Chapter 642

Chapter 642

A paparazzi managed to snap a photo of Tae-Sung and Yong Seol-Hwa when they dined together two weeks ago, and it started absurd rumors of their romantic relationship.

Tae-Sung planned to discuss with Yong Seol-Hwa regarding the matter before releasing an official statement, but the rebellion in the Espadrille Province led by Count Arial and the Almighty Soul happened at the same time.

Thus, Tae-Sung called Yong Seol-Hwa, and both of them agreed to release an official statement regarding the rumors only after the rebellion in the Espadrille Province was quelled.

So what was this father-in-law thing about? What the hell was this all about?

“What do you mean by that...?” Tae-Sung asked, perplexed by what the chef said.

“Oh? Is this article not true then?” the chef asked in response and showed him a news article.

[Interview with Yong Tae-Pung, “I wouldn’t mind having a son-in-law like Han Tae-Sung”]

(omitted)

[This was the living legend, Yong Tae-Pung’s response when asked the question, “Will you allow your daughter and Han Tae-Sung to date?”]

[“Hey, reporter. Why do I have to allow them or not? I want Han Tae-Sung as my son-in-law, so he should be the one allowing me to be his father-in-law!”]

(omitted)

[Neither Han Tae-Sung nor Yong Seol-Hwa have issued an official response regarding the matter.]

[Many people are curious whether they will acknowledge the rumors and officially announce themselves as a couple or not.]

“Oh my god...” Tae-Sung dropped his chopsticks and muttered in disbelief. He stayed frozen for a few seconds before suddenly exclaiming, “H-Hey! What’s wrong with him?!”

“E-Excuse me...? Mr. Han Tae-Sung...? Are the rumors not true?” the chef asked carefully.

“Yes, they’re not. That was the first time we had a meal together, and that was it,” Tae-Sung grumbled in response.

“I-I see...”

“These reporters are going too far... Sigh...”

“Haha... Hahaha...”

“Ah, I should just eat something first and forget about that for now.”

“I will prepare your meal at once.”

Tae-Sung finished his meal and had a cup of coffee. Then, he waited for a while to digest his food before heading to the gym.

“Chest up! Inhale! Push the barbell up! Down! Push! Down! Push!”

“Heup! Haaa! Heup! Haaa!”

Tae-Sung decided to release all the stress he got from the rumors by lifting weights at the gym. Perhaps that was the reason, but he managed to bench one hundred twenty kilograms for four reps.

“Oh! You just benched one hundred kilograms!”

“What?” Tae-Sung glared at his trainer. Then, he snapped back, “It’s one hundred twenty kilograms, not one hundred kilograms. Why are you removing the weight of the bar? Are my ancestors benching the twenty kilograms of the bar and not me?”

“Ah? T-That is...”

“Hmph!”

The reason he snapped at his trainer was that he hated it when people arbitrarily reduced the weight he was lifting. He finished his workout and took a shower before calling Yong Seol-Hwa.

— Hello! Oppa!

“Oh? You answered right away today. I thought you would be playing the game now.”

— Ah, I decided to take the day off and go shopping today.

“I see. Anyway, erm... that is...” Tae-Sung mumbled, finding it hard to bring up what he wanted to say.

— Is this about the rumor circling around?

Yong Seol-Hwa immediately understood what he was trying to say and brought it up first.

“Huh? Ah, y-yeah, it’s about that.”

— Come on~ You don’t have to worry about that. Just call the reporters and tell them your side of the story. Hmm... I guess if you tell them we’re like siblings, they would buy it?

“R-Really?

— Of course! Besides, they can’t keep the rumor going without any concrete evidence, and you will just be stating facts.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

— Don’t worry about it, oppa.

“Rather than worrying about it, I’m more—”

— You’re worried about me, right? Don’t worry. I’m fine.

“Oh? Really?”

