Chapter 67

Chapter 67

[if youre the player].

-Mom, Dad. I want to be a player.

On that day, just days after the Dawn Department Store attack, Euna declared at a family gathering.

She wasnt kidding.

As Euna waited for her family to respond, they realized she was serious and drew their eyebrows together.

Im against it.

They had heard the gist of what had happened at the Dawn Department Store. Shed been saved by Bruno, and it was no secret that she admired the players.

But the people who attacked the department store were also players.

We shouldnt think of players as heroes who save people from monsters.

Players are nothing more than emotionally driven madmen who kill monsters for the sake of killing them, and selfish people who will stop at nothing to fulfill their own needs.

Players are dangerous. They dont go well with you, Noona.

You dont know until you try, and you said I have talent, Eunha.

You have talent, but I didnt teach you mana control to be a player.

The reason Eunha taught her to control her mana was because of the vast amount of mana she had in her body. If she hadnt been taught to use her mana from a young age, she would have died of mana sickness.

He never intended to teach her to be a player.

All he wanted was for her to be happy.

He wanted her to live a long, healthy life without getting sick.

He wanted her to live in a world where mana was power and not be treated unfairly.

I dont care what you say, Eunha, I want to be a player.

Eunas attitude was firm. She listened when Eunha was serious, but she wouldnt back down on this one.

I want to be someone who can save others.

No one would break her resolve.

Eunha knew that once she set her mind to something, she wouldnt give up.

Whoa.

He wanted her to be happy, and that included her being free.

If she was this determined, he wasnt going to argue with her.

But he wasnt the only one she had to convince.

There was no way his parents would stop her from becoming a player.

Deep down, Eunha was even hoping for that. Even if he couldnt break her resolve, he thought his parents might.

Of course, they didnt live up to his expectations.

Fine. Eunha, do what you want.

Mom!

His mother spoke without hesitation.

Startled, Eunha forgot he was eating dinner and slammed his hand down on the table.

There was a loud clatter of silverware.

Eunae, who was clumsily handling her fork in her mothers arms, burst into tears at the sound.

Thats not right, Eunae is crying. Eunae, its okay. You did something wrong, didnt you? You made Eunae cry.

Uhh, Im s-sorry

Mother picked Eunae up and patted her on the back. Then she scolded him in a condescending tone.

Eunha was hurt by Eun-aes tearful sight, but this was not the time to be depressed.

Mom. My sister is going to be a player, are you okay with that?

Of course Im not. I know what its like to be a player.

But if thats what you want to do, then I want you to do what you want to do.

Thanks, Mom.

Youll be good at it, right?

Yes!

She just wanted Euna to have the life she dreamed of.

She wanted her to be a player.

Even if she got frustrated and despaired along the way, and gave up on her dreams, that was still her dream life.

Of course, if she had the right aptitude as a player, that would also be her dream life.

So her mother had no intention of discouraging her. Instead, she asked if she could do her best to achieve her dream life.

Euna realized her mothers intentions and nodded.

Dad.

His mother raised her hand. Now the only person left was his father.

Eunha hoped he could convince her.

Hmm.

You.

His father had kept his arms crossed and his eyes closed ever since Euna had declared her intention to become a player.

Only when his mother called him did he slowly open his eyes and face her.

When you say you want to become a player, you mean youre going to enter the Middle School Academy next year, right?

A player is someone who knows how to manipulate mana and kill monsters.

In South Korea, a player is a graduate of a state-designated player academy.

The Player Academy consisted of a comprehensive 10-year program. It was divided into a 3-year middle school academy, a 3-year high school academy, and a 4-year advanced academy, starting from the point of graduating elementary school.

The issuance of player qualifications was only applicable to those who completed the program after the third year of the high school academy.

Therefore, among players, some attended the high school academy during their high school years or transferred to the third year of the high school academy.

In addition, the Player Academy, excluding the middle school academy, accepted people of all ages.

Euna wouldnt have thought of abruptly transferring to the third year of the high school academy.

The reason she declared her intention to become a player before her sixth year of elementary school, the following year, was so she could take the entrance exam for the Middle School Academy.

Yes, Dad. Im applying to the Middle School Academy.

Its not because the academy exempts tuition, right? Were not a financially struggling household. We can send you to any middle school you want.

The Player Academy was funded by government taxes and sponsorships from various companies. Tuition and dormitory fees were waived for academy students.

Not that Euna would ever consider it.

His father was worried that she was applying to the Player Academy out of concern for her family.

Eunha looked up at the grumpy kid and stopped himself from speaking.

What the hell. Isnt that Lee Kang-hyuk?

