-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Tracking
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The first thing Ryu Min did upon returning to reality was use a skill.
[Please envision the face of the target you wish to track and state their name.]
Ryu Min pictured the face of the man he had met while handing out rice cakes.
'Ahn Sang-chul.'
In the other world, a customized face and nickname were the prerequisites.
'But in reality, a real face and name are the conditions.'
In other words, as long as he knew someone's face and name, he could track their location, even without a personal connection.
This was what made the Tracking skill so useful.
He could easily find people he needed, even in reality.
'Moreover, since it only works with their real name, it's useful for verifying a person's true identity. Just like right now.'
[Face and name match. Tracking the target.]
A pleasant smile spread across Ryu Min's face at the confirmation message.
'So the guy who was with Seo Ah-rin when we were handing out rice cakes really was Ahn Sang-chul.'
Ryu Min didn't know what the real Ahn Sang-chul looked like.
He had only ever seen him as Ma Kyung-rok's right-hand man in the other world.
But not anymore.
'Now I know what he looks like in reality.'
Of course, just because their real names were the same didn't guarantee he was the Ahn Sang-chul from the other world.
It was just a strong suspicion.
'Seeing him sticking close to Seo Ah-rin, it's almost certain.'
Just then, a message appeared before Ryu Min's eyes.
[Location of target 'Ahn Sang-chul' has been identified.]
[Currently 85m away.]
[Follow the arrow ahead to track the target.]
'He's pretty close, huh?'
It seemed he was with Seo Ah-rin in the penthouse upstairs.
If his job was to keep a close watch on Seo Ah-rin, it wasn't strange for them to be together.
'Huh? The distance is changing.'
The real-time distance to Ahn Sang-chul was decreasing, then increasing again.
Given how quickly it was changing, he was likely taking the elevator down to the parking garage.
'Where is he going at this hour? Don't tell me…'
It was obvious where Ma Kyung-rok's loyal dog would be headed.
'Should I follow him? Might as well confirm his identity for sure.'
If he could confirm contact with Ma Kyung-rok, his suspicion would become a certainty.
Having made his decision, he immediately changed into his outdoor clothes.
As he did, his gaze fell upon his brother, sleeping on his stomach on the floor.
'Sleeping here… looks like he stayed up waiting for me to wake up.'
He chuckled softly and shook his brother's shoulder.
"Wake up."
"Ughh…? Bro?"
Ryu Won blinked his eyes open and shot up.
"Bro! You're back!"
"Why are you sleeping here? You should've been in your room."
"I was worried something might have happened!"
"I told you, there's nothing to worry about."
"Are you okay? You're not hurt anywhere?"
"Even if I get hurt in the other world, my body in reality is fine. Besides, the second round was just voting, so there was no fighting. It was practically a bonus round."
At his words, Ryu Won let out a sigh of relief.
"That's a relief. But why'd you change your clothes?"
"I have to go somewhere."
"What time is it…? Huh? It's 3 AM? You're going out at this hour?"
"Yeah. I just have a quick errand to run, so don't worry and get some more sleep."
Leaving his worried brother behind, Ryu Min left the apartment.
The distance to Ahn Sang-chul was increasing, but he wasn't concerned.
As long as he had Tracking, he could find him anytime.
* * *
*Clink—*
Ma Kyung-rok swirled the whiskey in his glass and glanced out the window.
The moonlight reflecting on the Han River seemed particularly dim tonight.
'Days like this are perfect for work.'
But he had to hold back for now.
He had a report to hear from his right-hand man, Ahn Sang-chul.
'Black Scythe…'
Ma Kyung-rok knew who Black Scythe was.
What player didn't know the person who ranked first in all zones for the first two rounds?
Besides, he'd heard he was in the same zone as his subordinate, Ahn Sang-chul.
'Even though I'm not in the same zone and have never met him…'
He was an opponent who subtly stirred his competitive spirit.
One could even call him a rival.
As the player who held the 2nd and 3rd ranks across all zones, surely he had earned that right?
'For it to be a matter related to this Black Scythe…'
He had a bad feeling about this.
He didn't like Black Scythe either.
'Did he pick a fight with my subordinate?'
If so, he couldn't just stand by and watch.
Touching his right-hand man was a challenge to him as well.
'Black Scythe. If he becomes an enemy, he'll be a very troublesome one.'
Ma Kyung-rok tilted his head back and downed the whiskey.
