Chapter 38
* * *
August 15th.
In Korea, it is celebrated as Independence Day, marking the country's liberation from Japanese colonial rule.
In Japan, it's a day they prefer not to dwell on too much, the day they commemorate the end of the war.
And the Independence Day of 2020 held an even more special meaning for the two historically entwined nations.
That's because there was a scheduled match between the two countries in the BattleNet Northeast Asia League.
The Korea-Japan match on Independence Day!
When Sword King was still in Korea, the Korean people eagerly anticipated this day.
From 2019 to early 2020, Korea's national team was in top form, especially against Japan, where they had a significant advantage.
Hence, most people never doubted that they would witness the Japanese team's crushing defeat on this historic day.
'Well, the situation has changed now...'
Sitting at her desk, Lee Hayeon stared intently at the text Seong Jihan had sent.
[8.15 Korea-Japan match results]
[1st Match: Korea wins / MVP Lee Jinwook]
[2nd, 3rd, 4th Matches: Japan wins / MVP Ito Ryuhei]
'Predicting Japan's win is obvious...'
From a purely objective standpoint, without letting national pride cloud judgment, Japan's victory was expected.
After all, Korea's core power, Sword King, had transferred to another team.
The online sentiment was the same.
If one had to bet all their wealth, Japan was the overwhelming choice, highlighting the vast difference in team strength.
'But a 1:3 score and even predicting the MVP... This doesn't make sense.'
The lineup for the 8:15 national team match had already been announced.
Sword King was set to participate in all matches, from the 1st to the 5th.
Yet, they're saying Korea will win the first match against a team with Sword King?
'Impossible.'
Before the lineup was revealed, maybe.
But now, with Sword King's participation in all the matches, the majority predicted a 3:0 victory for Japan.
'And the 1st match MVP is Lee Jinwook?'
Lee Jinwook.
He was a player Lee Hayeon was quite familiar with.
Being a Diamond League player that the Twin Star Guild boasted about and a national team member.
However, Lee Jinwook's position was a supporter, a position that rarely wins MVP.
Especially in a match as unfavorable as this one, it's even harder for a supporter to become MVP.
"I don't want to waste money on such an obvious match..."
Looking discontentedly at Seong Jihan's text, Lee Hayeon decided,
"Ah! Let's just waste 5 million won."
She decided to just think of it as an investment in Seong Jihan and bet as he had predicted.
"...Huh, the odds are only in double digits."
Given the 1:3 score and even specifying the MVP, she expected higher odds.
Lee Hayeon briefly tilted her head but then showed an indifferent expression.
'It doesn't matter. It's not like I'm going to win anyway.'
It was money she'd already written off.
No, it was a 'rational purchase' to increase her connection with Seong Jihan.
"Now that's settled..."
After making her bet based on Seong Jihan's prediction, Lee Hayeon, staring at her smartphone, thought,
'Now for my real bet!'
She quickly lit up and poured a large amount of money on the universally expected 3:0 victory for Japan.
She was certain that Seong Jihan's prediction was nonsense.
* * * * *
Inside Kim Heesu's car.
"Wow~! Seah, your uncle is really amazing~!"
Returning home after finishing Student Council work, Kim Heesu exclaimed as she watched the broadcast with Yoon Seah.
"He could clear the Conqueror's Mausoleum like that!"
"I know, right? It's so fascinating."
"It's hard to believe he's just Bronze Rank..."
Kim Heesu looked at Seong Jihan on the screen with amazement.
"Your uncle seems completely different from when I saw him at your house. He's become really cool, hasn't he?"
"Hehe... Really?"
"Yeah. Back then, he reeked of alcohol and had messy hair."
"It might have been after he won or lost a bet on BattleNet."
"...What's the difference?"
"If he won, he drank out of excitement. If he lost, he drank out of frustration."
Anyway, the conclusion was about alcohol.
Kim Heesu chuckled as she looked at her phone.
'Among all the promising talents I've seen, he seems the most outstanding...'
Seong Jihan, the younger brother of the Priestess Seong Jiah.
She thought he lacked any special abilities, but who would've thought he had this talent hidden?
'With that level of skill, he has every potential to become a star player.'
Kim Heesu's eyes sparkled as she looked at Seong Jihan.
And her interest grew even more when...
"Uh..."
"Wow, uncle, what's that?"
As Seong Jihan, who was dragging his party members around, faced off against the Conqueror's statue, he was growing stronger.
And at the end of the video, seeing Seong Jihan's sword break the Conqueror's bow, Kim Heesu couldn't help but be astonished.
"Is... is that even possible?"
"Well, I knew my uncle was strong, but to that extent..."
As the video ended with Seong Jihan acquiring the Phoenix's Arrow, Kim Heesu looked at Yoon Seah with envy.
"You're so lucky, Seah."
"Why?"
"Your whole family has received high-grade Gifts. I bet you'll get one too, right?"
