Chapter 140: Chapter 140

His mother fiddled with the envelope with an incredulous look on her face.

“Hoon, are you sure we can accept this…?”

A 100 million won check inside the envelope.

His mother’s hands trembled at the unexpected amount.

“Yes, it’s okay to accept it.”

With so many users enjoying New World, an enormous amount of gold and cash was exchanged every month.

Naturally, the money earned by a named guild like Ho-Yeong was beyond imagination.

They had helped raise the guild’s ranking by two levels, so this amount was a very reasonable reward.

“Oh my… How should I use this?”

“How to use it? You can just deposit it in the bank or buy something you want.”

“But it’s too much to receive 100 million won just for participating in an event.”

His mother kept refusing, but Yeo Sunwoo had practically forced it into her hands.

“If you feel uncomfortable, Mom, you can return it.”

Although it was a fair amount, he had no intention of accepting it if his mother didn’t want it.

“No… I’m not really saying I want to return it…”

But his mother was also one of those people who were weak in the face of money.

Well, who in the world would return a 100 million won bonus check, saying it was too much?

“Then please accept it comfortably. And if there’s anything you’ve wanted to buy, use this to buy it too.”

Jeong-Hoon also handed his envelope to his mother.

His mother was surprised and waved her hands in refusal.

“What are you doing? I already received mine.”

“I know. But isn’t 200 million won better than 100 million won?”

“Then what about you?”

“I’m fine without it.”

Honestly, he had no greed for money.

He could always exchange the gold he earned from enhancements for cash, and if he needed any items, he could just ask Ho-Yeong, so he didn’t need money.

“But I can’t accept this.”

“Huh?”

“Son, you earned this through your hard work. I don’t want to take it away from you.”

“…”

“I’m happy. That I can play games and have fun with my son.”

“Mom…”

Buzz-

His smartphone rang at this touching moment.

“Oh… Who could it be…?”

[Yeo Min-Ji]

The caller was Yeo Min-Ji.

Had something happened?

“It’s okay, go ahead and answer it.”

With his mother’s permission, Jeong-Hoon excused himself and went into his room.

“Yes, hello?”

[Jeong-Hoon! Are you at home right now?]

“Yes. What’s up?”

[Lee Hwa-Rang came to Ho-Yeong!]

“Lee Hwa-Rang?”

[Yes. I don’t know why, but he was looking for you.]

The reason was obvious.

When he shot an arrow at Lee Ji-Seok, the Guardian Swordsman.

Lee Hwa-Rang must have figured it out after seeing the black flames rising.

“Just leave him be. I’m busy today, I have a date with my mom.”

[…Okay! Then I’ll just tell him to keep waiting! He’ll either give up and go back or something, right?]

Yeo Min-Ji was quick to understand.

“Yes. Please.”

[Okay. Have a good date with your mom.]

“Thank you.”

The call ended.

He went back to the living room, and his mother was still fiddling with the 100 million won check in the envelope.

‘She seems really happy.’

Well, where else could she get to touch a 100 million won check?

Maybe he should earn some money after all?

Jeong-Hoon approached his mother.

“Mom.”

“Oh, son. Are you done with your call already?”

His mother smiled awkwardly and put the check back in the envelope.

“Yes. Anyway, let’s go on a date today!”

“A date?”

* * *

Lee Hwa-Rang was in a bad mood.

“When the hell is he coming?”

He couldn’t even enter the Ho-Yeong Guild building and was waiting for Jeong-Hoon at a nearby inn.

‘I’m telling you again, the guild member you’re looking for isn’t here.’

‘So tell him that Lee Hwa-Rang from the Myth Guild is looking for him and ask him to log in right now.’

‘I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. Please come back later.’

‘Ha…’

As Lee Hwa-Rang’s anger flared, Park Jin-Hyeok hurriedly tried to calm him down.

‘Haha, I apologize. Then it’s okay if we wait nearby, right?’

‘Yes… that’s fine.’

‘Okay! Then we’ll do that. Hwa-Rang, let’s go.’

‘Hey! Let go of me! Why can’t they just tell him?!’

At this rate, they might really get into trouble with Ho-Yeong.

Park Jin-Hyeok dragged Lee Hwa-Rang back to the inn with difficulty.

