The person who exited the car was…
Long blonde hair that reached her waist and blue eyes. She looked like a goddess from myth who had descended to the world.
"Oh my…"
"Gulp."
The appearance of the beautiful and innocent girl immediately drew everyone's attention.
Their eyes trembled in shock. It was inevitable.
"The Saint of Amsterdam!"
"Oh my god…"
"A European ranker made a surprise visit to Korea?"
A level of recognition incomparable to the players of the Chinese guilds.
Teresa, counted among the top 100 players in the world, was now in Korea.
"W-what could she have come for?"
"Do you have any acquaintances in Korea?"
At the reporters' questions, Teresa carefully replied.
"Ah… that. I came to see Player Kang Jin-hyuk. I heard he was here."
The visit itself was already shocking, but the fact that she had come specifically to see Kang Jin-hyuk made it even more sensational.
This was news worthy of headlines.
"Then you came all the way here just for that?"
"Yes. That is right."
"You must have had a hard time on the flight. May I ask what kind of relationship you have with Kang Jin-hyuk?"
Teresa paused at the sensitive question. After thinking for a moment, she answered.
"In any circumstance… a friend I should always trust. Yes."
She smiled gently.
This wasn't a lie. There were no embellishments or exaggerations.
Teresa trusted him completely.
Meanwhile, another group of reporters surrounded an elderly man with a powerful build.
A person who should never have been here.
A martial artist whose condition had been so uncertain that many believed he might have already passed away.
Yoo Chun-young.
"I heard you were suffering from an incurable disease and undergoing treatment. Have you recovered, sir?"
"Is Sir Yoo here with Kang Jin-hyuk? Please, just answer one thing!"
Everyone was desperate.
Each reporter was eager to grab even the smallest piece of information for their own exclusive scoop.
Hong Deok-pyo looked as if dirt had been shoved into his face. In an instant, no one cared about him or the three Chinese players anymore.
It felt as though the reporters wouldn't even glance at him, even if he stripped down to his underwear or got hit by a car.
"Player Kang Jin-hyuk is my benefactor who saved my life. I owe him a debt that I couldn't repay even if I spent the rest of my life trying."
Yoo Chun-young answered calmly.
The strongest martial artist in Korea.
Before the Tower appeared in the real world, this man was often spoken of as the most renowned martial artist alive.
Runaway Magic had been considered incurable, but Kang Jin-hyuk had cured it.
A huge commotion erupted.
"J-just… who is Kang Jin-hyuk?!"
"I thought he was just good at fighting. He knows medicine too?"
"They said the top 100 rankings would be announced this month. Seeing this, I'm sure he'll be on it."
"Does ranking even matter anymore? Is there anyone better than Kang Jin-hyuk right now? His achievements can't be compared to other players."
This wasn't blind patriotism.
As a public figure, careless praise could backfire, but the reporters were certain—Kang Jin-hyuk was different.
Finally, another group of reporters turned their microphones toward the third guest.
A man in a black suit, extraordinarily handsome, with a cold and sharp aura.
Chun Yuseong.
"I'll ask just one thing. I heard you rejected every guild invitation in Korea. So why did you answer Kang Jin-hyuk's call?"
That was right.
Chun Yuseong had climbed the Tower alone, clearing dungeons and labyrinths purely through his skill.
Many guilds had offered him blank checks.
He ignored every single one.
Yet now, he had come to meet Kang Jin-hyuk.
"Are you and Kang Jin-hyuk colleagues?"
There seemed to be no other explanation.
However, Chun Yuseong frowned.
Kuku…!
He clenched his fist.
Flinch.
The reporters instinctively stepped back.
"Not my colleague."
A firm rejection.
What followed carried both admiration and hostility.
"He is a rival I must defeat one day."
The reason he climbed the Tower.
The reason he continued to grow stronger.
For Chun Yuseong, who had won everything until now, Jin-hyuk was a wall he desperately wanted to tear down.
And…
Jin-hyuk watched everything from the side.
'Hmm.'
Not bad.
As expected, there was nothing more impressive than gathering all the best pieces in one place.
He even considered bringing Elise out.
But if he did, raid teams would immediately swarm in to hunt her down, turning the area into a sea of fire. Deciding it wasn't worth it, he let the pleasant atmosphere remain.
"H-how can this…?"
Tremble.
Hong Deok-pyo stuttered.
