Ranker’s Return

“Father, do you know Kim Seokjung? No, a person called ‘Jin Sijong’,” Hyeonu said carefully. This was the most important name behind Jung Cheolho’s downfall.

“I do... Actually, I know the name for other reasons. I know the name of Jin Sijong very well,” Gang Seokjun answered. 

He knew Jin Sijong. In recent years, Kim Seokjung was known as the master of New World and had a good relationship with Hyeonu.  However, he was much more famous under another name—the money ghost, Jin Sijong. He was a self-made man who created a giant company.

“He helped me. Jung ahjussi—no, Jung Cheolho was suddenly summoned, investigated, and arrested. It was all Jin Sijong's plan.”

In fact, Hyeonu didn’t know the details either as Kim Seokjung hadn’t explained. He just trusted that Kim Seokjung had done it.

“Why did he help you?” Gang Seokjun looked puzzled. Why did the money ghost help his son? He couldn’t figure it out.

“He helped me because he likes me. I am different from you, Father. People around me really like me.” Hyeonu threw a lighthearted joke to lift the heavy atmosphere. “This isn’t the important thing. No matter who did it, that person is about to be punished. His son also has to accept karma for the past.”

From Hyeonu’s voice, Gang Seokjun could sense Hyeonu’s deep trust in Kim Seokjung. It was a conviction that Kim Seokjung would never have bad intentions toward Hyeonu.

“This is what I should’ve done, but he helped me. So in the end, this is the result,” Gang Seokjun said. 

“Your health recovery comes first. And... What are you going to do in the future? Do you want to travel with Mom?” Hyeonu secretly looked at his mother, who had returned with a plate full of treats, and spoke words different from what he was originally going to say to Gang Seokjun.

“Mom, you should’ve called me. Why did you carry it?” Hyeonu hurriedly got up from his seat and ran to his mother, stealing the tray from her hands.

“What is so hard about this that I have to call you? It has been a while since you father and son have had a conversation.”

The gaze of Hyeonu’s mother alternated between Gang Seokjun and Hyeonu. She hadn’t heard the conversation between the two men. Even so, she felt great joy in looking at the two people who didn’t look much different from before Gang Seokjun collapsed.

Hyeonu put the tray down on the table and asked Gang Seokjun again, “So what is your answer? What are you going to do in the future?”

“Groan...” Gang Seokjun couldn’t answer that question easily.

First of all, restoring his health was the top priority. Gang Seokjun still wasn’t able to walk properly. For more than half a year, he had been unconscious in bed. He hadn't had a normal intake of nutrients, and he naturally hadn't been able to exercise. So it was hard to find the muscles in his body.

‘After restoring my body...’

Originally, Gang Seokjun would’ve restored his health before running around everywhere to destroy Jung Cheolho’s, but he no longer had to do that thanks to Kim Seokjung and Hyeonu. Gang Seokjun finally replied, “Who knows... I haven’t thought about it yet. Won’t it be hard to say it now?”

Hyeonu gave his father a strange smile. Seeing that, Gang Seokjun felt anxious.

Hyeonu opened his mouth with a sly look and said, “I thought you were naturally going on a trip with Mom and wanted to help you out...”

‘I was fooled!’ Gang Seokjun immediately turned his head to look at his wife. Her expression didn’t look good. Gang Seokjun’s mind spun quickly. This was the fastest it had spun since he woke up from his coma.

“I didn’t say it because it was too obvious. In addition... I don’t know when my body will recover. If you say this in advance, how long will your mother be waiting for that day?” Gang Seokjun offered pretty plausible words even in the urgent situation.

“Then go to Guam. I’ll prepare the hotel and plane ticket.” Hyeonu smiled as he looked between his mother and his father.

“Can’t you go with us?” Hyeonu’s mother asked Hyeonu with a sad expression. It was because Hyeonu’s words gave off the feeling that only they should go.

“I am busy this time so it will probably be hard. Instead, I’ll definitely come with you next time.” Hyeonu shook his head with an apologetic expression. For the next three or four months, he had to focus on streaming and Arena. His time with his parents was important but so was his promise with the viewers.

‘Crucially, Mom’s eyes...’

Hyeonu understood the meaning in his mother’s gaze.

‘You are still young.’

Thus, he came up with this answer: “I’ll call you often, so be sure to pick up.”

Hyeonu took the sweets off the tray and chewed on them. They were very sweet.

***

After talking for nearly three hours, Hyeonu left his parents’ house. He didn’t start the red Porsche though. Instead, he picked up his smartphone and made a call.

“Hey, where should I go?” Hyeonu started the call with a rough question.

He didn’t say a formal greeting because of the other person's identity.

-The place is... It is near Cheongdam-dong. It is a bit vague when describing it...

The person Hyeonu called was Yeongchan. The reason he called Yeongchan was that today was the first time he was seeing the Crescent Moon players after Arena Week. The appointment location hadn’t been determined yet when Hyeonu returned to his family home, so it was inevitable that Hyeonu didn’t know it.