He recognized the face.

Grumpy cheeks. Dull yellow hair. The huge frame.

Except for his height, the face was identical to the one he knew. There was no way he couldnt remember it, even if it was just a glimpse.

Lee Kang-hyuk. Before his regression, he was a player who dominated the back alleys of Seongbuk-gu. He wasnt a very good player, but he had a knack for exploiting peoples weaknesses and manipulating his subordinates.

It wasnt a myth that all information in the slums of Seongbuk-gu went through Lees organization.

Youve been living in Seongbuk-gu since you were a child, so thats why you were able to deal in information from Seongbuk-gu.

Eunha didnt have much to do with him directly.

Lee Kang-hyuk was the head of the organization and didnt even bother to look at Eun-ha, who was just a player at the time.

So when they started calling him Undead, Berserker, or even The Little Princesss Hound, he didnt feel anything for Lee Kang-hyuks death.

It was an insignificant death.

Lee Kang-hyuks death was so hollow; He lost his life to the blade of a lover with whom he had promised to share his life.

There was nothing behind his death. It was a simple love quarrel.

Whoever it is, they havent met yet.

If Lee Kang-hyuk is no longer a player, it may change his future.

Not that its any of my business.

I didnt want to bother. There was nothing to be gained from a future that changed Lee Kang-hyuks death.

Eunha had nothing to do with whether he was stabbed to death by his lover or not.

You still dont get it, do you?

Do you really want to get into trouble?

Wow, kids these days are so arrogant.

On the contrary, Eunha could have killed him at any moment. In another sense, he had a chance to end Lee Kang-hyuks future.

He clenched his teeth.

He slowly drew mana from within his body. He planned to intimidate them with a light shot of mana first.

If they didnt back down, he was determined to show them what it meant to be consumed by fear.

Just then.

Lee Kang-hyuk!

A group led by Lee Kang-hyuk was bullying the younger kid.

The news of their confrontation had reached Eunas ears, and she was running through the crowd of children to save Eunha.

Didnt I tell you to stop bullying the kids!

Ugh, Eun-ah.

Huh?

Eunha looked at Lee Kang-hyuks reddening face and shook his head.

No way, this guy.

The way his eyes were rolling, and the way his lips were pursed, it was like he was at a loss for words in front of his crush.

Huh. This is how I found out he likes my sister?

My consideration of him crashed through the floor and into the bottomless pit.

But, its not like that. He bumped into me without apologizing.

So, we were just trying to teach him a lesson.

Since Lee Kang-hyuk couldnt touch Euna, the children following him couldnt say anything to her either. All of the big kids were unable to stand up and even cowered.

A lesson?

Euna raised her eyebrows as she glared at Lee Kang-hyuk.

Thats not it!

Lee Kang-hyuk felt unjustly accused. It was his friend who said it, not him.

He waved his thick hands to prove his innocence, but his words stuttered and gibbered.

Did you just tell my brother that youre going to teach him a lesson?

Your brother?

Lee Kang-hyuk, who hadnt even met Eunas eyes, jerked up at the sound. He looked back and forth between her and Eunha, who was behind him and scratched his head.

They dont look alike at all.

One of the children said.

Lee Kang-hyuk nodded inwardly.

Euna was the one who was rumored to be the prettiest girl in her grade, with a good personality and no bad at sports.

And yet, she was siblings with a boy with a rough-looking kid and harsh eyebrows.

It was unbelievable.

But Lee Kang-hyuk wasnt an idiot who couldnt read the mood; he didnt take over the back streets of Seongbuk-gu with his keen eyes and cunning.

Im sorry, I guess we werent thinking, we wont do that next time.

Lee Kang-hyuk didnt even bow to his teacher. But he could have bowed to Euna as long as he didnt offend her.

As it was, he bowed to Eunha as well.

Im sorry. You said you were Eunas brother. Are you hurt?

What is this guy?

Now hes stammering and trying to be friendly.

Eunha didnt like how he could change his demeanor in an instant, especially considering what he had in mind.

Eunha, lets go!

Euna abruptly turned her head, shouting, Dont do this again! She swept her hair back and grabbed Eunhas wrist, pulling him away.

Hehe. Have a good time~! Eunas brother, if anyone bullies you at school, be sure to tell me, Ill take care of it!

Even so, Lee Kang-hyuk was smiling pleased.

Sis, do you like him?

I dont know, but Kang-hyuk is older than you.

Whether its him or someone else. Do you like him?

Hehe, I like you the most.

Then its okay, I wont kill him. Hell die later, even if its not by me.

While Euna couldnt see, Eunha raised the corners of his mouth.