shin-woo's rep overnight.
Some approached hoping he'd be next; others moths to chaebol flame. Life changed dramatically.
But Shin-hyeok knew.
"Boring, right?"
"...Huh?"
"You hate Players, Shin-woo."
"...Sharp as ever."
"Only sibling I've got."
"...Yeah. It's dull, and fighting anyone grosses me out. But what can ya do? No Player tag these days? Start in the red."
Shin-woo at Myth High prepping for Player awakening? He hated it.
Always had.
Hated hurting others; hated getting hurt.
Awakened or not, stardom as Player? Impossible.
But his bro was Shin-hyeok, sorta-uncle Se-jin top smith, "cousin(?)" Hyo-rin top alchemist. Say the word, infinite backing. Gold/Plat easy—but cap there.
"Can't drag you down. Hate 'trash bro under ace bro' talk. So I'll grind. World works that way—few do what they love."
"...Hm."
Yet he studied hard for Player path.
Solely not to burden Shin-hyeok.
Hearing it firsthand, Shin-hyeok eyed him oddly.
Not for long.
"Shin-woo."
"Yeah?"
"Quit if you want."
"What?"
"Live doing what you love. Plenty."
"But then—"
"Ignore the noise. Their words matter? Or mine?"
"...Yours, obviously."
"There ya go. Ditch school."
"Bro! That's too far—"
"And early awaken."
"...Huh?"
Warm bro moment shattered; Shin-woo stared soul-lessly.
"Said drop Players just now..."
"Said drop school. Not Players."
"Same diff? Early awaken what?"
"Item I got as reward. Awakens Player status ahead of schedule."
"...Huh. Neat."
"Dimension Arena's got everything. Anyway, using it on you."
"But me specifically? Talent not even revealed..."
Shin-woo shrank, doubting use on him.
Shin-hyeok nodded.
"No Player talent."
"Ugh, know that."
"But killer trainer talent."
"Trainer? Stat conditioning guys?"
"Spot on."
"How you know?"
Shin-woo's Player talent sucked, but trainer? GOAT.
Pre-regression confirmed.
Couldn't say that, so Shin-hyeok pulled specs from inventory, perched 'em.
"Talent Scout Glasses."
"Used those pricey things on me?!"
"Anyway, Shin-woo. So... be my trainer."
"...!"
Instant intellectual vibe—like straw-hat pirate—Shin-hyeok pitched.
"100 mil salary. No bookings? Free commute. 12 vacation days. Paid leave + expense support. Unlimited trainer resources. Deal? Want more? Name it."
"...!!!"
Irresistible for fresh high school sophomore.
That day, Shin-hyeok snagged the world's best trainer.
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