Chapter 1: Vol 1 – Episode 1

Notes:

[Brackets represent online comments.]

Italics represent inner thoughts and inner dialogue in the real world.

Bold represents inner thoughts and inner dialogue within the game.

Bold and italics represent sound effects.

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Prologue

[Wow.]

[What a close game! So great!]

MOBA is a genre of games in which players compete against one another by making teams and controlling their heroes. Among the several top games in the world, one game has attracted the attention of thousands of people.

Knowing the members of the Blue Team was only natural: Blue Star, Dark Wolf, Loney, Ishia, and Rebellion.

That was why they were the members of the professional team, “Virgo” competing against the best in the world beyond Korea.

In the close game that they played, the Purple Team, standing on the opposite side, also had to be famous and strong. Who was their opponent who won last year’s world championship? It was an unknown team, surprisingly. No, that was not the correct word. They were only amateurs who played games well.

They stood at the lower end of the second level in the hierarchy system of this game, which consisted of six levels in total. It was true that they played well among amateurs, but their level was that of a school representative; they were not strong, professional gamers.

Could a school baseball team match up with a major league team? No.

Could a local soccer team play in the Premier League? No.

So this match could not be seen as a game, either. That’s what they thought… but it became a close game within just 35 minutes. How could such a thing happen? Was this a miracle of God?

No, this was just the mischief of the devil—the “Devil Commander,” the only challenger in the Purple Team. He was also a master out of office, having declared that he would make his debut by winning first place at the open recruitment contest of the X Group team which would be established a week later.

That one person was making everything possible since the start of the game. Apparently, each member of the Virgo team overwhelmed the members of the Purple Team.

However, that one person, the Devil Commander, suppressed Dark Wolf at the same jungle position and further matched the game balance by shaking all the battlefields in the rest of the map.

He was the only genius who suppressed the power of the five talented people.

[Wow! So great! Too fantastic!]

[Devil Commander’s team is going to win the championship this year if he takes out those four professional guys, won’t they?]

This was the comment of a person who was watching the game online. He was attacking the pride of the leader of team Virgo, Ishia, whose name was Jung Keunsuk.

“Damn. Against just amateurs, I lowered my guard too much.”

Keunsuk ground his teeth and then leaped up from his seat suddenly. He sat down after he shook his head once and straightened his posture.

The other four members were relieved at that sight.

All right, Keunsuk blew his top.

Just when his excitement reached the extreme, he became terribly cool after having taken such an action. That was the habit of Jung Keunsuk, the captain of their team, the so-called “Order.” His judgment and command power after such an action became twice as strong as usual.

Devil Commander, you’re a monster too, but let’s have a real match between pros.

The world’s strongest team could not lose in this kind of place, even though they messed up by lowering their guard in the beginning.

Keunsuk’s eyes shone sharply. Upon watching the opponent’s movements and calculating the entire situation of the map, he shouted, “Everyone run to Duke!”

“Duke” was a giant monster with the title of a duke that existed north of the center of the battlefield. It was hard to catch it, but, once a member finished it off, they would gain a powerful buff and plenty of money and experience points. It was prey that could change the tides of a close match in an instant.

Both sides could not intend to hunt it in the midst of a bitter confrontation.

The enemy team installed a ward item that illuminates the area around Duke for 2 minutes and 52 seconds. The remaining duration is 8 seconds… The arrival time is about 10 seconds if we run there right now. Keunsuk’s brain was spinning fast.

The time it took to leave the enemy’s field of vision after their ward ran out… The enemy team’s moving route for organizing a small buff mob at the bottom and the minions below it… The time it took for the enemy to rush back to the center immediately after feeling that something was wrong… The time needed to hunt with their items and their level… These were all variables that were assumed in an instant, and conclusions were drawn within a few seconds. This was the true strength of the commander of the strongest team in the world.

“We can hunt first and then get out in a few seconds. The path to victory is clear.”

“Okay.”

All members of Virgo ran with certainty under his command after discarding their arrogance and laxity.

Their opponent, who aimed for small gains, went to the lower side of the map. Of course, the strongest in the world was the strongest. At the moment they got serious, team Virgo was a totally different level from those amateurs.

They are strong, but they also made mistakes as they lost concentration. At this time, it’s standard procedure for the field of vision around Duke to be maintained all the time.

This standard procedure was born with reason. However, many things are overlooked in that moment.

And…

They thought they saw the road to victory. The demon behind the monitor was just calculating back to the original thought of Keunsuk… Once the Devil Commander calmed down, all variables on the battlefield had to be considered.

They intentionally installed the ward illuminating the field of vision to show the decreasing time and did not refill it. Moreover, they went to the opposite side of the map as if they were aiming for something else.

People who followed this stereotyped standard procedure were the prey of free creativity.

“Everyone run! No hunt buff! Don’t clear the minions!”

They went right away without finishing what they meant to do. But the Purple Team arrived a little faster than the Virgo team predicted. The Purple Team attacked the Virgo team who had already consumed considerable physical strength and skill due to their fierce battle with Duke.

It was Sungjin’s idea to guide the enemy by using Duke as bait.

This principle was explained in the book, the Art of War by Sun Tzu, “The art of war is deceit. If you want to guide your enemy according to your will, then let them come by themselves by using something else as bait.”

“How?”

There was no way this rear attack should have happened at the time. Keunsuk screamed at the surprise attack as if a hacking program were stealing things from his computer.

This was not possible. They couldn’t have come at this time even if they ran back immediately after cleaning up the buff mob and minions at the bottom of the map.

Was this guy really a demon?

“Calm down! Keunsuk. Duke hasn’t been killed yet. As it’s come to this, let’s just grab it and aim for a double-suicide with the power of the buff. Then the initiative after the resurrection will be in our hands due to the difference of gold and experience points between our teams.”

Loney’s words revived the team at once. That was just another power of the strongest team in the world. Loney, whose real name was Gyuhyun, was silent at times but also showed a temper. He suggested a secret scheme to turn the tides even when the cool-headed order, Keunsuk, didn’t know what to do.

