Chapter 95

[Translator - Jjescus ][Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter: 95

"That was a good match."

After the competition ended, Hanbit faced Liwei.

He had a genuinely refreshing expression on his face.

"I was quite confident in my cooking, but I lost cleanly."

It wasn't just a difference in knowledge. There was nothing to win against him, from conceptualization to understanding of the ingredients and cooking skills.

Even if they had competed dozens of times, the result wouldn't have changed.

-Cooking king

-This is the first time I've seen someone who isn't a professional win. lol

-He's good at cooking too; who knew?

-Learned something new about Black Dragon.

-World-renowned chef huh

-Michelin 3-star chef

Hanbit's cooking skills amazed the viewers. This wasn't a skill you could get just by reading novels.

"Come to think of it, we didn't decide what you'd get if you won."

Liwei pondered for a moment, recalling the hasty nature of their bet. Then, as if he had thought of something, he continued.

"How about I give you a wish?"

"A wish?"

"I'll grant you one wish, whatever you want."

"..."

-Huh? seaʀᴄh thё Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

-A wish from a advanced team member

-That's generous.

He thought he had misheard. It was too extravagant a reward for a mid-level advanced team member.

"Do you want to decide now, or later?"

"...Later."

"Okay? Then add me as a friend."

Ding-!

A friend request notification arrived with those words. It was the first time he'd received one from anyone outside of DD Studio.

"I'll challenge you again next time. I won't lose then."

Bang-!

Liwei, who had challenged him once more, disappeared into the distance. It was a whirlwind of a meeting, but the harvest was enormous.

'I've finally gathered everything.'

The icy stinger of a frost spider and the tough hide of a snow deer. Lava seed soup and non-freezing cooking gloves. The last two were unexpected, but he could now prepare more thoroughly.

'To think I'd meet Luke here.'

Luke, the authority on Western cuisine who was a judge at the competition.

He was a man with a great reputation in the capital, who ran a large trading company centered around a restaurant. Since he was a person who was serious about taste, his interactions with him always started with food.

Now that he had obtained a badge and the promise of a future meeting, his progress in the capital would become a little easier.

"I did my best, but it was still difficult. I've just realized how amazing Black Dragon is."

Avantgarde, who had come out of the competition hall a little late, approached him. He seemed to have met an acquaintance and had been talking.

"I was quite confident in my cooking. But who is the person you met?"

"Oh, he's a fellow streamer. He said he was on his way to the private area."

Players were gradually gathering in the private area. No one had heard news of anyone succeeding in the challenge. The community was just sharing their frustration.

<Can you really clear the private zone?>

I don't know how many tries I've made, but can I really defeat this damn golem? The damage doesn't even register. If there was a gimmick, I would find it, but I have no idea. Anyone have any information to share?

-It's really crazy content.

-Black Dragon has poisoned RP.

-Is there anyone in the advanced team?

└Odin seems to be starting in the evening?

-Good job running away, Ranger.

└Is this guy okay mentally? Lol

└Three consecutive losses are tough;

-Why doesn't Black Dragon release the strategy?

└Okay, I'm going to start a protest on Black Dragon's stream for the strategy.

└Because of people like you, he doesn't reveal it.

Players were in chaos. It wouldn't be easy to gain anything until he released the video.

"How strong is the advanced team member Odin?"

"I think you could say he's a bit stronger than Riwei. But his growth rate is incredibly fast. I heard he declared that he would reset the Edlen episode."

"Really?"

The name 'Odin' that he had seen in the challenge dungeon records.

It was a name that was always associated with exceptionally talented players.

But to give up on advancing and return to Edlen to reset?

It wasn't a decision that could be easily made.

'It's the right answer, though.'

If it had been Hanbit's friend, he would have definitely recommended a reset.

It's always fastest and most accurate to refasten buttons that were fastened incorrectly from the start.

Forcing oneself forward would only lead to ruin.

"Let's just do what we need to do."

"Oh, where are you going?"

"It's simple. I just need to visit the blacksmith. Let's go."

The two of them walked along the road towards the blacksmith district.

Hanbit continued forward until he reached his destination.

It was a shop with one of the best craftsmen in Ifrit.

"Welcome."

As they entered, the owner greeted them casually.

Hanbit took the materials out of his inventory and handed them to him.

"I want to make a cold resistance armor with these."

"Let me take a look."

The owner examined each material.

The icy stinger of a frost spider, the tough hide of a snow deer, and a fire polish.

Using these, it would be possible to create armor that provided full-body cold resistance.

"This combination might be difficult to work with precisely, but..."

"That's fine. Just do it according to my specific order."

Hanbit explained the necessary work process to the puzzled owner.

With a serious expression, he nodded, understanding.

"I think that method will work. Let's start working right away."

The owner immediately took the materials and went down to the workshop.

Since it was just adding to an already completed armor, it wouldn't take a long time.

Ding-!

