The Player Who Can't Level Up

Gi-Gyu knew Andras might have planted a spy in the Korean government. And that was partly why he had met with Kim Sung-Moo despite finding it cumbersome.

‘But Andras wouldn’t be this careless.’ 

Ostensibly, Gi-Gyu was wrong in assuming Kim Sung-Moo was Andras’ spy. Andras and his minions would never use silly methods like this. Only a greedy human could do something like this—someone who had overestimated themselves greatly.

Standing in front of a giant door, Gi-Gyu rang the doorbell. No one answered, even though he rang it a few times.

Just then, he felt several presences nearby. Gi-Gyu rang the bell again and announced, “If you don’t get rid of the players approaching me, things will get very ugly. If you still want to resolve this with a conversation, open this door right now.”

However, the players didn’t stop, making Gi-Gyu frown. He was about to step back when the firmly-closed door suddenly opened.

***

“Would you like some tea?” Kim Sung-Moo tried to act nonchalant, but his hands were trembling. He wasn’t a player. He was a non-player office worker talented in politics. So, he couldn’t endure Gi-Gyu’s angry energy.

“No, thank you,” Gi-Gyu refused and sat on the sofa.

An awkward silence fell.

“I apologize.” Kim Sung-Moo broke the silence. “We were just… Since you’re such an important figure… We were only trying to protect you, Ranker Kim Gi-Gyu. A bodyguard, if you will.”

Kim Sung-Moo’s excuse was ridiculous, so Gi-Gyu glared at him; he became quiet.

After another short silence, Kim Sung-Moo made another excuse, “And about the players outside… They are just my bodyguards. Please don’t misunderstand.”

Gi-Gyu burst into laughter. Did Kim Sung-Moo really think his lies would work? Was lying his reflex? Something he didn’t even know he was doing?

When Gi-Gyu had caught the player following him, he heard Kim Sung-Moo curse the player crudely.

“You can’t even follow a single person? I guess you don’t want the money for your mother’s hospital bill, huh?” Gi-Gyu repeated what he had heard. Kim Sung-Moo’s face turned pale as Gi-Gyu continued, “If you can kill him, kill him now. This could be our chance. If he comes to my home, I’ll have an excuse for killing him.”

Kim Sung-Moo suddenly knelt on the floor and apologized, “I-I’m so sorry!”

“Haa…” Gi-Gyu sighed deeply. He couldn’t believe someone like this had become the head of the Player Maintenance Department.

Kim Sung-Moo simply couldn’t gauge his opponent’s power. There was only one reason Eden was at peace with the Korean government: Gi-Gyu allowed it. A mighty enemy was threatening the world, and Gi-Gyu was the best shield against it. To those who knew the current situation well, he was the “strongest shield and the spear.”

‘I heard this man works as a thug for the wealthy and powerful.’ This explained how Kim Sung-Moo could become assistant secretary of the Player Maintenance Department.

He was an assistant secretary, but he had the authority of a minister because he was supported by some of the wealthiest people in the country. The appearance of the Tower and the players had benefited this man greatly.

The wealthy had always wanted the players’ power. So when the Player Maintenance Department came to be, they tried to control it. Of course, after this department lost power, the wealthy also lost interest in it.

‘But now they think they have another chance at power.’ 

These powerful people probably believed that Kim Sung-Mood and his lack of brains and ethics would get them what they wanted. How could they think that?

Gi-Gyu believed that Kim Sung-Moo was in this position only because he was the son of the man who owned the biggest financial institution in the country.

Gi-Gyu asked, “You kneel before me because you know your bodyguard players can’t defeat me, correct?”

“...”

“And if I believe your words and leave you today, you’ll try to do something to annoy me again.”

Kim Sung-Moo clenched his fists, but Gi-Gyu didn’t care.

“So I have no other choice.” Gi-Gyu slowly stood up and walked to the man.

“Ackkk!” Kim Sung-Moo screamed and tried to run, but an invisible force held onto him and made him stand up.

“Ugh!” Kim Sung-Moo groaned when Gi-Gyu put his hand on his head.

‘I really didn’t want to do this…’ Gi-Gyu had never wanted to use this power on a non-player, and he didn’t have to until now.

‘Isn’t this what those people were talking about before?’ 

His sync ability yielded results similar to brainwashing. It forced the target into becoming his servant with unconditional loyalty. Using such power against a non-player seemed…

Anyway, Gi-Gyu didn’t hesitate for long.

“Sync.” Gi-Gyu knew that just one word from him could change so many things. He had the power, and he needed to use it.

“Ugh!” Kim Sung-Moo gasped as Gi-Gyu received all of Kim Sung-Moo’s information quickly. Gi-Gyu saw Kim Sung-Moo’s life, which was filled with filthy desires and unethical deeds.

Gi-Gyu frowned and put Kim Sung-Moo down.