“Okay. I will hold off until the last attack.”

It was the jungler, “Dark Wolf,” Jisung, who had the animal senses to actually carry it out.

Attacking and defending each other under a surprise attack was a complex situation where someone would hit the opponent, hit Duke, and hit both at the same time with an AOE. In that situation, Dark Wolf looked at the decreasing health bar of Duke with a ferocious look.

Two more seconds…

He would deal the last hit if he used a spell to drain Duke’s health after 2 seconds.

The attack power of ten people… Penetration power… Spell power… Order penetration power… Speed of attack… Skill damage… Skill figures… Fatal blows… Resistance power… Defense power… Regenerative power… Passive skills…

In a situation where all kinds of variables were tangled up, Dark Wolf’s intuition read the timing of the spells like second nature. This was a 6th sense beyond calculation, an insight given to those who continuously competed with numerous strong teams on a global stage.

Even in a situation where they were strategically challenged, they claimed victory through their tactical capacity. Team Virgo was the strongest in the world because such a thing was possible. Their name, “Virgo,” referred to the constellation of protection and good luck. The goddess of victory protected Virgo by countervailing the devil’s maneuvers.

But…

1.85 seconds… No, 1.78 seconds…

After considering the fatal blow that had just been dealt to Duke, the devil readjusted the time. By calculating all the variables again, the devil attacked the goddess who had given Team Virgo their intuition. The devil’s teeth bit into and swallowed the shining star that was born to win.

The time when the devil launched his attack was 0.22 seconds earlier than Dark Wolf’s.

“Game over!”

[Wowaaaaaaaa, the steal was a success!]

[Purple got it!]

While the crowd cheered, the Purple Team surrounded team Virgo and used the buffs gained from killing Duke to finish them off. The game ended there.

The members of Virgo were blankly looking at their monitors that showed the defeat message.

“We lost…”

“Devil Commander… Let’s meet again… after your debut.”

“They are so intriguing! Damn. Today’s game was a practice match anyway. I’ll give you a taste on the real stage.”

Devil Commander. What was his real name, and what did he look like? The members of team Virgo all ground their teeth while imagining someone who was probably celebrating behind their computer screen.

Cho~~op.

Everyone’s guess that the victorious leader would be cheering was incorrect. The owner of the ID, “Devil Commander,” was licking his lips in regret.

If this were a formal event, their real talent would have come out.

His name was Cha Sungjin. He was a sophomore in high school who was 185cm tall and in pretty good shape. He was slightly rebellious and had a rough, wolfish hairstyle. His baritone voice contained sharp charisma, and he had strong muscles that were gained through martial arts rather than bodybuilding. He was indeed a nice guy who would stir up the hearts of all girls with both intellect and wildness.

There were countless books about fighting and combat in his room. There were books on martial arts, such as Textbook of Kendo, Textbook of Judo, Martial Arts for Grappling & Self-Defense as well as books about military and war history, such as The Art of War by Sun Tzu, Six Secret Teachings, Three Strategies of Huang Shigong, The War Theory and The Second World War History.

Next to the bookcase, there was a wooden sword showing many traces of use, and there were also a lot of books that seemed to have nothing to do with fighting: National Theory, Capital theory, World Geography Encyclopedia, Earth Science and so on.

It was true.

His enthusiasm for gaming allowed him to dig into the basic principles of other subjects as well. Beyond military strategies, the real game encompassed geography, politics, economy, culture, and so on.

Traces of use could be found on all of the books in the living room and in the other rooms.

Just then, someone sent him a private message.

[There is one thing that guarantees a lot of money… Would you be willing to play with a surrogate rank?

A surrogate rank was a method of match-fixing done by a master who would raise the rank of another person’s account for pay. The income was not bad.

Sungjin’s response to the message was to immediately close it.

“Don’t spoil the game. These bastards,” he swore out loud at the opponent beyond the monitor.

There are seven days left?

He looked at the picture of him and his parents on one side with a faint look in his eyes.

In the picture, his father held a champion belt, and his mother and he as a child were proudly standing by his side. Both of them died, and the past was the past, but this was a memory that remained precious in his heart.

* * *

Jab. Straight. Hook.

The sandbag shook.

The man stretched out his fist. His muscles gained through endless training moved without stopping, and sweat flowed down continuously.

Nevertheless, the man moved without stopping. His lower body, which was trained through jogging, also moved around continuously, and his muscles showed how impressive the man’s body was.

But the truly impressive thing was in the other point.

In order to accomplish what he pursued without any distracting thoughts, his concentration was unwavering. The man who had a goal to be a champion had the same tenacity of a man with a dream.

Young Sungjin looked at his father with pride.

So cool… he thought.

He looked at his father’s back and thought that that’s what a man with a dream should look like. It was from his father that Sungjin learned about concentration and effort.

Sungjin’s father was a boxer.

As the popularity of boxing in Korea was not very high at that time, his father’s life was never easy even though he was a top-ranked fighter.

Nevertheless, his father continued boxing.

And…

The brush moved slowly over the hwasun-paper. It moved as smoothly as a stream of water; there were no breaks in the action. The soft and unstoppable momentum was hard to do and needed more concentration rather than brute force.

“Well.”

His father laid down the brush and nodded.

He was good at both literature and martial arts. The words that his father wrote on the hwasun-paper meant that both literature and martial arts were mastered at the same time. This was also the motto of his family that produced many military attaches during the Chosun Dynasty.

His father was a boxer but also a “calligrapher.” The level that he learned under his grandfather, who had collapsed but was a strict Confucian scholar, far exceeded the level of ordinary amateurs.

That feral body with solid muscles in the ring created an atmosphere similar to that of an old classical scholar when he held a brush and wrote serenely.

Although boxing was his real dream and calligraphy was done only for spiritual training between exercises, his father still concentrated on it.

