Solo Max-Level Newbie
chapter-150

Chapter 150: A Brief Pause (3)

The busy motions of the hands slowed down.

Primarily because most bellies were filled, resulting in a cessation of additional food orders.

Crack!

Jinhyuk stretched himself out, relieving his stiff body.

“I guess that’s enough cooking for now.”

It was time to address the hunger that began to gnaw once more.

And, while at it, to strike up some conversation with his hard-working comrades.

As he made his way past the trolls and inside, he caught sight of a few familiar faces.

“Hyung!”

“Oppa!”

With the flush of alcohol coloring their cheeks, Itaemin and Yuyeonhwa waved excitedly.

“Over here! Come this way.”

Theresa moved to make some space at the edge of their gathering.

Everyone seemed safe, which was a relief.

Except for one.

“…”

Except for the sulky-faced leech sitting apart.

“Hey, I’m here. You hear me? I said I’m here!”

“…”

Still acting as if I don’t exist.

It was almost as if my presence had been completely erased from his mind.

“Is it because I made those kids from the Central Plains work like dogs? Or because I had them recite the lines I wrote down for them?”

“…This damn…!”

Chunyuseong’s pupils dilated rapidly.

Finally, a response.

“A grown man shouldn’t get so bent out of shape over something like that. Thanks to you, the job went smoothly.”

“Do you have any idea how embarrassing it was? Reciting those mortifying lines, I can’t even lift my head in shame!”

Chunyuseong raised his voice, his chest heaving with agitation.

Even a few trolls turned around, startled by the commotion—it was clear he was pretty worked up.

But really.

“Yep. I’m well aware.”

Jinhyuk nodded calmly.

Who does he think he’s dealing with anyway?

Embarrassment? Shame? Pride?

I’ve compiled enough of those in my Naver Cloud to last a lifetime.

From ‘The Sunset Melancholy’ to Colonel Timo, my past is riddled with countless cringe-worthy memories.

If I could walk around with just a trench coat and a cigar in tow without fear, what could possibly scare me now?

“Damn.”

Despite feeling somewhat sad after mentioning it, Jinhyuk brushed the emotion aside.

“…Fine. It’s my mistake for even mentioning pride or honor. I was foolish.”

“Ahem.”

“Praise…it is not!”

Chunyuseong ground his teeth.

Always on the receiving end, he must have had a lot pent up inside.

Indeed, it might be time to give him a break.

‘I was generally planning to avoid indulging in male welfare, but there are times when it must be used.’

As one of the external directors of Veteran Corporation, it was crucial not to foster any ill will within the company.

“Hoo. Alright, I get it. You’ve worked hard enough, so I’ll grant you one wish. Tell me, what do you want?”

“One wish?”

“Yes.”

As Jinhyuk gave a confirming nod, Chunyuseong stood up as if nothing needed to be said, his sword already poised in front of him.

So this is what they mean by a ‘chilling’ sword point.

“Why bother asking? Right now, draw your weapon.”

“Hey you, thickheaded fool. We nearly killed each other fighting just moments ago, and now you want to fight again? Besides, wasn’t the thing you really wanted to win against me in front of lots of people?”

Take a good look around.

Where do you see many ‘people’ here?

Amidst this troll-filled situation, the outcome of any battle would be nothing more than scars.

We could post the battle as a video, but that’s not what Chunyuseong would want.

‘Like the duel we had before at the ball. He’d prefer a proper stage with an audience, that’s for sure.’

Jinhyuk delved into Chunyuseong’s psyche at that thought.

Chunyuseong lowered his sword slightly.

“…Then, what’s your proposal?”

“Dueling doesn’t always have to be a life or death match, does it?”

We’re not in the Roman Colosseum.

A bloody fight isn’t the only measure of ability.

“A different method for competition?”

“That’s right. For instance… Ah! How about a hunting contest? Since we’ll need to eat tomorrow anyway, the person who catches the stronger, larger prey wins. How about that?”

“…Fine. This time I’ll prove that I’m superior.”

Chunyuseong nodded, his eyes blazing with determination—he seemed completely changed from moments ago.

“Hyung Yuseong. Considering you’re likely to go through all that trouble only to lose, how about you just give up?”

“Yeah. Oppa, you can’t win against Jinhyuk oppa.”

Itaemin and Yuyeonhwa, who had evidently become informal with him at some point, each gave Chunyuseong their piece of advice.

“Mr. Yuseong. Do your best.”

On the other hand, Theresa tightly clenched a fist, sending a message of encouragement.

Watching this heartwarming scene, I couldn’t help feeling a certain warmth in my heart.

Jinhyuk smiled with what could only be described as a ‘dad smile’.

“Just so you know, the most suitable and strong prey in the 7th stratum is mostly found in the sea. The sea creatures might be tricky to catch, but they taste phenomenal.”

The Sea Dragon Taitelos.

With a length exceeding 10 meters and a vicious nature, this creature was a much-loved delicacy among veterans for its resilient and chewy flesh, akin to a fresh eel’s.

“No need for the advice. I’m well aware of such details.”

“Of course. The magnificent Sword Saint wouldn’t be ignorant of such things.”

“Keep laughing. I will be the one to catch the biggest sea dragon.”

As Jinhyuk smirked, Chunyuseong activated his skill.

[Chunyuseong has activated Lv7 ‘Protective Strong Qi (護身剛氣)’.]

A faint light enshrouded his entire body.

Normally, ‘Protective Strong Qi’ would be used to defend against enemy’s attacks, but Chunyuseong’s version could also protect the body from water pressure and store a small amount of oxygen.

With those capabilities, he was equipped for underwater activity.

