Chapter 20

<Chapter 20: The Warrior Who Regressed to Level 2>

500 billion.

At those words, the enthusiasm in the auction hall turned cold as if doused with cold water.

'That BattleNet Connector is probably worth about 20 billion in mint condition.'

'If it were the former Sword King, it might fetch a premium, but now it's just a used item.'

'The data is tempting, but 500 billion? Ha... It's absurd.'

'The auction is meaningless.'

The moment Takeda Kazuo of the New Self-Defense Forces mentioned 500 billion, the auction was essentially over.

"What will you do?"

When the auctioneer asked Seong Jihan, he stood up and walked forward.

"If you have something to say, just do it here."

"Excuse me, but the private meeting is included in the 50 billion yen offer..."

Takeda Kazuo bowed excessively and rubbed his hands, but his words were clear.

If you want 500 billion, have a private meeting.

He even curled his lips slightly, as if mocking, 'You won't refuse this offer, will you?'

Seong Jihan smirked at this.

"Then I'll decline."

"Haha, yes, yes. Of course, if you decline, the private meeting... Huh?"

Takeda Kazuo, who had been rubbing his hands, stopped bowing in surprise.

He was confused, wondering if he had heard correctly.

"Excuse me, could you repeat that? I'm not familiar with Korean, so I might have misunderstood..."

He bowed again, asking for a response.

"I won't take the money if a private meeting is included in the conditions."

"Mr. Seong Jihan, this money isn't yours. It's the amount the Sword King is offering to Miss Yoon Seo-a."

Since this 500 billion isn't yours, why are you getting involved?

The smile disappeared from Takeda's face.

"Isn't that right, Miss Yoon Seo-a?"

"..."

"50 billion yen... A salaryman like me couldn't save that much even if I didn't spend a penny my whole life. I don't know what your uncle is thinking, but please, Miss Yoon Seo-a, consider this rationally. Can you really give up this money just because of your uncle's words?"

500 billion is indeed an astronomical amount, as Takeda said.

The viewers watching the auction on Seong Jihan's channel also felt a certain level of empathy with this statement.

-It's too much money to refuse...

-Is this the end of the broadcast?

-That makes sense. After all, it's the nephew's money, not the uncle's. Why would he be the one to make the decision?

-Even after donating to Sword Palace, Yoon Seo-a will still be fine.

-It's not decided yet! The Sword King will return!

-What a joke, seeing that bald Japanese guy act as the Sword King's proxy.

"I..."

Yoon Seo-a looked at Seong Jihan for a moment.

She couldn't understand why he was refusing the private meeting, but she had already decided what to say to Takeda.

"I trust my uncle. Please talk to him."

"Ah, ah... Is that so?"

Takeda sighed and straightened his bowed body.

He had tried to shake things up through Yoon Seo-a, but instead, he had only confirmed the strong bond between them.

-He failed to sow discord.

-Tsk, tsk, the kid is naive. In the real world, even 100 million would make anyone have a private meeting a hundred times.

-She's the Sword King's daughter.

-Miss Yoon Seo-a!! How can you trust Seong Jihan? The Sword King's family issues a stern warning! If you continue to be swayed by Seong Jihan, we will not recognize you as the Sword King's daughter!

-The Sword King's family has really lost it. The stern warning is giving me chills...

Unaware of the chaos in the chat window,

Seong Jihan nodded once at Yoon Seo-a and then looked back at Takeda.

"Since Seo-a said that, if you have something to say, do it here, not in a private meeting."

"Ah, why are you so against a private meeting? I'm suggesting this for your benefit."

"It's fine."

Would he have a private meeting with the New Self-Defense Forces' recruitment director for 500 billion?

That didn't seem like a good idea.

It was hard to predict what would be said in private.

There might be criticism that the father was swayed by women and the daughter by money.

Of course, 500 billion was an astronomical amount, and the criticism might be worth it.

'Money that doesn't cause regret will eventually come.'

If Seong Jihan continues to grow as a player, money will naturally follow.

This had happened in his previous life, and this time it would happen even sooner.

And,

'This Takeda... He's unsettling.'

More specifically, the position of recruitment director for the New Self-Defense Forces was troubling.

'I heard during the U.S. asylum period that the U.S. government banned the New Self-Defense Forces' recruitment director from entering the country.'

The New Self-Defense Forces had a recruitment director who was poaching promising talents from the U.S., so the U.S. government banned him from entering.

It was added that it was truly strange.

Regardless of race or gender, anyone who dealt with the bald recruitment director seemed to be bewitched and went to Japan.

There must be something special about him.

It wouldn't hurt to be cautious.

"Umm... It doesn't seem like you'll change your mind."

Takeda seemed to be thinking for a moment, then rubbed his hands again.

"Ah, I see. Mr. Seong, Miss Yoon. I concede. I will proceed with the purchase of those items for 50 billion yen..."

-What?

-What is this?

-He's just giving it away? 50 billion yen?

"Actually, that money was what the Sword King wanted to give. Whether or not there's a private meeting, it should be given."

At this, the chat window exploded.

-Wow, the Japanese guy didn't even include the private meeting in the offer!

-That's why you shouldn't negotiate with scoundrels!

-As expected, always be wary of bald guys!