Others said it was a strange combination, but Sungjin thought it was really cool. When he was exercising and writing, his father, who was focusing on his mind and working seriously, was wonderful.

His mother used to nag his father occasionally.

“Oh, pity me! I, who was married to your face, was deceived. I heard you would have me live in luxury, but I can’t buy even a bean sprout now.”

This was usually said on the day that the bills were due.

“I am sorry. Please wait a little more.”

His father was always gentle at home, even though he was fierce in the game. No, he was even old-fashioned beyond that.

Under the influence of his grandfather, a Confucian scholar, his father always used honorifics to his mother. He believed that a husband and wife should be honored with respect. As he did calligraphy during his breaks, he said, “A real matchmaker should be trained in spirit and body.”

“I’ve heard that more than a thousand times!”

Whenever she did that, his father tried to appease her, but his mother snapped, and the atmosphere became so bad that Sungjin worried for them.

His father was cool when he was engrossed in training. But his mother, who was pressed by money, looked tired. There was always the question in his mind, whether it was okay for his dad to just to be cool if he made his mother suffer.

But the time came for his efforts to bear fruit finally—he finally earned the qualification a world champion challenger.

It happened when Sungjin was in the second grade of elementary school.

“You’ve had a hard time really. I will give you the champion belt, so please wait a little more,” his father said.

“Yes. You’ve gone through so much trouble up till now, so it is about time that you succeed…” his mother replied.

On this day, his mother laughed without any nagging and treated his father brightly.

“It is you who has suffered from all these hard times, so much so that your pretty hands have become like this…”

His father stroked his mother’s wrinkled hand.

“If I get the championship prize, let’s eat your favorite grilled beef ribs and get a pretty dress. Is there anything else you want to do?”

“Just win, that’s all.”

Even though she said it like that, she was also laughing.

Three days before the game, a stranger came to the house. With his black suit and sunglasses on, he opened up a box full of money in front of his father. There was another box beside it.

“Mister, how much money do you make being a champion in this country? Moreover, is there any assurance of winning against the champion? We’ll give you a much better offer.”

“What’s the offer?”

“Please lose the match in the 3rd round of tomorrow’s game. Then this box is yours.”

Sungjin on the side opened his eyes upon seeing the huge amount of money. He was young but smart. Many things that could be done with that money were immediately calculated. They could pay off all of their debts, and his mother’s worries would disappear at once. He could also buy many products that he could only look at through the store windows, and his father would be able to do everything he promised to his mother.

He already knew how much that money could change their lives.

“What you’ve said, I will pretend that I didn’t hear it. So go back.”

His father got angry quietly.

“If you refuse our offer, you will regret it.”

“You should be ashamed of yourself to try to bribe a sacred game with money. Go back immediately.”

“Don’t you know how much this is?”

“I told that I do not need it. Or would you rather go back after calling the police?”

His father’s eyes were on fire. Even though his words were courteous, behind them was the dignity of a tiger crouching down quietly. The man shivered and packed up his bag.

Sungjin knew the weight of what his father rejected. It would be a comfortable and rich life indeed. Nevertheless, he refused. he refused without any hesitation. He had been suffering, but he still refused.

He did not sell out his dreams to money. He did not shake in front of the offer of a peaceful life. Sungjin was heartbroken at that amount of pride.

A man should be like that, Sungjin thought.

“I am sorry… to hear that.”

The man put away the money box and left quickly.

His mother muttered in a low voice at the side, “But with that money… I could repay all our loans… I could also save up money for school tuition of our child…”

“Honey. Please quit. They are swindlers gambling illegally…”

“Who said that? It’s just, with all that money…”

“Stop it!” his father said sharply and strongly. This was so rare that his mother immediately closed her mouth.

“Dad. Mom. Don’t fight. There will be a championship game soon.”

The relationship between the two, which seemed to get better for a change, had gone sour again, and Sungjin had become depressed.

His father, who was proud even in front of money, was wonderful. But his mother, who suffered from money, understood and felt sorry. Neither side was comfortable. He just wanted his father to be a champion so that both of them would be happy.

But the really bad thing happened later. The day before the game, his father was attacked by unknown mobsters.

“Dad! Dad!”

“Honey!”

Sungjin shouted beside his father who had a cast at the hospital.

“They did it, Dad!”

There was no evidence. He could not find out who was in the mask. There were no such things as CCTV. There was only a confident belief.

“The ribs were broken, and the left-hand joint was broken. You have to take a break.”

The doctor said that participating in the game was absolutely not possible.

“I can’t do that, Sir. Is there anything else that can be done? Tomorrow’s game is my lifelong dream. I’ve been living on that till now.”

“I understand, but it’s too much for your body.”

“But—!”

“This can’t be cured in a day even with modern medicine,” the doctor declared indomitably.

His father dropped his head. Sungjin was felt so bad seeing him this way. His father, who always seemed magnificent, seemed to be tiny and pathetic today.

Even though he pursued his dream earnestly, and he was confident in winning, he still ended up broken in the face of violence. What were all his father’s efforts for? Was this the outcome of not accepting dirty money?

He was upset… but he still had to forfeit the game.

His father hit the floor as he left through the doors of the hospital.

“F*ck it! Damn it! You f*cking f*ckers! I’ll… how can I do it!”

Chapter 2: Vol 1 – Episode 2

Notes:

[Brackets represent online comments.]

Italics represent inner thoughts and inner dialogue in the real world.

Bold represents inner thoughts and inner dialogue within the game.

Bold and italics represent sound effects.

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It was the first time Sungjin heard his father curse. That was something big.

“Aw… I expected you to be released. Those bad guys…” his mother blamed them with tears in her eyes.

Dad…

Next to her, Sungjin was so sad and angry that he was at a loss.

This was all so miserable and unfair to him. He could not imagine what his father was going through. He hated those guys who broke his father’s dream.

“No… I will not end this way.”

His father stopped and turned back at the front door of the hospital.