Six hours passed.

There was still no contact from Ho-Yeong.

“Maybe he hasn’t logged in yet?”

“…That bastard, I sent so many megaphone messages, and he’s completely ignoring me? I want to punch him in the face as soon as I see him.”

“Hey… Calm down. It’s not yours, you know.”

“Why isn’t it mine? Have you forgotten that I can complete the Red Dragon full set with just that?”

“That’s true, but Hoon found the weapon first. Naturally, the ownership belongs to him.”

“That’s why I’m saying I’ll buy it from him. I’ll match whatever price he asks, as much as possible.”

“…Let’s just drop it.”

Lee Hwa-Rang was usually a smart guy.

But whenever things didn’t go his way or his emotions ran high, he became unreasonable like this.

* * *

Jeong-Hoon logged in a week later.

Instead of just a one-day date, he and his mother had gone on a trip.

They had been spending so much time in the capsule playing the game, so they needed to stretch their stiff bodies and refresh their minds.

“I’m back.”

As soon as he appeared in Ho-Yeong, Jeong-Hoon was surrounded by guild members.

Thanks to their first-place victory in the survival match, he and his mother had become quite famous within the guild.

“Hoon!”

“Welcome back!”

“Is it true that you’re Honey 1?!”

“Wow… I’ve never seen a big-time YouTuber before!”

“Can I appear on YouTube next time too?”

Wait a minute.

She said she persuaded them, but was this what she meant?

Jeong-Hoon looked at Yeo Min-Ji.

Yeo Min-Ji whistled and avoided his gaze.

‘She said she persuaded the guild… Was this what she meant?’

It took a long time to get away from the guild members.

And that wasn’t all.

“You’re late. You need to complete the request list quickly.”

Yoo Na-Eun, the Enhancer of Ho-Yeong, approached him and handed him a request list.

“Request list?”

“Yes. You need to… enhance, right?”

“…Are you planning to tease me?”

“I wanted to congratulate you, but this is your punishment for logging in so late.”

Yoo Na-Eun chuckled and took back the request list.

As soon as the event ended, Jeong-Hoon and Lee Na-Yeon had logged out immediately.

Yeo Sunwoo had also given them the reward offline, so it had been a while since he logged in.

“By the way, are you going to meet Lee Hwa-Rang?”

Yeo Min-Ji approached and whispered quietly.

“Where is he now?”

“He’s probably staying at the inn outside the Ho-Yeong Guild building.”

“He’s really persistent.”

“I know, right? What on earth did you do to make him obsess over you like this?”

“I wonder. Can’t we report him for stalking?”

“Unfortunately, we can’t…”

“I see. I wanted to get rid of him this time.”

“…So, are you going to meet him?”

“Hmm, if I don’t, he’ll probably keep following me… I guess I have to.”

Jeong-Hoon had logged in today with the intention of meeting Lee Hwa-Rang.

‘I’ll mess with him a bit.’

He must be on the verge of losing his mind over the Red Dragon Bone Bow.

Messing with him in this state would deal considerable damage.

“Then I’ll bring him inside. It’s safer here than outside.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Okay.”

And so, the meeting was arranged.

Lee Hwa-Rang’s face was visibly sour.

“Long time no see? We’ve met before, haven’t we?”

He was acquainted with Lee Hwa-Rang.

He had a history of selling a 30-gold Rare-grade Receive Bow to Lee Hwa-Rang for 300 gold in Idenharc.

“I see. Are you still using the Receive Bow you bought back then?”

Jeong-Hoon smiled playfully and nodded.

“Haha… The Receive Bow? Are you making fun of me even here?”

Lee Hwa-Rang forced a smile towards Jeong-Hoon, who was sitting in front of him.

It was such a forced smile that it looked ridiculous, and Jeong-Hoon barely managed to suppress his laughter.

Jeong-Hoon slowly asked for his business.

“First, let’s hear the reason why you came looking for me.”

“…The bow. Not the bow you lied about before, but a proper bow.”

Lee Hwa-Rang’s eyes burned with intensity.

“What do you mean, the bow I lied about? You already bought the Receive Bow I acquired back then, didn’t you?”

Lee Hwa-Rang clenched his fist tightly.

It seemed the memory of that time had resurfaced.