-Criticize Japan, but stop the bald jokes, please!!!!!

-You could lose your hair at any time!

Takeda took out a piece of paper from his pocket.

"Since you refused the private meeting, I'll convey the Sword King Ito's message here."

-The Sword King's message?

-There was such a thing?

Everyone looked at him expectantly.

"Seo-a, I heard you donated Sword Palace. I'm disappointed. This is the last legacy I'm giving you. With this, you should be able to live a modest life."

He cleared his throat and emphasized the last sentence.

"And with this, our father-daughter relationship ends. Don't expect anything more..."

"Expect nothing more..."

Is this a way of saying, 'Take this and get lost'?

Seong Jihan's face turned cold.

"Yes, yes, when you see this..."

Takeda handed the paper to Seong Jihan, who had moved to his side, and Yoon Seo-a said expressionlessly.

"It's Dad's handwriting."

"..."

500 billion.

To most people, it's an astronomical amount.

But for the Sword King, ranked third in the world and first among warriors, it's not a large sum.

He probably earns more than that in a month from the New Self-Defense Forces in Japan.

'And he's offering this to cut ties?'

Last time, when he left Korea, he at least said he felt sorry for his daughter.

Now, he's boldly saying he'll cut ties in exchange for this.

Even when his brother-in-law was around, he seemed to care for his daughter and wasn't this bad.

Seong Jihan felt more disappointed than angry.

'Gift: Beauty. Is it real?'

The rumor Park Yunsik mentioned before.

The existence of the SSS-grade gift, Beauty, became more plausible.

"Ha ha..."

On the other hand, Yoon Seo-a slowly let out a dry laugh as she read the letter.

"Mr. Takeda."

"Yes, yes."

"Tell Mr. Ito that I'll use the last legacy well. And I'll willingly cut ties as he wishes."

Rip, rip.

She took the paper from Seong Jihan's hand and tore it to pieces.

"Then, Uncle, shall we go?"

Yoon Seo-a's expression remained unchanged, but her smile was not genuine.

"Ah, right. This is trash... I shouldn't throw it on the ground..."

She noticed the paper pieces on the floor and bent down to pick them up, but her hand trembled.

Her body rejected the act of picking up the paper with her father's handwriting.

'...'

Seong Jihan saw this and reached out his hand.

"Leave it. I'll take care of it."

Ding, ding.

The torn paper pieces floated in the air.

Poof.

The combined power of holy and magical forces, an absolute power that dominated the space.

This was the first time it was used in reality, not in a game, to lift the paper pieces.

-What? What is this?

-What is Seong Jihan doing?

-Isn't he a warrior?

-He's not a wizard... He didn't even say a spell?

The viewers watching the broadcast were confused.

Seong Jihan had always shown himself as a powerful warrior class.

The current scene was unexpected.

-Is his gift telekinesis?

Debates about the nature of Seong Jihan's power continued.

"Fire."

As Seong Jihan spoke, the paper burned and turned to ashes.

The viewers drew a conclusion.

-He said 'Fire.' He's a wizard!

-Seong Jihan is a wizard?

-How can someone who achieved ten kills in survival be a mage class...!

Seong Jihan, who had not revealed his status window,

was thought to be a warrior by viewers who hadn't seen him participate as a supporter in the defense game.

When he revealed himself as a mage by casting 'Fire,' the chat window exploded.

"Is this trash, no longer a concern?"

"Uncle."

Yoon Seo-a, who had been dazed by the flames, now focused and asked with a brighter expression.

"Fire? You're a wizard?"

"That's still a secret."

"Even from me?"

Seong Jihan smiled and looked at the camera.

"I'll reveal it when my channel reaches 200,000 subscribers."

Seong Jihan's channel on BattleTube had high views, but not many subscribers.

The views were mainly due to the Sword King-related news.

He needed to use this opportunity to increase his subscribers.

Seong Jihan thought this and looked away from the camera.

"Oh... What is this? Mr. Seong, you're not a warrior class? And this power..."

Takeda, who had been watching from the side, was flushed with excitement.

Takeda Kazuo, the recruitment director of the New Self-Defense Forces,

had noticed something the average viewer couldn't from Seong Jihan's display of power.

"Mr. Seong!"

He searched his pocket and bowed deeply, offering a business card.

"Please, just once, contact me. I promise the best treatment with the authority of the New Self-Defense Forces' recruitment director!"

"..."

Seong Jihan looked at the card silently, then raised his index finger.

The card floated from Takeda's hand and spun on Seong Jihan's finger.

Then,

Rip.

The sound of the card tearing was heard once.

Rip. Rip. Rip...

"Aaah..."

The card was torn to pieces, and the shredded pieces were repeatedly disintegrated.

Eventually, it turned to dust and disappeared.

10 seconds.

It took only 10 seconds for the card to turn to dust and vanish.

"..."

Murmurs.

The auction hall, which had been silent like it was doused with cold water, now buzzed with whispers.

The card disappeared using only the power of force, without any magic.

Considering the constraints of using power in the real world, this was clearly beyond what a Bronze should possess.

"This is my answer."

Seong Jihan turned his back and walked away.

Takeda, his face flushed, trembled all over, and the camera captured his back without missing a moment.