While waiting for completion, an alarm sound rang in his ears.

It was a message from Kim Jaeha.

<Kim Jaeha>

<I've finished the Edlen episode. I'll be there.>

* * *

[Episode 1 completed.]

[Achievement Unlocked: Walker of the True Path]

"Phew."

Kim Jaeha let out a sigh of relief after completing the final main quest.

He had progressed through the episode according to the method Hanbit had told him.

Thanks to spending the whole night, it took less than 24 hours to complete.

'This is crazy.'

Everything he had done in Edlen was strange.

He helped Artsvel's mother without learning magic.

Instead of entering the challenge dungeon, he recruited adventurers with Lia and rescued Flona.

Several times he muttered, "Can this really work?", but the results were all as Hanbit had predicted.

'I skipped all the story too.'

Shortening the episode was simple.

He skipped the detailed narrative and process, and went straight to finding the evidence to deliver to Cowen.

Of course, the reward was significantly reduced, but the speed was astonishing.

It was like only providing the ingredients and letting the NPCs do all the cooking.

In any case, he was able to finish much faster than his target time.

'I should go now.'

For some reason, Hanbit was competing in a cooking contest with the advanced team member.

Since it was about to end, he should hurry up.

As Kim Jaeha was about to move…

Ding-!

His smartphone lit up.

<Trash>

The name that appeared at the top.

It was a call from his boss.

"..."

Kim Jaeha's expression darkened instantly.

Their last meeting, where they had declared they would never see each other again.

Since he had directly submitted his resignation and intention to quit to the CEO, he wouldn't have anything to do with this guy.

But for some reason, he felt a strange sense of unease.

Was it the PTSD he had suffered for so long?

"Ugh."

Taking off his gear, Kim Jaeha looked at his smartphone screen.

The phone kept ringing, so it seemed he didn't plan to give up.

"What do you want?"

“Oh, I'm dying. Why did you answer so late? Do you want to see me die?”

A hoarse voice came from the speaker.

Kim Jaeha frowned and said, "I told you never to contact me again. I'll block you, so don't call me. I'm hanging up."

“Hang up? You little shit! Because of that guy, Black Dragon, I'm on bed rest for four weeks!”

"...What?"

For a moment, he thought he had misheard.

Then the boss continued in a mocking voice, “He hit me in the parking lot, remember?”

"What nonsense are you talking? Who hit you?"

“I already have a medical certificate, so don't try to get out of this.”

Beep-

At the same time, a message arrived.

The attached photo was indeed a medical certificate.

It listed minor injuries such as contusions, abrasions, concussions, sprains, and ligament damage.

"Do you think such a scam will work in this day and age? Just look at the CCTV at the company entrance."

“CCTV? It's been under maintenance for a week.”

"...Maintenance?"

The company's equipment often malfunctioned.

If it was really broken, there would be no way to find out what happened during the time when the CCTV was not working.

"Did you do this on purpose?"

“On purpose? And you're the same, you little shit! You just cursed at your boss.”

The boss sneered and spoke confidently.

The fact that he was so confidently saying something that didn't happen was probably because he was wary of call recordings.

“Why aren't you answering? Anyway, tell Black Dragon. I'm going to sue him directly and report it to the media, so just wait for it.”

The name Black Dragon was already well known to the public.

It was natural for rumors about him to spread among people.

If an article about being sued for assault were to circulate, he could imagine the situation.

Through the hands of those who simply chased dopamine, Black Dragon would undoubtedly become a garbage who committed violence.

'What a piece of trash...'

The boss was planning to make a false accusation, knowing all these situations.

Without CCTV, the only basis for judgment would be testimony.

But he would definitely be able to achieve his goal of damaging Black Dragon's image.

"...What do you want?"

“What do I want?”

As if it was the reaction he was looking for, the boss's voice changed slightly.

After feigning a few more groans, he continued slowly.

“Come to me both of you and bow your heads. As for compensation, well, bring me some good information.”

"..."

A demand to protect both his pride and his gains.

He was fine, but he didn't want to make Hanbit feel dirty.

He had to find a way.

“I can hear you thinking, you little shit. Anyway, think carefully. If you do anything stupid, the article will go up right away, so remember that.”

Beep-

The boss hung up the phone after finishing what he had to say.

"Fuck..."

A hellish yoke that he couldn't escape even by quitting.

Stressed, Kim Jaeha clutched his head.

His boss was incompetent but had good execution.

If he really went wrong, he would report it to the media and ruin Black Dragon's image.

What should he do?

How could he resolve this situation without causing harm to Hanbit?

"Phew."

The painful contemplation continued for a moment.

But there was no time to waste.

He had to hurry to Ifrit so Hanbit could progress through the episode.

Buzz-

The game screen appeared in front of him as he put on his gear again.

After much deliberation, he sent a message to Hanbit as usual.

<I've finished the Edlen episode. I'll be there.>

[Translator - Jjescus ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]