*Thud—*
He set the glass down, a murderous glint in his eyes.
'I won't let anyone stand in my way. Not even the number one ranker.'
As he was staring out the window with blazing eyes, a knock came from the door.
"Representative, are you in? It's Ahn Sang-chul."
"Yes, come in."
Ma Kyung-rok, who had been adjusting his clothes, turned with a smile.
The bloodthirsty look from a moment ago was completely gone.
"Manager Ahn? It's good to see you again."
"Ahaha, it's good to see you too, Representative. This is all thanks to you."
"I wasn't even in the same zone. What could I have possibly done?"
"For me, just your presence alone gives me strength. Thank you."
"Manager Ahn, you're quite the flatterer."
"It's not flattery, it's the truth. I can't tell you how relieved I am to have you, Representative. Belated congratulations on your survival."
"Survival? Please. The second round was a complete cakewalk."
It was true.
It was such a simple quest of just voting that being congratulated felt almost meaningless.
'That's why I was more suspicious. It was too easy compared to the first round.'
The fact that the quest was labeled 'Main' was suspicious, and being given three hours for a simple vote was also suspect.
That was why Ma Kyung-rok had gone into the forest.
Hoping to find something new.
'But I never expected a sub-quest to be hidden there.'
Ma Kyung-rok hadn't known a quest would pop up once he hit level 10.
It was something he discovered by chance while engrossed in hunting.
"Congratulations on getting a class as well, Representative."
"Not at all. I was just lucky."
He wasn't being modest.
He genuinely meant he was lucky, but Ahn Sang-chul interpreted it differently.
"I always feel this way, but you're truly humble, Representative."
"Humble? I was just stating a fact."
"You know what they say, right? Luck is a part of skill. Besides, ranking 2nd and 3rd in all zones is no easy feat. It is an unparalleled honor for me to serve someone like you, Representative."
"Hahaha. The way you're buttering me up, Manager Ahn, you must want something."
Ahn Sang-chul flinched but didn't let it show.
The Representative knew him all too well.
"Go on. There's something you want to ask, isn't there?"
"Well… may I ask one thing?"
"Yes, go ahead."
"You class-changed to Dark Knight this time, right? If it's not too much trouble, could you tell me where to get the class-change item…?"
Ahn Sang-chul asked cautiously, but Ma Kyung-rok answered readily.
"It's nothing special. I was just hunting monsters, and a class-change item dropped."
That was half-truth, half-lie.
It was true that a class-change item dropped from a monster, but it wasn't for the Dark Knight class.
The Dark Knight wasn't a class just anyone could obtain.
'It's a class only someone with the Rune of the Black Knight can acquire.'
The Rune of the Black Knight.
An overpowered rune that raised all stats and allowed one to imbue their weapon with a Dark Aura.
It even automatically class-changed the user to the unique Dark Knight class upon reaching level 10.
'I was lucky. To think such an overpowered rune would come from a random rune fragment.'
This was why Ma Kyung-rok had lied.
He couldn't just reveal his crucial information about runes to Ahn Sang-chul, could he?
'No matter how much he's like family, he's not my real family.'
He wouldn't have told him even if he were his real family.
Human nature could change in an instant.
This was even more true for a relationship that started as business.
'That's not to say I don't care for Manager Ahn, though.'
Ahn Sang-chul was an invaluable talent and Ma Kyung-rok's right-hand man.
If anyone were to touch this subordinate of his, he would, without a second thought, step up and tear them limb from limb.
"Manager Ahn. Let's get to the main point. Who was it that hurt you?"
Ma Kyung-rok's face was devoid of any smile.
His expression was so cold, it was hard to believe he had been smiling just moments ago.
"Was it Black Scythe?"
"Pardon? Black Scythe?"
"Didn't you say on the phone that it was related to Black Scythe? If that bastard laid a hand on you, I will hunt him down and retaliate…"
As a murderous aura seeped from Ma Kyung-rok's eyes, Ahn Sang-chul frantically waved his hands.
"Ah! No, sir. It's not that Black Scythe hurt me."
"It's not?"
"No. In fact, Black Scythe is the one who saved my life."
"Saved your life?"
Ma Kyung-rok's eyebrows twitched as he retracted his killing intent.
"Tell me in detail."
Ahn Sang-chul reported everything that had happened in the forest without omission.
"So you're saying you were almost killed because of some thugs targeting Actress Seo?"