“Honey… What are you going to do?”

“I am going to fight in the match with painkillers,” his father declared as he puffed out his chest and raised his head.

The light in his eyes had revived…

“Honey, that’s too much. The doctor already told you.”

“I know it’s unreasonable, but I can’t give up.”

“Honey, your body is most important, even though we have no money, no money. Please…”

“I know. The body is ahead of money. But, there is one thing ahead of that. This is the first and last chance I’ll have when considering my age.”

In fact, his father’s age had already passed over his peak a little.

“But…”

“Honey, please understand. My dream is my life.”

“Dad… you are suffering from too much pain right now,” Sungjin dissuaded, but his father did not give up his decision.

“Don’t say any more! Just watch what this father can do!”

His father saying so was robust as if he was not injured at all. Even though his body was obviously injured, his fighting spirit was stronger than usual. His eyes were more intense.

Sungjin felt his heart pounding. He really worried if it was okay. But, this pounding heart was not caused only by anxiety. There was something else making him excited.

It was the day of the big match.

His father was repeatedly knocked down by his injuries and adverse effects of the painkillers. The opponent was the current champion, and he was a really strong and vicious man who used fouls to try to win.

But against such an opponent, while being injured, his father stood up again and again till the end. However, in the 12th round, where loss was certain, he knocked out his opponent with 10 seconds left to spare.

He foiled the plot of those cowards who defiled the game with money and overcame the man who tried to win through fouls. Finally, he won by overcoming everything with his own ability and strength.

He accomplished his dream without running away.

“Honey! Sungjin! I’m the champion now!”

The champion belt was shining on the two hands of his father.

“You did it… you really made it! You… are so great!” his mother cried loudly.

“Dad, you’re so awesome! Wasn’t it hard?”

“Hahaha, Of course, it was hard. But, Sungjin…” His father stroked Sungjin’s head with his big hand. His father explained in an imposing yet caring voice, “A man must be brave in front of his dream. You may face times when you are sick or in pain or wish to give up. But life will have real value when you overcome all of those things.

The champion belt was shining more brilliantly than any jewelry Sungjin had ever seen.

“Money, victory and reputation can have their real meanings after that.”

Sungjin shouted with a pounding heart, “I will live like Dad!”

“Really? How great my son is!”

His father fell to the ground after smiling hard, and Sungjin waited for his father to get up. He intended to nag his father to show him how he could live and have such indomitable will like his father. He wished to hear more stories than ever.

But he wouldn’t be able to hear any more stories from him. His father was brought to a hospital because he had a cerebral hemorrhage and fell into an eternal sleep.

But the words left by his father were eternally buried in the heart of Sungjin. He also decided that he would find his own game like his father and be the best at it. And without succumbing to any cowardly tricks, he would win fairly and shine like his father.

He firmly decided on his dream. This was the moment that a young boy became a man, embracing his dream.

His mother, however, had a hard time raising him alone.

She eventually fell sick three years later and was hospitalized. Sungjin worried as he held his mother’s hands.

“Mother. You worked too hard… How did this happen?”

“This is not the time for me to be lying here.”

“Take a break. You’re going to face big troubles if you don’t.”

“We don’t have your dad, so I have to make money.”

“Mother, I am okay.”

“Don’t say okay. I know best. Don’t you have a hard time facing those kids who make fun of you for having no dad?”

“No! Never!”

Indeed, no kids teased him because he would beat them up if they said anything wrong.

“Yes, that’s right. He left so early… How can the two of us live…?”

Sungjin couldn’t tell anything by his mother’s sigh.

He really respected his father. He also decided to follow his dream gallantly as his father did. But it was not so simple when considering his mother’s hardships.

“However, Sungjin, I do not resent your father either. When we lived together, I resented so much because he did not make money from boxing… Your father… who became a champion by standing firmly in his dream to the end… Only now can I say such nice things. He was so honest and hard-working.”

“Mother…”

“So don’t worry about me. Keep going if you have a dream, don’t worry about me. It’s worthwhile for me to take care of you.”

“Mother…”

“I know best, so why wouldn’t I know my child? You took after your father. Live as you are. Your happiness makes me happy too.”

“Mother…”

His mother hugged Sungjin as he was about to cry.

He had hesitated in his admiration of his father up till now, but her words pushed his forward. Sungjin made up his mind to dedicate his victory trophy to his mother. But he did not have the chance to do so because his mother suffered a heart attack and passed away.

She was so weak due to being overworked. She passed away because she was trying to support her husband and cheer up her son.

Sungjin made a solemn vow that he would work towards his dream and follow his father’s example. He would use his mother’s support and his own desire to work hard.

And the time has come.

My parents! Please wait a while longer!

Sungjin smiled slightly. He found his own game.

My legend starts from now.

The team X Group had a plan to launch a new pro gamer team in seven days. Sungjin would join and defeat numerous strong players one by one till becoming the world champion finally.

Fairly, bravely and consistently…

I must compete in games and win without resorting to any trickery except for what’s available in the game.

How many people are disappointed at sports games being fixed or by referees being bribed and falsely calling fouls?

I will keep my sportsmanship. I will play games honestly and be courteous to my opponents and finally reward to the fans who support me…

I will win persevere like my father. No, beyond him.

Just then, a new message popped up on the monitor.

What the hell… Sorry…

Sungjin’s face changed from anger to pleasure.

[You want to debut as a pro? Come to the world stage. I will fight with all my might from the beginning. Let’s play against each other again.]

He smiled slightly at the opponent’s challenge.

[Tch, that is just what I wanted.]

[You promised. Come without being defeated by amateurs along the way.]

[Of course.]

They promised this to each other

But the next day, Sungjin was shocked by something he never would have imagined.

[The Ministry of Gender Equality has enacted the Game Control Law for minors following the Poisoning Control Act. In it, the total game time of a minor is managed, and the game company gives 6% of the total sales to the management fund controlled by this ministry. It is also impossible for minors to engage in e-Sports.]