Without hesitation, Chunyuseong plunged into the water.

Splash!

Waves rippled briefly before settling.

Chunyuseong had vanished into the depths in an instant.

“Aren’t you going in, Jinhyuk?”

Theresa tilted her head, watching.

In a hunting contest, time was of the essence.

The quicker the move, the better the prey and position secured.

This was mere common sense.

Unless…

If it came to participating in the contest.

“Hm. Let’s just let that guy win this round. I’ll concede.”

Jinhyuk shrugged nonchalantly.

“What?”

“I admit defeat.”

Why bother freezing to death for this? Jump in there?

Especially at the thought of battling sea monsters in saltwater—definitely not on my wish list.

“You mean to say, this was your plan all along? To leave Chunyuseong to hunt alone?”

“I just fancied some eel, it’s great for recovering vigor. And since he wins the contest as well, isn’t this a win-win?”

“What a…hollow victory, though?”

Perhaps so.

But.

“It’s a fact of life that you can’t have it all. Since he’s learned that valuable lesson, he should be thanking me. Ahem. Anyway, the water is awfully deep and blue. Just looking at it makes you feel bone-chillingly cold.”

Jinhyuk clucked his tongue, gazing at the lake.

And then.

The faces of everyone watching Jinhyuk contorted with horror and shock.

-As expected… No, this is just like him.

-You fool Yuseong. That’s why I told you not to accept his challenges. Why can’t you learn to give up after being crushed every time?

-Mr. Yuseong. Keep your spirits up. I’ve been tricked a few times myself. Just give up, it’s easier.

-For the first time, I actually pity the human race. The vampire would cry out of pity in this case.

Though their thoughts varied, one thing was common in everyone’s minds:

If the devil himself were among the living, he’d be standing right before their eyes.

“Delicious eel grilled so fine~ Yummy eel grilled so fine~ On Sundays, the Sword Saint turns to a chef.”

While Chunyuseong diligently fetched his game, Jinhyuk sat cozily next to a warm campfire.

Warming his body, he wore the most contented smile in the world.

＊＊＊

The trial tower community was, as ever, in a war for the attention of countless people.

[World’s first to conquer the 5th floor’s ‘Clockwork Labyrinth’.]

[A history lesson in the tower with the handsome ranker from the Breming Guild.]

[#Rank1 #OlympusGuild #OneOfTheTop7Guilds #PurpleGrade_Relics]

Provocative titles.

Taunting thumbnails.

Risky related searches.

Everyone seemed desperate to edge the boundaries for more views.

It was a given.

In a market saturated with content, sensationalism was essential for survival.

And Baekjinho from the ‘Dangun’ Guild had prepared a secret weapon, a new video bound to stand out in this fierce competition—

a battle against a hidden named monster on the 7th floor.

The raid against ‘Ice Drake’ was intensely chilling, but nonetheless, Dangun Guild’s first attack team succeeded in the hunt.

Consuming the drake’s heart would now significantly boost their resistance to cold.

“We’ll be the first to clear the 7th floor. Finally, we can shake off the ‘king-of-no-realm’ stigma.”

Satisfaction curled Baekjinho’s lips.

His heart pounded with anticipation and excitement.

“You did work really hard.”

“Ha ha. It was deadly tough, but it all ended well, thankfully.”

“We succeeded because we’re us. Any other guild would have been annihilated before even approaching the drake.”

“Of course. Others didn’t even know such a place existed, I bet 99% of them.”

The other team members applauded, congratulating each other for their efforts.

“How are the reactions so far?”

Baekjinho asked cautiously.

One man with multiple screens laughed lightly.

“Hyung, you worry too much. When will you let go of your needless fears?”

“Quit nagging and just tell me—is it good or bad?”

“If I had a penny for every time I repeated myself, I’d be rich. It’s skyrocketing, obviously.”

A hidden monster and Dangun Guild—inevitably, a hot issue that would ascend the rankings effortlessly.

The response in the community was more than hot—it was explosive.

-Yasuo+Yone: Wow, there was such a place on the 7th floor?

-Seems like Thanos: I saw it for the first time too. Looks like a hidden route, classic Dangun.

-Line9985: Look at the coordination of the attack team. They move like a well-oiled machine.

-Mochi Welsh Corgi: Agreed. There’s a reason why they have so many subscribers.

Boom. There was no other word for it.

The rapid-fire comments, tens with every passing second, were overwhelming to the eyes.

“…Good.”

Only upon seeing those dazzling metrics did Baekjinho finally relax his stiff expression.

This kind of reaction could predict nothing but massive success.

“What about Jang Eunseok? Any contact?”

“Cut off for a few hours now. Perhaps he entered some cave or coniferous forest, or a snowstorm could have hit. You know how the 7th floor is notorious for poor communication, right?”

“Hmm…”

“Don’t worry too much. That guy’s not someone who’s taken down easily.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

Baekjinho nodded as though he agreed.

At that moment.

Ding!

A new video popped up in the trial tower community.

[‘Hall of Fame’ has been updated with a new video.]

Everyone’s pupils shook with surprise.

It was inevitable.

Such an update wasn’t ordinary—it was a video for the Hall of Fame!

“Hyung!”

“I know! I’m watching it too!”

The swiftly usurped top spot.

An anticipated shift in viewers toward new prey was palpable.

“Damn it! Who the hell decided to throw a spanner in the works at a time like this?!”

Baekjinho roared like a madman.

But as he viewed the following status window, all he could do was gasp.

[The rights owner of this video is a Korean player, Kang Jinhyuk.]

Baekjinho felt his world collapsing around him.