Chapter 687: Gift (6)

Support Ex-Rank

The clothes worn by the martial artists were different, but they had something in common.

First, they all definitely look like martial artists.

Second, black is in the motif.

Third, they wear a belt with their team logo depicting a sword and a forest.

There were several professional players with the concept of martial artists, but there was only one team that used that logo.

‘One of the four professional player teams in Korea. It’s the Black Forest! Did most of the audience come to see them?’

The Black Forest was ranked as the most consistent among the numerous professional player teams founded after the collisions.

Energy waves, physicality, mentality.

The team employs a tough exam and recruits only the martial artists who qualify.

The boldness needed in having to deal with demons.

Despite being inferior to the other three, they’re still considered one of the top four.

For one reason or another, the Black Forest was quite popular, but they were too immersed in their concept to expose themselves to the media.

The few times that they are seen outside always make it to the news.

It’s then understandable why people are crowded like this.

The young man at the front was particularly getting attention.

‘Just a few members from the Black Forest will make headlines, but to think that the team master is here.’

The person who leads the martial artists is Blademaster Heukrim, the team master of Black Forest.

He’s known as the only promising player in his 20’s among the four professional teams.

He’s also famous for having a lot of dark history at such a young age.

The anecdote that he decided to be a martial artist at the same time that he was being interviewed to be in Class Zero was very famous.

As such, Blademaster Heukrim is the team master and a man with unrivaled conceptual power even within the team where all kinds of power are gathered.

Blademaster Heukrim, who had been strolling with the martial artists, stopped in front of Professor Ham Geunhyung.

Tak!

Blademaster Heukrim gestured and the martial artists followed, grasping their fists with their palms.

I was amazed at the tight and disciplined movement, but I didn’t know how to react to the unfitting martial artists in the school landscape.

“It’s a great honor meeting you.”

The Blademaster only said a word, but the surroundings began to tremble.

He’s famous for his “old man” way of speaking, so it’s surprising that he used honorifics.

Even though he’s a famous player now, he seems to have never forgotten his respect for Professor Ham Geunhyung.

I heard the crowd murmur Professor Ham’s alias, and I really felt that people understood the excellence of our homeroom teacher.

“It’s been a while. Is that child your student?”

“I’m here to see the performance of my student.”

“I see… you and him are very similar.”

“Is that so? He’s yet to be fully learned, so he can’t follow half of my sword just yet.”

I don’t think Professor Ham Geunhyung meant that they have similar sword skills though.

Anyway, it must be true that the Black Darkness Swordsman in our class is the team master’s student.

‘I was thinking about that possibility.’

From Kim Yuri’s narration of Ong Gildong and Goo Seulbi’s messages, someone in martial arts clothes attacked the attention-seekers and the Black Darkness Swordsman and made them study for the final exams.

That reminded me of the Black Forest.

However, I couldn’t put two and two together easily because of the swordsman’s goofy name.

I didn’t know it was possible for the esteemed team to accept a child who calls himself that.

Of course, there’s no doubt now.

‘If so, did he also fight alongside the Black Forest against the demons in PMH?’

Most of the major events in PMH freshmen year are linked to the collapse of Eungwang High.

Meanwhile, the events in the sophomore year show the collapse not only of Eungwang High but also of the player society.

The first one was Congressman Sung Gukeon’s assassination.

Second was Yeom Junyeol’s runaway scenario, which led to the collapse of the Red Lion and the Dragon Clan.

Third was the Demon World scenario.

‘Joo Soohyuk, Ahn Dain, and the Black Forest were the main characters in the Demon World arc.’

After Yeom Bangyoel died and Cheongryong fell into a deep sleep, the Korean Peninsula was sent in confusion with the loss of the Red Lion which was the most active team among the four major professional teams.

Meanwhile, the Seven Demon Gods attempted to invade by gathering their priests and exploiting intelligence on the Korean Peninsula.

Led by Joo Soohyuk and Ahn Dain, the playable characters head to the Demon World to block the invasion plan, while the Black Forest helps stop the Demon Race on the Korean Peninsula.

‘It could seem like the Black Forest took on the easy role, but their players were wiped out.’

For a smooth fusion with the Demon World, the priests tried to kill all of humanity.

As much as it was aimed at annihilation, the demons did not seem to fall down.

