by Park Saenal
『 But won’t Lauel act as a variable? Isn’t Lauel one of the closest people to Grid in Overgeared? During the competition, it’s possible that he will help South Korea, not the United States… 』
『 The Overgeared members aren’t young three year olds who can’t distinguish between different matters. They know that the National Competition is classified as a different area. 』
『 In the first place, there’s no need to be concerned. Helping other nations is a violation of the rules and they won’t be able to escape severe punishment. Not just Lauel, but all the other Overgeared members will keep this in mind. 』
It was logical. In fact, the Overgeared members were going to fight for the honor of their country in the National Competition. Grid was destined to face Lauel’s smarts, as well as competing against the members such as Pon, Regas, and Faker.
『 Who are other contenders apart from the United States? 』
『 Canada and France have the most top rankers next to the United States. 』
『 What about South Korea, who have Grid and Yura, or Russia, who has Kraugel? 』
『 The 2nd National Competition is very different from the 1st National Competition. There are more events and some rules have changed, so it’s impossible for a few players to raise a country. South Korea will be in the top 15, while Russia will be in the top 18. 』
『 Isn’t South Korea still too high? Isn’t it a country without any rankers except for Grid, Yura, and Peak Sword? 』
『 Of course, on the surface, South Korea is classified as a weak team. But Yura is a variable. If she obtained a unique hidden class as rumored… 』
In the 1st National Competition, South Korea was classified as the weakest. Most of the participating countries looked down on South Korea. Compared to that time, the evaluation of South Korea in the 2nd National Competition was very good.
The reactions of the Korean people varied.
–Why are they ignoring South Korea? Did they forget Korea’s third place last year?
–I agree. Even last year, Peak Sword didn’t participate.
–Yura was just a normal class.
–But this year, we will get a better ranking because we have Peak Sword and Yura, who has a hidden class.
South Korea can be one of the contenders for victory.
–Are the people from the Patriotic Association bombarding the message boards?
–What was the reason why Korea could get the 3rd ranking last year? Grid was too good.
–Correct. South Korea is still a country weak in Satisfy. Last year, Grid won all three gold medals for South Korea. This year and last year, the overall power of South Korea is too weak.
–Don’t you think that Grid can win three gold medals this year? Of course. He is God Grid. But the problem is that the value of the gold medals this year is very different from last year. In last year’s National Competition, there were nine events. But now there are 21 events.
–Peak Sword? In other countries, Peak Sword is just an average player.
There were also skeptics. As it happened, most Koreans shared negative opinions like this. Peak Sword was irritated.
“It’s so funny that I have to sit down.”
The Patriotic Association’s headquarters in Seoul. Peak Sword accessed the Internet as soon as he logged out, and now his expression distorted.
“They are underestimating God Grid and South Korea. And what? I only have average skills in other countries? These guys, do you know Peak Sword?”
Peak Sword’s enthusiasm grew. He had to make South Korea the winner of the 2nd National Competition…
“…It seems too fanciful.”
Peak Sword thought realistically. He would make South Korea enter the top 10 rankings of the 2nd National Competition. Step by step, he was hopeful that one day, South Korea would raise its status in Satisfy.
Up until this point, people around the world, including Peak Sword, were unaware of something. This was just the opening of the legend of Grid and the Overgeared Guild.
***
Grid, Grid, Grid, Grid, Grid, Grid, Grid!
This name was heard if the TV or radio was turned out, from phones, in the newspapers, on the Internet and even when neighborhood aunties gathered together. There was only talk about the National Competition and Grid everywhere in South Korea.
It was enough to drive Go Jimyung crazy.
“Damn Grid!”
Go Jimyung.
A player of the KBO League.
He once had the reputation of the best hitter in South Korea. However, since last year, he entered a relationship with the leader of the girl group Farina and his performance fell, as well as being caught up in a series of accidents.
It wasn’t just a level to be dropped from the team, but an exit from the league itself.
“Grid…!”
In the Young Ladies High School’s Satisfy tournament, Go Jimyung was asked by his girlfriend to defeat Ruby. He risked breaking the rules to kill Ruby, but failed due to Grid getting in his way. In the aftermath of that, he was pushed to his current crisis. He had been branded as garbage by the public and his girlfriend broke up with him.
Go Jimyung considered the cause of this to be Grid. It was the typical blaming everything on others.
“I won’t forgive you.”
Kwaduduk!
Go Jimyung went somewhere. It was to call the chief of the big gang ‘Poisonous Wave,’ who lived in the back world of Seoul.
***
“We’ll check on the building and sleep at Grandpa’s house.”
Youngwoo’s parents and sister went on a family outing after a long time. Of course, Youngwoo didn’t go with them. It was because he was busy preparing for the National Competition.
“Please stay healthy.”
As soon as his family members left, Youngwoo logged straight back into Satisfy. There was someone waiting for him.
***
000-0 Street, XX Neighborhood, Geumcheon-gu.
Grid was a famous resident of the area. It was also a place where people constantly went in order to meet Grid. But due to the opposition of the residents, the district council designated it as a out-of-bounds area and the defense was tight.
