The Player Who Can't Level Up

Thanks to Lucifer, or Soo-Jung, the Gate of Heryond was cleared. Usually, the media would go wild when a new gate was cleared. Gi-Gyu wanted to avoid such noise and attention; luckily, everything worked out for him. The gate perished a day after being cleared due to Soo-Jung’s interference, so Gi-Gyu used that extra day to contact the association’s Korean branch. Thus, he returned to Korea before the news hit.   

As soon as Gi-Gyu reached Korea, he wanted to meet Tae-Shik. But it seemed Tae-Shik was away on a business trip per the association president’s order. Because Tae-Shik went inside the Tower, Gi-Gyu couldn’t even contact him. So, after leaving a message for Tae-Shik, Gi-Gyu went straight to the hospital. 

Yoo-Jung was still at school, so Gi-Gyu didn’t see her when he reached his mother’s room. Given Yoo-Jung’s personality, she would’ve definitely skipped school to care for their mother. But, it seemed their mother had someone forced her into going to school. 

His mother’s condition had worsened in the span Gi-Gyu wasn’t here. When Gi-Gyu asked the doctor about it, he replied that it was a miracle she was still alive. 

‘Thank goodness, I’m not too late.’

After telling the doctor his mother wanted to spend her final days at home, Gi-Gyu got her discharged from the hospital. The hospital staff was concerned, worried that her condition would worsen even more if she wasn't under a doctor's care. However, Gi-Gyu was firm on his decision. 

His mother whispered weakly when they arrived home, “S…on?”

“Mother, are you alright?” 

Thanks to the Protection Talisman and the great potion Gi-Gyu purchased, his mother’s condition remained stable for a while. However, he knew even then that these items were far from an actual cure. The great potion cost him hundreds of millions of won, but all it could do was relieve her symptoms temporarily. 

Gi-Gyu’s mother cried as she murmured, “S…on… I missed you…”

She had never complained about Gi-Gyu's rare visits, but there was no doubt she missed him terribly. Aware that she wasn’t long for this world, she finally began telling him what she had been thinking.

“I had wished… to see you one more time before I died… So thank you for coming.”

“Mother, please don’t worry. You’re going to get better now,” Gi-Gyu reassured her as he wiped her tears with his sleeve. However, she probably thought he was just trying to make her feel better, as she continued, “There’s… something I have been wanting to tell you. The truth is… Son…”

Shiver…

She couldn’t finish her sentence, as she began experiencing a seizure. Gi-Gyu opened the bottle and began to slowly drip it down into his mother’s mouth. The magical purple potion entered her body drop by drop until the bottle became empty. Finally, the worries he had while he was making his way home had faded away. 

“Phew…” Gi-Gyu sighed in relief. 

Suddenly, her body began glowing with bright light, and she gently rose into the air. The same thing happened when Gi-Gyu drank the elixir, so he sat down and watched without panicking. 

Now, there was nothing else he could do but wait. He had done everything he could possibly do for his mother.

-Congrats, Master.

-Master, congratulations.

“Not yet… I have to wait and see how she reacts to it,” Gi-Gyu mumbled. Although he had high hopes, he still couldn’t relax completely, since his mother wasn’t a player. The elixir was known to work on everyone, but that assumption was based on the very few times an elixir appeared. There was no way of knowing if there were any side effects associated with it.  

When his mother began to emit even brighter light, Gi-Gyu closed all the curtains and watched patiently. After floating in the air for a while, her condition began to change visibly. Her muscles reimagined their mass, her wrinkles disappeared, and her face regained its color. Soon, her transformation was over. 

“It’s a success,” Gi-Gyu murmured. His mother was no longer glowing, so he carefully lay her down on the blanket. Finally, everything he set out to do was done. 

Gi-Gyu grabbed his phone, which had been charging, and texted Yoo-Jung.

-Come home.

When he finally relaxed, his days of fatigue suddenly engulfed him. Gi-Gyu lay down on the floor and fell into a deep sleep. So many incredible things had happened in a single trip that it was no wonder he collapsed. 

-Thank goodness.

-I’m so worried about him… Master is getting closer to that woman. I don’t like it.

-There is nothing we can do about it.

Lou sounded sad for some reason. He muttered,

-After all, everything is happening as it should.

-As it should…

***

“Oppa! Do you have any idea about mom’s current condition? You haven’t been home in over a month. Mom suffered so much. And now that you’re back, you just say two words: Come home? You need to get to the hospital right now to see…”

Yoo-Jung yelled as she burst into their home. But she couldn’t finish her sentence, as she saw an unfamiliar-but-beautiful woman standing in the kitchen. 

“Who? Umm… Mom?” Yoo-Jung murmured in shock. 

