Chapter 24 – VR Match

“This should be fun. A match between our guild’s promising talent and the best rookie of all time!”

Guild Master Choi Seok-man grinned.

An expression of anticipation.

On the other hand, Hyun Soo-ah was worried about Min Do-Jun.

‘What if he loses like that……’

After all, Jung Tae-sik was famous for being good at VR training within the guild.

But Min Do-Jun wasn’t worried.

‘Just child’s play.’

He was confident he wouldn’t lose to anyone.

And in the current situation, he had to win no matter what.

To make Jung Tae-sik even more angry than he already was.

“Mr. Min Do-Jun, have you tried VR training before?”

“No.”

“Well, it’s only available in guilds after all.”

Choi Seok-man believed Min Do-Jun’s words, but it was actually a lie.

He had experience from before his regression.

‘The patterns were too simple, so I quickly lost interest.’

Perhaps that’s why.

“Soo-ah, explain how to use it to the hunter.”

“Yes!”

Even though Hyun Soo-ah explained everything from how to wear the helmet, he didn’t pay attention.

“Do you understand how to do it, Do-Jun?”

“Yes. It’s easy.”

“Hmph.”

Jung Tae-sik inwardly mocked Min Do-Jun.

‘Let’s see how long you can remain arrogant. I’ll crush your pride completely.’

When the two put on their helmets and completed preparations, Choi Seok-man said,

“Alright, is everyone ready? The winner will be the one who catches 20 monsters the fastest, recording each person’s time. What monster should we use?”

“Let’s do tarantulas.”

At Jung Tae-sik’s answer, Hyun Soo-ah’s eyes widened.

“Isn’t that setting the difficulty too high?”

“It needs to be at least this level.”

“This is unfair! It’s Mr. Min Do-Jun’s first time today!”

“Did I ask for a match? And he said it’s like child’s play. He could probably do this with his eyes closed.”

Jung Tae-sik sneered, but Min Do-Jun merely shrugged.

“Do as you wish. It’s just entertainment anyway, so whatever.”

Jung Tae-sik thoroughly mocked him for not backing down.

‘Hehehe, you idiot.’

Tarantulas are C-rank monsters that can be hunted around level 500.

They’re famous for being tricky to deal with among them.

Jung Tae-sik, at level 450, always sets his VR training to tarantulas.

It’s the monster he’s most confident with.

‘Do you think someone like you can beat me when I train dozens of times a day?’

The confident Jung Tae-sik made one proposal.

“It’ll be boring if we just compete, so let’s do this. The loser calls the winner ‘big brother’. How about it?”

“Let’s do that.”

‘Hehe, idiot.’

Min Do-Jun’s ready acceptance was amusing, but he didn’t show it.

‘I’ll thoroughly mock you when it’s over.’

It’s not too late to ridicule him after the results come out.

Choi Seok-man said,

“The rules are simple. Whoever catches 20 tarantulas faster wins based on the recorded time. According to default settings, weapons are blades and physical specs are set equally at level 500. Skills are of course prohibited. Now, go in and get ready!”

The two entered the booths.

“Then begin!”

When the button was activated, the environment changed instantly.

Inside a dark cave.

It was the same looking around 360 degrees.

There was no tactile sensation, but the screen felt like entering a real dungeon.

He was holding a VR-specific wooden sword in his hand, but it appeared as a real blade on the screen.

‘Just do as usual.’

Jung Tae-sik calmly raised his blade and waited.

A tarantula appeared moments later.

“Haaah!”

The game began.

* * *

Choi Seok-man and Hyun Soo-ah watched the two on the monitor.

“Soo-ah, who do you think will win?”

“Tae-sik probably has the advantage, but… I still think Mr. Min Do-Jun will win.”

“Why?”

“Just a feeling.”

“You shouldn’t judge based on feelings. You have to look at reality.”

Choi Seok-man clicked his tongue and said with certainty,

“I think Tae-sik will win 100%. Hunter Min Do-Jun chose the wrong person.”

“But Mr. Min Do-Jun even caught an armored mantis alone……”

“That’s different from this. Do you think someone who’s never done VR can beat someone who trains dozens of times a day?”

“……”

“Tae-sik is also our guild’s promising talent. He can catch an armored mantis alone too.”

“But Mr. Min Do-Jun’s level was low……”

“Honestly, I hope Tae-sik wins.”