As a result, Grid’s neighborhood changed into one that was good to live in. Grid’s popularity in the area skyrocketed.
“Why does a poor area like this have the same defense as the palace?”
The person in charge of distributing drugs for the Poisonous Wave gang, Kang Cheolgyu. He was known as one of the Five Fingers in Seoul due to his excellent punching skills. Go Jimyung was a senior from his hometown, so it was easy for Kang Cheolgyu to accept the request to cripple someone.
The problem was reaching the target’s house. It unexpectedly took him two hours.
“I will charge another 500 million won.”
Kang Cheolgyu had a sly smile on his face. His eyes were looking at the 800 million won car in front of the target’s home.
‘Grid. Grid…’
More Koreans set up Grid as a hero, but Kang Cheolgyu thought it was ridiculous. The hero of their country was a gamer? Kang Cheolgyu wasn’t able to understand the psychology of people who were so enthusiastic about a gaming contest.
“Drink alcohol over playing games, stupid people.”
Kang Cheolgyu waited for Grid’s door to open. He planned to aim for the moment when Grid left the house. For 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours… 10 hours passed, but Grid’s door never opened.
‘What?’
Grid wasn’t coming out? It was a cold autumn night. Kang Cheolgyu was weak to the cold, so his complexion gradually became worn down.
Chapter 384
Chapter 384
“Whistle!”
A chilly autumn morning, in front of Grid’s house. Before he knew it, Kang Cheolgyu had been waiting for 13 hours and his nose became runny. He felt confused as his cold body shook.
‘The car isn’t leaving…’
‘What’s wrong with him?’
A single storey house. It was a very small house that was 25 pyeong, and this included the garden area. Kang Cheolgyu somehow felt sorry as he thought of the young man living alone there.
“Poor fellow.”
Kang Cheolgyu lost his parents early on. He lived in poverty and had no place to lean on. He remembered the days when he lived in a basement room off ramyun noodles and how cold it was. Now the current Grid seemed to overlap with his own past, causing Kang Cheolgyu’s heart to feel sorry.
“…No, wait.”
Wasn’t Grid living with his family?
‘I’m not in a position to worry about him.’
Kang Cheolgyu was suddenly filled with doubts.
‘Even though he lives with his family, why hasn’t anyone left for 13 hours?’
The lights in the house weren’t even turned on.
‘Perhaps…’
Could it be a robbery?
Kang Cheolgyu was worried.
‘Perhaps Grid and his family are being held hostage by robbers?’
It wasn’t possible. Grid was his target. He needed to hurt Grid to be paid.
“Shit, I guess I have to rescue them.”
Kang Cheolgyu might have a good fighting ability, but his head was bad. It wasn’t just that he didn’t go to school and read, but that he was born with a terrible brain. He forgot the reason that he watched Grid’s house for 13 hours was because the house had a security sticker on it and started to climb the fence.
The reason for making such a stupid choice was nervousness.
Chirpppppppp!
The sensor detected Kang Cheolgyu hanging from the fence and the alarm sounded. It was a loud noise that rang out through the neighborhood.
“Heok.”
Kang Cheolgyu was startled and jumped from the fence. He tried to escape when someone blocked his way.
“A rat came here.”
“…?”
The man was wearing a eyepatch over his left eye. He was a young Westerner with a big nose, light green eyes, and short grey hair.
“Who are you?”
Kang Cheolgyu was alert as the Western spoke in a foreign language that couldn’t be understood.
“Kyaaack~ spit!”
The Westerner didn’t speak for long. He spat out phlegm and acted like he was going to make a move on Kang Cheolgyu. Kang Cheolgyu’s face distorted.
“This crazy one-eyed bastard.”
They wanted to act against the chief of the Poisoned Wave gang?
“I don’t know who you are, but you will regret this.”
Kang Cheolgyu’s fists were fast and powerful. It was three consecutive blows and a jab, a perfect killing technique based on boxing. But the Westerner was several times better. The Westerner blocked all of Kang Cheolgyu’s punches with just his right hand, then grabbed Kang Cheolgyu’s wrist.
Kang Cheolgyu’s face paled.
‘This guy!’
He saw through the lightning fast punches and even neutralized it? The movements were at the level of a world-class boxer! The Westerner saw Kang Cheolgyu’s shaking eyes and raised a long leg.
Pakak!
“Kuk…!”
Kang Cheolgyu shook as he raised his left arm to guard against the Westerner’s attack. He tried to pull away the right wrist held by the Westerner, but the grip was too powerful. The Westerner pulled Kang Cheolgyu and raised his knee.
Peeok!
“Heeok!”
Kang Cheolgyu’s nose was crushed by the hard knee. The Westerner still gripped his wrist as he tried to block the blood. Kang Cheolgyu determined he couldn’t break free with force, so he rotated and swung his elbow.
The Westerner had a sharp scar on his nose. It was like a knife cut.
‘Fairly good.’
The Westerner was somewhat impressed. But it was only up to there. Kang Cheolgyu’s strength was broken after he suffered great damage to his face. In the first place, the Westerner was more proficient, since Kang Cheolgyu suffered from a one-sided violence.