Seeing the news on the Internet and from the TV, even he was at a loss as to whose opinion caused the destruction of common sense and standard procedure…

These guys, what the hell are they thinking?

The real fundamental source of various school problems had to be a poor upbringing at home and schools only focusing on entrance exams while neglecting everything else. But yet, they are blaming it on video games. Moreover, is it right to crush someone’s dream just to fulfill their greed and desire for power?

Oh, my God! No matter how good the Ministry of Gender Equality is, how can they do this? Damn…

What about the trophy he promised to dedicate to his parents? The support of the many fans who cheered him on in his matches and asked him to be a pro to participate in better games? His life-long dream? The promise he made with his rival to make it to the world stage?

His dreams were about to be destroyed.

He visited the home page of the X Group team immediately and saw the notice of pre-match cancellations and an indefinite postponement of the establishment.

Tch, who accepts this kind of law?

Fair game rules must be kept. However, such rules where the powerful people trample on others cannot be tolerated.

He uploaded posts online about this situation and made a petition to combat it. He showed reports that contained objective analysis data about sales, exports, etc. This showed that only foreign companies could get benefits if the game industry in Korea enforced this law.

This raised the awareness of gamers online, and Sungjin collected 300,000 signatures in an instant.

Some members of the National Assembly flinched at that news.

But…

“Tch. The resistance of 300,000 idiots? This is the predicted rebellion.”

Sunwoo Dukjo, the minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality, picked up the phone while sneering. Of course, she started this because she had a countermeasure.

“Secretary, please arrange a luncheon with Pastor Cho, Pastor Lee, Chairman Yang, and Chairman Chung.”

The next day, the Korean Holy Christian Association, Korea Shepherd Society Meeting, Parent Association, and Poisoning Psychiatric Association commenced fire altogether.

[We condemn video games leading children down impious roads with the gathered strength of 10 million believers.]

[We strongly support the government’s law in managing video games that prevent children from studying in the name of 20 million parents. It needs to extend the shutdown system to 24 hours…]

[Scientifically speaking, as a professor of psychiatry, the brains of children who have played a lot of games are changed like those of animals… they become like those of drug addicts, and they’re violent and impulsive…]

“Apart from the others, the professor’s thesis would prove to be totally bogus in the US. Would that be okay?” the secretary advised in anxiety while watching the TV announcement.

“Anyway, the school parents and voters don’t want the truth. Stopping kids from playing video games satisfies their illusion that their children will study more. It is enough to console them by saying that the errant children were a result of games and not a failure of their home education.”

“I… I see.”

The secretary agreed with her out of fear rather than respect. They did things according to their interest without thinking of the people that they deceived, even though they know it is a lie. He was afraid that the minister didn’t even have a conscience.

In the presence of the Ministry of Gender Equality driving the overwhelming vote, the signatures were not even a considerable thing to the parliamentarians. The law was reviewed and realized with lightning speed. Most parents agreed because their children seemed to study more if they couldn’t play video games, and the public opinion was also on their side accordingly. They were criticized only online.

As a result, the current teams began to review their maintenance rather than resume function. The world champion, Virgo, wasn’t an exception.

“Coach… are we disbanded?”

“I have been informed from the mother group that it was impossible to go up against the government and that they would disband.”

“Then what do we do? I planned to pay the operation charge of my mom with the prize money of this game.”

The heart of the coach, who knew the circumstances of a crying Gyuhyun, was torn. The lack of understanding by the adults should not have stepped on a child’s dream and home in this way, but the reality did not make sense.

“I am sorry. I can’t do anything against the law.”

They, whom Sungjin told he would see in the world stage again, became jobless in a day. Dreams, efforts, the time of five players and the hearts of countless people who cheered together for them were thoroughly trampled.

At that time, the minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality smiled as she heard that the bill had been passed.

“Hmph. We will now prepare for the political funds to go even further. Secretary, what percentage of sales did the game companies offer?”

“They would like to make a compromise within a range of 3%.”

“4%! No less than that.”

“Minister, the funds made with only 3% reach 300 billion won. At 4%, some marginal companies will escape to foreign countries or go bankrupt, and that will result in a large number of unemployed people.”

Her secretary asked her not to be greedy, but Sunwoo Dukjo asked for 4% as if she didn’t care.

“What is the problem?” the minister asked.

“So the unemployed…”

“It was already checked. Up to 4%, more funding is gained even though the total size of the Korean game industry gets smaller. So it’s 4%.”

The breath of the secretary was stopped at that moment.

Sunwoo Dukjo was never an idiot. She was rather smart and competent. She had a political sense of knowing what kind of lies could move voters, and she had the guts to carry it out and the power to figure out how to rip people off for more money.

She only had an interest in how much money could be secured. She didn’t care whether other people would be jobless as a result or not, nor whether the country would decline or not.

She had the typical mental state of a sociopath. In psychology, a sociopath only thought about their own interests without empathy for others’ pain. Her secretary feared how many people would be trampled on in the future if she made a bigger move.

No need to submit the report that the unemployed will come from the pro-gamers club. The dreams of some children were trampled on… She’d be dumbfounded upon me telling her such things…

He felt miserable today because he worked under such a woman.

* * *

Sungjin ground his teeth in front of his monitor.

Tch… Those guys of the Ministry of Gender Equality… Damn.

He knew well that they would use extortion funds even though they talked about protecting young people. He saw through their elaborate lie. The first round was over. How should he tackle the second round?

Damn, I will follow the shining legend of the world champion even by going abroad! Sungjin shouted inwardly, but his mood was very bad.

It was not easy to go abroad for him, but would all the other Korean teams do that? Many of the world’s strongest teams were Korean. If any of them disappeared due to this bill, he would easily win the games without those strong players.

That was not smart.

It was great to become a world champion by winning against the hard-liners without assuring victory through fighting openly and squarely…

The Ministry of Gender Equality half-crossed his dream.

What do I do?