“Yoo-Jung, is that you?” 

“Mom…? Is that you, Mom?” Yoo-Jung whispered when she recognized the woman’s voice. Mother to Yoo-Jung and Gi-Gyu, the woman was as healthy as the day she was born. Unable to believe her eyes, Yoo-Jung kept blinking her eyes. In the living room, she vaguely noticed Gi-Gyu sleeping on the floor. 

Yoo-Jung asked in confusion, “What happened? It’s you, right, Mom? You’re my mom, right?”

“Of course I am. Your brother is sleeping, so maybe we should talk later, okay?” Yoo-Jung’s mom, Lee Su-Jin, replied with a motherly smile. Her smile was beautiful and warm enough to melt the winter day’s ice. 

Sob.

“Mommmmmmmmmmm!” Yoo-Jung cried out as she hugged Su-Jin.

“We should keep quiet since your brother is sleeping…” Su-Jin murmured, but there were tears in her eyes too when she hugged her daughter. Their embrace lasted a while before they began making dinner together. As they cooked, the chatter in the kitchen didn’t stop for a second. 

Both Yoo-Jung and Su-Jin couldn’t stop smiling. They were worried their voices might wake Gi-Gyu up, but his fatigue made sure he was out cold. If not for his loud snores, Yoo-Jung would’ve conceded he was dead. 

And soon, the dinner was ready. Su-Jin made a meal for her son, who miraculously saved her life.

***

Gi-Gyu couldn’t tell how long he was out for, but he felt like he had a long dream. Although he couldn’t remember it, he felt certain it was a good dream. It had been such a long time since he felt this refreshed. 

Gi-Gyu hadn't felt this good ever since his father passed away and his mother fell ill. Maybe all the hardships his family had to suffer through had a hand in that. 

“It looks delicious, Mom!” Gi-Gyu announced. 

“It totally does! Thanks, Mom!” Yoo-Jung agreed enthusiastically. 

“Eat up, my beautiful son and daughter!”

It had been such a long time since their mother last cooked for them that Gi-Gyu and Yoo-Jung jumped to pick up their spoons. Thankfully, Gi-Gyu’s family didn’t cry at the dinner table… because they had already cried their hearts out when Gi-Gyu woke up. 

After taking a bite of the fried egg, Yoo-Jung replied playfully, “Mom! That’s not fair! It should be the beautiful daughter first and then son!”

They all ate happily amid Yoo-Jung’s occasional exclaims. “So delicious!” Because her mouth was full of food, Yoo-Jung couldn’t even speak properly. Meanwhile, Gi-Gyu ate his eggs and seaweed soup silently. 

The joy and peace he felt were long overdue. He had been dreaming of this moment for a very long time. After the meal, Gi-Gyu volunteered to do the dishes. Su-Jin and Yoo-Jung insisted they could do it, but they couldn’t stop him. 

While washing the dishes with rubber gloves and an apron on, he asked, “Mother, does your body feel okay? Does anything feel strange?”

“No. In fact, I’m so full of energy that it’s almost strange. Now, tell me, Gi-Gyu, what happened? How did you do this?” Su-Jin asked.

Suddenly, Yoo-Jung interrupted and demanded an answer from her brother too.

“Oppa, could it be that you really got the elixir?”

Gi-Gyu just smiled, and the two women didn’t prod him further. He explained, “I wish I could take you back to the hospital and get you checked out. It would be great to make sure you’re really okay, but I think it’s best if you stay out of other people’s eyes for a while.”

Su-Jin nodded in understanding. If the others found out about the miracle she experienced, her whole family would receive unwanted attention from the world. 

Gi-Gyu continued, “When Tae-Shik hyung gets back, we’ll get you examined. So, please, be patient till then.”

“There is nothing for me to be patient about, Gi-Gyu. I’m just happy I get to eat this delicious meal with my son and daughter. That’s all I ever wanted; this is more than enough for me,” Su-Jin replied, making him smile. 

“Son…” When his mother murmured, her eyes again filling with tears, Gi-Gyu shook his head. He said to her teasingly, “Ah! Mother! If you start crying again, your son is going to leave!”

“I just wanted to say thank you.” Despite Gi-Gyu’s warning, his mother couldn’t stop herself from crying. Although she never showed it, Su-Jin had suffered for an excruciatingly long time. Of course, it was the same for Yoo-Jung and Gi-Gyu as well. 

Su-Jin watched Gi-Gyu’s broad back sadly. Her children, still so young, had to mature out of their age. It was because of the difficulties they had to endure for such a long time. Su-Jin thought to herself sadly, 

‘Even if it were just a for an extra moment… I wish they could have had a happier childhood.’

Gi-Gyu had given up everything for his family without once acting childish. Su-Jin murmured to her son, “From now on, please stop worrying about me and live your life, Son.”