Yoon Seah's father had an SSS-grade gift, her mother, Priestess, had an SS-grade, and considering the incredible strength displayed by Seong Jihan on screen, he undoubtedly had a high-grade Gift too. That's why Yoon Seah was considered the crown jewel in the BattleNet industry.
"Gifts and genetics aren't related."
"Come on. Still, three people in your family turned out great, right?"
"Um... hehe. I guess so."
Even if she tried not to expect much, given her family's history, she couldn't help but have high hopes for her gift.
"Speaking of which, your birthday is on the 22nd, right? It's not far off now."
"Yeah. I wonder what gift I'll receive... I'm a bit nervous."
"Hehe, what do you have to worry about? Great! I'll get you a grand birthday gift!"
"Come on~ What gift?"
Yoon Seah waved her hands dismissively, saying it was fine.
"No, you must accept it."
Kim Heesu said so with a meaningful smile.
[You've achieved 1st rank in the dungeon game.]
[For achieving 1st place, your experience and GP acquisition rate increased by 50%.]
[Your level has increased by 1.]
[You've acquired 5,000 GP.]
[You've acquired 1,000 Achievement Points as a reward.]
Seong Jihan began to meticulously go over the rewards he had postponed.
'Given it was my first time clearing dungeon mode, I even got additional Achievement Points.'
[As the sole 1st place, you've acquired all the gold bars stored in the Conqueror's Mausoleum.]
[You've acquired 40,000 GP.]
[You've cleared the hidden achievement, 'Solo Dungeon Clear'.]
[You've acquired 3,000 Achievement Points as a reward.]
The Conqueror's Mausoleum, infamous for its stingy rewards, gave out a significant amount of GP when he claimed all the gold bars, typically split between four players, all for himself. Additionally, clearing the hidden achievement boosted his Achievement Points significantly.
[You've cleared the hidden quest, 'Show True Respect to the Conqueror's Statue'.]
[You've acquired 5,000 Achievement Points as a reward.]
[You've acquired the Conqueror's arrow, 'Phoenix's Arrow', as a reward.]
From the Conqueror's Mausoleum alone, he was able to harvest 10,000 Achievement Points.
'The rewards from yesterday's survival game don't even compare.'
A satisfied smile naturally formed on his face.
Even though he only leveled up once, with 45,000 GP, 10,000 Achievement Points, and the Phoenix's Arrow, the rewards he received for a single game were incredibly substantial.
'Should I check out the description of the Phoenix's Arrow?'
[Phoenix's Arrow]
[Grade: A]
[An arrow made from the feather of the Phoenix and belongs to the Conqueror.
When shot, it exudes immense power and returns to the owner's hand.
The Phoenix's flames are sealed within, and the arrow disappears after being shot 5 times.]
'I thought it would be grade S.' Compared to the power the Conqueror's statue showed, its grade was only A.
Perhaps it's because the arrow disappears after being shot five times.
Yet, considering it came from a Bronze-level dungeon, it was an item that could be described as overpowered.
'I'll need to use it as a spear for a while.'
As long as it's not thrown, it can be continually used as a weapon.
'And for the GP... let's bet it all on the Korea-Japan game.'
Seong Jihan recalled the message he sent to Lee Hayeon.
The prediction of one win, three losses, and the MVP.
It was information he was certain of from his past memories.
It was also the first game where Yoon Sejin participated as a member of the Japanese team and led Korea into a downfall.
The flow of the game was also markedly different from the general predictions at that time.
'Korea winning the first game was against everyone's expectations...'
Seong Jihan logged into BattleNet on his smartphone and placed the same bet as Lee Hayeon.
The difference between him and her was:
While she only bet 5 million won,
Seong Jihan poured in all his assets.
'1:37, huh.'
Even after correctly predicting the game's outcome and the MVP, the odds were lower than expected.
However, looking at this, Seong Jihan was sure.
'Yoon Sejin. You also bet like this, didn't you?'
There's always a reason for low odds.
Either many people placed bets,
or, like Seong Jihan's bet, a large sum was poured in.
The source of that money was probably Yoon Sejin.
Seong Jihan recalled the game from his past life.
During the first Korea-Japan game,
Yoon Sejin deliberately died at the hands of the supporter, Lee Jinwook.
He took off all his armor and inflicted self-harm.
He only allowed Lee Jinwook to deliver the finishing blow.
'That's why Lee Jinwook was able to become the MVP.'
In his later interviews, he said he did it deliberately due to conflicts with the Japanese team.
But Seong Jihan suspected match-fixing.
And seeing the lower-than-expected odds now, that suspicion gradually turned into conviction.
'Still, just in case, I shouldn't use Seah's share.'
The 50 billion won Yoon Seah received was the niece's assets that he must absolutely protect.
There was no need to mobilize that money.
'Instead, I should bet all of mine or whatever I earn on this.'
And so, a week passed.
The day of the final showdown.
The 15th of August, Independence Day, dawned.