Choi Seok-man said in a slightly excited tone.

“He’s the pride of our guild, and above all, I don’t like Hunter Min Do-Jun’s attitude. I’d like to see his pride crushed a bit.”

Then he started venting his complaints.

“VR training is so helpful, what does he know? Tsk, I spent a lot of money installing this, is he saying it’s a waste of money?”

“What are you all doing here?”

At that moment, Manager Bae Sung-hoon appeared between the two.

“Watching a match.”

“A match?”

After hearing the details from the guild master, Bae Sung-hoon nodded.

“A match between our guild’s promising talent and a legendary hunter. Sounds interesting.”

“Who do you think will win, oppa? The guild master thinks Tae-sik will win.”

“I vote for Tae-sik too.”

“Why?”

“No matter how strong you are in real combat, basic abilities are the same in VR. Under equal conditions, Tae-sik who’s done it a lot naturally has the advantage.”

“Haha! Right? But your girlfriend says Hunter Min Do-Jun will win. Even though he’s a complete novice who’s never done VR before.”

Bae Sung-hoon looked at Hyun Soo-ah with an incomprehensible expression.

“You really think Hunter Min Do-Jun will win?”

“It’s just a feeling.”

“I’d like to take your side if possible, but the result is so obvious that……”

That’s when it happened.

A booth opened and someone came out.

It was Min Do-Jun.

As he took off his helmet, Choi Seok-man said with a puzzled face,

“Why did you come out already? You should come out after catching 20……”

“I caught them all though.”

At those words, they belatedly looked at the monitor and saw the results displayed.

“W-What is this?”

“20 in 3 minutes and 46 seconds?”

Not only Choi Seok-man, but Bae Sung-hoon also stared at the monitor in disbelief.

“Mr. Jung Tae-sik isn’t done yet?”

Min Do-Jun looked at the monitor in front of the booth.

A notification appeared saying he just caught his 4th one.

* * *

“Hyaah!”

Jung Tae-sik swung his sword while dodging the attack of the last remaining tarantula.

Kieeek!

[Successfully eliminated 20!]

[Elimination time: 17 minutes 21 seconds]

[User Jung Tae-sik has set a new record!]

Jung Tae-sik’s previous record was 18 minutes 12 seconds.

He shortened it by nearly a minute.

“Great!”

It’s probably the best record in the guild.

“Huff, huff.”

Jung Tae-sik came out of the booth, breathing heavily.

The expressions of the people were somehow dazed.

“Did you see? My record?”

“Huh? Uh……”

Jung Tae-sik’s mood soared at the guild master’s bewildered response.

“Are you that surprised? It’s just a 1-minute improvement, no need to be amazed. This much is a piece of……”

Jung Tae-sik, who was bragging as if it was nothing, suddenly looked surprised.

It was because he saw Min Do-Jun.

“What? Why are you out already?”

“Can’t you tell by looking? I finished, so I came out.”

Min Do-Jun gestured with his chin towards the monitor.

Jung Tae-sik belatedly checked Min Do-Jun’s results.

“W-What? 3 minutes 46 seconds?”

He couldn’t take his eyes off the monitor at the unbelievable result.

“Why were you so late? I thought I’d die of boredom waiting.”

As Min Do-Jun pretended to yawn, Jung Tae-sik whirled around.

Then he glared at him with murderous eyes.

“F**k, this isn’t your first time with VR.”

“What the f**k? Has this person gone crazy?”

“Hey, Jung Tae-sik!”

As the atmosphere suddenly turned hostile, the guild master stepped in.

“Why are you suddenly cursing?”

“But Guild Master! This doesn’t make sense. 3 minutes? There must be some error!”

“What error! You lost. Just admit it!”

“That b*st*rd must have done something……”

“b*st*rd? You should call me big brother from now on.”

Min Do-Jun demanded once again.

“A promise is a promise, right? Call me big brother.”

“What? You son of a……”

“Uh-uh! How dare you to your big brother.”

“……”

Jung Tae-sik, who had been glaring with a boiling mood, reluctantly muttered.

“B… Brother.”

“What? I can’t hear you well?”

“Big brother.”

“That’s right. Hehehe.”

Min Do-Jun, who was openly laughing as if amused, grabbed his money bag and said to Choi Seok-man,

“Guild Master. I’ll be going now.”