Trying his best to hide his tears, Gi-Gyu continued to wash the dishes silently. 

***

“Bastard. I can’t believe you really did it.” Tae-Shik’s face was filled with bliss, but his words didn’t match his expression. He continued, “Just how did you do it? You have no idea what is happening over there in the US, do you? After the Heryond… No, this isn’t the time to talk about this. Gotta take you to a quiet place, so we can talk privately.”

The moment Tae-Shik returned from his business trip, he came to Gi-Gyu. Tae-Shik wanted to know what happened at the maze, so Gi-Gyu offered, “Then let’s go talk at home.”

“You mean your home?”

“Yes, Mother is so grateful for all that you’ve done for her. She has been hoping to invite you for dinner,” explained Gi-Gyu.

“Hmm.” 

Tae-Shik took out his phone and made a quick call. He said to someone on the phone, “Tell that old man I’ll go see him tomorrow. Just tell him I need to take care of something related to Heryond. He’ll understand.” 

Without waiting for an answer from the person on the other end, Tae-Shik hung up. With Gi-Gyu in the passenger seat, Tae-Shik began driving his beloved pink Tico to Gi-Gyu’s house. 

Since Gi-Gyu had called ahead, Su-Jin was busy preparing dinner for her guest. As Gi-Gyu and Tae-Shik walked up to the rooftop, they could already smell the delicious aroma wafting from Gi-Gyu’s home. Tae-Shik suddenly stopped on the stairs and exclaimed in surprise, “Is this the aroma of your mother’s cooking?”

“Yes.”

“I had no idea she was such a great cook. Let’s hurry up. I ate jerky and packaged food in the Tower for so long that I could feel my taste buds dying. Also, I’m starving.” Tae-Shik’s business trip took place inside the Tower, so it seemed he hadn’t had a decent meal in a long time. 

Opening the front door, Gi-Gyu announced, “I’m home, Mother. I brought Tae-Shik hyung with me.”

“Welcome! You’re right on time. Dinner is ready,” Su-Jin greeted both men with a bright smile. 

“Let’s get inside, Hyung,” said Gi-Gyu as he took his shoes off. But for some reason, Tae-Shik remained in the entrance, looking dazed. 

Gi-Gyu said to Tae-Shik in confusion, “Hyung, what are you doing? Why aren’t you coming inside?”

“Ah… Huh? Oh! I’m coming! I’m here! Thank you!” Tae-Shik hurriedly took his shoes off and walked inside. After taking their coats off, Gi-Gyu and Tae-Shik sat down at the table as Su-Jin prepared their meal. 

Tae-Shik ate awkwardly, and Gi-Gyu watched him with a grin. Sitting across from them, Su-Jin thanked Tae-Shik with a deep bow, “I am so grateful for all you’ve done. Our family owes you a great debt.”

“N-not at all! I was happy to do it. I’m just so relieved and thankful that you have recovered,” Tae-Shik murmured clumsily, making Su-Jin laugh. With a small nod, she replied, “You probably want to talk with Gi-Gyu privately, so I’ll leave you to it. I hope I get to treat you to a proper meal next time. I haven’t been able to go out, so I’m afraid I didn’t get to prepare anything decent for you.”

“T-that’s not true! It… it was really delicious! This was the best meal I have ever had in my life!” Tae-Shik shouted; when he noticed Gi-Gyu laughing at him, he blushed.  

Gi-Gyu’s mother brought them some hot tea and then left to give them some privacy. She wanted Tae-Shik to feel comfortable talking with Gi-Gyu. When she was out of sight, Tae-Shik took something out from his pocket and placed it on the table. 

It was his barrier item. 

“I think your mother will feel hurt if she heard what we’re about to discuss. It would be best if she didn’t know about it,” Tae-Shik explained, and Gi-Gyu nodded in understanding. Gi-Gyu felt thankful Tae-Shik was being so considerate. After all, it was true. Su-Jin would’ve felt guilty if she had heard what had happened to Gi-Gyu. They were about to talk about Gi-Gyu’s suicide mission, which he barely survived.

Gi-Gyu decided to tell Tae-Shik everything, including how he met Ironshield and his guild and how they tortured him. Gi-Gyu also needed Tae-Shik to know about Athena and Artemis’ attack, the true identity of Lucifer, the corps commander, and the elixir. 

Everything that happened in the maze was important, and Gi-Gyu had to explain how he barely survived each event that could’ve easily led to his death. But before discussing all of these major events, Gi-Gyu had something he had to ask Tae-Shik first. 

“Hyung, do you like my mom?”

Fwah!

Surprised by such a blunt question, Tae-Shik coughed and spat out his tea. 

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