“Just take a photo of the map and send it. I am a fool for asking you.” Hyeonu sighed. He forgot that Yeongchan was a fool who couldn’t find anywhere except the supermarket near his house without a GPS.

-Ah, that’s right. What do you want to eat?

“What do they sell?”

-They sell everything.

“Then get me anything with meat. I’ve only been eating sweets, so I’m craving something greasy.”

-Okay, I’ll send you the location straight away.

Hyeonu immediately ended the call and started the car. Yeongchan’s message came quickly.

‘So it’s here... It won’t take long.’

The place wasn’t far away. It was only a 20-minute drive.

‘Let’s go!’

The red Porsche gave a rough cry and soon disappeared.

***

“How have you been?” Hyeonu entered the luxuriously decorated room and waved.

“Yes, I’ve been good, Hyung.” Lee Hoon was the first to greet Hyeonu.

“It is a bit unfortunate that Mason and Dwayne aren’t here,” Hyeonu muttered when he saw the people sitting in the room. There were Yuri, Sunny, Lee Hoon, and Yeongchan in the room but no Dwayne or Mason. The latter two people were currently in the United States, not South Korea.

“It is awkward because I used to see you every day.”

“Me too. That’s why I’m feeling a bit lost.”

Sunny and Yuri also waved to Hyeonu and agreed with his words. They hadn't lived in the same house, but they had eaten, drunk, and played Arena in the same space for more than three months. It was a time where they had gotten used to each other.

“Still, we can meet in Arena. We have to be satisfied with this. They are people who live elsewhere originally,” Hyeonu replied with positive words. Now they just weren’t living in the same country. It wasn’t like they would never meet again.

“That is true. I think we will probably start hunting hard from tomorrow. We neglected hunting due to the league preparations,” Lee Hoon said. 

Hyeonu nodded. He had helped the Crescent Moon players practice, but they hadn't had the leisure to keep hunting and doing quests outside of that. So there had been a significant reduction in the time they spent hunting compared to before they became professional gamers.

“Ah, that’s right. What did you all decide to do? Don’t you have to decide now? It won’t change just because you think about it more,” Hyeonu said while diligently scooping food onto his plate.

“Ah, that... In fact, I haven’t asked...” Lee Hoon answered while awkwardly scratching the back of his head. Hyeonu’s question was about nothing other than staying a pro gamer.

“If you want to do more, do it. Otherwise, retire like me.” Hyeonu spoke as if it was nothing.

He had no doubts about his professional gamer life. Although he had only experienced one season of the Winter League, Hyeonu had enjoyed everything he could as a professional gamer in Arena. He had won the league and Arena Week. Hyeonu had left an impact that no one could forget.

‘It is the people in front of me who were caught...’

The people Hyeonu brought directly into the professional world were the only burdens on his heart. Thus, he wanted an answer.

‘It is only when a decision is quickly made that I can build a team for Hoon.’

It was Hyeonu’s consideration and gift to create the best Crescent Moon for Lee Hoon—Project New Moon.

“I... I’ll do it as long as the training time is reduced. Now I have to go to school... I think it is a bit hard,” Yuri said.  She was a conditional approval, wherein she'd join as long as the training time was reduced.

‘The condition isn’t very difficult,’ Hyeonu thought.

Honestly, they'd had no time to spare in the Winter League, so the training became that hard. Nevertheless, they had plenty of time now. In addition, Yuri’s abilities were already on the right track, so there was no need for her to train that much.

“Then it’s okay. I’ll exclude you from PvP training.”

“Thank you, Oppa.”

Yuri was resolved. The only one left was Sunny.

“I... To tell you the truth, I don’t know what to do. The professional gaming life wasn’t really hard... I just think I’ll have a hard time without you. I also couldn’t stream much, so I was a bit uneasy...” Sunny said. 

Her career as a professional gamer hadn’t been hard since around the time of the Winter League. She didn’t have any memories of hard training, so it was cool. Rather, she felt happy to see her rapidly growing skills as she practiced with her teammates.

“Hmm... Why don’t you play as a streamer and pro gamer? I’ll match the training time to Yuri’s,” Hyeonu replied. 

Hyeonu’s suggestion made Sunny more worried, but she felt inclined to agree because the conditions were good.

“In addition, joint streaming five times every league.” Hyeonu drove the wedge into Sunny’s heart.

They would have joint streams five times—it was a tremendous temptation. Sunny couldn’t resist it. Any streamer would kneel in front of this condition.

“Okay, I’ll call. Should I sign the contract right away?” Sunny immediately regained her usual personality. She felt at ease because there was nothing to worry about.

“Hyung, are you now the supervisor of Crescent Moon?” Lee Hoon, who was grabbing food, asked Hyeonu as if he thought of something.

“No? Why should I be the supervisor? I will just be a coach who will occasionally help with practice. There is already a supervisor,” Hyeonu answered Lee Hoon’s question with a smile.

‘I will have to contact him immediately tomorrow.’

The supervisor was a person who had set his mark from the beginning.