In response to the declaration of war by the United Priests, the government announced its intention to abandon the area and issued an evacuation order.

The PLayer Association, the local governments, and the residents fiercely opposed the government’s recommendation and gathered together.

‘But their number wasn’t big. Everyone knew the power of the Demon Race.’

Before the declaration of war, the Demon Race showed off their power and the media reported everything with no discrimination, spreading fear among the citizens.

Morale hit rock bottom with the death of Yeom Bangyeol.

Among the other major teams, the Lake of Eternity showed no signs of returning to Korea, and the Hydrangea Scent was struggling just to cover for the loss of the Red Lion.

It was only the Black Forest that expressed their intention to fight the demon coalition.

Blademaster Heukrim declared to resist until death, and influenced players gathered to form a so-called ‘Demon Extinction Team.’

They succeeded in blocking the demon’s plan by breaking the stone statues of the Demon Gods who lived in the Demon World.

However, even though they fought until the end, they were destroyed.

The Blademaster carried out his oath until his death.

‘They prevented some parts of Korea from being swallowed by the Demon World, but too many significant players were lost.’

Perhaps because I thought about the ending in PMH, seeing the martial artists made me feel bitter.

I listened to the conversation between my classmates to ease my mind.

“Uh… That swordsman looks similar to the team master. But I don’t think Blademaster Heukrim would…”

“The air feels different from where they’re standing. I think I only need black ink if I want to paint them.”

“Come to think of it, there are two students from the major teams in our class.”

“Oh, t-that seems true. It’s a bit embarrassing to be called a student of one of the four major teams though.”

“But I think that team master is our homeroom teacher’s student before. Then his student is a student of a student of… Aish, what?”

Our classmates talked excitedly while Blademaster Heukrim and Professor Ham intercated.

Professor Ham Geunhyung seemed to be in a good mood too.

Perhaps it’s because of the reunion with an old student, but it’s possible that he’s more concerned with our attendance rate going up.

‘Is it because we’re at our highest attendance so far?’

The two attention-seekers and the swordsman are warming up for a match, but they still come to school.

It’s not strange then that Professor Ham is so happy.

‘It would be a good Christmas present to make those three permanently go to school.’

The match is currently 1-1.

I don’t know how the game would be decided, but it seems to be a head-to-head match.

I tried to weigh Goo Seulbi and Ong Gildong’s abilities, and the odds don’t seem to be in their favor.

‘The two are excellent, but they’re not as good as that swordsman when it comes to fighting. They don’t have reason to fight desperately, so I’m sure they’ll focus on gaining attention.’

On the other hand, that swordsman must’ve trained repeatedly with the goal of wiping out the Demon Race, being a student of the Black Forest.

His reason for not going to school is to train, so most freshmen students will be no match for him.

If so, I have no choice but to use other measures.

The information that I have from PMH, what the Demon Race had done in this world and in PMH, what Kim Yuri said about their match, the swordsman’s actions in this world.

I put everything together and decided what to do.

‘I think it’s better to talk with Blademaster Heukrim before the match.’

I don’t intend to let the Demon World scenario in PMH occur in this world.

I wanted to contact the Black Forest as soon as the work in the Dragon Palace was completed, but it seems like I’d have to do it earlier.

Because of the sudden change of plan, my preparations are insufficient, but if I miss this timing, the swordsman might go abroad again.

Still, at last, there was a person next to me who could help.

“Hey.”

I talked to Hwang Jiho who was occasionally laughing along with the other kids.

Hwang Jiho immediately turned his head to me.

“From the look on your face, you seem to have a favor to ask. If it doesn’t strain your body, I’ll humor you. Say it.”

Hwang Jiho spoke as if he had been waiting.

Is he gonna stop talking or listen to me?

I’m indeed going to ask for a favor, but I wonder how he knew that.

“I’m going to talk with Blademaster Heukrim.”

“I see. What should this body do?”

Hwang Jiho seemed willing to cooperate.

Still, it might be a difficult request, so I decided to explain.

“Come with me to meet the Black Forest’s team master.”

“Didn’t you just say that? Of course, I will. If we’re going to meet him right now, I’ll go get ready.”

I lowered my voice and added an important detail.

“Not as Hwang Jiho. Come as the Tiger Clan’s head.”

Support Ex-Rank