This stage had been prepared to crush Jin-hyuk.
Instead, powerful figures had taken Jin-hyuk's side.
The reporters openly called Kang Jin-hyuk the best player, elevating his value even further.
The People's Republic Guild now looked like a joke.
He had drawn the worst possible card.
The Chinese players he brought would only be humiliated further.
"…He's bigger than I thought."
"Teresa, Yoo Chun-young, and Chun Yuseong… only people known to be impossible to cast are here."
"…"
The Chinese side's presence faded completely.
Being S-rank meant nothing here.
Had he known the hurdle would be this high, he would have brought more people.
'No.'
The Chinese leader shook his head.
'Unless our guild master comes personally, nothing would change.'
Their goal had been to improve the image of Chinese guilds and earn coins from the Black Cloud Guild.
Everything collapsed because of one man.
"Well, this is quite a fun event."
Jin-hyuk shrugged.
There was no denying that the three standing beside him were the most influential players in Korea.
But—
"If you're going to brag about connections… shouldn't it look like this?"
Even bragging was an art.
One storm had passed.
Hong Deok-pyo, deep in thought, gave up appearing on the program.
The Chinese players also withdrew.
That was the wise choice.
Appearing on television like this would only damage them further.
'This is why watching someone's confidence crumble is fun.'
That was why Jin-hyuk was more than just a veteran.
He was used to breaking people psychologically.
At that moment—
"What are you smiling about like that?"
Chun Yuseong clicked his tongue.
"Uh?"
"Forget it. It's obvious. You were enjoying Hong Deok-pyo's frustration, weren't you?"
Did this guy have no filter?
It felt like his brain and mouth were directly connected.
"Thank you for coming, but I'd appreciate it if you didn't expose my hobbies."
"Want me to stop? Considering my officetel got destroyed because of you, shouldn't you show some consideration?"
"Officetel… the place you lived?"
Jin-hyuk tilted his head, then realized.
Ah.
He had revealed Chun Yuseong's identity on the 5th floor.
After that, it became someone else's problem, and he forgot about it.
Ahem!
Was that guilt?
Jin-hyuk cleared his throat.
"I trusted you. Surely not even a single scratch reached a great swordsman like you."
"…I have a bad feeling about this. I don't think you'll get away with clever words forever."
"I'll take that as a compliment. More importantly, how was it?"
"What do you mean?"
"The Demonic Human Association. I sent them to you. How was dealing with them?"
At those words, Chun Yuseong froze.
His expression darkened.
"It was someone named Gawain."
Oh.
A name from the Knights of the Round Table.
Meaning one of their core members appeared personally.
"It wasn't easy?"
"Yes."
The opponent must have been formidable.
But—
"That's all."
Chun Yuseong stared at Jin-hyuk.
The intruder had been strong enough to threaten his life.
Yet, compared to Jin-hyuk…
They felt insignificant.
'As I thought… there's no one stronger than this guy.'
No matter how much backing a ranker had, or how absurd a boss monster became—
They wouldn't match Jin-hyuk.
So—
'One day, I'll defeat you and take the top spot.'
Even after 138 losses, the final victor gets the last laugh.
Chun Yuseong clung to that illusion.
Jin-hyuk then turned to the other two.
"I promised during the ruin raid that I'd appear on broadcast."
"Haha. I feel the same as Miss Teresa. I even wanted to bring my disciples, but you insisted on only me."
They were all grateful to Jin-hyuk.
That was why valuable people should be treated well.
Even if they couldn't help now, they would later.
At that moment—
"You can come up to the set now."
Kim Daun called out.
The time had come.
The broadcast began.
But—
'W-what is this?'
'We're ruined!'
Choi Hee-jae and Kim Daun were sweating bullets.
Rankers were notoriously difficult guests.
They rarely provided clear, usable content.
"Player Kang Jin-hyuk, could you tell us how you cleared the labyrinth?"
"Well, nothing special. I just chased the bull and ate tasteless mushrooms."
"I-is that all?"
"Yes."
Jin-hyuk nodded innocently.
"The 3rd floor dungeon—"
"Just avoid everything."
"The 4th floor?"
"Avoid everything again."
"And the 5th floor?"
"I worked hard avoiding everything."
No, really.
What was this?
In the end, Jin-hyuk gave them nothing but the pure essence of dungeon
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