However, even while shouting pompously, he was only just a student of high school who was defeated by the absolute authority of the Ministry of Gender Equality.

Then a new message popped up in the game window on his screen.

[Devil Commander, you know the recent law of the Ministry of Gender Equality?]

It was Dark Wolf of the Virgo Team.

[Of course.]

[We were also disbanded. The return match on the world stage is now impossible.]

[Will you also give up? I will go abroad.]

[Great! But I cannot go abroad and leave my family here. Even though I don’t know what I can do… I cannot help wanting to find another way.]

Their conversation stopped for a while as Sungjin couldn’t find the words to soothe him.

Thirty seconds later, Dark Wolf messaged again.

[However, let’s play the game like we promised before]

[Hoo… It was the worst these days, but that sounds good.]

[Let’s do it even though there isn’t a grand stage or prize money.]

They shared the same burning desire within their souls without having to type it out.

[Okay… What time?]

[A week from now. And for this game, I invited the other pro-team, Elion, which would also be disbanded. After they heard, they said that they might be interested. They agreed that 4 people, except for Slayer who plays the same position as you, would join as your temporary members.]

Elion was a team competing against the best in Korea. Even though they temporarily joined Virgo, adding them meant that Virgo wanted to win against Sungjin while playing with other talented players.

[Hmph. They are members who will not let you down.]

[Take each other in and prepare. We’ll also prepare.]

[Okay.]

The country broke their dreams. However, the boys decided to play, even though there wasn’t a reward… Preferably, they decided to play more purely because there was no reward.

One week later, ten adventurers sat down in front of their computers. They checked their communication connections in their headsets to make sure it was working.

[Let’s do this.]

[Okay, let’s finish up this last game.]

[The last game…]

Before changing to a private channel, Gyuhyun was about to cry in the public chat with ten other people.

[Hey, why must you make us feel sad?]

[Sorry.]

Even though the burning atmosphere declined for time being, nobody blamed him. Although they were different in using the prize money, they all felt the same pain due to their dreams being stepped.

Damn those guys of the Ministry of Gender Equality!

Sungjin also felt down once again.

[Sorry, friends. Please forget what I said just now. Let’s concentrate on the game.]

[Okay, let’s do. Let’s make a great memory.]

[Since we’ve been put down, let’s play this game honestly.]

[Good!]

They finally started the game.

The first rule was to ban each team from using three select champions in the game. Even if there were more than 100 selectable champions, the number of main champions was limited. The tricky fight had already begun from which champion was banned.

Chapter 3: Vol 1- Episode 3

What team Virgo did was ban Sungjin’s three main champions, and then they picked up one of the remaining main champions first. It was simply a strategy against Sungjin.

Hmph. I can feel your determination. Good!

Sungjin smiled even though he felt a blade pointed at the back of his neck. He felt that this would be a really good match. This would be a valuable match that no one in the world would know about.

Even the ministry of Gender Equality and Family can’t hinder us. I will play with all my might…

“You, with the name of Devil Commander.”

Hm?

Such a strange voice rang in his ear. It was too formal a tone to think that someone among these members spoke. Above all, this voice was very different—it was elegant, graceful, and soft. It was clearer and brighter than that of lightly quivering crystal glass. But there was also a strength under its softness, and an image of a woman having an iron hand in a velvet glove popped into his brain immediately.

“According to the ritual hidden under the shadow of God, destroying all the seals will open the door to the Other World, and you can come here by walking along a path straight to the source.”

Strong light filled Sungjin’s room the next moment. He closed his eyes reflexively.

* * *

In a world not found on Earth called “Valhalla,” maids admired the beauty of a person standing before them.

Their splendidly flowing golden hair was like a waterfall swallowing the sun, and their emerald-colored eyes had the same freshness of a forest. Their pale, clear skin and bright red lips were full of natural forces that made all make-up an unnecessary thing, and their elegant eyebrows glistened as if they were sprinkled with pearl powder. Their sharp nose held much pride, and the presence of raised breasts like peaks completed this classic beauty.

Just like the famous painting of an era where elegance and grace were brought together, the aura of nobility flowed naturally all around this beauty.

Their calm smile and soft eyes were a pure as a lily—her name was Ereka di Violdi Sevrantina, princess of the Kingdom of Sevrantina located on the outskirts.

She smiled wistfully while looking at the dress before her.

Every night, she saw, touched and fixed this dress after a day of work.

She went to bed happily imagining a day when she would marry a man who she loved while wearing the dress she made herself.

Oh, it was a dream.

May would be better because the flowers would be in full bloom and white, billowy clouds would fill the clear sky. It would be best to walk in a garden with a respectable man having a caring and good-natured personality while accompanied by bands of celebration.

Then she would wear her dress instead of her armor for the first time. She would respect and serve him, and he would love and care for her.

An oathful kiss in the presence of an officiating priest… the man in the illusion approached her slowly. Her full lips and the man’s thick lips overlapped slowly.

Temperature, love, and the vows of the two people were exchanged. Everyone was blessed to witness this moment.

Oh, what am I thinking?

She touched her cheek in shame. Still, the thought was so happy and sweet.

Although she was busy keeping the vacant abode of her father now, she always dreamed of meeting a good man someday.

I was so… happy, even in my imagination. I was eager to love and be loved…

I’ll make food for him, and I’ll make clothes for him. In his firm arms, I’ll give birth to his child, and I’ll be happy every day with the person I love.

The maids saw the princess who touched the dress with a shy smile, crying breathlessly behind her.

Princess…

Princess Ereka did not only make dresses for herself. As she said, “Love with a good man is a woman’s dream,” she would always gift these handmade dresses to her subordinates at their weddings.

“Your Highness… this precious thing… this is something you should wear… inferior people like us…”

“You have always been working hard in the palace, haven’t you? Marriage is a once in a lifetime moment. The time when a woman must shine the most. Take it as my gift.”

With best wishes that the happy days of a glittering wedding are continued afterward, she gave them the handmade dresses.