“Oh, you’re leaving?”

“Yes. I had fun playing around.”

“Um, about the contract……”

“I’ll decline. The facilities are nice, but calling this childish game training doesn’t suit me. And.”

Min Do-Jun looked at Jung Tae-sik and said,

“You should include character education in the curriculum. It’s ridiculous that a hunter who can’t control himself and suddenly curses is called promising.”

“……”

Jung Tae-sik’s eyebrows twitched.

“Then I’ll be going.”

“H-Hunter!”

Choi Seok-man, who had followed Min Do-Jun out, returned alone shortly after.

“Hey, Jung Tae-sik!!!”

“……”

“Because of you, f**k! We lost Hunter Min Do-Jun and damaged the guild’s image. What is this, you b*st*rd!!!”

“Ah, f**k.”

“What? What did you just say?”

Jung Tae-sik bit his lip and swallowed his anger.

“Huu…… It’s nothing.”

“Haah, now this guy’s temper comes out? To think I’ve been pushing such a guy all this time….. Sigh, should I really give him character education like that person said? Tsk.”

Jung Tae-sik, who received all sorts of scolding, clenched his fist.

‘That b*st*rd’s name was Min Do-Jun, right?’

His teeth gritted at the rising anger.

He had never felt this much anger in recent times.

‘F**k, I’ll definitely cut off that b*st*rd’s head.’

This was the second time he felt emotions to the point of murderous intent.

* * *

That evening.

Jung Tae-sik called someone with a serious expression.

-What is it?

“Big brother, it’s Tae-sik.”

-I know, kid. Why did you call?

“What other reason would I have to call you besides that?”

-Want to do another job?

“Yes. There’s a b*st*rd I really want to kill. Please help me.”

-The aftermath? Can you handle it?

“There’s nothing behind that b*st*rd. He doesn’t even have a guild.”

-Is that so?

Silence flowed over the call for a moment.

-Alright. I’ll help you.

“Thank you, big brother.”

The plan was set.

-But the conditions are the same as last time. I get 70%, you get 30%.

“Understood. I’m satisfied just getting revenge on that b*st*rd.”

-We’ll talk details later. Hanging up.

Jung Tae-sik grinned after ending the call.

‘Hehehe, you’re dead.’

He could already see the b*st*rd’s face begging for his life.

‘You shouldn’t have messed with me.’

A moment later, Jung Tae-sik went to find Hyun Soo-ah, who was training.

“What’s the matter?”

Hyun Soo-ah looked at him with wary eyes.

It was because she had seen his true character from what happened in the morning.

‘F**k, my image is all ruined.’

Jung Tae-sik swallowed his curse inwardly and said nonchalantly,

“Oh, it’s nothing much. Are you close with that Min Do-Jun person? You seemed to know each other.”

“Why are you asking that?”

“Well, I was a bit rude, right? I cursed and all. So I wanted to apologize, but I don’t know his contact info?”

“I don’t know either. Even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.”

Jung Tae-sik’s eyebrow twitched.

‘This f**king bitch!’

He felt his insides boiling at the thought of being disrespected even by a fellow guild member, but he endured it.

“Is that so? Alright.”

As he turned around coolly and walked away, he gritted his teeth.

‘After I take care of that b*st*rd Min Do-Jun, you’re next!’

Jung Tae-sik looked for someone else.

It was Manager Bae Sung-hoon.

“Hyung, do you know Mr. Min Do-Jun’s contact info by any chance?”

“Hm? I do. Why?”

“I want to apologize. Can you tell me?”

“Sure. Wait a bit.”

Getting the contact info from Bae Sung-hoon was easy.

“Thanks, hyung.”

Jung Tae-sik, who returned home, sent a long text message to Min Do-Jun.

[Hello. I’m Jung Tae-sik from Platinum Guild. I’m really sorry about what happened this morning. I spoke without thinking. I apologize. So I was wondering if I could treat you to some good experience points as an apology, if you have time?]

Min Do-Jun smirked as he read the message.

‘Sending this out of the blue? How ridiculous.’

A normal person would be wary of experience points or whatever, but.

[Alright. Let’s set a date.]

Min Do-Jun readily accepted without hesitation.

‘As planned.’

Because he had hoped Jung Tae-sik would come out like this.