Tae-Sung was more worried about Yong Seol-Hwa, as she was a girl, after all. A romance scandal would drastically affect her image.

— Yeah, I already expected these kinds of things to happen the moment I signed up for the Super Rookie Tournament.

“Hmm...”

— Don’t worry about it, oppa. Let’s just not think about it that much.

“Y-Your grace is immeasurable, sire!”

And that was how Siegfried successfully recruited Viscount Cornelius, a talented man with SSS-rank in Agriculture.

***

Siegfried was busy the entire week stabilizing the Espadrille Province and starting the numerous development projects lined up for it.

It was then.

“It’s really hard to see you these days, Tae-Sung.”

“Are you busy?”

“Don’t tell me you forgot about us already?”

“I hope we’re not bothering you when you’re busy? Haha!”

Siegfried was visited by the four legends, Park Gi-Don, Kim Gi-Tae, Kim Han-Yong, and Han Sang-Gi.

‘Eh? Damn it! I’m so busy these days!’ Siegfried was flustered by their sudden visit.

He was on the verge of going crazy from how busy he was, so the fact that he had to accommodate these old men gave him a migraine.

However, Siegfried's actions were completely different from his true feelings.

“Welcome, sunbae-nims!” Siegfried courteously greeted the Legends and chatted with them for quite a while.

The Battle Homeground Legend, Han Sang-Gi, asked carefully, “Are you busy these days, junior-nim?”

“No, not at all! Also, please just call me Tae-Sung!”

“Should I do that? Hoho!”

“Yes, sunbae-nim!”

“Alright, if you insist. Anyway, you said you wanted to learn that thing last time, right? Do you still want to learn it?”

“Ah!” Siegfried exclaimed after remembering how he asked the Legends to teach him the numerous strategies and techniques they used in the Ruin of Martial God. Then, he stood up straight and replied, “Yes! I want to learn!”

How valuable was it to learn directly from those who dominated as legendary pro gamers of their era? This was something that couldn't be quantified into money, and if it was to be put into words, then it would probably be something like "Introduction to Advanced Gaming: Legend Edition."

“When are you free?”

“I am free right now!”

“Really? Then should we start right now?”

“Yes!”

Siegfried was on the verge of going insane from the amount of work he had right now, but he immediately accepted Han Sang-Gi’s offer.

‘Training is also important. Yes, it is,’ Siegfried thought, rationalizing his decision to abandon his work to learn from the Legends.

However, it wasn't a bad thing at all, as Siegfried’s overall power would increase if he learned the tips and tricks the Legends had to offer, so it was best that he learned from them while he could still learn from them.

“Do you have a gun? Or maybe something like a bow or crossbow?” Han Sang-Gi asked.

“N-No, I do not,” Siegfried replied, flustered by the question.

The only ranged weapon he possessed was the one thousand projectiles made from the Chromatic Dragon’s scales.

“Hmm? It seems that you’re not prepared for your class.”

“I-I apologize for that...”

“You should’ve bought a gun in advance if you wanted to learn.”

“From the PX?”

“What?”

“N-No, please ignore that...”

Siegfried ended up blurting some Korean military nonsense, but he immediately apologized and shut up. Then, he carefully asked, “May you give me a few days, sunbae-nim? I will buy or make a gun and come back prepared for your class.”

“Time is all I have, so I’ll wait for you.”

“Thank you! I will go and buy a gun right now!”

“Huh? Now?”

“They say strike while the iron is hot. It will take a few days for it to be ready, so I will commission it right now.”

“Oh?”

“Then, I will be back,” Siegfried said and headed straight for the PX—no, the Bavarian Workshop. He already had to go to the workshop to get a new set of armor after his Quad-Turbo Set got destroyed, so he was technically not going out of his way just to get a gun commissioned.

“Oh!”

“I like his passion.”

“He’s ready to learn alright.”

“What an impressive young man.”

The Legends could not help but smile while staring at Siegfried’s departing back.