The princess who was buried in the king’s political affairs was also a girl who dreamed and was happy when she gave dresses as gifts.

The day when such a grateful princess would wear her own dress… has come finally.

Ding. Ding.

A bell rang, and Ereka’s smile disappeared.

“It’s about time.”

She changed her dress, but the dream that she had always wanted didn’t come true.

No, it could never be done. Today’s opponent is not the kind, good, wonderful man she had always dreamed of, but a flagitious and scary demidevil instead.

This country was divided into two groups, and they were fighting.

The faction of Princess Ereka claimed Merciful Rulership, and that meant that the powerful ruling elite, the hero class, had to protect and care for the weak people, or the extra class.

On the contrary, the faction of Riad, the Blood King, claimed Divine Birth Privilege, meaning that people were living property by God’s will, and it was the right of the ruling class to use them as they saw fit.

Against the invasion of the Blood King who sacrificed the people to the Magic Sword, Ereka fought hard on the behalf of the late king, but only this castle remained after being defeated.

As a last attempt, Princess Ereka opened a forbidden ritual paper sealed in the royal obituary. It was the ritual paper to summon a powerful demidevil from the Other World that was hungry for blood and sex. The princess was going to sacrifice herself in this ceremony, and offer herself up as a pure and beautiful maiden to his lust.

Poor princess! She’s so pretty! We’re so sorry that she had to wear armor and wield spears and shields to protect us… Her beauty is now being sacrificed… How can the gods abandon such a lady?

The maids sighed.

Count Rittier beside her bowed his head and said in an unarousing voice, “Your Highness, will you change your mind now? How can you offer your noble body as a sacrifice to a demidevil? Of course, Your Highness has to be the most beautiful lady in the kingdom. But can’t we deal in quantity instead of quality by choosing some of the women from the extra class who have some level of beauty?”

The words changed the atmosphere around Princess Ereka. Her shyness went away, and she stood up proudly and scolded him with a solemn face.

“Don’t say that again. The king’s mission is to protect the people, and the knights that you swore to protect are the weak too. How can we gain strength at the expense of the people?”

There was not an inch of disorder in her eloquent words. There was only truth.

“I know… but… some sacrifices to protect the whole… can’t be avoided…”

“I am the sacrifice, and I’m the only one.”

A little while ago, she was definitely the girl who dreamed of a romantic love affair. But she was the protector of the people who discarded all ordinary wishes and exclaimed that she was sacrificing herself. Both sides were her truth, and what she finally chose was a royal princess who abandoned herself to protect all.

She was a hopeful girl who really wanted to be loved, but she was working hard to become a ruler. That was Ereka.

Earl Rittier couldn’t say anything more.

A little girl beside him spoke after him. The girl looked like an elementary school student.

“Your Highness, I’ll help you too! I’ll deal with the demidevil!”

A handful of hair shook in the middle of the brown girl’s head; it looked like a tail. Those big brown eyes compared to her small face showed wisdom, and they looked like a puppy claiming to protect its owner. She was still small and cute, but she looked like she would be a great dog someday.

Now, her tail was shaking. Fear of the demidevil, whom she said that she would help, filled her whole body. But even though she was afraid, she tried hard to convince herself to help the princess so that she wouldn’t have to suffer alone. In spite of her fear, she was eager to engage her opponent first.

“I’ll use the badger game with you together!”

Princess Ereka hugged Jenna even though she was equally nervous.

“Jenna, you’re already doing a lot of work just by staying on the battlefield and fighting. The last thing I’d want is for you to have to deal with the demidevil. It’s such a terrible thing for a woman! You must stay out of it.”

If there were any other way, they would never have held such a ritual in the first place.

“I’m a level 4 wizard, too! Plus, I am the head maid of the royal family!” Jenna exclaimed as she tried to make herself taller by standing on her tippy toes.

She was one of the two heroes left on Ereka’s side. She was also the heir of the Allencia family that had been serving as the head of the Royal Maids for generations.

However, Ereka saw Jenna as a cute and talented child.

“I know, Jenna, but you’re 12 years old now. A badger game against him… is not a child’s job.”

“Princess…”

With tears in her eyes, Jenna turned her head to the side.

Then she showed a worried face and muttered in a low voice, “Why not? Look at how many perverts there are in the world!”

“What? Jenna? What did you just say?”

“I’m so worried about Your Highness.”

Jenna looked at Ereka with tears in her eyes again.

“Thank you for your concern, but I’m fine. I’ve already set my dreams as a girl to the side since I chose the royal road.”

Ereka’s hands trembled even though she was comforting Jenna.

Actually…

Still…

She kept dreaming while she made her dresses.

Now, she was busy in fulfilling the king’s mission, but someday she would meet a good man and leave the country in his arms. She dreamed she could be happy.

But it was time to throw away that dream completely.

I will be trampled on by the demidevil. I will be violated. What kind of humiliation will I be subjected to?

…

“Ahhhh…”

The demidevil dug deep wounds into her white flesh like a carving knife, and she groaned painfully.

“Good. Try to hold back your scream just like that,” he said with satisfaction. “Groans that are forced out make me more excited.”

Ereka’s arms and legs were tied up in chains, and the demidevil was satisfied with teasing her. Even though she tried not to lose her pride, tears flowed from Ereka’s eyes due to an inevitable sense of humiliation.

The demidevil licked it with a flick of his tongue.

“Yet. It’s sweet and delicious. Cry more.”

Then his hand clenched her ****** roughly.

“We’re bound by a contract with each other. So give in to me.”

Ereka trembled in shame and fear. This was what it was like to be a mistress of a demidevil.

From now on, my life will be painful and difficult, far from being loved as a woman, and even the minimum amount of dignity will not be left. I seriously wanted to avoid this if I could, but even more so, I couldn’t let others do it.

I’m afraid, but I can’t let other people get trampled on.

…

“Come on, Jenna. Wait by my side. Listen to me.”