“You’re not worth syncing with,” Gi-Gyu muttered,

“Aaaahhh!” Kim Sung-Moo shrieked because the sync process had abruptly stopped. Gi-Gyu knelt and grabbed Kim Sung-Moo’s mouth.

Gi-Gyu warned, “You better not annoy me again. Spend the remainder of your days atoning for your sins. If you don’t…”

A black stem stretched out from Gi-Gyu’s hand and entered Kim Sung-Moo’s mouth. It reached his stomach through his throat.

Gi-Gyu added, “You’ll get to see what hell really looks like.”

Plop.

Kim Sung-Moo was finally freed and dropped to the floor. And by then, Gi-Gyu was long gone.

***

Gi-Gyu’s head was pounding. He left Eden to take a break, but he only ended up experiencing something unpleasant.

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He had eaten delicious food, watched an interesting movie, and spent some time with people precious to him, but…

‘Where… are they?’ 

His family still wasn’t with him. They were supposed to be with Suk-Woo, and Gi-Gyu was very unhappy with this situation. He regretted so many things.

He wasn’t fighting for world peace. He had begun his journey to protect himself and get his revenge. And by accomplishing this, he would also be bringing peace to everyone in the world. In a way, it was a means to an end.

But…

‘What about my family…?’

His family deserved this peace and happiness the most. Sadly, they were stuck somewhere. Gi-Gyu couldn’t help imagining his family suffering, and this tormented him.

‘Kim Sung-Moo.’ It was bad enough that he still couldn’t find his family, but his mood worsened at the thought of this vile man. Kim Sung-Moo had tried to harm him and made him waste some precious time.

Gi-Gyu gritted his teeth loudly. He felt nauseous, recalling how this man had tried to kill him for his selfish desires. Gi-Gyu wanted to kill him right now, but he stopped himself.

“Haa…” Gi-Gyu sighed, knowing that Kim Sung-Moo probably wouldn’t live long anyway. And even if he did, he wouldn’t live a normal life. During the sync process, Gi-Gyu had injected Death into him, which meant Gi-Gyu should be able to control this man for the rest of his life.

If Kim Sung-Moo repented and helped Gi-Gyu, Gi-Gyu would be willing to give him a peaceful life.

Knock, knock.

Soo-Jung knocked on the door and entered.

“I guess you aren’t feeling any better?” she asked apathetically. “Don’t mind it too much. These simple creatures see this situation as a threat or a chance.”

She sat beside Gi-Gyu, who kept his eyes closed and breathed deeply. Many thoughts crossed his mind, which he found hard to endure.

“This war might be long or short, but it’s only the beginning. So you need to get some rest while you can, Pupil…” Soo-Jung’s voice sounded like a lullaby.

Gi-Gyu contemplated with his eyes closed as if he were asleep. Then, he heard someone in his head.

-Grandmaster.

It was Hal.

-Heo Sung-Hoon has a message for you.

‘Go ahead.’

Gi-Gyu now treated his Egos like they were really his servants.

-He said he found a man named Kim Tae-Oh.

“...!” Gi-Gyu’s eyes flew open.

***

It was a luxuriously decorated room. The bed looked elegant, the chandelier was extravagant, and there was even a giant table in the middle. Like some medieval nobleman’s estate, everything in the room was huge and opulent.

“Dammit,” a man sitting on the bed swore loudly.

“Dammit, dammit, dammit…” The man looked furious. However, he only mumbled to himself while sitting on the bed like a helpless doll.

Rattle.

The door opened, and an elderly man entered. He asked, “Did you rest well?”

“...” The man frowned instead of answering.

“Shouldn’t you give up now?” The elderly man offered a kind smile while watching the man on the bed.

The man on the bed spat at the older man. The elderly man frowned a little, but he quietly wiped away the spit.

The elderly man no longer frowned, but he now looked angry. He smirked and muttered, “I understand why you feel this way. But it’s no use. Just give up already.”

“Shut up,” the man on the bed finally spoke. “How could a man of God sell his soul to a demon?!”

The man on the bed screamed in a fury, “Why…! God is watching you!”

“...” The elderly man remained quiet. Next, he sighed deeply and said, “Haa… This is so annoying. I was perfect, but… I guess it’s because of that creature.”

The elderly man stopped muttering and looked at the man again. “You’re nothing more than a puppet. Less than a fraction of what you used to be. So give up your body already. Stop wasting my time. Dragging this out is pointless, as I will take your body eventually. I don’t care if I need to suffer the penalty.”

The elderly man frowned in annoyance and continued, “It will be too late if you regret it later. Michael, you must remember who gave you that name. This isn’t something you can handle. This life isn’t something you can endure.”

With that, the elderly man left.

Michael, the man on the bed, whispered, “How could the pope…”

The elderly man who had threatened him was the pope.

“Gabriel…” Michael whispered the name of the pope.