"Yes. If Black Scythe hadn't shown up, we both could have lost our lives. Well, Ms. Seo Ah-rin might have survived… but even if she returned, she would have been too mentally scarred to continue her career in entertainment."
"…"
Not only had he almost lost a cherished subordinate, but his entire business venture could have become useless?
Ma Kyung-rok ground his teeth.
"What happened to those bastards? You killed them, of course?"
"Black Scythe inflicted enough pain to make them wish for death, but he didn't kill them."
Ma Kyung-rok tilted his head in confusion.
"Why?"
"I was curious too, so I asked. He said there's no benefit in killing them. Reducing the population would only reduce the number of survival slots…"
"That makes sense, but who knows what those bastards will do in the future… Tsk tsk."
Ma Kyung-rok clicked his tongue and shook his head.
'He can afford to be so complacent because it doesn't directly involve him.'
Unless one could see the future, leaving loose ends was a truly foolish thing to do.
'Still, thanks to Black Scythe, I was able to protect my subordinate and my asset.'
It was a clear fact that he now owed Black Scythe a debt.
"Did you offer to reward him?"
"Yes. But he said he didn't need anything and left immediately."
'Is he afraid of his identity being revealed? He's a cautious one.'
If he had a bank account number, there might have been a way, but like this, there was no method to find out his identity in reality.
There was no way to contact him.
"Manager Ahn. When you meet Black Scythe in the next round, please convey my message. Tell him I was truly grateful for his help."
This was the only way, to speak through Ahn Sang-chul.
"Understood, Representative. I will deliver your message as ordered."
"And keep an eye on Black Scythe and see if there's anything we can do to help him. You know I can't stand being indebted to anyone, right?"
"Of course. I will do so."
"Ah, I forgot to ask the important thing."
Ma Kyung-rok's eyes glinted with murderous intent once more.
"What are those thugs' nicknames?"
* * *
Ryu Min, who had followed Ahn Sang-chul with his Tracking skill, nodded his head.
'Just as I expected, he was Ma Kyung-rok's right-hand man.'
Ahn Sang-chul was currently at a hotel registered under Ma Kyung-rok's name.
Could his entering a building owned by Ma Kyung-rok be dismissed as a coincidence?
'He is the Ahn Sang-chul I know.'
What had been a suspicion was now a certainty.
There was nothing more to confirm, so he turned to leave.
Lurking around nearby would only arouse suspicion.
'To think an actress sponsored by Ma Kyung-rok would be living in the same apartment building. I guess I should thank my brother for this?'
If his brother hadn't thought of handing out rice cakes, he never would have run into Seo Ah-rin.
And he wouldn't have had the chance to find out Ahn Sang-chul's real face.
'The future has changed, but it's changed in a way that's more advantageous for me.'
Using the fact that they were neighbors would be somewhat helpful in earning Ma Kyung-rok's trust.
'I'll have to proceed with that gradually. Whether I'll take Ma Kyung-rok to the 20th round remains to be seen, though.'
Ma Kyung-rok had the Rune of the Black Knight.
Seeing as he had class-changed to Dark Knight, that much seemed to be unchanged in this timeline.
'It's a good rune. But its drawback is that you don't receive a rune as a class-change reward.'
While most people gained a rune reward upon changing classes, the Rune of the Black Knight had no such thing.
Upon reaching level 10, one simply received a weapon and a skill.
Not to mention the forced class-change into a Dark Knight.
'Most importantly, the Dark Knight has a fatal flaw.'
To use its Dark Aura, one had to charge a special resource called Dark Mana.
And that Dark Mana couldn't be charged through ordinary means.
'Then again, considering Ma Kyung-rok's psychopathic hobbies, maybe it's a perfect ability for him and can't be seen as a flaw?'
Aside from that one point, the Rune of the Black Knight was undeniably an overpowered rune.
The fact that Ma Kyung-rok never lost his top ranking was proof enough.
'In any case, Ma Kyung-rok is strong, but having a psychopath as a comrade is risky.'
Of course, once he reached the max level, he would have ways to control him, so it wouldn't be that dangerous, but…
'There are plenty of other talented people besides Ma Kyung-rok.'
As long as there were alternatives, there was no reason to use him.
'For now, I'll keep him as a candidate and use him. Right now, I need other talents more.'
Especially an ally who was absolutely necessary for the 20th round: a buffer.
'I'll have to get to work as soon as the sun rises.'
The current situation was the most optimal for winning over a buffer.