As she was pushed aside, Jenna mumbled inwardly again, “Oh, Princess.”

What do you know? I’ll take care of it.

She was only 12 years old…

But as the head of the Royal Maids, she was also in charge of the royal family’s “nights,” and an early education had already been given to her. Only the princess didn’t know about it.

Ereka stood in front of the ritual circle.

“Let me look for the last time. Am I beautiful enough to captivate the demidevil? Am I dressed properly?”

The maids in charge of makeup answered, “You’re perfect, Your Highness. Please stand tall. Just do as you’ve practiced, please.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll start, then.”

She began to recite ancient ritualistic words and sprinkled powders mixed with ground gold and silver.

[You, the one named Devil Commander.]

The magic circle responded, and the air in the hall fluctuated.

Tch, immense pressure.

Even though she managed to recite the ritual words, under all the pressure, Princess Ereka had mixed feelings of fear and anticipation at the same time.

According to the transmission, the demi devil from the Other World was a fearsome, absolute being hungry for blood and sex. This power could surely save this country against the Blood King, but at the same time, it could also be disastrous.

She had to bind her body to him with a contract when he was first called out so that no more sacrifices could be offered.

This was truly a dangerous gamble.

“Come here!”

Light streamed out of the magic circle.

A boy who knew what pain was, who knew what being trampled on felt like, and a girl who kept the weak from the pain of being trampled on—they met like this.

* * *

Sungjin opened his eyes and checked the surroundings. This was a totally different scene; he wasn’t in his room like before.

He was in a wide and magnificent hall, and the ground was full of strange patterns like a magic circle. In front of him, there was a girl in a see-through dress that had holy innocence at the same time.

She stood ritualistically, with an aura of mixed elegance and eroticism at the same time. Her beauty was likely to attract many men.

“I’m going to say hello to you, my demidevil of the Other World.”

Listening to a clear voice like a crystal bell, Sungjin realized it was an unknown language. He could somehow understand a language that he didn’t know.

It was magic.

“I’m Ereka, Princess of the Kingdom of Sevrantina in Valhalla. Welcome to the long road beyond the walls of the dimension.”

So… did this girl summon me?

It was a truly embarrassing situation, but Sungjin tried to keep his composure. In times like this, one has to keep a cool head to make the right decision.

Even so, he could not fully control the turbulence of his mind. Judging from the current situation, it seemed that he was summoned to this world where real magic existed.

Others can be tricked by a set facility on earth, but only magic explains why I can understand a language that I’ve never heard before.

Unaware of his simmering heart, Princess Ereka continued, “I’ll ask you for a contract based on the old ritual and oaths.”

Once again, a language with magical powers began to germinate from her. The magic circle lit up and authenticated the moment of the “holy contract.”

“I’ll be your bride, so please be my sword.”

While laying her hand on the valley between her breasts, she expressed that she would offer her pure body up to him. Ereka smiled, and the curvature of her smooth body gave rise to a fragrance that made even the flowers shy.

She wanted to avoid his gaze in shame, but she couldn’t.

I just have to do as I practiced—make sure that the demidevil feels like conquering me, the princess thought.

It was possible to rape a noble princess at one’s beckon, so she had to make the demi devil agree to that desire.

I’m really afraid.

Her legs trembled under her dress because she wished to run away. The opponent had a strong and hard body with a wild look and a manly face. He must be a fierce, blood, and sex-hungry beast.

But if he helps me to protect the people of this land, then he will be a benefactor to me. It is my duty to give my body and heart to respond to his every desire. I will prepare to serve him with all might from now on… In bed… or anywhere else… and do whatever he asks.

Sungjin replied to the girl’s proposal that was full of hidden fear and dignity.

“No need!”

“What?”

“Because I don’t need a face with that much makeup on! Bring me back to where I was before right now!”

These were Sungjin’s first words to Princess Ereka.

* * *

Sungjin was angry.

What kind of corruption is this?

Ten people had raised their individual skills to the highest level for a whole week just for this moment, and it was finally time to compete! This was a moment of pure competition between them, in spite of the interference of the Ministry of Gender Equality and lack of understanding of the world!

It was the last game between the former world champions, but this one-sided summoning threw everything off.

The royal princess of this different world, who pretended to be polite in her speech but actually had a lot of arrogance in her mannerisms, seemed to be worse than the minister of Gender Equality. She was confident that she could control her opponent at her disposal.

She had dazzling beauty and the status of the princess, so she must have always had support and acceptance. However, no one had the right to kidnap another person and ruin the promise between men.

“Huh…? makeup… how… disrespectful…”

Her hands trembled.

I wore clothes and makeup, something that I didn’t do before and even got my posture corrected. I tried so hard to look pretty, but I can’t believe all this wasn’t needed…

Blood flowed from her torn pride.

“Disrespect? You called me in, and did this.”

“I’m going to dedicate myself as your bride.”

“I don’t need that.”

“Tch.”

Ereka’s face was distorted.

She felt sad and miserable and wished to cry loudly. But she couldn’t cry because she decided to be the ruler of this country, not a princess who could cry her heart out. Her father wouldn’t cry about this.

I’m going to put up with it… he is sure to be the fierce and strong demidevil of the Other World. I have to try to appease him into signing a contract. If I fight with him, it will bring about a crisis more serious than the Blood King to the people.

She forced a smile.

“I didn’t summon you for trivial matters. I prepared so much in return, so please listen.”

Sungjin snorted coldly at the sight.

This is worse.

How dark is it beneath the mask of pure beauty? Had it not been for a woman, his fists would have gone out already.

“I don’t need that.”

“You have to listen to me first. Then, we can discuss next.”

“Hah. What do you want?”

Sungjin replied coldly because he didn’t know how to go back home.

“Speak as you like. Even though I’m still going back.”

“Thank you.”

Hiding her trembling hands behind her, Ereka continued. It was necessary to make the demidevil of Other World understand the present situation.