So what was he going to do about it?

“…Don’t you have another bow besides that one?”

“Hmm, another bow?”

Jeong-Hoon continued to play dumb.

“The Red Dragon Bone Bow… You have it, don’t you?”

Finally, Lee Hwa-Rang mentioned the ‘Red Dragon Bone Bow’.

However, Jeong-Hoon no longer had that item.

It had already been upgraded into Anima.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have that bow.”

“Ha, you triggered Black Flame and you’re saying it’s not the Red Dragon Bone Bow?”

Black Flame was one of the special abilities of the ‘Red Dragon weapons’.

“It’s true. I don’t have the Red Dragon Bone Bow. If you were looking for that, you shouldn’t have come to me.”

Bam!

Lee Hwa-Rang slammed his head on the table.

“Can’t you please sell it to me? I’ll pay you any amount of money!”

His face was filled with desperation.

If he came up empty-handed again this time, he would have to conduct another large-scale search, and there was no telling when he would find another clue.

But Jeong-Hoon was cold.

“Please don’t make me repeat myself. I don’t have the Red Dragon Bone Bow.”

“…Then show me. Show me the weapon that triggered the Black Flame.”

“Excuse me? Why should I do that?”

Jeong-Hoon tilted his head in confusion, and Lee Hwa-Rang’s expression gradually distorted.

“…What do you want? What do I have to do for you to show me the item?”

“Hmm… 100,000 gold. If you give it to me now, I’ll take out the item and show it to you. Of course, under the condition that I’m not selling it.”

100,000 gold was equivalent to 1 billion won.

1 billion won just to see an item once.

Lee Hwa-Rang’s patience finally reached its limit.

“Ha… Under the condition that you’re not selling it? Do you think I don’t know that the only weapon with the Black Flame activation option is the Red Dragon Bone Bow?”

“Why are you so certain? There could be a few other weapons with the Black Flame option.”

“Ha, don’t bullshit me!”

Lee Hwa-Rang’s eyes, pushed to the edge of his patience, completely turned wild.

[Wow, look at him losing it! He’s gone crazy!]

‘There’s no cure for a crazy person. It’s best to just avoid him.’

Mukho and Anima were terrified.

“Hey! Stop! This is Ho-Yeong!”

Park Jin-Hyeok hurriedly tried to stop him, but Lee Hwa-Rang had already lunged at Jeong-Hoon.

As if his close combat skills were also exceptional, as he had heard, Lee Hwa-Rang’s hand now held a bow.

It was the Tempest Bow, one of his favorite bows.

‘Is that Bow Slash?’

The tip of the bow was sharp like the blade of a sword.

‘Bow Slash’ was a skill that used the bow like a sword to deliver a powerful slash.

Whoosh-

Crash!

A heavy impact sound erupted within the guild headquarters, and smoke from the release of mana rose from the spot.

Hearing the noise, Yeo Min-Ji and Park In-Tae, who were waiting outside, hurriedly entered.

“Damn it…! That bastard finally did it.”

Park Jin-Hyeok sighed, covering his face with his hand.

He had finally caused trouble.

No matter how much the other person had provoked him, to kill a guild member within the guild’s own territory.

And that guild was Ho-Yeong, no less.

This situation had become very troublesome.

“What the hell is this crazy lunatic doing?!”

Yeo Min-Ji rushed in and struck Lee Hwa-Rang’s side.

“Ugh!”

He groaned from the heavy blow and stumbled back.

“You’re done for today. How dare you barge into Ho-Yeong and attack our guild member?”

Yeo Min-Ji glared at Lee Hwa-Rang with a cold expression.

“You’ll have to explain this incident clearly. If you don’t want to start a war, that is.”

Park In-Tae also warned Park Jin-Hyeok in a cold voice.

“I apologize… We’ll explain everything, and of course, compensate…”

Park Jin-Hyeok’s words were cut short.

Whoosh!

An arrow flew and pierced Lee Hwa-Rang’s shoulder precisely.

“Ugh!”

Lee Hwa-Rang let out a short groan.

“Don’t act tough… You threw the first punch.”

Park Jin-Hyeok’s eyes slowly widened.

Jeong-Hoon was slowly walking out from where the smoke was rising.

And he was completely unharmed.

———-