Bam bam! Bam bam bam!
The Westerner was really cruel. He kept punching, punching, and punching Kang Cheolgyu. Blood flowed down from Kang Cheolgyu’s face, and he now seemed pitiful.
“You… Who the hell are you…?”
Why was this Westerner so strong, and why was he beating Kang Cheolgyu to death like this? The Westerner introduced himself to Kang Cheolgyu.
“I’m Grid’s bodyguard, Toon.”
That’s right. The identity of the Westerner was beast master Toon. He once broke the balance of the Italian mafia, and was the strongest player in reality. The reason he was staying in South Korea was at Yura’s request.
“Toon-ssi, you are lacking funds to buy land in South Korea? If you want to move to South Korea like the other guild members, I will arrange a place for you to live. Instead, please be responsible for Grid-ssi’s safety.”
Grid’s safety was the desire of all Overgeared members, not just Yura. Because there was Grid, the Overgeared Guild could exist. Because there was the Overgeared Guild, they could be in their current positions.
In particular, Toon had a great tendency to rely on Overgeared. The existence of colleagues who he could rely on was very important for an orphan.
“Touch, Grid, kill.”
Chill.
Toon’s eyes were as cold as a beast as he spoke in broken Korean. Kang Cheolgyu nodded.
“U-Understood. I won’t step on Grid’s shadow in the future!”
The moment he declared this.
Creak.
The door to Grid’s house opened and a young man appeared. Grid had been lying in the capsule for 13 hours and ran over when he heard the alarm sound.
“What? What’s going on? Eh? Toon? Why are you here? When did you come to Korea?”
There was an unidentified man and Toon. Grid couldn’t figure out why. At this time, three security company cars arrived in front of Grid’s house.
“You’re safe!”
The security company’s employees descended from the cars and checked Grid’s safety. Grid wasn’t just a customer, they were also fans of Grid.
“Eh… Well, I’m okay.”
Grid replied while standing next to Toon, so that there wouldn’t be any misunderstandings. Meanwhile, the security company employees arrested Kang Cheolgyu and reported it to the police station. The officers were astonished when they saw Kang Cheolgyu’s face.
And at dawn. There was an explosion of TV and Internet news.
[Grid, he played a significant role in the arrest of a drug trafficker.]
[Kang Cheolgyu, the chief of the drug dealers in South Korea, was caught by Grid and his colleague Toon.]
[The city of Seoul is awarding an honorary citizen’s medal to Grid and Toon.]
[The National Police Agency will provide an appreciation plaque and prize money to Grid and Toon.]
[The Blue House is thinking about a president’s citation.]
“…Ah, I have to play the game.”
Grid didn’t even know why he received the honorary citizen’s medal. It was an honor, but Grid’s expression showed that it was merely inconvenient. He didn’t want to waste time travelling to Seoul City Hall and the police station with Toon, as well as have interviews with reporters.
“I don’t have time to play the game.”
“…”
Toon felt vaguely sorry towards Grid.
***
[You have entered the 40th island.]
Grid educated Lord and made a spear and bow to be used. He was fully prepared and returned to the Behen Archipelago. Sticks greeted him.
“You finally came.”
“I will start the challenge immediately.”
Grid didn’t ask if the other Overgeared members had reached the 20th island. He had fait
h that his colleagues would do well, and now he had to concentrate on his own development. The reason why Grid was so worried?
It was simple. The 2nd Satisfy National Competition was to be held in Paris, France. Grid had to play a big role there.
‘I must unconditionally win three gold medals.’
Was it because he coveted the god mineral adamantium? Of course. But that was just secondary. The reason Grid wanted to act in the National Competition was because he was aware of his position as representative of the country.
Grid had the hopes of 50 million people and his family on him. Grid didn’t want to disappoint them. That’s right. Now Grid felt a strong sense of responsibility. It was a noble attitude that couldn’t be compared with his personal feelings during the 1st National Competition.
“Hoo.”
Grid breathed in deeply as he stepped foot into the gate of the 41st island. His vision darkened before a new landscape unfolded in front of him. It was a serene bamboo forest.
[You have entered the 41st island.]
[A mission will be created.]
[41st Island]
Fight with yourself and win.
First Clear Compensation: You can raise the level of one skill.
‘There aren’t any challenger points?’
But Grid wasn’t disappointed. Grid had legendary skills that were hard to raise their levels, so he was quite pleased with a skills level up.
‘This feels like a bonus stage.’
The mission of the 41st island was to overcome his ‘past self’ and transcend his ‘present self.’ It felt like a test. What was at the end of the Behen Archipelago, which forced the challenger to constantly grow?
Grid wondered while looking around nervously.
Sururuk.
A person who looked exactly like Grid appeared. There were four golden hands moving around him.
‘The God Hands are recreated?’
It seemed like the copy of Grid reproduced all of Grid’s items and skills. Grid became tense. Then the clone moved to Grid’s shock and horror.
“Pagma’s Swordsmanship, Linked Kill Wave.”
“…What?!”
Chapter 385
Chapter 385
“Pagma’s Swordsmanship, Linked Kill Wave.”